001Everyone, it is 6 PM. I will call our regularly scheduled board meeting of the Elskundo uh Unified School District Board of Education to order. Officially in order now, um at this time, we will uh have the pledge of allegiance led by Franklin. To the flag of the republic for it stands one nation indivisible andice for all. >> All right, we have a full house tonight. Some good stuff on the agenda. Um, let me report out that we had no action taken in close session. And now it moves us right into item 3C, which is our agenda hearing per period and public communications. I do have one card for public communication tonight. Are there any others being filled out at the moment? Okay, seeing none, I will invite Miss Carolyn Elder to come up to the
002podium and speak. And Danny, this is a non-aggenda item, so three minutes. Thank you, Miss Elder. Okay. >> Good evening, President Miller Zarnicki, board members Dr. Johnson and Cabinet. I'm Carolyn Elder, second generation Elsagundo Eagle, proud mom of three Elsa Gundo grads, and a teacher at Richmond Street School. I have the best commute. I walk to school just as my children did long ago. There are several issues I want to share with you from a frontline veteran so that we can continue the we are Gundo excellence. First, class size matters and having firm numbers in our contract is the best way to recognize our daily challenges. Now, I would like to thank you very much for supporting the fourth and fifth grade teachers with reduced class sizes. It truly makes a difference for the students,
003the teachers, and the families. I began my career during the class size reduction years of 20 to1 with 20 or fewer students. I could spend targeted time with each student every day. My own children benefited from lots of individualized attention from their teachers during those years. I currently have 23 students, which is manageable until you start to account for the higher number of IEPs and 504 plans, the large number of students with attention difficulties, and those with low social emotional regulation. We are managing extreme behaviors which means that even one extra student can be challenging. Teachers should receive financial compensation for even one student over the class-siz cap. Two reassurances are not the same as contractual language. There are many new faces in administration, principles and district office personnel from outside the district. We have
004lost institutional knowledge. We need contractual language to protect our past best practices. And number three, morale is low. Um, Elsagundo Unified School District teachers are highly educated, well-trained professionals. During the pandemic, our value was evident. We worked tirelessly to ensure our our students and families were connected and cared for. Um, all without additional pay. Today, the demands on teachers continue to grow with a revolving door of short-term independent study plans for vacations tacked on to holidays and then catching up students on the learning that was missed. Ad hoc committees, learning and administering new assessments, progress monitoring, in-class intervention with meticulous data gathering and parent outreach, which happens a lot, are added to the regular duties of planning, teaching, grading, and reporting. The added stress of not knowing whether your paycheck is going to be accurate
005from month to month or in my case needlessly losing pension funds is a heavy cognitive load. Our district needs to be competitive in salary benefits and work conditions if we hope to retain our amazing young teachers and attract new talent. Mr. Coatson, founding of the founder of the Coatson Foundation, which has enriched many of Elsagundo's teachers with fellowships and grants, used to say that teachers are magicians. In many ways, we are magicians and that we work hard to keep the less attractive parts of teaching hidden from the public. So, it is a much more beautiful experience for our families. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss Elder, and your colleagues who joined you. All right, our next item on the agenda is our student representative report. We do see Maddie is home ill tonight
006and I believe Natalie is here to give a report. Yes, come on up to the podium there. Good evening, everyone. My name is Natalie Christensen, ASB treasurer, filling in for Maddie, who is at a soccer game. Looking back, we had our second annual AI symposium right before winter break. ASB also had their annual senior citizen tea where we met with the seniors at Elsagundo to play games and have tea. Last week, we had the chapter 1 dance showcase, which was completely student choreographed and led by the lovely Miss Masonette. This week, we have our Wonder Woman Powerpuff Tournament at lunch. Underway is our chill pill project where ASB distributes lifesaver mints with an inspirational quote to each student before finals begin. Link crew is also hosting a final study session in the library where they
007are providing pizza and extra help for students. This week is our winter spirit week leading up to our pep rally on Friday. Looking ahead, we have the first esports league game on the 24th. And finally, we have teacher appreciation night upcoming for basketball where each player chooses a teacher which has made a special impact on their time at ESHS. And that's all for my report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Natalie. And I'll revise my comment to say I hope that the Lady Eagles won tonight. All right. U next on our agenda, we have uh an update from the Elsko Education Foundation. Miss Kaban, if you can make your way up. >> Hello. Hello. And I can still say this. Happy new year because it's not been two weeks yet. So, um, congratulations, President Miller Ziki,
008Vice President Daima Weaten. Um, clerk Heather Sutherland, and members Beley and Glenn. And hi, Dr. Johnson and members of the cabinet. Well, I have a few things to share today. Uh, first of all, I hope you all had a lovely and relaxing holiday season and uh, I know I got to catch up with Miss Beley at the reflections reception the other day. So, I heard about her re relaxation and I hope to catch up with many more of you as I see you at all the many events that ESUSD has to offer. First of all, we wanted to say that our second annual winter wonderland did not disappoint. The North Pole truly came to life with Santa take-home keepsakes and lots of extras and goodies. Um, all of which, uh, we want to thank Chevron
009for providing the amazing space. And El Gringo, Rock and Bruise, the Connect Ice Cream Truck, and Bill Ruane for generously providing the lunch sweet treats for all of our guests. It was a huge success raising over $70,000 for ESUSD which will go towards the $2 million grant for the 202526 year. Up next, ED will be having our next community appeal which will take place on the 21st of this month and all donations will be matched by Continental Development Corporation. Next up after that in March, we have backed by popular demand, guys night out. It's actually happening this year. I know we keep saying we're going to do it, but it's actually we have things in the works. We have um so save the date. It will be at California Smash, and there will be more
010to come on that soon. The date will be uh Thursday, March 21st. Also, the Ed Summer Academy registrations will be opening early February. So, please keep an eye out for that. And also save the date for the Ed Gayla, which is a fun-filled night for everyone. It will be Friday, May 8th, 2026. Any questions, comments, comical quips? >> I have a quick question. You had said Thursday the 21st. I could be off on my calendar, but I have the 21st in March, you said, right? >> Yes. >> As a Saturday. >> Oh, sorry. >> That's okay. I just wanted to confirm or which one it was. Double check. Hold on. I might have written it wrong. I apologize. >> Oh, you're totally wrong. >> Let me see. March. I'm sorry. It should be the 19th.
011>> Okay. >> I think we were looking at the wrong calendar. >> I actually thought it was me. So, >> no. Thank you. Thank you so much. So, March 19th, save the date, guys night out. >> And my question for guys night out is, do I get to do I get to deal blackjack? >> I'm so sorry. We will not have casino tables this year. It's going to be at California Smash, so there'll be lots of fun stuff. Um, I know there's several courts. We're working on team plays. Um, there's of course going to be cornhole and all their games outside. They're going to have a, I believe, a coach as well. There's still stuff in the works, but it'll be lots of fun for the guys, uh, that evening. We're working on some other
012little special add-ons as we speak. And, um, I know Frank knows some of it, so you can always hit him up on the back end and find out some more if you want. Any other questions? No. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you for being here. Thanks for the update and for all that the Ed Foundation does. We are so grateful. All right. Next on our agenda, we have an update from ESTA if anyone's here to speak to that. I don't think so. Or CSCA. Just double checking. All right. Not tonight. Uh next up then, that would bring us to the Elsko PTA council update. Miss Smith, make your way to your favorite podium. Welcome also to our PTA presidents that are with us tonight. are full of superstars. Yeah. Come on.
013Let's give it up. All right. >> Hi, my name is Cheryl. I am uh otherwise known as Danny's mom and I am the current president for the Elsagundo Council PTA. With me, these lovely humans are uh also presidents of our units. We have Christina at Center Street. Go Cougars. We have Mariah at Richmond Street. And we have Wendy. She's a bulldog at the middle school. Woohoo. So, we're going to do this as we normally do it where uh each of us talks about our respective schools. Um and we will take it away. Oh, and Laura since her apologies. I think she's had the same illness as Maddie. Um, soccer illness. Yeah. Okay. Let me just say as a note to anybody watching this from home in playback or now, uh, we don't have the connection
014to the presentation, but you can follow along in attachments if you are at home watching this. Thank you. >> Great. Um, we have our book fair coming up the first week in February. Um during that time we'll actually be having um a magician from Code Ninja to do two separate shows and our book fair will be open. Also uh we're prepping for daughter's night out uh April 17th I believe and son's night out sometime in March. Um we just finished with teacher scoop at Coldstones um that we are very excited about a spring one coming up. Uh we're in process of repainting all of the backboards to match the backboards that are on the first grade playground. Uh Trash Free Tuesday is going strong. Um our volunteer committee, uh parents can sign up for emails
015that are sent when they need um when we need volunteers. Readathon, we're going to do penny wars again. Our fifth grade um fifth graders are going to use that as their fundraiser this year. Uh book fair again. and uh teacher treats. Every month the teachers get some yummy treats from us. Thank you. Uh Richmond Street School, same super busy, crazy time of year. Um but since we last talked, we did actually wrap up our big fall flutter fundraiser. We raised over $100,000. Um, so that allows us to do all these amazing things like our beautifification team has been working on replanting the hillside in Paradise Park to be full of Elskunda blue butterfly plants and native California plants. U, we had an artist parent install that beautiful new mural in one of our hallways by
016our kindergarten classrooms. We sent lots of grades on grade level um field trips this year, all different kinds of places from the uh discovery cube to the science center. We've had a lot of lunchtime popups where we go out and have the students celebrate with a DJ dance party or popcorn or just sidewalk chalk. Our treat trolley has made the rounds delivering goodies to classrooms for teachers and all of our staff. And we helped out with our winter sing performance with all of our um volunteers. and our fifth grade class has been selling winter grams to raise money. So, thank you. Um, the middle school had our step it up fundraiser. We raised over $82,000, which is the most that we've raised in the past couple of years. Um, we are now asking our staff
017and teachers for their gift lists or their wish list to see how we can help the campus in addition to what we normally provide every year. Um, we finally had our day of awesomeness. It got rescheduled from November. Dr. Jay got to witness firsthand how awesome it is when all the middle schoolers are all on the field. Um, there were a lot of wet socks, but a lot of fun was had. And if you haven't done the hamster ball, I think it's that third picture over there. Um, try it at the next day of awesomeness. OSS had our weeks one and two. We provided the volunteers who are good at Tetris, so they fit all the luggage in the buses um and try to wipe away any of the tears that the kids might have.
018Um, for the holidays, we helped facilitate a gift card drive for our teachers and staff. So, we asked families to donate $25 gift cards that Dr. Davlantis will use during the year. Um, we got over 50 of them donated to us. Coming up, we have our winter ball popup shop that is happening tomorrow and Thursday at the Center Street Cafeteria. Um, where seventh and eighth graders can pick up a new outfit for free. Um, or just shop with their friends. they don't have to pick anything up. And then the winter ball will be happening on January 30th and we will be sponsoring a hot chocolate stand or station. Um this year our student government class is creating the whole winter ball. They are running the show and I popped in to see how we could
019help them. They wanted hot chocolate. So, I said, "Of course, we will give you hot chocolate with all of the toppings that you want." And and they offered to pay for it, which I thought they they have a running budget. Um, but we offered to sponsor that. And I once I popped into the student government uh class, I asked how we could collaborate together. So, I think more collaborations are on the way where there are lots of good kid ideas and they just need grown-up support. I'm gonna speak on behalf of Laura for the high school. Um we are supporting students. So far uh this this year we have scheduled for our general membership meetings. We have speakers from each of these clubs, the air and space, speech and debate choir, global outreach, AVID, Operation
020Smile. And for them coming and speaking at our events, we uh give them money. So, we're supporting uh the local clubs on campus and we put money back into them. Um we also have our college prep with the mock SAT ACTs. We actually have another one coming up at the beginning of February. Women's safety class with ESBT was amazing. Um we all got to learn how to hit each other and and punch and defend ourselves, which was great. And then we have CPR classes. We have one that we're currently scheduling. So, huge thank you to the high school for supporting all this. they allow us to take over a gym or a cafeteria to do this. And the new driver's workshop is also in the works. So, huge shout out to ESPD and ES uh
021fire department for all their support. And you can see some pictures there of people getting physical. It's great. Um also at the high school, we um have two brand new water bottle filling stations. Yes. So, we can fill up those refillable water bottles. Good job, Heather and um Tracy. Not so much, Diana. Meredith, but that's okay. Um, we also, uh, have given over $4,000 in teacher supplies. So, we're very happy to be supporting our school. Um, we also are supporting our teach our parents with informational guest speakers like SoCal Rock, PJ Test Prep, um, Stephanie Burns who comes back. She used to be a counselor there. She comes back and talks about ESHS classes. Um, Francis food services, she's been fantastic. She's actually making the round to all the schools. Um, we also have uh
022ESPD coming and talking about prom safety, library services, basically anything that we can educate our parents on, we want to do. Um, membership, we're fabulously got 100% participation from the teachers and we have more students than than teachers or more students than parents. At council PTA happening at every unit, we got elections. Thank you, Dr. J. Yes. So hopefully all you parents out there, you saw the call, the need. We need people to come next year and serve on our boards. Please feel free to come to the nomination committee or reach out to your school. They are so excited. They would like love to get new blood in. So, please help us out. Honorary service awards are coming out. So, if you know of anybody who's doing a fantastic job, we definitely want to honor
023them. Scholarships are coming out. There you can see the stats for the members. We got the run for education coming up. Young entrepreneurs is coming. It's just so much going on. I can't even believe it. But that's not all because what's new this year? Oh my gosh. Yes, council PTA is on fire. We have this thing called the confidence code. So that is coming out on January 26. Again, I want to see all you families there. Please RSVP for this. This is going to teach your students how to be more resilient and give them confidence when they're in difficult situations. We're spo we're specifically targeting elementary and middle school, but high school is also welcome. Anybody is as is the real deal day. That is our AI. We're having an we have an AI chair
024now at the council and she is coming and she is talk and I know you guys got a huge AI presentation tonight. I'm so excited. Um so anyway, she's going to come and she's going to bring a panel of experts to talk to us about AI and education. We got hometown stars. It's a talent show. It's going to be fabulous. And while you're thinking, okay, yeah, it's probably going to be a high school because it's held at the high school. No, it's not. It's for everybody. Like if you're associated with education, you can be in it. Whether you're a parent, administrator, school board member, um teacher, uh student, we want um middle school, high school, elementary school, we want everybody there auditioning. It's going to be fabulous. Auditions are on the 11th and 12th of
025fe February. The Run for Education. We have a new sponsor. Huge thank you to Kuanas. Um they big five said, "Yeah, we're done." And and Kuanas has been so generous. They've agreed to three years. Yes. So huge thank you to them. Um and then I I always forget this slide. So lots of love from our PTS PTA team. We love you guys and thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you all for being here and for everything you do. It is over the top and amazingly appreciated. So thank you. All right. I uh Yes. Um, did they leave? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Oh, Cheryl. Uh, my two questions were when do we know what time the winter ball is? That's actually a Wendy question. >> Wendy, >> what time is the winter ball? >>
026Um, I have to Mr. >> Okay, >> no worries. I didn't know if I missed it. >> Tomorrow they are the kids will release their flyer. >> Okay, perfect. And then I'm just curious where the water filling stations went in at the high school. >> The water bottle filling stations went in. Are you ready? I'm ready. >> Are you ready? >> I'm very ready. >> At the old band room where orchestra is and we've been trying to get it installed for oh gosh, like three, four years. Yes, we got it. And then the other one is on the top floor of the K building, >> library building. Oh, okay. I was like, okay, thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you for the encore. We appreciate that. >> There are there are some students in in the
027audience who are they know 5:30 to 8 o'clock. >> Yes. >> Thank you students. All right. >> Okay. Thank you again PTA. Um, we are now excited to see a presentation from the Kuanas Club. Shall the Kuwanian introduce this? >> The Quanian can introduce this, but yes, let's welcome up Jeff and company in order to present us with a big check. Thank you very much everyone. Um last year uh Center Street School uh put in some playground equipment into the uh into the first and kindergarten area. Uh three pieces of equipment. Um I believe it was $45,000 worth of equipment. And then also Richmond Street School put in the same amount dollar amount worth of outdoor furniture uh in the new fifth grade um area. So they have garage doors that make a perfect indooroutdoor
028classroom uh environment which is wonderful for for where we are in Southern California. So Kuanis um basically partnered with the district and uh we wanted to team up with the schools to say hey we've got some money we would like to help the schools. Each school basically gave a wish list and we picked the two elementary schools projects and the school board uh came up with uh the difference. But we uh we gave uh a donation last year and then this is the final uh payment of the follow of the rest of the donation uh in the sum of $15,000. And so we'd like to get a picture with uh you guys if we could. >> Thank you. Thank you. I'm not >> one. See, I should move this out of the way. >> One,
029two, three. All right. Thank you so much, Kuanas, for all your support in so many ways. And we will uh we'll let you take that check home and you know, erase it for the next time because we're hoping there's a next time is what I'm saying. So, yeah. >> Well, thank you for being here. Have a good night. All right. Next on our agenda this evening, uh we have an AI presentation. Believe Dr. Yan could not be with us due to illness tonight, but we do have Dr. Yusoft here. Thank you for being here. Okay. Good evening. My name is Dr. Fong Yuzab. Happy New Year. Today I am presenting on AI at ESUSD from classroom to community. First of all, I want to thank the community by starting off with thank you so much
030board of education for believing in AI and just really supporting us. Like our students are in the room because of you. So, thank you so much. Thank you to Chevron. Thank you the Ed Foundation. It's PTA here. Um, thank you PTA. Um, gotta match that energy. Um, thank you teachers. Thank you families. Your partnership ensures that AI is not just a district initiative, but it's a community commitment. So our we are guided by our legacy of innovation and sustainability. We teach our students starting from preschool all the way to 12th grade about AI and digital citizenship. And we are supported by our educators, our families, and our community partners in this education. We support our teachers, we support our students, we support our families and our community and innovation is happening inside our classroom. For
031example, Mrs. Mohler uses Magic School AI as a tool to study. So her students can use Raina's chatbot to learn about biology concepts. For example, there was a student who was talking about like, ah, what's the difference? What are all the phases of mitosis? Well, she's able to pull up her Chromebook, open up Raina, and start having a conversation and asking about the different phases of mitosis. She could also ask, actually she did about the pneumonics like, "Hey, can you give me like a pneumonic that will fit like my vibe?" And it did it. So, Mrs. Mohler, shout out to Mrs. Mohler for always embracing AI. Our students are also using Google's Notebook LM as a way to study. So, they can drop in a study guide. They can drop in a chapter. And what
032Google notebook does, it creates a personalized podcast for the student based on that study guide or based on that chapter. Not only that, it can create videos, slide decks, and most importantly, my favorite is the flash card. I was mentioning like back in high school, I had to take like an index card and like write out all my flash cards, and by the end of the night, I'm like, I think I studied. I never used it. It just it becomes like junk in my backpack at the end when I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I should have used this." But now they have it at their hands, their fingertips to make the flash card like on the dot so that they can spend that time time learning versus just like writing out meanings and definition and
033calling that studying. This is meaningful studying. And Mr. Luna from the middle school, he uses Magic School AI to chat with historical figures. His students are learning about the constitutions from across the world. His students are chatting with the leaders not just in this timeline but in across the timeline. So based on their interaction, based on their research, these students get to synthesize what they've learned in a critical lens and they get to come up with their own constitution. Not only that, whenever I'm in the hallway at the middle school, because I was at the district office at the middle school, Luna would say, "Hey, Ysef, what are you doing here?" And he'll say, "Guess what? I'm using AI." And he goes, "Hey, I just used the debate partner in Magic School AI to help
034his students prepare for the model UN." And they did such an amazing job. So, he's so proud to share. And I love that. I love going through the hallways and teachers just say, "Come on, check this out." And I'm learning from them. So teachers are innovating. Amazing. We are providing mass support through a KIGO pilot program. More to come in the springtime when we have more information and data. Our clubs are growing. This is our first year with an AI club at the middle school. So our students are eager. They're ready to learn and they are ready to learn in a responsible way. and our high school. I mean, shout out high school and middle school, but our high schoolers are really setting the pave the the pavement for our students in the middle school
035to walk on and to learn from why are we here today? Really, we are here because of these students that you see right here. I'm so proud of our students. I'm going to take this moment to just like lift them lift them up. We had our second annual aim and symposium conference and it was studentled not like teacher le but student right over 110 community members learn from these students behind us. I had someone driving from Stockton to hear them out. Stockton. Yes. And cal um San Diego. I was like you drove from San Diego in this traffic. Amazing. Amazing. We have these students here just transforming what education should look like and how to use AI responsibly. So, if you missed the AIM symposium, well, what did they what did they talk about? Well,
036they talked about how to use AI in an ethical way. How to spot misinformation. We had a seventh grader use AI in the most creative way to be a comedy partner to improve her standup. Come on now. I had these high schoolers where when we were doing a rehearsal, they're like, "You're a seventh grader." I said, "Go ahead and get some autographs right now because she's gonna be famous." But the primary focus is on our student, right? Our students are setting the tone and they're doing such a great job. Um, just like Cheryl, if Cheryl's still here, but um, she's here. We're teaming up with Cheryl PTA, Dr. Naomi Gau. Real deal day is coming. Please check it out. Our student voices started locally here in Elsa Gundo, but they're taking the show on the
037road. We're we have selected students who will be presenting in Anaheim next to Mickey Mouse. Um they're going to share at Student and Community Voice AI Summit. This is so powerful. It's so cool to take our district and say, "Yo, look at us. We are doing what's right by our students." And we have students in the room right now that's pursuing the presidential AI challenge. What does that mean? It means how can you use AI as a tool to solve a real world problem. One of our student groups just submitted their work. I provided really good feedback. They will give me back their corrections today. Right. Um but they're using AI how to solve the air traffic control problem. We know that flying we want to be safe and our air traffic controllers also are
038very underst staffed. So these students are thinking, hey, let's use AI to solve this problem. And we have other students that's pursuing the day of AI, America's youth festival. And this is a festival. If they make it to the finals, they get to travel to MIT. I mean, going to Washington DC is also really good, too. I mean, everything's great. Um, but it's so powerful to sit in the room with these students. I guess we should get their autograph, too, right? But don't just take my word for it. Let's hear from them. Right. I'm going to bring Skyler and Maxwell up. These are two students that presented at the AIM symposium. They're going to share what they've learned from the AIM symposium, how they can use AI moving forward. And then the second question is
039since since you guys are all here with open ears, open heart and open mind, they're going to ask you and maybe give you advice actually and not just ask you. Maybe the question is how can you help us in an era of AI because AI is not going anywhere. So I want to really bring up these two student leaders and they're going to share with you their experience. I'm going to move to the side because it's kind of weird for me to be here. So Nashville and Tyler Hi, thank you so much Dr. Usuzaf and again thank you for this opportunity to speak here. So I'll just like read out the question for those who can't see it. Are a lot of people have a lot of questions on like how to participating in like
040what we do how does it affect us and like what are we learning? So obviously we're super grateful to have the opportunity to like educate our own community members about AI and you know but we're also learning with this too. So like what I'm learning is basically just how many different applications that AI has. So like like Dr. Uzaf was saying we had a seventh grader presenting on comedy and yes it was actually funny so it did a good job but we also have AI in space. One of our groups did how NASA is actually using AI to benefit them and how it can benefit the future of like the space ind industries and space exploration. And personally, I me and my partner worked on how AI is affecting social development. And I was just
041surprised like listening to everyone else's presentations like just how many ways AI can be used to used. I mean there are a lot of like stereotypes about AI being used for oh it's just for organizing data or you know combing through countless for years upon years of like data or investing or some just like really boring stuff that we don't want to do. But it can also be used for a lot of like helpful things. So like again I'm can use AI to help teach me math and I think that's pretty cool. Like we can use AI in space for such like a broad and complicated topic but we can also use it on our everyday basis. Like I can be like hm what spaces should I use when I'm cooking tonight. And I think
042that's pretty cool like how many different ways we can use it. And now I'm going to hand it off to Maxwell to give his thoughts. >> Uh thank you very much Skyler uh for letting me speak and thank you to the board and Dr. Uzov. I think the main thing that I took away from uh the AIM symposium is honestly the amount of ways that artificial intelligence the benefits of it can trickle down to us. I was particularly struck by two different presentations from two different groups. One talking about like the major scientific implications of it things like um cancer drugs and like new material development. And these can trickle down to us in the form of things like lighter cars, better drugs to treat newer and more complicated diseases. And then also the use
043of artificial intelligence to like detect fake AI imagery to kind of make the internet more um truthful and kind of make it more of you know truth space that it used to be. And so I think honestly the the trickle down effects will be amazing and incredible. And I think that's one of the main things I took out of the AIM symposium. And then also just like a piece of advice for my community members, we just wanted to know that, you know, AI is not going away. It's only going to get better and better, which is why we as a community want to learn how to use it ethically and safely. That's why in our own schools, like with Miss Mo and Mr. Luna, they're teaching their students how to use AI responsibly. As a
044student, we are not using AI to do our homework for us. We're using it to help us. Maybe I need another word for like an example. Like maybe I can't think of something or maybe I need help with a math concept. Guys, we're I promise you, we're not just cheating off of AI. We're actually trying to benefit from us. And so, it's better that we learn how to do it properly now. And it's good that we're teaching kids from such a young age how to use it correctly because yes AI like there are a lot of concerns about it replacing jobs but AI is a tool and we need to educate ourselves on how to use it. >> So again I'll hand optimax. >> Thank you very much Skyler board and Dr. Zan. Um I
045think honestly the advice that I would give um parents, community leaders, educators is to have like an honest sit down conversation with the youth, you know, like my age and a bit younger on like how to use artificial intelligence ethically and go to people who are AI ethicists and follow what they say because I think AI will I think as Skyler mentions will be here forever in one way or another. And I think it's important that we embrace it because I believe that it's a force multiplier that can make um that can get uh cut down on tedious tasks and increase the productivity of by someone maybe twofold, threefold, four-fold. And so I think um having an honest conversation and making sure that we're still maintaining our critical thinking and we're still in the driver's
046seat at a using AI for good is the is the best thing that parents and educators can do. >> Okay. Now, before me and Maxwell step away, I just wanted to give a big shout out and thank you to the person who has helped us pull all of this together. The person who has supported us and all of these students from day one throughout our whole journey. She's been so helpful in pushing us to pursue new interests in the field of AI and responding to our countless maybe even excessive emails no matter how late at night. Um, sacrificing her own time and probably some of her sanity to help us and to support us. And of course, that person is Dr. Usuzaf. me. >> Thank you so much. I do send a lot of emails.
047>> Um, me and Maxwell personally have been working with Dr. Usuza for three years now and she is not one to shy away from a challenge. She is always giving us new opportunities to develop our AI educational journey in and outside of school as well as our community. She's just been such an asset. So, I wanted to say thank you from from our own Elseno AI community. >> I'd like to also uh give a few words. I think Dr. Rusaf has honestly worked the hardest out of any students or anyone. She's been the one that planned this entire thing. She was sending emails, coordinated our um rehearsal, sat through with all of us like eight hours of presentations, gave us all detailed feedback no matter how good or bad the presentations were. and she is
048also like the reason that I fell in love with artificial intelligence and I'm like using it and doing all this sort of stuff and doing all these activities and so I' just love to give like a another uh round of applause to Dr. Usuza for all the work that she has done for us and uh the community. >> That was a surprise. I did not plan it. I promise I did not coordinate that. >> No, she did not. That was we >> you guys did it on your own. That's why they had their phone like they know like do not have a phone on the podium and I saw like what are you doing? I told you no phones and so I get what I This is the only time you can get phones because
049you give me flowers. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. This is incredible. We're here to thank you. What are you talking about? This is like a reverse uno of some sort. Like you guys, ladies, gentlemen, families, thank you so much. Your children are amazing and I'm so proud to work with them. I know I've had students since they were in kindergarten and this moment is so special because it's going to continue and I want you all to know like I'm so proud of all of you and you know that all my gazillion emails and my followup and my reminders and my this is repeat information um in different color um but I just want to thank you all like these students are amazing and we are here for them. I it shouldn't be about
050my show it's their show. So, thank you. Um, I'm going to end this presentation and if you have any comments, questions, concerns, I'm here, but you we have our experts in the audience, too. >> Well, we we do want to recognize the experts in the audience tonight. We actually have certificates that we want to present to each of them. I know maybe not all of them are here, but many of them are here, and I don't think we could be more excited about like this amazing direction that you've taken our district. All of you, this is incredible. So maybe Dr. Yuzaf, we can ask you to help us present these certificates to your amazing team and uh then we'll get you all up here for a lovely picture and uh continue to celebrate you as
051you move us forward. >> Thank you so much. >> Sound good? Okay, we've got Okay, the next item, the official next item is this. Well, there we go. Leads us right into that. So our next item six, whatever we get six 4G. Here we are for this very reason. >> Thank you so much. So, because this is so important, I know my students know like if you need help to assist you talking, note cards are great. Cell phones, not so much. But this is so important. So important that I'm going to read this off because it's like not only from my perspective, it's from all of our perspective. Okay. The board of education is proud to recognize the student presenters from the AI movement and education symposium held here in Elsaguna Unified School District. These
052students demonstrated leadership, creativity, and critical thinking by sharing how they understand and engage artificial intelligence through student led presentations and workshop. topics were topics such as ethical AI use, future ready skills, creativity, problem solving, and the real world impact of emerging technologies. What made the AIM symposium so meaningful was that it elevated the student voices. Our students were not just learning about AI, they were teaching about AI. They modeled the responsible use, thoughtful inquiry, and clear communication. And in this district, these are skills that we're building for our students, not just for college, not just for the careers, right? It's for our civic life. We would also like to extend our gratitude like from the bottom of my heart to our families because you probably have heard like oh my god Dr. Yuzaf just sent
053another email. Um but really thank you families for encouraging your students saying did you respond to the email? Um, thank you for encouraging their curiosity, their creativity, their confidence. And thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting them as they were preparing, as they were asking you, hey mom, hey dad, hey auntie, can you listen to my presentation for the hundth time because you being there for them is why they are who they are today. So, thank you so much families for being here. We would also like to recognize the educators and the staff who supported this work. And thank you. Thank you to our community partners, Chevron ED Foundation for always supporting our student learning. Thank you to our board of education. Like your support has been hands down the best thing for our
054AI initiative. To our AIM symposium presenters, thank you for representing ESUSD with curiosity, confidence, and leadership. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see how you will continue to shape the future. We have no doubt that it will be positive how you shape the future. I am so happy to work with you and continue to work with you. Please join the board in recognizing the following amazing student presenters. Frank or Meredith, does one of you want to go down and help with the certificates? There we go. Frank serves on our AI committee. So, we are happy to have him. >> He's a lovely MC. >> He was our MC. He was a fine MC. So, maybe he can uh hand the certificates as you read the name. Let her. >> All right. Maybe
055let her see the name on the thing. Otherwise, your list might not. And I have it locked. >> You got it. >> Yeah. >> And then students, once you receive them, if you can come up behind us here because we're not all going to fit down there. after you receive your certificate. Come up behind and we'll have photo time with you all. Thank you. >> We have 31 students, so I'm just going to read the first name if that's okay with all of you. Okay. Our youngest seventh grade student, the com comedian, get her autograph. >> Um, Emory, come on up. Good job, Charlotte. Shia. Oh, yeah. Rohan Aramelana. Anna, >> Kira. A. So, I want to give a shout out. These we have our seventh grader and our eighth grade leaders. These are our
056middle school students. Okay, we're moving on to high school. These are the students leading the charge. Vita Vibery. Oh. Sophia, Sophia's not here, but I can keep her. Thank you, Capich. appear afraid. Olivia Maxwell Aven. Noami Aditia. Bennett, Esther, Odin. Quinn. No. No. Quinn by Quinn. Luke Phillips not here. No. Good job. Ishan Brandon. >> Oh, soccer. Oh. Oh, sorry. Um, Vic, good job Skyler. Annie, >> goodness. >> There's one left. >> I wonder who that one's for. All right, bring your flowers and come up here with your amazing students. Dr. Yuzaf, we got to squish you all in a little more. >> Thank you. I'll get out of your way in just one second. >> Okay, got everybody ready? But hold them hold them low so you don't they don't block it. So they
057don't block your Hold them down here so they don't block your face. >> Hold yours down a little bit. Bring yours down. There we go. Okay. Ready? One, two, three. All right, parents. I will get out of your way now. >> One, two, All right. All right. Thank you all for joining us and waiting through our the rest of our meeting to get there. You're all welcome to go home and have dinner, do your homework, whatnot. You're obviously welcome to stay as well, but we totally understand if you have other things to do. Thank you for being with us. We appreciate your time tonight and with your students work. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Sorry we're taking up your space and time.
058>> All right. Thank you, Dr. Yuzaf. >> Thank you so much. Oh, I'm good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. We are going to move into far less exciting business now, fellow board members. Thank you. All right. I'm going to go into our consent agenda. Do we have any polls this evening from consent agenda items? Seeing hearing none, I will ask for a motion to approve. >> I move to approve consent agenda items 5A through 5J. >> Second. All right, we have a motion, a second. Is there any discussion on any of these items? Seeing in hearing none, uh board members in favor, please say I. >> I. >> And those opposed. >> Motion carries. 5-0. All right. Next, we have 6A, approvement of the assignment of board members to various ad
059hoc committees. Dr. Johnson, anything you'd like to add to that? >> Yes, I recommend it. Thank you. >> All right, then. Do I have a motion to approve this ad hoc list? >> Move approval for item 6A. >> Anyone want a second? >> Yes. 6A. >> Second. Okay. Any discussion on this lovely list? >> All right. Board members in favor, please say I. >> I. Those opposed? Hearing none. Motion approved. Uh 5. And I think I don't know if uh Tracy or Dr. Johnson, if your office wants to send that out to anyone or if you want us to reach out to people as needed, we're happy to manifest that either way. >> Distributed at 8 a.m. tomorrow via email. >> Well, there you go. Thank you so much. >> All right. >> Who's who?
060>> Uh thank you again board members for your extra time and duties as listed on that list. We appreciate that. All right. Item 7A. Uh Dr. Litz, would you like to introduce? >> Yes. This is a This is approval of a piggyback contract with Kirsy and Company for furniture for the district office modernization project and I recommend approval. Okay. >> I move approval for action item 7A. >> Second. >> Any discussion on this item? All the board members in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed? Motion carries. 5. Item B, Dr. Lyn. Yes, this is a deductive change order with PBK architects for um a project that is only going to go through design. We're going to halt their services at that point. Um this will be a project that's put into
061construction at a later date. I recommend approval. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on this item? Do we is there any specifics that we can give that is the um like what it's for the >> Oh, it's the high school storm water and sewer project. >> So exciting. >> I know. Yes. >> Told you this is the far less exciting part of our meeting, but >> important nonetheless. >> All right. All right. Any other discussion? Those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion carries. 50. Next item, item 7 C. Dr. Linds, >> a similarly exciting item. This is the Richmond storm water and sewer project. Also only going through design uh and DSA approval. So it is another deductive change order and I recommend approval. >> So moved. >>
062Second. Any discussion on this item? >> All right. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries 5. And once again, Dr. Lince, would you like to introduce item D? >> Yes. This is approval of addendum 29 to the master agreement with PBK architects for the Eagles Nest Arena High School District Office modernization project. This will update their design fees in accordance with current construction costs. I recommend approval. >> Second. >> Any discussion on this item? one hand and we give another. >> Yep. >> It is the thing. All right. Those in favor, please say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries. 5. Next item. Item E. >> This is um a contract change order 4 with 2H construction for the Eagles Nest Arena High School District Office
063modernization project. It is it it handles all hard costs associated with the attached changes. I recommend approval. >> I move to approve action item 7E. >> Second. Any discussion on this item. I will just give a little comment that I appreciate how much Dr. Lance and PRI and and the the construction management team and the facility advisory committee all have looked at these numbers looked at these changes and sometimes when we look at that number we go that's a lot but on a project of this scope and unknownness from the start >> these are part of what's going to happen and we are still in budget we are still staying in the parameters that we hope to stay in so just want to make that note all right any other discussion board members in favor
064please say I I those opposed. Motion carries 5. Item F. >> Yes. In order to collect developer fees, we are required to submit an annual and five-year report for how those fees are spent. This is the report for the 2425 fiscal year and I recommend approval. >> I move approval of action item 7F. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? Board members in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion carries. 5-0. And now item G. >> So she left, but uh Cheryl Cheryl Smith uh extraordinaire will be our Alsagundo Unified School District, a representative for the um city of Elsagundo Environmental Committee. She also serves on the district environmental committee. I recommend approval. >> So move. >> Second. because she doesn't have enough to do. >> She needed one more line on
065her on her signature, I think. >> But we do appreciate that she serves on district. >> Absolutely. Appreciate all >> and will now serve in this capacity if we approve her. >> So, >> and then I I also just want to take a moment to say that Cheryl Smith is such an asset to this community. She gives freely with of her heart and her time and she loves not only the community and the school but everyone schools but everyone she serves. She is currently the PTA council and she goes to every PTA meeting for the unit. So, I I really want to take a moment to just applaud her dedication and say that I'm proud to be in a community where she serves. >> Ditto. >> And not and not just in our community, she
066also served on the SoCal Rock um committee when we needed her for for something. She stepped up and did that for us as well. So, >> yeah, pretty cool. and the environmental space is definitely an area of growth for her and she's very excited about it and we're excited to have her join in this capacity. >> All right. >> And um say that when Cheryl does something, she doesn't do it 100%. >> She does it like a thousand%. and she so you know random things like I'll come home and there's a little gift on my doorstep >> and you know she doesn't have to do that we're all volunteers but she overvolunteers and uh she's a model for everybody >> y >> she totally does it from her heart just having to check things off
067her list >> absolutely >> I hope Cheryl's going to watch this in playback uh because there's a lot of love in this room right now that she needs to be appreciating and woo wooing >> she needs to watch it at 7:03 >> yes There you go. All right. Well, with all of that glowing love, uh, board members in favor, please say, "I." >> I. Those opposed, of course, there are none. The motion carries. 5. >> Thank you, Cheryl. Once again, finally, item H. Dr. Lince. >> Yes. This will update our student salary schedule to reflect the changes in minimum wage that went into effect on January 1st. I recommend approval. I move approval of action item 7H. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Board members in favor, please say I. I. >> I. >> Those opposed?
068Motion carries. 5 Z. Moving into the human resources realm. Item A. Uh, Miss V, would you like to announce this? >> Yes. This item brings forth the school calendars for the 26 27 2728 and 2829 school years. They were developed through a collaborative process and reviewed by the district department, site leadership and ESTA. I recommend approval. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on this item? Um so the this calendar comes out of a partnership between our our staff, our staff, our teachers, our um administration, our superintendent and um a lot of times I feel like calendars are created in a reaction to things, you know, oh look, we got this, oh look, we got this. This one I feel has been progressive in that it's setting a tone for the way the district's going
069to move forward with the calendar in the future. And there are some things that are kind of built into this which I feel that our community will now know where they stand throughout the course of their child's education in the district. So I think it's been a great move and uh congratulations to Dr. Johnson for um quarterbacking this whole thing and and Lisa for taking it home. >> Thank you. And you know working with our union as well. I appreciate the the process and their their collaboration with it as well. >> Thank you. >> And then I want to loop in the community because it really is a benefit. We have a calendar for three years. This affords our families within the community an opportunity to plan around their family needs. Whether it's their vacation,
070whether it's additional time to visit family that isn't close, or if it's just downtime, they have three years to pull from and make advanced plans, maybe save on flights. But whatever it is, it it shows the continued partnership between our school districts, our school district, and the community that we serve. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. And I'll add to that for the time frame in which it gets close to the end of that 3 years that we don't have a calendar up. I thank you for your patience in the community waiting for this moment to come. So uh I thank you all for for riding this with us and now you've got three years to look ahead and plan ahead. So assuming we approve. So board members in favor please say I. I. >> I. Those
071opposed. >> All right. The motion carries and the calendars are approved. Thank you. This next one we are going to give to Dr. Johnson to introduce action item 9A. >> This is an oldie but a goodie. Um, instructional continuity plan just ensures that in the event of a natural disaster or disruption to the state of things that the school has a plan of how we would handle that. I recommend approval. >> Move. >> Second. Any discussion on this item? >> I not so much on this just a general knowledge question. Is this something that came out of COVID or was it always We always have one. >> It came out of CO. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Is the plan uh up on our website? So, >> it's an attachment here. >> Yeah. >>
072And then we'll have a website. >> But I'm assuming it'll be so that way people can find it if they're >> Yes. Yeah. Um we'll follow I'll follow up just to ensure, but I I believe it's actually required to post it. >> Okay. Great. >> Yeah. Would be under the category of ED services, I assume. >> Yes. because that's Yes. Okay. >> All right. >> Any other discussion? For members in favor, please say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries. 5 Z. All right. Item 10A. Uh I believe Dr. Johnson, you'll be covering these as well. >> Uh this is just um renewal of contracts. So recommendation is approve our contract with Alpine Academy Residential Treatment Center. Thank you. >> Second. Any discussion? Board members in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed.
073Motion carries. 5-0. And item 10B. We'll just >> We wouldn't want to leave out our other friends in Utah. So, recommendation is to approve Heritage Residential Treatment Center. >> I move approval of action item 10B. >> Second. >> Any discussion on this one? >> Board members in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> I. Those motion carries 50. All right, thus ends the action items part of our agenda and we move into reports. First looking at theformational calendar. There we have it. Here we are 2026. I hope everybody's learned to write that down as the year now that people don't write checks and stuff as much. It's not as big of a deal, but it is a big deal to train the old brain to switch into the new year. So there's our calendar
074and you can see it on our website as well. Thank you for sharing that. And we'll move into board member reports now, starting with Mr. Glenn. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so I actually attended a lot of events and I was quickly trying to write something funny about each one this afternoon, but I didn't quite write. >> So, some will be funny and some won't. What are you telling us? Did you take AI comedy? >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. There you go. Well, I went to that, by the way. Oh, that might be in my report, but >> um >> I'm here for >> So, starting back on December 12th, uh the choir concert at the PAC was a beautiful concert with some very creative twists and closed with a booming rendition of Stand Together. which
075had Miss Beachley in tears. >> Always. Yeah. It was even more tears than when the Chiefs got >> Wow. >> That was just me. >> That wasn't even funny. That was just me. >> Maybe I should just stop there. >> It's It's your life, Frank. I don't know. I always tell I always tell every like each other. >> Do I need to gavvel this down? Guys, guys. >> Jeez. >> Ladies and gentlemen, back to the report. >> Maybe I'll just do the first few. >> Oh, sure. Don't Don't give it to anybody else. Whatever. >> Well, the the following day, I think it was um I was at Winter Wonderland helping out. I saw Dr. Johnson with his beautiful wife and his kids and maybe he'll tell us more about the kid point of view
076of that. Um and then on Sunday we had the um Main Street I mean the holiday parade on Main Street and we had two board members and a superintendent in the same car I believe >> which is always a good time. >> It's the party and a child >> party car. >> It was actually amazing because December was like the wetest December in history of California and the rain held off and the sun shone on Main Street. On the 16th, we had the band concert which um was also an amazing Excuse me. Why am I choking? Um I when I leave that concert every year, I think like everyone in Elsagundo should come to this. It's like free entertainment and it's amazing. Our kids are like the the whole feeling of it is just so
077Christmy and amazing. Didn't you enjoy it, Ta? >> Absolutely. >> Um, >> why are you wow >> on the the uh the 17th we had the AIM conference that we just heard a lot about and um I went to you know two of the breakouts and one of them I have to say I went to Emory Platin and that kid is amazing. She is a >> and I think she was mentioned that her uh speech was about comedy and AI and how how they work together. But she is such a confident kid. She had her whole PowerPoint and she held the room. And then not only that, she had to give the follow on which was more of a uh like I forget more um more of a heavier topic, but she was still able
078to do that. So she's she's an amazing kid. On the 18th, um we had the Center Street School Winter Sing. Big highlight of that was um the first concert of the Center Street band, >> fifth grade band. Yeah, >> fifth grade band. And um it was really well done. Um they all the each section of the the band introduced themselves and what their instruments were and it was uh it was really awesome. I I didn't stay for for your son's performance, I think. >> Yeah. >> But you very cute. >> And then uh on the same day we had the ugly sweater party at um Elsagundo Middle School and that was um congratulations Dr. Johnson for organizing an amazing event and getting all that sponsorship and what a joy it was for for us to
079be able to be a part of that. Um on Christmas Eve, Meredith and I um were at the Joselyn Center um where uh Rotary has taken over this event that's been running in the city for quite a while where uh we provide a Christmas lunchon for people in the community who may not be able to enjoy that by themselves. So they were they were able to come they were uh brought there uh by Rotarians in some cases and in some cases Rotarians delivered meals to people who couldn't even come and uh big props to Julie Stleneck of Rotary uh for spearheading that event. And uh finally I was at an event a facil facilities advisory committee meeting last week and that was a lot of fun. And that's the end of my report. >> And
080that's the end. Okay. Wow. All right. Well, I'm going to be much kinder than Frank was. No, that's fine. Um, just a few highlights of the events since last we met, which was a month ago, which is weird because I'm used to doing this every two weeks. Um, starting with the AI symposium. If you did not get a chance to see that, it was absolutely amazing. and incredible to see what these these kids are doing. It's amazing. Um, I attended many many many music programs, uh, holiday programs. Um, one of my favorite parts of the job, yes, I always cry at the at the high school choir, and I always do the gingerbread house at the elementary because I love the gingerbread house. Um, great time at the parade. Um, Jason loves to throw candy
081and I think and I and I think Matilda had a good time. So, that was that was great. Um, I've done a couple walkthroughs. We did one at uh the middle school and another at Center Street and I'm sure Richmond and High School are on the on the books. Um, those are just really fun to see what's going on in the classrooms. It's just it's a fun way. Um, you know, I always kind of knew what was going on at the middle school, but it's fun when you walk into a elementary classroom and get to see the kids. It's just such a good time. Uh, the community lunch at Christmas with my Rotary crew. I think we fed almost 90 people which included I think we delivered 20 meals. So, it was an incredible um
082day. and Julie Stoneac with her trivia was absolutely off the chart. Um, so as far as my kind of more official duties, because we do have those as well, um, I was elected to serve as the SoCal Rock president for another year. Um, yeah. Well, I I don't know if that's because they love me or because nobody else wanted it. Not sure how that works, but um but I am in fact I have a gavvel. Thank you. Um you know how I love a gavvel. Um and so uh we also moved our meetings to the second Thursday of every month in case anybody is just dying to go to a SoCal Rock um SoCal Rock uh board meeting. I I will say I do appreciate the fact that Mike Bryine and I get to ride
083together, which makes which makes driving down there a little a little better. Um I attended my first ESHS PTSA uh meeting as a board rep. Um we started by celebrating the reflection winners and it was pretty exciting. We had 78 high school students who participated in the program this year. Um, so thank you to Mrs. Jen who helps to run that. Um, it was really nice to see all of those kids. Um, and all their hard work. Uh, Dr. Rodriguez from SoCal Rock was actually the speaker that night. So, that was nice for me to see him. and he shared um some of the wonderful new classes that are coming this semester and um shared a little bit more about some things that are on the the horizon um at SoCal Rock. Um and then
084they talked about the mock SAT ACT which will be held February 1st. Um, I would also like to thank Jason for the Santa for the staff. Um, it was really fun to be able to play Santa for for the staff. It was We thank all the vendors, all the all the amazing people who donated so that we were able to share. I don't even remember, maybe Jason can give us a number, but the amount of prizes that were awarded um to our to our staff was incredible. um because we certainly appreciate them. And that concludes my report. >> Okay, my is be very short and sweet because I went to a lot of things with everybody pre-h holidays, but I don't remember every single one of them. So, um, this year, uh, I Eagles Nest
085had their first PTO meeting last week and their new enrollment opens for new students and TLC March 16th. Um, current Eagles Nest students, reenrolling, the date is March 2nd and weight listed students is March 9th. Um they are doing their winter wonderland that if you had gone to Eagle's Nest with your kids in the past, it usually was December, but you know, everything happened so quickly. Um so they have it on February 7th. Um they are still finalizing the location. Um and they're also looking for raffle donations. So if anybody has any raffle donations that they would like to get to them, feel free to email me and I can get you to the right person. um anything is great to be raffled off and all the money goes back to the kids. And then
086I did go to the center street walkthrough and two little funny things that happened there was we were walking through and one class in particular um uh they have their small groups with their teacher and the rest of the students were working on things and I walk by and one of them both of these stories involve me being a hair stylist and so we're walking through we're trying to be all quiet you know we're just in there and all of a sudden in the middle of like reading the one student, my client turns and goes, "This is my hair stylist. This is this is my hair stylist." And I was like, "Yes, I am your hair stylist, but what are we reading right now?" Like, and then another student um same small kind of groups
087in another class turns to me and goes, "My mom is going to call you because I think I'm coming in tomorrow for a haircut." And I was like, "Okay, well, we're going to focus on what we're doing." Um, but it's really cool to walk through there and seeing little kids that are my clients and just being a part of everything and seeing what they're doing is just a really great opportunity. And that's all that concludes me. All right, happy new year. And I'll jump right into January because we had a fabulous job of everything covered in December. I will say this, the 15th is the last day to wish people happy new year. Although I just made that up. I will go home. Hear me out. I will go home and put it in Wikipedia
088so that if you look it up, it will validate what I just told you. With that being said, on January 12th, the RSSPTA held its meeting, first of the new year. A great start to the new year. Last night's RSS PTA meeting included highlighting the 19 PTA reflection entries, one of which moved to the next level. It also included selecting the Nom, which is short for the nominating committee. They selected five members and two alternates that night. Right away, people raised their hands. So, off to a strong start. and those individuals will all help to identify and secure the 27 RSS PTA officers. The next PTA meeting is on February 2nd. Now, I missed the December meeting due to work obligations, but I want to take a moment to just say something to our immediate
089past president, Frank. Frank, you are a true leader, one who leads in the absence of the word I, making it abundantly clear that your leadership word is we. I have studied, admired, and grown from your ability to unite, share, and care for everyone around you. Throughout your term as president, I noticed a consistent theme. Regardless of the event, when handed a mic, you focused on sharing words that highlighted our individual personalities while continuously building upon our collective strength as a board team. I will close with this. I once read a phrase that said, sit with people who protect your name in your absence. And I can say without a shadow of a doubt that on this dis and off of it you have led in a way that consistently lent protection, unity and grace. Thank
090you. >> Apparently until he brings up the chiefs I guess though I was like whoa yeah you just disappointed Daima. >> All right. Uh I will I will wrap things up quickly. Um I want to just add to the holiday parade uh reflection by saying thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for bringing us together for that every year. That's quite a feat and a lot of coordination and volunteers that goes into that. So thank you for for that afternoon out. And also thank you mother nature for waiting to do the downpour till after we got through all the fun holiday things this year. We appreciate that. Although we do like rain. Um, I want to add to we talked about the ESMS tour already, the environmental committee meeting that we had for the district.
091Um, it was a great time to to reflect on where our staff is at their their comfort level teaching um, adapting science lessons to include sustainability and things like that. Um, they were talked with about how we support them through PD or instructional strategies and also how PTA can support this environmental uh, effort. uh field trips, other activities, things like that. So, uh we really cool though was to have some of the high school students there and talk about one of their projects, the capstone project that supports this as well. So, it's great to see all levels of our district coming together working on this now part of our goals uh direction. So, thank you Dr. Lince for leading that and for everybody who participated in that. Um we talked about the AIM conference a
092lot. So again, I I really just want to say I'm amazed at how much that has grown from year 1 to year two and the gender balance in it as well is a lovely uh shift. So I appreciate everybody who's who's encouraging that and supporting that and most especially for the students stepping up to do it. It's incredible. Um I don't need to mention facility advisory stuff more than what's already been said, but thank you to everyone who serves on that committee, including Dr. Watkins sitting in the back of the room tonight. Um, other things I should mention, our next LA County Trustes Association meeting is hybrid style, but it's hosted in West Coina on Monday, February 23rd. West Coina has been known to throw a nice dinner party as part of their meeting. So,
093if you're at all interested in joining that, watch for your RSVP opportunity. And um, that's all I've got for tonight. Thank you everyone for great start of the new year and thank you for listening and hanging in there. To you, Dr. Johnson. Thank you, President Miller Zaricki. Uh on the PTA side, I want to give a plug for the confidence code on January 26 at 5:30. They've already crashed over 200 RSVPs again. Uh because it was canceled the first time the presenter got sick. Uh it's going to be a great night. Uh I'm bringing my own kid. Um so excited about that. Uh we will have child care for younger age children. Um but it's a family education night. uh and look to see if one there on the ed side. Uh just a shout
094out to Winter Wonderland Success. Uh uh it was a great event and I I brought both my uh kids and my wife to it as so mentioned. Um and uh I just want to give a shout out to all just all the volunteers that make it happen because there's a lot of very very happy families getting to do something special with their kids. Um but there Dr. Watkins was there running the trains. Um which were on time by the way. uh and uh Barbara Barbara Bry and her Mary volunteers that follow her uh just all these people like you know they make it happen. Um and it allows for us parents to be able to spend time with our kids. You mean like and that's just that's a very special thing and get to do
095it locally here in Elsagno is just is is quite a thing. So um and they and they built this event from scratch and then I just want to give a shout out to Chevron because we do it on their property. Chevron foots the bill for a lot of it. Um, and then they also have their employees there. So, it's just it's it's just great both ways. Um, but I I I just I I cannot say enough positive things about the Winter Wonderland and encourage anyone that, you know, to go as well. Also, too, uh, I want to give a shout out to the payroll staff. um uh hard times over at a payroll uh office and um while I I definitely appreciate everyone working together and our employees that have been so everlasting patient with
096us uh but that the payroll people have been working uh triple time to say the least and and not getting paid triple time. Um so I want to give a shout out to Yolanda Stephanie Allen and then Marne who's pulling double time because she's the M executive director but has come in order to support us with payroll. Um, but these people are working their their their tails off in order to do right by our employees. Um, and it's been tough, but they've been really really charging it. So, very much appreciate them. They're all packed in and sardined into that bungle over there in the middle school. So, it's been fun. It's like camping out. Um, and then on the staff side, I want to give a shout out to the leadership team, in particular, the
097cabinet team, uh, and Tracy, uh, for the holiday party. We give out $20,000 worth of donated gifts that were raised by our vendors. Um, and so that's a lot of sort of like, you know, hitting the hitting the pavement and, you know, harassing our vendors. Uh, and those gifts go out to our staff. I, uh, just there's a lot of logistical work that goes into that. Um, including just like putting the gifts out and covering the tables and such with the what did we give it? Was it poinsettas that we put on them? Yeah, there we go. So, I uh, just really really appreciate that extra effort. you mean like and you know like we it it is special and we're happy to do it for our staff because we do believe that our staff
098gives back so much more. So, uh thank you for that. And then on the student side, our uh I I had the absolute pleasure of watching uh um the first dance performance um on Thursday that Miss Mason was so nervous about um she's like the board's not going to be there, right? Because it's the first time we've done it. Yeah. And and I mean if anyone that knows Tiffany knows that's just sort of how she is. Uh I I you know with respect to all performances I I would you know I've seen a lot of student performances. I would put in the top five performances I've ever seen. Um, and just to give you a little example that before each dance performance, they would play a little clip that was shot in a documentarian style
099and it's of the students in the dance class who choreographed the dance you're about to see talking about the meaning behind the dance that they did and whether about their personal life or about you mean like something special with another person. So as you then watch them perform the dance, not only can you see the dancers that are the lead choreographers, but you also you mean like better understand like the intent behind the dance. And then just on a side note, bear in mind that all the dances were choreographed by students. Um so uh the the most hilarious part about it is that Steve and I were sitting by each other and so and we're sitting just the two of us and so we're both getting choked up as we're watching it which is just
100like kind of like a funny sight. me and Steve, you mean about on the verge of crying watching, you know, girls, you know, dance perform. Um, so it was just it was just such an incredible um evening and I cannot wait to I mean they're going to do another performance in the spring, but for the board and for more people to see it um cuz it was like sort of a pilot, but it was just it it truly was an incredible night. Um so yeah, uh counselors and teachers danced from the high school as well too as part of the performance. And then uh many of the students that you saw here today also performed because they recruited students from outside dance to join the dance as well too. It was it was just unbelievable.
101Um so sorry to go on but I mean it really was unbelievable. Um and then uh also on the student side uh he was actually here tonight but Avan Prasad uh presented at an international conference um for AI. Uh his presentation was about AI and educational equity. um and it was actually pretty closer to national university and so his um mom shared with me some videos they took uh of the uh thing but he his speech was so well done and his performance was so well done but this is just like one of many examples where you know like that's not required like you know Avan is doing this on his own accord putting himself out there but also putting you know you know the the talent coming out of Elsagundo out there into the
102world um which is why we do this right you mean like you know to have our students go off and be leaders beyond Elsagundo so just super kudos to him and you know we've been highlighting some students and their leadership in the world. Um and I just thought that was a really special share. Uh and then uh on the event side uh um this is for uh PTA presidents and for um our principles but we are all together and uh kind of mentioned it like we are all together next week attending the PTA um leadership conference. Um so that'll be on Thursday January 22nd and a full attendance. So, every PTA president and every principal, we're all going together. Me and Cheryl locked arms. Uh, and we're just really excited and we just that's how
103we feel about our partnership at PTA that, you know, if we're if we're if they're going to a conference, then we're going to the conference. Um, so I think it's in Long Beach. Uh, and looking forward to that opportunity of just all of us being together. And that's kind of like that step in that direction because we we're now holding two meetings a year where it's the principles and the presidents. Um, and just really excited about like that partnership that's always been and we're just, you know, continuing to further it. Uh and then on the board side, I would like to thank TeamZ, President Teamz, um our new president. You are my seventh president. Um and uh each was very very different. Um all great, some better than others. Um you know, and and and
104so I just uh I just want to say thank you. >> Yeah. No, no rankings now. No rankings now. You mean like you know, taking high is better though. So, uh I uh I just I I each president has has been very different in my career and I have I sincerely enjoyed them all and I just I I really appreciate your veteran leadership. Um I've already learned quite a bit uh just in working with you and I just I I just I've always appreciated your approach and your counsel. So looking forward to another great year. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, that brings us to the end of our meeting. I did want to mention I Miss Elder, you were at our facilities advisory committee meeting, too. Thank you for being there. I just
105dialed in on on Dr. Watkins and his bright blue shirt and so thank you for your service in many ways to our district, that one included. Um, with that, we do not need to recess to close session. So, I can adjourn happily at 7:35 p.m. Thank you.