001[00:00:01] GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. [1. CALL TO ORDER IN PUBLIC SESSION] THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00 PM. ROLL CALL PLEASE. STUDENT MEMBER. MISS ARMSTRONG, PRESENT, MISS STEWART, PRESENT. MISS CINTRON, PRESENT. MR. CRITCHFIELD, PRESENT. MRS. GARZA, PRESENT TONIGHT WE HAVE REQUESTS ADDRESSING CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY TO EACH PUBLIC COMMENT. [10. PUBLIC COMMENTS: AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS] HOWEVER, WE WILL NOT RESPOND DURING THE MEETING. THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WILL CONTACT THE PARENT, GUARDIAN AND OR COMMUNITY MEMBER IF THE COMMENT WARRANTS FOLLOW UP. WHILE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD ARE NOT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED THREE
002MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD WILL LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT TO 21 MINUTES PER BOARD BYLAW 9320 2.2. UNLESS OTHERWISE WAIVED BY THE BOARD. MISS ROBIN BELLOWS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE TALKED TO YOU. IT'S JUST SUCH A NICE THING. SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE NOT TALKED TO YOU FOR A LONG TIME. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD SUPERINTENDENT AND CABINET. I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN MAYFAIR MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT IS THROUGH THIS BOARD'S GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE MOST CHANGES ON CAMPUS AND ABLE TO FEEL YOUR SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE HOW YOU LISTEN, REFLECT, AND EVALUATE YOUR DECISION BASED ON THE GOOD OF ALL STUDENTS
003AND STAFF. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CATEGORICAL FUNDING FOR OUR TWO COUNSELORS, ANNA SOFIA AND MARIA CONTRERAS, IS COMING TO AN END. I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING FOR THE NEXT YEAR, YOU INCLUDE THESE TWO INTEGRAL PARTS OF OUR TEAM INTO THE PERMANENT BUDGET. THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE GIVEN HOURS OF TIME, BROUGHT NEW IDEAS, AND DEDICATED THEMSELVES, HEART AND SOUL, TO THE MAYFAIR FAMILY. MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE DIFFICULT. IT IS A SPECIALIZED POPULATION AND NEEDS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE FIRM YET UNDERSTANDING IN OUR UNIQUE AGE. ANA SOFIA AND MARIA CONTRERAS HAVE COME WITH COUNSELORS WITH ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS, SUPPORT TEACHERS, AND HELP CHANGE CULTURE. SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE ONE MINUTE MEETINGS FOR EVERY STUDENT IN EIGHTH GRADE
004TO ENCOURAGE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ESL ACTIVITIES, SCAVENGER HUNTS, BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, BACKPACK CHECKS, AND HELPING ENCOURAGE KIDS TO BE MORE ORGANIZED. THEY'RE A POSITIVE PRESENCE ON OUR CAMPUS. THEY GIVE HOURS OF TIME AFTER SCHOOL. AS A STAFF MEMBER, I FEEL SUPPORTED BY THESE TWO COUNSELORS AND FEEL THEY WORK HARD TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT SERVES BOTH STAFF AND STUDENTS ALIKE. THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS COMBINED SERVICE 645 OF OUR STUDENTS. REDUCING THEM WOULD FORCE OUR COUNSELORS CASELOADS EVEN HIGHER THAN THE 250 TO 1 RECOMMENDATION OF THE STATE. WE'RE ALREADY ABOVE THAT NUMBER. WHEN OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO ADULTS ON CAMPUS, IT MAKES THE SCHOOL A SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED. PLEASE CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISION ABOUT CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT OF THESE EMPLOYEES. MAKING THESE POSITIONS PERMANENT,
005I'M ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OUR SCHOOL AND KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING BELLFLOWER THE BEST DISTRICT THAT IT CAN BE. BY KEEPING THESE EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE HAVE MISS KIRSTEN CLINTON. PLEASE COME FORWARD. DO I NEED TO STATE MY NAME AND ALL THAT STUFF? NO. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CABINET MEMBER. SUPERINTENDENT. I'M HERE TO ECHO WHAT MISS ALSO SAID. AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IT. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO KEEP OUR MAYFAIR COUNCILORS, MRS YEPEZ AND MRS. CONTRERAS, AND HOPEFULLY TURN THEIR CONTRACTS INTO PERMANENT ONES. THEY WERE HIRED ON A GRANT TO SUPPORT OUR ESL INITIATIVES, BUT THEIR ROLES MORPHED INTO
006A FULL TIME MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR. IN A TIME WHEN STUDENTS ARE FACING MORE PRESSURE THAN EVER ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY. REMOVING THESE COUNSELORS IS NOT JUST A STAFFING DECISION. IT'S A DECISION THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STUDENTS. A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS NOT A LUXURY. THEY ARE A LIFELINE TO THE TEACHERS, TO THE PARENTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO THE STUDENTS EVERY DAY. MRS. YEPEZ AND MISS CONTRERAS SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY, FAMILY HARDSHIP, GRIEF, BULLYING, ACADEMIC STRESS, ETC. THEY ARE A CALM VOICE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS. THEY ARE A TRUSTED ADULT AS A STUDENT TURNS TO WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE TO SPEAKING ANYWHERE ELSE. THEIR IMPACT GOES FAR BEYOND SCHEDULING CLASSES. THEY INTERVENE EARLY WHEN WARNING SIGNS APPEAR. THEY COLLABORATE WITH TEACHERS AND FAMILIES.
007THEY BUILD SYSTEMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL CULTURE. AND WITH THE UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE COUNSELING SYSTEM, LOSING EVEN ONE OF THEM WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL. [00:05:01] WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, WE OFTEN FOCUS ON TEST SCORES AND PERFORMANCE DATA. BUT PLEASE NOTE, SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE IN EIGHTH GRADE, I'M TEACHING EIGHTH GRADE. SO ENGLISH EIGHTH GRADE SCORES WENT UP BY 10%. EIGHTH GRADE MATH SCORES WENT UP BY 11% LAST YEAR, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH EVERYTHING BEING COHESIVE. ANYWAY STUDENTS CANNOT ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY IF THEY ARE OVERWHELMED EMOTIONALLY. RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT SCHOOLS WITH STRONG COUNSELING PROGRAMS SEE IMPROVED ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR OUTCOMES AND HIGHER GRADUATION RATES. KEEPING THIS POSITION IS NOT JUST COMPASSIONATE STRATEGIC FOR MANY STUDENTS.
008 THEY ARE THE REASON THE STUDENTS STAYED IN SCHOOL. THEY FELT SEEN, THEY FELT BELIEVED IN. AND THIS KIND OF INFLUENCE CANNOT BE REPLACED BY REDISTRIBUTING DUTIES OR STRENGTH OR STRENGTHENING STRETCHING OTHER STAFFS THINNER. I UNDERSTAND THAT BUDGETS ARE TIGHT AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS MUST BE MADE, BUT I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THE COST WILL BE EVEN MORE. IF THIS. IF THEIR ROLES WERE REMOVED. THE COST MAY NOT SHOW UP IMMEDIATELY IN A SPREADSHEET, BUT IT WILL SHOW UP IN STUDENT STRESS, STAFF BURNOUT, AND LOSS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE. OUR DISTRICT PRIDES ITSELF ON SUPPORTING THE WHOLE CHILD. KEEPING MRS. YEPEZ AND MISS CONTRERAS IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THAT COMMITMENT, SO PLEASE CHOOSE TO KEEP OUR COUNSELORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
009MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION. [2. CLOSED SESSION] OPEN SESSION WILL RESUME AT APPROXIMATELY 630. [3. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION/CALL TO ORDER] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL WILL RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION AT 6:51 P.M. TO RESUME THE REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS. BOARD CLERK CINTRON WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON CLOSED SESSION TOPICS. THE TOPICS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION WERE STUDENT MATTERS, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION PENDING LITIGATION, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE, DISMISSAL RELEASE, SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS OR CHARGES AGAINST EMPLOYEES, AND SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION. THE BOARD TOOK ACTION IN CLOSED SESSION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONSIDERED THE APPEAL OF RESOLUTION TO A COMPLAINT FILED AS PER BOARD POLICY 13 12.1. THE BOARD VOTED 4 TO 0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION TO UPHOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RESOLUTION
010OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY EMPLOYEE E06129 AGAINST EMPLOYEE E07668. THANK YOU, BOARD CLERK CINTRON. REPLACEMENT PAGES FOR ITEM 15.2 IS ON THE BACK TABLE. MR. SARAGA WILL LEAD US IN THE FLAG SALUTE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, MR. SARAGA. IT IS TIME FOR RECOGNITIONS, DOCTOR SIMON. THANK YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT GARZA. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK THE BOARD TO COME DOWN FROM THE DAIS FOR THE RECOGNITIONS. [5. RECOGNITIONS] AND MRS. CARTER WILL ASSIST US IN OUR RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING. THIS EVENING, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE ATHLETES AND TEAMS FROM OUR DISTRICT WHO EARN DISTINCTION OF CIF TITLES DURING THE WINTER SPORTS SEASON. STAFF AND STUDENTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAMES AND REMAIN FOR A PICTURE. REPRESENTING VARSITY CHEERLEADING FROM
011MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL COACHES DARIUS CARTER, LILY CARTER AND ADVISOR MICHELLE MERCADO. RECEIVING RECOGNITION FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR EARNING A HISTORIC BACK TO BACK CIF DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP, MARKING THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY THAT MAYFAIR CHEER HAS WON CIF TITLES IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING ATHLETES. ISABELLA ANGUIANO. ANNABEL KRAMER. ISABELLA DIAZ. NIA SANCHEZ. EMILY GUTIERREZ. JASIRA. JARINGAN. LILA [00:10:06] MARQUEZ. ISABELLA MENDEZ. KIARA. OWENS. MARY. REDMAN. AALIYAH. ROSALES. SOFIA. ROSALES. AND ANAYA. STUBBS. THIS MILESTONE WAS LED BY FIVE RETURNING ATHLETES ISABELLA DIAZ, JASIRA JARINGAN, KIARA OWENS, ANAYA, STUBBS AND SHAMARI REDMOND, WHO WERE ALL. GO FOR IT! GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE
012PROGRAM'S FIRST EVER CIF CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM LAST SEASON. THEIR LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HELPED ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND HIGH PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE TEAM'S SUCCESS WAS BUILT ON CONSISTENT PREPARATION, DISCIPLINED WORKOUTS AND A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING AT EVERY PRACTICE. VETERAN ATHLETES MENTORED NEWCOMERS, SETTING A HIGH STANDARD OF ATHLETICISM AND FOSTERING A CULTURE WHERE EVERY ATHLETE WAS ENCOURAGED TO EVALUATE THEIR PERFORMANCE THROUGH WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL MONDAYS, A RESILIENT MINDSET AND AN UNWAVERING DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES. THE 2025 VARSITY CHEER TEAM NOT ONLY DEFENDED THEIR TITLE, BUT SOLIDIFIED THEIR PLACE IN MAYFAIR HISTORY. WE'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYFAIR CHEERLEADING TEAM, COACHES CARTER AND ADVISOR MERCADO ON THIS FANTASTIC VICTORY. GREAT JOB EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. AND THAT'S THE END OF
013RECOGNITIONS. THANK YOU EVERYONE. DO WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. WE DO NOT. PRESIDENT GARZA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. IT'S TIME FOR OUR STUDENT BOARD REPORTS REPRESENTING BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL. [7. PRESENTATIONS FROM STUDENTS / STAFF / COMMUNITY] KAITLYN. VERA. ALL RIGHT. OH, HI. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR SIMON AND BOARD PRESIDENT. I'M KAITLYN VERA, AND THIS IS BELLFLOWERS FEBRUARY BOARD REPORT. OH, I HAVE THE CLICKER. OKAY, SO STARTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY. YEAH, IT IS FEBRUARY. STARTING OFF IN THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY. OUR ASB HAS RECOGNIZED STAFF, STUDENTS AND OUR CUSTODIANS FOR AND REALLY IMPROVING OUR CAMPUS CULTURE AND BEING BRIGHT LIGHTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE HAVE MISS CUMMINGS AND VARIOUS OTHER STUDENTS PICTURED, AND EACH STUDENT
014AND EACH TEACHER GOT ONE FOR EVERY DAY LEADING UP TO VALENTINE'S DAY. OKAY, SO SOCCER, OUR SOCCER TEAMS, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, WERE INCREDIBLY STRONG THIS SEASON. THEY CELEBRATED THEIR SENIOR NIGHTS, AND WITH THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO CIF. THEY MADE OR THE BOYS MADE IT INTO THE SECOND ROUND WITH I THINK A30 LEAD. THEY WERE INCREDIBLY STRONG AND RESILIENT. OUR SENIORS REALLY PUT UP A GREAT FIGHT. [00:15:03] IT WAS A GREAT SEASON OVERALL FOR OUR BOYS. MOVING ON TO OUR GIRLS. THEY ALSO CELEBRATED THEIR SENIOR NIGHT WITH A CIF WIN OR LEADING TO A CIF WIN. THEY UNFORTUNATELY ONLY MADE IT ONE ROUND IN BUT THEY WERE STILL INCREDIBLY STRONG. BOTH BOTH TEAMS FINISHED SECOND WITHIN THE LEAD AND IT WAS A HUGE STEP UP FOR
015OUR GIRLS TEAM BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE UP FROM FOURTH LAST YEAR INTO THE SECOND PLACE SLOT. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR RENAISSANCE RALLY, WHICH IS AN HONORED TRADITION WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR WINTER SPORTS TEAMS. OUR HONOR ROLL STUDENTS, AND OUR OUR CROWNING OF OUR SALUTATORIAN AND VALEDICTORIANS. WE HAVE OUR THEME AS TEEN BEACH THIS YEAR, AND EACH DAY HAS A SPIRIT WEEK. SO STARTING WITH MONDAY, WE HAD ANYTHING BUT A BACKPACK, WHICH IS ALWAYS INCREDIBLY POPULAR WITH WITHIN OUR STUDENT BODY. THEY BRING ANYTHING ACTUALLY. NEXT WE HAVE TIE DYE DAY. THEY'RE RIDING THE TIDE. THEN IT'S SUMMER FOREVER. SO IT WAS SUNGLASSES, FLIP FLOPS AND HAWAIIAN FLORALS. VERY TROPICAL, VERY ON THEME. THEN WE HAVE OUR DISNEY CHANNEL DAYS
016COMMEMORATING OUR DISNEY DAY. WE WEAR ANYTHING DISNEY WHICH IS TODAY. I HAVE MY MICKEY MOUSE SHIRT. I WAS DEFINITELY SPIRITED. AND THEN MOVING ON, WE HAVE OUR SURF CITY SUNDOWN, WHICH IS TOMORROW. AND WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR CLASS COLORS IN PREPARATION FOR THE BIG RALLY, WHICH ALWAYS IS EXTREMELY POPULAR. IT IS OUR FAVORITE ONE OF THE YEAR. IT'S OUR LAST BIG EVENT. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SENIORS. SINCE WE ARE HONORING OUR VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN, IT'S LIKE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. WE GET TO FEEL THE CLASS SPIRIT ONE LAST TIME ALL TOGETHER BEFORE OUR SENIOR EVENTS. OUR UPCOMING EVENTS READ ACROSS AMERICA. OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS WILL BE VISITING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BE OBVIOUSLY READING TO THEM. AND IT'S
017JUST A LITTLE HONOR. TRADITION. OUR PROM THEME AND REVEAL WILL HAPPEN ON THE 16TH. SORRY I CAN'T READ ON THE 16TH OF MARCH WHERE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE REVEALING OUR THEME AT BREAKFAST. WE'RE HONORING OUR JUNIORS WHO WERE ABLE TO BE ON TRACK TO COMPLETE OR HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR A THROUGH G REQUIREMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A HUGE FEAT FOR THEM. AND THEN NEXT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BRING BACK. WE HAVEN'T CELEBRATED OUR MR. BUCK PAGEANT IN OVER 15 YEARS, I BELIEVE. SO WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK FOR OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY. IT'S A SENIOR PAGEANT WHERE OUR SENIOR BOYS WILL BE ON WILL BE BASICALLY ON DISPLAY AND TRYING TO WIN THE MR. BUCK TITLE. IT WILL BE HELD WITHIN WITH THE CAF, WITH BOARD PRESENT OR
018NO BOARD MEMBER, AMY STEWART AS ONE OF OUR JUDGES. IT'LL HAVE AN. ALL IN ALL, I THINK ALMOST ALL. BOARD MEMBER, JUDGE PANEL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR CLASS PRESIDENT, JENNIFER GRANHOLM. MOVING ON TO OUR LAST SHOUT OUT, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SEBASTIAN LEWIS FOR HIS NOMINATION TO THE LEGACY MAKERS. OVER 1100 APPLICANTS WERE NOMINATED FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, AND ONLY 15 WERE HONORED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE. THIS AWARD HONORS AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO REPRESENT LEADERSHIP AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. KNOWING SEBASTIAN, YOU KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY STRONG WILLED AND HOW AMAZING THAT HE IS ON OUR CAMPUS AND YOU CAN SEE HIM PICTURED IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ART THIS THIS YEAR. AND THEN I THINK THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH
019FOR YOUR TIME AND I WILL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. THANK YOU. MISS VERA, REPRESENTING LAS FLORES HOME EDUCATION INDEPENDENT STUDY ACADEMY IS JOANNA TORRES. GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT MYRA GARZA, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR SIMON, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE BACK AND SHARE LAS FLORES FEBRUARY BOARD REPORT WITH YOU ALL. SO IN THIS FIRST SLIDE, YOU AS YOU SEE, IT'S THE MAYFAIR GIRLS SOCCER TEAM. SO AT LAS FLORES, STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS THROUGH JOINING TEAMS AT MAYFAIR. SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY ABLE TO JOIN SOCCER, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO JOIN WRESTLING, BASKETBALL, TENNIS AND I THINK GOLF. SO AS YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE WE HAVE SURI AND KAYLA WITH THEIR MAYFAIR SOCCER TEAM AFTER OR DURING A
020CIF DIRT MATCH. BUT EVERYBODY CAN JOIN US FOR IF THEY'D LIKE TO. AND YEAH, SO WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF, OF THE RECOGNITION LAS FLORES HAS RECEIVED AS BOTH THE CALIFORNIA AND NATIONAL SCHOOLS TO WATCH CITE BEING THE FIRST IN THE DISTRICT TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR WHILE ALSO OPERATING AS A HYBRID SCHOOL IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT. [00:20:03] IT'S A BIG DEAL. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT HAPPEN FOR US. AND WE WERE ALSO EXCITED TO BE HONORED AT THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE IN MARCH AND AGAIN IN JUNE IN WASHINGTON, DC. SO EARLIER THIS MONTH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD THEIR FIELD TRIP TO THE LA CENTRAL LIBRARY. BEING ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND EXPLORING INTERACTIVE LEARNING
021SPACES LIKE THE OCTAVIA LAB THAT HAD PODCAST ROOMS AND 3D PRINTERS, AND MADE IT A REALLY FUN AND COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. EVERYBODY KIND OF GOT TO CONNECT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. SO EVERYONE FOUND A SPACE THAT THEY ENJOYED, AND IT DEFINITELY ALLOWED STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY. ON FEBRUARY 20TH, THE SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE HAD THEIR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRACY SHOWCASE PRESENTATIONS IN THE CAFETERIA. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH ON THE EVOLUTION OF MEDIA, IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA LITERACY AND POTENTIAL DANGERS SUCH AS BIAS, CLICKBAIT, AND MISINFORMATION TO INFORM OTHERS ON BEING RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENS. EVERY PROJECT WAS UNIQUE AND INFORMATIVE AND WERE PROUD OF ALL THE STUDENTS WHO TOOK PART IN THIS INDEPENDENT STUDY OPPORTUNITY, THE TK THROUGH FIRST ALSO HAD THEIR FUN. ON THE 20TH,
022THEY TOOK A FIELD TRIP TO THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, WHERE THEY EXPLORED OCEAN HABITATS, LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT SEA CREATURES, AS WELL AS HAD HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT GAVE THEM A FUN AND MEMORABLE WAY OF LEARNING ABOUT THE MARINE LIFE. AND THEN TO WRAP UP OUR KINDNESS WEEK, WE HAD OUR VALENTINE'S DISCO DANCE ON THE 19TH, WHICH IS ALSO THE SAME DAY AS TWIN DAY. SO STUDENTS FROM EVERY GRADE HAD FUN DANCING AND ENJOYING THE MUSIC AND SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS. SO WITH CUTE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AND REALLY TASTY FOOD PROVIDED BY THE ASB, IT WAS FUN AND IT WAS A FUN AND ENJOYABLE WAY TO END OUR KINDNESS WEEK. AND THEN COMING SOON. WE HAVE SPIRIT WEEK FROM MARCH 2ND TO MARCH 5TH. WE ALSO HAVE A
023CHUCK E CHEESE VISIT ON MARCH 12TH, AS WELL AS A CHUCK E CHEESE FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 16TH. WE THEN HAVE OUR SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY ON MARCH 18TH. AFTER THAT, WE HAVE A LUNCHEON MOVIE ON MARCH 20TH. AND FINALLY TO WRAP UP MARCH, WE HAVE OUR STUDENT OF THE MONTH AND STUDENT AWARDS. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE FEBRUARY BOARD REPORT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WONDERFUL REPORTS AND KEEPING US UPDATED. AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME YOU TO REMAIN FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR MEETING. BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU MAY HAVE OTHER ACADEMIC OBLIGATIONS THAT REQUIRE YOUR ATTENTION. YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. CAN WE NOW HAVE MISS LINDA MORGAN COME FORWARD. THIS ONE. OKAY. IT'S BEEN
024A LITTLE WHILE. THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, BOSS, STAFF, COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OBVIOUSLY I'M REPRESENTING COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF ALEX BECAUSE SHE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY COME UP. THANK YOU. OKAY. LET'S SEE IF I REMEMBER HOW TO DO THIS. SO HERE WE GO. FEBRUARY WAS A BUSY AND EXCITING MONTH FOR THE BELLFLOWER COUNCIL OF PTA'S. AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON KEEPING OUR PTA UNITS INFORMED, ORGANIZED, AND CONNECTED. A BIG PART OF OUR WORK EACH MONTH IS MAKING SURE INFORMATION IS SHARED CLEARLY AND THAT OUR UNITS FEEL SUPPORTED. SO YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF SOME OF, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO HELP SUPPORT ALL OUR TAS AT THE SCHOOL SITES. THIS MONTH, COUNCIL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND SEVERAL IMPORTANT
025EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THESE INCLUDED THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOWCASE, THE PTA LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE, THE COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPO, THE CAREER EXPO AND RESOURCE FAIR, AND MEETINGS WITH THE BUSD GUIDING COALITION. BEING PRESENT AT THESE EVENTS ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, COLLABORATE WITH ADMINISTRATORS, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. AT THE SCHOOL SITE LEVEL, OUR PTA UNITS WERE INCREDIBLY ACTIVE. FEBRUARY CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED SWEETHEART DANCES, GLOW PARTIES, MOTHER AND SON MOVIE NIGHTS, [00:25:02] AND LUNAR NEW YEAR'S EVENTS, AS WELL AS THE 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES CREATED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO MARCH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT A COUPLE OF UPCOMING EVENTS. ON MARCH 3RD, OUR BELLFLOWER COUNCIL PTA
026WILL HOST OUR REFLECTIONS AWARDS NIGHT, AND THAT WILL BE HELD RIGHT HERE ON MARCH 7TH. WE'LL PARTICIPATE IN THE 33RD DISTRICT PTA DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION CONFERENCE. AND THEN FINALLY, WE JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FOLLOW BELLFLOWER COUNCIL PTA ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UP TO DATE ON UPCOMING EVENTS, REMINDERS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS. BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT EACH OF OUR SITES FROM OUR PTAS. AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PTA AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP. WE SHARE IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OUR FAMILIES. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS MORGAN. [8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT] SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, DOCTOR SIMON. THANK YOU. BOARD. PRESIDENT GARZA, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. CABINET
027STAFF AND TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR AS WELL. SOME EXCITING THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED JUST OVER THE COURSE OF THE MONTH. I'LL START WITH FEBRUARY 3RD. AND THIS IS WHERE MAYFAIR AND BELLFLOWER STUDENTS ATTENDED THE STUDENT EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE, WHERE THEY SPENT AN INSPIRING DAY WITH DOCTOR VICTOR RIOS. DOCTOR RIOS DELIVERED A POWERFUL MESSAGE OF HOPE, PURPOSE, AND POSSIBILITY, HELPING STUDENTS TAP INTO THEIR STRENGTHS, THEIR OWN STORIES, AND STEP CONFIDENTLY INTO THEIR FUTURES. ON FEBRUARY 4TH, MAYFAIR HOSTED ITS ANNUAL FAIR NIGHT, WHICH INCLUDED A SPECIAL SEVENTH GRADE FAMILY NIGHT FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS TRANSITION TO THEIR FUTURE. ON OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL
028CAMPUS ON THE SIXTH, THE DISTRICT HELD ITS SECOND GUIDING COALITION MEETING TO ADVANCE DISCUSSIONS ON THE DISTRICT'S MISSION, VISION AND CORE VALUES, AS WELL AS THE THE DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OUR COMMUNITY SEEKS IN OUR GRADUATES. ON THE 10TH, DOCTOR RIOS RETURNED AGAIN, THIS TIME TO SOMERSET, WHERE HE MET THE SCHOLARS THERE, CONTINUING HIS MESSAGE OF STUDENT EMPOWERMENT AND ALSO RESILIENCE. ON THE 11TH OF FEBRUARY, THE INAUGURAL COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR HAPPENED AT BELLFLOWER. BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE COLLEGE'S CTE PATHWAYS AND CAL APPS WERE PRESENT. THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, BONNIE CARTER, OUR DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY GIL CASTANEDA, AND TEAM FOR CREATING AN AMAZING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ON THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY, THE DISTRICT HOSTED A FACILITIES MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION HERE IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, INVITING STAKEHOLDER INPUT
029ON FUTURE FACILITY NEEDS AND ALSO IMPROVEMENT. LAST FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH, OUR CEO, RENEE ARCUS AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF RIDING THE BUS WITH OUR BUS DRIVER, SHAKEELA, AND THE STUDENTS FROM MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW OUR BUS DRIVERS PREPARED THE BUSSES EVERY MORNING TO PICK UP STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT BUS RIDE. AN AMAZING BUS DRIVER AS WELL. IT'S AMAZING HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO TURN THE BUS, PARK THE BUS IN SO MANY WAYS. KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE ON THAT BUS AS WELL. MAYFAIR ALSO HOSTED THE ABILITIES AWARENESS EXPERIENCE, WHERE STUDENTS COULD EXPLORE BOOTHS FEATURING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ON THE 21ST. THE DISTRICT HELD ITS SECOND JOB FAIR, A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY WHERE MANY CANDIDATES STEP FORWARD TO APPLY FOR POSITIONS
030ON THE SPOT. FORTIFYING OUR WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE. A HEARTFELT SHOUT OUT TO THE BELLFLOWER ELEMENTARY SINGERS. IF YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OUR ELEMENTARY SINGERS SING YOU'VE BEEN MISSING SOMETHING. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. THEY OPENED THE SHOW LED BY RON WILLIAMS. AND THEIR PERFORMANCE JUST OPENED UP WITH AN ASPIRING NOTE. IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. ON THE 25TH 21ST, WE HAD TWO REMARKABLE SISTERS REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT AT THE LOS ANGELES BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION AT THE LA BREA TAR PITS. AYANNA, AN 11TH GRADER AT MAYFAIR AND ALSO VICE PRESIDENT OF YOUNG BLACK SCHOLARS, CO-HOSTED THE EVENT ALONGSIDE VETERAN ARTIST, POET AND CULTURAL VOICE JIMMY JARMAN. [00:30:02] AYANNA INTRODUCED SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS, SPECIAL GUESTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATORS AND MODERATED A DYNAMIC PANEL DISCUSSION AND HER YOUNGER SISTER. I THINK I'M SAYING THIS CORRECTLY.
031KEISHA WHO'S A DUAL IMMERSION STUDENT IN OUR DISTRICT, JOINED HER IN PERFORMING POWERFUL SPOKEN WORD PIECES AT THE WELL ATTENDED OUTDOOR CELEBRATION ON THE 22ND. THIS PAST SUNDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING AN EVENT WITH OUR BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, SEBASTIAN. SEBASTIAN WAS HONORED BY THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART IN LOS ANGELES, THE ANTHONY ANDERSON FOUNDATION AND JABALI ACADEMY AS A 2026 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LEGACY MAKER. SEBASTIAN WAS SELECTED FROM A POOL OF 1300 NOMINEES ACROSS THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, WITH ONLY 13 STUDENTS RECEIVING THIS PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION. LEGACY MAKERS WERE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND THEIR MEASURABLE IMPACT IN EDUCATION, SOCIAL ADVOCACY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SPORTS, CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. HIS NOMINATION ROSE TO THE TOP BECAUSE HIS STORY REPRESENTS THE KIND OF PRESENT
032DAY LEGACY THAT DESERVES TO BE DOCUMENTED, HONORED, AND CELEBRATED. SO EXCITED THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOW AND NOT WAITING FOR THE FUTURE TO DO SO. THEY ARE TRULY LEGACY MAKERS ON THE 21ST, A 24TH EXCUSE ME. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO SHARE THE INSPIRING INITIATIVES AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THIS DISTRICT AT THE BELLFLOWER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AND ERNESTO PALACIOS AND JEFF SMITH AND THE ENTIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE INVITATION. I TRULY ENJOYED MYSELF THERE. AND FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT LACO COMPLETED THE MANDATES FOR THE SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT FOR 20 2526 FINDINGS OF SCHOOL VISITS IN MONITORING AS REQUIRED BY THE WILLIAMS SETTLEMENT LITIGATION OR LEGISLATION. EXCUSE ME. THE VISIT FOCUS ON
033THE AREA OF SUFFICIENCY AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. THE CONDITION OF FACILITIES. ACCURACY OF DATA ON THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARDS. WE CALL THEM THE SARC TEACHER MISS ASSIGNMENTS, TEACHER VACANCIES AND UNIFORM COMPLAINTS. THE SITES VISITED IN THE SECOND QUARTER WERE STEPHEN FOSTER, RAMONA ELEMENTARY, WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY, AND CRAIG WILLIAMS. THANKS TO THE DEDICATION OF OUR MAINTENANCE, CUSTODIAL STAFF AND SITE LEADERSHIP, CRAIG WILLIAMS RECEIVED A GOOD STATUS AND STEPHEN FOSTER, RAMONA AND WASHINGTON RECEIVED EXEMPLARY STATUS. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOOD BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE ASKING WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EXEMPLARY GOOD MEANS THAT NON-CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES ARE NOTED, WHICH INCLUDE MINOR WEAR AND TEAR, OR THAT THINGS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATES FROM GOOD, FROM EXEMPLARY. AND THAT CONCLUDES
034MY REPORT, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SIMON. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY AD HOC COMMITTEE UPDATES THIS EVENING? [9. COMMITTEE UPDATES] I HAVE A FEW. PRESIDENT GARCIA FIRST WE MET WITH OUR CAL OPS TEAM. WE HAD A BOARD MEETING. REALLY DIDN'T COVER A WHOLE LOT. I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT. THEY'VE BEEN AT SOME OF OUR EVENTS. THEY WERE AT THE CAREER FAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE'RE JUST CONTINUING ON WITH THAT. AND MAY WE HAVE OUR WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT? I GUESS OUR CELEBRATION OF THEM AND RECOGNITION FOR THEM AND THEIR PATHWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND THEN CLIMATE AND CULTURE PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE DID WAS WE'RE
035STILL SPLIT INTO TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS. WE HAVE OUR AND ACTUALLY YOU CAN SPEAK ON YOUR GROUP. ANITA AND I ARE IN DIFFERENT OR SORRY, BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. WE'RE IN DIFFERENT GROUPS, BUT I'M IN AN EQUITY PLANNING AND LOOKING AT DATA AND SHE'S IN A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SO BASICALLY WE ARE LOOKING AT DATA. WE'RE FOCUSING ON SUSPENSIONS AND DISCIPLINE, AND WE ARE GOING TO COME TO SOME CONCLUSIONS AND DECIDE ON SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT. SO WE LOOKED AT JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT WERE LIKE SUBJECTIVITY VERSUS OBJECTIVITY, LOOKING AT REFERRALS, HOW OFTEN REFERRALS ARE SENT IN, WHY THEY'RE BEING SENT IN, WHEN ARE THEY IN THE HALLWAYS? ARE THEY AT LUNCH? ARE THEY BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL?
036SO WE'RE TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND THEN I'LL KIND OF LET YOU TALK ON YOUR SIDE ON THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER STEWART. SO SO I'LL JUST CONTINUE ON WITH THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THING. [00:35:02] IT'S IT'S OF COURSE WE HAVE WE HAVE THE TWO GROUPS AS A BOARD MEMBER. STUART JUST, JUST MENTIONED SORRY, SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. SO BUT ANYWAY, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE, WE, WE ARE ALREADY DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW DEVELOP AROUND THIS SUBJECT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE REALLY NEED THE DATA. SO WE, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPLORING AND WAITING FOR
037DATA AT THE SAME TIME. AND SO I'M EXCITED BECAUSE SOME, I'M, I'M HOPING. WELL, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT SOME TRUE. PER PERSPECTIVES ARE COMING OUT THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS IF WE REALLY, TRULY WANT TO YOU KNOW FACE OUR CULTURE AND CLIMATE AND IF WE WANT TO IMPROVE IT, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REALLY TOUGH DISCUSSIONS AND SOME REALLY LIKE THIS IS WHAT IT IS. AND IF WE WANT TO CHANGE, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO, TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT'S NECESSARY. AND WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO DO IT. SO I'M JUST WAITING. WE'RE WAITING. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. I DO, I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER COMMITTEE. I'M ON THE LOS ANGELES SCHOOL TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION. WE HAD, WE MET MONDAY AND HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY
038LOOK UP SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT TWO SENATE BILLS. THAT'S OUT OF SENATE BILL 12 ONE, TWO, FOUR FOUR AND SENATE BILL 1694. IT'S LEGISLATIVE. SO I HAVE TO REALLY LOOK IT UP AND SEE WHAT WAS SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT YET. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND SOME OF THE DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY DOING THIS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR NEW IMMIGRATION GUIDELINES POSTED. WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, BOARD POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS TO GO ALONG WITH IT. SO I GUESS BY, I THINK BY MARCH 1ST, WE SHOULD HAVE IT POSTED. DO YOU GUYS KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? YEAH. SO I KIND OF I TOLD HIM, I SAID, ARE WE
039ALREADY APPROVED BOARD POLICY AND, AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS. SO WE'RE, WE'RE ON TARGET. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT BECAUSE WE DID TALK ABOUT IT. AND THEN WE ALSO REVISITED PROPOSITION 98 BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN LIKE EIGHT, A TOTAL OF ABOUT EIGHT REVISIONS. SO AGAIN, I HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE REVISIONS. SO I ALSO LEARNED SOMETHING NEW. ANOTHER THING THAT I HAVE TO LEARN. YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT NOTEBOOK LM. I KNOW HE DOES, MAN. SOMEBODY'S GOTTA TEACH ME SOMETHING. OH MY GOODNESS. SO WE WE WE, YOU KNOW, I SAW THE DEMONSTRATION. I'M LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, THE STUFF THAT THIS AI STUFF CAN DO IS INCREDIBLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ANOTHER TOPIC THAT WE TOUCHED ON IS THAT AS A DISTRICT,
040 WE REALLY NEED TO VET WHATEVER WE USE. WE REALLY NEED TO PUT REGULATIONS IN ORDER, MAKE SURE OUR POLICIES, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTS IT, YOU KNOW, HOW IT HAS TO GO TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES AND, AND THE WAY THEY CAN, THE WAY IT WAS DEMONSTRATED WHEN THEY USED IT, IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, SAY FOR INSTANCE, SOMEONE ASKED YOU ABOUT YOUR POLICIES. RENATA. YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? WELL, IF I KNEW HOW TO USE NOTEBOOK L M I COULD PUT IT IN THERE AND IT COULD ACCESS THE DATA AND IT COULD GIVE ME THE INFORMATION LIKE ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BRAD. OKAY, OKAY. SO ANYWAY, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS IN THE
041GYM. IT WAS IN THE. IT'S IN THE GOOGLE SUITE THING. DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT? NO. OKAY. WELL, I'M JUST TELLING YOU. YOU LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE NINE DOTS, THERE'S ALL KIND OF STUFF IN THERE. SO ANYWAY, I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I GOT TO LOOK UP THESE THE NEW LEGISLATION, FIND OUT WHAT THE REVISIONS HAVE BEEN. THE REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR PROP 98 AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY COMMITTEES, THOSE TWO. OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, THIS, THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IS SPONSORED BY NOTEBOOK LM. GET YOUR NOTEBOOK. LM 15% OFF IF YOU USE PROMO CODE B USD. IT ACTUALLY REALLY IS COOL. I HAVE IN MY NOTEBOOK. I HAVE ALL OF OUR POLICIES IN THERE. SO WHEN I HAVE A QUESTION,
042IT'S IT'S REALLY GOOD. LOOK INTO IT. AND I EVEN DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPTS TO EVERY BOARD MEETING. SO WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS I SAID SOMETHING, I JUST ASK IT. I'M LIKE, DID I REALLY SAY THAT? YEAH, [00:40:04] IT'S REALLY COOL. YOU SHOULD TRY IT. INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE. AND SPEAKING OF, THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD SEGUE. WE HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING ON OUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE, PRESIDENT GARZA AND I AND DOCTOR SIMON, TALKING ABOUT WHICH ISSUES WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING TO WASHINGTON, DC WHEN WE GO AS A BOARD IN APRIL. AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE PREPARING TO GO THERE AND ADVOCATE FOR AND SPEAK FOR IS OBVIOUSLY SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S OUR THAT'S WHAT WE ADVOCATED FOR LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S ONGOING.
043I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THE THINGS WE BRING UP. BUT THE OTHER THING IS ACTUALLY WHAT ANITA BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS AI REGULATION. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE COULD DO AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL WITH AI TOO. SO THAT WAS THAT COMMITTEE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD ON THAT COMMITTEE? NO. AND THE OTHER COMMITTEE IS OUR. WHICH ONE WAS IT. SAFETY AND OUR OUR SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEE. AND THIS MONTH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING. WE WENT OVER THREAT ASSESSMENT AND OUR CRISIS RESPONSE PROTOCOLS, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE DOING WITH DOCTOR AYOA AND DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT AT
044ALL? JUST LIKE WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT. WE'RE MAKING SOME UPDATES TO OUR THREAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL. WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN IT TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ASSESSMENT, SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AT A SCHOOL, WE HAVE A PROTOCOL THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW TO FOLLOW, WHO TO CONTACT AND HOW TO PROCEED SO THAT WE YOU KNOW, ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CAMPUSES. THANK YOU. I WAS REALLY HAPPY. I THINK THE WHOLE GROUP IN THAT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT'S A LARGER COMMITTEE, WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE MADE AND ALL THE WORK THAT'S GOING INTO THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE ALSO GOT AN UPDATE FROM BLACK KNIGHT PATROL, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR, ESPECIALLY FROM BELLFLOWER HIGH
045SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JESSICA CUMMINGS AND AJ CUNNINGHAM FROM MAYFAIR, ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, THAT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THE PERIMETER, BUT THE OTHER WAYS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CAMPUS AND HELP OUT. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD UPDATE. THAT WAS A GREAT, GREAT COMMITTEE MEETING. IS THAT ALL THE COMMITTEES SO FAR? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD. ANYONE ELSE? PERFECT. OKAY. DOCTOR? SIMON, CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE START GETTING SOME DATES FOR THE COMMITTEE OF DOCTOR SMITH. CAN YOU REMIND ME THAT BIG LONG NAME OF IT THAT WE MR. KNOW? REMEMBER THE ONE THAT YOU AND I ARE ON AS WELL? THE ONE THAT LOOKS AT THE SCHOOL'S SCHOOL SITE, FUTURE PLANNING. AND JUST GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS FOR THAT
046TOO, PLEASE. SO THAT WAY WE. YES. JUST GET US A DATE TO SEE IF WE CAN START MEETING AGAIN. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING ON MONDAY. MONDAY? THERE IT IS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE SO EFFICIENT. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT GARCIA, I KNOW THAT WE'VE. I KNOW THAT WE ESTABLISHED AN AI COMMITTEE, AND WE STILL HAVE NOT MET. AND THAT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS. CAN WE POSSIBLY GET SOMETHING GOING OR AT LEAST BE NOTIFIED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT COMMITTEE, PLEASE? YES. SO IF WE DO HAVE AN AI COMMITTEE, THEN CAN WE JUST GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS FOR THAT, PLEASE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. SO THEN WHERE AM I NOW? THANK YOU. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENTS. AGENDA. NON AGENDA ITEMS. TONIGHT WE DO NOT HAVE REQUESTS ADDRESSING AGENDA ITEMS.
047SO WE CAN GO AND MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION ITEMS. [11. DISCUSSION ITEMS] WE HAVE THREE DISCUSSION ITEMS THIS EVENING. AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR SIMON. THANK YOU PRESIDENT GARZA. AT THIS TIME WE'LL START WITH THE BOND FEASIBILITY STUDY. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR SMITH OR MRS. ARCUS, WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR PRESENTER FOR THE EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT SIMON, CABINET COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO DO THIS INTRODUCTION. BUILDING ON LAST WEEK'S SPECIAL BOARD MEETING, WE CONTINUE TO USE DATA DRIVEN APPROACH TO EVALUATE OUR LONG TERM FACILITY GOALS. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MASTER PLAN IS FACILITIES. MASTER PLAN IS WELL UNDERWAY AND REMAINS A PRIMARY
048FOCUS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING. THE QUESTION WE FACE TONIGHT IS HOW MIGHT WE FUND IT, AND IS A BOND MEASURE FEASIBLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TIMOTHY MCLARNEY FROM TRUE NORTH RESEARCH. WHAT'S THAT? OKAY. HIS TEAM HAS COMPLETED A DEEP DIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY COVERING VOTER SENTIMENT TO HELP US DETERMINE OUR [00:45:09] NEXT STEPS. HE IS JOINING US VIA ZOOM, AND WE'RE GOING TO LET HIM KNOW TO UNMUTE. GOOD EVENING. TIM. CAN YOU HEAR US? DO YOU HAVE TO UNMUTE? GOOD. GOOD EVENING. TIM, CAN YOU HEAR US NOW? GOOD EVENING. TIM. YES. SCREEN SHARE NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED. AND YOU CAN'T. GOOD EVENING. TIM, CAN YOU HEAR US NOW? I CAN HEAR YOU NOW. CORRECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. I JUST GAVE
049AN INTRODUCTION ABOUT YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I'LL END ON. WE'RE LOOKING TO INTRODUCE TIMOTHY MCLARNEY FROM TRUE NORTH RESEARCH. HIS TEAM HAS COMPLETED A DEEP DIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY COVERING VOTER SENTIMENT TO HELP US DETERMINE OUR NEXT STEPS. SO IF YOU'RE READY, I AM I. I WILL NEED SCREEN SHARING PRIVILEGES, I THINK, FROM THIS SIDE. YEAH. CLICK ON THAT. NO. I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN. YEAH. OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING THROUGH ON MY SIDE. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE THAT ON YOUR SIDE? THE BLUE SCREEN. WE DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, GREAT. WELL. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. DOCTOR TIM MCLARNEY, PRESIDENT OF TRUE NORTH RESEARCH, AND WE ARE A FIRM THAT FOR THE PAST ALMOST 25 YEARS HAS SPECIALIZED IN WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER
050TYPES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE AND USING SURVEYS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP A STATISTICALLY RELIABLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY SERVE. TO DATE, MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I WORKING AS A TWO PERSON TEAM HAVE DESIGNED AND CONDUCTED OVER 1500 RESEARCH STUDIES FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THESE DAYS IS WHAT WE CALL REVENUE MEASURE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HERE TONIGHT, WHERE THE GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND IF IT'S FEASIBLE FOR AN AGENCY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME TYPE OF REVENUE MEASURE, AND IF IT IS FEASIBLE TO USE THE RESEARCH TO HELP GUIDE HOW THEY MIGHT STRUCTURE THAT MEASURE IN A WAY THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE TYPE OF MEASURE THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS
051INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING. WE'VE HELPED OUR CLIENTS HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS TO DATE. OF THE MEASURES THAT WE RECOMMEND GO TO BALLOT BASED ON OUR RESEARCH, 93% HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WE'VE RAISED ABOUT $42 BILLION IN VOTER APPROVED MEASURES AROUND THE STATE, AND THAT WAS ABOUT 7,000,000,000 IN 2024 ALONE FOR CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES. AND I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE AS I GO THROUGH TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION OR PERHAPS IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ALONG THE WAY I MAY MAKE REFERENCE TO HOW THE RESULTS WE'RE SEEING IN BELLFLOWER COMPARED TO WHAT WE MIGHT NORMALLY SEE WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH FOR OTHER DISTRICTS. AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE A SENSE FROM THE EXPERIENCE BASE FROM WHICH I'D BE SPEAKING. I ALSO WELCOME QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AS
052WE GO. OR AT THE END, WHICHEVER IS YOUR PREFERENCE. I WILL NOTE THAT I CAN'T SEE YOU FROM MY SIDE, SO YOU'D HAVE TO AUDIBLY INTERRUPT THE PRESENTATION FOR ME TO KNOW YOU HAVE A QUESTION. OKAY, SO WITH THAT JUMP INTO THE SLIDES HERE. [00:50:01] SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE RESULTS, HELPFUL TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY OR WHY YOU DO THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH AS WELL AS THE METHODOLOGY IN TERMS OF THE PURPOSE OF THESE STUDIES AS A BOND MEASURE FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THE THREE BULLETS THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE. THE FIRST IS TO ANSWER THAT BASIC QUESTION OF IS IT FEASIBLE? AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IF YOU AS A BOARD WERE
053TO CHOOSE TO TAKE THIS MEASURE AND PUT IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, DOES IT HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS? ANSWER THAT QUESTION ISN'T ALWAYS YES, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOMETIMES WE DO THIS WORK AND WHEN WE GET THE RESULTS BACK, THOSE. AND NO MATTER HOW YOU SORT OF STARE AT THE NUMBERS, THERE'S NO CLEAR PATH TO GET YOU FROM WHERE YOU ARE TODAY TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE TO BE ELECTION READY AND VIABLE. AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'D BE THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE DO FIND THAT THERE'S FEASIBILITY, THAT SECOND BULLET KICKS IN GEAR WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU MIGHT GO ABOUT STRUCTURING A MEASURE IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TYPE OF MEASURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING.
054THERE'S A LOT OF SORT OF FACETS OR COMPONENTS TO A BOND PACKAGE. YOU'VE GOT THE OVERALL BOND AMOUNT AND THE UNDERLYING TAX RATE. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE PRICE TAG, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY. THERE'S THE PROJECT LIST THAT IS GOING TO IDENTIFY THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD INTEND TO DO IF THE BOND WERE SUCCESSFUL. YOU'VE ALSO GOT ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS THAT CAN BE BUILT INTO THE MEASURE TO ASSURE TAXPAYERS THAT IF THEY SUPPORT THIS, THAT THEIR DOLLAR IS GOING TO BE WELL SPENT. AND SO THERE'S ALL THESE KIND OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT YOU ULTIMATELY, AS A BOARD WILL NEED TO ANSWER BEFORE YOU PLACE THIS MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, AND THE RESEARCH CAN HELP GUIDE THOSE. AND THEN FINALLY THE, THE SURVEYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
055THE ROLE THAT INFLAMMATION PLAYS IN SHAPING VOTERS OPINIONS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IN TURN CAN HELP GUIDE FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS. IN TERMS OF THE METHODOLOGY OR HOW WE WENT ABOUT CONDUCTING THIS STUDY, WE USE THE SAME METHODOLOGY HERE THAT WE ALWAYS USE WHEN WE ARE LOOKING TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A BOND MEASURE. AND THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK OURSELVES WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DESIGN A BOND FEASIBILITY STUDY IS WHAT ELECTION IS THIS BOND GOING TO BE ON? AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS DIFFERENT ELECTIONS HAVE DIFFERENT TURNOUTS. AND AS YOU EXPAND OR YOU SHRINK TURNOUT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT PROFILE TO THE GROUP OF VOTERS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT ELECTION. AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU WANT TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A MEASURE
056THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING AMONG THE VOTERS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE DECIDING THE FATE OF YOUR MEASURE. AND SO IN THIS CASE, WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THAT NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION. SO WE WENT AND WE IDENTIFIED ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE WHAT WE CALL LIKELY NOVEMBER VOTERS. THESE ARE VOTERS WHO, BASED ON WHEN THEY REGISTERED TO VOTE, WHAT ELECTIONS THEY'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF SINCE THIS POINT, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS WE EXPECT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO CAST BALLOTS IN THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION. WE THEN USE A PROCESS CALLED STRATIFIED AND CLUSTERED SAMPLING TO CHOOSE A SAMPLE THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT LIKELY NOVEMBER UNIVERSE, AND THE PROFILE OF OUR SAMPLE MATCHES THE PROFILE OF THAT UNIVERSE OF LIKELY VOTERS ON ALL THE DIMENSIONS THAT WE KNOW TEND TO
057BE RELATED TO HOW VOTERS VOTE WHEN IT COMES TO BOND MEASURES. SO THE BALANCE IN OUR SAMPLE BY AGE, GENDER, PARTIZANSHIP, HOUSEHOLD, PARTY TYPE, AS WELL AS WHERE THEY LIVE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THE BALANCE UNDER SAMPLE MATCHES THE BALANCE OF THAT UNIVERSE. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REAL KEYS TO MAKING SURE THE RESEARCH IS RELIABLE. ONCE WE PULLED OUR SAMPLE, WE USE THREE DIFFERENT RECRUITING METHODS EMAIL, TEXT, AND TELEPHONE. FOLKS HAVE THE OPTION OPTION OF TAKING EITHER ONLINE OR BY TELEPHONE, WHICHEVER WAS THEIR PREFERENCE, AS WELL AS IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. SO WE WOUND UP COMPLETING 413 INTERVIEWS AS PART OF THIS STUDY. AND WHEN YOU HAVE A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 413 RESPONDENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT LEAVES US WITH A MARGIN OF ERROR DUE TO SAMPLING OF PLUS OR
058-4.8% AT THE 95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN BE 95% CONFIDENT THAT THE RESULTS WE'LL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT ARE WITHIN 4.8% OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE FOUND HAD WE SPOKEN WITH ALL OF YOUR LIKELY VOTERS. OKAY, SO ON TO THE RESULTS. SO THIS FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THE RESULTS OF WHAT WE CALL THE IMPORTANCE OF ISSUES. QUESTION WHERE FOR EACH OF THE ISSUES THERE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE, WE SIMPLY ASK VOTERS TO TELL US HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS TO YOU? IS IT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT OR NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT? WE ASK THESE IN A RANDOM ORDER, BUT WE HAVE SORTED THEM FROM HIGH TO LOW HERE BASED ON THE COMBINED PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS WHO SAID IT WAS EITHER EXTREMELY OR VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS A
059GREAT WARM UP QUESTION JUST GETS FOLKS INTO THE GROOVE OF TAKING THE SURVEY, THINKING ABOUT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW EDUCATION AS A TOPIC STACKS UP AGAINST SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT ALSO COMPETE FOR TAX DOLLARS. AND IN PARTICULAR, HOW DOES THAT TOPIC OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS STACK UP AGAINST THE ISSUE OF PREVENTING LOCAL TAX INCREASES? ROUGH RULE OF THUMB SURPRISINGLY PREDICTIVE. YOU KNOW, THE HIGHER UP IN THIS LIST AND THE MORE IMPORTANCE THAT VOTERS PLACE ON EDUCATION AS A TOPIC RELATIVE TO PREVENTING LOCAL TAX INCREASES, THE BETTER POSITIONED YOU ARE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME TYPE OF REVENUE MEASURE. [00:55:01] THE MORE THAT PREVENTING LOCAL TAX INCREASES IS VIEWED AS SORT OF ON PAR
060IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE WITH IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE A MUCH STEEPER HILL TO CLIMB TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS. IN THIS STUDY, WHAT WE FOUND IS, IN FACT, IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU HAD 92% SAY THEY WERE. THAT'S EXTREMELY, VERY IMPORTANT, FOLLOWED BY IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAINTAINING LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS. IF YOU LOOK DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM SECOND, UP FROM THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE PREVENTING LOCAL TAX INCREASE. THAT CHECKS IN AT 73%. SO YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A 19 POINT GAP BETWEEN THESE TWO ISSUES IN TERMS OF IMPORTANCE. THAT'S A LITTLE SMALLER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN MOST OF THE SURVEYS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR DISTRICTS OVER
061THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. TYPICALLY, IT'S MORE LIKE AROUND 23, 24%. AND SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL SEE IT IN A COUPLE OTHER SLIDES HERE WHERE WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT YOUR COMMUNITY, ALTHOUGH THEY PRIZE EDUCATION, THEY'RE ALSO A BIT TAX RATE SENSITIVE. THE OTHER THING I WILL POINT OUT IS IF YOU LOOK RIGHT ABOVE THAT, REPAIRING AND UPGRADING AGING SCHOOL FACILITIES, THAT ONE CHECKS IN AT 74%. SO IT'S RIGHT ABOVE. PREVENTING LOCAL TAX INCREASES, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I POINT THIS OUT NOT BECAUSE THAT'S AN UNUSUAL PATTERN. IN FACT, WE ALWAYS SEE THAT PATTERN. BUT IT'S KIND OF A HEALTHY REMINDER THAT I'LL, THAT I'LL BOND. ALTHOUGH BONDS ARE ABOUT YOUR FACILITIES, RIGHT? THEY'RE
062ABOUT THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO FIX AND IMPROVE AND CONSTRUCT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, WHAT VOTERS REALLY CARE ABOUT ISN'T SO MUCH YOUR FACILITIES AS WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THOSE FACILITIES. AND SO YOU'RE ALWAYS WANTING TO SORT OF CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN HOW IT IS THAT THE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR FACILITIES ULTIMATELY DO SHAPE, RIGHT? THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOUR STUDENTS HAVE AT YOUR SCHOOLS. AND SO YOU WANT TO SORT OF CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN YOUR FACILITIES AND THOSE, YOUR CORE MISSION OF EDUCATING STUDENTS. SO AFTER THAT IMPORTANCE OF ISSUES QUESTION, WE GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH WHAT WE CALL THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST. AND THE IDEA BEHIND THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST IS, BEFORE WE GO ANY
063DEEPER INTO THIS CONVERSATION WITH A RESPONDENT, WE START TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE TAX RATES THAT COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR BOND. TALKING IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT COULD BE FUNDED, AS WELL AS CONVEYING ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON RELATED TO THIS PROPOSAL. WE WANT TO PRESENT TO THEM A MOCK UP OF WHAT WE THINK THAT 75 WORD BALLOT STATEMENT COULD LOOK LIKE AND GET THEIR REACTION. THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST IS A REALLY GOOD GAUGE OF WHERE YOUR VOTERS ARE AT ON THE NATURAL WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROPOSAL, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE. AND SO THAT IS THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WE TESTED. AND HERE ARE THE RESULTS. SO AT THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST, WE HAD 63% OF LIKELY NOVEMBER VOTERS TELL US
064THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL. YOU HAD 25% OPPOSED AND YOU HAD THE REST WERE UNSURE OR PREFER NOT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. SO IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FOR A PROP 39 BOND TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU NEED 55% SUPPORT. SO WE'RE SITTING ABOUT EIGHT POINTS NORTH OF THE 55% THRESHOLD THAT'S REQUIRED FOR PASSAGE AT THIS POINT. NOW, NATURALLY, SUPPORT FOR A BOND MEASURE CAN DEPEND ON THE PRICE TAG, RIGHT? THE HIGHER THE PRICE TAG, ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, THE LOWER LEVEL SUPPORT YOU CAN EXPECT. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS SURVEY WAS TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR TO VOTERS THAT BONDS MEAN TAXES, RIGHT? JUST IN CASE THEY SOMEHOW MISSED THAT IN THE 75 WORD BALLOT STATEMENT. AND IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH, FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW
065TAX RATE SENSITIVE YOUR VOTERS ARE TO DIFFERENT POSSIBLE TAX RATES. IT COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEASURE, AS WELL AS HOW THEY REACT TO DIFFERENT WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF A BOND. SO ON THIS THIS SLIDE, WE SHOW THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS SERIES WHERE WE START AT THE HIGH NUMBER HERE, $49 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION. AND WE LET THEM KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNEW THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES ON YOUR HOME WOULD INCREASE BY $49 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION, WOULD YOU VOTE YES OR NO? IF THEY ARE ANYTHING BUT A DEFINITELY YES. AT 49, WE TEST THE $39 RATE. AND THEN FROM THERE WE DROP IT TO THE $28 RATE. SO THE GOAL HERE IS JUST TO UNDERSTAND HOW AS YOU
066ALTER THAT TAX RATE, HOW TO SUPPORT VARY. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN SEE HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR VOTERS DO HAVE SOME TAX RATE SENSITIVITY. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE AGGREGATE BOND TO BEGIN WITH, RIGHT, WE WE HAD BETTER THAN 60% SUPPORT. WHEN YOU FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE PRICE TAG ITSELF, THAT $49 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION SUPPORT COOLS DOWN TO 45%. AS WE DROP THAT TO $39 PER 100,000. IT GOES UP TO 49%. AND THEN IT'S AT 56% AT $28 PER 100,000. WE KNOW THIS QUESTION IS A CONSERVATIVE READ ON VOTER SUPPORT FOR BOND MEASURE. HOWEVER, THE REASON FOR THAT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A BOND MEASURE, IT'S A PACKAGE, RIGHT? IT'S A IT'S A SERIES OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE
067GOING TO DO. AND ONE PART OF THAT PACKAGE IS THE PRICE TAG. [01:00:01] ANYTIME YOU KIND OF PULL THE PRICE TAG OUT, SET IT ASIDE AND FOCUS VOTERS ATTENTION ON IT, KIND OF PUT THE BLINDERS ON THEM. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A, A COOLING EFFECT IN TERMS OF THEIR SUPPORT. THE OTHER REASON WHY WE KNOW IT'S A LITTLE IT'S A BIT CONSERVATIVE IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF A BOND IN TERMS OF A RATE PER 100,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? YOU NEED TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT ASSESSED VALUATION IS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF THE AVI FOR YOUR PROPERTY. YOU GOT TO DO MATH PRETTY QUICKLY IN THE SPACE OF THE SURVEY TO BE ABLE TO TURN
068THAT RATE INTO SOME SORT OF MEANINGFUL NUMBER. AND NOT EVERYBODY'S GOOD AT THAT, UNDERSTANDABLY. AND SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS WHO THEY KNOW YOU'RE TALKING PRICE TAG. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT ADDS UP TO. AND SO THEY'LL HEDGE. THEY'LL SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT SURE. AND PART OF THE REASON WE KNOW THAT IS BECAUSE WE ALSO COME ABOUT AT A DIFFERENT WAY ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WE SAY, ALL RIGHT, LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY. THIS IS THE LEFT COLUMN. IF YOU KNEW THAT THIS MEASURE WOULD COST COST THE TYPICAL HOMEOWNER $213 PER YEAR, WOULD YOU VOTE YES OR NO? THE $213 PER YEAR IS THAT $49 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION TAX RATE MULTIPLIED TIMES THE MEDIAN ASSESSED VALUE FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
069 SO IT'S WHAT THAT MIDDLE PROPERTY OWNER WOULD PAY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WHEN YOU DO THE MATH FOR FOLKS AND YOU GET AWAY FROM THE RATE AND JUST KIND OF TELL THEM WHAT THE TYPICAL OWNER IS GOING TO PAY, YOU GET A MORE POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THIS PROPOSAL. SO AT THE $49 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION TAX RATE ON THE LAST SLIDE, WE HAD 45% SUPPORT. THE MOMENT YOU DO THE MATH FOR HIM, YOU SAY THAT'S $213 PER YEAR. FOR THE TYPICAL OWNER, IT JUMPS UP TO 53% SUPPORT. SAME EXERCISE ON THE RIGHT COLUMN, ONLY HERE WE'RE ANNUALIZING THAT $28 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION TAX RATE. THAT ANALYZES TO $122 PER YEAR FOR THE MEDIAN HOMEOWNER. AND AT THAT ANNUAL TOTAL, WE HAD 57% OF VOTERS SAY
070THEY WOULD SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL. SO ALL OF THIS IS JUST INFORMATION THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHERE DO WE THINK THE SORT OF COMFORT ZONE IS FOR THE PRICE TAG FOR YOUR BOND. WHERE CAN YOU SET THAT TAX RATE IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE? YOU'RE GOING TO GET AT LEAST 55% OF VOTERS WHO WILL SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL. AND I'LL AND I'LL HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. SO AFTER THE TAX RATE DISCUSSION, WE GET INTO THE PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENTS SECTION OF THE SURVEY. AND HERE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO TWO THINGS. ONE IS WE'RE NOW GOING TO START TO EDUCATE THIS RESPONDENT A BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS BOND WOULD ACCOMPLISH. BECAUSE UP TO THIS POINT, THEY'VE ONLY SEEN THE 75
071WORD BALLOT STATEMENT. AND YOU CAN ONLY SAY SO MUCH IN 75 WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN FUND. HERE WE UNPACK IT INTO ALL THESE POTENTIAL USES. IN THAT WAY, THEY'RE GETTING A BETTER IDEA OF OF WHAT THE BOND IS ABOUT. THE OTHER THING IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS UNDERSTAND ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN SPEND THE MONEY, HOW TO VOTERS FEEL ABOUT EACH OF THOSE WAYS, AND WHICH OF THESE ARE ULTIMATELY THEIR PRIORITIES. I GET TO DO THIS FOR A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE. AND I CAN SAY THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY STRONG NUMBERS HERE IN TERMS OF VOTERS INTEREST IN THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE TESTING. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS HAD. MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF VOTERS SAY THAT THEY WOULD FAVOR
072SPENDING SOME OF THE MONEY ON THAT ITEM. BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE, AS YOU GET TO THE TOP, YOU'VE GOT SOME THAT HAVE KIND OF A HIGHER OVERALL AS WELL AS A BIT HIGHER INTENSITY. AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT WE REGULARLY SEE RISE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. IN TERMS OF VOTERS PRIORITIES FOR SCHOOL BONDS, THE VERY TOP IS BASIC REPAIRS TO YOUR OLDER FACILITIES, RIGHT? FIXING ROOFS, PLUMBING, HEATING, VENTILATION, GAS LINE, SEWER LINES, RIGHT. OLDER FACILITIES NEED CARE AND UPTAKE AND VOTERS UNDERSTAND THAT. SO THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY STEM CAREER TECH FACILITIES AND THEN ALSO BRINGING YOUR OLDER FACILITIES UP TO CURRENT HEALTH CODE, SAFETY CODES AND ADA ACCESS. SO THOSE
073WERE THE TOP RANKED ITEMS. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THE ONES BELOW THAT ARE ALSO QUITE POPULAR. SO IF YOU AS A BOARD CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BOND IN THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ELECTION CYCLE. AND DURING THAT ELECTION CYCLE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISCUSSION AND DEBATE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. YOU'LL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO WILL STEP UP AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THIS MEASURE TO THE COMMUNITY. GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE REASONS WHY THIS IS NEEDED AND WHY THEY SHOULD VOTE YES. YOU MIGHT ALSO GET SOME CRITICS WHO OPPOSE THIS BOND AND TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS A BAD IDEA AND WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT. FOR THIS SURVEY
074TO BE A RELIABLE GAUGE OF THE FEASIBILITY OF A BOND MEASURE, WE NEED TO SIMULATE THAT DISCUSSION AND DEBATE IN THE SPACE OF THE SURVEY. SO WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY WHERE YOUR VOTERS ARE AT ON THE NATURAL, WHICH WAS THAT INITIAL BALLOT TEST, BUT WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROPOSAL ONCE THEY HEAR POSITIVES AS WELL AS ONCE THEY'RE EXPOSED TO NEGATIVES. AND SO WE DO THAT BY FIRST PRESENTING THE SERIES OF POSITIVE, POSITIVE ARGUMENTS THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE. [01:05:07] THE NATURE OF THE QUESTION IS SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE SAY BLANK, YOU INSERT A POSITIVE ARGUMENT. DO YOU THINK THIS IS A VERY CONVINCING, SOMEWHAT CONVINCING OR NOT AT ALL CONVINCING REASON TO SUPPORT THE MEASURE? HERE
075AGAIN, WE SEE THAT A LOT OF THESE POSITIVE ARGUMENTS GET A LOT OF TRACTION WITH, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE LOWEST RATED ITEM AT THE VERY BOTTOM HAD BETTER THAN 70% OF VOTERS SAY THAT THEY WOULD YOU KNOW, THEY FIND THAT TO BE AT LEAST A SOMEWHAT CONVINCING ARGUMENT. AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, THOUGH, ARE SOME YOU KNOW, ARGUMENTS THAT REALLY JUST RELATE TO THE AGING FACILITIES. SO TOP ONE THERE. SOME OF THE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT SO LONG AGO THAT UNDERGROUND CLAY AND CAST IRON PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE FAILING, RESULTING IN GAS LEAKS, WATER LEAKS, SEWAGE BACKUPS. LAST YEAR ALONE, THERE WERE MORE THAN 75 ROOF LEAKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU CAN JUST BE A LITTLE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR FACILITIES, RIGHT? IF YOU CAN PUT
076A NUMBER TO ROOF LEAKS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THAT WOUND UP BEING YOUR NUMBER ONE ARGUMENT HERE. SO AT THIS POINT IN THE POLL. NOW, VOTERS HAVE HEARD MORE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL THAN THEY DID AT THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST. ON THE ONE HAND, WE TALKED ABOUT TAX RATES, RIGHT? AND WHEN WE DID THAT, IT WAS A BIT OF A WET BLANKET. ON SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL. IT LOWERED SUPPORT, BUT WE HAD A CHANCE TO COME BACK. TALK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW THE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT. WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO CONVEY POSITIVE ARGUMENTS HERE. WE'VE YET TO GET TO THE NEGATIVES AND SO WE CIRCLE TO WHAT WE CALL THE INTERIM BALLOT TEST. WE SAY, ALL
077RIGHT, NOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD A BIT MORE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, WE PRESENT THE SAME 75 WORD BALLOT STATEMENT. WHERE DO YOU STAND? AND YOU CAN SEE HERE AT THE INTERIM BALLOT TEST, WE CHECK IN AT 62% SUPPORT, 29% OPPOSED. AND YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 9% WHO ARE UNSURE OR PREFER NOT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. SO AT THE INTERIM BALLOT TEST, WE ARE SITTING SEVEN POINTS NORTH OF THAT 55% THRESHOLD THAT'S REQUIRED FOR PASSAGE. AND THEN WE GET TO THE NEGATIVES. THE IDEA BEHIND THE NEGATIVES IS I WANT TO PRESSURE TEST VOTER SUPPORT FOR FOR THIS PROPOSAL BY PEPPERING THEM WITH A SERIES OF NEGATIVE ARGUMENTS, THE KIND OF ARGUMENTS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HEAR FROM A CRITIC. BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, SHOULD YOU GET OPPOSITION? SHOULD THEY BE VOCAL? RIGHT?
078AND GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT THERE. HOW MIGHT THAT ULTIMATELY IMPACT VOTERS OPINIONS ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL? YOU CAN SEE HERE WE TEST A SHORTER LIST OF NEGATIVES THAN WE DO POSITIVES. AND THAT IS BY DESIGN. WE TEND TO FIND WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL BOND CAMPAIGNS, THAT THE ADVOCACY GROUP WRITE LARGER IN NUMBER IN TERMS OF BODIES. THEY ARE MORE ORGANIZED, THEY RAISE MONEY, THEY HAVE A LOUDER VOICE THAN DO THE THE OPPOSITION. AND SO WE SIMULATE THAT DISPARITY BY TESTING FEWER NEGATIVES. THAT SAID, THE NEGATIVES WE TEST ARE DESIGNED TO BE HARD HITTING NEGATIVE ARGUMENTS, RIGHT? WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH DAMAGE COULD BE DONE IF WE HIT VOTERS WITH THESE ARGUMENTS. AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE ARGUMENTS GET TRACTION. I MEAN, THE ARGUMENTS THAT REALLY
079CENTER AROUND COST OF LIVING. PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE TO AFFORDABILITY AND COST OF LIVING ISSUES THESE DAYS. THOSE ARE THE ARGUMENTS THAT GET THE MOST TRACTION? THE REAL QUESTION, THOUGH, IS WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS? AND THAT IS HERE. SO AT THE FINAL BALLOT TEST, THE NEGATIVES COOL US DOWN ABOUT FIVE POINTS. BUT WE STILL LAND AT 57% SUPPORT, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO POINTS NORTH OF THE 55% THRESHOLD THAT'S REQUIRED FOR PASSAGE OF A SCHOOL BOND. ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? I'VE JUST GOT TWO MORE WRAP UP SLIDES HERE. I'M GOING TO CIRCLE BACK FIRST TO THAT OVERARCHING QUESTION I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET OF THIS PRESENTATION AS BEING A, YOU KNOW, A MAIN MOTIVATION FOR WHY YOU DO THIS RESEARCH WAS JUST ANSWER THAT BASIC QUESTION OF, IS IT FEASIBLE IF YOU AS
080A BOARD, CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, DOES IT HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS? THIS IS WHAT I CALL A QUALIFIED YES. IT IS A YES, BUT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR PROPOSAL, AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE VERY EFFECTIVE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO WHY THE YES PART OF THIS? WELL, THAT'S EVERYTHING YOU SEE UNDER THE POSITIVE SIGNS, RIGHT? WE SAW THAT VOTERS RANK. IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN LOCAL SCHOOLS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE COMMUNITY. THERE WAS STRONG NATURAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSAL AT THE INITIAL BALLOT TEST WHEN ALL THEY HAD WAS THE 75 WORDS. WE FOUND THAT 63% SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL AT THAT POINT. ALL OF THE PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENTS
081THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FUNDING WITH THE BOND WERE POPULAR. WE'VE GOT POSITIVE ARGUMENTS THAT RESONATE. AND IMPORTANTLY, AT EACH POINT IN THE SURVEY WHERE YOU KNOW, WE CHECK BACK IN WITH A RESPONDENT, WE PRESENT THAT SAME 75 WORD BALLOT STATEMENT AND SAY, NOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD A BIT MORE, WHERE DO YOU STAND? SUPPORT REMAINS ABOVE THAT 55% THRESHOLD AT ALL BALLOT TESTS. AND THAT WAS EVEN AFTER WE TESTED OPPOSITION ARGUMENTS. SO WHEN WE SEE THAT KIND OF PIECES IN PLACE IN A POLL LIKE THIS, THOSE ARE THE PIECES WE WANT TO SEE IN PLACE FOR MEASURE TO HAVE A REASONABLE SHOT AT SUCCESS ON ELECTION DAY. THAT SAID, THERE ARE ALSO SOME CHALLENGES THAT COME OUT OF THIS POLL OR WHEN YOU STEP BACK AWAY FROM THE POLL AND YOU JUST THINK ABOUT
082WHAT A NOVEMBER [01:10:01] ELECTION CYCLE IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE LIKE. WE WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF THESE CHALLENGES. ONE IS THE TAX RATE SENSITIVITY. IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CHOOSE A TAX RATE THAT'S WITHIN THE COMFORT ZONE OF AT LEAST 55% OF YOUR VOTERS. AND WE DID SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SOME TAX RATE SENSITIVITY. THE OPPOSITION ARGUMENTS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE TO GET OPPOSITION, IT LOOKS BASED ON THE POLLING HERE, THEY COOL, THEY COOL SUPPORT DOWN A BIT WITH WE WERE DOWN ABOUT FIVE POINTS AFTER WE TESTED THE OPPOSITION ARGUMENTS AND THEN SORT OF STEPPING OUT OF THE POLL, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE LARGER CLIMATE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROBABLY HEADED INTO YET ANOTHER ONE OF THESE HYPER PARTIZAN ELECTIONS, RIGHT? THERE MIGHT
083BE SOME, YOU KNOW OTHER MEASURES ON THE BALLOT THAT CAN CREATE SOME ANTI-TAX SENTIMENT. AND THERE'S ALSO THESE UNKNOWNS, RIGHT? IN SOME WAYS, I PUT THE UNKNOWN PART OF THE UN PART IN PARENTHESES HERE, BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS WE KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS ALREADY, RIGHT? WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT TARIFFS AND INFLATION. WE KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE ECONOMY. THESE AREN'T UNKNOWNS TO US NOW. AND TO SOME DEGREE ALL OF THIS IS ALREADY BAKED INTO YOUR SURVEY RESULTS. THE REALITY IS THOUGH, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHAT THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS ARE GOING TO HOLD, RIGHT? AND SO I RAISE THESE CHALLENGES AND THESE UNKNOWNS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU GO PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, YOU
084WANT TO PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT THAT CAN WITHSTAND SOME ADVERSITY, RIGHT? SO SHOULD WE GET SOME DOWNTURNS IN THE ECONOMY OR SHOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU WIND UP WITH SOME OPPOSITION OUT THERE. YOU STILL ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO LAST SLIDE HERE. SO WITH THAT I HAVE SOME SORT OF FINAL OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THOUGH IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WELL CRAFTED AS THESE POLLS ARE, THEY ARE NOT A CRYSTAL BALL, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO ELECTION DAY SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO GET 62% ON ELECTION DAY. THEY THEY GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, RIGHT? THEY ALSO GIVE US A GOOD IDEA OF HOW VOTERS TEND TO REACT
085TO THE TYPES OF INFORMATION WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO ENCOUNTER DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE. BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT DICTATES WHAT HAPPENS ON ELECTION DAY ISN'T WHAT YOUR POLL SAYS TODAY. IT'S EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD. AND SO IT'S JUST A REMINDER TO US THAT WE GOT TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS ABOUT THE MEASURE THAT YOU PUT IN FRONT OF YOUR VOTERS. SO IT'S WELL ALIGNED WITH THE TYPE OF MEASURE THEY'VE INDICATED THEY'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT. AND YOU GOT TO PUT THE WORK IN IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATIONS, THAT'S BOTH ON THE DISTRICT SIDE, RIGHT? NON ADVOCACY COMMUNICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN START TO HAVE MORE OF A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO SORT OF HELP STRENGTHEN THEIR AWARENESS OF WHAT YOUR FACILITY NEEDS ARE. START TO BUILD SOME SORT
086OF AND HOW THESE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS CONNECT TO YOUR CORE MISSION AND THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT STUDENTS HAVE AND ULTIMATELY START TO BUILD CONSENSUS AROUND A BOND PROPOSAL. AND THEN ULTIMATELY THERE WOULD NEED TO BE AN INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN. RIGHT. THIS IS VOLUNTEER LED, PRIVATELY FUNDED, INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN THAT CAN GO OUT AND ADVOCATE FOR THIS MEASURE DURING THE ELECTION CYCLE. ONCE THE BOARD HAS CHOSEN TO PLACE A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT. SO WITH THAT, I I END MY PRESENTATION. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, IF THERE ARE ANY AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND STOP SHARING SCREEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. BOARD MEMBERS. BOARD MEMBER. STEWART. SORRY. BOARD MEMBER. ARMSTRONG. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. THANK YOU FOR THAT THOROUGH PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
087WERE YOU ABLE TO ASCERTAIN WHAT GROUP HAD THE TAX RATE SENSITIVITY? THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT IT'S SORT OF ACROSS THE BOARD. YOU KNOW, AND WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE DEEPER, BUT WE TEND TO FIND THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DROPPING DOWN, IT'S OFTEN A LITTLE MORE OFTEN TO BE HOMEOWNERS THAT YOU MIGHT IMAGINE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY READ THE BALLOT STATEMENT, THEN YOU FOCUS IN, YOU START TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, YOU TEND TO GET A LITTLE MORE DROP TYPICALLY AMONG HOMEOWNERS THAN YOU DO, SAY RENTERS. BUT EVEN RENTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME TAX RATE SENSITIVITY TOO, BECAUSE THEY'LL CLUE IN THAT, OKAY, THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX, WHICH MEANS THIS COULD ULTIMATELY TRICKLE DOWN
088TO, YOU KNOW, THE RENT THAT I PAY. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DO SORT OF SEE A BASE LEVEL OF SENSITIVITY ACROSS EVERYBODY. OKAY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. I HAD A QUESTION NOT ABOUT THE SURVEY. ARE YOU HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL? PLEASE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE YOU, BUT I'LL ASK MY QUESTION. I JUST AM WONDERING IF IT'S JUST IN THINKING OF BONDS. IS IT BETTER TO GO FOR LIKE A LARGER BOND AND GO LESS YEARS? OR IS IT BETTER TO GO FOR SMALLER BONDS AND GO MORE OFTEN? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND I THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME. SO PRIOR TO THE NOVEMBER 2018 ELECTION, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT YOU USED FOR BONDS ONLY HAD TO SAY THE AGGREGATE BOND AMOUNT, RIGHT? [01:15:04] SO
089IF YOU'RE RAISING $200 MILLION, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY THE TAX RATE IN IT. THE DURATION, THE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL LEVY, NONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE TODAY. AND AT THAT TIME, YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF CASES OF DISTRICTS BEING ABLE TO PASS LARGE BONDS BASED ON HIGH DOLLAR, HIGH TAX RATES. RIGHT. THE PROP 39 MAX IS $60 PER 100,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION. THERE WERE PLENTY OF BONDS PASSED BACK THEN AT THAT RATE, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF VOTERS JUST DIDN'T REALLY DIG IN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RATE WAS. AND SO EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE RATE SENSITIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY JUST SORT OF NEVER CONNECTED THE DOTS. AND SO YOU'D SEE THESE LARGE BONDS HAPPENING LESS FREQUENTLY. TODAY WITH
090AB 195 IN PLACE. THE TAX RATE IS RIGHT THERE IN THE 75 WORD BALANCE STATEMENT. RIGHT. SO YOU CAN'T MISS IT. AND IT'S ALSO A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE IT'S IN THIS RATE OF, YOU KNOW, $45 PER 100,000 ASSESSED VALUATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER TIME IS THAT HAS CREATED SOME DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE TAX RATES THAT VOTERS ARE FOR, BONDS THAT VOTERS ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT. RIGHT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S CREATING A SITUATION WHERE NOW DISTRICTS ARE STARTING TO EVOLVE TO DOING MORE BITE SIZE BONDS, BUT MORE FREQUENTLY, RIGHT, AS OPPOSED TO ONE BIG BOND LESS FREQUENTLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO ADD OR NO? DO YOU WANT TO ADD? COME ON. LET ME INTRODUCE. MARK FARRELL, OUR SENIOR
091FINANCIAL ADVISOR WITH DALE SCOTT AND COMPANY AND HE'S HERE TO SUPPORT QUESTIONS AS WELL. AND I KNOW THAT TIM DIDN'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE CAN'T SEE US. HEY, I'M MARK GRACE. I MEAN, I THINK YOU KNOW, IT VARIES REALLY BY COMMUNITY AND IT VARIES BY SURVEY RESULT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT STILL ARE ABLE TO PUT BONDS ON THE BALLOT WITH A FULL $60 PARCEL OR EXCUSE ME, FULL $60 PER 100,000 TAX. AND THEN, YES, THERE'S OTHER DISTRICTS THAT KIND OF WERE REDUCING THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT SHORTLY, REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE BOND, REDUCING THE TERM OF THE BOND, VARIOUS VARIOUS WAYS TO TO MAKE THE BOND MORE PALATABLE TO THE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS ALL I HAD. VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
092WITH THE DIFFERENT TAX RATES, WHAT WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT DOES THAT COME TO? LIKE FOR THE 28 PER THOUSAND COMPARED TO THE 49, YOU KNOW, SINCE MARK IS THERE AND I KNOW THAT NOW I'M GOING TO LET MARK SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE HE'S THE EXPERT ON THAT. THANK YOU. AT THE $39. SO THE 49 WAS THE 135 THAT WAS IN THE BALLOT QUESTION. 39 IS AROUND 110,000,028 WOULD BE AROUND 80 MILLION. AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT MEASURE BB WAS IN 20 1270. WAS IT 7579? IT WAS 79 MILLION. BUT WHEN IT WAS A $55 TAX RATE 55. YEP. THANK YOU. YEAH. I'M LOOKING AT OBVIOUSLY 100% SUPPORTIVE. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK I'VE KIND OF LIKE PULLED THE 180 BECAUSE
093AT ONE POINT, I THINK I WAS MAYBE EVEN PRESSING YOU ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOING BIG YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR MORE BECAUSE THE NEED IS THERE. BUT MEASURE BB WAS 79 MILLION, AND IT PASSED WITH 73%, WHICH IS ABOUT 16,500 VOTES. BUT IT WAS ALSO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT WAS OBAMA VERSUS ROMNEY. AND THE MIDTERM IS EXPECTED LIKE ALMOST HALF THE TURNOUT. HOW MUCH OF THAT CONSIDERATION OF IT BEING A MIDTERM AND ONLY EXPECTING ABOUT 50% OF THE TURNOUT COMPARED TO WHEN IT PASSED WITH 73%. HOW MUCH OF THAT SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED WITH? SO YEAH, YOU RAISE SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND I'LL TRY AND TAKE IT IN A COUPLE PIECES HERE. SO FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING BACK TO BOND MEASURES THAT ARE PRE 2018, SOUNDS
094LIKE YOUR LAST ONE WAS AND IT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY. I MENTIONED THE AB 195 AND HOW IT CHANGED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT DID WAS PRIOR TO 2018, WE HAD BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WAS JUST MORE BOND FRIENDLY, RIGHT? AND WHEN AB 185 CHANGED THE RULES AROUND BOND LANGUAGE, WE DID A TON OF RESEARCH AROUND THE STATE AND DETERMINED THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER 20,000 INTERVIEWS, TESTING DIFFERENT DIFFERENT BALLOT LANGUAGE IN THE BOTTOM FOR THE NET. OUT OF THAT WAS THAT SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL BOND MEASURES DROPPED 7% ON AVERAGE JUST BY THE CHANGE IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, [01:20:09] BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING IN INFORMATION IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, THAT CAN BE A LITTLE CONFUSING OR OFF PUTTING TO VOTERS. A LOT OF VOTERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO TRANSLATE THE RATE PER 100,000
095AVE INTO A MEANINGFUL NUMBER. IT GIVES THEM PAUSE. AND SO WE SAW THAT DROP. SO EVEN IF EVERYTHING ELSE WERE THE SAME, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF COMPARING THIS MEASURE TO YOUR PAST MEASURE, I WOULD EXPECT A SEVEN POINT DROP JUST BECAUSE OF THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF. BEYOND THAT, THIS QUESTION ABOUT TURNOUT. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT DIFFERENT ELECTIONS CAN HAVE DIFFERENT TURNOUTS AND SOME WIND UP BEING GREAT. SORT OF REALLY POSITIVE ELECTIONS FOR REVENUE MEASURES AROUND THE STATE. OTHERS WIND UP BEING NOT SO GREAT. YOU THINK ABOUT THE NOVEMBER 2018 ELECTION. THAT WAS THE FIRST MIDTERM AFTER TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN HIS FIRST TERM AS PRESIDENT. THAT WAS THE FABLED BLUE WAVE ELECTION HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE THERE WAS JUST A BIG PUSHBACK IN CALIFORNIA TRYING
096TO FLIP THE HOUSE TO REMOVE UNITED GOVERNMENT. THE END RESULT OF THAT WAS YOU HAD THIS TURNOUT AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS, MORE LEFT LEANING VOTERS AND INDEPENDENTS THAT NORMALLY ISN'T THERE THAT WAS THERE IN THAT ELECTION. AND IT WAS LIKE A TIDE THAT FLOATED ALL BOATS. AND SO IT RAISED IT UP, AND YOU HAD MEASURES THAT WERE PASSING THAT CYCLE THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED IN OTHER ELECTION ENVIRONMENTS. THEN YOU HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE, LIKE THE MARCH 2020 ELECTION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GREAT PRIMARY FOR FOR BALLOT MEASURES. AND ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THAT ELECTION, COVID HIT, RIGHT? AND IT JUST SIDESWIPED THAT ELECTION. AND IT WAS THE HANDS DOWN, THE WORST ELECTION FOR REVENUE MEASURES EVER, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE REALLY FEARFUL AND UNCERTAIN
097ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT IF YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR OLD, YOUR PAST BOND YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION, CERTAINLY AS A PRESIDENTIAL, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE HIGHER THE TURNOUT, YOU TEND TO SEE A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE OUTCOME JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING INTO THE POLLS A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT BE THERE IN THE IN OFF YEAR ELECTIONS AND MIDTERM ELECTIONS. BUT WHEN THEY SHOW UP, THEY THEY TEND TO BE MORE FRIENDLY. AND SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF SCHOOL BONDS ON THE BALLOT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL GENERALS. BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS NOVEMBER CYCLE, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS SORT OF THE EARMARKS OF BEING A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ELECTION ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. SO I DON'T KNOW
098IF THAT I'M HAPPY TO, IF I MISSED A PART OF YOUR QUESTION THAT YOU, YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK ON JUST REMIND ME. NO, THAT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING TO ADD? NO, I MEAN, I WOULD AGREE. I THINK NOVEMBER OF 26, WE DON'T HAVE AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR. SO THAT HELPS. AND THEN YEAH, NATIONAL POLITICS REMAIN TO BE SEEN HOW THAT'LL DRIVE TURNOUT. ONE MORE QUESTION IF I CAN. I JUST SO BEFORE WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE SURVEY, WHICH IS I'M HAPPY WE'RE DOING THIS I WAS MORE INCLINED FOR THE 49, BUT THE, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE DONE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE A MORE SECURE, SAFE PRACTICE IS TO GO FOR REGULAR BONDS EVERY SO OFTEN TO KEEP UP OUR FACILITY NEEDS. WE PASSED ONE
099WHERE OTHER DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA HAVE PASSED 4 OR 5. AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT HUGE GAP, LIKE OUR NEEDS WERE GOING THROUGH A FACILITIES MASTER PLAN RIGHT NOW. AND I HAVE A FEELING THE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING BACK TO US AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD PROBABLY GET IN A BOND. SO THE, AND THE 79 MILLION THAT WE GOT LAST TIME, I MEAN, THAT WAS IN 2012, 79 MILLION WOULDN'T GO AS FAR TODAY AS IT WOULD THEN IT'D PROBABLY BE ABOUT 20, 30% LESS. RIGHT? SO THE BUYING POWER IS MUCH LOWER. SO WHAT WAS THE SO YOU SAID LIKE IT WOULD BE LIKE 80 MILLION FOR THE LOWEST THE 28 PER HUNDRED KIND OF. YEAH. BACK THE
100ENVELOPE. ABOUT 80 MILLION FOR THE 28. YEAH. YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED A BOND MEASURE. WE NEED THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR IT. AND I WOULD JUST SAY WHATEVER WE DO TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE, THE POLLING IS FAVORABLE. IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC. SO WHATEVER IN EVERY LEGAL ETHICAL WAY WE CAN SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, THAT INDEPENDENT EFFORT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO PASS BY ITSELF. WE NEED EVERYBODY ON THIS. RIGHT. AND I CAN SAY IN 2012 IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE SURVEY ALL TOLD WAS ABOUT 70%. YES. LEAN. YES. AND YOU FINISHED WITH JUST UNDER 73%. [01:25:03] SO PICKED UP WHAT, THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS ROUGHLY. AND I KNOW THERE WAS A
101PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL YES ON MEASURE B CAMPAIGN. SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY. CAN YOU JUST RESTATE THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU WENT OVER AT THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS. SURE. IT'S KIND OF ROUGHLY 110 MILLION FOR THE $39 TAX RATE AND 80 MILLION FOR 28. AND THEN YOU SAID 135 FOR THE 49, 135 FOR THE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS ONE. IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION IN NOVEMBER THE LA THE COUNTY HAS DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. WHETHER OR NOT CITIES MAY INCREASE THEIR LOCAL TAX. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN WHEN, LIKE, WHAT IS THE RESULT WHEN THERE'S A SCHOOL BOND ON THE BALLOT
102AS WELL AS A CITY TAX? HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THAT? WHAT WERE THE, WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES? YEAH, PRETTY MUCH EVERY ELECTION YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, SOME DEGREE OF OVERLAPPING MEASURES OR COMPETITION. BECAUSE THEY'VE CONSOLIDATED ELECTIONS. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, GONE ARE THE DAYS WHERE YOU'RE THE ONLY THING ON THE BALLOT, RIGHT? YOU'RE GOING TO BE SHARING THE BALLOT WITH OTHER THINGS. AND CERTAINLY DEPENDING ON WHAT COMBINATION OF THINGS IS ON THE BALLOT, BOTH AT THE STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL LEVEL. SOMETIMES IT CAN CREATE A BIT OF A TAILWIND, RIGHT? FOR YOUR MEASURE, SOMETIMES IT CAN CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADWIND FOR YOUR MEASURE. WE HAVE GENERALLY FOUND THOUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN VOTERS ARE CONSIDERING MEASURES, THEY'RE GOOD AT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING EACH
103MEASURE ON ITS OWN MERITS. AND WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE YES ON SOMETHING, THEY ARE MORE APT TO VOTE FOR THEIR LOCAL MEASURE, RIGHT? SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY, LIKE THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THEIR LOCAL CITY MORE SO THAN THEY ARE, SAY, A REGIONAL MEASURE OR COUNTY WIDE MEASURE. THAT WOULD RESULT IN A TAX INCREASE, BUT THERE'S NO SORT OF GUARANTEES THAT THE MONEY STAYS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IT MIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S COUNTYWIDE. THE BENEFITS OF THAT MIGHT BE SPENT IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY. AND SO THE FACT THAT THIS IS ABOUT EDUCATION, WHICH YOUR VOTERS CLEARLY CARE ABOUT, AND IT'S LOCAL TO YOUR COMMUNITY, THAT IS A PLUS. I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY, EVEN AMONG SCHOOLS, WHEN IF
104YOU GET A LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT SPANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, EVEN THERE, SOMETIMES THAT CAN CREATE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIVING ON ONE SIDE OF THE DISTRICT THAT MAY FEEL LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS AROUND MY AREA PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBORING CITY OR TWO CITIES OVER. THAT IS, I'VE SEEN THAT CREATE SOME CHALLENGE FOR SOME OF THESE LARGER, EITHER HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR UNIFIED DISTRICTS. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, POSSIBLY IN TERMS OF SALES TAX, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO CREATE MUCH OF A SORT OF AN ADVERSITY FOR YOUR MEASURE. THANK YOU
105FOR THAT. ANYONE QUESTIONS. COMMENTS. OKAY. HEARING NONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND YOUR VERY GREAT INFORMATION. VERY DETAILED. MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. AND NOW OUR NEXT DISCUSSION ITEM IS THE ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT. MRS ARCUS. GOOD EVENING. AGAIN. TONIGHT WE ARE PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT. THIS PROCESS IS VITAL FOR ENSURING OUR DISTRICT REMAINS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THIS REPRESENTS A YEAR LONG CYCLE OF ACTIVITIES, MEANING THAT ALREADY WE'VE STARTED ON OUR CURRENT YEAR AUDIT IN JUST JUST THIS MONTH. I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR AUDIT PARTNER, JESSICA MILLER FROM NEGRO AND NEGRO AUDIT FIRM. THEY HAVE COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS AND ARE HERE TO PRESENT THEIR INDEPENDENT OPINION.
106 MISS MILLER HAS A DEEP BACKGROUND IN K-12 FINANCE AND AUDITING, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER TO HIGHLIGHT THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS YEAR'S REPORT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE INTRODUCTION. AS WAS SAID, MY NAME IS JESSICA MILLER. I'M A PARTNER WITH NIGRO AND NIGRO, AND WE SERVE AS YOUR INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR. FOR MY PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT ITSELF. AND THEN I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR GO INTO MORE DETAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE. [01:30:02] ACTUALLY, AS WAS JUST SAID, WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THIS CURRENT CYCLE OF THE AUDIT WITH AUDITS HAPPEN IN THREE STAGES FOR OUR FIRM. THEY START OFF WITH WHAT'S
107HAPPENING NOW, WHICH IS THE SITE TESTING PHASE OF THE AUDIT. AT THIS PHASE, WE'RE GOING TO ACTUAL INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SITES. SO WE TAKE A SAMPLE OF YOUR SCHOOL SITES AND WE'RE VISITING THOSE SITES. AND DURING THIS TESTING WE'RE LOOKING AT ATTENDANCE TAKING PROCEDURES AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ASB ACTIVITIES. SO OBVIOUSLY YOUR ATTENDANCE OR YOUR ADA IS A MAJOR DRIVER OF A LOT OF YOUR DIFFERENT FUNDING. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S PROPER PROCEDURES, CONTROLS, CHECKS AND BALANCES WHEN IT COMES TO HOW ATTENDANCE IS BEING TAKEN. THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE INDEPENDENT STUDY AS WELL AS REGULAR IN-CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE. WHEN WE'RE AT THE SCHOOL SITES, WE ALSO LOOK AT ASBS AND WE PULL SAMPLES OF TRANSACTIONS AT THE ASBS AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE THERE'S
108PROPER DOCUMENTATION, APPROVAL, THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR ASB FUNDS. FAST FORWARD A LITTLE BIT. IN KIND OF THE SPRINGTIME OR UP TO EARLY SUMMER, WE DO OUR FIRST DISTRICT OFFICE VISIT. SO WE CALL THIS OUR INTERIM. AT THIS POINT, BOOKS ARE NOT CLOSED FOR THE YEAR. WE'RE NOT AT THE FISCAL YEAR END YET. SO WE AREN'T LOOKING AT FINAL FINANCIAL NUMBERS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE. SO WHEN IT COMES TO CONTROLS, WE'RE DOING A SAMPLE OF TRANSACTIONS ACROSS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND MAKING SURE AGAIN, CHECKS AND BALANCES APPROVAL DOCUMENTATION. WE LOOK AT EXPENDITURES, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S DOCUMENTATION FOR THOSE CASH RECEIPTS COMING IN. THE TIMELINESS, THE KIND OF AUDIT TRAIL OF THAT MONEY COMING IN. WE PULL PAYROLL AND HR TRANSACTIONS
109AND MAKE SURE THERE'S DOCUMENTATION FOR THAT. WE ALSO DO AN EXTENSIVE NUMBER OF QUESTIONNAIRES WITH DIFFERENT STAFF, HAVE THEM KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THEIR PROCEDURES AND SEE IF WE NOTE ANY RED FLAGS DURING THOSE QUESTIONNAIRES. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT COMPLIANCE AT THIS TIME. WE DO BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COMPLIANCE FOR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE. IT'S A ROTATION OF YOUR DIFFERENT MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE LOOK AT YEAR TO YEAR FOR STATE COMPLIANCE. THAT'S DIRECTED BY THE STATE AUDIT GUIDE. AND THIS IS A VERY, I'LL SAY, A LITTLE BIT RANDOM LIST OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT. IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM THE ALLOWABILITY OF A PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE FOR A PROGRAM TO WHETHER OR NOT A NOTICE GETS POSTED BY A CERTAIN DAY OR A POLICY GETS UPDATED
110ANNUALLY, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF DIFFERENT THINGS INVOLVED IN STATE COMPLIANCE. AND ACTUALLY OUR ATTENDANCE TESTING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE AT THIS STAGE IS PART OF STATE COMPLIANCE AS WELL. FAST FORWARD AGAIN, WE COME BACK IN THE FALL. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE AFTER JUNE 30TH, BOOKS ARE CLOSED FOR THE YEAR. AND SO WE'RE REALLY SHIFTING OUR FOCUS TO FINANCIALS, WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH YOUR UNAUDITED ACTUALS. MAKING SURE THE NUMBERS PRESENTED THERE CAN BE TIED OUT TO SUPPORT TO DOCUMENTATION. AND THEY'RE PRESENTED ACCURATELY. THAT'S AGAIN A LITTLE BIT OF COMPLIANCE AND CONTROLS THAT WE WRAP UP WITH AT OUR FINAL VISIT, BUT REALLY MORE OF A FINANCIAL FOCUS AT THAT POINT IN TIME. ALL OF THAT LEADS TO AN AUDIT REPORT, NOT ALWAYS THE MOST EXCITING READING,
111BUT I'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH. STARTS OFF AT THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING OF THE REPORT WITH OUR OPINION LETTER A FEW PAGES AT THE BEGINNING. AND THIS IS A CLEAN OR AN UNMODIFIED OR UNQUALIFIED OPINION. THEY CAN BE CALLED, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WOULD WANT. IT'S SAYING THAT WE AGREE THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS PRESENTED HERE ARE PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL ASPECTS. THAT'S REALLY WHAT THOSE OPENING LETTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT. AFTER THAT, THERE IS WHAT'S CALLED MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. I'LL SOMETIMES CALL IT THE CLIFF NOTES OF THE AUDIT REPORT, ABOUT EIGHT PAGES OR SO THERE. IT GIVES SHORTENED OR CONDENSED VERSIONS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BUT ALSO GIVES CURRENT YEAR AS WELL AS PRIOR YEAR. SO A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT TO
112KIND OF HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THOSE NUMBERS, AS WELL AS SOME VERY, VERY BRIEF EXPLANATIONS OF WHY CERTAIN THINGS WENT UP, CERTAIN THINGS WENT DOWN. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT FIRST SECTION IS. AFTER THAT ARE THE FULL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH ALL THE DETAIL. AND THEN THE BULK OF THE AUDIT REPORT AFTER THAT ARE NOTES. THESE ARE REQUIRED DISCLOSURES ABOUT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES. THERE'S NOTES ABOUT ACTUALLY YOUR BOND MEASURES THAT YOU HAVE CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING, THE DEBT REPAYMENT ON THOSE AND FAIRLY EXTENSIVE NOTES ABOUT PENSION AND OPEB. THE REQUIRED DISCLOSURES IN THOSE AREAS ARE QUITE LENGTHY. ONCE YOU GET PAST THE NOTES, THERE'S ADDITIONAL SCHEDULES IN THE BACK. I WON'T GO THROUGH EACH ADDITIONAL ONE. A LOT OF THEM ON PENSION, A LOT ON OPEB. AGAIN, A
113LOT OF REQUIRED DISCLOSURES WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE. BUT THE ONES THAT ARE USUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTEREST. THERE'LL BE A SCHEDULE OF YOUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR THE YEAR, A BUDGETARY COMPARISON SCHEDULE WITH BUDGET TO ACTUAL, A SCHEDULE OF YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES. AND THEN ALSO ONE OF YOUR FEDERAL AWARDS THAT WERE SPENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO THOSE ARE USUALLY THE ONES OF A LITTLE BIT MORE INTEREST. AND THEN WRAPPING UP WITH THE REPORT AT THE END. THERE'S THREE ADDITIONAL OPINION LETTERS, REALLY KIND OF THAT OPENING LETTER. OUR OVERALL OPINION ON YOUR FINANCIALS. THE ONES IN THE BACK ARE. ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS. THE LETTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT. AND THEN THERE'LL BE ONE FOR FEDERAL COMPLIANCE. AND STATE COMPLIANCE IS HOW THOSE LETTERS ARE LAID OUT
114IN THE VERY BACK. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE GET TO ANY FINDINGS THAT WERE NOTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS, AS WELL AS ANY RESOLUTION TO PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS THAT WERE AND THEN THE VERY, VERY BACK, ANY MANAGEMENT COMMENTS, WHICH ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE LEVEL OF FINDINGS, BUT JUST KIND OF BEST PRACTICE, BEST PRACTICE SUGGESTIONS. IT'S KIND OF HOW WE WRAP IT UP. SO AGAIN, BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR PROCESS AND THE REPORT. BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR GO INTO MORE DETAIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? [01:35:06] OKAY. I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU STATE THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO OUR ADA AND THE WAY THAT WE TAKE ATTENDANCE. CAN YOU SPEAK A
115LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT MEASURES WE NEED TO ADOPT? ASIDE FROM WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE RIGHT NOW? OR MAYBE WE NEED TO CHANGE. OR WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS EXACTLY? SURE. I'LL BREAK OUT THOSE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS ON ATTENDANCE, SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHICH ONE YOU'RE PULLING. THERE WAS AN ACTUAL FINDING FOR ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING. THIS ONE, I WILL SAY IS A LITTLE BIT LESS ON MAYBE THE ATTENDANCE TAKING PROCEDURES AND MORE ON ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF A CLERICAL TYPE OF ISSUES WITH THE OVERALL CALCULATIONS. THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENDANCE THAT FEEDS IN FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND GETS RECALCULATED AND UPDATED. AND IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE EASY TO MISS SMALL UPDATES OR NOT BE ABLE TO GET REVISIONS IN ON TIME. SO I WOULD SAY
116THAT THE FINDING PIECE ITSELF IS NOT NECESSARILY ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE, SAY, AT A SCHOOL SITE LEVEL, MORE OF JUST MAKING SURE ALL THE DATA IS PICKED UP PROPERLY. THAT BEING SAID, THE FINDING ACTUALLY GIVES YOU MORE MONEY. IT DOESN'T TAKE IT AWAY. SO NOBODY LIKES FINDINGS, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET A FINDING, THAT'S THE KIND YOU'D WANT. BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY SAYING SOME SMALL UNDERREPORTING THAT NEEDS TO GET RECOGNIZED. SO IT'S ACTUALLY A FINDING THAT HELPS YOU IN THE VERY, VERY BACK UNDER THE MANAGEMENT COMMENTS, THERE ARE A COUPLE NOTES ABOUT JUST CERTIFICATION TIMELINESS. THIS IS REALLY JUST DEALING WITH TEACHERS WHEN THEY TAKE ATTENDANCE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SIGN OFF ON THOSE ATTENDANCE RECORDS IN A TIMELY BASIS. AND SO WE DID NOTE A FEW INSTANCES WHERE IT WAS
117TAKING LONGER THAN THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF TIME FOR TEACHERS TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY SIGN OFF ON ATTENDANCE. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR REMINDERS OF TIMELY ATTENDANCE. TAKING AND SUBMISSION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. OKAY, SO IT'S MORE OF THE FINDING THAT YOU HAVE FOR US IN HERE IS MORE OF A, THE DISTRICT OFFICE LEVEL. YEAH, THE FINDING THE ATTENDANCE ONE I WOULD SAY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE DISTRICT. IT'S WHEN THEY'RE COMPILING ALL THE INFORMATION FOR THE P TWO AND ANNUAL. SO THOSE ATTENDANCE REPORTING PERIODS JUST MAKING AGAIN, REALLY MORE SMALLER ON THE CLERICAL ERROR TYPE OF THINGS WHERE DIFFERENT THINGS DIDN'T QUITE GET UPDATED ALONG THE WAY. OKAY. AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE TURNING
118IN THEIR ATTENDANCE ON A TIMELY MANNER. YES. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. NO. OTHER QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. I WANTED TO SAY I DID READ THIS ENTIRE REPORT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY AFTER PAGE. 80 SOMETHING. YOU TOTALLY LOST ME. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS REPORT IS REALLY REFLECTING IS YOU'RE GOING IN AND YOU'RE AUDITING SMALL THINGS LIKE CROSSING THE CROSSING THE T'S, DOTTING THE I'S, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT MAKE THINGS FLOW. YES. SO THE GIST. YES, WE'RE, WE'RE GIVING AN OPINION ON YOUR OVERALL FINANCIALS, BUT AS PART OF THAT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR PROPER CONTROLS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN ORDER FOR THOSE FINANCIALS TO BE PRODUCED PROPERLY. SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
119THAT YOU GIVE AND MAYBE THIS IS NOT A YOU QUESTION. MAYBE THIS IS A CABINET QUESTION. THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN IN THIS REPORT, THAT'S THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED OR BEING SOMETHING'S ALREADY BEING DONE OR WE'RE MAKING SURE LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ATTENDANCE QUESTION, I DID SEE IT ON THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE ABLE TO SIGN OFF ON ATTENDANCE AND DATE IT PROPERLY IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND THAT TO ME SEEMS LIKE AN EASY ASK, BUT OR LIKE CHECK IN. HI MY PEOPLE. WELL, BUT I WONDER, HAVE WE ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS? AND THIS WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT NOW THAT THE REPORT IS COMPLETED, AT LEAST ON THIS STAGE. YEAH. ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE IN RESPONSE TO THIS REPORT
120IS WE'VE CONDUCTED SITE VISITS AND PROVIDING TRAINING TO ATTENDANCE CLERKS AT SOMERSET, AND I BELIEVE WE WENT TO BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. WE LOOKED AT STANDARDIZING PROCEDURES ACROSS SITES, INCLUDING ATTENDANCE SYSTEM CONTROLS, WEEKLY TEACHER ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND MONTHLY RECONCILIATION OF ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE CONFIRMED. SO IN RESPONSE TO OUR AUDIT, WE TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AND STARTED WORKING WITH OUR SITES TO BETTER ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AND WORKING INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA WE RECEIVE AND WHAT WE DO WITH IT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AWESOME. I THINK MY ONLY FOLLOW UP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT TRAINING FOR OR REFRESHER COURSES OR THINGS LIKE THAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A BLANKET REFRESHER AT SOME POINT OR IN THE
121BEGINNING OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, FOR NOT JUST PARTICULAR SITES, BUT JUST FOR EVERYBODY OVERALL. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE READING MY, MY NEXT STEPS. SO WE'RE GOING TO SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL SITE VISITS. WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT SPOT CHECK AUDITS BEFORE EXTERNAL AUDITORS COME ON BOARD SO THAT WE CAN HELP OUR SITES UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. [01:40:06] AND IN PARTICULAR OUR NEXT STEP. JUST BECAUSE. INDEPENDENT STUDY IS SUCH KIND OF A DIFFICULT SUBJECT THAT I THINK MOST DISTRICTS ARE COMBATING. SO I DIDN'T I DON'T WANT TO SINGLE US OUT. I WANT TO SAY INDEPENDENT STUDY. YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT IS OUR NEXT STEP AS FAR AS TRAINING. AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD OUR DIRECTOR OF INDEPENDENT STUDY WORK ON SOME, SHE'S ALREADY WORKING WITH CERTAIN SITES. AND
122THE IDEA IS TO COME TO OUR PRINCIPAL MEETING AND TALK ABOUT WHAT INDEPENDENT STUDY PROCEDURES ARE, AND THEN WORK THAT INTO SITE VISITS AND SECRETARIAL, OR I'D SAY CLERICAL SUPPORT THAT IS ACTUALLY PREPARING THESE ATTENDANCE REPORTS AT THE SITES. AWESOME. SO AN ADDITIONAL AND LAST, I PROMISE, LAST QUESTION ABOUT THIS IS THAT SO BASICALLY OVERALL OVERARCHING IS ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT AS A CONCERN OR A RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AND HAVE A STRATEGY PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO ADDRESS IT IN A TIMELY MANNER? YES, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AT THE END OF THE AUDIT REPORT, THEY WILL INCLUDE NEXT YEAR OUR RESPONSES. THEY WILL LOOK AT THESE PARTICULAR THINGS, YOU KNOW, MORE DEEPLY, IF I MAY SAY, OR DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU GUYS DO? YES. SO
123ANYTIME THERE IS A FINDING IN THE REPORT ITSELF, IT'LL LIST ALL THE PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND THAT IT SHOWS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED. NOT IMPLEMENTED. PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED. SO ANYTIME WE DO WRITE A FINDING, WE HAVE TO THEN REASSESS IT THE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE COME BACK AND THEN SHOW THAT. SO IT'S PAGE 88 WAY IN THE BACK. THERE WAS A SINGLE FINDING ACTUALLY THE PRIOR YEAR, AND THAT ONE WAS SHOWING AS IMPLEMENTED IN THIS CURRENT YEAR'S AUDIT REPORT, BECAUSE THAT ONE HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. SO YES, ANYTIME THERE IS A FINDING, WE ARE REQUIRED TO THEN REPORT THOSE WITH A STATUS UPDATE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO WE DO HAVE TO RELOOK AT THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING THIS A
124LITTLE BIT MORE. STILL OVERWHELMING, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THIS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A TEACHER THING. THIS COULD BE A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS. SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ADDRESSED THE CLERICAL STAFF, THE SITES, THE ADMINISTRATORS. I KNOW MY DATA COLLECTOR IS OUT THIS WEEK, SO IT MIGHT STALL THE PROCESS. SO THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT. TEACHERS TAKE ROLE EVERY DAY, BUT THEN THEY SIGN OFF ON THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR MY COLLEAGUES. AND EVERYBODY ELSE. THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO JUMP IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. YEAH. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON
125THE THE FINDING FOR THE ASB FUNDS. HAVE YOU GUYS TALKED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE ME, I WAS A PART OF THE BAND BOOSTER FOR FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND. WELL, THE BAND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAD PRETTY YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE RAN THINGS, IT WAS PRETTY TIGHT. WE DIDN'T HOLD ON TO ANY MONEY AT ALL. IT WAS ALWAYS COUNTED AND AND CHECKED. HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE ASB? ARE THEY DO THEY NEED TRAINING? DO THEY NEED GUIDELINES OR WHAT? SURE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY FINDINGS FOR ASB THIS YEAR. I WILL NOTE SO THE VERY, VERY BACK. JUST A SLIGHT CLARIFICATION. SO THERE'S FINDINGS THAT WERE REPORTED. AND THEN IN THE BACK IS WHAT WE CALL MANAGEMENT COMMENTS. SO THESE
126ARE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T RISEN TO THE LEVEL OF FINDING. BUT THEY ARE THINGS THAT WERE NOTED AS KIND OF MORE OF A BEST PRACTICE. COMMENTS. SO THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING ASB IN SOME AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THEY WEREN'T TECHNICALLY FINDINGS IN THE AUDIT REPORT, IF THAT HELPS CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. SO THOSE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS BEING USED IN THE SAME WAY THE ATTENDANCE INFORMATION IS BEING USED, MEANING WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT. WE'VE ALREADY CREATED A CHECKLIST FOR OUR ASB ACTIVITIES AT EACH OF THE SITES THAT WHEN WE GO OUT, WE'RE KIND OF COMPLETING A MINI AUDIT ON OUR ASB SITES AND LOOKING FOR THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT OUR AUDITORS LOOK FOR, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THINGS THEY NEED TO WORK ON OR WHAT
127THINGS WE NEED IN PLACE. AND SO A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE COME OUT OF THOSE THAT INFORMATION IN THE BACK OF THE AUDIT, WHICH INCLUDES A MORE DETAILED AND KIND OF CHECKLIST FOR THEM. AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PLAN MULTIPLE SCHEDULED VISITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION TO. ANYONE ELSE? NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT REPORT, DOCTOR SIMON. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. OUR LAST DISCUSSION ITEM IS THE MID-YEAR LCAP UPDATE. MRS. CARTER WILL PRESENT THE PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. GOOD EVENING. SO TONIGHT, IN COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESS SERVICES. I'LL BE PROVIDING THE MID-YEAR LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN UPDATE. THE LCAP IS A THREE YEAR PLAN OF WHICH WE ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. [01:45:05] ANNUALLY, WE REVIEW THE
128PLAN WITH EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS AND DETERMINE IF ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. TONIGHT'S REPORT FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. THE UPDATE IS TO BE PROVIDED ANNUALLY PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 28TH AND INCLUDES THE CURRENT STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH ACTION. THE CURRENT EXPENDITURES TO DATE AND OUTCOME DATA FOR EACH METRIC THAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. EXPENDITURES AND IMPLEMENTATION INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED AS NOT STARTED IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETE. SOME METRICS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AS THE INFORMATION IS COLLECTED FROM SOURCES THAT ARE NOT YET COMPLETE OR AVAILABLE, SUCH AS HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY AND THE LCAP SURVEY DATA. AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET OVERVIEW, WHICH WAS JUNE OF LAST YEAR. THE TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE WAS APPROXIMATELY $193
129MILLION. RECEIVED BY FUNDING SOURCES IS LABELED ON THE SLIDE. AS OF JANUARY 31ST, THE PROJECTED REVENUE IS APPROXIMATELY 199 MILLION. THE DIFFERENCE IN FUNDING IS DUE MOSTLY TO CARRYOVER FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ONLINE. OUR PLAN HAS FOUR GOALS AND 27 ACTIONS. THE ACTIONS INCLUDED IN GOAL ONE SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF SAFE, COLLABORATIVE CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING. MORE SPECIFICALLY, ACTIONS PROVIDE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT. DECREASE OF COMBOS, INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND CUSTODIAL OPERATIONS AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND THE ABILITY FOR STAFF TO COLLABORATE AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH PARTICIPATING IN A BROAD COURSE OF STUDY. OF THE 11 ACTIONS, ONE IS COMPLETE AND THE REST ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. FOR GOAL ONE, DATA POINTS ARE COLLECTED IN FIVE STATE
130PRIORITY AREAS BASIC CONDITIONS, STUDENT CONDITIONS, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, SCHOOL CLIMATE AND COURSE ACCESS. BASIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDING HIRING TEACHERS WITH CLEAR CREDENTIALS. PURCHASING STANDARD ALIGNED MATERIALS WERE MAINTAINED AND MAINTAINING GOOD FACILITIES DID DECLINE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. HOWEVER, ALL SCHOOLS REMAIN IN EITHER EXEMPLARY OR GOOD CONDITION AND THE AREA OF STUDENT CONDITIONS WHICH MEASURES STUDENT SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION RATES. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION, IMPLEMENTATION AND PERCEPTION DATA REGARDING THE SAFETY OF SCHOOLS, EIGHT OF 18 OUTCOMES ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. 70% OF THE COMPLETED OUTCOMES ARE FINAL WITH NO IMPROVEMENT AND 30% IMPROVED IN THE AREA OF SUSPENSIONS. SPECIFICALLY, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HOMELESS SUSPENSION RATES DID IMPROVE IN COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS YEARS. STUDENT ENGAGEMENT DATA MEASURES THE RATE OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE. ONE OF 11 METRICS IS STILL IN PROGRESS. HOWEVER, 100% OF THE
131REMAINING METRICS IMPROVED. DATA COLLECTED TO MEASURE SCHOOL CLIMATE, INCLUDING MEASUREMENT OF STUDENT CONNECTEDNESS AT SCHOOL. TEACHERS FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL AND PARENTS FEELINGS OF WELLNESS. WELCOMENESS TO PARTICIPATE AT SCHOOL ARE STILL PENDING AS THE DATA IS COLLECTED THROUGH OUR HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY IN THE AREA, OF COURSE. ACCESS DATA IS COLLECTED TO MEASURE STUDENT DROPOUT RATES, EXPULSION RATES, AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SECOND GRADE STUDENTS BECOMING READERS BY THIRD GRADE. DROPOUT RATES AND EXPULSION RATES HAVE IMPROVED. SECOND GRADE STUDENTS BECOMING READERS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. OVERALL, 68% OF THE FINALIZED METRICS IMPROVED IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR. GOAL TWO INCLUDES TEN ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND ACHIEVEMENT. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE PURCHASING STANDARD ALIGNED MATERIALS, SUPPORTING BEGINNING TEACHERS, SUPPLEMENTAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND OTHER
132PROGRAMS INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, COLLEGE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND BILINGUAL DUAL IMMERSION. IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL ACTIONS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. THE METRICS FOR GOAL TWO MEASURE PROGRESS OF THREE STATE PRIORITIES, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE STANDARDS, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND OTHER STUDENT OUTCOMES THAT INCLUDE PARTICIPATION AND ACHIEVEMENT IN COLLEGE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. DATA COLLECTED TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD IMPLEMENTING STATE STANDARDS, INCLUDING STUDENTS ATTAINING PROFICIENCY OF SCIENCE, MATH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS, SHOWS APPROXIMATELY 91% OF METRICS SHOWING IMPROVEMENT IN STATE TESTING OUTCOMES. OVERALL, SCORES FOR SCIENCE, MATH AND READING IMPROVED, INCLUDING SCORES FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND MATH AND READING. AREAS OF FOCUS FOR IMPROVEMENT INCLUDE HOMELESS AND LONG TERM ENGLISH LEARNERS AND MATH. [01:50:05] ALL IDENTIFIED STUDENT GROUPS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT. MOST OF
133THE OUTCOMES COLLECTED TO MEASURE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, INCLUDING SPRING SEMESTER GRADES AND BENCHMARKS, ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. 76% OF THE COMPLETED METRICS COLLECTED TO MEASURE STUDENT SUCCESS AND OTHER PROGRAMS IMPROVED OR MAINTAINED, INCLUDING 11TH GRADE STUDENTS BEING COLLEGE READY. THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS GRADUATING STATE OR UNIVERSITY READY, THE PERCENT OF AP EXAMS PASSING PASSAGE. ENGLISH LEARNERS AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES GRADUATING PREPARED AND STUDENTS GRADUATING MEETING BOTH E THROUGH G REQUIREMENTS AND EARNING CTE PATHWAY. MOST NOTABLE WAS THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF ENGLISH LEARNERS THAT GRADUATED, MEANING UC CSU REQUIREMENTS DOUBLED. OVERALL, 78% OF THE FINALIZED METRICS IMPROVED IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR. GOAL THREE MEASURES PROGRESS WITH INCREASING PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES. PERCEPTION DATA REGARDING WHETHER TEACHERS BELIEVE THEY ARE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THAT PARENTS BELIEVE
134THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS PROMOTED IN THREE OR MORE PARENT WORKSHOPS ARE BEING PROVIDED BY EACH SCHOOL ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED, ALTHOUGH DATA FOR INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE AND THE WEBSITE ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED. THE CURRENT STATUS OF ALL METRICS HAVE IMPROVED, INCLUDING WEBSITE TRAFFIC, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, INSTAGRAM VIEWS AND CONTENT INTERACTIONS, AS WELL AS YOUTUBE VIEWS AND ARCHIVED CONTENT VIEWS. GOAL FOUR WAS CREATED TO IDENTIFY ACTIONS TO SUPPORT THREE SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE SPECIALIZED FUNDING THIS YEAR DUE TO INSTABILITY OF THEIR STUDENT POPULATION. TO SUPPORT THESE POPULATIONS, SERVICES FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND COLLEGE CAREER READINESS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED. OVER 40% OF THE METRICS COLLECTED FOR THIS GOAL ARE STILL IN PROGRESS. HOWEVER, 92% OF THE REMAINING FINALIZED METRICS DID IMPROVE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, THE LCAP ACTIONS WILL CONTINUE
135TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND METRIC OUTCOMES WILL BE COLLECTED TO DETERMINE DETERMINE PROGRESS IN SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS. THE LCAP SURVEY IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN MARCH. IN MAY, FINAL ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT LCAP WILL BE REVIEWED AND FINAL INPUT WILL BE SOLICITED FOR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS PRIOR TO JUNE, WHEN THE UPDATED LCAP WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE UPDATE FOR TONIGHT. BOARD MEMBERS. VERSE. ONE THING I WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE THE CLASSROOM VISITS. 1037 THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME IN LCAP TWO. I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME OF MY BOARD REPORT AND PUT IT IN THIS. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN FUTURE MEETINGS IS IF WE COULD GET A LITTLE BIT MORE DATA. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT
136OUR TEST SCORES FOR EACH SITE, EACH GRADE LEVEL, EACH DEMOGRAPHIC. OUR PLANS TO MAKE THEM BETTER. AND I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT WE SEE MORE DATA IN THE FUTURE, NO MATTER HOW WE DO IT. WE'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND DONE IT A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT DATA BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE PRELIMINARIES, WE'VE DONE BETTER. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS IT KIND OF RELATES TO THIS LCAP, BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE FRIDAY MEMO REGARDING OUR TEXTBOOKS AND WHERE WE'RE AT. WITH THAT. I SAW A HEALTH BOOK FROM OUR ELEMENTARY THAT'S COPYRIGHTED 2006. I MEAN, COME ON NOW. THAT'S LIKE A LONG TIME.
137AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAKING HEALTH OFF OF THE REPORT CARDS. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION. I KNOW TEACHERS ARE PROBABLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S ONE LESS THING THEY HAVE TO DO, BUT I ALSO THINK HEALTH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT THE RATIONALE IS WITH THAT. IF WE CAN GET THAT ON THE FRIDAY MEMO. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD, WAS THERE SOMETHING. OKAY. PRESIDENT GARZA. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. WHAT ARE WHAT ARE OUR PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT? I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ONCE I CONNECT WITH THE TEAM ON FUTURE PLANNING. I KNOW THERE'S SOME CHANGES AT MAYFAIR. BUT
138I DO NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE TEAM AT B-H-S. QUESTION JUST JUST TO HELP ME OUT HERE WHEN THE, THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PULLED THAT ARE ON THIS PRESENTATION, THEY SHOULD MATCH UP WITH THE BASELINE NUMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL LCAT OR WHAT WOULD THEY. SO IN THE ORIGINAL LCAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE BASELINE, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE YEAR ONE. AND THEN THESE ARE GOING TO BE YEAR TWO THAT WE'LL PUT IN THERE. SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MATCH UP. BUT THE GOAL EVENTUALLY IS THAT WHEN WE CREATED THAT BASELINE WE CREATED A GOAL TO GET TO. [01:55:02] AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET TO THOSE GOALS. OKAY. AND SOME OF THEM, I MEAN, I KNOW I SAW A COUPLE COMPLETE ON THERE, BUT THEN THERE'S SOME
139OF THE ACTIONS LIKE ARE COMPLETE. LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE WEBSITE TRAFFIC, LIKE WE'VE ALREADY HIT THAT GOAL. I KNOW IT'S STILL A LIVING DOCUMENT. WOULD WE CHANGE THOSE GOALS? SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LIKE STRIVE BECAUSE LIKE SOME OF THEM, WE'VE ALREADY LIKE PASSED UP A LOT. YEAH, WE'LL RELOOK AT THAT AND UPDATE OUR BASELINE AND WHERE OUR GOALS ARE AT. AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE HIGHER FROM WHERE WE WERE AT ANYWAYS. BUT ONCE WE DO THE THREE YEAR, WE RESET EVERYTHING. SO THE HIGHER NUMBER WILL BECOME OUR BASELINE. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC? IT'S QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BONNIE THAT YOU SEE IN THE LCAP WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON? WELL, I DON'T
140KNOW THAT IT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WE'RE STALLING IN AND THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. AND OUR ABSENCE RATES, WE WERE DECLINING AT A FASTER RATE, BUT WE'VE SORT OF STALLED THERE A LITTLE BIT. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE AT THE SCHOOL SITES TO TRY TO HELP WITH THAT. AND THEN SUSPENSION AND PBIS IS STILL AN AREA THAT WE'RE WE'RE FOCUSING IN ON. CAN I ADD TO LOOKING AT OUR UC CSU REQUIREMENTS AND THAT RATE, RIGHT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REALLY HITTING HARD AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS EVEN IN HOW WE PROGRAM KIDS, OUR OUR SCHOLARS, EXCUSE ME, OUR MASTER SCHEDULING. SO REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE ASPECTS. THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE AREA THAT WE WANT
141TO INCREASE AND ELEVATE. OKAY. WHAT ABOUT EXPULSION RATE? WELL, OUR EXPULSION RATE IS LOW. AND SO IS THAT AN AREA THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE IN OR NO. HAVE WE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR EXPULSION RATE? OH ABSOLUTELY. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE IT WAS AT 1% AND NOW WE'RE AT BELOW 1%. IT DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER. IT'S LIKE ZERO. YEAH. THERE'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF ROOM THERE. THE BASELINE WAS 1%. THEN IT WAS LIKE THE GOAL IS TO DECREASE IT BELOW 1%. EXACTLY. SO BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. I KNOW, I THINK WE PRETTY MUCH HAD A RECORD LOW EXPULSION RATE AT THE MOMENT, RIGHT? YEAH. KNOCK ON KNOCKING ON WOOD. YEAH. WE ARE IN DROP OUTS THE
142SAME. WE'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB IN THAT AREA AS WELL. AND THEN JUST FOR YOUR BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE EXPULSION RATE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ON THERE AGAIN. THERE ARE CERTAIN METRICS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN HERE. YEAH. I WAS JUST SETTING YOU UP FOR A HIGHLIGHT. THANK YOU BONNIE. YEAH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? NO. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS MYSELF. SO HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING THIS PROGRESS TO PARENTS RIGHT NOW? WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES. SO OUR DAC HAS SEEN THIS DATA. OUR PAC HAS AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE IN THIS ONE BECAUSE OUR MEETINGS WERE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. SO WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR ADVISORY AND THEN OUR SCHOOL SITE SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME AT THEIR SCHOOL SITES WITH THEIR
143PARENT ADVISORY GROUPS. OKAY. AND THEN DO WE HAVE THIS UPDATED INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL? THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE ONCE THIS MEETING IS OVER. YEAH. SO ANYONE CAN GO IN THERE AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ABSOLUTELY. THEY'LL SEE THIS SLIDE DECK UP THERE. OKAY, PERFECT. IF ANY OF THE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT, WHO SHOULD THEY REACH OUT TO? THEY CAN REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE. YOUR OFFICE? PERFECT. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR. ALL OUR INFORMATION FROM OUR DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS ON OUR WEBSITE ALREADY UP AND RUNNING. EVERYTHING'S GOOD. RIGHT? SO PEOPLE CAN GO AHEAD AND REACH OUT TO MISS CARTER'S OFFICE IF THEY NEED TO. YES THEY CAN. OKAY. HER DIVISION IS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE WITH HER NAME. NO PICTURE YET,
144BUT HER NAME IS ON THERE. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU. SEE. I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ABOUT HAS ANY HAVE WE HAD ANY UNEXPECTED CHANGES IN THE STATE FUNDING THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR LCAP AT THIS MOMENT? SO IN THIS MID-YEAR PRESENTATION, WE WERE ABLE TO UPDATE ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT WE KNOW FOR THIS YEAR. WITH THE I'LL BE DOING SECOND INTERIM AT MARCH 12TH MEETING AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME UPDATES FROM THE STATE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS BUDGET IN JANUARY, [02:00:01] AND IT DOES SHOW SOME REDUCED COLAS AND REDUCED COLAS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE AND THEREFORE IMPACT OUR SUPPLEMENTAL CONCENTRATION DOLLARS. AND I'LL BE GOING OVER THOSE PROJECTIONS AT OUR MARCH 12TH MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW. I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR HELP.
145 AND ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING ON THIS. SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS OUR LAST DISCUSSION. OKAY. CORRECT. SO WE'RE ON TO MAJOR ACTION NOW. WE HAVE ONE MAJOR ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING ON THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION [12. MAJOR ACTION] DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. 2026. THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE SELECTION OF SIX CANDIDATES. THE FIRST ONE IS JOHN CONTRERAS S FROM EL RANCHO USD. ESTHER MEJIA, EL RANCHO, US D TYRONE CONDE FROM DOWNEY, USD. ALICIA MIGNANO FROM SANTA MONICA, MALIBU, USD. AND PHILLIPS LAWNDALE, ISD. LINDA SALDANA FROM DOWNEY, USD. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. QUESTION PRESIDENT GARCIA IN WHAT MONTH? AND IT MIGHT BE AN ELAINE QUESTION IN WHAT MONTH DO WE HAVE AN APPLICATION
146FOR THIS? BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF WE MISS IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS OR IF WE DON'T SEE IT, BUT IF WE HAVE A MONTH OR NEXT TIME IT COMES UP, YOU CAN JUST, HEY, LOOK AT THIS. THIS, WE WANT ONE OF OUR PEOPLE ON THERE INSTEAD OF DOWNEY HAVING TWO PEOPLE ON THERE. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE MONTH. I KNOW IT WAS I WANT TO SAY MAYBE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. OKAY. OKAY. I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION PLEASE. SO THAT NEXT YEAR WE DON'T MISS IT. WE REALLY WANT SOMEONE ON. ANY. I DIDN'T SAY I WANTED TO BE ON. I JUST SAID WE NEED SOMEONE ON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
147OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SIX SELECTED CANDIDATES FOR THE CSB DELEGATE ASSEMBLY 2026. YOU HAVE THAT MOTION SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. STUDENT MEMBER I MISS ARMSTRONG, I MISS STEWART, I MISS CINTRON, I MR. CRITCHFIELD, I MISS GARZA, I. NOW WE'RE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. [13. CONSENT AGENDA] DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS TO WITHHOLD FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? NO. HEARING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. STUDENT MEMBER. I MISS ARMSTRONG, I MISS STEWART, I MISS CINTRON, I MR. CRITCHFIELD, I MISS GARZA, I. NOW ON TO BOARD COMMUNICATIONS. [14. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS] WE WILL START WITH STUDENT BOARD MEMBER JBK. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN UP HERE IN A WHILE, SO IF
148I CAN REMEMBER HOW TO DO THIS I'LL START BROAD AND THEN KIND OF NARROW IT DOWN SO I CAN SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST. FOR STARTERS, I'VE BEEN AT THE DISTRICT'S GUIDING COALITION MEETING SINCE I WANT TO SAY JANUARY 9TH. IT'S A GROUP MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S MYSELF, THERE'S PRESIDENT GARZA, VICE PRESIDENT CHRIS FIELD DOCTOR SIMON, DOCTOR SMITH. MISS CARTER, I THINK. OKAY. MISS ARCUS AND A BUNCH OF OTHER DIFFERENT MEMBERS. WE HAVE TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS CLASSIFIED STAFF, COUNCILORS, A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR VISION IS AS A DISTRICT BECAUSE TIMES ARE CHANGING AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EVOLVE WITH THOSE TIMES TO BECOME
149A BETTER DISTRICT. SO I REALLY ENJOY THAT. WE'VE GOTTEN A BUNCH OF THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT IDEAS TOGETHER. SO WE ALL HAVE ONE UNIFIED VISION. ON WHAT'S LAST FRIDAY 20TH. YES. FEBRUARY 20TH. WAS IT LAST FRIDAY? OKAY. I THINK FEBRUARY 20TH. MAYFAIR HAD THEIR BLACK HISTORY MONTH JAZZ RENAISSANCE. IT WAS FILLED WITH GOOD MUSIC. GOOD WORDS FROM MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MUSIC FROM OUR MARCHING BAND. WE HAD CLUBS, VENDING ART ACADEMY SKILLS, A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CLUBS. IT WAS JUST A NICE EVENT OVERALL. JUST NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, COME TOGETHER, SUPPORT AND LISTEN TO A GOOD ADVICE. AND MY LAST LAST ITEM WAS OUR SKILLS USA COMPETITIONS. [02:05:04] THOSE HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH
150OF, THROUGHOUT LATE JANUARY AND MID-FEBRUARY. WE HAD A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COMPETITORS AND THE SCORES WERE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT ON THE 20TH, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT A WHOLE THREE DAYS. SO WE DIDN'T COME OUT ON THE 20TH. THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT AT THREE, BUT THEY DIDN'T. SATURDAY WE WERE WAITING. SUNDAY WE WERE WAITING. AND THEN MONDAY OUT OF NOWHERE AT LIKE 8 A.M., THE SCORES DROPPED AND WE HAVE AN ASTOUNDING 53 COMPETITORS QUALIFIED FOR STATE COMPETITIONS, INCLUDING MY TEAM, WHICH WE COMPETED IN VIDEO NEWS PRODUCTION. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR SKILLSUSA COMPETITORS FROM BELLFLOWER, MAYFAIR, A BUNCH OF ALL THE SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT COMPETED AND PUT THEIR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS AND ALL THAT TIME INTO COMPETING.
151AND YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT GARZA. I'LL GO REALLY QUICK THROUGH THIS. I ATTENDED THE BELLFLOWER HIGH SCHOOL NAVIGATION NIGHT, I ATTENDED AN EVENT THAT WAS HOSTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB. IT WAS AN EMPOWERING WOMEN TO LEAD. IT WAS WHERE THEY HAD DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. FIONA MA AND BETTY YI WAS THERE, SO THEY HAD A NICE LITTLE CONFERENCE THERE AND I ATTENDED A CIF MIXER. AND THAT'S WHERE I GUESS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DO ALL THE LITTLE MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS FOR, I GUESS THE SPORTS THEY MET. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET A BUNCH OF NEW PEOPLE AND SEEING HOW THEY WORK TO, I GUESS, MAKE DECISIONS FOR CIF STUFF. SO IT WAS JUST NEW TO ME AND I DID MY LITTLE BROWN ACT
152TRAINING. I ALSO WENT TO THE CHEER COMPETITION. HOWEVER, I DID MISS THE, MAYFAIR KIDS BECAUSE I DIDN'T I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME THEY WENT ON AND IT WAS THE WHOLE WEEKEND, BUT I WAS UP THERE FOR MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE'S A CHEERLEADER ALSO. AND OH BOY, I WAS CAPTIVATED TOO, YOU KNOW SO I LOVE CHEERING ANY. AND I ALSO WENT TO SCHOOLYARD RAP. THEY HAD THEY HAD A SHOW IN LA AT THE WILSHIRE EBELL THEATER. I REALLY ENJOYED IT. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING A FULL SHOW AND I MET WITH ONE OF THE LADIES FROM LAUSD AND SHE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW, HOW SHE USES THE L O P FUNDS TO FUND IT. AND IT'S FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL TYPE PROGRAM. SO, YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBER STEWART, YOU'VE
153YOU'VE SEEN SCHOOLYARD RAP, I MEAN, THE WHOLE SHOW. AMAZING. SO WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT LATER AND SEE IF WE CAN BRING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO OUR, TO OUR STUDENTS. VERY EDUCATIONAL. HE HAS CURRICULUM, ETHNIC CURRICULUM FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE. BLACK CHINESE. AND NATIVE AMERICANS. SO HE COVERS A LOT. HE'S BEEN GROWING. EVERY TIME I SEE THIS YOUNG MAN, HE'S EXPANDING MORE AND MORE. SO, YOU KNOW, SO I'M GLAD I GOT A CHANCE TO TO FINALLY SEE A FULL SHOW. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER ARMSTRONG. BOARD MEMBER. STEWART. MINE'S VERY LENGTHY. I'M SORRY. I'M GLAD YOU'RE SO SHORT. GOOD EVENING. BEFORE I TELL YOU WHAT I'VE DONE. I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO SEBASTIAN LEWIS, SENIOR AT BUFFALO HIGH SCHOOL, FOR WINNING THE
1542026 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LEGACY MAKER. I REMEMBER SEEING SEBASTIAN AT A FOOTBALL GAME LAST YEAR, AND HE WAS RUNNING AROUND WITH THE BUCCANEER FLAG. IF YOU'VE SEEN HIM, HE RUNS BACK AND FORTH AND I TOLD MRS. CUMMINGS I NEED HIS ENERGY AND SHE ASKED ME IF I HAD EVER MET HIM AND I SAID NO. SO SHE INTRODUCED US AND SHE TOLD ME HOW FABULOUS HE WAS AND HOW MUCH SCHOOL SPIRIT HE HAD, AND JUST WHAT A GREAT KID HE WAS. AND SHE WAS SO RIGHT. HE WENT ON TO WIN HOMECOMING KING. SOME OF US DROVE TWO HOURS TO THE CIF FOOTBALL GAME IN SAO PAULO, AND I PULL UP AND WHO DO I SEE? SEBASTIAN WITH COACH MILLER'S WIFE AND THEIR FAMILY. AND IT WAS AWESOME. HE WAS THERE CHEERING US
155ON. AND EVEN MRS. CARTER AND I SAW HIM AT THE COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR, AND HE WAS JUST TELLING US ALL ABOUT HIS BAKING. HE HAD A 4.0 GPA. I MEAN, HE WAS JUST HIGHLIGHTING HIMSELF AND I LOVED IT. IT WAS SO AWESOME. SO I'M SO PROUD OF HIM, HIS CONFIDENCE AND THE PRIDE HE HAS IN HIMSELF. HE TRULY BELIEVES IN HIMSELF AND HE HAS SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO SEBASTIAN AND HIS FAMILY. JANUARY 27TH, I MET WITH PRESIDENT JOHN YOUNG AND WE ONLY TALKED ABOUT A FEW THINGS THIS VISIT, [02:10:05] BUT ONE WAS JUST ABOUT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF. AND I DID TALK WITH DOCTOR SIMON ABOUT THIS, JUST CONTINUING TO MAKE COMMUNICATION A OF PRIORITY. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
156THAT WHEN WE'RE GIVING THINGS OUT OR THINGS ARE BEING DONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE PAST THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT AND COMMUNICATE THAT. AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE THAT AND NOT BE SO CONFUSED WHEN SOME NEW THINGS APPEAR. SO I HOPE WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON COMMUNICATION. JANUARY 30TH, I WENT TO SEE MY FIRST MUSICAL PERFORMANCE OF BEETLEJUICE, AND IT WAS, AS ALWAYS, SO IMPRESSIVE. THE CAST WAS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE COLLAPSE POSTER TO THE PROPS. THAT WAS REALLY COOL. MR. SAUNDERS ALWAYS DOES AN AMAZING JOB, WHICH HE FOREVER CREDITS TO HIS STUDENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO CREATE AND JUST GO WITH IT, AND I LOVE THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK IN KEEPING US ENTERTAINED EVERY YEAR. NEXT YEAR
157IS FOOTLOOSE AND I CANNOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN. FEBRUARY 4TH I WENT TO THE FAIR AT MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR THEIR BAKED GOODS AND TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS. THEY HAD SUCH WONDERFUL FOOD AND MAKING MONEY FOR THEIR PROGRAMS, SO THAT WAS AWESOME. THANK YOU DOCTOR MORGAN AND HER STAFF FOR HOSTING A GREAT EVENT. AND THANK YOU TO PTA FOR, AS ALWAYS BEING THERE TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. FEBRUARY 10TH AND 11TH I ATTENDED A COHORT FOR SAFE AND CIVIL. I JUST WANT TO TRY TO EDUCATE A LITTLE BIT AND EXPLAIN MTS TO OUR PUBLIC AND TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT. BRAD. BUT MTS IS OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM FOR SUCCESS. AND WE LOOKED AT SLEEP HEALTH. SO WE KNOW THIS DIRECTLY
158AFFECTS STUDENT ATTENDANCE. SO WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MTS. SO THEY ASKED OUR GROUP TO GO TO ONE TIERS. TIER ONE WOULD BE YOU FALL ASLEEP RELATIVELY QUICKLY. YOU STAY ASLEEP MOST OF THE NIGHT. YOU REGULARLY GET EIGHT HOURS MORE OF SLEEP. TIER TWO WOULD BE YOU HAVE TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP. YOU HAVE TROUBLE STAYING ASLEEP. YOU MAY GET A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT. AND THEN TIER THREE, YOU HAVE REGULAR BOUTS OF INSOMNIA. YOU GET LESS THAN SIX HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT, AND YOU SOMETIMES USE YOUR DAYS OFF FOR WEEKENDS AND TO CATCH UP ON SLEEP. I'M PRETTY SURE YOU CAN GUESS WHAT TIER I WAS IN. SO TIER ONE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT
159THAT, AS FAR AS STUDENTS, THEY DON'T REALLY NEED MUCH INTERVENTION BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SLEEPING WELL. TYPICALLY 80% OF THOSE STUDENTS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY. THE SUPPORTS FOR TIER ONE WOULD BE MORE UNIVERSAL FOR ALL STUDENTS BECAUSE SLEEP IS IMPORTANT, BUT THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. TIER TWO. THEY MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP. SO IT WOULD BE DESIGNATED FOR MAYBE THAT 5 TO 10% OF STUDENTS WHO FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY. WE COLLABORATED WITH THE TIER ONE PARTICIPANTS, AND WE GOT IDEAS FROM THEM TO JUST HELP THEM MAINTAIN GOOD SLEEP. AND WE OFFERED SUGGESTIONS DIRECTLY TO THEM AS A WHOLE GROUP. TIER THREE, WHICH AGAIN WAS ME, NEEDS A LOT OF HELP. SO WE CREATED AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN FOR THOSE PEOPLE. WE HAD GOALS.
160WE HAD SPECIFIC THINGS TO DO FOR THAT PERSON TO CHANGE THEIR HABITS. GOING TO BED AT REGULAR TIMES, STAYING OFF THE PHONE A FEW HOURS BEFORE BED, NOT EATING OR DRINKING LIQUIDS BEFORE BED, BLACKOUT CURTAINS, NOISE REDUCTION. SO THEY WERE INDIVIDUAL PLANS. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE TIERS, THAT'S HOW MSS WORKS. YOU HAVE YOUR STRATEGIES FOR THE MAJORITY, BUT THERE'S MORE FOCUS ON THE TIER TWO AND THEN JUST INDIVIDUAL PLANS FOR THE TIER THREE. SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE WHEN THEY USE THAT ANALOGY OF THE SLEEP, IT REALLY HIT ME AND I WAS REALLY ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, SLEEP HEALTH IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR ABSENTEEISM. SO IT'S GREAT THING TO REMIND OUR STUDENTS, THE FOUR MAIN REASONS STUDENTS
161ARE ABSENT ARE HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, FINANCIAL CONCERNS, AND FAMILY OBLIGATIONS. SO I HOPE THIS HELPS EVERYONE UNDERSTAND JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MSS. AND SO YEAH, THAT WAS AWESOME. ONE THING I DID WANT TO ASK AND I'M MEETING WITH DOCTOR SIMON NEXT WEEK IS WE CREATED A CHART AND WE DID IT IN LIKE TEN MINUTES. AND IT WAS BASICALLY ON OUR CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. WE HAD THE NUMBERS OF DAYS OF SCHOOL. WE'VE BEEN THERE. WE HAD THE PERCENTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. WE HAD ALL EIGHT OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS GO IN REALLY QUICKLY, PUNCH IN THE NUMBERS AND WE GOT OUR TIER ONE, TWO AND THREE WITHIN LIKE TEN MINUTES. IT WAS SO EASY TO DO. SO. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THAT DATA IN THE
162FUTURE, ESPECIALLY AT SITES WHERE IT REALLY DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG. AND I DON'T THINK IT ADDED A LOT TO OUR PLATE THAT DAY. OKAY, SO FEBRUARY 11TH, I ATTENDED THE COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR. THANK YOU TO GILL, DEIRDRE AND OTHERS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I APPRECIATE THIS AND I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THIS. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. FEBRUARY 17TH. I ATTENDED THE FACILITIES MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY. FEBRUARY 21ST I MET WITH PRESIDENT GARZA AND WE WERE ABLE TO TALK FOR A FEW HOURS ABOUT JUST THE NEXT YEAR WITH HER LEADING. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ASKING TO MEET WITH ME AND TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME ABOUT JUST ANYTHING THAT I HAD TO TALK TO YOU. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT
163WAS IT. THE ONLY LAST THING IS I KNOW I THREW THIS OUT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS YOU GUYS TOOK IT, BUT I REALLY, WITH THE BUDGETS AND US SLIMMING AND TAKING THINGS DOWN, I TALKED ABOUT DATA AND I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO IF YOU WOULD REALLY WHOLEHEARTEDLY THINK [02:15:06] ABOUT AN APPEAL, SEE WITH OUR TEACHERS, PUT SOME CHART PAPER UP THERE. WHAT ARE PROGRAMS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT? WHAT ARE PROGRAMS YOU HARDLY USE? YOU CAN GET DATA IN 10 TO 20 MINUTES. SOMEONE COULD RUSH IT OVER TO YOU, AND WE WOULD HAVE SO MUCH DATA FROM EVERY SCHOOL SO QUICKLY. I KNOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR PROGRAMS OF WHAT WE WANT TO CUT, I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, SO I HOPE THAT WE
164WILL CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER STEWART. BOARD MEMBER CINTRON. GOOD EVENING ALL. AS YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO KEEP MY REPORTS SHORT AND SWEET. I DID HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT I HEARD ABOUT AND SAW ABOUT. AND OF COURSE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HOW HARD THE CABINET AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT ARE WORKING, OUR TEACHERS, OUR COUNSELORS AND EVERY LEVEL OF ADMIN THAT'S WITHOUT SAYING, EVERY WEEK. OF COURSE, HERE'S WHAT'S ON TOP OF MIND FOR FOR ME JUST THIS WEEK. HAVE I BEEN BOMBARDED BY COMMUNITY CALLS, PARENTS TEXT MESSAGES AS WELL ABOUT THE SAFETY AT OUR SCHOOLS. AND I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST BASED ON THE COMMITTEE THE, THE
165COMMITTEE REPORT THAT VICE CHAIR CRITCHFIELD GAVE EARLIER, WE ARE TAKING SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY ON OUR CAMPUSES. AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE UPDATED, YOU KNOW, DAILY WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS WE MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW UP, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE ALWAYS GO TO OUR CABINET AND ASK, BUT THERE IS SOME TIME THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO INVESTIGATE WHY IT IS THINGS HAPPEN, WHERE DID THEY COME FROM AND THEN HOW WE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SO I HOPE THAT OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY CAN JUST BE SLIGHTLY MORE PATIENT WITH US, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING THIS WEEK. TO GIVE SOME KIND OF SAFETY REPORT OR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PARENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT
166THEIR CHILD IS SAFE ON CAMPUS, THAT WE TAKE THINGS TOWARDS OUR STAFF VERY SERIOUSLY. WE'RE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, CROSSING EYES. AND I MEAN, YOU COULD TELL I'M TIRED. I AM CROSSING T'S AND DOTTING I'S. WE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILY HERE. AND SO EVEN NOW THAT I'M ON THE DAIS. I WAS GETTING A LOT OF TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT IF ANY OF US WERE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. CAN'T GO INTO GREAT DETAIL, UNFORTUNATELY. IT JUST CANNOT HAPPEN. WE HAVE TO RESPECT, YOU KNOW, THE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE A PART OF ANY SITUATIONS THAT WERE ON ANY OF OUR CAMPUSES. HOWEVER, FOR THOSE THAT KNOW, THEY KNOW, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING IGNORED OR NOT BEING LISTENED TO. WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING EVERYTHING. AND OUR CABINET
167IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS GET GETTING TAKEN CARE OF. AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE, AND I WILL SAY THAT THAT CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR HARD WORKING STUDENTS THAT GOT TO C I F IF IT WASN'T THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR SUPPORT STAFF THAT ALSO GOT THEM THERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER. CRITCHFIELD. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. A FEW THINGS. SO FEBRUARY 3RD, SCHOOL SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. FEBRUARY 4TH. I GOT TO GO TO MAYFAIR BECAUSE I HAD THE SIXTH GRADE WELCOME EVENT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AT THAT CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WELCOMING AND THE STAFF AND ALL THE STUDENTS ALL THE SIXTH GRADERS THAT THAT WERE THERE
168WERE SUPER EXCITED. I KNOW MY DAUGHTER WAS SUPER EXCITED. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN GO TO SLEEP. SHE WAS SO EXCITED. AND THEN JUST A COUPLE DAYS LATER, I GOT TO DO I WAS SHADOWING DOCTOR MORGAN AND ACCOMPANIED BY DOCTOR SIMON. IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYTHING ON CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY THE AVID WORK BEING DONE. I GOT TO SIT IN SOME OF THE INTERVENTION CLASSES AND HEAR FROM STAFF ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I HEAR ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING RESTROOM ACCESSIBILITY MONITORING SAFETY AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE THERE. [02:20:04] SO I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE BETTER GOING FORWARD. SO THAT WAS COOL. BUT THAT VISIT WAS CUT SHORT BY THE
169WALKOUT. I WAS THERE FOR, FOR THAT. AND I, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ON CAMPUS BECAUSE ALTHOUGH MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WOULD BE OUR STUDENTS ARE ON CAMPUS DURING CLASS TIME, I WILL SAY I WAS REALLY, FIRST OF ALL, I WAS NERVOUS AND SCARED FOR THE STUDENTS BECAUSE JUST BEING OUT THERE BUT EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY DOCTOR MORGAN AND DOCTOR SIMMONS RIGHT THERE, JUST THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION AND CARE FROM OUR, OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY ON THAT CAMPUS TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS WERE SAFE AS THEY EXPRESS THEMSELVES. AND I WILL SAY BEING THERE, EVEN WHEN THEY CAME TO CITY HALL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS REALLY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES WITH, WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF MATURITY. AND I THOUGHT I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THAT REGARD AND PROUD
170OF THEM FOR EXPRESSING THEMSELVES. AND IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT WAS OVER, I COULD RELAX A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS INCREDIBLY NERVOUS DURING IT. BUT JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY ON THAT CAMPUS AND EVERYBODY FROM THE, THE SECURITY BLACK KNIGHT, OUR, OUR SECURITY AND ALSO OUR PARTNERS AT THE LAKEWOOD SHERIFF'S STATION AND CITY COUNCIL AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD. EVERYBODY REALLY CAME OUT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS WERE SAFE. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE ALL APPRECIATE. LET'S SEE. COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPO ON FEBRUARY 11TH, FEBRUARY 17TH, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION, FOR FACILITIES ABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH IS ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS EVERY YEAR. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IN THREE YEARS I DIDN'T CRY. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR
171STORIES AND THERE'S ONE STUDENT THAT ALWAYS GETS ME BUT IT'S JUST A VERY TOUCHING EVENT. AND THIS ONE, I DIDN'T CRY BECAUSE IT WAS SO FUN BECAUSE THEY REALLY CHANGED HOW THEY DID IT. THEY DID IT. IT WAS MORE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. AND ALL THE STUDENTS GOT THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE, THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES FACE. SO IT WAS A REALLY FUN EVENT, BUT IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY OUR ENTIRE TEAM. BUT ANNE MARIE SHARP, THE ENTIRE UNIFIED PROGRAM THAT'S EVERYBODY. I MEAN, EVEN WITH LIKE OUR NEW MOU FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE DONE A LOT IN JUST A FEW YEARS. AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN NOT JUST LIKE PREACHING INCLUSION AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT ON
172THAT CAMPUS AND DISTRICT WIDE, I THINK WE'RE WALKING THE WALK. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET'S SEE, LAKEWOOD YOUTH HALL OF FAME. CONGRATS TO ALL OF OUR ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. AND I WILL DO ONE CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS SOMETHING SAID ABOUT CUTTING A WRESTLING PROGRAM. WE'RE NOT CUTTING OUR WRESTLING PROGRAM. WE'RE NOT CUTTING OUR WRESTLING. THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE ABOUT CPU CUTTING THE WRESTLING PROGRAM. I GOT A CALL FROM A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SAYING, HEY, YOU GUYS CUT YOUR WRESTLING PROGRAM. I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, NO, NO, I'LL BRING IT UP IN MY BOARD REPORT. WE'RE NOT CUTTING IT WRESTLING PROGRAM. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THEM AND ESPECIALLY OUR GIRLS WRESTLING TEAM, WHICH
173ARE SOME OF THEM ARE AT STATE FINALS RIGHT NOW. AND FOR WINNING SYF. IT'S HUGE. YOU GUYS JUST AREN'T GOING TO APPLAUD. THAT'S COOL. AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 24TH. AND LET'S SEE. OH, YEAH. BOARD MEMBER STEWART BROUGHT UP THE, THE HEALTH STUFF. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS SUPER IMPORTANT. AND I DO THINK WHEN IT COMES TO, WE TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT HEALTH IS AND WE ARE IN THE EDUCATION BUSINESS. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND COUNSELING AND ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT WHEN ESPECIALLY IN THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A TEXTBOOK FROM 2006, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WHAT VAPING, RIGHT? AND IF YOU HAVE A BOOK THAT NEVER EVEN
174BRINGS IT UP, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING DROPPED INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR JOB, FRANKLY, TO EDUCATE THEM ON THESE THINGS. 2006, I DON'T THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MUCH TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA OR MENTAL HEALTH OR THINGS THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM. SO I'M FAR LESS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE GRADE THESE THINGS AND MORE THAT WE ARE TEACHING THEM. SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT AND DEFINITELY LOOK INTO. [02:25:06] THAT'S IT. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO AS QUICKLY AS I CAN THROUGH THESE THE SIX. DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE? GO AHEAD. OH, NO. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE STUDENT DISCIPLINE BECAUSE I HAD IT ON MY
175NOTES. I, I DO THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE MADE SO MANY INTERVENTIONS POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE YOU KNOW, A DECLINING EXPULSION RATE. BUT I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE ALLOW AND HOW WE SET A STANDARD FOR BEHAVIOR, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS NEED TO LOOK AT. AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE SOME THINGS ARE JUST TOO FAR. AND NO MATTER, YOU KNOW, KIDS NEED CONSEQUENCES. AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, ME AND I DON'T DON'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE, BUT I THINK THAT THE FIGHTS CAN'T HAPPEN ON CAMPUS. YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THE VIDEOS. THAT'S JUST THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT ON OUR ON OUR CAMPUSES ANYWHERE. AND I THINK THAT WE
176ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE ALLOW ON OUR CAMPUSES WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. ON THE PERIMETER, ON THE, ON THE CAMPUS WITH, WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND, AND WITH STAFF. YEAH. SORRY, THAT WAS MY BOARD MEMBER CRITCHFIELD. VICE PRESIDENT CRITCHFIELD. SO I ALSO ATTENDED THE GUIDING COALITION MEETING. IT'S. WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK IN THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE WHO'S TOOK A WHOLE DAY OFF TO DO THAT WITH US. THE, ON THE NINTH, I WAS ABLE TO GO VISIT BAXTER PILE AND I'LL SAY THANK YOU TO THEIR STAFF AND ALSO THOSE PRINCIPALS WHO ALLOWED ME TO COME IN AND JUST SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING. I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE OFF A COUPLE MORE DAYS
177OFF, SO THAT WAY I CAN GET TO ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYONE. AND THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE 10TH, THE CAREER FAIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE 17TH AS WELL FOR THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN. LUFT SEEING. YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY COME OUT AND GIVE THEIR INPUT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. ALSO ON THE 11TH, BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT. COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPO WAS THERE AS WELL. LOVED SEEING OUR KIDS HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO GIVE TO GET INFORMATION. THE 23RD THE LAKEWOOD YOUTH HALL OF FAME BANQUET. GREAT NIGHT FOR OUR KIDS AND MAYFAIR HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR SUCCESS IN SPORTS. AND LIKE, YOU KNOW, BOARD
178MEMBER CRITCHFIELD SAID, WE'VE GOT THE GIRLS WRESTLING TEAM AT CIF RIGHT NOW, SO GOOD LUCK TO THEM. AND THEN ALSO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE TO ME BY ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS WHO WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE BLACK KNIGHT AT THIS MOMENT PATROLLING OUR CAMPUSES OUTSIDE. IT WAS VERY HELPFUL WHEN THEY HAD A TRANSIENT ON THEIR CAMPUS, AND IT WAS DEALT WITH HUMANELY AND RESPECTFULLY. SO THANK YOU TO THEM. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB FOR OUR DISTRICT. SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, LET ME GO BACK TO MY SCRIPT. [15. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS] DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SORRY, INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THIS EVENING? THEY ARE ABOUT MASTER 15.1 MASTER TEACHER SERVICES AND 15.2 REQUEST FOR
179SECONDARY FIELD LEARNING EXPERIENCE. NO QUESTIONS. OKAY. IF THE BOARD WILL NOT. SORRY. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 9:14 P.M. UNTIL THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026. HAVE A NICE EVENING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.