001Sure. >> I was ready. I was ready. All right, I'm going to call the meeting to order. Uh, it is 5:30. >> Gillespie here. >> Heather here. >> Matthew here. Olivia United States with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Can I get a motion to accept the agenda changes? as listed um the approval of the continuing education presentation and the addition of item 15.1 establishment of student scholarship >> second all in >> favor I60 >> all right and um personal is H2M you guys are going to give us an update on what is to come shortly >> that's correct >> awesome thank you >> Hi everybody Simon from designer a lot of work history leader and then who's the architect of the projects of record. Generally speaking uh we had a survey completed
002in 2022 and And work categorized into these categories site work, energy work, infrastructure, arts and athletics of budgeting and financing the key items. And we prepared three propositions to the district. Prop one, prop two or three. Uh pop two and three did not pass. Pop one did pass January 2025 and that included 17,30,000 worth of upgrades. Little history of the buildings. We're addressing the high school. This building circa 1968. Middle school 1930. It's the oldest. Lape relatively new 192. Duine 63. And the bus garage is also getting a little bit of work. Um, which we've got at 68 as well. This is a summary of the propositions I mentioned. Prop one passed. Districtwide upgrades and then the building upgrades. props two and three which would have total near $50,000 worth did not pass. That's why
003we're left with the 17. Uh just an FYI how that number comes to be it may seem high to some. We do include prevailing wage labor material costs general conditions contingency and incidentals all soft costs and fees from the legal team and the engineering team construction management team as well as well as a 4% um escalation. Um this doesn't account for building a which will be allocated over a period of 15 to 18 years trickled uh into the district for a variety of the work which is um so you can see on the right there we've got a total of 13.72 and then we add an escalation incidentals general upgrade of the work here. So, we've got um kind of pictures go along with it. Districtwide lighting upgrades. Uh making everything LED. So, these pretty
004much every light across the district that we're building is getting a light in place. [clears throat] Work is moving forward. Uh we've got home bleacher home bleachers at the school again and press box locker room upgrades, window and door upgrades at the high school. Uh the science room, gas beds at the high school. Here's some pictures. the locker rooms. There's the doors and windows. There's the science gas pibs. There's the boiler room in the high school as well. It's getting um extensive upgrade. The grease traps at the following locations. Um we have bathroom upgrades as well, which is full picture replacements, um finishes, new tile, that's walls, floors, and ceilings, all new um partition systems. uh full upgrade and particularly the middle school which has a weathered window in in uh two of the restrooms
005getting full replaced. Middle school also sees science gas upgrades and all the faucets and then the exterior stairs historic steps are being replaced with blue stone and uh brick solder course down the front there which will be a nice uh detail for the historic front of the district so to speak. And that's three uh dilapidated staircases which are not currently in use. Um we did have a an option cheaper option for concrete but we ended up being able to award the roof stone. So we're happy about that. The Lape school is getting a full roof replacement u part of it restoration uh which is the low roof for those familiar and then the upper roof essentially every roof that isn't metal is getting either replaced or restored. um restra at Lape as well, continuing doors
006and windows, asphalt work. Um so extensive site work. This is includes parking restriping, but also expansion the the existing parking layout, quite a lot of u modifications to improve flow and parking count. Bus garage at the high school uh the center uh bay has a lot of leak issues. so that the roof is being replaced, some down spouts, some snow guards um attached over the overhead doors as well. Um general schedule um what kind of comes past so far. So on the left is our approval phase. We had seeker uh and a notice from notice from seeker back in 2024. Um we had board of education uh recommendation. Fast forward to bond presentations late 24 and then early 25 we had the public bond presentations finally with the capital vote on January 16th at which
007point our design team moves forward. Um design progress really throughout 25 submitting to the state uh for sed approval and permits which are received and move into construction for these projects. uh 80 to 90% of the projects are expected to be predominantly completed this summer. Maybe construction manager can speak a little more in detail afterwards. Um generally by the September start date of school, a lot of the work will be completed and any outstanding work will be second shift after hours such as the many thousands of lights that they replaced. Some of the work which will be outstanding after this summer um will include the parking lots at Lape. is quite an expensive job. Uh the water um pump house at the mouth which is currently awaiting department of health approval and then the windows
008and doors uh we elected to also award a little later so that we could have a little cost control um as a scope that is broken out more easily um should we have a need. Um those projects are looking to bid out in a few months once we've got these projects that are currently um under uh have been awarded. So we've had construction meetings and then we'll bid out for next summer the remainder remain three projects substantial completion. Therefore you can put at um end of summer 2027 with the understanding that a lot of it is slated for this year. Um so we've got overall completion date which is u really just a an expectation pushing to this essentially the site work next summer completion by September and we expect to get good pricing on
009that a couple months. Um pretty quick update I kind of zip through everything. Um that's really a a high level. Um, did anybody have any questions regarding any of these upgrades? >> Okay, very good. Um, >> yes. >> I was just curious with the light fixtures. Is it the is it a fixture replacement or is it full replacement? >> It's the entire picture. Yes, the entire picture will be LED and in many cases ceilings as well. At least in the high school uh corridors, the ceilings are full replacement. Um but the LEDs are something which is districtwide. So every fixture in every building. >> Um yeah so it's a it's a big contract for electric contract that >> just a small question too. The 4% escalation costs is is that fixed or could that go
010up or down depending on the actual price? >> So it is it is based on averages and and historic data. Um ultimately the budgets and the pricing um are cost estimations and we do a round of estimates. So we have those pre-ont estimates. Um the construction management team actually provides updated cost estimates and then ultimately we get the bids in and that comes yet another um figure and then once the project's done there's any changes or alterations during construction we have the final number. Thank you so much. >> No worries. >> Great. >> Uh I'm happy the board is happy. >> I just I know uh some access to raw materials seem to be dynamic over time. [snorts] Do you see that affecting cost or do you think % your projections, you know, likely have
011have covered that. >> Feel like it's kind of coming close to where it is. We'll [clears throat] know better once we have these projects, we bid out the others, which is why we had the windows pulled out so that we can we need to make priority selections maybe less. We have that option that's remains to be determined. Um the At this point 80 90% of all the projects I listed which are more than what's there in some cases apart from the three I identified have been awarded. So we have the prices already and the biders have committed to that price in writing and it's awarded to the lowest public. So comes in with the lowest number requirements um project. So we have And we have contractors in place construction managers take off contractors and those
012have started and we're process [clears throat] overall bond number of um because obviously escalation they talked about their weight average. Um so obviously the number is 17 [applause] student school board member report. >> So the last high school How do you use your turn? >> So, the last day classes for the high school will be June 16th. So, then beginning the 17th, regular classes will no longer be in session, but regions exam will take place until June 25th. June 8th is the senior trip to Dory Park. And then scholarship night will take place at the high school at 600 p.m. on June 9th. And then June 10th is the last back at the high school which is um it's like the high school drama senior showcase at 700 p.m. and senior ball will be on
013June June 25th at the Gaza from 6 to 10 is hosted at 6 p.m. at the high school on June 26th. On June 25th, there is the 8th grade moving up ceremony and Jine and Lenny will be hosting the kindergarten through fifth grade art show from 5 to 7:30 at Len on June 4th. On June 11th, there is a Len spring concert hosted at the high school at 6 p.m. And then finally, on June 24th, there is a fifth grade ceremony. >> How do you enjoy the sports banquet last night? It >> was fun. >> Tell us a little bit about the sports. >> Uh so yesterday, last night there was um the sports banquet which happens every year and each team awards an MVP and a sport. >> [clears throat] >> brings us to
0145.1 public comment. I'll read I'll read the guidelines um while Sandy brings me the list. There will be two public comment periods at each regular board meeting. The first public comment period will be limited to comments on agenda items only and will conclude at the end of 30 minutes. The second public comment period will be open to comment on non-aggenda items and will conclude at the end of 15 minutes. There will be a public comment sign sheet at each board meeting. People wishing to address the board to sign in with their name, town or residents and topic they are commenting on prior to the start of the meeting. The public comment portion of the meeting will not be livereamed. Speakers will be called to in the order in which they have signed up. Comments are
015limited to three minutes to ensure that many individuals have the opportunity to be heard. A timer will sound when three minutes have elapsed. The board president reserves the right to remarks from the public which are repetitive or known to be defamatory. Public comments may not identify any person by name or position. Public comments are not meant to be a dialogue, but rather a time for the board to hear comments from the public. The board or the superintendent may at their discretion offer comments or ask clarifying questions related to topics or issues raised by members of the public. We expect the conversation to continue really shortly, but again, we do have the um next public comment session if you would like to stay beyond our board conversation. So that does bring us to um 6.1 our
016tech policy discussion and um you know perhaps there was some miscommunication. uh there isn't a policy to be approved. This conversation is about talking about how each board member feels about the potential of adopting a policy, when that would happen, what that would look like. Um has to be had in public. Um so, uh I know we all have some thoughts. I don't know if anybody wants to start. >> Okay, I'll start. Um I want to thank everybody for coming out. It's amazing that this many people care so deeply about our kids in this school district. So, I just appreciate the fact that we packed this room on behalf of kids and on behalf of collaborating and communicating for the best um benefit of our students. So, I want to thank everybody for coming tonight.
017[applause] Um um as a board member recently um analogy, but basically um we've been absorbing so much information from so many different parts of our school community. Um and one of the things that's is mostly um a strong desire exactly what's happening in this room tonight to create avenues for these conversations to continue um and for that collaboration and that communication to continue. Um, just as a like a little microcosm, I happened to run into a teacher who had been speaking on this topic at our board meeting and also a parent who had come to speak at this topic at our board meeting and they were chatting outside of the grocery store and I happened to pop in and they said, "Oh, look, we were just talking about the board and the tech thing and
018we had a really productive like 15-minute chat and I thought to myself, this is what needs to happen. um we need to be in communication because I I feel as though the goals and the uh shared values are there. Um so I mean that's just the baseline thing. So I feel like I mean I'll just say from my perspective I think what's in order at this point we've been um asked to do this uh by a few emails from staff is to um focus our efforts on creating some kind of committee or multiple committees maybe to address [clears throat] this topic in a more um deliberative way in a way that you know does pump the brakes and allows um for some real collaboration. So, that's one thing I wanted to throw out to the
019board is um how do we feel about creating a a committee if the board does eventually maybe want to create a policy and I think guidelines are important um creating a committee that you know parents and teachers and students and other members of our school community can participate in. >> What's the normal process? What's happening the best things that have been done? How does policy come to be? Well, it depends on what the policyy's about. Um, one thing that I was sort of thinking of as um an analog to this. It's different obviously, but um we we developed a DEIB policy with the REACT committee. They worked very hard on that and that's one of our in my opinion one of our strongest policies that we have in our policy manual given the fact that
020so many people had a hand in it. Um so that committee advised the board on policy and then there was a sort of I guess you could think of it as a partner committee in the operations side of the district. Um there's multiple partner committees actually. We've got our district equity team and then we've got our building level equity teams. So I was thinking you know this this topic is not going to go away. It's just going to get more complex when we introduce um AI which already we have a committee in the district that's discussing that. But I think that it would be beneficial to um have a committee formed that advises the board specifically on policy. And then on the operations side of the district because it's a different um ball of wax
021if you're talking about K2 versus high school use of tech. These are very different developmental stages and you're going to have a different approach to technology at building level. So that's why I was thinking that the building level committees might be important and again it could be a place for staff, parents, students, administrators, our school um mental health professionals to all weigh in and have a collaborative conversation that would help guide the district in this endeavor. And the technology another point about this is the tech is always going to be evolving. Um and it's never going to be a static target. So, we need to always be reassessing and looking at it again and thinking what are the students using now and what does the career market look like now and what does the college
022situation look like now? And so, it's something that it can't just be like a one and done. It's got to be an ongoing conversation. I think as long as these tools are in our district, we're going to have to be monitoring them. >> Go ahead. >> I'm just going to sort of agree. I think the fact that the Chromebooks largely came in during a time that wasn't close they came in at a time seekers where there was not clear but I actually kind of shocked there was no I think in what does this look like obviously there's been a lot and the This is the time we should really figure out how is this going to be best served in a question. Uh, I guess it's about uh ensuring that the voices of families and
023community members that are historically not heard in the district are part of that conversation. And this is something that we have not been able to track just in general, right? And so like thinking about um those voices and those students, you know, that that have very different experiences with technology and very different uses of that super important to not have a bias >> and I don't know what the answer is to get in involvement uh as of right now, but I certainly think that our teachers you work most closely with with families will have some good ideas about that, but that's just not we don't want to marginalize those folks even. >> Sure. Yeah. And like you said, it's it's something that is hard to crack in general, not just applicable to this topic. Um,
024but are you suggesting that until we figure that out, we don't move forward with committees or or you feel like committees are a good idea, but just with an active eye toward that population and and garnering some kind of input? I I guess you know my feeling is you know we as an administration have a lot of faith in our teachers capacity to uh to navigate um all of this and and I think they've they their eye is on what kind of deep learning is necessary for critical thinking and so I think I personally it's less to me about the the Chromebooks and and concern about using them as it is about being clear about the kind of education that we offer here, right? Like I'm more concerned to talk about the learning that happens
025in our classrooms, right? Because that's just one tool, right? And so if we say we trust our teachers that that the professional judgment about how they use the tools that are available to them are important. And I know like the AFT came out with some guidance uh this weekend we do that. That's exactly what we do in our district. There is nothing uh that has come out or that Captain talked about or that you know the the nice union has talked about that we're not already doing. So, you know, >> do you feel as though there's not really much room for improvement? >> I I think that the room the improvement happens with the teach like the teachers do it. Like I've had so many thoughtful conversations with teachers over the past couple of days
026about uh the how they have evolved professionally from when you know like we were all in this co survival mode right parents, teachers, everybody and uh and just how their thinking has evolved since then. Um and they share so many concerns with our families about technology use and um and all of that, right? And so I I guess less concern about the u the technology use and more concern about can we continue to have conversations about the learning that happens and the communication that has to happen between our families and our teachers, right? Um because because like there are so many assumptions about what happens in classrooms um and and those assumptions could be addressed very quickly with a short conversation with a teacher. >> [applause] >> So you feel that there are downsides to
027having where teachers and and parents and students and administrators can all collaborate on this or >> I think there's great uh value to have uh committees around uh particularly in thinking about the changes that are happening in your state education about that and have technology be a part of that but to separate something that teachers use uh with great discretion in their classrooms now as a as something that we have to talk about separately without talking about the learning seems uh counterproductive to what it is that we all want which is a safe uh productive uh learning environment for all of our students. >> Okay. Um >> yeah, please um I just want to bring it right back to Did everybody hear me? Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, so I think going back to when
028I saw the agenda, I wish I would have seen technology committee discussion rather than technology policy discussion. So we have policies, we have bylaws, we have things that we have to follow as a board. Um, there's even one here on public complaints. So if you have a public complaint. I some of the things that I read were that parents haven't even gone to teachers yet with their complaints. Um there's a policy on that. There's a policy on how to form committees. Um there's there's policies here that guide our processes. Um, and I think the misconception, I think it was misunderstanding that when a public document comes out from the board that says technology policy discussion, that that's creating policy. So, I think that's why most teachers are here right now. Um, I I'm a little
029worked up about it. I'm I'm not going to, you know, the division is really upsetting. I feel it in our world. I feel it here in the district. and I feel it here on this board. So, I'm very VERY [applause] um I'm hoping that we can get get back to business and really look at our policy and move forward with what our community wants and what our teachers want. Just to clarify, Amy, so what you're saying is you are feeling as though we're not following our procedures properly or what what is um >> No. So a lot of a lot of what I hear you um clarifying is like putting words in my mouth. Um no, I'm saying there's policy that we should follow. Um and now that we've heard the concerns of the community
030and the public, we should probably I reached out to Steve and said I think we should form a committee and have stakeholders. I sent them an email and I believe that that be true but I think rushing to policy without stateut is >> which is [applause] so I you know I do think there's a lot of communication issues that's one of our district goals um and I think unfortunately it stemmed from our board and I think we need to improve upon that um and I'm hoping that we can you know these public comments and all of this these are not public comments comments for the public. They're public comments for the board to take into consideration and we have done that many times. Um, and I'm looking forward to making some some moves in the
031right way next year with our policy committee and getting stakeholders and and forming a technology committee. >> So, you're in favor of a technology committee? >> I just said I'd like to see a technology. >> Great. >> Yes. So, I'm just going to read from our handbook uh the process to form. The board can form or dissolve a committee at any time. In order to do so, the board must approve a charge for the committee which details the committee's purpose and membership makeup. When the charge is complete, unless the committee is approved as a standing committee, the committee can dissolve upon completion. >> What do we have to do here at the table? >> Do we have to delineate whether or not this is a board committee versus a district committee? >> That would be
032a good thing. Certainly, what you have to do is define what the goal of this committee is, who you want on it, what you're trying to accomplish. So we can't form a committee until we know those things. >> Are there drawbacks? something that has some more valuable not I would recommend I'm not sure which one which one you were talking about but I would recommend not a board committee if there's more restrictions on a board committee um there's more freedom if it's a superintendent committee >> I think because of the nature of the journal that's important not moving. >> A possible procedure would be for you all to share doc talk right to me. Tell me what you think you would want to see out of this committee and then I can synthesize it into
033a a description and bring it back to you for joint review at the next meeting. Um, I mean, can we talk about that now? I mean, do you guys have any ideas of what you would want to see on a committee that advises? Um, I mean, the district, if it's a district committee, that's really um, Steve, that's really the administration's perview of what you would like to see on that committee. But if it's a board committee, then we would decide the charge charge or the charter of the committee. So if it's a district committee that's I mean that's >> well it's my perview but you're the ones who are asking for it. So wise of me to listen to what you want to have on these committees. >> Do okay. I mean if it's your
034committee I mean I if if it's something that you want then I feel like you should have input on what you're looking for yourself. I mean unless you don't want it. What do you what do you >> I will certainly have input and I would certainly value your input. Would it be like the district equity team where a board member joins like a wellness committee where it's a >> that's how I'm envisioning it? Yes. >> Is that too much extra work or do you think that's >> No, I think somebody would actually like to see continuity where teachers 15 years perspective are a major component of how this is designed. We'll get information from that. satisfied with understandation that right now this is also going with Android to satisfy some parents concerns about This is
035not something Parents with specific questions should should ask them. They should ask the teachers first. ask me if they have questions. >> Do [snorts] any uh school committees meet during the summer time? >> They do not. >> Okay. When typically do they start in the school year? >> Depends on the committee, but um this one could start. I wouldn't recommend trying to meet in the summer. It rarely works, but this could start in September. A code of conduct doesn't start in September. It starts in the spring. Well, this happens whenever we can do whatever we want. I'm just, you know, >> uh, I think this is this has been a long road to this point. Um I want to thank Keith and all his stakeholders who started with the surveys which we had I think
036to the educators, the parents, the students even the check forum um and we've had multiple meetings where been able to um submit public comment um and it Sounds like where we're headed is a um maybe that will work throughout the school year next year and then maybe come up with some recommendations for 2028. Is that on here? >> Well, you may very well I mean you may very well get recommendations before then. >> And let's not forget that the the parents have spoken eloquently on this and the teachers have as well. and u there you know we're already considering ways that we can improve things certainly you know there's certainly ways that we can improve it we're working on that now so it's not like we're just going to wait a year to have any
037response >> you know also so there may be some guidance from the state by then too so we you know that can help this technology committee and say you know they're limiting screen time or whatever the case may be we might not have to make all of that. >> So, specific concerns that exist right now for parents, if they don't have the answer already, they should contact their teachers or contact after the fact, contact the administration. We can get answers to specific questions. But as far as this committee goes, looking at long-term plans, districtwide concerns, you know, I think the committee can be formed, and I'd love to hear from all of you is what you would envision this committee to a um have for a goal. What's the ultimate goal of this committee? And
038B, who do you see participating on this committee? That's what I would like to know. And if you can you can give me that information um I can I can synthesize it bring it back and then we can see if we can create this committee consistent with our board policies and practices. >> Well I can tell you right now just I mean sorry as far as um the policy uh level goes I mean that really is the board's purview is policy. That's the lever that the board uses to um guide the district. And then obviously anybody doesn't know um the administration would handle the procedures that flow from the policy created by the board. So um as far as a policy committee, a subcommittee really that's focused on technology goes, um I'm not saying, you
039know, this is not an edict from me. This is merely a suggestion I'm throwing out there to the board. I don't know what your thoughts are, but my thought would be it would be simply to draft a district-wide tech policy for the board's consideration that is based on shared district values, includes guidelines for responsible tech use with the goal of promoting student well-being and academic achievement throughout the district. Um so it'd be quite straightforward I think and they would basically do um the leg work for the board with the correct stakeholder input and then of course you know the way this works is that then it's at the board's uh discretion whether or not to adopt the policy wholesale to edit it to reject it wholesale whatever. But this would just be a way to
040have the link work done in a way that incorporates um the multiplicity of voices that we've heard here tonight. So I mean and as far as the district, I don't I don't want to tell the um operations side what to do. Um so I mean I mean to me it would be what I described before is just acknowledging that technology is an everpresent part of our lives and probably an ever increasing part of um what goes on here in Newaltz. And like I said with the introduction of AI um to engage, you know, >> I agree. >> So those are my thoughts. I just um I I appreciate see the willingness to do a shared document. It's just um I especially like I said coming off of receiving so much information from parents and trying
041to think of ways how can this make its way to the teachers and hearing so much from teachers and I still I'm not sure exactly how the eloquent emails that our teachers sent us make their way to the parents. I'm just thinking of ways that we can create more collaboration and communication. And I agree it's of course important for a teacher to I mean for a parent to follow the chain of command and speak to their teacher if there's an issue with their child's classroom. Um but we're talking more broadly and I think there's value in you know apart from that collaboration which is a very specific thing about it and in which a student is in the middle of those two individuals um to have communication that goes between you know representative uh members
042of different stakeholder groups. You know what I'm saying? I think there's value in both kinds of communication. >> I'm not sure I do. What's kind of communication? The second kind of comm communication is what happens in the committee where individuals can talk openly without their actual child being the focus. It's about broader questions about the school community versus an individual child. That's what I'm trying to say. >> Uh shall my team and I with uh advice from teachers put together a possible charter for this committee. >> Yeah, that'd be great. Okay, >> happy to do that. >> Do we So we'll let the charter decide a general outline of what the committee will be looking at. Is that is that how it works? >> Yes, that is what we will do. Um, if you wish
043to send me any thoughts, u I will value them. If you don't wish to send me any thoughts, I think I've got an idea of what it is you're saying. I was just gonna say um I was going to say um you know the purpose of the committee will be to report back to the board at that time and you know you can ask clarify which type of we're talking about >> we're we're talking about a a district committee which would be the operations side and we're talking about a board committee which would be policy. So, I just want to clarify because I'm not sure [snorts] >> we're talking about I thought we were talking about a district committee similar to the district equity team or code of conduct where we uh talk about the
044issue we work toward a goal and then we come back to the board and say here's some information for you maybe even here's what we think would be good that was something we wanted. >> Nope. I'm sorry. I just want to clarify what I was saying. I think there should be um two types of committees. one is a very focused committee. It's ad hoc and it's um a subcommittee of the policy committee. Again, these are recommendations I'm personally making. I'm not speaking for the board here. So, please feel free to correct or you know disagree or whatever. But from my view, it should be a policy um subcommittee that specifically uh reports to uh the board and that the board can take their recommendations and I believe that that should have you know stakeholders from
045all around the district and then in addition on the operations side and this wouldn't be under the purview of the board uh a committee that serves like the district equity team and that would be completely under the um purview of administration. Do you understand what I'm saying? I would not recommend two committees. I think a committee under the supervision of the superintendent and and administrators can accomplish the goal that you want to accomplish. To have a separate committee that reports to the policy committee, I believe to be redundant policy policy tells us what to do. So we're going to do what policy says. So what we need to do is bring to you our thoughts. We as in this committee bring to you our thoughts about where our district should be headed in technology and
046then the the board should take that information or the policy committee can take that information and and and decide whether they want to make policy or what that policy would look like. But we're going to when you get your policy we're going to enforce that policy and therefore I think you need you know it needs to preserve teacher autonomy and teachers need to be a big part of it. That information can come to the board as it should and the board can make decisions from there. >> Then the board can also ask the committee to go back and realistically because you're saying that you're speaking for yourself. What what is your sort of vision of the policy? I don't I don't even know such a giant technology policy different. Yeah. >> So it's this is
047not a one shot and done thing. We need to kind of scope exactly what this is going to >> simply just limiting screen time. If that's the one goal that's not a policy, you know, that's just conversation to try to understand what is the >> I mean you can look at models from other districts. You could look at the um Los Angeles school district just came out with their policies. So I mean there's plenty of policy models you could look at out there and new could decide to adopt whatever we want. You know that's why the conversation needs to happen before the policies outlined. >> So I think it makes sense. >> Yeah. the policy should come from the committee work if in fact a policy is what you decide you want to have. So
048just to be clear the just to be clear that the committee is being formed because there's room for improvement in our technology um in the way we use technology in education. Well, there's there's always room for improvement and you're in such a changing field that it's not a bad idea to have a group that's looking at the way things are done. But but but do realize that our teachers do this all the time every day. They look at what they do in their classroom. So, so bringing the teachers together to um see what commonalities they have and ways that they can improve and that's not a bad thing. Y >> I think I think for me um for me personally as one of six board members um part of it is also a response to
049some of the data that's emerging that shows the negativities of screen time children in so I think that it's important for the district committee to keep analyzing the emerging data in a field that's changing so rapidly. I I don't think anybody here at this table or in that audience feels any different than that. >> And I just like would like to stress what Liz said and and I think Amy as well is a chance for the community at large to work together towards towards this um challenge or external pressure because there's always going to be an external pressure on the district. >> We're not Los Angeles County schools. 75,000 baseline a lot more accomplished on their needs was problem experiences of some families that are having that's important but policy the answer I necessarily see
050now as the answer there are ways to fix this but the policy fix >> we we actually have a lot of policies in place >> that we could modify >> to encompass all the concerns and all the things um we have a lot of polic policy in place already. So I I I don't know if it would be like a new one or you know modification. Um I do have questions about um the logistics of forming a committee in our district. Uh is it voluntary? Are there limitations on who can join um by grade level or by building? What is the logistics of that? >> Well, that's yet to be defined. I'll try to define that. >> I guess contractually. >> Yeah. Like some some districts contractually say that, you know, they're either this is
051a a paid position on this kind of a committee or it's volunteer position. So, I'm just I'm wondering would it be grade level um chairs, for example, like who is open to to joining the technology committee that that you would proposed? >> I suspect you will have no shortage of people interested in being on the technology committee. uh allow me to give that some thought and and we can define that for you. You know, certainly committees should have all relevant parties on it. So, some of our committees are geared more toward, you know, high school, middle school because that's where the action is. A committee like this would certainly want to have uh teachers from from all different buildings, administrators from all different buildings. So, teachers, administrators, um potentially I'm hoping parents, um we'd want
052to have a representative group. >> Okay. Is there a way for the next time we have a board to get information of interest and start time for that or is that asking is that too soon? Well, let me let me bring to you at the next board meeting a description of what the goal of this committee could be and how it could be run and who could be on it. And then if you endorse that plan, then we'll take the next step of okay, how are we going to make this actually happen? Who's going to be on it? When's it going to start? I don't want to go down that road too far until we decide that we're until we figure out that we are giving you what you want. And just in closing, um
053just to reiterate that the whole goal for students, um and I think that we all do want the same thing. In closing, I think it's important to remember that I'm gonna one up you on the closing. I'm sorry. Can we have students on that committee as well? Can we add students to >> Sure. >> All right. That brings us to 7.1 superintendent update. >> All right. Well, thank you. It's a very busy time of year. June is is is quite crazy with all the things that have gone on. And I think that Excuse me. Um, so very busy. Uh, Addie talked about things that have been going on uh in her report and I would echo all of those. The art show um start is for night at Lape Sports banquet was last night. Just
054came from the concert in the courtyard in the high school which was awesome. Great place for it. Uh these are things that are just the Rotary Club scholarship breakfast was today. This is all just today. Uh, so there's a lot going on and we appreciate the hard work of the teachers and the students to make this all happen and the parents to get kids where they have to go. Sports is pretty much over. Track is still going on. Baseball and softball both uh made it through one round of sectionals and did a great job. So, uh, just a lot of lot of stuff going quite. It's a fun it's a fun time to be here. A couple things to shout out about on your agenda here. Uh we do have a retirement Annie Del Longus
055who's the secretary in the high school uh will be missed. She's been here for 13 years. We appreciate her [applause] service. Uh exciting news about a rehire in a couple year. We've we've had some concepts we know and a lot of great teachers have been laid off and it's nice when they can come back. So I'm happy to tell everybody who hasn't heard that Brooke Graham will be coming back. >> [applause] >> So, she'll be she'll be uh resuming her position in the high school. Um consolidation hasn't been talked about much, but I don't want anybody to think that it has gone away. Um again the board decided once upon a time to close uh the Dine building and they now confirmed to come in and give recommendations on the best way and the best
056timing for how how the district should consolidate both four buildings to three buildings. So that is underway. We've met with a consultant, meeting with a consultant again at week two, and the ultimate goal is for them to give you a recommendation by December. And then then you'll know then you'll know what the recommendation is and you'll be able to act as you see fit. Um like to uh talk a bit about the trip to Japan. Uh very exciting. 13 uh eighth grade students just went to Japan for about nine days. Uh it was a excellent trip. Uh it starts with uh last September when the Japanese students came to New Pulse and uh hopefully we showed them a good time and that was a great experience for our students to have these uh to meet
057these students from other countries and have them in their homes. Uh it was it was a great opportunity and and then after they left the work began. Uh this was an energetic group of parents and teachers led by Mr. to Falco and Miss Groover Leold [applause] and they did doing they sold tea, they sold to bake sales, they did cow patty bingo. Are you all familiar with cow patty bingo? >> I'll take that as yes then. Um and so uh they did a lot raised quite a bit of money also the generosity of the community. We had many people donated. Uh so ultimately Yeah. And so ultimately uh they were able to go to Japan. They left on the 22nd. So went directly well as directly as you can get to Japan. We went to
058Nimi 14-hour flight to uh Tokyo, another hour to Osaka and a 2-hour bus ride to Nimi, which you may have all heard of as our sister city. But it's just been to me it's just been a figment of my imagination. That's a it's a beautiful place. It's a It's not, you know, a big city like you might think in Japan. It's beautiful, surrounded by green hills and rivers. And uh it was really uh the best part was that our students immediately went to stay with their so these to stay in a in a Japanese household for school and they were also treated to cultural events at Nimi that ranged from uh going into a cave going to their caves uh making making handbags just making paper went to I couldn't wait that long to tell
059you about it. So, I'll tell you about it. And then after after a few days in Nimi, they they had three days in Osaka and Kyoto going to uh well, all kinds of great stuff. And and it was a a real educational experience from start to finish, especially things like finding your way on the subway when you don't speak Japanese. Fortunately, we had Isabella who is technologically fluent than I and uh she she found her way and it was good to have her. So, and Melissa as well. So, it was a great trip and we appreciate the board for supporting it and we appreciate the community for all of your support. [applause] One other thing, uh I I did have a chance to meet with the superintendent and the mayor and uh they are very
060interested in um creating a sister school relationship between our high schools. So, we've already got a sister city, but they would like to have a sister school relationship. Not exactly what sure that mean exactly sure what that means, but we're in. Uh so they're going to come in September or October and uh they're going to hope to sign an official sister school agreement between our high school. So we're looking forward to that as well. And finally, check out the pictures. The food was great. Sumo wrestling was uh was worth seeing. It was good time. Uh and finally, just one more time, I would be remiss if I didn't once again thank the taxpayers for supporting both the uh the budget and the capital project. They both passed with a high percentage and and we really
061appreciate continued support from the community. [applause] >> Thank you. Um 7.2 is a wellness policy presentation. Is that >> um presentation would be a bit of an overstatement. Uh we did have a policy committee we met several times and we did take the policy uh policy written last year and update it. Uh but it was uh there was a lot of changes. Um and I'll give a little credit shout out to the committee from last year as well as Ben Liberator who who did a lot of work to um not only make you know improve but to live links into the policy in several places which would take uh the viewer to uh useful websites. So um the policy did not change very much. Um I don't have it in front of me but I
062will in a second. Uh basically most of it was just um typing stakes and things like changing the year, changing the date. U Pete Biano was on the policy committee as well and he had some good input for how to incorporate some language on social emotional. We will make sure they're updated. >> I agree with you. We will make sure they're updated. I agree with you though. Like policies that we don't look at for 10 years, that'd be a different story. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, can I get a motion? I'm going to move on to 8.1 a motion to uh adopt this policy and wave our second read or do you guys want a second read the next meeting? Because I'm asking for a motion. >> Motion. All in favor? >>
063I passes 5. >> And 9.1. Can I get a motion to approve uh consent agenda items 10.1 through 14.4? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? You don't have anything? All right. Uh, all in favor? >> I the pass is 5 Z 15.1 new business establishment of student scholarship award. Looks like we're approved establishment receiving in the amount of $3,000 which will be awarded to a graduating senior. Criteria will include academic achievement, community and extracurricular involvement, leadership, financial need, and personal and family attributes. Can I get a motion to um to set this up? So moved. >> All in favor? >> I that also pass it back zero. Yes, thank you for um for donating. It's a nice scholarship. All right, that brings us to 16.1, the second public comment. Sandy, do
064I um uh sorry we we're sticking to our 15. You can email us to the next >> to the next. I'm I'm going to stick with um this this job is terribly difficult with um lots of people concerns over lots of topics and um I've decided as vice president just to stick to consistency because it's very hard to be fair on the spot. So I am going to end um public comment just to be consistent. Thank you for understanding. Um Steve, do we need executive session? >> Great. Um all right, so I need a motion to >> adjourn. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. >> There are critical issues. >> All in favor? >> I motion passes 5. And I do apologize. I realize that is not what everyone wants to hear. No, we haven't se