001Right. I call this meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Take a roll call. Amanda Buchanan, I'm here. Maria Akara, >> here. >> Anita Tucker, here. Rick Raleigh, >> here. >> Renee Longshore, >> here. Um, Miss Apara, will you lead us in the pledge, please? >> Hand over your heart. >> I pledge allegiance >> 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. >> All right. Thank you. [clears throat] Kylie, do we have any public comments pertaining to the close session? >> We do not. >> All right. We need to go into close session to discuss the following. Item one, people personnel. Expulsion cases exp number 23 256 through EXP number 2526. stipulated number 92 2526 through
002stipulated number 10 2526 and annual review cases AR number 22 2526 through AR number 272526 item two conference on litigation government code section 54956 uh.9A current litigation seven cases CIBSB 22 220303 CIVVS Government Code section 54954.5C and 54956.9D D2 and E1 conference of legal counsel anticipated litigation four cases 202425-01 202526-01 2025- um 26-02 and 202526-3 conference with legal counsel existing litigation one case government code section 54954 4.5 C and 54956.9 D1 CSEA and Chapter 828 versus Sappel Valley Unified School District Government Code Section 54954.4D 4 D 549454.5D and 54956.95 anticipated litigation two cases claimment one Nasco Brian claimment two Hagar Melissa item three public employee discipline dismissal release reassignment transfer leave title certificated and classified employees Number four, public employee appointment resignation retirement reduction title certificated and classified employees. Item five, conference with labor negotiator
003agency negotiator, Dr. Jeremiah Harrison, employee organization, Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association. conference with and then item six conference with labor negotiator agency negotiator Kristen Dupree employee organization California school employees association item seven conference with real property negotiator government code 54956.8 Eight, uh, negotiation parties, Matthew Schulenberg, Apple Valley Unified School District. Item eight, security matters, government code section 54957, consultation with Apple Valley Unified School District Chief of Police. Can I get a motion to go into close session? >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. On a motion made by Maria Akar and seconded by Anita Tucker, we'll be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan, I. So, we will go into closed now at 1:37
004p.m. All right, I call this meeting back to order at 2:30 p.m. All right, roll call. Present. Amanda Buchanan, I'm here. Maria Abara, >> here. Anita Tucker here. >> Rick Raleigh >> here. >> Renee Longshore here. >> Uh Rick, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please? >> Join me in the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. The clerk will read out any action taken in close session. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent. B2 Conference on Litigation Government Code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 B Nasco versus Avz on a motion by Mrs. Longshore seconded by Mrs.
005Buchanan. The board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated May 28th, 2026 of Bri Brian Nelasco on a vote of 50. In closed session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent. B2 Conference on Litigation Government Code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 M Hagar versus AVSD. On a motion by Buchanan, seconded by Longshore, the board voted unanimously to deny the late the late claim of Melissa Ager and it's a 50. All right. Thank you. Uh reports union representatives California School Employees Association CSA JC Scott You said loosen it. Sorry, I don't want to mess anything up. >> I got you. Okay, perfect. >> Good. >> Yep. All right. Hello, my name is JC Scott. As I stated last week, labor unions generally take a break from attending
006summer board meetings. However, after hearing comments directed towards me and my character along with several other remarks that apparently need to be made for reasons unknown, I decided again to attend today. Set the record straight. First, I would like to commend the board of trustees for moving forward towards only a minimal increase to their stipens. While we would have preferred to see no increase during a time of layoffs, reductions, and employee hardships, we do acknowledge the rising fuel costs and other expenses associated with your board duties. Now, Mr. Rally, those who live >> I'm here >> in glass houses should not throw stones. You and I serve in two very different roles. What I say and what you say carry very different legal implications. You are an elected public official and your comments can expose
007not only yourself but potentially the district to allegations of slander and defamation. I would also caution against making assumptions about my statements because more often than not those assumptions are incorrect. Additionally, I believe you are already the subject of multiple unfair labor practices, which alone should concern this district. We're also going to amend our unfair labor practice from your comments last week. [clears throat] I'm interested to see what the voters of Apple Valley decide in November. Frankly, after watching the conduct displayed month after month on this dis, I understand why many in this community have questioned your leadership and previously called for your resignation. You made statements about chaos. So, let me ask you directly, what chaos has been caused while representing my bargaining unit. What evidence supports those claims? Because there are months of
008publicly available footage showing you bullying, intimidating, making threats of bad faith bargaining, showing a lack of decorum, showing disrespect towards employees, community members, and fellow board members. And let's not forget the repeated disruptions coming from this dis. If anyone likes to cause chaos, it's certainly not me. Perhaps it's the self-admitted politician of over 20 years. I hold here pictures from the February 2026 board meeting live stream. Everyone would like to see them. [snorts] Though the picture is not clear, what is clear in the video is that during Miss Long Shore's board comments, you Mr. clearly bored and disengaged [snorts] with what Miss Longore has to say. Pull the old childish pretending to scratch your face while giving Trustee the board [snorts] before quickly placing your fist on your cheek. You may not like what Trusty
009Longore has to say. Heck, probably even goes in one ear and not the other. But at least she's never had the audacity to flip anyone else off, especially even you. Though you probably deserve it [snorts] for the most part. I've intentionally avoided naming individuals directly and instead referred to titles and positions. However, as I've demonstrated before, I have no problem addressing individuals directly when necessary. Speaking of direct statements, there is a clear distinction between the superintendent and her cabinet versus administration as a whole. I was fully aware of an evaluation scheduled to take place today following the postponement in May. Had my prior comments been directed specifically at the superintendent or the cabinet, I would have said so directly, just as I have done so many times in the past. The fact that certain individuals
010felt compelled to immediately defend themselves only reinforces the old saying, if the shoe fits, please feel free to lace it up and wear it. I also want to address the comments last week regarding my speech which was aimed towards any potential future compensation increases for administrators. With the discussion of potentially increasing the board compensation of up to $2,000 at the time, I felt it was necessary to address all management. CSEA's position remains clear until every classified and certificated employee in this district are made whole. There should be no leadership raises, not a single penny until every employee is made whole. In my role as union president, I advocate for my members. And with the massive losses suffered by my unit, I advocate with pride for equity, fairness, and accountability. In a perfect world, we should
011all receive raises. But the reality is that the working-class employees are losing pay, positions, and stability while upper management compensation continues to be the talk of the town. to employees struggling to provide for their families. Arguments about whether cabinet salaries are above or below market value are completely irrelevant. We should keep things in perspective and recognize who has borne the greatest burden in this district. And now I want to directly address the proposed censure resolution for trustee longshore. The fact that you have board members from other districts here to speak against it should be sending you a loud and clear message. This board should be very careful about confusing disagreement, criticism, or dissent with misconduct. Under California law, elected officials do not surrender their constitutional rights simply because their speech makes others uncomfortable. The First
012Amendment protects criticism of government officials, criticism of public spending, criticism of district leadership, and criticism of board actions. That protection does not disappear because the criticism is politically inconvenient or embarrassing. The Brown Act was created to promote transparency and accountability in government, not to silence elected officials or discourage public scrutiny. Public officials have an obligation to ask difficult questions regarding budgets, expenditures, transparency, staffing, and governance. Attempting to chill speech through threats, sanctions, restrictions, or retaliatory measures undermines the very principles open government laws were designed to protect. Let me also remind this board that California school boards are bodies of limited authority. Trustees may adopt policies governing decorum and procedures, but they cannot impose unlawful prior restraints on speech. They cannot selectively punish political viewpoints. And they cannot use board policies as a weapon to suppress
013dissenting elected officials. You cannot lawfully silence criticism simply because it challenges the majority. You cannot use civility policies as a substitute for accountability. And you certainly cannot claim to support transparency while simultaneously condemning the very people asking questions on behalf of the employees and the public. Several positions, excuse me, several portions of this resolution should concern every voter in this community, regardless of your political ail affiliation, because they raise serious concerns and questions about viewpoint discrimination, retaliation, overreach, and political violations of constitutional protections afforded to elected representatives. The public should also understand something very clearly. Criticism of government is not harassment. Demanding answers is not intimidation. Questioning financial decisions is not misconduct. [snorts] Asking elected officials to explain their actions is not disrespectful. This is democracy. And while this board may possess the authority to
014pass symbolic resolutions, it does not possess unlimited authority under California law. No resolution overrides constitutional protections and no board majority has the power to shield itself from criticism or public accountability. I would strongly caution this board against continuing down a path where disagreement is treated as disloyalty and accountability is treated as disruption because the public is watching, the employees are watching and the voters are watching. Elections are coming in November and this community will absolutely remember who stood for transparency, fairness, accountability, and working families and who chose political theater, retaliation, and intimidation instead. And let me remind everyone here and watching online, regardless of how some of you may try to spin the narrative, these statements are not personal attacks. They are constitutionally protected speech under the first amendment calling for accountability, transparency, professionalism, and
015decorum. Asking this board to accept responsibility for decisions it approved without proper fidiciary oversight is not unreasonable. But if anything I said today struck a nerve, I apologize. I'm so sorry if you're offended. I [snorts] hold no personal animosity towards anyone seated on this dis. I'm simply doing what any effective labor leader is expected to do. Advocate for and represent the employees who elected me to do so. Unfortunately, the same professionalism and understanding does not always appear to be reciprocated. >> [snorts] >> Instead, what employees continue to see is management and this aboard and this board attempting to portray themselves as the victims while employees bear the consequences of management's decisions. At the same time, employees are experiencing instability, layoffs, and uncertainty. Management continues seeking sympathy and public support to justify those very decisions. So,
016I ask one final question today. Does this district or board intend to meaningfully address any of the concerns repeatedly raised by CSA and Avuda regarding retaliation, staff safety, nepotism, and other serious issues, including the layoffs and reductions? Or should employees simply begin directing those concerns to outside government agencies and legal representatives instead of the issues that go beyond the scope of the union? [snorts] At the end of the day, employees did not create this crisis. Employees did not create the instability and employees did not create this distrust and no amount of speeches, excuses or political the theater theater on this dis will change that reality because employees live with these consequences every single day as we struggle. We will not forget. And if this board truly wants employees to move forward, then stop talking about
017optics and start talking about restoration. Start talking about a real plan to restore what's been lost. >> [snorts] >> Maybe it's time to stop passing silly resolutions that double down or triple down on your failures and shortcomings and start passing resolutions that support your students and your employees. This board continues to speak about healing and rebuilding trust, but your actions speak louder than words while us employees are still waiting. How many times do we extend the olive branch before we realize the tree has no more olives left to give? Remember, November is only 5 months away and Avooda has already unseated two incumbents in the last two elections. One of those incumbents which they previously helped get elected. Now CSEA is taking part in endorsing candidates. Can we move forward together or is it time
018for us to move on? Now I leave you with this. You may be able to refute and stand against my word but you cannot stand against the word of God. Isaiah 10:1-2 says, "Woe to those who decree unrighteousness decrees, who write misfortune which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice. I'm calling on you to do the right thing, Sister Akara." In solidarity, Chapter President JC Scott. All right. Thank you, Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association. And I was told we have a representative. probably can come a little closer. Thank you. My name is Anry Van Gordon. I am a teacher in Apple Valley for the past 28 years and I am here to represent Karen Seers. Good afternoon, Superintendent Nelson, board members, cabinet, President Scott, colleagues, and audience. My name is Karen Sabers, and
019I am the president of the Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association. I stand in opposition with many to the proposed censure of Trustee Renee Longshore. Whether you agree with Trustee Longshore or not, she was elected by the voters of this community to ask questions, seek information, and provide oversight. A board member should not be censured simply for asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions, or requesting accountability. In fact, those are among the most important responsibilities of an elected trustee. Many employees and community members have expressed concerns about the district's finances, business practices, and decision-making. Trustee Longshore has consistently been willing to ask the questions that many staff and community members are asking themselves. Silencing or censoring a trustee for doing so sends a troubling message about transparency and open governance. I also find it concerning that this resolution
020is being brought forward while there have been concerns raised regarding the conduct of other board members. Trustee Rick Raleigh currently has two unfair labor practices charges filed with the state related to statements and conduct toward certificated and classified employees. While those matters remain pending and their ultimate outcome has yet to be determined, they nevertheless reflect concerns that have been raised regarding his conduct as a board member. Ironically, the allegations underlying those charges, along with his bullying and hostility towards Trustee Tucker at a previous board meeting, involve conduct that would that could be viewed as inconsistent with the very standards outlined in board policy 9005, board policy 1262, and the governance handbook provisions that these resolutions claim. name trustee Longshore violated. If this board is truly committed to accountability and adherence to its governance standards, those
021expectations should be applied consistently to all board members, not selectively to one trustee. In addition, many employees, parents, and community members have witnessed what they perceive to be disrespectful interactions directed toward Trustee Longshore and Trustee Tucker by President Buchanan during board meetings. President Buchanan. Many of us have witnessed eye rolling facial expressions, dismissive reactions, and a general lack of respect when trust when speaking to trustee Tucker or Trustee Longshore when they express viewpoints that differ from the majority or the expected 32 vote. Public trust is not strengthened when trustees are interrupted, dismissed, spoken down to, or treated differently because they hold viewpoints that differ from those of the majority. We have also watched community members come to this podium to address the board only to find themselves speaking to a board president who is turned
022away, looking elsewhere, or appearing disengaged from the person speaking. Whether intentional or not, that behavior sends a message that some voices carry more value than others. Board members are elected to represent the community, not to agree with one one another on every issue. Healthy disagreement is not misconduct. Asking questions is not misconduct. Seeking accountability is not misconduct. Demanding tr transparency is not misconduct. Every elected official should be held to the same standards they seek to impose on others. If this board truly wishes to improve its effectiveness, it should focus less on censoring elected trustees and more on rebuilding trust with employees, families, and the community. that begins with transparency, respectful dialogue, and a genuine willingness to engage in meaningful discussion, especially when opinions differ. In fact, if this board had been asking difficult questions all
023along instead of simply approving recommendations without sufficient scrutiny, we probably would not be here where we are today. We may not have had to eliminate positions, reduce hours, or make cuts that directly impact the employees closest to our students. The consequences of decisions made by this school board or questions left unasked have been felt in our classrooms, on our campuses, and ultimately by the students we serve. Asking hard questions before difficult decisions become unavoidable is exactly what trustees are elected to do. One of the most troubling aspects of this resolution is that many of the statements contained within it are subject to interpretation and do not reflect the full context of the issues being discussed. Take the issue of board member benefits. The resolution characterizes the issue as a previous oversight that was later corrected.
024However, records obtained directly from the district by Avuda through a public information request indicate that board members have fully re have received fully covered health insurance benefits for many years dating back to approximately 2010 2011. A practice that continued for well over a def a decade is difficult to characterize as an oversight. An oversight is typically an isolated error or omission, not a long-standing and consistent practice that existed through multiple boards, administrations, and benefit years. Additionally, while the resolution states that all trustees now receiving benefits no greater than those received by non-safety employees, board members continue to receive district paid vision, dental, and life insurance benefits. While non-safety employees contribute toward those benefits themselves, these are legitimate questions regarding the administration and interpretation of board member benefits. Asking those questions is not evidence of misconduct.
025It is part of a trustes responsibility to seek transparency, accountability, and clarification regarding district practices and expenditures. Rather than censoring a trustee for raising concerns, the district should provide clear and complete information so the public can fully understand how these benefits were provided, when they were provided, and why they were allowed to continue for so many years. Similarly, there have been conflicting explanations regarding why employees leave Apple Valley Unified School District. Avooda has received differing information over the years about employee departures and retention. While some employees leave for personal reasons, compensation, retirement, or other opportunities, there are also employees who have expressed concerns regarding district culture, support, and treatment of staff. The reality is that many employees fear retaliation or negative consequences for speaking openly. As a result, exit interviews and official explanations may not
026always reflect the full truth of why employees choose to leave. When employees do not feel safe sharing their honest experiences, it becomes difficult to accurately assess the health of an organization. The concerns Trustee Longshore has raised did not begin when she joined the board. Before Trustee Longshore was elected, employees and community members were asking many of the same questions regarding district finances, transparency, employee retention, working conditions, and decision-making. Trustee Longshore did not create these concerns. She gave voice to concerns that already existed and was willing to ask the questions that many others were unwilling or unable to ask. It is also important to remember that asking difficult questions is not you unique to trustee longshore. When trustee Buchanan first joined the board, she too raised concerns, challenged decisions, and asked questions about district operations. That
027is part of the role of an elected trustee. In fact, trustee Raleigh himself has acknowledged the importance of board oversight. He has stated that if he, Trusty So, Trustee Bender, and others had not simply rubber stamped decisions over the years, the district might may not be in the financial position it finds itself in today. If that is true, then Trustee Longshore should not be criticized for doing exactly what many now agree should have been done years ago, asking questions, seeking clarification, and demanding accountability before problems become crisis. A trustees duty is not to be silent. A trustes duty is to provide oversight, ask questions, and represent the community that elected them. Those actions should be encouraged, not censored. Throughout her time on the board, Trustee Longshore has never demonstrated disrespect toward staff, students, community members,
028or her fellow board members. To the contrary, she has consistently treated others with professionalism, courtesy, and respect even when there were sign significant disagreements. What has distinguished Trustee Longshore is her willingness to ask difficult questions while maintaining her integrity. She has remained focused on transparency, accountability, and doing what she believes is in the best interest of students, staff, and the community. As a board, you should be working together to reach understanding, not defaulting to predictable divisions and 32 votes. You have students, staff, families, and this community depending on you to do the right thing. For these reasons, I urge the board to reject this censure resolution and instead focus on rebuilding trust with staff, families, and the community. Thank you. In solidarity, Karen Sabers. [applause] All right. Thank you. [clears throat] Adoption of the agenda.
029The board may approve the agenda as is or add and or pull items from the consent agenda for discussion and or action. Um, I'll go ahead and make the motion. >> I'll second the motion to approve. >> All right. On a motion by Amanda Buchanan, seconded by Rick Raleigh, we will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> I. Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> I. and Mrs. Buchanan. I uh we are going to move on to the California school dashboard local indicator presentation with assistant superintendent uh Mr. Schller. >> Thank you. The presentation of the local indicators is required by statute to be provided to the public on the same board meeting where the LCAP is up for adoption. So, this is the time of
030year for the local indicator presentation. And the local indicators really are, if you remember our dashboard, they're the indicators that either say met or not met. And that met or not met, as we'll see in a moment, is really kind of based on our process more than anything else. A reminder of our mission and that our focus continues to be our service um to our students in those areas of behavioral, social, emotional, and academic need. And um the LCAP really does address that. kind of lines that out. And remember that we are really kind of always in LCAP somewhere whether we're bringing it to the public for input, bringing it to you for approval, taking it to county, implementing, monitoring data, and then back we go into the cycle. Um I I don't know what
031I would do without it. It's kind of defined my last [laughter] decade of life. So um the big ideas really are the idea that um it's met or not met not based on any kind of standard right it's not like if you don't if you don't get a certain number of surveys you didn't meet the survey standard it's not correct met or not met is did you engage in good faith in the process called out within there and so um that happens at the same time as LCAP approval and then we send it forward so it's um five main indicators there's basic conditions which I'll go over u implementation of standards parent engagement, school climate and then a broad course of study. So for basic conditions, there are three main areas to measure there. One
032of them is about teacher credentials and it does oddly I uh received a question about why it's for 2324 school year. the assignment monitoring process is quite delayed. And so the um assignment assignment monitoring link that will be on the dashboard for every school in California and every district will point back next year to the 23 24 um year of credentials. And so that's what we must report. 2425 has not been fully adjudicated. And of course this year just ended and is not not available. It's kind of like the school accountability report card. It's just always a little quite a bit behind. And so for us, we saw um an increase in clear credentials, a decrease in what the state unfortunately calls out of field incomplete or ineffective. It's a terribly um rude term to
033call teachers. It's not in any way has nothing to do with um their effectiveness, but it's a credential status indicator that's on the public website. And 4.4% intern also down. So it was good to see that 23 24 and we expect that to uh trend to continue for 2425 and so this is exactly what the public will see when they log into that dashboard indicator those same numbers I just showed you. The other part of uh priority one, the basic conditions um has to do with um textbooks as far as students avail having access to um con California um common core standards aligned textbooks. And as you know, 11 of our sites are William sites. this county comes and makes absolutely certain that not only do they have the textbooks they need, but every single
034um uh ceiling tile is appropriately um you know fixed and that the water fountains work and that all the things are indicated as as in good repair. And then we use our own facility inspection tool. And so we have one we had one school this year that was rated as fair by only a tenth or a small portion of a percentage. And that's again because we apply a much more rigorous standard. So, it's the same number as last year. There was one that was in fair commission, but it's a different school site because again, you know, it really makes sure they check every single aspect of every school site and it's a third party. It's not a selfie eval. So, it's a little bit more I think um more rigorous. And so, that will be
035reported and by virtue of the reporting of the credential status, the textbook status and our facility inspection tool, we will have met the basic conditions indicator. Priority two has to do with um the academic standards and and we have two options to do that. You can either um write a nar narrative or do a self assessment with the leadership team. That's the path we go. It's a it's a five-point scale. It calls out every um subject area. And as mentioned before, um, we have by virtue of or or by request of our math department slowed the adoption of high school math curricula because it was slow and coming out and they wanted to be sure and finish their pilot. And so they're actually going to continue in the fall with the second pilot. And so
036um we could not mark a five in mathematics and that's because we know that we know that we are carefully considering the new adoption and um other otherwise we are in good shape with our adoptions. Um K8 mathematics will follow soon thereafter and so we will have met priority two. Priority three is parent input. And as you know, not only do we have um members from each site and subgroup of student or group of students at our district advisory committee, we have a strong strong DAC. Um in addition, we now have stood up a a very vibrant African-American parent advisory. And then the other thing here is that um I'll I'll pause there is that we do get parent input um at a variety of other ways at the school site level. And so, um,
037key to that is our parent survey. As you may recall, we had almost a thousand more parents participate in our survey this year, reaching nearly, um, over 25%, which is really nice to see a representative sampling of parents engaging in our youth truth survey. Um, which we find great value in that data. Priority six is school climate. That one actually requires a student survey. They require it every other year. That's because the California Healthy Kids Survey is kind of designed that way to be implemented every other year. We have elected in Apple Valley not to use the California Healthy Kids Survey partially because when we used to use that, we had families who had great discomfort with some of the questions and content. And so the youth truth survey has served us really well. We
038go ahead and implement that every year partially because the students in our advisory work really demand to see it now. They use the feedback from that survey of their peers regarding their school in the plans they make and the work they do to measure their own efficacy. And so it's just been a wonderful process um to continue that frequency of surveys. And just a reminder on the number, we had a kind of a record number of every single group who participated. It was the highest level of participation on record for every group who participated in the survey, which was just great to see. And a reminder of the main categories or topics and you'll remember from the state of the district presentation that we saw a market increase in things like uh sense of safety
039from every group employees, parents and students which was very encouraging [snorts] to see that is in November and will be again in November this coming year. So priority three and six are met by virtue of that work. kind of the survey covers both of those as well as the parent input in person. Priority seven is an interesting one. The state calls this a broad course of study and that's really akin to um making sure that students have access to the kinds of programs that prepare them for what they want to do after school. And so we look at that on a couple different levels. one, we might want to make sure that the K8s are well articulated with the high school so that there's a feeder pattern and students can have um access to begin
040the process to consider the kinds of work they're going to do at the high school level. But at the high school level, as you know, this year we engaged in a pretty deep level transcript analysis looking at several years worth of graduates and their outcomes. And also we looked backwards at how they had done from sixth grade up to high school. So if there were some predictive measures as far as as these students went through their middle grades, was there anything that we could find that would help us understand what was an indicator that would be kind of something to help us see the A throughG um success rate? And so that work led to e excellent discussions about grading policies and alignment that's been undertaken in earnest with our high school principles and department
041leads. uh they've already met a couple of times and uh really looked at could they align some grading practices so that there was a bit more consistency. You know, we have students who are as you as you'll see in a moment um really leading the area in things like uh proficiency in language arts in 11th grade and yet their A throughG doesn't line up with that. And so we're want to make sure we have some consistency so that grading practices and student mastery are aligned. Um, of course, the other end of that is making sure that there's credit recovery and tutoring options for students who need that. And so that um evaluation process and making sure that students have access helps us meet priority seven. Um, this was not included in what was posted because
042I wasn't didn't have it by that time, but u the count the Sanino County Superintendent of Schools is been a partner with us in taking some of our early test score data. And when I say early, at this point, we're looking at like 97% of the scores have been um entered into the system and they put it into a a format for that I shared with you last year at this same meeting. And so we still we see really good growth in third through 8th and 11th in language arts. U modest growth actually bit more than last year in mathematics and growth in science as well. So a quick look at that kind of seeing our trend we see a continued upswing in our distance from standard to the point where our I think based
043on the 5x5 indicator we're going to move into a different color designation next year. So it's excellent work. And then in mathematics as well um a good almost seven points of growth and again we're still you know we have students who are not achieving standard but our the movement is in the positive direction and we're very happy to see that with lots more professional learning coming in mathematics in the year to come and then science is on a continued upward trajectory and so we have growth in every area and we're very um impressed by the work done by everyone involved to make this happen. um across the system. And so um by virtue of that work, we have met all five local indicators. And I'll pause there for questions or um try to answer what
044any questions you have. >> I do have a question. Um when you uh listed the survey categories that you uh covered, um how did you come up with the survey questions? Uh, as I listen to um the union um and the bargaining unit presentations um I hear a lot of um pieces that I am trying to figure out if their information translated to what you use for some of your survey questions. >> Yeah. So I'm looking at you know your you know they wouldn't um actually not give you information on the academic challenges or the career readiness because that is something that you do with as a team but when you came to the po uh portion of um uh communication professionalism communication and feedback safety um all of those I'm trying to figure out
045did you um have opportunity to in incorporate their concerns into your survey to be able to get a more accurate uh picture of of um your outcome. >> Yeah, good question. I I think uh there's um portions of this survey that we do have some flexibility um but those are in the additional questions. So the survey is a national survey and so the questions are are for the most part they're fixed and but what's good about that is does let us compare our various respondents answers across um California schools or similar schools or even national. Um so we can look at high school um staff responses and compare those responses to staff across any any you know schools that are taking the survey and there's thousands and so by virtue of that if we change
046the question we lose comparability. >> Okay. However, they did allow us this year to do some add-on questions. And so, we did add some specific questions regarding um uh barriers to attendance so that we could make sure that we incorporated those ideas into our community schools grants, knowing that attendance was a particular area of focus. And they were um very helpful additional questions to help to give uh families and students a chance to tell us what kinds of things were keeping them from school. Was it watching a sibling or sickness or a lack of transportation? And so that data is going to feed back into the planning process for our community schools grant. >> Thank you. >> My next question had to do with parental input. Um, did you have a a particular group of
047parents that you had to um in in include in the process or are those just the parents that are part of their subgroup or did you send out a broad a broad um survey to every parent of our students to be able to gather as much information as possible from um your full um parental group, >> right? uh both we send it to everyone so that we could get as much that's how we got so many survey responses back on the survey itself but then we do have our district advisory committee parents that are involved in not only the survey but then they get to look at the data results and kind of you know kind of parse that as well as our DAC and our African-American parent advisory. So the groups that we get
048a chance to sit with and spend time with get not only a chance to review the survey as participants but then they get a chance to look at the responses in aggregate. It's all anonymous but um it does allow us to break those responses down for example by uh families who indicate they're parents of English learners or families who indicate they're parents of a student with special needs. And so that um we're we're have the opportunity to look at the data with those parent groups and then you know when it comes time to think about LCAP goals they are informed by that data. >> Well as you know my passion has always been special needs. Uh so I'm going to ask this special needs question which is unique to me because that's that's my world.
049>> Yeah. >> Um when you are talking about implementation of state academic standards um and I hear it all the time. I hear the teachers talk about the kids not meeting the standard and I hear the parents saying this your my child's not meeting the standard. Um, I'm not sure if they're addressing it in terms of how it actually catches onto the IEP >> because the standards that is driving a special education child is not the content standard, right? >> It is the IEP standards. So, uh, when you are making this report, I don't see any place on the report that says that, uh, special ed students or the special needs students are meeting their IEP goals >> that I set for them because it is what will drive it. Um, so I'm I'm just
050wondering, are you able to add that in your in your um future surveys so that you can tailor it to that population um instead of just keeping it as a whole district uh and then we're missing this group of this population. Yeah, I understand like uh kind of a a sense of whether or not the students IEP goals are being met. >> Correct. >> The one the one process we do participate in that takes a sample of a hundred usually about a hundred IEPs per year. Um it's the SIP process that Mr. Wheeler participates in with SULPA. They randomly select a hundred IEPs. They review them and they review them over time. So there's not only a goals review but a progress on goals review. And that that kind of serves as a proxy for
051what you're talking about. I don't report that here, but I certainly could bring that outcome there because that's a that's a nice snapshot of, you know, we don't get to provide them. They pick them >> without telling us ahead of time. >> We don't know which children they'll select. We don't know what, you know, kinds of disabilities are being served. But it really is a nice way for us to essentially have an audit of those goals and they're re whether or not being they're being reached. So that might be the best way to kind of give a a quick review of the attainment of special ed goals. >> Yeah, because I see that quite a bit when I go into a classroom as you know. Um I go to a classroom, not necessarily in this
052district because I I go to classrooms all over the county. uh and and the students are doing um in the special education class and the special education teacher is teaching lecture method >> h and every child has an IEP but now you're lecturing the entire class and it is not based on their goals that you've written >> h and at the end you're giving a parent a a feedback on what their children are doing but that feedback does not match >> you know so I I'm more interested in seeing that when we give parents the feedback and it is very specific to what you written in the goal. >> Yeah, I understand. >> You know, so the parent can look at the goals that you gave them at the IEP to show that some progress
053is being made and not just a blank sheet of paper. So, I would like to see that moving forward if it's possible for the board. >> Let me let me work with Superintendent Nelson on a way that I have some ideas about well how we might come up with a way to take a look at that using the safe product without obviously what you're talking about also is instructional and so that would be a difficult thing to report in a number but I like the idea of taking a look at that. >> Yeah, if the board would give direction to do that. I don't believe it fits in the priority metrics as reported um that we're this is a requirement for us but we can do it separately as um a presentation to the board.
054Is that the direction of the board? [clears throat] >> Do you want to go down the line? >> You guys hear good? >> I'm good. >> Oh, I'm in favor of information. Okay. >> Thank you. Were there any other questions? >> I just wanted to say thank you for the report. I appreciate it. >> All right, we'll move on to comments. Uh, board comments. Renee Longshore, thank you for being here. I know this is the start to summer break after an exhausting year and I appreciate your involvement still. I've checked with my lawyer and she agrees. This attempt to censure me is ridiculous. The accusations unfounded mere foolery. Rick Raleigh, your efforts alone are fully saturated with hypocrisy, and you failed to present a clear argument against me. Look it up. Censor used for egregious
055misconduct supported by fact. In the end, resolution 2526-26 proves nothing. It's a deflective move. This administration and board has acted inappropriately, repeatedly bullied, discriminated, and discussed things behind the scenes. They have systematically torn this district apart. All for the preservation of self. After everything we've been through this year, the public deserves truth and transparency, not a popularity contest. All this time, all this energy, all this money spent trying to piece something together. Is this what the voters want? As leaders, we must always leave room for respectful discourse, especially when we disagree. We must lean in and listen. This year, invitationonly budget meetings tried to exclude board members and the general public. I showed up, issued a cure and correct, and the district changed course. Rick, your resolution tried to fault me for that, too. I
056am all for rules. They provide structure, a constructive way to do our job. Participating and questioning finances, communicating with others, those are core responsibilities. Does this board truly want to discourage involvement or limit training necessary for growth? I always strive to be informed and never go anywhere on a school campus without first being invited and welcomed. I advocate for the public. remember how hard I worked to get those public comments moved up and respect all members of this community even when I don't receive the same in return. So what's the problem and who are you protecting while trying to shame me? Elected power should be wielded responsibly. This district has roughly $47 million in non voterapproved debt. 47 million. We are paying rather than collecting millions in interest each year. Is this best for kids?
057Three of you have sat here defending this broken system rather than consider change. Where has our money gone? Seriously, show me the cost of programs, staff, or infrastructure that has driven this district into the ground because you have allowed it and now you are attacking me to defend it. Rest assured that I will continue addressing these concerns respectfully, wholeheartedly, on behalf of my constituents as far as it depends on me. This won't stop me. I'm not in it for the money, for the prestige or power. I am here for kids. And in the end, I still be believe truth prevails. Thank you. [applause] >> Uh Rick Raleigh. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, first off, Renee, I I just um wanted to be rest assured that what JC Scott was saying with me with my hand
058on my face was not directed at you. I would never intentionally give somebody the the bird. So, I mean, I disagree with you on a lot of things, but I did not do that. Coming from Scott, who knows what goes through that guy's mind, but I just wanted to say that. I'm sure we'll have some heated discussion here about the resolution that I brought forward and I look forward to to hearing your defense on it, but I just want to rest assured I would not disrespect you in that way. Appreciate that you listen. Thank you. That's all I have. >> Anita Tucker. >> Good afternoon. Firstly, I would like to correct a figure that I presented at last week's board meeting when I computed the amount of the proposed increase in pay for board members
059from $441 to a proposed $2,000. I stated that it was a 77% raise, which when I did that, I thought it was incredibly high. and I did not adequately check my work. I didn't listen to the math teachers and my apologies to all math teachers, Mr. Schulenberg, Mr. Conrad. Um, listen to your math teachers. Uh, the actual percent increase would be 353.5% and you could round that up to 354%. I do have some more things to say regarding some of the things on our agenda, but I will make those comments at uh the appropriate times. And I would like to thank all of our staff who are working doing extended learning this summer. We appreciate you. Our students appreciate you. And I wish all our students, staff, and family, and my fellow board members a
060restful and peaceful and rejuvenating summer break. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Maria Akara. >> Good afternoon. I had to check my watch because we've been here since 10 o'clock. Um, so it's afternoon. Uh it's such a pleasure um uh to sit here in front of all of you uh and at least say thank you uh thank you for the opportunity to be of service and I thank you uh for the opportunity um to be fair. Um I'm going to start by my history in Apple Valley. Over 40 years ago, I came to Apple Valley. Over 40 years ago, Apple Valley was not part of Apple Valley School District. It was part of two school districts. It was Victor High School District and it was Victor Elementary School District. And I entered the district when
061it was chaotic. We had a strike. I remember that. And and right after the strike, we became a town. and and I thought, "Wow, I'm coming into a place which is a first. It's a first for me to come into a place that was not in the on the map and to suddenly be on the map to now become a town." Um, and I remember all the street lights when they came up and how many of them I drove through without realizing it's a light. But I say all of that because it is a little troubling for me sitting here and listening to all of the conversations that keep happening and it is very disheartening for me. During the last 40 years of me watching Apple Valley from the sideline as both as a teacher,
062as an administrator, and now as a board, I have never and never in capital letter neg. I don't see myself being disrespectful. People may be disrespectful to me, but I will never return that favor. And I have never watched this board, the board that was sitting before me and the board that um sat right before I came and the board um that I never even met because when I first started, I started with a board that came from Victor High School District. I've never ever seen them go after each other. Never. Never observed it. And so as the person who has observed the history of Apple Valley, it is painful for me to watch. I have never watched the board disagree to a point of throwing darts at each other. I'm If you look at
063me, I don't look like Rodney King. I'm not looking for everybody to get along, but I'm looking for everybody to respect each other. And I'm going to take it a little further back. And I hate to call people by name when we sit in this in this space because this is a space given to us through the faith of the people. The people that brought us here, they gave us that faith to sit here and make decisions upon for them. When you trustee longaw, when you trustee kaka came on board, I told both of you, I took both both of us, all of us went to lunch, break, whatever it is that we did to get to know each other. And I was very clear that we had a protocol here in Apple Valley and
064we you know we we if we disagree we disagree but it is best for us to disagree behind the walls so that when we come up here to talk that we're coming up here with a united voice, united face, united way of speaking. We don't just throw darts without evidence, without facts, without whatever it is that you put out. And Trusty Longshot, you know, I won't tell you to correct me because I know I'm right. Um, I have always said to you, use your voice. Am I wrong? Use your voice. Um, I respect your voice. I respect what you have to say. I respect your opinion. But I've also made it clear that sometimes making using your voice, you have to know how to present it. You have to know how to say it to
065somebody so that they will still hear the same vers story, but they're not hearing it in the way that is going to be offensive or a way that they will push back. they will still do what you ask them to do. This is what I intend to do sitting here on the board to be sure that when we hear what we hear that we continue to seek the facts because facts do matter. Facts matter. If I say anything and you go back and check it, if I misspoke just like Trusty Tucker just did, she can come back and make a correction. There is nobody that is perfect. And it is so sad that I have to be on a board as a first to go through what we are we are going through right now.
066It is sad to go through it. I don't look forward to coming to a board meeting because it is no longer about what matters. What is it that really matters to us? Is it the children or is it the adult bickering? Because I cannot wake up in the morning to come to work to deal with adults bickering. We are wasting way too much time bickering about what adults think. This is a unified school district that is open to K through 12. It is not open to K through 70 year olds. We are wasting way too much time and I'm frustrated. I am frustrated to no end. But I want us to be able to say to ourselves when your child has done wrong, discipline your child. Do not tell your child, well, you know, today
067we're going to we're going to talk a little bit more. Tomorrow we're going to talk a little bit more. Next tomorrow we're going The child is learning that it's okay to keep doing nonsense. My child got through that memo very quickly. When I would say to her, "Do not do this, do not do this," I'll say it twice. The third time I say, "Look at me." because the third time we will not have the conversation any further. That's what has brought us here. We need to stop the bickering and we need to get on with the business of servicing the K through 12 children that are entrusted on to us. We are told to take care of them. And if one of us gets out of line, please check us. I have said it over
068and over on these days. If I make a mistake, call me out. If it is my mistake, I'll apologize. If you need to sanction me, sanction me. That is a learning tool for me. It would teach me to behave better. But if I am not sanctioned or if you don't tell me that I have been wrong, then I'll continue doing the same thing I continue to do and expecting different response. We all know that people have a baby, but are there things that we need to know about how that baby came about? It's none of our business. You don't tell a child, "Oh, we're about to have a baby." And the baby says, "Well, I need for the sake of of of uh of u transparency." Tell me, how did that all happen? Is it
069that a child's behavior excuse? Should they know? We are we are in a world now that wants so much transparency that we are losing track of what is supposed to stay confidential and we need to work on it as a board. We need to work on it as people that have been entrusted with this job to protect our children. If you put me in front of children, I come alive. You put me in front of adults, I kind of stick stick back. This is not my job to deal with adult issue. My job is to deal with the kid issue. Do they have books? Do they have good temperature in the classroom? Do they have quality teachers? Do they have administrators that manage their their school? Are they able to get all of the things
070they need to be able to be successful children when they leave our system? Apple Valley has been excellent for my own children. My job is to make sure that children coming behind my children will get excellent service and it is not going to happen as long as we continue to bicker. That's where I stop. Thank you. [clears throat] All right. Thank you. Uh I just wanted to wish everybody a relaxing summer. I hope you all have something to do that will replenish um your tanks. Uh and I do hope that the break will provide a recalibration of our governance team so that we may return in the fall and serve the students and the community of Apple Valley. Um much like Miss Apara was uh saying that is our job and that's it. Thank you,
071Superintendent Nelson. Yes, at the last board meeting when we were doing the first read on the um compensation for board members, uh I appreciate you doing the math, Mrs. Tucker, but I also would like to acknowledge that um there were two errors on and I disclosed that it was not my document and that I was had not fact checked everything on it, but that I would go through the information um publicly since I stated that Victor L had taken the full amount. um they have confirmed they only did a 5%. I did let the superintendent that did the survey. So at some point somebody that they spoke to um maybe believed that it was going to happen, but it did not. They are a 5%. I know I gave the board that information, but publicly
072I'd like to state that their monthly compensation is $535. Um likewise, Victor Union High School District has not yet decided. It was pulled from their June 4th agenda and they may bring it back at a later meeting. Um, but I also let the superintendent that did the survey know and so that has been removed for the rest of um, the group that had access to it so that they have the factual information. Um, I too appreciate the people that are doing our extended learning over the summer, not just our littles um, but for the board. As a reminder, when we talk graduation rate within the district, um, summer is a vital time for some of our students to do credit recovery. um that is why that that data is lagging because if a student does
073complete um a course that they had struggled to complete and it changes their outcome, they might be a summer grad and that still meets the graduation requirement within the cohort. So, um we're cheering them along hoping that they do that because there are a few there that would make a change. And then [snorts] finally, um, in order to preserve time at the end of the meeting, we do have a need to have a special board meeting, uh, in order to deal with three pupil personnel in, uh, situations that occurred too close to the timeline of the last board meeting in the district. Um, the education code, the law requires us to hold those prior to the first day of school so that those families have an understanding of the outcome of what the board is
074going to um, uh, either uphold or change. um pending the outcome from the hearing panel. So, right now, if you would check your um calendars, we're looking at either August 3rd or August 4th. Um that gets us prior to the school year. Um and it also allows us to have a facility to hold a board meeting. Um because there's a lot of things going on prior to the first day of school. So, is everybody available on the third or the fourth? Is there a preference? >> Third. >> School has not started yet, right? >> For us, it has not. But I believe that um there are people there are districts where teachers will report back >> on the third. >> I chose the third because the fourth will put us on a Tuesday which is
075a teacher day. >> Okay. >> So I prefer we use third so that the teachers going to come. Uh, it will not come through with that. >> It's not part of their contract year yet. I believe the following week. Is that their week, Dustin? It is their week. I don't have the calendar in front of me. Okay. So, the third the third is Monday. Um, does that work? Does it work, Mrs. Buchanan? Does it work, Mr. Raleigh? >> Monday's fine. >> Um, Mrs. Longore, does that work for you? Can we do it um late afternoon, not evening, so that we're not asking uh staff that is on time cards in the after late after their hours? Can we do it because it's just three close session? Um >> can we do one? >> I'm I'm
076If if one works, does one o'clock work for everyone for that meeting? >> Yes. >> Does it work? Yes. Okay. >> Call the special board meeting. We'll call um actually it'll have to be a special because it hasn't been um calendared. Uh but it's not on the calendar, so we'll call it a special. We will still post with um the timeline that we have consistently done. We um those are only uh 24hour, but we don't need to do that. We will because we'll be notifying families that you'll be hearing the the um cases that that day. And that's important now because once they've had their hearing, we have to send them notification and tell them what board meeting date and time. So one o'clock. Okay. On August 3rd going once I've got consensus. Thanks. >>
077Kylie, do we have any public comments? >> We do. We have six cards. >> Okay. As provided on our public comment card, speakers are requested to limit comments to a maximum of three minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, subsequent speakers should limit their remarks to new information only. Public comments shall be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes per item. >> Sorry, they weren't in order. Uh Jordan Wells. >> Good afternoon. 20 years ago, I stood before this board as the newly elected governing council president of Granite Hills High School. I stand here again, not simply as an employee of this district, but as someone whose entire life has been shaped by it. I am a proud graduate of Granite Hills High School, a lifelong resident of Apple
078Valley, and a constituent of area 3. But above all else, I'm the mother of two children currently attending ABUSD schools. This district is more than my workplace. It is my home. It helped shaped who I am, and today has helped shaping who my children will become. When I look at the cabinet members seated before me, I do not see the picture that has too often been painted in recent meetings. I see educators and leaders who have changed lives, including my own. I see Principal Schulenberg who encouraged me as a student to use my voice and advocate for what I believed in even when success was uncertain. That lesson stayed with me long after graduation. I see Mr. Conrad, who was once a I'm sorry, I'm nervous. >> Who was once a math teacher at Granite
079and is now my supervisor. When my mother passed away and I returned to work two days later, he stopped me. not as a supervisor but as a human being to make sure I was okay. Compassion like that leaves a lasting mark. I see Mr. Sloer whose impact as a teacher was so profound that 20 years later my cousin still speaks about him with gratitude. She once told me that a simple act of kindness and attention from him changed the way she viewed herself and the way she treated others. And I see Superintendent Nelson, whose smallest gestures have made my daughter feel seen, valued, and important. A greeting in passing, a wave across campus. Moments that may seem insignificant to adults, but mean everything to a child. These are not faceless administrators. They are people who
080have dedicated decades of their lives to serving this community and its children. That is why it is difficult to watch meeting after meeting become defined by distrust, division, and hostility. Accountability matters. Transparency matters. Oversight matters. No one is questioning that. But accountability without respect becomes accusation. Transparency without responsibility becomes spectacle. And disagreement without civility becomes division. This district should not become a battleground for personal attacks, political theater, or fear. What example are we setting for our students? One of leadership, integrity, and respect, or one where the loudest voice prevails and accusations outweigh facts. I ask this board to remember that you were elected to serve all of us, not just those who are supporting your campaigns, but every student, every family, and every member of this community. I am standing here because I believe our
081students deserve better than constant division. For the sake of every student we serve, let us lead in a way that builds trust, models respect, and keeps our focus on where it belongs, on our students. Thank you. [applause] All right. Thank you. Um, Crystal Anderson. I tried memorizing it. Didn't work. Good afternoon. Today I'm sharing sharing my concern about what's being done to board members that ask questions about actions and information particularly particularly regarding budgets or requesting lasting requesting information. Last year, I spoke about fear, specifically contracts and the loss of co-workers. However, that fear wasn't the only members fear that members experienced. Many of our members live daily in fear of retaliation. Every site rep has heard from their teachers, "If I vote the way my heart says, is someone going to see it? Will
082someone come back and will they know? Will I be fired or written up if I'm seen coming to a union event and be and supporting them?" Retaliatory practices may not be the norm, but when members see it at board meetings, then see it trickle down to site administration or fear that it will and try to find an answer. Um, sorry. Um, it tells me tells a lot about the power that you have and what you're telling the community at large. As teachers, we have learned that if we don't know the answer to a question, it is better to admit it and try to find an answer than to proaricate with halftruths, deny the need to know, lie, or worse, tell the child to sit down and be quiet. Aren't you in doing going forward with
083this motion to censor doing just that, telling board members and all teachers to sit down and be quiet? Thank you. [applause] Thank you, Kent Crosby. Um, I'm first address you, Maria, because when you talked about the strike, I was a teachers union president when this all used to Apple Valley Hisparian Victor. Um, I've been very involved. Uh, I thought Apple Valley was a fantastic place when you used to be part of our school district. You guys broke off when you became a town and everything. I'm very proud of you guys. Done a great job. But I am very concerned with what's going on with this school board right now. I am very, very concerned and I want to voice that. Okay, I'll give you a little background. I speak out. I do it all my
084life. I've done it. When I was union president, I was arrested multiple times for speaking out. Every time the judge threw it out of court, but the school board voted 50. They were all in unison, but the judge wasn't. And the only one I cared about was a judge. Okay? Because school boards can be in unison could be wrong. I have a son who currently lives in China and I want you to know that they are always in unison. They never have any dissension because they do people disappear. Okay? And that is the end of it. This school board has got some tough decisions to make. I mean very very tough decisions to make. You really do. Um financially I I'm not going to compare. Well, yeah, I am. Okay. You're not the highest paid.
085You're paying out of pocket for health and welfare benefits. Okay. And and I'm not going to say which districts are, which ones aren't, but but there are districts around here that don't do that, that pay completely out of p that nobody pays out of pocket. Nobody. You're cutting positions. You're cutting hours. You're doing stuff like that. Something is wrong and it needs to be changed. You've got a fantastic city here. You got a fantastic district that can do so much, but you need to ask questions and you need to ask the tough questions. And when you try to silence somebody by saying, "We're going to censor you." And by the way, Rene, the two things you're going to be censored on, one, you can't hold a position. Why in heaven's name would you want your
086name as president or something on a board that is dysfunctional? I have no idea. But that that's a different issue. Okay. And the other one, if you really think she's out of line, why would you in heaven's name would you cut her position and say, "Oh, you can't go to these conferences and learn how to be a better person." That's just ludicrous to me. And I'm sorry I speak the truth. I will always do it. I know each one of you in different positions except for you, Rick. I don't know you. Um, but you guys have got a great thing. Could have a great thing going here. But you just need to make some changes. Let people speak their mind. Let people ask questions. You do not need a united front. Penny, one of my
087good friends sitting right here. She did not support me in the last election and I still love her. Okay. [applause] >> Thank you, Andrew Moras. >> Good afternoon. How's it going? Um it's pretty pretty clear we've heard through JC and um Karen's representative that the public is not on board with this. So we're asking to to reject it because we we see the the underlying principle is to try to silence someone that's dissenting from you know just a disagreement. And by doing this this is this is a chilling effect that has been um for a long time since I've been in the district a couple years. Um there's a chilling effect that that is tried to be used to people that speak up. Um I did write some notes here. Let me try to stick
088to these things a little bit. Um [clears throat] where it's talking about Renee being univil to people on the brother that that from the few YouTube videos and stuff that I've watched and the the amount of time that I've been paying attention to what's going on in this board. Um, Amanda and Rick have been on the dis kind of going at her. That's where the heat's kind of coming from and it's it's I've been seeing that and I just want to call that to uh call the attention to that. Um the I'm so sorry you're offended thing was was pretty disheartening to see that and it's like we're looking a lot of people are looking up to this DAS for example and that was that was it was kind of way out and the um
089the comment about uh you're going for the position be prepared to take the heat that comes with it. That was it's kind of uh it's exactly what is accusing Ronshore of in this resolution. the behavior is being displayed against her. She's not the one displaying that kind of behavior towards you guys. That that not that I see. Maybe I'm missing something. If I am, correct me, but I don't see it. Um and uh last but not least, can we get the comments enabled to the IT guys for the um the YouTube videos that these are on, comments are turned off on that. And if we could get some more public uh dialogue going on, uh the comments being fl toggled on in those YouTube videos would be awesome. Thank you. Have a good day, guys.
090[applause] >> All right. Thank you, Jennifer Klene. >> Hi, good evening. I wasn't actually really prepared to speak, but now I have some things to say. [laughter] >> Um, I hope you all understand that behavior is mirrored, especially by children. The very first meeting I came to was a crazy one. There were a lot of people here. It went really late. We wanted to finish the meeting. And yet, one of the board members addressed me and my child directly. Don't you want to go home? Do you remember that? No. I do. I do. And you know who else does? My child. I went ahead and bought her Robert's rules of order. I wish I could afford to buy it for all of you. So that she understood that that was not the way things are
091supposed to work. I've been participating in meetings like this since I was her age. Never in my life have I ever seen that. That was wild. That was crazy. the way you act when I'm speaking. >> At least I'm not giving you the bird like I get accused of doing. I would never do that. >> No, you just act like you don't care. Is that really better? I'd rather get the bird. At least it's something. >> I pay attention. >> Go ahead. I'm sorry to interrupt you. >> It's rude. It's rude. >> That's your opinion. [laughter] I'm paying attention always. [clears throat] >> Um, so again, so we're we're supposed to disagree but not in public. I don't understand that. So my question for that is if we can't agree in private or if we
092can't get answers or whatever is going on behind closed doors, what what next? Because from my understanding, that's what happened. We couldn't get answers, couldn't get feedback or help. So, what what is someone supposed to do? Because that would be my first thing. I'd go to the public. Forget that. That's a bunch of nonsense. Things shouldn't be working that way. It's a public school district. That's not cool. It's really not. I mean, down to the budget thing where Miss Nelson, you put out a letter and maybe it wasn't meant to be taken this way, but you know what I gathered from your letter about the budget? Us peeons are too stupid to understand that. That's what I got from that. I'm sorry. Maybe it wasn't meant that way. That's what I got. I This is
093This is the way that we're treated. I haven't been coming to meetings lately because why why should I? I'm not heard. I'm not listened to. You guys can't even have a disagreement. It's crazy. Behavior is mirrored. Maybe keep that in mind. [applause] >> Thank you. Uh, Robert Andrew Lucero. [applause] >> How y'all doing? Introduce myself. Robert Andrew Lucero and run for mayor of Apple Valley. I see the problems here. Starting with uh putting the first amendment in the back corner of the room. Is that what we do? And then we're going on First Amendment topics over here. The nice lady that just spoke. We got kids that are leaving here meetings going, "What's going on in there?" Maybe the kids know more about the First Amendment than y'all do. Right. There's five sections to it.
094You guys know them without googling? Want me to ask them? Well, I'd say maybe you'll get four out of five, right? Because freedom of speech is the one you guys are missing. That's what y'all are doing. You got elections coming up. You guys put yourself a little political landmine in front of yourself. I don't know why you did it, but the voters in November are going to remember this. Even if you don't censor, the voters are going to remember. Just like that saying, Pepperage Farms remembers. That's what's going to happen. We're all on the ballot for November. I I wish y'all took it as serious as I do. Right. I get mayor. What are we going to do? I'm going to hear about this stuff over there. We already got problems up over there in
095the town. Do we need them here? Let's act a little better for the kids, y'all. I yield my time. [applause] >> Thank you. Um we're going to move on to the discussion action session. Uh number one, approve the agreement for governance consulting services or workshop series with California School Boards Association CSBA. I'll go ahead and make the motion. Can I get a second? >> I'll second that. >> Is there any discussion? Um I I have a concern because I believe we've all attended masters in governance and I realize this is not a masters in governance. This is a new beginnings I believe but it seems like I just did my masters of governance. I took my last courses. I think I finished in November of last year. It seems like a lot of money to
096go through that again. And I believe all of us have gone through masters of governance. It doesn't seem like this is going to resolve some of the issues that we are experiencing. And I'm wondering if there might be something better to do than spend the money on this. Will this result in any change? Those are my concerns. Um I've addressed this at past meetings just as a um discussion. Just California School Boards Association was uh contacted regarding working with the board. Um, I believe it was you that said you wanted um everybody to get along and at least treat everybody with um dignity and work together and respect. When talking with their um person that does contracts, they asked specific questions. They know that you have been through masters of governance. They know the majority
097of the board has been through masters of governance. But their belief is is that a restart and doing good beginnings gets everybody back to the norms and expectations of a collaborative forward working together. Um they said that they would not recommend coming in and doing the governance handbook until that work was done first and then that gives people the ability to work towards the governance handbook as a group. And um so it was their recommendation. And I am not the expert with California School Boards Association, but that is what they provided. Originally, I asked if they would um provide a much more comprehensive approach to this. They they asked to start with three sessions and that they could build off of those in the future if the board responded as a group. Okay. So, this
098would be much different than the masters in governance. this would be tailored specifically to our needs. Then >> it is that's that's the concept of good beginnings is that it brings while it says good beginnings, it's it's a recommendation from California School Boards Association um that if there are new board members that you can bring a group together. You don't have to, but that you could bring a group together every time there's an election and a new board member to do good beginnings as a startup of bringing people together and working together. But this would actually be a little bit different than that. So the facilitator, Kylie, do you remember the name? >> Jefferson Crane. >> Thank you. Jefferson Crane. I'm a lot of names. Jefferson Crane is the one that is committed to doing
099the work with you. I know that a few of you have experienced Jim during masters in governance and I do believe he will be fluid with you to work through what the issues are um based on the good beginnings curriculum. >> Okay, thank you so very much. >> Yeah. >> Um I do have some questions. Um so just for clarity, if we choose to move forward with this CSVA workshop, the cost is $3,300. Um this would be for again like Trusty Tucker pointed out uh four out of five board members have already gone through extensive training. Um I have a question to begin with um that I posed uh via email back on April 29th and followed up on May 5th. Um but I have not heard anything back. Um, who requested this? I hear
100uh Superintendent Nelson, you saying saying that um Trusty Tucker had a concern. Um, but who actually requested this CSBA training? >> I believe I brought it as a proposal because there was a request to try to get board members to work together and that there was some concern about disscent and we had already had one group come in. Um, and so during a board meeting, I requested direction regarding school services of California and the California School Boards Association because originally I had requested budget training from California School Boards Association and they deferred it to school services of California. said they were more than willing to work with the board and that they could support um the work that needed to be done but they were not the experts in budget and that they would not
101even in masters of governance they said the curriculum came from cal from school services of California so that's how it was approached and I did um report that out at a board meeting >> um >> and I did ask for direction I don't have the details I apologize for which board meeting that is >> okay. So, um, are you telling me that this board gave you consensus to go start talking to CSBA regarding this training? >> I believe I was given direction to do so. >> I'm I I'll look down if I failed at um taking that direction. I believe I was given direction to do so. >> Okay. Okay. And the reason why I ask is because I don't believe um that a clear direction was given by consensus by this board to go
102initiate this process. I know and I acknowledge that um it was an idea that came up but um I do not recall consensus. >> Okay. So there's no cost to me other than my time um spending trying to get somebody into support and move forward. I did say I recall very clearly stating that in order for us to get healthy as a governance team, it was recommended that we do something like this. So it's it's an agenda item. Whether it passes or fails does not impact the work that I did behind the scenes to bring it forward. >> I hear you. I was making no accusation. I just needed clarity. Thank you. Uh my next question um in this the context of the CSBA training it looks like we'll be going over basics um which
103I've stated has already been done in masters in governance by four fifths of this board. Um we'll be doing a board self- evaluation which was already done December of 2025. Um and we'll be going over governance handbook. Um, I would like to make a motion to table this until December when we might have new members and the next self evaluation is due. >> I will go ahead and second that. >> So, we do already have the motion right now in a second, but if we fail, we can table it. Um, I would like to just point out uh general rules of of parliamentary procedure and say that one motion on the table opens it for discussion and secondary motions can be made and must be voted on before you return to the original motion. >>
104Okay. So, I think you might have the wrong verbiage. It's not a secondary motion. You would want to make an amendment to the original. However, um, we can go ahead and vote on your tableling. Um, I was not done with discussion. Um, >> okay. >> And I did want to just add, and I in no way think we should do this, but I did think it was a really neat idea. There is a district in the low desert, and I apologize, I can't remember um who they are, but I could figure it out if I started looking at boards because I remember what they look like. [laughter] Um but every single time they get a new trustee on the board they go as a group through masters in governance and well I don't think we
105are in the budget place to do that be and it just it was really interesting to watch them at their table asking questions and then getting the same answer and having discussion but they were all hearing the same thing and I did find that valuable because um I don't believe I don't know trusty Tucker and trustee Longore did you guys go through the same masters in governance? >> She just chose >> so I think all five of us on the governance team that went through it were in different sessions um and so it is possible that we had someone different that that told us something different. So I do think there's value in us going through the good beginnings so that we are asking questions that we have had as a governance team and all
106hearing the same answer. Um and while that board chose to do it by doing masters in governance together um I do see the value in us having um Mr. Crane come so that we are all hearing the same information. So, with that, let's go ahead and vote on tableabling discussion action item number one. Uh, Mrs. Longore, how would you vote? I'm sorry. Are we going to go ahead and vote on my secondary motion? That needs to be dealt with first. She said >> that's what I said. >> Okay. So, on number one, CSBA. So, we're looking to table this until December when we're looking at three seats on this board and possible movement. So, I >> that is what I said. Yes. So, how would you vote on tableling this? >> So, I vote I.
107>> All right. Rick, how would you vote? >> No. >> Anita, >> I. >> Maria, >> I. >> Okay. And I vote no, but it is tabled until December. So, uh, Superintendent Nelson, please let CSBA know that we're very grateful for their offer to help, >> but we do not want help at this point in time. All right, we're going to move on to item number two, the resolution number 2526-26 of the board of education of the Apple Valley Unified School District. Censuring, and I do want to make sure that we're all clear. It is censuring, not censoring. uh and holding Trustee Renee Longshore accountable for conduct in violation of board bylaws, policies, and governance standards and imposing corrective actions is being presented for board consideration. Um I'll go ahead and make the motion to
108open it. >> I'll second that motion. >> Okay. Rick, would you like to start us with any discussion since it's your item? >> Right. As everyone's aware, I brought this uh forward a couple of meetings ago, maybe a month ago, and um it's become clear to most people believe that this is just a first amendment issue based upon that Renee um asked questions about the budget, but it actually goes much much deeper than just asking questions about the budget. So, a little history here. When Renee first got on the the the board, um I didn't know her from from anybody. I'd never met her before. Um she had a real common last name with some people that lived in the community. I asked her if she was related and she said no, she wasn't. But
109uh we had a couple of lunches and a couple of coffees together and had good conversations about what was going on on the board and what what had happened in the past and what I she asked me what my views were for the future and pretty pretty good conversations. I always enjoyed them. They went on for quite a while. Um and then um it became clear and believe me I am one of those persons that when uh I sat in the position that Mr. Luro was running for was the mayor of Apple Valley. I used to ask a lot of questions and I had a reputation of being, you know, kind of a rebel rouser on the council. I go vote and no on a lot of things. I questions a lot of topics. uh
110I didn't like uh some of the pay for play that was going on in the town at the time. Then I got I came on to the school board and it was really kind of a whole different situation because we have people that are employees of the district unlike people that are on town councils and that work for the town and things. They're in it to make money. They're in it to get developers to make money, real estate deals, and and push push things forward for business. But when you get on a school board, you find that there's dedicated people on the school board who are really just in it for uh the passion of teaching. Now, I'm the only one that's sitting at this dis that has not have a background in in teaching.
111I came from a whole different realm. uh in my career, but I it was very that people were so passionate about the kids and about education and people started out as kindergarten teachers and they moved their way up to principles and superintendent and assistant superintendent. And I thought, wow, this is a different breed of people who are uh involved with local government that I hadn't seen in the past. I came from the police side of things and that people had different agendas that wanted why they wanted to be in law enforcement, but the the agenda for people on that work for the school was always the same. It was just that passion for education, passion for making a difference in the community. So, let's fast forward. Uh Renee got on the board and she started
112asking a lot of questions of the budget and I was pretty impressed with the work you were doing. Although I said I'd never read your spreadsheets, but you did a lot of work and you put a you could tell that you came very prepared uh that you had read everything and made notes on everything. and I was impressed with your um your passion to really ask questions and uh you know boards before I was on they didn't ask a lot of questions until you got on there and that's great because it put uh the district in a position that they needed to defend the budget and they needed to defend what we were spending money on and uh and then um it just you know you kept it kept going on and like some of
113the meetings that we had had together um I I remember telling you that you know we only really have say over one employee and that is the superintendent. We don't have any say over any other employees. No teachers, no clerks, no janitors, no nothing. We have no say in in them. We only have say in what the superintendent and that's that's who she works just for us. And then it became clear that you weren't satisfied with some of the answers that you were getting on the budget and that's your prerogative. But then it's it comes down to a lot more than just asking the questions. It became accusatory that you were very accusatory in your comments and they're listed in here. There's 17 pages. It's just not Renee asked budget questions and we got mad
114because she dragged the meetings out forever and kept asking the same questions over. there were personal allegations that there was malfeasants that there was money missing and uh so you know coming from a law enforcement background if you're going to make an allegation that money is missing from the coffers of the school district you better be able to back them up and we told you several times back it up and you never did but you kept on with the allegations that there's money missing that there's malfeasants, that Matt Schulenberg doesn't know his job, uh that the board up here doesn't doesn't know what they're doing, and I'm going to save this. Okay? And then there was a tax about on the clerk uh for putting together the uh minutes that they're not right and on
115and on and on. So um you know we discussed this many times uh over the phone or in person and I'm in close session and there was alleg you know how to close session and how much of a circus that can turn into as well back there and um things were getting out and so I believed that this resolution is important and you've already made it clear that you're not going to change. You already said it in your board member comments that whatever happens with this resolution, I'm going to continue on asking the questions, which is what I'm going to continue, [applause] but it it has to be done. And it's we're not I'm not trying to the gentleman when I got up here and said that uh you know we're trying to keep you
116from becoming the president. It's it is it's a it's a it's it's a disciplinary issue that the only thing the board can do to try to correct behavior whether you know you get there corrective behavior in children's or corrective behaviors with jails and prisons. We're trying to correct your behavior that this is not something that is you're doing that is good for the board and good for the district. And uh so I I look forward to you hearing you out on um on this. This was put together. There's a extensive research went into this and when we went forward I made it clear that I don't want anything that's just allegations on there. All of this is either in written documentation on the internet that what you've said or on tape or on video or
117uh other communications. It's just not conjecture that well it's Rick's opinion that you did this. This is all documented uh facts. So, um I it's it's unfortunate. Uh this has never been done uh in my on at a schoolboard level at Napa Valley that I've ever heard of, but I've asked about it, but I believe that it's it's needs to be done and I'm hoping that you will come around and say, "Hey, you know, I want to work with you guys." Like I mentioned earlier, we had the workshop where we were all trying, we hired a facilitator to come in and uh work with us to get along better and you're the only one that didn't show up. And so it was really we we did it for for nothing because you don't have all
118five. So I don't believe that Renee, you really want to get alone with us and and work on uh on this. It is disheartening. And it is disheartening to have people from the public or teachers come up and say, you know, you guys are just a bunch of jerks, a bunch of clowns, and can't get along. And that's not the case. You know, we don't do this for money. It's $400 a month. Okay? And it's not even that after taxes. And so, it's not about the money. It's just about community service. And I know you have a passion for it. You were a teacher. Your husband's a teacher. Um, so it's very passionate to you, but you have to remember that we're dealing with people's careers and people's lives and you cannot make allegations that
119you cannot sub be substantiated when it comes to people's reputations in the community. So I look forward to hearing um what you have to say. Amen. I think would you like to say anything? So, sorry. I'm not sure what order we're going in here. So, >> any order. Any order. If he wants you to say something, you say no. >> Well, I thought that we just go down the line. >> No, it's all about her. So, if she wants to say anything, she can say something if the floor is open. >> Oh, okay. >> I'm not the president, but >> Oh, no. Okay, >> that's fine. Did anybody else have something to say before I speak? Go ahead. >> I I do, but I can wait till you're done. >> Um Okay. Uh then I'll
120choose to just address what Mr. Raleigh just said to me. Um I I said unfounded allegations because they are unfounded. Despite 17 pages, um, this write up by a lawyer has done nothing more than try to substantiate something out of thin air. It's filled with assumptions, not facts. I just want to make very clear, I am not a child. I have no need for you to correct my behavior. >> [applause] >> I also want to clarify the facilitator. I didn't show up because I didn't feel safe. >> That's concerning. Not a shaming point. And I fully understand that people's careers and their lives and their reputations are on the line. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> May I speak? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I was greatly saddened to
121see resolution 2526-26 on our agenda this week. As I consider the amount of time, energy, and resources that went into bringing this resolution forward, I also reflected on what it will accomplish if passed. As a board member, we are entrusted with making decisions that support our students, staff, and community. We approve contracts, budgets, personnel actions, programs, and policies, all with the goal of promoting student success. Our staff spends countless hours focused on improving student learning, increasing academic achievement, addressing chronic absenteeism, and ensuring that the needs of all our students are met, including those who are homeless, in foster care, or otherwise are facing significant challenges. When I consider this resolution, I struggle to see how it advances those goals. It will not improve student achievement. It will not reduce chronic absenteeism. It will not increase
122opportunities for our most vulnerable students. It will not directly support instructions in our classrooms. If we are truly focused on students, we should ask ourselves whether this action moves us closer to fulfilling the mission of our community, the mission our community has entrusted us to. This resolution would also restrict a board member's access to conferences and training opportunities. We're a school district educating kids, community, parents. We want everyone educated. While reasonable people may disagree on disciplinary measures, board training exists to help trustees make informed decisions on complex issues affecting our students, staff, district operations, finance, governance, and educational programs. Limiting access to professional development should be considered carefully and only when it clearly serves the best interests of the students and district. Throughout history, elected officials have been called upon to cast difficult votes. Those
123votes are not always about personalities or disagreements. They are about considering the longterm consequences of our decisions and whether those decisions strengthen the institutions we serve. I ask us to consider not only this resolution itself but also the precedent it sets and the impact it may have on our ability to govern effectively moving forward. If this resolution passes, how will it affect our board? Will it make it stronger? Will it bring us together? Will it help us work more effectively and cohesively on behalf of our students and staff? We have the opportunity to work together, to do the job our constituents elected us to do, to provide the leadership our district needs, and to demonstrate to our students that people with differing viewpoints can still work collaboratively towards common goals. Tonight's vote, today's vote is
124about more than a single resolution. It's about the kind of board we want to be. We can choose a path that deepens division or we can choose a path that encourages dialogue, accountability, and collaboration. I respectfully ask my colleagues to consider whether this resolution will strengthen our ability to serve students, support staff, and lead this district together. Those responsibilities remain our highest obligation. We have the ability to make significant change rather than create further decision. And I hope that we will choose that path. Thank you. [applause] >> If I may, Madam President. >> Sure. >> So, I respect your um opinion um what you mentioned u Anita. You know, we're trying to do we're trying to gather trust and credibility and everything. So less than just six months ago, Miss Longshore implied in the Daily
125Press that money was missing from the budget. The piece expresses the views of this is the author of Apple Valley Unified School District Board Member Renee Longshore. In the article, Trustee Longshore submits that over the past seven years, funds of over $15 million have been missing and people, this is a quote from her, people have not been able to find where this money went. She further questions, what happened to the 15 plus million and how long has this gone on? taken together. Trust these long short comments imply that either the district has grossly mismanaged public funds or is severely actively embezzling millions of dollars. So I ask, what does that do to the reputation of this district when a sitting board member implies that $15 million has possibly been embezzled uh from the district? So
126when we want to all get along and we all want to do it for kids, there is irrefutable damage done to the reputation of this district when these blatant unsubstantiated lies can be told to a news organization and printed and once it's on the internet, it's always on the internet. And uh there's just the list goes on and on, but I just highlighted some there. Um, January implied money was missing, stating, "You may have seen me asking questions and discussing numbers." As a result, 2425 was the first year in a long time that numbers added up. It It's just on and on about the different things that uh it's not about her questioning. It's about allegations, unsubstantiated allegations that members of this district are committing felony crimes. and uh embezzling money. That's just that's one
127of the most blatant serious allegations. That alone, just this one alone is what should be uh she should be censor censured for. Not not even the there's there's hund dozens more on here. So I imply that, you know, it's just it's uh we all want to get along. We all want the district to run smoothly. We all want to do it for kids, but you have to be responsible in your actions. As an elected member, you have to be responsible. And you have to remember what you say carries more weight than what the average person says because you are sitting here. You're entrusted with the trust to get these numbers and to do what's right. So, >> if I can just reply to that real quick. >> Sure. [snorts] remember lawyers have written this I'm
128guessing or did you write it? >> Um several people were involved with it. >> Lawyers >> of course. >> Okay. So lawyers have written it. Thank you. Um and this word imply is very charged. Um they're taking my words and they're saying what my intent was. That is off the charts to be able to try to take that and use that as fact. Ridiculous. Um, do you know how much money is currently in that account? Trusty Raleigh? >> No, no, not at this time. I don't. I'm asking. So when I say >> we're talking about January 26. So >> So when I say where did it go and people have not been able to find where it went >> and I very much clarified we are spending this money. Where did it go? >> Exactly.
129>> That's the question you need to answer. Those are the words that came out of my mouth. If anybody's going to take those words and try to charge me with something that they're going to say, "Well, I thought you said this." >> I think you you are you're saying this is this happened. No, it didn't happen. It was written by a lawyer that says I implied something. You didn't take my words and show how I said something that was accusing or making allegations of felony crimes. That's what I'm saying. This document written by lawyers has been kind of like a masterpiece. It's been created. Lots of pretty colors in there, but no facts. >> Maria, you said you wanted to speak. >> I'm just waiting for everybody to speak so I can have something to
130say. Waiting. Um, I made a couple notes while you everybody was speaking. I will say when I first read the resolution, I was taken aback by how many board policies and governance standards were identified as being violated. um over 20 demonstrates a pattern and I hear that like we're discussing whether it's because questions were asked and we are board members we have a responsibility to ask questions but the issue in this resolution is whether that conduct complied with our board policies and our governance standards. I don't I know there's a lot of disagreement, but I don't feel like this vote is about disagreement. Boards need disagreement. No board member is expected to agree with every decision of the majority. However, every board member is expected to follow the same policies, the same bylaws, the governance
131standards that we all have agreed to. And I know we did push back Um and you there was a couple that wanted to table um reviewing our governance handbook uh and perhaps had we reviewed it um we might not be here. I don't know. But when repeated conduct falls outside of those standards as a board we do have a responsibility to address it. And I know that a lot of time went into it as has been mentioned, but it truly is about accountability to the standards and our responsibility to the students, the staff, and the community that we are here to serve. I'm going to come back to the idea of uh over 20 demonstrates a pattern and conduct outside of the standards. Uh show me the evidence. That's all I ask. Show me the
132evidence because like I said, 17 pages, a lawyer wrote it with no evidence, no facts. These are people who are meant to be able to argue points clearly and and concisely. and they failed. >> Anyone else? >> Okay, I'm going to now say something. Um, as I I listen to everybody give their points. I am not as much as this 17 pages here. Um, I'm looking at actions. is not on this paper. I'm looking at the actions sitting on the board here. Nobody likes to be surprised. Okay. So that that for me was big. I don't like surprises. When we come to a board meeting, an agenda has been printed that has gone out to the public and that is the agenda we go by. We don't go by any outside agenda. Once the public
133gets their hands on it, whatever we have put out is what the we are going to follow as a board member. That's our job. And on many occasions we have had agenda put out and on many occasions you have arowed arrived at the board meeting with additional document. Okay. The board should not have that additional bo document right as we're sitting here to have a board meeting. That additional document should we should have it so that when you are bringing it up we know it is is part of the packet that the public has. We shouldn't have additional paperwork that you have given to the public and now we are the last to receive because public already got it. We're the last to receive it for us for me. I don't know about the rest
134of the trustees here. For me, it's a very uncomfortable place. I like to know what you know so that I can and I've said it many times to you, many occasions, not just now. And I have to say, I like to know what you're you're driving at so that I can support you better. and I can't support you better when you present the information at the same time that the public already got a hold of and then I have no idea what you're talking about because it doesn't match what we have on our on our agenda. It is important that as a trustee that we are all work walking towards the same goal. That goal is to be if we want to be transparent, let us be transparent, but let us be transparent so that
135the public knows exactly where they where to find that information. When they go to our board packet, they can find the information. But when you bring information outside of what the public has given, it doesn't add up. Doesn't make sense. And it's a struggle for me. And I've said it to you several times. I am not in the habit of saying things behind anybody's back that I can't say in front of them. And before I say anything behind your back, I've already said it to you face to face anyway. So it's not like, oh wow, you know, did she say that? No, I always say it to you first. That is the courtesy I offer to everybody I have known and cared about that they have to hear directly from me. And I'll tell you
136these areas that is a problem for me. this is what you have said that this is a really uncomfortable for me but I want you to hear directly from me. I don't want others to interpret what they thought they heard. I want you to hear directly from me. So you can check back with me and say you know what Maria I I didn't understand what you meant. And I I'm usually one that speaks with a lot of African proverbs. So when I use it, somebody has to say what does she really mean? And it's like oh you know I didn't mean it that way. I meant it this other way. So as a board member, as uncomfortable as this is, I am the biggest problem I have right now is the evidence, the the fact
137that there's always surprises. There's always a surprise. It's like, are we working together or are we working against each other? I don't want to be lock step with you. You are your own individual and I'm hoping you won't be locked step with me. I'm on my own individual but when we have big issues to dis discuss we should at least have opportunity to see it together so that we can have the same thought process. You have a different thought process. I have a different thought process. Your exper your um your um expertise is not My expertise is not your expertise. That is why we are all here connected so we can work with each other figure out what each other is is going asking the questions we're asking you know but when these questions pop
138up in this open session and you throw it out to the cabinet or you throw it out to anybody that you you you have the question to you are catching them by surprise and I would like for you as a a trustee before we finish anything here that we at least come to an understanding that surprises are not good. They're not effective way of governance. We need to be able to say okay open to page 10 and and we can see p page 10 and it is speaking the same language and we're asking the same questions. We are not we are not able to keep up because we are spending we come to a board meeting. Board meetings used to be from 5:00 to maybe 9:30. Now it is five o'clock to midnight. You know
139what do we achieve except going back and forth, bantering back and forth. We've got to be able to pull it back together so that we can talk as of as officers of the of the community. community wants us to do the work and you consistently accuse us of not reading me of all the book when you say you know the board doesn't read I you know everybody that knows me knows I read every line line because English was not my first language so I read things over and over and over I line and I don't line and I you know if you look at my paper now I have things lined up because I have to read it to have a better understanding. So when you sit here and you accuse this board of not
140reading, you accuse me in the process. When you sit here and accuse this board of rubber stamping, you accuse me. these people who know me in this community when I first got on the board my first first session and now the my second session I'll ask big questions but I don't ask questions like you know all on the public uh you know viewing and so oh you know I want to know how you've done it I'll ask questions I ask non-stop questions I'll email the superintendent I will email the assistant superintendent whoever it is that I need to ask questions I ask non-stop have questions but at no time will I ask those questions and I say these people are not telling me the truth because I don't have the wealth of information they have.
141I ask the questions and I have consistently encouraged you to ask questions but what my problem is and I've said it to you over and over is the way you present it. You are accusatory when you are present. And I know maybe it's your style, but it is not my style. If I have a question, I'll ask. I don't want you to ever stop asking questions because that is like, you know, putting a muzzle on you. I don't want you to stop asking questions. I just want you to understand that you can ask the questions and you can get the answers you want, but you don't have to accuse every other person on these diets because they don't have the same lens that you have to look at things. I don't have the same lens
142as Mrs. Mrs. Tucker. No, we can read the same paragraph and we hear different meanings and it's it's just a you know I maybe my age is showing up here but I just want people to be able to I I can talk to you and I think I I got I got you to understand me. But then we come out here and you say something and it's like whoa that is different from our conversation. I don't know if I'm getting through, but if I have a choice, I wouldn't vote on anything. But we see don't seem to get past the fact that it is important for us to govern in the sense that we cannot start by accusing everybody else. You know, I I saw your podcast. I saw it. I saw the podcast and
143I am on social media. I see almost of what you guys everybody is saying. I watch it. I don't have to respond because on our board governance, the speaker of the board is the president of the board. The speaker of the district is the sup is the superintendent of the school district. That's our p that's our understanding. If anybody ask me any question, I'll still answer the question. But I will always say, you know, I'm going to defer that I'm not the president. I am not the superintendent, which you did exceptionally well in your podcast because in your podcast, you were quick to say, I'm speaking for me. I saw that. [clears throat] That was good. But I just want you to remember that you will need to work with five people. four people. You
144can't do it alone. You just can't do it alone. I want you to do it with five people or at the most four people because you're doing a oneman army and you're losing it each time. Every time you stick your head, they say, "Well, she's she's insulting us. How how she's expecting us to all back her when she's insulting us. So I I just you know I don't know if it comes through but I have such intense love for you and it is painful to watch this thing going on here. It is so painful you have no idea. Leave it alone. >> If I can take a moment to just address the things that were said by Trusty Arara. [snorts] The biggest accusation I heard was that I surprise you. Um, I want you to
145know that everything I've supplied has already been given in all the financial documents that we have access to as board members, um, even the public. What I'm surprising you with is my organization of the data, the hours I've put into creating a spreadsheet to try to make it more understandable for you and for the rest of this board and for the cabinet to understand the stuff that I've absorbed. I mean, you cannot imagine all the things I have in my head. And I create those spreadsheets for me. So then I can organize all this data from these hundreds of pages of financial documents because that's how my brain works and that's how I get it in my head. And giving you those spreadsheets, it's kind of like a gift. I organized it for myself. Here
146I'm sharing my organization, but it is not new information. [snorts] Out of all the spreadsheets you received, did you ever ask any questions? >> I did. >> Did you ever come to me and say, "Hey, I didn't understand this. Can you explain?" >> Remember different walks? We had walks and I explained big ideas, but I never was asked to explain the numbers. I am not sitting here as a person who's trying to make accusations. In fact, I challenge you. Find words that came out of my mouth as an accusation towards somebody. I don't do it. When I exercise my right to speak, when I exercise my right to hand out information to the public, these are not bad things. And they don't come with ill intent. And I'm an open book. I'm sure you can
147ask around the community. Anybody, anywhere. You have a concern, you have a question, I'm here. I'm handing out my cell phone number. I'm here. I want us to understand. I want us to be able to do our jobs. I care about kids. I think it was noted I was a teacher for 22 years. This is a deep love for me children. I serve them in the classroom and now I serve them from this tus. Show me the facts. I was elected to the community to ask questions, to seek transparency, and exercise independent judgment. The allegations in this resolution stem not from misconduct, from disagreement. We are supposed to leave room for that. While I will always strive to communicate respectfully, I will not apologize for fulfilling my responsibility to the students, families, and taxpayers by
148asking difficult questions and expecting clear answers. The community deserves oversight, not rubber stamps. This [snorts] >> [applause] >> that stuff and nonsense. A waste of time and money. You should be ashamed. [applause] So, Madame President, I make a motion that we uh support resolution 2526 of Board of Education of the Apple Valley Unified School District censoring censoring and holding Trustee Renee Longshore accountable for conduct and violation of board bylaws, policies and government standards in imposing corrective actions is being presented for board consideration. >> Um, thank you. We do already have the motion and the second. Okay. So, hearing no further discussion, we can take the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore, >> nay. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I >> Mrs. Tucker, >> no. >> Miss Apara, >> no. >> Miss, >> it was a yes.
149>> Miss Buchanan, yes. >> [clears throat] >> Item three, approve the certificated and classified personnel actions as listed. >> Can I get a motion? >> Um, President, could we take a short recess? Um, is that fine with everybody? Sure. We'll take a short our brief recess. It is 5:02 p.m. We're going to move on to item three. Approve the certificated and classified personnel actions as listed. I'll go ahead and make a motion. >> Seconded. >> All right. Is there any discussion on certificated and classified personnel actions? >> I I just would like to make a comment. I was really excited to see that how many uh speech and language pathologists that we are hiring and congratulations well uh well done to personnel and to our district. Thank you. Yeah, that's definitely an area that's hard
150to find people. All right, we will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Zakpara, >> I. >> Miss Buchanan, I. Item four, approve the recommendations for the requested leave as noted. >> Move it. >> Okay. Second >> motion by Rick Raleigh, seconded by Maria Akara. Any discussion? [clears throat] All right, we will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> hi. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Miss Buchanan, I. Item five, adopt the local control accountability plan or the LCAP for 2026 2027. Can I get a motion? >> Second. >> All right. Motion by Rick Raleigh, seconded by Anita Tucker. Any discussion? >> If if I could,
151this be might be the right opportunity to answer a question that was asked at last board meeting for which I did not have a response. Okay. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Um, and I I'll uh thank uh Trusty Longer for providing the screenshot and then bringing the document today that shows the expenditure comparison you were making from the budget overview from parents on that page three from the document from May of last year. That was the draft and then comparing it to the May of this year draft. And so if you if you'll um forgive me for reading, I wanted to make sure and cover all answers all aspects of the answer. So, um, uh, the screenshot you provided shows the expenditures for the 2425 school year. It was looking back as 67,834,69 in dollars in
152the budget overview for parents section. This was an early draft provided to the board last year in May. And it appears that the service we use to enter LCAP data and narrative, it's called document tracking service or DTS for short. Most many many districts use DTS. They had an error at that time of the year that was corrected before final approval. The Sanino County Superintendent of Schools approved the 2025 LCAP, which is the one that sits on our website, um, and has the correct amount that was 43,869,239. That amount is clearly listed on the budget overview for parents on page three of that um, publicly available document. So the one you have that was the printed copy that really was draft and so there was a change made. It appears that for that May draft
153the data entry system because we don't actually enter that data in the budget overview for parents. It pulls it out of a data table. It pulled it from the wrong place. And so um in looking carefully at the document um uh it automatically generates that report and it should pull from page 122 in order to report the total expenditures to support unduplicated pupils of all for of all funds for that school year instead of only LCFF. So it looks like it did grab from page 122 instead of 125 like it should have. It's really it's still money spent on kids but it included federal and state programs. And so what should be on that page and what is on the publicly available page is just the supplemental and concentration grant dollars that were spent. So
154I can't explain why the DTS system pulled the wrong data, but it's clear that it was corrected during the work in the summer with our business office and the county reviewers to match the proper table on page 125. So the chart you referenced is not it's not one we create or populate, but it was generated from that system. and it seems like they must have updated their instructions sometimes before that July 15th phone call I got. So, I apologize for the error. The draft document provided to the board sometimes does require some minor changes based on feedback from the county or updates to the software program, but the final approved document is always provided for full transparency on the district website in English and in Spanish. And so I just hope this shows there really
155was no huge change that the dollar amounts are rel relatively in line and consistent with the um the calculator online telling us what those dollar amounts should be. >> Oh, thank you so much um for going to all that trouble and clearing that up for me. I really appreciate your time and your answer. Is there any other discussion? I again I just want to say thank you. I know that the LCAP you're like working on it so much all year long and we appreciate all the work that you and your team have done to create this and I hope that we are number one this year. [laughter] >> All right, we will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore >> I >> Mr. Raleigh >> hi >> Mrs. Tucker I >> Miss Apara
156>> I >> Miss Buchanan I number six approve the recommendation of the administrative hearing chairperson effective immediately on uh expulsion cases exp number 23 2526 through EXP number 25 256 expulsion case stip number 9 2526 and step number 10 2526 and annual review cases AR number 22 through AR number 27 202526. Can I get a motion? >> Second. Second. >> All right. Any discussion? We will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> Hi, >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I, >> Miss Apara, >> I, >> Mrs. Buchanan, I. >> Item seven, adopt the Apple Valley Unified School District 2026 2027 operating budget. Can I get a motion? Some moved. Second. >> Any discussion? Uh, President Buchanan, if I could continue the the dialogue and answering to uh, questions that
157were submitted that I was not able to answer last week during the proposed budget hearing. >> Absolutely. >> Great. Thank you. Um, if uh, the board recalls, one of the questions uh, that was asked was why are you projecting revenues to rise from about approximately 16 million from 2425 uh, UAS? I I asked for some clarification and trustee Longshore was able to provide that clarification. We're compar comparing the 2425 unudited unudited actuals total revenues of approximately 253 million to the proposed budget for 2627 total revenues at approximately 269 million. So comparing the 2425 UAS to the proposed budget for 2627, one certainly does arrive at a total revenue increase of approximately 16 million within the four major object ranges accounting for revenues as contained in the financial documents or the SAX forms uh which are
158attached well the the budget sax forms are attached to the item. Uh ABUSD has experienced first off in LCFF sources a projected increase of 15.3 million due to cost of living adjustments, the expansion of the transitional kindergarten program, an increase to the TK add-on within the LCFF, and of course ADA adjustments over each of those two years. In the federal revenues, a projected decrease of approximately 2 million primarily due to the absence of any carryover in 20 in the 2627 proposed budget. Posting of this unearned revenue carryover will occur prior to first interim 2627. In the other state revenue categories, a projected increase of about 9.8 million primarily due to minor adjustments across several revenue resources and of course the inclusion of the approximately 11.4 4 million 2627 discretionary block grant as currently proposed by
159the governor. And in other local revenue, a projected decrease of 6.6 million primarily due to minor adjustments across several revenue resources. And of course, the deletion of one-time revenues related to the CYBHI capacity grant and the cowshape grants that were booked as one-time resources in fiscal year 2425. Another [clears throat] question uh why did our projected expenditures increase only 2 million from the 2425 unodudited actuals to 2526 estimated actuals after approximately a 17.4 million rise in total compensation. I asked for clarification again in terms of uh what we were looking at what numbers and trustee Longshore did provide that clarification um and and a uh uh a refined number. I think the 17.4 was adjusted to 13.1. And she did provide two spreadsheets. I was able to access those this morning, but I did not
160have the opportunity to analyze those spreadsheets and pull the documents that she referenced. So, I still do not have a comprehensive response to this particular question at this time. Another question. Why are we projecting a 4% increase in teacher and certificated pupil support salaries? uh due to projected costs associated with uh step and column advancement um salary schedule increase and the salary schedule compression which were approved by the board on March 5th, 2026. Uh Trusty Longore provided a follow-up question um in terms of she says why are we projecting a 4% increase in teacher salaries and in parenthesis what I heard 1% raise plus approximately 1% in salary schedule compression plus step and column increases is this correct if so does an increase in step and column equal about 2% per year um step and
161column costs of course do vary from year to year we include an approxim imately 1.5% cost in our multi-year projection. The proposed 2627 budget currently is capturing the estimated costs of the staffing which is included in the staffing modeling component of the budget development program um as reconciled between the director of fiscal services and the human resources department to make sure positions are accounted for appropriately. And of course, we have to account for additional costs associated with hourly time cards. Another question. Um, why are we projecting to spend three million more in books and supplies in the 2526 school year than last? Why are we projecting to spend an additional 3 million for the 2627 school year? Um, followed up with that question. Yes, I did say I'd get back to this June 11th. So
162the 2425 UAS is as trusty Longshore points out is our actual spending um which would in most cases be lower than what was budgeted through 2425 as the books are reconciled. The 2526 estimated actuals reflect the actual spending to date plus the remaining potential spending in the fiscal year plus the unspent and unencumbered funds from 2425 and of course will continue to be refined in preparation for the 2526 UAS in September. In fact, we just cut off purchasing and are um uh what's the term? We're cleaning out the purchase orders and the encumbrances to make sure that the spending is appropriately reflected in preparation for the UA. Of course, the 2627 proposed budget currently includes full grant and entitlement estimates at this time, which will also be adjusted and or reallocated as programs determine where
163those funds will be spent as we progress through fiscal year 2627. The 2627 proposed budget also includes expenses related to textbook adoptions and a technology device refresh that were not included in 2526. Um number 14 on the list. Why are we projecting approximately 4 million loss of revenue in the cafeteria special revenue fund and a 2 million increase in expenditures? Uh again um I asked for some clarification. And I provided the estimated actuals to the budget um which uh trustee Longshore um clarified at the meeting that she was comparing the 2425 unodudited actuals um with the budget. And her follow-up question of course was why are we projecting a 4 million loss of revenue um in the cafeteria special reserve fund? And if I would uh I'd like to remind the board that the fund
16413 the cafeteria special reserve fund are funds limited to the um nutrition services program in support of that program and feeding our kids um and are not available for general fund expenses. But budgeting in fund 13 can be a unique situation giving the timing given the timing of federal and state reimbursements based on claimed meals. The 2425 UAS shows actual financial activity at fiscal year end. The 2526 estimated actuals is an estimate based on budget and actual financial activity year to date. Federal and state reimbursements will continue to flow to ABUSD after June 30th and of course will be reflected in the 2526 UAS. We will most likely see an uptick in the revenues for 2526 as additional reimbursements are received after June 30th. And a reminder, fund 13 with this process, we budget conservatively
165in fund 13 in terms of the revenues. And fund 13 does continue to operate without supporting contributions from fund 01, which means our nutrition services program is uh self-supporting and self-sufficient. Uh yesterday morning, Trusty Long Shore provided a uh new question. It said, "You are projecting an increase of 10 million in revenue this year from the 2425 unodudited actuals to the 2627 budget, the 2526 estimated actual total revenues. So that's looking at the books that were closed in 2425 and the estimate for the 2526 school year. That's very similar to the earlier question in terms of the 2425 UAS show total revenues in the amount of 252.9 million. The 2526 estimated actuals show total revenues in the amount of 261.3 million. And that's a that's an estimated increase of about 8.3 million. And remember the
166estimated actuals will continue to be refined as we move toward the unodudited actuals particularly on the restricted side of fund 01 with our federal title programs and any other unearned revenue programs. So in our LCFF sources uh between 2425 and what's currently estimated in 2526, we see a projected increase of approximately 6 million due to the cost of living adjustments, the again the expansion of the transitional kindergarten program, an increase to the TK add-on within the LCFF and of course appropriate ADA adjustments. The federal revenues, we saw a projected decrease of about 1.1 million primarily due to a decrease in -ate funding. Other state revenue, a projected increase of 8.6 million, primarily due to minor adjustments across several state revenue resources and of course the inclusion of the 2526 discretionary block grant for the current
167fiscal year. And at other local revenue, it's a projected decrease of 5.2 primarily due to minor adjustments and the deletion of one-time revenues again related to the CYBHI capacity grant and Calshape grants that were booked as one-time revenues in 2425. Uh trustee Longshore submitted an additional question. Um why are we projecting a cut in cost from 2627 budget um from the 2526 estimated actuals to the 2627 budget in the following categories. Professional consulting services and operating expenditures object code 5800 through 58.99. Buildings and improvement of buildings object 6200 and equipment replacement 6,500 and transfers of pass through revenues to districts or charter schools 7211. In the object code 5800 through 58.99 in the professional consulting services, we are projecting slightly lower costs in contracted services for special education services for our students with disabilities. We're
168trying to hire our own people to provide those services. Object code 6200 buildings and improvement of buildings. That's a current projecting lower cost in the routine restricted maintenance account of course which will be adjusted based on need. Um object code 6400 and 6500 6400 is equipment 6500 is equipment replacement. Within object code 6400 equipment we are currently projecting lower costs again in routine restricted maintenance. In object code 6,500, equipment replacement, we're currently projecting slightly higher costs in the routine restricted maintenance account. Again, on the restricted side of fund 01, in object code 7211, the transfers of pass through revenues to districts or charter schools. Uh we're currently not budgeting for the CTE incentive grant uh pass through funds. And when we get the GAN in the fall, we of course will budget that revenue and
169the pass through uh expenses if we are still the fiscal agent for those funds. And that is uh the remainder of the questions that needed to be answered. >> Um yes, thank you for the clarification, for your answers, for the time you put into addressing um this curiosity. Um, I do, um, I do want to ask just a couple follow-up questions based on what you, uh, shared. Uh, the CYBHI grants, um, are those anticipated this year? >> No. The CYBHI capacity grant was funds allocated to Apple Valley Unified through the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to set up the CYBHI um California youth thank you behavior health initiative to get our system set up and now as we are providing those services to our students through our uh approved providers we will receive reimbursement
170for those services. So the grant money was one time. So we're not anticipating any more grant money. And we really don't have a good idea of how those reimbursements are going to flow. But we when we get a better idea, we of course will account for that revenue. [crying and screaming] >> Um okay, great. Thank you. Um [clears throat] my next question is >> uh as far as the budget is concerned and when you're working with giving us numbers as a board um do you only report uh money we already have or do you make projections based on past >> are you referring to the 2627 proposed budget? >> Yes. So it I guess with any financial document right other than the unodudited actuals. Well, with the 2627 proposed budget, of course, since that fiscal
171year has not begun, we have not received any of that money. That is revenue we are projecting to receive um based on the assumptions that we've made based on the information from the governor's may revise um advice from school services um local um information and again the expenditures in the staffing. Um the director of fiscal services uses a staffing uh modeling component within the budget development software once reconciling those positions with the team over in the human resources office and that establishes the staffing. But when we do get in the fours, fives, sixes, and sevens, we do look at past trends and of course different needs that are identified like textbook adoptions, uh, technology device refresh as I mentioned, and we're making our best projection at this point based on what we know for the
1722627 school year. >> Okay. Thank you. So when I think of these numbers and I think of you know making decisions as a board member um from this dis having a clear understanding of especially things that uh we have received and we are anticipating having those numbers be as accurate as possible informs me to make decisions. So, um I appreciate all the work you that you do put into it because I can only imagine how big a job this is trying to make those projections and and understand those numbers yeartoyear. Um, but it would really help me if that all projections um, such as, you know, the CTE funds for our charter school or those sorts of things were included in the original budget because that'll help me get a clear understanding of our anticipated
173revenue and our anticipated expenditures in a whole. Is that a possibility? >> Well, we haven't budgeted for the CIG specifically because the GAN changes from year to year. Um and I believe in the next application cycle uh we may not even be the fiscal agent. Actually, that has been determined during our last uh Mountain Desert Career Pathway um CIG's next application because of some of the benefits of having what's considered there's three districts um within MDCP that because of some of the designations they have and students that they support, they actually gain points when the application goes in, giving us a higher percentage of dollars that can flow into CIT. And so it was determined that we would have one of the those three districts be the fiscal agent for this next round to try
174to garner as much funds as we can for Mountain Desert Career Pathways through the CTI application. Um so Mr. Schillingberg is correct that he wasn't sure, but it has been um we took that action last Friday as a board and so um with that application, Snowline, um will become the fiscal agent for that next round if we receive dollars. >> Um thank you for that explanation. Um, so I just I just wanted to um I guess put that hope out there um that our numbers could be more clearly and from the start aligned. So as we're just making decisions throughout the year that we can have a pretty clear I know I know numbers change. I mean you can't predict everything in life. I mean we would all be fortune tellers, right? Or go to
175Vegas and make lots of money. Um but just having it closer um that would better inform the decisions that I have to make. Um so thank you again for um going to all this effort to answer my questions. Um did anybody else have any questions or >> is instead of so I'm just waiting to go home now. >> Okay. Um, so then I'll just go ahead and go through my comments and concerns. Um, in 2425, um, they said we didn't have money and then put $15 million back in, um, come this new school year. Um, it rolled over from unspent funds. Um, we saw it um, in September. Um, saw it dropped in books and supplies. Um they projected roughly a $19 million in deficit spending in September, gave a raise, but are now spending
176less. Um keep in mind that any savings from real staff cuts won't happen until next year. And now I'm the one who's getting punished. Make that make sense. Change is necessary, but we must reflect. Is it even possible? Three on this board follow this administration, secure leadership positions, and refuse to read my spreadsheets. How is that best for kids? It's not. And it's clear today where they stand. Apple Valley, we can do better than this. Budget concern number one. We have had a stated $4.3 million increase in cost for insurance, but are projecting to spend the same as last year. You would need a loss of at least 246 people to make that happen. And just in case you want to check it out, object codes 3101-3902, total employee benefits. Concern number two, when numbers
177change by millions of dollars without clear explanation, that makes it difficult to follow. How can this board even hope to keep up? Fikmat said the estimated actuals and unodudited actuals should be pretty close considering books closed in 19 days. Will this report be more accurate be a more accurate projection of our finances than it has in the past? Last year we were off roughly $14 million. Concern number three, the average annual spending in ABUSD is approximately $3 million less than we have listed here in books and supplies, approximately $3 million more in services and other operating expenditures, approximately 2 million more in capital capital outlay, and approximately four million more in what I like to refer to as fund 7000. That means that in this budget we are underp projecting cost by at least $6
178million. Once again, the numbers based on our pattern of spending are millions of dollars off. Concern number four, capital outlay. Roughly 70 million total in spending these past five years, almost double of older neighboring districts. projecting another approximately $13 million in spending this year and seven approximately $7.5 million the next. So if you're doing the math in your head, we're nearing $90 million. The majority of this spending goes to object code 6200, buildings and improvement in buildings. Even though our district is relatively young and we've had no significant growth, maybe we need to take a closer look. Hindsight is 2020. All of the pain, the brokenness in our district this year, it didn't have to be. We had money and could have given direction before everything fell apart. Our staff needs to be protected and
179fairly compensated. Our kids deserve the best. We have to be proactive and look to see how cuts can be made through natural attrition in order to avoid any further layoffs or cutting of hours. Too much of our revenue is being directed to capital outlay these past six years and we still don't have a stadium for Granite Hills High School. Neighboring districts are flushed with cash over $230 million each. We need to take a hard look at our spending. be hesitant of any possible future expendit expenses for 6200 buildings and improvement of buildings and decide strategically in the best interest of our kids because of the because of the continued discrepancy of numbers the continued aotment of millions of dollars for 6200 buildings and improvement of buildings and lack of clarity in justifying it all. I
180vote no. Is there any other discussion? >> All right. Mr. Raleigh. >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> I. >> Miss Buchanan. I. Next we have the consent agenda. It is recommended that the board of trustees consider approving a number of agenda items as a consent list. Consent items are routine in nature and can be enacted in one motion without further discussion. This procedure conserves meeting time for a full discussion of significant issues. Currently the consent items to be approved in one motion are 1 through 37. Can I get a motion to approve? >> I'll move it >> and I'll second it. We'll be taking or any discussion. >> I'd like to pull number nine. >> You're supposed to before we [laughter] >> All right. I would like to amend or
181no that would be I would propose an amendment to Mr. Raleigh of his motion to poll number nine for Miss Apara. Are there any other while we're amending? >> All right. Um so any other consent agenda items we want pled? >> Yes. [laughter] >> Um yes. So, um, number one, number 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36. Anyone else want to pull some? Okay. Rick, would you be open to an amendment that we adopt or we approve consent items number 2 through 8, 10 through 27, 33, 35, and 37? >> Sure. >> Okay. And I'll second that. We'll be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. and Miss Buchanan. I >> All right. Uh, Miss Akara, since
182you requested first. >> Yes. >> Can we do number nine? >> I I I pulled nine because I wasn't here when the discussion was had and I wanted to bring it back to the the uh the point because we took an oath uh to uphold the constitution or the will of the lands. And so I wasn't clear on where we stood in terms of um what the compensation should be um since the compensation [clears throat and cough] what we are getting is 400 and it is less than any other district around town. So I wasn't clear on where everybody was in terms of what they consider the compensation for trustees. I uh proposed initially that we keep it at 441. Um I think uh the law states that you can go as high for our
183district with the number of students to 2000 >> which is high >> which is May. It says May. It doesn't say that you have to do it. So, we could choose not to do anything or choose up to $2,000. I agreed that a 3% amount would be acceptable to me and it went to the other members. Uh, so that would be $4546, which would be a 3% raise. Okay, now I get it. So that puts uh puts us at the same uh percentile rate like they gave to teachers and certificated and management. Okay, got it. >> Some >> management. I know that. But all right, I'm good with that. Okay. So, for consent item number nine, can I get a motion to approve it? >> Um, I I just had some discussion real quick on
184it, too. I know um Miss Aara pulled it, but may I say something, too? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh this year ABUSD was careening toward fiscal insolveny had to cut significant hours of classified staff resulting in a loss of insurance and/or work. These are people who support our children in the classroom and school sites every day. I just want to be clear that I will not support a raise for this board. Thank you. >> The lights, I'm not supporting you guys. >> We're so still. [laughter] >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve consent item number nine? >> I'll move >> and a second. >> I'll move it or second it. >> Okay. [clears throat] We'll be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> No. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi.
185>> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> I. >> Miss Buchanan. I. >> All right. Consent item number one. Can I get a motion to open that item? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Or actually, let's start with Trustee Longshore for discussion. >> Um, yes. So, I was just hoping for some clarification. I know it's um regarding a missed meeting. Um specifically, it talks about a hardship deemed accessible acceptable by the board. Um so, I just needed some clarification. When we say as a board that something is a hardship acceptable to us as a reason for missing a meeting, um is that just a case by case or is there any sort of um parameters around that? It's a case by case by the board. >> Okay. So, just our just our
186opinion >> as a group. Yes. >> Thank you. Do you deem it as being unacceptable? Oh, are we voting on it? We're having convers discussion. Oh, no. I was just curious. I think it the actual reading in it, it it lists like several things like illness and some other things. I don't recall them exactly right now, but there was like a list. >> You're correct, Anita. There are there are things that are listed, but there is also the ability as a board to determine a graduation of a grandchild as a um life moment that you would give grace to. All right, [clears throat] we will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Miss Buchanan. I
187>> Okay, we're going to move to >> 28 20. I'm going to pull. Hang on, let me check these off. 28 >> 29 >> 31 >> 34 >> and >> so those the ones I just listed >> all >> can those be done together trusty long shore since >> I would assume it's the same concern or do you want to take them one by one? As far as voting goes, I'm okay just having a conversation on each one um as an independent one if you want to just do that and then at the end take a vote on all of them. >> Yeah. >> Um but we would have to like still divide them, right? We would still have to say well we could group like for example all of the attorney agreements which would
188be 28 29 30 31 32 and 34. Oh, okay. No, we would have to take them separately. >> Okay, then let's start with number 28. Can I get a motion to approve the agreement for Atkinson, Anderson, Loya, RDE, and Romo, Inland Empire Personnel Training Network? >> Second. >> All right, discussion. Um, I noted that this is $5,000 of unrestricted coming from the unrestricted general fund. Um, so I just wanted to note that I will not support more spending out of the unrestricted general fund until we have the chance to review our budget and direct unrestricted spending cuts first. >> Okay. Is there any other concern with this agreement? >> I think this this is a money you put in a pocket until [clears throat] as and you use as needed. So, you don't give it
189to to them unless you need it. Um, when we did an RFP for all of our attorneys that we were going to use as a district, um, we allocate that much money to sit and if we ever need to use them for any of the services, that's when you go to spend that money. That's that's that was my understanding. It looks uh looking at the agreement, it lists it's like a membership fee if I'm not mistaken and it lists some things that we would get annual fall symposium, general meetings. We get a discounted rate on attorneys. It has workshops. Um yes, this is a group that has provided deep training for human resources departments across the county. um they used to gather under a um different title that came out of our allocations from the
190county. Um they have moved it to this form and if we send an assistant superintendent or a director um to just a few of the meetings um it is cost savings to the district. Otherwise, we just send them for conferences um and sign off on that. We also receive a um reduced rate in legal fees because they know that they are up to date with the most current laws and information. Um this isn't just it is the HR team, but it isn't just HR. So um they cover risk management issues having to do with leaves and um that also goes into our uh business office with um payroll and and benefits. So um it is a a powerful opportunity for them for continued learning. Right. Any other discussion? All right. So we'll call for the
191vote on consent item number 28. We'll be taking the vote via uh roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> No. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> Hi. >> Miss Opara. >> I. >> Miss. Buchanan. I. >> All right. Consent item number 29. Can I get a motion to approve the agreement with Lozano Smith attorneys at law to provide special education legal guidance as needed for 2026 2027? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Discussion. >> Yes. I just needed some clarity. Is this new spending? >> It's not new spending. It's encumbered. It we have legal um contracts. And so this would be updating all of the fee schedules for each of the legal f firms that we have serving and supporting as needed. >> I'm sorry. So is this new spending meaning we didn't
192spend in this way last year? >> Go ahead, Matt. >> Now in with all the legal agreements 2930, 31, 32, um 33 and 34, um these are retainer agreements. Um we do budget for legal on an annual basis. Um and again, we only pay if we utilize their services. So it's it's hard to say if this is new spending or not. We've had retainers with these legal firms. um in the past. So these are not new retainers. >> But would this be new spending? If we okay it today and you do spend, would this be new spending? >> It's it's a that's a a catch22 question and I don't know how to explain it, but let let's try. Let me let me give an attempt to this. Um if we say in the district that
193um we anticipate legal fees um cost to the district for a one year at $750,000 and I don't have a dollar amount to know that that's what we would be doing. Um would it be new spending? Not necessarily because yeartoear it would depend on how much we had spent on legal fees and and needs in any given year. I did look at legal um costs as of earlier this week and we are at $34,000 in legal fees. So that's only up to what we have been build for up to this point. What was encumbered for this school year was $600,000. So will we hit that 600,000? I don't know until they reconcile all of the billing of any legal that has occurred this year. Um but that is how it would operate. So if next
194year the amount exceeded what we had spent this year, then there would be some new spending that could occur, but the incumbrance will be similar to this year's incumbrance. >> Okay. So they're a firm that we already employ. All of these are just retainers that we have already employed and we just annually bring back their fee schedules. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? [clears throat] All right, we'll be taking the vote via roll call on consent item number 29. Mrs. Longshore. I. >> Mr. Raleigh. Hi. >> Miss Tucker. I. >> Miss Abara. Hi. >> Miss Buchanan. I All right. Number 30, consent item number 30, which is to approve the agreement with Burke, Williams, and Sorenson LLP to provide legal advice on matters for the police department for 2026 2027 school year. Can I
195get a motion to approve? Second. >> All right. Discussion. Okay. So, just clarification. So, this was um previously contracted. This is not new. every single one of them on the agenda this time are current contracts that we bring fee schedules annually forward to the board for approval. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, we'll be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore I. >> Mr. Raleigh I. >> Mrs. Tucker I. >> Miss Apara I. >> Miss Buchanan. Hi. >> All right. >> May I just I want to be sure that I'm what I said is not misconstrued in any way. Um I will recall a time in the district um at least one year where we did have a legal firm that we had on on contract that did not change their fees,
196their schedule, and we did not bring it forward to the board, but we continued with their service because we had done an RFP. So, just want to clarify when I say we bring them annually, it's if they have a a fee schedule change to update the board with that fee schedule. So, just I I want to be sure that when I say annually, it's only if there is a change to their fee schedule. And typically, there is, but not every single one. So, if you were to go back and say, "Oh, I don't recall seeing this person um this this contract," it's because they didn't have a fee schedule changed. Okay? Sorry. >> No, you're fine. Um, [clears throat] moving on to item 31. Approve the agreement for legal services with Atkinson, Anderson, Leia, Rude,
197and Romo for 2026 2027. Can I get a motion? >> Move. >> Second. >> All right. Discussion. Um, this firm was used against me in an attempt to intimidate and silence me. It turned out that my request that initiated this response was later proven valid and necessary. This law firm's actions at the request of this administration were counterproductive to progress. Any other discussion? All right, we will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore. >> Nay. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Excuse me. Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Afara. >> I. >> Miss. Buchanan. I. Okay. Item 32. Can I [clears throat] get a motion to approve the agreement for legal services with Dora Dome Law for 2026 2027 school year? Move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? No. My questions have been answered
198on this one. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Then uh we will take a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> Hi. >> Miss Buchanan. I. >> Item 34. Approve the agreement for legal services with Margaret Chidster and Associates 2026 2027. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Um isn't. Oh, never mind. >> I'll make the motion to approve. >> Okay. Motion by Rick Raleigh. >> 34. >> Can I get a second? I'll second it. Any discussion on 34? Um, this firm was used against me to encourage a censure based in fiction, not fact. When you lose sight of your purpose, when you go to great lengths to try and substantiate baseless claims, I will not support you.
199Any further discussion? All right, we will take the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> nay. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> hi. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. Miss Apara >> I. >> Miss Buchanan. I um item 36. Can I get a motion to approve the agreement with school services of California for 2026 2027? >> I'll second discussion. Um just need some clarification. We already have them coming in to work with our bargaining units as approved in number 16. Correct. That is correct. >> Um, and I believe we should continue to work with them in that capacity, avoiding any unnecessary additional costs, extending services only as need be. >> This is an annual contract that we have with school services so that you have access to their budget um, conferences and support. >> It's not working. Did
200you guys move more? Sorry. >> Is there any further discussion? >> So, just for clarity, this isn't for them to come in and discuss budget with the board. >> No, I haven't brought that contract forward because if we're not going to go forward with school services, it didn't make sense to go forward with the for the board. >> That Yeah, I'm sorry. It was CSVA. >> Understood. Thank you. I will ask the board though whether they I am given direction to seek that contract for the board with budget. All right. [clears throat] Let's take the vote via roll call on item 36. Mrs. Longshore. I >> Mr. Raleigh. Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> Hi. >> Miss Apara. Hi. >> Miss Buchanan. I we got everything correct. >> Yes, >> Kylie. Okay. >> Okay. Closing items,
201future items. Um you want to start? >> Yeah. I I will need direction from the board um regarding school services of California now that we are not bringing um that we have tabled uh CSBA until December for a discussion. Is it the desire of the board for me to seek support from school services of California for the board having to do with the budget and understanding the budget? I do believe that we need to have have them come before uh during before the um December because uh come uh July we'll be talking about budget and we need to get that um ready. We need to have an understanding and come you know come with the knowledge of you know highly qualified people to come and show us how to read those things. So, um I
202I I do believe that we need to use them because they they're the most better for for us. >> So, I've >> Are are there any other options for people to come in and and help us understand the budget? >> School services is the recommendation of your group, California School Boards Association, as the facilitator to do that budget talk. >> So, are there any other options? Not that I'm aware of that is respected by the state as a group to do that. >> And usually when they do the um the training in Rancho Cookamonga, their names always brought up. Um so I think we need to use who's the best in the business to help us have a good a good grip on this before this uh school year starts or while the school year
203is just starting so we have a better understanding. That's how I feel. Um, so I need if if I can get consensus from the board. Is that a yes, Mrs. Tucker? A yes, Mr. >> So and a no for you, Mrs. Longore. >> Well, since I haven't had a chance to really look into it, yes, I would have to abstain. >> So for >> Okay. So I will seek a contract for that >> and bring it back to the board. >> There was discussion before that. Was it CSVA that recommended theirs go first or was it school services that said a few? >> Actually, um, California School Boards Association recommended that we not ask California School Boards Association to do the budget training that we defer that to um, School Services of California. um California
204Schoolboards Association indicated that they would be happy to be part of and watch and hear. Um and I'll tell you that that wasn't part of the contract that they provided to us, but I think that the goal was to be able to support the board through good beginnings um in understanding what maybe school services dealt with with the budget in order for those things to parallel or to look at maybe the governance handbook. so that it was intended to be side by side but not necessarily one before the other. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And then um just for clarification um the question about uh the reimbursement and um missing a board meeting. What the board bylaw 9250 states just just the actual so that it's it's clear is um because of illness, jury duty
205or hardship deemed acceptable which does give you the authority as the board to make those decisions based on each individual case. >> Thank you. And I do have a couple closing items. Um one, I know it was already requested and I'd like to make an a request. Um and second that especially in light of the fact that um where we are today um our feedback from um the consultant who it was initiated by Mr. Raleigh um for them to come in and get some feedback and hopefully um be able to give us some feedback as a district. Um I can't remember when it was done. Do you remember? >> Um maybe six months ago. >> It was in December. >> In December. was in December when they came. >> So, could we do um a
206discussion information item future item um and have them come back and give us their their feedback? Um, we can I think there is going to have to be a contract approved for them to do that portion >> to give us feedback >> because the first part was gathering the information and if we're going to ask them to present then I think we do have to have um an extended contract. >> Is there um is there any sort of documentation of it or like it wasn't included because I would think like the the important part of gathering data is to give the feedback. I'm more than happy to ask what the what they um are willing to do and look at what our contract approval was. I don't have that in front. >> I think it
207was they come back with the feedback. Okay. With the original price >> if there was going to be more more meeting in the future they would charge for that. Not >> I'm pretty sure. >> Not a problem. I'll check on it and get back with the board. I will not necessarily do that until I will check I will send an email. Um but I will not be available for a few weeks. >> Yes, I think we're look we're all looking forward to that. Thank you. Um and I was wondering if we could possibly add a discussion action item on a possible um forensic audit of spending and capital outlay both in our general fund and special reserve fund. I think it would inform this board. Then will that work uh before we have the training
208with full school services or after this uh school services training because a forensic uh audit is a very indepth um expensive um endeavor. So if we are looking to save money as a district and we're going to spend that kind of money, shouldn't we finish the training then we can see where we are to be able to spend the money? Well, I think you know part of understanding how to give direction as a board to spend money, we have to understand how specifically money was spent. And this one is specifically referring to um the approximate $70 million of spending in this account um over the past five years, which is significant. It's double that of neighboring districts. So, it's a significant amount of money going to this account um these this capital outlay. Um, so
209I just thought it would be um essential for us to understand our spending specifically in that account so that we can be better informed moving forward. I I think with uh a forensic audit and I'm I'm not an expert with this in any way, but I think that is incredibly involved and I also think it's pretty expensive to do that. I think it's like $40,000 or something to do that. Um, I don't know if at this time it's the best to really think about doing that. I think we've got a plan set with uh going through uh maybe a more indepth budget with school services. Um maybe we can get further information from that with what we've had from FITMAT, what we've had with um maybe have like a budget workshop. Well, I guess a
210budget workshop would be school services, but I just think that's just a a lot of money to go at this time. I think maybe >> just for clarification um as a reminder and I've shared this with the board and whether I don't I don't know if there's somebody from the county that can come in and speak to this. I I hate to commit them but they did write the letter to the board indicating that they had no evidence of money that was misappropriated. They are the fiscal oversight for a um all of the school districts in this in Sanernardino County and this county superintendent is the trigger for what is considered a fiscal audit that is deeper dive if they believe there is a problem. I don't have the terminology um but that is the
211the process by which that could occur. It doesn't mean a a district can't request one. Um I know when this first came up we started asking who did um forensic audits and there is not we would be going with somebody that um we haven't utilized before which is fine but not unlike what Miss Tucker said um we have another authority above just the people that are placing the dollars into the budget and presenting it to the board that review this and if they had a concern they are required by law, the county superintendent, Mr. Alejandre, would have to initiate that kind of factf finding. >> I I would um just like to first say that there was a word used misappropriated. I would just like to clarify I did not use that word. Um that
212was spoken by our superintendent. Um also, I do want to just remind the board we're fiscal oversight. That's part of our job. big part of our job. We're the ones that hold uh this whole system accountable for the spending of funds. So instead of delineating our responsibility, I want to urge you to pick it up and and consider it. If not now, maybe sometime in the future. Thank you. when um when this um agency comes to give us this training, they use the school services. They use our own real budget to do the training. They are not using budget from elsewhere. So if they're using our own live budget to train us, it will help us to see where the problem is, if there's any or it will help us answer some of the questions
213that have been asked every time. So at least they will use the real situation that we have, the real budget we have, the real line item we have, they'll use all of that to train us. So there will be really no reason to go and get another person to go a deep dive when all they're doing when they're training with with training us is that real deep dive. They're just not calling it that. what they're doing. That's exactly what they're using the same budget that the district has in place to give us show us [clears throat] how to read it and to show us where we could have questions where they have questions if they will have questions because right now we're all looking at it with different lens and we need to let people
214who have that qualification to come and and do it for us help us to get it so that it you know we speak with the same understanding understanding of what is being presented. [clears throat] That's all I'm asking that we give it give these people time to come and train us and if we still believe that they haven't done what they need to do or that they don't know enough then we go for whoever is a pigma or you know deep dive people I don't know who they are. >> Yeah. Um, I agree with Trusty Akar and Trusty Tucker, but at this point I think it's too much of a financial incumbrance that we should do until we have done the training that we're approving for school services that will relate directly to our budget.
215[clears throat] Okay, did everybody Anything else? All right. Our next regular board meeting will be Thursday, August 13th at 2026, approximately 5:00 p.m. in the Educational Support Center. There being no further business to come before the board of trustees, it is recommended that the meeting be adjourned. I will move that. >> Second. >> We'll take a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> Hi, >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Tucker. >> Hi, >> Miss Octara. >> Hi, >> Miss Buchanan. I and I adjourn this meeting at 6:08 p.m.