001Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regularly scheduled meeting on today, June 4th. It is 6:04. Just coming out of close session. Can we please have roll call? Trusty Hodges. Present. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young present. Trusty Amboy present. President Fox present. Trustee Morales present. Trusty Simmons present. We have a quorum. The pledge of allegiance. A report of actions taken in close session was just direction given. At this time, do I hear an adoption of our board agenda? Boy, I'd like to make a motion to approve our agenda. Dr. Young, a second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes, I. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young, I. Vice President Amboy, I. President Fox, I. Trusty Morales, I. Trusty Trusty Simmons, I. And the motion passes. Agenda item six, board presentations. So for agenda item 6A, it is
002my honor and privilege to present resolution number 5040, which recognizes our two student trustees, trustee Allayia Simmons from Jesse Beth High School and trustee Ricardo Morales, few days left of Vallejo High School. I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing our two trustees grow and develop as civic-minded citizens. I expect to see and hear great things from them in the future. Um, Trustees Morales will be attending SAK State this fall and Trustee Simmons will be entering her junior year at John Jesse Bethto High School. Uh, I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Trusty Simmons as an active member of the superintendent's advisory committee. Um, do I have a board member willing to read the resolution? Trusty Hodgees. Thank you, Trusty Hodes. Whereas the Valo City Unified School District hasn't had student board members representation since 1998 after 25
003years. The opportunity was made available for students in 2023 with one student representative. In 2024, Superintendent Rub uh Ruben Aurelio expanded the program to include a representative for Valo and Jesse Bethl high schools. Whereas on November 6, 2024, Valo City Unified School District Superintendent Ruben Aurelio administered the oath of office to Ricardo Morales, student trustee, representative of Valo High School, and Allesia Simmons, student trustee, representative of Jesse Bethl High School. Whereas Ricardo and Alyssa immediately began representing Valo City Unified School District when they were given the opportunity to collaborate with the city of Valo youth coordinator who awarded both trustees with opportunity travel to Washington DC and Tampa, Florida and represent Valo at the National League of Cities youth delegation conferences. And in December 2024, they traveled to Anaheim, California for the California School Boards
004Association annual education conference and trade show. Whereas Ricardo and Alyssa have made a tremendous impact at their school sites, Valo City Unified School District and in the community by networking with other like-minded students in California and other states, spearheading the research of information for student trustees to receive the same monthly stipens as the elected trustees. Based on their successful research, on February 19th, 2025, the governing board voted 5 to zero to update BP 9250 and approve the $260 per month stipen for student trustees at code 35120. Now therefore, let it be resolved on this day, June 4th, 2025, student trustee Ricardo Morales, Lao High School, and student trustee Ala Simmons at Jesse Bethl High School have served and made a tremendous impact on the city on the Valo City Unified School District governing board of
005education for the 24 2024 2025 school year. Thank you. Would you like to make the motion? You like to make the motion to No, I can let somebody else do that. Okay, I'll make the motion to approve. Do I hear a second? Vice President Amboy, I second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. I. Trustee Flores is absent. Trusty Young, I. Vice President Amboy. Hi, President Fox. Hi, Trusty Morales. Hi, Trusty Simmons. Hi. And the motion passes. [Applause] This is a question. One, two, three. [Applause] Uh yes, 6B. So, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Patrick, you are up. We're going to be recognizing our employees that have hit uh milestones in their years of service. Uh tonight we're going to be honoring employees that have hit their five-year mark and all the way up to I believe 35 years
006with our district. So Dr. Patrick and Director Kagami, good evening everybody. I'm going to be okay. Good evening. Uh, President Fox, Vice President, Amboy, Trustees Young and Hajes Simmons and Morales, Superintendent Aurelio. Um, did I wasn't sure if you wanted to read the res the proclamation or the uh recognition for retirees before? Well, I know we we are going to read Yes, we're going to read the res the the resolution honoring our retirees. Right now, we're on the years of service item. I'm sorry. No worries. I'm moving too fast. That's okay. Okay. So, before we b begin the recognition of years of service, um I just want to say that um I received quite a few emails today because everyone um is following their years and they wanted to make sure that they were appropriately
007recognized. Um, and so just briefly to explain to the board, we run a report typically for a specific timeline within the year, there's always going to be overlapping because it's based on your seniority start date. And so if your date was after June, then you're likely not to be included in this year's um report. So I've explained that. So if anyone reaches out they will be recognized the following year. Okay. And with that we will start our recognition. Okay. I'm going to start with our uh employees that have five years of service. Maria Delcarman Baras Ayon Vincent Bag Michael Carroll Michelle Craig Dennis Dilly Jr. May Dina, Juanita Green, Malia Lespirants, Samad Mahan, Bradley McFersonson, Laquila Nazelli, Nesley Lorenna Pon, Tiana Torado, Francine Thornton, Veronica Trilio, Milan Willis, Jorge Yanz, Ava Aguilera, Noel Roy Austin,
008Arlland Alam, Stacy Banks, Elizabeth Burgess, Courtney Blau, Kaylee Cameron, Anthony Chang, Eileen Chang, Karen Shen, Jeremy Cooper, Adele De Laena, Suzanne Dubois, Anzia House, Laura Irriarte, Unice Hakoba, Mark Kleinman, Naim Mar Lavelli, Michael Manor, Exit McGriff, Divia Mixon, Vadam Nazareno, Daniel Roach, Steven Shelling, and Viet Ta. And I'll read those who have earned 10 years of service with the district. Jamal Andrews, Ama Barnes, Elizabeth Bruce, Bruce, Jquelin Calderon, Elizabeth Kaya, Michael Dares Jr. Emlda Inos, Mi Mijah Haname Gomez, Brandon Green, Banette, Tanya Hall, Tia Tanisha Lern, Turner, Yoshiko Hollands, Erinda Ibasco, Diaz Do Matulik Jr. Sandra McCormick, Francina Moore, Daryl Nervvis, Arnika Nicholls, Alan Prader, Monica Ramirez, Salvador Sanchez, Gina Santos, Ashley Stevens, Geneva Tit, Kevin Traveler, Rebecca Varilla, Von Wattley, Michelle Wilding Oliver Regginal Williams Jr. Ivan Zeniga Pelcrean Zeniga Pelcastre Denanishia Aron Mccab,
009Michael Baker, Jennifer Havz Willhouse, Jill Faison, Jacila Hernandez, Cynthia Horbert Hbert, excuse me, Maria Jacob Martinez, Heather Jameson, Susanna Kumada, Christian Legandon, Dante Lopez, May Lozada, Ivonne Martin, Laura Miller, Masami MMA, Kristen Newton, Sheila O'Shea, Katherine Palowski, Giles Porter, Steven Quinnland, Jason Ray Taylor, Renee Telling, Lwanda West Brown, Irene Western, David Zap, Janice Luben, Denita Robin, Jade Brandon and Renee Collins. Okay. for 15 years. Annabelle Banagan, Renee Bernett, Valerie Johnson, Amanda Meard, Sylvia Salazar, The Vet, Beckford Nelson, Keandra Jefferson, Ria King, Gregory Murray, Nora Rizswana, Linda Stab, Marva Tatam, Lisa Silman, Sharita Dilly, Lkesha Watson for 20 years of service. Leo Barroso, Denise Benton, Evelyn Gulingan, Lita Ooa, Christine Omorei, Tamila Parrot Marcos, Rashidita Samuels, Jennifer Akre, Dan Deville, Ansley Harris, David Henderson, Maria Lordes, Landivora, Sarah Peter Romero, Romeo, Susanna Urias, Katherine Voda. The
010list is getting a little shorter. We're at 25 years now. We're almost there, guys. Jesus Bersand, Tina Kerion Cesar, Amelia Castillo, Terry Cheeseman, Kenneth Cruz, Nancy Firestone, Carara Foley, Cynthia Kenyon, Cynthia Murray, Edward Rojos, Leanne Shore, Jasinder Singh, Annabella Lamont Wright, Teresa Baxter, Katherine Katanzerite, Beth Gabler, Gloren Moreef, Penny Auststerhout, Crystal Points, Michael Soraniano, Laura Sutton, Lori Techmeer, Donna Tiver, Elizabeth Thompson, Kimberly Mitchell Lewis, and Shelley Thompson. The list is definitely getting a little shorter. Dr. Patrick 30 years we have Tina Corona, Rita Loy, Steven Bosch, Margaret Clark, Tamara Howard, Mark Gristo. And lastly, 35 years of service, Julie Hansel, Carrie Pacinger, Regina Pumo, and Joseph Hatchet. And on behalf of uh the human resources department in the Val City Unified School District, we want to thank all of our employees for their excellent years
011of service. They will receive a pin with their years of service and a certificate. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Thank you both. The next item we are going to be recognizing our retirees. And before we start, did you want to go ahead and read? Yeah. Do we do we have a trustee who wishes to read the resolution or I mean I can as well. So trustee Amboy recognizing VCUSD staff members on the occasion of their retirement resolution 5065. Whereas the Valo City Unified School District has 1,32 staff members who provide valuable services to the students in the district from preschool through 12th grade. And whereas there are 36 members of the district staff who have announced their retirement this year, which includes 15 classified staff members, 17 certificated
012staff members, and four administrators. hand. Whereas these staff members have uh contributed in many different ways to the district's goals by teaching and providing leadership in several of the district's support areas, helping students as accounting analysis, bus driver, canteen operator, counselor, secretary, custodian, deans secretary, head custodian, parah um educator, SNS assistant one, senior general ederal ledger accountant, TK assistant providing essential um clerical and secretarial support and whereas individually they have been a part of the district's family from 5 to 46 years with a combined total of 736 years of service to the district. hand whereas we are proud of the work they have done and appreciate their contributions to our students. Now therefore be it resolved by the superintendent for the Valo City Unified School District and endorsed by the governing board that the district
013and community congratulate them on the occasion of their retirement and wish them the best in their future endeavors. And I'll read their names, but I also just want to say that make the motion first. Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes, yes, yes. Yes. I'd like to make you a motion to pass resolution 5065. And I'll make a sec second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. I. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. I. Vice President Amboy. Oh, I'm not letting them retire. Hi, President Fox. Hi, Trusty Sim. I'm sorry, Trustee Morales. Hi, and Trusty Simmons. Hi. The motions passes. Thank you. I'm moving too fast. I just wanted to share with the board that the retirees will also receive um a special gift. It's a really nice paper weight with a beautiful message and it it basically reads
014um never un underestimate the difference you've made in the lives you've touched. Enjoy the next chapter. So every retiree will receive that gift and I'll quickly read the name so that I can take my seat. So um [Music] for the first retiree is Steven Bosch, Carol Cado, Fidilina Carter, Alvaro Garcia, Anthony Handy, Pamela Jacobs, Lorie Morrison, Christina Naval, Landor Ramos, Laura Sutton, Rosemary Terren, Antino, George Wyman, Grace Anderson, Amelia Castillo, Graciiela Del Toro, Norma Lavia, Belinda Lawson, Manuel Makus, Lethy Martin, Kimberly Meredith, Maria Montterosa, Deborah Montgomery, David Ra, Finel, Francine Thornton, Deborah Watson, Jeffrey Wood, Melody Donahghue, Christopher Waldrin, Manuel Marin, Cynthia Serino, Lynn Baronco, Bib, Annabelle Bonagan, Marie, excuse me, Mara Jean Lambert, Kelly Tuhill, Christine Hinrich and Mitchell Romeo. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you, Superintendent Aurelio. I just also
015want to officially announce that uh the gifts and the pins and certificates can be picked up in the human resources department starting Monday through Friday. And then after that time, anything not picked up, we'll mail. Thank you. Thank you. Agenda item seven. Do we have inter agencies? Do have inter agencies. I believe we have uh Lewis Michaels from Vallejo late night basketball. Welcome. Thank you. One second. Um, so good evening. Um, I was told I have five minutes. Okay, cool. Uh, good evening. Um, get my speech up. Okay. Good evening, board um, board president, trustees, superintendent, um, and community members. My name is Lewis Michael. Um, I'm a community organizer here in Valo. Currently working within Toro's public health program. Um, I am currently, um, working as the director for Valo late night basketball as
016well. Um, I'm also a longtime Valo resident and spent four years as a middle school teacher here in Valo. Uh, tonight I'm here to share about the late night basketball program uh, and seek your support. Some of you know me from other work I've done in the community. Uh if you do, um then hopefully you know I don't take on something unless I truly believe in it. And this program is no different. Um I'm committed to seeing it through because our youth deserve it. Valo late night basketball is a revival of a once proven program that served over 400 youth each summer and was tied to noticeable drops in crime during operating hours. Um we're bringing it back not just with basketball um but in the previous program um there was uh mentorship opportunities and
017opportunities for youth to really um take advantage of the resources that were there for them. Um so this is going to be comprehensive um healing centered approach root rooted in mentorship community and opportunity for our young folks and Sergeant Hollis is here in support and um was a part of the original program and can or and he's he's been around and he knows that this is effective um and uh this is um launching on June 20th um and it'll run every Friday night through August 8th. Um it'll be at Elite Public Schools. Uh we did try to get it hosted at Valo High School, but there were um lots of issues around that. Um then we went to GVRD and tried to get it hosted at their newly renovated Ben Franklin gym that they now
018um have and there were lots of issues there as well. And Elite uh graciously um offered for us to host this summer um free of charge. Um, so we're excited about that. And this is open to youth and young adults ages 12 to 25. Um, and they'll have access to structured games with mentorship components, weekly breakout sessions on mental health, emotional intelligence, and college and career prep and other lots of other um topics. There's going to be free meals, community resource tables, and intentional engagement um with caring adults. Uh and the gym will stay open till midnight, a time when, frankly, not enough safe and affirming spaces exist for our youth. This isn't just about sports. It's about prevention, connection, and transformation. I want to acknowledge the current reality many of you are navigating. I
019know firsthand um how painful and challenging this season has been with budget cuts, school closures, and immense pressure on all of you to make important decisions. I understand how difficult it is to prioritize new investments and partnerships when so many core needs are under threat. Uh but I also know that programs like this are not extras, they are essential. Valo needs more spaces where young people can show up as they are, be themselves, and have access to caring adults, mentors, um, and real resources. This program creates that space. Um, and we're not doing it alone. Thanks to GVRD, we have secured a $25,000 grant. Um, Elite Public Schools, like I said, is hosting us um as a partner and the Solano Community Foundation is our fiscal sponsor, helping us accept tact tax deductible donations and
020steward funds with transparency. We've also received inind and financial support from numerous local individuals, organizations, and businesses. We've collected letters from letters of support from VPD, fileo, fire, probation, sheriff, um, and many others voicing their support because this is bigger than just basketball. This is about community infrastructure that prioritizes youth and safety so that we don't have to rely on law enforcement after it's too late for intervention. We're not here to ask for money. We're here to extend an invitation for partnership and alignment. Um, there are through some ways that I'm thinking the district can support. Go ahead and finish your Okay, thank you. I'm almost done. Um, promotion, helping us reach out to students and families um by sharing flyers and registration info. Um, you you guys are the central hub for our Valo
021youth and have access to them. So, that would be greatly appreciated. um participation, encourage staff and educators to volunteer, visit, or just witness what's happening. Um and then partnership. We'd love to explore how the district can align with this effort now or in the future um for future um opportunities when things might get a little bit better. Um, I'll be emailing each of you a full program overview, including the budget, partner list, all the details, and then I've brought flyers to give to you, um, just to see, uh, what we're doing. Thank you for everything you do in serving our students. I'm super excited to see these student trustees here, and I hope that you guys come out and get involved. Um, and yeah, thank you for my for your time. Thank you. [Applause] Inter.
022Do we have any more inter agencies? Sergeant Hollist, would you like to say anything while you're here? Under inter agencies, put you on the spot. Maybe that reading we talked about for the um around the schools with the third grade or anyway anything. Oh yeah. So um some of the collaborations that we've done with VCUSD and the Valo Police Department. And by the way, I'm Sergeant Hollow with the Val Police Department, the PIO and the Community Engagement Sergeant. And one of the biggest initiatives that we just recently were able to complete was the third grade reading program where we went to every third grade course or class in the VCUSD uh system and read to over 800 third graders. Making it better in Valo, which Thank you. Yes. Thank you. And and this is just
023one of many um initiatives that we've started or you know been a part of. Of course the third grade uh dictionary pass out with the Rotary Club and uh what I'm very proud of is the safe passage well not safe passage the safe start to school days that we've just recently done that we plan to put in rotation. Um we need to schedule with the city but I'm only here really to support uh Mr. Lewis in late night basketball. Um, one thing that in my over a decade of being here in Valo, I have noticed um, a few opportunities to communicate and reach out with the youth in our neighborhoods is late night basketball, which actually lowered the crime rate um, with our youth. So, anything to cause outreach with the youth is definitely something
024I'm definitely a part of. Um, one of the biggest uh, objectives that we noticed was the animosity between the north and the south and east and the west and central Valleo. And one thing where late night basketball was allowed us to do was kind of intertwine the kids. You know, we created the teams where um, kids from the north had to play with kids from the south and kids from the east play with kids from the west. and together it created like a camaraderie where um it just it just built unity and that's what we need in in in our community is unity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Um Dr. Young basketball. That's a that's a reinvention. That is so I'm gonna date myself. Okay. Uh so far back um uh
025officer Garrett. Yes. 10 years to be exact. Yes. Yeah. Was part of that. And officer Kazzy Yes. Yes. Yes. You all of them. They were right there. And we held it right at the gym. Yes. Over there at Valo High School and didn't have any problems. I mean it was just like it was just like it was somewhere for the youth to go. Yes. We we never had a problem and it actually brought out a lot of recruits from um some of the local colleges which was amazing. Um unfortunately COVID was the death of it and we're just trying to revamp it and revitalize it. I'm glad to see it come back. Yes ma'am. Yeah, I'm glad to see it come back. Thank you, Dr. Young. Thank you so much. Thank you, President. Have a
026good evening. Any other inter agencies? Okay. Uh B Oh. This are are you here for CSEA? Yes. Almost. Almost. You didn't miss it. Don't worry, we'll call you. Da, however you like. Either way, it's all the same agenda item. So, however, Sorry, who jumped the gun? because you know I have two little ones that are anxious to get home. So um I am Ashley Stephins. I am here again a part of uh CSCA. So good evening board. Um I am workers compensation specialist. Um and then I actually was called as well for 10 years. So thank you Dr. Patrick u for calling my name. My kids really like that. Um um we just want to say thank you for um we just want to say thank you for this year. We're looking forward to the
027conclusion of this school year and the beginning of summer. Um we just want to say also that CSW week was great with the recognition of our classified staff. Thank you, Superintendent Aurelio, for sending our CSA members um your video message. The members really appreciated it. We also celebrate or we're also excited to celebrate our retirees at the upcoming retirement party. Thank you, Superintendent Aurelio, Assistant Superintendent um Assistant Superintendent Heather Tasio, uh Assistant Superintendent Fernandez, um President Fox, Dr. Sonia Lung Young, um for supporting our retirees this Friday. Um it should be a relaxing evening and um we have you know it should be relaxing evening to enjoy our retirees. Um and also our seized candy um fundraiser has been extended to July 31st if anybody would like to purchase that. So again, we just want
028to say that we are grateful for the conclusion of the school year and we look forward to seeing anybody who was invited to our retirement party this Friday to recognize our retirees. And can you send the link for the C's thing again? Yes, we can have the link sent. Yes. So yeah, it was um good to participate in the fundraiser and helps with um preparing money for our scholarship funds that we gave out um at our prior board meeting last two weeks ago last week. Um thank you so much for doing that. Yes. So thank you and have a great evening. Thank you for being here. [Applause] Good evening board. Um, trustees, superintendent. Um, so I I want to start off by thanking Sean Reed for g giving the VA address last um the at
029the last meeting. I was in Sacramento with 200 other chapter presidents and pack chairs. Uh we were lobbying our legislature for alternate funding sources for our for our state budget. Um and we were also there there was a lot of things that we were talking to our legislators about. Um paid pregnancy leave has been on we we've been we do this every single year. We spend a couple of days at the capital. Um, some of some of the people up there we know, they know us because we we've helped, you know, help helped them. Um, and and they and it's important for them to see us bringing things forward to them. Um, uh, since since the last um report, we've had our VA officer elections. Every every year we do an election and every year
030it's we we elect half half of our officers and rotate. So this year Marne McKenzie was reelected as as vice president. Cassie Reid was reelected as secretary. Amy Herszog was re was reelected as high school director. Lori Tacmer was reelected as TK CDC director. Paula Suarez heavy Javia was reelected as K8 director and Maria Jacoba Jacobo is is our new elementary director. Um and congratulations to all the teachers who who reached their uh who are celebrating their anniversary milestones. And um VEA we we do a a a dinner for our retirees every other year. So, ne next year we'll have we'll we'll celebrate them at a nice dinner. So, thank you. Thank you for um for going to Sacramento and and trying to find those funds in a time that's so unknown and getting more
031unknown. Um we really appreciate that and that just shows such solidarity and helping for the dedication to find whatever resources possible for our students. So, thank you so much for doing that. Um, we really appreciate it. Um, and also thank you for the report. The end of the year, I'm sure everyone so glad testing's done, open house is done, trying to pack up and finish a new a new ending to start a enjoyable summer. So, uh, anyways, thank you. VSMA tonight. Okay. No report. Um, reports of district advisory committees. No reports this evening. Community members. I have not received any community member cards. All right. Student reports. We'll start with Allayia Simmons, please. Oh, wait. Russell. Wait. John Finny, please. It's Russell, right? Huh? What's your name? Josh. Josh. Sorry. Okay. Yeah. Just a little
032bit off, but you're fine. You're fine. All right. Dr. John. All right. Good evening. My name is Joshua Cazeres and this evening I would like to revisit the topic of our boys and girls empowerment group and I will also share about the end of the year senior activities and share of our celebrations. The boys and girls empowerment groups were supported by our positive youth justice liaison and Solano County Office of Education along with our ASPs and MHSP. topics and discussions. We're setting goals and understanding that our plan is a vehicle to reach our goals. Resources and informations on career exploration and higher education, mental health and physical health when one and one workshop um introduced us to yoga practices, journaling where there was a weekly check-in. Um discussions also included the influence of social media
033and students were able to suggest topics for ideas of discussion or presentation. Now, the seniors did have a trip to um Great America, and seniors spent the day in Santa Clara at Great America and had an opportunity to bond, get fresh air, and ride thrilling rides or ride thrilling rides. And everyone had a dining pass, so we were able to um everyone was able to eat pretty much. Senior sunset. Seniors and families were invited to participate in games, art activities, words of in words of inspiration, food, resources, take photos at our photo booth and music. Staff joined staff joined in on the fun and those who were able to attend seemed to have a great time. Celebrations regarding testing. The John Finny complex has met our goal of 95% of student completion. [Applause] I would
034like to acknowledge Ashley Mulatto, Rea Sangundo Velasquez, and Per Pearl Torres because they all completed the CMA program with 81% and higher. Lastly, Leadership Academy will have a stole ceremony this Friday to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating Eagles. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the John Finny Complex located at 1347 Amidor Street in Valo. All board members are invited. Any questions? What's going on next week? Next week is graduation. [Applause] Why don't you remind everyone what you're doing after graduation? All right. So after graduation, like what I plan to do? Yes. All right. So after graduation, what I plan to do is I'm already enrolled in um the automotive program at Solano Community College. So I'm going to enroll in that. I'm going to do um I'm going to try to get
035all my searchs and then after that I'm going to try to do an apprenticeship for five years. So that way um you know, start working. You'll get it. You'll do it. So, we're going to see you next week with big smiles and caps and gowns. Yes, sir. Dr. Young, do we know who partnerships with um the Solano County Automotive partnerships as far as internships are concerned? Community college, isn't it? Slano County Community College. I would like to know because we have that facility right up there and right down below we have auto roll. Yeah. Well, actually, um, when I had attended their, um, what's it called? When I had I'm sorry, it's been a long day. I've been Yeah. When I attended their automotive day, um, they had told us that the dealerships right there
036off of Columbus Parkway actively seek out kids to, um, give an internship to. Wonderful. Well, they need some help. Some help. They need some help. They need to see. They need to hear from us that our children need their support, right? Right. Thank you so much for the report, Josh, and we're excited to see you next week with your accomplishment. All right. Thank you. You guys have a good rest of your evening. Now, Elijah Simmons, would you like to go next? All right. Um, good evening everyone. As we approach the end of the school year, I wanted to share a few updates. Um, lately at Jesse High School, we've had back-toback spirit weeks. Um, we've had around like three consecutive spirit weeks. Two weeks ago, I mentioned we had um a mental health awareness spirit
037week. Last week, we had a schoolwide spirit week and this week since our seniors are um graduating, it's just a senior only spirit week. Um, the energy around campus has been great. Um, it's been awesome seeing everyone doing their stuff like twin day, anything but a backpack day, toddler day. I dressed up as a toddler last week, guys. It was really fun. Um, on Monday, um, me and Trusty Morales was able to have our last superintendent advisory meeting of the year. Um, it was a great chance to reflect on everything we've been doing and hope to do next year, next school year. Um, I'm looking forward to continuing to be on the superintendent advisory committee. Um, our seniors are getting ready to graduate and they will be doing their practice stage walk I believe this
038Friday. I saw something that said it was this Friday. Um, it's exciting to it's exciting to see them not necessarily leave because I have a lot of seniors that I really look up to, but it's happy I'm happy to see all of their um like college announcements and knowing what they're going to do in the future. This Saturday, I will also be attending um a future leadership Valo meeting where we'll be talking about public safety with the local police department on Amadore Street. Um I'm looking forward to learning more about public safety from the police standpoint of it because at um Jesse Bto we have a PHP program and we talk about public health and public safety but from a medical perspective. So I think it'll be interesting to see what it's like from a
039police perspective. Um, yeah. I also wanted to remind everyone about Saloona, a free mental health resource for people aged 13 to 25. I spoke about it um maybe a few weeks ago, but I wanted to bring it up again. Um, it's a really helpful support system and something I really encourage everyone to check out or share with someone who might need it. And um, next week, at least for Jesse Bto, it's finals week and most high schools will be following a special finals block schedule. We'll be getting out early. Um, so make sure to double check with your schools what the schedule is a ahead of time to prepare. And that is the end of my report. We only have a few days left of school, guys. I'm excited. Thank you. Thank you. Ricardo Morales.
040Good evening everyone. Um, starting with my last student report of the year for Valo High School. For Valo High School. This week we have started the voting process for our leadership class officers. We have many participants who I know will do great in whichever position they win. Next um this week, this is also the last week for all seniors in Valo High School, which means all seniors started their finals exams today through Friday. Um, new new news to me. We still have school on Monday next week, but that day will be for senior send off, which means all teachers that seniors had will have to sign for them to graduate from what I heard. And on June 10th, we will we have two events for all seniors. Valo High School is having their graduation practice
041at 9:00 a.m. at Valo High School in the Corbus Field. And we are also having our senior sunset that same day at 5:00 p.m. The location has still not been decided. And also on June 12th, we will be having our graduation ceremony for the Valo High School class of 2025. And this will be at 1:30 p.m. at Corbus Field. On June 12th, we had our last superintendent student advisory meeting, which I am glad to see the underassman grow and take a big step into their future. May 29th, seniors had their grand night where we all went to Universal Studios and it was an amazing time. We were there for about 13 hours and we had many chances to go on rides over and over again. My favorite was um the Jurassic Park one where we
042were able to get wet. Senior senior awards will be happening for Valo High School on June 11th, 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium where our families will be able to just see us get our awards for the school. And I believe two weeks ago or last week, the Filipino Club had their awards ceremony in the auditorium, which I believe they also did a dance to celebrate their heritage. And also African-American graduation will be on Sunday, June 8th at 400 p.m. And the location will be at Union Baptist Church and the board is welcome to join. And on June on June 2nd, the Valo High School had a pride month celebration in the quad during lunch, which I attended. It was great. and lower class finals are happening next week um throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I
043believe they're in block schedule. So, they will be in a class for two hours. And lastly, two weeks ago, I was happy to hear back from EDA scholarship where I was one of the students who won the scholarship. And I was happy to meet the other students [Applause] and I was happy to meet the other students and Hime Rees who gave us this great opportunity. And on May 20th, oh that was on May 20th. And on June 21st, I'm going to the 4th annual golf tournament presented by R&M Reyes Family Foundation where where I and the other students will be giving a speech on who we are. And that's my important actually one more thing. I just want to give my last thank you to everyone on the board for choosing me to be the
044student trustee and the Valo High School representative and I'm going to miss all you guys. Thank you so much for this year. Why don't you also let everyone know what you're going on to do? So after the summer, I'm planning to go to Sacramento State. Um I'm majoring in cellular molecular biology. So, um, science after after college, I'm planning to go to medical school for a few years to become a physician assistant. And from there on, I'm just hoping to provide for my family in any way I can. And yeah, that's my that's that's my future. Planning to do more stuff like this. Thank you. And we're so proud of both of you, how much you've both grown. When they first come on, they were very nervous and make like, do I have to talk
045and do I have to look? Now they're sitting tall and talking and giving lots of details. So, you've grown so much as a leader and as an individual and take this with you on your journey and continue and then eventually give back to Valleo with leadership. So again, we're so proud of you with your growth. We're going to miss you, but we're excited to hear what happens on your journey. All right. Uh Dr. Young going both to both of you guys. Um it's been a joy to watch you guys evolve. It's been a joy to listen to all of what you have to say because you are the children of the future and what you say makes a difference. What you do makes a difference. So you got to keep on pushing. Perseverance is the
046key to your goal. Have to remember when you feel like getting not getting out the bed, you get out of the bed anyway. You got to keep pushing. Keep your eyes on the prize because without you um in the lane that you're supposed to be in, there will be no hope. I'm going to be very realistic about that. I see hope in both of you eyes. I've seen it in your speech. I've seen it in your leadership qualities. And it makes me so proud. So proud. So keep on pushing and I look for remarkable things because you are BCUSD and without you we don't have a future. So God bless you. Thank you. We are now down to consent item 8A through 8M. Do I hear a motion? Vice President Amboy. I'd like to make
047a motion to approve items 8A through 8M. Dr. Young, I second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. Hi. Trusty Flores is absent. Vice President Amboy, I'm sorry. Trusty Young. Hi. Vice President Amboy. I. President Fox. Hi. Trustee Morales. Hi. Trustee Simmons. Hi. And motion passes. Thank you. We are now down to agenda item nine which is information 9A VCUSD communications update. Good evening, President Fox, Vice President Amboy, Trustees, and Superintendent Aurelio. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. My name is Selena Bago, and I am the director of communications for the Valo City Unified School District. This evening, I'm proud to share a snapshot of the a snapshot of the work that is happening in the communications office. And for the first time, I have the pleasure of introducing you to the communications
048team. Tonight I have with me uh Tori Suarez Heavia, our web master and Maral Papakian, our new public relations manager are with me tonight. This is the first time that our team is complete and we're excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what we are doing. You may see us around on campuses with cameras and receive urgent messages via parent square from us. But while that is undoubtedly a part of our role, our goal goes beyond photography and crisis communications. At its core, the communications office builds trust, fosters engagement, and tells the story of VCUSD. Amplify the voice of our students, staff, and families. We carry out this mission through a multi-pronged approach, including strategic storytelling, media relations, digital web communications, branding, community outreach, and timely internal and external messaging. Now, I'd like to
049pass it off to Tori and Model, who will walk you through some of our key highlights of this school year, including comparisons to last year to give you a clear picture of our progress and impact. Good evening trustees. First of all, thank you. It's a privilege to speak to you all and I appreciate the opportunity. Let's see. So, our website is one of our farthest reaching tools we have to communicate with our communities. The website is often an individual's first introduction to VCUSD or their first go-to resource when in need of assistance. It serves our students and their families, employees, and other community partners. It is our responsibility that all three of these general audience groups have equitable access to information and resources they need. In addition to the website's organization and design, which are
050critical areas that impact a user's experience, we proudly have a 98% accessibility rating. What does 98% accessibility mean? Well, for a while now, our lives have relied heavily on digital tools. As a society, we've adapted our sidewalks, roads, and other public spaces to accommodate those with limitations and disabilities. However, many websites and digital platforms, regardless of organization or industry, have lagged far behind. By being ADA compliant in nearly every aspect of our website, we're ensuring that anybody with a disability or limitation, student, parent, staff member, or community member, has the same access to enroll their students, view employee contracts, and otherwise utilize our website to its full potential. This all contributes to fostering trust and transparency with our audience. looking at performance of looking at the performance of our website over the last few years.
051The progress we've made is encouraging to say the least. There are three areas I want to focus on. First, total page views. This is the number of pages that users have visited in total. Second is events or clicks, downloads, searches, anything like that. And third is our user engagement or extended user sessions. anytime a user is on our website for longer than a minute or so. With the launch of our new website last July and continuous improvements since then, we have increased our page views from nearly 900,000 in 20 in excuse me 2022 and 23 to 2.2 million in 224 and 25. We've seen events, clicks, downloads, searches, that kind of thing increase from 2.1 million to over 5 million. And the number of extended user sessions and user engagement has increased from about 420,000
052to six to over 665,000. While I could share 30 minutes worth of deep analytics, these numbers tell us that year-over-year, more of our audience members are finding the website to be an engaging and essential resource. Over the past year alone, we've added a plethora of new features to our website, backed by user feedback. Last fall, we integrated AI within our district and school websites based on daily metrics. This has proven to be a huge factor in improving users experience and ability to quickly find information they need. We've also built our employee internet serving as a hub for staff only resources inaccessible to the general public. Touching on trust and transparency, we've built a page and now an entire section foreclosure and comm community and excuse me, foreclosure and consolidation information that features meeting agendas, event
053timelines, news, and questions from the community. Just a few other new features and improvements I'd like to mention are our new interd district transfer page, our straight from the ship question and answer feature, our community inclusion and support resources, our mental health support page, and our VCUSD brand guidelines resources. And with that, I'll pass it off to model story. Thank you all for having us. I'm so excited to be here and share with you a little bit about my position since it's new within the district. Um, a lot of you see me running around with my camera and taking film and video and that's one thing that the PR manager role does. Um, but largely I've been tasked with creating positive stories and sharing those positive stories. We have so many positive stories to share.
054So, Vallejo Unified School District, we are tasked with declining enrollment. So, we need to figure out ways to get students engaged and want to be a part of our district. So, that is a big part of our role here on the communications team with that. Um, some of our social and media social media engagement you can see here. The comparison was from July 24 to April 25. um we had um engagement on Facebook and Instagram when I started but it wasn't being posted every day. So now we have a continuous daily post on both Facebook and Instagram. Those platforms are generally used very similarly um but you'll see some differences in just how the platforms um tools are used. So for example, Facebook allows you to create galleries of photos. So, when we post something
055on Instagram, we may only be able to post 10 pictures and then we refer people over to our Facebook page where they can see full galleries from events. Um, so we use those a little bit differently. But in addition to those two platforms, we've added Nextoor, LinkedIn, Reddit, and we have had YouTube as well where you see the board meetings um and things like town halls. So, not only are we doing daily engagement on our regular platforms, but we're adding platforms and we're learning how those platforms are most engaged by users and we're strategically tailoring our posts on those platforms based on how people are using them. Click ahead here. So, this is um an example of our Instagram from July to April 25. you can see the increase in interactions, reach, um, and followers.
056So, thank you everyone who is currently following us, and I encourage everyone to follow us on all of our platforms and share with your friends and family. Um, this is an example of our LinkedIn and YouTube. So, just one thing to note about LinkedIn, it was being used by VCUSD, but it was largely just job postings. So now we're really utilizing LinkedIn as a way to show off our achievements, our new staff leadership, changes in positions and events and awards and things of that sort. So we're really trying to engage not just with the community but the education community at large and families and parents who are on that platform as well. In addition to social media, we have newsletters. So, we have both an internal newsletter and an external newsletter. Our internal newsletter goes
057to staff. It's called Take Five. Um, and then our external newsletter is called the insider. Um, I want to point out here the average open rate and the average read time of both because if you look at the industry benchmarks, the average open rate is 36%. Average read time is 10 seconds. For our internal and external newsletters, we have an 8 minute and 10 minute read time, which is absolutely insane and exciting. In addition to our communications, we have what's called media relations. So, this is an example of our media relations in terms of basically since I've been here, a little bit before that as well. Um, we have 23 different media outlets that typically publish our our what's going on in VCUSD, most notably the Times Herald and the Vallejo Sun, which are local
058publications, but we've also gotten national media coverage, which is really exciting. The LA Times, ABC, CBS. Now, some of that has to do with closures and consolidations, but some of that has to do with some of the really amazing great work that everyone is doing. And with that, I'll move it. Oh, I did want to mention one more thing with media relations and all of these stories that we have had. You'll see here it says positive, neutral, negative. So again, one of my major role functions here as the PR manager is turnurning up these positive stories. We have a lot of negative stories that are being told about our town and our district, and we're trying to change that narrative. Now we're at 36 positive. So, we're getting up there and we're going to keep
059going. And with those publications, we've had an advertising equivalency of close to $3 million just in these 107 stories. So, with VCUSD being out in the news, that's saving us from advertising. So, we're going to keep pumping out all the positive stories. We're going to keep building relationships with the media. Um, and that's only going to help further our cause. So, as you can see, our team intentionally improved our reach and responsiveness. While we have shared a snapshot of the of what we do, we are involved in much more. This year alone, we have helped clean up the registration system, strengthened our relationships with the Valo Police Department, led the communication for closure and consolidation, and provided graphic design support. I'd also like to highlight some of our wins for this year. Tori was instrumental
060in creating the district's first ever intranet. This is a website that is only for employees and allows us to use allows us to use the information from our for move the sorry move the information from our forward- facing web pages and put them behind a pay not a payw wall but a login and make it more family friend make our website more family friendly with mud. Sorry her her nickname is mud. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. model. With model's expertise, we've brought consistency and branding to our social media efforts and expanded our presence to new platforms, helping us to reach more families where they already are. This summer, along with our superintendent, Aurelio will present at the National School Public Relations Conference in Washington DC. We'll share our communication strategy behind our school closure and
061consolidation efforts and the critical lessons we've learned. only 40% of the presentations that were submitted were selected and we were one of them. So, we're really proud of that. Um, we are really excited to showcase Thank you. We're really excited to showcase the work of VCUSD on a national level. This year, we also started this superintendent student advisory council and with middle and high schoolers and this group helped provide feedback on issues that impacted them, offering a voice in our a student voice in our decision-making. And for the first time, I'm I'm happy to share that we will have Spanish language commencement programs for the high schools instead of English only. Looking ahead into the summer and into the new school year, we are planning a complete refresh of the district website. Over the years,
062content has been moved and reshuffled between platforms. Now, we'll take a strategic look, a strategic approach, cleaning out outdated pages and restructuring information to make this site easier to navigate and more accessible for families. We're also mindful of budget constraints. We and we are proving previously outsourced work to be done in-house. One example of that, we are learning to use video equipment and editing software rather than hiring a contractor. Our first project, which I'm very excited to share with you, is an enrollment campaign. It's called Think VCUSD First. We know that families in Valo have many choices. I could tell you all the reasons why VCUSD is excellent, but we believe it's more powerful to hear directly from our students, staff, families, and teachers. This will be a 15 video campaign in English and Spanish,
063showcasing the voice of our community as they share why they choose and stay with VCUSD. A dedicated website and social media push will also support the campaign. I'd like to share a short preview of the first video tonight and we have not showed anybody, so you are first. [Music] It's [Music] there. I can share it with you if you'd like via email. Ricardo was one of the people that we interviewed. We interviewed him yesterday, so we're excited to use his video as well. Oh, there we go. It's muted. [Music] Okay, here we go. [Music] My name is Sophia Moreno and my position in the district is a teacher at Cave Language Academy and I also teach adult school English for second language learners. I've had the pleasure of volunteering and being at other districts, but
064I think what makes BCUSD unique is the diversity. When I was a student, we didn't have a dual immersion program. That's one of the nice things that we now have where we are cultivating bilingualism and multiculturalism within our students. I think that's very rare and for me that's why I stay um because I see many of my students in myself. You don't have to just think of education in terms of children. I had a student, her husband also was a student at the adult school. They both would come here twice a week and she started doing English classes to then hearing about the high set taking high set classes and then moving on to citizenship and they have recently become a citizen of the United States. So those are just things that kind of motivate
065you as a teacher. Sometimes when we think about teaching we think about like academic growth but this student particularly touched me by their social emotional growth. They had a really hard time regulating their emotions and just being able to cope with like small things that would trigger them throughout the day. And from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, I saw so much growth in them. Just how they were able to use the resources provided like the mental health support provider, our SSTs to help kind of create a space where they felt safe and heard. So for me that student is someone I will remember for all my years of [Music] teaching. Think VCOSD first. [Applause] Thank you again for your continued support of our team. We are honored to serve
066our community and tell the stories that make VCUSD shine. We're happy to answer any questions. Where will the video clip be shown? So, we're creating a dedicated website for it. So, we'll have that and then we're also going to have them on social media and then we'll also show them on YouTube and then we're hoping that we can use them on some of our other platforms and meetings and all kind. We want to we want to blast it everywhere. Vice President Amboy Thank you for your presentation. Um I I've watched your your department grow from a oneperson team to to the to three of you and I'm very proud of that you are a part of us. Um, as far [Music] as just looking at some of the the data, um, I know you you
067mentioned about the total page views and, um, in terms of the clicks, how does our website compare to other o other districts um, across the across the county in terms of page views and uh, user engagement? I can't tell you a specific answer because that's just Google Analytic data that's allowed to just those administrators of those websites. In terms of ADA compliance, we rank at the top or close to the top. Um, not many websites are above 70% ADA compliant in general. Um, we are by far one of the leaders in the state and the country as far as our accessibility goes. Um, I can also tell you that in California, the majority of school districts have transferred over to Final Site, which has boughten out schoolboard, Blackboard or a few of the other previous
068hosting platforms we used. And I want to say it was last summer, I got to go to the final site conference and see how other districts throughout the country are utilizing their platform. Um, and I was impressed at where we are with our websites. Um, a lot of districts still struggle with ADA compliance, page views, and organization. It's a unique type of website. A lot of other organizations and industry just need to focus on one, maybe two general audiences. We have a lot more than that, right? We have resources for students. We have resources for parents, staff, legal obligations. All of that makes it a really difficult responsibility for a district. And so I really appreciate being part of this team and and helping to put those together and um continuously making our website a
069little bit better. So yeah, thank you. and also having um another maybe maybe a wish list. I guess we've been the strategic plan has been such a big big focus for us for the last couple of years and I would like to see possibly maybe a a scorecard based on the strategic plan that we can actually have on our website. Um and that way we can have the data and people can see what how our plan is being um is effective and things like that. I definitely um with executive cabinet we're working on what we're going to do for next year and so we can get some of those goals add them to the website and show where we are in our progress towards those goals. Thank you. Thank you very much for your presentation.
070Thank you. If I can interrupt. Oh yes, we we skipped we're going to go back to something. So I we omitted a a group of students who are in the room and I want to make sure they get some time. So uh Dr. Kelly, do you want to do do we have a a quick uh introduction and support of our students who are here? Good evening everyone. Um I have with me today uh a group called Willie B. Atkins program students Willie Bakin scholars. So they're here to make a presentation to you just to kind of give you an idea just how our year went. And so they they would have been part of the student reports. So, we want to make sure so we know where they're at on the agenda. Good evening. My
071name is Msiah Lin Sabi. I am a thirdyear Willie Bakin scholar and I am a junior attending Jesse Bethto High School and I'm the founder of Messia toy drive and I'm the youth president of our NAACP youth branch. And I am also a 2000 Omega Gent. And for those who don't know what the Willie Scholar program is, it is to increase the number of African-American students who will enroll into college or even a trade school after high school. We learn to be successful to our goals or we learn to be successful to have goals, establish superior work ethics, expose students to success uh successful role models and college experiences and to develop and understand racial pride, our culture, and the role we play in society. I've completed my third year with Willoughby Atkins and have
072been enjoying this journey with feeling a sense of pride. Doing this program along with my fellow peers has been amazing. Last year we went to colleges in the DMV area on the east coast. I fell in love with Howard University experiencing the sense of community and brotherhood and sisterhood. Or maybe it could have been familiar logos of Omega Sci-Fi on the fraternity building. Since I am currently an Omega Gen, I ended up coming home with a Howard University Leatherman jacket. This past spring, we traveled to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia area. I learned and experienced the formality of applying for colleges. And guess what? I was accepted on the spot from Benedict [Applause] University. I live with ADHD and I'm also deaf heart of hearing. The emotion of feeling like a true scholar. That
073is what it was like and that's what I felt. I felt like I was exposed to the next level of moving up. looking forward to my senior year and our college tour for next year. I want to thank the school district and the Willie Bakkins for giving me these amazing opportunities for my personal growth. Each year I feel more confident. A special thanks to our Willie B. Atkins leaders, mentors, and staff who continue to work alongside me and lift me to become a better me and upra for my success. my village. I thank [Applause] you. Good evening. Uh my name is Kai Newan. I am a seventh grader attending Valo Charter Middle School. I am a 2020 Omega J Valo chapter and I am a first year Willie Byakin scholar. Um, the things I could
074say about Willie B. Atkins would take me hours and hours of long, but I'm going to cut it down short. The Willie B. Atkins, it's a great program. Uh, it has made me better in every way as the first seventh grader to grace the Willie Atkins program. I'm very proud of myself and my peers for I was not alone during my trip at Willby Atkins as I was with my sister Candace Toledo who's right there. Um she has been a great guide to me in my journey in the Willie Bakkins program and throughout my life. She's wonderful and amazing. The Willie B. Atkins program has transformed me from a I'll take this and I live with a kind of person to now I am a person who if I get a bad grade on something
075or if I miss a point I'll go back and I'll retry and retry and retry. That is also from my grandmother, Elizabeth Griffin, who is a very good part of my life. As a first year scholar, I was not allowed to do most of the stuff I would like to do. But one thing I was very excited to do was the black college expo over there. I was able to see a lot of the colleges I would know, the colleges I would see and probably go to one. The one I had sights on was Howard University because of uh like Messiah said of the Omega Sci-Fi Fraternity. I hopefully will be able to visit the Howard University later in the future during when I'm older. I love the mentorship from all the teachers that and
076all the teachers and all the peers I had at the Willie Bkins program. Two of the most notable ones are um Dr. Kelly and my auntie. Auntie um Miss Dailyy. Um I love how when I was first starting out, I did not know anything. But over the time in course, I was able to build up my confidence and I didn't haste to go complain to my grandmother about how how hard this program was. Instead, I decided to persevere and try and now I'm ready to go on to my second year of Willie B. Atkins as an eighth grader next year. Thank you for your time. Okay. Good evening. My name is Kaya Robinson. I'm a senior attending Jesse Bethto High School and I was a secondy year Willie Atkins scholar. The Willie Batkins program has
077truly been a life-changing experience for me. Our weekly Monday meetings taught me valuable skills that I now use every day, especially when it comes to building strong study habits. Study habits, understanding how I learn best, and improving my communication skills. We didn't just focus on academics. We had real meaningful conversations about self-care, mental health, and how to carry ourselves as young black leaders. At the beginning of the program, I struggled with anxiety around public speaking. Just the thought of talking in front of a group would make me nervous and self-conscious. But the Willie Batkins program to helped me work through that fear by creating a supportive and encouraging environment. Over time, I begin to feel more confident expressing myself, sharing my thoughts in group discussions, and even speaking during events. I've learned to believe in
078my voice, and that's something I'll carry with me forever. One of the most impactful moments of my journey was attending the Black College Expo. The experience really kickstarted my college search and introduced me to the world of H.B.CU. Before attending, I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go. But the through but through the college tour that Willie Bakkins provided, I discovered Morgan State University, and everything changed. As soon as I stepped onto the campus, it felt like home. The energy, the culture, and the community was everything I had been looking for. Without this program, I might have never found the school that feels like the perfect fit for me. Another huge part of my success came from the college portfolios we built. At first, I didn't realize how important they would be. But when
079it came time to apply to schools, having having a complete and professional portfolio made a major difference. I truly believe it's one of the ma main reasons I was accepted into over 20 H.B.CU cus and and and okay and and awarded more than 120,000 in scholarships. Thank you. Because of the support and preparation I received from the Willie B. Atkins program, I am proud to say that I will be attending the Morgan State University this fall. Thank you. We also participated in something called the rights of passage which was one of the most powerful and emotional parts of the program. We were split into girls and boys every morning I mean every Monday evening to talk about the challenges we face in today's world and how we really feel about them. For for the girls
080it felt like we were creating a safe space and a sisterhood. I appreciated being able to connect with the other girls on a deeper level. My favorite part was the battle of the sexes when we got to ask each other questions. It gave me insight into how the boys think and helped me better understand my fellow Atkins brothers. Overall, I'm incredibly grateful for my time in the Willie B. Atkins program. It helped me grow not just as a student, but as a person. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me find my voice, and taught me the importance of being proud of who I am. I'll forever be grateful. Thank [Applause] you. Sorry. Okay. Good evening everyone. My name is Shahim Mari Khali Pope and I am honored and I'm honored to stand
081before you as a first year Willie Bakin scholar and a senior attending Val High School. I'm also proud to be a first team all league athlete specializing in the 300 meter hurdles and currently ranked seven in the Beayshore area. Thank you. I'm committed to Portland State University where I'll be ma where I'll be majoring in public health studies working working toward my bachelor's degree. Sorry everyone working toward my bachelor's degree and ultimately a future in the medical field. Tonight I'm here to share a little bit more of how the Willie Bakings program has shaped my journey and has helped me and has helped me into the person I am today. Coming from a culturally divine background, both Cuban and Trinidadian, I've always grown up to grow pride within my heritage. My family has deep roots
082in the culture and community. In fact, my grandmother was a Black Panther in New York. So sorry, yo. So needless to say, my culture runs strong through my veins. But despite the strong foundation at home, I hadn't always been sorry. I hadn't always had the chance to stand around my people to be surrounded by others who truly understood where I came from. Joining the Willie Bkins program that changed forever. This program surrounded me with like-minded people, like-minded students from all over areas. Valo, Benanisha and all driven, all passionate and all rooted in their identity. Through Atkins, I built real lasting connections with scholars who felt more like family than classmates. Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to learn from alumni who came before me. They taught me, I'm sorry. And what they taught me
083has stuck with me with every step of the way. To keep going, to stay passionate, and to never let anyone talk me out of my purpose. One of the most powerful moments of the journey that I was attending was the black college expo. Now growing up in Valo, you get exposed to a mix of cultures everywhere you go. But being at the college fair, being surrounded by black success, black excellence, and black professionals during incred doing incredible things. That was a game changer. You don't always see that kind of representation on social media or even in day-to-day life. But at those first I saw people who look like me becoming doctors, CEOs, engineers, and mathematicians. And it reminded me that there's no limit to what we can do. I even had the opportunity to speak
084with black doctors who offered me advice about my path, particularly in oncology. One doctor told me something that stuck with me. Stay focused. No matter how challenging or discouraging it may seem, the outcomes will always be a golden opportunity. That core right there, that's my feel. That's why I contribute to push forward. That's why I say motivated, focused, and driven. That's why I hold my head high as a proud Willie Baken scholar. This program didn't just prepare me for college. It reminded me of who I am. It connected me with the sorry, it connected me with the community and it taught me that being proud that being proud of who you are and where you come from is just as important as where you're going. So to everyone who supported me along this journey, my
085mentors, my peers, my family, thank you. I'm grateful beyond words. and to my fellow scholars and alumni. Let's continue to lead, to inspire, and to rise. Thank you. And one I'm sorry. And one more thing I' like to say. Um, this is going to take a lot out of me because I've been holding this in, but during this journey, I've experienced a lot of mental issues. Uh, some of my friends know, some of my friends don't know, but my mom has been battling cancer. So, going to Portland State for my major in public health studies. That's the reason why I want to continue to do what I do. For my family, for my friends, and for the scholars that look up to me, and for my for my younger teammates as well. So, I'd like
086to thank everybody for this opportunity. And um thank you everyone. [Applause] Thank you everybody. And I know this wasn't a formal part of the program, but if there are any questions for our scholars, they'd be happy to answer any. And I think what you just saw is a testament of the family that the Willoughby Atkins scholar program provides. Um it's more than just a program. It's it's a it's a a way for the students and the staff to really to love each other and to support each other and to greatness. So, thank you so much. Trusty Morales. Thank you everyone for your presentation. Willie Bin Scholars, I just had a few I just had a quick question. How did you guys hear um about this program and how do you think we can let other
087students know about it? Well, my experience, um, I have a lot of people around this area in Valo City Unified and, uh, I'm so thankful for the people that helped me through my life as well. Um, there's actually someone in me in this room right now, Dr. Kelly. I would like to say thank you, especially to you. You put me in a lot of programs, man. And I really appreciate you because without you, I really wouldn't be like, you know, active in this community. Well, in which he was the one who would inform me of the Willoughby Atkins program as well as the Omega Gens program. So, I would like to say thank you to him. I heard about the Willie B. Atkins program through a friend of mine who was has actually been in
088it since her eighth grade year, I think. Yes, her eighth grade year. So, she told me about it and I wanted to join earlier than I did, but I had personal issues going on. So, I was really um excited when I was able to join. So yeah, I have a lot of people in my community who have told me about this program. Uh most notably are Dr. Kelly, Miss Dilly, and my grandma. And my sister was uh who had came into her eighth grade year as a Willoughby Scholar in her first year. And as a kid, I would always like I would always see her and I was always I always want to be in the class. And if it answers your question, um just people and the way we could like give people to
089like come to our program is we could start off with flyers and then maybe go on to have scholars come into the classroom and talk about their experience. I have had um one time Dr. Kelly come into my classroom and talk about what it's like to be a Willie Bakin scholar. And that has inspired for one of my friends to come in the eighth grade year next year as a Willy Beakin scholar. How I heard about this program was from a friend of mine, a very close friend of mine, which was Jeremiah Williams. He is um a fourth year Willie Backen scholar. And so um ever since like I said, okay, I'mma join it, you know, join it, join it, join it. Um, I seen Miss Dilly and she asked me if I was um
090if I was interested and I said yeah and I seen Dr. Kelly and ever since then they just been on me ever since and then once I finally joined um greatest experience I would definitely say um yeah it's a great experience especially for younger and me being a senior it was a great experience as well. It got me um accepted into Portland State actually and um it it was it's a lot of information to take in. Um I can just go on and on about it, but just shorten it up. Yeah, it's it's definitely a great experience. And so to conclude your question, I would like to say this that building your village is very important. This Valo city unified district, it has opportunities around here. You just have to build it yourself. That foundation
091is what can make you stronger. That's what I'm going to say. Thank you. Trust. [Applause] I want to thank all of you for sharing your story. I want to encourage you to be brave. Embrace your potential for greatness. And once you've reached some of your goals, consider coming back home, helping bring up the ones behind you. Dr. Young, I'm so proud of all of you guys. I I I'm just speechless. First of all, because of the fact that I'm still here and I saw it when it got started. I saw the very beginning of the Willie B act project and to see the products that they have produced over the years to these historically black colleges and the universities in California is just to be embraced because the the village that Willie Bkins creates is
092typical of the southern culture. culture that we all come from. The southern culture that um keeps us eyes on the prize that preaches us that we got to get it because if we don't get it, we're not going to get where we want to go. So you guys are to be um applauded. That's my girl there. Oh, girl, girl, girl, girl, girl, girl. What can I say? Except you persevered. Thank you. Well, you earned it. You earned it. Each and everyone that comes through that Atkins project comes back with a self-fulfillment of self. Who am I? I am somebody. And that's what you come out with. I know that to be a fact. I know that to be a fact. So whichever route that whichever way you decide a historical black college or here in
093on the west coast um please keep your eyes on that prize because there's going to be some adversity out adversity out there. Um even more so now. But you can't let nobody tell you that you are not somebody and that they're not going to step on your line and in your lane to steal your joy. So you keep on pushing. Okay. Thank you everyone for being here and sharing your stories and we can't wait for you to come back to Valo and what great things you're going to do here. Have a good evening. Thank you. [Applause] We're going to move to Congratulations on 10. We're going to move to item 9B. Uh, Assistant Superintendent Tobasio be presenting. All right. Thank you so much. Um, a few weeks ago, Trustee Flores requested a uh presentation on
094how we support LGBTQIA+ students in VCUSD. I'm sorry he's not here to hear the report. Um, but um I wanted to provide some updates on those opportunities. So, good evening, superintendent, uh, President Fox, Vice President Amboy, Trusty, Dr. Latana Young, and and trustee Hajes. Um today I'll just be over giving an overview of some of the ways that we are fostering safe supportive environments for our LGBTQIA+ youth. Um I'll start with just a general policy note. Uh we do follow a a strict non-discrimination policy um that outlines our measures to prevent discrimination and harassment of staff or students based upon their identification of gender, gender identity, gender expression and and any any other protected status. In addition to that non-discrimination policy, um I would like to note that um the school success and opportunity act
095AB1266 also protects students rights regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Uh and this act ensures that students have access to resources and programs that correspond to their gender identity. Um which whichever they assert at school. um student access shall be based upon their choice. Okay. Uh I wanted to also make sure to share with the governing board and the community that we have a focus on working to foster highquality social emotional learning opportunities and wellness on our campuses. Uh school leaders, teachers, and staff work to provide environments and cultures that foster caring relationships, inclusion, empathy, and equity. Um and just as a note uh this references the castles and castles stands for the collaborative for academic social and emotional learning and as a leading resource for social emotional learning instruction for
096schools. So that is a tool just like we have instructional priorities we have social emotional learning priorities where equity and empathy are centered. uh our mental health support and wellness spaces are a key resource for all students but for particularly for our LGBTQ plus students. So over the past two years mental health support providers have engaged in comprehensive training to focus on um inclusivity, allyship and addressing implicit bias. Uh these sessions have equipped mental health support providers with the knowledge they need to support um our youth effectively. wellness centers on each campus um are intentionally designed to be inclusive spaces um including providing for needs for LGBTQ plus students and celebrating diverse identities. These there are posters, resources, tools and and access to mental health support providers to have a caring ally to talk to
097if that need should arise. And additionally for our youngest learners, um there's a program called Kimochis, which is a social emotional learning curriculum that mental health support providers use to introduce younger students to concepts of diversity, acceptance, empathy, and these lessons focus on understanding and respecting differences and fostering an environment where all students feel safe and included. Uh related just a little bit of data for the wellness spaces. Um we do take data on students who use the wellness spaces and 70 students um chose not to disclose their their gender identity. 50 students did identify as LGBTQ plus um who utilize the wellness spaces this year. In terms of additional instructional opportunities, um student health lessons um in the fifth grade in in puberty education include uh lessons on respect for differences, gender equity and
098human rights, gender and sexual orientation, understanding those and gender related definitions. Nothing um nothing of a sexual nature, but only defining gender and gender identity. in the upper grade, seventh grade and high school, um where we do have lessons on sexual health, um we still emphasize respect for differences, gender equity and human rights, gender and sexual orientation, and more detailed lessons on gender related definitions and terms, um definitions related to human sexuality and and personal identity, and um and a more in-depth discussion of LGBTQ plus bias and its effects. a few of our campuses um have some highlighted um activities that they're doing on campus to support students. So, for instance, at Mayor Island, um we have a counselor from SCO, an intern that is promoting student wellness and resources and has brought to the
099campus the Trevor Project, Slano Pride Center, and the 707 LGBT collective. Um in addition they um provide groups for students with the students participating um 50% of the students participating identify with the LGBTQ community. So there's an opportunity above and beyond for those students. At John Finny uh they have a um program in in collaboration with the Slano County Library. um a gay straight alliance book club and um they read the dreadnot by April Daniels, a novel about a trans superhero. Uh the club was featured uh a couple years ago in the CTA educator magazine and continues to meet each year. So we really want to do a little more. I want to acknowledge and I appreciate um Trustee Flores having brought this topic, requested this topic because it made me do a deeper dive
100into what's happening in our district. Um there's a need to expand some of the current best practices um to ensure that elementary, middle, and high school students have access to more resources aside from classroom instruction um and staff who can provide guidance and support in a developmentally appropriate way. Um, I want to spend some time reviewing the data in the California Healthy Kids survey for students who identify um as LGBTQIA+ on that survey and do some work to identify um students uh staff on campus that would be willing to serve in mentorship or lead roles uh to support students. There is some need to for some ongoing training. We did do some um training a couple of years ago with the county office um where they came and provided site administrators and district administrators with
101a a much deeper look at um the needs of LGBTQ plus students. Um as well as making sure we have the right language and terminology to use so that we're not using outdated language ourselves. And that's a really important thing for us going forward. But there is a significant room for growth and improvement in this area across the board. And um I was particularly struck by the words of our student last meeting um and she spoke about the ongoing need for supporting students um who identifies as transgender or transgender students and the need for continued education for the overall student body to reduce stigma and incidents of bias or bullying against students based on their gender identity. And so although our wellness spaces provide a safe space for students, all spaces on our campus should
102feel safe. Um so we have some work to do and um I see this as a next opportunity for us going forward to do more um and to set a standard across the district of what kind of clubs, services, supports should be available to all students on any campus. Um, and I um I look forward to bringing back to you some of that information um in in the coming year. So, I'll just close with a quote from Harvey Mil. Hope will never be silent. Um, and I think that applies across many many of our um of of our activities in the district and across our city and our country. Um, and even in light of the young people that spoke this evening, um, they are the hope and our kids are our hope. And so,
103um, I will close with that and take any questions. I have I'll start. Um, as we know with anything, education is key. And education is the earlier you can educate, um, especially different cultures that aren't that maybe certain things are taboo or that are just unaware because there's no one in the family, there's no role model, there's no one to identify as that person. So when we talked about um I know the state standards and social studies even at our early grades their curriculum has um either stories or information but what saddens me is I know some places teachers are afraid or don't want to or they skip over that section because it's either uncomfortable to their own personal beliefs or they just don't want to deal with it. So, um I would hope that
104here in Valo, one of the most diverse cities in the United States, that we are for sure in our social studies, especially early on, making sure those units are covered so our students see different types of families, different type of structure of a family. Um at our pride salute just a few weeks ago at our flag um raising, we had two dads with their daughters. we had I mean it was wonderful to see our own population there with their own children but if children don't see that early on they don't understand there could be other family dynamics not only in the state's adopted standards through our social studies but also um there's state approved books that could be displayed now could should be dep displayed in our libraries and not just for the few days
105in June that we're in school so again catching students earlier on with their a book through social studies or a book in the library are two ways when you talked about resources those can be resources to show early on maybe that book definitely gets read out loud instead of no one ever sees the book right you want to say something oh I was just going to note that um you may recall um if you were on the board at the time several years ago we had a whole series of books that we read at the younger grades. Um, that's a family. There was a video we watched. There's the book one, Chrysanthemum. All all of these um books that and um what was the one about the penguins? I can't remember. But anyway, all of
106these books that we would read at the primary grades um just as exposure to differences. Um and but I do appreciate you bringing that back to the forefront. Hopefully, they're still doing it. Yeah. And I don't know to what degree they I know the books still exist, but I don't know to what degree they're being um accessed and utilized because I think what you speak to about level varying levels of discomfort for um staff members not wanting to rock the boat, not wanting to say anything controversial or do anything controversial. Um I think we're going to have to kind of reassert um our expectations in those areas around these are our policies. This is how we approach these things. Um, I do think that the kumochi's lessons go a long way with um with kind
107of bringing that to the earlier grades, the earliest grades um to build that um understanding of difference, right? As early as possible and that all families are valuable. Another training that happened many years ago um as you attended our reading training with the Salon County um trustees, we put one on here in Valleo. It was many years ago and trustees and superintendents came all around and that was the topic LGBT students and how to support I don't think anything no one was on the board at the time other than myself but it was uh it was one thing that helped with other trustees and superintendents but these books you're talking about too I'd like to hear more about that um and just bringing things back and making sure things are implemented not just on a
108shelf getting dusty um the other thing that we used to do for visibility Unfortunately, years ago, there was a lawsuit um about things that weren't being done properly or said properly. And I noticed around this the district, I don't know who else remembers, on doors would be a sticker saying there's a rainbow sticker that said, "You are all welcome here." I don't know if those stickers still exist or if they're still there or they I'm I'm seeing some nods, but that came out from what I remember a lawsuit of anyways. Um so those at least is the visibility and if there's posters or stickers saying you are welcome no matter who you are that is at least something from early on through um students education it's something that we're saying this is what we believe
109in and and that does exist those posters around campuses um in in public spaces um of of all natures but specifically for um student gender differences or um LGBT BTQ plus IIA, you know, um, identities. The worst thing is for a child to feel fearful or ashamed or scared and don't come to school because they feel they're bullied or they feel they're so different that they can't access the the environment and that is so heart sad, just so sad. Um, so I'm glad that we'll find whatever opportunities that everyone feels inclusive and that that everyone is welcome. Another thing you did bring up. Unfortunately, the highest suicide rate of our teens is our LGBTQI um teens and having that's another thing the county that we helped put on the county board is about suicide prevention
110and having access and how the county can help and what resources and again having posters about that around that there are ways to find help if a student is struggling. Um, I think that's everything and I really thankful for your presentation. Too bad Trusty Flores wasn't here to hear the his request, but he can watch it online. Thank you. Um, Superintendent Reelia, do you want to say something on this too or Well, I just really appreciate, you know, the the deep dive and looking at where we're at as a district and we do have a ways to go. Um, and it's something we will, you know, move forward and and do better as we move along. But thank you. Thank you. All right, we are now on 9C public hearing Unified School District proposed budget
111and statement of reasons for so we are opening our public hearing presentation by Ruben Fernandez um for close hearing. Great. Could you expand it to Thank you. Great. We are now opening the hearing a presentation. Good evening, trustees. President Fox, Vice President Eboy, Dr. Young, Trustee Dean Hodes. Um, good evening. Um, tonight I will present the 2526 proposed budget for Valo City School District. This budget reflects months of financial planning, projections, and analysis during a time of continued fiscal stress for California schools. Uh this year's proposal is shaped by key trends, uh ongoing enrollment decreases, inflationary cost increases, and state funding constraints. Our goal tonight is to share with you not only the budget numbers, but the strategic framework that guiding our decisions going forward, especially as we build towards fiscal sustainability. Tonight's pres presentation
112will begin with the budget development timeline and major assumptions. From there, uh, we will review, uh, enrollment trends and ADA projections that drive our funding, followed by summaries of revenues and expenditures. We'll examine our general fund, both unrestricted and combined, alongside contributions to restricted programs. I'll also briefly review the education protection account. Lastly, we'll review the components of the ending fund balance and take a forward-looking view through our multi-U projections. Uh this slide shows the milestones that really frame our fiscal year and of our roadmap for where we're going. From the governor's initial initial proposal in January through the final state adoption in June, uh we've been aligning our planning and evolving uh state revenue conditions and policy involving two state revenue conditions and policy guidance. As we look ahead, we have an additional check-in
113uh coming up at the 45day budget revise in August. Uh coming up next will be first interim in Mar December and the second interim in March. Each report will include an update to revenue expenditure and enrollment data. The next slide um really talks about revenue assumptions. The the foundation of our budget uh rests on assumptions. We're projecting a 2.3% COLA cost of living adjustment for the upcoming year which increases to 3.02 and 3.42 42 in the following years. Uh these years colas are estimates at this time. However, I must stress that these colas are uh insufficient to offset the inflation and the the increased or the decreased uh enrollment that we're seeing. Uh state revenues are anticipated to drop largely because of one-time funds have been exhausted and future funding remains constrained. While mandated block
114grants and lottery allocations can remain steady, they represent only a small portion of our operating revenues. Importantly, we continue to monitor average daily attendance or ADA trends and the fed the continuity of federal funding. With LCFF, our local control funding formula driving the majority of our revenue, even modest ADA compliance, uh, declines translate to significant revenue losses for us. Uh, requiring ongoing fiscal restraint and careful planning. Uh, general fund revenue, our total general fund revenue for 2526 is protect uh, projected to be approximately 200 million. The largest share or 132 million comes from the LCFF. Other state revenues make up about 53 million while federal and local soldiers contribute 9.9 million and 6.4 million respectively. The unrestricted portion of our general fund is about 142 million and and this is the this is the bucket
115that directly funds salaries, utilities, operations and sitebased supports. Uh with revenue growth limited in these areas, we must continue to prioritize our core services and evaluate all of our discretionary expenses. It's worth noting that one-time sources, including a land sale and reserve transfers, are propping up this year's coming budget. These cannot be relied on in the future, underscoring the urgency of closing our structural deficit and restoring balance to our ongoing revenue and expenditures. The relationship between enrollment and ADA is a key factor. Now, to frame this conversation, I'd like to remind uh folks that revenue is based on attendance and expenditures are based on enrollment. So, our money comes from our attendance, but our expenditures are based on the students that are enrolled in our schools. Our enrollment continues to decline with ADA trends following
116closely. This is a slide from uh similar came from second interim but it it shows that gap between what we're receiving in ADA versus our enrollment. We're projecting further decline for 2526 consistent with uh demographic reports. Uh the district is actively working to retain students and reduce outflows including re-evaluating our interd district transfers and increasing local outreach. Our stabilization plans are closely linked to these enrollment trends as ADA is the most critical funding driver. The next chart showing funded ADA and how we're being protected by the rolling three-year average of the state of California as it supports districts across the state in declining enrollment. Looking ahead, we must incorporate accurate enrollment projections into every financial decision. The number of students in seats each day determines how much we can invest in program staffing and student
117supports. Um, other major assumptions, this year's budget includes one-time resources that temporarily stabilize our fiscal position. These include an $ 8.5 million transfer from the special reserve fund and 6 million in proceeds from a land sale. These one-time solutions help mitigate the extent of the deficit spending, but they are not sustainable long term. Our multi-year projections continue to show deficits. The administration is developing a stabilization plan and phased reductions and revenue strategies. Our goal is to include a detailed action plan in the first inter report this December, well ahead of the March statutory deadline. This will give the board and administration ample time to evaluate our options and provide input on critical decisions affecting our students and staff. The district faces a cumulative deficit, structural deficit of $37 million by the 2829 school year. To
118address this, the administration again is developing a phase databization plan that breaks this amount into manageable year-by-year targets. plan begins with 15.5 million in reductions and/or revenue enhancements required in 2627 the following budget year following by an additional 16.5 million in 2728 and a five and a final 5 million in 2829 to reach full structural balance. These phase adjustments allow the district to take proactive steps rather than reactive cuts, providing time for thoughtful implementation. By chunking the total deficit, the district can align fiscal recovery efforts with enrollment trends, program priorities, and the the contractual obligations that we have. In addition to the structural gap, the budget does not yet account for future potential cost increases from bargaining or programmatic changes or shifts in supplemental and concentration spending. These variables will be incorporated as um negotiations
119and program evaluations continue. Looking forward, uh rising Kalpers rates, uh inflation on utilities and insurance and special education costs increase are placing an upward um pressure on expenditures. These cost drivers must offset be offset through efficiencies, reductions, and revenues if we're to maintain fiscal solveny. On the expenditure side, our 2526 budget reflects both the ongoing costs of operations and strategic reductions aligned with the enrollment uh decline that we're experiencing. Uh staffing accounts for approximately 80% of our unrestricted general fund spending, highlighting how sensitive our budget is to labor costs and enrollment levels. We are also addressing facing increase in fixed costs, including employee health insurance, uh special ed uh mandates, utilities insurance, and supplies. uh these inflationary pressures reduce the flexibility of our budget. Our unrestricted general fund expenditures for 2526 are projected at approximately
120125 million representing the operational costs tied to the core educational prog site level supports facilities and district-wide services. These are the most flexible funds but they are also the most sensitive to changes as I mentioned to revenue and enrollment. When looking at the combined general fund, including both restricted and unrestricted, um we're seeing a total expenditures budgeted at 212 million. Within this amount, uh salaries and benefits, uh account for roughly 67% or a proportion of the school district's um uh spending that allow limits our ability to absorb some of the revenue to claims. And uh moving on to uh the contributions to our restricted programs. Um uh our unrestricted general fund makes significant contributions to restricted programs particularly within um special education which continues to be underfunded by state and federal sources, you know, relative
121to the services that our students really need and our most vulnerable population. uh for 2526 when combined with the required investments in our facilities in maintenance uh these contributions nearly total 45 million. Um these contributions are not optional. Without them, we would not meet our legal requirements for serving these students and um maintaining the essential programs that we have in place. As these costs grow faster than revenues, the pressure on our unrestricted budget intensifies. We continue to explore ways to deliver these services more efficiently. Uh the education protection account um which is something that we need to publicly disclose um is was established under proposition 30 and extended by proposition 55 is a vital component of our LCFF revenue and for 2526 we anticipate receiving 19.3 in EPA funds. Uh these funds are restricted to
122classroom based expenses particularly the salaries of classroom teachers. Um the district is required to report as I said uh what we're spending publicly year each year and our uh our budget complies with that requirement. When combining all sources and uses including one-time supports I mentioned earlier the general fund remains structurally imbalanced with expenditures exceeding ongoing revenues. While we remain solvent for the current year, this imbalance is unsustainable unsustainable. Uh by 2627 without correction corrective action, the district will face a 15 shortfall of 15.5 million. Uh the earlier we can act uh the less dis disruptive these adjustments will be and the more control we can have over how these reductions are prioritized. Um, our projected any fund balance includes money that we technically legal can't legally can't touch and reserves we must hold by law.
123About 36 million is restricted for specific programs that can't be used to cover our budget gaps. Another 6.3 is related to the state required minimum reserve. Um, and that means only a small portion of our fund balance is actually available and it's not enough to solve our long-term budget challenges. Uh the statement of excess reserve shows the difference between our actual reserve level and the state mandated minimum. Uh for 2526 we project a minimum excess reserve of approximately 4.2 million above the 3.3% requirement. While this may amount may seem large in absolute terms and only represents a few days worth of operating costs in our in our district of our size. It's and it's not sufficient to cover the structural deficits that are in place. Um and and this figure is expected to decline in
124the future years as we draw down on our reserves to cover those gaps. Our uh multi-year projections show that we can meet our financial obligations in 2526. However, maintaining solveny beside but beyond that requires uh the implementation of major structural changes beginning in 2627. Uh specifically, we must identify and implement 15.5 million in ongoing expenditure reductions or new revenues um by 2627 and with an additional again 16.5 in 2728 and additional 5 million in 2829. In conclusion, while our the 2526 budget includes one-time revenues, it is still uh for showing uh deficit spending uh with structural deficits in the foreseeable future. Uh we continue to monitor legislative developments and that may impact funding and and plan accordingly. Um and our our commitment to students and staff remains unwavering. We will continue to bring forward solutions
125that stabilize and prioritize equity, transparency, and the educational excellence that uh we are committed to. Coming back to our fiscal timeline, uh just kind of to give a little bit uh of a foreshadowing what what's coming next, the 45day budget revision um may include technical updates or legislative adjustments from the final state budget. Again, as I mentioned, later in the school year, our first and secondary report will provide opportunities to monitor and respond to the changes that we're seeing in real time. Um, and again, of particular note, that March 20 26 deadline is is very important. Uh, by that date, we're required to have a complete stabilization plan identifying those reductions to resolve our structural gap in 2627. Our team is targeting that first interim report for an initial plan adoption. Uh we'll bring more
126back before that, but this timeline allows the board and community, you know, time for discussion and input uh and clarity before the final decisions must be made. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Audrey Young, thank you for that report. It was very precise. Um not exactly what I wanted to see, but anyway, we move on. Um my question is where do you see that we keep falling behind? What area can we check to make sure that that doesn't it's something like your mortgage? When the mortgage company sees that you're gonna have a negative cash flow in your escrow, they automatically take that money and up your up your uh um note. So why don't we have that that mindset? Sure. I think uh you know the the first place that you you
127look is is obviously 80% of our budget is is is people and and the the great staff that support our students and programs. Um and um having an accurate control system, a position control system is a goal that we have and we're working with the county on to develop that. It's the if you can identify that and be very accurate with your budgeting, you can be very successful in in in 80% there. Right. Uh the other part of it is uh contracted services and consulting services. Um you know keeping an eye on those and the processes for how those are approved and monitored. Um and those are some of our our major goals for this year. And um you know uh the other thing is as well as a program review of our our uh
128programs and educational services and special ed and and keeping an eye on those. So, so is there anywhere within the auditing process or within the process of the daily running of the business that we can automatically have a flag flown up like like like the merge companies do? Absolutely. And and those are the systems we're some of the systems we're putting in place uh both internal controls around purchasing but the the practice of budgeting the culture the the science the the tradition of reconciliation amongst uh the program managers. So we're building um Dr. Dr. Dr. Paul Maning, our new executive director. Uh that that it's his first week. But uh sitting he's a Yeah. Uh but uh I think it's the culture of you know uh of having regular meetings and having conversations with those
129program managers um whether it be the the program side or on the facility side but empowering people with the information about their budgets and then having meetings to discuss where we're at and where we're going and um and that's something that I think um the district is is committed to approve on. Dr. Young, if I could if I can add to this budget deficit did not happen overnight. This is why we did first phase of school closures and we identified budget reductions going into next year. Clearly, we did not go far enough. And so that's what's phase two and and so on and so forth. We we have to examine further as we rightsize this district for the students that we have. So we will continue to do that work. Yeah, I understand the phases
130you that's not a problem, but I what I'm understanding is the checkpoints before the phase is end. Uh that's that was the flag that I was I was talking about. I mean, you know, and I use the mortgage company because I just got tagged. Okay. Vice President Amboy. This is the first time that I've been on this board where we finally have those checks and balances that we didn't have before. And although the the it it does feel very grim in in a lot of ways, but I'm hopeful. Um now we're implementing, you know, systems in place, which we which we never had before. And I it's I think it's we're climbing that ladder to getting ourselves out of that hole and recognizing certain things that we never recognized before. So, I think we're we're
131at a great start. We have the right people in place and I think we're we're ready. This train is back on. Thank you. And um I think through just being still very diligent about attendance every day and not hopefully people won't have district transfers and that students know the why to stay enrolled here. So I think with those three things we that's what's going to that can help us greatly and if all of us are working together on that every member from wherever you are if every member is working on that and know those three things I think that will help save the best we can having that mindset um for two things you said so the federal government's about 9 million contributing and then is do we know what's going to happen if that's
132in flux or if that's or we don't know. I think it's certainly in flux and we're evaluating that on a weekly basis and um could it be cut could it be cut like immediately or partially or we don't know or it could be just we don't know one day could be just don't wake up and it's gone today. Sure. Yeah. So we don't Yeah. I think um I think our efforts um continue to with our legislative advocacy and with our our work with our state representatives. because I think that it's something that we'll bring back at the uh 45day revise kind of an update on on where the where that lands, but right now um the funding that we're receiving um we feel mostly comfortable that it's going to be there. was title funding. The
133title funding yeah the title funding well the latest I I mean obviously I feel like every day the news changes with our federal government but the latest was that title one and sped was going to continue to be funded at the same rates but pretty much everything else so your title two your title three or all these other funding sources are looks to be reduced in the proposed budget from the federal government. We just don't know at what rate at this point or for the following year. Correct. Oh, the unknowns. Um then special education, it's never been funded properly. We've never been given the percent were supposed to be given. So that 38.5 million. So the unknown with that as well. Yeah. And I think that's uh you know if you if I were to
134identify our areas of focus is um special education is at is really at probably at the top of our list. Our commitments uh yearbyear have increased significantly um as I have studied the data and Chris and I have studied the data and uh we're looking at various efficiency tools and budgeting strategies to continue to work together. I think um aligning some of the budgetary anal analytic resources from my department and and begun to partner in and having those regular meetings to to strategize, you know, at this point every other week um to to make sure that we're moving forward. So So as the money may disappear, I wonder if the regulations or the mandates to implement idea and all the fed would those also I mean you don't get but I mean if you don't
135have the money how are you supposed to implement it and again anyways I'm just my favorite word unfunded mandate I'm just asking the question because I mean I want I want of course I want things um services given but if you don't have the money how are you supposed to give the services catch situation but it's been a catch situation for years because it hasn't been funded properly ever since I've been So, it's very frustrating. Um, so those are just my two comments. Anything else from the board? So, just a reminder, you have to close the hearing. Let's close this hearing and move on. Hearing closed. You're going to reopen the hearing for the next item. And now we're going to reopen another hearing. Going to do that four times. Fun fun. Here we go.
136So, now we're on um D, correct? Yes. Public hearing local control and accountability plan. LCAP. So, I'll provide a brief review of the Valo Charter School proposed budget for 2526. Ready? Uh, this budget presents a fiscally conservative plan that prioriti prioritizes core educational services while maintaining compliance with our state requirements. Uh, the total general fund budget for this uh this uh for this budget is balanced with estimated revenues of 5.4 million and expenditures are closely aligned to avoid deficit spending. So, we're not deficit spending in this fund. The budget reflects ongoing enrollment challenges as well. Uh projecting ADA attendance of about 432 students. Uh despite uh the flat or modest revenue growth, the charter school has allocated funds strategically to maintain staffing uh programs and meet the 3% minimum reserve requirement. Uh key cost drivers
137include our obviously our salaries and benefits which represent the largest portion of expenditures and our multi-year projections anticipate uh financial pressures beginning in 26 to 27 due to rising costs and limited growth. So we're going to keep an eye on this fund. Uh but it's currently on track to read its reach its obligations through the 2728 fiscal year. Uh this budget assumes no one time new onetime funding and includes continue investments in our academic supports, student services, and technology. School leadership will continue to monitor these enrollment trends and policy changes and make any necessary adjustments um to future revisions. Uh overall, the budget reflects a proactive and measured approach to uh financial management, positioning Plato Charter School to navigate the near-term challenges while preserving the quality of its academic programs. Any questions? Are there any
138comments from the public or from the board? All right. I'd like to just ask with our our move from Valo Charter coming to the Mare Island and potentially absorbing a significant number of the Mar Island students, do we are we projecting a higher attendance rate for for the school, right? And is that calculated into the budget or is it get delayed a year? I'm I always forget how that's worked into. Right now it's um it's delayed a year. So we're um Yeah. Okay. Okay, with that, this public hearing is closed. And now we are on to our next public hearing. Um, information F E, sorry, E, local control, LCAP, we're up again. Open a public hearing. Good evening, President Fox, Vice President Amboy, Trustee Dr. Young, Trustee Hodgeges, Superintendent BCUSD community. My name is Cassie
139Gosset and I am director of categorical grants and I'm here with Director Lordis Miller to provide you all information on the Valo City Unified School District local control and accountability plan for 2025 2026. Just a little background. In January of 2012, Governor Brown's budget proposed replacing California's complex funding formulas. This comp concept is manifested as the local control funding formula, otherwise known as LCFF, which allocates educational funds based on student needs and allows for flexibility and fund allocation at the local level. It was first introduced in the 2013 budget. The legislation requires the development of a three-year LCAP describing how supplemental and concentration grant funds are to be utilized to meet student needs with a focus on low-income English learners and foster youth student groups. Each local education agency or LEA and charter school must
140annually review and revise the LCAP in consultation with educational partners. The LCAP is a three-year plan that describes the goals, actions, services, and expenditures to support positive student outcomes that address state and local priorities. The current LCAP cycle encompasses 2024 through 2027. The 2025 2026 LCAP is year 2 in a three-year cycle. The 2025 2026 plan contains the LCFF budget overview for parents and the local control accountability plan. So when we look at the LCAP, the local control and accountability plan has three defined roles that work together to build a comprehensive plan that supports our unduplicated students or students who are lowincome English learners andor foster youth. For 2025 2026, the percentage of unduplicated for VCUSD is 85.54%. While Director Miller and I are presenting this plan tonight, the LCAP is a compilation of efforts
141and input collected from a variety of educational partners. The plan encompasses actions that involve all aspects of the VCUSD organization. Furthermore, each action has multiple measures of accountability to determine the degree of success in implementation as well as effectiveness. Ultimately, the LCAP is intended to provide readers with an extensive picture of what Valo City Unified is doing to address the needs of the district's unduplicated students. The plan is compromis or comprised of sections or components listed on the screen that demonstrate how funding and actions are working together to address the needs student data as well as educational partner input has expressed. When it comes to educational partner engagement, opportunities to learn from our educational partners have taken place in a variety of formats over the course of the school year. Through meetings, focus groups, surveys,
142phone calls, conversations, and empathy interviews. Input has been collected to determine trends that inform this plan. This year we added the superintendent student advisory council as ongoing adviserss in addition to the district English learners advisory committee. When it comes to trends, the following trends emerged and educational partners across all of the different groups, be it staff, students, parents, community all informed the plan and asked that we prioritize well-trained, effective staff. That we continue and enhance academic student supports. that we make sure we're providing safe environments that include mental health and wellness supports. Educational partners ask that we continue to focus on equity, inclusion, and resources for students to expand their learning as well as increase family and community engagement. Expand programs that connect students to school as well as postsecary. provide enrichment curriculum and extracurricular
143activities and continue to work to enhance school facilities. I'll turn it over now for Director Miller to talk a little bit more about what's in the plan. Thank you, Cassie. Uh, good evening VCUSD board and community. Uh, my name is Lordis Miller. I'm the director of data and analysis. And next we'll review the goals, metrics, and actions components of the LCAP. So LCAP goals define what we aim to achieve. Actions explain how we plan to reach goals. And metrics identify how the progress of each goal is measured. There are four broad goals that align with our strategic pillars and are intended to drive continuous improvement for all school sites. Each goal has specific actions and metrics. Broad goal one is aligned to VCUSD strategic plan pillar three, a vibrant culture of teaching and learning. And
144this goal has 18 actions and is measured with 17 metrics. Broad goal two is aligned to VCUSD strategic plan pillar 2, safe and supportive learning environments. And this goal has 11 actions and 12 metrics. Broad goal three is aligned to VCUSD strategic plan pillar one equitable opportunities and equitable outcomes. This goal has 15 actions and is measured with seven metrics. The final broad goal broad goal four is aligned with VCUSD strategic plan pillar 4 community centered education and this goal has seven actions and six metrics. The following goals are equity multiplier goals. These goals are specific to sites that have have been identified as needing focus support. Equity multiplier focus goal eight is focused on supporting English learner students at Valleo High. And this goal has three actions and four metrics. Equity multiplier focus goal
145nine is focused on addressing suspension rates at Valo High. And this goal has three actions and four metrics. Equity multiplier focus goal 10 is focused on improving reading outcomes at Lincoln Elementary. And this goal has three actions and four metrics. Go on. Next. Equity multiplier focus goal 11 is focused on improving academic outcomes for specific student groups at Annie Penny Cookook Elementary. This goal has five actions and four metrics. Equity multiplier focus goal 12 is focused on improving academic outcomes for specific student groups and improving English learner progress at Highland Elementary. And this goal has five actions and is measured with four metrics. Finally, equity multiplier focus goal 13 is focused on improving the conditions and climate for all students at Highland Elementary. And this goal has one action and is measured with two metrics.
146I'll turn it back to Cassie. So with these goals comes allocation of funding based on um the priorities identified through educational partner engagement. And so what you see on the screen is how that funding is allocated across the broad goals. So we have goal one around vibrant culture of teaching and learning. Um highest funded at over 23 million moving into broad goal two around safe and supportive learning environments. Um goal three with around just beyond just below 8 million um to address equitable opportunities and equitable outcomes. And finally broad goal four around community centered education at just over two million. The total allocation for supplemental and concentration grant funds for next year is comprised of a current year allocation plus carryover for a total of 45,57,39. Um Lordes had mentioned the LCFF equity multiplier grants.
147Those funding sources are for the specific schools that were mentioned and so we call those focus goals because those funds will be focusing on the needs of those schools. In total, BCUSD receives $2,643,980 to address the actions in goals 5 through 13. Looking at some of the highlights for 2526, we have builtin continuous improvement structures throughout our system, including our LCAP plan. And so that means that every single action has metrics. We have um lead metrics with each goal but then also more formative metrics built in to each action. Our focus in 2526 is moving from implementing actions since this is our first year of this LCAP cycle to actually seeing whether or not these actions are working. Looking for effectiveness moving into 2526. We continue with our TK through 12 literacy focus for our
148professional learning plan. It will be year three in 2526 where we're focusing on sustaining our expertise. Um we also are working on and continuing to work on the implementation of essential standards so that teachers are really focusing on those high lever standards to make sure students have deep understanding of learning at their grade level. Um leadership team development continues at every level. So we want to make sure that ongoing co coaching and support is provided not just at the district level but also at the school sites. College and career readiness enhancements are also included in this LCAP plan with a focus on middle school college and career counselors. Um, and an additional focus on preparing for that trai transition between middle school and high school, knowing that the research shows that if we want to
149see students successfully graduating, that work begins much earlier than high school. And so we need to make sure we're channeling some of the funding to make sure our students are supported so when they get to high school they are ready to go and they have all the opportunities available to them. Um and then expansion of core learning. So, um, this comes out every year in our educational partner engagement that our students, our staff, our families want to see additional art programming. They like to see the athletics. They like to participate. They see that not just as a student engagement opportunity, but also as a family engagement opportunity. um and for us to continue working on um communicating with our students to identify those highinterest programs. Uh furthermore, making sure we have resources in our classrooms
150to support student collaborative talk. We um saw in our student engagement that students would like teachers to provide that direct instruction. They value the expertise of the teachers, but they also want multiple opportunities to learn and be able to demonstrate mastery. Other highlights include enhanced multi-tered system of support actions making sure um that we have supports for students both academically as well as social emotionally. We have a funding source called the learning recovery emergency block grant that was added into um the needs assessment for our LCAP plan. So we're including funds that we have and have had um to continue providing evidence-based supports. Um this also means continuing with our mental health, wellness, and traumainformed care supports. Um we continue to um work on additional resources for our multilingual learners um focusing on um the
151wide range. So English learners um have multi multiple needs when they're newcomers versus long-term English learners, which is a student group that we're monitoring closely um both on the dashboard and in all of our formative work. um and our dy identified students who are students who are multilingual learners as well as have IEPs. Attendance awareness, as you heard in the previous presentation, um continues to be a focus. Making sure we are doing everything on our end to encourage students to attend every day, but also providing resources through staffing to make sure we're reaching out to families to understand what some of the root causes may be for them not sending their children to school and having staff to help respond to those needs. Um, and then of course expanding parent education opportunities and supports. Our
152parents want to connect with our schools. They want to connect with their students classrooms. And so we need to continue to offer a variety a wide range of opportunities for parents to become involved in their children's education. So these are the highlights. This also concludes our presentation on the 2025 2026 LCAP. If there are any questions, I'd be happy to answer. Dr. Young, I'm watching. Very impressive. Their highlights very impressive. What I'm looking for, this is all this is all what is is a highlight of what you want to accomplish in 2526. Correct? Okay. What I'm looking for in 2526 is um what does all this look like? How is it implemented? Is it being assessed? how if it's not if if it's being assessed when the assessment comes through, how are you going to
153monitor and adjust it in order for it to be successful and sustainable? That's what I'm looking for. So, we might both respond to that a little bit. Um, just in terms of this is fine, right? This is a start and I'm impressed. But my most concern at this particular time is this is a lot. But it doesn't I don't see this. It's a lot. It's a comprehensive plan for sure. Um and it does encompass a lot of activities and within those highlights are a lot of sub activities. So when you take a deeper dive into the LCAP plan, you'll see a lot of detail and going back to the slide around the different components. Excuse me for doing that. Um when I talked about um how the LCAP tells a story, one of the portions
154of the LCAP is a section called increased and improved services where we explain not just the needs but what we're going to do to address those needs. And it explains with a little bit more detail. Of course, it doesn't lay out every single single plan, but it does also describe how we're going to measure it. And not just once a year, but throughout the course of the school year, because measuring each of these actions becomes critical as we move into year three. Because if we don't see evidence of effectiveness in these actions, then the um the requirement is to revise or get rid of actions. And so monitoring them and making sure we follow up with you in the midyear report about where this effectiveness is going is part of the work that that needs
155to be done. That's that's that's that's good. That's that's what I was looking for. But the the time frame, do you let it go on a semester? Do you let it go on nine weeks? Do you let it go on before you assess it? and I can start and then I'll let you finish. These metrics are um something that are built in depending on the metric will will determine the time frame. So we we are working at a district level too. When you talk about our district leadership team meetings, we are always looking at data and all of that data both that we're looking at as a district leadership team as well as what sites are looking at as site leadership teams through their own school plans are data points that we are monitoring monthly.
156And then those conversations are happening at the school sites and at the departments consistently. That's that's good to you have something to say? Yes, come on. Thank you so much. I I think Director Gosset captured um most of it. Um but will some of the metrics that we have in the plan um the outcomes for those metrics come out um annually. So if there are metrics from the California school dashboard or data quest, we got those annually. However, there are also local metrics that we use um and we're able to monitor those um you know during our district leadership team meetings and I also formally meet with each site to go over their metrics at least um uh quarterly um or every trimester with the problem with it coming out at the end of the
157year causes a causes a problem because then it's too late. Right. Right. So seeing that you guys have that metrics in there as it goes, it shouldn't be a negative or it should be increasing in what we're looking for. That's good. I have another question watching you guys. I think it's slide number 10. That's Let's see the teacher. I've been to her classroom. She is superb. She's She's She's a great teacher. Great teacher. Is this 10? Yeah, that's it. That's it. No, that the one that says Highland, that's the one I'm interested in. Okay. Highland. There it is. That was 12, 11, whatever it is. Okay. I see a lot of go uh highland um within three years all students in 10% growth huh over three years yes that's something so that's growing a certain
158percentage each year correct correct and just um to be clear these are also the metrics that are in their school plan. So, we've aligned these so that we're we're working from multiple angles to hit the same priorities. Are you taking into account some of the kids aren't coming to you at the level that they need to be in order to get them where you need them to be? So that's that's definitely a consideration and that's why if you look at the actions within um equity multiplier focus goal 12 um you will see more specific approaches that the school site is going to do in order to make sure that they're responding to the needs of of those students. school. What does that mean? So it means it means that um currently Highland has higher suspensions
159and overall but in particular with the student groups mentioned that we need to focus on and these funds are going to be targeted to make sure we put some supports in place to respond to to student needs. I don't see anything in there that deals with mental mental um stress, mental mental health. I don't see anything in there. And knowing that population says that's my district, they need that. So the action that's attached to focus goal 13 is actually to provide funds for a social worker. So they would have a dedicated social worker to really be there on campus. um to be proactive as well as responsive um for those student needs. They have people that are qualified in order to diagnose what those children need in order to refer them. And I think that's
160something where we coordinate with all of our services to make sure we're providing high quality. Um not this is not an absence of our MTSS that we have in place for health and wellness. So we do have our mental health support providers still on campus, our academic support providers to coordinate activities. This is just another layer to make sure that Highland doesn't go out with go without that immediate support. Thank you. I feel bad. Um can you explain or was the when you first started did you say 84% unduplicated for the whole district? 85.54% 85.5 almost 86% correct can you out of 100% of student population so that almost approximately 86% can you explain to everyone on what unduplicated means what is that 86 number I wanted to be clear what that means sure so
161um when we're talking about our unduplicated student population we're talking about students who are either lowincome English learner and or foster youth in some cases is students may qualify for more than one of those groups, right? But we only count them once. So, what that percentage is saying that if you had 10 students, um, eight of them would be considered either lowincome English learner or foster youth. Out of the 86% of the total correct number of the 100% population of our district. Correct. I just wanted that clarified for people to know or to hear. Thank you for highlighting that. Um, anything else comments or questions? So the with that we are closing this hearing. Thank you for the information. Thank you. Now we're on to item 9F which is our public hearing for the LCAP
162for Valo Charter School. opening the hearing. Thank you. Good evening, President Fox, Superintendent Aurelio, Vice President Amboy, Trustees Young, Hajes, um, Morales and community. My name is Jenny Sluben and I am the proud principal of Valo Charter. I'm also celebrating a milestone tonight of of 10 years. I've been with the district for 10 years since 2014. I started off as a teacher at Jesse Bethl High School as a finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship teacher and I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue with the district um as a principal. Um this is my second school and I'm very incredibly thankful. Um so thank you. But tonight, I'm here to um to present our local control and accountability plan for the 2526 school year. Our plan follows the district's plan. Um also, um the our
163LCAP is more than just a plan. It serves three key purposes as so the districts. It ensures we engage with our educational partners, supports comprehensive planning for student success, and maintains accountability and compliance with state requirements. Also, our LCAP tells a story. It tells a story of our school, how we listen to our community, identify what matters most, and take action to meet the needs of our students and our families. We have talked to students, families, teachers, staff, and community members through surveys, meetings, and one- on-one to help shape our plan. From those conversations, here's what's what mattered to them the most. Our community wanted great teachers and support staff, academic help for our students, mental health and safety, equity and inclusion for all, stronger family engagement and enrichment and afterchool programs. This this information
164helped to shape our goals, our metrics and actions. We're committed to clearly communicating what we plan to do, how we will measure success, and the steps we will take to get there. Our LCAP goals align with the district's strategic priorities and guide continuous improvement across all areas of our school teaching and learning, school culture, and community engagement. In our goal one broad uh broadband goal one there are seven act actions and seven metrics. In broadband goal two there are four actions and nine metrics. We want every student to read and be at grade level by third grade and develop the skills outlined in the VCUSD portrait of a graduate. This means investing in strong instruction, academic growth, and equity. We're also focusing on family and community engagement. By increasing opportunities for families to be involved,
165we strengthen our school and student outcomes. Leadership opportunities and feedback groups are key key strategies. And actually, this should be broadband goal three. We have four actions and seven metrics. And in uh goal four, there are two actions and six metrics. As you can see, this is the slide that shows how we have allocated our funds to support our goals. The largest investment that we show here are in teaching and learning, which is goal one, and followed by school culture, community engagement, student leadership, and opportunities. Um, our total um budget is 1.8 million. Here are some key highlights um from our um LCAP. We are providing more instructional support especially in literacy. Small group instruction and classroom libraries are being expanded. We have also added collaboration time and exp and enhanced SEAL programs like packs
166for younger grades. We are continuing our EL or expeditionary learning model and expanding training for staff. Classrooms will get updated materials and technology to support early literacy. We're also strengthening support for multilingual learners. In closing, Valo Charter LCAP is a reflection of our shared vision for our students. is grounded in equity, excellence, and the belief that every student deserves to thrive. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. You are there any comments from the public or from the board. With that, this hearing is closed. We are now down to agenda item 9G. Good evening again. Um for information item 9G, I'm providing um on the uh I'm providing information on the 2425 end of year financial projections for Valo City Unified School District. Uh this report reflects all district fund activity as of April
16730th, 2025 and projects revenues, expenditures, and fund balances through June 30th. Uh this third level projection is a requirement uh for districts that filed a qualified or negative second interim report in which we filed a qualified report uh as we did earlier. uh state law requires us to submit this projection to the county superintendent, the controller, state superintendent of public instruction by June 1st, which we have done. Uh this submission ensures transparency and allows state and county agents to monitor the district's fiscal health in real time. Uh as of this report, all district funds are projected to close the year with positive ending ending fund balances. This includes the general fund as well as other major operating and capital funds. Uh this report also includes projected cash balances and we can expect to maintain sufficient
168cash flow through the end of this fiscal year. Uh avoiding the need for external borrowing or deferrals that happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your presentation. Thank you. We're are now down to agenda item 10A. So good evening everyone. I have this item uh we bring back for a second read and adoption of board policy administrative regulations and board bylaw updates. Um just a little background, we receive periodically from the California School Boards Association updates to board policies based on changes and laws. And so what you have in front of you are the March 2025 and the December 2024 board policy updates. and we ask the board to adopt and approve. Do I hear a motion for agenda item 10A? Um, Vice President Amboy, I'd like to make a motion to approve item
16910A. Uh, Trusty Hodgees. Second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. Hi. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. Hi. Trustee Morales. I. And Trusty Simmons is absent. The motion passes. Thank you. Um, we've had a request from the board for if we can take a brief twominut recess and then we'll come back for item 10B. I think we're ready to reconvene. Okay, we're on agenda item 10B. Fernandez, I think 10B. Hello again. Um, good evening. Tonight we're We don't have to do roll call, do we? No, I think we're here. We're all here. Okay, good. Uh, 10B action item. Tonight, we're requesting approval of resolution 5066. Did you know that? Yeah. which formally appoints members to the closure and facility advisory committee commonly referred to as the 7-Eleven committee and designates
170specific district properties for the committee to review. Uh this action is a part of our ongoing efforts to assess current and future facility needs including the potential phase 2 school um consolidation. The uh committee will consider various factors such as enrollment trends, facility modernization costs, and surplus property designations while ensuring community input is central to the pro process. So this is in compliance with ED code uh 17388 and 173 through 389. Uh 7-Eleven committee will consist of 7 to 11 members representing a diverse community uh of interests. Uh their charge will be to develop recommendations on possible school closures and repurposing of real property and come back and submit a formal report to the board. At this time, staffer recommends the board approve the formation of this committee and assignment of properties for review as
171outlined in the resolution. I can just add um so there are 10 members selected on this committee and they're listed on the screen. Now, um this was a this was a a a great pool of candidates. We received I want to say 21 uh folks who did apply to be on the committee. Um and one of the factors we have to always look at is having the right combination of membership because 711 committees have very specific requirements. So this is a really broad base of our district and really covers um I think every element was checked Thank you. Do we have a motion to approve action item 10B? Vice President Amboy like to make a motion to approve action item 10B. I don't know whose light was next. Trusty Hodgees. Second. Roll call, please. Trusty
172Hodes. Hi. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. Hi. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. I trusty Morales. Hi. And Trusty Simmons is absent. The motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. We're now on agenda item 10 C. Approval of our SLPA governance. And this evening we have executive director Kristen Hardy. Thank you for hanging in there all night. Good evening. Of course. Thank you for having me. President Fox, Vice President Amboy, Trustee Dr. Young, Trustee Hodes, Student Trustee Morales, and Superintendent Aurelio. Um, so tonight I bring our local plan as a single district SULPA. We um have an annual plan that describes the services and budgets that the special education department utilizes to serve our students. And um I will walk through sort of a brief summary of um of our current structures and some of
173this information you've heard through the budget review this evening as well. So I'll do a quick overview of what the local plan is and what it covers and the different components of it and then we'll take a look at the um services and budget plan uh for uh the 2526 school year. So, as I mentioned, the state of California requires all um uh SULPASS to submit a plan to utilize um the budget to provide services and ensure that every student with an IEP is appropriately served. So the process for approval is that um the plan is brought to a stakeholder group that includes our community advisory council, our faculty and staff, um other members of the public, our parents, uh in order to get feedback on the plan. Um then we bring it to you
174to approve and then it goes to the county superintendent and then we finally submit it to the state of California. And so tonight as part of the public hearing um to seek any public input and then also to um gain your approval in the next step. So the uh local plan comprises many components not all of which are um required to be renewed every year. So we're on sort of the shortest cycle for the current year. Um and it's very much based on the full plan which came before the board in the 2324 school year. So this um year we um submit sections A which is the certifications and asurances um section D which as I mentioned is a budget plan and then section E which is our services plan. Um and as you can
175see section B was uh is the really large comprehensive portion of the plan and that will come back around to the board uh on a three-year recurring cycle. So section A is simply just um who's involved in the plan and then the asurances that we will comply with um what we say we're going to do. Uh for the budget plan requirement, it um talks about the state and federal u sources of income that u we were discussing earlier. um and we'll give a little more detailed information about where those sources are coming from and then talks about the um the overall budget and then um where those sources are coming from and how we're going to use those and then uh E goes through the services that the district provides and where and how. So
176for the budget as we discussed and oh my goodness this slide is now really small for my glasses but these but these are the um this reflects the state and the federal um input for um special education and as you mentioned President Fox it is a fraction of what the costs of um delivering these services are and the federal government has never the commitment for IDA was to fund at 35% they've never exceeded 14% and I believe the current year they're at about 13%. Um but to your earlier question currently um there is a commitment to provide um to to fund IDEIDA to the extent that um Congress has approved but that that funding will um continue into the 2526 school year. So those revenue sources, those dedicated special education revenue sources are um a
177little over $14 million. Um as a single district SULPA, we also do capture some specialized funding and the district provides services to infants which um is I think something that the district should be really proud of. Um this uh slide reflects how we utilize that budget. Um, you will notice that and I think to um to Associate Superintendent Fernandez's point around how we're utilizing the district's budgets in special education, we are very reliant currently on contracted services. So, that does reflect um that object code uh 5,000. Thank you. Um at a little over $30 million. And you can see that in special education, the balance between the the um the certificated and classified services which are kind of the largest in the overall district budget are smaller in special education because of the um specificity
178of the services provided within special education and just the difficulty in um recruiting staff with those specialized credentials particularly postcoid. But this is something that we are working on. This reflects um really last year's budget and moving into this year and is something that we are currently um working on to increase um our own staffing. Uh so overall this this slide just reflects the overall um revenue projections. Um and so you can see that the local contribution is similar to what um associate superintendent Fernandez shared in his presentation and again is a little bit fluid as we're really trying to you know rightsize um but we only get 14% of I mean local food cont okay yeah the local contribution right so you can see the the state contribution is about 20 little 21 and
179a half% about $10 million. The projected federal revenue sources are about $3.5 million. Okay. And then the remaining um the remaining balance is comes from the local contribution. And again, this is kind of reflective of of uh last year's budget. Um but with that money, we provide a huge number of services to our community. And one of the things that Vallejo said he should be so proud of is the fact that we serve about 98% of our students in district. That is a rare thing. We really provide a very wide range of services including being the regional program for deaf heart of hearing students um from uh preschool through the elementary grades and then we partner with um Fairfield that provides services for the rest of the county. So it is no small accomplishment or
180commitment on the part of the district to provide these specialized regional programs. And so we provide this district delivers almost every possible service in a student's IEP in ways that are strategic and um and focused based on student needs. And so again, something to be really proud of. And you'll notice in the third column we have the transition support services. and those are for our students that are over the age of 16. And to really um support the development of that graduate profile and supporting our students with IEPs to have plans for their life beyond um VCUSD and we provide those services through a range of um of programs. We as I mentioned provide uh the exceptional tots program which serves uh infants and their parents um that are identified with special needs. We have
181preschool programs um a a range of preschool programs. We have and then a range of services and supports to meet the needs of students within the least restrictive setting. So everything from a student who may just get 30 to 50 minutes a day of special education support all the way up to our students who require most of their day within a more specialized setting. We have classroom programs for students that focus that um with autism with emotional um needs. Our deaf heart of hearing program as I was mentioning we have programs for our adult transition our students that are um uh up to age 22. And then we do have a small number of students who require more specialized placements and programs outside of our district. We utilize um the California Department of Education specialized
182programs for deaf heart of hearing and um and the blind and then a very few students in non-public schools. Um and we do serve some of our students in home and hospital. So again, there's a program for every student and that'll be determined by the IEP team. Um I'm very excited that for the 2526 school year, we're going to be making some really um impactful shifts um on both ends of the continuum of our student services. One will be an inclusive preschool program. So, as the state preschool um gains a home at Loma Vista this coming year, we will be um developing a um an inclusive preschool program, which we know that when we can get students started early, get them services, and hopefully support them to need less as they go into school, their
183long-term trajectory is um you know, really dramatically shifted. The other I'll go into a little more detail is called the alternative pathway to the diploma. And this one is incredibly exciting. So California is actually one of the last of the 50 states to adopt the idea that every single student deserves a access to a high school diploma. We know all the research suggests that lifetime um lifetime outcomes are dramatically shifted for students who earn a diploma. So, the alternative pathway um was um opened up to states through federal legislation a number of years ago and with that came the ability for every state to define what that looked like locally for them. And as I mentioned, California was one of the later states to adopt it. Um it went into effect in the 22 23
184school year. So next year's graduating seniors will have access to this and we are ensuring that our seniors will have access to this. Um so here's the California law. So who is this for? This is the alternative pathway is um designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. It is considered equivalent to the traditional high school diploma. Um it is for students who take the California alternative assessment. And so it's one of the ways that the IEP team will kind of determine who is um appropriate for this. Um it uh students will receive curricular access to what are called the California um the alternative achievement standards which are aligned to the California alternative assessment. Um it requires students to meet statewide minimum coursework requirements. Um, and it allows our students with extensive support needs to remain
185and continue with their IEP services through the age of 22, which is really important. Um, and it is an IEP team decision. So, next year our students um in our extensive support needs special day classes will have access to um the minimum course requirements. will be using uh the unique learning systems which is one of two state adopted curriculum aligned to the California alternative assessments and this is aligned to the California minimum requirement. So we have 220 for most of our diploma track students and that's our local um diploma requirements. The um the students who are taking the alternative assessment have 130 credits required. So they'll take three years of English, two years of math including one year um at least one year aligned with the essential standards of algebra, two years of um science,
186one biological, one physical or two years of integrated science, one year of history, one year of world history, one year of government and economics, two years of physical education, and one year of a visual and performing art. So they get the entire exposure to all of the core knowledge and information that all of our graduating students have, which is so important. And if they continue to take a full course load, that's 240 credits, they have a lot of space to choose courses that are important and valuable to them and their families. Um, so we're really excited to be offering this and actually both high schools were already very closely aligned to this already. So, we'll just be making some tweaks to ensure that our seniors are on track. Um, in order to support all of
187these shift and changes, we have done some strategic realignment within the central office to include two teacher leaders. We'll have one to be supporting our um teachers with mild moderate uh credentials and serving our students with mild to moderate support needs and then one to support our students with extensive support needs. Um we've also uh created an early intervention support coordinator. That was a reassignment of a of um another position that's supporting with significant disproportionality work. And then um we are recruiting for an assistant director. And that again is a sort of a restructuring of um some other positions based on the um the specificity of the work. So, with that, I will take any questions. And I do understand that I'll um have an opportunity as we continue to dig in and look at
188all of the structures and things to come to probably do a deeper um board study session with you and be able to answer more questions. But if you have any questions now, at this time, we'll open the public hearing for any comments or questions. And we do have one card before we go into questions from the board. get the uh the public comment. Oh, we're going to come back to questions. We just want to u council member Councilwoman Gordon, I believe you submitted a card for this item. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Good evening. It's great to stand before you. Um I want to appreciate every last one, the president, the vice president, Dr. Young and then uh Dean Hodgees. And I want to say thank you so much for allowing me to
189be here. I want to say I am so excited of your report. I don't have to get to say that. And I also appreciate your your excitement to want to see our children succeed. My son Christopher Gordon graduated here 2020 2017. Of course, all of my children actually graduated from the the school district. longtime parent uh advocate. I stand before you because we have uh some concerns regarding the Sappa uh parents uh not being felt like they're being heard and I hope that you can help me navigate that and I'll be willing to partner with you in that area. But I also am excited to see the college because Christopher is probably the one who probably started that at the he went to he was he had a 240 credits to get his diploma but
190he never received it. So then I because you remember the state took away that requirement so he they made him qualify. So then I put him in adult education as if he never spoke English so that he can get whatever he might have missed. He was there for four years. he still didn't get his diploma. So to this day, he does not have his diploma and he desires it because I have one for all of his other siblings and not him. So at 25, he still desires that. But I'm happy to see that it's it is moving forward because there are students um that have went through that program with adult education and they are excited about it. So I hope that it's still going on. I'm not sure because I haven't been up to
191date with that, you know, running your election. it keeps you busy. But um I'm willing to see more successful individuals because outside of our district, believe it or not, individuals are not only getting their diplomas with Down syndrome and autism, but they're also able to go on to universities. It's it's it's exciting. And then when I say, "Oh, my son's doing this." They're but yet he don't have his diploma. They're like, "What? my I got mine. What do you mean? So, it's I don't know if this is just something within our district that we need to conquer, but I really do want people to understand our children may have challenges, but we put a lot of money into this budget to make sure that they are successful. They first are general ed first, right? Then
192all these extra funds come on top of that to make sure they are successful. So, but I just want to tell you I'm excited about your report. Thank you very much. Okay, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Are there any other comments or about the report for the hearing? I would like to say um it's just exciting that the pathway for all students to be successful that is something that's so heartening and starting early on. And I liked how you said from preK to K, starting with that and building throughout and then making sure that the number of units, credits, so forth are adjusted or accommodated throughout the path to get to the final goal. So I'm just and it's something that I'm proud that Valleo City Unified School District is doing. And
193when you showed all the accommodations for um that we provide to our special ed students, that also is just so gratifying because as we know, charter schools do not have to do any of that or even accept anyone with special education. We take everyone. We don't throw or cherrypick kids back because they're different. We take everyone and serve them to the best we can. So anyways, I just was so happy to hear where we're going and proud of where we're going. Dr. Young, back to me. Um, career pathways, how is that encumbered into the the the diploma? So, our students with IEPs are general education students first. So, every opportunity that uh any student at the high school would have, our students with IEPs have as well, right? They may require some accommodations or supports
194in order to access some of those programs, but that is, you know, what we provide. Um, in addition to that, students with IEPs have the individual transition plan, which would really be wonderful for every single high school student to have. So starting now in 8th grade, starting next year, there'll be intentional planning to help students begin to think about what are my skills, what are my interests, what are the activities I can be building to gain exposure to that. And we actually have six um career transition specialists who work with our high school students to help um we have a robust transition partnership and workability program. both are federal programs. Hopefully that will remain because there's quite a lot of funding with that and that supports our students with um learning differences to be able
195to access internships and a variety of prevocational as well as pre-educational opportunities. So many more college programs opening up for students with learning differences. So all are part of the planning and program and supports that are in place for our students. Um the reason why I said that because I had a wonderful opportunity to be a a coach uh for um at Bethl Mr. Miller, excellent teacher. And I watched the process of those kids um in that particular classroom learn to stock, learn to they went to Walgreens. Walgreens uh did um uh a partnership with them and every day they helped them stock the the store. Um it was a couple of them at a level that they were at the cash register with assistance. It was really remarkable. It was really remarkable. I was
196very impressed. That's why I asked the career pathway route also. And those community partnerships are so incredibly valuable and always something we want to be growing. I think the last thing is the there's such a huge challenge with special ed finding these days just trying to find person um teachers and assistants. there's such a shortage throughout the state um just to find applicants. So hopefully we'll be able and and we would prefer to have our own instead of um from recruiters or such or temporaries. But um that's a huge challenge going forward is just trying to staff. So we us like everyone else in the state will just continue to try or do our best to find the qualified or the applicants. Um, thank you very much. And with that, we'll be closing this hearing.
197And then we need a motion. Need a motion. Uh, Vice President Amboy, I'd like to make I'd like to make a motion to approve uh action item 10C. Second. Dr. Young. I second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. I. Trusty Flores is absent. Trustee Young. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. Hi. Trusty Morales. Trusty Simmons is absent. The motion passes. Action item D. Dr. Patrick. Adoption of resolution 5051, non-reelect. Yes. Thank you, President Fox. Um, I am these I have three action items that I'm bringing before you. And the first is the adoption of resolution 5051 for nonreelection of a non-credential certificated employee. And this uh connects to the pillar three a vibrant culture of teaching and learning. Vice President Ampo like to make a motion to approve action item 10D. Trusty Hodes. Second. Roll call,
198please. Trusty Hodgeges. Hi. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. I. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. Hi. Trusty Morales. Hi. And Trusty Simmons is absent. The motion passes. Now we're on to action item 10 E, Memorandum of Understanding between the Veo Education Association. Dr. Patrick, this is you as well. Yes. Um I'm asking for the board to approve the memorandum of understanding between the Valle Education Association CTA uh VA and the Val City Unified School District for the one-time off the salary schedule stipen again connecting to the vibrant culture of teaching and learning. Vice President Employ like to make a motion to approve action item 10E. Trusty Hodgees. Second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. I. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. I. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. I. Trusty Morales. Hi. Trusty Simmons is
199absent. The motion passed. Thank you. One more. Dr. Patrick. Action item 10F. Yes. So this is the memorandum of understanding between the Val City Unified School District and the Valle School Managers Association regarding the meto adjustment, the calendar alignment, the confidential salary and benefits adjustment um for our VSMA members. Vice President Amboy, I'd like to make a motion to approve action item 10F. Trusty Hodes. Second. Roll call, please. Trusty Hodes. Hi. Trusty Flores is absent. Trusty Young. I. Vice President Amboy. Hi. President Fox. Hi. Trusty Morales. Hi. Trusty Simmons is absent. The motion passes. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Patrick. We're down to action. Um, agenda item 11, report. Superintendento. So, good evening, President Fox, trustees, and members of the VCUSD community. As we close out the 202425 school year, I want to begin tonight
200by just extending my heartfelt congratulations to all our retirees and our dedicated employees who are celebrating their service milestones from 5 to 35 years. And as we saw in the retirey list re retiree list, I saw someone had 46 years if I was believe that's retiring. So which is amazing. Um your commitment and contributions to our students, families, and schools have left an enduring impact on this district and we are grateful. This is also our final board meeting before many of our employees begin a well-deserved summer break. I want to take this moment to wish every one of our staff members a restful and restorative summer. Your efforts this year have been nothing short of extraordinary, and I look forward to welcoming you back in August, refreshed and ready to continue our shared mission of
201educational excellence. To our class of 2025, your graduation ceremonies next week mark a significant milestone. We are proud of all all you've accomplished and the resilience you've shown in navigating your educational journey. You represent the hope, energy, and potential of this community, and I can't wait to celebrate with you and your families. As we step into the next fiscal year, we are reminded of the challenges ahead. Our adopted budget and LCAP reflect the realities of declining enrollment, tightening revenues, and increasing costs. The decision we face, the decisions we will face are not easy, but they are necessary. So we must continue to examine every program, every practice and every expenditure through a critical and student centered lens. We will need to make difficult but thoughtful choices to ensure fiscal stability, academic rigor, and equitable student
202support across the system. If we remain focused and collaborative, we will emerge stronger, better aligned, and more capable of serving the you the young people of Vallejo. Finally, I encourage everyone to come out and support our Filipino community this weekend at the Pista Sanayon celebration on Saturday right not too far from here at the Coal Sheds here on Mer Island. It's a dayong celebration. It's an annual event that showcases the vibrant community, the culture, the heritage, and the community spirit. Um, I believe I will be attending and I believe Trustee Amboy is going to be in some parade. I don't know if you're in a float or what, but you're on you're in the parade. So thank you for the continued support as always, dedication and uh the belief in the work ahead. That is
203my report. Superintendent Aelio, it was a wonderful report, but you're not done. No. Can you talk about what happened last Wednesday evening? That's so long ago. No, it wasn't. So, last Wednesday evening, um, you know, I I work at oneweek chunks, that's why. Last Wednesday evening, we hosted at Valo Charter School. Uh thanks to the the fantastic team, everything from the technology team led by Winston Crump to the superintendent team, we we were able to put together an event that was targeted specifically for our Spanish speaking community, uh the United Voices, and I know uh President Fox, you were there as well as Trusty Flores. Um, I know you had the experience of wearing headsets to hear interpretation, which I think hopefully sheds some light on the experiences our families tend to have when we
204have meetings in English with interpretation into Spanish. But it was a fantastic event. Um, it was nice to see the families that came out and our students as well who were there to uh celebrate and perform. Yes. And I I want to talk about um we are Valo and I want to talk about teamwork. Miss Thomas was dishing out food. Miss Heather Tacos was dishing out food. Michelle was running around checking on this, that, and the other thing. Selena was making sure that communication was going properly and that you were using the right microphone and every other thing. Then we had other uh we had Winston and Mike behind the scene with all the all the other staff. I don't know all their names. I'm sorry, but appreciate all of you. We're all making sure
205that all the microphones, the sound check, the speakers, the level of teamwork to pull that off and to show and the room was crowded. The room, every table was packed with parents and families. I was just so proud of this district, of how everyone came together as a team and made sure it was possible for to get messages across and communications across to make sure everyone feels inclusive and that they know in times of fear, what their rights are, what accessibility or that we are there for them. So, it's just another proud moment of who we are as Fleo City Unified School District and seeing every one of you step up, really step up and just show that your commitment and love to the students and families of this district. That is who we are.
206And that just made me walk away so proud. And I want to thank you and all the staff for what you did last Wednesday. And I can't wait for more community events like that showing off who we are. We are Valo. Now your report I think is concluded. Um and with that we will start. Um Trusty Hajes would you um like to start because I'm new here unfortunately tonight. I don't have anything to report except for a personal item. Um, well, but Trusty Hodgeges, actually, you do have plenty to report. I could remind you, we went to an event together over the weekend where we were in a neighborhood association. Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah, that was so long ago. See, that's what I'm talking about. Yeah. I I attended a a neighborhood meeting um
207for Valo Heights uh with Superintendent Aurelio and um he was uh gave a lot of information um about what's going on here with the school district with um uh the folks that live in that neighborhood which is in my area. So that's one of the reasons why I attended getting to know the people in the neighborhood. So yeah, with that um that'll conclude my report. No, you got to show your personal thing. Oh yeah. I um uh had actually two graduation ceremonies from St. Mary's College of California. Um I got a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and higher education administration. [Applause] proud of um the African-American ceremony. Um they allowed me to be the keynote speaker. Congratulations. Thank you, Dr. Young. Thank you for sharing it. Um because um that was
208that is an accomplishment um in this day and age. Um, I got the opportunity to go through the end of the year induction program solaration on March 29th and that was a joy because that was the ending. You got to see um delightful candidates that had finished the first year and the second year of their teacher requirements. So, you know, it's not like it used to be. You just take a test and then you start in the classroom. that those days is over with. Okay. So, um it was good to see that that uh and an an introduction to that program which I'm aware of, but it was good to be refreshed in that. Um so, that's my report. Thank you, Dr. Young. Vice President Amboy. I have nothing to report tonight. Yeah. And for
209my report, um, I already spoke about being at Lao Charter School, but a very humbling opportunity, as you mentioned, was since the whole program was in Spanish and I wearing the headphones or having the translation, that was an excellent, excellent experience because usually when it's the other way around, it's good to always put yourself to be vulnerable and uncomfortable so that you can learn and that your mindset can see just how others ha um are presented information or do not or do get information. So it was a wonderful experience. Um, I was a little concerned. I was like, "Oh, I'm not going to." But it was fine just listening to the headphones, but I'm also so proud of the presentations. The um, Sarah Latino was the um, program that brought uh, dancers and performers, but
210then we also had our own TK, the kids. Oh, they were singing deos kolos and uh, I'm probably not saying that right. Kores. Thank you. And other songs. And it was just oh when you see the kids and they're singing and they're performing it's just um it brings out the parents and the families but it was just a wonderful wonderful evening to be proud of our students and our families. Um and we think that's it for looking forward to the graduations next week. Can't wait. That's the most exciting time for me is actually um to be again that pride and proud that we have of our of our families and our students. Uh with that and you already gave your report. All right. So now we are down to uh community forum if needed. Have
211any close session? Not needed. Announcements of upcoming meetings. Not seeing them listed there. Um we have the 18th. We do have our next regular board meeting on the 18th. We're the scheduled 2 by two is different for June. It is upcoming on Monday, Monday the 16th at 5:00. 16th at 5:00. Um so that is a change, but then our regular next regular board meeting will be on the 18th and of course graduations next week on the 12th and 13th. Okay. Any other announcements of upcoming things? Miss Thomas, did we get them all? All right, Michelle, did we get them all? Okay, thank you. Um, future board uh agenda items. Good. Anything else for the good of the order? Thanks for hanging in there, everyone. It was a long meeting. Happy June. All right. Good night.
212This meeting is adjourned at 9:46.