001Good morning everybody. Welcome to the October 13th, 2025 special board meeting of the West Contra Costa Unified School District school board. The time is now 11:04. We still have the forum yet. So, we'll check back here at 11:10. 11:10, uh we will check back then. Thank you and I apologize. I can check on it. Okay, good morning everyone. Welcome to the special meeting of the West Contra Costa Unified School District school board of October 13th, 2025. I'm calling the meeting to order at 11:11. To access translation in Zoom, please click on the globe icon at the bottom of the screen. Um and uh individuals wishing to speak on the closed session items listed, um please submit a card. You know, I don't really have a lot of people. When he gets to that item, please
002raise your hand. Individuals will have 2 minutes per person for a total of 1 hour. Speaking time is not to be transferred from one person to another and there is no substitution. Excuse me, there's three alternate between the Zoom comment and then an in-person comment. Public comment period is a safe space where diverse viewpoints may be expressed civilly without interruption or intimidation. Please listen attentively to each speaker's comment and respect their time as if it were your own. The individual has the right to have their point of view on this platform and due to the Brown Act, board members cannot discuss items that are not on the agenda and do not usually respond to items presented in public comment. Moving on to welcome uh right. So, that uh we're moving on to A3, pledge of
003allegiance. If you're willing or able, please rise. Imagine the flag being pledged. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Number A4, land, labor, and body acknowledgement. We recognize that we are presently on the lands of the Chochenyo Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone peoples and recognize the most sacred elements of the land we currently occupy. Labor and body recognition and acknowledgement. I acknowledge that the burden of environmental exploitation and systemic injustice falls upon the labor of black and brown bodies in the building of this country and its institutions. I remember that black and brown people were born and died working on this land against their will for generations. I also acknowledge
004the continued contribution of the labor of survivors over the centuries to today of all immigrant labor including voluntary, involuntary, trafficked, forced, and undocumented peoples in the building of what we refer to as the United States. Author, Dr. Rochelle Rogers voter. A5, roll call. Superintendent Cotton, would you please take roll? >> Trustee Evans-Alsway. Present. Trustee Simpson-Fails. Good morning, everyone. Present. Trustee Hernandez. >> Not here at this moment. Hernandez is not here at this moment. Clerk Lujan. >> Um good morning, everyone. Present. >> Work President Reckler. >> Good morning, everyone. I'm present. >> Thank you and moving to A6, agenda review and adoption. Is there anything on the agenda that the you'd like to review, modify, adjust? Seeing none, we'll proceed with the agenda as it is printed. But now, what would we like to do? Would
005we like to pause for 5 minutes and wait for Trustee Fernandez? Okay. So, we're going to take a 5-minute recess um to and we'll check back in at 11:20 a.m. Um and see if we can get Trustee uh All right. Fernandez is here and I also have a note from the uh translator Otilia that she can't get Okay. Nothing. These are dummies. Otilia, can I have a recess? I'll ask for one minute. I didn't hear anything. Okay. All right, so we'll be back at um 11:21. Thank you, everyone. Okay, good morning, everyone. We are back. Trustee Hernandez arrived and he joined us at 11:20. Uh we are up to B action items. The uh public will have an opportunity to make public comment on each action item after staff presentation and the time allotted for
006public comment on each action item will be no more than 10 minutes and 1 minute per speaker. So, the first action item B1 is to approve a CSBA policy services contract to fully update the board's policies and bylaws. And that's a a Sierra Governance Committee Do you want to talk to it? >> Sure, I'd be happy to. >> Okay, okay. >> Uh, so we were able to utilize CSBA's resources in a way. I mean, we paid for it, but uh, we had an expert look at all of our policies um, and look at whether or not we're in compliance, out of compliance, like whether we had adopted a resolution that needed to be adopted. Um, and we have a lot of a lot of resolutions as well as policies that are not up-to-date. Um, the
007number is on the agenda as you can see. Um, so 17.9% of our district policies have never been adopted or revised. And then 74% out of our 646 policies, um, have an older adoption or revision than um, CSBA sample policies, so there could be changes there. And then 8.2% of 72 policies, um, that were unique were unique from CSBA sample policies, we don't have. So, uh, we have a lot of work that we need to do. Um, and in order to do so, they're also offering us their services, which um, is going to cost, but we don't think we can do it alone. Um, in the governance team, or I think as a board in general, so um, we wanted to bring this forward and see if you guys would be willing to go along
008with this consulting contract so that they can help us review it and then um, the president can talk a little bit more about what that process would look like if you'd like. >> Yeah, sure. So, we reviewed this in governance and thought it was really important that the whole board weighed in. Um, what would happen? I want to thank Superintendent Cotton because I went to her and I was like, "Listen, we're I don't have a lot of confidence in the, you know, how updated our policies are and will you help us by pushing this work forward. So, we had an initial agreement with CSBA to do a run through and then they came back and we're like, okay, this is where you are. Um you know, and um I want to say that we didn't
009cause this. It's for us before us. It's cumulative, but we have the opportunity now to stop and to make some corrections. The way it would work is CSBA would come in and over the course of a number of days in January, February. I think we're up to February now, February 2026. They would come in and pull in staff and whoever needs to be in that room and they'll go through and and they'll discuss, you know, all of the updates. Um and then governance committee will be involved in that as well. Then those will come back to the board in the way that we've been doing for discussion and then, you know, feedback goes back to the governance committee and then action. We thought it was important that the board be aware of the work and
010all of us commit to it because right now Trustee Gonzalez Soy and I are doing governance. We may not pass December. It may be somebody else and so, whoever that team is, we didn't want to go out and spend the money without everybody knowing that this is the work in front of all of us. Um and I also thought it'd be a really great board goal. Like this could be a board goal in the 2026. How far can we get through all of this work? Um So, that's that's what it would look like. Um Superintendent Cotton, any comments or any >> Um there's urgency and there's the importance of getting this work done is that um as Trustee Gonzalez Soy mentioned, um we have 646 of our policies have an older or or revision date
011compared to our CSBA 7 policy. That means it's a possibility that's 600 of our policies may be out of or out of compliance with current law. Uh regulations and net code. And so there is an urgency to ensure the policies align with what is current um around what Governor Newsom supports. So, that's the importance of getting this done as quick as we can. >> Yeah, and then just one more comment from me is I often look at our board policies and I'm just like, "Oh, 2007, you know? I don't know if I can believe this or not." And then I have to go out and look and then I have to look at the laws and it's up to date and then like try to figure out like, you know, is it accurate or you
012know, where we are. So, if we all had confidence in that document, I think it would just save a lot of time um just in the work you do to send. That's it. Um >> Can I add one more thing to that? >> Yeah, yeah. >> Once these policies are updated, then I think it will be manageable for us to orderly update policies as they come. >> And also get it taken care of. I think there is a plan and vision for keeping it up. >> Oh, yeah. I'd like to address that too if I can. So, CSBA publishes a quarterly update of things that change and things that your board might want to look look at. I want to say that it's a lot. I mean, even on a quarterly basis, it's significant amount
013of updating. So, um you know, I just want to mention that that you know, maybe you know, it could be 20 or 25 different things that come every quarter. And so I just, you know, thought I would see that and you can see the sheets if you go back in the governance committee agendas. Sometimes there I put them in just so people could see, hey, this is what comes from CSBA and it it's a lot. So, um I think it's just important to to look at Um, it are there any questions or from anyone? >> The cost. >> Cost. >> The It's 20 >> Is it is it the set cost that's on the agenda, the 21,000? >> 5,855 >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And they're not going up more than that, right? Cuz I
014know you guys paid already like 1,200 for the first initial review. Say we do go with late will they come back and say, "Oh, it's going to be more because there's more issues?" Or or is it that's the set contract? >> Um, this is a set contract for a year. And so they're offering their services for a full year. What it looks like, I think you just described it, what it looks like is them coming out for two to three solid days working with staff and by the board um, to sit down and go through and update as many policies as they possibly can. After that two to three day period that would happen right now in February. Um, they have dates available. Then we have the access to them for a full year to
015provide ongoing support as we if we didn't finish all 600 or if we have some questions or want to take things back to community or to staff, we'll have additional time to continue those. Um, and so it doesn't I don't think that it will tap out and we'll have access to a consultant through CSG to support us with that process. >> Okay. >> So, February 26th and February 27th. >> At this moment >> moment that's the year the year for that. >> Whenever the work starts. >> For a whole year okay. >> So, do we have the option to put on the table what our policies we're looking at first versus policies just randomized and >> Yeah. >> So, um >> them? >> Yeah, so I asked that very specifically like where do we start
016in this, you know, it's like you know, like where do you start? And they said where you start first is what you don't have and we actually there are there are policies that we do not have on the books before and that's what they would recommend starting with and then they will guide us through the most important updates first. >> And then also there's nothing wrong with um continuing our work. And so we've already between now and February that's what you know, five months, four months. We can continue this. >> Oh, yeah. >> And we have prioritized some that need to be addressed. Some are going to go come to that. We've got work to do between now and then. Um and so we'll continue to kind of do this work up until the point
017in which we're able to kind of batch fill this work. And >> Yes, for the prioritization of those that are more urgent. >> Any other questions? >> There's public comment. >> Oh, thank you. Is there public comment on the other? >> Oh, never mind. >> You're hanging up. >> Yeah. >> No, no, no. >> No, that's not what I meant. >> Oh, never mind. It's okay. I'm with you. >> Ms. Marie, please unmute yourself. >> Oh, hi board. I just wanted to compliment how wonderful this view is on Zoom and the camera like goes around the whole room. I just wanted to say it's nice. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, so then uh I'll accept the motion uh to approve the CSBA policy services contract to fully update the board's policies and bylaws. >>
018There's another hand that came up. >> Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. I should probably look at that. >> Kai Nelson, please unmute yourself. >> Good morning. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Thank you for, uh letting me into public comment. Um I appreciate learning about this contract and I I understand the importance of it. Um I'm weighing in my mind what I've learned about the other priorities we have and the other balance of priorities for funding that we're behind on. And um the amount we we spend on on advising and and protecting ourselves. And I I understand the need. I just want to make sure we're keeping in mind the amount that we're protecting ourselves versus moving forward with um intention and uh positive change. Thank you. >> That concludes public comment. Thank you. I'll
019accept a motion on the item to approve CSBA policy services contract to fully update the board's policies and bylaws. >> I'll move. >> Uh and I'll second it. So, it's Gonzalez already and Rectenwald is the second. Uh any additional comment? >> Yeah, I would just like to address a couple of things about what we just heard. Um I actually do think that using the services is much cheaper than us going through legal counsel, uh which, you know, over time would be much, much more. Simply because what did this did do for us is to show us that we are behind on legally compliant policies. So, we're actually also open to liability if we don't do this. So, if we don't approve the contract, then our backup is really going to be use legal services because
020you know, staff or board might not have the expertise to update some of these policies. So, I actually think it's going to be a lot greater cost than what this contract would be. That's it. Thank you. >> Any other comments from the board? >> I got to agree with you. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, I want to second what Trustee Gonzalez says. 100% he's 100% right. And as a board three of our biggest responsibilities are to hire and evaluate the superintendent, to approve and make sure policies are up to date, and to do all of our required adoptions and saying yes to all the budgets and the textbooks and the all of those other things. So, within the top three things, you know, out of all the things the board do does, this is definitely
021within the top three. Um and that concludes my note. >> Uh if there's nothing new, I'll go to the vote. Trustees on vote. >> Trustee Fault, yes. >> Trustee Gonzalez vote. >> Yes. >> Trustee Yanez. >> Yes. >> Trustee Trujillo. >> Yes. >> And I'm yes. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Okay, moving now to B2. Discussion and potential action on emergency concerted activity resolution at code section 35161 and and government code 53060. Superintendent Cotton, I believe this is your item. >> So, what I'm bringing to the board today, and let me double check, is um Mary Parham? >> Yes, she's on. Should I promote them? >> Um if you can promote her to speak. I did ask for legal counsel to join. Um this is preparation in in the event that there is a strike.
022We are working to avoid a strike as best as we can, but in the event of a strike, um this is something that the board would need to consider and take, um in order to ensure that our students are um that we're maintaining our constitutional rights of our students to a safe and an educational environment, um despite of of work stoppage. Um this resolution, um is being brought to the board today since we learned on Friday evening that one of our uh unions, our teamsters, um have completed their strike vote, and 96% of their members are have voted yes to a strike. And so, given that information, it is time for the board to make take action in preparation for a possible work stoppage. Um so, this is what's being being brought to you today.
023>> Okay, thank you. And are there Is there any comment from legal counsel first, or is that just for any board questions? >> Let me ask Mary, is there anything else that I missed that should be um added to this discussion? >> No, you provided a great summary, so can answer questions later as needed. >> Thank you. >> Okay, great. Uh so, we will go to board questions. Does anybody have questions? >> I do. Um what's the estimated cost of substitute pay up to 750? >> We don't know how many students will come to school, and we don't know how many um we don't know how many staff will be needed. We do know that on average every day we pay about a million dollars in salary. Um, that for the staff who are not
024working, those funds would be going to pay for a substitute or pay for um additional staffing to ensure safety, wellness, all the things that are required to run our schools every day. So, I don't have a specific number or dollar amount, but I know that it would be within what we we pay daily for our staff per per day. Um in any of the comprehensive actions from the superintendent, are we going to trigger any issues with our unions, you know, just the unfair practice? In terms of an unfair practice for this process, I don't believe so. This again is very routine for um the board to take action in the event of a strike. Um I I think any action that we take, I think the unions can look at it as something that is
025not in favor of their goals of of higher compensation and not all of those things that they're requesting. Um we have a responsibility to ensure that schools continue, that we have adults in buildings that are providing services for students in the event that our teachers or our classified staff are not >> Okay. And then my last question, why such a high amount of 750 up to 750? Up to 750, I know that in our last I think the last well-publicized strike was uh possibly going to happen in Oakland last spring. They're advertised sub rate was $700. Um and so $700, $750 is where we set the bar. It does not have to be at that level. Um I know that in 2023, Fresno's rate was about $500, but that's Fresno which has a lower cost
026of living area. Um those are two points that I can kind of speak to where we were in terms of substitute pay for adults going on strike. These are paying for people who are going to have to cross the picket line that are going to, you know, be yelled at, be insulted. Um It's It is, you know, I wouldn't say hazard pay, but it is a challenging situation. We currently, our sub rate is $280 a day. And so it would we're trying to find a a a point in which um it will um we can recruit adults to be adult >> Okay. >> Um I have seven questions. First one is, can you explain number 13 for me? On the resolution. It says, "Initiate or defend legal proceedings before PERB, Contra Costa County Superior Court,
027or other courts or forums to prevent a strike or work stoppage, protect students, staff, or district, and or remedy the consequence of any strike or work stoppage." >> Mary, can I ask you to speak to that, please? >> Uh-huh. Absolutely. Um briefly, if the unions did indeed make clear that they're going to strike, one option for the district would be um to file a an unfair practice charge with PERB. And simultaneously, we could also file a request for injunctive relief, which would make an attempt to stop that injunction or to Excuse me, to stop that strike. So, those are two examples of kind of what this number 13 speaks to of giving the district other options and ways to prevent that that um lack of continuous educational services and then prevent any sort of harm
028to students as a result of the strike activity. >> I have now additional questions. So, Ms. Breffle, would then the district have the power of this past resolution to approve such you know, uh actions without board approval? >> Uh well, this resolution would speak to some of that, right? So, board approval is wrapped into that process, if that makes sense. So, you're we're speaking to that here through this resolution. >> Okay, so what I'm hearing you say is if the union was, for example, to one of the unions was to file for a strike >> Mhm. >> and legal counsel's um suggestion to this district would be to file uh you know, PERB charge to stop it or whatever. Um staff could do that without board approval because we're giving them approval today through this
029resolution. >> Yes, but again, the caveat is you all have approved that, right, through this resolution. So, I hear what you're saying. I just want to make clear right, that you would be approving that at this point in time. So, yes, you'd be investing that ability or that power to the superintendent or her designee. >> Why do that now? Why not have staff come to us to do that? >> It's a good question. Part of it is that this kind of process moves very quickly. So, it gives the superintendent and others the ability to kind of adapt to the situation and circumstances. Um, it's just more practical, to be candid, and gives them the ability to do what they think is best and necessary, again, to ultimately ensure the safety of students and to ensure
030continuous district operations. Um, it's pretty standard practice. >> Okay. Um, this is This question's for staff. Thank you, Ms. Uh, Brechtl. >> You're welcome. Absolutely. >> Um, my next question is for staff. Um, what is our highest paid salary for teachers in the district, in our salary schedule? >> We're pulling that >> Thank you. While we're pulling that up, I'll ask another question, to not waste time. Um, how many teachers do we have in the district? Uh, I just I'll go to the next question. Sorry. >> I have the stats. >> Sorry. Testing you. >> Thank you. >> Um, since you all looked at sub rates that were used in previous strikes, what was the sub rate that was done at Fremont, which was the last possible strike that happened in >> I have to
031research that. >> Okay. >> And at what what year are you referring to? >> This year. What about Los Alamitos? This happened in the spring as well. >> I can definitely look at that. And I know that um, in terms of information shared, I think the rates that we talked about um, are the daily rates and not strike rates, but I will go and look at that. >> Okay. Uh, thank you. Um, Deputy Mayor Moses, were you going to respond? >> Yeah. >> Uh, >> our most recent J-90, as you know, we We 1,337.8 FTE. >> Okay. Sorry, teachers on the salary schedule. That's the FTE on salary schedule. And highest paid teacher makes $119,395. And um >> Okay. Thank you. So, a $750 sub rate We do realize that that would be $140,000 per
032diem. Which is you know, $20,000 more than the highest paid teacher in the district. >> We're not anticipating the strike to last a year. Um >> But the But the daily rate is still >> The daily rate most Yes, and it is un- usual working conditions that we're asking and we're giving those to accomplish. It's also up to $750. If we wanted to set the board today, we wanted to set and see what our recruitment would look like at $600. And then that would trigger returning to the board to figure out if we're going to up that rate, we can definitely do that. Um we can also have kind of more open language. Um that I we can leave it as an open kind of open language without a set dollar amount and then we
033set that amount up to the what the board is comfortable with and then moving forward with um coming back together. As the schedule share, it is a once it gets started, it's a fast moving process. And so we're looking to um move this forward. Uh And And this schedule, I'm wondering would it require if a change were to happen and the language were general, does it require a vote or does it require board support? And that if you can help to clarify that. >> I'm sorry, Superintendent, I missed the last part of your question whether it would require a vote or what? >> Board support. >> Or board support. Um potentially would require a vote. >> So that worried me in terms of being able to really be as nimble as we need to be
034in the event of a strike. If we can't get back together and have to wait, you know, 5 days for the board to come back together, the strike would be done long before that point. Um we need to be able to within an hour be able to make decisions. Decisions. And I would I would hope that the board could trust me with making those decisions for the management of our staff and ensuring our student safety and ensuring our instructional program continues. That's what this is about. >> I just have a comment. >> Anything else? Okay. Anybody else have a question? Can I have a question? Do I have a uh Do subs get They don't get insurance, correct? >> No. So if the people that this covers, they wouldn't get insurance either, correct? Okay. >>
035I don't know if the whole verbatim is uh >> Okay. I have a I have a couple of questions. The first one is it's up to 750 for any employee. So I believe Teamsters has completed the strike vote. This would apply also to UTR if if that if they pulled and um and you had two units that were on the verge of strike or had voted to strike, it would be to either unit max of 750 set by you. >> Yeah. Item three, so be it further resolved that the three is provide temporary staffing and supervision for the duration of the strike or work stoppage through substitute employees and independent contractors and volunteers and establish substitute teacher pay rates to $750 per day and establish appropriate pay pay rates for other classifications of assistant teachers.
036>> And then the other question is there's a report out at 90 days. It's uh sorry. Be it further resolved that the superintendent shall report to the board within 90 days after the conclusion of any strike or concerted activity summarizing all actions taken under this resolution. Um to either superintendent or the attorney is done in normal and customary amount of time. Miss Barbour? >> Yes. Yes, I would say certainly um districts in the Bay Area and in Northern California this language has been utilized in their emergency resolutions. >> Okay. And can you tell me what does a report normally look like and how is it delivered? Is it this many days, this many employees, we were able to keep these amount of sites open or we needed to close or we needed to What does
037What does that report look like? >> Correct. So it could focus on operational costs for one. Um two also the impact on students and services. So you might also receive a report around whether students were temporarily relocated to other school sites. Um for those students who were required to have transportation, how they made it to school, if there are special education services that were provided versus not and kind of the district's plan on how to um you know, repair that issue moving forward. >> And is that report given in open or closed session? >> Uh open in the past is what I've seen. >> Okay. Okay, I don't have any questions. Anybody else? >> Mhm. >> That's public comment. >> Is there any public comments on the item? >> Yes, we have two. >> Before
038we ask public comment, may I ask a question? >> Those individuals who are contracted with us, they still have to they still come to work, right? So, for example, ProCare, we contract them, right? They still are obligated to fulfill that contract and come to work where they have or they not? >> During the contract. >> So, during the contract, so they have to stay to the contract. If not, they put that puts the contract in jeopardy. Okay. Thank you. That's it. I'm complete. >> Uh actually, that's a good point. After school >> I'm a genius. >> Certainly, after school programs are not run during >> a work stoppage. >> Not during. >> Okay. Okay. Public comment. Mark, please unmute yourself. >> Thank you. Mark Mitchell, executive director United Teachers of Richmond. I want to encourage
039all board members of conscience to vote against this outrageous resolution. First of all, there's no emergency. There's no need to have a secret meeting on a holiday when nobody knows this is happening in order to sneak by a $750 a day sub rate. It's an absolute gut punch to the 1,500 educators of United Teachers of Richmond who are struggling to make ends meet and the district to think that you would apportion these kind of resources to undermine uh those who actually serve our students is an outrage. Further, this uh you know, caveat that the district administrators can take action in legal action without your further consent is a power grab. We know the kind of values at play here. When district level administrators show you who they are bored, believe them. This is not a
040casual endeavor. There is a grudge match going on by certain district level administrators against the classified and certificated employees of this district, and I must respectfully disagree with Superintendent Cotton. There is no effort that we can observe to avert a strike that we are aware of at the United Teachers of Richmond. We are not having any kind of back-and-forth with the district intended to avert a strike. They seem to be hellbent on preparing for a strike and to fund scabs over those who serve our students every day. Please vote no on this. There's no reason to do this. There's no strike that's imminent. We haven't even had neutral neutral appointed for the fact-finding for the Teamsters nor for the UTR. There is no urgency here. Push back on this. Do the right thing and let's
041wait and see if we can't work this out before you take such drastic action that will forever taint your reputation as having been on the wrong side of justice at a time when students and educators need you to stand with them. >> By Nelson, please unmute yourself. >> Okay, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh so the obvious comment from the previous interaction, Mr. Gonzalez Suarez Presti, which I appreciated your response. I think it's correct, is that in this case, we are again in sort of a double standard in a sense if if we step back out of the framework that we're in and just think about what we're arguing, it is cheaper to hire preemptive people to guide us on our policies than it is to um hire lawyers later. And
042it's also cheaper to hire teachers to do their jobs and pay them what, you know, whatever the contract says, than it is to approve three times the pay for subs. So, I just want to point that out. I get that there's a context here, but I think we again and again need to step outside of our little our boxes in the moment and understand that there's a bigger picture that the public especially sees. And within the public's context, they don't have all the context of the the the legal precedents and all that, and it's seems very counter unfair and counterintuitive. Thank you. >> Mr. F. Jepson, please unmute yourself. >> Uh thank you. Um I just want to emphasize what Ms. Breffle said that uh if a strike were to occur, there would not be
043a lot of time to work things out. And given that, it seems insane to me to be debating how much to pay subs and and all these other uh temporary funding um expenses when we could be using this time to negotiate. Um as Mark said, that has not been happening. Um it's also worth pointing out that the scuttlebutt among teachers is that we are asking for so little that um if it does go to a strike, like I honestly like right now, if you were to meet the teachers exactly where we stand, I think the vote would pass. If we go to a strike, I don't know if people are willing to settle for so little. This you're setting yourself up, I think, for a huge loss here. Um this is very foolish. It makes
044no sense. That is all. Oh. >> Second proposal coming. >> Okay. So, I'm I ask for a motion. Uh we do discussion and potential action on emergency concerning activity resolution. Okay. I'll move it. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Once this is second, is there any other second? Are there additional comments? >> I have an alternative motion I'd like to make. My motion is that we approve of the resolution, but we amend number three with a $400 sub rate. And that we amend number 13, that staff needs to come back to the board for approval of actions taken against the unions. >> I second. >> Okay. So, you the second one is sure. >> Sorry. Did I do it correctly? >> Yeah, yeah. So, the So, the second motion is a 400 sub
045rate and to come back to the board for number 13, approval of action. Uh Gonzalez moved it and Hernandez is the second. >> Yeah, you did fine. I was just repeating back so everybody heard. >> Okay. So, we'll move to that one first. Trustees with holds. >> Can we do discussion on that? >> Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure. >> So, up to 400 and the the 13 is that the superintendent comes back before initiating 13. Is that what you are saying? Okay. approval of the board. May I ask a question? Do we believe that if you do up to 400 that you would get people in the seats or in the house? Is there Is there a thought around that or >> We want it to be something that's competitive enough to bring folks
046to work during a challenging time. >> Um we definitely can put that out and attempt. Uh I think it will be problematic. >> The 400 will be problematic. >> Knowing that um three months rate was nothing. Fresno's rate was $500 two years ago. >> Are we doing comments or questions? I'm confused. >> You know, sorry. I just want >> No, no, you're fine. You're fine. It's the one I jump into a comment. People have >> It's really for all of you since it's a new motion. I think it's fine to ask questions. I don't know. Do people agree with that? I mean cuz I have questions, too. Sorry. >> Then I'll wait on my comments until questions have been >> Um so my question is the same as My question is what was the daily
047teacher rate? >> That's a great question. I wanted to speak to that. Um so um I can't speak to the daily sub rate, but we do however um pay our retired teachers when they come back uh to substitute for us, they get their per diem rate. We currently have um about teachers that make between um 550 and 650 a day when they come back and sub for us. So I just wanted to lift up that we are paying large sub rates to our retirees and in many cases those retirees have long-term assignments. I'm not trying to compare the two. You can't compare a retiree with a substitute. I absolutely know that. But I just wanted to lift that up as a rate that we do regularly pay and in an emergency I don't know that
048we would be competitive enough. Um if we if we don't have the ability to increase the rate if people aren't taking a long leave. I think that's what this is about. We wouldn't start 750, of course. I know you're a budget person. We don't want to spend that much, but we do need the flexibility in order to staff our schools in an emergency. And because we wouldn't be paying the $1 a day payroll to its fullest, we can afford in this emergency to meet this emergency staffing need with additional compensation in order to serve our schools these schools. >> Okay. And the And the daily rate for the teachers to You just want to do 280? >> is the top rate. >> I'm sorry, what is it? >> 280 is the top rate. >> 280.
049Okay. Any other questions? I'm good. >> Yeah. So, I think that this is a big mistake. I think that paying $750 is a big mistake that shouldn't have happened and I'm truly disappointed that this is coming forward. One, this would be the highest sub rate in a strike in California ever. Um two, $400 would be the highest rate for subs in the Bay Area. So, I think that's fair to try to get people here. But we also have to be careful that we don't want to look like we are also trying to break the unions from having the ability to go on strike. And at $750, people will see this as us trying to purposely break the unions' ability to do actions. I think that we have to be very careful in balancing, of course,
050the safety of students. That's why I'm proposing $400, which is higher than strikes in Santa Clara County and basic aid districts because we do have to make sure that we have adults for the people who cannot afford to have their kids stay at home during a strike. I think that we have to be clear on understanding people who can't, and they're going to have to send their kids to school, and they're going to have to cross the teachers' or classified picket line. So, uh we have to help them and protect them, but we also don't want to look the opposite way and look like we're purposely trying to hurt the unions' ability to do that. Now, I also think we have to be very careful because even though we're not paying them $1 million a
051day in payroll, we're also not going to make the money that we need to make those days because we're not going to have the students in the classroom. So, we're going to lose money, a lot of money, anyways. So, we're not going to It's not going to be a million for a million, right? Because we're not making that money because kids are not coming to school. At least some of them. Um I also think it's going to be a slap in the face for teachers and classified right now once they hear that we would approve $750 up to $170, $750 a day for an action that is going to be really difficult for a lot of them. A lot of them that make close to minimum wage, and teachers who make much less. My per
052diem as a teacher was $290. If I was making that today, and I saw you're paying $750, I would be on the strike line as long as it took for the teacher for the district to pay me what I need. It's going to be an insult for a lot of them. My wife makes $340 a day. And instead what we're saying is that we're going to pay up to $750 to subs to cross their picket line? I don't know what we're doing here. Like I I I don't know what we're doing. And this is not about trust, Superintendent I was really disappointed to see that because I trust you and no one's fought harder for you to be here than me. I was really disappointed to see that to me. Because I trust you. I
053just not trust I don't trust everybody who's making this decision on your behalf. I'm done. >> Any other comments? I think that this is the beginning of the work that is going to be very difficult. I think that this is the beginning of the board having to make decisions that are in the best interest of students and that can seem it can seem opposite of what may be in the best interest of adults. I think one of the things that makes these decisions so difficult is the balance of that. Showing the respect of teachers because most in here has either been a teacher, their children were teachers, they have been in that role, they they understand the plight of teachers. And at the same exact time teachers and other staff, not just teachers, but teachers
054and other staff and at the same time the importance of how do we keep our education of our students going? This is incredibly hard. For me personally, as a personal tragedy, this is incredibly incredibly hard because I am a teacher still working on my grading tool. I am a community. I have to decide whether I'm sending my kids to school this or what's going to happen. So, I mean, you have three motions on the floor at the time. Yeah. So, I would like to make a motion that we put on the floor to that we go up to the retired rate with 650. You said that they make between 550 and 650 our retirees. That we go up to 650 our retiree rate. That's not a huge jump down, but it is a jump down.
055That's my motion. I don't know if I'm going to get a second, but that's the motion I put on the floor. >> Okay, so would you consider changing your motion to the minimum of the they go from 550 to 650. So, would you consider moving it down to the 550? >> So, that means that the most that they can make is 550 or that's the >> the most that they can make. >> So, that's going further down than what I went. >> So, if you went up 650, that's the top of the rate. >> I went 650 as the top that can be offered, right? So, are you asking for 550 to be the top that they can offer? >> 550 is the minimum that we pay retirees. >> So, I if that's the motion
056that you want to make >> I mean, would you want me to make a motion to >> Well, we have two on the floor right now. So, we have two motions on the floor. So, I would have to pull my motion. >> Yeah, she had two on the floor. >> I would have to pull my motion. >> to amend it instead of just >> it, but I would have to either pull it because I think that if we go to 650 as the most that we can pay instead of right now it's up to 750. I'm saying up to 650 which is the highest our retirees can make. Right? What I'm hearing you say is you want me to amend it to go up to 550 is the most that I that we can offer.
057I'd rather say at the most that we can offer as 650, but if you want to put that motion on the floor, I will pull my motion off the floor. So, you can add that motion. >> Okay. >> Does that make sense? All right, so I'll pull my motion up to 650 off the floor, so there's room to have a third motion on the floor. Are you going to make a >> So, make a motion to compensate up to 550 a day at the minimum baseline of the retirees. >> I have a question on that. I think you have Do you want to say something on that? >> It's not on this topic, but it's a part of Trustee Vasquez's voice motion. But I think we should finish this salary conversation. >> It was the
058I have a comment on number 13. >> Okay. Um so, I have a question on the 550. So, if you are at 550 and you're a retired teacher If you're a retired teacher, you work here for 650 a day. Do you have then with this motion, do you does your salary drop to 550 if you want to come back and sub during a an action? Does $100 come off your >> The determination is up to and it is left to the discretion of myself or designee. We would ensure that those folks who have been getting their per diem, that we would support that if they were willing to cross the picket line. I don't know if they would be. >> I have questions. So, we keep saying though that the 550 to 650 is a
059retiree rate, but the 650, there's no teacher that makes 650 per diem in our district, right? So, why is it 650 for the highest paid teacher? That's a per diem. >> Mhm. >> Okay. I'm 119. >> 648 and some change. >> But, we have te- retired teachers who make less than 550. So, it's not a range of 550 to 650. It's just most retirees make between 550 650, but we have retired teachers who make below $500. Who might have retired at a lower step. >> Um the list I'm looking at, the lowest paid teacher is 545. But, there's not too many. >> So, there's not many that would apply for that. >> most are closer to the 650. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> Any other questions on that? >> You need a second on
060your motion. >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Can I >> So, it's >> So, your motion is not inclusive of 13. >> It's that >> inclusive of what? >> 13. >> No, she's only doing salary. 13 is to initiate or defend legal proceedings before PERB, Contra Costa Superior Court or any other courts. All the motions so far have been uh related to salary following that button. >> No, my motion >> No, it's related to 13. I made a motion My second >> He's two. >> My third motion on the floor was just related to salary. I pulled that motion off the floor. Clerk and Yana put a motion on the floor, but I don't know if she included 13 or just her salary. Her motion just included salary. >> And 13 would be to relieve
061a back rate or any >> That's the motion I made. >> Right. Okay, let me get clarification on number 13. >> Sure. What What Is there something particular in 13? >> So, any move that we do around curb that would come to the board, right? >> If instead of instead of me or our designee or legal counsel um making that determination of what should be a a next step through this process, particularly as it deals with any legal action um dealing with curb or superior courts or any other court system um being able to move forward with any action in a as quickly as we possibly can. Um really it's to prevent a strike. Uh and to address and ensure that we are supporting the constitutional rights of our students. Um that is what number
06213 is about. Yeah, it's It is common language for these emergency resolutions within our state. It is not new unprecedented power that's shared. It is a common decision-making tool that's the superintendent and staff have been allowed. Support legal advice. >> Well, I think we still have the attorney. Do you have any questions specifically for the attorney? >> I don't specifically have questions, but I think I'm just going back and forth and I'm thinking out loud on I do feel it's necessary for us to be part of that decision-making table because it feels like not everything is as transparent as it should be or has been. Um I think my hesitation around that is that I know also how difficult it is to get a whole board in a space within 24-hour notice. So, having that
063on the table can potentially be a step back. And I'm trying to find out is there a way that we can commit the board within like if something comes up, we have a 24-hour turnaround regardless of whatever it is because I think sometimes this takes the backseat and we want to be part of this decision-making, but then we're not fully committed to being present when those decisions have to be made. And that's I think my only setback to that that I know how busy everyone's lives is and this is a fast-paced thing that we're looking at. So, with that being said, I would just keep my Um okay. Go. >> Do you want to ask that question to our attorney who's on the phone? Is there an alternative this I because I don't know. >>
064Yeah, is there or wherever she's at? She already did. >> Yes, I just asked is there an alternative? >> I I did hear you. Um yeah, so you could certainly, as long as you give that 24-hour notice, continue to call special meetings. Um that resolution could be adjusted to speak to those circumstances. Um it's really up to y'all and your discretion. >> Is there an alternative way to make the make a decision outside of going back together for a special board meeting. >> Likely not. Um the language could be more specific here would be the other alternative around just, you know, what the board is authorizing you as the superintendent to take on versus what the board would like to approve. >> So the alternative language could be something like if the board cannot be
065reached in 24 hours to have a discussion then the authority leaves remits back to the superintendent or designee. Is that what you're saying? >> Potentially, yes. Or again, just carving out, you know, what specific actions you're comfortable with the superin- superintendent taking versus not. So there there is room to make changes. >> I do have another question for the attorney as far as an emergency meeting that it can be called without 24 hours of notice. I mean, this does seem a strike seems like a severe disruption to our students. Would you have to wait 24 hours? >> Um not necessarily. So that is an alternative option if you all think you can meet sooner then certainly do that as long as you meet certain requirements. >> Or you could. I mean, like you don't have
066to wait 24 hours, right? >> Correct. Correct. >> Okay. I don't I don't have any other questions. So will you reinstate your motion again? Are you at Let me see here. 5:50 per day max. But then >> I am at 5:50 per day max at I am at the community. >> Um I think they'll change the wording around 13. I thought and Sherry that we are able to meet within 24 hours and if not then we are giving the superintendent or designee the opportunity to move forward. >> Okay, so 550 per day meeting within 24 hours >> Yeah. >> or suit has authority to act. You know I can recite that correctly. >> Yes. >> Okay. So that's your motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. And I move yes. Second
067is Reifler. Comments? Okay, we're going to vote. Just do some votes. Come back to me, please. Gonzalez Hoy. >> No. >> Hernandez. >> Which motion is this? >> This is Clerk Hernandez. It is max 550 per day with giving the superintendent uh with the board trying to meet within 24 hours of uh the the conditions under 13 initiate or defend legal proceedings before per contract County Superior Superior Court or other courts or forums to administer a work stoppage, protect students, staff, or district, and or remedy the consequences of administer a work stoppage. If not, the superintendent has the authority to act. >> Yes. >> Okay. Hernandez is a yes. Hernandez. >> Yes. >> And I am a yes. So both? >> Yeah, yes? Okay. The motion that passes is Inyala yes, Recter yes, Trip holds
068yes, Fernandez yes, Gonzales boy no. And that is that item. Thank you everybody. >> Can we take a five minute? >> Yes. >> Want to take five? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Returning at 12:26. Thank you everyone. >> Okay, we're on. >> Okay. All right everybody, we're back. We are up to you C1 discussion item and the reports. >> County response to resolution of 256-30. >> Who is that one? >> That will be me. >> Okay. >> Um in our last board meeting we um discussed the resolution that um staff was bringing to the board for approval of our conditional budget. Um that did not move forward. I have requested to have this item added to the agenda just to explain the budget process itself. This is not an action item and you know, provide information
069to the board about the process that we um are in the midst of. Passing this around. I'll ask Dr. Moses if he can walk us through the budget information. >> Yeah, well um I believe >> that Superintendent Cotton has shared a newsletter resource that actually outlines the entire budget adoption process for your review. I think what I just want to share here is um where we stand currently. The county has not yet uh given us a response as to what their next move is going to be. Uh they need time to review. Um but here's the process. If you look at the budget process chart that I shared with you, we are on a single budget cycle. Um in box two, it says that um the county responds with recommendation and conditional approval. And um
070and then they have to make a decision regarding how we respond to that and whether they're going to approve our budget to move forward as is or disapprove our budget um which would trigger other steps. Uh one of the reasons in which we got the conditional approval is in order to prevent our district from entering into the status of lack of going concern. Currently, our three-year budget that was passed in June, we can only meet our 3% reserve requirement in one of the three budget years. The county's given us an opportunity to say that we're going to address that on our own. Um and without the um resolution stating that we're going to address that on their own, then they're going to have to make a determination on whether or not um they are going
071to adjust our budget themselves or move us back into lack of going concern category in which we'd be assigned an additional um fiscal advisor who would have staying in the same. Um I don't know which way the county is going to go with this. Uh they could appoint a committee to review our board. I'm I'm sorry, to review our budget and provide independent recommendations. Or but we would have to both agree to a committee. Or the board would have to agree to a committee. If a committee is not agreed to, then it is solely up to the county. Uh just want everybody to be aware that there's no um no longer a process where a state um >> Is it something like >> where a state um where the state would provide someone to take
072over our budget. New legislation names this as the county, regardless of where we are. So, um it is the county that we're accountable to for our entire budget. I think the only thing I wanted to lift up for you today is um that because we can't meet our obligations, we do run a high risk of going into lack of going concern. And uh the previous work we did was with Javetta Cleveland was really great, but remember that whatever Javetta whatever budget decisions we made, we had to vet them through Javetta first. And if she didn't agree, we went back to the drawing board. So, I just want to name that that is kind of where we are. Um where we're waiting on the county to decide what is And that's um that's it. Review the
073resource. Business services is here to answer any questions that you may have. And as soon as we hear from the county, we will we will notify you of what their next steps are. Statutorily, they haven't told um I want to say October 22nd in order to announce next steps for us. >> I mean, so 4 9 10 22 >> I'm going to say that's what sticks out for me. >> Okay. >> Um Yeah, and in terms of running our budget, um we aren't prevented from doing anything in this moment. That is what I was immediately concerned about. It does not halt our spending. It does, however, put the county in control of deciding the next steps of how our budget will be moving forward and moving forward and how we'll adjust the structural deficit. >>
074Mhm. Does everybody have any questions? >> I have to make sure I understood. >> Mhm. >> The next step is the wait for the county to make a decision how they're going to implement our budget or how they're going to I don't know what the word the right word is, but how they're going to oversee our budget response respond to our >> not passing the >> How are they going to respond to us not passing the budget on this day night? And their response could be a committee or their response could be to impose a budget. >> Mhm. >> Or and that's the only two responses or their response could be they understand. What are their three responses to us? >> Good question. So, we're required by the state to have an approved budget. We
075have to get to an approved budget and since we aren't able to meet the conditions of their conditional approval, then now they get to decide. Okay. Um, I think your question is what happens next and that's going to depend on what the county decides. If they decide what Contra Costa is now a lack of going concern, then they're going to take the road of appointing a fiscal advisor to support us with addressing the structural deficit. They could also take another route which would be up to them. The budget review committee is much like the impasse process in that you both have to agree to use and you both have to agree on who's going to be on the committee and if you don't agree it defers back to the county. So I can't give you
076an exact what will happen, but those are the scenarios. And if I just might share in reflection, I think that either one of those would be I think it would help us in the long run to have outside entities examine either of them and to have someone with their understanding powers. So I think that where we are in this moment, we're going to get good county guidance. The county has been really great partners with us. And so if this is where we are, I'm confident that they'll continue to be great partners. Okay. >> Any other questions for anybody? >> Okay. It's public comment. >> Oh, yeah. I was thinking whether I had a question or not. Um Okay, so it's 10:22. So that's a board meeting. So can we I'm wondering can we have an
077update at that board meeting? Maybe we could do it at a depends on those four and let me know a couple of days earlier with the agenda at least. Um I'm just trying to figure out how to keep everybody informed on what they're going to say and have them If if there were choices, there may not be choices. They may say you and the fiscal advisor and such and such. You don't have to do anything. Um Okay, so we'll probably have to I think that'd be great. >> Yeah, I have communicated with the county Susan. Um but this can come back either way or another vote and consideration and they will take that into consideration. Um, through their diligence. decision-making process as well. >> Okay. >> Yeah, for me, I mean, my two big things
078are involved in the body and transparency. So, however we I'm just trying to think through the timeline of the meeting. >> I think we have time and opportunity to bring it back if we wanted to bring it to the October 22nd board meeting. >> Okay, I guess that's it for now. I had a different idea, but I thought that the deadline was going to be different, so never mind. Okay, any other questions, otherwise we'll go to public comment. >> Is there public public comment? >> No, there's one. >> Oh. >> Ray Nelson, please identify yourself. >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi, I'm traveling in the backseat of my car college tripping with my daughter in Sandy Los Angeles, so thank you for making time for me. And Dr. Moses is completely
079right. We have to take certain actions and those actions are prescribed by the law. Um, and I appreciate understanding that now. We don't need a fiscal advisor, that's the problem. We don't need a fiscal advisor, we need allies. We can kick the can down the road to deal with the underfunding of various programs like special education, but we're not mismanaging our money in in that regard. I mean, there there may be some some of that extra, but problem isn't that, the problem is structural. And if we don't address it together, I really I really empathize with you all being in a position of having to decide with immediate stakes versus future stakes. But they've had 35 years to get this right since since 1991. It's still a problem and it's not our our problem. We're
080we're managing our money fine. We just don't get enough of it from the government and the charter schools are are not equitable with us. So, please don't kick the can on the road. Take a stand now. >> Ethan, please unmute yourself. >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi, my name is Ethan Sorscher. I'm a teacher at Montalvin Manor K-8. Uh I want to thank Trustee Gonzalez Hoye for his leadership and for his foresight. Um Dr. Cotton, I find your messaging that we are one West Contra Costa to be very inspirational and I'm um optimistic that we can find a way forward after whatever agreement the collective bargaining agencies come to with the district. And as far as I can tell in these conversations, Trustee Gonzalez Hoye uh is really holding that. So,
081thank you, Trustee Gonzalez Hoye for your um forward thinking. I also just want to lift up uh a lot of talk has been made about salary, but that's not the only thing that the collective bargaining agencies are looking for. Smaller class sizes, safer learning conditions for our students, all of which would directly impact both student achievement and student safety. Thank you very much for your time. >> That concludes the public comments. >> Okay. So, as a follow-up to this item, we'll just do our best to keep the board informed and there's any initial any other steps or actions that any taken or whatever, we'll our best to try and otherwise maybe it'll be back on the after we talk. Let's try for October 22nd, whatever that looks like and we'll just try and keep everybody
082informed the same way. >> Yeah, do you have any Do you have any comments? >> Yeah. Is that okay with you? >> Yeah, I mean I I think that we didn't have much time to like go into detail last week as of why we were voting how we were voting we were voting last minute, but I think it's important to just point out like for me obviously we've been on the board you know, Trustee Redler, Trustee Smith-Wilson and I for 5 years. Um and we've seen many county letters. We've seen a lot of county intervention, both good and bad. And here's the thing, last night I reviewed all the county letters that we've gotten so far in the last 5 years, which is actually quite a few. We've never gotten a letter requesting us to
083pass a resolution this time of year. They have asked us to pass a plan, right? They've asked us to cut certain number of employees in February, but they've never asked us to pass a resolution. I checked in with all the districts in the county who are experiencing what we're experiencing. None of them got a letter like what we did. I checked in with two superintendents, county superintendents in other counties. They both told me they don't send this type of letter to districts. They told me on their reasons why they might, but I'm not going to share that now. But that we're getting this type of intervention now before we do our our work with community, before we're transparent about the cuts, before we finish negotiations with labor to me it seems unfair, it seems unproductive
084which is why I voted no. Someone asked me over the weekend like I didn't seem like a big deal compared to what you guys would have to do in January or March. Of course not, and we've done it many times. You guys have done it right? It was really hard, but we have to do it. Like I am committed to passing a balanced budget. Like I think it's one of my commitments. We've made hard choices. We've cut people, which is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I would know because it's supportive to the county. Why are you overstepping with us only compared to anyone else? Now it feels weird because then this triggers more county intervention, but like I want them to be real partners, not just throwing us right and
085tell us what to do throughout the whole year. The difference between this and the letter we got in 2024 is that then when they sent it to us in August, they were like, "By February, you need to have a plan. You need to have idea on how you're going to balance it. This is how many people we think you might have to cut." That I understand, right? They're doing their their kind of building measures. This was to me over the top. And I think that's the message that we need to tell Superintendent like, "Why are you treating us differently than the other 19 districts in the county?" Or doing things differently than other superintendents would do it in your position. Anyways, that's that's one of the major reasons why I voted how I did. I
086also think that like it sets the wrong precedent for us to do that before engaging community or engaging each other, engaging with staff when we're in need. And we're starting to do that in closed sessions, but anyways, so that's I just wanted to share that because I think there's a lot of misconceptions of why we did what we did and it was important for me to share. >> You have a comment on that? >> And I have a comment. >> I want to see the Dallas way. We are thankful for that and we are moving in that direction. Um Um with our district budget engagement community, so the work is starting to happen. I just want to note that. >> Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate that. So, I I know we're doing
087the work, right? So, then to me it felt like, why is it necessary for you to do this right now when we're obviously doing the work to have a balanced budget? We have 1,100 meetings that Dr. Moses is hosting every night, right? Like, it feels like that, right? Like, why are you doing this, right? Like, and it almost feels like we don't trust you to make these hard choices later, right? Like, that's really the ultimate message to me. It's like, we don't trust you. But, then you have to pass this resolution. You have to pass this other thing in December, and then you have So, anyway, it just feels like that's But, I think you I agree and I acknowledge that. Yeah. >> I think that to your point there's a both and, right? I
088think that the county is being incredibly patient. And I also think that we need to try to keep one hand on the wheel, right? So, I think that for me it was, how do we keep one hand on the wheel and the county's going to be the county, right? The county's going to be the county. And at this point to Dr. Moses's to Dr. Moses's point, they're going to be in here now. And how do we navigate if they follow the rules and their and what they put down. They're going to be in here in some form. So, how do we navigate that now and try to continue to do what's best for the students that we own? The county is so far removed from our kids. So, how do we make sure that we're
089still making decisions the best that we can for our kids, the kids that we see every day? So, that's going to be a it has to be a togetherness fight, right? And we're going to have to push back on the county together with the community, with the with everyone that touches it's our kid, right? Our staff, our teachers, our community partners, our CBOs, all of that together we're going to have to push what's best for our kids. And I think that that may be a way that we are one WCCUSD. >> Mhm. >> Because there's nothing that can bring people closer together than one common enemy or common foe or force or whatever the adjective is at that point. So hopefully this will turn out to be the best way that we can move as
090one. >> Mhm. >> But we're going to have to move as one. Because now we have somebody in here that doesn't know us like we know us. I'm complete. >> Anything else? >> Mhm. >> Okay, we will move on. We will bring >> C1 to close and move to C2, the board policies for first reading. >> I can introduce it. I can introduce it. >> Oh, yes, go right ahead. I just want to say I I put this on because we do have a governance meeting coming up, so I thought if anybody had any comments, we could hear them and address them and then move them back to governance. So that's that's the agenda. >> Why >> Sure, go right ahead. >> I didn't have that. >> We are for the first read. Um articles
091that are related to the landmark Taylor decision that happened earlier this year. Um Some of those articles need to be uh updated to be in line with that decision. And then we also bring forward another article around our mental education. These This is an example of the work that continues. Prior to is we're getting ready to begin work with um CSBA on updating all of our policies. This work still continues within the district and we are very capable of of doing this work. Over 676 uh articles, might take a while without a concerted effort, but we are definitely doing work. Um and so with that I'd like to pass it to um Associate Superintendent Vassilia Raskauskas to uh walk us through these items. >> Absolutely. Thank you so much and good afternoon, President Reckler, Clerk
092and Yana, Trustees and Superintendent Cotton. So like Superintendent Cotton said, today we are bringing forward several board policies for a first reading. These policies were all reviewed by the Governance Committee on the September 19th uh meeting as well as by our Superintendent and our cabinet and additional appropriate district staff to weigh in. These uh updates align with our district policies. They align with updated Ed Code, new legislation including the recent court rulings um of Mahmud versus Taylor and it ensures that we're staying current and compliant. And so if you look at the policies BP 6141.2, BP 61 uh 421, BP 61428 and BP 6144 are all related to updates for Mahmud versus Taylor. They all follow the CSBA guidelines um and the BP 6144 takes into account the feedback we received from uh Trustee Smith-Fields
093of adding a definition of what controversial issues is. And our Environmental Science Education one BP 6142.5 uh brings us up to date to what our current practice is and the new adoptions um and our commitment. So together all of these updates really reinforce our commitment um to making sure that we have an inclusive and comprehensive instruction that reflects both the diverse beliefs that promote student health and well-being and that really supports that environmental literacy and civic engagement. So, there is no fiscal impact. Like I said, they're all aligned to CSBA updates and these all will return for a second reading and approval at the next October board meeting. Open to any uh questions or suggestions to changes we'd like to see um on this policy. >> Thank you so much. Does it Do any of
094the board members have questions on the policies put forward? We do okay on your controversial on the description of controversial issues? >> Uh I'm looking at it now. Give me 1 second. I'll pull that. >> Ms. Katherine, I'm trying to find it. Can you read the definition that we have that you put in there? >> Absolutely. Okay, so here we go. Definition of controversial issues. As part of its commitment to fostering critical thinking and respectful discourse, the board recognizes that controversy is a natural part of education and civic life and that the district's educational program may sometimes include instruction related to controversial issues. While there's no single definition of what makes an issue controversial and any topic may be considered controversial by some, the board defines controversial issues as those that typically evoke strong feelings
095and divergent views among individuals or groups, impacts the political, social, social, cultural, economic, or environmental context in which people live, involves questions of values and belief often dividing opinion within and across communities. It is complex and lacks clear answers with perspectives shaped by personal experience, identity, interests, and values. Arises at various levels, influencing local, national, and global communities. Covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the interpretation of historical events, religion, political philosophy, culture, human rights, racial and gender gender equity, and varies across time and place. Sorry. Um such that an issue considered controversial in one community or area may be widely accepted in another. >> Okay. Thank you. I mean, it has a lot of words, though. Okay. It has a lot of words. I'm assuming that that's the breadth of
096that is to help cover us legally and to help cover is a huge umbrella for a reason, right? So, I think that that's >> Yes. >> fine. Because that's a such a huge umbrella for a reason. Um Yeah, I'll save everything else for comments. I'm complete. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other comments? Do we have public comment or is this a meeting of the public? >> Oh, yeah, we have no public comment. >> I think my comment about this is this is where that it gets real interesting being a public agency. It gets real This is where it kind of brings up all your civic lessons about a separation of church and state and all that kind of the what can you offer in a public school or can you
097offer in a public school? What are the rights? What are the concerns? I think that some of this is going to have to be board values. What do we value? What is our board value? What What do we consider to be public education with the safety and the concern of all of our students, right? What do we consider to be education? Are we saying that understanding and knowing somebody's diversity and culture and ethnicity and all of that is part of the education that we want our kids to have when we talk about a global understanding of the world we like our strategic plan has, right? So, how are our policies, procedures, and protocols and curriculum and our values matching up with what we want to see at the end? >> So, that was my last
098one. >> That's okay. So, what is it What are So, I think that these are going to We're going to have deeper conversations when those individual incidences come up, right? When we have those individual incidences at school and a a parent says, "I don't want my kid to learn X, Y, and Z. I want this out of X, Y, and Z." I think before those happen, the board needs to be proactive in saying these are our values around education. This is what we want to We need to be transparent with parents. This is who you This is what you get when you go to WCCUSD. This is who we are. This is the expect This is what you may have in your classrooms. And give people choice. If you don't want to be here, got
099it. Love you. Sorry. Got to go. But we're not going This is who we are. We believe in diversity, belonging, inclusion, anti-racism, whatever it is, and that shows up in our classrooms. I'm complete. >> Any other comments? >> So, I want to say that the discussion that we had at the last governance meeting on Mahmoud versus Kelly was very interesting to me and to know that there's more to come. You know, we we took in these policies the lightest touch possible. Um you know, it was like what's the minimum that we can do? Um And and really in these policies a big update was parents have a parents and guardians may opt out was really the big the biggest update in the um but we'll see where that goes legally um More more to come
100on those but we and there was there was good dis there it was good it was it's We don't we don't know but we'll take each one as it comes and they're updated to the the minimal standard. We've been already generating the forum and we put us into the channel which very interesting as well. It is recorded and available on the district's YouTube website and if you want to listen to the discussion and we'll we'll see where it goes but we were very light touch. >> It is. I appreciate the minimum that was done to follow the law. I appreciate that. I also don't want it to be on our teachers. I want it to be on us as the board. This is a board value that you're going to see in our classrooms and
101if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you. This is who we are and I think that we have to start developing this is who we are as one WCC USD. We believe in and this is what you're going to see in the classroom. But it's public. If you don't like this, there's other options for you but this is who we are. So that's just where I'm trying to raise a flag. Let's make sure that we're saying who we are. I'm complete. >> All right, if there's any feedback between now and the next board of education meeting which is It's on the 21st. Uh if you think of anything let the superintendent know. Um nothing is on the 21st. And we really aren't Make sure it's sure
102it's public. Okay. So, I think we're done with that. Okay. So, seeing nothing further on open session, we're going to uh recess to close session items. The closed session items for today is uh conference with labor negotiators. We will take public comment on closed session items. Is there any >> There is no public comment. >> Okay. Then, we expect to be back at 3:00. And uh so, we we expect we I will report that we expect to report at 3:00. Thank you, everyone. And then is that on the agenda for the special meeting?