001Okay. All right. I'd like to call to order the Irvine International Academy Board of Directors meeting. Today is Tuesday, July 22nd. It is 6:02 p.m. We are located at 4782 Karen Lane, Irvine, California 92604. Thank you for all that are here in attendance. I'd like to start with roll call. Uh Molly >> present. >> Felipe >> present. Uh Brett is present. David absent. Uh moving to the next item, approval of the agenda for the regular meeting of the Irvine International Academy Board of Directors on July 22nd, 2025. It's recommended the board of directors approve the agenda for the regular meeting of the Irvine International Academy Board of Directors today. Uh is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Felipe. Is there a second? >> Thank you, Molly. >> All in favor, please say I.
002I any oppose, please say nay. Hearing none, it passes. Okay. Next, moving to uh item two, community input on closed session agenda items. Members of the public may comment on items listed on the closed session agenda only. Public comments, including emailed comments, should be limited to three minutes per comment with up to 20 minutes of public comment. Do we have any public comments for closed session items? >> We do not. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh next we'll move to closed session. I forecast probably 30 to 40 minutes hopefully. >> Hopefully uh then we will reconvene back here and provide a report out if any action items were taken. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh thank you everyone for your patience. We are reconvening. The time is 6:53 p.m. I the report out is that we are
003working on the draft for the executive director rubric and um we have some updates to make. We are planning at the next board meeting probably have another close session to review the updates and uh what we're looking at doing is increasing the waiting uh the priority uh related to parental feedback and input increasing that weight. And certainly we want to ensure that we're properly capturing the viewpoints of our community here and uh uh that the executive director is being uh held accountable to to those viewpoints. So uh thank you all. That's all I have on that particular item. Uh moving next to the flag salute. Are there any volunteers? >> I'm just looking for the meeting. >> All right, Molly. Thank you. Please stand. Put your right hand over your heart. >> I aliance to
004the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you very much. Uh moving to the next item, community input on agendaized and non-aggendaized items. The public may comment on items listed on the agenda, including the consent calendar, presentation, discussion, committee, and action items. The public may also comment on items not listed on the agenda that are within the legal purview of the board of directors. Do we have any community >> public comments? Okay, thank you. Moving on to the next item, item eight, uh, items for consent. We've got, uh, two items there. that you approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the IIA board of directors on June 10, 2025 and approve the personnel report.
005It's recommended the board of directors approved consent items A and B. Is there a motion? >> I will motion. >> Thank you, Felipe. I'm happy to second. All in favor, please say I. I. Any oppose, please say nay. Hearing none. It passes. Okay, moving on to items for presentation. Uh, first item is after school programs and school update. Mr. Grant Schmitter, >> good evening. Um, so I'm going to kind of give you guys give everyone an update to on our after school program. um the work that we've been doing with that and that's something we'll communicate out very soon to our families as well as give you a general update on the school what we've been doing this summer and just all the all the work all the time we have in place. So first
006I'm going to go through our update you on our summer after school programs. Uh if you recall back in January Dr. Kernan um gave you a proposed plan that I think was that was approved the next month um for our to update our after school program. Um so this is kind of the result of that. So the plan was approved. So now we've put in um things in place and because it is a change cuz before just I'm sure you remember but everything was this handover which is strategic kids both our students who qualify for EU funding and our paid ch paid child care. So it's all kind of just um thrown together. So now we have different programs for after school and uh we want to kind of explain the differences between those um
007just to give you a little bit of background um we are running our own after school program and what we're calling this is our after school clubs. So when you hear after school clubs that is the program that's going to be ran by IIA um I I oversee it. Mr. Gio um our after school coordinator does a lot of the uh ground work um but he will be the day-to-day one running it um but that's kind of what that's going to be called. We're also going to have YMCA which is our paid child care option. And then we're also going to have options from Strategic Kids for classes. So um Dr. Henry has met with Strategic Kids and they are still going to be around. They're not running the same program they did before. they're
008going to be focusing more on specific classes, which I'm going to detail in a little bit, which is what they specialize in. That's what they're known for. Um, now we have control over our ELOC funding because I'm sure you remember what we used to do is we take all our all the funding we received and we hand it over to strategic and they they um ran it. But now we can by having control over it, we can have quality control. Um, so staffing, program changes, things like that, we can we oversee that. We can change it. Um, we can now use our funds more effectively. So instead of handing things over now, we can utilize it for staffing, but also for supplies and then we can also utilize those supplies to benefit our all of
009our students in school as well. So it's kind of works works for the benefit of everybody. And then it's actually going to provide more options to our families as well. Um, so a lot of what I just explained is the differences between there and we will be having club options um, starting from 7:30 in the morning till 4:30 p.m. for our clubs. Um, just before I go into that, I do have a quick summer update. Tomorrow is actually the end of our summer pendros uh, program which is which has been running for six weeks. Um we ran we average between 85 to 90 students per day. Um and it everything has gone smoothly. We've gotten positive feedback from families. Um and now one thing that we're going to be able to offer next year is
010a paid summer camp program through YMCA. Uh if you recall, they couldn't do it this year because of licensing. Uh this the time frame of that, but they'll have their their licensing is going to be in place. So, we'll have our own summer program again next year for students who qualify for EOT funding, but we'll also have a paid um summer program for families who want that here through YMCA. >> Question on that? >> Yeah. >> Will it would it uh end next year similar to how it's ending this year? >> Which one? Our summers or YMCA? >> So, ours is ending tomorrow. >> Correct. So next year because of this new program coming into place with YMCA will we offer all summer long next year will also end similar time frame. >> So our
011program runs 6 weeks. So it's 30 days 6 weeks. YMCA theirs can run longer. Um that's probably that's that will probably be dictated by parent interests. >> Okay. Uh but they do yes they can they can go longer. Thank you. All right. So, from starting at 7:30 um for families will be able to sign up for it. Um families can drop the students off as early as 7:30. Um they can get some homework help. We'll have staff supervising. They can get their breakfast during that time as well. Our staff will supervise them. It's going to be our staff doing it and then they'll be they'll be walking into the classroom. Um one thing that you find too is a lot of students go through the homework. They have help. they can't get that help at
012home, especially since there's a lot of Mandarin homework. A lot of our families don't speak Mandarin. Um, but they can always that would be an option for them if they want that extra support in the morning. Um, just to kind of get that help. Um, so we'll have that available for our families um in the morning starting this year. >> Quick question. So >> that portion that you're talking about, that's considered the club. >> Yeah. >> So this this portion you're talking about, right? >> That's the club portion. >> Yes. Exactly. All right. And then this is the after school clubs. So, a lot of information on there. Um, so it's going to be available Monday through Friday. Um, depending on what grade level is. It's going to start at 2:45 or 3:00 p.m. It's
01315 minutes after dismissal time. It doesn't mean they're not they're going to be unsupervised, but it's it gives us time for the students to to um when they dismiss them, they can go to the group, kind of give them a little bit of a snack, and then they will go to their clubs from there. Um it's going to run to 4:30 p.m. And this will be available to all students who qualify for ELO funding. Um and that's one thing that we kind of want to reiterate is that this program is called E3 lot funding is called extended learning opportunities program. And so what that means is that is for students who are EL students or who qualify through free and reduced lunch or Mckin Vento. Um it gives them that opportunities and they get priority
014for signing up for these clubs. However, based off our numbers and also the funding we received, we are going to have spots open available for um our school as well. Um depending on the day, we estimate between and our numbers uh we estimate between 70 to 100 spots per day will be available for not for students who do not get ELO funding. So imagine every student who qualifies for ELO funding signs up. We will have 70 to 100 spots available for students beyond that every day. And not all students who qualify sign up as well. So we could have more spots than that, but we don't want to promise something that we can't fulfill. Um it is going to be super it is I staff. It is going to be supervised and managed by our
015after school coordinator, Mr. Gio. Um these are just some club options and what it allows families to do is that it doesn't mean it's not just one option. So if they sign up for homework club that's 5 days a week that's full. Now some of them are going to run Monday Tuesday some will run Thursday Friday some run Wednesday. So our families can sign up for two days they can do three or they can do five. Um, so it kind of gives families options of what they want to do. And these are just some of the offerings that will be. There'll be a mandarin club, math club, sports club, um, running club, um, art club. We're still thinking of chess club. We might adjust that one because strategic kids, but we might keep it as
016well. So our families will have options to choose from. And so just so you know, these clubs came directly from the survey that we sent out at the end of last year. So these were our top options. I know one that was mentioned in the past was Spanish just so you know that we only had two requests for Spanish out of out of that. But one thing that about our after school clubs is that they are going to rotate every trimester. So this will be the first trimester. If families have missed the survey and there's a lot of interest for other clubs, we can actually change the clubs every trimester for our families. or if math club is in bigger demand than um other clubs, we can open up more clubs for math club. So,
017we'll have that flexibility every trimester. >> So, will you be sending out a survey every trimester for the following trimester in terms of the clubs being offered or how are you going to >> We can um I mean that's going to be topics like a coffee with the principal. will be something that's sent out regularly through um our updates. U Dr. Hen is going to been working on a communication plan so that we kind of regularly communicate but we also get regularly get feedback so kind of be through a lot of different options because if you just do one survey um on average I mean I'll say we'll get 60 to 80 replies we have a lot more families that so if you just rely just on that you may not get a full picture.
018So, and I think when families see this, they're like, "Oh, I wanted to this club is going to prompt more people to speak up because now they see the reality of it." So, we're hoping that more people be able to get in that way. >> But how are you going to collect those data points? I mean, yeah. >> So, I mean, we'll do survey, but it's also going to be topics that we talk about coffee with the principal. It's also going to be something that can be discussed at school site council. There's there's different avenues that we can discuss that that we can get a variety of different input. >> Yeah. >> So, um how many elop students were expecting? >> Uh we're expecting around 130. It might that might adjust when we do our
019data confirmation. Uh but we we project around 130 students. So, that could go up a little bit, that can go down a little bit, but that's kind of our our estimate right now. >> Do the parents know that their started with ELOP or >> they are. Yeah. And that's one thing that we're going to be I'm going to be sending out this presentation to all the families with that. I want to be explaining what ELOP is, who qualifies, how they qualify, so that families are very aware of that. Yeah. And so if a family, if they're an EL student or if they're are free juice lunch, they are aware of that. They are aware of that already. And so it's going to be great for that's what that's those are the criteria. Um so with
020ELO this year well the clubs because it is utilizing ELOP funding um it is it does have attendance attendance requirements. So we are going to have to take attendance. So if we are going to have policies in place if students don't show up um they will lose their spot because we don't want our student we don't want people to sign up never come and preventing other students from coming in. Um so we are going to have that in place as well. >> So you'll have a structure you can miss three whatever it is there'll be some criteria that's sent out so families are aware of that up front. Yeah, because what we'll do is we're going to have if want to sign up, it's going to be a Google form. They put in the request
021and once they are assigned to a class, they there's a registration form that they fill out and return and that's going to have that in there as well as behavior. >> Can I clarify? Um, >> oh, it's on. Um, so my understanding is we're sending out the survey to qualifying families first um to sign up so that they will know I qualify and I'm signing up and they it will go he he'll explain this in a future slide. >> Um but also for the attendance piece we are audited when it comes to the ELOP funding and we do reporting with that. So all of those components are really important for us to meet those compliance pieces because it is state funding. All right. So just to kind of give you an idea of what it's
022going to look like, um we have our homework club 5 days a week. This does not include that on this. If you look Monday, Tuesday, those are the classes that are available. Wednesday and then Thursday. So for a family, they can do a They can do Mandarin club on Monday, Tuesday. They can sign up for art on Wednesday and then they can do sports club Thursday, Friday. So, it's not so it allows a lot of different options for our families. A lot of our families want just homework help. They want their students to get that extra help. So, we have um space for about we have a tentatively scheduled for about 80 students a day for homework help. Um but again based off the registrations and signups we can tweak that but we that's kind
023of the way it's going to work and the format that it's going to follow. Um so a lot of travel too they want they may want something Monday Tuesday but they may not want something the rest of the week because that other things that they're involved with. So it gives us that flexibility with that. Uh next is the YMCA program. Um, so this is licensed child care. Uh, something that will be new to our school. Um, they do have options that cover school breaks before school and after school. It is very flexible for our families. So, I'll kind of show you a sample of the price sheet and you can see all the different options they do. Um, what their program covers, it does offer some homework help. It offers outdoor play, steam activities, enrichment
024clubs, character development, and leadership opportunities. that is the YMCA curriculum. So it is not a program where students typically go and they put on a movie and the students are just sitting in front of the screen the whole time. It's organized. They have a schedule that they follow. It's very structured. Um so those are that's kind of how YMC is going to run run. Um there's full-time costs. it depending on what they choose. It can a full-time cost for just 5 days a week after school is a is $538 a month, which is relatively cheap um for for that option, especially in our area. If if they want something that covers before school and there's additional non-school days that they will be able to um do that for, they can go up to 699 a
025month. They can also do I think there's three-day options and then there's two-day options as well. Um, one thing that YMCA does offer is that they do offer a sliding scale. Um, it's through them for our families based on need. So, a family u they need that extra extra help financially, they do have a sliding scale. So, they do work with our families on that and all the signups will go directly through them. And their information is is posted on our website. But again, it's also going to be going up It's kind of it's kind of hard to see, but this is kind of what I the the different options that they have. So, you can see that um there's it it varies depending on what they what they need. Um so, um again, this
026is on our website already. And then our third option, a third thing that we're going to have available for our families is through strategic kids. These are and these are paid enrichment classes. Um so the tenative start for these classes is August 27th. Um a flyer will be going up the first week of school with more specific information. Um the cost is $120 per class and it runs for eight for eight weeks. Um and those classes it's either they can do chess which is two times a week. They have Lego which is once a week. They have art which is once a week. So in theory, a family can sign up for all of these because they're all be on different days and they will have that those programs through strategic kids almost full-time uh
027for 8 weeks at a relatively cheap cost because if you add up the cost per class that we that childcare cost is usually going to be more expensive. So this is another option that we're going to have for our families. um working with strategic kids, 20% of those funds are going to go back to us. Um and this is ran by them and the signups will be through them. So for example, kind of give you an example, they they'll do chess Monday, Wednesday, they'll do Lego Tuesday, they'll do art on Thursday. So if a family wants to sign up for all of those, they have that they will be there through that whole class and they can get that extra if if that's the route that they want to go cuz I know some of
028our families still not value the strategic kids that's still going to be an option for them through that >> and the the strategic uh kids one is started on August 27. >> Yes. >> So how about the other after school thing are they starting >> from the beginning? >> Yeah. First day of school >> the the same day no the first day of school. >> Yeah. The YMCA and also um the outdo those are going to start the first day of school. >> Okay. So parents should already sign that before >> I want to go over the signups right now. >> Yeah. >> So if I'm understanding this correctly, the clubs. So when first day school, right after beginning school or after school, there's going to be clubs. >> Yes. >> Strategic kids potentially first
029day. >> Strategic kids will not be the first day of school. Let's just say >> I'm sorry. >> So, strategic kids after school. I'm sorry. Strategic kids clubs and YMCA are all going to be at this facility. Maybe not. Maybe not first day, but let's say Monday. >> So, they're all occupying this facility in different classrooms >> for different functions. >> Yes. >> So, they're all going to be here at the same time. Well, relatively at the same time. and and Gio is spearheading that coordination of which classrooms they're using on our facility at what >> Yeah. So he he's I'm working with him, but yes, he he will be once it's running, he is the point person. >> He's the point person for that part of the coordination. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> And
030that and that's why this position was created, >> right, for that. >> Right. So that's why I want to be sure that that's clear. But you'll be watching him, but he's watching the whole program. >> Yeah. And that's where the quality control comes into play. So, >> thanks. >> So, this if you kind of broke it down to a chart um for each of the different options and kind of tells you who to contact. Um I don't think we have a specific contact for strategic kids yet, but it will be on that flyer on the first week of school. Um and it tells you for example I after school clubs who participates students who receive ELO funding and additional spots will be open to all students based on availability with the projected amount. Um it
031explains what each of the programs are. So again EOP is extended learning opportunities. YMC is a child care with daily physical and educational enrichment opportunities and strategic kids. Um explains the cost. Um, so our clubs are at no cost to our families because we do receive that funding for it. Um, and then how to sign up. So for our own clubs, families who receive ELA funding will sign up starting on August 4th. So that will be going out to the students who do qualify. So for for the question was how will they know? They'll know because they'll be contacted on August 4th um with with that information how to sign up. And then once we go give them um a few days and then we'll kind of we'll fill in spots and then from there
032we're going to be sending it out to the rest of the school as well and they'll be able to sign up on a first come first- serve basis. Um registration will go out via parent square starting on August 4th for our clubs. YMCA registration is available now. It's on our website in our after school section. strategic kids. Um, a flyer will be sent home during the first week of school, tenatively scheduled to start August 27. >> Question. >> Yeah. >> So, you just mentioned there's no cost for IIA after school clubs, but I thought earlier we said maybe there were some spots for nonlop qualifying students. So, >> there's a cost for them, right? No, because we can't mix the two. And that's that something that come up in the past. If we're running a
033program based off ELOC funding, then whether they're ELO funded or not, it has to be free for our families. It's just if they are ELO funded, we have to give them a penalty. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I know that that's kind of why there's a little bit that's the confusing part about it, but for us, we get that ELOT funding whether it's utilized by them or not. And that's why it's more efficient for us to use it this way because instead of giving someone else all our money and they do what they want, we it's cheaper for us to do it to be honest because we're managing it and then we have those extra funds that we can then utilize and open it up more. So I as part of the communication plan,
034you know, just an idea is that we are openly communicating on the spots that are available for uh the club program so families know that they have an opportunity to participate. You know, there's a little bit of that well from last year, you know, strategic kids was cheaper than YMCA. I've heard a little bit of that, right? But here there's actually an opportunity to have a paid for a free club program, right? And so uh that really kicks in if there are spots available for nonlop families, right? >> Yeah. And may and with that too is okay. Well, maybe they don't get it 5 days a week, but they can get it two days a week. >> So if they do pay, >> if they do need that child care, they pay three days a
035week through YMCA. So they're still they're paying less overall. So >> your You could end up in the homework club five days a week. >> Yeah, >> potentially. >> You don't have to do the YMCA piece, right? >> You don't have to. So, you could just be in you could just be in the club piece >> and you could have if there are spots available, your child could have the homework and the running and whatever else there's availability >> 4:30. Till 4:30. >> Till 4:30. So they're in the club till 4:30 over club till 4:30 and then pick up child care after they could be sorry they could be child care YMCA child care because I'm looking at the schedule here uh after school only child care right no dismissal till six so they can
036do both those things >> yeah I mean right >> there's there's no requirement to do any of it but they can put they combined. So, >> so they're piecing they're piecing together pieces, but either way, >> the club is where the savings is for the parents. >> Exactly. And that's participate. >> And that's one of the reasons why wearing our own program benefits more of our families. >> That's that's where they benefit cost >> wise because the clubs are free. >> Yes. >> Call free, but it's not really free. >> It's free to them, but it's not really >> It's funed. >> Yeah, it's funed. There you go. It's funded. It's not free, but it's funded, right? So, it's funded and they get to utilize it >> until 430, right? >> Until 4:30 and then
037they have a quality program, an enrichment program, right? Could be math, could be chess, could be well, might not be chess, but even running club or something. So, the other question I have for you, have you got our teachers assigned to these clubs? Yeah. So, we actually did surveys of our staff in the spring for those who would be interested in it. Um, so we we have so we have teachers who are interested in it and then we also have IAS um who will be running some of these and based on the budget some of them are going to be full-time and based on that full-time they'll be able to facilitate some of these. So like a homework club or is very proficient mandatory they'll do a mandaring club um and they'll also be utilizing
038our teachers as well. So yes, we are staffed. Okay, that's what I want to hear. That part >> I have a list. We have a list who's going to be running each one of these. >> Yes, we do. >> Potentially a backup person that could >> Yeah. >> needed. >> So, we have it staffed. Um, Mr. J's been I've been working with him and he's been contacting people. Now, if somebody decides last minute back up, we do actually have a few others that we can place in there as well >> and they can back up. They can back out until the last day until they start, right? Then we want them in there. Okay. Okay. So, who rallies the kindergarteners to get them to the club? >> So, um it will be so we'll have
039lists. The teachers will have lists. So, they have a list that like they did a strategic kids. You probably don't see it, but the teachers have list. Okay, these students go here on this day and then they go or they go out to pick up with them and then those who are running the clubs or Mr. Gio depending on the day and the clubs, someone will go and pick them up from the classroom. So they walk in the halls, they go to the classroom, they'll pick them up and then they'll have a meeting point for them and then they'll take them to the room. >> Okay. So somebody's It sounds like Gio or Gio's coordinating. >> Yes. >> To ensure that kids get to the right place. >> Yes. >> Yeah. It's going to be
040a busy busy man. And it seems like we have a really uh well organized or attractive uh after school clubs and without paying anything. And I was just wondering so for YMCA it's almost like if the parents meet uh because our club also cover the morning after school. >> It can be after. >> So it seems like people want to join YMCA. one is when there's non school day. >> Yeah. So they'll have for no school days. I mean and at the same time families just want I want child care 5 days a week. I don't want to worry about s club. I just want them to be taken care of. There's we have those families and they they'll want to pick them up at 6:00. >> That that's go to Okay. So the strategic
041kids will probably have to have really special programs or attract the kids. >> Yeah. And that's where they that's why they're spec they're enrichment classes. So that's why they each have a specific thing that they're doing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So we probably let the parents know because I think parents kind of remember that kids before to let them know this one is slightly different. >> Yeah. >> So I want to be sending out this presentation as well as a write up to go along with it. to our families and giving them all this information, important dates, um so that way they have that now and they can plan accordingly and that way when the signups go out, they can sign up. Those are families who want to do the clubs but who don't
042get enough funding, they know that that week it will be going out. We did give a more specific time frame on when that goes out as we approach that. So, we're coordinating or we will be coordinating with strategic kids. For example, the chess. I know you mentioned maybe we're doing maybe we're not. Yeah. But we're we're not going to be competing with them, right? We're just going to work in conjunction. They're only going to offer it two times a week and maybe we offer it the other three days. >> Yeah. Well, for us the test is going to be one day a week, but yeah. We don't want to compete with them. So, that's why we might be changing that one. Um because we had we kind of have a we have a plan strategic
043kids what they can do. So, okay. We might adjust our plan to accommodate that. >> Okay. >> I'm trying to imagine what the sign up for the clubs would look like. Where's that going to happen? Right. So, you're going to send out uh information or notification to parents whose children qualify for the ELO, right? So, they get the first notice. Let's say >> threequarters of them sign up. Okay, just an example. >> Uh And so then how do you how do you keep track of the availability in the other clubs >> because we'll have rosters. >> So we have our caps we have caps in classes and we have our rosters based on those signups. >> And so that's why some families they won't they may not get their first choice but there's other choices
044that they may be able to get. And so the there'll be active rosters because I can imagine that some kid who didn't get into the running club is watching it every week that somebody drops out and then they can get in. Is that the kind of thing that can happen? >> Yes. So So we'll we'll fill the classes and then we'll have wait lists that go from there. >> Is it And where is the roster the rosters posted? I mean are they online? >> We we manage rosters. We don't post it. So they'll be communicated that they're in the class. They'll be told that they're in the class, but we don't post rosters because of confidentiality. But we >> Well, well, it doesn't have to be the person's name, but the quantities, right? Because what
045I'm getting at is what if somebody drops out of the running club and I don't my kid, I don't find out till later. And I'm not on a wait list or anything and I decide >> well that's >> I want to jump in or there's availability. Let's say there's no wait list. >> Yes. So when we have our first wave, we can send out an update. These are how many spots that we have available now for our non elock feed families. Um I imagine going to fill up right away and then from there it will go to a weight format and so if somebody drops we pull we'll call >> or you'll pull from the weight list >> or you'll call them >> because they may not want to go after they've been on that
046weight list, right? >> Yeah. So then we just work on the list >> and Gio's handling that. >> Yeah. wondering if maybe on the website we have a pa a web page where any any of the families can look on a daily basis they want and just get real time updates on which ones have which availability. I'm just thinking about a way to efficiently manage it so people can if if we do updates on a whatever weekly basis or there's some way to communicate it >> efficiently so you don't have to send out emails or parent square saying oh it changed it changed it changed and people can go in and check >> I I'll see what we might be able to do is put up a Google sheets on on the web page and
047then we can edit update that and it'll be kind of like a live update >> since no one can edit itself I'll see that might be an option. >> I hate to see somebody I hate to see somebody waiting, you know, weeks and and weeks the spot's been open. >> Well, if the spot opens up, we would contact them. But yeah, >> I'll look into that. >> Something a little bit more dynamic so they can parents can see what's >> and so you're not getting emails all the time. I think did this open up. Well, and and yes, but that's all Mr. J. He's also I mean he has I mean he's starting this he'll he has time in his day built in specific for that communication >> also. Um >> remember okay >> Mr.
048Spinner does send out a weekly memo to parents about what's coming up and there can be an ELOP update that is a section and then it won't be every club every week but maybe if there's a club that has extra room or something like that. He can use those regular communication pieces that we already have in place to to really kind of fill in those gaps as well. >> I think they're going to be pretty popular. Oh, maybe we are. It's our first year. >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Sounds good. >> All right, you're still stuck with me because I get my micro home still update. So, I'll transition to this now. Um, this is actually outdated where it said five of our six teaching positions filled. It's actually now all of them. Um
049so we actually this morning uh filled our last position which was our mandarin teaching position which is the most difficult one to fill for credentiing reasons requirements. So now we have all our teaching positions filled and staffed ready to go. Um the majority of them are already onboarded or in the middle of onboarding right now. Um so that that's where we're at with that. Um a positions are getting filled as well. Um, by tomorrow, I expect all our IA positions to be filled with the one remaining position is a PE aid. Um, so we're still working on that one. Um, but we're looking good to start the year fully staffed and ready to go. Um, next is the family handbook, which I believe you guys are approving tonight. I just want to give you a
050little bit explanation on the actual updates in that. There's not really there's nothing new in there, per se. The family handbook has been updated to reflect the board policies that have been passed. So you have a board policy on attendance. Well, that policy also needs to be reflected in our handbook, which then gets implemented in the school. So for the handbook that you're approving tonight, it's reflecting the various policies that have been updated. So that way our policies are consistent with our handbook, which will be consistent with what we do here in school. I kind of want to give that explanation there. We've been working on various calendars um internally for our organization because um it's really important to be organized. So we have a variety of different um calendars and Dr. Henry has her
051hub that she she enjoys that is a central point for our staff to pull from. But I mean talking about calendars, we have a calendar for coffee with the principal, for parent workshops, for events. Um, we're actually going to be able to give our families an event calendar at the beginning of the year um to all our families so they can put it on their fridge and they know our event calendar for the whole year because that's one of the things I feedback is they want to know thing dates in advance because people have to take time off from work. They have to plan ahead. Um, so we'll be able to be able to give that out to our families as well. So a lot of work and it sounds simple but just it takes
052coordination amongst the staff and coordination with PTO because PTO puts on events helps put on events. We want to make sure their ideas for event like dates work with our ideas for dates and that way we're coordinating together so that way we are going to be planning on that. Um, our teachers are returning on August 5th. Um, we won't have another meeting before them. We actually have our new teachers and new IAS doing training on August 4th. That's something that we've added this year. Anytime someone's new, it's there's just a lot of information, a lot of things dumped at them all at once. At the same time, they're kind of prepping for the school year. So that we're doing that training on August 4th for them to get acclimated who people are, where they go
053to, if they need help with certain things. They get into their classroom, they can kind of start planning, thinking things through. So that way when they do get to um August 5th, uh we have they're be ready to go. We have a lot of different trainings going on through ARIES, our new students information system, Light Speed, which is our device management. Um, so that way our teachers can know how to utilize it. Um, because now it's going to be very nice because our teachers will be able to see what the students see on their screen. Teachers will love it, students not so much. It also has keywords in there. So if a student's searching, typing certain words, it will flag administration. Um, so that way we were notified and we can follow up on that.
054Um, so our students are going to be a lot more on task on the Chromebooks. We're doing um professional development and classroom management so that we are consistent um and prepared for the year. Uh we do have some new curriculum coming into this year. So we have trainings on that. And then we have our PBIS kickoff which is focusing on school climate consistency among staff and discipline. Um kind of putting system having systems in place and um making sure that if students are doing great things we recognize them. these students are not doing what they're supposed to, there's a clear way to address it and a clear process on how to handle that. So that way our teaching staff, our AS, our office staff know how to handle behaviors consistently and because that's one of
055the most important things is that students are dealt with consistently. So that's a big part of that. Um, we did have our social studies curriculum out now for over the last month. Um, which I believe you plan are adopting tonight. Um, we haven't received any concerns about that. It's been so um, it's been still, if you want to look at it, it's in the teachers right now. And then our teachers will be receiving training on thinking maps beginning in November to support our writing program. So that's one area that we've identified that we need to improve on in our school is our writing. And so thinking next will be coming in. Um it's a pro it's a very it's a common program but it's a very effective program. I' I've utilized it years before and
056Dr. Henry has as well. So we're going to be doing starting training on that in November and rolling that out throughout the year. Um so I know we're working on getting our school set up in Aries. So I kind of joke around. have been living in areas the last two days cuz it takes a lot of steps to set things up. Um, so we're planning to do our data confirmation with our families starting on Monday, July 28th, which allows our which requires our families to update their information so it's accurate. We have the now what we're planning on doing is that once they finish the data confirmation on August 7th um Aries will go people will be be able to get in Aries before that but on August 7th they'll be able to see their
057teacher um in August 7th in Aries that way when we do our orientation on August 8th which we are adjusting a little bit there will be a meet your teacher component to it. So our families are going to be able to go and meet their teachers um that Friday on August 8th. Uh we'll also I mean there's going to be a little bit more tweaks to it, but we'll have families especially for our new families. We'll have student leaders who are going to be showing our families this is where you line up in the morning. Um this first day of school is always kind of chaotic with that because shown through the teacher kind of really just acclimating them to the school. So really making um effective use of our time for that. And again,
058just some dates that we should put out there just so we're aware the teachers return. Our family orientation is August 8th. Um and then we have our first day of school on August 13th. And then the next week we have our first coffee with the principal and also back to school night on August 21st. So we're jumping right into it. Um those are the big dates that we're looking forward to that questions. I've been talking for a long time. >> So what time is the uh family orientation? >> So we have various we have different sessions and that's going to be going out to our families. I have to make sure Aries is set through our parents but that's going to be going out either today not today either tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.
059But it'll be 10:00 a.m. for our TK and kinder families because we wanted to most a lot of them are new to our school. Even our returning TK families are they're new to kindergarten. It's changed. So we want to give them more time. So we we're allow more time. So that's at 10:00 a.m. Our first and second is at 1:00 a.m. Not 1:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Our third through 5th is at 2:00 p.m. and then our middle school is at 3:00 p.m. And the way it's kind of broken down is half the time is anformational session. The other half of the time is they can go on a tour um to different parts of the school. Our teachers are going to have tables set up. They'll be able to meet their teacher. our teachers will
060be able to kind of talk to them so they can kind of get that familiarity before school starts after school. >> A couple items. >> Yep. >> I one I just really want to commend you on filling all of the teacher positions. I know that's there's a lot of pressure to do that and to fill them with qualified uh teachers at that. So, uh, thank you to the team as well. I know Betsy, I'm sure you are heavily involved as well as others. Uh, thank you for doing that and, uh, I'm sure that puts some families, uh, concerns at ease that for those that were concerned about that. >> Yeah. So, thank you. >> Uh, the other thing on the handbook that you mentioned, just helpful for us to have redlinined versions as well as
061clean in the future just to be consistent on that. Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you for all that you're doing. Really appreciate it. Excited for the new school year. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh moving on. Uh enrollment update and communication plan. Dr. Henry. >> Good evening. Um, so this is an update on our projected enrollment going into our 2526 school year. Um, we also added some data regarding um, a 4-year study kind of seeing where IIA has been and where we're possibly going. I do want to as though although we wanted to make this information as timely as possible, these are projections. It is really important. um first day of school we do warm seat counts seeing who actually came and make adjustments as needed. So this is subject to change because
062we haven't started the school year yet but it's as close as we have to the day. So here we go. >> So we wanted to start with a little bit of background information about how we project enrollment. What do we look at? And so and it is very multiaceted. We look at our facilities um what classrooms and what room do we have available. We then look at our current students rolling up to the next year because they do not have to apply again um our students once they're in IIA um have a spot for the following year. So we want to make sure that we can serve the number of students. So we look at I call it rolling them up to the next grade level. we look at our classroom capacity, we do have
063a few uh particularly I think it's two classrooms that are a little smaller than our our nice size classrooms. So we look at and adjust the enrollment um to make sure that we can fit all of our students and then also we look at the budget impact with the enrollment. These targets then are aligned with the LCAP with our facility use agreements with IUSD and that's how we develop our staffing plans and look for necessary staffing which grade levels and if we have any need for new staff. Um this year we've also been able to differentiate between enrollment caps um because our our enrollment was higher than our I mean our applications were higher than our capacity which is a great thing to have. We were able to have a weight list and so we
064were capping classes based on the ideal um teacher to student ratio. So we look at that and then you also may see another another number that's thrown around because when Dr. Kernan set the budget for this year and when we do budget we like to be conservative with those numbers and projections so that we are safely and conservatively budgeted and don't have to cut things last minute if we're a little smaller than we thought we would be. So you'll see the budget or the enrollment, excuse me, looked at different ways. um wanted to make a note that this was the first year that we have full access to our facility. We have all the all the classrooms at IIA unlocked and we have use of them and that was based on our enrollment. If our
065enrollment goes down for some reason, then we may lose access to different classrooms over the years. So, right now we're at a really good place with our capacity matching our facility. And then um so in 2526 we will have full access to all classrooms based on enrollment. Here's a 4-year study just so that you know where these numbers came from because enrollment does fluctuate throughout the year. So for 21 22 22 23 and 23 24 these are numbers that are on the CBE data quest website. So they take a moment in time and that was um our Seabeds day in October. So that's the enrollment that is captured because it is the official data just so you know. It may be a few months later it changed a little bit but I like to go
066with what's published and what is seen as the official data. So you can see um our growth throughout the years. Um but another purpose of seeing this is that we have also added grade levels. So we did not have any TK students until 2023 24. So obviously when you add another grade level of students your enrollment will grow. Um also you can see that our eighth grade class was a smaller eighth grade class and the first class was last year. And so now as our seventh graders roll up um you'll see that we that helps us to grow as well as our new students. So this is a four-year study. I can give you a second to see if you have any specific questions. Uh it was just interesting to look at. Another thing that
067I brought up also to the board was that um you'll see that we have some bubbles of larger classes and then some smaller classes that roll up. And so each year as we plan, we have to adjust. So for example, last year we had a very small fourth grade class of 30 students, but we had a very large kindergarten class of 95 students. So as those move forward, we have to make sure we can accommodate them. And then our fifth grade will be smaller than it was last year because the fourth grade class is smaller. So we have to make those adjustments and roll the students up. >> Fifth grade is no longer considered part of middle middle school. >> Correct. >> School year, right? >> Correct. We have it tethered back to the elementary
068model or untethered it I guess from the middle school back with the elementary program. So, have those adjustments been made or to be made in terms of untethering like you said, you know, to the way it was >> with the master schedule and Yes, absolutely. >> Um I don't know if Mr. Schmid wants to add anything else. I think even we're reooking at where the classrooms are um to kind of reflect that as well. as the middle school school grew, we want to make sure things are grouped together and that that fifth grade goes back to the elementary model. So, it definitely is reflected in our master schedule as well as kind of the placement of our facilities. Okay. So, this is my favorite data slide. Uh this shows you specifically from last year to
069the projected for this school year of the students rolling up. And I was really trying to wrap my brain around. There's two different things I think we want to see. one is how much bigger is that grade level from the previous year and then how many more students were added or even subtracted to get to that number. So I'll give you an example. So if you look at TK, there were 67 TK students um last school year. We're projected and you'll see we have actuals, but we are projected where we can have up to 80 students. A part of that is because of one of those extra classrooms that we got, we have more capacity and we gave up a TK uh section for strategic kids last year and now with YMCA going out to
070the portable, we're able to take that room back and that's why we have the capacity. So, there's 13 more students projected for TK this year than last year. And because they're all new, that's going to be 80 new students. They haven't been with us before. But I can choose another grade level. Um, we can look at we can look at fourth grade. So, this year there were 34th grade students. If you go across next year, we can have 64. But if you which is 34 more than last year but it's only two more students because if you look there were 62 third graders who are metriculating down into fourth grade this year. So we kind of you can kind of look diagonally you can look across and and the number of students. So if you
071look from seventh going to 8th grade, we have the capacity uh to fill two more students. Um in some of these where you see a negative, some of that is based on information we know that students may not be returning. But if they all returned, if all of the 95 kindergarteners came to go into first grade, we would make room for them because that's part of our charter. Okay, there are no questions. Here's where we are right now. So, you have the same projected list of what we looking at kids rolling up and then maximizing class size capacity where we were. Um, we have another column again that's new this year of like absolute maximums. If we're maintaining a class size in kinder of 28 to1, how big can we get um before we say
072no more weight list and then you can see where we are at the moment. So right now even though we have capacity for ADT careers uh with our keeping it 10:1 model and following all the rules uh right now we have 67 enrolled and my understanding is because um most of our parents would like the morning session and we're that is full but the afternoon session is not. So, we do have 25 on the wait list, but there it could be that we do not fill all 80 positions if we don't have the families that are interested in the afternoon class. So, again, we have the kind of projections, the maximums, where are we right now, and and who do we have left on our weight list? Um, I I will say I was very
073impressed um looking at today's weight list numbers. um they're healthy for and we do have a weight list in every single grade level which is um sometimes unusual. So you they tend to be lower grades mostly but but we have some healthy numbers which means um if you look I'll skip forward but I'll go back if you have questions with our next steps we are going to be monitoring warm seat counts the first week of school and you know usually they're done every other day the first week of school. So you're really counting students that are here and if someone was supposed to come and didn't show up, calling the families, maybe they're on vacation or are they not coming so that we really have a a good idea of did our our um actual
074counts meet our projections. Then we look at our weight list. We offer seats if we have any based on the actual enrollment. We will continue to communicate regular enrollment updates. We do that every month to our authorizers. We submit um our monthly enrollment to them. So they monitor our growth in enrollment OCP. We also have a table in our board updates so that every other week you can see the actuals of where our enrollment is every month in case there's any fluctuations. And then we will also um communicate any changes or where we are with enrollment at our coffee with the principal and also some other communication pieces that we're putting together. We will look and monitor with our back office provider uh CM CSMC any budgetary implications tied to enrollment. Um, and just note
075remembering that our aortionment for August through January, it's based on 2425 enrollment and then we will start to um get our aortionment paid on actual enrollment that starts in February. So those extra kids won't be in our beginningortment, but we had healthy numbers this last year, too, and we budgeted that way, so we'll be fine. But this just kind of a little piece of information and a project that Mr. Schmid and I are going to be working on probably with Mario, Mr. Escalante as well is really looking at what's our ideal enrollment. So looking at this current facility, pretending that we don't have 95 kids that are going to be cycling through for the next six years, what is our ideal kind of maximum enrollment? And with this current facility as it is right now,
076we're we're we're very close to there. We don't see any huge growth. Um but we want to make sure we have that something that we can publish and let people know like and especially as we go work towards um our charter revision. Any questions for me? I thank you very much for putting this together. It's excellent. I I'm curious about the process which we manage the weight list families. >> I do they know where in the weight list they are? Do we provide check-ins with them just letting them know, hey, we haven't forgotten about you. The weight you're still on the wait list. um just some periodic check-ins so they know that we care about them and that we're still looking at their application and monitoring it. >> At this time, I wouldn't be able
077to answer what has happened in the past. Um I do believe very strongly in communicating with our weight list, whether it be through a postcard, through a check in. Um but that is something I can definitely find out. Um I missed the lottery process. Um it happened before I arrived. We did talk in our um cabinet meeting today about what that looks like when we start to um I was asking questions about what does that look like when we have open seats? Do do we meet again? We'll look at the total numbers and then how are offers made? Um, but I do believe that once someone applies to IIA, even if they aren't able to get in, by keeping that relationship, yeah, >> and letting them feel like they're part of our community, it could
078they could come next year and it it it also um creates kind of a sense of excitement and >> absolutely >> possible culture. But there's just this >> vacuum of communication, I think, you know, when you apply for school and you wait for the lottery and you find out, oh, I'm on the wait list and then, >> you know, and then maybe someday you get an email saying, congratulations, you know, 3 months into the school year, we've got a spot for you. And it's kind of like, well, where have you been? You know, exactly. >> So, I I >> I can follow up on that and definitely provide a board update. It's something I'm curious to learn more about as well. um and really look into the process and and how we're doing that. I
079I do believe this is our first year with a weight list. >> I I remember hearing someone say at least with a weight list of this size. >> Yes. >> And so um really putting together those procedures and practices of how we manage that is is really important right now. >> Yeah. touch just a touch base with them to let them know that >> absolutely >> on our list because maybe they maybe they don't want to be >> right things change >> because maybe they've moved on or they're happy where they are and they went somewhere else. So it' be good to know that that updates our weight list in a way. >> Absolutely. The only other it's not a question but I'm I'm gathering that these numbers you're keeping the ratios student toteer ratios
080that's what this number here is. >> Yes. That's what those kind of like class So when you So let's say we have a a class ratio for a grade level that's 30 to1 and the kids metriculating up are 57 but we have two classes. We know, okay, with the current capacity, staying with our low class sizes that we have, we can we can add three more students and it's not an extra class. It just will maintain. And so, yes, class sizes are definitely looked at as we develop those maximums. >> So, I can imagine one having to hire another teacher even two or three months into the school year. Right. >> Right. And and that's why we're looking at that ideal enrollment because and this is typical for any charter school. But as you know
081when you look at the four-year we had some fluctuations yeartoear and when a charter school is trying to stay afloat they they're just trying to fill the school. They're not looking at okay let's balance out the number of uh you know kindergartens and first grade. It's like let's get enrollment so we can stay afloat. then you staff based on the enrollment. But if we get to a point where we can look at what is our ideal enrollment based on the current facility and I I believe we're one step closer. We do have some bubbles that will impact us for the next few years as the students, you know, continue to grow and stay with us. Um, but it's nothing too significant and um, we'll be able to adjust through that weight list to get us
082to our ideal enrollment. >> Yeah, cuz I would think some of the higher ones would might drop a little bit. >> They could drop. >> So that's I mean, you know, you seem to be or everybody seems to be focused on the lower quality environment, but the higher ones could drop a little bit. Right. Right. >> How can you >> and you've got to watch the lower class sizes, the the lower ratios as well as the higher um >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> that's all. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Next, we have the uniform complaint summary report. Dr. Henry, >> actually, I have the the communication plan and then it was kind of they were put in together, but I separated them out. Okay, I will go
083very quickly. Um, at a previous board meeting, um, our board requested that we put together a communication plan. And so I just wanted to give an update of where we are in the process and what work we're doing, um, to put this in place. So, at the request of the board, um, we're we are pretty far into developing this communication plan. Um today we're presenting the outline to you and the major sections that will be included. We did look at the draft of the communication plan because the draft already exists um with our cabinet so that we could get every perspective and especially being newer here making sure there's nothing that I'm missing um that something that we're already doing that can be included and captured in this plan. So we did look at it
084as a cabinet. We will continue to to look at that. Um on our next um major board update is scheduled for August 1. So, my hope is to have the draft presented to you um as a board update for individual feedback and then depending on that feedback whether it's you know if it's ready then we will um hopefully adopt the plan on the in the August board meeting so that we can be able to share that and the timing of that would be perfect because as Mr. Schmidter shared his first coffee with the principal is on the 21st. So if we are able to adopt the plan um and we've already taken care of any revisions that were needed then we can share that with our families at the coffee with the principal and um
085in August then after we go through that our communication plan will be posted on the website just as we do other plans that we have and um ongoing. is something that I'm looking at especially as we're kind of navigating the first year making adjustments or improvements as needed and then we would bring another plan if there was anything major back to the board. So that's the process. The purpose is to ensure consistent, transparent, and timely communication that builds trust, strengthens community engagement, and supports academic and operational goals and also reflects the missions and values of Irvine International Academy. This is similar to that purpose, but really going into the goals of having a communication plan. It to me it really is going to be our commitment of our communication. It also helps to direct our
086staff on what we're saying that we're doing and putting in place. Um I feel that it'll foster a positive school culture through engagement. uh the more people know and the communication is clear, the more our families and community will be engaged in our schools and we're able to offer transparency. So those are the goals of the plan. These are also listed in the plan. Here are some of the sections that you will see. Um we have defined all of these areas in our communication plan. So we define our key audiences, who who gets which communication, what our key messages are throughout the year, things about our branding and our vision that should be reminded or should be remembered in all of our communication. We the biggest piece of it is this section three which is
087communication channels and tools and we list every channel of communication whether it be Mr. Schmidter's weekly memo, um, Miss Jang's bi-weekly Mandarin memo. We look at our LCAP advisory committee. So, we it's a very long list of all of the channels, what the purpose of each is, h, how timely they are. So, his is weekly, hers is bi-weekly. We have some things that go out different times, and uh, who the audience is. So, it it really is well defined. Um we there's another section then that looks at by quarter of the school year. So almost like a timeline what what are some hot topics that need to be communicated out each quarter. Um because there's a rhythm to a school year and a cycle. So we have that defined. Um feedback and engagement structures that
088we use. For example, PTO isn't necessarily a school a school function, but a feedback loop that we have is that either Mr. Schmid andor myself, we give updates in the PTO meeting. So, those are kind of that feedback and engagement structures that we're building in as well. And then, um, crisis communication protocols. I know that these are really defined in our safety handbook. So, we want to make sure that they align. Um, but if there is a crisis, what and when and how do we communicate and then also how are we going to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan? So, all of those sections are included. And then the one piece, like I said, I wanted to go a little bit deeper was that channel and tools defined. So this is just a
089list of them, but again there's a section of okay, how often, who's the audience, what's the purpose, what is being communicated um for all of these different areas. We're looking at how do teachers use Class Dojo? How often are middle school um families will be using parent square? What is the purpose when the teachers use it? And we want to have a minimum and a standard that and an expectation that everyone meets so those things are more aligned. What is the purpose of a coffee with the principal? We have monthly parent workshops. Something new that I've shared that I'll be adding is an ED and executive director advisory meeting and those will be once a quarter. And what is the purpose of those? So all of this will be included in that plan. Um, but
090I even added board meetings because this is a very important area of um of communication as well as board updates to you and kind of standardizing those. LCAP advisory meetings, ELAC, school site council, our school website. I'm looking closely at social media trying to kind of capture where we are and on that and then we're looking at surveys as well. Any questions? >> So, um, so what is the town hall meeting? >> Go ahead. >> Sorry. Town hall. >> So, the way I see a town hall meeting and again, we're bringing this to feedback is is the way I have it written right now in the plan is it's as needed. And that is if there is something and it kind of defines the purpose that if so there aren't scheduled town hall meetings but
091if there were something that we needed to bring everyone together to address um whether it be something um a project that we're working on or or something that a major change or sometimes there's something that happens in the community that requires a town hall meeting. And so those are really as needed and there um it's very well defined. It's when you bring people together because you want immediate feedback and input. You want to deliver information but you also it's kind of a back and forth in the town hall. So it's a little different than what the advisory committee meetings will be because those will be scheduled but we'll have that there as a mechanism in case we need them. >> Thank you. Just looking at that. I'm just looking at the quantity of of channels
092that you have here and I can't imagine you're missing an audience because there's quite a bit here. >> And there's actually one more that came up at cabinet today after I I had already created the presentation um that uh Miss Jong is doing. She's doing a Mandarin advisory council uh just for the Mandarin and it's I think five times a year is how she defined that. So I said when that came up today I'm like oh that we have to put that in the communication plan so that will be put in that's why we got that feedback to make sure. >> Yeah there is that the mandering part. >> Yeah. No that looks great. You know there's a lot here and I think like I said there's a lot of channels here that certainly covers
093a lot of the audience. So there's something for everybody >> and I think it really is how we use them and that that's why kind of defining it in a communication plan is so important >> because we have these channels but how are we using them to maximize the communication >> this great >> thank you for putting this together and I just had one question my key thing is always responsiveness this and I know you mentioned too. >> Yes. >> But that there is a set standard an expectation that when we receive a communication from a parent that within a certain number of >> hours, days, whatever it is, be clearly defined that everyone in the organization knows that we need to respond within the set period of time every time. Right? So the parent
094understands I sent a communication within 48 hours or whatever it is. I'm going to get a response. I received your email. I'm working on it. It doesn't need to be resolution, >> but I've heard you and I'm working on it. So, I hope that's part of the communication. >> Absolutely. It's something that I um will need to talk a little bit more to the team about because I have seen um just in other organizations that they already exist as part of the handbook or so I want to make sure that that piece is aligned to other communication channels we have. But absolutely the respon and that was a discussion we had today as well about the importance of responsiveness. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. I have one more um if but this will
095be really short. >> It's the uniform complaint. >> Yes. So the uniform complaint summary is a required presentation every year. Um we are required to present this to you. I have a definition of what a uniform complaint procedure. It's a statemandated process. It's used by California schools to investigate and resolve complaints um with specific definitions. And we have a uniform complaint board policy that's posted on our website that really clearly outlines and has a form and everything else of of how this process works. Um, and so the reasons are things like discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and violations of Title 9 or other state requirements. So, it's a very specific type of complaint. The uniform complaint procedures ensure that all complaints are addressed fairly, promptly, and in accordance with established procedures which are outlined in our board
096policy. And then we are to report each year on how many complaints have been received. So although we have received complaints, um we have not this school year received any that went through the uniform complaint process. So we know that we've had some other things that have been presented, other complaints like a notice of concern from our authorizer. So this is not to say that there have been no complaints but we have had no uniform complaint procedures that have been submitted. So in accordance with California code of regulations we have to present this each year. So the number of complaints that went through the uniform complaint process were zero. So we would report each year if there were any for next year the general nature of the complaint. there's always a written decision and then
097the number of decisions appealed by the complaintants. I do want to say that when we met with um OCBE with when Mr. Freeman and I did, one of the things was um one task that they gave me was to make sure we're communicating the different channels of complaint to our community. Uh because I was very impressed. We not only have the uniform complaint procedure process posted and a policy, but we also have a general complaint. If there's a different type of complaint, we do have a policy and a form and things like that for that. So, just making sure that people know um what our procedures are and what's available. And that's all for that piece. >> Thank you. Actually, um before we transition to the next piece, that's why she was looking at me.
098Um we're uh Miss Betsy Serrano is going to come up and give her updates to the employee handbook. Um but while we're here, I did want to introduce someone because this will help with that transition. So as we are aware um Miss Serrano is moving on. She will be um exploring her dreams and her horizons. This is a very good thing for her. Um but we were able to hire a new director of HR. So I am pleased and privileged to uh introduce Miss Eva Eva Opamisk and um she comes with us. She's going to say a few words just to introduce herself, but she comes with a lot of HR experience. Um, she actually had been kind of working with and knew Betsy and been mentoring as we were going through some of the
099processes. So, we really think this is going to be a smooth transition. She'll be on the personnel report for for next month um because her start date is in August, but I'll turn it over if you want to say a few words. >> Hi, good evening board. Thank you so much for welcoming me today. It's a pleasure to get to know the team to start to um learn the community, the representation of this wonderful organization. I'm excited to join you. Um we been starting working on this smooth transition until my official start date, but it's been already a great pleasure to get to know the organization, how it all works and tips and and I'm excited to take you on to the next level and just support the team in any capacity I can. Thank
100you so much for um this opportunity. I'm really excited for this chapter and chapter. Thank you. >> Yeah, we just we wanted to welcome you. Heard wonderful things. We're very excited to have you join. So, thank you very much for starting with our team. >> Hello everyone. Good to see everyone again. Um again, my name is Betsy Stranov, the current director of HR and operations. Um, so I wanted to just provide like a very quick overview of some of the updates that I made to the handbook. Um, and this is based on the changes that our school has been going through. Um, and it's also trying to follow like what other charter schools or other districts are doing, but then making sure that we are taking care of the needs of our employees because um,
101we're an international school, so it's not going to apply just for like any other school as well or like other districts. Okay. Um, so for just overall, um, pretty much what I did is I reorganized the section so there's more clarity and flow. Um, making sure that whatever section is next just makes sense with the previous section. So, that's one thing. Um, I also was able to update a lot of the terminology and the formatting like the subheadings and the headings and the titles. Like I was very uh intentional about that part. Um, in addition, uh, some of like the school name usage, these are very like technical things, but it does matter when an employee, we're hiring employees and they're reading through this. So, there was a lot of attention to detail when it
102came to updating the handbook. Um, okay. So, for added sections, um, one thing we did add was the probationary period. So, essentially what we did is for the first 90 days, thank you. um a employee is going through a probationary period and they may have an evaluation that just helps us and it helps the employee be able to kind of check in to see what they're doing um and how they're doing in their new position. Um there's also a workstation policy. So essentially every employee that's assigned to a workstation that includes a laptop and also like a desktop um that is just their workstation to use and you're not able to log into each other's workstations and laptops. That's just very basic like cyber security and ensuring that you know confidentiality and things like that.
103Um I added a section on credentials and certifications and that's to also keep up to date to our new job description. So um as you guys saw a few months ago we were able to update the job description and in there we added sections on um certification. So just to say that employees are responsible to keeping that all up to date. We added a section on expense reimbursements just to make the process a little bit more clear because currently it's a little it's really just mentioned the fiscal policy but I wanted to add it into the handbook as well. The temporary assignment pay um I we've been seeing some employees are kind of filling in other spots. So trying to figure out well if you're working in a different capacity are you supposed to get
104paid a different rate? The answer is yes. So kind of updating that and like the rules behind that. And then I did add the salary schedules, the two new ones that we created which were classified in management. All the rules behind salary placement um for our school we have a lot of folks who have international experience we do take that but then it's also thinking about how do we translate that experience here um or also just how to translate that experience in English with the forms and documentation. So just kind of really setting those guidelines and then I added all of the stipens in as well just to make it very clear. And then these are sections that I updated um that were already existing. But just to kind of make more clearer language, I
105won't go through each one because it's kind of a lot. But I will kind of point out um we did update our core hours um I believe from 7:30 to 4. It used to be like 8 to 6. So kind of just transition that to make it more um I guess reflective over employee hours. But then I also added information about our after school hours and you know school operations at that time. Um and then the service animal policy we haven't had to use that yet but I did was able to kind of expand on that. And then for vacation and sick leave weave. So that policy had like the most change essentially depending on the classification if you're a 10month 11 month or 12 month how many hours you work a week. um you
106get a certain amount of vacation time and sick time because before it used to be just if you were a 10-month in general you would get this but that's not totally fair to other folks who are working more months out of the year. So just to kind of make it more fair and consistent and then in addition to that sick leave as well um I updated that depending on the type of classification you get a certain amount of sick hours. Um and then for the protected leaves just made sure to add in any legal language because there's been a lot of updates with that. Um and then the internal complaint process. So essentially we just kind of made it more clear what actually Dr. Henry was talking about earlier. Um when there is like essentially
107outlining the process and the channels of when a complaint is being brought forth. So kind of like who do you go to first? Um of course we didn't add in language to restrict anyone from going directly to whatever you know level. Um, but we did kind of suggest a process to make it a little bit more streamlined. Are there any questions so far on any of the changes? So, for next steps, um, we're going to be having a welcome week for employees. So, um, when all employees come back, I'll be having, uh, well, Eva and I are going to be presenting the changes. Um, really, it's going to be the responsibility of each employee to read through. I know it's 63 pages and it's a lot but it is their responsibility to read through and
108really understand. Um we'll be available for any questions or if they need to clarify anything. Um and then um in addition because of our timeline and what honestly because of yeah the timeline I wasn't able to get this uh reviewed by legal just yet but I actually did send it over to them and they got back to me that they can have an updated like with all their edits by August 8th. So that actually will be um that updated document will be presented next board meeting with any of those like changes. So pending legal review um we'll go ahead and have the handbook effective um after tonight. So any questions? >> So yeah on that uh you said pending legal review. So what does that mean? So what if they we what if we approve
109it tonight and they come back and say are you to make these changes you know then >> um >> because we don't we we need to see what those are right I mean we need to understand the ramifications for approving the document >> yeah that makes sense um I think right now especially more so like our procedures um I wanted to present that to the staff before like go especially that welcome week >> um a lot of the times I will say this handbook has already been reviewed by that last year. So, a lot of the stuff has already been updated. Um, I don't know, Dr. Henry, if you want to add anything to that. Um, another piece that we do as well with the handbook and the way it's presented to the staff is
110through our vector system. So when um Miss Rano said that we ask everyone to read it that they actually have to certify that they've read it through our vector system. We our planned time for them to start working on the vector system on starts on August 8th. What we could do is if the changes don't necessitate us pulling back the handbook and we're able to present it or to approve it pending like legal blessing and certification, her nuts and bolts um presentation in the scheduled week of welcome is not until August 11th. So, we will have that information by August 8th and know and we can communicate if we're going to need to pivot or pull it back if there are any major changes. But I don't think we foresee any major um needs or
111changes that legal will bring forward because a lot of it was based on the work that they already brought to us. And then a lot of it is aligning it to things that the board has already approved like the new salary schedules and the job descriptions have already kind of gone through this process. So, we don't foresee any major issues. Working with our legal team before, I could see that maybe there's a word here and there that could change, but we can definitely um if it's pending legal review, we can also state that we will not um uh move this forward until as long as there aren't any major revisions. I can also add that a lot of this was used as reference from other charter schools and districts in which it has already been
112like they're definitely earlier in their timeline. >> Yeah. >> So I was able to use a lot of that language as well. >> Okay. So one I guess part of the ask with with uh the outside is it that's yeah reviewing or someone else? >> Yes, >> it's someone else actually. >> Okay. So the law firm I I part of the question to them because they're going to come back with something, right? They'll say, "Yeah, you should probably tweak it." You know, are there any legal concerns that that's what really I'm getting at, right? It's not about, you know, modifying some of the language here and there. Are there any concerns in its current format, >> right? That's that's the question to them, right? After they've had an opportunity to review it, >> okay? >>
113Uh because we want to be presenting a document that's >> that's been approved. You probably stand it. Agreed. So, I think at this point the message and they they were communicating to us right before the board meeting. Yeah. um that they they have it and they're looking at it. Um that that again this is for any legal concerns and not necessarily doing minor revisions that aren't necessary because I've noticed that a little bit with the legal that we've worked with that when we're asking them to review they want to do a good job and so they even will recommend just minor things that aren't material. Yeah, we're going to need to add some language to >> the motion legal and no concerns. >> No concerns about proceeding from legal. Uh I one other comment uh
114actually make two but one particular is related to any uh handbooks that were asked to approve. It'd be great to have the redline version and the clean version so we can see the differences as well as the staff can see the differences for those that have been here before. >> Right. Yeah. But my other comment is I just wanted to thank you. Uh, I know you've been part of the school for a few years now, right? And really appreciate your teamwork, your support. You did a lot. I know you did a lot, especially this school year. We're going to miss you. >> So, I work remote. >> Did a lot. Yeah, I know you work remote. You were here and then you work remote and then you came back. I I know a bit of
115your history here. So, thank you very very much. >> Yeah. Thank you. I also just wanted to like say thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here and make an impact. It's been such a privilege serving the community. So, >> absolutely. And I I would have to tell Eva there. She has some big shoes to >> I always want to thank you. I actually read through the handbook. I'm just so impressed. It's very thorough, but it's easy to read. Um, and you cover everything. I mean it's when I was reading it, I thought about you truly know the ins and outs about running the school and not just like that you also know the teacher's role and it it just it's amazing and it set a very good boundary. So make this school
116a very safe place if we all stay in the boundary and follow. Yeah. So thank you. Thank you so much. We'll miss you. Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate that. Yeah. And I'm excited for Eva's transition. I think you're going to be in great hands and she's just going to be able to make the HR department blossom. So, yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you and good luck. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh moving on to items for discussion and possible action. May is uh approved the 2025 2026 Irvine International Academy employee handbook. The IIA employee handbook has been updated to reflect current policies and procedures and include relevant updates to state and federal laws and regulations. LCAP goal action goal one, action two, funding source not applicable. Budget financial impact not applicable. It's
117recommended that board of directors approve action item A. Is there a motion? >> Say a motion. A motion we accept. approved the Iran International Employee Handbook pending the legal review. Any major updates from the legal review? I guess I >> and and their approval that we should proceed >> with their with the legal review approval that we can proceed pending. Madam J. Thank you. I'm >> okay. Thank you, Molly. All in favor, please say I. I. Any oppose, please say nay. Hearing none, it passes. Okay. Next. Approve 2025 2026 Irvine International Academy Student Family Handbook. IA student family handbook is updated annually to meet compliance standards and to ensure alignment with current local, state, and federal regulations. We will distribute and publish student family handbooks to ensure transparency and compliance. I'll cap action goal three,
118action five, funding funding source, LCFF, budget, financial impact not applicable. It's recommended the board of directors approve action item B. Any further comments on this one? we already talked about earlier. >> Um I I have a uh just a general question. Has this been reviewed by legal as well? >> Typically it's not because it doesn't it's a line of the policy. Is it only those or are there other things >> that the changes to this? >> Yeah. Has it ever gone through legal? I guess I'm wondering if it's ever gone through legal. >> I I don't think it has. We've had discussions about this too about what goes in the handbook and it it really is the handbook is our schedules and our bill schedules and it's informative and then the policy is pieces of
119our approved board policies that are written in there. So, and some of those go through legal and some of those do not. Um, we have not put the handbook through legal. that is something that we can look at moving forward. Um, we've also talked about other ways to utilize the handbook in the future. Um, I wasn't here long enough coming in to do that, but really kind of making it um, part of a student planner and something like that like making some major revisions and we can look at the legal review as part of that as well. thoughts. So I do have thoughts on that. I'm not sure, you know, based on what they're telling us, the policies and practices have already gone through and these are all excerpts from those policies and practices, right?
120Um, which I think is probably okay. What I have a different question on is I noticed that this document, the student family handbook, um, has to be signed by every student. That's what I'm seeing here on page 39. Is that really going on? I don't recall signing that. >> Do you want to answer Mr. Schmid data confirmation? So there's two ways they can agree to it on their data confirmation check to it. And then for the families who don't do that, then the last page that we do >> that you do collect Okay, >> that tells me my wife did these. That's what it tells me. >> She's going to check the box in the data confirmation that it was read and then there the physical paper signature isn't necessary. >> So in the case
121where they don't do it through the the data check, they can do it here or even collect it. Okay. But the data confirmation is only one time and if we have students who come later uh we want to have a mechanism for them to review the >> so they can go through and they can go this okay is legal but that's up to you because everything in here came from our policies. So, >> so not everything here gone through the legal process, right? No, I mean there's a lot of those up here. We don't need legal. >> The handbook also serves The handbook also serves to capture a lot of required pieces. Um, some of it goes through the handbook and some of it goes through our data confirmation, but when we get advice from
122Orange County Department of Education yearly about like annual notifications, things like that. So, we use those two mechanisms. So, a lot of that are things that are given to us that we have to include in the handbook. And the uniform complaint procedure form is also in the handbook and that's what I just presented on. So it's communicated a few different ways. >> It's okay with me. >> So I guess uh my question is this in in this even just what I read out it says you know student family handbooks update annually to meet compliance standards. And I guess I'm wondering, how do we know that we're meeting these standards? How do we know all the all the things that are included in the handbook are meeting the standards? >> There are communications that come through
123Orange County Board of Education, and that's to all districts in Orange County, not just because there are authorizers. So, it it's standard through their child and welfare um uh department that they send to you any required updates. I don't believe there were any this year. Um and then in our annual notifications that is is our kind of second legal piece. It comes from Orange Countyy's legal to us um with any other things that need to be updated there that don't necessarily go in the handbook. So, we do get communication and are on all of these listers. So we would be notified um really through a variety of means if there was something new legal compliance that we would have to make sure that we had to add. So we haven't seen anything like that come
124through. Our annual notifications will be notified. Those are a little bit shorter kind of ed code things but that's how we know it it it would be communicated with us in all schools. So we that that tells us what is new and what needs to be added, but I guess we've never really had an owner of the family handbook over the years, right? I mean, you inherited it, right? But it it came out before you, right? We had one before you. Dr. Bean was uh overseeing that, I presume. And I don't think we had either one. So, I don't know. But I guess I'm wondering if we've never had a review of it, then >> I can I can pretty conf I can pretty confidently say that we going into last year, you guys did
125not bring that to legal. >> No. And a lot of that's because a lot of it standard things that have to go in there and it's education code. >> Yeah. So, I'm wondering if um if we set the table of contents and said, you know, which of these and we sent the document, you know, and said which of these are the areas you probably would want to take a look at. I guess I want to make it efficient, right? I'm not interested in the current age bill. It's really about there may be, you know, the the calendar, the bell schedule, things of this nature. Maybe not >> those things, >> the issues, right? But there may be other things in there that may be and I'm just concerned. We're just we're approving something here. We
126really don't we really don't know. We we we don't know if it's compliant. We say, "Well, these are published. We put them in there. It should be it should be compliant." >> Mhm. Yeah. They're they're they are very standard a lot of the items that go in these handbooks everywhere. Uh but we can definitely maybe approve this pending legal review. Mr. Schmidter and I can take a look at the pieces that would that would rise to that level and need to be looked at. Things like um our own dress code policy or things like that don't need to go through legal. Um but >> um again a lot of these things are written just based on education code that is it. So if it's standard education code and not anything IIA specific uh with the
127permission of the board, I would not put that through legal review because they would just be re reviewing their own education code. But if there is anything, we'll take a look and if there's anything that is IIA specific um and it could be an interpretation of the education code um we can have them look at that. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean, I've never done it before. >> Good time to start. >> Okay. >> Are you guys okay? So, I'm just looking at the index, right? I'm just going through the index, right? And so, yeah. >> So, I'm just going through the index and so I would say majority is probably doesn't need a legal review, but you know, it kind of talks about discrimination stuff in here, right? and uh cell phone electronic devices, you
128know, just to make sure that we're not do saying something. We we uh discrimination statement probably good idea just for a couple of these things that they get looked at, but not everything, right? So like the dress code, I don't think we can put in there, right? And even if the pieces like and I don't know so we'll look at it and if it is some of those pieces that aren't IIA specific are the required pieces and it's just ED code >> so we'll look at that we'll look at it carefully and submit portions of it um to our legal team. >> So like yeah so there's like many peoples with temporary disabilities. Yeah, I'm sure there's some there, right, that probably needs to be reviewed just to make sure we're not violation. Suspension, expulsion
129is probably those, >> right? So maybe that, but you know, a couple other things in here wouldn't hurt. >> And it would be good to know after that, hey, everything's great. >> Absolutely. >> So then that's great, right? We could report that out, too. or there's some areas we just maybe a couple areas, right? We had some good suggestions. >> You don't want to cuz they're signing this. The family is signing this, right? >> So maybe it might be to say that we had >> So what we could do, we're not making motions. Yeah. >> We could we could make a motion to approve the doc. We can make a motion or I will make a motion to approve the family handbook pending um I don't want to say a full review. I'm saying uh
130itemized review of certain topics, you know, because I don't want to do the whole thing. Just look at some of these that may need to have to be updated or reviewed. That's That's my motion. Did I say that right? Pending an itemized review. There you go. Legal review. So, my motion is to approve the document pending an itemized review of the doc. Legal review. >> Okay. Any concerns? >> No concerns. >> Be nice to have that >> only because we're sign. >> Is that clear? >> It is. Okay. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> I see. >> All right. Thank you, Molly. All in favor, please say I. I. Any post, please say a hearing none passes. Thank you. Uh item C, approve declaration of need for fully qualified educators for the 2025 2026
131school year. Declaration of need is an annual document required by a local education agency as a prerequisite for the issuance of any emergency permit and or limited assignment permit. The 2025 2026 Dawn Declaration of Need allows IIA to apply to the California Commission on Teacher Academic Development, BClad, and or limited term assignment permits for teachers. LCAP goal action, LCAP goal one, action one, funding source not applicable, budget financial impact not applicable. It's recommended the board directors approve action item C. Any comments? This is a standard um item that we have approved every year. I will let you know that working with Betsy, we overestimate a little bit what we think we might need for the B-clad. For example, you heard from Mr. Schmid that we just made an offer for our uh TK Mandarin teacher
132today, but we had to complete this and then it once once it's signed, it'll need to be submitted. And so we try to overestimate if needed what we might need for this school year. And then if we don't need it, we don't need it. But it is especially being a dual immersion school. Um we have those two sides. We have the side of the B-clad as well as the fully credentialed. And then just as we did with the local indicators, we'll report back to you how we landed with that at the end of the school year through the LCAP process. Okay. Any other questions, comments? Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Felipe. I'm happy to second. All in favor, please say I. I. Any oppose, please say nay. Hearing none. It passes.
133Approved social studies curriculum adoption. New social studies curricula was piloted during the 2024 2525 school year by our elementary teachers. The teachers selected SAVIS for students in grades K through 5 as a core curriculum for social studies instruction. Curriculum is displayed and available for review by families. The cost for the three-year adoption is $26,375 including professional development for staff. A cap goal action goal one action 11 funding source not applicable. Budget financial impact $26,375 already reflected in the 2025 2026 budget. It's recommended the board of directors approve action item D. Any comments? >> No, we presented this at our last board meeting when I did the curriculum presentation. Um, this is something that was piloted during the school year. Uh, we have had it up for review. Um, and it will be the elementary social
134studies curriculum. We did not have a previous elementary social studies curriculum. We did for middle school. So, this will be our first time. Um but with that price that covers consumables, the the whole program for three years as well as uh ongoing professional learning for our teachers. Um so that we'll we'll schedule that. Um we we are going to be scheduling those on some of our early release Wednesdays so our teachers can really learn how to utilize the curriculum. How many how many sessions of the of the professional development are they? I'm assuming they're multiple sessions, but how many sessions? >> I am not sure. I do have the quote. I can take a look and see. I have it with me right here to make sure to see if it's on the quote. Usually,
135it tapers off over the three years. I have worked with SAP curriculum before. So I can say in my experience um we probably scroll down but um in my experience they do a a large training in the beginning because teachers need to log in and know all the components. Then they'll do that first year a follow-up or two and then it's usually one per year after that. for my money. >> Exactly. >> So, you mentioned that this is the first time where you have a social studies curriculum for elementary school. What What is the time slot they're going to put that? What is being replaced or substituted? Do you want to answer that question, Mr. Schmur, or I don't believe it's replacing anything? It's actually giving a standardized curriculum for them to use for social
136studies instruction that there already was social studies instruction, but I'm going to let Miss answer. >> So, our ELA curriculum wonders has a small social studies component to it, and that's what we said we were doing. is very minimal and our teachers were supplementing materials already for it. So this is actually gives them a a real social studies curriculum instead of piecing things together. >> So they won't have to supplement. >> Yeah. And and and one of the big things about this curriculum doing the pilot is the program is very straightforward and knowing how much how instructional time is limited. This one was the most effective for that. I'd like to hear that. >> Okay. Uh, is there a motion? Thank you, Molly. I'm happy to second. All in favor, please say I. I. Any
137oppose? Please say nay. Hearing none. It passes. Uh, next item. Approve 2026 2027 school calendar in alignment with surrounding districts and observed holidays. IIA has created the 2026 27 master calendar. calendars published approximately one year prior to the start of the designated school year in order to provide adequate time for planning and facilities use requests. LCAP goal action not applicable. Funny source not applicable. Budget financial impact not applicable. It's recommended the board of directors approve action item B. Any comments? >> We pulled um we pulled IUSD's calendar, some other calendars. It doesn't match exactly because we have the extra week for the lunar new year, but all of the starting they're very close. It also followed our calendar from uh 2526 that was approved for this year. Exactly. Just with a you know the shift
138in the days. So there weren't any major changes. It kind of followed the same rhythm, cadence, number of student conferences, the same name. So there weren't any major changes that were made. >> So has Miss John reviewed the calendar? >> So she brought up today that she wanted to look at the placement of the week for the Lunar New Year um and that that was an issue last year. So I had already put this on here for approval knowing I said please this was today send me some more information. I wish I would have had that beforehand. >> And then if we bring it for revision, if we >> okay >> look at the week, but we have to also look at like instructional minutes and everything else. So that >> could happen that I
139could bring a revision to you. >> Um and unfortunately I didn't have that background knowledge. Um and I did send it to many many people. >> Please put your eyes on this and review it. Um but I did get that. I think it's dying. Yeah, but I I wasn't aware of the um issue that occurred with the Lunar New Year. So, I that is on my radar right now. And if if if you don't mind, we'll we can go ahead and approve knowing that I'm taking a deep look at that. She's sending me the information and then we'll bring it. We're still early enough that if we make that one revision at the August meeting, it will be okay. >> Okay. Do you need us to approve it today or do you rather would you
140rather just have it lined up for the next meeting? >> We can table it for the next meeting. This there again there there isn't a rush. We were a little bit ahead of schedule for this one. >> I just don't want to create any confusion with this is the approved >> Yeah. calendar just update it again and they'd rather get it right the first time. >> Absolutely. Okay. >> You certainly could certainly can use this as you know paper, right? But the actual approved one, I'd like to approve it just one time, right? >> Okay. >> And I'd like to see the uh lunar count lunar week moved up one because that's my birthday. >> Oh, >> that's my birthday. >> Well, that's why we celebrate it, right? >> I would be very h I
141would be very uh >> we'll give you a week off for your birthday. >> Moved up one week. Yeah. >> So, let her let her look at it. >> All right. >> Okay. So, we'll table this to the next board meeting. Um Okay. Moving to the next. Approve the 2025 2026 workplace violence prevention plan. 2024 2025 IIA developed and implemented a workplace violence prevention plan. This plan is required by SP553 signed into law on September 20th, 2023. Each year employers in California are to review and make any required changes to the plan for 2025 2026. Our team reviewed the plan and updated the name of the executive director. LCAP goal action goal one action two funding source not applicable budget financial impact not applicable to recommend the board of directors approve action item F comments
142>> we were being very proactive with this one it didn't necessarily need to be approved again uh it was just a change of name from Dr. prin to mine. Um, but they do require that you review it. So, I I put this on here in abundance of caution. I wanted you to know that it had been through the yearly review um by uh Mr. Escalante and his team and then also and Mr. Schmid and then really the only change was um changing Dr. Kernan's name to my name. So is this plan taken from I see it's required by SB503 but the plan was made available publicly and we are using that plan and just adopted it and updated for with the names or did you actually create a plan? >> So this plan was created
143by the IAA team last year. It was last year was the first year that this was implemented. um legal templates were sent out. Um then this board approved >> um and in fact it was at the July meeting because I went back to review. So this is the IIA plan that used the legal template. Um and it because it was a new requirement. Um I remember when this plan came out there was a lot of guidance and direction given. And so that's what the IIA team used when I was talking to Mario about well we don't have to have this approved every year. It just has to be reviewed. Um, but since there was the even the minor change of the name, I thought it doesn't hurt for us just to go back and have
144a more recent approval. Um, but I was checking on the guidance for that too because it is relatively new. >> Is there a motion? >> Thank you, Molly. Is there a second? >> Thank you, Felipe. All in favor, please say I. I. Any oppos? It passes. Item 11, executive director's report. >> Yes, thank you. So, I did want to start with some very exciting news. Um today we found out that for parenting OC for the 2025 readers choice awards, uh Irvine International Academy was uh awarded and um as the best bilingual school for 2025. So we are racking up the awards. It's very exciting. I just received that today midday. Um, and so I will be meeting with um, the team over at parenting OC to better understand um, and then I did get probably
145about 4:00 a letter of kind of what is included with that award and then do we have other options for branding that we can use as well. So really gathering that information, but included is I have the letter here with me is we will be listed in the vaccine is best bilingual school. um we're able to use the logo um that publicly if we would like we will have some copies of the magazine that we can share uh 25 to 50 extra copies um we are able to advertise in other issues but I'm going to be looking at that of course and so anyway there there was quite a letter of some benefits for that um I have worked with parano before and My understanding actually in our front office here, we had some of
146our staff recognized, two of our staff members um were recognized as employees of the year and it's a good program to work with. Um this magazine does get exposure. It gets our name out there and so we'll look at um you know having getting the editor's choice award for best bilingual school is very exciting. Um I if I can read a little snippet of what they wrote. I think this is really nice. Uh when we received the letter they said thousands of our readers across Orange County cast their votes and your school stood out as one of their absolute favorites. This recognition is a true reflection of the trust, quality and excellence you bring to our community and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with you. And then they say please see the attached
147letter and additional information about timelines and things like that. So, very exciting and unexpected, but a a very nice unexpected surprise. So, uh very pleased with that. And then for my other updates, um I did want to we've had some questions throughout the community and I did put out a a communication to all of our families about the cast resolution. And so, um, we just did want to share, we had not had an opportunity to share at a public board meeting, um, that the it has been resolved and that we heard directly from the director of security from ETSs, the educational testing service. So they actually they worked in tandem with California Department of Education and gave us a written um kind of closure that the case had been closed. Um I want to take
148some time to thank Mr. Gio and actually the rest of our team for our summer programs. As Mr. Schmid said, tomorrow is the last day. I've been very impressed with the enrollment. Um Mr. Gio has sent me enrollment every day just because I was curious. So every day he tells me how many students are in attendance and um we really haven't dipped far below which wouldn't have been my I would have expected that the enrollment would have dipped so I was very pleased with that. I also do want to thank Betsy Serrano even though she's no longer here for her work. Um I've been very impressed with her. I can even say through my own um application process and my interview process. I shared with the board once I was hired how impressed I was
149with her professionalism, her communication. Um I am very proud of her for going back to school and I feel like the work I've told her this that the work that she did here in HR is is really going to go handinhand with what she's studying. She's going to be so well prepared. So, I'm very proud of her and I do want to thank her for her work. Um, some of the other things I was going to share, Mr. Schmid shared. Um, but for the hiring update, uh, we are very pleased to have our major teaching positions filled and even having most of the IIA positions filled. That is quite a task. Um, and for the hiring, I was in the second interviews of our staff. I let them go through the screening. I've been very
150impressed by the quality that we had. As we said, we had 150 applicants for these various teaching positions. So, we were able to take very high quality people that we interviewed and um so I'm very pleased with that. Um Mr. Schmid talked a little bit about the week of welcome, which is how we're um addressing our pre-ervice days. We're going to make it a very welcoming culture building experience by adding that new staff orientation um on the 4th and we will pay them to come a day early so they get access to our team. We're going to build culture, teach them what it means to be in IIA. I'm really trying to bring the fun and the excitement and also kind of making everyone feel that they're part of this community when they're new staff.
151Um, and as well, you heard about some changes to our orientation process. Um, I it took a while to kind of get a handle on what that looked like before, but we really wanted to move the needle a little bit to make it, yes, it's very informative and we want to keep that piece, but we also want it to be student centered and fun and help generate excitement about coming back to school for our students. So, um, we worked on planning that, um, and I'm very excited about that, um, for orientation and they will actually get to meet their teachers. And then again, we've been working really hard about putting some systems in place. The event calendar, I think everybody's going to be very pleased with that. Mr. Schmid has been working very hard, but
152we're aligning it to our PD calendars. We're trying to plan ahead. Coffees with the principles, our parent workshops, everything coordinated and aligned. So, I couldn't be more pleased. The summer is moving very quickly. I can't believe teachers are back in two weeks. Um, but uh we're excited for next year. That's it. >> Thank you very much. Uh, board of director's reports. I can hear the excitement in you guys and that made me really excited to this new school year. Uh thank you uh the principal and also Betsy and Dr. Hree. Um your hard work I mean it is amazing. Thank you. Um this is also you are doing this in your summer break. Well, not summer break, not break, but a summer. And I appreciate that. Um, and I look forward to uh another year.
153Uh, and I can see the the staff and the teachers and the students and parents coming together and this is a big family. Um, so thank you for your hard work and we're I'm here for you guys. uh and I would like to participate more you know uh get involved and so look forward to >> Sure. Oh yeah want to thank all the staff and Dr. Henry for all the hard work that and you and Grant are doing here. Um I did want to talk a little bit more about this OC parentine award. You know, I know it's a pleasant surprise, but it really shouldn't be a surprise because last year Amy, the staff, the teachers, the students, the parents, the board, everybody worked very hard to and that reward, this is the reward of
154that hard work. And so it pays off right here, you know. And so I was reading here that they're going to allow us to have their little logo on our website and stuff. I noticed that we're talking a lot about updating the website, updating the website, and we kind of talked a little bit about that. There probably should be somebody designated full-time to be dealing with our website, you know, because it seems like this year we're going to be putting a lot of information on there. So, somebody who's very familiar of how the workings of the website and updating that, you know, I think Grant's doing it now, right? Are you working on it a little bit here or there? >> I do the sections. I did. Yeah, I think you you've got plenty of
155things on your hands and you don't need to be dealing with the website. So maybe somebody could be designated as a website person to do that because I have a feeling that we're going to be using a lot more. And uh the last thing I have is that you know guys, you only have 23 days left before school starts and that includes the weekends. Without the weekends, that's 17 days. Okay, I counted them. So you got a lot based on what I've seen here. you still got a long ways to go. So, uh, just to let you know, just to keep you on track on schedule. Okay. But no, great job, guys. Looking forward to a great next year. >> Yeah, I just wanted to congratulate the school, the staff, the families, and thank for
156recognizing the school. Uh it's always um great to be recognized and uh the school uh we have our best days are in front of us and uh I I agree Molly it's very exciting. You can feel the excitement for the new school year. It's hard to believe it's around the corner. Um I wanted to thank you Felipe and Molly. David's not here right now, but uh thank you for your time, your hours of dedication, and for your care. Uh my real only update is I wanted to let the community know on the governance committee. There were three members, uh Molly, myself, and the executive director last year. And uh we've removed the executive director from that committee based on public comments. So it's Molly and myself right now. it's already been removed from the website.
157So, um I just wanted to make that update and thank you to those that are here in person. Appreciate your coming, your dedication and to those that watch this afterwards. So, thank you. Thank you all and please enjoy your rest of your summer. >> 23 days, including weekends. Okay. Uh moving the next item, adjournment. recommended the board adjourn the regular meeting of the Irvine International Academy board of directors on July 22nd, 2025. Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Felipe. Is there a second? Thank you, Molly. All in favor, please say I. I. Any post, please say nay. Hearing none. It passes. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.