001Okay, I'm going to call the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Roll call. Trusty Wagan here. Trusty Soilu. >> Trusty Murphy >> here. >> Trusty Pearson >> here. >> Trusty Anderson >> here. >> Trusty Mroy >> here. >> Trusty Crane >> here. >> Dr. Smith >> here. Do I have a motion to adopt the agenda? >> Uh, >> I move to adopt the agenda, but with the change to move [Music] just it sorry 19A. Thank you. >> 19A >> to um >> 19 to >> right before um achievement >> 17. >> Oh, >> okay. So, you want to move 19A >> uh to be discussed before uh item 17. >> Can I Yes. >> Um can I ask here? I have a question. Point of order. >> Um what why don't we do a motion
002and then a second and then discussion? Point of order usually is a question before. >> Okay. Fine, fine, fine. You're good. >> Oh. Oh, I I just I just want to understand why. >> Well, it'll give us an opportunity um to speak to and ask as many questions as possible to the DA and his staff who will be here meeting. >> Well, I've community members are coming to speak to it and they are not aware of that. >> Right. So we we've never moved discussion action and just one item to a different time. So >> keep them from speaking to it. >> Well, people are coming at like a specific time. >> Are they making public comment? Because public comment is still before that. >> Yeah. I just I I'm really hesitant to set a
003precedent for doing that. Um I I agree with Trusty Anderson in the sense that people the agenda is put out there ahead of time so people can plan and if we want to maximize our transparency and discourse and um engagement because public comments can can um also be made before the item is discussed right >> yes but they would get in before during that time though >> right so I I would encourage that we don't move this >> um >> to consider it Okay. We I do you have any other comments on on why >> there's there's um >> no other than to just sort of uh let the staff who wanted to spend or as well I mean as long it's the same with the community members certainly um who wanted to speak on
004this and be able to answer to be available to answer questions. So, um, if we need to keep everyone here to answer questions, then that's the way it's going to be. >> So, there's a motion on the floor. I will have us, if I get a second, then we'll vote. If no second, then it'll be dropped. So, you made a motion. Do I have a second? Okay, seeing none, we will um I need a new motion uh to adopt the agenda. >> So moved. Okay. So, this motion is to adopt the agenda as is. Um, roll call vote. >> Trusty Wagan, >> yes. Trusty. >> Trusty Murphy, >> yes. >> Trusty Pearson, >> yes. >> Trusty Anderson, >> yes. >> Trusty Mroy, >> yes. >> Trusty Crane, >> yes. >> All right. Motion pass. Uh
0056. Um, community input on closed session items only. Seeing none, uh we will now move into close session. The items are A, conference with legal counsel workers compensation. B conference with legal counsel worker comp workers comp compensation. C conference with real property negotiator. D conference with labor negotiator. E public employee discipline dismissal release. And we will return to open session at 6 pm. All right. Um I just a couple um housekeeping items. Um just for the folks standing in the back, we actually have a fire code issue where no one can stand. So there is the overflow uh viewing room I think in the lobby if you guys want to walk that way. We just can't have you stand. So I'm I'm I'm sorry. But I think you can still hear us in there, which
006would be great. And then I know that there are some items that people will filter in and out of. Thank you so much. Okay. So, I'm going to call the meeting to order at 6:01. Uh, opening ceremonies and moment of reflection and pledge of allegiance led by our student board member, Jeremy Lore. Please stand. Place your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. All right. Thank you so much. Uh adoption of the minutes uh from 8:19 25 and 8:225. Um do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Uh moved by Trusty Crane, seconded by Trusty Pearson. Roll call vote. >> Trusty
007Wagan. >> Yes. >> Trust. >> Yes. >> Trusty Murphy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Pearson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Anderson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Mroy. >> Yes. Trusty Crane. >> Yes. >> Right. Motion carries. 7. No. Now we get to do a really fun thing is introduce our new staff. So, we've got four new um principles to introduce tonight. Um Deputy Superintendent uh Torres. >> Yes. Good evening. It is my proud pleasure to welcome up Mr. Jeff Giles. Um I know he's in the building. There he is. Why don't you come on up? We searched high and low for a principal to represent the values and the mission of Costa Mesa Middle and High School and we found that in Mr. Jeff Giles. Um we stole him from most recently Penta Yorbalinda Unified School District. Um
008but he has been in education for over 21 years and in that 21 years he has served uh 16 of those as a site administrator. um rounding out his experience as both an assistant principal at the high school level and high school principal uh most recently at Esparonza High School which is a very diverse campus and represents um much of what we have at Costa Mesa Middle and High. Um he started his career in Downey Unified School District as a science teacher. Um and so we always want to ensure that we celebrate the success of our principles who've been able to uh successfully teach at the high school level. and I know your staff definitely appreciates that. Um, as a principal, he was successful at Esparanza High School, moving the needle on academic achievement, ensuring
009that the ELA and math scores of that school move forward over his three-year tenure. Um, his former supervisors, as Dr. Smith called around and asked those critical questions, said wonderful things about him and in referred to him as one of the strongest instructional leaders and they said, "We'd take him anywhere we go." He's been focused on high quality instruction. He's been a cultivator of CTE programs and an exceptional supporter of VAPA and the arts, receiving the OCD, OC music and arts administrator of the year. I think he's finishing his first month, maybe month and a half with us, and you wouldn't even know that he's new anymore. He's been all over the campus burning holes in his shoes, meeting people, shaking hands, learning community, and we welcome you to our team. >> Thank you. I
010just want to say thank you to all of you for uh the trust that you put in me to to lead Costa Mesa High School. I can be honest uh when I saw the job posting I literally fell in love with the school based on what I read on paper and then after being here I can tell you meeting community members, the staff at Costa Mesa Middle and High School, um the students, the parents, uh it pald in comparison to the reality. And so, uh, I just feel honored to to continue the legacy of such a wonderful school. So, I just want to say thank you so much and I look forward to working with all of you. >> Thank you. We're lucky to have you. >> All right. Take it away. Um, I I
011think Assistant Soup Sakoro Shields. >> Yes. Uh, I will present on behalf of my colleague Dr. Curtzer who's out sick tonight. Um, and so we'd like to welcome Dr. Christa Glmbbachi. She joins us with a wealth of experience. She most recently was a middle school principal, so she deeply understands where students are going and how to get them prepared. She also blends that with her elementary teaching experience. And she comes so aligned with our most critical mission. She has an a depth in gate in dibbles in thinking maps and all of the current issues that we are addressing and working on. So we're very excited to welcome Dr. Glenaki to the team. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh good evening, President Wand, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Smith, and everyone here tonight.
012I am truly honored and grateful to be part of this amazing district. For years, I've driven by the street taking my kids different places and always thought I would love to work there. And so, I feel truly grateful and standing here today is is truly great to be a principal in this amazing district. Uh, my first month at Newport L has gone extremely well and been extremely fun. Um, just like Mr. um Giles said, I just am feeling at home already. the community, the students, the teachers, um everyone around me has has really welcomed me in and I feel so comfortable there already. Um I've also experienced a tremendous amount of support from all the district leaders. So that has really helped um me and made such a positive difference on this new journey for
013me. Um on a personal note, I would like to introduce and thank my husband who's here tonight, Joe. He's right back here. uh without his constant support and helping me with the girls, who I'll introduce in a second, um I couldn't do this role um like I do. So, I'm really grateful for him. I'd also like to introduce my two daughters, Paige and Emily. >> As you can see, possibly they came from practice today, one soccer and one diving. So, we they came a little early because they wanted to be here with mom. So, they're my biggest cheerleaders and I'm so proud to have them here with me tonight. So, um, thank you again for this incredible opportunity. Um, I'm truly excited and humbled and honored to work in this great community. Thank you. >>
014Thank you. >> Next, we'd like to recognize Bonnie Hinton. [Applause] Now, Bonnie isn't new to the district. She's been in our district for over a decade and she started in special education and she was there as a coordinator and then she joined Enson. So as she enters Paulino she brings not only her leadership but also a deep understanding of a lot of the special programs of Paulino the needs of Paulino teachers staff parents the entire community. We're very excited to welcome Bonnie to Paulino Elementary School. Thank you. Good evening, President Wagand, members of the board, Superintendent Smith, Executive Cabinet, and the rest of our school community. I am joined this evening, and I would like to introduce my husband, Chad. And our son, David. He was very excited about tonight. Um, I'm honored to serve
015as the principal of Paulino Elementary. The past few weeks have been spent connecting with our incredible school community, including some talented and dedicated educators and just some really fun kids. Really enjoying the students. Um, I'm inspired and impressed daily by the work that's happening at Polaro and just the joy that I'm seeing on campus every day. Over the course of my 16 years with Newport Mesa, I've had the opportunity to work at every school site in the district, pre-K through adult transition. And Paulino was one of those schools that early on in my career and throughout I've been able to support. So being there now as a principal is just so exciting because it's always been a special place for me. I look forward to building strong relationships with our staff, our PTA, our student
016groups, and other various parent groups on campus as we work together to create a positive and enriching environment for our students. One that inspires connection between students, staff, and the overall community. At Paulino, we believe in showing our Panther pride, positivity, respect, integrity, determination, and empathy. And as the leader of Paulino, I am committed to exemplify, teach, and celebrate celebrate those traits in our students. Thank you so much for the kind welcome. I am thrilled about the opportunities ahead and the work that we will do together. Thank you. And last, but certainly not least, Miss Brittany Figueroa. [Applause] Once a proud gaucho, Britney Figareroa is now the proud principal at Wilson Elementary. She brings administrative and classroom experience with depth and experience in academic growth, strong relationships, supporting community. She is a perfect match for
017Wilson. She has been a great asset to us thus far and we look forward to working with her in the future. Britney Figureroa. >> Thank you. Good evening. Good evening everyone. Thank you Sakuro for that warm welcome. I just wanted to extend my deepest gratitude um to you all and I have had such a wonderful month um here at Newport um Messa and I just wanted to say from the get-go um that it's been very very welcoming. So that just goes to show our leadership and I know that that's something that we strive to give to our students every single day to make them feel welcome to make them feel part of a wonderful team. Um and I have definitely experienced that here. So, so much support from all um of the directors and um
018especially my wonderful staff um and teachers and I've already fallen in love with the students. They're wonderful. Um got to play a little bit of soccer with them yesterday. So, that was very fun. But um I am just overjoyed um this opportunity. It's not lost on me what an amazing opportunity this is. And I do just want to thank you so much. And um I am I'm ready. I'm ready to be here and give the best that I can. Our students deserve the best. and that is my goal to give that to them. [Applause] >> We're happy to have all of you as our new principles this year. We look forward to great things. All right. Number 11 is student board member reports. Uh Trusty Ursulu. >> Great. Well, I'd like to welcome our new
019um student board members for the year that were um recently selected. So, first I'm going to give you their names and then I'll give you the question of the month that some of them will each come up and and answer and share their thoughts from their school. So, we have Roselyn Ruiz from Estansia. We have Audrey Solomon from Newport Harbor, Kenley Lopez from Costa Mesa, Jeremy Lure from Early College, and McKenzie Van from um CDM. And we are still on the hunt for Monte Vista and Backbay representatives. So, if anyone knows any amazing students that would want to be student board members from those two schools, please let me know. We'd love to fill those two spots. Um, so for tonight, we have um Audrey, then Rosyn, then Jeremy um are going to give their
020comments. Wait, where is she? Um on the question for the month. So, every month they get a different question to answer. this month was, "What was the hardest thing about transitioning back into school mode this fall that you wish your teachers knew?" Also, there are many cool clubs on your campus. Name two clubs that your school has that you think every school should have. So, um, let's go first. So, is Audrey here? >> Okay. Is Rosyn then? Roslin, you're up first, please. Sorry, I'm trying to find the speech. Okay, first I would like to thank the board and president and vice president for electing me to be part of this important group. I'm honored to represent my school and show the voices, experiences, and highlighting from our campuses. As we return to school this fall,
021many students share that the transition back into a structured academic routine has been challenging. Even with our 8:30 a.m. start time, students have mentioned having a hard time adjusting to sleep schedules, balancing extracurriculars, and managing the early homework and quiz load. Some also expressed feelings of stress around reconnecting socially, navigating the new schedules and jumping straight into the coursework after a long summer. At the same time, it's important to acknowledge that the first day of school at Santi this year was unlike any other. And for many, it was exactly what they needed. We started later than usual around 9:05 a.m. which allowed students a slower, more comfortable start. From there, we transitioned into the gym for a schoolwide assembly that brought a lot of laughter and joy. It was a breath of fresh air, especially
022for students who often feel pressure from a heavy first day of work school. The assembly included a vibrant performance from Gluba Dansa, showcasing a traditional Mexican dance that brought culture, pride, and energy to the event. Teachers added humor with light-hearted jokes about artificial intelligence. And our vice principal even dressed up as adult Annabelle as part of a tardy sweet reminder. These moments made the day feel special and full of spirit. It created a welcoming environment, especially for a freshman who seemed more involved and connected this year than any other class before them. In terms of student life, two clubs that stood out to me this year are Rise and Chamoy. Rise, founded by senior David Perez, is a mentorship program where high school students support elementary students, especially English learners, through academic help and positive
023encouragement. It has grown from 10 to over 40 members and is planning to expand to other schools like Pomona and Whittier to continue making a broader impact. Chammo is a student led club that empowers youth through leadership, community discussion, and social action. In addition to hosting local issue forums and activities, Chammo advocates for immigrant rights and supports low-income families through community outreach and events. The club continues to foster unity, cultural pride, and student leadership on our campus. Thank you again for the opportunity to share behalf of Estantia. I'm proud of that we have started and I'm excited for this year. Great. Thank you so much, Roslin. And now we have um Jeremy from Early College. >> Good evening. >> Thank you. Good evening, Superintendent Smith, esteemed board members, and members of the community. My name
024is Jeremy Lure, and I'm thankful to be representing the students at Early College High School. I would like to start by saying that I look forward to being able to provide my peers with a strong voice this school year. When looking at our topics, I was incredibly excited to be able to highlight two of our many amazing clubs. While on campus, we only have 11 of them, it wasn't easy to narrow it down to two. Each club is remarkably impactful and contributes to our community in a variety of ways. However, one of the most unique clubs, which is also new this year, is our Advocates for Learning Club. I can't wait to see what they are able to do, as I just attended this past Thursday, and the classroom was completely full. Their goal is
025to identify issues or concerns on campus and advocate for student needs to school staff and to the school board. I believe having a group like this present on our campus is instrumental to facilitating student voice and I'm happy to be a part of it. Another club that has been incredibly influential on our campus and has been for many years is community service club. They work with numerous organizations such as Key Club, Surf Rider, and Rotary International to bring community service opportunities directly to our students. Having a club like this on any campus is fundamental to students being able to be informed about and participate in a wide range of projects and services that benefit our community. Just a month ago, they collaborated with Kelly's Closet to go back to school shopping with children in need.
026It's events like these that truly strengthen our community and the character of our students. And I love the work the community service club is doing. Now, I was also asked to brainstorm with my peers the hardest part about returning back to school. Everyone has different challenges when returning. And I would like to highlight some of my peers experiences. Some students shared the difficulty of coursework piling up early. Others the challenge of adjusting to school after a summer filled with afternoons at the beach and South Coast Plaza. And one student shared with me a positive experience, the impact of having teachers that see you and care for you. But there's one student's story I would really like to highlight. I won't be naming her directly, but I will be reading part of her powerful response. Okay.
027The biggest struggle I have faced is having to live on my own. Being on a bus for 2 hours on the way to school can be extremely stressful as it takes time away from my sleep and how much attention I can put into my studies. On the bus, it's difficult to work as it might be loud or packed. And while being a child living on my own may seem like a major achievement, it's important to note that I also have to work in order to pay the bills. It takes determination and hard labor. While although I am excelling in the classes I'm a part of, my mental and emotional health are drained. This anecdote highlights just how diverse the community at ECS and the entire district is. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of having a
028supportive community and staff on campus. We never know what the person next to us might be going through. So being kind, welcoming, and uplifting is essential. I'm glad to say that the students and staff at ECHS are incredibly kind, welcoming, and uplifting. Thank you. Wow, thank you for all those comments. That is really enlightening and and it's always one of our favorite parts of the board meeting. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. Next up, we have Harbor Council PTA president uh Martha Flor. >> Good evening, President Wand, Vice President Sou, Clerk Murphy, members of the board, and what Dr. Smith cabinet in our community. My name is Martha Flor and I serve as the president of the Harbor Council of PTAs. On behalf of Harbor Council, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for the
029ongoing support of our mission and collaborative work with our schools. Our volunteers devote significant time and effort to ensure every student's voice is acknowledged and every family need feels welcome. We remain steadfast in advocating for programs and policies that benefit our diverse community. Recently, Harbor Council PTA convened its first meeting of the year and Dr. Smith and Dr. Torres, congratulations Dr. Taus um introduced Heather Cash, special education director of elementary and Rob Nichols, special education director of secondary. and we anticipate um getting valuable insights at a meeting um regarding their cross teaching methods and strategies to foster a sense of welcoming and belonging and inclusiveness. Additionally, we participated in an informative session um about Pacron with Lance Bidnik, Amber Schumacher and Roman Torres. This session prompted considerable dialogue and we are grateful for their openness
030and willingness to engage with ours units. We plan to host a future Zoom meeting to further discuss a facilitron scheduling and reservation processes. Harbor Council and its 25 units remain dedicated to strengthening connections among teachers, parents, and administrators. Our focus continues to be building upon the robust partnerships that foster student achievement and well-being and ensure that every child has access to the necessary resources and opportunities. Through ongoing collaboration and open communication, we seek to promote supportive environments. Our district now includes over 3,800 uh PTA members with Krona Delmare leading the way at 421. Three of our PTAs, Davis, Newport Harbor, and Mariners, each have more than 300 members, and 11 schools have between 100 and 250. Schools currently seeking uh additional support include Whittier, Pomona, Sonora, Wilson, Newport Heights, Adams, Backbay, Ray, and Early College.
031We encourage everyone to consider joining at least one or more of our NMUSD PTAs. The California PTA supports AB49, the state uh the col uh the California state haven uh safe haven schools and uh uh child care act authored by Assemblyman Maritucci as an emergency measure measure AB49 aims to protect undocumented students and their families by requiring ICE officers to present valid identification, a written statement of purpose, a judicial warrant and obtain approval from the superintendent or child care center director before entering a school or a child care facility. California state PTA affirms that all children are entitled to a quality public education. At presently, many students experience apprehension due to federal immigration activities which can disrupt educational access and compromise school environments. Also causing financial challenges to districts due to decreased enrollment. It is
032important to stay informed about steps taken by our state district and individual schools in response to this issue. Both the United States Supreme Court and the California State Supreme Court have con confirmed this right. The PTA maintains that schools must be safe places where students uh can learn and grow without fear and families can actively participate in their education. At the national level, the PTA supports Protecting Sensitive Location Act S uh which is Senate Bill uh 455 and House of Representatives Bill 1061, which pro prohibits federal immigration enforcement within 1,000 ft of sensitive locations. That includes types of schools, early childhood pro programs, bus stops, and field trips. This the fourth district PTA will hold its first advocacy forum of the year on September 26th at 9:30 at the Orange County Department of Ed at
033200 Calmas Drive Costa Mesa Building uh D. The forum uh the forum will be titled is titled Stronger Together Schools that welcome and protect all students and is open to all PTA members. Finally, I would like to highlight the recent ribbon cutting uh ceremony for Estansia's performing arts in the Barbara Van Holt Theater for its exceptional design and uh just was unbelievable. My gratitude extends to Fifer and Perkins Eastman for the architectural design and Swinton for the construction. Thank you to this board for completing the vision and promise of previous boards. I look forward to the theat's inaugural production, Frozen, in November. We appreciate your continued commitment to providing our students with safe, modern, and clean facilities and to the dedication of our outstanding educators and administrators. I close with this quote by Benjamin Franklin.
034Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next up, we have NMFT president's comment, uh, Ronda Reed. President Wagan, Trustees, Superintendent Smith, uh, cabinet guests here tonight, including NMFT and Blue. Um, I wasn't here for the first school board meeting of the year, so I want to welcome Andrea Ma Elroy. I don't know if I'm saying your last name right. Um, and I also want to just give a quick update. Um, since we met in the summer, NMFT participated in the new employee orientation hosted by the district. Wellganized. It was a lovely event. 64 of the participants, the attendees, 63 joined our union. Last year, we ended the school year with the highest union membership ever. and we're starting this
035year with the highest of a starting um membership ever. We're on track for every school site to have at least one site representative. The number of new members engaging with our union is inspiring. Our in general membership is at an all-time high and it's such an honor and privilege to work on their behalf. So on Saturday I was in Burbank for an eighth hour meeting with CFT. Just want a little sympathy here. Um so their um legislative director um gave us an update on the status of some bills working their way in through the system. So um the number of bills that were um poured over by this the legislators um was in Friday till 3 in the morning. They reconvened at 10 in the morning and four of our CFT sponsored bills are on
036the way for the governor's signature. So one of them AB560 is um would requ and I hope it's signed would require require districts to provide equitable case load for um initial assessment for all the special education professionals. It would also require a maximum of adult to student ratio in the special education classroom. So, I think it's wonderful to be in a district where you get ahead of these issues. You don't wait for mandates to tell you how to relieve um the cumbersome workload of our special education professionals. Um I want to tell a story that Dr. Smith told me. It's a true story because he told me it was. I wasn't there for it. I might get some of the details wrong. Um, but he said at the new employee orientation, he asked the new
037educators, "Did you come to Newport Mesa because you heard they have the best superintendent?" And he told me, one person raised their hands. This is what he told me. And and then he said, "Well, did you come because you heard we pay really well?" and then all the hands went up. So, I want to thank the school board for the raise last year and for your continued commitment to showing our educators their value and worth. And I I know you hear me say all the time that we should be number one in all areas, including salaries. But now that we have Lagona CBO, maybe we can knock him off the number one spot. Maybe he knows the pathway forward. I know it's a lot of pressure, but I have faith in you, Jeff. Um, so
038thank you. Uh, now we're moving on to 14, community input on non-aggendaized items. Clerk Murphy. Uh, yes. This is an opportunity for the public to address the board regarding items not on the regular meeting agenda. Comments on non-aggenda topics are limited to three minutes per comment, up to 20 minutes per topic. A speaker may not relinquish his or her time to another person. By order of the Brown Act, section 54954-.2, the board will take no action nor have any discussion on non-aggendaized items. The superintendent may provide clarification during superintendent's comments. >> All right. First up, we have Charlene Matoy. >> Good evening, President Wagand, board, Dr. Smith, cabinet, and honored guests. Today, I'm here with my Newport Mesa Schools Foundation hat on. I am as secretary of the foundation. I am pleased to share that
039we are having our state of the schools event again this year. It's an annual event this year. Estansia high school is hosting us. They have the best gym, but you didn't hear me say that. Um, and I want to thank all of you who have already RSVPd. We need the count. So, I mean, even if you go, "Well, we know you know the board's coming." Please just punch it in and do the RSVP and honored guests and anyone in the audience that's community members that wants to hear with accompanied video how fabulous Newport Mesa is. Just in case you don't already know, feel free to sign up and come to our event. It is October 28th. It's o dark in the morning. It's 7 o'clock, but that's good for everybody who can get theirelves to
040school. We don't want to cheat the kids just so we can have a great video. >> So, thank you for your time. You know, I can be up here and be controversial and but I'm not. And you also know that when I come up here, I don't talk too much. So, thank you very much and I look forward to seeing you at the event. I'll probably be be back next month. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have Ashley Viligrand and Christy uh Balooki. Hello, I'm Ashley Vagram. This is Go ahead, special education teachers. >> First of all, we want to say thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to speak with you tonight. We want to begin by saying um how much we love the work we do. We are both special education
041teachers. I am in a self-contained classroom. I'm in a mild mod program. Um, supporting students with diverse needs is deeply rewarding and we are proud to be part of a district that supports inclusion and equity for all learners. With that said, we wanted to to bring to your attention a significant concern that impacts both teachers and students in special education. While our general education colleagues receive 75 minutes of preparation time weekly, SEC teachers are not afforded the same opportunity. We do not currently receive any weekly preparation time. Yet, we are held to the same professional responsibilities and in many ways additional ones. In addition to a general education teachers responsibilities, SEC teachers are also responsible for IEP development and implementation of the IEP, which often requires modification to the curriculum, behavioral supports, and visual supports.
042We are also responsible for conducting special education assessments, IEP goal progress monitoring, report writing, collaboration with families, colleagues, and outside service providers. And we're also responsible for attending additional meetings outside of our PLTS and regular site meetings. Each of these tasks are essential, but they are time consuming. So without dedic dedicated prep time, much of this critical work happens outside of contract contractual hours, particular during lunches, weekends, holidays, and we even rely on sick time. This is not sustainable and it ultimately affects the quality of support we can provide for our students. We respectfully ask the board to consider making prep time equitable for special education teachers. It would give us more opportunities to provide the high quality instruction and individ individualized support that our special education students deserve. I just want to add that
043that's mostly for the elementary school. So just to paint a picture um we have combined classes. So when you have like TK and kinder when your TK's go to a pull out where the Jed usually gets the prep, we still have our kinder students. So that's kind of what's happening behind the scene. Or if you have the single level kindergarten class and they go to their pull out, we are being directed to go to that pull out. So, we're not receiving any prep time from the start of the day to the end of the day in the elementary self-contained classrooms. >> Thank you. >> Next. Next, we have uh Shira Pacson. Sorry if I >> Shyra. Okay. Uh good evening, President Wagon, Trustees, Superintendent Smith. My name is Shyra Paxton and I'm a sped teacher
044at Palino. I want to first say how proud I am to be such a part of a great team at Pollino and I'm excited about our new leadership with Bonnie Hinton. I would like to share the thoughts of our teachers regarding the extra meetings that have been imposed in our schedules this year. The district has added almost seven hours of additional afterchool time meetings to our monthly calendar. Following the last contract negotiations, teachers were under the impression that meetings would be held during early out Wednesdays, but we now have staff meetings on the calendar twice a month on Tuesdays as well. After school time is being reduced more and more and is desperately needed for lesson planning and class preparation. As a special education teacher, these meetings are in addition to us having IEP meetings
045after school on the other days of the week. Many SAI teachers carry case loads of up to upwards of 28 students, each of whom have an after afterchool IEP once a year in addition to students that have an re-evaluation or an amendment meeting, which can add up to 10 more additional meetings for a sped teacher annually. Self-contained classroom teachers such as I teach multiple grade levels in the room, which is does not allow time during the workday to write IEPs. I'm not sure if you're aware, but it takes many hours to prepare one quality IEP. If a student is in a re-evaluation year, the assessment report can also add an additional several hours to prepare for each of these students. All of this is mostly done outside of contract hours, early mornings, nights, weekends, and
046holidays. because there is simply not enough time to prepare. I implore you to consider reducing the amount of meetings required for all teachers and allow us time on some of these early out Wednesdays to do the necessary preparations and paperwork to do our job. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we have Alex Gladstone Llamas. Hello board members and Dr. Smith. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um I'm basically going to second the eloquent words of my fellow educator. Um I've been in elementary education in Newport Mesa for almost three decades. Proud to be a teacher at Anderson Elementary School. Um, I also represent the NMFT as the elementary school's VP and I have been on the negotiations team in the previous year. I I believe there's an issue for the meeting times after school
047where there's perhaps a misconstring of the spirit of the law and the letter of the law, whereas there were some negotiated opportunities provided in the contract for teachers to have meetings after school and professional development. But it was stated earlier last year that we would only be having meetings if they were absolutely necessary and couldn't be handled in an email, which I'm sure many of you have been in meetings that you felt could have been handled in an email. Um, and what's most precious to teachers is time. And my colleagues feel very much that there isn't enough preparation time or even time to collaborate. So, um I thank you for hearing the concern about the excessive meeting minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have uh Superintendent Comics. >> Yeah, SH's going to
048be giving my presentation at the state of the school. So, for all of you that worried about the time, the early start, that's that's your advantage. Thanks for bringing that up. We're excited to share um all the great success. Uh stay tuned. really really good things to brag about in the district. Grateful for our employees and very very proud of our students. Um also Ronda, I didn't know that you had membership up that high. It's amazing. Clearly speaks to your leadership. It was interesting too at that welcome back. We had Jeff Freighus, right? The executive director of all of CTF there like welcoming folks. It's no wonder um everyone signed up. President, that's right. That's right. President. Yeah. Same thing. He's the big cheese. He is um way up there. Uh and and a great
049communicator. Not at all surprised people were were signing up, but kudos to to you and your leadership. And I can't comment on the negotiations this year. So any any of the items that were alluded to tonight, I can't speak to. I can certainly speak to, you know, last year and how proud we were to established the PLT time and the effect size is inarguable. The research is clear that one of the best ways to improve student outcomes is to give teachers time to look at student data. and because they're the experts figure out the best way to improve those outcomes. Um, a lot of districts do this, a lot of high performing uh, and we're convinced that this will be one of those strategies that's going to make us the highest performing district in the
050state of California because we trust our teachers are those experts and we can't wait to see those exciting outcome increases. um as it relates to last year's uh conversation around meeting time um again contractually they went from four potential four hours of of meeting time to potential of three but I think the the advice is well heard that we have to be smart about the time we use of course and um certainly I' I'd be all for putting things in an email that can be in an email and let's take that time that we have together to really maximize that um I struggle with the characterization of more time was added, but we can we can have coffee or something and and talk about that. I think the overall message is that for last year,
051um you know, we're excited about what we did and the joint communications that we put together to try to make sure that people weren't confused about the roll out, what we were doing. And if we need to better communicate as we continue this year, then we have allies that can that can help us uh articulate those messages. And then as it relates to this year, again, I can't comment, but I do know that our teams are meeting um and I know the meetings are positive. Uh and I know on both sides folks want to resolve this in a mutually beneficial way. I'm absolutely confident that that's going to happen. So, um as far as this year goes, that's that's all I could really say about that. Thank you. >> All right. Great. Thank you. Uh
05216, community input on agendaized items. Clerk Murphy. Go ahead. >> Oh yeah. Um this is the opportunity for the public to address the board regarding items on the regular meeting agenda. Comments on agenda items are limited to three minutes per comment up to 20 minutes per topic. A speaker may not relinquish his or her time to another person. Speaker cards for items on the discussion action calendar may be held until that item is considered by the board if the speaker prefers. Okay. First up, we have Andy Godz. Sorry if I butchered your name, but um you can you're going to speak on 19A and you can wait. You can speak now or wait till that um till we get to that item. >> Wait, I'll wait. >> Wait. Okay. And then the other person is
053Eric Jimenez and it's also he's gonna speak on 19A. Do you want to wait or go now? >> I'll wait. Okay, great. Now moving on to achievement um 17A report on summer school program. Um assistant superintendent Shields and Deputy Superintendent Torres. We'd like to welcome up a team. As you know, we have a very robust summer school and we want to represent all angles of what students experienced. And I'm sure the team will do this, but want to also commend the rest of the district that helps us lift two months of more school with in every speaking of the word. So from transportation to food to office to health, all of that is still going strong in the summer and it requires a lot of coordinated efforts and we appreciate everything that the district does
054to allow these programs to continue so strongly. Miss Christy Flores and team. Thank you. >> Good evening, Dr. Smith, President Wagan, trustees, executive cabinet, esteemed colleagues, and guests. We are so excited to be here tonight to shine a spotlight on our summer programs that were offered to over 4,000 students here in Newport Mesa. I am honored to share the podium this evening with my esteemed colleagues as we will share about the diverse offerings provided to our preschool through 12th grade students. Before we begin, our musical chairs of directors here at the podium. I'd like to like to paint a picture of our summer landscape here in Newport Mesa. Take a look at over the past or during 43 days, Newport Mesa provided support to over 4,100 students. We are so grateful for our fellow departments
055and colleagues such as our transportation department who led 40 different bus routes, our nutritional services department who provided over 46,000 meals to our students. We had over 200 classrooms utilized across our elementary and secondary campuses. In order for those campuses to be prepared, we relied on our IT department, our custodial crews, facilities, M to ensure that our students had a safe, engaging, clean learning environment. And of course, we needed highquality individuals. And thanks to our human resources department who hired 600 people to support these students, we were able to provide a successful summer program for our preschool through 12th grade students. So this evening, I'm going to start off by turning it over to Kathleen Liry, who's going to talk about our preschool summer program. Good evening. This summer, our four full day, fullyear preschool
056programs were held at Whittier. Normally, we have um both at Pomona and Whittier, but due to the construction, we had all of them at uh Whittier this year, and we had 48 students attend our full day full year. Just a little reminder about our full day full year program. It operates year round, and the only day that we have off in the summer is Fourth of July. They go all throughout the summer. We go 246 days. It is funded through the California State Preschool Program which supports high quality early learning experience for all eligible families. And the eligibility for full day full year includes families um not only are they income eligible but they might be employed looking for a job in training or children that might be um in the foster care as a
057foster care student. Uh we also this year had two preschools that were tuitionbased and we had them at Harborview and co at College Park and they were open to families seeking enrichment um opportunities and we had 33 children um attend those programs. Our preschool programs um not only during the summer but throughout the year are playful and theme-based. We'd like to be active, hands-on, joy, joyful, and developmentally appropriate. These activities support a wide v r range of early learning goals. We do do early literacy and math skills, but really focus on those executive functioning, um, friendship and social skills, fine, um, and gross motor development. In addition, we really provide engaging and imaginative themes such as robotics, um outer space, rainforest, dinosaurs. Here you see these children that they're exploring as they were on a
058safari. Um these themes are selective because they hold high interest for children, spark their curiosity, as well as help build content areas like language, science, art, and music. and movement. And children um build their skills through songs and storytelling, creative arts, dramatic and constructive play, as well as pure interaction and collaborative problem solving. Now, I will be turning it over to Christie. The Elementary Summer Scholars Academy was a 19-day program thoughtfully planned with the intent to provide learning opportunities for both our students and our teachers. The goal was to implement strategies, tools, and curriculum familiar to the students as well as to the teachers. This summer provided us a great opportunity to sharpen our educational practices while providing an extra summer scoop of learning for our students. We were excited to welcome over 2200 elementary
059students to our five campuses. As you can see, all 22 elementary schools had participants attend the summer scholars academy. A special thanks to our school community facilitators who spent additional time on the phone reaching out to our families, making those connections to ensure that they felt welcomed and supported on the summer campuses away from their home schools. Every morning, students participated in an academic block led by Newport Mesa Elementary School teachers. The instructional focus was on reading, writing, and math. Additionally, small groupoup reading support was provided to over 200 students in grades rising first, rising second, and rising third. Even with a short period of time, we wanted to collect data points and what we found was positive. The summer academy is a screenfree program. So we relied on two assessments, a short pre and
060post reading assessment where we found 95% of our students who participated in those small group group reading instruction demonstrated growth. Then we also compared last year's end of the year star assessment to this year's beginning of the year star assessment to really compare and see what occurred over the summer. We were excited about the results. While 15% of our students increased a whole benchmark level, which is a big deal over a short period of time, 65% of our students remained at the same benchmark level, which again is a big deal as I know there's often conversations about the summer slide. And then 46% of our students increased or remained at their scale score, which demonstrates growth over time as students are approaching the next proficiency level. We are so proud of our students and we
061are really grateful for everybody who contributed to make our summer scholars academy such a success. And now it's my pleasure to invite Keith Carmona to talk about our secondary program. Good evening. Uh the secondary summer school program had a variety of offerings this summer and tonight we're going to um talk to you about um how we engage students in lots of different ways. Um, first we'd like to talk about our in district traditional summer school program um, which took place at Costa Mesa High School this summer and it was designed for students who were unsuccessful in their first attempt at learning um, for specific courses in the areas of English language arts, science, math, history. Um, we provided live in-person instruction um, for these students and the majority of these teachers were our very own
062Newport Mesa teachers. Um, additionally at Coast Mesa High School, we also hosted two programs that were focused on enrichment and acceleration. Um, first we invited middle school students um, who were English language learners to participate participate in a program um, to build their academic and literacy skills using AVID strategies and kind of a fun and dynamic environment. And then we also provided an opportunity for students who have demonstrated to us that they need to accelerate their math journey. Um, and so there was a compacted middle school math uh program at Costa Mesa High School which prepares students for the enhanced pathway um if they're ready for it. Next, um we're excited about a new partnership that we established with our local community college partner, Orange Coast College. Um they hosted a collection of different NMUSDon
063classes, meaning that it's just our kids, not they're not mixing in with adult learners. Um, first we're proud of the extended dual enrollment um, opportunities for our students. Um, they got to explore video game design, architecture, social media, journalism. Um, and then we also had an opportunity for our long-term English language learners um, who connected with the English instructors at Orange Coast College and focused in on um, reading and writing skills that will equip them um, not only in high school but then hopefully better prepare them for college. Um these stu uh these courses were free of charge. Um they allowed students to earn both high school and college credit and they were voluntary. Kids got to opt into those. Um our partnership with OC also included uh more traditional summer offerings where students are
064remediating um grades where they were unsuccessful during the school year. Um we partnered with them to provide instruction in algebra, algebra 2, and physical education. Um, and those two were classes that were just for um, Newport Mesa um, students. And so they were really focused in on meeting the needs of our students. Um, and they all took place at the OC campus. The kids were excited about about being um, in the college environment and um, took that seriously. Uh, each summer there are students who need to make up uh, credits outside of those courses that I've already mentioned um, that we call those our mesh courses. And in order to meet that need um we continue our partnership with um the department of education u to provide instruction in those areas. And so students in
065this program completed either work online through the egeneuity program which um our district um has used for years um or a paper pencil option um where they would meet independently with teachers. Um, furthermore, over the last number of years, we've provided um some online options for acceleration for students that are in high school um where they can through one-on-one instruction um get ahead and create more opportunities for their schedules during the regular school year. Um the final secondary program that we want to highlight this evening is our bridge to 7th and bridge to 9th grade enrichment sessions that were hosted at all of our middle and high schools. And we know that the transition from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school can be intimidating. Um so our teachers and administrators put
066together a fun and welcoming chance to meet new friends um explore the campus and learn about all the great things that are there to offer at um the middle and high schools. Those were voluntary programs. All students coming into those schools were invited uh to take part. So in total our secondary program served just over 1,400 students and um in that um our students earned over 3,600 credits and most importantly um we were proud to serve some of our most important student groups and um stay connected with them. As we look at um as we reflect upon our summer and kind of look at what our successes and challenges um we can point to a variety of successes. Um, first, we continue to prioritize live inerson instruction during the summer. Uh, recognizing that whenever possible,
067our students learn best from a real classroom experience. Um, we're excited about the expansion of the dual enrollment opportunities over the summer and our growing partnership with OCC is certainly a great thing for kids. Um we found success in consolidating our in-house program um from two campuses to one which helped us um better address some of the summer staffing issues um that we faced. And finally um our summer programs um have been a wonderful opportunity for leadership growth as well. um our excellent summer admin interns are the ones leading those summer programs and we're proud that one of our summer admin interns u Matthew Mason later interviewed and was selected to become the next uh assistant principal at Costa Mesa High School. So that's an excellent growth opportunity. The summer also had its challenges that
068we will continue to face. Um, we know that a significant uh portion of our summer school program is designed for students that struggle in school. And so we're consistently looking at more ways that we can engage and connect with students um that struggle to do so during the year. And we know that we need to, you know, try to provide more for them over the summer. Um, this summer was also particularly challenging for a lot of our families in our community. um leaving the home didn't seem like an option as some of our families were seeing um news reports about immigration stops and were concerned about what that would mean and so engagement and attendance um certainly was affected. Um but we were able to connect with the students that um obviously showed up to
069campuses. Um finally um during our first year partnering with uh OC, you know, we navigated kind of the hurdles of kind of combining the K12 system with the community college system. Um and we're excited about continuing that partnership. um but just kind of learning um by way of um kind of going through it for the first time. So all in all, we're proud of the programs that we've uh put on in this district um this summer and the quality and the variety of what they've been able to serve. It provided more opportunities for kids to do more and different interesting things. Um and we're excited about um growing that for the coming year. So with that, I'd like to introduce uh my colleagues Dr. Heather Cash and Rob Nichols who will share about our students
070with special needs. Good evening. So, extended school year is not actually summer school. We're great with acronyms and special education and we call it ESY, which means it is an extension of the former school year, the previous school year. It's a service that's written into an IEP that's determined by an IEP team. And we often rec uh we refer students based on regression and recruitment. But what that really means is a student who experiences that summer slide that takes longer than normal to recoup that learning. So we'll use data from a from a previous break in school to determine if a student takes a longer period of time to recoup the learning that they had had before. Those students are recommended for ESY services during the summer. Not all students with IEPs are recommended for
071ESY services. Um and those services are individually tailored to whatever that student needs. It might be academic instruction. It might be speech services, OT, any of the related services that are on the student's IEP. This year, we had 45 certificated staff, 78 classified staff at five elementary campuses, one secondary campus, and we served 349 students with IEPs. Importantly, join me. Importantly, um our campuses were the same campuses as our summer scholars programs that started last year and it provided us an opportunity to to have mainstreaming um opportunities to access those enrichment programs and for our students to engage with each other. Our students benefit from being around typical peers and we've worked hard with our administrative interns during the summertime and our special education coordinators to partner in the leadership of those programs. We do
072give a parent survey at the end of our um experience and we have amazing and positive reviews. You see some of them here. In fact, all of our reviews were either excellent or very good. Um everybody really appreciated their time spent in ESY. It is a service and so our goal progress is our data that we look at. We don't have the same kind of reading data that we would be sharing, but we are looking for a lack of regression when students return to school in the fall. But most especially, we partner with our transportation department. Our bus drivers and our transportation department provide extra loving care to our students with IEPs. They have special equipment. They have special seat belts. Sometimes they need a little bit of extra patience. Sometimes their timeline is delayed
073ever so slightly, but they always come with loving care for all of our students. They communicate very, very well with us. So, I want to really shout out all of our bus drivers and Shelley Humphrey and Kevin Suckington who take so much loving care with our students with special needs during the summertime and during the school year. Next, you'll be hearing from Laura Del Pash, our director of multilingual programs. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. So, I think you're all familiar with Summer Language Academy. Uh just a reminder, we hold summer language academy the last three weeks of summer before teachers come back and that gives our students an opportunity to participate in the other summer programs that you heard Mr. Carmona speak about. So they could actually do both. Um they could do something
074at OC and also do summer language academy which is great. So it is a program for our newcomer students at really the emerging and early expanding levels. Um it serves districtwide from all of our campuses. We provide busing so students can get there. Um this year we represented five home languages which is always exciting to have um students from all different languages and cultures together in one campus. Um we partner with Cal State Fullerton and so we've continued the great program that we've had in the past. We provide professional development for our teachers so that they can carry those practices back into their classroom. Um not all EL teachers. We have science. Um we have a Spanish teacher. um ELA. So very exciting that we have a mix of different content areas. So most exciting
075this year um we had some summer language academy graduates who really maxed out of their level but they wanted to continue to participate. So this year we piloted a leadership academy with just a few students. Um one of them is here is actually a student board member, Mr. Lopez, which is very exciting. So they uh spearheaded I hope to be our first uh class of our leadership academy. We hope to continue. Um they ended up working with our ELD Tossa Arlene Salazar and they mentored students in summer language. Um they created some resources for us. Next summer will be our 10th summer language academy. So they worked very hard on some interviews and some content to create a video for us for next year. So that was uh the highlight for our summer that we'll
076hopefully be able to expand and continue. So how wonderful that students want to come back even though they've technically graduated. So we had a great summer and I think uh Miss Flores is going to wrap us up. We've really been looking forward to the opportunity to share about our summer programs and appreciate all of your support. With your guidance and our upcoming strategic planning, we believe that we are in a perfect position to reflect and refine our summer programs. As we do that, we are keeping the following in mind. It's always important to think about what is the purpose of our programs. Is a purpose to provide academic support, intervention, acceleration, enrichment, or a combination of all of the above? What's the impact of our programs on our students, on our families, on our staff,
077and then also keeping that greater footprint of our summer landscape and the impact on all of our departments that are serving our students over the summer months? How is our community engaging with our summer programs? What do we want to look like? What do we want that to look like moving forward? We always want to ensure that our programs are in alignment with our district's priorities and our goals and thinking about that as we move forward. And then finally, are these large programs financially sustainable? What is that going to look like for us as we move forward? So with that, and we are grateful for your leadership and your support, and we look forward to what's ahead, but we are so grateful for your time and your support and listening to our uh musical chairs
078of directors up here this evening. And with that, we'll open it up for any questions. >> We our first question is from our student board member, >> Jeremy Lure. >> Hello. I just wanted to say first off, as a student at Early College High School, it's almost part of our culture to take classes over the summer, whether they be at Coastline or through the district to get ahead because we're very focused on academics and graduating either with associates degrees or I get so glad the district is taking these opportunities to provide courses either related to dual enrollment or regarding stuff like American democracy, economics, and accelerated math courses. I was just wondering, so I personally took part in both American government and economics over the summer this past few months. I was just wondering, so
079I was able to receive a spot in the course, but I know some of my friends had difficulty getting a spot in the courses because they were quite popular, especially from my school site. So I was wondering how difficult can it be for students to actually get a spot in these courses and make sure that they are able to take them if they want to. Thank you very much for that question. Yeah. Um there tend that tends to be a popular course. Um those two courses tend to be popular. So it really comes down to how many we can offer over the summer and really trying to prioritize students that you know for some reason may really need that course. Um and so you know we look at kind of how many we can offer
080every summer and try to get in as many students as possible. So, >> thank you, >> Trusty Anderson. >> Thank you. I would echo that. I actually took that class as well when I was a Newport Mesa student and that's how I got to graduate early before early college existed. Um, yeah, I I had one question about that as well, just how many students across the district um are taking those two classes and then if if there's a possibility to possibly bring it back to a site that has very high attendance. And then I also just wanted to say thank you for the um successes and challenges um information and those points. I think it's really helpful for us when we're making decisions and just for transparency and clarity. some of the amazing successes and
081then also the challenges and how we can address them for next year. So, thank you >> and I can follow up with you. I don't know the numbers offhand, but I can follow up with you guys and provide that information. >> Question. Oh, Trusty Crane. >> Yes. Hi, thank you. Great presentation. Um, I do love the fact that we're leveraging our relationship with OC in order to increase the choices for our secondary school students because typically I think of summer school is elementary mostly. So, I do love the fact that we're opening up some pathways for our secondary school kids because their their schedule schedules can be very impacted during the school year that can also not only accelerate, you know, what you were talking about um Jeremy about an AA if you're going to
082ECHS, but you're also alleviating the schedule for other options and ex, you know, experimenting new for, you know, new classes and just discovering new um um interests during the school year when, you know, you can kind of get rid of some of those glasses during summer school. I I do think it's a very good question though about sustainability and I know you you end with that and that's very wise to do so because we have a lot of discussion to do as far as um sustainability and and the depth and breadth of what we're offering right now is I don't think can be beat in Orange County and so how can we s how can we sustain it? Um it is nice though that we do offer several school because it does help our teachers
083as well with income you know I mean it is it does generate some income for them but we also need to figure out how we can balance and sustain. >> Thank you Trusty Murphy. >> It's just a really short question but as long as we're talking about sustainability. So even though you don't have the numbers, but I mean looking at this, I would imagine you'd have at least the same amount of students trying to enroll next year, if not more, right? Did you hear from anyone that they would be like not wanting to reenroll next year? There was a lot of positive feedback from the students and families and you can as you can imagine with the many offerings that we provided for our students and so we look forward to being a part of
084that planning process and lean on your leadership and guidance as far as what that is going to look like moving forward. >> But I mean I would imagine that most families having such a having had such a positive experience are probably expecting to be able to do that next summer. I think that is a true statement. I think it would also be wise of us, should we make any changes to our summer offerings as far as who is going to be uh able to attend, what that process is going to look like, that we get that information out uh should there be any changes sooner than later so that we can support our families in their summer planning process. >> Thanks, >> Trusty. Ursuleroo. >> Yeah, thank you so much for the presentation. I had
085a little question about when you were talking about the purpose and the the intent and the impact of the program. I'm wondering like from the star data, it seems like when you looked at their benchmark from like their pre and post that it looked like 65% and 15 either stayed or increased. So that means 20 went down right on their benchmark. So, um, when the summer ended, was there or is it possible in the future to reach out to those 20% of the families and be like, "Hey, Jimmy probably needs to be reading more. He literally had a lag this summer um, in terms of like financial sustainability if we can target the kids that actually still dropped in the summer." Um, so that they can kind of know that they need to >> do
086more reading or whatever it is that that would help them not have that drop so much in the summer. >> Absolutely. I think that's a great idea that we can take in consideration with our future planning and communication with our families. >> Thank you. I just want to say thank you also for um having data here with uh the reading data about how they progressed and how they're doing now. And I think it's just great. And um I guess it's kind of a question followup question with trustee or Sulu's, but um for those students that maybe did not succeed um in the summer school program, was that mentioned to their current teacher? now so that they are on sort of a a watch um with with their teacher and and potentially with you know a
087reading or math interventionist at their school. >> Sure. I can't guarantee that there was a specific conversation with every single one of those uh teachers uh regarding those students, but what I can tell you about is that there's been close collaboration with the planning between our team, the summer team and the teaching and learning team. So along with the assessment team, so it's really been a collaborative effort among the ed services department. We worked closely with the full-time support teachers at all 22 elementary schools to determine who were those students that were participating in that small group reading instruction um to provide that summer intervention. And I know that there's continuous uh review of that data. So, while I can't guarantee every individual one, I can tell you that there's that close collaboration amongst our
088ed services teams. >> Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Great presentation. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um now 18, which is the consent calendar. Do we do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by trustee um Pearson. Seconded by Trusty Anderson. Roll call vote. Trusty Wagan. >> Yes. >> Trusty. >> Yes. >> Trusty Murphy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Pearson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Anderson. >> Yes. Trusty Mroy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Crane. >> Yes. >> Okay. Motion carries 70. Okay. Now we're moving on to uh discussion action calendar uh 19A and we have two >> president >> oh excuse me sorry trusty Anderson >> thank you um I just wanted to highlight um 18B12 which um was the contract with um Costa Mesa Police Department to ratify
089the SRO contract. Um, I just wanted to say thank you to our Costa Mesa PD partners and our city partners um for working together and also um adding some key pieces into that item like a risk assessment and um just better um shared information. And I think too with this is the first time we had CMPD and Newport PD and our and our department working together. So, thank you for that. And then I also just wanted to point out on page nine or 10 with their salary updates is missing from our agenda. So I just wanted to make sure it was part of the meeting. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So discussion action 19A and we have two comments on 19A. Um, would you guys like to comment? >> Okay, I'm going
090to call you guys up. All right, first up we have Andy Godin Godz. Sorry if I'm butchering your last name. Godz. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening everyone. I come to you as an NMSUSD alumni of Woodyear Elementary incident intermediate and and Newport Harbor High School. Go Dolphins, CBS, and sailors in that order. I'm also a 43-year-old lifelong resident of Westside Costa Mesa and my daughter will soon be attending your school district. I believe my lived experience in your school district and growing up in the Shalomar Drive community in Westside Costa Mesa makes me a sort of subject matter expert on what I came here to speak to you guys about today. Gangs, drugs, and crime were common place for me as I attended your schools, and my family was not immune to the negative
091influences and impacts that come from them. I came to speak against the expansion of the grip program that's on on discussion today. As I understand that it was originally introduced at my former elementary school, Woody. I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the parents whose child participated in the program, and although she didn't have much to complain about the program, she didn't have much to say on it either. She did mention that the kids would meet once a month during regular school hours and that they would write down goals they would like to achieve. If met, they would be given gift cards to local restaurants and such. I do believe that this program is well-intentioned, but that there are a vast number of resources and programs that would better serve the district's time
092and money. I have no issues with the presentation of officers to grade school and junior high students as a as a profession though. But I believe that the school should be left for the faculty and the staff to to see. Hold on. Sorry. Uh law enforcement in schools are already ingrained in the renewed SRO programs in our high schools and I believe that their presence in grade schools will lead to a normalization of a punitive climate. I had the liberty of attending a leadership program recently that gave me a backstage tour to our law enforcement in Orange County and had the pleasure of meeting our district attorney, our former public defender, Martin Schwarz, and our honorable judge, Maria D. Hernandez. And the most inspiring takeaway that I had from that joint presentation was how all
093the different sides of that law enforcement community that was there giving that presentation were able to work together in their belief of shutting down local juvenile law school in our area because they all had a collective ideology and believing that you shouldn't see themselves as criminals. I fear that this program will normalize law enforcement in the in the new proposed grade schools like Wilson and Ray on the west side. I can only speak on behalf of my lived experience and I wholeheartedly believe that I was able to skirt gang drug crime uh the the drug the gang drug crime life because of the enrichment programs like youth sports, arts and theater after school programs where I had a safe place to be myself. I have recently heard about how they are already how there are
094already programs with funding that are ready to be provided to kids in the community and I ask that you please provide those alternatives instead of the verbial school to prison pipeline. This doesn't mean that I that I don't believe we shouldn't address crime but statistics show that there is a direct correlation between poverty rates and crime rates and I don't think this is fixing that or addressing that. There's also a potential of increased criminalization of students, particularly those of colors and students with disabilities. >> Thank you. >> Next up, Eric Jimenez. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Eric Kimenez and I've been a Costa Mesa resident for over 25 years. I went to Whittier Elementary, Ray Elementary, Enson Harbor and and I'm also very concerned about the expansion of grip programs um in our
095schools. Um as a kid raising Costa Mesa, I was fortunate enough to benefit from after school enrichment programs um offered by nonprofits like Micah CDC. Um, at the time they provided strong mentorship by college student providers or college student volunteers, community leaders, and trusted adults, not by armed officers or an intimidating government employee working for the DA's office. Uh, Micah CDC's volunteers had a deep heart for enriching the lives of youth through love and genuine support, not through coercion and fear, which is what concerns me about the GRIP program. In addition, uh reports done by the ACLU have reported concerns expressed by other community organizers regarding the effectiveness of GRIP. Uh namely that rather than being a diversion program, it operates more like an informant program. And to me, that's alarming. If I was a
096young elementary school kid feeling as if I was being policed at a young age in school, how do you think that will affect my identity and school connectedness growing up as a young adolescent? Uh studies have shown that when schools outsource discipline to officers, students may interpret that as a signal their school is unsafe or that adults in school won't protect or invest in them, undermining belonging and academic engagement. Policing our children has to stop. As far as expanding the grip programs to Ray Elementary and Wilson, um I believe it would be a misallocation of resources due to these schools already having elementary school psychologists to my understanding, social workers and school community facilitators that can directly impact the schools or the students in a much more trusted way. I would encourage the district to
097limit its police presence in schools and allocate budget towards school psychologists and trusted local community organizations instead. uh if not already. As a community leader for Bright Youth, a community-based organization focused on bringing resources that inspire growth and hope for today's youth. We have a heart for our community, and we seek to be the bridge to much needed support and resources that increase educational opportunities, access to mental health resource, gang intervention, and more. Uh we do this through collaboration uh relationship building events and civic engagement because we want to provide a breadth of options for our youth and overall community not because we foresee a future behind bars for them but because we see a bright one full of opportunity and options. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Okay. 19A. It is approved the
098renewal uh agreement between Orange County District Attorney's Office and Newport Mesa Unified School District to facilitate the OC Grip Waymakers case manager component for the 2025 2026 school year. Dr. Torres. >> Yes. in front of you tonight. The board um has a contract um to approve that renewal agreement between the OC uh district attorney's office and Newport Mesa schools to facilitate the OC grip uh way makers program. Uh in that contract tonight for your consideration this evening is to place that program at uh Ray Whittier and Wilson that's been outlined in the suggested contract for this evening. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion in a second and then we could have discussion? >> So moved. >> Oh, wait. I'm sorry. It's only just um not student board members but just board members on
099this one. Thank you. >> So moved. >> Oh, yes. Um per bylaw per bylaws 9150. Um student board members can make a motion. >> Oh yeah, it's in there. >> So do you want to continue with your motion? I I know that because he asked he asked me so I looked it up. >> I'm not I'm not I'm not a bylaw. That's great. We pulled it up and we were talking about it and and um here I'll read it real quick if if you want me to. >> Sorry. No, you're good. Okay. Would you like to continue with your motion? >> Yes. So moved. >> And can you uh you have to name the motion when you make one? Thank you. Approve the renewal agreement between Orange County District Attorney's Office and Newport Mesa Unified
100School District to facilitate the OC Grip Waymakers case manager component for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. U moved by um student board member Jeremy Lure. Uh seconded by Trust De Mckelroy. Uh discussion. >> Can I make a substitute motion? >> Go ahead. You want go ahead. >> Trusty Erso. >> Great. Um, and I'd like to make a substitute motion to approve the renewal agreement between the OCDA's office and Newport Mesa to facilitate grip at um, Whittier and Enson, two schools instead of the three that were listed in the contract. So, we have a Do I have a second to the substitute motion? >> Second. Okay. Okay. So, now that we have a substitute motion on the floor, what it is is we vote to accept the ex
101substitute motion so that we could bring the substitute motion for a vote. So, there's actually would be two votes. So, if the substitute motion to vote for the substitute motion fails, then we don't go to the substitute motion for an actual vote. So, it's a vote to have a vote if that makes sense. Um, so let's vote for this. >> Oh, sorry. Any discussions right now? I'd like to open that up for discussion on the substitute motion. >> Um, Trusty Crane. >> Yes. Trust, would you would you like to expand on why you'd like to have a substitute motion? >> Yeah. Um, I would. Thank you. >> Well, I I always like to know why because >> Yeah. Um, I think so. For the past several months, um, after so I was I missed the
102June vote on this initially. Um, I was out for health reasons and so, um, I have an understanding of sort of where the where the thermometer is because I watched that board meeting on YouTube from home. Um, and it's it's obvious that there are grip has been around since 2007. And like all programs out in the social services field, there's evolution over time and programs need to evolve over time and shift with the times. And so, um, in thinking of GRIP, we, um, some of us had the opportunity to sit down with the district attorney's office and learn more about sort of the the history of the program and the dynamics of the program and the potential future of the program and where it's looking to grow. And through those conversations, it was um it
103became evident that replicating the current model in three sites just doesn't make sense because they were so open to thinking of how we can reform the program and update it and modernize it. And so when you want to update and modernize something, you want to pilot it. And you don't necessarily do a pilot program in three locations. You kind of hone in on one and you perfect it and then you redisseminate it. So it's kind of like a go slow to go fast again process where with this model we could do it in wittier and then enson is where the wittier students go. So that would actually give grip another couple years with those students. So you get them for one or two years in the elementary but by continuing on to enen which we
104got a couple letters today in support of grip from residents of Newport Beach. So it sounds like they want this program um over in their in their community where our wittier students go for the pathway. So having it wittier to enson with some program modifications that get at some of the issues that folks that just spoke um about the program for instance if you look at the GPA of the kids in the program they're pretty they're relatively low. So to pull those students out of learning math and English and you know core course material just just doesn't really make sense. um for that student body that that we're trying to target with this program. So working with again the district attorney's office's staff to figure out how do we do this program after school or
105lunchtime or before school or I don't know week I don't know but not taking them away from critical course material which as a district that's our job. Our job is to make sure that they can read and do math and do all of those things. So for us it's a it's a hard position to be in to take a kid out of that for for a couple hours of time. And then also um the ability to have it our district is very unique again why wittier and why enen why that pathway instead of spreading out again wanting to just go deep and perfect the model versus haphazardly kind of going with the flow that we've had for 2007 2025 how many years is that what is that 18 years yeah um so it's been going
106on for a long time so this is time for a natural revamp of it the world is changing, times are changing. So, let's uh pause for a second. We're still going to do it still do it in these two schools, but the opportunity to update and modernize the program um kind of comes up once in a while. Like this program is in many districts across the county, but we have an opportunity here that other districts might not have to pause and rethink it and to work with our district attorney who's here who's here in the back today. Thank you for for coming to the meeting, Mr. Spitzer. Um this is this is a chance to make sure that that program can stay sustainable and be done. You know there are different iterations of grip. They
107have a 1.0 and they have a 2.0 that they can sell to districts. Uh one one is actually no cost and one is for cost the 10,000 per site which is what we have. And that's the one that we're looking to if we could update it and do it at these two schools, it would just be a way to continue to work on this and then figure out how to expand later rather than just signing off and rubber stamping our same old same old contract with the three elementary sites where many people have voiced various concerns about it. So, let's just pause and and refine it. another element that would be great if we could do it in the afterchool time zone or lunchtime or what have you. But um so there's there's a little
108there's a little document that I prepared that has sort of the six ways to shift grip um and we've shared it with the district attorney's office and and with our staff here so that we could reach ideally more kids. So grip also tends to be for those of you that don't know heavily boy focused. Many of the of the 10 kids that enroll per site, usually it's like nine, eight or nine of them are are boys. So, girls, what what program do we have for the girls? We unfortunately have two um recent shootings um murders of our students and one that took place in Pico. The person I believe that drove the car was was a young woman. So women also need the girls actually need these kind of interventions to support them in their
109journey um growth and development. Um and the current mechanism of grip can't really account for that. So there's many little details that could be fixed if we could just pause, revamp for a year and then see where it goes. Um so that's why at my suggestion um trusty crane is for the wittier because it's been at Whittier and it's comfortable there and so let's expand and follow those kids into enen and keep supporting them for a couple years and then figure out how to do it in the elementaryaries. >> Trusty Murphy. >> Um well just to clarify you're not saying to pause the program it's just to pause the expansion of the program. So it has been at two sites. This is this contract is to increase the sites to three. Um what you're proposing
110is that we keep to two. So it's not to pause the program in any way, shape, or form. Just pause the expansion to another site is what we're proposing. um in um and I I'm in strong support of of of this for um for the reason that I've talked to the DA about, which is um we are well aware of what's going on in the Costa Mesa community and some of the the issues that our students and our families are facing. And I would like to take the next year to spend as much time as we can with Costa Mesa PD and the DA's office to make this program as as good as it can be, the best it can be. I believe that we are dealing with situations with our kids and our families
111especially what it what you know with what's going on um nationally and has been hitting us locally that our kids and our families will need any even more support from us to make sure that they are kept on the on the right path if you will or given as many tools and resources to stay on that right path to make those relationships that we know are important with PD um even with the the DA's office and and probation. Um but give us really the opportunity to expand it to work with you and to expand the program. I want this program in as many in terms of the training and the benefits of this information to be disseminated to as many families, schools, parents as we can. And I know that in our conversations we have
112you know discussed that that would probably be what's best um you know for or you know not even for Newport Mesa for other school districts that might be having some you know issues with with gang activity. And so, um, that's how I look at this is a great opportunity to expand a good program, um, in terms of tweaking it, finding a way that we can, um, leverage our resources, leverage the funding to be able to expand it. And so, so that's um that's why I'm in strong support of of changing um this particular motion or switching out the motion to the two schools and um committing our time to work with the DA's office to figure out a way to expand the program. >> Uh Trusty Pearson. >> Yeah. Can you re what does administration
113principles what is their recommendation the people that are in the schools what what has what is the actual recommendation from them? >> Yes. So we have had um grip at two of our schools. We had it last year at Pomona and Whittier and um both principles had been in support of the program. And so as we're speaking tonight about the schools that are listed in the contract, um I can confidently say that the principal at Whittier is in support of having that program returned to his campus >> and Pomona also. >> Well, Pomona, we modified the grade levels. So you'll remember that we rearranged Pomona and Ray. >> Oh, yeah. >> And so um it will no longer be at Pomona because those are the littles. Um our littlest students are there, our youngest ones.
114And so it would be at Ry and we have spoken with that principal and she is also in full support of that program. If it were to be approved, if the board were to approve it, she would accept that at her school. Yes. >> Okay. >> Trusty Mroy. >> So it sounds to me that um it seems to be working at the schools and there they want to uh continue it. So, um, adding a third school to me sounds like another a great idea. More protection, more education, more mentor mentoring. Um, I don't know why we would not add another school. It would make no sense. I mean, we're here to protect our kids. We're here to teach them. We're here to mentor them. The program, this program is awesome. I've looked fully into it
115and researched it for months. I mean, they have soccer clubs during the summer. They're mentoring kids. They're not walking around, you know, intimidating. They're mentoring. You should watch the success stories. This is a great program and I think it needs to be in all three schools. I think we all need to support it. And then I think we can look at it going into um maybe a junior high next year when we are able to do that. Sounds like a great idea to me because those kids do go into Enen and that is one of you know my the schools that I oversee and anything we can do to protect and to mentor and to teach our children at a young age is a fabulous idea. So reducing it and making it down to two
116schools and not adding a third is to me is a is not a good idea and I'm in full support of Whiteriel Wilson and Ray. >> Okay. Student Representative Jeremy. >> Thank you. I just wanted to ask a few clarifying questions. I know myself, maybe some of my peers in the audience might not be entirely privous to all of the intricacies of what we're discussing here. So, just to confirm the schools it is currently at is Rehea and Pomona or Whittier. >> It's currently at um Whittier. >> Whittier. >> And it was at Pomona last year. Yes. >> Okay. So, >> and I say currently meaning that's what we had in contract last year. Right now in September, we have no activity. So, no school has it at this very moment. >> Okay. Thank you.
117And so, the substitute motion is to continue the program at Whittier and to implement the program at Enson to create a more streamlined elementary through middle school pathway. And the original motion is to continue it at Whittier and then have it be at Rhea and Wilson as well. Yes. >> Okay. So, by through the substitute motion, no school would necessarily be losing access to the program as we wouldn't be going with three schools and only two instead. >> I can restate the question if you'd like. Okay. Yeah. So, >> currently it would stay at Whittier >> and then the substitute motion would keep it at two schools instead of three, expanding the program. But no school or not expanding the program if we keep it at two, but no school would necessarily be losing access
118to the program. >> Correct. Because Ry currently does not have it. >> Okay. >> And Pomona will no longer have it because they only serve our youngest students now. So it wouldn't be appropriate for them. So those two schools would would not be missing out on anything at this point. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Trusty Crane. >> Yes. Um, pragmatically speaking, I I would want to keep our options open the which which is what our original motion offers is up to. It's not saying we will offer at three schools. I would So, for me, the substitute motion um limits us and our staff for making the decision that is right for their campus. And so I think I would recommend that um we adopt the original motion versus the substitute motion because
119that will give us um the the breadth and in offering up to $30,000 worth of funding and up to three uh schools the option to maintain the program. So, why would we limit ourselves while opting to trust our staff in making that decision? Because they're the professionals and they're the ones who would know their campuses. I would like to have a clarity on what the um what the what the um contract does say because I don't think it says up to three. I the way I read it, it says there are three and the three are Wilson, Ray, and Whittier. The contract written by the district attorney's office states three schools. Our board agenda item says up to three schools, >> right? >> Okay. So, um so I have a I have a couple questions.
120What does first what does um Costa Mesa PD want? Because you know what I want to make sure is that we are giving the community and our police the information that they want and and we are are um we are listening to their recommendations. So, uh, when we knew we were going to be, uh, bringing this contract forward again and speaking with the DA's office, and I believe it was also stated at the meeting we had at the at and with the district attorney and his team, um, we picked the schools and they were suggested based upon the activity that was happening on the streets of Costa Mesa. So, we asked the police department what streets had the most activity um, that we needed to be concerned about. And then where were those schools located?
121And so that's how we arrived at those three schools. >> Okay. And um is the Costa Mesa PD still um in support of that need today? >> They are as of our last meeting when we had discussed it. Yes. >> Okay. Um and then um I know that we have the DA here and I would want to see if you want to come up and answer a question for us about um Thank you. You might as well speak while you're here. um if we can have it talk to us a little bit about um you know some of our trustees um have some updates to the program and the way that I'm reading the contract there does doesn't have those updates. So I just wanted to see what kind of updates um you're willing to
122make to the program um and and and what you see um the need is for our three schools. >> Very good. Um thank you very much Madame President trustees um Dr. Superintendent Dr. Smith. So, let me let me let me say having walked into these chambers, uh, I'm very impressed by the prior presentations because when I met with three of the trustees, I kept hearing over and over about datadriven decisions and I can see your staff understands exactly what you like to see. Um, I I've made it very clear from the very beginning and I think it was alluded to that this relationship has been going on for, you know, 18 years. The original goal for grip in the first instance was to protect kids and protect the community and and I thought your speakers,
123the public speakers were very very eloquent on this matter because they grew up in the community. They lived the experience and they're raising their kids in this community. So they are experts and they know what they believe they need. I don't assume for a second to think that we have all the answers. We're doing the best we can in dealing with very specific situations to deal with the feedback we're getting from your school sites and from the police department. We're then bringing individuals into the schools, our social workers, our deputy district attorneys, our investigators, our police officers to do the best we can to keep those kids from making bad decisions that will will actually increase the probabilities of a pipeline to prison. And no one wants to see that. So, I've made a commitment
124with this district in particular in this contract that and I sent you a letter to try to kind of set the stage. I think it's important to maintain the status quo. We're literally in the school year. Your district is recommending three schools. That is their expert opinion. The police department supports it, but when you suggested Enen, for example, we have not had conversations that have necessarily reflected that Newport Beach will supply personnel for Enson. I can engage in all those conversations. And one of the things I was going to request if you were to adopt this recommendation tonight is that there's an ad hoc committee appointed of three or less members obviously to work with me, my staff, my folks to work through this next year to achieve some of the potential recommendations and reforms
125that have been put forward by your vice president. I'm open. I'm completely open to every suggestion and every recommendation, but I don't believe tonight it's appropriate to recreate the wheel as we are this far into the district year. I can only make a commitment that I will absolutely be willing to work with your ad hoc and the superintendent and his staff and the police department and Newport Beach police to try to effectuate some of the outcomes that you're looking forward to and suggesting, but to do it tonight in a public forum on the fly, it I mean I appreciate all the hard work. It's been outstanding. Your trustees that I met with are deeply committed. Three, the three trustees that represent the Costa Mesa part of the district. I am so impressed. Many of you
126may know I started as a school board trustee and Brea Linda and I was a high school teacher before I became an attorney. So, I'm completely committed to this process and your work. Make no mistake, I don't think I'm walking in here as some special expert with and I'm going to tell you how it's going to be for your district. It doesn't work that way. I need to work with you so you can tell us what you want from this program. But I do think and I do appreciate the difference to your staff and to the police department because quite frankly they do know the community or they're expected to especially your site principles and staff. So what I'm respectfully requesting tonight and again I'm happy to look at all these things that you approve
127the three schools as recommended by the police department and your staff that you appoint an ad hoc. So you make an amendment to the motion to ask the president or I'm not sure how you effectuate that to create an ad hoc of trustees to work with me and my staff over the next year during the term of the contract and that we address every single issue that you believe the district needs to address. And that way we move forward. We're addressing the needs now. We're having very comprehensive and good discussions about where we should be going. One of the big issues you all know is whether the social workers from grip need to be in your schools or can we do a program where we can train your already existing staff and counselors to do
128that work. I think we can get there. I actually think that's a fantastic idea. But you have to give me time to put that into practice and see if it's going to work. So again, I'm 100% open and committed to everything that's being suggested. But if you change the schools tonight, and I appreciate the vice president, look, she is she is phenomenal. She's got great ideas and she knows what she's talking about. I have nothing but respect for the work that she's done and the suggestions she's making and your other trustees. But if you go in that direction on the substitute motion, you're going to you're going to put a little bit of a monkey wrench and a problem in my ability to administer the program now that the school year is here. So I
129would just take under submission the suggestion. Understand from me I've made these commitments. I will work with you. We will work with you. But please approve what's being recommended. appoint an ad hoc or at least delegate to the president. Again, I'm sorry. I don't know how you work your ad hocs, but get me an ad hoc committee that I can work with through this year and we will address every single issue that you have so that you can feel satisfied. We're tailoring the program specifically for your district's needs. This is not a cookie cutter program. It needs to absolutely be appropriate for Newport Mesa Unified School District. Um, I hope I've answered your questions. It may not I may not have said what you would have liked me to say. Um, but I'm I'm simply
130trying to move things forward positively, respecting the recommendations of the police department and your staff and putting on the record unequivocally that I'm 100% committed to everything you want to affectuate. But I think we should work through an ad hoc. >> Thank you. I appreciate that info. Um I'm gonna ask for a couple more questions and then I I would like to keep moving on. But thank you so much for that. I'm going to see if anyone else has questions for you. Sure. Of course. Thank you. Thank you. >> And I have amazing people to answer all your questions. >> Yeah. Thank you so much for coming and bringing up their >> down put your >> That's how we protect ourselves against >> We have the Das here. You've got your Yeah. >> All right.
131Uh, Trusty Ersolo. >> Yeah. Just a clarifying point. The contract that you wrote listed those three schools. Our staff didn't necessarily recommend them. Our staff in the staff write up said no more than three like up to three schools, but the contract language was what you wrote. You listed those three schools out. So again, in the spirit of letting our staff decide if we were to vote tonight on the motion being up to three schools, would you all be okay working with our staff to identify what everyone feels are the best locations? >> So my answer is absolutely, but I think we do need to answer how did those three schools get identified in the contract. So this is assistant district attorney Katie David or >> Yes. >> Yeah. So um good evening. Um we
132did work with Costa Mesa PD to identify those schools as well as with your superintendent um and staff. So if you guys identify three other schools in the Costa Mesa uh with the Costa Mesa Police Department, we are open to working with three three schools. I will say as um I've been able to talk to some of you um we have a neutral position from Newport Beach and as DA Spitzer said right now for status quo purposes it would be three schools in the Costa Mesa Police Department jurisdiction. >> Great. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah. And my follow >> I just want to add on that. >> So that's how we came up with the schools but I do think we do need to embark on a conversation equally. I mean you are
133Newport Mesa. It's it's appropriate and fair to have a conversation with Newport Beach Police >> and to work through this to see if they believe there's an issue and you're all elected from your districts. I'm unelected. I've been elected for over 30 years in this county to something. And we have to go out and we have to understand our constituents. And the last thing I want to do, adverse to the police department at this point, is pick a school and not be able to represent to this board that I have the police personnel who will go into enen. Right now, I'm being told I do not have the Newport Beach police personnel to go into enen. So, if you approve Enen, I've got to figure out how to staff the law enforcement component. And what
134I'm trying to submit to you and basically argue is that I'm not prepared tonight to resolve these outstanding issues. Can we do it over the course of a year? I think absolutely. And I think with with appropriate representation on an ad hoc, we can between Costa Mesa represented trustees and Newport Beach trustees. We can have those very important and meaningful conversations. But just to say three schools and then it is whatever it it turns out. I'm not prepared to be able to tell you I can implement these programs in just any schools. Now >> that's all I can tell you. I just have Costa Mesa Sergeant here tonight who I understand's authorized to speak on behalf of the department, >> but I don't have Newport Beach here. >> Definitely. And that was actually my second
135point was the issue with not being able to staff the Newport Beach side. From my understanding, our SRO contract, we have the same SRO contract with the city of Costa Mesa Police and with the Newport Beach Police and GRIP requires no more financing, if you will. None of the money that we give you in this contract goes to the PD. The PD already has an SRO contract. Costa Mesa does and Newport Beach does. So, it's just a matter of talking with Newport Beach, but they already have contracted SRO's and it would be the same similar job description that it is on the Costa Mesa side because those are the we have the same contract with both city law enforcements and grip does not give any of that funding to police, not in Costa Mesa, not
136in Newport. So, that resource issue is kind of a moot one, but it is an issue of hey, do you guys want to be in on this? because Enen is where the wittier students go and we've heard repeatedly that Enson is a concern. >> Yeah, I'm not I'm not arguing with you, Madam Vice President, at all. I would just submit to you those are separate issues. a scope of work for a community service officer or police officer in the school and what your contract says versus what work we are doing with our program are distinguishable for purposes of just work related and how Newport Beach allocates that why they were willing to engage in that contract with the district and what they believe their officers or their community service officers should be doing is a
137conversation. I just don't think I can assume because there's an existing contract between the district and the police department in Newport Beach for for you know general community or uh school campus security or interacting with kids or things like that that that would also include the work we're doing through grip. I I can't make that assumption. And quite frankly, in our feedback with Newport Beach, at least preliminarily, that's not an assumption that I think we could take tonight for purposes of this vote. That's all I'm saying. >> I'm going to do Trusty Murphy, then Trusty Pearson. Um, no, just it's just a statement sort of again summarizing some of our conversations that the purpose of the ad hoc is to figure out one um how we could potentially expand the program into more Newport Mesa
138schools to figure out all the right folks that we need to talk to, all the right agreements, but also I think what you and I talked about that I mentioned earlier that I am really excited about is figuring out a way we can expand what works with BRIP to into the way that we expand it here into other school districts that may need it. That's what I also think is the benefit of us moving forward with an ad hoc and continuing these conversations, not only just for Newport Mesa, but for other school districts who might have grip in their in their schools currently. And and that's my understanding of what could be come out of what could come out of this that would be a huge benefit. >> Trusty Murphy, that's why I'm so excited.
139When I met with the with the three trustees, um I was so excited with a lot of the thoughts that came out of that. Uh Trustee Anderson as well. Look, you have some tremendous ideas. I think it gives me an opportunity maybe by eliminating social workers on our dime or trying to figure out funding using existing school resources to provide that. If we can do the training, that is a great opportunity for expansion. But we need to appreciate one thing. If I do that for your existing counselors and mental health professionals and other personnel and we expand, I have to find more law enforcement personnel and I have to for find more deputy district attorneys because, you know, we're doing my prosecutors are doing um the disciplinary and suspension hearings. I mean, we're staffing that
140in kind because we think it's an important public service. So we're we're spread pretty thin like all governmental agencies and even if I am intrigued and I am by the social worker concept here in order to expand I have to find exponential number of new resources on in other fronts right so again please again I'm hoping you'll support the original motion with a staff recommendation with the three schools I I understand the vice president's point, but these were the three schools I thought we had consensus with the school personnel and the police department and then we can work through this next year to put all these great ideas and issues on the table. >> Trusty Pearson, >> first of all, thank you so much for being here. Um, obviously you're showing your commitment to our
141community, to our students, um, to the safety for our teachers, our our kids, our parents, for everyone. So, thank you. Um, Trustee Mroy and I both sat with um, Chief Miner about a two weeks ago when we thought about bringing this back up. Um, and at that time he saw no need for us to be in NSEN. He had came right out of his mouth. He had no um, he mentioned that we already have programs in place at Enen, something different than the SRO's. I don't remember the name of it. Do you? >> Well, it hasn't started yet. So, exactly what he said. He says he supports the program but he needs to make sure that there's a need for it >> right and he didn't think that there was a need for it right
142now because of the extra programs what what he had said so we did sit in his office we did bring it up to him um and at that point he didn't feel like there was there was a need yet >> but I also think that he didn't understand the program totally and he said he had just started doing research on it so we need to do more we need to meet with him again and give him more information and then go from there. But that's a whole different subject. We need to get back to the original. >> Thank you very much for being here and thank you for holding these three spots for us over the last 90 days. >> Trusty, are you done? Trusty Pearson. >> Trusty Anderson. >> Was that your com? >>
143Yeah. Go ahead, >> Trusty Mer. I brought this item forward. I wanted to hear your comments before I responded because I had responded the last meeting. >> Do you not have another comment? I just >> trust you, you don't have >> I was just going to thank I was going to thank him for I what I was going to say I just said >> trusty Anderson. >> Thank you. Um I appreciate the conversation. Um I appreciate your entire team being here tonight. Um it's the first time I've ever been called in front of the board of supervisors to have a meeting with the DA um about a program. So it was a little surprising to me. Um the I would love to hear since we have you here because the first time that I learned
144about the GRIP 2.0 program was in that meeting. I don't think that um it's part of the website and it's not it hadn't been explained to me at least. Um so I would love while you're here if you could walk us through who particularly because there's a capacity issue what you offer for schools that have grip 2.0 and what grip 2.1 is. >> Sure. So Shannon back, I'm a deputy district attorney and grip 2 was started because we didn't have the resources to get to all of the schools that were requesting our services for grip one. And so we came up with grip two, which is staffed by teams of volunteer deputy district attorneys, volunteer deputy probation officers who have other assignments that they are assigned to full-time and they volunteer their time to spend
145with our grip 2 schools. So throughout the year at our grip two schools, those schools receive a parent education class, a faculty education class, and three student curriculum classes. Currently, all of our GRIP 2 schools are elementary schools throughout the county. And um that's how it has been since the inception of Grip 2. They've always been elementary schools. Um, grip 2 schools are also able to participate in some of the larger scale incentives that we do provide throughout the school year. They do not receive onetoone services with our case managers or onetoone services for the parents. >> Okay. And do you currently have capacity to expand the 2.0 component of grip? >> All of those spots are currently taken by other schools. Thank you. And so, um, one of the things that, um, we have
146had conversations about, and I appreciate again the transparency during that meeting, um, from when this program started quite a while ago, I think 2007. Um, and now particularly in our district, um, one of the conversation pieces that we had that I think was illuminating for everyone was the amount of money and support that we have dedicated to supporting our students, particularly those who are most vulnerable in our district. Um, including a lot of the support that is provided for schools who do not have the resources that we have. So, some school districts may not have an elementary school facilitator at their site that's communicating about attendance um about achievement directly with parents. Other school districts do not have an elementary psychologist on site, which we have. We've committed to that. We have heard resoundingly from
147parents that that is so so that was so needed and from teachers that they appreciate having that ready access that it's not for special ed, it's not for IEPs, it is for some of these similar interventions. We also have social workers. We also have um three SRO within each city that if there are certain things that come up, they are on standby to come in. And so I think um For me, the schools that were um put on the on the contract are all in my area. I went to Wilson Elementary. I am there all the time. I live across the street from Whittier. I'm very familiar with these sites. Um and there are some needs and the Whittier principal does want this for a few students. We have a new principal coming in at
148Wilson. She does not have exposure to this. I would like her, and I think this is why some of us voted no for it before, to have the opportunity to use the resources that we already have in place at that site, to the status quo is for it to be at Whittier. And I've heard that tonight that capacity is a concern. Status quo is a concern. We're not removing this program from a site that is requesting it. Um and so we also have ex we've also changed dramatically in the way that we budget even as a district. We have the LCAP the local control and accountability plan of which we added an item for family and community engagement of which we have allocated millions of dollars to improving those systems and support. And so, um,
149I understand that there are, um, some some people who want this program because to have a program sounds appealing. It's not necessary for some of the newer sites that have um, been discussed in this contract. One of the pieces um that I think is really key and why I highlighted the changes in the co the Costa Mesa SRO contract is to get data about the specific needs. Anecdotal, we're seeing a lot of graffiti on one street does not translate to a need or impact at an elementary site. It's a very different conversation to have gang reduction from students who might currently be in a gang versus a student who is in fourth grade, doesn't know what a gang is, has never interacted with police, and is now having that come to their school site. Um,
150we were today at Estansia, the army recruiting truck came. I had five calls from people who didn't know why the army was on site at our school and were very upset and frightened. We are in a different situation now than we were in the past. And so that's where a lot of these concerns are coming from. If we were able to do grip 2.0, which I don't I don't know if we are able to change that, but if we can have you guys work have have the DA staff come and and work alongside our facilitators and our social workers and some of our parents. That would be amazing. That's the support that we need at multiple school sites. I know your goal is to have this at every school. So, I think there's a difference
151from need based on data that it's not there yet for those three school sites. If there's an option to provide 2.0 at some other schools, that's a different conversation. And so, again, this isn't to say that um I also so we have community schools. Again, that was the conversation we had with you. There are a lot of differences between law enforcement, truency, and what we're currently doing in our school sites. And I'm glad you're able to be here to see all of the things that we're doing. We have community schools at three of the sites, the three sites that you guys have on this contract that involves parent engagement, advocacy, speaking up for needs that they have at that site. None of those sites said, "We want this program when we're identifying this as a
152need." there's a specific reason why we have those pro those processes. So I respect the parents that at one site are wanting this. The other two sites are not wanting that. Um the I wasn't going to speak at all on the program. I spoke on that extensively last time. I I do have a two concerns about the actual contract. I again appreciate we went from having a one-page contract um that was quite brief. So, I I appreciate the effort um in clarifying some of the language and some of the programmatic support. Um I uh section L um was a little bit unusual. I've never seen um a section that asks if we have been influenced about anything. Um section um W and NX are about news, information, release and media. and they they discuss the
153DA staff and the probation staff and way maker staff, but it doesn't talk about our families or our students. And looking on the website for both the DA's unit and department and the nonprofit, which is a separate entity, there are parent and student photos all over them. To me, it's concerning if there is a student or a family who might actually be impacted by gang activity to be broadcasting their faces anywhere in public. Um, and so I think that's an important addition for a contract. That's some of the reason why I asked for more than one page because there are some of those pieces that protecting our students and their privacy I think is very important. Um, so I, you know, I think we when we have the SRO data, we can, you know, maybe
154have more specific conversations. Maybe we can add this up to three school sites based on data. Um, so that I understand the conversation again about Newport Beach. I think it's telling though if the police chief in Newport is saying it's not a need because our wittier students go to Enen. So when we're hearing that there's a need for this, but at Enen there's not really a need and the Newport police chief who was having the conversations with the SRO is not saying this is a need. Again, it causes a lot of questions. So I really I respect you being here. I really respect the ongoing collaboration. I think you guys have been great with that. Particularly Ka David, thank you so much for all those conversations. I think you we've talked with lots of us.
155Um, so that's I think that's a a lot of um we've spent a lot of hours on this and over the summer. I don't I think it impacted a lot of us um in ways that we didn't expect. We were able to hear from community members um in new ways um that really have the lived experience as you said DA Spitzer and are the experts on this. So thank you. >> The only respon may I >> Yeah, you may respond. The only response on the contract I will tell you is if you look at I just found it. I think it's amendment. Yeah. So if you look at page two uh C Charlie there's no amendments unless they're agreed by both parties. So if you designate your superintendent like for example if there's some changes
156the board would like to see and you can you don't have to do that now on the fly if confidentiality photos things like that those are minor amendments that are in the spirit of advancing the contract and we can do that ministerially between the superintendent and myself. That wouldn't necess that wouldn't hold anything up. It would just be something that the contract allows us to amend and it would be they would be minor items. I don't mean minor in terms of the import but they don't detract from the agreement itself. So we'd be happy to accommodate those um if the superintendent felt that those were in the best interest of the district. >> Thank you. >> Um you know we've obviously as a board we've talked about this a lot. We've had it back now
157for our second meeting. Um, so I just want to thank you for all of your support and all of your work with us. Um, you know, as I'm looking at the fact that we have our CMPD, um, our our staff requirements, we've requested requests and, um, parents and community members that have liked this program and see value at it. Um, you know, I I believe that there are three sites that have been chosen for a reason. um and you know reasons that they see more often every day than I would see. So I have to as a board member I take recommendations from staff and then you know act upon those. Um I'm I'm in favor of those three schools of Wilson Ray and um Whittier because I do see that that is a need
158and that is a need that we have been outlined um by by the Costa Mesa PD by our schools by some of the issues that we have seen. Um, you know, I am very in support of student safety. Um, and I believe that this is a program that does help us with student safety. And while there might be some updates of course that we can make to this program, um, it is the program that we have that is a the only gain reduction program that that we have in in place right now that is on the table. Um, so with that being said, I wanted to clarify the motion that we have um the motion that we have right now on the floor. Um and then the subsequent motion, the current motion because I I
159heard um Trusty Crane say something, but the current motion that um our student board member made was for um the contract asis, which is um for the three schools that it doesn't say up to. It says specifically the three schools, Wilson, Ray, and Whittier. Um and then we have a subsequent motion on the table for Enson, and Whittier. And with that, um, I actually I'm going to call for the vote on the subsequent second order. >> And I have a point of order. That's not what this student board members motion was. The student board members motion was to accept the item as approved, which is for up to three schools. >> It does not, the motion that he made is not for the three schools. the uh that he he read it exactly the way
160it is in the um on the discussion action on on our agenda and it said approve the renewal agreement between Orange County District Attorney's Office and Newport Mesa Unified School District to facilitate the OC grip waymakers case manager component for the 2025 2026 school year and that's what he said and that is the contract that has those >> the motion is for up to three schools he recommend again point of order that's not what he said he's he's new to this Unfortunately, this is a very important item and I don't want to put that on him, but he approved the motion as it was listed and it says for up to three schools. >> I don't know or I see it on the on the agenda differently. >> We we listened to the recording and
161it's exactly what uh President Wan just said. He read it and it was seconded. The exact verbiage from 19A. >> That's what I recall. Now, actually, since there is a subsequent um motion on the table, we substitute motion, excuse me. Um we need to actually vote to see if that substitute motion is going to come to a vote. So, right now, um I'm going to direct Sam to would do a roll call vote on the substitute motion, which is for Enen and Whittier. And this is actually a vote to bring it to a vote. Vote for a vote, right? Yes. >> Got it. >> Yes. Got it. Is any point of orders any clarity on that one? >> This is the vote that she mentioned to bring Enen into >> Enen and Whittier. Just have
162Enson and Whittier. >> So this is that vote. >> So this is the vote to bring it to >> to bring it to a vote. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Just withdraw. >> Yeah, let's just withdraw that then. >> Yeah. >> You you want to withdraw the substitute motion? >> Okay. So that uh motion has been withdrawn. And so the motion on the floor is um it has a has a first and a second, right? >> Okay. So Sam, roll call vote. >> Student board member Jeremy Lore. >> Yes. >> Trusty Wagan, yes. Trusty, >> no. >> Trusty Murphy. >> I know. I know. But this is not how we discuss the writing in this. It's not what we have interacting with our student member which I think is highly appropriate. >> U point
163of order. >> Point of order. >> Our student board members asking questions and as his being the first time up on the dis I am explaining procedures to him. Let's continue with the vote please. Trusty Murphy. >> That's why we have microphones. They need to be communicated public during a meeting. >> Trusty Pearson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Anderson. >> No. Trusty Mroy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Crane. >> Yes. >> All right. Motion carries. 52. >> All right. Moving on. Thank you, DA. Very much. >> Thank you. Moving on. 19B. Approve the 2024 2025 unodudited actual report. Mr. Dixon. I never thought I'd be following a district attorney at a board meeting presentation. So, thank you for this experience. Okay. Good evening board. Tonight I'm going to be presenting to you and recommending approval of our
164202425 unodudited actuals report. I'm going to provide a brief presentation and then uh uh see if there's any questions at the end. So tonight we're asking for your approval of the unded actuals report for last fiscal year. And quite simply all this report is is the actual revenues and expenditures for last year. So the last report you saw before this was the estimated actuals. This is once we actually know how much we received in revenue and how much we spent for that year. the theme uh when looking at that report through the numbers, it's clear that our district made significant investments into the preparation of capital improvements that occurred this past summer. Um and to give some context on that, we had we saw $14 million more in service costs for last year than we
165did in the year prior. And those service costs are related to architectural design services, pre-construction management services, division estate architect fees for plan approvals. I mean, it was significant. You could tell you you had a very robust summer program coming. >> And one point on that regard is that the bulk of the construction cost because as you know that construction actually occurred over summer, that's actually in this fiscal year. So that's not reflected, those costs are not reflected in the year end for the 2425 estimated actuals, but you will see them this year. Our uh revenues I'm sorry, there we go. Our expenditures increased uh 13.7% over prior year and our revenues decreased slightly by4%. And the primary reason for the revenue decrease is because we no longer saw the COVID relief dollars last year
166versus the year prior they were winding down. So that's why you see that slight decrease in our revenues. And as you can see on the chart, last year was the first time in many years the district spent more than it received. But there's a story to that. And when you look at the whole budget cycle for last year, starting with the adopted budget, it was planned throughout the entire year that we were going to spend more than the revenue we were going to receive. And it's very consistent from adopted budget in June all the way through both interim reports and even into estimated actuals. And I think it's really important to to note that the year prior in 2324 was perhaps the highest reserve levels the district had ever seen at 23.8%. So that far
167exceeded the 17% threshold that we we use on our indicators chart which I will show later in this this slideshow. So we made a conscious effort over the past several years to really build up the funds necessary to support those improvements that we did this summer. And that's what these numbers tell me. And of course, obviously, I being here, I can now talk to staff and know that that's the case. But even if I was just looking at it from the reports itself, it's it's clear to me you're saving for something something big. So, as I as I mentioned, this is exactly what the numbers tell me when I'm looking at the unodudit actual report. But going forward, we know we can't make the same level of investment we did this year as we did
168last year. That takes time and we will get there. We'll we will methodically and logically build back up reserves, build back up facilities dollars. The good news is most of those expenditures were all one-time in nature and so those drop off. So after the planning services last year and the construction costs that we see this year, we're going to see uh a writing of the revenues and expenditures starting next year. And so we'll see more of that as we get into our first and second interim reports this year. But I just want you to know that um those were mostly one-time cost and so they're dropping off and so our revenues and and expenditures will just naturally fall into alignment beginning next year. encroachments and transfers um ended up being just over 95 million for
169last year. I've never really liked the word encroachment. I think it tells a a false narrative or a false story. Um really when you hear the word encroachment, they're necessary services and programs that are essential for our students and they're only partially funded by the state or federal government and sometimes not at all. And so we call it encroachment. it makes it seem like it's a local issue when it's not. They're required programs and services that we have to use our local resources to help support. So, I would call them um local supports instead of encroachments. And then that I kind of talked about that in the first bullet in here. But whereas transfers um transfers may be similar in the sense they're supporting specific programs that we operate as a district, but those happen
170to be funds that we transfer out of the general fund to separate funds and it requires board action to do so. Um whereas the the local supports are operated within the general fund, the transfers actually go out to separate funds. A good example of that is our nutrition services fund in fund 13. Um, and the facilities fund is a great example of that from last year and that's in our fund 40. So when you look at our ending fund balance, it ended up at just over $99 million in total. This was better than we thought it would end up at the when the budget was adopted, but slightly less um than we projected at the interim reports and our estimated actuals. Uh the decline in the ending fund balance really can be attributed from estimated
171actuals to the unodudited actuals due to a a slight increase in these total amount of expenditures than we had anticipated for the year. And what this had is had as far as an impact on our reserves. As you can see, uh we had steadily been building reserves over time. Again, noting the high reserve amount in 2324 of almost 24%. And we finished last year with still a very healthy reserve of 21.15%. Another good news and I know this is nice to see especially after this the short decline after the pandemic is that enrollment continues to be steady. So you can see we beginning in 2022 enrollment leveled off and it remains that way. Um, I will say, um, and this is very anecdotal, but I've been to a lot of drop off and pickups at
172our schools as I'm getting out to see our sites, and I see a lot of very young non-schoolage children at those pickups. So, I would not be surprised if our enrollment doesn't just maintain stable, but actually grows in, say, two to three years. I've also seen a large variation of bikes at the pickup and a lot of walkers and from someone who really appreciates sustainability, getting those cars off the road um and seeing all the the activity and the family unity is really um touches my heart and so that's been really cool to see as well and helmets. I like seeing a lot of helmets. So after we consider all the revenue and expenditure data for the 2425 unedited actual report and we compare it to the previous year, you can see that we've triggered
173an evaluate uh threshold for unrestricted balance change and that's that negative $ 8.1 million in the top row there. This is not necessarily surprising considering the planning and implementation of the facility improvements we had completed this summer, but it does tell us we need to be very thoughtful with expanding with our expenditures going forward so that we can maintain all the great programs we offer while starting again to build back reserves and the facilities dollars to continue making the necessary investments for our students and staff. Um, I have to thank Dr. Smith for bringing this tool to the school district. Um, I've seen many different iterations of how districts try to evaluate their fiscal health. And I've never seen something that is so simple but so explanatory that um it really makes it easy for
174all of us to be uh responsible and aware of when we need to maybe pause or pivot or at least get the conversation started on certain budget adjustments moving forward. Other important points in the report. I just want to thank the board for the support um you've provided, not just for our facilities program, but for our routine restricted maintenance program. Um it's very rare that you see school districts provide more than the bare minimum they're required to for routine restricted maintenance. And that's typically 3% a unified school district. You had invested more than double that last year. So, bravo. I I was extremely impressed and I had it made me wonder what was said at some time to get that investment going forward because our buildings don't speak. There had to be some type of
175analogy and knowing Jeff Trader there's probably a story and I found it. So, um I think the nexus Jeff made between our facilities and our program and the 1960 Ford LTD Squire station wagon >> was the magic ticket. And I took that picture out of this slide deck, >> but just know I'm going to save that and keep it in my back pocket. So, if we need to make these larger investments into facilities in the future, you might see that station wagon come back out. And then we have of course the LCFF supplemental target and that is something that we have typically exceeded every year and just as a reminder to the board because we are community funded um we assign general fund dollars to meet that target. Otherwise if we were not community funded
176we would actually get those funds. And so as we look at um what that target would have been we're still assigning more of our general fund dollars to support our neediest kids within the supplemental program. And that's um that's another kudos I think to the investment decisions this board has made. So in summary, let me get this up here. Um this financial report was prepared using the California School Accounting Manual Principles or CSAM. Enrollment remains stable. A significant investment was made into our facilities districtwide. our educational programs and supports continue to be maintained and our reserve level dropped a bit from previous year. Um, I think there's a better way to say that and I thank Trustee Anderson for sending me a note on that. It's not that it dropped, it's just there was a
177slight decline that we had anticipated and planned for. So, thank you. Um once these onetime costs are accounted for uh from the summer construction, we will again be very thoughtful and proactive and get our uh expenditures to realign with our revenues to allow for more program growth and uh board decisions on investments and um build back the reserves to make sure we maintain at the threshold levels above the 17% so we can continue to come back and be flexible and adapt to our changing needs as a district. So with that, uh, staff recommends approval and I'm happy to take any questions. >> Thank you. I really appreciate the reference as well. >> Maybe one day we someone will have one of those cars here in the parking lot. That'd be great. >> Might be valuable
178by now, >> right? Yeah, I think they are. >> Um, questions, comments, trustee Murphy. >> Uh, thanks, Jeff. So no, this is a kind not relate not unrelated but not completely related. Um uh how are college parks drapes? How are they? Where are they? >> They are on order. >> Yes. What color are they? >> The Sorry, actually we're waiting for the the principal with her leadership team to tell us the color. >> Yes. >> So I don't I don't choose colors. So, and they we are ready to order. >> Excellent choice. Excellent choice, Jeff. >> Yes, we are hoping to get it ordered u by the end of this week is our goal. And it'll take about four or five weeks to be delivered and installed at the site. >> So, conceivably before Chris,
179you know, holiday performances in December >> in theory. Yes. The goal. Yes. It it's uh it's it's happening very quickly unless there's something I don't ever like to prom I rather underpromise overd deliver. >> Okay. >> But yes, >> so like Thanksgiving could be overd delivery. Okay, that's >> I will take that. Jeff, thank you so much. >> Questions? Oh, trusty Anderson. >> Or student board member. >> Oh, student board member. >> Thank you. Really quick, I wanted to take a moment to apologize for any procedural issues or mistakes I've made. This is my first time up here on the dis. I'm just trying to provide my peers with a voice and understand everything on the agenda, ask questions and be as involved as possible. So with that, I did have a few questions on
180the agenda item. So I do I did realize that expenditures this year are higher than revenues and it seems to have been trending in that direction specifically in relation to programs for students. How can you assure us that programs will continue to be funded or new and adventurous programs that may provide new opportunities to students will be funded and are actually pursued even though the district is currently in a deficit? >> Love that question. Um you you might be a future CBO in addition to a future superintendent. Um the question when you're looking at these unaudited actuals, it really comes down to one-time revenue, one-time costs versus ongoing revenue and ongoing costs. And so I'm happy to sit down and explain this on a lot more detail, but quite simply, all of the bulk of
181the expenditures we had last year and this year were one time in nature. So you're talking about architect fees, construction. So when you look at the new place play place structures and shade structures, the multi-purpose room improvement, the security cameras, those aren't going to happen next year. So those fall off. And when you look at aligning our revenues with supporting our student needs, you want to use ongoing revenue to support that. And the bulk of our cost being people, staff, you need to always pay for people with ongoing revenue changes. So that's why I say you're going to see after we get our construction costs this year coming down and booked here and this year, you're going to see a natural realignment beginning next year between our revenues and expenditures. >> Thank you. And then
182I had a second question really quick. So, I went through the actual actuals for like briefly and I saw under books and supplies for both last year and this year, it was about 20 to 30% less was actually spent than was budgeted for in June. So, I understand like the district I don't get me wrong definitely supports students, provides all the resources we need. We're not lacking in any way. I was just wondering if that decrease is a result of lower vendor costs, leftover inventory from previous years or an overall decline in purchases for materials for students. >> Definitely not lower vendor costs. Uh book um so with with books and supplies, it can vary, right? Especially when you think of textbooks, when you have years of textbook adoptions, those are very expensive. So you're
183going to have large fluctuations in those expenses. Um, in terms of other, if you're looking at instructional supplies, non-instructional supplies, it really just depends. A lot of times, um, sites will already have some of those materials on hand and you get a lot of the ordering done at the beginning of the year, but you hear from them, we need this, we need this, we need this. So, their budget may change throughout the year, but by the time you go to close the books, a lot of those vendor purchase notes or purchase orders, which are essentially um it's it's how we bill and pay for the the vendors. Um there's they still have money on them. So, when you close the books, it's called that that money falls out and that's why you might see a
184reduction in the unodudited actuals. >> Thank you. And then I had one last question. So spending on services I noticed specifically for this year was a bit higher than initially budgeted for and you may have already answered this a little bit with the big onetime expenses. I was just wondering what kind of expenses go into the services category. >> A lot more than what I said. So I said architects and then you have um sub agreements for services. So that could be um supporting some of our specialed contracts and outsourcing out. Um it could be uh legal is a very large one. Um essentially anything that's not a supply but is required to support the operations of the school district. So even when you think of like our utilities, right? So yeah, >> awesome. Thank
185you. >> Y >> I don't know if anyone's question is going to be as educated as that one, but who wants to try? Anyone? Any other questions? >> Yes, thank you. Um I am excited to have board members who ask questions. I think that's a great posture to have. Asking questions is really important. I I love that. Um I since this is the first time you're presenting to us on the budget, I would love to hear any observations. This is our our relatively like standard kind of template that we use. you come from a different district and and I would love to hear any observations or thoughts or recommendations that you have. We added, you know, the really high amount of reserves based on what former Jeff recommended to us and this chart which were
186so informative for us. So, I just would love to like learn >> any ideas that you have or things you've noticed. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I did change the the presentation a little bit because I I can't help myself at some point, but I'm trying to just ease in and not create too much drastic difference between what you'd seen in the past versus what you've seen now because I think it helps if you're used to seeing data in a certain way to slowly migrate away from that. But what I like to I get I'm very visual especially for our community and our and our board. And I think um providing more visuals that show comparisons for prior year versus current year dollars. Tracking trends, highlighting very key assumptions um are always essential because when
187we get into our board budget study sessions and workshops, we're not just looking at this is how much revenue is available. I want you to know this this is why we're assuming that much revenue is available because I think gets at the heart of a bigger budget issue. Um, but yeah, over time I would I would anticipate you're going to see some changes in how the the information is presented with the goal of being I think the more people that understand what they're looking at in the budget, it does us more justice as a district because that increases our checks and balances and that includes our community members. >> Thank you so much. That's very helpful. >> Trusty Crane. >> Yes. I'd like to talk about TK for a second uh since it's unfunded. uh
188it's an unfunded uh mandate. So, are we done with our capital outlay for TK as far as facilities, things like that? And then if yes, yay. If no, um how much more do we have to spend? And then uh once the capital outlay is is um taken out of the um formula, how much is TK costing us a year without all the you know like furniture and >> Yeah. So, good question. I I can't say that we're totally done with the capital outlay. What I can say, though, is that's one of those great expenditures that you can use fund 25 for >> because it's a new program and it's growing. >> Um, as I mentioned, we're seeing a lot of young non-school age kids, so we could see the expansion of TK going forward. Um,
189as far as this summer's work for our TK programs, yeah, we're closing out that in terms of the new furniture and some of the the flooring that may have been replaced in cabinetry, >> but um it's not a I know we're not getting reimbursed for the program itself, but um we are able to use fund 25, which thankfully we had recently raised our developer fees before I got here, and that'll provide additional funding we can do those projects with. >> So, how much does it cost us? I I'll have to look into that and get back to I don't have that memorized. >> Okay. And then um lastly uh what is our reserve target for the year for the end of year because I I know we dropped it because of our one-time expenditures and
190everything and that was expected and we I know we're on board with that. What's your what's our personal target? Yeah. So at estimated actuals, so the report prior to this, um, you're looking at a little over 15% of it dropping for current year. I think based on the fact that our expenditures came in slightly higher than we are anticipating at unodudited actuals, it's still going to be around that 15%. >> Uh maybe slightly lower, but still there. >> Okay. >> And then um we'll make the necessary adjustments at first and second interim because I think things are going to right size. We had a lot of people retire and a lot of vacancies that were still being filled. Um Tracy came in like a rockstar and refilled them a little quickly. So maybe not see
191as much in the savings as we were hoping, but um I think there's going to be some natural realignment in the short term and especially as we get all the final construction bills put together. And then like I said, next year you're going to probably see a much faster realignment of our revenues and expenditure >> and our uh property tax. It said 5 point what was it? Projected let's see >> current year. >> Yes. Current years >> 5% growth. So that's that's nice. That's pretty robust as far as um property tax increase. >> Yep. And remember it compounds too. So even if it's only 5% this year and 4% next year that's very similar in terms of growth. Right. >> So thank you so much. >> Any other questions? All right. Thank you so much.
192That was what? That was great. Thank you. All right. We're moving on to 19. >> Oh, excuse me. Let's approve those. >> Um, do I have a do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Trusty Anderson, seconded by Trusty Pearson. Roll call vote. >> Student board member Jeremy Lore. >> Yes. >> Trusty Wagan. >> Yes. >> Trust. >> Yes. Trusty Murphy, >> yes. >> Trusty Pearson, >> yes. >> Trusty Anderson, >> yes. >> Trusty Mroy, >> yes. >> Trusty Crane, >> yes. >> All right. Motion carries 70. Moving on to 19C, adopt the Proposition 28, arts and music and schools funding annual report for fiscal year 2024 2025. Mr. Dixon. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Uh what you have before you is an annual requirement to approve the expenditure
193report for the prior year for proposition 28 funds. These are restricted funds that come to us for supporting arts and music education. Um as you can see the report on it has some template data you fill out with the number of certificated FTE, classified FTE, number of students served in number of sites provided. Um one thing it doesn't have is the actual expenditure information. So, um I just want to give some context on that is that last year, uh you approved a report that had spent $815,845 out of Proposition 28. This year, um this report includes $2,322,519 of Prop 28 expenditures, and that's about what our annual allocation is. So, we've figured that out with the great work from our instructional services team. I think another uh interesting set of data is that last year
194there were 3.6 uh FTE for certificated and one classified included in the expenditure report and this year you can see there's 10.9 certificated. Um last last data point is you also grew from supporting 8,900 students last year to a little over 9,500 this year. >> That's great. Um, I just want to say thank you for the way that we're implementing um, this Prop 28 arts education program um, money. Um, I've heard nothing but great um, great reviews from teachers to students to parents to everything about how we're implementing um, you know, the arts, the theater, the music, the dance. Um, everyone absolutely loves it. And then the people that you found, the teachers are just amazing. I don't know how you found them. Uh, one I just her name is Miss Mary and she is
195comes from Disney and she is a theater teacher and she is just fabulous at every school that I've asked if they've had theater and they say yes Miss Mary we love Miss Mary and she is great from you know kindergarten to sixth graders love her. So >> a lot of gratitude to Dr. Lori Hernandez and our HR department for really looking for the highest quality people >> relentlessly. I mean, I don't know how you guys found these people. >> We've had we've had the same I've had the same reports, just glowing reports from parents. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, >> they want to be there. >> Yeah, it it's great. >> Any questions? Other comments. >> All right. Do I have a motion? >> Uh, second. >> Okay. Moved by Trusty Pearson, seconded by Trusty
196Crane. >> Roll call vote. Student board member Jeremy Lure. >> Yes. >> Trusty Wagan. >> Yes. >> Trusty. >> Yes. >> Trusty Murphy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Pearson? >> Yes. >> Trusty Anderson? >> Yes. >> Trusty Mroy? >> Yes. >> Trusty Crane? >> Yes. >> Okay. Moving on to 19D. Approve certificate credential waiver for certificated employee 2025. Mrs. Nib. >> Absolutely. Uh so this item is a request for a certificate credential waiver for a career technical education teacher um who's currently enrolled in coursework to obtain the authorization to provide services to limited English proficient students. It's required by the state board of ed and the commission on teacher credentiing. And approval of this waiver will allow the teacher to continue providing instruction while also completing the required credentiing process. >> Do I have a motion?
197>> So moved. Second. Do I have a second? >> Second. Moved by Trusty Pearson, seconded by Trusty Crane. Do we have any discussion, questions? >> Seeing none, roll call vote. >> Student board member Jeremy Lore, >> yes. >> Trusty Wagan, >> yes. >> Trusty, >> yes. >> Trusty Murphy, >> yes. >> Trusty Pearson, >> yes. >> Trusty Anderson, >> yes. >> Trusty Mroy, >> yes. >> Trusty Crane, >> yes. >> Okay. Motion carries 70. 19E. announced intended appointee to the personnel commission. Mrs. Nib. >> Absolutely. Um, so this item is regarding the announcement of the board's intended appointee to the personnel commission. The term of the current board appointed commissioner will expire on December 1st, 2025. As part of the process for the upcoming vacancy, one application was received and that was from Miss Montoy,
198the current incumbent. So, in compliance with education code, um the recommendation before the board to consider is to announce Miss Matoy as the intended appointee to the personnel commission. The next step will occur at the October board meeting where a public hearing will be held and the board will consider action to formally appoint the intended appointee to a new three-year term of office. >> Great. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Moved by Trustee Murphy. Seconded by Trustee Was that Crane? >> Crane. All right. Any questions? Comment. Uh, roll call vote. >> Student board member Jeremy Lure. >> Yes. >> Trusty Wagan. >> Yes. >> Trusty. >> Yes. >> Trusty Murphy. >> Yes. >> Trusty Pearson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Anderson. >> Yes. >> Trusty Mroy. >> Yes. >>
199Trusty K. >> Yes. >> Right. Motion carries. 70. >> Thank you. >> Okay. 20. Public hearing report. Uh 20 is a public hearing compliance with requirements of education codes section 60119 and 60422B sufficiency of textbooks or instructional materials that are consistent with the content and cycles of the curriculum framework for the 2025 2026 Williams settlement legislation. Um assistant superintendent Shields. >> Yes, this is annual and routine and this is the public hearing that opens for any comments. so that we can then consider adopting the resolution. >> Okay, I'm gonna open the hearing at 8:46. Are there any public comments? All right, seeing none, I'm going to close it at 8:46. Okay. 20. That was it, right? 21. Uh resolution adoption calendar 21A adopt resolution number 28-09-25 in compliance with the with requirements of education code
200sections 60119 and 60422B sufficiency of textbooks and instructional materials assistant sields and this is to ensure the board annually we track our orders through destiny we ensure that they're delivered we make visuals confirmations and we also survey. So we do bring before you that we are our textbooks are sufficient in the district. >> Great. Good to know. Good to hear. Uh motion. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Um and I see I have a comment from student board member um Jeremy Lark. >> Yes. So, I really quickly wanted to ask, I know I already discussed this with you a little bit earlier today about how sufficiency is necessarily determined. So, I was just wondering if sufficiency is a specific percentage threshold or a determination mandated by the state or how
201all of that works. >> It's from the state. It's from a settlement, the Williams lawsuit that I believe is close to 20 years old, but it's that every student has access to their textbooks. And so it's all literally all >> and that's the threshold. >> Thank you. >> Good question. Any other comments? >> Okay, so this has been moved by Trusty Pearson, seconded by Trusty Murphy. Is that it? Got that right. Okay, >> roll call vote. >> Trusty Wagan, >> yes. >> Trusty Soilu, >> yes. >> Trusty Murphy, >> yes. >> Trusty Pearson, >> yes. >> Trusty Anderson, >> yes. >> Trusty Mroy, >> yes. Trusty Crane. Yes. >> All right. Vote carries. 70 21B. Adopt resolution 27-09-25 gain limit for the 2024 2025 and estimate estimated gain limit for 2025 2026. Uh Mr. Dixon.
202>> Yes. Thank you. This is an annual requirement we bring to the board that recognizes the uh appropriations limit for last year related to our GAN limit and then provides an estimate for this year. calculation is very complicated. It's one of the few things you and I could probably say it was happened before we were born. >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Moved by Trusty Crane, seconded by Trusty Pearson. Any questions, comments? >> Roll call vote. >> Trusty Wagan, >> yes. >> Trusty Soilu, >> yes. >> Trusty Murphy, >> yes. >> Trusty Pearson, >> yes. Trusty Anderson, >> yes. >> Trusty Mroy, >> yes. >> Trusty Crane, >> yes. >> Right. Motion carries 70. Now moving on to 20 22 in formal report. Superintendent Smith >> had a chance
203to serve on a statewide webinar for the California Department of Education on coherence and sustainability. Um, I was able to brag about the work that our school district's doing around expanded learning opportunities, um, and our community school grant use. Uh and people were blown away with the way we're intentionally using our resources and communicating that it really is a continuation from the classroom uh to the playground to in in one of my examples the swimming pools where we're eliminating gaps of access by providing swim safety for students in our community. That got the most thumbs up, likes, and hearts from the 300 people on the webinar. But I think tonight was another example of that when our group did a great job of talking about our summer activities even though extended school year isn't summer
204school. We get it, Heather. But a great articulation and and that's what the team shared. Christy pointed that out. It's it's really getting the groups together and again being intentional about how we do this work together. It's seamless and it's working and the data proves that. I'm just really proud of our team for the work that they do. All right. Now, uh, board member reports. >> I'll start with Trusty Crane and move it on down this way. >> Okay. >> Well, first of all, welcome to our student board members. You definitely are a highlight and we love your voice because we do the work because of you and for you. So, thank you for being here tonight, being introduced and also being a voice. So, thank you. Um, let's see. Um, I'm looking forward to
205the college and career fair on October 22nd at the OC Fairgrounds. I know the the team's been working hard doing that. So, can't wait. I've been spreading the word. Uh, went to the Newport Mesa School Foundation and they are very very busy getting uh the state of the schools breakfast that's being um held on October 28th uh rolling with our staff. Uh, typically I'm so proud of our AV team. and they're there early because the event starts at 7. Um so thank you in advance for all the work that the staff is doing for for that on on the site front. Been to a few um sports events. The launch sports have been the the launch of of uh fall sports is uh ongoing and ready and rolling. And uh one of the funnest games
206that we've been watching because we're trustees were comparing notes is the flag football team, the women's flag football teams. And it's just kind of fun to see women playing football safely and apparently it is one of the largest growing um sports in Orange County. So that's great. And it's a now a CIF sport and um just uh I think well should I Chris Trusty Wagan do you want me to I went to CO and they're just they signed a contract with access. >> Yes, you can talk about that. >> Yeah, I I went in I I was an alternate to the cosine rop meeting and uh Dr. Doer um shared with the with us that um CRO signed a contract with OCDE to service the access and juvenile center kids and that's wonderful because those
207are the kids that could use that and so for them to introduce that. So um it was a proud moment for the team and I know Trusty Wan was a big part of that. So thanks for all that. That's it. Thank you, Trusty Maroy. >> Um, couple of highlights of my month. Um, one thing that really, um, struck a chord, no pun intended, um, the, uh, Gilly Brook celebration of the grant they received from the Philarmonic Society and the delivery of all the string instruments for their orchestra program. Um, it was super exciting. It was it was um to see how thrilled the children were and how excited they were to um get these new instruments was was pretty cool to see. Um of course the Sony High School Theater open gorgeous. I went to
208Newport's first flag deck. Super fun, super happy. Um watching um amazing our our Newport Harbor amazing girls volleyball. I mean, a girl my size is roofing a 6'5 girl. It was beautiful. And then um the flag football team's great and our football team cheering them on. They're not so great, but they're cheering them on. Um meeting um great staff, parents, teachers, students, and at the end back to school night. Um, but lastly, I wanted to um send a huge thank you to the Ben Carlson Foundation, which most of you, I'm sure, know what that is. But this weekend was the Ben Carlson charity paddle from Catalina to Newport Beach. My husband participated. He was the second oldest and he finished first. Um, he raised they raised um they raised $450,000 um approximately. Still raising money.
209Um, but I want to talk about the Ben Carlson Foundation. Um, and why I just love it. Um, it's given out 500,000 in college college scholarships to our to our kids in high school. Last year, the recipient was from Newport Harbor. He went on to Harvard and he's on the rowing team. Um, it provides resources to underprivileged lifeguard agencies. Last year they partnered with Costa Mesa schools, Whittier and College Park and helped train over 100 kids to swim and provided of those kids um three junior guard lifeguard program scholarships. This fall they have programs planned in Coast Mesa schools of Rya Rey Victoria Brook and Wilson. I talked to them yesterday about that. Um, so I just want to say a big thank you to the Ben Carlson Foundation and all they do for um,
210the schools that's >> Trusty Anderson. >> Thanks. Um, I was able to have a visit at um, Whittier Elementary and I continue to be extremely impressed with Dr. from Montano and all of the investment um in community partnerships that um they have been doing for quite some time now. Um they are through the month of October to celebrate Hispanic heritage having um cultural dress for Thursdays which I think is awesome and he was really looking forward to it and then a couple of big events and festivities. Um I was really thankful to go to the Estansia theater opening with all of us. Um it was really cool to um meet with our former uh schoolboard uh member Britney who was an Asantia graduate who's now at UCI um doing premed. And one of the things
211that she brought up was how proud of the advocacy and moving the location. Um and so that was just a key indicator I think of the importance of having student board members and also listening to community voice. She's shared how several of her um schoolmates, it was the first time they'd ever come to a board meeting to ask for the location change. Um I also when I was meeting with her, it was because um she is on a break before she applies for her MCATs and to start medical school. an an idea that she had um and she wanted to put forward again was to um create a uh Westside Latino Leadership um institute kind of a mentoring program for students who to have exposure particularly for elementary for people who are in jobs that
212they might not have been introduced to. Um she said she didn't know anyone who was a doctor who was in that role as a parent um or in her community. And so that was one idea that she had um and I shared with her that I um talked with the OC president and she has had a similar experience and wanted to contribute to that as well. Um and our recent student board member Devanni from Estansia um is also wanting to be a part of that and continue through doing advocacy work. She's starting an advocacy club at Aansia based on her work of joining the student board member um work. And so I just I'm really excited for some of the um community pieces that are happening. Additionally, um some of our student board members, but
213also just members of our community and um Roslin explained um she talked a bit about Chammoy. Chamoy um has been able to advocate now at several of the city council meetings and most recently were instrumental in getting rental protections um and setting up a legal defense fund in the city of Costa Mesa. And so, um, I think a lot of the work, um, the DWAC president has said was because of some of the advocacy and support that we've been able to build in the past five years. Um, we now have a lot of students and a lot of parents who are advocating not just around schools but throughout the city. Um, I think one thing I want to point out from earlier is we had two students who were here who former students alumni um,
214who are doing quite well in their lives. one works for the city of Costa Mesa um and another is doing youth advocacy work. Um and I think one of the concerns that I have with what the conversation was earlier is there tends to be this um negative lens for certain schools, for certain neighborhoods, rather than a desire to learn from people who live there and who have experienced that community. Um, to me it's frankly bizarre um to not necessarily know how to pronounce a school's name, but think you know what's best for that school. Um, when we have community members who have been raised in that neighborhood and are saying we don't want something that that's why we're up here. So, I have no other vote that I can do when I'm representing my community
215who doesn't support something except to vote no. It's disappointing to me and really quite odd that um when we're hearing directly from a police chief of a city that says there's not a problem that we are insisting on a problem. We're not seeing students as our students. a fourth grader who is a student rather than a future gang member is really really dysfunctional and is not our role. Um I I'm just I'm I'm really disappointed actually in the conversation earlier. Um I think it's disappointing and it's a real overreach um to not represent the fact that we went to we're not an atlarge district. We represent a specific zone for a reason to give voice. This past weekend, we were we were approved and accepted to be part of the California School Latino School Board
216Association conference. Trustee Ursulu and I spoke at that conference on parent voice on increasing community engagement. people that were in those rooms were asking us what we were doing and why we had been successful. When I vote no on something that parents are telling me they don't want, it's disappointing when people that don't represent those schools think they know what is best for that community think they know what is best for that school. Not based on data, based on an assumption. A lot of assumptions, not facts, not data, not relationships. If there's a concern about a school that maybe eight kids need a mentor, the approach is not to go to the highest level of oversight. It's to ask who is a neighborhood community partner? Who is a church partner that could help with this
217space? We do not need someone to give out gift cards and turkeys. That is not helping someone not be in a gang. It's I think a lot of us know that's not an appropriate approach to actually build resources and close the opportunity gaps and doing a lot of the work that we are doing. Um so I just I I continue to be concerned um when people choose things um rather than seeking to listen and to learn. The first thing that I did as a trustee was to put on the agenda for a school community facilitator at each of the Title One schools. It was for schools in my zone for a need that was incredibly real and was asked by parents and by staff. I used to hold a lunch for our facilitators once a
218month, so I knew them quite well. It's disappointing and frankly bizarre to me when a new trustee comes in and decides that they know what is best for someone else's schools. It's it's not what we're here for. It's we're not here to play partisan politics. That's why I'm an independent. I don't think it's appropriate for our schools. It's not appropriate for us as trustees to overreach on matters that we don't really understand. Thank you, >> Trusty Pearson. >> Um I was able to um go to a lot of back to school nights. Um it was so great to see how hard our teachers work to make our kids and our parents um feel like a community. Um refreshing, wonderful, all good vibes. Um I was also able to go to attend the Anderson's Dean Dinner.
219Um it was a full house. It was a stunning venue and the parents um who were there clearly care deeply about their school. um thanks to their generosity and their donations, um Anderson was able to um furnish the entire school um for this year, which was fantastic. So, um we thank them. Um it's an incredible gift to our students and to our staff. >> Thank you, Trusty Murphy. >> Oh, well, it's late. Um, I will just say here is a breakdown of Mesa's of the Mustangs football schedule so far this year. >> We have We beat Magnolia 56, we beat Sentry 490, sorry, 560, Century 49-0, Savannah 570. So, we are on a roll. Um, with of course the only loss being to Estasia, which was a little brutal. I will say there were some
220of us who were very unhappy in the um out there in the crowd, but uh other than that, things are looking uh fantastic for the rest of the season, and I'm so excited for the Mustangs. So, if you have a free moment on a Friday night, as I've always said, Costa Mesa on that corner, pick your sport, pick your neighbor, pick your like little side, you know, like there's dip and dots and there's pizza and there's >> you can you could have your you can spend your entire evening out there enjoying every sport. >> Trusty Ursuloop, >> can we close the meeting? >> Um, yes. I have no comment. I'm just asking that we close the meeting in honor of our two students that were killed. >> Yes. I just wanted to um thank you
221all for a great start to the to the year. Um I'm going to leave you with one quote and then we'll close the meeting in honor of our two students that have passed away. Um I had a parent come up to me and go, "You know what? It seems like the schools just really know what they're doing this year." And I thought that is probably the best um you know on week three one of the the best comments I could hear about anything. Um and so I think we really you really know what you're doing this year I guess everyone. So thank you. Keep it up. We're um we're had a great start to the to the beginning of the school year. So I appreciate all your really hard work. Um, and now I'd like
222to um close the meeting in honor of our two students, Allison Castillo Le Gaspie and Saith Toledo Mendes, um, who tragically passed away this year and we we desperately miss them. Thank you. Closing the meeting at 9:07.