001Good morning everyone and I'd like to call the special meeting of Los Altos School District Board of Trustees to order. A recording and our broadcast of this meeting is being made at the direction of the board which may capture images and sounds of those attending the meeting. If technical difficulties occur or persist, the meeting will continue without broadcasting. I'll now take the role. Brian >> present. >> Stella here. Jim >> here. And I shall sim here as well. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Would any board members like to provide comment on this morning agenda? >> Then may I have a
002motion to approve the agenda as presented? Thank you, Stella. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Brian. Motion to approve this morning's agenda as presented was made by Stella, seconded by Brian. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Thank you. Motion passes unanimously. On to action and discussion items. Interview board candidates and appoint any board member. If anyone would like to provide public comment on this item, please submit a speaker card. Okay. All right. The board currently has a vacancy following Vladimir Ivanovich's resignation. The board has scheduled today's special meeting to provide an opportunity to hear from all applicants and ultimately select one individual to fill the seat. The bo the district and the board appreciate the interest of all applicants in serving the district as part
003of the board and recognize that the board will have a difficult decision to make today. We want to thank all of the applicants for coming forward as part of this process. While the board will only select one applicant to fill the seat today, we want to acknowledge that there are many ways beyond filling the vacancy that you can support the district and we hope that you will continue to take advantage of those opportunities. Many of you already do and for that we thank you. Before we get started, I would like to explain how the board plans to make its decision today. The board has reviewed all the applications and looks forward to hearing from each of the applicants. Following public comment, board will begin interviews. Each applicant will provide a twominut opening statement followed by
004responses to six questions. Each applicant will have between 1 and 3 minutes to respond to each question. As noted, applicants will be called in alphabetical order by last name. That's Rachel Hanky, David P, Brandon Stroy, Sarah Whites. Applicants will be asked to wait in the iLearn studio until it is their turn. Mrs. Bernie will show you where that is located. After all applicants have answered the questions, they will return. Each board member will then have an opportunity to discuss the qualities they are seeking in an applicant to fill the vacancy and identify their top two candidates on an informal ballot. Once each board member has identified their top two applicants, Superintendent McGonagal will tabulate and read out the results. At that time, the board may consider a motion to make the appointment. Alternatively, the board
005may ask top applicants to participate in a second round of two questions asked in reverse order from the first round. Each applicant will have two minutes to respond to each question in this round. Following the second round of questions, the board will deliberate again, focusing on the qualifications sought for the vacancy and may identify the applicant they believe should join the board. Following board discussion, the board will entertain a motion to make the appointment. An affirmative vote of at least three board members is required to make the provisional appointment. The successful applicant will be administered the oath of office. A placeholder for a ceremonial oath of office is included on the April 20th agenda. If the new board member prefers, ceremonial oath of office may be arranged on another date that works for the board
006member's family and friends to attend or after the 30-day provisional period. Before we move to the interviews, are there any questions from the board? >> I had one. Are we using Island for our business? >> No, we're Yes. So, it will actually be the conference room and not that was a last minute change. Thank you, Stella. >> Any other Okay. All right. Are there for public comment? We have We have three for public comment. Each member of the public will have three minutes of comment on this topic up to a total of 20 minutes but we won't need 20. We'll start with in the order that I receive these Kimberly Fletcher then Alexander Schroeder and then Sang Perudi. Oh Kimberly on behalf of CSEA I just want to thank all four applicants for raising their
007hand to fill this vacancy. I think it really speaks to the strength of LSD that four people who are incredibly qualified, our wonderful community members really thought that they could add something so quickly. I also appreciate the board really putting effort into advertising so we could get all four candidates and even though CSEA is not part uh voting for one person, we think all four are wonderful community members. I've gotten to know all of them and really just think that they are a wonderful asset to our LD community and grateful for raising our hands. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, Alexander Schroeder. We're not going to the podium. There either way. >> Either way. Okay. Wherever you'd like to be, Alex. >> I'll go to the emotional support podium. >> Thank you, members of the
008board, and thank you for those of you that have applied to be in this position as well. Um, I'm here making public comment. Normally I'm here as L president, but now I'm here as a mother of three students in LD, a teacher who's worked here for I think this is my 15th year and someone who has a very vested interest in who steps into this board. I may be leaving next year. This is my last year. But I absolutely believe we leave someplace better than we've found it. And I think that whoever takes on this role on the board, we as LATA, myself as a parent, a teacher are looking for somebody who is deeply curious, who asks a lot of questions, somebody who is understanding that we have a broad demographic in this district
009and is willing to serve every single student the best that they can and make those decisions. We also hope for a board member that understands their role as somebody who oversees the district and who is willing to speak with all constituents and stakeholders, educators included. Um, and we just really really hope that this appointment leads to another strong board member and then hopefully we can carry on that into November which we're very invested in as well. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you, S. Fury. Hey there. I just wanted to echo uh the comments of the other speakers. I'm very grateful that we have four great candidates applying. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Um I've had a great experience in this district. It's been great for both of my kids. I had
010the pleasure of serving on the board. Just uh a great experience. So really glad glad that you're willing to do that. Um I know only one of you will be selected. Um for the other three that are not, there's a lot of other ways to serve in the district whether that's PTA, CACF, other committees. So I would encourage you uh to do that. Um for those that are not selected, thank you again. >> Thank you. Right. Before we move on to the interviews, any questions from the board? >> Okay. So, before we ask the applicants to wait in the conference conference room conference room. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have one request. Because this meeting is being broadcast live, we ask that candidates respect the integrity of the process by keeping the questions
011confidential to each candidate until they are asked by the board. We respectfully request that candidates not correspond or interact with at home viewers or with candidates who have already been interviewed before them regarding the questions asked during this open public meeting so the process remains fair for all applicants. We also want to remind all applicants that the interview will begin with a two-minute opening statement followed by responses to six questions with one to three minutes allotted per question. Assistant superintendent Wallevich will serve as timekeeper and will ensure that the timer is visible on the screen. A hard copy of the questions and note paper will be available at the table if needed. When qu when answering questions, applicants are encouraged to be as specific as possible and to use examples or details where appropriate. At
012this time, we ask all applicants to wait in the conference room so the board can review the questions and a sign will ask each question. Mrs. Bernie will show you where the conference room is located. Thank you. Lord. Board members, there are seven questions including the opening statement each with a time limit of 1 to three minutes. Questions are arranged so that each board member asks one or two questions. So, choose your questions now. >> Don't we need to have a discussion >> about the question about which like what if two of us choose the same question? >> Oh, well, I just kind of want Okay, >> anyone feels strongly about >> which question they want to ask? Let's start that way. I'd like to ask question number six. >> I have no strong opinion
013about which question I ask. >> Okay, Jim. >> I I don't have strong opinions either. >> Okay. Well, then how about this then opening statement? How about this? Why don't I ask the opening statement? I'm just going to do it that way. >> Okay. Um, Brian, you would you like to ask the question number two? Sure about responsibilities? >> Jim, how do you feel about question three? >> I feel fine about it. >> Um, Stella, you feel good about that's fine. >> Okay. >> Get a five and a seven. Yeah. So, I'm gonna ask the last question, close us out. So, um Brian, >> do five. >> Huh? >> I said I'll do five. >> You'll do five. Okay. >> Unless Jim really wants you question. >> Okay, we're all good. >> All right. Please
014note that we cannot ask follow-up questions or deviate from the script. This process is for a provisional appointment and we want to keep it as clean and consistent as possible to avoid any perceived barriers or preferences. The time allotted for each question will be stated before the question is read. We do have two additional questions reserved for use if a runoff is needed. If a second round is required, those questions will be asked and the candidates will remain in the room. Candidates will alternate who goes first in reverse order from the initial round. Unless there is unanimous agreement on one candidate, the board will attempt to narrow the field to two candidates. Candidates will not be ranked. Board members will simply identify their top two individually. Mrs. Can you please get Rachel? >> It feels
015the only one. It feels >> Yeah, >> I know, right? It's a good introduction to how awkward sometimes. >> You don't love it when I'm just sitting here staring at you. And we often in our staff interviews, we often tell our panels to like exhibit warmth and so so people feel good, right? Because it's all I know experience. So we want to show like we're rooting for each other. >> I was practicing my medicine face. >> Your menacing phase. >> I know. enough right now. >> I'll be >> Hello. Whenever you're ready. You're ready. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> So, I'll ask this first. >> Uh, two minutes. Please give us your twominut statement on why you want to serve on Los Alto School District Board of Trustees and what skills you bring to
016the position. >> Great. Um, so the basic why am I here? Um, I I think I would speak for all the applicants that I care deeply about Los Alto School District. none of us would be here if we didn't. Uh when I think back though to what tipped the scales for me from watching all the board meetings and talking about LD and volunteering at the schools to actually wanting to be on the board, I'd have to go back to 2024 um when I reached out to Jessica Spiser um to volunteer for her campaign. And I was surprised when immediately she invited me over to her house. And she kind of gave me like a behindthe-scenes peak of what it takes to be a board member. Um, and while it was a little intimidating, it also
017got me really excited and made me think I could do that eventually. Um, I think also I have a broad view of the school system right now. I teach in every single class in the seven elementary schools in all grades. And so I'm on the ground with teachers, with parents and students. Takes a lot of confidence to go into a class where you know no one and you don't know the situation and just go in on the fly. Um but like I said, I think this role plays to my strengths as a communicator. I'm also a very diplomatic listener. Um, and I have uh as a parent, I have a special education lens that I see things through. Um, being a parent of a special needs child, I think it's a nuanced uh and personal
018perspective that could be a valuable addition to the board. Um, and I have a lot of time. This role would be my number one priority and I would make every effort to learn as quickly as possible and for as long as I could. Um, and I would take it very seriously and um, strive to be the most informed board member that I could be. Um, so thank you. Thank you all by the way for taking the time to meet with me. I it was really helpful in going through this process and I really appreciate it. Um, and I know you guys don't have an easy job and so I just want to recognize that and thank you all. And now I'm excited to answer your questions. Did that do good on? Thank you. Right. Okay.
019Um, so you have three minutes. Please answer this question and you touched on a little bit already. Schoolboard service requires time commitment including meetings, committee assignments, preparation through reading and data review, reviewing emails, and participating in governance training. Can you describe how you will manage these responsibilities alongside your other commitments and what makes you prepared for this level of engagement? >> I like I said, I I have a lot of time. I quit my corporate job um about two years ago and I don't plan on returning. Uh originally it was to care for an uh ill family member, but um I've decided that I want to do something that aligns with my core values. Um and for me that's community, family, and education. And so whether it's this board or something else, I want to
020give back and that would be my my full-time commitment. So, um, yeah, that's that's about it. Thank you, Jim. >> Okay, you have three minutes to answer this question. Our board consists of five people who work toward consensus and sometimes difficult decisions. Describe your communication style in this type of scenario. Also, describe how you would respond if the majority decision was counter to your vote. >> Right. Um, I feel like communication wise you get more bees with honey. Um, and I always want to assume positive intent um, of the fellow board members. And so if I would come at it from that view, that being said, I'm sure there would be decisions that I disagreed with, but you have to ignore you as a single individual and go as the group as a whole and
021serve the board properly. Um, we saw what happens when that doesn't go that way. And I don't have to be right. I just don't. And if my fellow board members outvote me, then I would have to go with the decision of the board. And I really don't have any problem doing that. It's Yeah. >> Thank you, Stella. >> Okay. For this question, you also have three minutes. >> Okay. As a board member, you will be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what is best for you, your family, or your friends to do what is best for the district. How would you approach these decisions and what would guide your judgment when considering the long-term well-being of the district? >> Uh, I feel like I do this quite a bit in terms of
022like putting aside what my wants, hopes, and desires are. Um, I remember with my son, we had the decision we had to make whether to send him to a school we're not zoned for for a special program that's only at one school in the district. Um, and then whether to send our younger son there also. Do I like that? No. Is it what I wanted for my family? No. I wanted a neighborhood school, but I had to make a decision that was better for the whole community that I'm in because he couldn't be he wouldn't be doing as well in our local zone for school. he needed that extra extra help. And so I'm comfortable with making decisions that aren't in my personal best interest. In terms of guiding principles, I want to serve the
023most underserved kids in the district and I would really focus on how it affects them broadly. Um, and I think I'd need to know more of a specific type of situation. Um, but I would always put the needs of the children, particularly the most underserved children first. Thank you, Ryan. >> Uh, again, three minutes. What do you see as the strengths of LD and what do you see as most in need of improvement? >> And you can take a second to think about it. >> I mean, strengths I can start off with. I think the board that we have is an ethical board, logical. Uh, I think as a school district being small is is a plus. Um, I personally think we have a really strong special education department also, uh, and a really strong
024staff. Like I, the quality of teachers that we have is unparallel. Um, in terms of improvements, I would say um, the relationship with BCS, as politely as I can say, any sort of improvement we can make in that regard would be beneficial. I think it kind of has torn our little town into two factions and it's been sad to watch over the past 26 years and I'd like to see us make strides towards making more permanent solutions that we are and also just improving the relationship, the communication and the information that is shared between the two parties. >> Stella. Oh, you sorry for this question. You have one minute. This term is up in December of 2026. With all things being equal, would you expect you would run for the seat to continue the service
025to the board? >> Absolutely. I would run. >> Not even a minute. Maybe. >> Do you need a few extra seconds? >> Thank you. This is the last question. You have two minutes. What is one question you wish would have been asked? >> Oh my gosh. Um I that was not not that question. Um I don't I'm not sure. Um maybe something where you asked about like an example of something that I have done that um would go to some of the talking points that I made. Um, but otherwise, honestly, I feel like I've gotten to know each of you and I've been able to talk to you guys. And in my application, I felt like I wrote down exactly what I wanted to say. So, I do think I am a bit of an
026unknown, but um, if you'd like to take a chance on that, I I really am who I say I am. So that's it. >> Thank you very much. >> We don't have a a written script for this, but thank you, Rachel. So, this is Yeah, we should have Sorry, that's my bad. Uh, >> thank you so much. Marcy's gonna >> Okay. >> return you to the conference room and get the next Yeah. Yeah. David, >> thank you. Hello. >> Give you seconds to settle in. >> I appreciate that. >> Our first question of what's the statement? You have two minutes. Please give us your two-minute statement on why you want to serve on Los Alto School District Board of Trustees and what skills you bring to the position. >> Uh so my name is David
027Paul. Uh my wife Amy and I have lived in Los Altos since 2019. We have three kids. Uh my oldest Archer is in second grade at Oak. Delila just started TK. Uh and Zachary, my youngest, is 10 months yesterday. Uh he's going to be in the district once he's old enough. We are uh headed to 12 more years of being in LSD. Um I want to talk about why I love our public schools. Uh starts with our children. Uh giving them the academic foundation they need to thrive. Uh you know, I'm watching my daughter learn to read right now. I see the curriculum in action every week. I know what's uh what's working and what parents uh are talking about at pickup. Uh that's not a perspective I have to build. It's something that I
028am living on a day-to-day basis. Uh, but also it's about our community. Uh, our kids have classmates across the street and around the corner. We know their parents. We help each other out. Uh, Amy and I organize a block party for our neighborhood every year because building that sense of community means so much to us. Uh, and those relationships uh, really exist because our kids go to school together. And that's what public schools do, especially here where we've got these neighborhood schools. Uh they give our children a great education, but they also weave a neighborhood into a community. Uh both Amy and I are products of public education, uh K through 12 all the way through university. Public schools changed our lives. Uh and that's a big part of why I want to help make
029the district uh this district be the best it can be. Uh I'm in our schools constantly. I volunteer at the walk-athon and chaperon field trips and help with living classroom. And my wife is frequently perennially a room parent and so I'm often doing backup there. I lead a den uh in the Cub Scouts uh out of Oak. Uh you know, professionally, I'm a senior director of engineering at GitHub. Uh I spent a decade at Google uh prior to this uh leading organizations of up to 45 people. I know how to ask good questions, build consensus across groups where there are competing interests. Uh make sure that oversight of the things that the things that uh an organization is doing is real, not rubber stamping, but really genuinely understanding and uh and being curious about uh
030what's happening and whether it's working. Uh I bring a perspective that's grounded in what's actually happening in our classrooms combined with judgment, conviction, long-term commitment. Going to be here for a very long time. one way or the other. Uh and uh and I think those are things that the uh the board needs and I'm ready to do the work. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Brian. >> Um so you have three minutes to answer this question. Uh school board service requires a time commitment including meetings, committee assignments, preparation through reading and data review, reviewing emails, and participating in governance training. Can you describe how you will manage these responsibilities alongside your other commitments and what makes you prepared for this level of engagement? >> Yeah, so uh you know my my day-to-day professional life uh I
031I work from home. Uh GitHub is an entirely remote company. So I I am 7 minutes away from the the office here. Uh uh and it's it's fairly easy for me to define what my schedule's going to look like. The company is uh global and all remote and so people work on different timelines in different time zones. uh and there's quite a lot of flexibility. I think on top of all of that uh you know today I do uh quite a few different activities with the school uh and so on and I've always found that I'm able to make time uh uh to make things happen. I do quite as an example for being a den leader in the the um uh for the cut scouts. Uh I have to do quite a bit of
032preparation every couple of weeks for uh to to lead a den meeting. I've got 14 sevenyear-olds and have to be able to keep them going through it. Uh I make the time and uh and you know my wife is extraordinarily supportive and so we find ways to help each other to make the time. Uh I don't worry too much about my ability to do to to uh find the time and the uh and the engagement uh uh to actually um do the work needed for the uh for the board. On top of all that, I am the kind of person who once I'm interested and engaged in some in something, I'm in it. Uh and uh and uh I've found increasingly over the last couple of years actually uh that uh I'm interested in what's
033happening in the district and at the schools uh and would like to find ways to help. >> Thank you, Jim. >> Okay, for this question, you also have three minutes. Our board consists of five people who work toward consensus and sometimes difficult decisions. Describe your communication style in this type of scenario. Also describe how you would respond if the majority decision was counter to your vote. So I encounter this kind of thing constantly. You know, I'm an engineering manager. I have uh uh folks with all sorts of different opinions about uh about what we ought to be doing. Not to mention organizations around us that have different opinions about what we ought to be doing. And a huge part of my job is just figuring out how to uh work through those things in order
034to find a path that works uh as well as possible for everybody. You can't always please everybody and that's just a reality of it. uh uh but uh but I think it's something that uh that uh honestly uh can be navigated with some empathy and some uh uh some interest genuine interest in what folks motivations are and uh and you know why they're why they're trying to do what they're doing. Um I think uh you know I I I come from a family of therapists. my mom, my sisters, they're both therapists and I think it has very much informed a lot of how I like to interact with folks. Uh I really think making sure that folks feel heard is a huge part of getting uh uh to uh a consensus but also leaving people
035feeling validated in uh in the journey to get there. Um uh and so that's that's very much how I approach that kind of thing. um how I would respond if majority decision was coming to my vote. I I tend to have uh strong opinions about things but uh held loosely uh where uh it is uh you know a a big part of even my job today is whether or not I agree with something I got to figure out how to make it work uh for the organization and make the best out of whatever we have decided no matter what what my uh my initial inclinations were. I you know I don't promise to start agreeing but I definitely do uh think that uh there is a huge amount of importance in figuring out how to
036move forward getting on board with the uh the decisions whether it's disagreeing and committing or uh finding ways to make it work uh that reach some compromise or whatever it may be uh and I'm very much committed to doing that. I think that's just part of functioning in an organization. >> Thank you. Yes. For this question, you will also have three minutes. As a board member, you will be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what is best for you, your family, or your friends to do what is best for the district. How would you approach these decisions and what would guide your judgment when considering the long-term well-being of the district? So numerous times in my career uh I have found myself in a place where uh I uh felt that the
037right thing to do for the organization was not necessarily the thing that I needed. Uh and I have a uh a track record uh certainly I I ended up with one at Google uh before I left there of uh sometimes helping uh uh move an organization to a place where I wasn't even needed by the organization anymore but I did it because uh I believed it was the right thing for the organization and for whatever we were building and so on. Um uh I've had that experience a number of times from my perspective. uh you know the the uh duty that uh the board has and the district has is to uh the whole district uh and you know I talked about the importance of uh building community and how the schools uh do that
038for our community. Uh it doesn't work unless you're figuring out what's right for the entire uh the entire district and the entire community. Um, so I I don't uh you know I I love my schools. I love my family and all of those things and I'm going to try and do what I think is best for the district because I think ultimately that is uh that is going to be best for my family and our community and so on. Uh and I I you know genuinely uh uh I it it doesn't uh jump out at me as a thing where I feel like struggle all that much. Um mostly because uh I don't start from a position of I'm here to make things happen at Oak or I'm here to make this thing happen for
039my family. Uh but rather a really genuine desire to keep uh keep and build the district uh in as amazing as a way a way as I can for the entire community. >> Thank you Brian. >> Yep. Once again three minutes. Uh what do you see as strengths of LSD and what do you see as most in need of improvement? >> Um strengths uh I mean truly one of the biggest ones uh for me I've now said it a couple times is that building of and fostering community. The the neighborhood schools are special. The school that I went to as a kid was a much much larger school. It did not have this feeling. uh grew up in Southern California and and the school there was a a K through eight and had I don't
040know at least five of every class uh and so on. If I knew a third of the kids in my class any year that would have been that would have been a good year. Um I see just how different that experience is for my family, for the kids, for our friends. Uh and I think it is a humongous strength uh for the district. Um I also think academically clearly the district is getting results. Uh and I think that's something that we can be very proud of while also always looking for new ways to uh to you know strive to improve uh and so on. Uh and that combination is pretty potent. Um I think uh uh you know that uh attracts and keeps families uh but also has all of our families here just excited
041to be here and excited to contribute and so on. uh has a bunch of virtuous uh side effects. Um the flip side of all of that, you know, I uh I think sometimes uh we struggle a little bit with just the the reputation that public schools have. We have I have a quite a few folks in my age cohort. We had uh uh we had uh you know uh our our kids went to the Google daycarees before they shut those down. Uh in my son's last uh cohort of kids, uh there were 16 kids in the class. All of them with families living in Los Alto, Sunnyvale, PaloAlto, Certino, all places with excellent school districts. Of them, three were headed into public schools. Uh that it was kind of eye opening. like we genuinely uh
042as parents we were going, "Wow, are we doing something crazy by feeling strongly that we would like our children at the public schools and I think there is uh opportunity uh to help make it known just how amazing of a district this is. Um I think uh uh beyond that uh you know I'm sure there are places where uh where there's more that the district can be doing uh uh whether it is making sure that we are hearing the voices of all the people in the community uh or uh uh or uh you know asking uh big questions about some of the things that are going to be happening. Uh, and I think I don't know that it's a weakness, but I think it's a thing that we uh we owe it to ourselves to
043continue to do. >> Thank you, >> Stella. Okay, so this question, you have one minute. This term is up in December of 2026. With all things being equal, would you expect you that you would run for this seat to continue your service to the board? >> Yes. Yes. And probably would do it one way or the other. to be honest, I I had been thinking about it and considering it even before uh Vladimir's resignation uh and it truly uh in 2023 uh I came here um uh to speak to the board when uh Oak had lost a kindergarten class. Uh I had a good experience talking to the board uh and communicating with the board afterward and since then I've found myself going, you know, I could see myself uh contributing in this way. So,
044it's been in the back of my mind for a very long time. As the year was progressing, I was thinking, you know, maybe this is the time to explore this uh and uh and the opening was mostly a catalyst to say, okay, I'm going to I'm going to raise my hand at this point uh and see if it makes sense to do this. >> Thank you. This is the last question. You have two minutes. What is one question you wish you would have asked? >> You know, that's a good question. Uh I think uh I I think one of the things uh that that is always useful to find out about a candidate is just where they're uh introspective. Uh and so uh you know places where uh I might have existing blind spots or
045things like that might be an an interesting question uh to be asking me. uh and I I know they exist. Like I've got young kids uh uh that uh are in the district, but my oldest child is in second grade. I don't have a lot of direct experience with what's happening in the middle schools or uh or what's happening at some of the higher grade levels with uh the curriculum or things along those lines. Uh I'm very curious about what uh what that's going to be and I have a very vested interest in what's going to happen. But it's definitely a place where I I know uh that I need to uh learn and get exposure to what's happening across the age ages in our district. Same thing across schools. Uh you know, I'm primarily
046exposed to Oak. I need to continue to broaden my own exposure uh because uh serving the entire district is uh is vital. >> Thank you so much for your time. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. my We're going to find out. No hair look yet. >> The class of like a few seconds to settle in. >> All right, first question is a statement. Please give us your two-minute statement on why you want to serve on Losa School District Board of Trustees and what skills you bring to the position. >> Yeah. Um so, um by day I'm a um a lawyer, a patent litigator. Um I do um in that job a lot of evidence-based analytical analysis, problem solving, that kind of thing. Um and um you know obviously think that an important skill to bring to
047this role as well. Um I think my most important qualification is that I just care deeply about the success of the district. Um, I grew up here. Um, went through this district, moved back here in part so my kids could go here as well. Um, and, um, you know, since they've been going here, have been, um, I'd say very involved in, um, district matters. Um, I've spent seven years on PTA boards, five of which have been as uh, president or or co-president at Springer Block. um also have worked pretty closely with most of you or all of you on um and LAF on um in particular trying to make um or figure out how to make the fundraising apparatus for the district work better and better serve all of the um the students. Um, and
048then I guess, you know, I would say also that I'm I'm I'm not coming here with any particular agenda to to kind of advance as a as a board member. I really just want to, you know, continue what I think has been the great work of the board overall and come with a, you know, critical analytical voice that I think can be valuable. And then finally, I'll say that I, you know, have, you know, knowing the board as I do and I don't know the other candidates personally that I've, you know, glanced at their applications and I would say that I I I think you've got four great um, you know, thoughtful qualified candidates and I'm certain they'll be a good good choice at the end. >> Thank you, Ryan. >> Okay. Um, we'll have
049three minutes to answer this question. Schoolboard service requires a time commitment including meetings, committee assignments, preparation for reading and data review, reviewing emails, and participating in governance training. Can you describe how you will manage these responsibilities alongside your other commitments and what makes you prepared for this level of engagement? You touched on >> Yeah. Um I'm a busy person, not going to lie about that. Um I um work full-time as a lawyer. I am, you know, currently on PTA boards. started coaching my, you know, the block seventh grade basketball team. Um, so lots of lots of balls in the air. Um, but, um, that said, um, I've, you know, been doing that for all the last seven years that I've also been doing PTA president work and all the other volunteer work that I do.
050And so, I think some of those things will would fall off of my plate with this um, role and some of them um, would stay. But I I um you know I don't think that it would necessarily be a a meaningful change in the amount of overall time spent just a different way that it allocated. >> Thank you Jim. >> Okay for this question you'll also have three minutes. Our board consists of five people who work toward consensus and sometimes difficult decisions. Describe your communication style in this type of scenario. also describe how you would respond if the majority decision was counter to your vote. Um so to echo what um one of the earlier public speakers said, I think one of the most important things to do is to ask a lot of questions
051and to to listen a lot to both the other views of the board members and also the community um and other relevant stakeholders um in the in the process. Um I think um you know in my job we work in teams a lot and I'm alternatively both a a leader of those teams and a member of those teams and so I think there's you know certain times when it makes sense to to kind of be a a louder voice in that room and certain times when it makes sense to be a you know quieter voice in that room. I think the um you know um but you know ultimately it's about building consensus and you know again in my line of work that means finding the best path forward for our client in this room
052that means finding the best path forward for the district and the students and so I think um you know again that the same answer I think goes for the second half of the question about the um how is you how to respond if the majority is counter to my vote. I don't think that's a major concern at all. I think you know in every sense there's times when your sort of preferred path isn't the one you go by and you know either way you forge ahead with the majority and that's the best way to go. >> Thank you. >> Yes. For this question you will have three minutes. As a board member you will be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what is best for you, your family or your friends to
053do what is best for the district. How would you approach these decisions and what would guide your judgment when considering the long-term well-being of the district? >> Um, so this is something that I think we do a lot or that we think about a lot already in the context of some of the work that I've been doing with LAF and the PTAs in the district in terms of trying to manage the fundraising apparatus and how it's, you know, how to how to make it work best. Part of what we're part of that conversation is at least um trying to figure out how to better allocate the overall amount of fundraising capability on the district better among the the individual sites and than all the students. And part of that might mean that not everyone in
054the district is, you know, gets more than they currently have. some people may have to get less and that I think is part of the process to understand um in any of this. Um and you know I think um you know again the the the purpose here and and you know something that I sort of have long tried to advocate for in that in that context is is that there's you know we need to sort of be mindful of what's going to be best for everyone in the district and in particular you know those who are least fortunate. >> Thank you Brian. >> Uh once again three minutes. What do you see as strengths of LSD and what do you see as most in need of improvement? >> Um, so I think that the I
055mean there's the laundry list of strengths I would say the you know foremost which I think is the the fact that the the stakeholders all are caring people that are that are you know deeply committed to the you know success and welfare of the students. I think that goes for um everybody in this room as well as all you all parents that I've had a chance to interact with over the you know many years I've been here. I think that's probably the number one um strength um areas for um improvement. You know, I think um certainly as a you know, PTA member, we hear feedback from parents um about, you know, areas that that they're you know, are sometimes displeased with. Mostly that revolves around communication um both, you know, within the schools and from
056the district as a whole. Um oftentimes that you know is around equity among the sites. Um, and so, you know, I think that, um, you know, again, the the the equity thing in particular was something that that I've been pushing on for a while and and, you know, again, something that, um, I would probably step away from as as part of this role, but that I would hope would would sort of keep on moving forward. >> Thank you, Bella. >> Yes. >> For this question, you have one minute. This term is up in December of 2026. With all things being equal, would you expect that you would run for the seat to continue the service to the board? >> Um, yeah. I don't think I would be here if it wasn't the plan to do
057that. um you know the or I don't you know I think it would be a disservice to the to the board and to the community to to to ask for this seat if if I was not planning on also running in the in the next election that you know that said I you know things could happen so I don't want to guarantee anything but but but certainly that's the intention. >> Thank you. This is the last question. What is one question you wished you would have been asked? >> Um I don't know. That's a good question. the um you know I think um I think it's important that that that we um you know touch on some of the you know in particular I guess what the um and sorry I blanking on the name
058the second um public speaker mentioned which is the you know the importance of also looking out for the teachers in this process. I think um there's a there's a very uh important nexus I think between student success and the happiness and welfare of the of the faculty and staff. Um something that we certainly focused on um at Springer as part of the PTA and and um you know I think that is that's also part of what we're doing is with this sort of LA PTA collaboration. Um but um you know being able to provide not only a great place for students to learn but also a place that you know our you teachers want to work I think is paramount to to the overall success of the district. And so I think you know I
059don't know whether that's a question that I should have been asked but I think it's one that that you know people in our position should should ask. >> Thank you. Thank you very much Brandon. Welcome. Give me a few seconds to set up. >> Okay, sounds good. >> I feel all right. >> All right. >> Hi. So, uh, please give us your twominut statement on why you want to serve on Losto School District's board of trustees and what skills you bring to the position. >> All right. Hi everyone, my name is Sarah Bites. I'm a mom of five and renting a house in Mountain View, part of LSD. I first moved to the district in 2020 when the world was shut down. What made LD stand out to when everyone was keeping distances were actually
060the yard signs in everyone's yards. They said things like, "We support our schools and Springer strong." I knew I had found my people, those uh who prioritized community involvement and education and would express it in any way possible. My oldest joined kindergarten at Springer in 2022 and I signed myself up for every opportunity that presented itself to me. My daughter joined Springier the following year in TK and I joined the PTA board. My middle son joined the year after that. Each year I have only added to my list of volunteering. I am now at the room parent to three different classrooms, the room parent coordinator for the school. I'm I've been on the planning committees for PTA events like the multicultural fairathon, the gala, and I'm currently the new family's liaison for the school. I'm
061a young mother with the futures of five children invested in the success of the LSD schools and I have an extensive district-wide network of families that I know through my work as the new families at liaison and the TK and kinder families that come in and out of Springer Elementary. I have a track record to show that I will put the time and effort into improving our community. And I was a new family drawn here by the yard signs. Now 6 years later, I am the person who prints, distributes, and puts the yard signs in everyone else's yard to bring more families in like ours. >> Thank you, Ryan. >> Y um so you'll have a few minutes to answer this question. Schoolboard service requires a time commitment including meetings, committee assignments, preparation through reading
062and data review, reviewing emails, and participating in governance training. Can you describe how you will manage these responsibilities alongside your other commitments and what makes you prepared for this level of engagement? >> So, being a mother of five, I have to be very, very organized and put a lot of time and thought into any new commitments. I recently signed up my daughter for a softball at the very last possible moment because I wasn't prepared to go and make that commitment without being completely sure that I knew where all of the practices were, what times, and when the games were. I live and die by my calendar. I have extensively looked into what are the time commitments and the times for the board and I believe that I will be able to incorporate it. I don't
063go and sign up for commitments lightly but once I commit I'm there 100%. >> Thank you Jim. >> All right for this question you also have three minutes. Our board consists of five people who work toward consensus and sometimes difficult decisions. Describe your communication style in this type of scenario. Also, describe how you would respond if the majority decision was counter to your vote. >> So, I was just talking about this with the um with other candidates. My husband, when he first met me, he was an exchange student who kept a log of all of the girls he liked and things about them. What he has written in mind that I discovered 15 years later was Sarah talks a lot. I am happy to talk to everyone no matter who they are and give you
064my two cents, but ultimately I realize that I am not always the one in the right and if the majority believes that something is in the best interest of the school or the school district, I am ultimately a trying to join this as a representative of the public. The public has spoken even if it disagrees with me. >> Thank you. >> Yes. For this question, you'll have three minutes. As a board member, you will be asked to make decisions where you must put aside what is best for you, your family, or your friends to do what is best for the district. How would you approach these decisions, and what would guide your judgment when considering the long-term well-being of the district? So, I grew up on an island and a common adage there is a
065high tide raises all ships. I met my husband when we were in high school. Um, he was not a part of my immediate social circle, but you know what? Being in a strong public education and a strong community means that even if the immediate success of your own family and your own children is not obvious to you, you don't know who they're going to end up put married to. You don't know who they'll go into business with. You don't know what ultimately is going to be the successful thing that will help everyone. But I do believe that having a strong community and a strong elementary and middle school is uh going to be beneficial even if the immediate response or the immediate benefit is not obvious to me and my family. >> Thank you Ryan.
066>> Um once again three minutes. What do you see as strengths of LSD and what do you see as most in need of improvement? I believe that the strengths of LSD ultimately are the community and the parent involvement. I have worked very hard to go and be as involved as possible in the community and as a parent volunteer organizing more parents to get involved. Um what I see as areas that could use improvement ultimately are things that are state imposed. The state has gone and issued that we need to provide uh universal meals for all elementary school students and we need to provide TK for all students who are just about four and up. This has caused a lot of challenges both in budgeting and in um and in staffing issues. and I would like
067to help to improve um improve those within the district. It's not any kind of failing that has happened. It's something that has been imposed on us and we just need to adjust. >> Thank you, >> Stella. Yes. For this question, you will have one minute. This term is up in December of 2026. With all things being equal, would you expect that you would run for the seat to continue your service to the board? >> To be honest, I'm 50/50 on that. To have five children within 8 years means that I am what I call perma pregnant. Right now, I am not expecting another child, but to make a 2-year commitment, I'm going to have to actually be on the board and think about it before I make a final decision. I hear that I would
068have to make the decision by July. So, right now, I'm 5050 whether or not I would to make that two-year commitment. Like I said, I don't make commitments um lightly, but once I do, I am committing all in. >> Thank you. This is the last question. What is one question you wish you would have been asked? You have two minutes. Um, one question I wish that I would have been asked is where do I see Springer and the school district overall going in the future? Um, I think that it it would be good to talk about the elementary schools moving to a TK to fifth grade model and the middle schools moving from the 78 to the 68 model and what I think the impact will be on the students as a whole. right now.
069Um, I was raised in the 78 model, but I definitely see the benefits for enrollment in extracurricular activities and for the extra electives that are offered if we were to move to the 68 model. And that's where I stand on that. >> Thank you. Moving on, Linda. Yep. So Sarah, if you want to take a seat at one of the regular chairs. Thank you. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Charlie is gonna read you directions. I Huh? >> It's not an It's just for me. I can't copy that. again. >> Thank you. Well, I want to start by thanking all of our applicants for their thoughtful responses to the board's questions. Before determining whether a second round of questions is needed, I would like to invite my fellow board members to share the
070qualities they are seeking in an applicant to fill the vacancy. After that, we will pull for our top two candidates based on those criteria. This will help narrow the field as we move toward a decision. If there appears to be a consensus around a candidate, the board may entertain a motion to appoint. If not, top identified applicants may be invited to participate in the second round of interviews. All right, the goal is to narrow the field to two candidates if possible. Would anyone like to begin by sharing what they're looking for in an applicant to fill the vacancy? Who would like? Brian, >> I can start. Sure. Um, first of all, I want to say thank you to all four candidates. It's not a small thing to put yourselves out here in front of us
071and in front of the general public and on camera and everything. Um, and it's really clear, I think, that all four of you care deeply about LSD and really want to contribute to our community. Um, and I also just want to say I apologize for going off script. Um, thank you to everybody of the public who reached out to us um, in the run-up to this event. Um, both, you know, to support the candidates that you know and to give us more feedback and help inform our decision today. So, I wanted to say that off the top. Um, I guess in terms of what I'm looking for, I mean, I'm looking somebody who cares about public education, cares about the community. I mean, I think there's a lot of of boxes checked there. I think
072beyond that, um I >> think um I think things as I think about my time on the board and and the things that I think will really help, I think, um candidates who have a perspective across the district as much as possible um is always valuable. I mean we all a lot of us here on the board in the past they come up we come up through PTA we might have a sort of spotlight on on our school but not necessarily a broader perspective until we get here. Um obviously I'm looking for somebody who think who I think is whether through training or or just um inclination is a good fit. one of the for the the somewhat awkward nature of being on this board, right? We're one of five. We have no individual authority.
073We can't get anything done unless we convince at least two of our colleagues to um to go along and then convince um the staff who actually run and the teachers who actually run the school district that it's a good idea and that it makes sense and that to go forward. So, those are the kind of the things that I'm thinking about off the top. >> Thank you. Oh, well, we did receive this list of considerations for selecting a provisional trustee from Sandra. And of course, you know, I'm pulling from this list as far as what I'm looking for. I'm looking for someone who has demonstrates a genuine commitment to strong public schools and the success of every student. Someone who's familiar with district schools and our community and the the history um that we have
074here um with our charter school. um someone who is committed to serving the interests of the students rather than um their personal agenda. And um someone who's a respected member of the community that you know if we needed to pass another ballot measure could help uh con you know convince the public that this is a good idea. >> Yeah. Okay. I'm done. Great. J. >> Um, well, I'm gonna echo what Brian said and thank you all for applying. It's very encouraging. It's also very encouraging to see everybody here in the boardroom from the public. I am certain that Vladimir will take credit for bringing the public and to email us and talk to us and engage with us. Um, but it is very encouraging and I'm very grateful for it. Um I I think for
075me um one of the most important things is selecting somebody who can work with us in our I mean I say us because we are the current board but that can work in that board environment and the governance structure that we um strive for um and also has broad community knowledge and industry. So, those are the things that I think are important right now for us. >> I'm going to echo my fellow board members and thank you all for applying. Um, it it's no easy feat to fill out the application, sit here in front of us, in front of the public who's watching on video, which I hope they are. I don't know. Um it's um the way that I look at this appointment. Okay, so there's two ways to look at something, right? I'm
076talking about when you get married and you get engaged and some people think you're getting engaged to see whether you want to get married and other people look at as you're getting engaged because you are going to get married, right? And so, um, I see this appointment as someone who will be on who, well, you know, election whatever, but who does genuinely want to be on the vote? So, even if this appointment had not come up, would you have still run in November, right? Um, I think I think Jim pointed out a really good point and I think Brian alluded to it as well. It's our governance structure is something that is not intuitive, right? And working within it takes a little bit of not just an adjustment but also like a different mindset and
077a willingness to follow those rules, right? Um, you know, I won't go into the details of the of the Brown Act. Good governance is so important to me. It was important to me when I first ran back in 2018. Whatever's happened over the last year and a half on our board is not why I believe in good governance. I've always believed in good governance. And so someone who um you know this is this is public money that we are entrusted with. It's a huge responsibility. But even more than that, it's people's children, right? If you think about it, this is probably one of the only elected positions where our constituents can't really vote for us, right? We have such a big impact on children's well-being and especially at an elementary school when kids are still
078forming, right? And they're still so dependent on the adults around them. So, um, I'm looking for someone who understands the gravity of this position and is willing to work within the parameters of this position. Well, so, and I agree with what everybody else has said as well. Did you say discussions? >> Yep. And then you're going to flip the page and read the top, shall we? So board members, at this time I ask that you select your top two candidates on the piece of paper and pass it down to Sandra. Please put your name at the top. And we're not writing. We're just putting check marks. one second opinion here that I'm doing the math correctly. Uh so right now we have Rachel Hanky with two um David with two and Brandon with four. Well,
079I guess the process is so read your script. >> Okay. >> Sorry, Shel. That's going to be my >> Yeah, >> you know me. Okay. Would the board like further discussion or would someone like to entertain a motion? If a motion is made and seconded, the board will discuss and act on the motion. If the motion passes, no further action is needed. If the motion does not pass, discussion will continue to determine whether to take another vote or to select candidates to move forward to a second round. And this process will continue until the vacancy is filled. So I would like to move that we vote on that we select that we select a board. What? Okay. Sorry that I don't have a script. I would like to >> the motion to appoint >> Yes.
080>> a name and that's what you're >> Yes. I would like to move that we appoint Brandon Stroy as the fifth board member. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Any further board discussion? >> I would just like to say once again to all the candidates like I feel like there wasn't a wrong decision for us to make here. But given that we seem to all have an intersection often that's how decisions get made on the board of what everybody is willing to support is what we move forward with. So thank you again. Good. Thank you, Brian. Motion to appoint Brandon Stroy as um the board member on the school district board of trustees was made by Stella, seconded by Brian. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any
081opposed? Any abstensions? Great. Motion passes unanimously. Congratulations, Brandon. And thank you all very much for your time. Now we'll move on to administering the oath of office to our new board member. >> All right. >> I'm just going to ask for public comment. I see no public comment. Public comment is closed. >> Wow. I've done this. See, >> Brandon Dan. Uh, all right. You're going to repeat after me. Uh, I, Brandon Stroy, >> I, Brandon Stroy, >> do solemnly swear. Are we holding a hand up? I'm sorry. Thank you. Do solemnly swear or affirm >> Do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. >> I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of California >> and the
082Constitution of the State of California >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of California >> and the Constitution of the State of California >> that I take this obligation freely >> I take this obligation freely >> without any mental reservation >> or purpose of evasion >> and that I will well and faithfully >> discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter >> is charged to his >> upon which I'm about to enter. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, congratulations Brandon and really congratulations to the three of
083you for having the courage to apply. I hope that you will stay as engaged if not more in our district as you have been. And with that, I'm going to adjourn this morning's meeting.