001Good evening everyone. All right, it's 5:59. I call this meeting to order. This is a meeting of the board conducted in public and we are gathered to conduct the business of the district in an orderly and respectful manner. We expect all participants, board members, staff, and members of the public to treat each other with civility and to abide by the rules of the quorum for this meeting. We value public comment, but in order to ensure fairness and to permit orderly completion of the agenda, we must observe certain time constraints. Public comments will be limited to 20 minutes per topic. If the number of speakers on a given topic exceeds the time allotted, the time per speaker may be reduced so that all have a reasonable opportunity to speak. Comments should be addressed to the board,
002not to anyone individual or to the audience. Amy has been directed to turn off the speaker's microphone if they go over their time. Let me also remind everyone that the board has a legal responsibility and right to maintain order. Under state law, the presiding officer may remove individuals who be whose behavior disrupts or impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. Indeed, under California Government Code 54957.95 as added by the Senate Bill 1100, the presiding officer may remove a person or disruptive behavior after first ensuing a warning or immediately if the person engages in use of force or makes a true true threat. In addition, under California Penal Code 403, it is a misdemeanor to willfully disturb or break up a lawful public meeting. We ask and expect everyone's cooperation so we can focus at the
003business at hand. Before we begin the regular agenda, the board wants to acknowledge an important matter. We too are disappointed that after a year and a half of negotiations, the parties involved in our reopener negotiations were unable to reach an agreement. we understand and support the statewide can't wait campaign organized by the California Teachers Association, but we are also saddened by the impact it is having on our local district. That said, we are now looking forward to factf finding, a process we believe can help clarify issues, unravel all the misinformation and the and identify a constructive path toward finding a mutually acceptable resolution. We also recognize that our district faces significant challenges as we move forward. As the board, we expect all staff to work collaboratively and in good faith to help meet those challenges.
004We value the commitment and professionalism of our staff. And we believe that together with cooperation and shared purpose, we can make progress for the benefit of our students, our families, and our community. South Bay cannot simply continue a culture of divisiveness. We must work together if we expect to overcome our challenges. Roll call. Esparza >> here. >> Lyer >> here. Lopez Aino >> here. >> Medina here. >> Kenyon >> here. Thank you. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Ready? To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nation indivisible for all. Community student and staff recognition and awards. We recognize S director Susie Chavez for a celebration of the Bay Cup soccer championship teams. S Director Susie Chavez. Perhaps we can move this. Good evening everyone and welcome. Tonight,
005we come together to honor champions on the soccer field and in the sports esports arena. Whether competing on the grass or behind the screen, these athletes share the same spirit, discipline, teamwork, resilience, and the courage to push limits. Our soccer champions have shown remarkable strength, skill, and heart. Our esports champions have demonstrated strategic brilliance, lightning fast reflexes, and a level of focus that inspires a new generation of competitors. Both groups remind us that excellence comes in many forms, but dedication is universal. Tonight, we celebrate their achievements, their journeys, and the passion that drives them. Congratulations to all of our champions and thank you for inspiring us. Welcome and let's enjoy this celebration together. I think it is. >> [music] [music] >> Inhales. Let's make it. First up, congratulations to our Nester girls. As we call
006your name, if we can have the Nester girls players come on up and line up here in the front. Celestee Adam, Maya Amaral, Maya Crespo, Deani Deator, Chloe Darte, Alexa Duran, Ariana Gomez, Monsera Guerrero, Lane Mitchell, Eileene Olivarez, Pette Padilla, Atala Ramirez, Luna Santos, Sophia Ia Smithy, Vana Terasas, Fern Vanoa, and if we can have our coaches Mark Rosio and Miguel Crespo up here. Let's give our Nester girls a round of applause. Congratulations. [applause] Next up, we have our Nester boy. Nester boys, if you can come up once I call your name. Nicholas Aguilar, Oscar Alvarez, Alex Beltran, Jorge Ken Castella, Adriel Diaz, Esel Evans, Sebastian Fuentes, Andre Neves, Julian Oren, Dylan Ramirez, Saul Ramirez, >> Braden Rich, Gel Sanchez, Matia Torres, and to our coaches, Brian Guzman and Erindo Fernandez. Let's give the Nester
007Boys a round of applause. Thank you to our soccer players, our coaches, all of district departments that help us put this together, our EOLOP staff, our board of trustees, and our executive team. Thank you. Thank you, Director Susie Chavez. And next we have the Bay Clash Esports Championship team. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Imperial Beach's West View campus. Game [music] controllers and video screens fill the auditorium. Here, family and friends gather to watch their third through sixth graders take part in the Bay Class Championship. I was recently moving into my new school and um like was looking through clubs cuz she has work and she found esports and I asked her what's this about and I got signed in. >> These
008are the first ever playoffs for the new South Bay Union School District esports league. Esports are organized video game competitions. In this case, the game is Super Smash Bros. played on the Nintendo Switch. Fourth grader Olivia Dominguez has some favorite characters. >> It has to be Dark Samis and Pit. >> Super Smash Bros. is an animated fighting game where the winner is the or team standing. It's popular with fans of all ages. >> I' I've been like doing it for my like since I was like 5 years old. I think >> Chris Garcia is with the San Diego County Office of Education. He says South Bay Union is the first elementary district in the region to have an esports program. So we have 43 plus school districts in the entire county and more or less
009we have about half of them that have an esports presence. >> South Bay Union's esports league is an after school program. Jorge Serna oversees it. >> In this particular tournament what we do is we do 2v2 so it'll be two students from one school playing another two students from another school. Serna understands concerns about lack of exercise and violence in some esports games. But he says they started the league because students are already playing competitive video games at home and physical sports aren't always inclusive for everyone. >> A lot of students can still be a part of a team, but they don't have the [music] same desire to maybe do a physical sport, but esports is still very challenging, team- based. >> Mendoza Elementary esports coach Adrien Castro says in some cases gaming is helping
010in the classroom, too. >> They were coming in every day. Some of our students who had a lot of like absentis absentism issues, they were actually coming into school excited to participate. >> Castro says esports requires practice, teamwork, and rule following like any other school. >> Now that we're having this kind of opportunity for the students, they get to show off these skills and be able to say, "Hey, you know, I represent my school and I'm able to show off these skills in these kind of big league tournaments. The Bay Class Championship finals take place this Thursday. Sarina says season 2 starts in February. Jacob, KPBS News. >> Okay, I only have 30 seconds here, so let's talk about how fast time moves. You know, you So, first off, I'm going to clear up some
011misconceptions that are out there about esports. No, esports is not just about playing video games. There is actually a lot more to it. So, I want to go over what are the educational benefits of esports. So esports is an organized event where there's teambased meaning there's there's individuals they work together to compete against other teams. >> Pardon me. Can we have quiet in the audience please while we celebrate our students. Thank you so much. Oh now I can hear myself. So rather than playing solo or just for fun, students are pushing themselves to improve to to improve to best meet the competition and developing various skills along the way. What are the educational benefits of esports? So again, it's not just about playing video games. There's actually a lot of research that's being done on
012the cognitive and mental health development. There's esports scholarships for college. Social and emotional growth for our students. It's very inclusive. Leadership, building, leadership, being able to multitask, the creative problem solving, time management, the collaboration and communication, and once again, did I say scholarships for college? Yes. potential career opportunities in esports for students. Because when we plan and organize events for our students, we don't just plan these events for students in the moment. We actually want to have them strengthen their skills so that they have opportunities in the future, opportunities to go to college, opportunities to get scholarships, opportunities to be able to develop their skills and esports is one avenue to do that because our opportunities that we create in our EOP program are actually for the future for their career opportunities. So some potential
013career opportunities in esports for our students. They can become programmers. They be can become analysts, coaches, event organizers, marketing and public relations, graphic designers, broadcasters or commentators, esports journalists. So, this is just a few of the skills that esports can help develop our students so that they have endless opportunities in the future. >> Thank you. Without further ado, we have congratulations to our team Nester. When I call your name, if you can please come up to the front. Christopher Roman Fernandez. Juan Jose Fernandez. Damian Gonzalez, Eer Gonzalez, Penelope Gonzalez, Santiago Gonzalez, Gel Ernnandez, Dana Montes, Sebastian Nava, Mateo Neves, Santiago Salastar, Saul Uriel Sanchez and their coach Sino Chavez. Let's give a round of applause to our Bay Clash esports champions. Thank you. This concludes our presentation in honoring our champions for both soccer and
014esports. Thank you for celebrating with us tonight. >> Congratulations students. Well done. So next So, next up we have our annual board organization reorganization. Sorry. >> Or president, can we just wait until they >> Yes. >> Thank you. Before we get started, Trustee Lopez Aino has something to say. >> Yeah. I mean, I just wanted to take a point of privilege, right, to uh take a moment to uh thank Superintendent Jose Spinosa. Just a reminder, this is a meeting of the board. If you could please let the board do its business. >> Okay, I'll talk I'll talk over. So, I just wanted to thank Superintendent Spinosa for your leadership uh with these programs. I know one of the first conversations we had when I joined the board was about the fact that our students did
015not have opportunities like these. Um, and you know, thank you to you and your team for making this happen. I really appreciate it. This is the second year that we do this. Is that correct? >> Cool. Thank you. >> Yes. The first year was uh soccer only. Then we added esports. Um, and we're hoping to add another sport uh as soon as possible. >> Another point of privilege, Madame President, trustees, you just had to be there. You just had to be there. The room was filled with excitement. Uh Trusty Manny and I were there Thursday and Friday. Uh it is such an amazing moment to see our children together and teams um competing at with each other and it was so fun. It was so fun. Uh I went back for seconds. So uh um
016put it on your calendar trustees because it is exciting moment for our students and our children here in our communities. We haven't had that ever. So, let's rise to the occasion and support our ELOT program in any way we can. Thank you. Um, I also would like to invite anybody who's standing uh to sit up here. We have several seats that have just opened up. Um, so if you are standing, you're encouraged to come and find the seat, especially if you're standing by the hallways or by the door. Uh because we don't have want to have any fire um hazards. So, next we have we will open the nominations for the board to elect its new president. Trusty Liker and if I can just give an overview of the process. Um so every year at
017this time we do an organization of the board. Um the process for us different boards do it a little bit differently. Some boards do a rotation where each each uh trustee is numbered and then they move from the first spot which would be vice president and they rotate through. We do not have that that type of rotation. >> Excuse me. Point of order. C can we just get the public to get by please for a second? >> All right. Thank you. What we have um we have a system where trustees are able to nominate themselves or nominate somebody else. Um then there is some discussion. We make a motion for um someone to be president. Um and then we vote on it. If that motion fails, we wait for another motion until we find a
018the next president for the for the following year. We will go through that for vice president. We will also go through that through uh for the secretary of the No, not the secretary. I'm sorry. For the um vice president and clerk, right? I think I said vice president twice. Um, and once that's done, we will take a quick intermission and the new uh officers will take their seats and then the the new president will finish off the meeting. So, at this time, I'd like to ask, are there any nominations for president? I will start. I would like to nominate board member Kelly Lier for president and president. I nominate Cheryl Kinyanas for president. I would like to nominate Trusty Sparza for president. >> All right. Any other nominations? All right. At this time, can each
019nominee either accept the nomination or um accept the nomination and then tell us why you would like to be president or decline the nomination? So [sighs] I'm honored to be considered one of the candidates for the board pre president. There is important work ahead of us and to accomplish that we need to strong steady leadership someone who can guide and support this board as we work and to provide the best education for our students. This requires true collaboration with our community, educators, staff, and everyone involved in our student success. Whether or not you choose me as your board president, I will remain committed to our mission and continue working towards our shared goals. Thank you. >> [sighs] >> I very much appreciate the nomination. Um although I decline, I think that um in light of
020the very difficult decisions that we have ahead of us, I believe that you trust Esparza have the experience beyond sitting at this dis and level head um during very emotional times. Madam President, I too accept the nomination. Even though I nominated myself, I do feel that the board always supports each other. Can you call as as a room full of educators? I know you understand that it's hard to focus when there is lots of chatter going on. So please, if you would allow us, I humbly ask if you would allow us to do what we need to do. >> Thank you, Madame President. Again, I accept the nomination and I appreciate the willingness of trusteeza. >> Point of order. Trust U. President Leer. If we do not bring the tone down, we're going to have
021to call for races. and then we'll all just be here longer. May I proceed? Thank you again. Thank you so much uh Manny for stepping up. Um, but I really think the challenges that are coming forward are going to take uh a steady hand and uh a study about what's best for our community. Uh, and having that uh foresight and that [music] experience and life experience, I think I could lead this board to where it needs to go for the benefit of our students, staff, and community. Our mission statement is very strong. South Bay Union School District uh in partnership with our community. That means all community. I participate in uh committees, district level committees. I go to school site meetings. I participate in esports, soccer, uh coffee with the I can list it all.
022You don't have a really clear picture if you don't participate. And this is why I'm really standing firm about my nomination. and request that you uh uh support me because uh without that view and without that vision and without studying uh uh we're not going to uh be successful in that uh the next six months are going to be the worst six months of of South Bay Union School District. I just know it. So uh with that I I would appreciate your vote and your confidence uh as we uh gather together and regroup. Uh we need to work together at all uh aspects. We just don't come to a meeting and uh sit here and vote for something we haven't even looked at. We have to work as a team and as president in the
023past that's what we did. So, I would appreciate your support and your strength behind my nomination. Thank you. [music] >> Thank you. So, we have uh two nominees. Um I would like to open it up for any questions, any discussion before we call for a motion. >> Um Manny, have you completed your masters in governance? So >> let me answer you let me answer your question in a second. >> Thank you. So as being a clerk and move up to the president uh for president, you do not need masters in government. Although you need a vote for president workshop. There is no expectation about any of us going anywhere. Okay. This is a course put put on by the California school boards association which is about an eight course uh study and not just one
024day many days. So the importance of doing masters in governance is that each department and each challenge is covered by a course of work and [snorts] that is very important. Um I would hope that you pursue that uh quest in the future. Uh so you would have a understanding of what the governance um role would be. Um secondly again I appreciate uh you and uh the willingness to uh come and be appointed. I thought that was a great day. Um again, the the uh the it's more than just a Wednesday night or a Thursday night meeting. It's more >> Thank you, Sheriff, for your comments. M madam president, I just don't understand what the comedy is. Could we please tone it down? >> All right. Um, I would like to say a few words, but
025I'm going to wait until I can hear myself speak. Thank you. Um I really appreciate both U trust Espara and Trusty Kinones for stepping up and being willing to take on this role because it is not an easy task to lead this board especially during the most these difficult times that we're in. So um you know I really appreciate um the willingness of trustee Barza. I've seen him since he first joined the board and his commitment, his dedication. I think he's a very serious man um who takes this job very serious and is willing um and able to learn um especially with this team um with you know trustee or president liker and her experience and trustee espa I mean kinones um you know I think that with the support of the board I think
026you would be a great president um and I also respect respect trustee's leadership. She has a wealth of experience um and knowledge. Um, but I think it's it's a an opportunity to give somebody new u a chance to grow and step up >> and pardon. >> Thank you for comments. >> And trust um if I recall you did do the president's workshop at our our most recent conference. >> That is correct. >> Thank you. Madam President, again sitting at a Wednesday or Thursday night meeting is uh not the president's role limited to that. It includes uh communication to and from the public and responsive in email by phone. Uh the information that the district puts out to the board to be read on a timely manner, responded to. Um these are areas of concern of
027mine this year and a concern of uh of the public when they approach the podium. So um having said that again a president leads not by the table but by the feet. So with that I would encourage you to uh uh look deeply in your heart which way we're going and uh vote accordingly. Thank you. >> So next um I call for a motion. Is that >> Yeah. If we don't have any more uh discussion then if there's a motion um we can entertain that motion. >> A motion to um elect Trustee Esparza as our new president. >> Second. >> Call for the vote. That's it. [clears throat] Can we do a roll call? Esparza. >> Yes. >> Liker. >> Yes. >> Lopez Aino. >> Yes. >> Medina. >> No. >> Kenyan. >> No. >>
028Motion passes. 32. All right. Do we have any nominations for vice president? >> I'd like to nominate Trusty Medina for vice president. Any other nominations? >> I would like to nominate Sherro Kinyones for vice president. All right, sounds like we have two nominations at this time. The nominees may accept the nomination and let us know why you'd like to be vice president or decline the nomination. Trusty Medina, thank you. I would love to be your vice president. We work together hand in hand. We're team. So, thank you for the nomination and I do accept. Thank you. Justin Medina. >> Thank you, but I decline. >> All right, sounds like we have one nominee. Do we have a motion? >> I would like to motion board member Sher Kinyones as a vice president. >> Second. >>
029Call for the vote. Esparza, >> yes. >> Lyer, >> yes. >> Lopez, >> yes. >> Kenyoness, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> Thank you. At this time, we'd like to ask for nominations for clerk. I would like to nominate for member liker for clerk. Any other nominations? I nominate trusty medina for All right. If no other nominations, the nominees have an opportunity to accept the nomination or decline. >> I accept the nomination. And we really do all work together just because one of us is is sitting here reading the agenda and nodding to who speaks next. We really are a unified team and so I would be honored to serve in whatever capacity the board sees fit. Thank you. But I decline. I like the way I work. I do
030my work. I do go to site visits. I go to committees. But I like the way that I'm doing my work right now. Thank you. >> All right. We have one nomination. Is there a motion? >> I move [snorts] to approve um Trusty Ler as the board, the clerk of the board. >> Second. Call for the vote. Kenyoness, >> yes. >> Lopez Agino, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Esparza, >> yes. >> Lyer, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> I do. We have a couple more things on this section. Real fast. Next, we have the appointment of district superintendent as secretary to the board of trustees. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. Call for the vote. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Lopez, Aino, >> yes. >> Esparza,
031>> yes. >> Kenyon, >> yes. >> Lyer, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. Um, next we have the adoption adopt resolution in the matter of trustees code of ethics board bylaw 9271. Do I have a motion to adopt this resolution? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Call for the vote. >> Liker, >> yes. Esparza, >> yes. >> Kenyoness, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Lopez Aino, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> Thank you so much. Um, it has been an honor and a great learning experience to serve as your board president this year. Um, like I said before, I know that um, we all really do work collaboratively and what I love about this board is everybody has different strengths that definitely complement each other. Um, so thank you all and I
032also agree that um, uh, Trusty Esparza will do a great job um, leading this board. And so with that, we are going to call >> point of privilege. Please point of privilege. Madam President, um I don't speak for the board, but I can say with a unified voice that we appreciate your work this year and your leadership and your calmness, your stillness. Uh everybody knows I'm Italian, so I'm not going to hide from it, but your calmness and your stillness, I appreciate. Thank you. >> Thank you for the job you've done. Well done. >> Thank you. >> All right. With that, we are going to have a brief >> Excuse me, Trusty Liker. Um during the intermission, can I please see Juliana Mia Figureroa and Mary Beth Sopati up here, please? Thank you. Okay, we're
033going to have a intermission so that we can um >> switch our seats. Juliana Figureroa, please come to the front of the room. Juliana Figareroa. We're going to resume in one minute. One minute. Please find your seat. One minute. Find your seat, please. Okay, the board meetings reassumed. Do we have cler do we have any uh report of action taken in close session? All right. So there's nothing to report it. Forget that was a clerk before. Okay. Changes in the agenda. At this time, trustees or executive team members may recommend changing the order of the agenda items and or request that an item from the consent the consent calendar be placed within the discussion action section of the board meeting. The secretary will keep track of any recommendations. Please note no new items may be
034added without the advanced public notice. Do we have any changes on the agenda? Yes. I would like to move letter F from business services first interim final report for 2025 2026 before public comments. Please. >> The business service letter F. Any other changes? Any anybody wants to make a motion? I motion to approve. >> Second. Go for the boat. Esparza, >> yes. >> Lopez, Agino, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Kenyoness, >> yes. Liker, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> So now we have communications to the board of trustees. Five minute limit per group. We have the South Bay PTA council. No PTA. >> Okay. Do we have the California School Employee Association chapter 5 59 CSEA? Okay, we have next Southwest Teacher Association. Suara like a badge of honor. >> We didn't
035hoard our resources. We invested them where they belonged in teacher training, collaboration, and our awardwinning marching band that filled our community streets with music and pride. I remember the hard times, too. But back then, we were a family. When the district struggled, we came together. We were so vibrant, so full of life that we moved to a modified schedule and a fourtrack system just to fit everyone in. Teachers packed and switched classrooms every single month without complaint because we knew we were building something great. Most importantly, I remember a time of mutual respect. Board members didn't just sit behind their desk. They met with union leaders to hear concerns and find solutions. [cheering] We had working together sessions, genuine moments to celebrate our wins and brainstorm fixes for our flaws. There was no us versus
036them. There was only the mission. Spir spirit, you might cry, why show me this now? Because you must see how far you have fallen. You have traded collaboration for a rubber stamp. You have traded the marching band and the distinguished school banners for a locked vault of money that does no good to a ghost. It is time for all of you to step to step up to the plate. Reclaim the heart of South Bay. Do what is right for the students and the employees who still stand here today before they too become nothing more than memories of Christmas past. I stand before you. I stand before you not with a vision of what was or what yet may be, but with the cold hard truth of this very moment. My torch, which usually sprinkles cheer,
037feels heavy today. Look at your schools. The lifeblood of education is being drained away. Your teachers are packing their bags. They seek a place where they are valued, while here they are met with an unfair contract. I see a board that sits at top a mountain of gold. Millions meant to be for children, yet kept in a cold vault. They claim prudence, but I tell you, it's negligent to hoard the resources meant for children's growth while their schools crumble. A sin against the spirit of the season. And what of the leaders? I see a superintendent who moves pieces on a map like a game [music] of chess. Closing the doors of neighborhood schools and tearing the fabric of our communities and behind them a school board that does nothing but nod and stamp aicating their
038duty to the people who elected them. Is there no refugee? Is there no resources? If the doors close, if the teachers are driven away, and if this money remains locked in a chest while the community crumbles, then the future I see is bleak indeed. A school is not a line item on a spreadsheet. It is the soul of the neighborhoods. Change your poor school board. Open your hands, superintendent, for the clock is ticking and the present is nearly gone. The ghost of Christmas future. Look upon these ruins. The silence you hear is not peace. It is the silence of a neighborhood that has lost its soul. Observe the hallways of what was once a school filled with laughter. Now the windows are boarded up and the playgrounds are overgrown with weeds. The school did not
039close for a lack of need, but for a lack of will. By closing these doors, you destroyed the heart of the community. Families seeing no future for their children packed their cars and fled, leaving behind empty houses and desolate streets. Look into the classrooms that still remain open. What will you find? Desks without teachers, vacant positions that no one wants to fill. Dust covered books and forgotten children who become numbers in a system that preferred to save pennies rather than their minds. And look to the boardroom. Where are those who rubber stamped every order without question? They are gone. recalled and cast out. >> Thank you. [cheering and applause] Right now we have business services first internet financial report for 25 >> presidentza uh CSA was not able to hear um the call so they
040have come up and they have uh they would like to to speak. Absolutely. What do each one of us need right now to feel okay? It is common for people to blame if they feel attacked. Right now, I see division and a group of educators combating for their muchdeserved raises because they feel their livelihood isn't safe. This situation has spiraled out of control. Let's focus on shared goals. Let's identify the things we already agree on and build from there. Better education, safer schools, fair working conditions, stability for the children because it's all about them, right? Scaring away the community is negative reinforcement of the problem. Let's figure out what small part of this we can fix right now and go from there. Isn't that what we all want? To go home at the end of
041the day feeling positive, having something good to say to the people we share our lifespans with about our work. One small point of order. Point of order. If you're going to address the board, please address the board. Thank you. >> Okay, I've lost my place. Give me a minute. >> One small improvement each day over the course of the year turns into 365 nights of restful, worry-free sleep and one large change. Let's be the change we wish to see in our community and our lives. Ask yourselves, what can I do to help those around me? Ask others what they need and help each other. CSEA is here tonight in support of SWAT. Okay, we got business services first intern financial report for 20 2025 2026. Recognize assistant superintendent regular in director Jonathan Meras for presentation
042of the first interim financial report for 2025 2026. Okay. I I just want to make sure that during his report that we're able to hear him, please. I'm not sure why people are booing uh when this is about money and this is why you all are here. So, if you guys So, I really voter um President Manuel, I think we uh >> Trusty Ler read something at the beginning of the meeting. >> Okay. again. So, I'm just going to say it one more time. I mean it very respectfully. I believe I'm being very polite. Um, this is very heavy stuff, right? It's very important. This is kind of what drives all the decisions that we're making. Um, I'm trying to understand this myself, right? because we hear we meet with them all the time and
043they share with us these numbers and then we hear from the community, we hear from the union and the information is different, right? So, if we're going to understand this stuff, um, we need to be able to pay attention. Um, and this is a great opportunity for people to also hear what they're presenting to us and then we can talk about this later. But please, so we can have a smooth meeting, um, I ask that you all let us listen to, um, Regal's presentation. Um, and I really hope that we don't have to stop the meeting again. Um, because we're all here for the same reasons. >> Good evening, President Esparza, board of trustees, Superintendent Espinosa, staff, and community. Uh tonight we are presenting the first update to the 2526 budget, the first interim report
044which reflects uh um actual expenditures through October 31st, 2025. Again, this is our first of several reports that we present throughout the fiscal year. Simple four-step process of the um the submitt process. Step one, the report is developed over the last few weeks um by the fiscal services department. Uh we also work with other departments uh to ensure as accurate as possible information. Step two, six days prior to this board meeting, the report is posted in the board agenda, the one Amy sends out to everybody and the ones that we post as well. Step three, at tonight, the board approves submitt or or takes action on on approving the submitted report to the county office. And the final step after this meeting, the board president uh newly appointed president Sparza will sign the report and
045then we'll submit it to the county office. Our annual budget cycle um as a reminder July 1st is the start of each and every new fiscal year. Uh a few months ago we presented the onedated actuals for the prior fiscal year 2425. And to clarify the audited actuals, uh that is not a budget update. We're are actually presenting what happened during the 2425 fiscal year actual revenue and expenditures. It is on audited. Uh there will be an audit report coming in the next couple of months to um confirm the the the audited actuals. But our first update is tonight, our first interrum. Um and again, that's data as of October 31st. Good evening everyone. We are going to take a look at the general fund revenues. In the past, we've shared percentages here. Today, we
046have added actual dollar amounts that tie in to the total amount of revenues there on the end. the lo the state local control funding formula continues to be our biggest source of revenue and we'll touch a little bit on that in our next slide. [snorts] Our second biggest source of revenue for the general fund is state restricted uh revenues other state restricted revenues. Here you can see that our biggest source of revenue, our local control funding formula from the state has declined 10% over the last couple years. You can see there a couple of those years we had what we call extraordinary colas. That is not the norm. We have now come down to regular colas. Um and we don't expect to see those big colas anytime soon. Our general fund expenditures here you can
047see the same thing we shared dollar amounts to tie into to our total uh expenditures. What I want to highlight here is our books and supplies. It's $14 million. 11.9 million of those dollars are from our restricted resources, which include carryover amounts from last year's restricted ending balances. Um, some of those might be spent this current year. We're projecting to spend them, but some of those might carry over to the following year as well. This is one of the most important parts. Here we're looking at unrestricted only expenditures. Here you can see that our district continues to spend over 90% of our unrestricted dollars on staff. Currently projecting at 90.6%. We have broken down our expenditures by group benefits and salaries. Our one-time restricted dollars will be spent down by the end of this year.
048We only have our arts and music which need to be spent down by June 2026 and our learning recovery block grant uh which can be spent down on to uh 2028 but we will spend that down by the end of this year. So you this this interim and maybe the second interim will be the last time you probably see this slide. In this slide you will see the comparison from adopted budget to first interim. Our highlight here in the beginning fund balance from adopted to first interim the variance was only 138,000. Our biggest or a big factor in our deficit spending continues to be our contributions. You can see our contributions are uh projected to increase by $2.4 million from adopted to our current reporting period resulting in an ending fund balance decrease of $2.5
049million. uh you will hear from oh assistant superintend we we discuss rising costs and in you know we're all we all experience the the effect of inflation in our personal lives um and generally you know those fluctuate we've had some high we've had some high increases in the eight or nines in the last couple years but typically they're they're around 3% on average uh for our basic goods and services Unfortunately, there are several factors that are rising much higher um than than the 3%. And I want to share a couple of these that we've started to share at at some previous meetings that we've had with our community. Uh the first one is our liability um liability insurance premium. Uh just like we all do, this school districts also have uh insurance premiums that cover
050personal injury. You know, it's also covers auto uh personal dam uh property damage um you know, protections against lawsuits. Uh that's why we we need to make sure that we have our insurance and you can see just like again basic uh you know insuranceances that rise in our personal lives the district also um takes a hit there and in just the last few years since 2223 uh it's increased to almost 46% to $817,000 and again this is an ongoing cost um that continues to rise for us. Another coverage am I not louder? Okay. Um, another coverage that we receive here is the cyber security. There's been in the last few years uh many districts that are impacted um by you know outside people hacking their systems and then requesting payment in order to release such
051things like such as personal information things like that. Uh that coverage is included here as well. Every time something happens like that major events we all are affected by that with the increase in insurance premiums. Another one is Assembly Bill 218 that extended the timeline for victims of sexual abuse um to be extended and we are now um you know there's been lawsuits throughout California and we are also responsible partially for for payments for those um for those lawsuits. Now here I just want to be very careful here that the the issue here is not that this law exists. people who are victims of sexual abuse, they they deserve justice and to seek um repair for the damages that were done to them. The issue here for us as a school district is that it's
052not funded. So there are laws that are passed by the state of California and then we are left to figure out how to cover those costs. So at this time um we are covering it and you can see that initially we only had to pay close to about it's not only it is a good amount uh $200,000 in 2223 and 2324. Last fiscal year that increased it tripled to $600,000. As of now we are we do not know what we need to budget for for 2526. We are assuming the $600,000 cost. So that's approximately what we have in the my but we won't have a an exact number until February and possibly March. Um and and we will update you hopefully in the second in we'll have that that update and hopefully we don't see
053another increase. Again we won't know until then and we have to budget with the the most recent cost there which again since 2223 is an increase of 203%. Another one is special education and again I want to start with the concern is not special education but the concern is that it is not funded appropriately. We all know about the the cost of special education and and and the increases in the contributions that we have to take from the general fund in order to pay for the cost of special education. Again the issue here is that we are not funded fully to cover these costs. So, just to bring up a a a hypothetical here, if we just look at what we're projecting for 2526, we're projecting close to $18 million in expenditures and that we
054would need to contribute $15.7 million to the general fund. You know, that's in the probably 70% of it is needs to be covered by I don't have the calculation in front of me, but I'm just estimating there. Uh let's just assume let's just again a hypothetical. If federal and state dollars covered 50% of special education, then our contribution, let's cut it in half from the $18 million. Let's just say we were only contributing $9 million. That's 6.7 million additional general fund dollars that we would have ongoing moving forward. That's the difference just having 50% covered. But again, you can see that that's not the case. And the issue here with special education is that the state and federal governments are not funding us at the levels that would really assist us. A challenge that again
055we are taking on and we are covering. But just want to make make sure that it's you know we understanding that there are are basic increases in in in goods and services but then there are some outliers that are really skyrocketing and that we have to uh we are held to to take care of and we're going to um and NYP's next. Thank you. As we look at our multi-year projection assumptions, we take in data, historical data, current data from our state, local educational partners. But what we really need to keep in mind is that this will change. This is just current as of now. Um, those numbers will change. We can see that our cola in the first out year is 3.02%. We do expect that to change and our cola in the second
056out year is 3.42. Our biggest factor in our revenue loss is declining enrollment. It continues to affect our revenues and you will see in other slides our demographer data continues to show that the district will continue to decline in enrollment. Other things included in our assumptions is the closure of the central school in the two all years. And as assistant superintendent La mentioned, special education costs and contributions continue to grow. Like I mentioned earlier, our projections continue to show decline in enrollment. Our demographer data or our enrollment data is based on census census day which is uh from the first week of October. We will have updated numbers for the two out years when we receive updated demographer data during our second interim update to the board. Here you can see that even though our
057district or the state has a 2.3% cola, when we're a district and declining enrollment, it does not mean more revenue. You can see our decreasing revenue there from 2425 to our projected revenue from our local control funding formula decreasing uh from 54 to $52 million. about a $2 million difference. So, not only that, you add the cost of fixed cost and our cola doesn't even cover that increase. You can see the impact we have declining enrollment, decreased revenue, and rising costs. As we look at our ending fund balance from an unrestricted side in a multi multi-year projection, you can see the effects our deficit has first of all on our beginning fund balance. Look at the decrease from year overyear and our NYP. That deficit spending continues to also affect of course our ending fund
058balance. You can see our ending fund balance current year estimated ending fund balance $28.5 million and in the first out year we go to $17.1 million. As we continue to deficit spend or project to deficit spend, you can see our second ally year, our projected ending fund balance goes down to $6.7 million. So what does that mean? We're projecting a 25 $28.5 million ending fund balance at the end of this year. projected from that $28.5 million we set aside 5% for our reserve for economic assert assernities and 22.6% for commitments and assignments. So what does that mean when we're deficit spending in a district district that is deficit spending? This assignments and commitments have to cover the deficit. So we bring forth a recommendation of positive certification indicating that the district can meet its financial
059obligations for the current year and the and the next two fiscal years. you know, our responsibility is to maintain this positive certification to continue to be able to meet our current um obligations in the next two years. Uh our our our goal is also also to maintain a 5% reserve for economic uncertainties. What does that mean? If we ever got to that point where we needed to use this 5% reserve, it is enough to sustain district operations, enough to pay the bills, to pay our staff for approximately 18 business days. So it would keep us going for about a month. Um, yeah. So approximately for a month, just to give you an idea of what that 5% means as far as in in reality. Again, our goals is to ensure long-term fiscal stability and to
060um address the deficit spending and to work towards eliminating it. So, our challenge is you know on added actual show that we are we are spending more than what we're receiving in revenue and we continue to project that. Um and in order to maintain fiscal solveny I did I am sharing today that we are able today to pay our bills throughout the NYP over the next two years. we are able to do that. Um, but we must implement expenditure reductions over the next several years in order to not get to a point where we're uh getting close to qualified um certification or negative. Um, so failure to take action on this, you know, I I was very deliberate in there. Uh, it will result in the district receiving a qualified or negative certification uh signaling
061a financial risk there. Again, this is not today, but if we continue to not address the some of the challenges that we're having around um our expenditures exceeding our revenue, then we will be facing that. So, our next steps, you know, every January the governor propo has his budget proposal for the next fiscal year. So, that will happen in just a few weeks. Um, we have already scheduled and made uh everyone aware that there is a a January 28th special board meeting here where a study session with school services of California. We'll come here and update you on some on you know budget and some staffing um information and data. And also at that time we will I'm skipping a little bit ahead to the final one. Um well I'll get to that final one.
062Let me let me address the other ones. In March, we will uh um present our second update to the board, our second update to the budget and that will be actual expenditures through the end of January. Uh take some time to get that together and then we come in front of March to present that and we'll have an updated my uh we already know with some of the information coming our way that you know that MP will will be different than what we what you're seeing tonight. uh school consolidation will continue to plan uh for the closure of central that is happening at the end of this year. Looking ahead uh sharing information um uh for if using that information to see if a school school closure number two needs to happen um in this
063district. Again, that's looking at enrollment and financial information. Uh so in order to become fiscally solvent, we do have to look at the budget reduction plan that we are currently working on. It will be shared in January during the special um study session and we are looking at a range of a three-year plan. It's not a one-year plan of a 8 million to 12 million three-year reduction plan in order to uh rightsize our budget. Um again, that's what's needed today. When new information comes our way, we may need to adjust that and we will. There are any questions? Thank you, Rigo. Thank you, President. >> Excuse me. So, we wanted to ask questions in relation to, you know, the presenters. Please just pass some real silence and we just go through it real quick. Thank
064you. >> Thank you, Eagle, for the outstanding report and the projections and the the minutes because the minute changes in a minute. So, uh, you and your staff, thank you, Jonathan, and everyone that works in your department. I can't stress that enough how important it is to have a sound team when we're working with all these members and to present to me uh clearly. Thank you. Uh real quick, um I did have an opportunity to speak with the superintendent in regards to fund 20 and fund 20 was noted on the projection uh uh budget sheets at 0.24 if I remember 0.24% that is a trust and How much is in the trust? >> Are you are you speaking to the OPIP trust? >> Yes. >> Uh so it's the irrevocable trust. Uh so that is
065at approximately now it it it fluctuates because it it's being invested. Um >> oh I I no I know it's not in there. I'm just suggest I'm just talking about if it's OPIB that you're asking about. Yeah. So, that's where I'm getting to. Um that is actually dollars that are not in our in our budget. Um they're in the ir irrevocable trust and that is there to reduce our liability, our op liability, which we want to get to zero. It it's challenging to get to zero. Um but we've definitely reduced that from I believe it was in Oh, wow. The liability was like at 20 million. It's reduced uh considerably. Um, so that's where it's at. It's in the revocable trust. >> Okay. So when you bring back the um actuals next time, can we
066have that information, superintendent? Thank you. Um, it is a revocable. >> So just to clarify, add information regarding the >> the trust. Okay. >> Uhuh. because the objective was uh for the board uh I don't know three years ago to secure uh that money to pay for our our unfunded um >> health and benefits for our retirees. Correct. >> So that's what the board did. >> So everybody uh thank you. So I look forward to that. We won't do that. >> Okay. So because the trust will eventually pay for this obligation. Thank you. >> Thank you, President Esparza. I have a few questions. Um if I recall when we looked at the actuals last time, Your projections the projections were very close. Is that correct? Do you remember what >> we we made projections during
067um adopted budget and then we then had the actuals on actuals and I believe it was and it was shown there it was aboutund $38,000. Yes. >> That's incredible. And these are based on not these are based on um statewide projections not just something that you as individuals I mean >> so the the so the assumptions we use to make the projections uh are statewide there's some local data that we utilize we use historical data um South Bay historical data we we bring all that together to make the assumptions um that's why we we always let you know that that's the information that we have at that moment and how we make the projections in that time. >> Well, you were so close. The projections were very close. So, thank you so much for your
068work. And um my >> and if I can just add one more thing, there's actually an internal practice that we started to work on just a few years ago of revisiting budgets um mid year for a few months and then just really looking at whether or not those uh projected expenditures were going to happen. Uh so if there were several vacant positions that hadn't been hired and it's already February, uh we work with the departments to to release those and not put them in the budget. So we make all those adjustments by um by June so that we can come to a number that's as accurate as possible. >> Thank you. And um our our biggest issue is declining enrollment. And um that's not a unique problem to South Bay Union School District. >> No.
069Um I sorry to throw this out at you, but like what would you like out of all the districts like how many do you think are having like what percentage like 80% 90% of school districts in California are suffering from declining enrollment? Is it >> I've heard several numbers it goes as high as 70 that I've heard. Um I know just the local school district around us that you know we speak to and meet with they're having challenges with declining enrollment. probably not at the level that we are >> um you know maybe 5% for Chiliva Vista is what I last saw. It might have changed by now where others may be in the 15 to 20 range. Um but locally yes and and I don't have the exact number of how many throughout uh
070California but I have heard some numbers and I think I can safely say more than half. >> Thank you. I mean, I just having friends and colleagues and working in other districts, I see that this is it's it's not just our issue. And then looking at um slide 22 where at our uh ending fund balance is um in a short time has gone from 28 plus million 28.5 million to um nearly 6 and a half million. When we're still in negotiations right now, does this amount at all include whatever is eventually negotiated upon? >> When we have an agreement, we have to complete the AB1200 and show uh the the cost of the agreement to the district. And when we have an agreement and we assess that cost, when we calculate that cost, we will
071have an updated NYP with the cost of an agreement. You do not see that tonight. >> Okay. Thank you. Um and then um so when we're talking about uh the special board meeting on January 28th, um the study session with School Services of California, can you explain a little bit more to us about what what that will entail? what who who's going to be leading the session and and what will we be >> we haven't finalized the exact agenda of that day but I could share with you what we are sharing with them in preparation for that study session uh obviously our financials and our reports uh they're looking at our staffing uh they're looking at comparisons to similar districts throughout California just to give us an idea of where we are in comparison to
072those districts um so when I when I when I'm saying comparable districts they're looking at similar districts with enrollment uh student demographics uh and revenue. So, so those things will be shared with you uh along with the uh budget reduction plan that we will bring forth uh to brightize our budget. >> The budget reduction plan. >> Thank you so much. Um, so we we currently live in like the fourth largest economy in the whole world, right? California. Is that correct? >> Fourth or fifth? I think there's a little back and forth about that, but yes. >> Why doesn't the state contribute more to fund education? >> Mr. Turn on the mic. >> I'll say why why is it all right? So my question was if we live in the fourth largest economy in the world
073um home to the most billionaires in this country the wealthiest country in the world also why doesn't the state and federal government um fund contribute more to our education system >> big question there let me go I'll take that okay >> um and I think that question obviously um we can't answer that question here in the school district but I would offer that the state and the federal government make a choice not contri not not to contribute more right um and I I know there's a lot of advocacy around ensuring that um you know given that we're the fourth believe it's the fourth largest economy in the world uh there's a lot of advocacy around you know how we advocate towards a state to improve funding for California when you compare California to the rest
074of the country. And let's be very clear, California funds a lot of what happens in the rest of the country, right? California pays more in federal taxes and more in federal dollars than we receive back in services, right? So, California could do more. Um and you know I I have to we have a a new funding formula um which is a lot better. Um if you look at how California has been funded over the last you know since a new funding formula revenue per student has increased that without a doubt revenue per student has increased and it it has cons increased considerably >> and I have the the slide there showing that right there in the LCFF per ADA. >> Yeah. And that's just one year, right? But I'm talking about o over time. Since
075the new funding formula, revenue has increased. However, the big challenge that that we face particularly in South Bay is our declining enrollment. So if revenue increases from 14,07 to 15,01, but we lose 179 students, it's not an increase for us, right? it's actually a decrease for us. So for us, that's the biggest that's the biggest obstacle. But to answer your question, um the state is making a decision to fund us in in the way that they're funding us. And there needs to be a lot more advocacy towards the state um to to improve um how we're being funded. >> Cool. Yeah. And I was just asking because I wonder what we could do as a board to do some of that advocacy. And I mean we have a room full of powerful people right now.
076Um and I know this is not just happening in this district. I can just imagine what would happen if all of us came together uh to really demand that our government really uh change this formula to make sure our schools are funded because from what I understand in most school in most countries uh education is free, healthc care is free, right? Um people have housing. So, it just really baffles me, right, to think like how is it in the most the richest country in the world, right, the fourth largest econom state, right? How is it that we're in this in this predicament, right? Just wanted to throw that out there. >> Any anybody else have any other questions? [clears throat] >> We have one public comment on this item. Michelle Gates. Um, hi, I'm Michelle
077Gates. I am an IB uh charter eighth grade English teacher. I am the SWAT secretary. So, first of all, Coast to Coast is coming in April for CSBA, and if you want to find those questions answered or be part of that answering, I suggest you go. Um, just putting that out there. Um, uh, things along the way. It's a 3% reserve, not a 5% reserve. And you the same way that every other district has to then go and take a loan if there's not money or the or the state doesn't pay us, so do you. So quit taking the 5% and using that as an excuse. Cut the budget. Put it down at 3%. Get that over with. Um, also 1.9 million to field trips in sixth grade. I am speaking to you. I'm just
078wondering if anybody in this room has received money for that. Oh, so apparently no teachers have received money for field trips. It's not at the $1.9 million limit that you have sitting there. So, I'm just calling that the lie that it is. It's a lie. It's nothing else but a lie. As a sixth grade teacher, I cannot tell you how bothersome it was. And for those who continue to go, it is that we have to call parents and pursue parents and have them get aggravated with us over coming up with the money for sixth grade camp. 1.9 million. I don't think so. Quit lying to us. You need to take admin out of any kind of numbers. You keep on lumping them in with classified and certificated staff as if they are part of our
079pay. They are not. Also, when it comes to districts, I know for instance, uh, Trusty Lier, that your district where you work did a 1.75% increase for teachers and moved health benefits up to 20,500. For us, that is $4,200 more than what we got. That's a lot of money. That's also why we have teachers leaving here and we can't fill all the roles that we have. Take a look at the job list. Some of those things are just going round and round and round again. Again, um I will say commitments can always change. So the fact that we act like all of this is in stone is not. Um, I do not appreciate the fact that we keep disrespecting our time when we've been here all day and you act like it is your meeting
080when I've already read the Brown Act rules to you. This is a public meeting. And last but not least, I I have one more. I'm assuming that with everything the way that is right now, the superintendent is not taking his race. Thank you for your comment. Order please. Any other questions? Do we have a motion? >> Mr. President, hearing no other comments or questions, I move the question forward. Oh, sorry. One question. Not sure if we're we're allowed to do this, but I have a question just for clarity around the the field trips. Um, from my understanding is that if there is a family that cannot afford to go to sixth grade camp, they can ask the district for that fund. Is that correct? All right. >> Yes, that that is the way that is
081done. And to further to further clarify, it's not on the agenda, so we cannot speak about it, but every sixth grade student gets half of their of their camp paid for. >> Okay. And I don't know if this is something for like a future agenda item or if there's could be maybe like a email sent out to all the sixth grade teachers letting them know that this is available for them. >> Yes. >> Okay. Go ahead. Uh, trusty can continue on this, please. >> I'm ready to move the item forward. If you're ready, Mr. President, >> go ahead. >> Thank you. I move to approve the submission of the positive certification of the first interim financial report for 2025-2026. >> Second. >> Go for the vote. >> Esparza, >> yes. Kenyon, >> yes. >> Medina,
082>> yes. >> Lyer, >> yes. >> Lopez, Aino, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5. >> Thank you. >> Public comments on non-aggenda 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 non-aggenda items. Speakers are not permitted to yield their time to another person. The board limits the total time for public input for each item to 20 minutes. Amy, do we have any public We have several uh we have 11 just on negotiations >> and I was just given one. I don't know the topic. >> So we go 11. I I would say 12. >> Do we want to do two minutes? Okay. Two minutes for each each person. Hi
083May Romo. Good evening, President Esparsa, members of the board of trustees, and superintendent Espinosa. My name is Haime Romo, and I'm here tonight as a concerned spouse, former parent, current parent, my two beautiful daughters, and a community member. It is disheartening to witness the decline of this school district since my children attended Mendoza Elementary School 5 to 15 years ago. Araeli is in high school and Vivana's in I mean she's college, I'm sorry. At that time, the district had a thriving visual and performing arts program that played a pivotal role in my daughter's development. The skills they gained helped shape who they are today, giving them confidence and allowing them to come out of their shells. Since the previous superintendent, changes have been made that have negatively impacted this program and many others throughout the
084district. It often appears that budget cuts and changes begin at the bottom. Students, teachers, and the staff who directly support them are losing valuable resources. Programs and positions. Meanwhile, administrative roles and salaries continue to grow. These positions have little direct contact with students and rarely have a meaningful impact on their daily lives. Why not begin making cuts at the top and prioritize the students and programs that truly define the district? It is also difficult to understand why securing a fair contract for SBUSD staff has taken so long. As a teamsters union member, I have personally experienced contract negotiations with my global company that took only just a week. here. Negotiations have lasted over 16 months and SUA is now on the verge of a strike. I have seen firsthand the stress, struggle, and toll this
085process has taken on my wife, who serves both as a sixth grade teacher and a bargaining member. >> Thank you for your comment. >> Thank you. Hold on, Amy. Hold on, Amy. >> Okay, I'll just remind you that we like to hear what the speaker has to say. And please, please, we just want to hear everybody. when it's you guys making noise or clapping whatever this time it's only two minutes so we just want to give everybody the equal time and equal rights please thank thank you Frank Cherry followed by followed by Teresa Aosta and Julian Vicente point voter. Um Amy, can you repeat the names again, please? >> Frank Cherry, followed by Teresa Aosta, followed by Julian Vicente. >> And sorry, I know everybody loves Mr. Cherry. If we can just hold applause till
086he's done speaking. Okay. Thank you. >> Point of personal privilege right now. I'd like to recognize the greatest teacher I ever knew. Not just a Sunday school teacher, she taught at Lomol Linda University. Wasn't just a school board member. She was a school board president who believed in collective bargaining and also a binding arbitration for the grievance process. She was a single mom who raised three kids. The oldest became a San Diego deputy homicide detective. The other two ch her children were teachers. She ran Riverside County Welfare for 30 years, the juvenile division. I'd request a moment of silence for my mom who passed away a week ago Monday. So that's what you get the big money for. All right. Next, I want to talk about Central Elementary. I don't know what you're planning for
087that place. Probably sell it to play for the outrageously exorbitant uh salary you're paying this superintendent. I'd make a suggestion you look at maybe affordable housing for teachers like San Diego Unified is doing. But whatever you do, please give me a call when you decide to get rid of it because my first year there, we buried a time capsule. I'd be happy to show you where it is. Next, I know superintendents don't like you talking to teachers. Afraid that you maybe hear something that'll bring up some uncomfortable questions for them. Only one of you was here when SWAT got rid of Grignon and there was a huge culture change at that time. In fact, there were closed sessions when SWAT was able to go and present their information to the board members. SW has only
088asked board members to listen to try to understand try to understand their concerns, their position, and their rationale. It is probably too late for that now, though. You can't back a junkyard dog into a corner and not expect them to strike. That's exactly what each and every one of you have done. Any strike's going to be on you and only on you. Lastly, when you wise up and decide to get rid of this guy or he's milked you dry, my offer to be superintendent for free still stands. no salary, no health insurance for me and my family, no car allowance, no travel expense to fly up and see my family. I can guarantee you two things will happen. One, morale will sore. and two, you'll be able to free up about a half a million
089dollars that you can then apply to teachers and CSEA's salary. And in closing, in my last four seconds, merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Teresa Acasta, followed by Julian Vicente, if you could please come to the front of the room, followed by Veronica Dwarte. Good evening, parents, community members, colleagues, board members, and Mr. Espinosa. Unfortunately, it seems that everything we have said, shared, and presented to this board has been in vain and has fallen on deaf years. Nevertheless, I'm here today to share with you a conversation that took place years ago. In fact, four years to date. The date was December 7, 2021. On this day, all SBUSD staff were invited to attend a meet and greet Zoom meeting. This meeting was officiated by Mr. Mr. Espinosa with the purpose of
090introducing himself to our community employees and to answer questions if we had any. I specifically asked Mr. Espinosa for questions that could possibly reflect his beliefs on leadership. Fortunately, I had the foresight to write down each question along with each answer Mr. Espinosa provided. I will now share those questions and the answers with you. Question one, what are you your future plans for our district? quote to provide a space where students, parents, and staff feel happy to be at and feel welcome. Please clap if you are happy and feel welcomed. Question two, where do you see our district in two years? Quote, everyone working together, moving in the same direction, united and where everyone feels valued. Please clap if you feel unified and you valued. Question three, how will you support your educators? Quote, in
091any way possible, I'm their number one advocate. In quotation marks, please clap if you feel endless support and advocated for. Question four, do you plan any immediate changes in our district? Quote, "No, I plan on learning, asking questions, and planning. Please clap if you feel fine with all the sudden changes in our district, especially the size of the of administration. And by the way, >> thank you for your comment. >> Julian Vicente, followed by Veronica Dwarte. >> Test test. South Bay Union School District is the foundation for the community in which students grow academically and socially into responsible members of society. These are the words of the district's mission, val vision, and values flyer. The flyer goes on to list further goals, but judging by the size and resentment from the audience, it is clear
092that these goals have not been achieved. This district's current mission, which champions inclusion, excludes teachers, not only in the statements letters, but through disrespect, unfair wages, and neglect. Judging on prior actions of this board, those consisting of half measures and excuses, I've proposed a revised mission statement. To combat this district's incompetence to adequately uphold their own, I present the following mission. Our revised mission must be to educate and empower students by first supporting and valuing the educators who serve them, ensuring fair treatment, respect, and the conditions necessary for teachers to lead classrooms with excellence, equity, and purpose. But as demonstrated, a mission means nothing if it isn't upheld in practice. Don't be the district that forces teachers out of the classroom and onto the picket line. It is time that this district lives up to
093its values of community, equity, high expectation, leadership, principles they failed to uphold. It is time that this district lives up to its vision of facilitating social responsibility which they've turned a blind eye to. It is time that this district begins to live up to a mission of partnership and it is time that this district begins to understand that teachers are at the forefront of accomplishing these things. Thank you Veronica Dwarte followed by Emily Porus and Alandre Medina. Good evening, President Esparza and board. I'd like to start my comments by addressing stalled negotiations. These negotiations have gone on for well over a year and a half, and now educators and the district are in fact finding fighting for basic fairness. I want to remind you that this board had no problem quickly approving a generous deal
094for the superintendent. 4% raises every year of his contract and full medical benefits for his entire family. That decision was fast and easy and unquestioned. But for certificated staff, all we hear is there's no money, declining enrollment, and deficit spending. That contrast is insulting and shows the true value you place on certificated staff. Let's be clear about finances. There is a difference between deficit spending and deficit budgeting. Deficit spending means that the district is out of money or dipping into the state required reserves. That is not happening. What is happening is deficit budgeting, claiming we can't afford things while money sits unused. For example, that $1.9 million for field trips is budgeted year after year and rolled over because schools can't realistically access it. The district also has a roughly $39 million in unrestricted reserves.
095That money can be repprioritized so that act to what actually impacts students and certificated staff which is at the very least health care cost, class size and mainstreaming leaving space for mainstreaming. At the very least, educators deserve the same generosity given to the superintendent and the new interim at $111,000 for four months of work. The problem isn't a lack of money, it's a lack of priorities, which brings me to leadership. This points to a deeper problem. Emily Porus followed by Alandre Medina and Sarah Pine. Good evening everyone. I was a future student who believes that school should be more than just a place where we learn academics. School should be a place where students feel safe, supported, and understood. In the future, I want to help students succeed, not only in the classes, but also
096emotionally. Many students come to school carrying stress and anxiety and challenges that others may not see. Some students have IEPs or 504 plans, and sometimes they feel different or left behind. I believe every student deserves patience, respect, and support they need to succeed. This is personal to me because I have a brother who has a IEP and has learned to advocate for himself. His experience has showed me how powerful student voice is and how important it is to teach students to speak up for them for the needs. My vision is also one where the district works in partnership with the teachers, students, the families and the community. One example [clears throat] of this is for the student district advisory. Through this experience, student fel students felt that their voices were truly heard. The superintendent was
097engaged, listened to our concerns and respond throughout Lee thoughtfully. This showed students that our opinions matter and the district values student voice. I believe that collaboration between the district and students is essential. When we work together as a team, teachers, district staffs, and student and families, students come first. Cooperation or competition. This is what allows students to succeed and feel supported. As ASB president, I believe students come first. That means listening to students concerns, standing up for what's right right, and making decisions that are that are made with students in mind. Leadership is not about titles. It's about service, responsibility, and representing every student. Imperial Beach Charter School would always be my home. A place where I feel welcome, included, and valued. A place where many differences are respected, and where students are not afraid
098to ask for help. When a school feels like home, students feel more confident, confident, motivated, and proud to be there. As a future student leader, I want to continue building strong connections between students, teachers, families, and the district. I want to make sure students voices remain heard, respected, and prioritized. This is the future I believe in, and this is the future I'm proud to stand for. Thank you. Alandre Medina followed by Sarah Pine followed by Orion Brohammer. >> Good evening everyone. I am a student and this is a student concern. If our teachers go on strike, it could affect us in many ways. Classes might be cancelled, which means we could we could fall behind in learning. It can also be stressful because our daily routine and support from teachers will be dis disrupted. Some
099students rely on school not just for learning but for emotional support, meals, and a safe place to be. Even though teachers have important reasons to for striking, it's hard on students too. We would need to stay motivated, support each other, and make sure we continue learning as best as we can. I hope everyone, students, teachers, and districts can work together to find a solution that keeps learning going while respecting our teachers. Thank you, [applause] Sarah Pine. followed by Orin Brohammer followed by Allison Hoover. Right. >> Good evening members of the board. My name is Sarah Pine and I'm a parent in this district. My son is autistic and non-verbal and last year he was t last year he was taught by Mrs. Q, an exceptional special education teacher who truly went above and beyond for
100her students. She knew my son as an individual and supported him in ways that made him excited to go to school every single day. For special education students, class sizes and staffing is critical. Last year, my son's class was not small, but it was manageable because there was enough support. This year, many more students have been added, including students with more severe needs, and there is not enough instructional aids in the classroom. Because of this, students like my son seem to fall behind. Because of the lack of support, my son has been in situations this year where he has been hurt by other students. There are times where I am told exactly what happened. And unfortunately, there are other times where staff does not know what happened because there is nobody watching my son. And
101mind you, he's non-verbal. He cannot tell me who hurt him, where he got hurt. So, as a parent, this is deeply concerning. This is not about blame on teachers or students. This is about safety and appropriate staffing. Smaller class sizes, more class aids, and competitive salaries are essential to retaining qualified special education teachers and ensuring that our most vulnerable students like my son are safe and supported. Thank you for for your time and listening to families like mine. Oh, Ryan Brohammer. >> So, um I I love my teacher. She's good. But you're not paying them enough. You're >> You just All I got to say is that I love my teacher. I love my school. I just can't say anything. You made me really disappointed. Sorry about that, guys. Peace out. Allison Hoover followed by
102Ilana Aou followed by Aaron Stonecipher. Good evening board. Um I'm not a new friend to you all obviously. Um that was my son and before his peace out. He said that he's very disappointed in you all. And I think that everybody in this room, including myself, has the same sentiments. Um, I definitely think that we have a very topheavy situation going on where we're paying the top way too much and we're not paying all these wonderful people and the ones that are not in this room quite enough. As an SSC member at my school at Emory, I'm looking at having to cut uh another, you know, classified employee. We don't even know how many kids we're going to be absorbing from the central closure. But we're still going to have to make these choices. It's
103ridiculous. Why are you not looking at the reality? We're not Oakland. Everybody's talked about different things that we have money here, we have money here, but really if we all actually sat down and looked how we could make really nice cuts from the top to the bottom, we can start funding the bottom up. And that means giving the rights and giving the things that our children need. Like the woman that spoke before my son that's concerned about what's happening to her child. It's it's it's just uh ad horn at this point. What are you guys going to do and what are we going to do? How can we meet in the middle? That is what I would like to do as a parent. Find a way where we can cut from the top, build from
104the bottom, and all meet in the middle because we are not Oakland School District. We are not going to get taken over by the state. This is ridiculous. And I I just I I I honestly don't have anymore anymore because I asked my questions. I fielded my findings. And even then, it doesn't matter to you all. You still make your plans. You still make your ideas. Iliana Aub followed by Aaron Stone Cipher followed by Juliana Figueroa. Good evening everyone. To add some holiday cheer, I want to start with a joke. Knock knock. >> Uh, not a fair contract. The continued decision to drag this process out is deeply troubling. The lack of leadership, the unwillingness to work with good intentions, and your persistent push back have become poison to this district. Where is your guidance?
105Where is your empathy? What happened to your vision, your purpose, your why? These are not abstract questions, Jose. They are the foundation of responsible leadership. And right now, that foundation is crumbling under the weight of your inaction and resistance. What you describe to the media as generous. >> Excuse me, speaker. You address the board. Please address the board only. What you describe to the media as generous offers are in reality crumbs offered without good faith, followed by a false narrative that the association is refusing to negotiate. You talk the talk, but you most certainly don't walk the walk. It has become impossible to ignore the truth. Your words about respecting teachers are completely empty. Your actions tell a very different story. Whatever your motives may be, the message you are sending to the community is
106unmistakable. Your decisions show a disregard for the well-being of teachers, a disregard for the stability of our community, and most troubling of all, a disregard for the needs of our students. So, tonight, I am calling on you to act decisively and immediately. step up, return to the table in good faith, prioritize the people who make this dis district function, and finalize a fair contract. Now, our teachers cannot wait, our families cannot wait, and our students who depend on us. >> Thank you. Thank you for your comment. Aaron Stoneciper followed by Juliana Figureroa followed by Stephen Shou. Good evening. I'm going to be emotional. Um, my name is Aaron Stonesciper, a parent of two and a PTA board member at I IB Charter. Um, we are I'm sorry, an active duty military family. And when we
107moved here, we were told, "Get an IDT. Do not go to school in South Bay." Well, I tried and I didn't get it. And I'm thankful because my expectations were far exceeded. And that is only because of the teachers at this school. I'm here tonight because I love my kids school. And it's because of these teachers. We've had an amazing experience in TK first grade, TK kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. These teachers deserve a contract of respect and fair pay. [snorts] And I will stand with them if they need to strike. If this comes to a strike, I will be prepared to pull my children and homeschool. And I not I know that not everyone is in that position, but that is what we will do as our family as long as necessary, which
108will further put your enrollment in decline. Additionally, as I noted, I am a certified sub that will not be here when subs are called because classrooms will be void of my kids' teachers. Please do your jobs and give these teachers the contract they deserve. >> [applause] >> Juliana Figueroa. I apologize in advance for my nervousness and for not having a speech ready. I'm just going to speak from my heart and I want to be very clear. I'm very thankful for the teachers that have supported my child. He's a special needs kid. I know how difficult he can be and how it's hard for him to open up to other people. And that's a huge reason why I'm forever thankful with my kids teachers which always support him and try to help him as best as
109they can. My kid has advanced dramatically and [snorts] and he's his goals due to his teachers and to his uh teachers aid. Um that's the reason why I'm here to plea for a just for justice for the teachers to get the the funds they deserve because they always are the ones who are there for the students when they need it. And guiding them on their way of education and expressing um as uh as they can cuz my student is a non-verbal and he's doing a little better due to all the teachers and all the support he gets in school. Sorry, [applause] Stephen Sha followed by Cassandra Adame followed by Karina Espuerta. Sorry. Good evening board members. Um I'm a father of two ASD children. Um and early on I went through the struggle of communicating
110with my children. Um so I can only imagine the struggles our teacher our teachers are going through having so many children in a class uh having to deal with their communication issues as well. Um, teaching the number of uh students in our classes, I'm sorry, raising the number of students in our classes will not only hinder our teachers ability to teach, but will make it more difficult for our children to reach their goals. Before my boys started school, they were both barely verbal. My youngest now communicates very successfully with his ACC device and will find his words soon. And my oldest has started uh having conversations with me to include sarcasm. And I credit all of this to the uh great teachers we have here who are not getting paid nearly enough for all the
111great work they do. Our teachers deserve better. Our children deserve better. Shout out to Miss Q. Cassandra Ottoame, Cassandra, Karina Espuerta, >> [applause] >> I believe she may need translation. Hello. Good afternoon. My name is Daniela. I am the mother of three girls. one who has special needs. I am proudly my daughter's voice and as mother I would love to see more teachers for our children with special needs so they can So they can achieve the goals of each of their indiv individualized plans. I'm here to support all teachers and especially special education teachers for the salary increase and opportunities they deserve. I wanted to thank all teachers, but especially special education teachers for the great work they do for our children. Thank you, Miss Ruffin, and their entire team for caring for caring for
112and supporting my daughter. She deserves everything. Jorge Lopez. >> Hi, my name is Jorge Lopez and I am the proud husband of a teacher. After seeing the presented budget and projections, I'm wondering if this newly elected board is seeing what I'm seeing and have asked themselves, why are we only focused on cutting costs? Cutting costs in the form of consolidating classrooms or cutting programs. In the pres presentation you showed us tonight, there was no bullet point on next steps to actually increase revenue for this district or how this district could be fiscally solvent after 3 years. So it seems like this district is on a countdown and seeing how long it can last before its funds hit zero, which again going off the presentation is project projected to happen after three years. All that has
113been presented to to us tonight is problems. So, I'm hoping by next meeting, this board can work with your fiscal team and rise to the challenge of preventing us real solutions to this budget crisis, keeping in mind the hardworking teachers of this district and the students who are worth fighting for. Okay, now we move on to the employment agreement. Recognize Superintendent Jose Spinosa for the presentation of employment agreement. Thank you, President Sparsa. Following the resignation of Melissa Griffith, an interim assistant superintendent was needed during the transition and upcoming search for a new assistant superintendent of human resources and organizational development. The employment agreement details the term December 1st, 2025 up to June 30th, 2026 at a salary of 1,150 per day for a 4 day per week. powers and duties and termination. The cost of
114this agreement will be covered from the general fund. It is respectfully requested that the board ratify the interim assistant superintendent employment agreement with Mr. Felix Avala. >> We have three public comments on this item. Right. >> Just going to give a minute. People I think are leaving or Um, point of clarity. Are we doing a discussion first or public comments first? >> Um, it is up to the board to what the board wants to do. They can do the public comment first or at the end. However the board wants to do it. We can wait till after the public comments. >> Oh, I think it's fine if we go after the public comments. >> Yeah, I recommend listening to the public comment. So, calling the public comments then the board can take a vote. Sorry,
115Amy. How many uh speakers we have? Three. Okay, go ahead with public comments, please. >> Vanessa Barrera, followed by Aaron Stone Cipher, followed by Mary Beth Sapati. I would like to start by saying that it is nothing against you, Mr. Aila. Um, but I must say that it is outrageous that we are going to contract an interim assistant superintendent for the cost of $1,150 per day for four days a week for 4600 a week for a total of 18,400 a month. When we say that there is no money to spend in our classrooms, when we say that we are in declining enrollment and that because of that we can't give our workers, the people that are here committed to this district a raise, yet we are going to bring the superintendent's buddy to pay them
116$18,000 per month. You say you're here to do what's best for our students. Then don't approve this tonight. Aaron Stone Cipher. She had to leave. Mary Beth Sapati. Hi. Um board members. I am here to read the letter. I emailed to you last night because I never heard a response and I didn't hear a response from the letter that I sent you on Sunday either. So, I'm going to read it to you because I don't know if it has been read. Um, I have several questions about your new hire, Felix Aila, who has already begun working as an interim assistant superintendent of human resources and organizational development before a public vote of approval. So, he started working before you've even voted for him tonight. According to transparentc california.com, the new executive director of human resources
117and organizational development is being paid $412 a day more than the previous position holder. If we have no money, how is this increase justified? Will the district also be paying for moving, car, housing, travel, or medical expenses related to his hire? If yes, what is the total cost and how can we afford it? San Diego has had a 4% cost of living increase last year. Jose Espinosa seems to have this built into his contract. What about the heart and soul of this district, the teachers? We have not had a raise since 2023 and the district's offer is 2%. That's not ser that's not ser a serious response to our reality. We're also not doing enough to retain students. Families are choosing other schools and there's no clear plan to grow or keep enrollment. Instead, we're
118closing schools while expanding management. This is the wrong direction. board, please do your job and fix this problem and negotiate and stop being topheavy and hiring more people that we cannot afford. Thank you. [applause] >> Okay. Do we have any questions? Any the discussion? >> Sorry, I [clears throat] just wanted to clarify um the new uh person that we're hiring, right? Um he from my understanding, we're paying him less than what we were paying the person who just left. >> I'm asking the superintendent. I already heard what you guys said. Appreciate it. Yes, that Melissa was getting paid more. Is that correct? >> Yes. Uh Melissa's total comp was more than what Mr. Avala has coming for. >> Okay. Also, another quick question for clarification. So, I remember when um when I first started here
119on this board, there was a raise that had just been approved um for the teachers, the last raise that they got. Um when we did that we brought up the lowest paid teachers our our teachers that started right were the lowest paid teachers and we changed that. Is that correct? >> Yes. The last uh contract actually the contract that we are in the reopener. So the third year of a three-year contract. Uh the first year we raised the minimum salary of beginning teachers. At that point when we were when we were looking at that our beginning teachers were the lowest paid in the county and as a result of those negotiations our beginning teachers at that point moved to I believe it was number one in the county. Now >> sorry how much was the
120raise that that negotiated last time? And I don't have the exact numbers, but they went from 42 or 43,000 beginning salary to roughly 57,000 beginning salary. Um, now to be clear, all districts keep negotiating and that 57,000 is more now, but all districts keep negotiating. So other districts have also negotiated. >> Okay. And then my last question, >> point of order. Point of order. >> Okay. So let's let's uh bring this into this next agenda. If you want to bring it up for the next agenda, we can >> to discuss for for >> Okay. Sorry. I think I have one more question. Let me know if this is appropriate or this is for the next agenda item. The the other question was I know we've talked a lot about like uh reducing salaries from the
121top, right? Um in the past few years um have we been able to do that? >> Out of order. Point of order, Mr. President, this is has nothing to do with the item that we are reviewing. Thank you. Please say yes. >> I believe it does have to do because we're talking about the employee agreement. I'm trying to understand if we are uh becoming more topheavy or have we been making reductions because from my understanding we have been making some red ris reductions. There's restructuring happening and all that. I'm not sure if the public is aware of this. That's that's why I'm asking. If not, I'll wait for the next agenda item. So, >> thank you. All right. Is there any other discussion? We have any other questions for the board? >> All right. Mr.
122President, Mr. President, um, >> in regards to this interim position, it is vital that we have an HR person in charge. It is vital. Okay. uh you may sit back in the back and you know do jokes and all that stuff but without an HR uh nothing's gonna happen. Okay. So that's the lifeblood you that this in is going to be helping. So so uh imagine a world where there's no Mr. President, imagine a world that there's no uh application or employment opportunities or any of the things that HR does to employ people and keep them employed. Imagine a world without a director. So, I'm not willing to uh I'm not >> Okay. So, we're trying to have a discussion. Please just >> I'm not willing to I'm not willing to sacrifice a department a
123whole department >> to disregard their work on a public comment. Thank you. >> Um President, I would like to move uh I would like to motion to approve um a AA >> second. Okay, let's go with the vote, please. >> Esparza, >> yes. >> Liker, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Lopez Aino, >> yes. >> Queness, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5. >> Just give me a minute. Okay. Uh, continue and recognize Superintendent Jose Spinosa for the presentation of the resolution 25-014. Thank you, President Esparza. On May 28th, 2025, after a two-year process where a committee explored different options, gave their recommendation to the superintendent, and we also looked at various data like our facilities master plan and the needs of each school site. The board adopted resolution 24032 regarding school closures, academic achievement,
124specialized programs, and the Nester Language Academy improvements with several amendments. Since May, the district has completed additional analysis, including updated enrollment data, site capacity information, and public input, among others. As a result, the school consolidation plan was refined to include additional details and specifically clarifying information in increase in planning time and delegation of authority to ensure transparency and the clarity of the plan. [clears throat] Resolution 250014 was created to incorporate all the changes since May 2025. It is respectfully requested that the board adopt resolution 25-014 which supersedes resolution 24-032 clarifying language and expanding on the original consolidation plan. >> We have three public comments on this item. When you're ready. >> Go ahead. >> Veronica Dwarte, followed by Vanessa Barrera, followed by Nora Hernandez. >> I am here to formally oppose the resolution. At a
125previous meeting, the board agreed not to name schools so sites would have time to improve based on established criteria that we're just now hearing. Now, schools are being named anyway. My question is simple. What is the criteria? Where is it stated? Is it a test scores? Is it enrollment building capacity or a weighted of a weighted combination? The R resolution never says and where is the time you promised schools to improve based on that criteria. If this decision is primarily about building capacity, then why was the superintendent advisory committee even formed? Parents, educators, and community members invested countless hours believing their input mattered. If capacity was always about dis about the deciding factor, then this process was performative, a box to check and a waste of district funds that could have supported certificated staff salaries.
126Both Sunny Slope and Berry serve communities with the highest concentration of subsidized housing. Families rely on neighborhood schools. Walking access matters for engagement, emergencies, and trust. R relocating students creates real barriers. It is also dishonest to accept community school grant funds meant to stabilize schools and then close or repurpose those schools after the money is spent. Community schools work. The data exists. If leadership truly wanted to be innovative, you would strengthen those models, not dismantle them. Hold them in the same regard you hold your dual language schools. I urge the board board to pause, clarify the criteria, and honor prior commitments and stop naming schools until this process as transparent, equitable, and worthy of our communities. Thank you, Vanessa Barrera, followed by Nora Hernandez. I'm standing here tonight because I'm confused and frankly frustrated. Just
127seven months ago, this district committed to a plan. Yet, here we are with the ink barely dry on that paperwork and you are already proposing changes. I ask when were you going to ask us? These schools do not belong to this board. They belong to the community. Yet, we are finding out about these changes on a board agenda item. If you are going to upend our children's education again, you owe us the respect of a conversation before the decision is made, not after. Our students need consistency, not consistent turbulence. They need to know that the adults in charge have a steady hand on the wheel. Flipping the script every seven months doesn't build trust, it erodess it. Seven months is not enough time to gather meaningful data. It is not enough time to see the
128results of the current strategy. Our message is clear. We must commit to keeping every single one of our neighborhood schools open. The very foundation of a strong community is a thriving public school within its reach. School closures frequently hit the most vulnerable students the hardest. Lowincome backgrounds, students of color, and students with special needs. These are precisely the students who depend most significantly on the consistency and resources offered at their local school. Given that Barry just received a community schools grant worth $2.5 million, the superintendent's proposal to close it seems particularly baffling. Doesn't this action contradict the need for greater investment in our schools and our commitment to supporting our most vulnerable learners? It's clearly unethical. I'm asking you tonight to pause, stop this new change, let the current plan run its course so that
129we can actually evaluate it. And before you make another move, come to the community with honesty and transparency. Stop stamping his decisions. He is ruining our district. Stand up for our community. And stop smirking, Kelly. It's disrespectful. Norah Hernandez. I'm sorry. >> Good evening everyone, especially Mr. And what message what message are you giving all these new generations that going to university doesn't matter because by not wanting to give the the teachers a fair wage, you're telling them It doesn't matter how hard you try to study and get ahead. If you run into people like me along the way, they won't recognize your worth or effort. Keep in mind that what are what are we just numbers >> for us? our teachers and children with families and now part of a beautiful community that is
130clearly that you don't want to belong but quite opposite you want to you want to make it disappear and one last question how would you like to be remembered to tomorrow like Caesar Chavez or like my children refer to you as when they see you by the name >> uh destructor. >> That's all. Thank you. >> Okay. No more comments. So, any trustees have any comments? >> Oh, yeah. A lot of comments. >> Um, [clears throat] first I know I was the person who actually said, "Hey, let's take the names off." Right. So, I would like for you, superintendent, if you could please uh for transparency share with us like why is it important to have the names? Um I think when you know when the board asked for the names to be taken off
131they never and you know the board did not intend for the schools to be taken off and for me I think that's not being transparent with the community. If in fact we are considering Sunny Slope in a couple of years and Barry in a few more years then I think we need to be transparent. we need to be able to say here's the schools that are being considered. Okay. Um and one of the things that that I want to, you know, that I want to clarify because there's so much misinformation and and it's it's really sad that that we devalue the community to where we're feeding them false information, right? When we tell the community, hey, they they weren't going to close three schools, that's just wrong. It's wrong. When we are trying to be
132transparent about the framework that we are using, this is a framework that says very clearly in the resolution, we are going to look at enrollment data because let's remember that's why we're here, declining enrollment. Let's remember that for two years we talked about declining enrollment before even the first resolution was brought forward. So for somebody to stand there and say we don't know what we're looking at declining enrollment and and just to clarify too, right, it does say very specifically if we need to close the schools then we'll look at it, right? So um we're not closing three schools unless we need to. Um and then um the the other question I wanted to ask um if you can also clarify like why is it that it's those two schools that we've chosen? So when
133we went through the the committee the committee work um those two schools were were identified and in addition to those two schools in addition to some of the committee work uh we also looked at where um you know the the where where do we had our smallest schools and who was declining at at the at the largest rate. When as we were doing that work to look at where were we declining at at the largest rate it was Barry Emory and Mendoza had declined at the largest percentage from other schools. Sunny Slope was not too far behind. And when you look at Barry, Emory, and Mendoza all within probably a mile of each other, then anybody that's looking at to say, how can we ensure that we're covering the entire district so that it's not
134too far for anybody to walk or transportation is going to be a lot easier, then we're going to have to identify some schools. Sunny Slope uh is a little bit different. They're they're out in a in a you know a little bit farther away on kind of a corner of our district. Um but when we look at at Sunny Slope, uh they are they are one of the largest declining schools. They have some facilities issues that we need to address. Um and so as we take all that into account, then that's how those schools were identified. Now, I have to be clear and I want to reiterate your statement. This is not a plan to close schools. When we when the board adopted the resolution, it was clear that when we redrew the boundaries, we
135were going to do our best to stabilize the enrollment across the schools, which Sunny Slope received more students and so did Barry. The goal is to maintain as many schools as we can, but our reality is that we continue to decline and that is just not sustainable. Look across the state, look across the country to what's happening to districts that are declining. And to be super clear, our district is at the top of California in percentage of declinement that we have suffered. >> Okay. I just also want to state that like um I think I've [clears throat] mentioned this many times. I'm a very very proud Barry Bear, right? I got my foundation at Barry. I have very fond memories at Barry. I probably wouldn't be the person that I am today if it wasn't
136for the experience um and the teachers that I had at Barry. And it was a very very different time earlier when the ghost of Christmas past was here. I remember when I was at Barry. I was at Barry from like kindergarten all the way until I graduated in sixth grade. I lived in the same house. I rode the bus to school every single day. I was pr a proud bus rider. That the reality is different now. People don't live in their same house for six, seven years straight. Right. when I I remember when it was only my dad that worked um and he just worked Monday through Friday. He works Monday through Monday now. My mom works and they still could barely afford to pay their rent, right? We used to live in a four
137bedroomedroom house off of Tokayo, a single family home with a front and backyard. We paid $900 a month, right? My dad had one job and that was enough. And that allowed for my mom to help raise me um for, you know, my dad provided. But things are so much different, right? there's a reason why the schools are half empty. Um, so I think that we need to figure out how we, you know, work together. Um, and I'm hopeful that if we do take the necessary steps, we could get to a point where we don't have to close these schools. But it's going to have to start with us collaborating, stop looking at each other as enemies and figure out how can we work together and make a plan to keep these schools open. How do
138we bring the families involved? Because earlier today, this room was filled with people. I could feel the power in this room, right? Right? And if we continue to work together and we bring the parents on board, there's so many changes that we can do at the school district level, at the city level, at the state level, right? We can brainstorm, bring resources together. I love the fact that they're community school. We're going to have more community schools hopefully. Um so I I think like let's let's have faith in each other that we're doing the right thing. Can we do like a task force like keep our school open task force or something like that? Um, is that something uh or well like what what can is there anything that we can do to actually like
139like the guy said earlier, what are we doing to bring revenue, right? How what are we doing to keep the schools uh open? And maybe that's something that we can talk about at a future meeting. >> Yes, absolutely. I think um that would be a good future agenda item >> and I am hoping that I mean I'm we well we're going to we're going to reach out to people um and we're going to make this plan. Um so for now this is what we have in front of us. Um I understand why you put the the names on there, but I also understand that um it says if we have to, right? And I believe we're going to do what we need to so we don't. Um and then in the future if you know
140we need to do a different resolution, that's also something that we can do, right? But again, that's going to happen if we work together, if we build power, if we bring the community together. So that that's why, you know, today I I will be supporting the resolution. I move to approve >> second. >> So just uh before we go to a vote um I understand nobody wants to close schools. It is tough the the decision for for us to to do. Now I understand that every year before the year we're going to have a review of enrollment and financial data. Is that correct? Yes. So even before we consider closing the schools, that's what we're going to do. Is that correct, superintendent? Thank you. All right, let's go for the vote, please. >> Lopez, >>
141sorry. [clears throat] Can can we um before we go to the vote, is it possible to add like some wording in there about like the fact that we are going to put a task force together that we're going to partner with our community to figure out how we're going to make this happen because that would be my um amendment to the resolution if my colleagues would support that amendment. >> If the majority of board would support that, I would say that it's not needed and I would say that that's what got us where we're at today. Um, simply simply the board, the majority of the board can direct us to create a task force. You don't need to have it down in this in this in this document. I understand that we don't need it,
142but in good faith um in order, you know, I would like to add that amendment. >> Can we can we go? >> I'm just going to say for my my colleagues, the superintendent just said we don't need to do it. We can do it regardless. So why not add it as a >> I believe that when we voted on the redistricting boundaries the and we we intentionally put more children in the those schools. I believe that was the first step in showing that it is not our what we want to do to to to close schools and I we want to keep as many open as possible. Um, I agree that we don't need to keep pushing things back like as difficult. We're here again on the same thing and I I think that we've
143all we all agree that we do not want to to close schools and in a future time we can uh vote to create this task force. But as it is right now, I believe it just needs to move ahead. So, we uh we have a motion and a second. >> Sorry, I think I made a motion to add the amendment. So, I think we >> But we had a motion. We had a motion and a second on the floor before you did that. So, we have to cover a vote for that first. >> So, you can Okay. I would like to add a friendly amendment to the motion that's on the floor uh to incorporate language around the fact that we will be uh working together with our community partners um in order to do
144everything that we can to keep the schools closed. I mean keep the schools open. >> Okay. Is there a second to Trusty Agino's friendly motion? Wait, the motion maker has been um requested a friendly amendment to her motion. So the question to the motion maker of the first motion needs to either accept it or deny it. Respectfully, I deny. I would agree to at another time create this task force. But at this time, we need to move forward. >> Call for the vote. >> So, as as we just discussed already, we already motion and we already second. So, we can always later on, we can always come back and that's that's what we need to do. So, let's go for the vote, please. >> Kenyon, >> yes. >> Liker, >> yes. >> Esparza, >> yes.
145Lopez Aino. >> Yes. >> Medina. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. Presentation board meeting. >> Okay. Now we move on to the 2026 board of trustees meeting dates. Recognize Superintendent Jose Spinosa for the presentation of the 2026 board meeting schedule. >> Thank you very much, President Esparza. Um, we request uh that the board consider where is it? Oh, okay. Sorry. As part of its annual organizational meeting, the board approves a schedule of meetings for the coming year. It is respectfully requested that the board approve the board of trustee meeting dates which I would note that we are moving the dates from Wednesday back to Thursday. >> Okay. Any comments? >> Okay. Let's uh let's go for the vote, please. >> I'm sorry. Who made the motion? I'm sorry. Let's go for the motions. >> Motion
146to approve. Second. >> Okay. Now, let's go. Let's go for the vote. >> Esparza >> Ler. >> Yes. >> Medina Lopez Aino. >> Yes. >> Kenones. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. 5-0. >> Now we're moving to the governance document subcommittee. Recognize superintendent Jose Spinoza for discussion of the governance document subcommittee. >> Okay. Governance documents subcommittee. The district regularly has board policies, administrative regulations, and board bylaws that require updating. The board established a subcommittee in March of 2023 to review governance documents for for the referral to the board for a final reading. Each year during its organizational meeting, which happened today, the board is asked to appoint members to this subcommittee, two members. It is respectfully requested that the board appoint two board members to serve on the governance documents subcommittee. I would like to appoint
147um President Espa. >> I'll second that. >> Point of privilege. I I want to thank our subcommittee's work this year. Um, policy work is our job. So, I want to recognize Kelly and Jose for your dedication to that work. Without you, uh, we'd be here for hours. So, uh, thank you for meeting with the superintendent and Amy in that work. And I too would like to uh uh join the subgroup if you would all approve and uh walk that road with our new president. So great nomination there. >> All right. So we have our president and our vice president that are going to be joining the subcommittee. Can we have we have a motion? >> I move Manny and Cheryl into the subcommittee. >> Second call for the Oh, sorry. Lyer, >> yes. >> Kenyon,
148>> yes. >> Lopez, >> yes. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Esparza, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> Okay, almost there. District English Learner Advisory Committee report recognized director Paola Flores for report of the recent activities. of the district English learners advisory committee. It's on. Okay. [snorts] Good evening, President Lyer, board of trustees, superintendent, esposa, executive team, and community. Tonight, our department is happy to share an update about DAC, a committee that represents the heart of our families [clears throat] and the voice of our community. As Kakuzo Okakura, a Japanese philosopher and art enthusiast reminds us, he states that the art of life life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings. The truth reflects this truth reflects our DAC journey. We are not static. We are a committee that is con dynamic uh continuously
149adjusting and creating conditions where our families feel valued, heard, and seen. See, the work of our DAC is not just about meetings. We're more than that. It's about building bridges, fostering trust and connections, and shaping a future where language culture is leveraged and strengthened. Tonight, it's our hope that we capture the essence of the community that we're building in DAC through this presentation. Coordinator Robles is going to guide us through the our DAC journey thus far. [snorts] And it's a story of growth uh of resilience and an unwavering commitment to equity. >> All right. Good evening to the board president Esparsa and everybody present still here. Um so with that I would like to add that our department has adopted a a new ma ma mantra that we talk to we reflect on each daily
150and that says that growth and comfort cannot coexist. Um so with that we continue to reflect and refine and think about ways and strategies to further engage our our parents. Um so with that I will start by giving you a summary of our monthly uh meetings which really started with gathering input since the last um DACA meeting last school year. Um where we did inform our parents based off needs and the um the feedback that they gave us is that there are many topics that they would like to further continue learning about. Um so with that this school year we did add um three more DAC meetings. So we are meeting almost monthly um with the exception of September. So two months that we don't meet because of breaks and all of that. But we
151did we add in word meetings due to the fact that there's a need for our parents to further engage and to further be informed about how they may continue to advocate for their um English learners. Um so with that we kicked off the year in August um where Mendoza um hosted our meeting and we always kick off the year by letting our parents know what the DAC and ELAC responsibilities are um and their roles that they partake in these um meetings. Um so with that we inform them of the legality behind their roles and responsibilities. um and also our roles and responsibilities as an LDA to inform our parents. Um but with that there's also flexibility where parents give us feedback regarding the topics that they also need um or want to further learn about.
152Um so in this meeting besides that we also um let them know about the current annual notifications that they would be receiving in the mail. Um, so we had examples of what those letters look like because oftent times they get letters and they're like, "What is this?" So we took time to um during that meeting to explain what those letters were. Um, another important part during our meetings is that we partner with other departments with our within our district. So, we had our business um business services department attend that meeting and further go into this UBA application where it was really important for our families to um complete and submit for them to get further um resources and as well as get um sorting funding to support that. Um and lastly, we ended with assigning
153our parents some homework um because we know that oftentimes an hour in our meetings is not enough. Um so we made them aware that in that following meeting um we would be further discussing our reclassification process as well as well as going over the student score reports um that our parents get um at the end of each year and the beginning of each year regarding their ELPAC results. Um and then we had a guest um we are always um welcoming in our guests especially those that represent our gab association. Um so we had a guest to further invite um our parents present as well as um those parents at the sites to attend our um the cab mini conference for this year. Um so with that in September we did not have a DAC meeting
154but we did um have a parent workshop and this parent workshop was months of planning um and we hosted our first parent workshop as you may remember last school year. Um and that was u a need that our parents expressed that they would love to continue the parent workshop and it's one that we will continue to have. Um and here you see a picture of we had four families present. Um we expected more families to come. Um and so but we had four parents as you can see who left very uh feeling very well accomplished with leaving with more knowledge that they did not come with. Um so even though it was four families, we know that our planning and the efforts that we did put to um putting this workshop together um they left
155knowing something they didn't know before and they were appreciative of um the two sessions that were held. We had um our ED services department director Chavez and her coordinator attend where they gave a session regarding how to help and support their EL learners at home um with various reading strategies. Um and then we also held this uh second session um where we informed parents regarding the English learner identification process um as well as the ELPAC summitive assessment which is crucial to progress monitor their English proficiency. Um so with that we will continue to get feedback from our families to adjust um the time the day and what uh we believe that uh would be a better time to hopefully get more parents there um for our next um workshop next school year. All right. So
156with that um in October IB uh was our host and again our principles have that opportunity to engage our DACA parents and the and give us insights and highlights as to what is happening at their sites. Um and in October we brought also our director of technology Miss Jen Olivivera um to come and present to our families. So, one really important um key concept for us is that we get input from our parents regarding what topics they feel are at the forefront of their learning. And so one of the topics um that had previously been discussed was parents wanting to know more regarding technology or platforms um and just overall learning this educational system here in the United States because it's very different than other systems of the countries for which they um come to
157us from. Um so therefore, Miss General Aaria um was able to engage our parents regarding artificial intelligence um the ethics around that and what we are doing as a district to um meet legalities and requirements um to keep our um students safe um on the internet. Um, and then here in October, we voted for DACA officers, which is really crucial that we have parents representing our our population, right? And so, um, we were able to vote um for our president, vice president, as well as the secretary. Um, and so they were um there in the moment. Um this year we really made uh we were really um engaging our parents to be there so that this voting voting would have the majority of our parents present and representing um their elacs um as well. So
158here we gave an initial reclassification update because reclass reclassification of students usually happens in October. Um and this is during parent teacher conferences. Um so at that time we um made them aware that there was 164 students who had um been meeting criteria for reclassification. um here in October because we had given them homework in August. Um the parents did bring their ELPAC um student score reports, we were able to unpack that um ELPAC score um and really inform them regarding each part of their results um and how many points away uh their child was from meeting that overall LPAC 4 or whatever that level was of their current student. So we unpacked that. We also gave them um a resource guide to better um have them equipped to go into their parent teacher conferences.
159So, we gave them a plethora of um thinking questions and um so forth so that when they entered um that classroom to meet with their teacher, they would feel well confident that they had the right questions to ask um regarding their students um English language proficiency. Um and here um I present you with who are we're elected as our DEAC president. Um she is Gracia La Huarees and she's representative of Emory. Um and she is a parent who was very actively involved last year. Um and one of our goals is to really empower our parents. So I believe that through um the learning and the you know um being active last year really empowered her to take on that like yes I can do this. I can lead other parents and also um engage and
160bring other parents um to these meetings. Um and then with that we have Miss Ivana Chevul who is a representative of Bayside. Um and Miss Ivana is a a unique parent because she was one who was very faithful in joining our Zoom meetings. Um but I want to say that the the last um she attended mini uh mini cab and this last meeting she was um physically present um at Bayides meeting. So we were very proud of these two parents who you know who took that initiative of wanting to represent our our director. Um and then with that we attended miniab. We had um 26 parents um some may be missing in the picture but a total of 26 parents. We had our administrators um representing our sites. We had one teacher uh Miss Vidanda
161um for which her sister was the the speaker um the note speaker of that um conference and then we had um pair of professionals uh also there and we had a board member um also attending um this and there was um sessions that were very informative for our parents um and we always get highlighted for are um high participation. We probably have the highest participation out of all districts um who take the most um parents and educators and so forth. So we we feel proud to partner with Fab and we'll continue to do that and bring more parents um to attend. And then our last meeting was in November. Bayside was our school to host. Um, and another topic that our parents really wanted to dive into was not just learning about the digital platforms,
162but how we as a district are informing our parents regarding the digital platforms and what kind of communication um, you know, goes out in regards to the use of I Ready or um, any of the other uh, core curriculum um, that might be you know used by our students um, during our November meeting, we had again director Jenna Olivera come and present on those digital platforms and then we also had director Susie Chavez who came and um informed our parents regarding I Ready uh the usage amount of uh minutes that students should be using which is that 15 to 20 minutes daily and also recognizing that if they are using it for 15 to 20 minutes daily that they should be advancing two to three lessons um per week. Um so that was again insightful
163and also letting them know about that letter that went out initially at the beginning of the school year to inform them how to access um I already um through the platform. We also um Miss Chavez also went through the CASP and the California school dashboard uh not in depth in detail but informing them of where um the website was and the steps to take um to access that. Um what we left parents knowing is that in our next DAC in January as we come back from winter break uh we will be it will be a hands-on meeting where we're partnering with um our Emory principal principal Nelson who will be um providing Chromebooks um during that meeting so that parents are actually physically able to go into the website and we can guide them into
164um our LPAC um enim or a practice and training test because we know that that is the first state assessment that students take in February. So we want to ensure parents that um these are um this is a website and a PR practice and training test that they are our students are able to work at home from and practice. Um, and then we want parents to be familiar with what are the parts, you know, of this exam and what does that look like for them as they engage with the assessment in February. Um, here we gave that reclassification update again um by school. Um, parents wanted to know, well, how many students were reclassified, you know, at Bayside and so forth. So, I have those numbers um for you um to share. Um so Bayside
165had about um they had 10 students. Barry had six students, Central had 15 students, Emory had 14, Nicolof had 15, had 11, Pence had 19, Sunnis Slope had six, Mendoza had 11, IB Charter had 12, and Nestra had a total of 46 students who met reclassification criteria. Um so that is a huge celebration. um we have three windows now for reclassifying students. So our first window which ended in October um exceeded our our numbers uh from last year. Okay. So that is a huge celebration for our students, our families and for us because of all the work that we're doing. Um so with that um here are our up upcoming DAC meetings which you guys are all invited to attend. We have Miss Kinones and Miss Medina who al who attend our um evening meetings
166because we offer the same a meeting in the mornings. We offer it um as well at 6:00 p.m. um to also provide that opportunity for those parents who might be working the during the morning sessions. Um so again our upon coming back from winter break we have our uh next DAC meeting where Emory will be hosting um on January 27th and there you have the rest of the remaining meetings of the school year. So with that thank you and we'll open it up for any questions you may have. >> I don't think I have any questions but I have a lot of comments. Uh, thank you for opening it up. Well, I knew it was Zoom all this time, but I didn't have the opportunity to join. So, uh, seeing that one of us dropped
167out gave me the opportunity. So, I thought it was great. Okay. Um, I think I went October and November. And kudos to hadn't seen this title before. The Guardian Bayside Guardian. What was the other school? >> Yeah. I I hadn't heard that term before guardian. >> So we got >> I think it's beautiful and the work that I saw in a couple months that I've been going you are empowering parents. I'm sitting there listening in awe about the information that you provide to parents and empowering them to go home and look and do homework. pay to do and and be responsible when they come back to say, you know, I didn't understand or did didn't, you know, got it. What's next? So, uh you're you're creating a pathway for parents to um engage with their
168child and their teacher. So, I just want to give you kudos for your work. Uh you're one of the uh one of the highest uh parent uh engagement groups. Uh I want to recognize that and uh so kudos to your team. I also want to say great job. It's really [clears throat] great to see all the pictures, all the parents. Like every meeting was very well attended. I love to see the fact that you have meetings at 9 and six now. And then the fact that you had like 26. >> Thank you. Congratulations on being so much um participation and and growing this opportunity for our our families to learn more. I just want to share with the board that sitting there at the committee, I want to thank you for your work because I
169see how parents are more passionate when speaking the film of confident confidence asking questions and give you giving them the guidance how to ask questions to teachers, how to approach them has empowered them. So, thank you for what you're doing. >> I wanted to add something because I forgot to and this is really important. Miss Director Flores is probably going to tell me I missed it, but with comment with the comment um with that Miss Medina made, we do um with our DAC officers, we a month before or you know days before, weeks before the next meeting, we do meet with them. So we allow them to choose to come into the office or we go to their site or it's via Zoom, but they they are co-c collaborators of our agenda items. So we
170do they meet with us and we collaborate. So um in that um Bayside meeting last month, our DAC president did open um the meeting and um she was very confident in welcoming everybody during that meeting and um we don't pressure, but we said whenever you're ready to do more and do more of the presentation, um let us know because our ultimate goal is that it we want the parents to see themselves in in in their shoes and to be the ones um speaking regarding the topics. >> Thank you so much for your presentation was wonderful. So I do have a question. In comparison from last year's DAC meeting presentation, what changes did you make in order to get those parents awareness and participation? >> Well, um just like we do with our students, we provide
171like incentives. We give out um books. Um so we try to do opport we have opportunity drawings. Um and we always tell them like bring someone like your goal is to bring someone inform someone. Um so again we gather the input um specifically with the DAC officers you know in in that time and we asked them like what else can we do? Um we could do things like we call parents onetoone before our DAC meetings um to you know get that more relational approach. So we do make the phone calls uh we include them in the emails um before and after our meetings to keep them informed. Um even though they might not attend that meeting the the list from our emails just it just grows because we continue to keep them in the loop
172of of all of that. So, I just want to add one more thing because I know we we're all ready to go, but I opened up by saying that it's beyond the meeting. It's everything that she just said, but we really our goal is to strive and create connection and relationship and and that also includes approachability. So if our families feel like they their voice is valued, heard and seen and they can approach Brenda and they can approach me and they can approach anyone there and ask the questions and they're going to be their questions are going to be answered and if we don't have the answer, we're going to get it for them. I think that building camaraderie community that's going to get people to come. So for us, that's our our secret ingredient.
173>> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Okay, we're moving to the employee of the year selection committee. Recognize term assistant superintendent Felix Abila and recommend the selection of two community members to serve on the classified committee and others to serve on the certified uh committee. So we have two section Okay. [clears throat] So, good evening, President Esparza, trustee, superintendent. Each year, the South Bay Union School District convene selection committees to identify our certificated and classified employees of the year. Tonight, I'm bringing forward a request for the board to select two community members, one to serve on the classified committee and one to serve on the certificated committee. Consistent with our established practices, historically the board appoints one community member to participate alongside site and department representatives in the district-wide selection process. It
174is respectfully requested that the superintendent uh recommend and the board trustee select two community members again, one to serve for classified, one for certificated. And thank you for your consideration. and we appreciate the board support and appointing the two community members so we may proceed with uh uh we so we may proceed on schedule. >> Great. Thank thank you. Let's open it up selection. >> Yes. Uh Mr. President, I would like to nominate um for the selection of a certificated committee member. I would like to nominate um Mitchell McCay, the mayor of Imperial Beach. And um so I'll wait for my second one. So I move to uh I move to appoint Mitchell McCay to the certificated committee. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> I second. >> Okay. Let's go with a vote.
175>> Esparza, >> yes. >> Viker, >> yes. Lopezino, >> no. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Kenyoness, >> yes. >> Motion passes 41. >> Um, Mr. President, uh, on the next note here, I would like to, uh, nominate, uh, for the selection of the classified committee. I would like to nominate Jack Fischer, who is a city council member. >> We have a discussion. >> Do do we have any other nominations? Oh, I think she's waiting for a second for Jack Fisher. Okay, if I don't have a second intent, it dies. So, do we have any nomination? The motion is fail. Do we have any other not? >> Yes, Mr. President. Oh, okay. Go ahead. I would like to nominate uh um Josie Hamara who is a long life resident of Imperial Beach and very active in
176the women's club Imperial Beach Women's Club. Her name is Josie Hamada who lives around the corner for the class for the classified committee. >> I second. Do we have a motion? >> Moved. She second. >> Okay, let's go with a vote. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Lopez Aino, >> yes. >> Kenyon, >> yes. >> Esparza, >> yes. >> Liker, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> Okay. [clears throat] Consent calendar. Four matters listed on the consent calendar will be enacted in one motion in the form listed below. Prior to approval of the meeting agenda, there was an opportunity there was an opportunity to request placing consent calendars items in the discussion action section on the board meeting. There will be no discussions on this items prior to the board vote. [clears throat] I move to
177approve all items on the consent calendar as listed, including the superintendent's recommendations for denial or approval of the use of absence. >> Okay, let's go with the vote, please. >> Medina, >> yes. >> Esparza, >> yes. >> Liker, >> yes. >> Kenyon, >> yes. >> Lopez Aino, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. Okay. At this time, I would like to move to future agenda items. All right. At this time, each trustee may suggest one topic for a future board meeting. If does it need to be an agenda item? Do can we >> or to present a plan? Yeah. So, I would like to have on a future agenda um some information about the things that we're doing to try to not close the schools. >> Can can you elaborate on that? >> Yeah. So, I
178mean I think Part of it could include um things that we're doing to increase revenue. Um you know, anything that we're doing to uh bring in parents. Um and then I'm not sure if it needs to be in this agenda or something that we could do about like this task force because I'd be interested in seeing if we can, you know, bring a group of parents, teachers, community members from like Barry together to meet and brainstorm and figure out like what can we do? How do we bring more people in? And same thing at Sunny and I'd be happy to kind of take the lead at Bars. He's also has strong connections to the Sunny Slope community help with that and obviously like the other board members. So, so I I'll tell you this that,
179you know, we can always uh we're gonna be bringing this back, you know, to see how we do it as far as the enrollment. So, anything can change. Um I I don't think it's just set set in stone. Uh closing schools is not something that we all like to do, especially like you said, you have berry connections local connection. It's it's really important to know that that we're going to review this And if things are getting better so we can always come back to the table and then you know this so what we voted today I think it's something that it can be manipulated back and forth based on the >> I'm thinking like for example in January I can meet with the principal Mr. All right. So, for future agenda items, right, because we're
180talking about future agenda items right now, >> I'm going to write down that something that you're requesting right now is the exploration of a task force around keeping as many schools as we can open. Yes. >> Correct. Perfect. >> Okay. Um, so I would like to uh due to the recent school shooting and a stabbing that took place in our neighboring school district, I would like to request an update on our school security system that is currently in progress. So just want to see what's the update on that. Yeah. Thank you. Right. Communications from the board of trustees. Three minute limit for trustee. We skip. Oh, right. Take it back. Go ahead. Future agenda items. Followup. Recognize superintendent Jose Spinosa and provide the directions and next steps on future agenda items from the previous board
181meetings. >> All right. So, at this time, Trusty Lier requested information on media literacy for students. Um, and now she will talk a little bit about that and what she would like to see and then if the board if the majority of the board um supports that, we I will work with uh President Esparza to get it on the agenda. >> Thank you. Um yes, I would like to know more about what we are doing for our students and families perhaps uh or or ideas of how we can grow media literacy for our students. Um, we are in a time right now that's pretty wild where a lot of information is shared on social media um without context and with filters and AI. How do we teach? How are we teaching our students how to
182question what they see and understand what they see? And I mean something perhaps this is beyond my place but when I think about the the projects that my student my my children come home with when they're in kindergarten first second grade and it's a family project that they learn together um regarding culture and or a famous person. Why cannot do you support me in encouraging medium media literacy within families at our schools? The question before us is do we support how do we support media literacy for our students? Can we bring it to our families? So, what you're asking is the what and superintendent is the how. So, I agree with Kelly. >> All right. Looks like we have consensus. Um, so I and President Sparza will discuss how we can bring this back. Okay.
183Very good. Now that brings it to us. Communications from the board of trustees. Three minute limit for trustee. >> I just want to say thank you and happy holidays to everyone. Have a good night. Um I'll try to make this fast. So what have I been up to? We just got back from our annual um California School Board Association conference, which is always so powerful to hear from um school boards, leadership throughout California to see where are people at? Are we alone in our struggles? How are other districts doing things better? um how could we improve and strengthen our our communities, our our districts and our relationships with our our um our families and our teachers. I learned that we have 55, I believe, school districts throughout California that are preparing to strike um with
184the intention, I feel, to get the attention of our state to better fund schooling like our public education system. There's strength in numbers and I fully support that mission of of doing something big and together to make changes, systematic changes that are very much needed. However, I do not support bullying tactics that create more division with our within our local communities. people coming to our homes, sharing information with our neighbors without context, parking outside of our houses. I do not support those bullying tactics. So, when it comes to wanting to work together, I want people to know that I support the big picture. I've learned a lot at conference. I do not support the bullying within our communities. We need to really focus on how we're going to work together. And um it has a
185huge impact on our children and our communities that I I don't I don't know how we can bounce back from that kind of uh mentality, but I hope that we can. Um so that's yeah conference I I I support our teachers. I hope that we can uh share information that will bring us together not separate us. >> Yeah. I just want to say thank you to everybody for all your hard work this year. I know there's a lot of things happening in the school, outside of the school this year. Um, and we've been able to I mean, I guess not everybody, right? I know our communities are suffering. They're still suffering. We need to work together to figure out the solution. But I am hopeful. You know, things that are worthwhile are not easy, right?
186So, I don't expect this to be easy, but I think if we work hard, work together, we will be able to figure out how because our community needs us to be on the same views. I heard a lot of good things from the students today like in between their comments like all the kids said they love their school, they love their teachers, the parents talked about how much progress their kids are making. So I think we're moving in the right direction. There are things that we need to fix. Only not everything is under our control, but we're going to work on what we can and we're together. I'm also very excited. Uh we're expecting a baby in April. Um, so I'm just doing what I can to help with the with their ro. Um, but
187you know, a couple years maybe they'll be at VIP village. Um, but that's that's all. I hope you guys have a nice break. Get some rest because next year is not going to be any easier than this year. Keep up the fight. >> Congratulations. We have a new baby in five years or six years maybe. four years. Um, yes, trustees. Good evening to you all. Um, tonight was a long meeting, so I'll keep my remarks short. Um, I do want to raise up the district parent committees and the advisory committees. And, uh, as I said before and I'll say it again, the magic is there. It's not here. So, if you want to make change parents, uh, go to these parent advisories committees that are held right here at the office. If you don't know
188the dates, please check with your secretary at your home school. Um I I am uh two went to the conference as well with our fellow trustees uh Annie and Kelly and myself and um a lot of law. Okay. F3 and a lot of attorneys and uh a lot of information and I went on Monday night because I went to the veteran trustee uh eight hour course and so through that they take us through like a masters in governance in a nutshell and so it's a constant reminder of why you're here and asking yourself why you're here. So I went to that and as the days progressed I went from I don't know uh 3,000 steps the day four uh by Friday Thursday night I had walked 12 uh thousand steps I say wow thank you
189Cheryl you did good job but uh it was a lot of walking okay and a lot of learning and so what I bring today with to the board real quickly is about I can the attendance initiative that we employ here at our district. We're in the third year of its uh development and our schools were working really hard for that. So they outlined the county was there. San County was there giving the presentation. So uh um and our attorney was there. So uh I'm wearing my you know my district garb. So you know they recognize me right away. And so the important thing is is that some districts are just thinking about it. We are three almost four years into the making. Okay. And so what our schools have done to try to get to
190the minimum of 95% which is not what they're saying upstairs but what we're saying down here and uh the declining enrollment uh word uh let's turn that word into everyday matters and that uh kids go to school every day and if they're not uh we need to know why that I can does a a great job in determining why that child's not and uh they should be at school. And so um I'm just here to acknowledge that work at our school levels and uh to continue that work. Superintendent, it is vital. Uh it's not about uh less students, it's about students in the seat and that is how we get our money. Not by enrollment, it's by attendance. So keep that on your radar and that be my conclusion. But I never forget HR. Never.
191You know, people can say what they want to say, but without HR, this is not happening. All these onboarding of new employees and, you know, back and forth and all the work that HR does, I am not going to sit here and think that uh it's okay to uh um say bad things about our departments. HR works very very very hard and I want you to know that. Okay, please tell them I said that. And that concludes my my message. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> So, first of all, I'd like to say that I would like to thank uh Trustee Kelly for the the time being as a board president and you did a wonderful job. Thank you so much. Also um I had the privilege of attending the board president workshop and
192participating in the annual education conference hosted by CSBA and I also visited Emory Elementary for a school site visit and I had to opportunity to meet with principal um Nelson. Lastly I was honored to attend the South Bay Uni School District the soccer match and uh esports that was fun. you know, I I I never thought it was going to be something that I, you know, I would say, "Yeah, I was part of that." But, you know, it's actually a lot of a lot of fun. >> So, [sighs] so congratulations to Nester and earning the first place and to all coaches, staff and special especially the athletes who participate in this events. I wish you all merry Christmas and happy new year. So this meeting is adjourned at 10:53. Thank you. Good night. >> [sighs]
193>> I know what you