001You ready, Dr. Binder? Thank you. >> Okay, I'm going to call to order um this regular meeting of the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education. This is April 9th, 2026. Good evening. Um we will open with our call to order. And next up, we just did that, so we'll go over to you, Dr. Adamson. Can we have a roll call vote, please? Or roll call, please. >> Absolutely. President McNary >> here, Shamar >> here. >> Trusty Artmar is on her way. Will be here any minute. Trusty Wax >> here. >> And Trusty Hazen is will not be present with us this evening. He is traveling out of town. >> Okay, thank you. Um, with that, we do have three trustees here in person, um, which is a quorum and enough for us to
002proceed with our business and the adoption of the agenda. Um, before I go out to public comment, are there any uh, revisions to the agenda we have in front of us? I didn't see anything. There's just the change on the It's okay. >> No changes. No, no. >> Um, just double checking. Um, is there any public comment on the adoption of the board agenda? Okay, seeing none, um, any discussion on the agenda from board members? >> Okay, thank you. Um, with that, I'll look for a motion. >> I'll make a motion to accept the agenda as presented. >> I second. Okay. Motion made by Trustee Wax and seconded by clerk Shamos. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. Any nos? Okay, that passes 30 and we can move forward with our business.
003Thank you everyone. >> It is located this evening in a different portion of the agenda. I did notice. But thank you for Yeah. Um Um >> Sure. this evening. It appears at the top of um our open session uh right before the pledge of allegiance, which is a logical place. Um so maybe we can do a bit of further investigation or >> research to deter. >> I think yeah, I think it was just an error that it was placed in the wrong spot. I didn't realize it. Yes, got it indeed. Yeah, very good. >> Thank you, Dr. Adamson. I know there was one agenda where we had it there and then I think we'd moved it and very likely we'd used that agenda to you know build this that template. So >> understood. Thank you.
004Um I will next identify the close session topics for this meeting's agenda. Um there are five close session item A is negotiations collective bargaining session planning and preparation with the PGTA for 2025 and 2026 school year. Item B is negotiations collective bargaining session planning and preparation with the csea for 2025 and 2026 year. Item C is public employee discipline dismissal release leave complaint under government code 54957. Item D is conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation pursuant to government code 54956.9 subdivision D1. Um, case number 0 AH202602 and item E related to the provision of special education services to a district student. Those are our close session items. Are there any public comments on close session topics this evening? Okay. Um seeing that there are no comments on close session topics, we will adjourn to
005close session and reconvene at 6:30. Thank you. Okay, we are going to uh rejoin the meeting and um open. Good evening everybody. Thanks for joining us tonight for our regular board meeting. Um welcome to the students and their teachers who are here to present for us as well. Um this is the beginning of the open session portion of our meeting. And the first thing that we do at this point in the meeting is um we report out the actions taken by the board in close session um where we just were for the last hour. Um we had multiple items on our agenda for close session this evening. So I will read each one and the actions taken. Um for item A, negotiations, collective bargaining session, planning and preparation with the PGTA for 202526, information was
006received for item B, negotiations, collective bargaining session, planning and preparation with the CEA for 2025 and 26. Information was received with regard to item C, public employee discipline, dismissal, release, leave complaint under government code section 54957, subdivision B. Information was received regarding item D, conference with legal counsel, um, case number 08 or OAH case number 20260974. The board voted to approve the SEC settlement agreement by a vote of four to zero um with one abstension. Related to item E, the provision of special education services to a district student. The board voted to approve a settlement agreement by a vote of four to zero with one absent. Okay, that is the end of the readout from close session. Um and next I'll read our land acknowledgement. Um good evening everyone. As we begin this meeting, it
007is important to pay respect to and acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the Alone, Costanoan, and Eselin people. And additionally pay respects to elders both past and present. And um Dr. Adamson, next on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance. Will you lead us this evening? Thank you. Thank you. And probably the most important and student centered part of our agenda is what's up next. And this evening we have a presentation from Pacific Grove Middle School AVID program. Um, and I will introduce Principal Shawn Roach to take it away. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Um, Sean Roach, proud principal of Pacific Grove Middle School. And I am here with a group of wonderful students this evening. Um, and I do have to give some um some credit to these students and
008their families for joining us the night before um our last little day before spring break. I mean, there's a lot going on in school and the fact that these students took time out of their busy schedule and their families as well. Um, they need to be lauded for for doing that. And so, I'm very happy to see you guys here. Um, we are going to talk a little bit this evening about our AVID program and some of the some of the experiences that our AVID students have gone through. AVID obviously is an amazing um college and career readiness program which sets the bar high but also provides uh high support as well for our students. But you don't want to hear me talk about it. You'd rather hear the students talk about it. So students,
009can I get you guys to line up right here, please? And you can see their public speaking readiness as they line up. Michael Test test. Okay. Go. >> Sure. The microphone is projecting. It seems a bit >> Yeah. Or maybe get Can we >> I did catch >> in the room, but I just want to make sure it's projecting for those who are online as well. >> Hello. Hello. We have confirmation it can be heard online. That's what I like to hear. Okay. Thank you, director Minder. That's what All right. Go ahead. >> Um my name is Mai and I'd like to talk about um how these AVID trips have helped me um kind of have awareness and understanding of uh college. Um before AVID field trips, um I kind of thought of college as
010um kind of living on a high school campus. Um, but as I've gone through um a few AVID field trips, I really feel like it's helped me um clarify what classes are actually like, how students spend their free time, and like kind of like what the campuses really look like. Um, and I definitely feel like I would not um know like how much freedom you would have uh being a college student um if I didn't go to these um trips. >> Hi, my name is Alison. Uh before Avid Field Trips, I thought college was a boring and stressful place. My favorite moments in the AV field trips have really taught me about how college life really is. Going to Stanford and seeing all the different people, all the communities, all the people just hang around
011and it's not like school exactly. It's more like a community still while learning. um just going to these have really set an impact on how I see college and how I envision myself in my future, how I want to be there and yeah. Hi, my name is Sienna and um I think that AVID field trips provide a valuable experience that you can probably not experience the same way from um in a classroom or online. An amazing moment that um sorry, an amazing moment that experienced while on during these field trips was when a real life college student um attending the school gave us a tour and told us about all of the resources and the um stuff that you can do while in college. And um while visiting the colleges, they gave me the opportunity
012to see if they have any majors I would like to to do. Also talking to real students or and faculty workers really helped me get a more clear understanding. And I think that if AVID did not offer these field trips, students would miss the excitement of seeing a university in real life school hours while being guided by a real student attending the university. Hi, I'm Vanessa and I kind of just wanted to talk about maybe some academic motivation. So, for me personally, I feel like one of my most precious memories from doing one of the college field trips is when we went on our trip to Stanford and we got um a really nice tour guide, very educated, and we kind of got to talk to him and learn a little bit more about his
013experience in college and why he chose the school he did. And I thought it was really cool that us as students like as young as we are can relate to um a college student which I found was very valuable to me. And I feel like this kind of like gives me perspective of like how tangible this is to me and like that um with all of the things that are offered like I could be a student there or I could work hard enough to like maybe achieve my goals of this. So thought that was really cool. >> Hi, I'm Harper and I'm going to talk a little bit about connection and belonging. So before these AVID field trips, I've always been a good student and but I've really like excelled in from AVID and all
014the field trips, I've become more aware and diligent with my steps um for high school and beyond. I found that AVID helps me get a better understanding of the actions I need to take in order to be successful and build good habits for my future. I feel like going on a college tour with your family is great, but going on a college tour with people you learn and walk through life with like your student, like your classmates and your teachers that you see every day is essential for gaining a strong connection to like a feeling that you might be one day part of a college community or space. Hi, I'm Ava and I'm going to talk a little bit about the value of these experiences. So, at first when I thought of going to college,
015I thought I should just go to college so I could get a job. But now, after experiencing the different college campuses and learning about the majors and athletics and stuff, I've learned what I want to do and that I need to find a college that suits me. And I think these experiences are very valuable as they teach people that there's always a place for you at any college and that it's like it helps students really visualize themsel at different places cuz seeing pictures of campuses or hearing about the requirements aren't the same as actually talking to students and seeing what college life is like. Cuz I think seeing the college life in the community is also important. like how we got to see the athletics at San Francisco State or like we got to see
016like Greek life and also like clubs and different teams which I thought was really important and it helps visualize. Um, I'm Sophia and I think that AVID, like the AVID field trips are a really important part of the AVID program because they help students like visualize what college life is actually like and um envision theirelves like how they could be in a real um in a real college environment. Plus, I think that going to actually going to the colleges and seeing other students there that are already attending and seeing the layout and stuff is just different than you could see on like online or just searching it up. So, that has been really important for me, I feel like. But overall, I feel like AVID has made me into a completely different student. >> Can
017we please give it up for these students? Guys, the AVID the AVID program is is so much bigger than this, but it is I think one of the vital parts of this is walking these campuses and talking to peers generally within their age and really seeing what is a foggy thing for them come into clear view so that that when they join the high school, you got a really good crew coming by the way, Maddie. when they when they join the high school, like it's not an unknown, it's a goal. It's something tangible. I love what Vanessa said that this is this is something they can touch and see and feel. Um, so it's a vital part of the overall learning, likely probably one of the more enjoyable parts of of the AVID class, but
018I cannot speak highly more highly about this program. Um, we have Mr. Mountain here, one of our amazing AVID teachers. Uh, Miss Flores, who is at home somewhere doing the same. Um, I love the program. Um, it is my intent at some point in the near future to add an AVID 6 so that we can truly make this a schoolwide effort. Um, thank you so much for listening. Are there any questions that that we can answer? Yes. >> You forgot to mention fun. >> There there is fun. >> Fun. Okay, you guys. it's going to be fun to go to college because you get to be free, you know, and it's it's just a a wonderful experience and like that is a, you know, needs to be a an important part of your just of
019your thinking of it, you know, it's not just the academics, but it's it's really fun. >> Exactly. And it and it's three-dimensional. And I was somebody who visited colleg's campuses with my family, which was great, but there's something to doing it with your peers. There's something to because it it resonates. It continues to kind of grow um and you begin to kind of visualize yourself. And that's the kind of college tuning fork that we need um in this district. >> Thank you very much. >> Can you guys show the board how many colleges have you visited with AVID? like on one or two hands, right? >> Two years. Six. >> Yeah. Wow. >> Wow. That's impressive. Can we put our hands together again and around the whole field? >> Thank you, Principal Roach and Assistant
020Principal Tavani for bringing this to us. I I feel everything that our students said to us this evening, you could put everything that you spoke about tonight and actually make sort of a brochure for AVID because I feel like you've explained it better than anything I've ever read about what this program offers. Um, and you did it with passion and there was a light in your eyes. Um, and absolutely I think fun came through there trust for sure. Um, but some of the things that you talked about was visualizing yourself right on a college campus. I think one of you talked about you could actually you know there's a college that finding a college that suits you right you can actually see from real life students right who are actually living the college life now
021making that real and tangible so thank you to each of you for sharing with us this evening you know it's a little daunting I think presenting in front of a big group like this but you each did so beautifully um and I'd love to be able to present each of you with a certificate in thanking you for coming here this evening it's a certificate that is in uh definitely in recognition of what you're doing and how you're living out each of our three core values of belonging, safety and prosperity uh through the work that you're doing. So please help me welcome to the front each of our students when you come up you'll take your certificate and I'm going to ask you to just stand in a line in front of the dis and then
022we'll have our trustees and our staff come and join you. Um so Mai Mabara come on up please tonight >> Allison Castro Flores >> Sienna Batista Vanessa Diaz Harper Ava Besek Bichek and Sophia Rat. All right, I'm going to ask uh principal Roach, assistant principal Tavani, our board members, uh assistant s John, our student board rep to come and join us at the front for some photos. >> Daddy, you want to come? Oh, Harry's got it. Thank you. Thank you guys for coming. Thank you, Superintendent Adamson and Principal Roach and Principal Tavani um for sharing about that amazing program with us. Um, very different to go on field trips with your friends than it is to go on a college tour with your parents. Pretty cool experience. Yeah. Um, uh, the next portion of our
023agenda is the communications section. Um, the first item on our communications is item A, student representative comments. Um, this evening our student representative is Paige Houston. and I'll give it over to you to give the student report. >> Thank you. Good evening. I'm Paige Houston, a student board rep from PGHs. First of all, congratulations to Fuji Middle School for being named by the California Department of Education as a 2026 California Distinguished School. We are proud of you. We had a fantastic BPA week which was put on March 30th through April 3rd. Many events took place during our extended breaker time. Students participated in silk screening, choir, band, dance, and indulged in culinary treats. There also musical performances by staff and students with Mr. Keller and Dr. Warren performing throughout the week to honor visual and
024performing arts. On Friday, April 3rd, our partners from Harmony and Home presented an all school assembly on bully prevention. This assembly emphasized the importance of kindness and supporting one another. The event also included a performance by Mr. Keller and Dr. Warren who executed a song composed by Dr. Warren titled Banana Slug Blues. Breakerbots are competing this weekend in Dallas City for the Northern California Robotics Championship. Good luck breaker bots. Currently 21 students who departed yesterday, Wednesday, April 8th, are in Spain until April 18th as part of our exchange program. For the community high school, the model continuation high school status was officially announced on March 11th, 2026. Students and staff are very proud of CHS for being named a 2026 Model Continuation High School. Several CHS staff members will travel to the annual California Continuation
025Education Association Conference in Burbank, California at the end of this month to accept the award. Additionally, please stop by and see the banner in front of the school. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you for your report, uh, Trusty Houston, and thanks for the shout outs to the other campuses. Um it's really nice to see support going in all directions. Um I will move on to board member comments and written comments. Um I will list off the written comments I've received since or communications not comments communications uh received since our last regular meeting. Um and if other board members have anything to add um you can do so um when I'm finished. Um the first thing I have is emails exploring um I got an email regarding exploring PGSD uh broadcast partnership with um AMP. Um
026an email regarding the 2026 MCOE science and engineering fair results um in PGHs. An invitation to the PGMS talent show. Thank you Mr. Roach. Um, we received a formal bid protest, a letter regarding a student matter, an invitation to the Monterey Peninsula College town hall, and an invitation to the Ocean Guardian art music night on April 22nd. Are there any other written communications to add from other board members? >> Uh, I don't think you mentioned, but uh, I got an invitation to a CTE uh, planning meeting. Um >> I don't know if >> an advisory meeting get >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um Okay. >> Thank you, Trustee Wax. Um any other communications from other trustees? >> Yes. Um, I got a email from parent that was dissatisfied with slow response to a 504
027request and um a lack of confidentiality regarding communications um with uh the district and a request to address those situations. >> Okay. Trusty. No, >> that sounds like followup needed. Dr. Adamson, would you be able to connect to >> that? Yeah, both >> connect about the student matter. Thank you. Um, if there are no other written communications, um, we have board member comments. Um, just thank you to Mr. Roach and, uh, Dr. Adamson for hosting Fentinel High at uh the PGMS Performing Arts Center this week. Um I wish everyone could see it. I know we all have such busy lives, but it was just such an impactful experience to sit and listen to the stories of high school seniors in Los Scatos, which is a very similarly situated community to ours. Uh very relevant to
028how each of them ended up having coping skills that were drug use. Um, and they all had different stories. One kid was like the athlete trying to, you know, get the best grades. Another student was already designated as the party chick, so she said, "Might as well just be the label." And they all had different ways that they came to use drugs as a coping skill. But I think as parents, it's just it's a it was fascinating. Um, it was really eye opening. And it's also something like that would be a great tool for us to be able to use and starting conversations with our kids because sometimes that's the hardest part is getting started and that movie was really a jumping off point. So I don't know if we'll be able to show it
029again and h have Dr. Grover back but I just think it was it was so impactful. Um he also shared with us um a guide that he created. It's called let's start talking a parents toolkit for understanding substance use through middle school years in the tri county re region monterey San Bonito in Santa Cruz and this is like the dear reader the parenting thing is hard like thank you and but the book but the it's just a a very thorough guide um with everything from like how to start conversations or depending on where you're at how old your kid is. It's never too late. Um just really great information that um I was happy to take home. I hope all middle school families I don't know this would be great to get going into sixth
030grade. Um if that's an option cuz he did say that if we haven't started the conversation by middle school, we are behind at this point because the world is changing so quickly. Um so thank you. Um in kind of a a lighter vein, um I did get to attend the PGMS talent show. It was incredible. It was the extended version because there were so many acts they had to add time to the talent show which was really cool. Um everything from a brother sister rendition of Hamilton to um a student who could solve a Rubik's cubed in under 10 seconds. Fascinating to an allgirl rebel girl band that was just fabulous. And um Miss Bailey and Miss Pettis closed out the show and brought the house down literally in the way home in the car.
031We were talking about how we couldn't hear anything because the applause was deafening after they went out in such style. So, uh thank you for inviting us and hosting us. Um and then another I guess just a positive thing coming up is that um in the theater world, Adam's family is coming up at the high school. So, another piece of joy if anyone's looking to go and share and watch our talented students. I think that info is probably available and we can probably post it to the community just to Okay. Um, those are my comments for this evening. Uh, questions, >> would you like to go next? Okay. Um, I know I I wish I had I was this close to going to the talent show, so I missed it this year. Um, but I
032went last year and it was really good. So, um, did did Finn perform? I wanted to know. >> This year? >> Not this year. Oh, he was the standout last year. Okay. Yeah, there was an amazing uh Avengers theme song on brass group of boys from seventh grade on brass instruments. It was fantastic. Like so much bravery and so much just talent and skill and willingness. It's just I don't know. Yeah. I never would have done that in seventh or eighth grade either. >> Yeah. >> So, it's great. Um I just wanted to mention that our superintendent was nominated for a state award for outstanding superintendent in California and she received the award. So we had no idea because she didn't tell us until she got the award and then she even then I don't
033even like Jen Jen didn't even know. So it was very low-key but I think we really need to applaud that and congratulations. And on that note, I think that you should bring the award and then we all stand up and take a picture together the way you make everyone else do. So, we'll expect that at the next meeting. Just saying, should we vote? Just >> or direction or direction given. >> Um well, I had the opportunity to attend um the open house at the high school with Dr. Adamson and it was super fun. Um, we toured classrooms. We went to uh the science lab, which is fantastic. Culinary, it's amazing what they're doing in culin culinary. And then we got to watch the robotics team um bring out this robot that collected balls and then
034shot them so far. Yeah, it was really neat. So, it was a super fun experience and um just great to see all of the incoming freshmen touring campus and checking it all out. So, um it was a great time. >> Thank you, Trusty Wax. >> Yes. Um, I think I'm probably forgetting something because this month has been blurry, but uh, we went to the Taste of PG organized by PG Pride, which um, I live by our godets who are integral into organizing that. And I I might be messing this up, but I think they said 80,000 was raised around that, which is amazing. So, thank you to everyone who came, donated, bid on things, won uh auction items, and I won a hotel stay. I got some sweet hoodies. Couldn't um and to all the
035parents and and community members who organize that every year. It's it's really great. Uh I also went to the talent show. definitely want to uh applaud uh Dog Bite, the band, playing a bikini girl song. I immediately texted my friends from high school and then my wife that uh I was failing as a parent because my daughter doesn't know Rag Girl stuff. And then I also want to I'm I'm so sorry for not knowing the teacher's name, but um the MC's uh >> Senor Clark. Oh, Greening and Maggie Divine. >> Yeah, they did they did so well. And uh I see Ka around because she's in a play with my daughter, but I asked her during one during the first performance. I think she was like composing or like a conducting to help the people
036remember lyrics to a Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga song. And I was like, did did did you have to do that or something? and she's like, "No, I was just trying to help them." And you know, like that is like true leadership and they both really did so well. Um, so congrats to the teachers leading them and the the event and it was uh lots of fun. Um, so yeah, it was great. And that's it. >> Dog Bite was the name of the band. >> Oh yeah, Bite. >> So fabulous. I thought similarly I'm like where this is where I want to be. I want to be in Dog Bite. They were so fantastic. Just incredible. Yeah, really cool. Seventh graders and an eighth grader. Um, thank you everyone for your comments this evening and
037for Beth for making us aware of Superintendent Adamson's award. I look forward to learning more and hearing more about that. Um >> when she said when she said let's move on um to the superintendent report. Dr. Adamson, thank you so much for your kind words and so many fun things and thank you all for supporting them and being there and just being able to share everything that's going on. So grateful for that. All right, I do have some slides. So I know Director Ber is going to pull those up. I'm going to go ahead and uh begin and we can move straight to the second slide. Director Binder, thank you. So, I'd like to just begin tonight by acknowledging something just really important about our shared goal of building a culture of we across our
038district through our three core values of belonging, safety, and prosperity. Uh this is ongoing work. Uh and it's not perfect. Uh it's never finished. I think that's an important thing for us to acknowledge. It requires intention, reflection, and a willingness to recognize both our progress and the areas where we still need to grow. And something important, it requires all of us. When I hear of situations where someone felt excluded, unsafe, or not welcome, our commitment, my commitment is to always listen. That feedback matters, and it helps guide us forward and remind us that there's still work to do. And that's exactly the reason why we're not stepping away from that goal. It's too important. No matter how far we've come, we know we have further to go and we remain committed to going further together.
039So, next time you hear us talking about our ongoing goal of building a culture of we, please know what we mean. It is ongoing, unfinished, imperfect, messy work. And so, tonight, I'd like to share some examples of how we continue to build that culture through our through our three core values of belonging, safety, and prosperity. I'm going to start with belonging and that goes on to that next slide. Uh it is LCAP season as all of you know and I want to sincerely thank our families, our staff and our students for sharing their feedback. We received a short of 300 family responses so far with the survey closing tomorrow along with gathering input directly from students in grades 3rd through 12th. Thank you to those of you who showed up in person for one of
040three input sessions these last few weeks. This feedback is critical and will help us refine our current three-year plan. Belonging was also on full display a few weeks ago ago at the joint elementary steam night at PGMS. I was so proud to learn of the strong collaboration across our principles, our staff, PTA volunteers, students and families. Truly a culture of we in action. We also continue to celebrate the diversity of our community. Over the past two weeks, many of our families observed Ramadan, Passover, and Easter with celebrations taking place across our schools, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and inclusion. And then on the topic of student voice, I was so happy to be able to meet with our high school advisory class two weeks ago. I heard honest feedback about strengths and areas for growth.
041Uh definitely an area of growth and concern that the students wanted to focus on was that of the use of AI. Uh but a highlight for me was hearing from our freshmen who shared how welcome they'd felt this first year of school of high school and the many opportunities they found to find connection through activities, programs and clubs. Uh all of that feedback along with all the other student feedback obviously is making it into our LCAP uh input uh and will be reflected through the themes. All right, moving on to safety which is our next slide. This week we hosted, as you've heard from some of our trustees, a powerful fentinel awareness event at PGMS featuring the film Fentinel High, a movie filmed and directed by a former Los Gados student uh senior chronicling the
042stories of several parents whose children's lost lost their lives to Fentinel. The film was also followed by a discussion with Dr. Grover. So yes, we're definitely going to be looking at other opportunities to bring this. It was a small group, but very powerful. I definitely are sobering an important opportunity for families and staff to better understand the impact of fentinel and how we can work together to address this issue. So, more to come on that. At PGHS, students participated in the bullying prevention assembly which our student representative talked about this evening led by Harmony at home. A meaningful experience with students fully engaged throughout and that's something to have your entire student body in the gym engaged in an assembly. Um, of course, as was mentioned, it concluded with a performance by Mr. Kelly and
043Dr. Warren, who I'm told brought the house down. We have a quick little video of that. Um, if we wouldn't mind just sharing. It's a quick snippet, but I think it's important for you all to get a sense of what that looked like. That is the slideshow, Dr. Binder. The link is actually on the actual >> the video that's on the slide. That that's one we'll show shortly. But let me just see. Yes, that's it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Two videos. Thank you, Mr. Trabinder. All right, definitely bringing the house down. A great way to end it. All right, moving on to prosperity. Our campuses have been full of learning, creativity, and celebration these past few weeks at PGHS. You've also heard about Vapper, visual and performing arts week, uh, which brought incredible energy
044to campus with students and staff embracing the theme, the roaring 20s. There's a slideshow that I thought we could just take a quick look at that shows some amazing photos from that event. Pretty amazing, right Paige? That probably doesn't do it justice at all. I mean, this was a week of vibrancy and just amazing to be a part of. I got to see a small snippet of a half hour of it on one of the days. So, just congratulations to the staff and students for working together on that. That same week as uh trusty talked about it was also at Pacific Grove High School well attended and wellcoordinated open house. Uh again just you know lots of vibrancy. I think a significant change this year was moving it to the spring. So you know later
045hours sunshine just more of a vibe on campus. So just such so much fun at the elementary level. I've gotten to get to into many classes in the past two weeks. I just love getting to see from our youngest learners how they're learning on building their foundational skills. our upper students engaging in complex multi-step problem solving. Continue to be impressed how our teachers are implementing the new ELE education. Uh and then a big thing I've noticed is the increase in our student teachers this year and I'm just so grateful to our veteran teachers for taking them under their their wing. Um we've got an amazing group uh hearing from our veteran teachers and our student teachers. Thank you to our staff for giving back and paying that forward uh to just the field of education.
046It's going to be exciting to see them as they launch into their careers next year. Last week I also had a special visit from PGMS principal for a day and I think that's on the next slide. Is it? Yes, there we go. That's principal wrote in the back not looking very happy because uh Becca James I had put in some you know stiff rules for the day from what I understand but it was just very engaging to hear from him. I also got a chance to attend Robert Down second grade performance of together. Uh just highlighting our themes of understanding and acceptance. Uh great job to Mr. Amazer there. Um and I think that really brings it to an end. I just you know finally we Oh, the last part. Yes, the PGMS talent show,
047right? Just we've heard a lot about that. What an amazing event to be a part of and to see in action. Um so just thank you to our staff. I know we're heading into uh spring break next week. I just encourage everyone to hopefully you're taking time to for yourselves to recharge, refill your cups. It's going to be very necessary. Um, and with that, I turn it back to you, President Murray. >> Thank you, Dr. Adamson. Principal Roach, you did not look happy in that photo. You were replaced. Oh, >> things went well on campus with Principal James at the helm under maybe he's got a future career in leadership. Um, next on our agenda is our safety report. >> Thank you, President McMary. Um, as Dr. Adamson mentioned, we've had uh uh three different
048LCAP sessions recently. Uh, one of which, uh, Dr. or Director Martinez provided an overview of our safety plan and how the protocols directly align with the goals of our LCAP 1, 2, and 4. Uh, we had a pretty heavily attended meeting that night. It was also our uh safety committee meeting as well, joint meeting with the LCAP. Uh on the first of the month, we sent a survey out to help improve our um understanding of safe routes to schools as the district and the city partners with TAMY on future safe route to school projects. Uh the SH survey is short for those of you listening online. Takes about 5 minutes to complete and it'll help us uh move forward with some of the projects within the city that we would partner on with uh with
049the city and Tamy. Under drug awareness and prevention assemblies, as Dr. Adamson mentioned, uh Dr. Grover had had u a few scheduled for us. One of which is Robert Down May 1st at 9:00. Forest Grove April 24th at 10:30 a.m. And then as Dr. Adamson mentioned uh in her update, PGUSD hosted the Fentanol High movie night. Um, and fentanyl awareness day, as a reminder, is April 29th. And then a couple of future items uh just to pay attention to. In June, staff is going to bring forward a comprehensive review of our 5-year safety plan to the board. And uh we'll highlight the fact that in 2026, we will be reviewing um all of the safety audit findings once more uh that was established in our comprehensive threat risk assessment from 23. Uh, and we'll take
050a look at our current needs um, and any pivoting we may need to do moving forward as it relates to training and support for our sites. That's it for me tonight. >> You for your report. Um, the next item on our agenda is individuals desiring to address the board. Um, I will read out the rules regarding public comment. Public comment on any item of interest to the public that is within the board's jurisdiction will be heard and the board will also take public comment on each specific agenda item prior to board action. Any individual wishing to comment on a specific item on the agenda is asked to wait until that item is being discussed. Um the board will allow a reasonable time for public comment on each agenda item. Each speaker has three minutes and
051there will be no more than 20 minutes for public comment pursuant to board policy. Um, just a reminder that this is a meeting of the board of education and it's a business meeting conducted in public and that the Brown Act and the law limits our ability to respond to any public comment, though we may choose to direct items to the administration for action or future agenda. So with that um we will begin with community member comment public comments on non-aggenda items. If there are any community members wishing to contribute, please raise your hand online or come forward to the podium. Just give it a moment. Okay. Um, seeing none, um, item B we will move on to is PGSD staff comments on non-aggenda items. If anyone would like to make a comment, please raise your
052hand or come forward. Okay. Um, no public comments this evening. Um, the next item on our agenda is our consent agenda. Items that are listed on the consent agenda are considered routine and may have been discussed at a previous meeting. There is no discussion of these items prior to board vote unless a member of the board specifically or request specific items be discussed and pulled from the agenda. Each item on consent is approved by the board of trustees and shall be deemed considered in full and adopted as recommended. This evening we have a consent agenda consisting of items A through L. Um the first thing I will do is go out to public comment on the consent agenda agenda. Is there anyone wishing to make a public comment on consent? >> Okay. Um, with that
053I'll bring it back to the board for uh any discussion or really any items if there are any to pull for this evening. I'm seeing no movement towards the microphones which is just fine. Um, which I'm guessing is no discuss. Well, that is our board discussion done. Um, any comments from our student trustee on the consent agenda this evening? No. Okay. Um, with that, is there a motion from the board on consent? >> I'll move to accept the consent agenda as presented. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Motion made by trustee Wax and seconded by clerk Shamos. Um, first we will go to our student trustee vote. Are you in favor? You can say I or no. >> I. Thank you. Okay. Um, we have a motion and a second. All uh
054remaining trustees in favor please signify by saying I. >> Any nos? No. That passes four to zero with one trustee absent. Thank you everyone. Um the first item on moving on to our action discussion um portion of the agenda is item A resolution number 1185 2026 school board trustee elections um with the Monterey County Elections Department. And this is your item Dr. Adamson. >> Absolutely. Well, this is something routine that we bring forward on a election year. uh for this year on November 3rd voting day we will have uh we we are required to uh we will be bringing forward a vote for trustee areas 1 3 and five and this is really just part of our requirement to notify the county that we will be holding an election for those three areas um and
055so really I am requesting the board this evening to adopt this resolution that would allow us to place that uh on the ballot for November 3rd for those three trustee areas. >> Thank you Dr. Adamson. Um, are there any public comments on this agenda item? No hands raised and no one in the room. Um, I will bring it back to the board for discussion. Um, we have before us uh the resolution and there there is a revised statement of election facts that was in our binders this evening that uh accurately captures all of our terms. Um beyond that I think Dr. Adamson um in terms of having elections in three zones um I see our map right here. I'm wondering is this going to be enough so people can see where they live and know
056if they're on like the right side of 9inth Street and they're in zone one or they're in the I just want to be able to give the information out so that it's easy to access and that so that we can tell people when they're asking or they're interested and community members can know which zone they're in if they're interested in um joining the board. Um >> yeah, absolutely. I think the one that's in the hard packet, no to answer that question, you cannot tell that. However, from what I understand is the map that is online. Uh there is the ability to um you know add a tool which I know our um director of technology was working on. So I'll get confirmation that that is current up as of now. But to allow for people
057to go ahead and actually zoom in and be able to tell exactly even if it's down to the you know area of a street if one side is one one area and the on the other side the other. >> So that is what we are working on to make sure that's available. Yeah. Um and my other question was um if we are going to kind of send out a district-wide communication to the community to make them aware of elections and the election boundaries and just to begin gathering interest >> make a note of that for communication. Absolutely. Yeah. And assistant soup John just said as well on the ballot as well the the areas will be showing you know more clearly as well. >> I think it's more right now in case people are interested
058in running. So, if they know if they're living in zone 1 or zone 3 or zone 5 or their neighbor who's interested in running is in the same zone cuz it it can be pretty tricky and I want the public to be able to know um which zone is which. Um those were my questions. Thank you. Um any other board member questions on this comments on this item? >> Trustee clerks. Um >> yeah, just that um in the resolution it it doesn't really say when the deadline is for applying for the board position. Um and I believe it's usually in August sometime. Um so it it could be helpful to have that information out there. Um, and I would just wonder if if any of the three people that are going to be up for
059reelection, if they know they're not going to run again, you know, to let pe let people know soon enough before that August, you know, um, deadline so that um, you when we don't get into a situation where we don't have anybody that is ready to run. Um, other than that, you can I went online. You can enlarge it on um the map, so it's fairly uh decent. But but you know, we can also encourage people to to, you know, let us know what address they have so we can verify what what uh district they're in. Any Trusty Wax. >> Yes. Uh the 60,000 just goes to the county to get it on the ballot. It's >> correct. That's the cost. Mhm. Yeah. Not not cheap. >> That's it. >> One other just so that >>
060Can you turn your mic on? >> Sorry. Thought I did. um the dis our district pays for the statement, the candidate statement. So that was our kind of um offer to help make it more um fair to people um to be able to because otherwise you're paying candidates are paying for their statement if they're going to put a statement in the uh in the book. But we we pay for their statement. So >> perhaps that would be good information to be sharing when whatever this communication that comes out with the deadlines for filing and what the district provides because that is important information. Okay. I don't recall what we did in two years ago. No, >> I don't think we did any kind of communication. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we will. >> Well, I'm looking
061forward to that. There wasn't a catapult text. >> Okay. Um no, see no further board discussion um on this item. Um are there any comments from our student representative with regard to uh the schoolboard election this fall? Um, I'll bring it back then to the board. Um, does anyone would anyone like to make the motion? >> Did we do public? >> Oh, we did public comment before board discussion. Um, yes, thank you for double checking. >> Sorry. Um, >> I'll move to accept resolution number 1185 about the school board trustee election. >> Okay. Motion made by Trusty Wax. >> A second from clerk Shamas. All those in or student board representative vote >> I. >> Thank you. Um, the rest of the board, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Any
062nos? That passes 40 with one trustee absent. Thank you. Moving to item B. This is resolution number 1186, issuance of a TR and or a tax and revenue anticipation note, TR not to exceed $8 million. Assistant Superintendent Jordan. >> Thank you, President McNary. Um this is a routine item, but I will explain for the audience and those online tonight um what it is that the board is um has in front of them to approve this evening with 1186. Uh the district has been part of the California Schoolboard Association's cash reserve program. Uh going on uh we're walking into our 29th year. Um this is because the district is a basic aid school district and as a basic aid school district, we do receive our uh property tax revenue in chunks throughout the year. So, as
063a basic aid school district, it's it's tough to maintain cash flow within the district. So, this district has been part of a tax revenue anticipation note offering for a very long time now, which allows us the revenue uh to bridge those gaps between property tax uh assessment time of year. So, basically December and April. Ultimately, when we receive our uh final tax revenue for the fiscal year in April or May, there's a bridge between then and December where there's really very limited revenue coming into the district, but there are expenditures of course every single month and liabilities associated with with with those expense. So, what we're doing tonight is bringing forward the trend tax revenue anticipation note not to exceed 8 million uh for the 2627 fiscal year. I will note that the $8 million
064uh was the same size trend that we had sized for this year 2526. So we have seen some leveling on the cash flow uh for our district and uh as you can see at the bottom there is a fiscal impact associated with this uh tran cost of issuance is 52,000 and then the interest associated with the tran is around 230,000 and I will note this is a one-year TR tax revenue anticipation note or a bridge uh financing program that the district utilizes that's that's due and payable at the end of each fiscal year. In fact, we just paid off the tram this year through county treasury this month and I will be open for any questions. >> Thank you, Assistant Superintendent Jordan. Um, we will first go out to public comment on this item. Is
065there anyone wishing to address the board um either in person or online? Okay, seeing no hands up and no one um approaching the podium, I will bring it back to the board and our student rep for any comments on our big giant loan that we have to get to cover expenses until we um receive our property taxes. That's I mean when you break it down, that's essentially what it is. have to have a loan to cover expenses until our property taxes come in because they don't come in consistently at one time all at once or anything. So, um it sounds big and it sounds scary when you look at $8 million. I mean, just as a monetary figure, but um but this is like you said, routine. So, um, any other board members wishing to
066comment on the TR or our student rep trusty? I just, uh, I know this is routine, um, and that it's something that we have to do to bridge us through until we get the payment, but it does pain me to look at the cost of issuance plus interest when we just had RIFFs. So, I at least want to just put that out there that um, if it wasn't essential, we wouldn't do it. Um, so kind of coming on the heels of layoffs, I think it's important to put that out there that if if we could make it work, we would. Um, so I just wanted to say that out loud. >> Thank you for sharing that, Trusty Wax. >> And, uh, I'll just note in his absence that, uh, Dr. Hayen wants us to look
067at what we would need to not need a TR in future years, too. So >> definitely good. >> Yeah, >> hopefully. >> Yeah, at some point for the future. That's that's the goal. Um uh with that, no further discussion. Um would anyone on the board like to make the motion? I'll move that we adopt resolution number 1186, the issuance of a tax and revenue anticipation note not to exceed $8 million. >> Motion made by trustee Shamos. Um second. >> Okay. And a second from trustee Wax. Um student representative vote I or no. >> I. >> Thank you. Um remainder of the board all of those in favor please signify by saying I. I >> I are there any nos? Seeing none, this passes 4 uh with one abstension or one absence, excuse me. Um the
068next item on our agenda is on page 126, item C, which is resolution 1190, recognizing May as Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Um this is your item, Dr. Adamson. >> Yes, it is. We have three resolutions we're bringing forward this evening for recognitions and this is the first of three um or I'm thinking more along the lines of sorry, you know, recognitions here at the school, but you are right. It is it is four. Um, as I bring forward resolution 1190 proclaiming May 2026 as Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I want to take a moment to connect this recognition to our core value of belonging. At PGUSD, belonging means ensuring that every student sees themselves reflected, valued, and celebrated in our schools. Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides an important opportunity for us to honor
069the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities while also deepening understanding across our district. I'm especially grateful for the intentional efforts of our staff across all of our sites who have thoughtfully planned activities throughout the month from library displays and literature that highlight student voices and experiences to parentled bulletin board uh displays, classroom lessons, student engagement opportunities and family involvement. Many sites will be utilizing a rich online resource from the Smithsonian as well as featuring novels such as the silence that binds us and we are not free at the high school level. All of this elevating perspective and stories. So, it's with that spirit that I recommend the adoption of resolution 1190 this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Adamson. Um, we will go out to public comment on this resolution and
070we will bring it back to the board with no public comments. Um, are there any comments from the typically do we read the resolution? That's where we're at. Okay. Okay. Um, I think next we typically read the resolution. Trusty Wax, would you like to read the resolution for us this evening? >> Yes, it would be my pleasure. >> Uh, resolution number 1190, resolution proclaiming May 2026 as Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Whereas Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, AAPI Heritage Month, is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. And whereas the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community is an inherently diverse population composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than 100 language dialects. And whereas according to
071the July 1st, 2022 Census Bureau, Asians represent 6.1% and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders make up.3% of the total population of the United States. And whereas California has the largest Asian-American population in the United States and the second highest proportion of Asian-American residents after Hawaii. And in the Pacific Grove Unified School District, Asian students make up 9.4% of the population. Pacific Islanders make up 6% of the student population. And whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants arrived to the United States on May 7th, 1843. And the first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10th, 1869 with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants. And whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have played a key role in American history since the first Chinese immigrants arrived to the United
072States in the 1850s following the California Gold Rush. And whereas there are numer numerous historical Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders uh contributors to the United States, including activists, actors, architects, athletes, artists, authors, more activists, creators, doctors, entrepreneurs, inventors, musicians, performers, political leaders, scientists, singers, writers, and so many more. And whereas the Pacific Grove Unified School District celebrates Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and recognizes the significant contributions that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders offer the community at large. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education hereby declare May 2026 as Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We urge all community members to join us in recognizing Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. >> Thank you, Trusty Wax. And thank you, Dr. Adamson, for sharing some of the ways that um students are engaging
073this month. Um now, it is appropriate for board discussion. Are there any board members wishing to comment on this item? Clerk Shamas. >> Um, yeah. Well, one thing I wanted just to ask the student rep if um the schools does anything. Do you know if your high school has recognized this at all? >> I'm not sure, but I know the ethnic studies class that's been added is a big help in representing all the different ethn ethnicities that we have. That's good. And but you as the student rep could take it back to them and say, "Hey, by the way, May is this month." You know, it's um it it's one thing just to have a resolution, but you want to have some trickle down effect of something. And the one thing I remember about um
074Pacific Islanders, we have a few, and when my daughter was in high school, we had a Pacific Islander on the basketball team. And the team was doing really well. And after a while, we used to do this Tongan chant. She was from Tonga. Do you remember that, Erica? >> Oh, okay. Well, you would have been coming to the games. Yes. So, but we used to do a tong and chant before each game and it was so much fun and it was just again, you know, this recognition of, you know, someone that has a culture that that the rest of us didn't really know that much about, but it was inclusive. And so, just hope that something fun like that happens. Any other trustees wishing to comment on this item? Um, with that, I will look
075to the board uh for a motion to adopt resolution 1190 proclaiming May 2026 as Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. >> Thank you, Trusty Otmar. Motion made by Trustee Otmar. Um, I will make the second. Um, okay. Mot motion made by Trusty Atmar, second from uh Trusty McNary. Um, we will first go over to our student rep. >> I you. Um, remainder of the board, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Okay. Are there any nos? Motion passes four to zero with one trustee absent. Okay. Thank you everyone. Um, item D is resolution 1191 recognizing May as mental health awareness month on page 129 in our packets. And this is also your item, Dr. Adamson. >> Absolutely. Thank you. So, yes, our resolution 11 191 proclaiming May 2026 is mental health awareness month.
076I'd like to connect this to our core values of safety and belonging because at its heart, mental health is about feeling seen, supported, and safe. I'd like to begin by recognizing our incredible mental health support team, including our counselors, our psychologists. I really I think I include our health clerks and district nurse in that group, our mental health therapists across our sites along with executive director Cork Anthony for the exceptional care and support that they provide to our students each and every day. At the same time, I want to acknowledge that this work does not rest solely with our specialists. Every member of our staff, regardless of role, contributes to the well-being of our students. Our goal is simple yet important that every child in PGUSD should have and is connected to at least one
077adult who they feel they can turn to, someone they know, they can count on, and reach out to when they're in need, no matter what. The recognition of this month is important because it helps build awareness and sends a clear message to our students. It's okay to not be okay. And the path to healing begins by reaching out, by talking, and by supporting one another. So, it's with that sp spirit that I recommend the adoption of resolution 11 191. >> Thank you, Dr. Adamson. And this evening, um, Trusteem, would you please read the resolution for us? >> Would love to do that. Thank you. >> This is resolution number 11 191, resolution proclaiming May 2026 as mental health awareness month. Whereas National Mental Health Awareness Month is an important opportunity to recognize the impact of
078mental health for all Americans, including students, teachers, and staff at the Pacific Grove Unified School District. And whereas we support and thank mental health mental health service providers who work with people living with mental health conditions. And whereas our school district recognizes the importance of removing stigma from the conversation about mental health. And whereas according to the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness, one in five adults in the United States experiences a mental health illness each year. And one in six youth aged six to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year. And whereas suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 14 and third leading cause of death for people aed 15 to 24 according to NMI. And whereas our school district prioritizes the social, emotional, and mental well-being
079of students. and this school year invested more than 1.5 million of its local control accountability plan funding toward mental health support. And whereas our school district works to provide additional mental health supports for students in need through Monterey County Behavioral Health. And now therefore, be it resolved by the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education that we recognize May 2026 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. Thank you, Trusty Otmar. Um, next we will go out to public comment on this resolution. Is there anyone wishing to address the board in person or online? Okay, seeing no one, um, I will bring it back to the board for, um, any comments or discussion on this resolution. Clerk Shamas, go right ahead. >> Um, I don't think you can overstate how important this is. Um, and I
080mean, it just seems like we're seeing more and more younger and younger um, children affected by different mental health issues. Um, and so it's so important to be able to identify as early as possible anything that could be going on with a child. Um, I speak from experience and it's it's a long long journey and there's more information now than there was you know 30 years ago but still there is a lot of misinformation and a lot of fear maybe around different mental health disorders that doesn't contribute to being uh a supportive atmosphere. So, you know, I just hope that um that staff, you know, is as educated as they can get in terms of of knowing what to do if they see any signs of depression, psychosis, um anxiety. There's so much out there
081though that I mean it it's just unbelievable to me right now. So, it's it's really important and um I'm just encouraging all staff to and students as well to um be aware um be uh supportive. Don't be afraid to uh intervene when necessary. Um and um yeah and and and students too like the high school students, middle school students, even elementary school students can learn some of these things about mental health that can be calming to them and so they don't isolate. And so anyway, that's my soap box. said, Trusty Shamas, >> uh, more conversations and normalization around the topic and, um, I think we'll all be safer, our kids will be safer. Um, and like you said, being able to say it's okay to not be okay and to, uh, ask for help. Um,
082I think one of the things I'm learning in parenting and mental health, my own mental health and family mental health, is um, using subtitles and just even that I don't know what I need today, but like I'm not feeling all right. Something's off, like I shouldn't be alone. Um, just as simple as that. Um, but I think the more as we as adults can normalize um the conversations and normalize just saying the word anxiety without the fear um or without feeling the internal stigma of something's different or wrong about me, the more we will be able to uh share that with our kids and model for them, you know, that everybody's different. >> So, and sometimes those that are struggling aren't the ones who look like they're struggling. So, just to be kind um as
083we're moving through, but that'll be my soap box to add to your soap box. Thank you. Um any other trustees wishing to comment? No, >> I just wanted to say thank you um for bringing this um >> and just speaking about how if there's an adult looking at if if every child in our district has an adult that they know or even a peer someone in their peer group that they know that they can talk to. Um I think that that's important. And it's important to kind of create a net um for kids and understanding that it really is not that uncommon to have anxiety or to feel depressed or to just not feel right and to not be okay. I think it's something that probably all of us experience at some point and we
084don't just talk about it because we're there's such stigma around it. So, um I'm just glad we're talking about it and that um that this is something that is now in conversation and I hope that it continues to be in conversation at the school sites and and throughout the district and and not only just students but with staff because teaching is not an easy job either. So, um just sort of knowing that, um it's it's not just about the students, too. That there are plenty of staff members that probably need just as much support out there. So, that's all. And it's not a soap box, ladies. >> Touche. Um Trusty Wax. Um yeah, thanks for everyone's comments and bringing this to light and thanks for all the staff, not just the counselors, but there is
085so much um social emotional learning and mental health that I I feel like teachers and support staff add to the wellness of of our kids. And to echo Trusty Shamas's points, staff and teachers definitely should, you know, focus on their mental health as well. Um, and then I realize that there are probably zero kids watching, but I I you know, like the thing about depression or anxiety is like the the most pernitious part is that you think that's like reality. and um and like there's no way of getting out of it. So like I just remember like feeling so horrible in high school. Uh not all the time, you know, but that's depression. But um and when you're clear or healthy, it really is just like whoa whoa, you know. So that stat about um
086suicide is I mean for any age group or for any demographic it's it's awful. But it it's um to think about people so young thinking like that was the only way of living is just uh so tragically sad to me. Um, and I know we have we have great resources in the district. And again, for the non-existent students listening, um, I just want to echo that California has um, two app options for free, too. The Saloona app and then Bright Life Kids. Um, I haven't used them, but you know, they seem wellunded and, you know, good. Um, so it just use the resources if if you're feeling a particular way. >> Trusty Wax. Um, and Trusty Omar, to your point about every student having someone to feel connected to, I know from um, spending time
087visiting, not touring, visiting the middle school with Dr. Adamson that one of the projects that um the principal team is working on there is quite literally a spreadsheet to make sure every kid has at least one adult that they can go to and finding the kids who haven't found their adult yet and finding you know just me actually doing the the physical exercise of you know putting into practice and documenting it. So, I mean it just really great example of of making sure everyone's feeling including and included and finding belonging at that site. So, uh thank you Mr. Roach and Mr. Jabani. Um student rep. Houston, would you like to make any comments on this resolution or do you know of any activities that leadership or the student body has planned for mental health awareness?
088Um, I believe that some of our counselors are planning a denim day for sexual assault awareness and that ASB has started amping up our promotion of all the resources we have on campus. Thanks. Do we know when Denim Day is? Not yet. Not yet. Okay. Um Um All right. Um, wrapping up discussion. Um, can I please get a motion from the board? >> Also move. >> Okay. A motion made to recognize May as mental health awareness month this year. Um, second. >> I'll second. >> Motion made by Trustee Otmar and a second from Trusty Wax. We will first go to our student representative vote. Are you in favor? >> I. Thank you. Um and to the rest of the bo board, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Are there any nos?
089Okay. Hearing none. Um that passes four to zero with one absent. Um thank you everyone. Thank you for the discussion. Um resolution 1192 item E is school principals day which is May 1st 2026. This is your item again, Dr. Adamson. >> Yes, it is. All right. Well, school principal day. And I'd like to take a moment to speak directly to our group of leaders who are sitting at the back of this room with us today. And I'm going to call them out by name right now. Principal Arun, Principal Brownfield, Principal Roach, Assistant Principal Tobani, Principal Omira, Assistant Principal Keller, Principal Martinez, and Assistant Principal Arps. This day is set aside to honor each of you. Your role, like so many in education, is often thankless. Yet, it carries tremendous responsibility. You serve as the bridge
090between our students, our staff, our families, and the broader vision of our district. Your commitment, your presence, your courage, and your ability to lead with both heart and focus are simply inspiring. I know firsthand what each of you navigates on a daily basis. The complexity, the pressure, the weight of the responsibility for the well-being and success of every one of your students. The work is demanding emotionally, mentally, sometimes even physically. And yet, day after day, you show up with resilience and a smile on your faces to do it all again. Your role is to carry both the celebrations and the challenges. You take ownership when things go well, but you step forward with grace and determination when they don't. That's the hard part. Through it all, you remain grounded in your purpose and your why,
091which I know full well is making a difference in the lives of the incredible students each of you serves. It's truly an honor and I say that with all my heart to serve alongside each of you and a privilege for me tonight to recognize each of you in this way. It is with great appreciation and honor that I recommend the adoption of resolution to recognize each of these incredible, fearless, courageous leaders. >> Dr. Adamson. Um, clerk Shamas, will you read the resolution for us this evening, please? >> Resolution recognizing May 1st, 2026 as school principal day. Whereas May 1, 2026 has been designated as school principal day. And whereas today's school principal is a team leader, coach, counselor, collaborator, cheerleader, and more allin-one. And whereas being a site instructional leader and building a positive school
092culture and climate on campus may be the most critical roles of a principal's duty to all students. And whereas instructional leadership of principles involves setting clear goals, managing curriculum, monitoring lesson plans, allocating resources equitably, and evaluating data regularly to drive grade level readiness. And whereas when good school leaders excel, their actions can change the lives of students, staff, and community members. And whereas principles overcome obstacles and challenges daily to make a difference in the lives of students and families. And whereas we are fortunate to have dedicated site leaders that go above and beyond each and every day for the district's students. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education commends our principles and encourages parents in the community to recognize the efforts of principles as we celebrate May
0931, 2026. Thank you, Clerk Shamas. We will first go out to public comment on this item. Is there anyone in the public wishing to address the board or comment on school principal day? Okay, seeing no hands up online, um, anyone in the room wishing to address the board? No. Um, I will bring it back to the board for discussion on this item. Trusty, I just want to say thank you to all of you. I don't know how you all manage so much. Um, and I don't even know the half of it because the amount of time that you guys dedicate. I'm not sure how any of you raise kids or have life outside of work. Um, but just thank you because it shows in in our students. It shows on campus. It shows in our
094district and you guys are the reason this district is so great. You guys are like boots on the ground and running everything and making everything so fantastic. So, I'm just grateful and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you and I'm glad this is here in front of us. So, thank you for bringing it. Thanks you guys. Well said. Trusty Mark. >> Yeah, agreed. You are everywhere, principles. And I don't know how like honestly I when I was a kid, I thought a principal just had a job that they went to school in the morning when we did and then they went home and that was it. But the amount as I know, right? How naive. But just I mean as a parent you get a very different lens of seeing how
095much you do and how much you care and how much you pour your all into our students and how you stay up one night late at a presentation and you're back out there to greet on the blacktop at 8:00 a.m. Um and uh just be there for the kids. So I am eternally grateful. You have spent a lot of time with my children um um and Mr. Rogamman too as well back in the forest grove days. Thank you eternally for what you do to serve our students and um keep it up. I mean yeah we're just this is exciting. Thanks. Um >> I mean you are in control of my so thank you so much. >> I don't want to toss you. No, it is like a an amazing crew and but that I mean
096not to take away from this day but it is true that it it's at every level like we're great with teachers. I I love the staff at the district office. Um so it really does take everyone to make this thing run. Um, but on today or on today or a month from now, uh, uh, thank you so much. And you know, I don't drive by every school, but I always end up driving by the middle school and inevitably it's always during lunch. And uh, Mr. Roach or Mr. Tavani are just like walking with kids and uh, it's great. It's like you're just real people with kids. Um, yeah. And it's terrible because they keep on beating you up because you're both in splints and stuff, but um, but I hope I hope it's worth it
097somehow, you know. Uh, no, but but thank you all. >> Thank you everyone for your comments. Um, we will now look for a motion from the board to approve the resolution or adopt the resolution. >> I move that we adopt the resolution number 1192. >> Okay. Motion made by trustee or clerk Shamas and a second from trusteem. Student rep vote. I thank you. um remainder of the board. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. Are there any nos? Motion passes four to zero with one absent. Uh thank you, Dr. Adamson. Thank you. Um oops. Item F is going to be resolution number 1193 honoring the service of Robin McCrae. And this is your item, Dr. Adamson? Yes, the fourth resolution indeed this evening. Well, yes, it's my honor to bring
098forward this resolution honoring uh the dedicated service of Robin McCrae who is the chief executive officer of Community Human Services. Uh she is retiring after 33 years of service to Mterrey County and her role as chief executive officer. Uh, Community Human Services is a nonprofit agency dedicated to providing highquality mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services to Montterrey County residents to help them reach their full potential. And it's my honor to bring you this resolution for your approval this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. Adamson. Um, as the current board member for the Community Human Services Board, I volunteered to read this resolution honoring the service of Robin McCrae. Um, all of the jurisdiction, school boards, and city councils within um, community human services were offered the opportunity to honor her service um, to the community
099and to the county. Um, so this is our moment for that. Um, resolution number 1193 honoring the service of Robin McCrae. Whereas Pacific Grove Unified School District is a member agency of Community Human Services, a joint powers authority serving Monterey County and has benefited from the leadership and stewardship provided through that partnership. And whereas Robin McCrae has served as chief executive officer of community human services for 33 years, providing sustained leadership, strategic direction, and a strong commitment to public service on behalf of the residents of Monterey County. And whereas during her tenure, community human services strengthened and expanded programs supporting health care access, homeless services, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment, enhancing access to essential services throughout the county. And whereas Robin McCrae has led community human services with integrity, professionalism, and dedication,
100earning the respective staff, partner agencies, and public sector collaborators. And whereas her decades of stewardship contributed to organizational stability, sound governance practices, and effective inter agency collaboration within the human community human services joint powers authority. And whereas her work on behalf of vulnerable individuals and families has had a meaningful lasting impact on the Monterey County community particularly those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. Now therefore, be it resolved that Pacific Grove Unified School District hereby recognizes and honors Robin McCrae for her 33 years of exemplary service and leadership as chief executive officer of human community human services. Be it further resolved that Pacific Grove Unified School District expresses its sincere appreciation for her dedication, vision, and enduring contributions to the community, human services, its member agencies, and the residents of Monterey County.
101Be it further resolved that Pacific Grove Unified School District congratulates Robin McCrae on the occasion of her retirement and extends best wishes for continued fulfillment, good health, and success in future endeavors. Um, with that I will go out to public comment on this agenda item. It's been a quiet night. Um, and seeing no public comment, um, I'll bring it back to board members for any discussion on this item. Yes, clerk Shamas. I I feel like I need to say something because Robin uh came to the board when I first got on the board because there was a this was back in 98 and there was a definite feeling among newer board members that that I had just joined the board, but there was some that just wanted to drop out of the partnership with CHS.
102and she came to the board and pleaded with us not to do that because we were actually, you know, part of this community. But some of the people on our board were comparing like saying, "Well, how many PG kids do you really serve?" And yes, okay, there was fewer PG kids that were being served than maybe some other districts. But she made the point that, you know, our participation mattered. and I agreed with her and so um I asked the rest of the board to just let's give it a chance. I'll volunteer to be the rep. They went for it and so um you know she 33 years that means she was she started in 93. Um but actually community human services started I believe in like in 1969. Okay. And that was a a
103response to the huge drug use culture that started in the late60s with around high school students. So um but what she did with this program was she so expanded it. I mean it just went she she really um went above and beyond what maybe the the the original parameters of it were. So that she uh she had a methodone clinic started homeless youth services um you know drug counseling, family counseling. So she was really the backbone of this organization and I think she tried to retire a few years ago and then they wouldn't let her. So So anyway, I guess this is for good. But um I I congratulate her because truly I mean when you when you see people like this who have dedicated their lives to um a cause such as this it
104it's so impressive. So >> really well said. Yeah. Two shelters on the peninsula for women and children. One in Monterey, one in Seaside. outpatient services for youth and Selena's started a foundation to she started a foundation recently to grow money for the nonprofit in her um retirement. But yeah, just an incredible figure on the peninsula and just a dedicated uh public figure who's who's really who's really impacted a lot of lives and the most vulnerable amongst us. And I agree with you, it we're not paying into it because we know it's going to be a hundred of our students who are who are going to benefit. But when we do have a family or a student that needs or requires or just a community member, I'm proud of us for being willing to be part
105of the greater good and be willing to be part of preventative services and care. So yeah, thank you for sharing, Trusty Shamas. Um, any other trustees wishing to make comments at this time? Okay. Um, any comments from our student rep? Okay. Um, with that, I um would be happy to, uh, make the motion to adopt resolution 1192 honoring the dedicated service of Robin McCrae, uh, CEO of Community Human Services. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion made by me and seconded by, uh, Clerk Shamos. Student rep vote. >> I. >> Thank you. Um, rest of the board, all of those in favor, please say I. >> I. Are there any nos? No. That passes 4 with one absent. And thank you all for um honoring Robin as a district and a board.
106And I think we'll get a copy of the resolution to her after it's signed. Okay. >> Okay. Um we have now gotten through the resolution portion of the agenda and um we are on to uh item G award of public bid 2026 quick start project list for Robert down and I will turn it over to you assistant superintendent Jordan. Thank you, President McNary. And um I'll just quickly highlight and then I'll bring Dustin Connor, our program manager, and uh Director Anderson up to the microphone. But uh it brings me great pleasure to start tonight with um bringing forward a couple of projects. G&H both are related to uh measure D project quick start list that the board approved earlier this year. Uh and what uh you know brings me even a larger smile is the
107bidding uh market that we're dealing with right now, not only in this district, but in our county. So, we establish a uh engineers cost estimate for every single one of these projects. We present that to the board. Uh it's part of our our uh bond measure program list. And then when the bidding uh begins, sometimes, you know, we have a little bit of trepidation over what the costs are going to look like. In reality, um I'm I'm very happy to state uh this evening that both of these bids came in well under budget, which helps us reallocate some of those funds moving forward. So, uh, first item tonight is our quick start project bid award for Robert Down Elementary site work. Uh, it's actually the second that's, uh, Forest Grove. It's the second, um, site
108plan. You can see there up on the screen. The board's seen this before. A lot of programming, uh, and design went into this project. Uh, not only with our design team, but of course, it started with the stakeholders, our our teachers, our staff, our principles. Uh and then ultimately uh the design was brought to uh brought forward for approval by the board. Um again, bids came in well under budget for this project. Um the project budget for this was around 1.8 million and the project came in at about one just over $1 million. Uh this project's going to start this summer. Uh and with the approval of the board tonight, we will get contracts issued and begin the procurement process. And I will stop talking now. And if I could invite our program manager uh
109Dustin Connorup and uh Director Anderson to maybe talk a little bit more about this project. >> Good evening everyone. Um, so yeah, so the so good news, the the bids came in well under budget and um so for for Robert Down, I think our uh well, I don't think I know our uh our budget was um was 1.3 million and we came in around 1 million. So there's $300,000 savings here that uh that we'll push forward to next summer's work. Um this summer we bid off um doing a lot of site work uh in the back area. So, uh, asphalt work. All this gray is asphalt work. And then new striping and, uh, doing some fencing over there on the on the west side. And then, uh, new ADA path work coming up from the,
110uh, from the corner of the building right here. And then, uh, and then we actually had a, uh, an ad alternate, which was, uh, this this right hand side here, which because we didn't know if we had all the money to to do the whole scope. Turns out we do. So, we're going to do all the lower side of the Robert Robert Down site work. Next summer, we're doing the uh the outdoor classroom amphitheater uh portion and that will bridge the uh the hillside between the upper upper section and the lower section >> right in this area right here. So, uh so I think we budgeted like 500,000 for that and measure B funding. And so, we'll be able to push 300 forward towards uh towards that project. And then now we'll have that that
111that savings in measure B will roll forward. So very good news. >> Go ahead. >> At this point I I would just like to point out that this started actually a couple years ago with the pencil sketch and us trying to deal with the water issue and and making it a more level and safe playground for our kids where they especially in the basketball court area. Um so this is multi-purpose. it's going to hopefully prevent a lot of that water that we get under the building from getting there as well. Um so it's not just a redesign for for playground purposes. It's also to, you know, save our beautiful building. >> And and um I'll also add that uh Monterey Peninsula Engineering is the the low bidder and they're a local contractor that we've worked
112with in the past. They do good job. I think they've worked on the district for many years, so we know them. And uh and with approval tonight, we'll send out the notice to proceed for these jobs tomorrow morning. We already have signed contracts on their side, so we'll execute those tomorrow. And then uh and then we'll start with the kickoff meeting the week of the 20th. And then we do a scheduling workshop. Um Barbara is actually going to put us up at the adult school. So we could do that with all the the general contractor and all their subcontractors on the week of the 27th and just get a jump on this so we got everything planned out and we can hit the hit the ground hard on June 1st when school gets out or
113when it's available. >> Thank you. Um we'll first go to public comment. Um is there anyone who would like to comment on this item on the agenda? All right. Um, no public comment. Any board members wishing to comment or ask questions, including our student trustee? >> Trusty Wax. >> I I forget the exact Wait, what's with what's with the globe map or the the United States and then the world? >> They have the United States and then this is the world map. >> That's just going to be on the pavement. Yeah. Striping. >> Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. >> Yeah. The the >> there were some questions about how to how they're going to actually do that. So, we have to uh we have to provide some layouts so they can get it right. >> Gotcha. Yeah.
114>> Yeah. >> Um I don't have any questions, but just to assistant superintendent Jordan, thank you for laying out what the bids were and why we chose to go with what we did. It's helpful to have the full picture. um when we're approving this. Um go ahead. Um so does this include the fencing too or >> uh just just on this side right here there's a there's like I think four different types of fences >> or the neighbors. So >> yeah, what we have there is a shared fence with our neighbors and they're it's simple wooden fence that is beginning to rot and we're going to replace that with what CMU? >> That's chain link with with slats. >> Oh, chain link with slats. Okay, good. And will that include any signs like no dogs
115or other kinds of information that >> if you'll tour our campuses now, there's a lot of nice new signage around. So we have no no dog signs, no bike signs, quite a few signs. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um Okay. Um With that, any other board members wishing to comment? All right. Um, then we have uh item. Does anyone want to make the motion to approve the 2026 quick start project list for um Oops. Robert Down Elementary to Monterey Peninsula Engineering. Am I looking at the wrong Thank you. Approve the award. >> Yeah, approve. >> I will I will make sure >> I got it. I appreciate you. Um motion made by trustee Otmar. I'm happy to second. Um we'll first go over to our student trustee. I or no? >> I. Thank you.
116Um, rest of the board, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Are there any nos? Okay. Um, that passes for zero with one absent. Um, thank you um, Assistant Superintendent Jor. Um, and thank you both as well for being here and for, um, the work that we're going to get excited to start doing. >> Uh, next for Forest Grove, right? Yeah. Let's go. >> All right. very similar news. Uh and up on the screen you can see the improvements for Forest Grove. Um one of the things that we moved forward with uh on the Forest Grove um public bid was the removal of the second level. Not that the scope of work and the design hasn't been completed. It has, but simply with the amount of time associated in the summer
117uh for completion, we felt like it was best to kind of split this project up. Uh we were a little bit concerned about having all of it completed by the beginning of the school year. So uh ultimately there were some cost savings associated with this project simply because the the the we looked at as an increment phase like phase one is lower level phase two is is second level and then of course phase uh three will be part of third level which is part of measure B. Um but even on this project as well with the scope that's presented we did come in under budget um dramatically under budget. Uh the bids came in for uh to award for Avala Construction of $995,000. Uh we had just over a $2 million budget and even with
118the removal of second level, we feel like it's around a300 or $400,000 savings. >> That's what we came in with the uh with our our estimate was about 400,000 more. So we should be in good shape there. >> Do you want me to talk about the scope real fast? Um, so the so this we we actually added some scope uh right here in between the uh building A and B. So the the entryway here. We're doing some campus beautifification. Uh adding some DG open areas right in front of the NPR here so we can uh so we can use that as a flexible space or outdoor classroom or spill space from the activities going on in the NPR. And then uh and then new concrete coming to connect these uh these these classrooms back to
119the to the walkways. And then all this darker area is all new landscaping. So as you approach the the school and come in the main section, that'll be a new um new garden um landscape area there. And then as you come out to the uh to the first level, all this is uh concrete right here. So that will be a new new locations for um for tables and with with shade. the shade tables that are being purchased. And then uh and then the amphitheater is also a part of this is concrete amphitheater with the big shade structure that can kind of lever over the back and all new 88 uh sidewalk around around this area all the way to the back. Uh we're upgrading the restrooms as well and redoing all the sewer line that
120goes this way and bringing the water line up to second level. And then uh next summer when we do second level, we'll pick up the water line and fix that out the way out the out the back of the campus there. So pretty good pretty good chunk for u for 900,000 and uh and Avala Construction is the contractor another local firm that we've worked with and uh and we like we enjoy uh their uh their work. >> Thank you. >> We will then go to public comment on the Forest Grove quickart project list. If anyone wishes to comment, please raise your hand or come forward to the podium. Okay. Um and then back to the board for any comments or questions on uh this item. Yes, Clerk Schm. >> Um for both schools, are you
121going to be like posting um the the diagram of what's going to be going on or not? >> You know how sometimes >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like um show what >> Yeah. rendering or something that kind of celebrates the the work that's to come and during the construction. >> We we should consider that. I I think we'd have to add some color and and pretty this thing up a little bit. But >> I think it for the public to just >> to just know what's going on and Yeah. >> Yeah. We can get like a you know 4x8 piece of plywood and put a sign on it and >> one of our neighboring districts has push >> some information. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. list the projects that are getting done this summer. So, we've got
122something that Yeah, I love that idea. >> Um, under construction. >> Um, any other board members want to comment? Okay. I will then look for a motion to approve the Forest Grove 2026 quick start project award to Abala Construction. >> So, move. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Okay. Motion made or by trusty Wax and seconded by clerk Shamas. We will first go over to our student trustee vote. >> I. >> Thank you. Trusty Houston. Um and then to the rest of the board. All of those in favor please signify by saying I. >> I. Are there any nos? >> Okay. Motion carries. 4 with one absent. Thank you. >> Thank you. Item I on our action agenda is on page 148. It is our Williams District uniform complaints, our quarterly report. Um
123Dr. Adamson, this is your item. >> Yes, it is. And this is a rout routine item which we bring forward quarterly. Um I'm pleased to share that for the third quarter of the school year, there were no incidents or complaints filed against uh any of the criteria. and I'll just list them briefly. Uh we are required to ensure that there are sufficient textbooks and instructional materials for each student to use in class. School facilities are clean, safe, and maintained in good repair. There are no teacher vacancies or mis assignments and parents, teachers, and the public know how to obtain complaint forms. At this point, there are no complaints. >> Thank you. Um and that form, complaint form is in our packet. Um, are there any public comments on this agenda item? Thank you, Director Binder.
124Um, no public comments on this item board. Any discussion on our Williams um report? >> Yes. Yes. only only that to add to what the superintendent was saying that this is a requirement that goes to the county office of education. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um where can Williams complaint forms be found if somebody wants to find them? >> They are on our our website. I don't have the exact specific page level if they are but um also you know as part of our policies as well but it is on our website and I can come back with that in specific information. >> I'm just curious. Thank you. >> Next time we report it I will be prepared to share that out. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Um >> parents and community complaints pro process. Say
125it again. >> Yeah, they're on our website under the home uh button under parents and community input and then there's a complaint process tab. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, if we are done with board discussion, I will look for a motion to approve the information in the Williams uh, uniform complaint quarterly report. >> So move. >> Thank you, Trusty Wax. A second >> and a second from Clerk Shamos. Thank you. We will first go to our student board member vote. >> Thank you, Trusty Houston. Um remainder of the board. All those in favor please say I. >> I. Are there any nos? Okay. Motion passes 4 zero with one absent. The last um Thank you Dr. Adamson >> and to Miss O' Sullivan who will be completing the form for district as your new executive
126assistant. So >> okay. I saw her name in here. This is one of her first. You're on the books, Miss O Sullen, for the Williams uniform complaint forms. I'm just kidding. I'm sorry for giving you a hard time. You don't even have a microphone to to defend yourself. Um, item J is our proposed board meeting calendar. Um, I'll first go to you, Dr. Adamson, for any updates. Yeah, there are no changes to the dates, but I have confirmed with Lulazano for our uh follow-up school governance session, and he is available on June 18th, which we have scheduled as a special board meeting. Um, if the board is in approval of assigning that for our follow-up school governance and remember that would also be uh the uh evening that he would bring forward the presentation on
127educational organizations, which we did not get to at our last session. Okay. >> So, that's our special meeting on the 18th. So, we will need that meeting it looks like. >> Okay. Um, no changes. Okay. Let's go out to public comment as we do for every item on the board calendar. Thank you, Director Binder. No public comments. Any discussion on the calendar as presented or with Dr. Adamson's comments? Okay, seeing none and there is no action to be taken, we can move on. Thank you, Dr. Adamson. Um, I think because we're not taking any action or changing anything that's presented, we can we don't have to vote. the details. >> Okay. Yeah. Right on. Yeah. For clarity. Thank you. Um Okay. So, do you want to make that motion? >> I move um to approve
128the propo proposed board meeting calendar with the adjusted change of June 18th um with meeting with Lulu Lozano. and all the all that hills. >> Thank you very much. Motion made by Trustee Otmar. I'm happy to second the motion. Um we'll go first to our student trustee vote. >> I thank you. Trusty Houston and the remainder of the board. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Are there any nos? >> No. >> That passes 40 with one absent. Thank you, Trusty Otar. Um We're going to take a five minute break um in order to excuse our student trustee for the evening and um we'll be back in approximately five minutes. screen. >> He's gonna tell us. >> I know, Laura. >> I don't want to say it out loud, but don't say it
129out loud. >> Yeah, don't. What? Yeah. A little bit. That's Yeah, >> soliciting. Thank you. So the farther I expand Okay. Sure. Oh, this one. >> Kick out. >> Okay. So, let's do the >> That's what Okay, >> we're returning to open session. Um, we are now getting into the information discussion portion of our agenda. We have one substantive item this evening, which is item A, exploration of revenue sources. um parcel tax information. This is your item, Assistant Superintendent Jordan. >> Thank you, President McMary. Um tonight, as we further the discussion as it relates to an item that um Dr. Adamson and myself brought forward at the March 5th meeting associated with our 5year Wow, it seems like it's really loud. 5-year fiscal stabilization plan and timeline. Um, we're bringing an item forward tonight for
130discussion purposes related to the potential parcel tax associated with our school district and our school district boundary area. And uh, we're fortunate enough to have Mr. Dale Scott online and he's going to uh, present this evening on this topic. >> Good evening. I'll start by seeing if everybody can hear me. >> Yes. >> Okay, good. Um, so I'm just going to simply take you through the process of bringing a parcel tax onto the ballot and then what a parcel tax is, what it's used for, what the timing would be, excuse me, and I'm happy to answer any questions on that. It's actually a fairly simple process. So unlike a general obligation bond which is used to um issue debt on behalf of the district and the debt is then used to finance capital facilities. Parcel
131taxes are generally used uh to uh to fund op ongoing operational needs of the district not capital facilities. There's no debt associated with them. Uh there is a per parcel tax which I'll describe in a moment. And those funds are deposited into the district's general fund on an annual basis. Um, and the funds are used for whatever whatever um items that the board deems to be necessary and useful. The parcel tax itself is somewhat similar to a general obligation bond, but has a lot of pieces that are dissimilar. So, for example, um the threshold for passage on a general obligation bond is 55% in California. For a parcel tax, it's 2/3. So, a very high bar. Alternatively, although it takes 2/3 of the board to vote yes to put a general obligation bond on the
132ballot, it only takes a simple majority of the board to vote yes to put um the parcel tax on the ballot. The parcel tax is exactly what it sounds like. It is a tax per parcel on every taxable parcel in the district. That would include residential, commercial, industrial, vacant, agricultural, etc., etc. It doesn't matter what its assessed valuation is. It doesn't matter what its use is. The the tax per parcel is the same. two houses side by side. One is a mansion, the other is a one room or onebedroom uh unit. Uh they pay exactly the same amount. The district has approximately 10,000 uh uh taxable parcels within its boundaries. So you can do the math was $100 parcel tax that would raise $100 per year. That would be I'm sorry a million dollars per
133year which would then go into the district's general fund regarding the regarding the term of the parcel. We just lost uh are you still hearing me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh your picture went away but I'll just talk to myself. There you are. Good. Um, regarding the regarding the term of the parcel tax, there is no stipulation as to what the term may be. You, in fact, there is no stipulation that there is a term. Um, you have the authority when you place this item on the ballot to set uh for the taxpayers to know or sorry, the voters to know what the length of time the parcel tax will be in place. So, for example, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years. Some districts actually have parcel taxes that are in perpetuity. In addition, while
134you have to have obviously the projects identified, the projects are quite broad because it's anything that are operational expenses of the district. Um now unlike a general obligation bond which has to be placed on the ballot on a general election date which is typically a general a gubanatorial race or a presidential race primary or general personal tax doesn't have to doesn't have those uh hurdles. They can be placed on essentially any Tuesday with some restrictions. However, in doing that, the cost of the election really soarses uh because you're not sharing the cost with other districts. And in addition to that, the passage rate for parcel tax, especially new parcel taxes are um are quite uh uh quite low. The part of the passage rate goes up typically when you're in a general election. Um, now
135if you were looking to place an item on the ballot in the in the November gubernatorial race, I'll give you just the big dates. It's fairly simple. Um, we would want to you would have to take action soon. Um, it would have to be submitted to the county in early August. the your resolution. Uh we would want to do survey research to find out whether that is uh acceptable to voters and what would be the dollar amount that they would be most acceptable most accepting of. Um, and because of the time crunch, uh, in our timetable, and I believe Josh has a copy of the timetable that he may or may not have handed out to you that we put together, we would foresee um, with your, uh, nod tonight, um, going out and starting
136the survey research immediately, coming back to you on your June 14th meeting, and at the same time as we present the on the same night that we present the um, results, we would ask you to take action assuming that the results were positive. Um, with that, the election day of November 3rd, if it were to pass, then the funding would not be available until the beginning or until the next fiscal year. So, if it passed in November of 2026, funding would be for the 2728 fiscal year. I'm going to pause there and see if there are any questions uh from the board. I think I've given a pretty quick quick and brief but a fairly descriptive um overview of what it takes to do a parcel tax. Any questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Scott. Um
137I think first we have to go out to public comment just on any agenda item. Um, imagine it will be quiet. Thank you, Director Binder. Um, and then I will bring it back to the board for discussion or questions um on the information presented this evening. >> Can I add one more item before you do? >> Absolutely. >> One thing I left off my list that I wanted. The district has had a parcel tax in the past. Um, it passed a parcel tax, I believe it was in 1995. Um, that stayed in effect. It was reauthorized a few times. Um, and then in the election of 2012, I looked it up before the meeting. Uh, it went up for renewal and it came very close. It got 66.4%. Um, as the numbers in in our
138database, you remember, you need 66.7 to pass. Um but it did fail and um the board at the time decided not to pursue it again after that. But you have had a parcel tax that was passed in four different elections ranging from 1995 to 2008. >> Can you tell us the amount on that parcel tax, Mr. Scott? Um, I believe the first parcel tax amount was $35 per parcel and I believe they were stepped up and the and I'm using what could be faulty memory and I apologize. I believe the last one when it was on the ballot was in the high 50s, but I would have to look that up. >> Thank you. But remember that was 12 years ago or so over 12 years ago. >> Thanks. >> Um so with regard to
139our discussion tonight, I think this is an opportunity for the board to ask questions just generally or more specifically about parcel tax and then also to have a conversation given the timeline presented about what we're thinking. Is that pretty accurate? Okay, >> that is correct. Yeah. >> Okay. Um, does anybody want to start it off? Trusty Atmar. >> Um, so at this time, the amount that we would be, if this moves forward, the amount that we would be bringing to the ballot for the parcel tax, is it $100? Is that was just an example? >> Yeah, I would say go ahead, Dale, if you wanted to. I just wanted to to say that no, we would do a survey first, correct, Dale, to determine what uh the appetite for a parcel tax would be within
140our boundary area. >> Okay. >> I use No, I use the $100 because it's easy to multiply. >> It's easy math. Okay. >> That's the only >> Maybe that's what it'll be. It might work out. >> Yeah, maybe. Maybe. But >> Okay. Thank you for that. >> Um thank you for the presentation. is do you know off the top of your head um like what the average partial tax is in the is or has been in the past few elections that have won in California or >> there is no average um there are parcel text so for example um east side union high school district in San Jose uh who we uh who we in Santa Clair County and San Jose who we assisted on their parcel tax measure they had tried tried many times
141in the past, never successfully. Um, they did bring it over the top in the November 2024 election, and I believe the amount was in the $35 to $45 range, and I'm going to comment on that again in just a minute. There are other parcel tax measures around the state that are literally three or 4,000 per parcel and and higher. So, there's really no average. However, one thing that is um constant is that uh remember I said that parcel taxes are often have a date assigned to there for expiration and they might be 3 years, 5 years, 6 years, whatever. It's very common for board districts to then go back and ask for that partial tax to be renewed and to increase the price at the the parcel tax amount at some time during that renewal
142process. the passage rate of the renewal parcel tax measures is quite high. Um, the hard one is getting it on uh getting it across the finish line as a new parcel tax. And that I'm using statewide voter statistics on that, election statistics on that. the and so going back to East Side as a good example, they realized that they couldn't go for perhaps as much as they believed they should, but they wanted to make sure that they had a parcel tax in place that they could then help grow with the district and that's why they picked that that amount. And we may find that if we do survey research in your community as well. >> Uh yeah. >> Um now the city has said they are going to put on a I think it's like
143a 38 cent sales tax um on this November ballot. So, how would that impact us? >> Well, they I've never seen them compete. I mean, typically people are either for or against both. Often sales taxes are a little different um than parcel taxes um because they are um >> less popular with voters >> often. Um, however, depending on how it's structured, there are some sales taxes that can be put on the ballot with only a simple majority being required. So, they may have a lower hurdle than you. Um, as far as direct competition, we can test for that in the survey, but my experience has been there is not as much competition as you might imagine or fear u between the sales tax and the parcel tax. >> Go ahead. Um, as far as the
144cost or community survey and the cost to bring this to ballot, is there an estimate for what the district what would it would cost the district to do that? >> The survey itself um is going to be in the 20 20 to $30,000 range. that most of that comes from the firm that we bring on to do the data collection. That's the big cost. And then we have some analysis costs as well. And I believe that's in our contract. Um the cost of the election on November would be you you will have board elections, board seat elections. I assume um it will not be a double of those board elections. uh it will be a smaller portion of that, but that's a good place to look as what as a range of where those costs
145will be because they will float around depending on how many items are on the ballot. Um unfortunately, the cost of that part of placing that on the ballot from the county is payable regard regardless of whether you win or lose. Um and I don't know what your last election cost, Josh. You may know what the geo bond number was. Um, >> yeah, Dale, it was around 30. It was a little over 30,000. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I would expect it would be a little bit more than that because it's a guminatorial election. Um, have you done any any types of uh special assessment taxes for I I know I know this wouldn't be what we're talking about tonight, but have you done any special assessment taxes for like second properties specifically in a district? >>
146No. Uh, for second properties, no. Um, one thing I do remember is there are a lot of um, time share condominiums in your district and we'd have to look at how those um, are currently on the tax roles because so the the 90 the 10,000 parcel range that I gave you may be low depending on how those are treated. But no, I have not done special assessment on second. >> Are there any types of parcels that if it were to pass are exempt from the tax? >> Um yeah, all public parcels um publicly owned parcels and all churches. >> Okay. I think I saw something when reading about just parcel taxes generally that said something along the lines of certain groups of people could be exempt like >> Oh, here. Thank you very much for
147reminding me of that. I apologize for leaving that out. Um yes, very a very big difference between the parcel tax and the general obligation bond is um you have the option not the requirement but you have the option of um of exempting senior citizens which are defined as property owners, one property owner at least over the age of 65. And there are a number of other groups as well that you can opt in but the big one is the senior citizens. But you are right. You have the ability to opt those up. >> Feels like it's probably a large number for >> specific growth. >> It is possible. It's possible. And then it gets to be an issue of looking at the numbers in the survey, right? >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. Um most
148>> um Dale is there um what's the memory of a typical voter in terms of the bond that we passed last um because they may not may or may not make a distinction between bond and parcel tax but we >> yes I >> yeah go ahead It is a question that's asked a lot and I think that um uh and we have actually tested that question. Um the there's always a concern that people are going to be um burdened by the memory of the past taxes and this is too much. I have found that to be not the case even for elections that are done only months after a previous election. um people generally forget um that there was a past tax. In other words, it's more about how they feel about the current tax
149than what they remember of the previous taxes. >> Um I am googling which is dangerous and annoying I'm sure. Uh, one possible source that I'm seeing says that uh, an exemption could be allowed for owner occupied single family homes. Is is that incorrect? >> Well, um, if if you're over the age of 65, yes, you >> Oh, it's only Okay. >> Yeah. But um that would be if you exempt owner occupied single family homes, you've exempted most of your tax base. >> No. >> So we've got a proposed timeline. If we're interested in taking the next step, what would that be? um you would give me this the sense of the board that you do want to um proceed as I said we are under contract there's no action necessary um we would begin the
150to put together the poll tomorrow um we would begin and let you know obviously you'd be able to see it and and read it but be able to let you know that it is going to start and when it is going to start and then I would be back to present details of the poll and results at June June 4th and if so directed by the superintendent also have a resolution prepared uh to take action at that time. >> Okay. >> And just just go ahead >> one more time just for clarification. So the cost of survey uh creating the survey and then the analysis of the survey you said that that would be the 20 to $30,000 cost or is it >> that no it's it's probably closer to 30,000 I can't give you
151an exact number because I don't know the number that the >> number of ballots and number of sorry number of voters that will be um taken, but I would I would brace yourself for a $30,000 plus um cost to put that together. >> Okay? Cuz I'm I'm just if there's 10,000 parcels in the district and we're at 30,000 for the survey and analysis and then another 30,000 to go into the ballot. So, we're at 60,000 there. Unless we have I just want to make sure it's I just want to make sure it's worth our >> remember that you're getting on the you're if passed it would be for multiple years. So, okay. >> Um you know, >> how many years do you recommend um Dale that we would go for like a 10y year period
152or >> we would survey that but the sweet spot seems to be five to seven. >> Okay. Thank you for reminding me of that. That makes more sense to me. >> But then what you're saying is, okay, five to seven years. So then come if let's say we do five, then we've got to do this all over again if we want to continue it. >> That's right. But it's much easier uh to to >> get it past. I get it. >> Much easier. >> So the survey would um entail the time span and then also thoughts about how much it should be. Is that right? Yeah, we we test various um components. One would be um the ballot language itself. One would be the various projects where which funds might be used for. One would
153be various dollar amounts um of the parcel tax senior exemption um other possible exemptions um uh term which I believe I mentioned. And so all of those gets get tested and then from that um and including just reading them what we believe the ballot language would be and seeing if there's support or not for that ballot language and then make a recommendation to you as to whether this is um you know strongly a strong possibility um not a strong possibility or somewhere on the edge. >> And then the surveying is mandated. required or >> Oh, no, no, no. Um, not required at all. This is absolutely your choice um to go forward with a survey. Um, it happens. Um, districts go, you know, fly blind in it. You don't need to have a survey uh
154to get on the ballot, but most districts opt to have it to give them guidance as to the the issues I just discussed, the term, the amount, um whether it actually has enough voter approval to go forward or not. That's why people do it, but you're not required to do it. >> This is Superintendent Jordan. Yes, >> thank you. Um and just correct me if I'm wrong, Dale. uh because it was sort of mentioned um we would be testing what these dollars would be used for. This is not simply for unrestricted general fund. That's not how we would test it. We would because I had the call with Joyce and Nicole related to potential options as to how to utilize the revenue. And we have it we kind of talked through a whole like whole
155slew of different uh u uh language options. So it's not really just general fund support. I just wanted to be clear about that. Um it has to be >> you are correct. >> Okay. And um just in terms of that languaging, um Dale, you you put forward some of that languaging to see how it how it falls with people and um and that gives us kind of information to help us with that as as a target areas to highlight. >> Yes, of course. Um if we are going to make direction now would be or give direction now would be the time. Um so kind of looking for if there's a consensus or a quorum on direction to give a survey or not um have a survey. I think it's I guess we can all just
156give our opinions, right? I think it's worth doing. I think that that's I think it'd be interesting to find out what we can get and how long we can get it. Our community is pretty generous when it comes to school. So, I think that this is kind of for me it feels like a no-brainer. Um I I think it'd be a great idea to do. >> Great to do this. Stress you out more. Yeah, I agree. Um, you know, it's I think we can make a good case for it and I do believe uh we have had a lot of support from the community and um and I I just feel like we've been as responsible as possible with the money that that we've had and the bond money. And you know, I think there's
157hopefully we can communicate that to the public that you know, there's there's a trust there. Um, this is going back a little and I'm not I guess telling my full opinion right now, but in terms of the method of the survey, what would you be doing I guess or like how does it get out there in the world? >> Um, once the survey is drafted, then the research firm does uh contacts voters um in a couple of different ways. Uh the first and most important is that they're only contacting voters. And that's that's to be clear. You're not just getting anybody uh that they have to be registered voters. The first question that they ask is typically do you plan on voting in the upcoming in this case ginatorial election? And if they say no,
158then the survey is is uh halted. Um they do telephone calls, direct phone calls. Um they also do texts to voters in order to push the voter to take the survey online. Um and you've seen that take over the the majority of answers that people are where it all used to be by telephone. Now it's a mixture of telephone and surveys done online through either text or email. And those are now the majority of the responses. Uh, I guess to on the other hand it like having the cost of the survey be $30,000 and then the cost of getting it on the ballot for $30,000 with like this binary option. Um, and for survey techniques that I think skew towards a particular demographic, like we were just talking, we get a whole bunch of spam
159texts. Like I never answer my phone, much to the sugarin of my mother. But like, you know, especially like unknown calls, I don't answer those. I don't answer texts like, "Can I have your advice about something?" That sort of thing. And personally, I I think there may be a way to do this to me like internally or like making the case for x amount of years um at $55. Um, I guess I'm just like a little for our our small of a our community that was 210 of a percent off from passing this last time. I'm I'm a little like um hesitant. I'm more hesitant about the surveying than pursuing the the election the tax. I guess >> if I may, one of the main components of the survey is to decide whether you should
160pursue the parcel tax or not and spend the additional funds to get on the ballot. >> And and I will say that we have surveyed in your district many times. Again, this is your decision in whichever way you want to go, but I believe the results have always been um very close u to what the final result of the measure has been. Uh this is we use a nationally known firm to collect the data. Um I I will agree with you the quality of survey research um u methodology has declined over time. it's more difficult, but they are very very uh good at it in in weeding out and they also balance that. Um so they're not just getting the people that as you respond as you mentioned may uh may have one opinion over
161another because they answer their phone. So we're looking to have a stratified sample that does all groups, all age groups, all political parties, etc., etc., etc. Um I think kind of what Mr. Scott Scott said I need I personally would like the information and the data and to know take the temperature of the community even if it's I mean this is the method we have for it. So, um to understand what the appetite is and um if we should proceed with this um with all the factors considered like the city sales tax and we've asked for bonds, but hopefully we do have um some good rapport and trust building going on within the community at large. Um and um I'm in favor of doing the next step and doing the survey. Um yes. Um, just
162to maybe answer your concerns about the survey, um, in the past when when I was on the board too and, uh, and we we did quite a few surveys with Dale, um, they were just so excellent and they really were right on, you know, like, so I mean, it's been a while. You're right. things have changed. But um just based on my own experience with with Dale Scott, I mean they presented something very professional, very straightforward and very in informative and instructive to who our community is, how they're thinking about us and what and and you know just even you know the the increments you know he'll tell you he'll tell us like okay this amount too are that amount maybe this amount good you know so it's it's very informative I it's it's um
163I I feel it's very worth it >> so I think we have direction to take the next step and um begin the survey process um just as a next procedural step will we hear anything before the June 4th meeting or is that the next time with survey data that this will be before us? Just curious. June 4. Okay. Okay. Looking forward to it. Um we have one remaining item. Thank you to Dale Scott for his time. Um we have one remaining item. Our future agenda items. Um we have the list that uh the chart that is being maintained um looks like it thank you was most recently updated on April 2nd. Is there anything to add Dr. Adamson? >> Nothing at this time unless there are items trustees want to request this evening. Trust Yatmar.
164I'm not sure. I think we had discussed this before and I'm not sure that it well there's only one on there. So, um whether or not this becomes a future agenda item, I don't know. But I would like to at least open up the discussion. Um because May 1st will be um the school principal's day, >> I thought it might be good to bring this up that um as hard as these administrators work, asking them to attend every board meeting um can be taxing. So just emotionally and timewise and with family. So I wanted to have the discussion about perhaps having them or giving them the option to attend via Zoom versus being in the room so that they can spend more time with their family and not spend so much time here. So maybe
165not every meeting, maybe there could be just but just to >> alternating. Yeah. >> Yeah. Just to um at least start the discussion or maybe Yeah. alternating or so many in person a year or something like that. But I just think to ask them to be in the room at every meeting is um a lot. >> It's a lot with everything that they're already doing. So just a thought. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Yes. Yes. Thank you. >> Any others? >> Okay. >> Yes. I I talked to um the superintendent about reviewing um the use agreements for the facilities and um Linda, you asked me to see if I could easily pull it down and I really could not. >> Yes, I did. >> Mhm. you know, I got the facilitron and all of
166that, but I never could get to the actual like if if a a group wants to play soccer on the field, um where is their contract that they sign? I I just I couldn't find it. So, anyway, I want to review those and just see if those are um in alignment with with what we want. So basically to bring forward to a future meeting. Yeah. Just samples of the contracts and >> Okay. >> Easy. Y. >> All right. Um with that I misplaced my agenda. Um our next let's see no does. Okay. If we have direction, you have those items noted. Thank you. Um, >> next special board meeting is April 23rd and our next regular board meeting will be on May 7, 2026. And good night. We are adjourned. or 9:14.