001Um, it is my great pleasure to bring the Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Elsagundo Unified School District Regular Board of Education meeting to order at 6:00 pm. At this time, I invite our assistant superintendent for education services, Olivia Young, to lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance. I aliance of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Where did that go? Just >> a piece of paper. Okay. In closed session, the board approved the following confidential student matter. Student matter number one for a student ending in 535. I don't see any uh public communications. Did anyone uh need to fill out a form? Nope. Okay. Very good. We're moving on to special presentations starting with item A, student representative report. Mattie Pala. >>
002Good evening everyone. Oh, there we go. Good evening everyone. Um, lovely to see so many people in the audience. Uh, shout out Lance. Um, but I know that we were all up late watching our Dodgers last night, but here are some exciting news from the Eagles. Um, last week we had a lovely Red Ribbons United Against Hate Week. We had our kickball tournament which concluded today. Um, the champions were the fast and the furiest. They challenged our teachers today and I kid you not, the score really was 6-7. And thanks guys. And and our teachers of course took took home the win. I see uh Miss Stagley here. And I also had the privilege of speaking amongst my fellow students at the United Against Hate rally last Wednesday. and I was beyond proud of those
003who spoke and represented us so well. We also had college and career day last Thursday and I got to speak with an active Secret Service agent. So, that was pretty awesome. And then this Thursday, we'll be cheering on our Eagles at the football game, Star, Stripes, and Stranger Nights. So, it's USA themed. And this could be our last game, but we hope not. And then next week, we have our Kelp Catalina trip with Miss Masonette and Patrice through AP Bio. Woohoo. Um, I'm very excited. And then we also have the play 12 Angry Jurors, which begins showing next week. So, the drama department is obviously very excited. And then some important sports updates. Girls volleyball, boys water polo, and football all made it to CIF. And that is all for my report. >> Thank you,
004Maddie. And now a big round of applause for our employee associations because I see Andrew Kelly here. >> Might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me, by the way. Um, if you all are dragging like I am, kind of like what Maddie alluded to, the late night game and then having to play in a or not dodgeball, sorry, kickball game, let me tell you. Yeah, whatever. Nonetheless, it had ball at the end, so we're good. All right. If you had to endure endure those, then I know you're kind of tired and on the same wavelength I am, as you could tell that I can't even put together a thought right now. But with that being said, uh to all seriousness here, and typically you see me with a laugh and a joke, and
005that's typically how it goes. But what we've got going here is I'm sure you're aware that we're about to enter into a new collective bargaining cycle. And it's imperative for the sake of our students and I emphasis on students that we continue to ensure that we have the best educators the South Bay has to offer. To do that, teacher retention is key. In in order to attract and keep teach great teachers, we must remain competitive with other local South Bay schools in regards to both salary and benefits. When teachers feel supported, valued, students thrive. And we are all here for what in the end all be all the students such as there's so many beautiful faces behind me representing elementary schools such as Richmond as well as I think imagine these are all high school
006girls because they're under 16 girls. So would that be awkward if they're at the middle school? So yes, high school girls. So with that being said, as the emphasis, as we've always said, is on students and maintaining that we have the best educators that we could possibly put in front of them to ensure that they thrive at that next level, whatever that next level may be for them after their academic careers at ESUSD. So thank you. >> Thank you, Andrew. Nobody here. And now we're moving on to Richmond Street School student recognition. Miss Alashian Perfect. Perfect. Okay. Good evening, board president Glenn, board members, superintendent Dr. Johnson, and members of cabinet. I'm Carrie Oashian, proud principal of Richmond Street School. Grateful for this opportunity to recognize our students. Every six weeks, Richmond Street School honors
007one student from each class with a graduate profile award, recognizing one pillar of our graduate profile. Last week, we celebrated students who exemplify being responsible, self-directed, and resilient individuals. those who make positive choices, work well independently, take responsibility for classroom and school jobs, persevere through challenging tasks, and grow from losses and failures. These students were recognized during our weekly Flutter forum where they received a certificate with their teacher with their teacher highlighting their accomplishments, a button for their backpack. You can see them wearing it, and a token for our book vending machine. Today, we are proud to introduce one student from each grade level, TK, all the way to fifth grade, who earned this reward. In TK, we have Savvy Hunt, who doesn't give up when something is tricky. She keeps trying with a big
008smile and a positive attitude. When things don't go the way she hopes, Savvy learns from it. Oh, thank you. I'll hold them. Okay. Uh, Max Sanchez is from kindergarten and he works hard on his own and never gives up even when something is tricky. When he makes a mistake, he says, "That means my brain is growing." In first grade, we have Audrey, a hard-working student who always puts her best effort into everything she does. She sets a wonderful example for her classmates with her positive attitude and kind behavior. In second grade, we have Maloo. What truly stands out is her capacity to grow from losses and failures, using them as opportunities for learning. This attitude not only benefits her but also inspires her peers. In third grade, we have Manoa, who shows a strong commitment
009to learning by challenging himself, asking questions, and trying his best in all activities. In fourth grade, we have Peter, who helps others, and if needed, he quietly asks a teammate for help before asking the teacher. When he's not sure of an answer, he bravely tries and shows perseverance. And finally, we have our fifth grader, Ashani. She always comes ready to learn, consistently participating. Ashani has grown so much this year already and has become a more independent learner. You can see how the quality qualities of responsibility, self-direction, and resilience grow and deepen as the students grow and develop. We are so proud of these students and the growth they represent on their graduate profile journey. Thank you. Hi Sav. Max. Congratulations. Good job. >> Okay, we're gonna take a quick Oh yeah. Okay, look right here
010for a minute, please. One, two, three. You guys can go if you want now. Okay. >> Good job, friends. All right. Now we're going to have a recognition of the AYSO girls six U16 region 92 team. Uh Dr. Johnson. >> Uh yes. So I'm a a big proponent of AYSO. I played AYSO when I was a kid. Um uh I am currently a um a resistant assistant coach at AYSO and and I just really really appreciate the sport. I played uh U16 uh when I was a a we lad once upon a time and it's really difficult to stick with it for that long. Um and and uh more importantly it's really difficult for the coach dads to stick with it as well too. So I just um this team has achieved uh a championship
011which I'll let the coaches speak a little bit more about what that means. uh that uh really deserves to be recognized because anyone that plays AYSO knows how hard it is to go as far and win like they did. Um and these teams come together. It's a it's a group of kids you mean like that um you know have played together for years usually against each other. Um and I was just so proud uh to hear that our Elsa Gundo girls um were so successful. So, I want to give the coaches a chance just to kind of talk about their achievements and and then also I I really all jokes aside just want to thank uh Brendan and the coaches. Uh just it's it shows just such dedication being volunteers and doing this year in
012and year out and I just cannot tell you how much parent to parent. I appreciate that. So, thank you. >> Hello. Uh my name is Lance Buster. one of the assistant coaches also with Brendan Gormley. That's also Jason McDow over there. He wasn't officially a [clears throat] coach on there. But one of the things you know about these girls, all these girls sitting in front of you are freshman and sophomores at Elsa Gundo High School. They all play. They are all part of the soccer program at the high school as well, which Jason and I are both uh JV coaches at the high school as well. So the integration of AYSO with this soccer book and Maddie also I don't want to leave Maddie out giving you the call out back. Thank you. Um but
013as you said Jason I think the the story of these girls first came together and the genesis of this team started right before the pandemic right and oftentimes the all-star teams come together you sprinkle a few kids together try to make them into a team and fight our nemesis who is that >> Manhattan Beach. Yeah. Um, and trying to build teams that could compete, right? We're a small region. We're a small town. They're a big region. They have Hermosa, too. So, being able to build teams that can represent Elsagundo well and compete is is really, really challenging. And, um, as good as they are as soccer players, the other thing I love about them is their character as well. So, they are assets to Elsa Gundo and and to um and to the school district
014as well. Um I'll tell you briefly if you want to hear the story of the national title. >> Yeah. So um the national games is something that our region has never participated in. We just never never done that. So this was our first foray into the national games for AYSO. Um and it was seven games over the course of of a week in Irvine. Uh and it was seven and0. uh 27 goals scored by us, two allowed by us only in the final game, right? So, it was a very very dominant performance. You can see there were a lot of teams showing up with great hopes to have them very quickly dashed by um the this team. Um I think Brendan put some put some numbers for me. 4,800 players, 348 teams from across the
015country, more than a thousand matches. Um, in the final game, so we had not given up a girls had not given up a goal in the final game actually went down uh 1 nil. So it was very like wait a minute in the final game 1 nil and I think we immediately scored. How fast was it that we scored after that? I think I think they got maybe 20 seconds of enjoying that before we scored and and and evened it up. Ended up winning that game 52. Um but it was very very again speaks to the resilience. Um this team over the years that they've played together getting behind is not even something that that that really uh challenges them. They can respond to that very very quickly. Um, one player, uh, there's so many
016play players to call out. Certainly one girl who, uh, really distinguishers. So, other than, let's say, Brooke not allowing any of the goals as our goalkeeper, right? I'm also going to point out Sia, who was, I think, probably the leading scorer in the entire tournament with 12 goals on on her own. Um, I'll say the defense on this team, which Liv and Chloe and Ashlin, right? I'll anchor that. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Um, and the midfield, I mean, it just it's all levels of this team. It's really, really fun. And I love coaching. You can tell I have the enthusiasm. I love coaching it because this team is so great. So, um, who did I not introduce? Nora Gormley there. That's Ashlin Ward, Hannah Bustramm, Maddie McDow, Sia Elliot. This is um Brooke Lipshits. This is M.
017It's It's hard now. It's like naming all your kids. McKenna Burton, Khloe Fitzgerald, that's Audrey Winkl. That's Nikki Bernauour. And then we have uh Kira Bernauour. And we have Olivia Torres. And we have Lily D. And we have Sam Brady. So, thank you very much for the uh opportunity to celebrate these girls. We love doing it at every opportunity we can. >> That was I was nervous like that I was going to blame, [laughter] >> right? I I went hard. >> Sam Ashlin, >> Audrey, >> Brook, Chloe. Nora, >> thank you. >> McKinnon Riley. All right, coaches. All right, look here, please. All ready. One, two, three. >> I'm good. Right on. >> Oh my god. Sorry, I got All right. Uh, continuing with special presentations, um, we have >> the wonderful Cheryl Smith. >>
018All right. Come on up front. >> We are your biggest cheerleaders. Go PTA. My name is Cheryl. Oh, there we go. Oh, I got the power. My name is Cheryl. I'm your PTA president for council. And we have PTA president Laura radio the Elsagundo high school president Wendy Turk Elsagundo middle school president and unfortunately our center street uh president couldn't be here tonight so oh yes I'm in charge okay so with center street um I am going to present really quickly for them uh they are had the best jogathon ever. NO, REALLY. WOO! [screaming] THEY HAD A recordbreaking over $121,000 raised. It was the largest ever that they've raised. Yay. Can you see the pom poms? Like, really? Oh, wait. Jason, dude, you're a little bright. I don't know how that didn't, you know, hit
019me before. Reflections contest. It it ended uh just last week and they had 77 students enter. Yes. Another great thing that's happening at Center Street, they hit 97% participation of their membership with 587 members and now they're looking to break last year's number. Yes. Go. And they I don't know why there's only one thing on here, but they have been hosting family nights. And I know that they had an art night, right? See, that should be up there. But they're really talking about their sound bath. So I suppose that's really cool. Like you go and relax and it's not unheard of. Beautiful sleep during the sound bath. So yay. That's on November 14th and it's just for adults only, not children. So uh next up we have Miss Mariah. That's me. That's me. That's me.
020All righty. Um thank you for letting us come and toot our own horn and share all these things we've been doing at the school. We had a bunch of new board members start this year, so it's been fun kind of getting them all on board to get in the groove. We hosted the back to school expo the day before school started, two days before school started to welcome all the new families, get everybody connected, find out who your classmates are. Um, we had a first day of school parent coffee. The treat trolley has been making its way around. It's our favorite PTA activity. Um, our teachers love it. We just get to push her on a big trolley full of snacks. Um, it's amazing what an ice cold water and a bag of chips will
021do. Uh, you can see the photo. We actually celebrated a makeover in our cafeteria over the summer. So, one of our parents, Tiffany Bournestein, is amazing and creative and painted this beautiful geometric mural all in the front of the auditorium and down the side. And she's not done yet with other projects. Um, we have had a few membership meetings already. We celebrated some pop-ups at lunchtime by having the kids celebrate international dot day leaving their mark on the world and we had a Todd Parr day of be who you are where we celebrated with chalk and a dance party. We were around at back to school night to answer everybody's questions. Reflections is wrapping. We had an extension so we can get to the center street numbers of participation. So we've extended until tonight. Um,
022our red ribbon week is happening right now and we just launched our big fundraiser, fall letter, which is happening November 7th. >> Hi. I like that Diana needs like things so we know so we know who she is, [laughter] >> right? Lots of things. Um, we at the middle school, we welcomed the sixth graders during orientation. So, we brought snacks and we handed out their schedules, tried to get them accustomed to the middle school and switching classes um for six periods. We have had membership drives, so we've been trying to get parents first, but we have a student appreciation day tomorrow. So, the students students who are members will get donuts. Um we currently have a little over 350 members, so we'll try to boost that with some students. Um back to school night, we
023had a table where we had information about the PTA and uh Blue Butterfly donated two big cars of coffee so parents could keep energized as they had to go from class to class. It is utter chaos. They don't know where to go. I don't know where to send them. Um what else did we do? We launched our big fundraiser of the year. It's Step It Up. Our favorite thing about Step It Up is that students can participate and win prizes without necessarily having to raise money, even though we want to raise money. And we also have our Day of Awesomeness. Um that will be November 19th. So, any student who raises $50 will qualify for the day of awesomeness, which is jumpers, there's Kona, um shaved ice, and the kids just get to let loose
024for an hour per per um per grade level. Um, and then a big thing that I've been trying to push this year is to have more grade level mixers so parents and students within a grade level can get to know each other, especially as we have two elementary schools merging as well as students coming from other areas. We want the parents to get to know each other as well as the students to hang out outside of the school and the classroom. And because they're already getting together, I thought, why not make them fundraisers? So, we had seventh grade do a Top Golf fundraiser where we raised, I believe, $1,300. Um, and then bingo will be November 5th. That will be the sixth grade class. Um, over at the Oldtown Patio. Um, and then last thing
025for Step It Up, we're around $75,000 right now and that ends next week. So, we're making a big push. Um, for the high school, we had parent engagement um, meetings or presentations. Um, Paul Jury from PJ Test Prep came out and did an super cool presentation about um, SATs and ACTs. um our teacher support. We had back to school breakfast for the teachers. Um and then we had over three we spent over 3,000 on teacher classroom supplies. Our focus on student involvement, we have two students on the executive board and 13 student chairs on our on our PTSA board. We have 27 parent members, nearly 100% of teachers, and 229 student members. our PTSA. Um we participated in club rush. Um all the clubs going out into the quad and students were able to go
026around from table to table and join different clubs. Um we had tables at college fair, hometown or the home football games Thursday night also. And uh Tuesdays at lunches in the quad there's a PTSA table. And then we had student engagement meetings. Um that was super cool. bunch of students, more students than ever came and they were able to give us ideas and suggestions on what we can do to fix things, make things better, to add things, to delete things. Just it was it was fun. Um the student club speakers, we have different clubs that come to every PTSA meeting um or general general membership meetings and they will present about their club and then we give them a donation. And we've supported the homecoming float building and dance and the college prep SAT ACT
027tests. And we just had a women's defense class with the Elsagundo PD and our CPA um CPR training. So, we're going to wrap this up with council PTA. Um as you all know, we were at the Kuanas Fair on Maine. We had a great time. There was so many clubs there. It was awesome. We just loved it. So, thank you to Kuanas out there in in the video world. Um, we really appreciate being included in that and having so much representation. New this year, we have the discount card. [screaming] Right on. This discount card goes to only members. So, everybody should join if you're not. It's only $15. And we actually have a a member a a membership representative, her partner in in crime, Rocky. She's um going to every single place at least once.
028It's like her thing. She wants to go everywhere on this thing and save tons of money. We're talking like Blue Butterfly, Bread Bar, Cafe Pinguini, Color Me Mine, Creamy Boys, Standard Station, Rocks and Bruce. I mean, there's like 15 of them on here. It's awesome. And we had our whole team get together, all the memberships, uh, chairs from all the units got together and put it together. Student resiliency. Wow. If you haven't heard about the confidence code, there's a bunch of flyers on the back. No, really, there is. Be there Monday night at six o'clock. We want to see everybody there. It's going to be amazing. They're talking about how we can have techniques in order to face challenges. And it's open to everybody in our district. Every parent, every student can be there. If
029you have little littles, we're even offering free babysitting because of the awesome Jason Johnson and the district. Uh you guys are all providing that. So, thank you very much. Yes, he's going to be in that outfit [laughter] scaring the children. Um, >> oh uh the real deal days. Uh we are we've taken on an AI chair this year and she is going to be talking about misinformation. So far she's already engaged the high school students and gotten amazing feedback from them. We're going to have two days, one at the high school, one at the middle school where we're going to talk to students about that and then we're going to have a parent information night. Um, we're also doing student speakers because of the high schools had such success. We're having student speakers at the
030council level. So, they're coming in. The first one was a high school. The next one is going to be a Center Street team and then it's going to be a Richmond Street team and then it's going to be a middle school team. I'm so excited. I can't wait to see these students up there presenting and us being having the ability to give back to them. Uh, what else? We're making plans for the Young Entrepreneur Fair again. It's going to be amazing. It's on March uh 21st. Please uh check your calendar for that. And of course, the Run for Education is coming together on April 25th. We got a brand new director. You'll see this picture right up there. There's Jim. He'll probably kill me when he sees this. Um but he was able to secure
031for us a sponsor for three years, the Kowanas. Again, stepping up and supporting our students. We just love it. Thank you, Kuanas. Um and so they're going to be our new title sponsor because Big Five has um dropped out. Uh we're partnering with the Elsagundo Fire Department and the police department. They're providing stuff for us. One of the things that they just did was the Rock and Run and the PTA was a beneficiary. We received $2,000 from that event and we're splitting it equally amongst all four schools. So, as you guys have probably seen on social media, I've been going around with a big check. Now, you're going to see a new round of big checks for $500 to each of our schools. Um what else? uh just we we got two student members on
032the council board. We have over 1,700 PTA members in Elsagundo. I mean, it's just awesome. So, thank you all for the support. I know that most of you are members. So, we actually have discount cards for you from the lovely uh membership chair at the high school and president at She's way too over committed there. And as a commercial, especially to all you sitting at home, please know that the Run for Education is going to be looking for volunteers. An email will be coming shortly to your inbox, so sign up soon. Thank you all very much. Happy Halloween. [screaming] Thank you, Cheryl. All right, moving on to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion? >> I move to approve consent agenda items 5A through K. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Seeing none,
033Maddie, your preferential vote. >> All board members in favor. I >> I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none, passes 5 to zero. Madame clerk, acceptance of gifts >> in accordance with board of education policy number 3290. The board of education may accept gifts as long as there is no conflict with the education code or other public laws. The district has received generous donations as detailed below. These donations do not conflict with the education code or public laws regarding acceptance of gifts. We have a Chevron products company donated $225,000 and it will be utilized districtwide. We have Center Street School PTA $18,914.37 and it will be utilized at Center Street School Elementary. And we have Varagy West LLC 2000 and that will be utilized districtwide. I move to accept the gifts as read. >> Second. >> Any
034discussion? Seeing none, Maddie, your preferential vote. >> I. >> All board members in favor. >> I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none, passes five to zero. Uh section seven, item A. Miss Field, >> good evening. At the October 14th board meeting, I brought forth um to the board ESTA sunshine proposal for the 2526 school year. This is an opportunity for the public to make comments on the proposal. >> Open public. >> Opening public comment at 6:39. Oh, you got it. this. >> Should I do it again? >> Yeah. Moving on to uh section 8, item A. Dr. Young. >> This evening, we are bringing forward for your adoption the board policy and administrative regulations surrounding our recognition of religious beliefs and customs. The proposed changes are recommended by the California School Board Association in order to
035ensure compliance and alignment with federal regulations. I recommend adoption of the revised board policy and administrative regulation. >> I'll move for adoption. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Maddie, your preferential vote. >> I. >> All board members in favor. >> I. Any opposed? Seeing none, passes five to zero. And we're on to uhformational calendar. And the >> calendar >> the uh news flash is that we're not meeting on the 11th because it's a holiday. So, we'll be back here on November 18th. And [clears throat] that's about it. So, um, move on to board members reports starting with Sunshine Beachley. >> Sunshine Beachley. >> What is there to explain? >> I I'm a skeleton. >> Say what I am. I'm a I'm a skeleton. I was It's okay. >> Whatever. Okay. So, [snorts]
036I've actually had a pretty quiet week or a couple weeks in terms of after the hectic kind of hall or uh homecoming week we had. I did attend my SoCal Rock meeting uh last week and our student voice. We always have a student voice um at our meetings that we uh we we bring them out and they talk about the the program. Um, and this young man was from Costa and he um was in he's in the automotive classes and he was talking about the fact that he's learned how to do detailing, he's learned how to do, you know, oil changes and all these things and that um he hopes to use some of those skills to supplement his finances as he moves on to college next year um where he wants to become a
037mechanical engineer. So, you know, he's using the skills that he's getting at SoCal Rock um to to help better himself as he moves on into college next year. Um I worked my last football game of the season as the chain crew. Um they the JV I only work JV and their last game was last week. They do have their last game this Friday, but it's at West and that has been it's been a blast. I really do love that duty as it is. Um the United Against Hate event last Wednesday was absolutely amazing. Um we had so many passionate student speakers. Um our own um Miss Wheaten also um spoke eloquently. Um, the choir performed, the orchestra performed, and it was just a wonderful, wonderful evening. I'm sure that Tracy might have a few more
038things to to share on that event. The West Basin um harvest breakfast was last Saturday. Um, and I'd never been to that event, but it was a very nice way. Um, it was a good opportunity to kind of meet and greet with leaders from other um, South Bay uh, leadership teams, which was which was awesome and a good meal to boot. Um, I wish everybody a very happy Halloween. I will be working at a haunted house fundraiser for one of our ESUSD employees families. So, I will be doing that on Halloween. With that, I end my report with go Dodgers. What's the score? >> Two to one, Toronto. Okay. >> Hi, everyone. Um, I'm just going to There was a lot of things that I went to the last two weeks, I guess, but one
039thing that I'm going to highlight is last um Tuesday at our flight left at 6:15 in the morning. So that is some true dedication to be at the airport by 4:15 in the morning. Um I was um I accompanied Superintendent Dr. Johnson, Principal Gar, Dr. Lind, and our executive director of IT, Mr. Ghana to the Cisco headquarters in San Francisco. Um the opportunity to learn about what goes into our school's IT was it was incredible. there. There were there was a lot of things I understood and then there was a lot of things that I had never heard before in my life. Um, and but Danny was there and knowing everything and he was, you know, the man. Everybody knew who he was and I mean he was definitely in his element. Um, and really
040what Danny does is so much for our district. Um, I don't think people really realize the the safety, you know, for our students and our employees. And if we didn't have Danny, like we would probably be like a lot of other districts that are were were wanting Danny. Um, so it was just a really um good eye opening um or not eye opening, I guess it was just another thing that I got to learn the behind the scenes of being a board member. um and meeting other superintendent and um actually I was the only board member there so that is another dedication. Um but it was it was a it was a great um a great time and we learned about different AI things. Um campus safety and also Cisco has an academy. Um the
041first day we students went with us as well. Well, I guess I should have started with that, too. But the students went with us and they went through just opportunities that Cisco has for um education and for students and then they went home and then the next day we sat through our classes. Um and yeah, so I was very lucky to be there. Um and it was the longest 48 hours I think of my life. But it was it was you know, I felt like everyone my husband was like, "Oh, you were in San Francisco." I'm like, "Nah, was I?" I mean, I literally went to Cisco and the hotel and then back. So, um, but it was a great opportunity. So, I was very happy that I went and that's my report. All right.
042Much like the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, the ESUSD educational experience embodies a sense of endless possibilities, fostering enrich opportunities for learning, personal growth, confidence, and care within and beyond the classroom. Similar to the iconic blue which symbolizes symbolizes Tiffany & Company's timeless quality, our small but mighty district continues to deliver the same hallmark distinction in support of every student. [snorts] Regardless of if and how you choose to celebrate Halloween season, may you and your loved ones remain safe. I had the pleasure of attending several events. The first was the Sketchers Walk on 1019. An event with an even better cause, a fun event with an even better cause. I want to thank my two friends, Jackie and Jackie from PV, who showed up and walked with me and my family. But the bonus is they
043make the conscious decision to check the box for our ad foundation to ensure that our students would benefit from their participation. So, girlfriend time with a benefit to our district. Other board members present was Heather Southerntherland and her baby. Member Beachley already talked about United Against Hate. Thank you very much. I will skip that one. I will touch on the West Basin Harvest Festival. I know you talked about it, but I do want to note that this year they celebrated 30 years of recycled water production. Originally opening the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility right here in our own backyard, Elsa Gundo, in 1995. This year's theme focused on sustainable water solutions and the role of recycled water in regional resilience. Other board member present was member Meredith Beechley. And last night I was able
044to attend the Richmond Street School PTA meeting, a wellattended meeting despite there being a Dodger game. And I will say that was the fastest meeting ever. only for that to be the longest game ever. So, uh, a couple of quick updates for the Richmond Street PTA. They have their annual Halloween parade this Friday, October 31st. They have their fall flutter November 7th, and their next PTA meeting is January 12th. And for the high school PTSA, they have their CPR training with the Elsagundo Fire Department on November 1st. and their next PTA meeting is November 12th with the special guest, our very own past counselor Stephanie Burns. That concludes my report. Thank you. All right. Um I will start with the fact that I attended the uh middle school PTSA meeting last week, but Wendy covered
045everything pretty nicely there. I will say they are looking forward to uh donut day tomorrow. Yes. which if it's not too late, people should sign their kids up. Otherwise, they'll be kind of disappointed in the morning when they walk by everybody else getting their donuts. Um, and also they're actually looking forward to OSS is coming up the beginning of December, the two weeks of it, uh, the 1st and the 8th. So, they're they're already planning and thinking about that. Um, just to add a tiny bit to the United Against Hate Week, uh, event. It was one of a series of events across the South Bay, part of the South Bay Community Coalition Against Hates effort. And um so I do want to do just a couple extra shout outs to the city DEI committee which
046was our point of organization here in town. Um we had wonderful comments by our mayor prom pastor uh O members of the DEI committee past and present and yes our lovely Daima as well. But I I do want to say it was really the high school students presence that made this event literally glow um more than we've seen it in the past. This is the fifth iteration of it. So, Maddie, you and your fellow students, the the club leadership, um the vocal ensemble, the strings, every everybody that was there made it just a beautiful gathering and um so I want to thank all your adviserss as well. So, of course, uh Mr. Gart being the conduit for everything. Miss Richmond, Miss Summers, uh Miss Darau, um and I'm going to throw it all the way
047back to Miss Janisk and Val Green of the DEI committee and I started talking about this in the summer. So, I want to give props to them as well for for the long range planning that happened to um make last week a beautiful thing. So, thank you everybody who was involved with that. Um shout out again to the career day team. Amazing. uh the the college and career club all over the place organizing that with Miss Bologanos and uh team Rapaort who've been there from I don't know if it's beginning at least the last three years. Um but uh we had I believe 130 speakers come and a couple of us were part of that and it was amazing to to just know the vast range of secret service to architect to little writer person
048to all those things that that students could come and engage with and I and I will say the two classes that I spent time with really had great questions and and thoughtful ponderings about the future. So, it was great to do that. And thank you again to Kuanas and to all these sponsors. Hello, all these sponsors that helped put that on. It was amazing. Um, looking forward to the next one. Um, lastly, I will explain my costume by saying uh if you don't recognize this is this is what a facility advisory committee member wears when showing up at meetings in our district. Um, I'm here to report that uh in that realm the fun continues at the district office Nest Arena space. Um, but again I'm excited when there's more concrete and drywall than dirt.
049We are getting there slowly but surely. No thanks to Edison, but we won't go into that right now. U, but it is happening. It's moving forward. It's lovely. So, we're getting there. And yes, uh, my co- facility advisory committee member Frank inspired this outfit. And I thought it would be a nice opportunity to dress up and honor the people that work so hard for measure and and um you know our partners in that especially Telu um and our many design and build vendors partners that have come into this over the years. It's really uh been amazing. >> Oh my god. I think >> what's h Oh goodness. It's [laughter] it's somebody's timer. >> [laughter] >> Get the fire extinguisher. Get the fire extinguisher. >> Why? Thank you. >> Wow. >> Really hot. Be careful. [laughter]
050>> Wow. >> You're so funny. I thought he genuinely didn't know how to turn. >> While while Frank hands out his cookies, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna finish my shout out to the uh the other facility advisory committee people that spend a lot of time and effort with us and sorry you don't get cookies today. Um but our chair Chris Powell, members, Heather Delanc, Bill Gin, Scott Lane, Tessy Rasmusen, Mike Routolo, Lisa Rushing, and Dr. Watkins. Thank you. And that's the end of my report because now there's cookies >> in your report. [laughter] >> You were cooking up. >> It's all right. I'm I'm willing now. But he's he's going to finish. The chef needs to finish delivering. So I really had time to kill. >> I know. >> Here we go. >> Thank you.
051Thank you. Oh, which one? >> Between you. >> Thank you. Wow, >> that was awesome. >> Still warm. >> Fresh out of the oven. >> I don't think there's much left for me to report [laughter] on this. Um I will quickly say that I was at the PTA council meeting on October 20th and what they haven't mentioned is that at the meeting uh we voted to approve a new program for the PTA which is going to be called Rising Stars which is going to be a a district-wide talent show. So that's going to be very exciting. Um, I did attend the facilities advisory committee with the same day. Um, I watched the city council meeting and I just want to mention, um, Cheryl mentioned about the $2,000 donation that the, uh, fire department gave to
052the PTA, but in the same meeting, they gave a $5,000 donation to the worker family to assist with their ongoing expenses in relation to the injuries sustained by their son, Bowden. Um these funds were raised by the Rock and Run 5K which attracted 250 runners and um just from the school board to the fire department. Uh kudos to you for being such awesome community members. um United Against Hate rally. I don't think we mentioned, but our choir and orchestra were there as well and um they were an awesome part of the event as was Maddie spoke beautifully. Um uh career day on the 23rd. Um um Tracy and I were hanging around talking to a pilot Yeah. >> And uh we were approached by um a volunteer parent who was there and she sent us
053an email later summing up the whole event very nicely by saying, "What an impressive, flawless day. Thank you for being incredible for our kids." And um all of that was made possible by the Kowanas Club. And this is here's a Rotarian telling [laughter] um talking about how amazing the Elsagundo Kowanas Club is. They do so much for our kids here and they underwrite the costs of career day at the career day event. Um and they as their members were there in force. They were there at check-in and they hosted a a wonderful breakfast and an amazing lunch for all the presenters and um I think a big shout out goes out to our uh ESHS TOSA Eron Bolanos. It's her first year in this position and she knocked it out of the park. I don't
054know. Um Oh my god. [clears throat] >> What now? >> Where's the next >> pizza? [laughter] God, I got my roller. So, um but uh Erin, she uh we we um were able to watch the um the ad that they made for the kids to to uh encourage them to show up at career day and it was a very edgy AI generated promotional ad and uh it was really fun. So, the whole day was uh perfectly organized. So, since we're all about education, um I start with a question. Aside from shamrocks, leprechauns, Guinness, Waterford Crystal, St. Patrick's Day, and you too, there is something else that started in Ireland that is now a worldwide phenomenon. Any guesses? >> Frankly, [laughter] >> no. No, but look around you. Halloween. >> I said it. >> Yeah, I
055said it. >> Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of sin, which celebrated the end of harvest and the beginning of winter and the belief that spirits could return to the mortal world. So, I guess I was a baker in the form of my life. [laughter] The holiday was brought to America by immigrants and modern traditions like trick-or-treating evolved from older customs of going doortodoor performing tricks or reciting poems for food. But pumpkins, jacko'lanterns, and I wrote it on here and many snicker bars all came later and uh that's what we're celebrating. So, end of my report. >> Thank you, President Glenn. Uh, I always I always put myself lower here. I don't need any help in that department. >> Um, okay. Um, hi. Uh, >> oh, who are you, by the way? >> Uh,
056so so I am I am Irish Ken. >> Um, and this is Barbie, my partner. >> Yeah, very good. And then I like the classic witch. Very well done. >> I didn't know how uh how much we were going to dress up. So, it's >> You brought it. It was good. It was legit. And then my cabinet team said they dressed up. I don't really I'm not really sure what they did. Uh so, do you guys want to >> You guys want to explain it? Yeah. They claim They claim they're dressed up. >> Yeah. >> Come on, guys. How much do those cost? >> They're recyclable. >> Does someone want to explain? I'm still not understanding. >> It's definitely an inside joke. >> No, this is Yeah. >> Yeah. Very good. Very good. >> Well,
057well done. Well done, cabinet team, you know. Yeah. >> Last year they dressed up as me. So, >> um, so on the uh uh PTA side of things, I I I just want to second that uh the PTA council approved the t the talent show districtwide, and I'd give a shout out to Chelsea and Whitney. Um, it's their brainchild, particularly Whitney. Uh it just like those things are a lot of work but such a great night and there's so many skills and opportunities that go into um for students participating in those or auditioning for them. So just a really great opportunity and and PTA continuing to do more. So thank you. Uh on the ed side, the peer-to-peer was record smashing. Uh I want to read out a few uh stats here. Um the high
058school in 2024 had 215 walkers. This year they had 268. In 2024 they had uh Richmond had 192 walkers. Uh this year they had 403. And last year uh Center Street had 268 walkers. Um this year they had 527. And last year uh ESMS had 444 walkers. This year they had 547. Um last year we had uh 1,00 walkers. This year we had 1,745. And then put in that perspective that jump in 2023 there was 800 walkers. So it's that's more than double within two years. Um and and as most of us know, um those dollars are an exponential growth. So what I you know, Rose actually gave this to me. you know, uh, historically on average a $30 donation is is a $200 match. So, um, it's really what I call it like the
059no-brainer fundraiser, and it's for a really, really good cause with the Friendship Foundation. So, great stuff. Thank you to the principles, um, and teachers and staff for pushing it with the community. Um, definitely those efforts have paid off. They all have their various humiliations and public torture that they have to endure over the next few weeks. So, I'm really appreciative about that. Uh, yeah, I've I've been there and and always fun. Okay. Uh, on the staff, uh, just the Cisco trip, uh, Joel Robinson and Herado Brahos, they were chaperones. That was a really long day for them cuz it was a full 24 hours from pretty much 4:00 in the morning till like 10:00 at night they got back. So, just making that happen for those students. I mean, it was an incredible opportunity for
060those kids. Uh, so just thank you to those teachers. Uh, I want to thank the report card committee of elementary teachers. They've worked very, very, very hard on the report cards. Um, and they've worked uh with us, the district, in order to work with our families and our parents. I think great work's happening. There's a parent workshop that's coming up. So, I just want to say thank you for their efforts. Again, they've worked incredibly hard and and I'm appreciative of that. I'm appreciative of them uh working with the community in order to to get everybody there. And then uh on the student side uh 12 Angry Jurors, I just want to give a shout out to the marketing campaign that's going online. If anyone's following uh ESH uh ESHS drama, um they uh do Instagram
061videos promoting uh 12 Angry Jurors and they're brilliant. Um so I just like if you haven't seen one, watch one, but they they usually do about one or two per week. Um they're really good. I'm really excited for the performance. Um and again, a lot of work. Thank you to the teachers that are uh supporting. And then um uh I want to give a shout out to our Elsagundo middle school students. Uh just registering our ebikes um and going through the trainings. Um there's just been such a great uh uh level of uh compliance and and going, you know, getting that work done and using bike safety and and so we had a great meeting with the city not too long ago just about some of the statistics involved with ebikes in the city. And
062I just want to give a real shout out to the kids um you know because they're the ones that you know like are that we're counting on really you mean to be participants and also to observe safety. So thank you. Uh an event coming up the confidence code there's over 187 RSVPs I think at this point which is amazing for a parent ed night. That is incredible. Um, and so Chelsea and Cheryl deserve a lot of credit, particularly Chelsea, this is her brainchild for uh really trying to connect um the because there's events happening at the school on the days uh prior and during that week that are connected to the parent education night and it's also about um you know really trying to think through I mean there's a lot of like you know
063conversation about you know bullying and about mistreatment um but this is really about like you know if you're that kid that feels like you're being bullied like what can you do in order to um negotiate that situation, you know, and and like that's a life skill and really trying to like change the conversation um about being a victim. You mean like and to you know like what can you do to have the skills necessary to navigate that and uh you know in in a way that you know uh not only um helps yourself mean like but also helps those around you as well. So I'm really excited about about that and I strongly encourage you to attend. And then the preschool is doing trunk or treat. I will be there giving out candy. Uh me
064and Melissa Gooden have a competition with each other because she's a proud preschool parent now. Uh so excited for that on um Friday. And then finally, I do want to give a shout out to Heather. A deep thank you to Heather. Um uh that was a 48 hour mission. Um it was very informative. It was very great. And we were thoroughly exhausted. Uh Kim's uh husband gave us a ride from the airport. I was calling him by a different name because I was so tired and literally like got in my car and text. I said like I've been calling your husband Doug for like 30 minutes. Um I I'm very very sorry. So um just uh thank you Heather and that was for sure a commitment. So appreciate it. And that concludes my kind of
065longer board report tonight. >> All right. Well, thank you very much and thank you for giving us the opportunity to dress up in fancy dress. >> You're welcome. >> And um we do not need to recess to close session. So, it is my pleasure at 7:08 to adjourn our meeting. [clears throat]