001Okay. Well, good afternoon uh and welcome to the special board meeting for the Colton J Unified School District Board of Education on today, August 5th. Um appreciate everybody joining us today. We'll go ahead and open our meeting as we do every meeting. We're going to start with our roll call. So, I'll ask Miss Medina if you'll please call roll. >> Mr. Mr. Bara >> present. >> Mrs. Haro >> present. >> Miss Thorinoa >> present. >> Mr. Fuentes >> present. >> Mrs. Flores >> present. Mr. Flores >> present. All right. And we will begin with the pledge of allegiance. So I'm going to have to ask Dr. Ortiz if you wouldn't mind leading us in the pledge of allegiance since >> we're just right in line. So To the flag of the United States of America
002and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you for that. Our first item of business is the adoption of the agenda for today's meeting. At this time, Dr. Miranda, I do not have any recommended amendments to the agenda. Is that correct? >> That's correct. Amendments. >> All right. So, we won't need to take action on that. The agenda agenda will stay as presented. Uh, and that leads us actually to item 2.0, our public comment. So, we do have some public comment speakers today. I'm going to go ahead and call on them in the order that I have here on the blue cards. And when your name is called, if you wouldn't mind coming up to the podium um, and address the board. The
003microphone should turn on, but if not, you may want to give it a little tap and it will come on. And so, we'll begin with Oh, and just a reminder for our speakers, there is a threem minute speaker limit for each speaker. So we'll go ahead and begin with our first public speaker, Mr. Kuram Singh. >> President Evening board president Flores trust enter Miranda. My name is Karam Singh. I'm here regarding the pilot gas station in Bloomington. A matter I understand may be addressed in closed session. Mr. Chandi's business has been a longstanding part of the Inland Empire and is deeply committed to the community. We are not just a business operating in Bloomington. We are here as stakeholders who wants to invest directly into the success of the Colton Joint Unified School District. This
004partnership can do more than just coexist. It can enhance the district's mission. We want to support your schools with resources, funding partnerships, scholarships, and even career pathways for students interested in business management or vocational training. We believe that local businesses can and should be a part of the educational ecosystem. By working together, we can build stronger, safer, and better equipped schools that reflect the pride and the potential of communities like Colton, Gran Turis, and Bloomington. We respectfully ask the district to work with us in good faith under the full directions of the board and to see this not as a conflict but as a shared opportunity to uplift the district not burden it. Thank you for your time. Appreciate that. Our next speaker is Sedak Rana. I apologize if I mispronounced that. Okay. Good evening,
005President Flores, Trustees, and Superintendent Miranda. My name is Sid Granava, and I'm here tonight in spirit of resolution and forward progress. The matter involving the Pilot Gas Station Bloomingale deserves fair, thoughtful consideration. Mr. Chandi's business is deeply rooted in the community and serves the broader Inland Empire. This is more than just an investment in gas and retail. It's an investment in people. The Chandi Group has consistently shown a commitment to the communities of Coloulton, Grand Terrace, and the neighboring areas. Frankly, to suggest that a shower facility at a truck stop somehow threatens or degrades the surrounding area is not only unreasonable, it borders on outright discrimination. This mindset fairly unfairly stigmatizes workingclass individuals. To oppose something as simple as access to hygiene sends the wrong message. It's a disservice to this community and to the
006values of inclusion, respect, and equity that the district claims to uphold. Let's work towards a solution that reflects the best interests of the entire community. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Miss Bronwell. Our next speaker is I cower. Apologize again. I would like to take a moment to speak in support of Chandi Group and their efforts to install showers at the Pilot Gas Station in Bloomington. Chandi Group has continuously proven its commitment to our community. They don't just run a truck stop, but they own nearby restaurants and continue to employ our local residents. They have been known for being kind and hardworking and very community oriented. I have family and many close friends who are truck drivers and they are some of the hardest working, most honest and most dependable people that I
007know. The opposition to these showers, especially the claims that they'll bring trouble or vandalism, is discriminatory and disappointing. This claim is rooted in stereotypes and doesn't reflect the character of these hardworking truck drivers. They spend long hours on the road almost every day away from their families just to make sure that goods are delivered so that all of us can live our lives comfortably. Instead of disrespecting them, I think that we should show appreciation by ensuring that they're taken care of whenever they come to our city. Supporting this project is about standing up for the people that serve us every single day. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Our next speaker is Alicia Vega. It's a little more nervous. Sorry. Okay. My name is Alicia and I want to speak briefly about the potential item
008in close session regarding the pilot gas station in Bloomington. Uh we respectfully this matter be resolved in good faith. This business has operated with the community in mind, not just in Bloomington, but throughout the Inland Empire in the school district's communities. The Colton Unified School District serves a wide and diverse group of families. So, sorry, catch my breath. Um, we want to be a part of that network by supporting schools, creating safe environments, and helping students thrive. We've always been open to honest collaborative dialogue and like to build something strong and productive. and we ready to start that today. I'd like to also add um I myself am live in Colton. I have three truck drivers in my family, my husband, my son, and my son-in-law. And these showers, they seem kind of silly how
009important it is, but stopping, resetting, relaxing, getting back on the road alert. I mean, it makes a big difference keeping our roads safe, our children safe out there with these truck drivers. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Vega. Our next speaker is Brianna Leon Torres. >> Good evening, President Flores, trustees, and the superintendent Morirana. My name is Brianna Leon Torres and I'd like to speak on the matter concerning the pilot gas station located in Bloomington. This business owned by Mr. Chandi has proven itself to be consistent and a valuable present in Bloomington and the Inland Empire. The communities that make up Colton Joint Unified District. In a time where many companies are moving out of state, here's one choosing to stay to invest and to partner with our public institutions. We want to support students
010as well as teachers and we want to do our part to ensure safety and thriving schools in the places like Colton, Grand Terrace and Bloomington. Please consider the possibility of resolving this matter with openness and collaboration. The rewards of a strong partnership will benefit everyone. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Torres. And our last speaker is Genesis Kariaga. Hello. Okay. Good evening, President Flores, trustes and superintendent Miranda. My name is Genesis. As you con as you consider matters in close session tonight, including the Pilot gas station in Bloomington, I who also considered the long-term vision of what's possible between forward thinking district and a locally rooted business like Chandi organization. We're not here to create challenges for the district. We're here to create value. We want to support student success. Whether it's through sponsorships, internships,
011community events, or funding for school projects, businesses like ours can be powerful allies, allies in education when given the opportunity. The the Colton Joint Unified School District serves some of the most vibrant communities in the Inland Empire. We want to be part of lifting those communities, not by standing on the sidelines, but by partnering with you directly to support education. This can be a model for how and businesses work together, not just to coexist, but to lift one another. Let's not miss this opportunity to show students that public institutions and private organizations can work together for the common good. Thank you. >> Those are all the public comment speaker cards that I have uh this afternoon. Miss Medina, do you have any other additional cards? All right. Uh hearing none, uh I want to thank
012the speakers for your comments. I appreciate that. know that we do hear you and we will certainly take all that into consideration. At this time then we'll go ahead and close public comment and we're going to go ahead and journ into close session to discuss the items that