001On our bed, depressing the fence, jumping up and down. We're one, we're one, we're one. And we were all just laughing, having a good time. There was something. I don't know why we're on a little break. I was looking at, we're leaving, Fann and I are leaving next week, and we're going to her graduation. Maybe back in Texas. yeah like her mother was so that's the senior picture to go to the concordia high school where heather my daughter her mother teachers oh yeah we're going to look forward to that great oh yeah we'll be gone five days My other daughter lives in Spring. Yeah. When Heather got married, she got married at a golf club. Augusta Wise, for her, and the face of the paper. My nephew, at least came from Virginia, the man was
002about so young, and the penny might have come. He said, I thought you meant he was bad in Virginia. This is killing me, because it was in the suburbs. Got married in late summer, in September of 1904. All right. Everybody, try to get inside. Gentlemen. Right. I will call the meeting to order at 533. Sorry about the tardiness. Welcome. What a fun full house we have tonight. Welcome everyone. This is always so much fun. I'm glad you are here, most likely to be celebrated, which is so much fun for us to get to celebrate. I will start with item 1.2, notice of meeting being taped, filmed, streamed, or broadcasted. Please be aware that a recording and broadcasting of tonight's meeting is being made and may capture images and or sounds of those attending tonight's meeting.
0031.3, flag salute. The flag salute will be led by the district's new director of technology services, Andrew Holland. Welcome, Andrew. Come on up, Andrew. So I want to introduce you guys to our new technology director, Andrew Holland, who's going to lead us in the flag salute. I just want to tell you a little bit about him before we start. He's the new guy behind the scenes back here. This is his first night running the board meeting. He's doing a great job so far. What a night to start. But it's because there's not really like a lot of presentations. So kind of your way in. So Andrew, he comes to us. Andrew has a long history of technology experience, started out in coffee machines, went and joined the Kern County Superintendent of Schools tech team over
004there, which is a great team. And then another school district in town needed a director. So they loaned him to that school district. It was Vineland as an interim. And they liked him so much that they kept him. And so he was there for the last three years and we were lucky enough to lure him over here. A little fun fact. He this is not a new place to him. He went to middle school here. In fact, he finally remembers getting karate lessons from John Bowles when he was in middle school. So that was great stuff. And he has a son who goes to Olive Drive, who's the sixth grader over there. So he is part of the Norris family and he's going to lead us in the flag salute tonight. Thank you. Please stand.
005Salute and pledge. Thank you, Andrew, and welcome. Glad we have a nice, you know, tech, low, free meeting tonight. Item 1.4 is approval of the agenda, but before we do that, we are going to need to amend and add 6.6, and you should see it here in your step. It's something that we need to do tonight. So if I could get an approval of the agenda amended to add item 6.6, please. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. Community comment, we have one. They're going to come for a closed session later, so we're going to move on by that. Let's see, 3.0, special recognition and the reason that all of you are here. Hi, Mr. Ford, I see your face. He's so excited to be here, I know. 3.1, recognition of North
006School District's Classified Employees of the Year. Okay, good evening, everybody. Yes, tonight is such a special evening that we look forward to each year. And yes, we have a big group. So thank you for everybody for being here. So we have the privilege to honor many staff members tonight. And so we are going to start with our classified employees of the year. And so in order to be chosen as classified employee of the year, there are eight categories to be nominated from. And so their peers actually get to nominate them teachers and classified staff. And they really are those that embody the work ethic and integrity of our school district. And so for that, we are going to be inviting an administrator up to present them. And also just make sure when you do come
007up that we are going to take an individual picture with you and your administrator. And at the end, another picture up with the whole entire group. So just to prepare you for that. Does that mean don't leave right after you're done with yours? Don't leave. You're trying to tell them in advance. Correct. Make sure you take a nice photo first. So we are going to start with honoring our staff that are in transportation services and custodial maintenance services. So if I could have Mr. Carr come on up. Hello, Mr. Carr. Welcome. Hi. Good evening, board. Superintendent Silver. I am honored to present three outstanding classified employees tonight, and we're going to start in the category of transportation services. So if I can get Wendy Partain to come on down. So Wendy was hired in 2009
008as a part-time bus driver. And during that time, she filled in occasionally as a lunchtime supervision aide before she was brought on as a full-time bus driver custodian. And now she currently serves as a bus driver maintenance grounds member for the MOT department. So since 2009, Wendy has driven a bus either to or from all five of our school sites, and she currently drives one of our special education bus routes. As a school bus driver, Wendy consistently shows excellence through her continued commitment to safety, punctuality, and student well-being. She maintains calm and friendly interactions with her students. Calm. Absolutely. Guiding them to follow safety rules while promoting a positive atmosphere on her bus. Wendy builds strong relationships with students, parents, and school staff to foster a sense of trust and connection. She truly enjoys and
009takes great pride in her work. She invests the time to get to know her students and generally cares about their success. So her daily actions impact students and parents. in more ways than words can describe. So congratulations, Wendy. I'm not like, you're just right. I'll hide behind. I'm all fair. Yeah. See, because I fear otherwise. We're going to head away with it. Yeah. Sorry, Wendy. That was that size idea, not mine. Okay, next I'd like to recognize we had two members in our custodial and maintenance services, so I would like to welcome up Chad Bacone. So Chad has worked for Norris as a maintenance specialist too since 2021. He was hired for his heating and cooling expertise, but he quickly proved he could do much more. He takes on electrical, painting, locksmithing, solved a fire
010alarm issue this morning, welds, you name it, he can do it. And if he can't, which is rare, I just really love his ability and... focus on learning new things and he can take things apart just to understand the function. So it's really cool to watch him work. He takes great pride in his work and consistently performs his duties with accuracy and dependability. And what really separates Chad is his willingness to go above and beyond what is expected. Whether it's responding quickly to an unexpected fire alarm, helping a teacher figure out why their pencil sharpener isn't working, or doing routine maintenance on HVAC units, Chad handles all tasks with professionalism and a positive attitude. And beyond Chad's technical skills, he's respectful, approachable, and his communication is top-notch. School and district staff appreciate his kindness and
011dedication to the students in our district. So congratulations, Chad. All right. And next, I would like to, in the same category of custodial and maintenance services, I would like to call up William Ramirez. William has worked for the Norris School District since 2019, where he has worked as a custodian at Norris Middle School, BMAT Elementary School, and currently at Veterans Elementary School. William demonstrates his excellence through his attention to detail and proactive approach to maintaining a clean and safe learning environment for our students. Every night, he ensures that classrooms, cafeteria, the library, front office, Restrooms are spotless, often notifying and addressing small issues before they become problems. He's also involved in supporting our school activities and community events, helping set up events such as Fall Festival, music concerts, grade-level performances, and our annual May Dinner.
012He is such a hard worker, and although his work is mostly done independently at night, it definitely does not go unnoticed. The school staff truly appreciates William's daily efforts, and his actions set the tone for a positive and welcoming learning environment for our students. Congratulations, William. Next up to present our paraprofessional of the year, I'd like Naomi DeMont. Good evening, Board Superintendent Silver. Tonight, I have the privilege of honoring someone who has truly been an asset to our school. So if Daisy Fernandez could come on up. I know you love the limelight. All right, Daisy started working for us almost five years ago. She was hired as a substitute supervision aide at Veterans, and she made a solid impression and was quickly placed in a permanent position. Later that school year, she showed interest in
013an open Title I aid job and was placed in April 2022. Four years later, Daisy is still in this role, and tonight is being recognized as the Paraprofessional Services Classified Employee of the Year. Daisy's the kind of instructional aid who doesn't just teach. She cares deeply, and that makes all the difference. She has a naturally quiet but friendly and approachable demeanor. She meets each individual student exactly where they are. Even with the short block of time, Daisy builds relationships rooted in trust and perseverance. Her students leave her feeling supported, confident, and deeply valued. Behind her gentle presence is an unwavering work ethic and a commitment to high expectations. Daisy takes her role seriously. She studies the material before every lesson to guarantee students receive top-tier academic support. She has been instrumental in the implementation and
014success of our 95% program this year. Daisy's impact stretches beyond her Title I instructional aid role on our campus. She steps in weekly as a substitute to support the EDC program, lending a hand with school performances, or collaborating closely with her peers and Artosa. Her leadership shines. Daisy, your consistency, clear communication, and positive disposition make a meaningful difference for both our students and our staff every day. Your reliability, dependability, and consistency builds fidelity in our program. Thank you for your dedication, your kindness, and your absolute commitment to our school and our students. We're lucky to have you. Congratulations. Next to present our security services recipient, Lisa Limpias. I would, good evening, I'd like to recognize Cindy Gill. You could come forward, please. Cindy is the amazing daycare lead aide at BMAT Elementary and has dedicated
015seven years to serving in this role with excellence and care. It is a pleasure to know her and to work with her. She is deeply respected by both her staff and students, and it is easy to see why. We have a saying with our daycare lead to model the behaviors they hope to see in their staff and students each and every day. And Cindy exemplifies this philosophy every day through her leadership and actions. One of Cindy's most admirable qualities is her calm and steady demeanor. No matter the situation, she remains composed, professional, approachable, and kind. Even during stressful or overwhelming moments, she handles challenges with grace and positivity, always wearing a smile. Whether she is adjusting daycare plans due to unforeseen circumstances, assisting with event setups, managing multiple scheduling changes, or providing extra care and
016attention to students who need it most, Cindy is always willing to step in without hesitation. Her dedication to supporting and nurturing such a large number of students and staff each day is truly exceptional. Thank you, Cindy, for your unwavering commitment, compassion, and leadership. to our daycare program and congratulations and thank you for all that you do. Okay. Okay. Next to honor our employee for technical services is Dan Weirather. Wow, Dan, you usually don't get all those claps. I know. I didn't even win anything. That was nice. Gavin, come on up. Gavin March. So Gavin started a little over 10 years ago, January 16, 2006. When you were like 12, maybe? Look at this. I say that, I'm just joking with him. A decade of service and a kind of a stressful job when he has
017not changed one bit. So he came to work for us and quickly he became the go-to person. I mean, just very quickly. And in his over 10 years of being with the North School District, this is his fourth award. Got this a few times. So which begs the question. The other six times. I don't know what happened. What? Four is pretty impressive. So how do you become the go-to person when you come to the district? And first, you got to be pretty darn good at your job, number one. And then when you're helping out, he makes it look like a piece of cake. And cake's kind of an interesting word because the letters in that word, cake, kind of explain why he's the go-to person around here. So first of all, C, he's competent. Gavin
018knows a lot about a lot of things and a little bit about everything. I mean, that's just how he is. A, he's approachable. If you're going to be the go-to person, people have to want to go to you and ask you a question. Gavin's that person. K, he's kind. I mean, he personifies kindness. In the technology world, you're going to have people come to you all the time, and they don't come to you and say, Gavin, I have this problem I anticipate having next week. If you could take a look at this. No, I've got to zoom in two minutes, and it's not working. I need your help. He always does it with a smile, and he's so kind. E, he's efficient. When you are the go-to person, you happen to have a lot of
019customers because everyone's always going to you. And he does a great job. In fact, Andrew, our new director, one of the first things he said about Gavin was, man, this guy knows a lot and he is organized. And that is true. That is true about Gavin. He recognized that right away. Beyond all those things, he shares something that with everybody else who's getting honored here tonight, as besides being a good employee, he's just a good person. He's a great father. He's got a beautiful family. If you listen, you can hear the latest one. She's adorable. He's a good friend, and I am honored to be presenting you with this award. Congratulations to you. She's excited, too. Right next to honor our employee for food and nutrition services is Amanda Atkinson. Good evening, board members, Superintendent
020Silver, and family and friends. It is an honor to be here tonight to recognize and celebrate our Nutrition Services Department Employee of the Year, Deanne Young-Pousquet. Deanne began her career at Norris Elementary School in August of 2010, her first year as a supervision aide and the rest in the Nutrition Services Department. So it's been about 16 years now. Yeah. Since getting to know Deanne, I see an amazing person who carries a strong gift of hospitality. Throughout her gift, Deanne keeps our kitchen welcoming and friendly and greets anyone who enters with a sweet hello. She's wonderful at engaging with our students, remembering their names, and genuinely asking how their day is going, and giving compassion to ones who aren't having the best day. Deanne always looks for the positive in everyone she encounters and makes each
021day with her students and coworkers the absolute best. There's much to multitask throughout our department every day, but throughout all the tasks, Deanne finds joy in her work and loves seeing our students excited for lunch. I have a few messages I'd like to include that are from Deanne's coworkers and family. Her co-workers say, Deanne is truly deserving of this award. She is one of the kindest and most compassionate people that we have the pleasure of working with. Every day, she brings a positive attitude and uplifting outlook to the workplace, no matter how busy or challenging the day may be. Her daughter Lauren says, congratulations, mom. We are so proud of you. The care and positivity you bring to your work makes such a big impact, even in the way people might not say out loud.
022Her son Austin says, Deanne Puskarik, aka my mother, has been such an amazing role model to me and my siblings when it comes to what a hardworking person looks like. I seriously admire how hard she works for her family. I'm not surprised she won this award with her having such a positive, loving attitude towards everything. and always having a way to cheer us on. I consider myself a decent worker and can see all the hard workers in all my siblings, so it only makes sense to the woman that made us did such a good job transferring that trait. I wish I could be there, but because of you, I'm probably out working hard somewhere. Congratulations, Mom. The award is so well-deserved. Dan's husband Mark says, He is the firm foundation that has made her the
023woman she is. With all my heart, I am so proud of you. Deanne, all of us here at Norris School District are grateful for your years of service and proud to recognize you tonight as our Nutrition Services Department Employee of the Year. Congratulations. And next, to honor our Health and Student Services Employee of the Year, Brandi Rosander. Good evening. It is my pleasure to introduce and celebrate the Health and Student Services Classified Employee of the Year, Andrea Smith. Andrea is one of our district nurses and has served the Norris School District for eight years. She exemplifies excellence in student care through both her clinical expertise and her compassionate approach. Andrea works proactively with families and staff, anticipating needs and fostering strong collaboration to support student success across all of our campuses. sets Andrea apart is
024the trust and connection she builds across our entire school community. You're going to make me cry. She is a reassuring presence for our teachers, a dependable partner for administrators, and a source of peace of mind for our families. Andrea leads with quiet strength. shares her knowledge generously, and approaches every situation with grace and professionalism. No matter how busy or challenging the day, she remains positive, flexible, and deeply committed to ensuring every student receives equitable, compassionate care. Andrea is more than an exceptional nurse. She is a trusted advocate, a source of comfort, which, by the way, she goes anytime a student is ill and has to go to the hospital, she rides with them in the ambulance. And a true cornerstone of our community, she truly represents the spirit of Health and Student Services Classified Employee
025of the Year. Congratulations. You guys look really like the blue, the dress and the branding. All right, next and last but not least, we would like to honor our Clerical and Administrative Services Employee of the Year, and I'm going to hand it over to Cy Silver. All right. I'm at the podium for the first time. So Miss Rinell New, will you come up here, please? This is so great. This is so great. No roast yet. So I'm so honored to be able to talk about Miss Rinell New in front of all of you tonight. First off, you know, one of the things that's great about having all of you guys up here and especially with Rinell is that the one characteristic that exists with everybody is their humility. And that's why it's so great tonight
026to honor everyone and Ronell because this is nothing they seek, right? Their job is to serve kids, and that's what they focus on. And so it's so great to honor all of you. I can't read from a script, so I have to wing it when I talk. And part of it's because I can't read the words on the page, too. But, you know, in looking at the notes and the information that was provided and what people said about Ronell, everything that was... was discussed about right now, I share myself. Me and Ronell work in a little hallway here at the end of this building, and it's where nobody wants to walk down and really go because all the hard stuff lands in that office. And one of the things that people describe with Ronell is
027she's so resourceful. Everything that happens in this district, whether it was last week or 20 years ago, she knows about it. If you need an answer to something that happened, you go to her now because she's going to know what it is. There's just something great about having a person that you work with that you can go to for anything. And everybody says that. And I hear on a daily people walk in and say, hey, right now, can you help me with this? Hey, Ronell, can you help me with this? And it's not just from one department. It's from everywhere. Phone calls, parents, student issues, something that's happening at the bus depot. It's just all those things come into one place. And she is the go-to person. And like everybody else, if you need something,
028Ronell has that. She handles it with care. She has conversations. She's a counselor with parents. She's a counselor with staff members. And just such a great value to have in our district. The one thing I've talked about a lot is with people, I say two things. One is, you know, does that align with our mission statement, right? Are we always going back to the students first? And I also tell people when they get hired, if I ever get a chance to talk with them, is make sure everybody here is nice to you, right? Just make sure everybody's nice to you. If they're not, come talk to me. And the one thing that I find great about Ronell is that she is... She is rooted in our mission statement at Norse. She is the mission statement
029of Norse. She is the example of what that is to be an employee here. And so it's such a great feeling to have somebody that you can say, go talk to her. I know she's going to give you the right answer, but I also know that she's going to give you the answer that's best for our students. And we do face a lot of tough decisions down there in our area. And every single time she'll come talk to me or I'll go talk to her. And she'll say, I want to run something by you. And I'll say, hey, I want to run something by you. And there's trust there because I know that I'm going to center myself around what's best for kids. And that's what Ronell represents for our district. So I appreciate her
030doing that and the way she handles things. She's dependable and she's honest. She is so worried about doing something that's wrong or doesn't fit what is part of her contract, like going outside the line a little bit. Like there's so much amazing trust in all these people and hers that they're going to do the right thing and they need to make sure that they're following what's asked of them. She's a minute to minute working the whole time. making sure she's being productive. And the one thing with her for myself, and I think for our district is, I use this term rarely, is she's a catalyst. She is a person that makes stuff happen, right? She knows when things need to get done. She does it professionally. She's going to do it the right way every
031single time. And she's a catalyst for our office, for our district. I was so excited to see people select her for this. It made my day. And I was so excited to see you up here squirming and knowing that this is coming. But, Ronell, on behalf of our district and everybody here, you are so important to what we do here. You are the epitome of the Norse mission statement. And I love working with you. I appreciate you. Superintendent Silver, you did leave out something pretty important. She takes very good care of us. And, like, make sure we don't forget things. If we do forget things, she double checks. And so thank you for not taking such good care of us. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it's a group picture. Oh. Congratulations to all of our classified employees
032of the year. Let's give them one more round of applause. And yes, they can go. Yes, if you would like to go, you may. Of course, you can always stay. It's up to you. First, they can stay. So much more fun to be here. Congratulations. Easy to talk about something like that. Bye. Bye. Hopefully, we'll see you on the baseball field soon. It's going to get real hot. My question is, can you always spare? I do. Because I don't like to break deals anymore. Oh, I got this. I was wondering. Hey, you're breaking. You're breaking. I'm going to break an ankle. Mr. Silver. No, I was going to say he can invite the folks in the foyer in. Okay. We have empty chairs in the front if you want to move on up to the
033front. Sure, you want to. Thank you, Dan, for modeling sitting in the front. Thank you, Dan, for modeling what it looks like to sit in the front. Sitting quietly with your hands. Following directions. There's room. Oh, there's lots of room inside. There's lots of room. Oh, yeah, no, there's room in the front. You don't have to sit in the back. That is progress. All right. Do you need me to, like, quiet down the restless bunch? Okay, next we do have the privilege of honoring our Certificated Teachers of the Year, and these teachers were also chosen by their peers, one for each of our school sites, and they really embody what it means to be a Norris teacher. Their passion for teaching, their commitment to their students, and a positive impact on their campuses. So again,
034we will invite their administrators up to honor each of them tonight, and then the same with pictures. Please stick around because we'll be taking photos. So first, if I could please have Mrs. Mudrick come up to present BMAT's Teacher of the Year. Good evening. I am proud to introduce to you our Teacher of the Year for the 25-26 school year, Mrs. Lauren Evans. Will you please join me in that? Mrs. Evans has taught for 12 years, all in the wonderful land of TK. As a veteran teacher on campus, our Sunshine Committee lead, and a go-to TK teammate, she exemplifies what it is to be a dedicated teacher who pours the love of learning into her students each and every day. I feel her reputation is best represented by the words of her coworkers. Mrs. Evans
035pours so much into her students each and every day. She has patience and empathy, which she demonstrates daily to her class and all other students on campus. She also gives back to our staff on committees while showing us all appreciation and kindness. Mrs. Evans has incredible patience and dedication while working with tiny humans with big feelings, endless questions, and a very short attention span. She meets each day with calmness, kindness, and a sense of humor, turning chaos into learning and curiosity into confidence. Her love for students and commitment to their growth make her an absolute standout. Not only is Mrs. Evans a wonderful teacher, but she is a great mentor as well. She has helped many TK teachers grow as educators and is reliable, patient, honest, hardworking, and caring. She truly wants the best for
036her students and always gives her all, even when her tank is running low. She is constantly looking at ways she can improve her practice, classroom, and school. Mrs. Evans devotes her free time to assisting in committees to help support. uplift, and celebrate those who need extra love, not to mention all the parties she plans when we need to let loose. While the words from our staff undeniably show why Mrs. Evans is incredibly deserving of this amazing award, I would like to leave you with this poem, not based off of the word cake, but based off of her name, Evans. E. Every morning starts with smiles so bright. V, voices learning, growing, shining with delight. A, always patient, caring, kind, and true. N, nurturing little hearts in all they do. S, special moments bloom in TK
037with you. Congratulations to our wonderful teacher of the year. Okay, next to honor our Norris Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Mrs. March. everyone. I am incredibly proud to honor and recognize Selena Bergman. Selena, come on over. Selena has been a dedicated member of the Norris Elementary family for 12 years. She consistently goes above and beyond in everything she does. Selena inspires her students daily and makes meaningful contributions to our entire school community. She is truly an outstanding member of Norris Elementary. Her colleagues shared so many thoughtful comments about her, and I'd like to highlight just a few. Selena is not only a dedicated teacher who works tirelessly to meet the needs of her students, but she is also deeply involved in our school community. She serves as grade level lead and contributes to several
038committees, including the Blueprint Report Card Committee and the Math Adoption Committee. She is always willing to step up to ensure that both students and staff are supported in providing the very best education possible. Another colleague shared that Selena is an exceptional example of early childhood education at its finest, and that every collaboration with her is both professional and impactful. She is described as one of the most dedicated teachers on campus, someone who goes above and beyond for her students and her kindergarten team. She leads with a kind spirit and makes a profoundly positive impact on her students. Her patience, strong work ethic, and genuine love for her students are evident in everything she does. Selena truly loves every child in her classroom and makes it her personal mission to ensure that each one thrives. Felina,
039thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and the heart you pour into Norris Elementary every single day. Congratulations. Next, to honor our Olive Drive Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Turner. Good evening. I am the proud Dean of Olive Drive, and it is a true honor to stand here today and recognize a teacher who doesn't just inhabit a classroom, but transforms it. This year, we celebrate Kaylee Bourne as Olive Drive's Teacher of the Year. When you ask those who work alongside Kaylee to describe her, a few words come up consistently. Patient, enthusiastic, and determined. But perhaps the most telling description is simply fun. Kaylee has that rare, undeniable leader quality. When she speaks, her students don't just listen, they lean in. They find genuine joy in following her lead because the strength of her vision is
040so clear. Kaylee is a master of intentionality. From bell to bell every single day, her energy is unmatched. It's contagious enthusiasm that her first graders strive to emulate. She has built a welcoming environment where students feel safe to make mistakes, knowing they have a teacher who will meet them exactly where they are while still challenging them to reach their full potential. Beyond the curriculum, Kaylee is the heart of our campus culture. Whether she is managing classroom behaviors with professional grace or simply offering a cheerful hello to a colleague in the hallway, she makes everyone feel seen and valued. She is a talented educator, but she never relies on talent alone. She outworks everyone to ensure her students succeed. Kaylee has a special way of making every child feel important and capable. Whether she is celebrating
041success with a 10-finger whoo! Encouraging a struggling student by telling them to kiss their brain or bringing creativity and joy into her lessons. She gives her whole heart to her work. And as a side note, I have the privilege of sharing a wall with her classroom and I can hear those 10 finger woos throughout the day. And I know that every time that happens, someone is being celebrated. Mrs. Mahan couldn't be here tonight, but she wanted to be sure to share her thoughts as well. She said, the word that repeatedly comes to mind when I think of Kaylee is magical. Everything about her classroom is meticulously thought out, from the bulletin boards and color choices to the music playing in the background and the shades over the lighting to create the optimal learning environment. Her
042energy and enthusiasm for teaching is every second of every day, and there simply is never a dull moment in her classroom. It is truly a magical place because of her extreme intentionality. Kaylee, your principal and dean are beaming with pride today, along with the rest of your ODE family. Thank you for your kindness, your high expectations, your gentle spirit. You don't just strive for excellence, you define it. Please indulge me in offering Kaylee Bourne a 10-finger woo. Congratulations. And next, to honor our Veterans Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Salih. I feel like I need a 10-finger woo just for navigating that. Anyway, good evening. It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. There is something really special about coming together to celebrate excellence. And tonight, it is my distinct privilege to honor
043a teacher who represents the very best of our campus. This year's Teacher of the Year at Veterans Elementary School is Amy Rachelson. So stand there and let me talk about you. Amy's career started 36 years ago in Somers, California, and then 2000 Oaks, California. Thankfully, her path brought her here to Norris School District in 2004, teaching both at Norris Elementary and then, of course, at Veterans Elementary. During her tenure, she has taught every grade level from kinder to seventh for the whole career. It's a lot of grade levels. Her friends and colleagues will tell you without hesitation, Amy is one of the most hardworking and dedicated teachers out there. She loves to learn and is constantly perfecting her craft. She reflects deeply, seeks out new strategies, and is always growing because she believes her students
044deserve nothing less than her very best. Her classroom is completely child-centered. Every decision she makes is rooted in what her students need. She thoughtfully develops strategies to engage and teach each individual child, meeting them exactly where they are. She brings the perfect balance of structure and silliness, creating a space that is both purposeful and joyful. With every lesson, she brings positive energy. Her patience is remarkable. She is calm, steady, and encouraging. Students in her classroom feel safe to be themselves. She embraces their quirks, celebrates their individuality, and creates an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and capable. But her impact doesn't stop with students. She is positive, a true team player, and someone who always looks for the good in everything and everyone. Even when challenges arise, and we know they do, she brings
045optimism and perspective. She is a wealth of teaching knowledge and shares her insight generously. She mentors new teachers with kindness and intention, helping us all grow together stronger and always with a good brand of Amy humor. She has been a complete joy to work with and a true light on our campus. Her heart for children, her dedication to excellence, and the positive energy she brings each and every day make our school better in so many ways. Congratulations, Amy. And last but not least, for our Teacher of the Year, we're going to honor Norris Middle School. If I could have Mrs. Sawasky come on up. Good evening. It is a great honor to introduce the Norris Middle School Teacher of the Year, Mr. Trent Ford. Trent Ford has had the privilege of serving the Norris community
046for the past 23 years at Norris Middle School, teaching eighth grade math, algebra, and most recently, virtual enterprise. Along the way, he has also dedicated years supporting teachers as a union representative and attending ACE meetings. If you know Trent, you know baseball is not just a hobby. It's practically a second job. He has traveled the United States visiting 26 out of the 29 major league baseball stadiums. I'm not sure if he's, whether he's made it to the one in Canada, but if not, I'm sure it's already on a spreadsheet somewhere with a projected completion date. When Trent is not traveling the country in search of baseball stadiums, he can usually be found cheering on his Cowboys. And by cheering, I mean questioning every coaching decision ever made since 1996. In all seriousness, he's usually visiting
047his son in college or spending time with his lovely wife, who we can all agree is absolutely his better half. One of the best things about Trent is his sarcastic sense of humor and incredible quick wit. So I want to share a little personal story about Trent. Before I moved to the middle school, I mainly knew him as the middle school teacher or that union guy who used to come to visit our campuses and talk about things. But by my first week, I really got to know the real Trent, my first week at the middle school. I had been tasked with. I had been tasked to make folders for all of the teachers' welcome back staff meeting after the breakfast. As I passed them out, I accidentally labeled Trent's folder with his first name. And
048let me tell you, Trent did not let that go unnoticed. With perfect comedic timing and just the right amount of sarcasm, he made sure I knew immediately. that I had made a mistake. And I realized two things. One, yes, I'd made that mistake. And two, Trent was going to be one of the funniest people I would ever work with. Thankfully, he has continued to live up to his reputation. Trent is also one of the most meticulous people you will ever meet. Everything in his classroom has a place, and I mean everything. So naturally, every time I was asked to substitute for his class while he attended a meeting, it became my responsibility to slightly redecorate before leaving. And to be fair, I was not alone. There are definitely other people in this room who also
049participated in these harmless pranks. We all knew it would only be a matter of time before Trent discovered whatever tiny thing had been moved three inches to the left and sent, and he would send us one of his classic sarcastic messages about it. But all jokes aside, Trent is truly an exceptional teacher. He challenges his students to do their best, supports them when they struggle, and creates an environment where students know he genuinely cares about them. Through it all, he shows up every day with positivity, dedication, and that signature smile, usually followed by a sarcastic comment. And we can all say he's always the best dressed. Here are some things that his colleagues have said about Trent Ford. Mr. Ford and I like to mess with our students. I tell students that he might seem
050tough, but he is just a soft teddy bear inside. This year, students loved that we purchased a pink bear calculator to give him. He used it, and they thought it was hilarious. They secretly love that he doesn't tolerate baloney, and they secretly love the structure. They tell me he is tough, but a good teacher. Students love that he has a good sense of humor and they call him dad jokes, which they test on her all the time. His sense of style is also part of the conversation. I think it's a daily part of the conversation. Another staff member said, Mr. Ford always comes into the office smiling and making the crazy day a little less stressful with a funny joke or a story. Thank you for making our days brighter in the office. Trent. Thank
051you for your years of service, your humor, your dedication to the students and staff, and for making Norris Middle School a better place. You deserve the honor of Teacher of the Year. But wait, I'm not done. By the way. Trent was recognized by Kern County Superintendent of Schools as a County Teacher of the Year. However, due to his hard work and his dedication to his students and our families, he was not able to attend. Instead, he came to work on an evening, opened his classroom doors, and welcomed students and parents to our Traditions Dinner and our open house. So thank you again, Trent. And look, Mr. Ford, I have this one. Congratulations to all of our teachers of the year. Next this evening, we are very happy and also a little sad to honor our
052retirees. And we do have a group this evening. For our retirees, we have been truly blessed to have these individuals serve our students and families for countless years in the Norris School District. Many who have taught our own children and who we all share very sweet and just lasting memories with. We can let them go. But not all of them. We're going to wait just one moment. Have a good evening, you guys. Thank you so much. Congratulations. You guys want to move up? You can. It's up to you. They look pumped about it. They're not going anywhere. Their chairs are warm. No. Just go. Okay. Like I said, we are honored tonight to have our retirees come on up and we have so many wonderful things to share about them. And like I mentioned earlier,
053a lot of our own children have been blessed to be in their classrooms and there are so many stories. And so we cannot wait to hear all about them and honor them tonight. So if I could please start with Jodi Mudrick from Beeman Elementary to come on up. Thank you. BMAT's retiree is Debbie Porwall, and unfortunately she could not be here tonight, but we definitely wanted to honor her for her longtime efforts and dedication to our district. While her educational journey began in Lamont in 1998, she made the move to the Norris School District where she began to teach kindergarten at Olive Drive Elementary. Just two weeks before the school year began, she was honored to receive notice that she was needed to help open the new school. Be Mad Elementary, and kindergarten, where she
054set the foundation for students for 10 years before finding her love for second grade in 2008. She has since taught second grade with a few combos sprinkled in there the last 18 years for a total of 28 years in our district. Debbie Porwal's dedication to students, commitment to excellence, and the care she has shown each day has left a lasting impact on our school community. As the last teacher left on campus that originally opened BMAC, she has created a positive and supportive environment where students felt valued and inspired to learn. Mrs. Porwell shared that some of her fondest memories on campus were created in some of the most unprecedented times. From the support and encouragement and range of growth she experienced during the time of COVID that taught her and helped her to gain clarity
055on her true appreciation and love for teaching, to the unwavering support of staff at BMAT and amongst the district during her time with her husband, been a big highlight for Debbie and her appreciation of the district as a whole. Mrs. Porwall's bubbly personality has been a gift not only to students, but to staff and families as well. She has a way of making people feel welcome, comfortable, and important. Whether it was greeting students in the morning, sharing stories in the staff lounge, or encouraging a teammate, she has always brought warmth, positivity, and laughter wherever she went. But beyond the laughter is someone who has dedicated her career to children with incredible care and commitment. She has poured her heart into teaching, building relationships, and creating memories that students will carry with them for years to
056come. And if you have ever seen her classroom, you will know that Mrs. Porwall is a big fan of the wild, wild west. So as an official western send-off, Happy trails to an amazing teacher. And may we all wish her endless happiness, relaxation, and health for her and her loved ones. Congratulations. Yes. Congratulations to Debbie. I know she would have loved to be here. So I think somebody was recording for her. We'll share that with her. Thank you. Next, we are going to honor our Norris Elementary School retiree. If I could please have Tiffany March come on up. Tonight we have the privilege of recognizing and celebrating one of the sweetest and hardest working speech pathologists I have ever met, Laura Wallace. Please come on up. I know you love the spotlight, Laura. I know,
057I know. Laura has served as a speech pathologist for 35 years, making a lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of settings, including private practice, hospitals, and the public school system. For the last 20 years, Laura has been a valued member of the Norris School District, working at Olive Drive and Norris Elementary. During that time, she has supported a diverse group of students, including preschool-age students, general education students, special day class preschool students, and students with extensive support needs. What makes Laura so special is not only her professional knowledge, but the heart she brings to work every single day. Communication is one of the most important gifts we can help a child develop, and Laura has spent her career helping students find their
058voices, build confidence, and experience success. Her patience, kindness, and dedication have left a lasting impression on students, family, and colleagues alike. One colleague shared, Ms. Brandy Rosander, That as Laura Wallace retires, we celebrate not only her remarkable career as a speech and language pathologist, but the countless ways she went above and beyond to support our students and families. Her kindness, care, and commitment have truly made a difference. I will miss her birthday wishes and her love for Red Vines licorice. Congratulations on your retirement, and I wish you the best. Laura, thank you for 35 years of service, your commitment to students, and the compassion you brought to work every day. We are incredibly grateful for all you have done for Norris School District and the Bakersfield community. And before we officially send you off into
059retirement, we all know there is still one very important goal left to accomplish. And hopefully this will finally be your year to win those Dodger tickets at the end of the year staff lunches. Congratulations, Laura, on your retirement. And next, to honor our retiree from Norris Middle School, if I could please have Mrs. Sawaski. I feel like I was just here. The Norris Middle School retiree this year couldn't be here this evening, but the retiree is Pam Angel, and I would love to share some information about Pam and her career. Pam Angel has dedicated 36 incredible years to serving the Norris community as a resource specialist at the middle school. Technically, during her first few years, she was employed through the county and was placed within the Norris school district. But anyone who knew Pam
060would tell you that she was always a part of the Norris family from the beginning. One of Pam's earliest memories at Norris dates back to November of 1990, when Dr. Perucci brought her into a small windowless back corner office to explain that if she was going to work for the Norris School District, she would need to follow the dress code of dresses and nylons. From 1990 to 1996, Pam balanced reporting to both her community supervisors and the principals of Norris Elementary and Norris Middle School, and that was back when both schools shared one campus. Then in 1996, Norris officially opened its own resource specialist program, allowing Pam to become an official Norris employee, something that truly felt like home. Throughout her years at Norris, Pam created unforgettable experiences for students. She fondly remembers taking her
061special education students out into the cotton and alfalfa fields for hands-on learning experiences and watching her eighth grade resource students proudly read to kindergartners. Those moments reflected who Pam has always been as an educator, someone who believed learning should be meaningful, joyful, and centered around relationships. Over the years, countless employees, students, parents, community members helped shape Pam's journey, but perhaps the greatest reward for her has been seeing former students return years later to share their successes. Those visits were never just updates, they were reminders of the lasting impact she made on the lives of so many children. Pam also witnessed and contributed to the tremendous growth of the district over the years. She remembers watching the massive crane lift the walls of the Norris Middle School gym into place and serving on design teams that
062helped shape the Norris Middle School science and math wing, along with the special education classrooms at both Norris Middle School and Veterans Elementary. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping research and design the Learning Center program, a program created to support struggling students early before they required special education services. Her vision and dedication to helping students succeed continues to impact Norris students even today. Pam's commitment to Norris extended far beyond her classroom. She served as a member of the ACE committee and numerous district committees. always believing in the importance of being involved and giving back to the district community. But one of the roles closest to her heart was mentoring new teachers. Whether serving as a consultant and lead mentor representing Norris at the KC SOS level, training mentor teachers through BITSA, or simply supporting
063new teachers entering the profession, Pam poured her heart into helping others succeed. She was always proud to share the Norris mission and help new teachers understand the heart of what makes Norris special. Pam Angel embodied the Norris Mission Statement in every possible way. She was a person colleagues sought out when they needed guidance, encouragement, or simply someone who would listen. She has been a teacher, supporter, a student advocate. Trusted mentor and a steady source of kindness and wisdom for so many people throughout the years. More importantly than any title she held, Pam is simply an extraordinary person. Her compassion, dedication, and selfless heart has left a lasting mark on the Norris School District and every life she's touched along the way. Norris is better because of Pam Angel, and her legacy will continue to live
064on in the students, teachers, and community she cared for so deeply. Now, I'd like to share some things that staff members have shared about Pam Angel. I had the privilege of working with Pam for... about nine years at Norris Middle School, and during that time, I don't think I ever met anyone more dedicated to serving our district, students, and staff. Pam consistently went above and beyond, putting in countless hours and always making herself available whenever someone needed support. She had a remarkable ability to listen with patience and compassion, and she approached every situation with fairness, professionalism, and an objective perspective. Whether she was supporting a colleague, advocating for others as a union president, or inspiring students in the classroom, Pam led with integrity and genuine care for the people around her. Her dedication, leadership, and
065kindness will truly be missed, and her legacy in the Norris District will not be forgotten. Another staff member said, Pam Angel worked at Norris Middle School when I was a student in the late 90s. I started working with her in 2010. She was my BITSA support provider and became a mentor then. eventually a friend. Pam is very loyal and is always prepared. She has made me a better educator. I was proud to serve under her in the union. She was also involved in other activities like volunteering at the Buena Vista Museum and being a vendor at local farmer's market with her husband. Pam has laid the foundation at Norris to speak for her students. and her teachers at Norris Middle School. She is what makes Norris great, and she embodies the Norris way. I'm going
066to miss Pam a lot, and I hope that she has an amazing retirement. Another staff member close to Pam said, from my very first day on the Norris Middle School campus to today, Pam has been an important part of my journey here. I often think back to my first two years in BITSA when I would complain to Pam, my support provider at the time, and she would always say, I know, but you still need to get your paperwork completed. As we grew from beginning teacher and supporting provider into colleagues and friends, Pam saw something in me and encouraged me to believe. become involved in the Norris Teacher Association. That encouragement helped shape my path in ways I would always appreciate. Through every stage, Pam has been a sounding board, a source of wise counsel, and
067a steady presence in every situation. And I am deeply grateful not only for the mentorship, but even more for her friendship over the past 23 years. It has been an honor to serve alongside her on the bargaining committee and to work together in service of the members of the NTA. Thank you, Pam, for your dedication and steadfast support of the teachers of the North School District. You will truly be missed, but you absolutely deserve the very best in retirement. And another staff member said, Pam Angel has been my friend and colleague for 30 years. She exemplifies kindness, integrity, and dependability. She quietly shaped the Norris district during her years here, selflessly working to build and maintain an excellent educational environment for students, staff, and our community. She was a mentor to many and a problem
068solver. Other people's success was the only thing she needed. If you were lucky, she would share her homemade pepper flakes or finishing salt with you. Maybe she shared tickets to the Museum of Natural History and Science with you. Her ventures were many, but none outshone the many roles she held here at Norris. Penn will be missed, but certainly not forgotten. She will remain a part of the Norris history and a pillar for what? From which to build the future. I wish Pam all the very best in her new adventures to come. Now, I know Pam isn't here with us tonight, but we know she's watching and we hope she knows just how deeply loved and appreciated she is. Pam, your kindness, compassion, dedication, and dedication has touched the lives of countless students, families, and staff
069members throughout the 36 years at Norris. The impact you made cannot be measured in programs created or years served alone. It lives on in the people you encouraged, supported, and believed in every single day. You have left behind a legacy that will continue long after retirement. The staff of Norris will carry forward the examples you set to always put students first to support one another and to lead with kindness and heart. While your classroom may be empty now, your presence will always remain a part of Norris. You will forever be woven into the story of this district and into the hearts of the lucky people. Who knew you? Who know you? Thank you for everything you've given to this community. We are better because of you. Congratulations on a truly remarkable career. Thank you. And
070congratulations to Pam. We know she's watching from home. So congratulations on retirement. And last tonight, we have quite a few retirees from Veterans Elementary School. So Mrs. Salih is already here. I'm back. Hi again. I am truly honored to be able to recognize these six amazing teachers that are retiring from our school. Personally, these are women who have been a part of my educational journey, my upbringing as an educator. They have taught one or more, one or both of my kids. I only have two. One or both. And have truly become my friends. This is tough, but I am honored to do so. And so we'll start with Kim Chamberlain. Please come up. I can tell she's so excited. For 40 years. Yes, 4-0. For 40 years, Kim has served at Browning Road Elementary, Norris
071Middle School, and Veterans Elementary, teaching both fifth and sixth grade students with commitment, humor, and heart. Through the years, she became more than a teacher. She became part of the fabric of this community, impacting generations of families whose lives crossed paths with hers. Kim shared that the district has been a backdrop to much of her adult life. She remembers many years ago, stopping by the district office to proudly show off her engagement ring, introduce her four-day-old baby boy, and even share excitement over a newly adopted puppy. Those memories speak to the deep sense of connection and family she found with our district. She also reflected fondly on the support she received from administrators, colleagues, and staff throughout her career, especially mentioning Mr. Sandrini, Steve Shelton, and Dr. Perucci, all of whom thankfully chose not to
072fire her after a memorable class project somehow ended up burning the gym roof. We're glad they didn't fire you either. This story perfectly captures the joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories that come with a life well spent in education. Kim described her journey here as a treasure, and tonight we want her to know that she has been a treasure to this district as well. Her heart for students, dedication to learning, and lasting relationships with families and colleagues has left a legacy that will continue for years to come. Kim, congratulations. I'm back. Okay. Joining her is Lisa Hudeberg. Come on up, Lisa. We're going to celebrate and thank her for 25 wonderful years of dedication to students, families, and our schools. Throughout her career at BMAT Elementary, Norris Elementary, and Veterans Elementary, Lisa taught first, second, and
073fifth grade students with kindness, patience, and a joyful spirit that left a lasting impact on everyone around her. One of Lisa's favorite memories perfectly captures the heart she brought to teaching. While teaching first grade at Norris Elementary, one of her students affectionately called her Mrs. Hummingbird. All year long, Lisa patiently practiced her real name with him, Mrs. Hudi Berg, convinced that eventually he would get it right. Then came May dinner, when the student proudly showed his family around the classroom. His grandparents asked, what's your teacher's name? Without hesitation, he proudly answered, Mrs. Hudeberg. Lisa was thrilled, thinking, finally, he did it. But then, with a sparkle in his eye, he admitted, I could say it all along. I just like Mrs. Hummingbird better. The story says so much about Lisa. She created a classroom where
074students felt loved, comfortable, and connected. The nickname stuck so well that even some of her colleagues still lovingly call her Mrs. Hummingbird to this day. Lisa's impact reaches far beyond academics. She brought warmth, laughter, and heart into every classroom she entered, helping students feel seen, valued, and encouraged. Lisa, congratulations on your retirement. Next, and bringing back to the stage, Amy Rachelson. As you heard earlier, Amy's career began in Soma School District before continuing in Conejo Unified School District in Thousand Oaks. In 2004, she joined Norris Elementary and later helped open Veterans Elementary, becoming part of two very special chapters in our district's history. Over the course of her career, Amy taught nearly every grade level, I mentioned this earlier, from kindergarten to seventh grade. Here in Norris, she taught first grade, a one-two combo class,
075and mostly third grade, where so many students were fortunate enough to learn from her patience, experience, and her love for teaching. Beyond the classroom, Amy has made an extraordinary impact as a TIP mentor beginning in 2005. She helped guide and support countless teachers as they entered the profession, generously sharing her wisdom and encouragement in a wonderful full circle moment. The fun fact is one of the teachers she mentored is Kathy Schultz, who retires alongside her this year. Amy shared a memory about arriving at the first back-to-school breakfast at the newly opened Norris Elementary. Having spent much of her life teaching in the community where she grew up, it was difficult to suddenly walk into a space where she didn't know anyone. But when she looked around at this year's breakfast, she realized how much had
076changed. The room was filled with people she had worked beside on committees, current and former co-workers, teachers she had mentored, and even colleagues whose children and grandchildren she had once taught. That moment perfectly reflects Amy's legacy, not only as a teacher, but as someone who helped build a true sense of family within the district. Amy said that Norris allowed her to become not just part of the Norris community, but the Bakersfield community as well. Tonight, we want her to know how grateful we are that she became part of ours. Congratulations, Amy. Next is Diane Saucedo. I like to joke that I followed Diane around. She was my mentor at Point Loma when I was learning to become a teacher. And then I followed her to Norris and I took over her classroom, kicked her out,
077took over a classroom, and then I did it again. So we're still friends, I think. Yeah. Okay. For nearly four decades, Diane has touched countless lives at Norris Elementary, Olive Drive Elementary, and Veterans Elementary as a classroom teacher and Learning Center reading teacher. Whether teaching second grade, fourth grade, or supporting struggling readers, Diane always led with patience, kindness, and a genuine love for children. Diane shared that one of her favorite memories, and she has a lot of good ones, was serving on school site council early in her career, asking lots of questions as a young teacher and being guided with kindness and patience by Sue Dodgen. The story reflects something special about Diane herself. She never stops learning, growing, and valuing the people around her. She also shared a moment that perfectly captures her impact
078as an educator. A student who was struggling with reading told her, I feel really smart when I'm in your room. Those words speak volumes about the environment Diane created for students. One where children felt safe, supported, capable, and confident. Beyond the classroom, Diane has been a trusted colleague and friend. She spoke about laughing, crying. And bonding with coworkers over students, families, and life together. I can attest to this. I've done all of those things with her. Those relationships and that sense of community are part of the lasting legacy that she leaves behind. Diane, thank you for your 38 years of dedication, compassion, and service. Congratulations to you. Kathy Schultz, your turn. Kathy's story with Norris began in 1999. not as a teacher, but as a parent. Her oldest son, Jake, started kindergarten at Olive Drive
079Elementary in Mrs. Kimbreel's class, and from that moment on, Kathy became part of the Norris family. What began as volunteering in classrooms soon grew into substitute teaching, long-term assignments, and eventually a full-time teaching career. Over the years, Kathy taught both third and fifth grade at Veterans Elementary, where she built lasting relationships with students, coworkers, and families. Kathy's journey is a beautiful reminder that schools are more than buildings. They are communities that grow through the dedication of people willing to serve in whatever role is needed. From parent volunteer to classroom teacher, Kathy embraced every opportunity to support students and make a difference. She shared that after 26 years in the district, three granddaughters and a husband who has waited patiently for six years for her to join him in retirement. She can now joyfully walk away
080into this next chapter of life. Kathy also shared how much she will cherish the friendships she has made and the memories created along the way. And tonight, we want her to know that those friendships and memories are cherished by all of us as well. Kathy, thank you for your years of service, your commitment to students, and the care and heart you brought to Veterans Elementary and the Norris School District. Congratulations to you. Last but certainly not least, and unfortunately not here tonight, is Tina Quinn. She is retiring after 38 years of dedication and service. Throughout her remarkable career, Tina served students at Olive Drive Elementary and Veterans Elementary, teaching an incredible variety of grade levels, including kindergarten, first, second, a 2-3 combo, fourth, and fifth grade. That kind of versatility says so much about Tina
081as an educator. No matter the grade level, no matter the challenge, she always stepped forward with dedication, professionalism, and the heart for her students. Over nearly four decades, Tina adapted to changing classrooms, changing curriculum, and changing generations of students. all while remaining a steady and caring presence for children and families. Most recently, Tina served as a beloved second grade teacher at Veterans Elementary, where her patience, warmth, and years of experience helped create a classroom environment where students felt supported, encouraged, and valued. A 38-year career represents thousands of lessons taught, countless students encouraged, and immeasurable hours devoted to helping children grow academically and personally. It also represents the relationships built with colleagues, families, and the community over the years. Teachers like Tina leave a lasting impact that extends far beyond the classroom walls. We wish her
082congratulations, even though she's not here tonight. Can I say one more thing? I'm sorry. Seven, I'm sorry. I just, I have to say, what you're looking at here from veterans is 195 years of combined teaching experience. And when I started considering what I wanted to say or how I would even put into words the end of an era, I was reminded of something I heard my dad say at his retirement from the fire department. And he said that during your career, especially one of service like ours, it's like putting your hand in a large bucket of water. And every day you shake it vigorously back and forth, back and forth until it's time. to stop and take your hand out. And all you can do is hope that the water continues to move in all
083directions. I'd like for each of you to know that the ripples you've created and leave behind are strong and far reaching and will deeply be felt for years to come. Your legacy will continue in the countless students and colleagues of the lives that you've touched. So I just want to say thank you to all of you for your service and your commitment to our students. You guys are more than welcome to go leave. And I apologize, but I need to take the quickest little break. Thank you. Let's give our retirees one more round of applause as they leave. I've been drinking a lot of tea. Hi there. Welcome back. Well, that was fun. And now our room is nearly empty. Okay. 4.0 correspondence, 4.1. Positive certification on the second interim from the Kern County Superintendent
084of Schools. Dan is not in here. Okay. Well, we're going to wait one more second. All right. Okay. I have the letter and everything. That's a good question. Is he coming back? Okay. Okay. Do we just clap when he comes in? Yeah. When he comes in, just like clap really big. Okay. Yes. Yay. You just come right up to the podium. You can say it. It's all right. Dan, just to catch you up, we're on 4.1, and you're going to talk about the positive certification on the second interim from the current county superintendent of schools. It's positive. That's a good thing. So, Yes, it's the letter that we wait for. Again, all the props to Katie. Second interim says we can meet our financial obligations, including the two out years. So that is a good
085letter to get. Thank you very much. Okay, don't move. I'm here for the duration. I mean, you weren't, but now you are. Sorry. No, I'm just teasing you. I have to do it. I had to. Okay, 4.2, notice from CISC regarding the district workers' compensation rate and experience mod, ex-mod factor. Yeah, so a little bit of good news there is that our mod factor, which is part of that formula, went down, which is good. That result of... of good safety workplace practices. Their rate that Cisco is charging went up slightly, but our mod factor went down pretty significantly. So we're going to save a little bit of money when it comes to workers' comp insurance next year. That is good news. Yes. 4.3. Notice from CISC 2, property and liability regarding projected 26-27 premiums. Yes.
086So whenever you get good news, there's always, you know, the flip side, bad news. And so on the property and liability side of things, those costs have dramatically gone up along with health care costs. So for the district, just to inform you guys, on the property and liability side, costs up over 12%. So that's about an additional $200,000 plus. that it's going to cost us next year for property and liability. And then it's not on there, but as you have probably heard, health insurance also went up pretty dramatically. And that difference is about a million dollars from this year to next year in increased health insurance costs. So all of those things, we're seeing pretty dramatic rises. Thank you. I mean that part wasn't great news, but it wasn't unexpected. So thank you, and I
087think you get to sit down. Okay, good. I don't know. 5.0 report and discussions from superintendent and staff. 5.1 enrollment. Yeah, good evening. So enrollment. is at 43 47 which is up uh it's up for students so we um if you look at the numbers you guys have in front of you we've been pretty stable the last couple couple weeks so we've kind of gone up and down a little bit but we stayed in that 43 47 number we are continuing to do enrollment for next year um we are seeing obviously um some of those changes coming through where kids people are reporting that they're leaving not coming back they're moving people are moving in and so we're just going through and tracking that our enrollment being high currently is having a good impact on
088next year. We're seeing younger kids come in, you know, kindergarten, first, second grade. And so that really helps us in the long term. But all in all, we've had really great growth over from last year to this year. And I think we gained, you know, around 50 to 60 kids this year. So just kind of really where we want to be. And with a lot of projected building and growth coming our way to drive out seven standard. It is going to happen. It's coming. So we're planning for that and see what's happening. But right now we're in a good spot. Staffing wise, we had, we actually did a pretty good job staffing this year in terms of predicting what happened. So Dan, Katie, everybody that's been involved in that has done a great job. So
089in a good spot. That's it. Thank you. Will we wait till June to do our predictions? Yeah. You won't have a July meeting. We'll do it. Okay. So be ready. Okay. You guys have questions? No? I forgot to ask. And thank you, Dan. Thank you, Katie. I forgot to say on the positive certification. That's very important. So thanks for that. Okay. 5.2, third quarter report from Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office for Olive Drive Elementary Williams Settlement. Yeah, so Chantel might have anything to do with this, Chantel. Yeah, so this is just the same report. We've been getting this every quarter. And when we initially had it, we didn't have anything that was a finding that we had to deal with. So we're just getting that information. The reason that we even got it wasn't
090really because we had anything to do with what happened on the property. Yes. Yeah, it was credentialing. And so we don't have anything to update. So every time we get a letter, we're going to get the communication. We want to present it to you so you see it. We have no findings to deal with, and so we continue to get those reports and give them back to you. And we have nothing we have to do moving forward at this point. Yeah, it says 100% on that. Yeah. It was 100% when we got it the first time, but we always get a quarterly update. It's pretty much the same letter for us. For those districts that have findings they have to correct or have to move forward on, they'll get updates on that, and that's where
091these letters usually give you an update when you have more things to correct or work through. Okay, good job team. Good job all of us. And Chantel, 5.3 district construction updates. Dan, you get to come back. We've missed you. Thanks. Construction updates. So over at Norris Elementary School, by the time we have our June board meeting. we ought to be able to go walk through that thing and it should be just about done except for some site work and landscaping. If you've been if you've driven by there lately it's looking really really good. We toured, Cy and myself, toured with our architects that building just this week and so they've made a lot of progress. It actually is about somewhere between 61 and 65 percent done but the remaining things go really quick. They've got
092HVAC units going on. The windows are going in. A lot of stuff is happening next week. So it's looking really good. It's a nice building. The biggest construction update news really will be with our new item. We'll talk about that contract for the land of Gossamer Grove coming up. And then just kind of a side note, we are doing... Not just building buildings, but we are doing quite a few projects. Ryan has been very busy going through our routine maintenance. We have a ton of projects that we're doing. One of the larger ones is adding HVAC to some of our cafeterias that don't have HVAC. They're swamp coolers, which is pretty miserable during the summer. So they're going to be very happy about that. That's going to happen over the summer. And then redoing the
093HVAC in our multipurpose rooms as well. So that's a big project over the summer. And then, of course. Believe it or not, by the end of the summer, we're going to be putting shovels in the dirt for Costa McGrove. I will tell you, it's nice to hear all the HVAC because... Knowing from years ago with the gym and everything, I sat in there at the traditional dinner. And I remember last year, but it reminded me this year that, wow, it's really nice in here. Difference. Yeah. Because it wasn't. It was horrible. So it's just nice. Air conditioning is one of those things you kind of take for granted until your air conditioning goes out, which always happens during the summer. So going in there and saying, wow, this is great. Our kids don't even. They
094don't even appreciate that from... No. Carpeted basketball gyms. They don't know what it was like. One's got a house with a swamp cooler. And you don't forget something like that. No. But thank you. Okay. You don't really have to go anywhere. But 6.0 new business, 6.1 approved the purchase of land from Lennar within the Gossamer Grove development. Sorry, Dan. Yeah, Dan and I will probably tag team this year because I'll probably forget something to say and he'll jump in on some things. So I wanted to start and just kind of give you a little bit of a short update of kind of where we're at and where things started. As you guys remember, we spent a lot of time with Lennar. and going over the plans for a school site and a possible school up
095in the Gossamer Grove area. And so we had a lot of history. I think it's been over 10 years that those conversations have been happening. And then obviously when we did a lot of work with our architects on the planning of that site and that neighborhood did not exist. Now that neighborhood is basically completed and we've been through a lot. COVID drop in numbers, increase in enrollment. And so we've talked through that a little bit. And so the last year and a half, we've been going through the process with the subcommittee to work through the potential for an agreement for purchase of that property. That process has been challenging because when we first started talking about that property, it was a different dynamic in our district and for Lenar. and the things have changed a
096lot and so a lot of that was just working back through some of that language and so um really going through that agreement and really what it ended up coming down to is just purchasing that land and getting that agreement figured out we've done a lot of stuff that dan probably could talk about in terms of where we're at with that the project for for gossamer um we've been working with our attorney winnie wiles on an agreement with lenar We spent a lot of hours meeting with Lenar, having Zoom meetings and phone calls and making sure that we could acquire that property. So what was included for you guys in the backup is an agreement with Lenar to purchase that property. Currently, we have plans in DSA to construct that school. And so the timing
097of this is important because we want to get this acquired and then we want to get that school started. And so it's been a process that has been. I'm glad it's getting to the end. And currently that agreement that you see, you will see a signature from our lawyer on it just to kind of signify that she's gone through and reviewed that agreement. She's worked on that pretty hard. We've talked with her on that. We've consulted with her on that. We've had all the best interests of the district involved in making that purchase in the agreement. And then we work with our subcommittee to work through some of those details as well. Dan, anything else that you want to add to that? No, you pretty much covered it. It's just, it has been a long,
098I feel like we've been building the school for 10 years. I mean, it's, it's been a long process and it is challenging as people, you know, I watched all the, all of our, so much experience. Going to retire from the district tonight. Lennar has gone through some different people and that weren't familiar with the process at the beginning. So that was a challenge. But I think we've got to where we can move forward and it should be a pretty short escrow so that we can get started. So that agreement has a, so we went back a while back as we went through the process of getting that site approved through CDE, which we presented to you guys on a communication. that we received that approval. The step was to make sure that we had that
099land appraised. So we went through and engaged in an appraisal process, which Lenar accepted that appraisal that we had done. That was for a value for $3.8 million. And so what you see in front of you is an agreement for the appraised value of that property. We're working through, hopefully, to have a short escrow time period of 30 days. So we could have that thing. And it could be quicker than that, just based on the timing and getting signatures and approvals through the other parties. But 30 days would be the goal. And so one of the steps we need to have happen is for you guys to approve that agreement. And then what we'll do is we'll execute signatures, appropriate signatures for that agreement after this evening. Linares currently has it and is doing approvals
100on their side. And then we'll come together and we'll have copies of that to approve. And so we're prepared. Dan, Katie, they've done a ton of work. We've consulted with. Jesse Landry, who works with us for R&R and also does some other financial stuff with us. We have all the funding ready to go to make payment for that and to acquire it. And then once we do that, we'll own that property and then we will try to put some shovels in that thing as soon as possible. So I think the timeline on that day is DSA. We're waiting some plans. DSA, we should have comments back in a couple of weeks, depending on those comments. We hopefully will get out of DSA sometime June, July, and then looking to go out to bid and start
101construction end of August, maybe September 1st. And so it's a tight timeline to open August 28th, but we had some discussions at our last construction meeting with our construction management team, Miller, and we got a plan. We think we can do it. ready to go. And fingers crossed, I mean, hopefully the time that we bid it, the number of bidders that we have, that's going to be crucial with regards to what the final project cost is because those things are, it's high and it's, we've done everything we can to value engineer this project and still create a. a beautiful school for these kids in that neighborhood, but there's a lot of things we can't control, external factors. So they're doing a lot of work behind the scenes, Miller Construction is, to make sure we get
102as many bidders as possible to that bid, and that could make a big difference. Do you guys have any questions regarding the agreement or anything that was discussed? Just excited to get it going. Yeah. It's going to be a beautiful school. Yeah. It is. Okay. With that, do I have a motion to approve the purchase of the land from winner? Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And asked. That is exciting. 6.2. I think I'm done with you. Am I done? Yeah. I don't have the agenda in front of me. Sorry. No, I think I'm done with you. We don't go far but I don't see your name so 6.2 approve revisions to the 2627 school attendance calendar Chantel she's looking at sigh Chantel probably could speak more intentionally about this and maybe you can
103just go through what was added to it Yeah, so we did our first approval without some specific dates on there. One of the things we needed to get pinned down was our PD days. It doesn't always work for those to fall in the same week every year. We've also found, as time has gone on, that moving them earlier in the year is nice because that's when our teachers need the PD or they need the time to focus on certain things. And so the first one's going to be early September, and then the second one's towards the end of October. We've had some around November, December. but we've got Camp Keep jammed in there pretty tight now around that time. And then we've got the holidays and stuff that come into play. So it just seems
104better to stay away from that time. We've got one planned at the end of January. Again, it's kind of nice to get in at the beginning of that, you know, second half of the year if we have something we need to get in. And then the last one is in April next year. We had our last one in March this year, but we've got a math adoption coming. And so we're going to need to get our teachers prepared for that adoption. And so that was what that last one will be. reserved for and then um do you want to speak to the thursday start date yeah so there's gonna be a couple changes over the next two years with start and it goes in school year we've been really going earlier and earlier every year
105i feel like we're gonna get close to july almost so uh The plan is maybe an out year, probably next year or year after next, is that we'll shift back to like a Monday start date for school, which is what we did for a really long time. So this year, the calendar is a little different because Memorial Day actually happens after school is out. And so we had on our plans a Wednesday start date and a Wednesday end date. It's not ideal at the end of the year. And so I'm looking at the calendars and different districts and kind of how we could just help a little bit. We just consulting with our bargaining groups, too. um is that we just shifted it back one day so instead of starting on a wednesday we'll start
106on a thursday that allows us to start on a and on a thursday and we just have some calendar things with our our con our staff and our cbas about when they start and end and that just kind of solved some issues with um the last work day for our certificated staff so when you're approving this you're approving that those updates for pd you're also approving the concept of having the days which we've been doing the last few years And then also the collaboration days, which we're still committed to. We've done a ton of work on those to enhance those and improve those and align all that work with our target plan. with ULT and the things that we've been doing. So we're really excited about that. So your approval is really adding those dates
107for PD, adding the dates for collaboration days, and then supporting those ideas for us as a concept. And we're dedicated to doing those within the spirit of what the board wishes. And then also that shift in the first day and the last day. And then what we'll do tomorrow is we'll take that calendar. um we will post that on our website and then we'll make sure we share that out to families through parents square anywhere else we could put it and then we'll make those adjustments to our school years so that way everything on the back end is uh set up okay you guys have questions okay do i have a motion removed second all in favor any opposed fantastic thank you 6.3 approved piggyback bid from PlayPower Incorporated for new playground equipment at Veterans
108Elementary. Ryan, I'm already anticipating Steph is going to be elated and have questions. Yes. So I'm looking for your approval to move forward with this piggyback bid. It will allow us to purchase new playground equipment for the kindergarten area. We're going to be going with a smaller structure that's more age appropriate since we're having younger students on campus now. And then also replace the primary play structure, which is the original that was installed in 2007. So it is time to have that refreshed. Are you getting rid of the dome? A dome, it will be no longer. Oh, no. I don't know how everybody feels about that one. We're actually in that space in the kindergarten area. We're going with actually two separate structures. So kind of spread out the distribution of play. Good job. It's
109nice to do it with a piggyback bid, too, because then you have a little bit more flexibility with your vendor. So well done. Yes. Any other questions? Okay. With that, do I have a motion? So moved. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you. I'm 6.4. Approved proposed revisions to Board Policy 5145.13, Response to Immigration Enforcement and its Corresponding Administrative Regulation. Yeah, so this is a first read last month. We had a series of policies and regulations we needed to update based on some changes in Ed code and different laws that came into effect. This one was just a language change that I shared with you guys. Nothing really that needed to be changed from my point of view. So if you guys don't have any changes or additions, then we
110can approve it tonight. Any questions? Do I have a motion? Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. Item 6.5, appointment of labor negotiator for government code section 5 or 957.6. So I think I'm supposed to handle this, right? Is that correct, Mr. Silver? So are you. Great. So it is time to reevaluate the superintendent's contract. And so for that, we need at least one up to two labor negotiators to represent the board in discussing salary and benefits. for the unrepresented employee. So would anyone like to volunteer? Wow. I will. Okay. Wow, Jim. Okay. I also, I know this guy. So I grew up. All right. I will help you, Jim. Okay. So with that, do we have a motion to approve the appointment of the labor negotiators? We'll have Jim and myself. So moved.
111Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Are you opposed to that, Mr. Silver? Too bad you don't get a vote. It doesn't matter what I think. I think you guys can do whatever you want. I think it's amazing. Okay. I'd be lucky to have anybody negotiate with me. That's the right attitude. There's no bad answer on this one. How's the close one? All right. Let's not forget about 6.6. That new business, you have a separate item in your packet. Approved notice of exemption and exemption assessment from the Office of Planning and Research. This is it. Oh, Dan, you thought you were done and you are. Dan, this is the item that came from our architects, correct? That is asking us to prove something that we need to submit to the county then provide for the
112North Elementary building? For the North Elementary project, correct. Yeah, that's really happened. Yeah. So we put this on there because of the timing of it. So there's things that our architects need to get submitted and have in place. we thought this was urgent enough to add to the agenda so uh we will need some signatures uh i'll need to sign this but i need the board approval and then i think we'd take this to the county it would take it to the county yep tamra's ready to go take it yeah and you have 50 and it's a check yep that's real sounds like she has a check i have done many of these we are definitely exempt from this requirement so that's how we're okay you guys have any questions No. Okay. With that, do
113I vote? Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. Good job. All right. 7.0, Consent Agenda. All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are deemed routine in nature. Information concerning these items have been forwarded to each board member prior to this meeting for their study. The Consent Agenda is acted upon in one motion unless members of the board, staff, or public request discussion and or removal of an item. And we are already going to pull item 7.3, and we'll discuss that in closed session. So with that, we have 7.1 minutes, 7.2 financial warrants, 7.3, which is inter-district transfer requests, which is pulled, 7.4 coursework, 7.5 participation in CISC II special education voluntary coverage program for the 26-27 school year, 7.6 three-year agreement between the Norris School District and Point Loma Nazarene. University for the hiring
114of university students for internships. 7.7, three-year agreement between the Norris School District and Point Loma Nazarene University for field work. 7.8, three-year agreement between the North School District and Point Loma Nazarene University for student teaching clinical practice. 7.9, three-year memorandum of understanding between the North School District and Cal State Teach, Cal State University teacher preparation program for paid internships. 7.10, three-year memorandum of understanding between the North School District and Cal State Teach. University Teacher Preparation Program for Placement of Student Teachers, 7.11, Ontario Physical Therapy Fitness for Physical Therapy Services, 7.12, Agreement between the Norris School District and Telespeech Therapy Incorporated, 7.13, Agreement between the Norris School District and Fresno Pacific University for Counseling. Psychology interns, 7.14, memorandum of understanding between the North School District and the California School Nurses Association for the High Road Training
115Program. 7.15, memorandum of understanding between the North School District and New Vision Recovery Incorporated, 7.16, obsolete district equipment. Okay. Anybody have any questions? Need anything pulled? Hearing none, do I have a motion? No. Second. And it's a party. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. 8.0 board member items. 8.1 annual May dinner and open house. All campuses will hold their May dinner open house on Thursday, May 21st. Hopefully you can get out to that. And 8.2, big shake up here. Norris Middle School eighth grade graduation. It is held on Friday morning. May 29th at 9 a.m. at Dignity Health. So if you're like me and think it's the afternoon, you are wrong. So it is the morning. We would be calling you. Yeah. Grab me from across the street. So 8.30, doors open. Do you
116guys have other announcements? Something real quick. I went to the traditional dinner on last Thursday night. It was fantastic. It was great. It was very low key, but there was so much to see. And it was nice to see that, you know, a lot of parents don't participate and they were participating, but the staff really got together to make that happen. And it was really nice to see them in every part. And it's just a good night. And the middle school, when they changed it back and everything. it's it's a good time it was perfect and so and thank you again mr forty's not here for giving up your recognition for being there for your kids so anyway yes it was nice the chalk art was fun the student art in the library was fun
117it was a great other thing sue one of them only because uh this is a night of recognition and appreciation Mr. Bolt and handsome gentleman on the other end of the room over there has officially this year spent one half of his life as the faithful servant of the board trustees for the North School District. That's a long time. I'm officially old. That's a lot of work. Thank you for your service. We appreciate it. been a heck of a ride yeah so it's just been like 15 years i can't believe it i'm going to go see my next week go see my granddaughter graduate from high school and both my daughters end up being teachers you know and then i also do want to say i heard that our um we had robotic students that
118went to the international competition which was so cool um so i love that it's just so fun all of the really cool things that we're doing for our students. So with that, did I forget anything? No? Okay. Do I have a motion to enter into closed session? So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Fantastic. And then we will handle your session in closed.