001started every question. That's my snack for today. >> Fine. Right. We're going to call this meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Welcome everyone. Welcome anyone online besides our our board member Gwen Simolo is online. Um thank you Miss BS administrators for being here and Miss Janice. Let's have a moment of silence. Thank you. Let's join us for this flag. Mr. Gonzalez, speak. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. from the state of New Mexico. Secretary. >> Yes. Mr. Jason present. Miss Caroline Grant present superhum. Madam chair, I recommend um approval of the agenda as is before we get started. I do want to say that I do have my cell phone out um
002just in case we do have a game going on and if there's any issues. So I have my my phone and I also have my radio. Um Mr. Gonzalez also has his phone. He is using it as a a laptop. The recommendation by the superintendent to approve the agenda contents as is. Is there a motion by Miss Saraga? Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Gonzalez. Any discussion? >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Jason Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Miss, >> yes. Amanda, >> yes. Monique, yes. Miss Caroline Grant, yes. The motion carries we don't have anyone any public comment. All right. So um public comment is closed at this time. I was already looking at number five. Madam chair, I do want to apologize. At our last board meeting, I did
003say that I did not and I mean I misspoke that I did not um get the recommendation of putting the calendar on last month's um agenda. I did uh what I meant to say it was after we had already sent the agenda out a little bit later. Um, but I did receive it, so you did send it to me. So, I do apologize. Um, with that being said, Madam Chair, I moving on to item 5A, um, calendar discussion. Um, I do want to just state um in conversation uh with Miss Bissell um and Miss Grant. So, and letting you guys know. So, this is more of an I guess like an open discussion uh rather than looking 4day versus a 5day connecting, but more of maybe well an open discussion today. Yeah, pretty fair to
004say it that way. Um before we do get started um I do want to say um so I'm just going to read this make sure that I cover everything that I was thinking uh prior. I want to give a little bit of uh background and clarity on a few important facts including information that was presented uh during the 22 23 school year. I did provide the board with a copy and my administrators a copy of the presentation for those that were not here. I believe that the only ones present at that time were um Miss Bissell and Miss Simble. Um so I I don't know if you guys had an opportunity to read it. It is I mean from 2020 through 23. Um, with that being said, I also want to let the board know
005that our requirement, our requirements from PED, so public education department are very specific um, and continue to uh, evolve. So, previous years and if you were able to see my documentation, I believe the required instructional time was like at 990 and then from there it went to um, 10,040. We are currently having to meet uh 1,140 hours instructional hours. Um the difference from this year to previous years is uh they used to have us uh includeund so 180 days and within those 180 days we had to meet the 100 1,140 instructional hours. But they have since removed the the 180 days, but we still have to do instructional hours. Does that make sense? >> Okay. Um I think that it's also important that um the moment So just to get give you guys some clarity,
006the moment that we add um instructional days within our traditional 5day week, uh we are officially operating as a five-day school model. Even half day Fridays count as an introductional day under the PE deadline again. >> So even a half day. Yep. So that would automatically move us to a fiveday school order. Um I also want to say as part of the review and this is back um based on my presentation I went all the way back to uh when our enrollment was at its highest. We had 619 students and that was kindergarten through 12th grade. We didn't have a preschool back then. Um, and at that time there was also more uh local job opportunities and I'm going to say probably like the mining quest that was blooming at that time. So there was
007just different opportunities. Um, so families were able to support their families here in the community. Um, as we move forward, we recognize that we are losing freedom. So I'm not going to sit here and deny it. Um I know our administrators know it. We see it almost every year. We see it. However, I do want to state that this is not unique to Pasco. Enrollment has declined. N it's a national trend right now. Families are having fewer children. U many of them are relocating uh for employment and I know we think sometimes that oh well they're moving to um and some of that is true. they are moving to his house because they offer and I um football I've heard about drama like the class for drama and I mean it's a larger school we
008we just don't have the means for that um I also want to say based on conversations with um several superintendents even our bigger schools are now looking into going into a 4-day school I know like Espanola is moving um they're looking to a 4-day school Las Vegas is looking into a 4 day school um schools like TA are still losing um enrollment on a daily basis and it's becoming more of a a place for those that are retired to kind of live there again is what I was told. Um I also want to say additionally um we are navigating through national shortages in teachers and and I also put social workers. Um, our days are already jam-packed across all sites. Um, and once again, we won't sit here and deny that the day is not
009jam-packed. We are operating with staffing challenges. As you know, we're short in probably every single department. Um, if we add another day, we would still be facing the same realities. full schedules, staffing shortages potential potentially that could be intensified um if we lose more staffing and if they go to a bigger school four days I mean it's we know it's not that far as big people do it more often than not um while the days may become shorter with a 5day model um the instructional hours still remain the same so they'll still be jam-packed that uh we are also seeing student um transition to online platforms national and this is nationwide for a variety of reasons um concerns about bullying, mental health needs, preferences for self-paced learning um and fears related to school safety such
010as um shootings at schools. um these factors reflect border um societal shifts that are impacting districts across the country. So it's not this is not just unique to Pasco. This is done. Um and when I went to um in when I was in Tennessee and I sat in with the superintendent um from all different states. We're not the only ones. We're not the only ones facing the issues that we face here in Pasco. They're facing them in places, um Texas, uh Colorado, um I think it was like Alabama that I spoke to. We all have very similar issues um in different sizes of schools. Um I share this context so that we can discuss the calendar. So we um that we do so grounded in facts, trends and the realities facing most uh districts like
011like ours. Um I also just want to state that you know we're discussing our discussion is around the calendar. We're not discussing uh >> how the schools I guess the leadership of our of our um our administrators. Um I will let you know that I have um spoken with them. We've had conversations. We're open to having discussion. Um, however, I have also let them know that if they feel like it's an attack that I will stop and redirect um because it's not within the realm of the perview of the board. And with that, I'm open to any questions. That was a whole lot. Sorry. So, um, I had asked that it be on the agenda as a discussion item, as you stated, not to vote for a fiveday school day. Um, I had asked that
012we have a conversation about the schedules, right, and how packed they are. And I think my question, and Miss Gonzalez and I, 90% of this conversation had happened via text. So, just that as a caveat because sometimes things can be misconstrued. >> Yeah, misconstrued. Um so the the reason I asked the question is um I I heard something from um my elementary schools kids teacher this year that reminded me of hearing it three from three different teachers over three previous years. So it spanned Mr. Goule's tenure, your tenure, right? And it was at the beginning of the year and there was no question about recess. And I feel like I handled that conversation fine with the teacher and it didn't come to Mr. Goodle because it wasn't an issue. Um, but what she said is
013she said, "Well, look," she said, "Sometimes it's just so hard to do it. Look at our schedule." And I and I was like, "That's not the only time I've heard this. I heard it through my my one of my teacher my kids teacher last year and two pre prior teachers right and so and that stuck with me I think anybody who's has little kids that's been around little kids know know their bodies know their brains they need free time they need ways to incorporate things and and I don't think that you know the teacher you know I focused on the conversation I had this year if he wasn't trying to deny recess it by any means but it was also so telling of like oh right it is such a packed day and what important
014things are we missing with such a packed day so that was that was an example a very relevant example for me in the elementary and then um my older kid who's in middle school you know one morning was like man I didn't even have time for breakfast I grabbed my tray and then I just had to throw it away because there wasn't time and that reminded again of a two different people before Miss Martinez's tenure, before your tenure, who had helped with breakfast, right? And they're like, "Man, the kids don't even have time to eat. It's just not it's so quick. It's such a, you know, there's just no time in the schedule, right?" And it just allowed me to reflect on the number of times I've heard these types of things and just curious
015about, you know, and I think bringing it up in the context of the calendar of of of our are is the is the schedule benefiting students, right? And and also teachers. I mean, I think I can't imagine how packed teachers are if they're the ones, you know, trying to turn it over minute by minute. So, yeah, that's why I had the the question like, and is the calendar the place to allow for something is maybe it's not. Maybe there's a different way to see how packed schedules are impacting learning, impacting kids, impacting adults working at the schools. So, and I don't know, open discussion. going to read again and just kind of I want to speak freely if that's okay and um I I'll let you guys know the same thing. So I will say
016um we do have a 30 minute uh so 30 minute recess that should be happening uh K through third grade that is a requirement um >> daily >> by by PE >> is that daily >> daily um and I know that Mr. good way is addressing that as well. Um, I can also say that within that and it could be broken up like 15 minutes and then another 15 minutes and that is K3 and I can attest to this because when I I was the principal I I I've seen it I've seen it even now as a superintendent. Um, our teachers do they do do brain brain breaks. Um, there's actually a a program that they use where they do it. I've seen teachers take students out on new walks um or take them outside
017when they need to and I'm going to use the word reset and I know that that happen and based on what I've seen in my observations that that does happen at the elementary and I have seen it happen um at the high school level and I'm she's not here to defend herself or say I'm wrong. Um but I'm hopefully she won't get upset with me. I will say I've seen Miss Guru. She takes her students out to the back on a trout. Um, I've seen Miss Marcelo Cordova take her students out to do I can't tell you exactly what, but something near the um >> something there. Um, and I I know that I've seen Miss Alexandra um also taking students out. Once again, I'm not sure what they're doing there either. They may be
018doing film at that time. And I won't say that I do know because I haven't stopped them. I just think it's good that they they're taking them outside and they're getting a little bit of fresh air. Um I've also seen um multiple teachers within their class day if if it's not happening. And I'm not going to say all um but I have seen it that you know students are not they're struggling um with whatever is being taught. They stop and they're like okay we need to do a little bit of a reset. Um I will open the floor to both of my administr administrators if you want to address the 30 minute recess or even any of that brain breaks or um breakfast. >> Okay. >> Um I'll just share that um I am fully
019aware of and the staff and the students are of the constraints that we're working with based on the schedule that was um put in place this year. Um, and with that information, we're making adjustments as we move forward. Um, to address multiple things, including schedules and timing. Um, unfortunately when you're in the middle of the year, it's sometimes better to allow for the year to finish and then reset at the beginning of the year with the information that's needed to make um decisions that impact our students and our staff um in a positive way. And so given the information that we've reviewed throughout the year, that is what will be happening next year. And and to some background context as far as if I can for the middle school high school being that I used
020to teach down there. Um we used to have it where all the kiddos were dropped off where our elementary is currently dropped off and middle school high school students were allowed to go in and get their breakfast. And if Sheila was here, we would we can go back and ask Sheila at a different time. But we were getting very few kiddos to walk into the cafeteria. Even though the bus dropped them off right at the doorstep, very few of them would walk in to actually get breakfast. So in turn, Sheila was throwing a ton of food because she was prepping breakfast for and at the time we had 100 plus high schoolers, right? Um, so even more than we have now and very few of them were going into breakfast. >> And I'm going to
021say when we were when that first happened and thank you for bringing that up, Mr. Dlay, when that first happened, that change um was to try to get as many of our student or middle school high school students in and actually grabbing breakfast cuz they weren't going there at all. Um, it started off really strong. Um, and it but it they were almost I mean they had to go in and they had to get a a tray. Um, I'm gonna say that lasted maybe I'm say strong maybe about two weeks and then it just diminished. Um, the food they didn't eat and then they just showing up. I think we had like a total maybe like five that were that would actually sit down and eat breakfast. >> Well, then there's the state mapping of
022breakfast. >> So, so then yeah. So then we did move that to the classroom, but then that was a little difficult in and of itself because then that food sat there all day as well. We were done eating. Okay. So then now we got to make sure we sanitize all tabletops as well. So we had syrup right all over the place. That became an issue and it was more of a distraction for the kids to eat in the classroom um as opposed to how it is now. So there was speaking back on whatever I was teaching that was that of an issue also. Now like Miss Martinez said I think she's planning that how do we give them that extra time because I've been down there when I'm going to meet with Miss Martinez or
023whatever during after that first period. I mean it is a little chaotic because kids are trying to grab food. They're trying to eat it as fast as possible and they don't get to sit down and you know take their time. Um >> and we don't have access sorry we don't have access to the cafeteria at that time um to facilitate that would require more time out of our instructional day which we just don't have to give and breakfast would be subtracted from the instructional hours that we are counting for the day and we can't do that with the state requirements. And I give those examples just as two that are evident to me of like a jam-packed day. I imagine there's a lot of other indicators, right, of things being of being packed. So, and
024I'm not going to deny because I mean, we all know we we see it um and we get it. But I also want to say that not because a lack of effort or because we're not allowing the students to eat or because they have that time. If they need to stay and have breakfast, they can. It's they choose not to. And I don't think the breakfast is much of an issue at the um and just bringing them stupidly late, but at the elementary um as it is at secondary. All all I mean all our kiddos funnel in obviously through the elementary or through the cafeteria and that's where they're picked up by their teachers but we still have a good amount of students who do not eat when they go in in the morning and
025that's because they probably have breakfast at home whatever the case is but yeah not every single kid eats breakfast in the morning and then I mean we when we talk about our lunch period the half hour um that students have for lunch with more than adequate times for them to um both eat their lunch if they're walking up from the elementary, even walking up from a middle school, high school um and eat because about 15 minutes into the lunch period, 80 90% of them are already done. the elementary kiddos are waiting to be released so they could go to um uh recess or the middle school, high school kiddos. I mean, they just eat and they're gone and it might be 10 minutes that they're in their max. So, that isn't so much of an
026issue, you know, as far as time constraints for kiddos to eat. >> And the 30 minutes is seated time to eat, including it's 15 minutes. They have up to 20 minutes to sit down and have their lunch, which I mean if they want to use the whole 30 minutes, they're more than welcome to. And this is elementary, 20 minutes. Uh for elementary, that's what is required by PED. And then the the remainder part of that is recess. Um and then secondary, they have the same amount of time with the 30 minute recess. I mean a 30 minute lunch, but they're not then themselves, they're not taking it. and not because they're being forced. And if students um I'm gonna say more my say at the elementary um some of them will take 20 25 minutes
027and they'll sit they'll sit and eat all of their lunch and some of them are like we're done they're ready to go. Um in high school I'm sorry but they don't I mean it's maybe about 10 minutes that they sit they eat and then they leave. um they choose to go down to either the serenity garden or now in the winter into the gym to play basketball, volleyball, um toys. >> Yeah, that's their that's their time and nobody's ever um at the like the last minute of the lunch period still finishing up their meals. Everybody's out I would say was at least 15 to 10 minutes left in the in the lunch period. So, even with a jam-packed schedule, it's still I mean, we can't force them to just sit there and I mean, elementary
028stays until, you know, they're dismissed, but we can't I mean, we can't make them eat the food if they don't want to eat it. And we can't force them to stay um we can ask them to stay the longer. Um, but if they're done with their trades, then they're they're done. >> Um, I have a clarifying question. Does does recess count towards instructional time or it's additional time? >> Additional time even like transition periods at the middle school, high school, and even us at the elementary, right? If they get out of library and they're headed back to class, they get that 5 minute transitional time which doesn't count towards um instructional hours. Is there any other discussion? Well, I think you know the again I think the reason I brought it up is I'm I'm
029just curious about like how how things are impacting the schedule. That's all that was my my whole point for asking that question. you know, and just wondering like what is and I you know, I heard Miss Martinez say that she's looking at things and you know, and I think in the context of this calendar, it would be the intent for next year, right? Because I agree there's no point in doing a midyear switch that doesn't really benefit anybody. So, um I don't know. I think you know if as you have time, Miss Gonzalez, just to keep us informed about like what are what some are some of the new considerations are to try and address some of the you know the things that you're seeing at the high school and you're seeing at the elementary
030and I don't know I you know I think my the question in my head is like are we is there are we doing anything that we like is there anything to cut but probably Not I don't know. >> You said uh PED requires us to have 1,100, right? >> How many hours do you have? Are we providing we're providing over that? >> It's not like our mess. We have like a couple of hours in in bed for like some beads and stuff like that. So that the makeup isn't required or a two-hour delay which would count against our instructional hours. We have that buffer to following a two-hour delay if needed without having to tack on time at the end of the year or on a Friday which would then compete with our 4 day
031versus 5 day week. So there's all these considerations that make it complicated when looking at the calendar and the requirements. This is why when we have like certain days like um election day when we're off on that Tuesday, we have that Friday because we have to stay within those four instructions. We can't drop under the four days. Um and we can't have more than four days if that makes sense. like I can't just do a half day Friday or I can't do a we're only going to do the three days. Um we will get in trouble and we have to report that to Py and we report it in a multiple multiple ways. We first have to get I mean if it's a snow day it's a snow day but we can't just call like
032if we're going to call like we have to have a emergency PD something happened and we have to have a PD that has to be submitted to the state and we have to get approval for that. um when we do have a snow day, it has to get submitted to the state. Um and in multiple aspects, we have to do it for the prek program because even the prek program has so many hours related to um question. So in in considering the calendar and schedules combined, um as you guys know, I also work for central family health and I see the house schedules at the high school secondary level are much different than we do here. granted they are 5 week um and they they probably have more time to you know put those blocks
033in. Um for example like their science and English classes have an hour and a half to two hours of instructional time on Mondays, Wednesdays and whatever it might be. And then they have a what they call a mini day or a on Fridays. >> Yeah. The skinny schedule. Correct. >> So that's because they're on a blocked schedule and we're not >> correct. Yeah. And um that's what how would that impact us if we were to look at that here? >> So we actually have um we tried looking at it I'm going to say it's I'm going to say probably for the past three years at the secondary level to do a block schedule but we always run into that fifth day that would cause a problem. Uh the other thing at the high school they
034get in tal they get dismissed earlier but they also have the bus drivers to do that. >> Yeah that's what that was my next question. Um, we just don't have we just don't have that. >> And that was my next question as far as you know the cons of having a 5day week. This is for Miss Jennison and yourself. Uh, superintendent. Um, what would be the financial cost of having a 5day week versus a 40? Yeah, we looked at it and I don't know if you saw the and to blow it up um >> couple thousand >> and that was looking at it back in 2022 23 was a significant um increase if that would happen um we would probably not be in a very good place by naturally and if I can share from
035the instructional perspective both myself and Mr. have have taught in a 5day week. I I will share that the the the busy day doesn't go away if you stretch it over 5 days. You're still required to meet your instructional hours and you're still going to be um jam-packed. Um schedules are still very tight. Um and there isn't wiggle room in a 5day versus a 4 day. Um, and I think that's if I if I can share the the draw of having that Friday off for a lot of our students, just speaking to them is huge and they enjoy having the three-day weekend. Um it also does impact attendance for our students that they schedule um appointments on Fridays rather than during the school week, the four days because they hold that 4 day um period
036of time as instructional time, academic time. And so families have that flexibility to make those Fridays um focused on appointments or things that would potentially pull students out for um for any reason. And I would see that as an impact in a 5day week where um and that's something that just you deal with as a 5 day week when we were doing the study. Um that was a big thing. Um, and I I called like anyone that had a 5day that were a smaller district like like majority of them have already moved into a 4 day that Friday and you could talk about I was there wasn't Carl's but the I mean and we had extended learning here. Um, so we did have those Fridays and we were probably getting maybe and at the elementary
037level I'm going to say like maybe 10 to 15 students. Um, at the secondary level >> I I have some class periods where I maybe have one at all when we did extended learning days a few years ago. Um that was I think another uh impact if we're talking about instructional hours and making ensuring that our kids are in class and they're uh being provided their education things like basketball during the winter um we go each team goes to three different tournaments right Las Vegas tournament tournament and our G tournaments and sometimes we have to send both teams since that morning even though one team plays at 8 the other team might not play until 1 First, we still have to send because of our lack of bus drivers. So, now we're going to take
038all of our kiddos out of Thursday and Friday as opposed to just Thursday that we currently do. Um, that's that's an impact there as well. So, now kiddos are missing more hours than what they normally know. >> Um, this just a comment. Um, I have some family members at the high school level that are experienced extreme burnout. Um it doesn't just happen at the elementary level and I understand that teachers are super burned out too. Um so I I think it's a proper to ask this board is how do we prevent burnout of students with as much instructional hour times hours that we have to meet? Um we want kids to want to come to schools. We don't want them to burn out at school. So um I think that's the biggest >> the biggest
039challenge. I think that's that's why it's beneficial that we do have that Friday. And like Miss Martinez said, it doesn't matter if we uh shorten our days and extend that extra day, they're still going to be busy every day. And we want to talk about burnout. Adding that extra day, right, it's going to drive some people insane. I mean, and I'll say it uh for myself when I left the district to become a principal um in another district and we were five days on Friday was rough for me to start that school year and probably through the whole first semester to get used to having to do Fridays. And then we see it uh from our staff on Fridays when we do have professional development days, right? First off, we do have and I'm not
040going to say it's high, but we do have a certain amount of teachers who will call in on those days on our PD days. We like have our frequent flyers. Um and then um just the everybody's mood on those Fridays, it's like uh we're here on Friday, right? So, I think to alleviate that burnout, I think having being on a 4 day schedule helps, right? It's not doesn't help everybody cuz I come to work on Monday sometimes feeling more tired than I was the Thursday before. Um, but I think it definitely helps and it helps the kids as well. >> And if I can share, on Fridays, um, attendance on a 5day week is very, very low. that's when you have the majority of your absences. Um I tracked attendance um in my previous position
041and Fridays were the worst days for attendance and um my concern is that if we were to shift to a Friday um regardless of what's the programming it would turn into a day where we have a high level of absences which is a concern for us >> and for students and staff. >> Yes. and and that's I tracked both and that was where we saw the majority of our absences for both students and stuff >> based on our survey that was done um back in 2022 when that question was asked to the staff. I mean 91.4364 of our staff said that they it they would probably miss those Fridays and we do not have enough subs to cover those Fridays. So it would it would be tough. >> And if I can go back to
042your concern about burnout for students and I'll say for staff as well, I think there's a huge shift in um all of our ability to be in a full week of anything postco. Um I think looking at our students and their resiliency and their ability to their stamina to engage in learning for a longer period of time is significantly different from what it was prior to co and if you look at a lot of the the national surveys looking at students that is one of their the big shifts that they've seen in how our students engage. Um, I think a lot of our students are also used to snippets of learning. If you look at their social media and how they learn and take in information, it's in small bites. And so, stamina is a
043huge issue. It's one of the concerns that my staff has expressed with kids being able to engage in learning for a longer period of time. Um blog schedule is one of those challenges because when you're in a class forund um yeah >> yeah hour and a half 90 minutes um it it they burn out if a teacher doesn't have very specific training on how to actually separate out the the period so that you're not just doing the same thing for an hour and a half. Um those are concerns if a block schedule was put in place. a significant amount of training would need to be provided to our staff to be able to shift from a 50inute period to an hour and a half. Um I've seen both sides of that and taught on both
044sides of that. I taught block. Um, and it takes a lot of very specific intentional um, instruction to make sure that students don't feel like I'm sitting here for 60 minutes or 30 minutes when teacher's done and now I'm just working on an assignment or um, I'm sitting in a seat for an hour and a half, which is hard for an adult to do. Um, so those are some concerns that um, I would have if we explored block. I loved teaching block, but there was also a lot of training that I received in order to be able to break apart that hour and a half. Um, but also our kids don't approach education the way that they did prior to co. I think um that's a challenge for us and that as Mala said is
045a nationwide trend that we struggle with um students being able to be in school and engaged in learning in a traditional way and shifting that instructional time is something that we we look at and how can we provide supports for our teachers to be able to do that. being sensitive to the fact also that now we're asking our teachers to shift the way that they've been teaching for maybe 10, 15, 20 years. Um those are some of the the um speed bumps that we encounter and um that has been part of our professional development this year is looking at different ways to engage students. So um it's there. just the reality of how quickly we can adapt to the needs of our students and really even understanding what it is that they they need in
046order to be successful learners. That's something that we're still working on. Um and I'd say that that's nationwide. It's not just something unique to school. you had asked about the cost of 4 day versus 5 day was 91,849 um and this was looking at several years ago compared to compared to now we know prices have gone up significantly um were open each Len, do you have any questions, comments? >> I I don't right now, but I appreciate what all's been said here by Miss Martinez and Mr. Gurola. I mean it does um make it understandable you know and the need for the fourth day to be out because you know there are families mine included you know we use that that fifth day for other activities you know mind you it could be traditional activities
047it could be family appointments it could be other reasons and you know I I see the benefits of it being a four day rather than a fiveday and you know I just thank you all for your time in explaining all of that and then also for Miss Gazala sharing the information she did as far as the past data and along with the meeting notes that I was able to review to have this conversation. >> I do have a question. Um would it be beneficial would it make a difference I guess to move the sixth grade back to the elementary? would it alleviate some of the stress like in the scheduling planning for the secondary? >> So the reason why they had um when Miss was here why she moved it was because the number of
048the enrollment. So the minute we do that, then it takes away from your middle school or from the middle school enrollment, which then can cause a problem because we do have have so many students enrolled in there >> at that school at the middle school because we're separated um elementary, intermediate, middle school, high school. That so that was the reason was to increase the number. Right now it's at 77 which is you would be losing some be like 57. One of the other things is that the and I know that the our sixth graders are young to be and at the middle school I think our bigger challenge is that we share the same site with the high school and there's a lot of overlap. Um we do our best to keep them separated. Um,
049one of the things, as I mentioned earlier, we're looking at for next year is how can we better prepare and support our fifth graders as they transition into sixth grade. Um, and there's a lot of research and a lot of programs that are successful in helping support students transition more successfully from a single classroom where you have a contained environment into a environment where you're going to eight different classes and you're switching and you're interacting and then you have this disregulation in the hallway, but then you're coming back to a classroom where you're being asked to kind of sit and learn and be ready to engage. And so the goal is for next year to really take a look at how can we better prepare students for that process and provide more supports before the
050start of the school year. And so that could be now at the end of the year and continuing into the beginning of the year. How do we make sure that that transition is smoother? If you look at most middle schools, they do include our sixth graders. that is like a standard for for unless you do like a mid high which is like seventh and eighth grade. Um but typically sixth grade is included in middle school. >> Um this is a question for the general question. Um what exactly is the impact that would take place if we move the sixth graders back to the elementary and what are the benefits of keeping this the sixth graders at the elementary and which one outweighs each other? I so when we when Miss Sandal I mean we have
051a middle school whether the sixth grade is there or not that doesn't implicate that the like middle school would >> would not exist. >> Um I know that it was really I mean it was not a studentbased decision. It was a budget based decision. It was a decision because it was hard to get um we it was it seemed like we were going to lose a teacher anyway and so it made more sense to move them up because at the time and there were more staff at the middle school at that time actually. I we've lost two or three staff since then um at the middle school and maybe that's proportional to the student numbers but um you know I do want to just name that that it wasn't like a student out like it
052wasn't like a student welcome >> decision but it was um you know other schools do do like a fifth sixth grade academy and I wonder if that could be a better model >> for our school I don't know how that would impact school, the budget, the all the things. But I think that would be kind of even to your point, it does help with that transition a little more, especially if we're going to leave in the future having one building for all its rain. Um, as was probably the design of the new school. Um, just like if thinking about what that means, right? So I don't know there's if it's not so much if it's not moving the sixth grade back is there a different model that's more student centric that that the district could
053also afford because I know that's that's always part of it. So >> definitely. >> So taking taking the financial piece out of the equation, right? And >> um would it be beneficial for just to have a sixth, seven, a seven, eighth grade middle school um for the um for the calendar or schedule for classes? Would it make it easier? It would it make a difference? just so I would be um just for my master schedule when I'm looking at staffing I would be more limited with the number of teachers um it it wouldn't make a difference in a positive way for me to lose the sixth graders. So, I think that if money wasn't an issue, and I'm I'm going to say across the board, I think um and I'm going to say I there
054was some questions that I had asked the um the leadership team to answer. So, three questions and one somebody responded a little bit early and they said that if they had if money wasn't an issue and they have the way of how to improve their department, what would they do? Um, and one of it was to hire additional staff. And I think based on conversations that I've had with all of the leadership team in all of the different departments, that's that's like a huge thing. If money wasn't an issue, it would be that we would be able to hire the individuals that we need. Um, cafeteria, we need to be able to hire um that fourth person in there. Uh, two security guards would be great. um two social workers would be great. Additional teachers
055at the middle school high school. Um I think the elementary is good, but I'm sure that we definitely need I mean there's some classes that are pretty big. It would be nice to have two classes there. Um even here at the admin office, we we could use an additional person. Um our custodial uh department, they could use additional people. So, if money wasn't an issue, um I agree with the um the individual that said that is it would be able to hire somebody. Unfortunately, that's not right now for us. It's not real realistic um to be able to hire all of those departments. Um that would solve a lot of the issues that we're currently facing in my opinion. And I don't I don't know if you guys are all supervisors, you guys um all
056have individuals in. So what are your thoughts if if you could? >> I mean, even though all my positions are filled, I could still use that extra EA or two because sometimes we do get called in for a meeting or whatever and I'm scrambling trying to find coverage for a teacher. Whatever the case is, it's always going to be beneficial to to have a couple extra hands. My my my answer is a resounding yes. There's so many different ways that I could use more stuff for the middle school and the high school. I think that we I I I have multiple positions that would be filled with um and it would be student driven. The challenges um we know that there are financial constraints that prevent that from happening and so we do the best
057we can based on what we have. Um is it ideal? though. Um, I would love to address class sizes. I would love to address flexibility with electives, flexibility with scheduling. Um, I mean, when you're looking at a secondary matrix, it's very it's very challenging because you have to look at what competes with which classes compete with others in order to place students. So that limits what electives my students can take and um how I'm trying to make one teacher fit five different roles or different topics or subjects that they're teaching. It's a challenge regardless. Um more staff would help alleviate that stress and it would also alleviate the stress for my staff. Mo most of my staff are looking at um teaching multiple what I call preps um different subjects or different topics throughout the
058day and that's an additional challenge to prepare for um those classes grade for those classes and then provide feedback to their students um because you're switching from one subject to another. I have some teachers who have a different prep for every single period that they teach and that's a significant challenge for for staff to move from one class to the next and be mentally prepared to shift topics though. Would staff be a solution? Yes. Um are we there right now? Yeah. What I think is extremely interesting is um teaching here what six seven years ago it's the same it's the same problem it's or it's the same issue and I don't know if there was a change between that when I left to now um but it's just always seemed like a schedule challenge and
059the day has was rushed the day was it was like there never was enough time in the day for everything. So it's just >> it was a fiveday >> well it's like been almost 20 years but it's been a four day school. >> So it's just interesting that it's it's the same challenge. >> I I do I do appreciate the question that you asked Mr. going because I've thought of about that as well and I don't know if that's something I worth can even if it's not next year right but in this upcoming year to see like what would be the impact for students if we did have it just a seventh and eighth grade middle school what would be the impact for being able to have a I think Miss Grant you mentioned like
060if you had a like a sixth grade academy like there was even extra funding that came to support some like that type of a model. I was in a district that had a sixth grade academy. Um, and what happens is, and I'm going to take them both perspectives, I guess, because I was outside elementary, those sixth graders are a lot more mature and they're going through a their puberty level is completely different than what you're looking at your fifth. And it's they're not there, but they're also so they're too old for the younger ones, but they're too young for the older ones. >> Um they're they're in their own and I'm going to say mentally, right? Um they're going through a lot of changes uh physically and mentally and it's it's tough. Um where I
061was at, there was like I said, there was a sixth grade academy. Um it wasn't learning because they they had enough time to I guess mature within that time that they were and those teachers I even that they were the one that those teachers are crazy right now um hormone driven but by the time they went into the seventh grade then they were okay but the issues uh that we and when they were in the uh sixth grade going into fifth grade that also seeps them to the the younger ones because they're going through body changes and I our littles are not ready for that either. >> Um I just take time today. Thank you for bringing that subject up, Mr. Gonzalez. Um I do think that it's a valid discussion to have um about
062the sixth graders specifically how they're keeping them at the elementary school. It's only solely for social emotional learning. We don't know what that's impacting them, changing them from a group of 10 year olds to a group of 14y olds or their prime group. Um, it makes a big impact. I mean, I have it in my own house at a nine-year-old acting like it's 16. She's not mine, but >> and it goes back to what Miss Ron said though, money is not an issue. And we have two social workers, one at the secondary level, one at the elementary level, we might be able to handle that situation a whole lot differently as well. >> Yeah. And also if you can share we didn't have a fully staffed restorative room which would provide that coaching and that
063support for our students in that transition. Um I I don't I can't speak to um last year's sixth grade cohort and how they were um because I wasn't here. But I I do know that that transition, it has to happen at some point. And I've seen that transition be just as turbulent in seventh grade um as it has been in sixth grade. And fortunately for our students here, I will say that the transition from 8th grade to 9th grade is not significant because it's in the same building. So, there are benefits to having a combined middle school, high school where our students start learning those behaviors and those expectations as they transition because 9th grade is typically the year that a lot of our high school students um have huge problems academically with attendance and
064kind of it's the make or break for their high school career. um we don't I don't see that in what I've been able to um observe and then also the data um for our 8th grade to 9th grade transition which is really nice to see because that's 9th grade is when we start counting credits towards graduation and I um I do appreciate that going back to the sixth graders I I do believe that a consistent um social emotional um and restorative the program which significantly reduced some of the challenges that they faced. Um, and that's something that we've been pushing in with some of the programming that we've provided both to middle school and high school is what are the expectations and what are some of the challenges and how do we navigate those um
065in a way that has a positive outcome for our students. And that's what has been um implemented this second semester more so >> and then moving forward with uh things like what's on the agenda later having CAD come in and start talking to those fourth graders is going to help also uh we did have PMS and associates come in and give some presentations as well. So, if we can start including those to start prepping those kiddos for the transitions. Um, like Miss Martinez said, how are we going to introduce our fifth graders? Not just do because we always do that one walkth through at the end of the year, right? Here's the middle school. this these are the teachers, but how are we going to include them more and get them to visit more um
066so that they they feel a little more comfortable, especially when they first go and it's not so chaotic for them >> are or scary. And I'm going to say um for the past couple of years, I mean, we've seen it. It's the one visit to the high school, but I think both Mr. Vay and Miss Mcus are working on a way of making that transition a little bit smoother. Um, and I agree and there are conversations we have all the time, the FDL or the restorative um, justice room just the personal not the room but the person that can go in and somebody that knows what they're doing. Um, and social workers um, we we know how it's affecting our school. We see it and once again not just our school. Thank you guys for
067your time today. >> I um I want to say thank you. Um I thank all of you guys for coming. Um you guys are free to go except Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> I'll be back. I got to collect the money for my gates over. >> Yeah. plus the money about we have to wait till next year to ask for another extension from that way we can have another 24 hours to submit the money we have >> yeah we sent it and they only granted for the 500 but >> I mean regardless it's what it would be way over the fresh they've been making quite a bit of money in >> impressive. Um, with that being said, madam to come back this Miss, can you ask Mr. Good to come back? No.
068Um, Madame Chair, board members. Uh next on our item um item 6A was uh the approval of the ML between Pasco defends and community against violence CAB. Um I any questions I will try to answer them. We have the recommendation of the superintendent. Is there a motion? So moved by Miss uh Soul. Is there a second? Second by Mr. Gonzalez. Any discussion? I I will be transparent and I because there wasn't any besides the outline that we received, there wasn't any any any other information. So I I noticed that there was a phone number and I called Savannah Holden and to ask her some questions, just some clarifying questions about what was what was on what their outline was about. and and she verified um that it was you know it was it was they
069just use different language and so it was it is about um safe touch you know um can imagine abuse and and and understanding safe touch as a child as a student um I was really curious about the the media I I to me when I read media I thought it was like news but she was she said It was it was media about um like like games online games or um Tik Tok and how how safe safe use of that also. So, those were some of the questions that I had asked her and um and she said she would send the curriculum so that we could so that we could look at it. And I know it is um I just felt like um if we're approving something allowing an outside, an outside source into
070our school, we should able to have documentation on what they're what they're wanting they're requesting for us to approve. So, um I know it's it's late, but but we have something to look at now. >> So, um Savannah did um send send us what the lesson plans would be. So, we're looking at this is for fourth third and four third and fourth graders. Um they're 30 to 45 minutes long. There's a total of eight sessions. Uh the first session starts off with uh getting to know each other uh group agreements. Um the light ponder and then it's talking about um an example would be the video games. >> Um and then it goes on to your ponder too which is fillings um light on substance only if they can get up. um and self harm
071and suicide. Um then we go to three and it says safe and trust trusted adults plus the magic box matter. Um then four was boss consent communication and then five is boss safe touch body. Um, and she does put like a little note in here that says, "If anyone breaks these rules, uh, review safety and trusted u adults." And it goes on healthy relationships, including friendships. And it's bingo, but they're going to be playing. Um, and then seven is healthy, unhealthy, abusive relationships. uh emphasizing um friendship uh not romantic. So you definitely think that would happen because um when Miss brought that up, I was thinking let me go back and what I'm showing them that younger than age but at the same time um a is boss teach roles teach safety u post and
072test so conversations about technology. There's a couple of videos that they're going to be watching, a couple of scenarios. Um, it goes into a lot of detail of what they're going to be teaching for each one. And I know this is late. We can put this in the drive as well, and I apologize. Um, she did say that she she tried to to make it to the last meeting to present it. Her schedule just didn't allow for it. >> When will this start? U once theou is if you guys agree to theou we would start it probably within probably next week or the fall >> and so she would just be coming once a week or >> I believe and I'll say I believe so so miss um and I apologize but Mr. good language
073supposed to say this is from him and Miss uh Missino >> it is theou does state that um but they an option is to talk to the PTA I mean I think that would be that would be nice if parents had have any questions about it um I mean just like I don't know how they're going to I if there's sending out that outline with the um with a consent to um to disenroll um and that's all it is then as a parent they might have they might have more questions. So I think it would be great if if they could if she could or whoever I think it would be herself or her staff would attend the PTA to answer just answer questions >> before getting started. >> Would it would it be possible
074instead of just PTA to have a this right >> to those families? Yeah, just that family in >> probably even a letter stating this is >> Well, it's it's all elementary, isn't it? >> 43. >> I saw something. >> Well, it is it the way that it's presented is for for elementary, but for us it's for the rest. Okay. >> Miss Condola, did you just make one suggestion? I believe if we start it after spring break would be easy uh best so the students can have consistency in learning each week rather than having learning and then a break and then learning again on the same topics. We can definitely make that happen. I don't think that will be ins how many weeks does this curriculum. >> So they come so they at least eight weeks.
075Does it be once a week, right? There's barely enough time. I mean, just cuz I mean spring breaks is like two days. Yeah. >> Oh, well, we could do it, >> right? I think it's it's Wednesday, Thursday. If we do it like that, Tuesday, every Tuesday, I swear I Oh, so we could start it after spring break and it would end in April. At the end of April, >> it will definitely let Mr. Unless you plan on coming. >> Is there a reason not to fth grade? >> I believe it was a recommendation. Um >> I think well there's maybe some other issues within that class if they need there's some okay >> so they did bring PS to talk to all of our students um specifically fourth and fifth but there's yeah some reason
076behind that I mean I think it's a really important curriculum you know that and the more students especially those first grade that can get this information in a healthy digestible way. The probably your question. These are this is great overs. >> They do have a program for the upper grade standing >> and this is at no cost to >> no cost to the district. >> Usually C has grant money that they can provide these services to schools. Yeah, Johnny. >> I think it's a great program. >> I would like to be able to say not the students, the staff, the staff of C. >> Oh, I want to hear what the students say. >> They would welcome you into the classroom. Is it is there why are you going to be in Spanish also? >>
077Um I don't know but I have grandparents or you can ask >> I'm sure it probably will be because we've worked with them before. So we've had another bench. I only like something. Yeah, it's interesting. I have that. So any any more discussions, >> questions? So we are going to do a roll call to approve the memorandum or theou between elementary school and CAB. Roll call please. >> Mr. Jason Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Miss Amanda Bissell. >> Yes. >> Miss Quincy. >> Yes. >> Miss Caroline Grant. Yes. >> Miss Monique. Yes. Motion. Oops. Motion carries. >> Got it. Is this is this >> So this is through. >> Okay. Um so madam chair, board members, um the next on our agenda is item six B Chromebooks uh for K2. This is through the edtech bond
078um that we have um we don't use them. Um so we do have a quote for you uh based on conversation uh with our IT department and with the principles right now we our kiddos K2 um need some Chromebooks that are also touchscreen for when they're like testing and stuff. Um right now they have say they took the prek ones in order for them to test. Um they say they had a touch screen. So, um the quote is in the drive time for any questions on that. And I will let you guys know that we'll be probably be getting another one. Um or we're going to be asking for I believe it's 30 books there for adults and then the board as well. We have to have the motion first. So, um, you have the
079recommendation to approve the Chromebooks by EdTech. Is there a motion? >> So, motion by Miss Thissell. Do you have a second? >> Second. Second by Miss Lisa. Discussion. And these are the monies that are going to be, right? >> Yes. Yeah. And we do have a little bit of extra funding in there and we asked if we could use the rest of it to get the the adult on these those tiny small ones. >> No, that Oh, nice. Nice. >> No, they're not like that. >> They're not. They're bigger than that. >> It's 11.6. This is probably like a 8 in. >> So, they're like Yeah. bigger than this like a sheet of paper, right? >> Well, it might be about this size cuz does it go diagonal? >> Oh, yeah. So, >> yeah, it
080actually 116 is smaller. This is bigger than that 11. >> Yeah, it's going to be harder for our children to say not. So, it's only K2. You can see it doesn't quite the diagonal isn't quite there. It's probably this is probably closer to a 12 inch or 12 and a half inch. So this is maybe an inch here. >> I mean I would say probably for littles it's fine. Like I think my kiddos share something this size at home and they're fine. my children. >> Oh dear. >> Not the 11. >> We're getting you guys. Um the other one big ones. >> I heard you the last time. Well, I didn't open. So the presentation I was just I don't know. It I think it just needs a lot of updates and it wants to
081do it when I'm here. wants to sh off connect to this. I mean I just have >> no Are there any other questions? >> Any any comments or questions about the Chromebooks? >> No, never mind. >> I was like, "Oh, I wasn't prepared to present." Okay, that's good exercise. >> All right. So um we will do roll call to approve the Chromebooks by edtech from edtech by tech. >> Mr. Jason >> yes >> miss >> yes >> miss Caroline grant >> yes motion carries. of a special for the recommendation to adjourn. Is there a motion? By is our second? I'll second. We'll call to a journal. >> Yes. >> Moff. >> Yes. >> Miss Caroline. >> Yes. Yes, >> yes. Motion carries. Hey, we have adjourned at 7:21 p.m. And our March meeting is the
08224th. >> Did you hear that, Gwen? Can you repeat that please? I'm sorry. >> Our next board meeting is March 24th. >> Yes. >> Regarding the regional meeting, are we traveling together when as like how you mentioned it on your uh email as a team or are we still going on our own and then we'll just be as a team there? So I will definitely I will be going on my own because from there I'm traveling to >> Albuquerque. >> I don't know if you guys >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure so that I'm not having to like make arrangements to be there at the school or somewhere. I'll go on my own as well. >> So, we'll be Yeah. travel on our own.