001Testing. One, two, three. Test. One, two, three. Test. Testing. One, two. One, two. Test. Testing. test. All right, the time is 5:32. We're going to rec. We're going to get started with the regular meeting of the Ottoanto Elementary School District. It is February the 3rd, 2025 and 2026. I'm a year behind. All righty. We're going to do roll call and quum establishment. We don't have our assistant here with us or our secretary, so I'll take the roll call. >> Trusty Krauss. >> Trusty Ker >> Ker present. >> Trusty Lech. >> Trusty Stewart >> Stewart here. >> And I am here. We have a quorum. Before we move on to the pledge of allegiance, we actually are going to take a 30 minute recess. 10 >> uh 10 minutes. I think we could do 10 minutes.
00210-minute recess um to accommodate one of our uh trustees um to be able to join on Zoom. Um and so at this time, if we'll go at a 10-minute recess, it's 5:33. We'll come back at 5:44. We are at a recess. Okay. All righty. The time is 5:43. We're going to reconvene to open session. We're going to uh do the roll call once again and get a quorum establishment. Trusty Krauss. >> Krauss present. >> BP Ker. Ker present >> trust of the French >> trusty Stewart >> Stewart here >> stole present we have a quorum the time is 5:44 going to do the pledge of allegiance VP Ker would you lead us please >> yes if I could please have everyone stand and place your right hand over your heart >> I pledge algiance >>
003to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Propose additions, deletions, and adjustments in the order of business. Um I would just uh like for us to amend the um the agenda to include Trusty Krauss uh to ensure that you know it's reflected that he is able to join on Zoom. >> What is his address? He is at 11824 Air Expressway Autoanto, California 92301 specifically in his vehicle. Is there a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Miss uh I'll take the vote. Trusty Krauss, >> is that a >> I'm sorry, excuse me. Is that a a votable thing when there are um a amendments or delete leash leans? They're just note
004noted. We've never vote voted on that. >> At this time, I believe we are um moving to adopt the agenda with the amendment. >> Oh, okay. He he just did the proposed additions deletions. >> Yeah. So, let me just clarify. Yeah, you're correct. Uh do you have a good point, Trusty Stewart? I did jump the the horse, but uh Trustees um BP Car, you are correct on the motion. Um I will there are no proposed additions, deletions, and adjustments in the order of business. However, there is um an amendment to the the adoption of the agenda which was made by me and seconded by VP Ker. Is there a second or I'm sorry, there is a second. Is there discussion? I'll take the vote. Trusty Krauss. >> Krauss I. >> BP Ker >> Ker I.
005Trusty the French. >> Nay. >> Trusty Stewart. >> Nay. >> Stole I. Motion passes. 32. Moving on to public testimony. Public comment period for items listed on this agenda item only. Do we have any representatives from ADTA and CSEA? We have none. We'll move on to audience members. We'll start with Ryan Woodward or Wood, excuse me. >> Good evening. >> Okay. Good evening all board members and Superintendent Walker. Thank you so much. My name is Ryan Woodard. Pleasure to be here tonight on behalf of Taleon Academy. I want to start I want to start with a student a student who had already decided that school wasn't for them. A student who struggled every day in a traditional classroom academically, emotionally, socially. A student who stopped showing up not because they didn't care, but because the
006system stopped working for them. That student came to Ton and for the first time ever, the school actually worked. But I want you to hear this not from me but from a parent. A parent recently said, "Before Ton, my child cried every morning. Now they ask when they're working on next, and I finally see my child is finally heard and seen each and every day." That sentence matters because it explains why Taleon exists. Ton High Desert Academy is a dashboard alternative school status charter operating primarily as an independent study program, not a traditional sitebased school. It was never meant to look like and act like one. And that's that in terms of California law does not require it to. That is why the legislature created a separate renewal framework under the education code 47607 C7
007to ensure that alternative and independent study study charter schools are judged fairly based on the students they serve not compared to the models that have already failed these students. The district's own report makes important points. First, Taleon is governed by Azidas school. Second, and this is crucial, the district explicitly finds that closure is not in the best interest of students and that there is not enough evidence of educational harm. That should have been the end of the analysis because when the law says that students should not be harmed by disruption, it means real disruption. The kind of disruption that have parents lose sleep over and over and the students feel it each and every day. Yet, the recommendation tonight before you recommends a two-year renewal places families right back into the familiar foe, which is
008uncertainty. And uncertainty is not neutral. For parents who finally found a school that works for their child, a shortened renewal feels like a question hanging in the air. Will we have to start over all again? Concern raised about this instructional models, enrichment, and even service delivery models must be understood in context. Independent study is supposed to be different. Flexibility is not a flaw. Individualization is not a lack of rigor. It is often the only reason these childs succeed. The district confirms the facilities are safe. Students are being served. And closure would not improve the outcomes. So, I ask for you tonight to have a seven-year renewal as it should stand. For many parents, Tailion is not just an option. It's a relief. It's hope. And is their child believing in school again? Please do not
009make that conditional. respectfully urge you that to pass this as a seven-year renewal on behalf of Ton High Desert Academy. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Kimberly Smith. Good evening members of the board and members of the community community. I'm speaking tonight as a fellow educator and as a community member who deeply believes that our responsibility is to meet the needs of all students especially when those needs look different from the traditional model. Not every child learns the same way, just as not every family functions the same way. In the same way that working moms and stay-at-home moms may choose different paths, but share the exact same intent of doing what is best for their children, traditional public schools and charter schools can coexist with mutual respect. The goal is the same, student success.
010Ton High Desert Academy has been part of our community for over a decade. Through renewals, site visits, public hearings, and thorough review, this process has shown engagement, transparency, and accountability. What stands out to me is that this school exists because there's a group of students and families for whom this model works best. As educators, we know that one size does not fit all. Supporting multiple educational options is not about competition. It's about collaboration and honoring the diverse ways students learn and thrive. I support Ton High Desert Academy as an educator, as a community member, and as someone who believes that when families are given choices aligned with their children's needs, our entire community benefits. Thank you for your time and for your continued commitment to serve all of our students in our area. Thank you.
011>> Thank you. Next speaker, Corey Kavanagh. Excuse me and good evening trustees. I am here representing Talon Academy as their back office provider and I just wanted to comment that every year during the charter's term they've had a clean financial audit and current reserves are well well above any um FICMAT requirements or standards both on a cash basis and their overall reserves. So I stand here in support of Ton Academy. Thank you. Next speaker is going to be Regina Jackson. Uh Jack Jackson. >> Good evening, President Stoodto, board members, and superintendent Dr. Walker. My name is Regina Jackson, and I am the Inland Empire Associate Director of Local Advocacy with the Charter Schools Association. I'm here to respectfully express support for the renewal of Ton High Desert Academy and to recommend approval of a seven-year
012renewal term. Tion is a dosserving school serving students whose progress is best measured through alternative indicators like credit recovery, persistence, graduation progress, and re-engagement. Those measures are appropriate for this school model and they show that TAOM is delivering meaningful outcomes for students today. This is not a low performing school. A two-year term does not allow enough time to establish, implement, and create install allow enough time to establish, implement, and fairly evaluate appropriate metrics. And it creates instability for students and staff without clear justification. A seven-year renewal provides accountability while also allowing the system to work as it intended. Thank you for consideration and time. I also sent a letter of support earlier today that I hope you had time to review. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to Zoom. I believe we got everyone. Just
013verifying. Yep, we got everyone on Zoom. Moving on to staff reports and presentations. Dr. Walker. >> Thank you, President Subtle. At this time we have educational services um Miss Carol Coburn who will be sharing a presentation on um the renewal foria. >> Hello All right. Good evening, Superintendent Dr. Walker, President Sodto, and members of the board. The educational services division presents our findings of fact and recommendation regarding the charter renewal petition for tailan high desert academy. Our goal is to pro provide a legally compliant and student centered recommendation as a dashboard alternative school status or d school. Ton is governed by education code 47607C7 which requires us to consider both state indicators and alternative metrics while keeping the best interests of of our students as our primary focus to ensure students continue to have a
014stable and supportive learning environment they need to succeed. Our recommendation is designed to provide educational continuity while fostering a stronger, more collaborative partnership with the district. Our comprehensive review was conducted by a multidisciplinary team including experts in educational services, fiscal, special education and the human resources division. We followed a rigorous timeline starting with a petition uh petition submission in November and on November 20th, AESD met with Tion High Desert Academy leadership team for an orientation followed by site visits in early December and a thorough document review of the renewal petition. Our team conducted site visits to all three of the Tleion locations and we were very pleased with what we found. The facilities were exceptionally clean, orderly, and well-maintained. Um, creating a positive and suitable atmosphere for student learning. No health or safety concerns were
015found, which speaks to the care that Tion takes in providing a safe um space for pupils. While the absence of documented mutually agreed upon alternative metrics which should have been established at the start of the term initially limited our formal uh analysis framework, we conducted a comprehensive review of the available evidence that highlights Ton's commitment to a highly individualized instructional model. During our site visits, we observed firsthand the personalized support and one-to-one attention that students receive during progress monitoring sessions, demonstrating a program specifically designed to meet each student where they are. Tonium primarily uses high school metrics like graduation and course completion. um they have um they have been designated as a comprehensive school improvement or a CSI school year four based on the low graduation rate of the California um dashboard by the California
016Department Ed of Education. However, I know that the DAS um designation um allows them different opportunities in in order to meet the CSI um designation from the California Department of Education. Um with the no clear alternative metrics uh for the kindergarten through 8th grade uh we did find it difficult to comprehensively assess progress for those younger students. So we had to solely rely on um their progress on the California dashboard. Uh we also uh noted a heavily online instructional model for elementary um and didn't have um a lot of um finding of enrichment programs uh for those students. Our review did highlight the consistent implementation of essential student support services across all sites, including a robust attendance monitoring and a proactive engagement practices. We were able to speak with and interview um some of the
017counselors at each of the sites. These efforts play a vital role in maintaining student connectivity and fostering persistence, which are especially critical for success in an alternative educational setting. Our site visits revealed a few concerns um in student services areas, specifically in special education where we observed modified IEPs, uh limited adaptive technology, and a lack of transportation. In addition, for English learners, services rely on virtual instruction without a clearly defined standards aligned curriculum. These factors may impact the students ability to eventually reintegrate into a traditional district school. A key component of this renewal is the chance to collaborative collaboratively define what su success looks like for all of uh Ton's students. While high school metrics like graduation rates are already a strength, we look forward to working together to create a a clear mutually agreed
018upon alternative metrics for all grade levels by June of 2026. For context, the property tax allocation to Ton for the 2526 school year is projected at over $882,000. While the district loses roughly $20,100 uh per pupil funding for each resident student, we must emphasize that per state law, fiscal impact alone is not a legal basis for denial. Based on legal standards that closure is not in the best interest of students, the evaluation team does recommend a twoear two-year renewal with some conditions. um a path that ensures student stability while empowering the district to provide that high quality oversight our community expects. This recommendation focuses on the Thrive initiative through increased collaboration, including monthly meetings to share data and best practices by strengthening district oversight and fostering fostering professional alignment. We ensure that both the district
019and Ton are strategically positioned to support and improve outcome for students throughout the renewal term. To ensure the success, the following specified conditions were recommended. One, the charter be renewed for a term of two years. Second, that the district and Taleon High Desert Academy Charter School shall mutually agree upon explicit alternative renewal metrics appropriate to the student population served no later than June 30th of 2026. The third one is the district and Taleon High Desert Academy Charter School shall engage in monthly monitoring meetings focused on academic performance, fiscal health, and operational compliance. And then fourth, the fiscal crisis management assistance team or finmat charter school annual oversight checklist shall be utilized as the primary monitoring tool during the renewal form or term. Looking ahead, our next step steps are proactive and collaborative. Following the board's
020action tonight, February 3rd, 2026, an approval will allow us to immediately begin the joint development of new metrics and schedule our first oversight meetings. We move forward with a shared commitment to student excellence in strengthening our oversight to ensure stale students thrive. Thank you. And at this time, we're happy to take any questions. >> Thank you. We'll start with uh Trusty Stewart. >> So the board is vote voting on the re recommendations of the dis district district. Correct. >> Yes. There's an item uh later on in the agenda for that. >> Um I can't think of any any qu questions right now. >> Thank you Trusty Le French. Uh, Trustee Krauss. >> Yes. Thank you, President Sto. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yeah, you're good. Thank you, Trusty CR. >> All right. So, I
021I did have some questions. Uh, and I appreciate uh Miss Coburn's presentation. Um, I guess the the first question I have is how much time did the team spend uh at Ton's sites when they went to do a visit? Okay, thank you for that question, uh, Trusty Krauss. Um, we spent about an hour to an hour and a half at each of the locations where we're able to really speak with their staff, uh, interview them, um, and, um, really we're trying to understand more of how they operate, what they offer, and just kind of meet the different, um, uh, employees that our students work with every day. >> Okay, great. Thank you for that. And then are you aware of any concerns brought by those staff members, parents or students about the uh programs or
022the operation of Ton uh as you visited? And I don't know how many people you've talked to, but did you ever hear anyone express any concerns about their operations? >> Um during the site visits, we did not um hear any concerns. >> Great. Thank you. That's all the questions I have. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Uh VP Ker. >> Yes. Good evening. I appreciate your presentation tonight. I would like to start with uh maybe some history. Are you able to provide the the history uh behind TEON? Because here on page six of your presentation, it says no documentation of mutually agreed upon metrics during first charter term. My understanding this is not the first charter term. Is is that So we don't have any matrix that we can use or that has been
023agreed upon that's documented any particular place. We have not found anything and um and so that's why we are hoping that that's something that we can make sure incurs occurs over the next few months. >> Okay. Is there any way um to be informed of when that first charter term began? I'm sure we can research that to get that information, but Tayon's here. They could probably tell us right now. >> 2013. And how long was that one for? >> Okay. Okay. All right. I do appreciate that. Thank you so much. Um, jumping down a bit. We went to um the timeline. Okay. So it states here on Okay. Um, so my understanding is we had to have this available for the community to review somewhere here at the district office. Was that properly done? Did
024we have it on display somewhere for for families to be able to come and review? I would need to confirm that but it was u there was public a public hearing for an opportunity for review. Yes. >> Okay. Very nice. Just one more. Okay. On page nine, it says the overall um amount was 882,646. Does that go for all of their students or just the students that would not be taking part in our K8 program? Mr. Mcalin, can you respond to that question? Sorry, wrong button. Um, that would be the dollar allocation would be based on the students that are talian as a as a total enrollment if you will. >> Okay. And so we it my understanding that number doesn't factor in our loss of students. Is that correct? That's just overall because they're
025a high school district as well. So they get higher amounts per high school students is my understanding. We are a K through eight. So we want to be eligible for that anyway. Am I comprehending that? >> Are you talking about the per ADA amount maybe? it. >> No, I where I'm a little confused is we have the $800,000 number. >> Okay. >> And you uh mentioned that that is an over encumber conferencing of their students. My understanding is that Tion has a high number of high school students. So is that 800 from us or is that >> correct? That would be from us. >> Okay. Uh, President Sodto, I will defer to you. >> I just Okay, so just thank you BP Car for those questions. So what I'm hearing you say, Mr. McAlpin, is
026the 800,800 882,646,000 property tax allocation. All of that funding is what the DIS what Tion is receiving from AESD. Uh because um to your point if if ASD is giving that money to Ton it's because it's the K through8 students that I guess the the question really is is this money that we're seeing in front of us also accounting for the high school students which we do not will never or at this point do not have governance over high school students because we are a K through eight so the question is whether this amount is >> yes specifically from AESD >> perfect yes Okay, awesome. Did Did that was helpful? Thank you. Any other questions? VP Kire, >> I I do have one more if uh you would be inclined. So, on the last or
027second to last one, it recommends a two-year renewal with conditions. Um can the district kind of shed light why we went with a two-year renewal with this charter after they've been operating within our district for 13 years. 13 years at this point. >> I think it speaks directly to the metrics that we were talking about so that we have an opportunity to number one um work together to establish the metrics and then have an opportunity to come back together after a couple of years to see how that is working and how we'd like to move forward. >> I have no further questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um the district review process included an evaluation team. Um it um well I'll just start off by saying I am disappointed um by the two-year renewal recommendation.
028Um, so what I'm hearing, what I to kind of piggy back on the two-year renewal question, the the explanation that I'm that I heard was that essentially um since metrics weren't provided by Talon, the district is using metrics from the state perhaps to um articulate that a two-year renewal to follow. I guess why two year versus a four or a sevenyear renewal while also being able to address those concerns along the way is my question. I was this is along with piggybacking with BP Ky just adding on why two not four not seven while also ensuring that whatever the district has concerns about is is working with Taylor on along those as well. So um once again we're not necessarily using um we haven't determined any specific metrics but uh again it's about finding the
029right metrics so that um we're not going over seven years and using a metrics that's not even working for Tion the way that it should. And so um really it's an opportunity for us to again collaborate because that's something that has not occurred in the past that I'm aware of. And so um I think it's important that as a charter and students that um are part of our community that we have an opportunity to engage in dialogue and support so that we're able to assist in ensuring that the students are getting their needs met and that's all students. They do a great job with meeting the needs of their high school students. However, um being able to provide the support in determining metrics for the elementary and middle would be a clear focus for us.
030And yes, I'll end with that. President Sto when you have a opportunity. Sir, >> Mr. Krauss. >> Yes. Thank you. I uh would like to piggy back on uh the comments just made. Um I started in the district in 2020 as the CBO and then became interim superintendent and superintendent. And during that time, I actually visited Ton many, many times. I've talked to their staff, to their parents, to their students. There was plenty of collaboration. Uh I looked at their LCAP. I looked at their metrics. I looked at everything that they had at the time and there were never any concerns over the last four years related to Ton whatsoever. If there were, I would have brought them to the board's attention at that time or I would have uh had concerns with them uh
031at that time. So, there has been many many opportunities uh to collaborate with Ton. Now, this past year, it's my understanding, and somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, they've invited the superintendent out to all of their sites, and the superintendent has never visited any of their sites, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but also the team that is currently recommending the 2-year has absolutely zero experience in charter petition renewal. Not one person has ever been involved at the high level, assistant superintendent or superintendent level, with a charter petition renewal. And furthermore, our legal counsel with Atinson Anderson, who has always been involved in the charter school petition renewal process, was never consulted with any of these documents, with any of the recommendations, any of the presentations. And I can promise you that if
032she had, she would probably advise the board, this is not the way to go. So, I just want to put it on record uh and and make sure that it's clear. When I was superintendent, I visited Ton. I even spoke at their graduation. That's how much of a collaboration we had with Ton when I was in the district. And so with that, I'll end my comments. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um Trusty Stewart, did you want to make a comment? >> Well, I was under the impression that the this was was a time for questions and that we would have discussion when we actually vote on the item. So, is this a time for dis discuss discussion as well? >> Fair point. This is a time for questions >> because he just said
033a whole bunch. >> Yeah, fair point. Um, Trust Cross, we're we're doing questions, but you had Thank you for sharing. Thank you, Trusty Stewart. >> Dr. Walker, >> thank you. Um, I believe that um I'm going to just start with AALR that the board voted to not continue a contract with AALR. Therefore, um, for me to go to them and try to get advice from them that there would have been some degree of reprimand as it has been in the past when I did reach out to them for support. So, it's um, it's odd that I've been it's been stated that I did not reach out to them, but we don't have a contract with them and the board did not approve a contract with them per um, this communications. Secondly, I would say that
034um it's great that you know as the previous superintendent that um have an opportunity to visit and to engage in conversations and dialogue with the Tion community. I think that's great that that happened. Um and I'm not saying that um that's not should occur. However, I would also say that there have been opportunities where um I think we have to collaborate visiting the school and having an opportunity to um speak to the the teachers, the community, but coming together as thought partners to support one another uh with the students that we serve is just as critical. And for me, I think that's a piece that I haven't I'm not aware exists and per what I just heard that that's not something that actually happened during that time as well. um in reference to being invited
035to come and you know I'm not um I'm not going to respond to that because um I'm sure Tayon knows and I know what communication has occurred between the principal and myself and um therefore um that statement is not going to be dignified with the response And so, um, I hope that, um, that Tayon once again knows that at no point is my team or the committee that put this together um, is trying to do anything to um, negatively impact the charter school. We are quite aware that you've been in existence for quite a number of years and in no way are we saying that this is not going to continue. What we're saying is that we like an opportunity to collaborate to come up with metrics so that we can move forward and support
036the students that we serve. And with that, thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Walker. Um and all righty. Well, um I'll conclude my questions for now. Um now we'll have should be able on the agenda should have >> Yes. So I don't have Yeah. So I like to always have things in front of me but So you guys are able to come up and respond. Uh if you guys have a report that you'd like to share to the public and to the board that this is your time as well and anything that you believe would be helpful to the board. >> And thank you Miss Coburn for presenting. >> Thank you Miss Coburn. >> Um so we have presented in in a previous board meeting December 9th. Um there were um additional comments made um
037in this new um report of fact findings from the district. So we wanted to make sure that we address those um this time around. And there are people in person and online that will be a part of this presentation. And I know that we've got one person handling everything. So, we're going to be patient with that and just make sure the right people are available at the right time. Um, so just starting out, um, I'm Brenda Congo. I'm the principal of Ton High Desert Academy. Um, I've been with the school coming on nine years in November. So, this is um, a school and work that I love and um, I love working with all the students and staff um, that I get to. Um so I just wanted to start out regarding um the metrics.
038Those are established first year of renewal regardless of the number of years. We we'll have to talk about that. Um and nonetheless, we're responsible to the state, the county, and the district for sharing those reports and everything that we do to stay compliant. We do that all the time. Um, and I just do also want to point out that we exist because we're different. You know, we can't be too similar to the school district, which is great, but you know, we have to be different um for kids that need a different sort of education and that's why we're here. Um, so on the first slide, oh, I have the clicker. See, I'm I'm never good at this part. I apologize. Okay. Thank you so much. All right. So um we are um accredited by WASK
039which is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for for when our high school kids need to go to any university in the state or elsewhere. Our classes mean that they get to enroll without a problem. Um they're accepted um based on the classes they take at Ton. Um and we're also accredited by Cognia which is an international organization. So both organizations are independent. They have rigorous standards for quality um and educational improvement um continuous improvement that we um also are abide by. So we meet with them um based on whatever term they give us six years um and then we make sure that we meet with them that we provide similar reports um like we did the petition to the school district. Um lastly, again, I know it's talked about, but um we can't
040talk about it enough. We are um a dashboard alternative school status school. So, this indicates that um we do service students that are at risk. At least 70% of them are um more than that. And um our DOSs graduation rate is above 90% has been for the past I'd say three, four, five years. Um, but that allows us to showcase the students that do come to us when we get them, however we get them from the surrounding schools. That is not something within our control, but we meet them where they're at and we get them to graduate. Um, let's see. And I also do want to mention that California has a dashboard where you can see all the schools metrics or um indicators on there. and us being a an independent studies charter school, we
041are pretty toe-to-toe with Adalanto Elementary School District in those indicators. So, I will just say that we're we're doing pretty good with what we have and um the staff that we have and the amazing students that trust us. Um and that's those are K through um 12 metrics. Okay. All right. Let's see. Oops, there we go. So, um just a reminder, the students that we service, and I know we talk a lot about um our high schoolers, but we really want to focus on our elementary kids, but we do service TK through fifth grades, elementary, um middle school 6 through 8 and high school 9 through 12. We are even a part of WEOA, the Workforce Initiative and Opportunity Act. Um we collaborate with Desert Mount Charter SULPA. Um they send us students that need
042to get their diploma that are out of high school but up to 24 years old and we make sure that they're able to graduate and be successful members of the community again. Oh no. All right. So, I've got online um Kate Greer that is going to um speak to this portion. So, again, really focusing on our K through eight um progress and assessments and then she's also going to speak to those um extended learning opportunities. >> Good evening everyone. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Wonderful. Thank you. I'm Kate Greer. I'm our student success and engagement coordinator. I have the opportunity to work with our wonderful teachers and students on a daily basis. Um, I just want to go over with you guys our K8 assessments and resources that we use to
043monitor student growth throughout the school year. So, one of our programs is Edenum. This is a tool we use uh to give students diagnostic assessments three times a year, beginning, middle, and end to review their English language arts, reading, and math knowledge. We're able to monitor their progress throughout the school year based on their results. The program creates individualized learning paths. So, wherever they need targeted specific support, they're going to get it in those very personalized areas. Um, so it's a tool for intervention and then teachers can also push out specific lessons. So, let's say you're working on fractions and a student needs extra support in that area, a teacher can identify that and provide them support through this tool. Um, teachers also do They teach live lessons with students. If you are K3, you
044get a uh you do it daily. If you are fourth or fifth grade, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, you meet with your teacher twice a week in two-hour blocks. During that time, teachers um they collaborate and they create units for the students based off essential standards that are common core aligned. And each unit, we give students pre and post assessments through study island. This helps us monitor how much knowledge are they coming in with and then after the unit, how much have they mastered? Do we need to go back and retach? Are we ready to move on to something new? So, we are able to monitor that for each unit um as well as throughout the school year. UFly is a specific phonics program. We use this for our TK to through se uh
045third grade students and it really helps give them those reading foundational skills that the kids need in order to be successful in school and throughout life really. So teachers provide live lessons in class. There's also additional resources if parents want to do extra work with their kids at home that teachers can provide them with. Uh teachers do meet with parents live uh either phone call or through a Google meet similar to this bi-weekly. So they check in how how's your child doing? Where where are they doing great? Where's does do they need a little extra attention? Um areas for support, review assessments, review diagnostics, and just a chance for parents and teachers to connect and make sure that the students are progressing. And then K through two students also um work on multitudes. So, multitudes,
046it's a reader screener that identifies students unique strengths and growth areas for their reading foundational skills. So, this is a great opportunity for us to flag or mark students. Hey, if this student needs extra support, how can we give it to them? And we do have we have next steps of here's exactly how we're going to give them those supports. So, if we go to the next slide, one of those we have MTSS interventions and all students participate in what we call thrive time. So this is when students meet with their teacher during those live instructional time. Um the time's kind of split into two blocks. So that first block, let's check in on your progress, how your class is going, where do you need some extra support? And then the second block, students are
047split into differentiated groups. And this is where they're really really given that targeted support. So, if your teacher has noticed you're you're doing or you assess poorly on your assessments and it's also correlated to your schoolwork and there's certain areas where you need that extra support, they're going to get it during this Thrive time. So, they really are given targeted instruction based on their needs. For enrichment opportunities, we do offer them times to come in and socialize. They have the option to do it either online or in person. So, we have lots of wonderful clubs. The kids love these. We have art club, STEM, Lego, robotics. Um, they just love them. They they love interacting. They love getting their hands on things. So, those are great opportunities we provide them. And then we also have
048tutoring and study hall support. So, if they need extra academic support outside of what they're already getting with their teachers, we do offer this daily. So, there's there's a specific time they know they can just jump on and get that extra support. And then lastly, we do hold a lot of events throughout the school year. So we have lots of field trips that students have the opportunity to participate in. Um we hold events on campus, some of them the cultural world fair. You bring your families, you come, we have different booths that explore cultures throughout the world with games and activities and foods. It's just a nice community engagement. Black history celebration is a similar event where we have different activities. Come hang out. We recognize achievements and contributions. And then back to school night,
049that's an annual tradition every year. Um, we make it fun. We turn into like a fall festival type thing. We have different games and booths. So, we do encourage families to come on campus and socialize and hang out while also offering them lots of enrichment and intervention supports. Thank you. >> All right. Next up online, we have Karen Ruffner. Okay. Hi everybody. I am so grateful to be here. My name is Karen Ruffer. I've been here since 2014 in various roles and um I I feel so honored to be able to share with you our EL program. As you can see here, the uh dashboard is showing that we have made great strides with our EL English learner progress. The increase is 11.9% and the overall making of progress is 51.4%. We're very um happy
050with the work that our team is doing. We have a coordinator plus two supports who work with the students weekly. They get together um for between 45 to 60 minutes Monday through Thursday. And the groups are very small. They can be individualized or they can be a maximum uh group would be six in a in a group of third graders is one of her largest groups. Uh and they meet both on-site. So they have that interaction in person, but they also serve uh our online and our homeschool population in a uh a very um Google meets and a very personal way uh each each week. So our supports that we use, our resources, we uh she works very closely with Bright Thinkers, which is the curriculum that we're using. And Bright Thinkers is a strong
051curriculum. It's um A throughG approved, but it's uh also for all the the K TK through 12. And this a fully customizable curriculum. So therefore, there's translation opportunities, interaction, interactive animations for reading comprehension. There's also audiovisisual components. So that's for students who are struggling more with the written language and there's other ELD instructional strategies. It's completely ELD aligned. She also works on um giving brain breaks for students because uh it's sometimes easier to support a student younger kids with some kind of games, activities, ice breakers, online puzzles as well as with the older uh students that she works with. and a lot of her her time she devotes to the ELPAC support. She will start with practice tests which has um worked beautifully in that you can see here on the dashboard the uh ELPAC
052summitive results from last year. Um we also want to address the work that she does with our ELTEL and RFB students. She and the team are very goal oriented in how they want to support the long-term learners. Um she has goals such as building confidence with comp complete sentences and academic vocabulary. So they're able to speak with each other in a more um confident way and a more conversational way. She is very uh mindful of writing. So she will do she'll work closely with them in their um in um a bright thinker a lot as well with uh different paragraph structures. Um choosing certain words that would be uh good replacements for other words so they could have more of a extended vocabulary. Um working with the uh complete sentences rather than one word. She's
053just depends. She they very much focus on the grade level and the age of their e students. And then also she does a superb job all of the team does with the um reclassified check-in. Every November she will uh email the teachers and get feedback from the teachers and request samples of their English to be compared with also samples from other students of the same class and the same um grade. so she she can compare to make sure that they're staying up to uh the standard that she'd like and they'd like. Uh and then she has this scheduled for March. So she's very uh on top of that. And in conclusion, I just want to say we are very confident that we are fully compliant with the ELD developments, the standards and the expectations. and
054we are very enthusiastic about devoting ourselves to all our English language learners at Tion. Thank you so much. >> Good evening everybody. Oh >> my name is Karen where I'm the special education coordinator at Taleon. Um so we have special education services and compliance. Um, our IEP individualized supports are fully individualized and documented in safe and ensure consistency and compliance under the IDEIDA and SELPA guidelines. Anything that Desert Mount SPA does not provide for our students as far as their services are provided, we use the NPA and we provide those services for our students. Modifications and accommodations are added throughout the IEP based on ongoing data for each student's unique needs. IEP teams meet regularly to review progress and make timely data-driven adjustments. We meet as a group weekly. I meet with my case managers
055weekly. We also meet with the general education teacher for each person on our for each p person on the students IEP team. We meet regularly as well at least monthly or bi-weekly. We use bright thinkers um for our students, but we also offer accommodated courses just like in an RSB classroom. Um for our students, we use unique learning systems. Um that is for our mods of your students. So that way instead of them getting a certificate of completion, they're able to get a high school diploma and it's based off the common core standards for our students. We have the assist of technology. It's provided according to the their IEP requirements. So that's AAC devices, text to speech, speak to text, word prediction, and audio books. Um staff support families with setup and ongoing use of
056adaptive tools as well. So we do have different things for our parents just to teach them how to use the devices and different thing as well as our team. Next slide. >> All right. Transition support for incoming and exiting students. Students transensing into Taion, we adapt their we take their IEP, we adopt it, and then whatever services that are in their IEP will be modified slightly, but they will still receive their speech OT vision services, anything that's aligned with that. um parent choice for instruction. So we are a parent choice school. We give parents different options that they wouldn't get in a brick and mortar. Even though you might say, "Oh, we don't spend as much time." But the time that we are spending is individualized for each end of person's needs. And also for
057our students, we have different socializing activities. We have student council for them. They go on different field trips, college field trips, yoa, community outreach events, um, and different things like that. So, just for me personally, I think that this is a good place for students. It gives them a different opportunity, a different outlook of their education. Thank you. All right. Online, we have Lee Rosenberg. You are unmuted. You may continue. >> Can you hear me, trustees? >> Yes, we can. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I'm I'm a former former middle school educator, but I'm speaking to you tonight as a a a lawyer for charter schools all across the state, high quality charter schools. And I'm I'm proud to count Talon as one of those charter schools that I
058work with. I want to address headon this issue, this recommendation for a two-year renewal term. This is simply not indicated under the law for a DOS charter school like Talon. The law does have a two-year renewal option that it reserves specifically for low performing charter schools. This is under state law. This is 47607.2A. There is, contrary to what I think has been suggested, there are no state guidelines at all that would recommend a a two-year charter renewal term for a DOS charter like Taleon. Kalian's never been classified by the California Department of Education as a local charter school. Again, it's classified as a DOS school and the the two-year renewal framework just does not apply at all. Ultimately, is it is this district board that has the discretion to approve the renewal term requested in
059the charter petition, and there are all sorts of good reasons for approving a seven-year term. We've identified those in the petition where we are a a a stable charter school with that is fiscally sound that is demonstrating value for students. A seven-year renewal term will mean that the school can focus its resources over the next seven years on surveying students rather than repetitive and back-to-back renewal season and sessions. And the same thing is true for the district. The district can focus on its students instead of going through multiple renewal seasons again back to back. And next slide please. With respect to the petition itself, the law is also very clear on what the guidelines are, what what the standards are for evaluating a charter petition at renewal. I believe that that part of the basis
060for the two-year recommendation was a misunderstanding of those very standards. All that the law requires is a reasonably comprehensive description of the educational program in 15 specific areas. This is right in the law. The law does not require an exhaustive description of all operations. There was a number of criticisms in the staff report uh suggesting that that certain uh areas of curriculum uh sped operations e operations were not spelled out. Um again the charter petition is not an operating manual. It is a general roadmap for how the charter school will operate in general. There was criticism in the petition for example uh over uh lack of alleged lack of goals and measurable outcomes. Uh those were fully incorporated in the petition through the LCAP that was attached to the petition. There was a a criticism
061for example that uh the petition did not address uh uh high school credit transfers. Uh that was addressed within the petition itself. uh we fully believe and as somebody who reviews uh tens and hundreds of charter petitions uh I can confirm that the petition is very much reasonably comprehensive. The district staff report also says that they relied on a a matrix by FICMAT. Um this matrix was never adopted by the board as its evaluative tool or as the board's own standards. I note that the uh matrix is not attached to the findings at all. It's not a set of legally binding standards and it just can't be used to have any kind of bearing on this process and and specifically on uh the charter school being entitled to only a two-year renewal. Again, as a
062DOS school, comparing Kalan with a traditional K8 program is just not the corrective lens. The law is very clear in putting a DAS school like Kalan in its own evaluative bucket. um and the district's use of metrics that are applicable to non-das schools um is is not appropriate for this renewal. Further to these issues around the valuation uh of the petition, I note that and I I heard earlier some some question as to whether uh the metrics should have been set at the very beginning of this charter school's existence. What I want to note is that this uh this requirement to to set metrics to meet and to set them came into law with AB1505 and that was uh in late 2019 early 2020. So this requirement to to meet with the uh with the
063charter with uh the administration and to mutually work together on standards that that has been in the law over the this current term and that was an obligation that existed for for this particular term. Uh our experience in the rule process was that staff did not engage with tale personnel uh last year heading up to this renewal process. Uh instead uh in contrast, Talon had significant communication with the district. We reached out with a letter uh proposing uh alternative metrics that were aligned to who we are as a DOS school and and that communication was not met with a a serious or substantive response. Uh I note that the school has consistently uh offered the opportunity for site visits to work together collaboratively. Um but ultimately the district based much of its criticisms on observations
064during a very brief visit that did not provide a fair or accurate basis for evaluating the charter school's eligibility for renewal. Again, the law sets out what those standards are, what needs to be in those 15 elements, how how those alternative metrics are evaluated, um and the district site site visits. uh did not form any basis for recommendation that the school is only eligible for a two-year renewal. I also note uh it's been suggested that the the the great personalization of the educational program presents concerns around whether the program is fully standards aligned. I note that that this school is an independent study model. Uh this this means that under the law Keon is required to personalize learning for each student and that's a positive not a negative. The fact that curriculum is personalized does
065not in any way mean that curriculum is not researchbased or standards aligned as the staff report and presentation suggest. To the contrary um all curriculum including English learner development curriculum it it is researchbased and standards aligned and if there had been a conversation on that issue before the staff report was published um the district would have would have had that information before making that statement. As another example of statements made without without basis, the district has suggested again that that there would need to be some kind of ELD uh standards aligned curriculum specifically for ELD that may be based in in something like a textbook or formal uh commercial materials, but there's no legal requirement for a dis for a very distinct standalone ELD textbook. The ELD program under the law may be shaped um
066based on what is necessary to meet those students individual needs. And as an independent studies school with a robust description and its charter petition for how it provides designated and integrated EL services, the charter petition very much meets the mark on on providing a high quality ELD program. I note that the district acknowledged in this presentation that fiscal impact cannot be considered as part of a charter renewal petition. This is part of the law that that came into effect u with AB1505 in 2019. Um but I but I am concerned that the inclusion of this information is misleading and maybe misunderstood um where the the district is citing uh in lie of property tax transfers that the the district is providing and over to the charter school. This misunderstand this this suggests that the district
067is um sustaining that as a loss out of pocket and that's just not the case. Um, the district is a LCFF district, meaning that any delta uh between local property tax revenues and the per student funding rate that districts are entitled to that the state makes the district whole through through the state aid payments. The state sets a per student amount and the district's payments to the state ensures that the district receives that amount for each student that the district serves. So Talian does not have any kind of negative fiscal impact on the district of any kind. I note that the dis that Talian provides 1% of its revenue to the district for all students, not just the students uh that are that are residents of the district. Uh and again the vast majority of
068Talon students are not district students. And so the the Tale's operation certainly provides a net positive for the district even on a financial basis. And further because Kalon serves non-traditional students who are unlikely to enroll in traditional students, Kaleon does not take away students who would otherwise be attending the stu this school district as a traditional uh student. Thank you. I believe that's my last slide. >> Thank you. uh board. I just want to um say thank you to the trustees and to superintendent Walker for allowing us to um come and and share with you a lot of the good things that are happening at Ton specifically. We are happy to be able to share with you um how we are rooted in uh strong educational practices and that our students are receiving what what
069they need educationally and specifically that our students are also able to um receive education in an environment that works for them personally. um not all students are able to be successful in the same environment and that's why charter schools and specifically non-classroom schools exist to allow families to make that choice so their students can best be served. We are um again grateful to the board of trustees uh for the opportunity and and we will say that we really hope to develop a relationship with district uh superintendent and staff where they will come and and spend time with us and and visit with us. We have had that um experience in the past with other superintendents and we have always when a new superintendent has come and we've seen many of them over you know the
07013 years um we have always invited them to come and spend time with us and get to know our staff understand what uh we're doing for our students because we're really proud of it. So, we will continue to make that invitation and hope that that uh staff will come and and visit with us. Um, I would ask that the board um make a motion to approve our renewal petition for the seven years as we have asked. We will gladly work with staff um and district personnel in in any way that they would like to collaborate with us. We've always been open to that and look forward to that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Open up for questions. Trusty Stewart. >> Uh Trusty Lef French. >> I have no questions at this time. I'm waiting
071for us to >> have open discussion. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you know what? Let me ask one question because then the discussion they may not know the answer. Can you tell me how many of our students actually attend Telon that wouldn't come to us? >> Yes, in the report um it's documented 47 students. And I will tell you that not all of those students come directly from AESD. They may have been at another school, um a county school, another charter, and then they come to us, >> right? or or if they're residents of Atlanta, they're they may be high school students that we service as well. >> Okay, >> Trusty Krauss. >> No questions this time. Thank you, President Ker. >> I have no questions. I do want to appreciate your guys' presentation and bringing
072the uh further information to the board. Thank you. Okay. Thank you for Thank you for your presentation. Thank you for being here. I don't have any questions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to new business. Educational services approval of the Ton High Desert Academy Charter School Renewal Petition. At this time, trustees, I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll sign motion. President Sto amend the recommendation to five years renewal. >> Is there a second? >> Left French. I second. >> Open it up for uh discussion. Trusty Krauss since you moved on the motion. >> Yes. Thank you, President Sto. And uh first I want to say thank you to the district staff for uh their diligence in preparing all the information for the board and also thank Tion for their participation in their presentation
073this evening. Um I think it's uh very well presented. Um like I said earlier, I have visited them and uh I've talked to them. They are uh served our students, our families in Adalanto. U students that possibly would not do well in a traditional setting. I've talked to many families who have said, "No, there's no way my child would uh benefit from a traditional school setting." So, hypothetically, if we were to bring those 47 students back, they probably or may not be that, uh, you know, we're looking at. And so, um, that's one of my, um, you know, thoughts on this. But also, I wanted to make it clear, uh, earlier last week, uh, for the record, uh, a staff member went on the California Department of Education website and took a screenshot of the
074California school directory. It's like the yellow pages for California schools. Every school is on there, including Ton. Uh but because Ton falls under the Atalant Elementary School District uh charter, um we oversee them, uh the superintendent is always listed as the contact person on that directory. It's the yellow pages, but uh it has not been updated since I left the district as superintendent. And so my name was on there as the contact person, but it was presented to uh the district as if I worked for Ton and that there was a conflict of interest. And I want to make it absolutely positively clear this evening. I have never worked for Tion. I have no financial interest in any of their operations. They can verify this and anyone else that wishes to. Um so I wanted
075to make it clear there is no perceived or any other uh conflict of interest uh with Ton and myself. Um I I I think it's absolutely absurd that somebody would try to uh use that to to leverage uh these decision this evening. Again, it it's it reeks of interference behind the scenes, but nonetheless, here we are. And I wanted to make that statement. And Ton can also back me up on that. My interest is our families in Adalanto. Tleon's families are our families. Ton students are our students. And so, as as stated earlier, they present an alternative program that is able to offer those students a pathway to success that maybe our district cannot. And so the fiscal impact that was stated earlier as well of the 800,000 or whatever the number is I do
076apologize I don't have it. Um all charter schools do take out uh do get uh in lie of taxes. Uh we have other charter schools that take students from our district. If we're going to look at Ton perhaps we need to look at Desert Trails and how much money that we bleed to Desert Trails or how much money we bleed to Excelsier who's over at our Shepard Middle School, our old Shepard Middle School on the George Air Force Base. Those are examples of other charters that potentially are taking our students and uh educating them there at their institutions and then we lose those students from ADA. And so if we're going to talk about one school with the money or one one site, we we really need to bring into uh consideration uh these other
077schools as well. But I haven't heard anybody say anything about them uh this evening. But unfortunately uh they do as well um use in lie of taxes. So, uh, anyway, I do appreciate, uh, the information presented this evening. And again, I think that two years is not enough time. Uh, they've been renewed over and over again. If you go back to their last renewal, uh, without any, uh, uh, situational conditions or anything else, they've been in business since, I believe, 2013. And I just don't believe that an organization like that is going to jeopardize their their accreditation with Wasque, uh, their standing in the community by by going downhill. uh it just doesn't make sense uh on the surface and I've been in education for 25 years and I I do think I have a
078little bit of experience I'd say being a CBO and a superintendent in assessing charter schools. I I was part of two major charter school petitions in the state of California in intimately involved in their renewals and their process and so I have a vast experience unlike other people that are making this recommendation of two years. So again, it is my recommendation, President Stoodto and board that uh I amend the chart amend the um motion to five years and allow the district and Ton time to collaborate, communicate, and figure out uh a better path moving forward where the district can feel better about the work that Ton's doing. So thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Stewart. Since you made the mo second the motion, >> I believe love love French. Seconded the mo motion. >> That's
079correct. I apologize. Trusty French. >> Okay. So, here we >> Mike keeper. Here we sit with this decision. Right. As I think about having an alternative for students, it's very important that especially in the high desert, it's very important that students have another place to go to. Everyone is not a cookie cutter that is um going to go to a traditional school whether you are in TK kindergarten or in the 12th grade. Especially sometimes for our high school students, they really need some place to go. your location. Um your location here in our school district is a perfect location to be able to catch on both sides. And for um the children that are not in that cookie cutter, they need individ individualized um structure. You may not have a traditional classroom where you're going
080in there from 8 to 8 to 3 or whatever the case may be, but to have students that want to come there that um get up in the morning and desire to want to come to school, that's the most important thing to me. To me, it's them wanting to be there, having having teachers there that want to be there and carrying it on that they want to go on and move on to college. Um, I also wanted to talk about, let me see, um, accountability, right? Accountability is the bridge that we have between us and you, right? And if the accountability does not fall solely on you, it's on us as well. So I do think that seven years is a long term, right? A long time. I think five years is a perfect fit
081to be able to have that bridge and that accountability. there has been changed in our district and to be able to have that collaboration with each other and to be able to show this matrix or you know I don't claim to know everything but I do know that for students that's what I'm here for and I know that it's important for them to be able to feel safe to go someplace to be able to have people there that support them and if you guys weren't supporting them they wouldn't be there and their parents wouldn't be So, that's all I have to say. Thank you for your presentations. I think that, you know, I'm going to be able to get up and recite some stuff about Taylor um next board meeting because we've um had so
082many different presentations and I thank everybody for, you know, taking the time out to come. Thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Prince. Trusty Stewart. Um, so when I came onto the board, um, and I went to CSBBBA and you still hear hear it with board me members from other dis districts. The board me members want all chargers gone. They want them gone. They're a threat to the district. They're take taking our kids and s such and such. Um me as I I work at a chart charter school, you know, that side of me says, "Well, if you guys had been do doing your jobs, we wouldn't need chart charters." Um but most districts can't wait to get rid rid of them and they get rid rid of them with no no cause. They just or
083they find the slight slightest excuse. We have a district here that wants to work with you. They want to work because we are account countable for your chart charter. We have to vote. We are account countable. And then here you have a district and a sup superintendent who does want to work and she wants to establish the this matrix which protects the district district and you're yourself because then it's saying well we've met these you know I don't think the district is going to come in and say you have to do it our way. I really don't believe believe that because you are on an an alternative pro program. Um, and I don't I I didn't see a thing wrong with the two two-year because it's just estab establishing it. But who's to say that
084it it will just be two two years there? There's no guar guarantee that you know it it would always be two two years you know um but the five fiveyear I am fine with you know and I don't see any anything wrong with us work working together the dis district and the chart charter because you know that would help the district learn the chart charter end. So they and understand and then we the dis district district can say yeah they're served servicing our ch children you know and then we we could show other dis district districts how we can work together together because yeah our kids are your your kids your kids you know not all kids fit the same plan and I get that but let's work two together together together and so you
085know and I think from from you know now now we'll we'll have have time to work and observe more than what was said what an hour an hour and a half now we have a chance to work you know the dis district I say us though I'm not really doing the work but you get it right um you know and I think in in in the end we want what's best for for the kids so that they can go on to be success successful. So thank thank you. >> Thank you Trusty Stewart VP Kire. >> Good evening everyone. I want to take a moment and say thank you to both our staff and Haley on staff for being here enlightening us and bringing us together to make this decision. Although I'm a bit um disappointed
086that it won't be seven years proposed and that it is a fiveyear proposed, I do want to emphasize how important it is to our community to share the bond and share the collaboration we have had in 13 years. I do look forward to more years than that collaborating with Taion. As it has been stated, students are not cookie cutters and not all students that go to charters are falling behind. Some want to get forward. Um, ironically, I graduated from a charter early because that was my motive. uh President Stoodto as well. It makes sense to have those options for our students, for our communities, for our parents. I think it really sets a standard to give those students with different pathways those opportunities. I want to thank Tion for giving our community that for the
087last 13 years. I do look forward to you guys being here many more as we are short on high schools in this part of town and being able to have that opportunity where you don't have to sit on a bus for so long is probably really appreciated by a lot of your students right um so with that I will close my comments tonight and I do look forward to our vote Thank you, VP K. So, I just want to be uh pretty clear about my stance when it comes to charter schools. I attended both public and charter schools um here in Alonso and Victorville. And um I attended Encore, which we all know or those that are aware in the community, it's a really good school. I I actually really like it's a charter school
088and that was closed down and so I'm very mindful as well of the um kind of demeanor the kind of challenges that charter schools go through and sometimes result you know in charter schools shutting down. They don't meet those requirements. So I come from that aspect as well and as VP Ker had mentioned I did graduate from a charter school. So in that um aspect as my colleagues are also sharing not everyone is cookie cutter is the word that they're saying is being said and that's exactly um that example I couldn't find after I finished Encore Middle School I couldn't find a uh my place so I went to school I went to different school University Prep another charter school didn't didn't find my place then I um uh inquired ired about the charter school
089next to the stater brothers which is I think AB learning academy and I may have changed the name but um I inquired and they shared with me that there was a 15-year-old student who graduated high school at 15 so I was like I want to try that you know I want to do that um they didn't let me in university prep the earliest they allowed me was one year so I transferred schools I went to um a charter school and I graduated high school in 2.5 years um half of the four years. I just shared that to um remind the public that al I do support alternative schooling. There are um instanc instances in which charter schools are more beneficial than harmful to communities. However, I am mindful of of the challenges. So, I just
090want to share that story um about the possibilities of charter schools helping lowincome minority minority um groups um families which I come from to be able to accomplish something. I don't think that I've been able to I would have been able to be in this position if I didn't get a head start in life. That's what really helped me out is getting a head start in life. And so, um yeah, it's unfortunate the recommended is two years, but let's move forward. um on the motion. Um any other last comments? Trustees, >> President President Sto, >> Trusty Krauss, >> if I wish to change my first motion, would that be a substitute motion or amended motion? If I decided to do that, sir. >> So you would amend. So amen, you would if you're just adding
091or changing a few words of the motion, you're amending it. If you're going to change the complete motion that you propose, you're be substituting that motion. So if I want to change the year recommendation, >> you would. >> All right, sir. All right, sir. I would like to amend my original motion from 5 years to seven years approval. >> Okay, there's an amendment by Trusty Krauss >> to approve for seven years. Is there a second? >> I'll second. All right, we'll open it up for discussion. Trustee Krauss, since you made the amendment, we're going back to discussion. >> Yes, thank you. I I have no discussion. I I just, you know, the more I I chew on it and think about it. They've been here for so long and I hope that they're here a
092lot longer, but I also hope that they have an opportunity to work with our district staff and I and I'm going on basing my recommendation on the hope that Taleon's administration will reach out to the district's administration and start whatever process uh of of assessment of the metrics uh what have you there. And I believe they will. I believe that we can work collaboratively together to benefit all of our families uh in in the high desert. the the students that attend Taleon. And so, uh, again, it is my hope that, uh, Ton's administration will be proactive and work with the district's, uh, administration as well to to meet whatever conditions. And, and I would like to also, uh, suggest that at some point in the future, we get an update at a future board meeting,
093um, on that progress and not wait for two, five, seven years, but perhaps sometime this year, if the board's okay with that, an update on the progress and the collaboration that hopefully would take place. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um any other comments? I'll just share I I actually like trust your original motion of the five years. Um >> yeah, I mean >> are we're going to get to do a comment? Yeah, I I Okay, Trusty Stewart, >> I felt five five years was reasonable. You know, the tip typical chart charter re renewal is five years. I I p personally feel and this is my personal that the the change in the amendment is something of a p personal nature. need nature and I just think we need need to be pract practical here. There's
094no nothing wrong with with the dis district district's o oversight of a chart charter. The dis district is account countable. It's it's the response responsibilility of the dis district district I five years I don't think is incredibly out of reach. >> Thank you, Trusty Le French. >> Here we go once again. Where the feeling of the changing of the vote, I'm just not quite understanding. you know it was something that um and I don't want to say hey you know Michael you know what was the changing point for you for the seven from five to seven um I do think that the fiveyear would be a standard I don't know why it changed to seven um I too myself um feel as if that the five years or is just fine ton is um someone
095that we want in community. Um we want to um we've already um talked about that, you know, that they are definitely an asset to our students and other students that aren't our students. Um I'm just not um clear on why it would change from five to seven in such a short period of time. That's all I'm quite fine with the five years agreed upon it and think that you know that um I don't understand it. >> I guess I don't have a question. >> Thank you. >> President Sto, if I may. >> All right, Trusty Krauss. >> Yes. In lie of the discussion uh just uh had what I don't want to see happen is the renewal get denied uh because that's obviously uh not good for all parties involved and so it appears on
096the surface that uh my amended motion would potentially die. Uh, and that's what I do not want. Uh, because then the petition itself presented would probably die and I don't know what the recourse would be if that happened. Um, so is there a way to go back to my original motion which seems to have more support to possibly pass uh of the five years? >> Thank Thank you, Trusty Krauss. You have a very good point. Um, yes. So, and and so I guess what we in my view and the board can chime in. In my view, we would take the vote um and if that substitute motion dies and it goes to the original motion um is my understanding. If colleagues you want to chime in and correct me, but we have a substitute motion.
097I'm sorry. We have an amendment motion. that amendment motion. >> We didn't vote the first time either. Can we just Can we go back to amend the amend? We didn't vote on it the first time. >> All right. >> Or it was amended again. >> Yeah. So, it was amended for seven years by Trusty Krauss and then second by Trusty K. We haven't had the vote yet. what we can do is um take the vote and you have a point. You know, I just so I'm clear on the record. I wasn't ready to move forward with the seven-year renewal. Um there I had a lot of questions about what was presented to me and that has really nothing to do with Ton. Um, it may I mean it may correlate in terms of some of
098the questions I have, but again I think that there's a lot of things that were not within the board's control about this process that just didn't make me feel comfortable moving forward seven years. So I that's my recommendation is that >> point of order. >> Sure. Trusty Ver >> upon review the vote on the amendment if the motion dies then it reverts back to the original motion. So we would need to vote on the amended motion first and if that were to die then it would resort back to the original motion on the table. Thank you. >> Thank you VP Ker for verifying. So, we'll take the vote um trusty Krauss on the um five seven-year renewal and if that dies like uh BP K verified and I have been explaining we'll go back to
099the original motion any >> okay >> thank you trusty Krauss all right we'll take the vote trusty Krauss >> Krauss nay >> trusty ker >> ker I >> trusty French >> nay. >> Trusty Stewart >> nay. >> S nay. Motion passes or motion fails 41. It reverts back to the original motion 5 years of the renewal petition for Paleon. We'll take the vote. We don't have any more discussion. Trusty Krauss. >> Krauss. I >> Trusty Ker. I'm sorry. VP Ker. >> All right. >> Trusty of French. >> I. >> Trusty Stewart. >> I. >> Soro. I. Motion passes. 5 Ton High Desert Academy Charter School Renault has been approved by the board for 5 years. >> All right, moving on to number six. Um, did I really wanted to pull this because um I didn't
100have the chance to review the agenda. It's my understanding during special board meetings we don't have reports and governing announcements on here. So, if I had the time, I would have given a heads up. But if the board is the majority of the board is willing to move along um that that's what I'm as as a facilitator of the meeting, I'd like for us to just get be done already. Um if that's okay with the board, we can report next week in my view. Let's just Yeah. What do you guys think? >> Okay. No, >> call it out for trustee. Trusty Stewart. >> Um, well, I do just want to share real real quick that that I got an email asking if it was if I was available on for Friday, Friday the the 6
101for a spe special board meet meeting. And I had asked, you know, what was so pressing because we have a board me meeting meeting on the 10th that it could wait. And as far far as I know that there was none until I got a text from Z saying that there was a spe special board meeting tonight and then I got a reply from the board pre president. Yes. yesterday morning that there was a timely thing. Um, you know, I responded to the email to the board prep president with within many men minutes of receiving his email, but got no re response and it wasn't again, you know, as a board me member, I should have been made aware of this spe special board meet meeting ahead headed ahead of time so that I could
102plan accordingly. So I mean which all board members should have known what was go going on. Also, I do want to make make make it clear just so it's out there. Secure security is here for the EAS. The EAS decide decided not not to come. So, we didn't have to have a secure security. Um but when they are here that is when they are supposed to come to protect our EAS to make sure that the restraining order is not by violated that is in their fa favor. Thank thank you. >> Thank you French. Okay. So, I'm happy for tailing, but I do want to say a couple of I do want to say a couple of things. So I don't want to change the momentum here but I know that um after being board president
103for for uh two years that just a form of I guess I would say like a form of respect for what people are doing as you know trustees you know I did receive an email for a special board meeting on Friday it's no hidden secret that I do work kind of are right and um for the board meeting to change till today and try to get off work and get here. I just think that for me as a board president that I did ask my board, you know, like, hey, it's six o'clock. Cool. you know, um we know that we have um you know, sometimes people have children to pick up or whatever they may do, but you know, I do my best to get here on time. You know, um my job works with
104me. You know, I've been here, but I would just think that going forward that kind, you know, not asking for no special accommodations. You know, I made it here, but just as you know, anyone else just to be told in a timely manner and just not I can make the decisions because I'm the board president. I don't talk to people like that. I don't have never said things like, "Oh, well, I'm board president, so you know, get here if you can." That's just not how we work together if we want to build those relationships among us. I do have something else that I wanted to talk about that it's interesting, right? when things are written in the newspaper, you know, um it's interesting, but I'm aware of the comments that were published in the newspaper
105regarding me. While I do understand that public comments come with this role, my decisions as a trustee are always guided by what I believe is in the best interest of our students, our families, and this district. I remain focused on my responsibil and my commitments um to serving with integrity that I have the utmost integrity for Shawn Le French that I do not waver from what it is that I do for this district. Um I do stand and will continue to stand by Dr. Walker because I believe that she is here for the support of our district. I believe in Taleon. I don't think that it's okay for people to just say whatever they want to say about people in the newspaper, but you know, hey, I've been told that, you know, that they can,
106whether it's true or not. But it doesn't change the fact that today I left my job early to get here on time, flying up the 15 in the home pass because this is what I signed on for and I'll be here next Tuesday and what every other Tuesday or whatever somebody says, let me change it on a Friday to a Tuesday. I don't know if it's done intentionally or what, but I'll do whatever I'm supposed to do in order to support the families, the children, and the community of Atlanta. Thank you. >> Thank you, BP Ker. >> All right. So, since we're doing this, I'm just going to do it. I haven't had the opportunity to speak in a couple board meetings due to time measurements um and not feeling well at the last one.
107So, I'm just going to do a quick recap. Um the last time I got to spoke, it was before winter break. I did want to highlight though the amazing performances that all of our schools did put on for the winter festivities. I want to thank our PTAs, our teachers, because man, these kids rocked those songs, those dances. It really did fill my heart to see so many so excited, but so proud to stand on that stage and show their parents how hard they worked with their classmates and their teachers. Um, once again, PTAs, thank you so much. We could not have such beautifully decorated gymnasiums and performances without your hard work, your dedication, and the support to the students at those schools. Um, as we returned to school, I know things were very sluggish, but
108I do hear that they kicked off very well. A lot of students were excited to be back with their friends, with their teachers, with their staff members. And it is always so encouraging to see so many students happy um to come to school to enjoy the education that they are getting. Um I do want to go ahead and congratulate Tayion for being part of our community for the next five years. Um, thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your service to our students and our communities. Um, as we continue to grow, as more students filter into the future and start becoming part of our society, I will close tonight with a quick comment on the ongoing communication issues that some of us board members have been facing with the district. It's gotten quite
109exasperating in my own stance and I speak solely for me. But I do hope moving forward we don't have as much issue trying to get a special board meeting, get agendas posted, um, and and being able to talk because I feel that we have spent so much time on the politics. We've spent so much time on the fingerpointing and I guess my my bottom line question is when do we get back to the students? When do we focus on them again? I missed the student performances here in in the boardroom where everyone got to come. We had cheerleaders. We had instruments come from from George. We had awards where we got to celebrate the successes of our students. And yet I find myself board meeting after board meeting coming to a point where I dread
110coming because we're more focused on the politics and the fingerpointing and and the arguments that I feel that we have all lost focus on what we truly came here to be and that would be the advocates of the students today and the future tomorrow. I will end tonight by thanking everyone in our community, in our audience tonight for being here and advocating for those students as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, VP Car. Let me just begin by stating that I am um working on and I am Oh, did Trusty K did I skip Trusty Krauss, right? Trusty Krauss, I apologize. Please go ahead. No worries, President Sto. Thank you. Since we opened it up for uh board member comments, I appreciate that. I agree with trust uh vice president Kyer that we really need
111to start focusing on what matters most and that's our students, our staff, and our families as we move forward. So, it's my hope uh that as we enter February that uh that seems to be the case. Um, a couple of points that I wanted to bring up is that um, President Sto, we had asked for this agenda item back in December for the December board meeting. Uh, staff pushed it out. Uh, we asked again January 13th. Staff pushed it out. Somehow, mysteriously, our January 27th board meeting had to be cancelled because nobody seemed to be able to know how to post the agenda in the district office. So that's why we did not have a January 27th board meeting for the public record. Uh we had to call the special board meeting because there is
112a timeline, a legal timeline, a 90day window that we had to approve or deny the charter for Ton. That is why we had to get a special board meeting uh this evening uh because after today we would have been out of compliance as a district. yet even though we had been asking for this agenda item for several board meetings now uh and somehow mysteriously it never made it on there. And so I wanted to put that out there in the public record that we should have never waited till the very last day of being in compliance with approving or denying this charter. And yet here we are. So we want to talk about communication. We have had a one-way communication for several months about getting this on the agenda and for several months it has
113not mysteriously made it on the agenda. And so I would at some point love to know the reason why staff uh or the district superintendent did not get it on the agenda when it was asked for and I have emails that back up everything I'm saying this evening why it has not been there. And I also wanted to dignify my comment. The superintendent has never stepped foot on a Ton facility. So if she wants to not dignify my comment, she's more than welcome to. But I challenge her to prove that she has stepped foot on a Ton facility or even toward one or talk to their staff, students, and families. So before somebody throws shade at me and makes my comment undignified, I do speak of facts and I speak with evidence on everything that
114I have ever brought before the board and before the public. And with that, I shall end my comments this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you, Trusty Krauss. I'll just start by saying that um I'm dedicated to working and I'm working on and dedicated to improving communication on my end. um on Monday yesterday on I apologize. Okay. So, on Monday, February 2nd, which is yesterday, I sent out an email at 8:41 a.m. notifying the board that I need to call a special meeting to the point of what Trusty Krauss was just explaining to the public. We have to have a special meeting. The petition deadline is soon. That that's it. And so that's just to address the communication part. You know, I am working on it. I'm dedicated to working on communication. The other thing that
115I want to share with the public since we since we want to do this as VP K suggested, I very I I really want you guys to um take note of what is happening. I mean the the comments that are being thrown at by colleagues to other colleagues question the merit of that. We just got here versus colleagues. We're this new recomposed board. We're freshman. We're new. And yet we have a veteran um colleagues who choose to say these things behind the dis. When VP Ker and I were in the minority, we did not act nor did we behave in this manner. This is not good governance. This is not effective governance. We There is a process that we have when there are concerns. You come to the board president, you work it out. No.
116And I've said it before. I'm not a dictator. I do have a legal responsibility and obligation as board president. That doesn't mean I act or will choose to behave like a dictator. And we want to talk about respect. It goes both ways. Respect goes both ways. And I think that's where we're losing that connection is that we're talking about the board respecting others, but what about the lack of respect that the board is not is receiving? You don't think that our age is why we're being disrespected? Maybe, but this is and and and furthermore, since this is what we want to do, I would just highly encourage you to read the San Bernardino Sentinel article because I just think that like come on, you know, let's just be real like we know what is happening
117and yet we choose to to try and fight behind the DAS when governance, the best governance This is coming from a freshman board member, a new board president, and yet this is how we choose to move forward. This doesn't make this doesn't make sense. It's why we have a recomposed board. We're trying to refocus on kids. And yet behind the scenes, people want to pull strings. People want to play politics. And it's frustrating as board president when you keep getting the lack of support from your colleagues and that was said hypocritically in the past when we had a former board president as well. So I have my phone number public. You guys can reach out. I told you where to look if you're interested. It's pretty interesting article. Um but that's where the board is
118at. You know that's where we're at. So that's all my comments. We're going to move on to adjournment. Um, at this time I'll entertain a motion. >> I mo motion to uh adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> Ker I second. >> Trusty Krauss I. >> Trusty BP Ker I. >> Trusty Le. >> Trusty Stewart >> Stewart I. >> Stole I. The time is 7:39. We are adjourned. We'll see you next week. Have a good evening. Congratulations.