001like um go ahead and call tonight's meeting to order. Today's date is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Barber Q Unified School District study session. Um uh turn it over to Mr. Sabala for roll call. Hi Hi. Thank you. We do have a quorum. We'll continue with this evening study session. Um, letter C is a routine business approval of the April 15, 2025 study session. Board, governing board. Only thing on the agenda this evening is discussion and review of the Barbecq Unified School District contingency plans. If there are no objections, a motion to approve. Is there a second? Second by Miss Kathleen Vance. Thank you. Moving on. Letter D is information items. Number one, discussion and review of Barbecq Unified School District contingency plans. FYI, if you are joining us um in the room or online, I
002just want to make sure it's clear. Study sessions are open and communication can be done uh through questions or if there's anything that you want to ask questions to the superintendent. Um, I don't know if anybody's online, Mr. Sabala. Okay, no worries. Just just making sure. Uh, otherwise for the record and for the stream, um, it's kind of an informal meeting, basically a study session to kind of get information based on what we're being presented. So, I'll turn it over to Mr. Diaz. Thank you. Superintendent. Good afternoon, everyone. U my name is Ruben Diaz. Um I am the proud superintendent and members of the community, uh members of the team and members of the board. Um the purpose of today once again is to share some of our thinking to generate more thinking and to
003welcome any additional information. Um at this point I'm going to ask um Mr. Bates to allow me to present um it's a draft of our thinking. Um um we are responding. Um this is a potential enrollment support contingency plan. Um in the event something happens over the summer. What do I mean by that? Um um before I begin this plan, I I would like to take the opportunity to share um what what is our purpose of a community school district? What is our mission? What is bringing us together? Um we want to be bold. We want to be brave. Um and we also we want to be recognized of Babok Unified School District um by making sure that uh Babok Unifi School District employee support students to be healthy, inspiring, motivating, developing and achieving graduates.
004um by today um under the umbrella of the u mission and under the support of the governing board um the purpose of today um I have three main goals that I want to accomplish by presenting this information. Number one, I want to uh be transparent and provide critical event uh timelines to staff and community members. Um, I want to define areas requiring the process to plan accordingly, establish necessary steps for parents to know what to do uh for staff how to prepare and for students what to expect. Lastly, I want which it was discussed um this particular letter that was sent to the parents and guardians of BIE students. The area in which I want to focus is um stated on this later in this letter which is the alternatives to uh bureau of educa
005uh Indian education. Um as Baboki Unified School District um it is one of the alternatives. Um it's I don't know and we don't know and as a community right now I don't want to express that anything is happening to the VA schools. I want to clarify that at this point there's no information out there that says that anything is happening to VIA schools. What we are trying to accomplish as one of the alternative options in the district is to provide some guidelines and process that may be necessary to facilitate um and and clarify to our conitu constituents what to do in the event something did happen um to our BIE schools. Um but I want to make that clarification today. The purpose I do not want to ring the alarm or I'm not stating or
006indicating that something is happening to BIA school. It is based on this letter and based on the information that was shared um during the town hall um asking for what the alternatives to Bureau of Indian Education. I want to make sure that us being our neighbors and being uh the alternative and being one of the options. Um how does um a state funded school works? Um and what are some timelines and what are some facts that we need that we need to be aware um in the event something were to happen. Also, I want to open it up to our governing board, to our members of my team, uh, and then members of that community. There's anything that can help us to be prepared for any, uh, anything that might have happened. It's better to
007be prepared uh, than not to. Um, I want us to make sure that in the midst of anything that is happening politically, the ones that do not get affected are our students. President Mindia, I'm sorry. I just wanted to to basically state on behalf of the board and to the board that I was a I did participate on different occasions with this um these town halls that were held and I and I do want to make sure it's clear as well that um you know, Mr. Diaz is responding because he was in attendance of that meeting at the same time. I think I want to be able to say as well that, you know, we we're we're not responsible for ringing the bell. I think the bell's been rung and I think we're just trying
008to and I really wasn't trying to impress on Mr. Diaz. Let's get ready just in case. But at the same time, I think that it's important for us to also hear any questions or concerns from from from other board members. But for me as as the president and attending the meetings and and and just listening to what the comments were, um I'm very very confident that our schools um are capable and able. Um, but I also want us to be to be prepared if there is an influx or or or to some degree if parents want some sort of stability and our school is their choice. then let's make sure that we can give them the best possible and quality that that we can because I would want that if I were if I were
009living on the west end and my experience on the west end of the nation is that there is so far less than what we have on this end that I would be much more uh happy or at least some degree feel a lot more comfortable if there was an effort from the the neighboring school district or the school district that that serves the nation to have some preparedness in what they're going to do. So, I just wanted to make that comment as we kind of continue all this and the reason as to why I didn't get to say anything to HRDC at yesterday's meeting either because we we did invite um the committee and the education department because again it was intended to not only answer questions from the board but answer questions from the
010nation considering what this may entail. It's not to say we want to do anything other than be a proud partner and really hold our our schools and our teachers and our our ability high. Um, so that's that's just the comment that I wanted to make because I felt like it not coming from Mr. Diaz as just trying to like he said, you know, ring any bells or or make it make it seem as though something is happening, but it was uh it needs a response. And so I'm glad that we're able to hear the information. That that's all I want to say. Thank you, sir. Thank you, President Mia. Um two two important um statements that you made. One of them um is the that we are being partners. Um this is part of our
011efforts in being a partner and being a neighbor and being part of that community. Um the the other point is uh to be prepared um in the event something happens. Um this is not a respon no one asked us to do this. Um this is something that it's it's based on our own initiative as a as an institution as uh one of the alternative options in the Toronto Autumn Nation. Um to ensure that in the event parents need alternatives, we can say um we are one of the options that you may want to consider. Um but also we need to know as you will see in a few minutes why we need to have a timeline, why we need to have a process, why we are going to need some collaboration um so that we
012can be better behive students. Um, and lastly, I want to emphasize once once again that this is only a draft of ideas that we have put together, allowing everybody else to be able to share any thoughts or any comments that you would like us to uh work and have uh as part of our system in place as preparation. Um please feel free to let me know at any point um if you have any questions or there's anything else that you would like to add. Um as part of USD um what what sets us apart? What are some areas that I want to bring to our attention that I am I I feel confident about what we offer and and some of the uh services that we provide. Um under the the supervision of the governing
013board and under the support of um our team, we were able to transport our transportation department. We have we have gone from eight buses that were sometimes working and and not all of them with air conditioning to a fleet of 19 buses. Um we have nine new buses that belong to Babok Unifi School District and we have about 10 um 10 that we lease um with air conditioning that allow us to expand the routes, reduce the amount of time the students are riding and also reliability. We are riding um in close to 100% participation for those students who are requiring the services. We are also uh confident of our ESA services um that consists from a psychologist and a director of ESS um um the exceptional services of um the the system that that that
014we have in place. Um we we do currently serve a large percentage of students but we welcome it's important to know um when parents uh are thinking about Baboku community school district to service their children or to be tested is that we have an infrastructure in place not only to provide the services the um related services uh stipulated on IEPs but also we have um our our our school psychologist that help us provide the testing as well. Babble Unified School District. Um we have a counselor in every single school um that provides additional support for our students. Um we also have extracurricular activities that include student clubs and sports. Um I want to brag that our students have made it to state finals in different sports as well. Um part of our uh what we
015offer it's a growing Jed program uh that consists of agriculture, automotive, we have a health um introduction to health uh we have culinary as well digital photography. Thanks to our partnership with TOCC, we also take advantage of the dual enrollment in in some of the classes and depending on the interest and the level of students, we are able to maximize um the the opportunities for our students by taking classes at the university level uh while they are in high school. Uh thanks to the support of the nation and the contributions of the nation, we'll be able to match the funding um and continue to work on growing a dual language program. Um that we are on the fourth year on this project, but we are on phase um three of year of phase two. It's
016two phases. Phase one was a pilot and the second phase we have completed group one um year two and year three in which we have developed now two different language levels um to to to be able to provide and differentiate the the the the for students based on what they have learned. Mr. Diaz. Yes sir. Just a question considering pertaining to that comment you just made. Um, and I and I know we probably have and I want to make sure that we're we're we're on top of it. I don't think that there's been anything that I that I have seen that would challenge our our our language programs, but just so it's on the radar, have we had any kind of instance of whether it's the state or the state superintendent? As far as anything
017that I've been able to see, there's been some discussion about not supporting those types of efforts. So, I want to make sure that we're we're we're watching and we or listening, I guess, if there's anything that we need to be aware of as a board, anything we need to stand up on or for whether it's in policy and or action. And I only said it because I feel like that's something I want to make sure that we're addressing if if if it if and when we do need to. No, that was it. Um, thank you, President Mia. To my knowledge, there has not been any directives uh or any policy change um limiting our our ability to provide um uh a dual program in autumn. um as soon as I hear anything um I'm pretty
018sure I will be contacting my governing board and also the nation for support given that this is one of my my personal goals that I want to continue to support as long as you you would like me to be part of Baba Unif School District. This is something that I strongly believe for the um strengthening of our students, the culture, the language um and the development of the nation. I think this is something that we um I want to continue to support as well. And I only want to ask that question because I feel like that might be the question for people who see what's going on and think that we wouldn't be able to. But but I do want to make sure and make clear that we're still very much operating the way that
019we have. And I will say the same thing. I think there would be a definite um response and action from this board along with um us leaning on our partners with the nation if that ever were the case. But if that were a question that someone would ask like well they say this dual language program but there's been a lot of discussion about not having those types of things. Um which again is something I feel like pride this the school district on is that we have stood by that and the tribe has actually stood by us on those as well. That's it. Thank you, President Williamia. Um, another characteristics uh that sets us apart as a district. Um, it is our electives in elementary school. Um, in in our primary and intermediate, um, thanks to
020some additional funding from Impact 8. um the the primary we have um students have specials also known as electives um that allows us to enrich them in in other areas depending on what's available and depending what the te what teachers we able to hire um we have had um music we have um the culture is is it's one of them we have art uh PE um and these are additional staffs that provide those services to our primary students um primary and intermediate students. Another um an another feature that we have in our district, we not only have an accelerated program um through the Indiana Oasis Elementary um Indian Oasis Middle and High School. Um we um we are referring um that site as our accelerated campus that is intended to expedite um the credit recovery
021for students. Uh but we also at at the high school we do have um one section for students that have the unfortunate experience the um being short in credits that they need a system in place to be able to recoup those credits and Babun School District in the last couple of years has invested in credit recovery programs uh of support during winter school, after schools, summer schools and more. um one diamond um in the desert. Um it is our family and community center. Um it is the Sunrise House. Um this it's a great service that we provide to all members of the community. Um we we each month um over a,000 pounds of food is provided um as well as access to hygiene items, clothing, uh shoes and other and and other services. um that
022is open and it is part of Babuif School District but not limited to Babokun school district families. This is something that is open and it is here close to our district office and it's available. One of our goal is to connect um with me with with the community and one of the ways that we um do it or systematically do it is by having community days. Baboku Unified School District approves a calendar that allows our um our members are of our district from the governing board to our teacher bus drivers to every single department to participate so that families can come um outside of an instructional day for a day of getting to know through activities um and in in different in different areas. each school has the opportunity to open up the doors and
023and and welcome the community. Um we have um an operations uh department. Um, thanks to our operations department and and and all of the team, our schools, they not only provide the custodial services but the grounds, but thanks to the expertise of our director, it's been able to tap into um additional funding over a million dollars of funding uh from the school board facilities to improve um our roofs uh weatherization of painting the schools and many other projects including renovating entire kitchen. uh to continue to provide a a much better aesthetically and more efficient building so our students can focus on the learning and our our principles can focus on operating on the operations of the schools. We had the opportunity to also partner with another um uh vendor um um is SFE um that
024provides uh food um or the the food for our schools. Um based on the ongoing part um relationship with our vendor um we continue to meet once a quarter with students to find out what are some of the foods that the students like and what are some of the foods that students don't like or they would like to be removed from the menu and based on those recommendations um they're able to make changes. Um it's uh at the high school specifically our students they have the option to have six different choices at the high school um based on on on those meals. Um also um it's getting more complex to continue to provide an education and what our students and families the levels of support needed for for students and families. Um, one of the
025areas that district has uh I believe is been an example is to continue to provide additional support for students that they feel that there's not a light at the end of the tunnel and they continue to provide those that that support um not only through our counselors but also through our social emotional learning director. There's a lot more that we can brag about bubble unified school district but I want to highlight some of the ones um that I I believe they can resonate with many other family members in the community. Having said that to be able to provide those levels of services now I want to bring to your attention a critical aspect which is time. Time that is managed effectively is going to be our best friend. a time that we do not uh
026prepare or that we do do not um set it up in a way it's going to be um a recipe for disaster. What do I mean by that? Um this month I want to bring awareness that we do have a contingency plan on some of the areas that we need to look at and I want to bring to you as one of those part of the contingency plan. it is this timeline. Um by May um we will be re-emphasizing the enrollment window. Um we we are being attending multiple job fairs to be able to recruit teachers for all of um our vacancies. And we also uh this coming Friday from 9 to 12 we're going to have our first bubble unifier school district job fair. Um and we're going to open up here at the
027um intermediate cafeteria for all of the vacancies in all different departments of school. Uh we have placed um advertisement on the radio. Uh we've been using our social media. We advertising in it on other platform to be able to attract as many individuals or prospective um um employees for Babok High School District. It's important to know that um based on one of the latest um uh surveys conducted in the United States by the Forbes magazine in 2024 is that they anticipate 20 20 no I'm sorry 200,000 vacancies. So um finding teachers is going to be a challenge. uh the the earlier that we know how many students are we going to have the the greater the window of opportunity that opportunity that we're going to have to determine which grade levels uh we are going
028to need additional teachers. It is important May is a critical month because if something happens over the summer um we need to collaborate with our director of education uh Dr. Hono autumn director of education in HRDC to make sure that parents have a system in place to have access to their student records because if over the summer something happened or there there's a delay or something happened in the fall for enrollment um we want to make sure that before the end of May parents will have what they need in the event that they need to enroll the students in a different um alternative um um entity. So, um I want to bring that uh that um point in in in May. Um because what would happen is by not having those documents um it it
029it will delay the enrollment on our end uh impacting how the students are going to be in school. June is going to be um the golden month uh that is going to make us or break us. Um what do I mean by that? Um right now Babok Unifi School District wants to ensure that all students are enrolled on or before June 13th. By then we want uh we want to close the uh enrollment window and we want to make sure um by having the the maximum amount of students we then uh solidify that total number of vacancies needed. If we have any new parents, we want to make sure that we begin an orientations for new an orientation for new parents. Uh we begin um um a a transcript review for new incoming um high
030school students to determine what credits they have, what attempts they they fail. So then we can put them in a plan of not only of credit recovery, but also set up a plan and meet with the parents and say this is why your child needs to be able to graduate. based on the credits that the child is coming in. Um the next one is to determine based on um any additional enrollment what u what additional buses uh what additional routes, how many new drivers we need and to begin recruiting any any potential vacancies. We need to determine how many new students are going to have IEPs, what programs they need, what related services they going to need to determine if we have is enough classrooms and not if not if not how many new classrooms
031or programs we need to open and equip for students with disabilities and then hire um the adequate um teachers um with the right credentials to be able to service the students. based also on the number of students. it will be able to determine how much food we need to order ahead of time so that when school starts will we prepare for not only the students that we projected but any additional that we were not anticipating that um we we provided by June or we're enrolled by June also by June 13 if if we have um any additional students we need to determine how many laptops how many more um material we need uh because we order for based on the projection number of students that we have um that that we promote each year from
032grade level to grade level. But if we have any additional any additional students um it will give us a window of opportunity to place any additional orders that is going to be the the the key or the success that we that will propel us uh into June. Why? because on July um we want to focus on providing orientations for families. we want to be able to provide in July um any trainings for any new teachers that we had to hire um not only because of our current vacancies or based on any additional vacancies um as a result of new enrollment and by July 24th if you look at right now it is April 15 July 24th it is when our students are going to come It's a matter of weeks. Um it on July 24th,
033our students are going to be back and by then our Abuba Community Fire School District it needs to have everything they have said earlier um set up and good to go. We also have on July 28th um which is um Thursday and Friday is going to be the first day of school, but on the 24th and on the 25th, we're not going to be enrolling students because those parents who were able to enroll students on time and the the B were on the buses. Um we need to make sure that we set it up um and we provide better um service once the students they are in the classrooms and they're sitting they they have the the the the classrooms going. We're going to reopen registration on July 28th. Um we will reopen it up
034only for a week. Um and and that any other parents that um didn't miss the two and a half months of hold on April, May, June, we started in March registration, Mr. Bates. So registration will be officially open for a total of four months. So we are encouraging all of our parents any continuing parents of prospective parents to ensure that they uh enroll the students by June 13th. Another uh key date it is August. Traditionally speaking and this is information again based on on previous information. Traditionally BIE schools they start in August. So, this is going to create a challenge um in a couple of ways. If parents hold on and do not enroll in a in an alternative school and there's no BIE school and they don't know until August and then we have
035a challenge, um the challenge is going to be that if all of a sudden we become the school that is going to be absorbing any other students, um the approximate number that we're looking at, give or take, we're looking at about 4 50 students. Uh Babok Unifi School District, it's about a thousand students strong. So if we are going to be uh the alternative um option, we're looking at a total number of 150 students, which means we need um x amount of buses. We're going to need x amount of new teachers, x amount of new resources. Um those calculations we've been working on based on that approximate number. Um but the more information that we collaborate and share we will then help us um to collaborately uh prepare bearer for for a a stronger contingency
036plan. I'm going to put a pause right now. Uh I I know that was a lot of information but I want to give the opportunity to everybody to share your thoughts or any additional dates that we should be keep um in mind or in consideration so we can continue to build a stronger contingency plan. Okay, let's just go around to the board members. Annie, any questions? I think the big thing for me is just is when will we have the nations um represented here? So we along a bigger discussion can we have because like it's just us today. I think it would have been really nice if we could be all at the same table. um hearing this discussion and thinking about what's going to come up I think is very important. And so we're
037we have this plan in place or some kind of plan in place before it's too late and students are scrambling um and parents are scrambling. So I think that's something that I'm concerned about. I'm also concerned about what Juan brought up as far as the language and I hope that um we pay attention to that. Um there are other questions I do have too in regards and I think I had asked you when this whole thing came up when we were at the VIE um forum. One of the things I had questioned was like do we have the space or the the capacity to take this on and talk to DSN say yes. I said, "Do we have transportation?" And that was one of the big things that that I would be worrying about. And
038how would it work if they were going to stay at their school and will we have to hire new teachers? You know, there's so many logistics that go along with if this is going to happen. Um, I'm sure I have more questions, but right now that's all I have. Thank you, Miss Senna. Um, Miss Sylvia, I guess basically the same thing. Um, honor mentioned was having everybody at the table for this is a big discussion I mean in regards to a and they may have some answers to some of the questions that you're you know that you brought up and you know maybe they have more information on where everything's at right now. Uh but also is was there any thought in in maintaining uh the schools and the students um stay in their lo
039their present location with the oversight of BUD and working together with, you know, people that are in charge there that are teaching there that, you know, because basically I think one of the um forum uh the forums that I when I listened to one of the um what do they call the um Yeah, that they were the parents were talking about with relocating them, going back to the old, you know, having to set them off and stuff like that. And, you know, I think they'd be more than happy just to keep them at their site. I don't know. I mean, how that would work into, you know, this type of uh planning. May I respond? Um Erin, do we have anyone virtually? I know we have invited all members. Uh we have shared not at
040this point. Thank you, Miss Vald. Um we have shared this document um with the members um of HRDC. They they received a copy. We explained to them that it was a draft. Um and um they they had no questions yesterday. Um um but I will continue to reach out to either make an appointment with them or to follow up with any questions that they may have. Um just like you you mentioned I believe that this is a critical discussion um that by joining forces it can only make us stronger. Um to answer also your question in terms of facilities um there's there's things that are within our control and within our hands and there are things that are not. Um based on the town hall um I did see um the the desire from the
041families wanting to keep the students close to their school to their community. Um I don't know if the facilities um can be vetted um within the timeline that we have um and approved by the state uh and make sure that they are deemed okay to public education. I don't know. Um again that's out of my hands. Um but this is something that it's a process. Um, and I believe uh, Ben, you may able to support and and based on three months, this usually will take about a year to determine the state and and and what is needed. But, um, I'm I'm going to, um, ask Ben to be able to add information based on our discussion. B, uh, the ability to absorb those schools, it's going to take a long time. Just to start off
042with you, the land has to be inspected. The ROSAP SFB has to come out and approve all that and that's going to take in itself six months to a year. Then we have to go through all the red tape with AD to try to see if we can absorb that. Just for your information, the auditor general came in here and finished an audit on us this last year and stated that we have too much room. Now, depending on that much how much capacity they have at these schools, if they're not filling all that room, AD might not even give us that that opportunity to take a couple of those buildings because we can't fill them up. In in addition, um if if those buildings and thank you, Ben, um we more than likely will have
043to go through the process also of leasing if this is something that they become part. Sorry, I didn't mean to to um to to be part of the um the district. Um and as you know, we're going through the process again. I laugh because it is it it's a process that we've been that we missed the ball on that one and we're going to expedite as much as we can uh to ensure that we get our leases back. No, just I mean just mainly that plus that you know as far as transportation, you know, they you know area too and you know keeping them in their their own in their same location but also and then al also you know budgetary budgetary issues. I was just wonder like h there is so much that that
044is going to be um that would have to be done in order for you know and you know I'm you know I give you, you know, an A for your um your plan here and your thinking and you know this the information that you've shared with us. Um, I just think that again I think because we're the only ones here, we can't really say and we need others here and share their thoughts and their and I don't know, you know, they may have a plan too. I don't know, you know, we just need to it'll be great kind of work together. Yeah. Um I think the point is and which is where I agree I understand and I agree but I know Mr. DS yesterday told them a number of times you're welcome to join.
045We are going to have some discussion and that their input is important. Um but again we can't force anybody to come to our meetings. And that's that's it's unfortunate but at the same time I would much rather that we are having discussion and prepared as a school district just in the same way we would if say if we were in the city and a school closed down the road. It's kind of like you have to be prepared if that influx is going to happen anyway. So my questions are going to kind of pertain to what is our current capacity and what what are we going to what's going to happen if we do get 100 more students. Have we already kind of have some plans to say I think that we we've been really really
046we've been really fortunate to have um student counts above a thousand. I don't know that we were above what 900 or 11, 1100 recently. It's been below. With preschool, uh we are about a thousand. Uh without preschool, we are 1,200. Yes. Correct. That is correct. So I think if we got 200 more students, we can handle that. Um so I I I think it's important for us to just be prepared if that influx does happen. I can't say as much as you guys can't say why or what and when the nation's going to get on the ball. Maybe they are. We don't know. Obviously, you just said that, but we don't know. But I think it's good for the school to at least be prepared and and all of our directors and everyone else to
047kind of have an idea of what does happen when we're at our our full capacity as a school district. Um and and then the other question was our current approved student toteer ratio was ris res risen was it increased increased by three. Okay. So is there and I know that even that can get kind of intense for certain at certain points but we've also noted that there are some classrooms that don't even have that amount of students. So I'm I'm hopeful that we can kind of gather and say okay this is just the discussion that we need to have in order to feel again it was in order to kind of give the sense of this school is prepared they have the space they have the teachers we can I want to I want to
048make sure we can really focus on the transportation. I want to be able to say to a parent on the west side who I know the drive, you know, the drive, lives hour, hour hour and a half away can be can feel a little bit better about their student going so far away to school and that maybe we can work on the express buses that you have mentioned in the past, buses that go directly to Manager's Dam or whatever and straight back as opposed to stopping along the way so students aren't on the bus that long. That's the type of conversation and discussion I like to hear especially because I think that's important for parents or people who may be watching uh or who may watch later you know hey okay maybe that is something
049that we can consider when it comes to alternatives for the school. Um so those will be my questions and I guess if there's any response but but I really want I I know I know and I I understand and I and I agree I wish they were here. Um, but it also sounded like they were interested in getting the presentation to themselves and then that kind of puts us in the bind because we all work and we can't get up and go to their meeting. So I I think we have either we meet in the middle or or we give input to Mr. Diaz tonight and then he can go do what he needs to do with HRDC when when they're together and we just figure it out that way. But I think for the
050most part um I'm really really um again bring impressed as to what's been done so far. But those are the things I feel like might be um things that will help a parent make a decision when it comes to if it comes to and they may just decide that anyway because the way that the way that the environment and the chaotic the chaoticness of it is just so unsettling. I wouldn't want I mean they don't want to have to deal with something that's not secure or unstable. Um but that that's just my comments to those to that president. Yes sir. Um one of the areas that I want to follow up is uh transportation. Um again we met as a cabinet and and and I asked my team um to give us their best thinking
051and and and with the thought in mind how can we best serve our community because this is the time that they're going to need us the most in the this happen. Um when it came uh to the area of transportation, um our current director um based on the the the contract that we have um he had um give us the um confidence that in a very short amount of time he can provide the units needed and the bus drivers needed and that he his number one priority will be able to provide as many express buses for the areas that are the furthest to be able to shorten the um the the amount of time that students are riding on the bus. Um again, we need to control uh or focus on what we can control
052and not to overpromise and underdeliver. This is one of the areas that I feel very confident based on our partnership that um he um our director is now familiar with the area that distances and the type of equipment is needed to provide the services to our students. Um and he did say based on the contract that I have with you guys, we can increase it as many as we need to u in a short amount of time and it will be his prerogative to be able to provide that service. um and and and and and in and keeping us as a priority. So that we have uh one of the areas. The other one um as long as I have some time is I want to make sure that I have enough food on the
053first week of school. Um so that we based on the numbers that we might get. Um the area right now um that it will be the trickiest one is having teachers. That is the one that the earliest I know, the earlier I can begin either recruiting and continue to recruit nationally but also internationally. And even the timeline um if I were to know by next month, it takes um about six months to get uh an international teacher, sometimes four months when we pay the expedite. Um that will puts us past our first day of school. So that's what I want to emphasize to all families, not only our continuing families, but all families that are interested in considering Bab School District. The earlier that we have the enrollment packet, you doing us a favor in
054how to return the favor by providing u the services that our students deserve um based on on on the numbers that we need. Sir, with that comment, and I know we have a list, I mean a a schedule of events happening for enrollment. Are you doing them in those districts on the other side? Um our office manager um we have a rec um enrollment committee. Um and Mr. Bates is part of the the committee. Um there's late nights they've been different parts of the nation. Um I don't know if Mr. Bates would you like to elaborate a little bit more on our system in place of enrollment. Microphone microphone. It feels so good to see that. Your turn. So, the enrollment process is open to new and returning. Um, the process is really the same.
055The only additional step for a new enrolling parent is to set up a parent view account and they don't have to be enrolled to do that. So, we did post a video, I think it was a day or two ago, related to the online registration process, which we were excited to see we had 14 in one day. So, that was a nice nice bump right after we posted that. So, and the video went viral. I got one like. No, I I think I think I definitely want to say uh as also Miss Sylvia had mentioned um and I'm sure we're considering you know when we say increase in buses we also means increase in the price tag for for having to do that. So I know we also what also was mentioned at our last
056meeting is that we are tapping into what we were trying to put aside for savings. So I think on the on the instance that we're that we're um prepared or responses responsive. I want to make sure that the board members are in receipt of any information that needs to be given, especially when it comes to what those finances are going to be. So, I think even if we get an influx of students and we try to apply for more funding from impact 8 if it's going to be there um would take a whole another year before we would see any of that funding. So, we'd almost have to put the bill and then hope it comes back. That is accurate. Are you stating it is accurate? impact date it's a one uh year process. Um
057nevertheless less the state funding it is a is as it increases and it gets adjusted. Okay. So um whereas one may be um affected um the first year the other one is going to be uh um impacted in a positive way but eventually both of them they will reflect any new current enrollment. Um but the full cycle it will take about a year. Okay. Miss uh Bets. Um, so I was looking at the letter that was sent out from HRTC and I'm just wondering if anybody is following up on that as far as the um the um the executive order um like from HRDC to um for the BIE schools. So I mean we're we're I know that there's time frames that we need to meet, but um I it had on there um about
058the um they had 90 days to prepare. Um, so I don't I don't know if anything's being followed up as far as you know, we're doing our part. I don't know if um BIE schools are doing anything on their end. And you know the and I I think that if the BIE schools do close down that there's teachers that will be looking for jobs. So they could most certainly be applying here. Um and I know that the student teacher ratio will probably need to be increased than what we have approved if that happens. Um but I also feel that if we're to um take the responsibility of the 450 students that may need somewhere to go and we don't have enough funding uh currently with like say the food items that the nation needs to
059help us. the nation most certainly needs to help us um to get through this time. Um and as as she stated that, you know, the state funding um will eventually come into play um and maybe impact aid. Um, I know Keith is we're so lucky to have Keith on board with transportation, but I do I do um believe that, you know, the nation has that responsibility for our children as well. So, that's something that needs to um be brought forth when meeting with HRDC. Yeah, I would say they're they're really keying on like what are the numbers now and like what what what that cost be might be good to just even have some guesstimate numbers together. I'm just saying that because I feel like for the most part when the meetings when I've sat
060there they they want to be able to visually see what what they're what the ask is and I don't think it's an ask. I think it's important just to say, "Hey, this is the reality." Like what what is this what um and I think that's that's a good thing to have when you do meet with them is have Clementina do um um a total of what an additional 450 students would mean as far as uh meals for the kids per day. Um so they can look at that type of funding and have that secured. Um, but also if we don't have that budget, I mean, I I'm not sure how many vacancies we have for teachers, but you know, if we're not able to cover that for for the year, then, you know, that's something
061that the nation might need to help us with as well. You know, things like that. Thank you for those ideas. I'm I'm going to write it down and have those ready. Okay. Miss uh Jessica, I think my concerns are the same pretty much as everyone else does as far as the uh increased cost and what it's going to how it's going to affect um the USD the transportation um the space and also um like Miss Vance said that you know it's good that We're we have this plan and are working to prepare but also it um hopefully that we'll get some assistance from the nation because in the end there everybody's children and it's going to affect all of them and so I just hope that you know eventually when everyone comes to the table
062that that's understood or at least um they are willing to do that. Thank you. Thank you for your feedback. Um I do have a couple of um additional slides um that they're part of our thinking behind. Um I g I I was sharing the timeline which is the summary pretty much of our thinking based on everything that needed to be done. We put it we put together in a simple timeline to to wrap it up and and we want it in a visual that shows we don't have a lot of time in front of us um for um it may come if it's x amount of students it it it we do have a threshold um based on the space that we have that we should not see a major impact if 50 parents all
063of a sudden decide you know what I'm going to try an alternative Here's a here's a curveball. I'm sorry. I just thought about it and I was like, what would what what would be the situation? Let's say and it makes me feel really bad. What would be the situation to say? Because in order to accept a student, we kind of have to have communication with the school. If that school or that system is just completely there's no one there to actually respond to a request for transcripts, what what does that do? What does that do? as stated um a part of May um before the end of this school year there has to be some collaboration between the department of education and HRDC. Okay. At the end of the year um parents from BIE schools
064they need to have a system in place for parents to have access to their records. Okay. Specifically all of the students that or parents that have an IEP and especially all of the high school students. Um every every time there's a movement we need we need to make sure that the very first thing we do it's an audit or transcript and share with parents this is where your student is but this is the path to graduate. This is how you can we have six different systems in Babok Unifi School District to monitor the students are on track. We have the report cards. Um we have the the parent um um conferences. Um we have the uh the benchmarks. Um we we do have parent view that you can be checking in at at all times.
065You can check in with the counselor and we can check in with the teacher. So there's different opportunities the parents can check. But most importantly, um if there's going to be x amount of high schoolers, we want to make sure that where do we where do you fit based on your grade levels? This is the grade, this is the class, this is your path. this is where you fit and this is your path for success. Um plus we have these other options if you want to explore if that makes sense. So the other areas that I wanted to bring to your attention um I share with you which is the enrollment window we what is our actions that we going to be h doing between now and the end of the year. Um, we're going
066to be the targeted date is June 13, but we're going to promote. I think we're asking somebody to come in. Sorry. It's we're going to promote. We're going to u inform and we're going to enroll. We're going to make our sex accessible to to facilitate the enrollment. And if any parent wants to enroll before May, uh, they will be able to have access to any records that they need. Uh, for transportation, a contact person in Mr. be or the lead for that area. The key date is June 13. Um the action is we need to plan, we need to inform, we we need to hire and we know we need to set up uh the routes, we need to set up the IDs um based on the the improvements that we're going to make in
067transportation next year. for new students. Uh this is um a responsibility that I want to collaborate with. Um I I'll be representing um Babok Unified School District with HRDC and the U Department of Education. Um um and also um between now and and May, um I want to make sure that we have this conversation. This is part of what we're doing with the governing board and inviting HRDC and the tookono nation department of education. Um, and what is the the actions needed? Provide parents with information, provide parents with records, provide parents with IEPs, and provide uh parents with transcripts. Um, in terms of vacancies, Miss Miz and I will be responsible uh by July 8th. We need to make sure that we verify verify enrollment. Um we will continue to post as enrollment increases. Um
068how many new hires we need we need to hire and we also need to train. Our cuto off date is no later than July 8th. Um for food um he Mr. Nunes, our director of of food services. He feels that by June uh 13, if the majority of the parents enrolled, he will be able to have a projection of the food. So, he will verify an enrollment and then order the food. For technology also by June 13, u our director of technology and their team uh Mr. Bates will verify enrollment and order any additional equipment for online instructional programs. Um we have licenses that our students use in and and throughout um kinder through 12th grade. Um and for every exa number of students we need to increase those licenses and purchase additional licenses. So
069by June 13 uh Mr. Base, Mr. Med Miss Medina and Miss Kinsey, they need to verify and enrollment and determine what additional licenses they need to be purchased for um the social emotional learning. We want to be able to know by June 13 any new students that enroll uh to determine if any students that have any social emotional challenges if they need any transition plans to be successful uh and that they need to follow up and they don't get lost and and and lost between the cracks um um for students with the exceptional services uh Dr. better grie Valde by June 13. Ensure that um verify the enrollment ver verify how many students have an IP. Assign students to programs. Have orientation for parents to the to understand how does so uh special services um
070operate under the umbrella of Babok Unified School District. Who are you um the the your your contact persons? Uh what are your rights? uh how do you um set up an IEP? Uh what can you expect? Uh who are you teachers? Um how do we set up IEP meetings? How do we follow up? Uh what are the related services? Anything that parents need to know um that it's stipulated on the IP. Um we want to make sure that um um not only um key members um or the cabinet um put together an orientation for parents so we can uh advertise uh an orientation for parents, invite new parents and present all of the services um for all of the new parents um in how BUSD operates. Um, one area of concerns of course is a
071transcript review and assign them to classes. Um, and um, Miss Gordon and Miss Haley by July 18 that we want to make sure that they confirm enrollment, review transcript, modify the master schedule and assign students to classes. And for new teachers that we hire between now uh, and July 8 to make sure that we verify the hires, we invite them and we're training on July 16, I mean 15, 14, 15, and 16. So these are some of the steps. Um it they're more detailed but they all uh can be encapsulated on the timeline that I provided. And at this point I'm going to um put a pause once again so you can uh share any additional steps that we should be considering to include so that we can make our plan more comprehensive. Mr. Maybe
072this is just information but all your registration events are are schools but are you hosting them elsewhere Mr. primary campus, primary campus, intermediate campus, primary campus, primary campus for the en the enrollment. It is my understanding that our office managers they will be out in the community with the um parent leaison to also to go to some community. Uh my understanding um we met and we view which ones were the communities that had the largest numbers and and also have some late nights for the communities. Can you help me um verify it and follow up on that item? Mhm. And I only mentioned I'm not trying to catch anybody. I'm just trying to say let's do it, but make it make it a make it make it a big deal. Like put more information out
073there. Put it on the radio. B USD will be in piss and mall or ball or hickin and take enough of your team that you guys give them a good I don't know good round view of okay here's who we are we would love to have your students and we're an option you know what I mean I'm not trying to say I'm not to say you guys aren't doing that I just want I want there to be an emphasis on if we need to be there and you want to know who's going to be at the school, go there, get the enrollments. Hey, is there are you something you're considering? Even if you're considering it, it's good for us to know because then we'll be able to prepare. We know what we're going to get
074here. Primary, intermediate, that's just people who can get here. Those people cannot get here. Promise you they don't have transportation. Um I don't know how I mean this way even thought district um president the communities they've been very welcoming every time um we have visited them um I'm going to capitalize on that relationship that we working and developing with our communities um and this is something that definitely um they're open and if they can help us promote uh to answer any questions questions and I think they can re help us reach out and promote uh to their constituents um the message um if they can put us on their agendas and use their facilities to be able to maximize um I'll say right now like if you need to present some overtime hours and it's
075something that we can interest people in doing for us then let's do it let's I mean I'm not I'm not trying to say that if people waste their time at the end of the day to have to go do something more when they're not being compensated for it by all means present it and let's discuss it. Um, but I think if we want to get that information, we need to go where that information's at, not wait for it to come to us. Thank you for the support, President Mono. Um, I totally agree with Juan. Um because if we're trying to figure out how many kids are going to be enrolled next year by focusing out that way um on the west end and all the villages, then you're going to you're going to be able
076to already see and give out and uh receive the information of of what we're trying to figure out here. So I I believe that the main focus should be in those areas that we're looking at kids that might be having not having to but will come to school looking for a site because there's always the off the nation in Aaho too but yet you know as many as uh we can have come here I think it'll be great you know and that emphasis focus that needs to happen yeah that emphasis on our on our ability to be I mean we're here we're we're part of the community and I think that like everybody was saying in listening to those sessions, it was very clear that if I were in that position, I want I want
077my kids to be as close as I could as well. And I get that that's not always an option for us. And we're kind of in a good situation to be so close to the schools as individuals here mostly. Um, but we need to kind of almost bring it to them and and we can feel what it feels like. You know what I mean? The dual language means you're that you know Aaho can offer you that KA grant can offer you that we can and here's how we're going to do it and you know just getting emotional but this doesn't mean that that that's where we need to be and our heart needs to be as as a school district I know it is I'm not saying we're not there but for them they don't
078know that something and they've had experiences before where they don't want to deal with B USD but that's not who we are anymore to not in my opinion I mean maybe there's things that they know or want to will hold Because again, I've worked on that end and I think all of us who have had experiences with individuals on that side, they don't play about what they what they want, what they don't want. So, let's be let's be very let's be very pointed about what we're asking, what we're providing, what we want to be able to do. So, they feel like, all right, I think I I do want to my child here. And if they're going to be able to provide me with less bus ride time, great. and if they can come as
079close as they can to my community because I know in Gual right now we don't go to Gwal. They don't go any further south. Okay. Um it's just they still have to make that effort to get to where we're at. And why would they want to do that if they didn't feel like they were welcome to do so? You know what I mean? So just just some thoughts. President William. Yes, sir. Sorry. The I I I do want the community to know that we are thinking u about them and I want to be respectful of any efforts that the nation is working on or any plans they're working on. Um I don't want to disrupt any processes or step on anybody's toes in the process. But I want to emphasize we are um a community
080school that is within the nation. We want to emphasize we are thinking in how to support the community. We are thinking how to welcome every single student and parent that is willing to think of us as an alternative and as an option. Um whether at the end of this path I want him to think that Babuki Unifi School District team and the board they've been thinking about us in the process. So, we'll continue to expand our efforts with our partners and continue to invite um as respectful as as as we can and continue um with that goal that um this is an alternative option um and and the more we collaborate and the more options our parents have, I think at the end the the parents and the community um will feel that um we
081are there when they need us. Um I've will continue um to look for other ways in how to reach to the further of the furthest community and provide um the the best access that we can commit to um and to highlight what we're looking at. Uh we have a a great potential as a district. We're doing reinventing ourselves in many in many ways. uh and our trending data shows that we're moving up and uh we'll continue to send that message. Mr. Diaz, I just had another idea and again like you just said, I understand that we have been um meeting some resistance as possible. I think it's important for us to also understand that as a school district and the area that we serve includes all of those districts and all of those up to
082at least not specific anyway wherever our our our our public um service area is public school service area. I would say it might also be ideal to invite those chairs to have a discussion or at least maybe even have some understanding of what what what it is our school district does. maybe invite them to to tour. They can be our advocates on that side as well. Um the other thing I would suggest is the district chairs get all together a meeting every month. Um that might also be an opportunity just to kind of continue that conversation that you've built on as a superintendent about the schools and just continue to talk about these things that you want or that you're seeking. Um, we're not saying anything other than, hey, this is the information that we
083need everybody to know that if you are planning on applying, we'd like to know before June blah blah blah or whatever whatever the dates were that you mentioned. Not that I'm not paying attention, but I know there's specific dates. I just didn't have I don't have them in front of me, but I think there are opportunities. Um, please please feel please I I hope that you feel that regardless of what resistance you may have. This board is sure tells you what to do. And I feel like all of us can support that. The efforts that you're making are not to be anything other than than again umformational uh open and and work with the communities that you're here to serve. And that's why that's why we appreciate as much as you do and your staff.
084So, I'm hopeful that that that can be um I'm glad we can say that now in a public setting. I think myself and and board members, please, if you have any other feelings about that, but I think it's important for us to understand that um not for us, but it's important for the public to understand that we don't do anything to try and make any kind of friction. It's more or less because we are here to serve. We're going to take that seriously. And it may come off as we're doing too much, but sometimes they're not doing enough. And so we have to we have to do more. And I think a lot of the people that either are listening u Dr. Pedigrew um Mr. Miles know we do way more than than than enough.
085Some days we go even farther than beyond. Um, so it's just just don't want you to feel like you're you're you're stepping on toes when you're out there. You're not. And if you were, we would tell. Any other questions, comments for Mus or anything you could just suggest to him? Miss Anarie just have some comments. Everything um Juan and Kathy touched on I agree with. I think it's important to create those relationships with the community. Um, going to the district chairs meeting would be wonderful. I think if we have you intentionally or not malice in any way and trying to create any problems, I think what we're trying to do is how can we improve the situation or how can we assist with the situation and coming up with a plan beforehand instead of scrambling.
086I think that's the big point. Um I also feel like talking to those teachers that are out there that those are the op we you we B USD is an option and if you want to come work for B USD, you know, these are the resources. Um I think one of the big things that you could probably do is host an event at the gas station out there and like a welcome to B USD the travel. Yes. because I think that would help and tell people, hey, we're here to help with your community. How can we be helpful? What are your concerns? Because there were so many concerns when we went to the forum and a lot of people were concerned about like just setting their kids off to different to boarding schools or to
087a different area and Juan brought up a good point and I was going to bring it up earlier was the language is that that's something that we have an up on as far as Aaho doesn't have or Casci doesn't have. They're not going to get that anywhere. And they're, you know, they're immersed. A lot of them do speak their language and they have a better understanding probably than most that live out in this area. But I think that's something that benefits us. So I would encourage you to continue to push forward. I think that, you know, with all the um trips that you've made already to the districts and provided information on where we're at and our plan and all the good things that BUSD is doing. Um I think that's going to help with
088all this moving forward. Um, and I do I do like the idea of um what Anna Marie had mentioned about, you know, the kids on the um and families on the West End are more fluent speaking families than um than here whether whether it's because they choose to or because they know the language. Um but when you put When you put the the them together with the kids, we're we're going to need to create a new level higher than the [Laughter] Judum the Bak because because that's going to be that's going to be amazing to see. It's going to be such a a beautiful thing to see. Um and maybe that's what maybe that's why all this is happening is that you know we need to come together as a nation as uh for our
089families for the kids and the kids are going to um be the ones who are going to get us through it. So all the work that you've done prior you know it's just going to help and it's just it's just putting it out there you know and being prepared. It's really what we're trying to do is just be prepared and to make sure that it's not chaotic if you know something does happen in that point and if not if it doesn't happen but maybe we're going to get more students and maybe we're going to increase um to 1200 students at least you know you know and that's going to help in in the future. So the community and going out even by yourself if you have to to be meeting with um members of the
090uh the district councils and stuff and you know I think that all of us have a responsibility to to be there with you whether it turns or at some point you know just if you can make it please make it because um you need our support and the community needs to see that there's there's board members who support you and are there with you and who do take time to to be out there too because that's that's what we're supposed to be doing is supporting you in that manner. So, I just want to make that um a point and then just to say thank you for all of that. Mr. Thank you. And I was going to wait but I I can I was going to say something else but I'll wait until Miss Miguel.
091No. Oh, okay. The No, I I feel very fortunate with every single community that we have visited that they have welcomed us with open arms. Um it's been fun. Uh and it's been great. Um I you know that I was welcome um either one or all five. You're all welcome to join us in any crusade or any endeavor. Um I want to highlight continue to highlight. I like the statement that you said. We are coming together and we are preparing. Um it I want to clarify to the community or anyone listening. Um we're not giving or misleading the community that the BIE schools are closing. In the event that something happens, we don't want the community to be unprepared um or that we do not have a plan. We will supplement and strengthen any plan
092that is already out there. And I thank you all for your support. uh for your encouragement and continue to plan. Um whether we use this plan or not um I feel um already um more prepared having to on knowing that we have your support and with the feedback and additional support that you giving me and direction that you giving me so we can have a much stronger plan. I would just say it would go right right in that whole list of things that we did when CO came. We created I would say go right in that whole big book a list of things we did when co happened. You know there was things that needed to happen and we create we created an entire plan put this in there too just in case. FYI here
093we have we're ready. Um but I agree. I think that that definitely very um good that and to me if I were a parent hearing anyone having these types of discussions I would feel a little bit more better. Um but I did um to to I think either Miss Anna Miss Anna or um Miss Vance's comments um I know you're hosting a job fair this Friday writing. I think it's a really good idea to maybe host one on the west. Absolutely. Try and find some space. There there are communal spaces and I think traveling equal is one of them. Um but I would also say reach out to the districts because maybe they would just maybe they would help with a tent or something. Um there's there's some opportunities. there's some there's some support and
094you know that you know you have you know you have their support because I've heard them speak up about what we're doing and thank you for for some like just as a woman said so I think be really good to see those things and again it's not because we want to be you know like you just said we're not trying to say anything's going to happen but hey if you're looking for some place to work we have Here's what we do. Um, so any other last last questions or comments for Mr. Diaz or anyone else have any do you guys have any questions or concerns or comments? Good. Mr. Ben. Yeah, I want to thank uh Mr. Miles, thank you for representing transportation. Thank you Dr. Pedigrew for being here representing special services. And thank
095you Miss Val also uh virtually to join us. Um and thank you everyone that helped me put together this plan. I could not have done this by myself. There are no other questions. Is there a motion to motion by Miss Kathleen Vance, second by Miss Sylvia Hendricks? All right, we are journed. It's uh 654.