11.06.25 Board Meeting

001I'm going to pull this Jeremy. >> Okay. So moving forward it will go to the president vice president here. Is this generated by that same? >> No, he has to download it >> as a word document. You can add the red. >> Okay. Okay. >> It's common practice. >> Sure. Yeah. Well, she was doing it anyway. >> Yeah. So, that's our job. feedback. >> Sounds great. >> She's trying to get on Wi-Fi from Stanford. Visit her. We have this >> just like more restrictive. >> He's so stupid here. I just grabbed it because it's on the floor. [laughter] >> If I cry, it's your fault. >> Okay, I'll take ownership. >> I was like already on the first I saw it. I was like, "Oh gosh, [laughter] [laughter] >> it really was random." >> It

002was random. >> That is funny. >> I wouldn't know when not put it somewhere. [clears throat] But I can't even thank you for the sweet thing. >> I was gonna thank you. [laughter] >> Just [laughter] I just got my visitor parking for Stanford right now >> at 506. >> That was yesterday. Yesterday too late. You should just go park. >> Oh, no. They want to they want me to go back and get tomorrow. That's That's too much. >> I know. When I was like, "Oh, I didn't think about it. It's so cozy. It's really cozy. [laughter] Welcome everyone. Um, it is now 6 pm and I'm calling to order the Sunnyville School District's regular board meeting. Um, I see that all trustees are present. We are on to Oh, shoot. Um, okay. I printed out

003the wrong one. Um, please note that there is a recording being made at the request of the board. May the translator please um explain the translation services. Thanks. >> Yes. Good evening everyone. Thank you. We're on to item three, which is the approval of the agenda. If there's any member of the public that would like to speak on this item only, which is solely the approval of the agenda, uh please let us know with a blue card or by using the raised hand feature online. Okay, seeing none. Uh board, is there a motion to approve the agenda? Move to approve the agenda as it is >> as a second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Chair votes I. And the motion passes. Item four is

004public comment for close session. The topic tonight is public employee performance evaluation, government code 54957, superintendent evaluation. Is there any member of the public who wishes to comment on our closed session item? If so, please use the blue card or use the race hand feature online. Okay, seeing none, um we're going to move to item five. Uh we will it is now 6:02 p.m. We are going to recess for close session and we'll take a 5m minute break after close session when we return to the boardroom at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thank you. track [laughter] Yeah. I don't know what it's been, but I don't know. >> I'm trying to I can actually >> Okay. Yeah. Because I was like, you have it now. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, yeah. [laughter] >> Okay. Okay. Excellent.

005Okay, thank you very much. It's now 6:40 p.m. and I'm calling we're returning back to open session. Um, we [snorts] do not need to continue the close session uh after item 13. So, as a reminder, a recording is being made at the direction of the board. The recording may capture conversations in the room. I see that all members are present present. Um, and there was no action taken in our closed session. Okay. Um, please, let's see. We're gonna be led by the pledge tonight by Noah David Perez. So, please come to the podium or come right here. [clears throat] >> One second. I'll get Can I introduce you? >> Stand right here and I promise I'll give you this. >> First of all, I just want to thank um everyone for this opportunity tonight. My

006name is Manny Bopondo. I am the principal at Vargas Elementary School and I have this honor to introduce Noah who is our first grade at our school. Um in addition to knowing the pledge and going to lead us tonight, he is a very inquisitive young man who is going to be a future engineer, scientist, military expert, one of them because he couldn't settle on one. So no, are we ready to lead us? >> All right, >> please stand. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> You may be seated. Next up, if I could have Andrea Rivera. Andrea is one of our fourth grade students. Not only is she a leader on

007our student council, she is a transformative student on our c our campus. And so she's going to lead us in Atlanta acknowledgement. Do want to share learn a really amazing tip. Her mother who's in the crowd was part of our first ever class at Vargas many a few years ago and uh she not only grad went through Vargish SMS and then eventually Homestead. So, she's blazed a trail and her daughter's going to continue blazing. All right, are we ready? I put this here. There you go. [clears throat] >> Sim school district is located on the ancestral and unseated land of Mikama Aloney tribe who have peacefully honored and care for this land for thousands of years. We recognize that every member of the Sunnyville community continues to benefit from the use and occupation of this

008land. We acknowledge our responsibility to learn from the wisdom of the Aloney people and to consider how we might work to repair injustices and to forward together in honorable ways. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Um so now we're on to reports. Item nine reports. So, we're going to start with student reports. Oh, no student reports. Oh, I thought we had our Do we want to take a picture with the um visiting student? >> Could we take a Would you mind taking a picture with the board? You did such a great job. Is that okay? >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> You guys want to stand in front of the board? >> So you guys can squish together. >> Great job. >> Awesome. Okay, ready. One, two, three. One more. One, two, three. Awesome. >>

009Great job. Good job. Thank you so much. [applause] Y Okay. So now we're on to item nine reports. Uh so first up is our superintendent report. >> Thank you, President WSY. Good evening everyone and welcome to our regular school board meeting. Let's go to the next slide, please. I want to begin by um acknowledging the Sunny Island Education Foundation for their quick response to formalizing this campaign. And if you're not aware of it, it's a Nourish Mind, Feed the Future. The goal is to raise $20,000 to support our most vulnerable families. So, just want to thank you uh for you stepping up and so quickly responding to this immediate need and we really appreciate it. I know it's a a big concern not only here in Sunnyville but everywhere in terms of how do we

010step up, come together and support families in this time. So, thank you so much and the link is on there and if you see it post it as well. Uh follow us on social media you can see more information and click on how you can support as well. Let's go to the next slide. And so I also just want to um share an [clears throat] update in terms of some of the things that we're doing here in Sunnyville School District to support our families. And with this I'm going to pass it over to Dr. Dean. >> Good evening everyone. Glad to provide this update and first and foremost I just want to thank the team that's been working tremendously and Mr. Sllayton who's in the space. So, he may have some additional comments this evening,

011but we really appreciate the work um that has been done in response to supporting our families who may need additional support with food during our breaks. On the slides there, you'll see that we have information um identifying families in need. And so, Mr. legislate along with the um student support team has worked uh with our social workers and our outreach in order to get a service um a food uh uh need survey out. So, we've identified some families that need support. And so, we will begin to coordinate um food boxes in order to support um food for families during our break and kind of get a a sense of what's needed. In addition to that, we are um scheduling uh two pickup dates. Uh the um those dates are at Bishop to provide food and

012distributions for our families and in coordination with the Sunnyale Education Foundation, as Dr. Crossro indicated, we will also be able to provide uh grocery gift cards for families. And last, but definitely not least, um in our ongoing effort to support families with external resources, we've updated our resource um list that we have in order to provide these additional resources to family, not only for food resources, but other resources that they may have at this time. >> Madam [clears throat] President, please report. I have a couple clarifying questions. Are we we're allowed to discuss this? Right. Okay. So, um [clears throat] for the um for the survey that went out uh um so for the survey that went out um that went out to a select group, right? Correct. It will it also be going out

013to other families that may not be listed with us in some way. >> So, there's three ways we did it. We used the uh Mr. Cuffy helped with the low socioeconomic markers that we used through the state. That's kind of a multiaceted report that includes parent education level previous qualification for similar services. On top of that, we did choose to go with our families that received McKinto services, also registered foster youth. Beyond that, we used the school outreach teams who know families that may not have done the paperwork but have had needs ongoing and have received support throughout the school year this year or last. So between those four efforts that is the families that qualified as low so socioeconomic but also a broader grab of families that might need support. >> So you know

014with food insecurity it's one of those things that people tend to hide. So I'm wondering if there will be a general communication about in case you need help. >> Yeah. So that is going to be the thing Dr. mentioned that's the updated resource list that's going to go districtwide. We're not doing it yet because the additional resources we've had three versions now with more and more coming on. So that's going to go to everybody in the district as we draw nearer to the break. >> No, that's not what I'm asking. >> Oh, is the survey going to a broader population? Will we be will someone who like might not be signed up on might not be on anybody's radar but who is having a situation will they be notified in any way that any of

015this is available like we'll like if you need help we have >> got it. So the the superintendent's weekly message is going to include some information about it, but there's also a physical flyer with a QR code whether or not you're qualified to receive any that's still available to all families. Those are at every school site and every social worker has them to be able to give to families. So that would be how you would have a family that isn't on the list that received the email but can jump on the survey and say, "Hey, I'm going to need food support." And they will also qualify to get a box. So they would have to go to a social worker. >> They could go they could go to anyone at the site. So our front

016office staff are aware, our principles are aware, but what we know about the culture of our schools as families um tend to go to their trusted adult. So whoever that trusted adult is is probably who they're going to go to if they don't just go to the front office and ask for that. So that's how we're addressing that. We're not sending it districtwide because we want to be [clears throat] sure we're focused with the resources that we have available to actually support. >> So if I might make a suggestion in the past like sometimes a poster would be helpful because people might not know to ask that that would even be available from a trusted resource in the school. And then u my second question was regarding um deliveries. Um during the pandemic, a bunch

017of us drove uh around. [clears throat] So I was wondering if um if a system like that will be available because there are people who do not drive during the day. >> So far we have volunteers signing up to do the food deliveries. It's a smaller number than the ones that have asked for food support. So far um Dr. crossways on the list, but also the majority of our social workers will be doing deliveries where school outreach will be doing the physical pickup >> because at Sunnyville Middle School alone, there were 30 families like during the pandemic that regularly relied on that. So, I'm just and right now they don't have an outreach coordinator there. So, is somebody supporting? >> Yes, supporting Sunnyville. >> Mr. Kusaki's team is using Miss Guzman, but also both of

018their social workers, Miss Flores and Miss Patterson, are taking on what would have been the role of the outreach assistant. They also received a little more information since they don't have an outreach assistant having the physical list, the actual phone numbers of families. It's very confidential document, but they're doing phone calls that would have otherwise happened through the outreach position. >> Okay. Thanks so much. >> Sure. Any else have any questions? >> Yes. So as I understand we are going to have like in pandemic time some deliveries or well not some deliveries now some extra food for to take home for the kids. That's question one because before h sometimes during the pandemic the kids some kids could get h some dinner or they could take it home from the school and also during the

019these deliveries of food is that with second harvest the delivery that comes once a month or we're going to do more like when after pandemic we did more in Vargas and other schools. you want? >> Sure. So, this is this is additional to the Second Harvest twice per month food pickup that we're doing in the parking lot. Um, this is an additional food pickup the Friday before break and the Monday of break. There will be pickup at Bishop. We're doing one location this time, but also the drop offs that Miss Watson mentioned. Um, on top of that, Second Harvest actually reached out today to ask if we wanted to increase the weekly food distribution for the time being. Uh, we do. And so they're looking like they can staff volunteers. They're not close enough for

020me to announce anything yet, but they wanted to move to weekly on Wednesdays, just through the holiday. We told them we can we can absolutely accommodate them in the parking lot. They did not want to move back to school sites as they felt they're getting almost 200 families per Wednesday here. And it was working pretty well for the organization, but we did tell them we can add Wednesdays until they feel comfortable that they've done what they can. And that's for that's not for school meals. >> Correct. So a bit of an update on that. So from the nutrition side of things and nutrition team. So we're planning to uh put together boxes that would feed families for 9 days. And this is starting to Friday November 21st. So [clears throat] that would not only um

021include the five days that they're not in school during that week, but also the two weekends on both sides of it. So that's the first uh kind of plan of response to make sure our kids stay fed uh through that first break. We're also starting the the plans for um to be ready for the December break. And so during that twoe period um we're looking into how could we possibly provide hot meals um and and even potentially a hybrid uh model where there's hot meals but there's also grab and go so you can have food at home for [clears throat] um when you need it throughout the the rest of the week or whatnot. So we're still coordinating details but generally those [clears throat] are the thoughts and the plans at this point. Um, but

022we will be ready to feed our families come Friday the 21st. >> Thank you. >> And just briefly, if I might point out, Vanessa Escobar, our school outreach coordinator, Diana Johnson is the social worker at Bishop, and Armando who is on Arthur's team, uh, just took this and have risen it, taken it to a level that it wouldn't have been at had they not just been eager and primed to say, "Hey, we got hungry people. Let's go." um incredible turnaround in 48 hours after we had our last board meeting. They had a preliminary plan that Friday afternoon. So humbling and awesome. >> And I mean I would just say, you know, the more we we can really advertise to people that this is available if they ask like if it is needed, they can talk

023to someone, it's available. I think that's really important for this time, you know. Um uh because most people, you know, if you say honestly like if you say, "Well, if you need some services, you can come and talk to us and we can connect you with services." Most people are like, "No, I don't really need services. I'm just low on cash for food." You know what I mean? or they don't want they don't want the whole you don't want to do a whole thing, you know, like we want them to do a whole thing because we want to support them and support the family and support our students, >> but they might not be ready for that, but they they might just want to know, can they get a box of food, >> you know,

024and that would just be like the first step in like building that trust. >> Um, which I think we have a lot of trust, so that's really good. >> Thank you. Um, one more thing was uh some schools are doing some additional drives. >> Yes. >> So, and you know the ed foundation the that money is going to be used for um do you want to talk about that? >> Sure. So, uh in partnership with Seth Thank you. they donated gift cards uh today which are actually getting delivered tomorrow to get ahead of the 4-day weekend that's coming. This happened through social workers and school outreach assistance as well. Um these are grocery cards to just help people before we have the food pickup and hot food available and um again amazing turnaround and thanks

025to our teams. So that's happening through Seth and again as a pilot to see what could happen over the December break. Um we're hoping that you know resources have stabilized but gift cards though a little tricky. We want to be very careful that they get to the right people. Very helpful for families that just need to help get their own to help buy their own groceries and cook in their home. And then um last thing, could you talk a little bit about the food drives going on at the different schools? >> So there's two schools, Bishop and San Miguel have canned food, physical food drives that were kind of disconnected but started along the same timeline as what we're doing here. When we reached out to Second Harvest, they were very specific saying, "Please do

026not increase food donations right now." The logistical impact, and I it was interesting, the logistical impact of a large food donation at the holidays is overwhelming. and they're not always able to inventory the food in time to deliver it before it's out of date. So they said a fiscal support it means we can go longterm or use all those funds right now if the need skyrockets. So there's two physical food drives. We aren't planning to increase canned food physical drives right now just in response to Second Harvest's kind of expertise around this and making sure we don't swarm them with food. Well, I think like during the pandemic they were doing that and then they were distributing in their own community like in their own they weren't doing it. >> I do think it's more

027that direction than it is us doing something like the larger scale districtwide thing. >> Okay. Thanks so much. >> Sure. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Now we're on to board members reports item. Uh we can go down the line. Evelyn, do you want to begin? Um I I've just [clears throat] been busy with work, but I did um finish my masters in governance ethics train. >> Congratulations. Well, it was a nice weekend with a lot of activities since we got the time. I will sub mean by activities. Erh, one of them was the trunk of tree at the shelter. Well, with the shelter kids, that was great. All of those kids are students and we had quite a few board members, the assembly members, supervisors who were there and helped give

028candy and have a great time for these children. That was an amazing day. Then the next the next day on the others we had set four where we decided to do the the drive the food drive because a lot of them were very excited about the our Thursday meeting. So it was a good weekend actually great weekend for the kids. I also did other stuff celebrating the whole weekend for the muertos but I also made my my activities later. Thank you. Thanks. Um I have a comment really just most of you know that my grandpa passed away [clears throat] this week. So that's what's going on. Um hello uh it's been a busy week and I will submit all my activities as well. Um we started off with the um Sunnyville education foundation meeting um

029out of which was born our drive. So I've been very busy with that. Um and also been knocking on a lot of doors down real trying to get some support from businesses. um finished up some TK visits uh at Cherry Chase, Vargas, and Ellis. Um so, President Watson and I were able to visit all of the schools. Um and it's really great to see um how other how all the schools approach this TK um playbased model. Um two really interesting um kind of webinars that that I attended. Um oh well [clears throat] this is actually a lunch and learn for the um Santa CL County School Boards. We had a discussion about communicating district district budget challenges which um I found very useful to hear about other districts in this area and um the challenges

030with communication and it's just great to be like in community with other trustees that have similar things but not exactly the same. Um and um something I attended today was a webinar and it was um by this group called green schoolyards and the name of that was um embracing risky schoolyards play for exploration of learning and growth and I thought this was a very interesting talk. They're talking about the the word risky versus hazardous with with the idea to um make things as safe as necessary but not as safe as possible so that um our students um our kids have a chance to kind of have some risk and kind of they said micro dose some uncertainty build up some tolerance for that. Um, and so this is such an interesting thing for me because

031I know for us all this is a challenge, right? Is like this these executive functioning, the self-regulation, um, but having nature be part of learning how to manage self. Um, it was really interesting. So, um, I'm happy to share that with other people. Last thing, I went to a bubonic play simulation at um seventh grade um history teacher today and um that was really fun. They were super engaged. [clears throat] Okay, that sounds great. That sounds really fun. Bonic blade simulation. Okay. So, um again, I just wanted to reiterate that uh for my announcement is that November 16th through the 22nd is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. And I want to thank everybody for their support of Sunnyville Community Services, Second Harvest Food Bank. And I really want to thank um the Ed Foundation

032for jumping in because those gift cards are going to make a difference for the for the families living in cars uh or who just do not have the ability to um cook anything. So um I just I really think that's fantastic uh because it allows them a lot of allows families a lot of dignity. And piggybacking on uh trustee Lambert's comment about trunk treat. I also want to thank um you know everybody here and contributed but also we had cars there and trucks there from our school district but also um this teachers union and the classified union and really represented with the um all the different games and activities. So the kids had a great time. I will send in my activities but two things I wanted to highlight. One was we we just um

033trustee um Shen Brewster and I just finished our tours of TK's walking all around the district and uh I want to thank um Mr. Nishihara for taking us around and um you know giving us different windows into different times of of TK the world of TK and it was just so fantastic to just see that age group and just be immersed in around four year olds and um just their whole just chatting with them and seeing them explore. So I I think TK is a great addition to our district. I'm really glad we have it and I can't wait to see how it will evolve. And um my other takeaway was walking to SMS for my volunteer gig today. Uh but there was this I was across the crosswalk and I'm walking and I'm surrounded

034by students and I just hear this singing and it's like a low singing but it's like someone just singing to themselves, right? And I turn around and it's this like little little girl from SMS and she's just singing to herself and she has no headphones in. She's just singing a song and I was like, "Okay." You know, like this reminds me of um you know, when I went to the library and there was some kid just waiting for um her mom to pick her up and she was just drawing, you know, and I'm like to have the time, [laughter] but this girl was like singing just in space like music taking her to school. So like it was just very sweet. So um I just it just reminded me of the age, you know, like

035just they're just totally immersed. So I loved it. I will send my comments in. Thank you. Uh so now it's time for 9D comments from the Sunnyville Education Association. At this time we would like to hear from the Sunnyville Education Association. If there's an official representative online, please use the raise hand feature now. Okay. Um item 9E, California School Employees Association. At this time, we would like to hear from you. If there's an official representative, please use the raised hand feature now. >> And Sunnyville Education Foundation. Um, I do see we do have an official representative in the room. So, um, President, please come to the podium. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Uh, I am here tonight, well, first to listen to all of you fabulous things in the news of the district,

036but um, I'm also here with a check and it is the last big check of our fall school grants. So, it was in the amount of $79,000 and um, I've uh, given the check to um, uh, Mr. coffee. And this rounds out the um like I said, the school grants, although we have another $1,000 we anticipate coming to you. And uh this is supporting a variety of things across our district, including um things like field trips, math Olympics, assemblies, uh some some more played performances. We look forward to seeing Frozen over at Lakewood this year, for example. Um, and uh, at this point, all of our 10 schools have received support from our fall grants. And we're very proud to continue to be supporting all 10 of our schools and the students at those schools

037to give them fantastic opportunities and meeting the needs where they exist and and just making school a more fun place to be. I'd also like to share um what's coming up. uh mid year we will be launching our special projects and for this year we're going to be building on the theme that we presented at our recent roundt event um which was beyond the classroom and so we've set aside some funds and we'll be reaching out to our school sites um in order to tell them about this opportunity to get some financial support behind taking learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. So, uh, I'll come back with more about that later. And, um, I also wanted to point out that we also in this, uh, latest round of support are contributing to the

038library refresh. We've been very, um, pleased to hear about the long-term plan to, uh, to get some of the latest and greatest of uh, literature, but more importantly, non-fiction materials. We know the the sciences and social studies materials are particularly in need of some refresh and so we've contributed $10,000 for um towards that effort at this time and we will continue to um provide some support. Um, and then last but not least, of course, we've heard a lot tonight about the opportunity to provide some food assistance and uh we very much appreciate your trust and faith in us and uh the education foundation um is pleased to be able to be limber and flexible enough to turn around and and make an immediate impact and will continue to monitor. At this time, we have raised

039over $8,000 in the campaign and um that's with it having just launched. So, thank you to everybody listening who has already shown support and we want to continue to get the word out there. Our goal is to raise $20,000 and as we heard earlier um from Director Sllayton, uh we've already uh provided, I believe, $2,000 of gift cards just today for distribution. And so thank you to the school district and the staff and all the members across the district who are helping make this happen so quickly. It's fantastic. So what a wonderful example of the partnership. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So now we are on to item 10 which is public comments. This is the time to this portion of the agenda provides an opportunity for members of the public

040to directly address the governing board on any item of interest to the public. However, provisions of the Brown Act Government Code 54954.2A.3 preclude any action being taken on any item not appearing on the agenda. Time limits allocated to public testimony are three minutes per person and 20 minutes for public comments. Speakers are asked to give their name and affiliation so the accurate record is reflected in the minutes. Um so this is for anything not on tonight's agenda is if anyone would like to comment on this please use the raised hand feature now. >> Okay seeing none we are on to item 11 the consent agenda. Okay. So, any item on the consent agenda is subject to review and discussion prior to being approved by the board. If necessary, any items may be removed separate action.

041The public may address the board regarding any items on the consent agenda. Okay. Uh we do have two cards on the consent agenda. Um and uh for public comment on the consent agenda and you can pull any company any item for consideration. We have so far from the public um 11 A1. Um if there's any member of the public online, please use the raised hand feature now if you have an item on the consent agenda you'd like to discuss. Okay. [clears throat] See none. The first speaker is Diane Champ. And then after that, we'll have Teresa Wilson on Oh, do we have to make a motion to approve just this one? No, they're pulling this one. >> Well, it's not even having to be pulled necessarily. >> They're just making comments. >> Okay. >> And

042then later we [clears throat] can make a motion to pull or not pull or whatever. >> Okay, perfect. >> Thanks. >> We don't have a lot of public comments on consent. >> I think this is first in welcome. >> Have three minutes. Oops. Good evening. My name is Diane Chan and I am one half of the communication and community relations firm known as Lighthouse Blue. I want to thank the SSD for nearly 12 years of birth data. In particular, I'd like to thank district communications and community engagement manager Aaliyah Wilson for more than a decade of thought partnership. Aaliyah is one of the hardest working, most productive people with whom I have had the pleasure of working. Her professionalism, skill, and commitment to implementing best practices and leveraging data to guide her strategy are notable.

043Because I value our long-term relationship with the district, I think it's important to provide some information on the item before you. First, the cost of the services we provide under our existing agreement has not increased. What has increased is the volume of projects assigned to us which we delivered after discussions with district staff clarifying that the expanded work was outside of and in addition to our approved scope. For the record, here's an itemized list of the work we delivered from July through October. Do I give that to you or hear? One second. [clears throat] >> Um so please note that all the tasks listed in blue were above and beyond um our contracted projects and completed upon the direction of district staff. We also delivered the pre-planned contracted items in black. As you can see,

044we produced a substantial amount of work in addition to our planned activities, including six videos, 15 press releases, and support for two events. Upon the superintendent's direction, we also greatly accelerated the production timeline for 11 of the 12 videos we had planned to produce this school year, completing filming for nine of those videos in two weeks just last month. The staff report for 11A states that operational costs for our work have risen unsustainably. I would like to clarify that we have not exceeded our contracted annual amount. The district could have elected to continue with our established monthly fee and simply adjusted our workload accordingly for the duration of the contract. [clears throat] Finally, the report states that transitioning to a new provider will save the district about $35,000 per year. But in fact, the proposed

045PR-rated contract with Volair described in 11A.2 is actually $3,000 higher than our annual contract for the same services. Of course, the district is free to choose its vendors, and I sincerely hope that your relationship with Valair is as long and productive as ours has been, and that we might find the opportunity to work together in the future. Thank you. Okay, next up we have Teresa Wilson. >> Okay. Um, I'm Teresa Wilson. I'm co-owner of Lighthouse Blue. I'm not here to dispute the early termination of our contract, but to clarify some facts and to and to foster understanding in the spirit of collaboration we've shared over the years. We began consulting for you 12 years ago. I was on the interview panel to select Aaliyah and it's been an honor to see her grow into such

046an accomplished professional. Our business relationship began, however, much earlier. I served as president of your first smaller foundation and championed a major corporate grant that helped to build the neighborhood center and more. In short, Diane and I have worked with six superintendent and through many seasons of the district's evolution, and one thing has never changed. Our relationship has always been grounded in trust. That brings me to our work agreement. Under our contract, our firm's hours are allocated annually and divided into 12 payments, allowing for natural variation monthtomonth within the con confines of the annual allocation. In 12 years, that contract arrangement has generally worked has always worked. When do Dr. Crossweight began. He brought with him an exciting and robust vision for communications, which is great, but which required much more time from Aaliyah and

047from us. We met in August to present an amended work plan. We proceeded with the increased work with the understanding that the adjustment would go before the board in September for formal approval. when it did not. We communicated frequently to clarify priorities, share year overyear work plans for comparison, and report work [clears throat] being done outside of the scope of our agreement. We've had to work extensive hours against the annual allocation to keep up with the increase of work. Our most recent work note, excuse me, our most recent note offered two options for moving forward. one payment for the overage. So work could continue in throughout the rest of the duration of the year um without reducing or to continue without paying for the overage work but reducing the hours later within our annual contract.

048But at no time in the past four months or in our 12 years of partnership have we acted without transparency or direction. [clears throat] It matters to us and to our reputation that you understand that. Um, thank you for listening. It's been an honor to be part of this team and please know this is my community. I've lived and worked here for more than 60 years and I'm proud of our schools. Diane and I will continue to champion the work that's happening here and wish you and all of you and everyone associated with the district ever success. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Um board we're going to go on to the consent agenda. Did you want to adjust? >> Yes, if I may. I'd like to pull item 11 visi for the smart pass

049from your consideration. Uh staff and I need additional time to provide some additional details and clarify some questions that have come up to us. [snorts] >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda or would anyone else like to item for consideration? I will approve the agenda. without item 11 B4. >> Do we have a second? >> I second. >> Okay. Thank you. Any discussion? >> Can we say Can I ask a question? >> Yeah, it's discussion time. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's just nice like um so I just have one quick question uh for staff kind of related to the comments they made. So, the one uh she was saying that is the new company that's on there is from her perspective was $3,000 more than their current one for the

050same amount of work. And I'm just curious and maybe you don't have to answer now like this isn't going to change like how I'm going to vote necessarily, but I just would like staff to have a chance to kind of clarify that for us a little bit. >> Yeah. And I can provide you with the contracts or the proposal and the contract so you can see the difference. But what is 7,000 and lighthouse is about 6,800 a month. >> Do you feel like they it was for the same same amount of work or that we'll get more from there? >> It's it's comparable to the work that we're now moving forward and expecting moving forward. Yes. >> And the other thing is that I don't want to really get into all the details, but has

051um a bigger team with different facets of strengths including the graphic designs, media, social. >> Well, they've worked with a variety of school districts, too. So, there's they can pull from other ideas and things they've done with schools specific. >> Yes. Correct. Are we ready to vote? >> Yeah. Okay. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Chair votes I. And the motion of the consent agenda passes. Thank you. Okay. Uh we are on to item 12, review and action. Uh 12 A is the approval of the Cherry Chase Elementary School modernization option two project scope and budget. And on my agenda it says first but I don't see I think that's Mr. Cy. [clears throat] >> Yes. Uh good evening. Brand does again Brandt does the lab work behind the scenes. Uh I'm

052here to present this um request but this is an extension of what we presented at the last meeting. Um this is for your uh for your review to approve the chair chase modernization project option two uh scope and budget. So I'm here to answer any questions you may have. >> So do you want to state the recommendation? >> Sure. So the our recommendation is that the board of education approve Cherry Chase Elementary School modernization option two project scope and budget after reviewing the accompanying report and presentation. >> Thank you. Okay, we do have one card, one speaker card on this item which is Michelle Eugenei. If you're online and you would like to speak about this item, please use the raised hand feature now. But um Miss Eugene, you can come to the podium. I'm

053just speaking as public citizen cherry chase parent alum current volunteer at the moment. Um sorry I missed the last meeting. I have looked at the um proposal and presentation. I just wanted to provide a little bit of uh feedback around the process and also some of the terminology in order to um make fabulous decisions for campus improvements in the future whether it affects this one or not as a separate matter. And that is uh the idea of creating outdoor learning spaces um as defined in the presentation whether you're looking at option one two or three or whatever um those are not outdoor learning spaces. Those are um benches and trees. And in train chase in particular, there are long uh spaces in between the classroom wings, those old classic California classroom wings. And um I

054recognize that it is maybe unattractive aesthetically um to just have a pavement, but uh those spaces are used for transit and um the interim times going between uh activities and lunch and so on. And um I cannot foresee the need to um put in fancy benches and trees and all kinds of other things in that space which adds money um because I don't think it's going to be a good use of the fund. And I would encourage thinking more creatively potentially about what those spaces in between classrooms may in fact be and mean. Um, maybe it's putting in splashes of color onto the pavement itself to make it a more attractive space, but low maintenance. Um, I applaud all the rest of it, the new windows and all that kind of stuff. And then the

055other thing is, um, on option two, it does put in a two-story building. I don't have a problem with that. Sounds lovely. They've been very successful in the district. Kids love them. Um, but it faces with a huge outdoor learning square in the middle. again on paper sounds amazing from a practical point of view. Who is ever going to use that as an outdoor learning space? It might be nice if you're going to separate out food eating areas, but Cherry Chase Multi is quite large and they have a system for rotating kids in and out, so they're not going to be eating over there. And so I would say, what does that space mean? What does the district mean when it says outdoor learning? And then finally, I had a question. I was hoping BR

056might be here, but I can follow up with him. It says garden behind there, which is where the old room 31 portable used used to be, and it got torn down in 2020. I recognized it was at the end of its use useful life. Kids ask me all the time. Miss Michelle, what is this space for? And I said, well, maybe someday there might be a building here. Well, looks like there's possibly going to be a building near there, but it's still left open and it's labeled as garden. And I go, oh my goodness, is my garden doubling in size? I'll follow up offline. Thank you so much. >> Are there any other comments online this item? No. Okay. Uh so board, we need a motion before we discuss. >> Thank you. >> I we

057approve the recommendation for chair chief organization. >> I Okay. um comments. >> Yeah, I um thank you um Michelle for your comments. Um it kind of uh is an extension of what we had started talking about last um last week um about these outdoor outdoor learning areas. And this kind of also dovtales with my um with the webinar I attended with the risky schoolyard play risky not hazardous. Um, so I I think it'd be really um really great to be very intentional about our outdoor learning spaces and designing it um as President Watson was saying um according to maybe like the standard. So second and third grade both have a lot of um potential for using the garden. Um so if we're able to have that kind of um intentionality in our planning and also

058engagement of community members that clearly know so much about this campus and are so invested and want to see the best for our community. I think this is a great opportunity to continue building that relationship with our neighbors. um having that high level of trust and um really really great conversations are possible and I'm very excited about this modernization. >> Okay. Um I have some thoughts but anyone else want to go first? >> Okay. So, um, I'm going to say that I I really do love option two, but I really do want you to put both the butter pollinator garden that's in front, the little new side garden, and even the other garden, I want you to think of it holistically. Like, I would like to see improvements to that whole area in the scope.

059Um, because I know if you say, well, if we if we look at it more, if we're going to build, how much do we say this is going to cost? that the total project cost 45.5 million >> 45.5 million I think that we can really actively focus on these this idea of like hey you have the pollinator garden that was a second grade little wing over there and that's the u Mr. Hower who is a longtime teacher who loved to work in the garden. You know, that was his classroom because it was close to um both the the main garden, the volunteer garden and the pollinator garden which was also put in by volunteers but had a little more structural support from the district for the shape. But then imagine on the other side what

060we could do there with like with a real outdoor learning space. So I think this is the opportunity to look at living classroom. Um this is the opportunity to like you know you have a principal who's very interested in science and um and steam. Uh, so I think it's just, you know, there's there's already art on campus that's studentdriven with mosaics and tiles and, you know, the history of murals. The mural went away with one of the with a temporary building, but there's, you know, there is there is a high interest in art and science. So I would really ask that that be included in the scope. Um and then the other thing I would say is that particular two-story building um does have a street facing element. Right. Right now it's it is um

061it's internal like the way it's oriented is internal towards the outdoor learning area but it does have a street facing element. So, um, are we thinking that that would be like within a fence line like the butterfly garden? I know there's a garbage there. Are you thinking that that would be like internal to campus or would that be another exit point? Do we know CBD? >> Great questions. of this what what the aerial pictures that you see in the presentation are what they term schematic design. >> Okay. >> They're just shapes, you know, square footage, rough estimates based on on that. >> Okay. >> The the following um phase would be the design. >> See, I don't have my trusty. I think it's design constru. No, design >> design build. >> Not design build. whatever

062the theme was that you said last time >> like programming the programming where they actually meet with people and talk about what they want >> that is where those types of conversations start to come together so I'm taking notes uh I think these are all great amazing things >> I'm going to say that I want to say public color again which builds on Michelle's idea about using paint like strategically to create joy which Jerry Chase is a big big fan of they have it in their own little motto before we had ours. So, I was very impressed with that. Um, we sort of borrowed it. We love it. Um, and then also, um, my my thought is we've talked to the city for a long time about public art on our campuses. They have some

063money when they when they do corporate jobs where they um they don't actually put the art in, but they fund it into a city uh pool of money and we could possibly have access to that. So thinking about, okay, if we're having a pollinator garden or we're having this other thing, like where could we put some uh public art on our campus? And then because it's a big project and then um finally because we are moving towards this idea of a community school model, um the location is sort of central. So, is there is there something that um Cherry Chase is missing that we would need to plan into a community school model >> design? >> Yes. Okay. But um any other >> you guys agree with me about living classroom and >> public art

064and color? I mean, it's not just like Bridget raising her hand here, right? Like this is a whole thing for all of us, right? >> Agree. Most of us. >> Yeah. And I wonder if we might also be able to challenge ourselves to not to build a campus without artificial turf. There's so many beautiful natural um plants out there, some natural plant play spaces. And um again, the the garden, the the outdoor learning areas that are very intentional um for groups to come out. Um, it's very exciting and and I can't wait to see how how this develops. >> We're not talking we're not touching the field. So, >> can you talk in the mic? I can't hear you. >> Yeah. No, that was it. >> Do you have anything you want to say about

065like color and like this is the time? Well, I'm looking forward to see what the design start developing a little bit more. Right now, it's just the boxes where things are going to be located. So, I'm looking forward to see what's the difference in the spaces between it's just a big green block right now. What is the outdoor learning space? How how is understood and what they have? So I think it's all in our in our direction already. They know what we want. So hopefully that will we will get some answers when we start seeing the designs. Right now it's there's no design. So the location. >> So if we're improving option two, can we state that we also want the surrounding gardens to be integrated into the design or improved in some way? Yeah.

066So that's already noted. >> Absolutely. So it's already noted just to be clear. Um the scope that was taken into account and um estimated based off of was like the the previous out what we have termed outdoor learning. Um but I think we I'm hearing there's a different thought about what outdoor learning could be. I think that's a great conversation. The pricing of that would come in the next phase. You know, we'll we'll talk to the architects, make sure that they that we get some of those things designed. Once we get into the process, we'll get things priced uh and see if it fits within discover this budget. And if not, we'd be back to ask for an increase to to in order to incorporate such things. So that's kind of how where we are

067in the process. We're at the very beginning, but this is really good feedback and and information. This is the time for us to jot it down. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Ready to vote? Okay. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Chair votes I. And the motion passes. So, yay. Appreciate. Okay. We're on to item three, which is discussion items. We only have one discussion item which is um item 13A, middle school band programs and student performance opportunities. Dr. Dean, >> good evening board. Uh just going to kind of give a brief overview of our current um programs at both Sunnel Middle and uh Columbia Middle School. Um at both schools um students in sixth through 8th grade are able to participate in band orchestra um and music genesis. Um in addition to

068that um the students who are enrolled in those particular programs as they metriculate up um are of course get more detail and advance um in those particular areas of interest. All students are available even if they have limited experience to participate in these options of course based upon seats but they all are have the option to participate even at the sixth grade level if they do not have necessarily background um experience. So students do have the opportunity to access all the programs. The idea for both um programs at both our middle schools is to really just get [clears throat] kids excited about music and hopefully um to expand that interest, if you will. Um give them exposure to a multitude of opportunities, whether it be concerts, local events, and our music festivals. It's also an

069opportunity for them to just kind of expand their knowledge and support of the music. And it also for some students is an opportunity for to keep them engaged overall to be very honest and so it it affords them um that opportunity as well. at both of our schools. Uh the students have been provided um over many years and I don't know when we started doing this, they have participated in the um Anaheim um music band competition. And while that opportunity um is a good opportunity for the students who have an opportunity to participate, it's extremely expensive and as a result that typically has happened every other year instead of every year because it takes quite a bit of time for fundraising in order to fundra for that particular program. in my communication with the principles

070this um year so far um we've been they've been engaged in what's in our local area or a little bit closer so that we have more opportunities for students to engage in community events and other types of competition. The other um emphasis around trips like the Anaheim um band competition is that we are working on a plan to improve um some of our musical instruments at both school sites and to do so can become [clears throat] very expensive just to maintain our current instruments. Um, I'm going to I'm don't quote me on this, but I do know we spend somewhere between5 and $8,000 minimum just to maintain our current um programming with musical instruments at our middle schools. And I would say both of our programs is really focused on equity and access and also

071ensuring that the resources are available for all interested interested students with an opportunity for enrichment and engagement in their performing arts program. And so that's just kind of a a brief overview of kind of what we are currently doing in our programming. Uh we do have a new teacher at our Sunville Middle School. who she's not new to our district cuz she started with us last school year and then we are in year two with one of our teachers at um Columbia school. So that's kind of a short overview of kind of where we are in programming and at this time I'd like to take an opportunity for additional questions or discussion we have around our middle school programs. >> Okay. Um we're going to move to public comment first. So, um, if there's anyone

072online who would like to speak on this item, you can use the raised hand feature now. Um, but first, we'd like to invite, uh, Lawrence Lamb to the podium. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Lawrence Lamb. Um, I have two eighth grade daughters at Sunnyville Middle. Um, and I have actually 11th grader who also went through the entire Sunnyville school district from Cherry Chase Sun. Now she's at Homestead. They all love music. Um, I'm going to tell the story from the perspective of a student, right? Or two kids, my my kids, my youngest daughter, when she was in kindergarten, they had a pretty robust afterchool music program. And what they did was they lined up all the instruments out there and they can just do whatever they like to do. Blow on it, play

073it, whatever they want. My daughter, who let's say about 7 months before that, saw her high school marching band marching down Disneyland Main Street. She was mesmerized. She wanted to pick up every instrument and just start playing it. And and And from that moment on, we realized, let's get into some basics, right? But I also realized that not every family can have the resources to be doing private lessons. Now, you mentioned the word band. Band and orchestra. They're not individuals. They're group of students who come together, learn from each other, play together in a way that makes music. So [snorts] my oldest daughter unfortunately when she went through the music pretty successful at Cherry Chase something happened in 2020 and you know exactly what it is. It I think it broke a lot of things

074including the music program unfortunately at Sunnyville school district specifically at at Cherry Chase it wasn't the same even when she went on to Sunnyville Middle it took a lot of prickly method effort from the music teacher to put that back together again in 2023 I was chaperoning with my daughter and a whole bunch of other kids to the actually officially it's called World Strikes Heritage Music Festival at Anaheim. So she got to play along with kids from Colombia and her own school. They had a combined school because I think the population of the of not population but the number of kids playing instruments had dropped significantly. Well, they have to combine the two together. They place really well. I was actually out there walking around and I said, "Oh, they're the plaques." Two years later,

075my two younger daughters have now um gone through this and they were in eighth grade orchestra or seventh grade orchestra and they won first prize overall for all orchestras, highest score within the category and also the choir, let's not forget them for for for for um for for for I think a third race overall magnificent treatments. So the point is I think we need to somehow support them not just at the middle school level but this is a Sunnyville school district. It's at the at the you know even at elementary school level somehow we need to get them interested. By the way, my oldest daughter last December marched down Main Street at Disneyland with the Homestead America dream because the school supported her, gave her the opportunity to see what's out there with music and

076she grasp it with both hands and so do my other two Someday there'll be kids out there, right? I'm sure they're already one. Maybe that first grader you saw who might have seen a marching band or maybe even saw the Rose Parade and said, "I want to do that." You need to give them the opportunity to do that. And that's Thank you for listening. By the way, you guys need to update the awards. Uh they're in the back of my car when I was driving back on Anaheim. >> These are really tall, by the way. You need it for your display case. So, >> they're still inside of a little I know where they are. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um do we have anyone online? Not right now. >> Yeah,

077we did get several letters in um just the last year or two. people were writing in about this topic. Um, does anyone want to start the discussion thoughts? So, um, three of my older daughters, um, they're all in college now. Um, they all, um, started band at, um, Columbia Middle School. And I remember in sixth grade they had what was called a petting zoo and that was really fun for all the kids to go to um just to try all the different instruments, you know, and see which one they want to try and play um even if they had no experience. Um and it was really great. Um so sixth grade they didn't do um any um Anaheim um [sighs] um field trips to Disneyland. It was during seventh grade and eighth grade. Um, and

078a lot of kids were able to do it and we did a lot of it through fundraising. I I was the music boosters president for 5 years when I was there. And a lot of it was helping students fund raise if they couldn't um afford um or you know have the finances to go to the to the trip because we didn't want to leave anyone out. So, you know, we fundraised um and whoever wanted to go was able to go. Um and it was really fun. Um, but I hear now that it's every other year and um I I don't think that that's right because what if they go seventh and eighth grade, seventh grade, what if a student can't go and so they don't they can't go because they don't have the funds and

079so they miss out next year, eighth grade because that's the odd year that that it's not happening. [gasps] Um, and and and music is really important. helps, you know, the brain grow. Um, and it just helps, you know, the kids. Um it just helps them it just makes them smarter and it just helps them socially and you know with friends and and being part of the boosters help um the parents um you know network um you know on a personal level and also um you know with the community and just coming together and helping kids um just do what they want to do, play music and just be with their friends and go compete and of course go to Disneyland um you Maybe not so much not Dairberry Farm, but Disneyland. I really love um

080you know going there. And um last year um CNS wasn't able to do one of the um um performances and and I think there was a conflict. You know, I was speaking to one of the the moms who um now graduated from CMS um and she was the president of CMS last year and I don't Is it okay if I read but she is >> this the spring concert you mean the spring? >> Oh, it was the one that um SMS had a performance and CMS [clears throat] at the theater and CMS couldn't go. >> Yeah. Um, and so she she was just saying that it was um, you know, possibly a lack of communication between um, not aligning the calendar events and transportation and um, just the school district or the um, yeah, the

081district should um, plan ahead um, the calendar so both schools have time to sort things out. um and have it on their calendars and so that way transportation for the kids cuz I know there's a lot of kids who didn't have transportation so they couldn't go and then it was just it just got all um complicated um and so you know just just making sure that kids have um um a way to get there um and then just so that both schools can um attend um so that kids can um have that chance to perform. Um I know a lot of kids were sad that they weren't able to um join and you know the other school was able to to join. Um I'll let someone else have a turn. Band orchestra and choir they're

082really important in the school. Um and um and like Mr. Lamb says it would be great if we could have that um at the elementary schools um also. Thank you. >> Yes. Sure. So, yeah, both of my kids did the music program at SMS. First, Gabriel when he was about to go to Disneyland, then it was 2020, so it didn't happen. And then Daniel when it was time for him to go, the district hasn't started restarted the Disneyland either. So none of them went there and then both of them they they went to the orchestra option and not the marching band and there are no activities for march if you are not in the marching band you don't go you don't travel you just play and maybe go to another high school once a year

083so that was a little disappointing but anyway I remember that at the beginning when Gabriel was choosing to go to well their school was the semestic at the time there was a program the Stanford program and there was the option for to go to the Stanford program at CMS one of the things that was attractive other than the Stanford program was that the music program was supposed to be the best one at CMS I don't they we just decided to go to SMS for different reasons most of the the parents from Fairwood decided to go to CMS for for because of the music program was pretty good over there and then somehow it switched after Mr. came and now they have more options at CMS. They used to have people start complaining because now they

084have a bigger choir. They have theater in musical theater and they have other classes that weren't happening at CMS. So somehow it changed completely. So ideal the ideal it will be that no one school is better than other but both of them are awesome. both of them are pretty good and not it's not about lowering the options in one because it's not happening in the other one is to raise both of them because I do hate that that oh we're not going to start this class here because we can do it in the other side that's not fair to anyone could raise both of them and you know try to be mindful that those of things like the performance that didn't happen because there wasn't you know, communication and that there are enough options and

085classes for like music, theater, choir, different type of orchestra, sing or symphonic or or band or whatever they are for both places that would be great be mindful of everything and that's it. [clears throat] Uh I think I just my main question is just like are we giving direction to staff? Are we just like what is the purpose of this like discussion? Like what? >> So I I put this on the agenda because um I know that for things to happen in the spring with open house and um perhaps a spring concert, a joint spring concert, they have to plan now. And so um last year we as a board we gave direction that we wanted to make sure that there was uh collaboration between the schools that um that they would that both schools

086would have access to um the community center and I had this email fly in from uh an old email like kind of rose up from Charles Anetta and it mentioned that they were res, you know, they were going to reserve for this spring the same week. The same week was available for reservation. It's just a matter of the DO reserving it. Um, I had talked to principal. He said that he reserved it. Um, but there was no indication if CMS the band was invited or if it was planned, if if they were aware of the date, you know, that whole thing. And so, I just thought it would be good to for us to just have that discussion. And then also the idea of it being every other year. I'm I'm pretty sure that last

087year we talked about wanting to have it be every year. Um the parents I've talked to from CMS who were like like Evelyn who've done the boosters, they've they've always found a way to make it work. And pre- pandemic um the superintendent uh Ben Pequard who's here, Dr. Ard, he was very adamant that that we should support CMS students going to Anaheim because at that time it was there was maybe five or six hundred students and like a third of them were in band. And for students to commit to band as an elective, it's a year-long it's a year-long elective, right? You you have to commit for the whole time. But it was engaging kids. It was giving them goals and it was giving them this experience of competing at a national level in a

088you know high competition situation um [clears throat] and exposure to an environment and and those kids are not most of those kids are not going to Japan most of those kids are not going to um you know Washington DC uh those are small numbers of kids who are going you're talking about 200 kids from a title one school who are going together So because we don't have a culminating experience right now yet in uh in middle school. So, um, so what I wanted to do was to see like if as a board there was agreement that we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to play together um, in the spring uh, and showcase to their families and to the community because at the community center that is that is free. What costs money is

089the transportation, the busing for us as a district to like provide them rehearsal time so that they get that connection, that time together. And when I talked to principal Oasaki about it, he was telling me um that that was actually that rehearsal time together, that four like three or four sessions they would need that that's that's more even if they practice alone and then could in theory practice one time and then perform having a few times where they get together like three or four times where they get together that's supported by the district whether it's through transportation or schedule so that they can have that time together would be he feels like that's the most valuable. So um you know and hearing from the parents like you know um as well they just expressed how

090that experience in the theater was so elevating for their children right that they arranged it in a way where here they are they're on a professional stage. Well, if we need someplace bigger, maybe we looked at Denza or, you know, some other venue, but um if there was a way to, you know, reserve the week so that everybody it could be sort of like a Sunnyale School District Festival of the Arts or Festival of Music, you know, we could we could have if we have the whole week anyway, all our stuff is there. They're not they're not going to do another show while while we're there for two or three days. Maybe we could do more, but the idea would be that we would really celebrate the work of our students, get into a routine

091locally, and then as far as Anaheim goes. Um, you know, pre- pandemic it was every year. It was it was not every it somehow turned into every other year because we thought that's what the parents wanted and the parents were in band. That's not what I'm hearing from them. And we could do more surveys. We could explore that more. So my question would be not my my my direction request would be not that we say we will go over here but that the district can explore [clears throat] that as an option talk to parents and maybe there needs to be a boosters you know a more formal booster. I just wanted to clarify the the fundraising is a big it's more so than parents have informed us that they don't want to go. It's more

092so the effort and the time it takes for the fundraising for the students to be able to attend. That's what prompted the every other year more so than parents. I think generally speaking parents and students enjoy that opportunity but it does come with some extra parameters that are necessary for that to be accomplished >> right >> but I don't I don't know that let me just say I don't know that like the every other year is like I would like that to be explored more going back to a one year an annual an annual goal for the students an annual opportunity as an exploration. >> I was just curious about the fundraising, who's fundraising for whom? And >> yeah, and I >> I think it would be helpful for us as staff to get some

093additional information for you and better assess what what what are the costs associated with the annual Anaheim trip and to what extent and what amount are families fundraising for these efforts as well. And I'm just curious about exploring that further in terms of what we can do differently moving forward as well. >> Um so I went to my first um concert last year, the SMS spring concert at the community center um at the community theater and it was just really powerful and to see um students there. They had this like jam there. there's like three pianists that are daring in between um the sets like as the different as they're changing the configurations and then um many times like Mr. Teddy would just step back and kids would come up and they would direct their

094[clears throat] peers and it was just such a powerful experience. And um and then the next day went to CMS's um open house and they were just kind of um out in the courtyard area um and it was very hard to hear music. Um, so I think we do need to look at our musical programming in terms of equity, um, in terms of closing the opportunity gaps for those students that might not have them. Um, have the opportunity to have either private music or maybe they don't go to Cherry Chase or Cumberland or Fairwood um, and they don't have the opportunity to play band um, instruments. Um, when we're thinking about equity, I feel like that this is something that it is our job to find ways to close that gap. And if it's about

095the funding, how can we partner with others? What else can we do? I just think m music education is such a critical part of education in general. Um, in many cases, that can be the joy and purpose for students. Um and yeah that I just like to see a more comprehensive music programming and those opportunities for all the students um in the district um and to see what we can do together. I one more thing. [clears throat] Um I worked at M Wisman and every student um who played instrument in fourth and fifth grade [clears throat] and then both of their middle schools at Graham and Kitten they both went to um Anaheim every year and it was such a like it was such a highlight of those students that year, such a memorable experience

096and [clears throat] just so much pride and joy. Um, and I think that our students in San have that as much as those would not be. [clears throat] >> It's a similar demographic and socioeconomic profile as my district. >> So, um, so it's a it it can be done. Um, but the >> Well, I say so can I >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Uh, so yeah. So, thank you. I have to say thank you for the like overview of kind of the purpose. And so if I'm understanding correctly, you're kind of wanting our input on the two like you're wanting us to try to get direction or like kind of feedback then related to Disneyland trip and spring performances. >> Well to to explore that. So like >> I mean those are the two kind of

097things not I mean it's no like specific direction to do this. Yeah. >> Correct. And I think and just to I just also wanted to like to reinforce this idea of a spring concert as an opportunity. >> Yeah. Okay. So with that information, so I'd say for the Disneyland, uh I mean in theory every year sounds lovely. I get there's pros and cons. So I don't think I have strong feelings one way or another, but I love the idea of exploring and looking at it. Um, and then for the spring concert, I think also, uh, well, not also, if both school sites like the idea of doing a combined concert, then I would say I'm all in then, right? And kind of didn't make like a a showcase thing. But if one of the schools

098is like, "No, we'd rather do our own thing," then I don't really want to force a joint thing on them, per se. But if they both like it, then I I love the idea. And then also just like tangentially I mean everyone kind of said it I think Isabelle kind of said it best that space that we want to make sure right that there's equity for both of our programs just generally speaking >> right and I actually I wouldn't want to I personally would not want to like leave it up to one school to opt out for two middle schools. We only have two middle schools and you could see where all the districts all all the district could almost imagine I mean I could imagine where if it was really like a Sunnyale school

099district showcase every school like so like you know if Vargas had a choir they could come and they could perform like you could almost just see it could be like a showcase for for the whole district. Um, but really our middle schools like those are the ones that definitely have the programs, but we could they could showcase other other groups as well. And I remember when Evelyn came on the board, like one of her ideas, one of your ideas was we could just have like a celebration to like celebrate all like whether it's art or music, we could just all come together for a festival. And I was thinking, you know, this could be like the start of that, right? this could be the start of a Sunnyville like much like the state of the

100district where we had an inaugural event like um but that 2023 event that um Mr. Jam mentioned uh you know the music teachers did know each other right they did trust each other um but like if we set the expectation that this is something that's just an opportunity to explore and to try and like like why why wouldn't we do that? So, I'm just interested in having the district explore it, not with the not with the idea of uh you know, if you want to, if you don't. So, just like what would it take um [clears throat] to support that kind of effort? And and maybe it's maybe it wouldn't be too daunting to do without the district support, without the the van to move the instruments and the bus to take the kids and

101the scheduling in advance and the flexibility like it would take a lot, but mapping it all out, you know, there there could be a way. So, I think maybe part of the problem I'm I'm guessing might be that we have new band directors, music directors at both of our middle schools and um to coordinate such a such an event um is a lot and that might not be something that a newer teacher newer to the district teacher would want to do. And so I think rather than give schools the option to opt out and saying can't do that not now because we have those students there right now this is the case where like I think the district should find what is it you need what kind of support is it logistics is it you

102know this communication aspect how can we support and have this expectation that they will perform together they will have time to practice together um and also be able to travel together um it's just it's too important. Like music education and those kind of experiences is so critical to just being a human like you know in terms of like having an arena, having a place [clears throat] to showcase yourself. Um that's such a huge opportunity and if they're in our district, they should have that opportunity. and and we've heard from kids who have gone to um have gone to Anaheim and they come back and they felt very connected to the other students who they went with from other schools like from from CMS or SMS and um you know just think of your think of

103our kids all of our kids went to science camp right they come back and like the last night of science camp they're all crying because they have to leave their friends from the other elementary schools that they made friends with right they're like ah then they're going to see each other see them again usually at middle school which is very sweet but like it is that kind of cross-d district bonding right before they're going off to high school it's the next step for them to go together so and so I just think it'd be a really great opportunity especially for the middle schools but if other other schools wanted to join or you know if they ended up doing some sort of an art showcase at the same time somewhere. I think it's it' be

104interesting option to explore especially since if we already have the community center book for that week. So, okay. Um, I know we're talking about like Anaheim and um and planning for, you know, the spring um and all that, but under description here, it also says um equity of access. This is the time where we would like um talk about um like if a child if a student wanted to do math um but they also wanted to do um music um how can they do that? Um if music's a year a year long um course, right? Um >> is there any way that they could do it then or they just take math and then they can do music? >> You're referring to the additional map. They always >> geometry geometry. >> Yeah, I would say

105at this time that's in the midst of what we're doing right now is looking across our courses at our middle school to see what can and cannot be possible because we have quite a few um variety of needs but we also have set number of courses we can offer based upon staffing. So those are details we're looking at now and then we're also engaged in our um study right now. We're hoping through that study we'll get some additional details that helps inform our practices as it relates to our courses in middle school. >> The answer is yes. Yeah. So I mean because I have experience working [clears throat] at a middle school where kids were taking geometry at the high school and the big popular program was band. And so we were able to find

106a way to have in in the master schedule language is called a singleton where you're able to offer those singletons at different times so they're not competing against each other and students are not held back from advanced math courses or denied access to an opportunity like that. Can I [laughter] know if members of the public who would like to continue this conversation could definitely send an email to the board. And I I do understand that, you know, we did get an email from a parent in band who said, you know, many of the band parents are at a Fremont High School >> music event tonight and there's some other events that are going on because they're they're doing lots of things. So, um you know, we can continue this discussion. Um this isn't our only

107discussion about it. >> I just want to mention that aspect of it. Our our kids go to Homestead and Fremont. They have really amazing especially marching bands. Um and we also have theater schools that are not just Sunnyville. And I really want our our students to be positioned to do just as well as kids coming from Certino Union. Um and that means a comprehensive music programming from TK all the way to when they leave us and they can continue to shine in high school. I'm just going to give you a little side note. Thank you based on what we said earlier. Uh her friend's daughter who is in the Mountain View marching band and they're actually really small I think. Anyways, she she really wishes she actually could be at Fremont to be in Fremont.

108So just throw that out there. [laughter] >> Yeah, just one thing. Um M and me were both in the Fremont High School marching band. Um, and it was just the most amazing feeling to see my two daughters on the field. Um, and that year was the swan. Um, and they were both, you know, they pushed the swan out and it was just such a feeling, you know, just to watch them there um, and do that. Um, and then this will tell my age, but I went to Fremont High School and we had our 30th um, uh, reunion, right? And so all the parents or all the 30-year 1989 walked around the um the football field and it was so neat because my daughters were there playing and I was walking thinking of that was me

109up there, you know, and um now I'm here and my two daughters are in the band marching band. >> So that was just um um a feeling that I'll never forget. Okay. So, um we can we'll get some more information from the district as evolve and information comes forward and um we'll we'll kind of follow this issue. Um anything else in close discussion? Okay. Um the next item on the agenda after this is talking about is future meetings in adjournment. Before we adjourn, um do we want to this is our opportunity to talk about the next meeting. You want to talk about the event now for um timing or something or did you >> I'm guessing she's referring to the email that I sent the two of you. >> Is this when we talk about

110the next meeting? >> You could. Yeah. >> Yeah. This is we have an opportunity to [laughter] >> correct. >> So the uh the funeral is on the 21st. So it's not the same time as the funeral, but we're just having a big family dinner for everyone in town the night before. If it was just like a regular board meeting like this, missing it. I mean, I don't like missing meetings. I rarely do, but like missing it would be I would just say I'm gonna miss it. That's the board meeting is fine. But this is kind of from a governance perspective one of our most important meetings in the year. So I just in this tricky space. So I had sent an email to president and Gudiel just saying I don't know if there's a possibility

111to change the date or possibly move it up earlier. I know earlier probably doesn't work for you, Evelyn, because you work, but I was like, maybe she's in Sunnyville now and so maybe she does get out earlier. Anyway, so that was what I sent them earlier. So, I guess we could just do a short discussion. >> Yeah, >> if there's a possibility of adjusting Evelyn, [clears throat] >> sorry, but that's my day in Pleasant and there's no way I could um come earlier because I'm the only one there. Yes. >> So, Thursday the 20th is when we're scheduled. >> Yes. >> Well, because we no longer have a meeting on the 21st, >> right? >> Um, which that kind of worked out because if we had it, we would have had to cancel it. [clears

112throat] >> So, oh, and that board meeting is still on the board calendar. removed because I think you removed it from your calendar, but it's still on our calendar. It's just a it's a >> Yeah. So, like the night before I don't think probably doesn't work because there that yay meeting unless no one will plan to go to it like >> still on the calendar though. >> Yeah, it's just a it just has to get removed the 21st. So the 21st we do not have a meeting during the day >> just the board meeting >> would um since it's just us it's just a government's meeting and it's not you know a bunch of staff it's talking about so that's the meeting where we'll kind of we'll do self evaluation uh we'll do superintendent um

113evaluation goals discussion uh we'll talk about planning for the next year for roles and responsibilities for the next um school year or calendar year. Um would another night that work for us? Anybody? >> Wednesday the 19th would work for me. >> Yeah, that would just mean um that we would not go to the SECSBA meeting. >> We could just do our meeting instead. >> Yes, that'd be fine with me. >> Yeah. Would that be okay with you? >> Yes, whenever you want. >> I mean, you're available Wednesday. Yeah. So, we could do Wednesday then. Why don't we plan for moving it to Wednesday the 19th work for you guys on that day? >> Oh, I am I am available from after 2 p.m. >> I could do I cannot do after 2 p.m. >> to

114do before 2 p.m. >> Yeah, on Wednesday I'm I'm teaching in the morning. >> What about bringing back that Friday? Is that still open? >> Friday's >> Oh, sorry. Okay. >> No, you're good. You're good. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Wednesday night then >> or Wednesday earlier if you want to do Wednesday. >> What? I don't think she can do earlier because of her her child care, right? 6 earliest. >> We have a hip-hop class to get to. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Your kids your kids hip hop. >> Yeah. >> 6:00. >> Yeah. >> No. politics would work. Okay. So, why don't we we'll plan our next meeting to be at 6:00. Um, >> thank you everybody. I can say more. [laughter] >> So, 6:00 on the 19th. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, our next

115meeting your pen. Yeah. Uh our next meeting will be Wednesday, November 19th uh at 6 p.m. and it will be a governance meeting. So it's still open to the public, but it will not be on. Um okay, so it is now 8:20 p.m. There's no objections. Um this meeting is [laughter] >> everybody for the translation. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Good night.