Feb 05, 2026 - Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees

001I call this meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Going to go ahead and take a roll call. Uh Amanda Buchanan, I'm present. Maria Akara, >> I'm here. >> Anita Tucker, here. >> Rick Raleigh, >> I'm here. >> And Renee Longshore, here. >> All right. Can you please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance? Right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge algiance to 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. >> All right, we do have public comments. Um we will start with uh uh Ashley Smith and then Alexis De Jesus. You will be on deck and then following behind Alexis will be Grain Ean. Oh, it looks like All right. While we

002are waiting, speakers are requested to limit comments to a maximum of three minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, subsequent speakers should limit their remarks to new information only. Public comments shall be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes per item. speak. >> All right. And my apologies. We did just receive another card that will also be on item number one and two. So, we are going to stick that one in front of the item three card. Um, so Sarah, and I apologize. Um, it's a D. Maybe do um if you could please follow behind Alexis. Thank you. All right. >> Yeah, I'm sorry. The first one is Ashley Smith. Then we have Alexis de Jesus. And then we'll have Sarah with a D on item one, two. Those

003are the first three. And then we will be going to Grineing Eaton. I apologize for early. It is. Hi, welcome. Make sure your mic we'll make sure your mic is on there. >> Hello. Okay. Okay. Do I wait for the timer or I can just go? Okay. All right. Hi, my name is Ashley Smith. For 12 years, I've served this district as a PAR educator. The decision to cut 241 classified staff members, including 167 of my fellow PAR educators, is a devastating mistake. Sorry. Why is the burden of leadership's error being placed on the shoulders of those who earn the least but give the most? We are the first line of defense. We are the deescalators when a student is in crisis before they can even go get to counseling. We are the ones who

004escort them there. We are the ones grading papers, testing students for IEPs, scheduling IEPs, providing one-on-one help to the kids who are falling behind, and so much more. When a student's behavior disrupts a classroom, it is a PAR educator who steps in. so the lesson can continue. I've had former students tell me they wouldn't have graduated if it wasn't for my belief in them. I've sat in the audience for those whose parents couldn't show up or wouldn't show up. And I'm not here to toot my own horn, but to speak for every classified worker who has become a lifelong mentor to these children. We are not just numbers on your seniority list. We are the people who make learning possible. We are invaluable to the campus. Even after the letter went out showing all the

005positions to be, you know, I have seen every fellow classified staff show up every day still giving their whole heart to these kids. That is who we are and that is who you are cutting. We work directly with the children every single day. Yet, we are the first ones you choose to cut. I urge you to reconsider. Don't let our students and our staff suffer for the actions of the higher-ups. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, >> Ashley. >> You're fine. No, no, thank you. >> All right, we'll have Alexis next, then Sarah, and then Graying. Hi. >> Hello. Um, oh, I guess that's it. Okay, we can help you. Hang on one second. We'll adjust it. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, hello. My name is Alexis de Jesus and I have been a par educator

006all over the Victor Valley for several years now, including here in the Apple Valley Unified School District. Um, I'm coming here on behalf of all of the positions that are being proposed wanting to be cut. Um, a lot of them being PAR educator positions. Um, these positions are not something that can be easily removed. Um, these positions are important to not only our teachers but also to our students, to their education, and to their families as well. PAR educators provide so much more work than is probably recognized to be quite honest with you. Um to think that teachers could handle you know anywhere from honestly like 10 kids or more max um being like what 2530 maybe like in like a classroom um is completely unacceptable. There's no way that teachers would be able to

007handle those children by themselves, especially being that, you know, each student has different needs and all those different needs need to be addressed. Um, no two students can be treated the same and, you know, we need to have people who are able to provide to each child like differently. Every child deserves care. They deserve attention. They deserve respect and they deserve people who are going to be there for them and not um you know overworking our teachers, overworking whatever is left of the staff to be able to be there to care for them or else they're not going to get the attention that they deserve and their education is going to fall apart. um especially if we're starting like at elementary, those are really critical years and to take away faculty and um teachers who

008were critical to these students growth and learning. Um it's just really sad to see. Um so I'm just here on behalf of myself and a lot of other PAR educators that I know who aren't able to make it today to just um really ask you to place more value on special education. Um it's just something that is really I don't want to say victimized but um they you know there's a lot of burden placed on special education and a lot of um negativity and that's not the case. Um special education has been one of the greatest things that I've been able to do in my life is to be able to help care for these students in these programs. Um and I know that a lot of other par educators and teachers and faculty would

009agree with me. So I'm just asking to please reconsider cutting these positions because they are is very very critical to the needs of our students. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] All right. Next we'll have Sarah, then Gring and then JC Scott. Okay. Sorry. >> May I begin? >> Yes. Thank you >> members of the board, cabinet, the community, and my union brothers and sisters of both units, CSA and Nvooda. My name is Graying Isan, CSEA Labor Relations Representative of the Ranchukamonga field office assigned to Apple Valley Chapter 82A. I want to be clear, the scale of classified layoffs being proposed is not supported by the district's own financial documents and it does not address the real causes of the budget deficit. According to the FIDMAT, this deficit was caused by using one-time funds to

010pay for ongoing salaries and benefits, entering agreements without identifying permanent funding sources and delaying corrective action even after deficit spending began. These are governance and planning failures. They are not the fault of classified employees. Yet, classified staff are being asked to bear the consequences. The district has been deficit spending for multiple years. VicMac explicitly warns that relying on reserves and temporary fundings to support ongoing costs is unsustainable. Yet, that is exactly what occurred when those funds ran out. Costs were shifted, creating today's deficit. despite multiple opportunities over the years to reduce expenses responsibly. At the same time, the tracking funds in a ABUSD's report confirms that declines in reserves were driven by interfund transfers and accounting adjustments, not excessive classified staffing or missing money. The numbers do not support blaming classified employees. When a deficit

011is caused by leadership and governance decisions, accountability must start at the top, not be imposed on the lowest paid employees who had no role in causing it. Despite this, the district is proposing to eliminate over 20 240 classified positions, most of them frontline staff, pareducators, campus security, custodians, clerical staff, and special education support. These employees are essential to sa student safety, learning and daily school operations. Cutting them does not fix a structural deficit. It shifts the burden onto the workers and directly harms students. As I reviewed the layoff list, serious questions arose. Are sports and student clubs being discontinued? How will classrooms function in IEP services be maintained? How will student safety be protected and maintained? How will schools meet and maintain daily student and parent needs? There are also legal concerns. Under California Education

012Code 45117F1, classified employees may not be laid off if temporary or short-term employees are retained to perform the same work. Has the board been presented with a plan to address this? And if these classified positions are laid off, the board must be clear about which programs and services are being reduced or discontinued. >> Can you finish your topic? It's it's three. Just finish your thought, please. Thank you. >> So, uh, this deficit wasn't caused by administrative and board level decisions, not classified staff. I urge the board to reconsider the scope of these layoffs and align reductions with the actual causes of the deficit, not convenient narrative. Before I leave, I respectfully ask that when you return from close session, you report out a specific number of layoffs. Even partial clarity tonight would provide relief to

013employees facing enormous uncertainty. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, we will have JC Scott, then Jessica Padilla, and then Jennifer Klene. JC Scott, Jessica Padilla, Jennifer Klene. Good evening, Superintendent Nilson, members of the cabinet, trustees, President Sabers and her Avuda members, members of the community, and my brothers and sisters of the California School Employees Association. My name is JC Scott and I proudly serve as the chapter president of CSA Apple Valley 828 and regional representative for this area for the classified professionals who keep this district running every single day. I'm here tonight to urge you clearly and without hesitation to vote no on the proposed reduction in force of 241 classified employees. This this fiscal crisis was not caused by classified staff. It was not caused by custodians, pareducators, campus security assistants, office clerks,

014ASB bookkeepers, or family center coordinators. These employees showed up every single day, did their jobs, and serve the students faithfully, often understaffed, underpaid, and overlooked. What we are facing is a result of fiscal mismanagement and failed planning. And it is unjust and unacceptable to balance the budget of the backs of the lowest paid employees in the district. Asking for accountability is not a personal attack. It is responsible governance. When CSEA raises concerns, we are not pointing fingers. We are asking the question any responsible employer should be asking. How did we get here? What warning signs were missed? And why the proposed solution is so one-sided. If 241 classified employees are being asked to sacrifice their livelihoods, health care and family stability, then this board must also ask where is the shared sacrifice? Where are the

015proportional reductions at the top? Where is the demonstrated accountability for those earning six figure salaries as presented? This proposal does not reflect shared sacrifice. It reflects a shifting of responsibility. Once these jobs are gone, the experience, relationships, the stability they provide will not be easily replaced. This board has a choice tonight. Pursue balance, accountable solutions, or permanently damage trust with the workforce and the community they serve. On behalf of the 241 families affected and the students who depend on them, I respectfully urge you to vote no on this proposal. Thank you. JC Scott, California School Employees Association, Chapter 828. >> Thank you. Next will be Jessica Padilla, then Jennifer Klene, and then Amy Carter. Yes, >> my name is Jessica Padilla. I'm a par profofessional at Victor Valley High School. When classified positions are eliminated,

016it is not an abstract budget decision. It is a direct loss to students, classrooms, and school communities. This is frontline student support, not executive management. Cutting hundreds of classified roles while preserving layers of management sends a painful message about whose work is valued and whose is considered optional. These decisions land hardest on those who are closest to the students and who have had the least power in the system yet carry the greatest responsibility. We recognize that districts face financial pressures, but fiscal responsibility must never come at the expense of dignity, equity, or the essential services that allow schools to function. Classified employees are not line items. They are people, family, and trusted adults in the lives of children. The district once recognized classified employees as essential to keeping schools functioning during CO. That reality has

017not changed. Standing with classified staff is standing with students. Standing with classified staff is standing with fairness. Standing with classified staff is standing for the future of public education. We call for transparency, shared sacrifice, and solutions that protect those who do the most with the least recognition. Our schools cannot thrive without classified employees. and they should not be asked to carry the cost of decisions they did not create. What has fundamentally changed about the necessity of this work? I respectfully request that this question be addressed publicly at the next meeting so it is part of the official record. History will remember whether this board chose to protect students by standing with classified staff or mistook essential work for convenience. Have a great day. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> All right. Next will be Jennifer

018Klene, followed by Amy Carter, and then Jenna Kad Kadras. Hi, good evening. >> Hi. Let's see. [laughter] >> Hi, I am here from three different perspectives. I'm here as a community member. I'm here as a parent and I'm also here as a staff member. I am a special needs para educator at Granite Hills. Um I'll do them in order [laughter] as a community. This kind of job loss, I mean it it affects everybody, not just my family, but everybody. I mean it's reduced taxes, it's reduced spending, local spending specifically. It's a strain on social services. I know I for one am probably going to have to get some kind of help. I mean, jobs aren't easy to find right now. Um, and oh boy, it's an increase in social tension. I think we've uh been

019witnessing a little bit of that. [laughter] Um, as a parent, I see what we do for these kids. I work with I'm a one-on-one with a student this year. I work with their parent. We we work on behavior issues. I was a behavior therapist before this. I mean, I really try to bring a lot to the table here. But, I mean, what do I say? As a parent, I see our support staff gone. So, who's going to support our kids? I mean, who's going to be there? that nobody's gonna have time for them. As a staff member, I mean, you guys have heard it. You've heard it. But there's already not enough of us. We already have to find substitutes all the time. There's a very often students without a one-on-one. I mean, we're we're

020switching positions and trying to scramble to make sure everybody has everything they need already. And now you're cutting 74 special needs paras. Ouch. Plus a lot more of the regular para educators. We need the para educators badly. We need all of the classified staff. I mean, the behaviors are going to get worse. And as a parent, you're going to see behaviors get worse at home, too, because there's nobody to help these kids regulate. There's nobody to help teach them for the majority of their day how to deal with the emotions that they're getting, which means they'll be left on their own to deal with it at home with maybe parents that aren't so trained to deal with these things. It's a lot. My family personally, it's it's a lot. It's financial loss. I mean, I'm

021already feeling the anxiety and the depression, the anger. There's a lot of that helplessness. It's a lot, guys. I mean, put yourself in this position. And where are we gonna find something else? All right, that's all. Thank you. [applause] Next is Amy Carter and then Jenna and then Hector Guzman. Good evening. My name is Amy Carter and I work with moderate severe preschoolers. For 11 years, I have taken great pride being a member of this AVUSD family. I find that very hard to do with these recent developments. I stand before you saddened and appalled by what is occurring. I'm saddened that the lives of 241 hardworking, classified AVUSD employees are being taken for granted while many salaries within AVUSD are ballooned. It's appalling. The AVUSD seal states dignity, community, authenticity, service. How can you claim

022dignity? The principle of treating people with respect and not as objects. In the proposed layoffs, we are not pawns in this game. Where is the community? The feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common goals in the proposed layoffs when doing so removes the community of adults students depend on daily to achieve their goals. I see no evidence of authenticity being genuine, real, and true to oneself in laying off 241 employees because of a fiscal shortfall we had nothing to do with creating. You've lost sight of service. The action of helping or doing work for someone because laying off 241 employees will dramatically alter the educational services we provide to students. Of the proposed classified employee layoffs, 167 of those are PAR educators. Let me say that number again. 167. The support

023provided by PAR educators in classrooms throughout AVUSD is impossible to measure. The decision to lay off 167 parah educators is devastating and reckless and it directly harms the students who rely on us every single day. PAR educators are not optional support staff. We are essential to maintaining daily classroom activities, ensuring student safety and meeting the academic, behavioral and emotional needs of our most vulnerable learners. Many of these classrooms cannot function effectively or safely without adequate pareducator support. Removing para educators strips students of the consistency, individualized attention and stability that they require to learn and succeed. It places impossible demands on class classrooms, disrupts learning environments, and ultimately undermines the district's responsibility to provide an appropriate I pardon. I lost my pace. This is what happens when you're passionate. Um I'm sorry. [cough and clears throat]

024It places impossible demands on classrooms, disrupts learning environments, and ultimately undermines the district's responsibility to provide an appropriate and equitable education for all students. These layoffs send a clear message that the needs of students who require the most support are being deprioritized. The decision is not just a staffing issue. It's a direct threat to student learning, inclusion, and well-being. Our students deserve better. Our classrooms deserve the resources necessary to meet their needs. Please reconsider these layoffs for the well-being of all our students. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. [clears throat] Next, we have Jenna Kadili Contrarus and then Hector Guzman and then Mike Mayo. Thank you. Okay, if you don't mind, I'm going to skip the pleasantries because quite frankly, I'm angry and I'm scared. $337,000. That's the amount that the superintendent makes

025in this district. It would take 13 CSAs to equal that job. To propose that 241 people in this district will be cut is ridiculous. Do you know who makes that amount of money? Highle CEOs, surgeons, VPs, regional managers, asset operations managers. Um the list goes on and on. And I would like to point out that those people, if they were fiscally irresponsible, they would be the first ones gone from their companies. Our assistant superintendent, you guys make pretty good money, too. Around $250,000. It would take five CSAs to equal your one um annual income. There's so many people in that other room that are scared and angry. How dare you? How dare you guys? What you're proposing is a band-aid on a gaping wound. It does not fix the problem. It's my understanding that um

026Superintendent Tray, you've been here for approximately 10 years as a superintendent, give or take. that's too long um to be making fiscally irresponsible decisions. And maybe it's not just your fault um but the board as well and also this um assistant superintendent. You guys all oversee the budget and you're all at fault. And it's not it's not our fault. 241 people, 241 families. How can you guys sleep at night? That is just we are all angry. You guys need to go out there and see the support that came for all of us. That's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next we have Hector Guzman, then Mike Mayo, then Jodie Suarez. All right. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Hector Guman. I am a campus security in

027this district and I have been for the past seven years. The proposed action to reduce the number of employees will cause a dangerous work environment not only for staff but student alike who attend this district. As a campus security, we're vigilant and our presence is known. With the reduced number of CSAs that's going to be leaving my campus, it's eight out of the 10 who work there currently. Even if we get additional two females to assist us, we have 10 restrooms and multiple hightra areas where we need to be covered and we need to be vigilant and we need to keep watching these students and how they behave. Reading a student is a whole skill level that takes uh a practice and it takes experience. The safety of students is our number one priority. Especially

028for me, I care about these students. I care about these kids and I care about the families who attend this district. emergency situations. The security team who always responds, we assist first responders whenever they attend our campus, whether it be an injury or some kind of illegal activity like drug usage. We assist with these first responders all the time and we help them as well as admin in any situation given. For an example, it is not just the CSAs who assist. It's PAR educators. It's custodians. Without the PAR educators who vigilantly tells us, for example, a student with a 504 plan, certain students with disabilities and medical conditions, they are the first ones to recognize these symbols of uh or symptoms of a a seizure. They immediately seek out one of us to let the

029let the word be known to our admin. And we work rapidly to get assistance and call emergency situations and pretty much uh close our campus down to emergency uh traffic only. And we are there to open up the gates, assist the fire department and the emergency medical responders to the area where that student is. with the lack of students or the lack of uh employees, it's going to be a lot more difficult and it could be a more dangerous situation for these students who have that specific medical disability or a specific conditions. It's going to be cause a more dangerous work environment. There's going to be a high-rise number of fights, a bigger number of drug usage, a bigger number of inappropriate behavior. and these students need our help for the ones who are here

030at the moment and reducing these numbers of employees, you're going to see you're going to see the change almost immediately. Thank you for your time. All right, next up we have Mike Mayo, then Jody Suarez, then Joy Luke. Hello board. My name is Mike Mayo. I am president of Victor Valley Teachers Association. I want to start by thanking Avuda and CSA for being such welcoming hosts as I arrived. I also want to thank them for the sacrifices that they have made. uh specifically what they do all year long and then the extra sacrifices they're having to make because of decisions that took place at the district office level. Okay. So, as part of my purpose, I want to mention that there are some history-making things that are happening right now for Ava specifically and something

031that our rep council did just last night is we voted forward a resolution in support of Avuda and the work that they're trying to get done with the contract. What they want is for you to come back and do something authentic, something real, something honest with the contract because currently the way the the way bargaining is working, it's not working for them. And in all honesty, it doesn't look like it's working very well for CSA either. I want to say here that if you were to have more authentic relationship with your associations, real relationship with your associations and actual transparency, they're more likely to be able to resolve things with you. They can become shared partners. Again, if that is I it can't be the case right now. It can't be otherwise you couldn't end

032up with all of this happening. Because Avuda stands up for students, VBTA also stands up with Ava and we have that resolution that is moving forward. And if there's anything else that we need to do specific for Ava to help them out, then we will. And I'll borrow this from NATO. When there's attack on one, when there is an attack on one, then there is an attack on all. And that happens internally for the associations. It's also happening from association to association. So again, thank you to CSA, thank you to Ava, and thank you board members for your time. >> Thank you. [applause] >> All right. [clears throat] Next up is Jodie Suarez, then Joy Luke, and then Karen Sabers. Good evening board members and superintendents. My name is Jodie Suarez and I'm administrative clerk

0332 at Granite Hills High School. I'm one of the positions being cut on the budget proposal. I debated on remaining silent tonight, but my silence ends here. My silence was never because this wasn't important. It was because I was placed in an environment that left me feeling fearful and stripped of hope. On May 8, 2024, I was physically assaulted by a student. [snorts] The district chose to save money by transporting kids from HGPA to high schools. An expelled student attacked me, and it took several minutes for staff to remove the child from me. Safety has never been this district's priority. From that moment on, I have been disregarded, humiliated, villainized, and isolated. I pray that no one ever has their sense of safety taken from them the way mine was taken from me. Assistant Superintendent

034Dustin Conrad mocked my assault, made several inappropriate jokes and comments about what happened to me. When I attempted to file a claim on his behavior, HR Director Kristen Depri denied me and told me it wouldn't be a good look for me to file a report on assistant superintendent. I'm done being silent. I'm done being retaliated against. Educators and clerical staff should not have to fight for their jobs while those who failed to do theirs and created this mess continue keep to keep theirs without consequences. Superintendent Nelson, you created this culture. You created this mess and you should be held accountable. Something that this district repetably has struggled to do. Thank you. Okay, next is Joy, then Karen Sabers, and then Stephen Cobbs. Good evening. My name is Joey Luke. I would like to begin by

035reminding of us our of our district's mission statement. Apple Valley Unified School District serves our community with dignity by meeting the unique academic, behavioral, and social, emotional needs of all students so that they may thrive with an sorry [sighs] in an everchanging world. With that mission in mind, we are here today to discuss the proposed reduction of 241 classified positions. These positions are not optional. Every single one of them is essential to keeping our schools running on a daily basis. 167 of these positions are paraprofessionals. I am a special needs par profofessional and I fall directly into this category. My job is to support students behavioral, social, and emotional needs, especially those I consider the coolest kids on campus. The most vulnerable students, the ones who need us the most. If you've ever had the

036opportunity to meet some of them or if you have spent time in our classrooms such as Renee and Marie, you have you would agree with us. They are pretty incredible. From kindergarten through adulthood, these students are pretty amazing and they deserve consistent and compassionate support. There are many students who struggle with academically who struggle academically and need additional help that teachers despite their dedication cannot always provide. Teachers are overworked. Classrooms are full. And it is impossible for one person to meet everyone to meet every need alone. Pared educators, especially special needs pair educators, are there to support both teachers and students, ensuring that no child falls through the cracks. Cutting these positions will not only make teachers jobs significantly harder. It will directly impact students, it will lower academic outcomes, increase behavioral challenges, and cause

037students who are already struggling to fall further behind. If we truly believe in our mission to serve all students with dignity, then we must protect the very positions that make that mission possible. Thank you for your time. [applause] Thank you, Joey. Right. Next up, Karen Sabers, then Stephen Cobbs, then Stephanie M. I think it might be MSAS. Okay. Good evening, Superintendent Nelson, board members, cabinet, President Scott, Avuda members, CSEA, and other visiting districts. Avooda has conducted a strike authorization vote. 91% of those voting supported a strike and 89% particip with 89% participation. This is a strong and unremarkable voice from our members calling for a fair and equitable settlement that will help attract and retain quality educators in this district. In response, our exec board and our rep council will be moving forward with necessary

038steps to prepare for a possible strike should it come to that. A resolution into in support of Avuda's potential strike was sent statewide and we have already received solidarity from the following associations. Alhhamra Teachers Association, Mountain View Teachers Association, Needles Teachers Association, San Gabriel Teachers Association, Norwok Teachers Association, Coina Teachers Association, Downey Education Association, Hisperia Teachers Association, Victor Elementary Teachers Association, Victor High Teachers Association, Snow Oline Teachers Association, Lassern Valley Teachers Association, and statewide CTA NEA retired boards. We will continue to receive more in the coming weeks. These associations have committed to not only supporting us on the strike line, but some have also pledged financial support. If a strike occurs, a statewide strike fund will be activated, allowing additional associations to contribute in support of our members. We have listened to our members and

039their resolve is strong. In solidarity, Karen Sabers, we are a vood. Thank you, Stephen Cobbs, Stephanie, and then Sandra Waller. Is that better? All right. Well, good evening. Thanks, uh, District Superintendent Nelson, uh, cabinet members, board members. Um, I stand before you tonight. Uh, first off, I wanted to condone or not condone I I don't take the threats of things lightly, and I'm sorry we had to go through that. One of the reasons I'm I'm also sorry, not just that it was what it was, but that we're now in a room like this and there's no cameras here to be able to see the group of blue and red over on the other side. We stand before you tonight. Uh many, many months ago, I stood before you. Um and my simple comment was do

040the right thing. And I still come before you now as we've gone into some uh negotiation meetings now lately and said um back in September we talked about these couple of ideas. Can we get clarification? And so it's been since September all the way to February to get clarification on two items that were already given way back. And so what that leads us into is this reluctance. And I think we have a group. We're strong. We're resolute but we're reluctant. There were some things that we were asked to do as as a group and I'm representing not myself. I'm not going to be here for that many years and so I'm not going to be getting some of the things that we even asked for. But some of the members wanted to do things that

041we felt might hurt kids and we didn't want to go there. Things like uh just kind of work to rule and those kind of days we took that serious and we didn't want to do it. But reluctantly, we come to this point where we are tonight. Getting ready to go into factf finding. Reluctant but with resolve. We met, we've talked, we're ready for what we need to do. And so tonight, in that manner, not wanting to cause the district harm, but wanting to do the right thing for a fair and equitable contract. Because the more we look at the other districts around us and I see it, I have other students or other teachers around me and they're asking and they're seeing that these jobs are being posted and our other districts around us are

042going to be poaching our good people and that is not going to be the best thing for our kids. And so the last thing I do, I come before we have one more week until we get factf finding. And I come before you with that same thing that I started this a long time ago. It's just that we can do the right thing. Give leadership. Give direction. We've been stalled. We've been told that we have no direction. And so tonight, I'm asking that you give the direction that we can get this done and we can keep people. We can hire, retain quality, quality teachers that are going to help our students. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Stephanie and Sandra, you are on deck. Thank you. I'm short so I need that. Okay. Hello

043board. My name is Stephanie MS and I'm here in behalf of [clears throat] a parent as a community member and as a parent who's always at school volunteering. I'm here today to speak about the unjust budget cuts that are affecting our teachers, students like my own kids. Teachers already hurting for help when it comes to kids. They're overextending themselves and doing everything they can to support these kids without help or with help. Once all these jobs are cut, who is going to help? Are any of you going to be up there helping? Are any of you going to step in those classrooms? Any of you? I don't see any of you there. So, I'm hoping you guys are not just going to rely on parents that don't even volunteer already. Who's going to advocate for

044these students? No one else will. That's why we're all having to speak for them. Did none of you have students up here speaking? Are you the district planning to rely on cutting all these jobs and still having someone to do them? Every job that you guys are seeking to cut is needed. There's a reason why all these positions were created to begin with to help our students. If the needs of the students were actually put first as you claim, then you would be cutting these jobs. You would be seeking ways and prioritizing how to solve these how to solve these problems. For some students, school is the only stability that they have. The people they they see on a near basis, the people who help them, who provide them safety is all they have. Our

045teachers are not the reason for the budget deficit. You, our district, which is supposed to help our students are actively actively hurting them. You are constantly raising your own salaries rather than prioritize the needs of our students and all the plans that are you guys have released. I see so many jobs that are being cut across our schools and not one change is being made in this board. No district job is being cut. Instead, you guys are being praised by getting raises knowing that there's a deficit going on. Instead of saving money by prioritizing yourselves, protect the needs and education of our students and our children's. Protect the jobs of the people who help them. You were voted in the office to oversee and do right by our kids. So do the job that you

046were elected to do, not the job that's going to hurt our future generations and keep your salaries high. And it's not a threat and it's not a promise. But you guys have to keep in mind that parents, teachers, and the communities are not going to forget who wronged the students and who wronged the staff. Time come for election. Thank you, [applause] Sandra Waller. Thank you. Good evening. Um, my name is Sandy Waller. I teach TK at Sandia Academy. I'm here tonight to speak about the reduction of force or otherwise known as layoffs that is being placed upon classified staff. 241 classified positions to be exact and how these sta staff cuts will hurt certificated staff. Um they directly will hurt us. They're going to put um how do I say it? Um classified positions to

047be exact. That cuts will directly affect certificated expect and put more expectations on teachers who are already overworked and underpaid. These are the people that day in and day out serve the needs of our children as well as the needs of our certificated staff. I realize AVUSD is in financial crisis. That needs to be fixed. However, classified and certificated staff did not create this situation and yet we are the ones paying the price to rectify the mismanagement of funds and fix discrepancies. Let me be clear. Cutting 241 classified positions is not rectifying or fixing anything except the monetary numbers that you wish to put forward. In fact, cuts are only going to create more issues on campuses and slow academic pro progress of students. Classified staff are the people that keep our campus going when

048the going gets tough. Certificated staff has come to depend upon the help, excuse me. Classified staff are the people who help us keep going when the going gets tough. I'm sorry. I'm a little more nervous tonight being on here by myself. Um, certificated staff has come to depend upon the help of classified staff to accomplish all the expectations that are put upon our teachers in the classroom. They help us meet academic goals, ensure the safety and quality care of the children of AVUSD. Some may say that we have grown accustomed to a luxury. But let me be clear. Classified staff is not a luxury. It's a necessity. They help us maintain safe campuses and stability of our students. They maintain our facilities and keep them in good repair. The bulk of the positions to be

049cut are pared educators. Pareducator and special needs paras play a vital role in students education and daily interactions on campus. Special education paras are imperative for student success. They maintain structure and help achieve their academic and social goals. They help their students become more functional individuals in our community and our school environment. This year, I am proud to say that my campus was taken off CSI improvement. As much as I'd like to toot my own horn and say it was all due to the hard work of our teachers, it was not. It was the work of our collective staff, teachers, pareducators, and the procedures that we had put in place to help bolster their academic achievement and social development with very scripted expectations to meet each student's individual needs. I can't even imagine meeting all

050those needs as a teacher alone with no support from classified staff. I am a realist. As much as I feel confident in my excellent care and quality education for my students, I provide for Without parah educators and others classified other classified support staff, there would be many students whose needs were not met. >> Your time is up. Can you wrap it up? >> Yes, I can. Sorry. Par educators fill in those gaps. Provide for students with support the teachers have difficulty meeting. As long as I've been a teacher at AVUSD, all I've heard is put the kids first. Kids first. And that's what we do. So tonight, as I consider making as you consider making these cuts and prepare to pay a lawyer $500 an hour to fight against CTA factf finding next Thursday, may

051it weigh heavy on your conscience and guide you to make the right decision and put the students of AVUSD first. And if you're not putting them first, who are you putting them fir who are you putting first? Thank you for your time and consideration. I apologize tonight. I'm a little more choppy, but um I'm by myself. So, thank you for your time and um I just ask that we can all work together and figure this out. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We need to go into close session to discuss the following. Number one, pupil personnel expulsion cases exp 2526 through EXP number 13 2526 expulsion case step number 1 2526 and annual review AR number 18 2526 number two conference on litigation government Code section 54956.9A current litigation six cases CIVB CIVVSVS 2563 329

052government code section 54954.5 C and 54956.9D 2 and E1 anticipated litigation two cases 2024 25-1 and 2025-26 um-1 government code section 54954.5C and 54956.9D and E1 anticipated litigation six cases 202425-01 202526-01 government code section 54954.5D and 54956.95 anticipated litigation six cases claimment Lugo Leanne Lraine Claimment Ringcon Cheryl Virginia Ray. Claim it Lugo Feather Ray Lee. Claimment Manastra Linda. Claimment Manisera Karine. Claimment Pennington Michael Vincent Pennington. Michael. Number three. Public employee discipline, dismissal, release, reassignment, transfer, leave, title, certificated and classified employees. Number four, public employee appointment, resignation, retirement, reduction, title, certificated and classified employees. Number five, conference with labor negotiator. A agency negotiator Jeremiah Harrison employee organization Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association. Number six, conference with labor negotiator. Agency negotiator Christen Dupri employee organization California School Employees Association. Number seven, security matters, government code section 54957,

053consultation with Apple Valley Unified School District Chief of Police. Can I get a motion to go into close session? >> So moved. >> Okay, I'll second. We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker I >> Miss Zakara >> I >> and Mrs. Buchanan I. The time is now 6:01 p.m. Thank you. All right, I call this meeting back to order at 9:33 p.m. Roll call. Amanda Buchanan, I'm here. Maria Akara, >> I'm here. >> Anita Tucker, >> here. >> Rick Raleigh, >> I'm here. >> Renee Longshore, >> here. All right. Uh, Mrs. Longer, will you lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

054stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Is that your >> looks like this? At this time, we would like to pause in a moment of silence to remember retired ABUSD family member John Blancc. Thank you. Okay, we are going to shuffle things around a little bit here. Um, we're going to move on to item seven, the reports of union representatives. First up will be the California School Employee Association CSEA JC Scott. Yeah, good. Okay, [clears throat] perfect. All right. Good evening, Superintendent Nelson, members of the cabinet. trustees, President Sabers watching in the other room, the leftover AVDA members, the leftover members of our community, and my brothers and sisters of the California School Employees Association. My name is JC Scott, and I'm the chapter president of CSA Apple Valley

055828 and the regional representative for this area. I've already addressed accountability and the broader impact of the proposed reductions in force. want to use this second opportunity to focus on the real world real world consequences of these cuts, specifically student safety and essential services. Under the proposed rift, under the proposed riff, campus security staffing would be reduced to levels that in practice leave only two campus security systems at each middle school and HDPA and five at each high school. In theory, if a middle school such as Phoenix or Sandia were to need a third campus security assistant, as they are traditionally busier due to any kind of an incident, where do we pull support from? Do we pull one each from each high school, reducing their coverage to four? This is not a safety plan.

056This is reactive triage. We are already dealing with fights, vaping, and escalating student behaviors. Campus security assistants are often the first line of response and a critical deterrent. The projected cost savings do not account for the legal and financial liability when students are harmed due to inadequate supervision. And just like tonight, you were concerned about your own safety and security. Think about the students and how they're going to feel when we reduce the number of safety and security officers at our high schools and our middle schools. I've been thrown into walls. I've been concussed and spent time in the hospital. I've been punched in the face. I've been shoved. But still, I show up to work every single day, union business notwithstanding, with a smile on my face, to serve the community and the students

057that I love. Further, eliminating family center coordinators would devastate the community they serve. These employees connect families to food, housing, counseling, and critical resources. Ironically, many of the 241 families now facing unemployment will need those very services. Cutting ASB bookkeepers makes little sense in this district already facing financial scrutiny. These employees maintain accurate site level financial records and ensure compliance. They are not mismanaging funds. They are keeping them in order. Reducing custodians means dirtier, less sanitary campuses and increased health and safety risks. Cutting office clerks removes the operational backbone of school sites, delaying services to families and shifting essential work onto already overburdened staff. They also assist with attendance. They maintain student records. They coordinate communication with parents and ensure the day-to-day functions of each site and that they run smoothly. Cutting these positions do

058not create extra work for other does not just create extra work for other staff. It directly affects the students and families who rely on timely information and support. Paris, that one should be a given. They support our students with special needs and other IEPs. We already know that we're short on those. Do I need to say more? Removing experienced clerical staff also shows um excuse me removing experienced staff will slow processes, will increase errors, leave campuses vulnerable, less organized and unable to respond to everyday challenges. [snorts] These cuts are not abstract. They are predictable and they are harmful. For the sake of our students, for the sake of our school operations and community stab stability, I again urge the board to vote no. I still stand in solidarity for a fair contract with the VUDA.

059Despite all the attempts to separate the unity CSA and Avuda have formed, despite all the discord within our own bargaining units, President Sabers and I are committed and we will not let anything tear what we built apart since joining in solidarity. This is our legacy. [snorts] It's a real shame that we're all in the NPR right now because we were allowed and we were happy to support that we are union strong. We put this rally together in one week. Imagine what we could do in two or three. We will not be silenced. We will not stand by. You cannot balance the budget on the backs of classified staff. You cannot balance the budget on the back of teachers. I urge you to reconsider this vote if you haven't already done so and vote no. I

060urge you to put student safety first. I urge you to put clean campuses first. I urge you to put the IEPs first. I urge you to do the right thing. We acknowledge that there is going to have to be some reductions, but this is not the way to do it. People are already leaving. Anxiety are high. People are stressed out. This is not right. This is not fair. Especially when so many of you have claimed to want to serve the students because ultimately they are the ones that are going to suffer on top of the 241 families who depend on the insurance, who depend on the stability, but also who come to work every single day to serve those students. union business notwithstanding, I still have one of the best attendance records in the district

061because I love working for Apple Valley Unified. I love serving my community. I love serving my students and I do not want to have to find employment elsewhere because this is my home. This is my heart and this place is where I belong, where we all belong in that other room. I know you guys can see me. do the right thing because when we go, you guys are only going to attract people that are of low quality and it will just be a perpetual cycle of open and closed doors because you will not be able to retain them. I thank you so much for listening to what I have to say today. In solidarity, JC Scott, CSEA, Chapter 828. >> Thank you. Can we have you or wait actually in the hallway because you will

062be back shortly. Thank you. Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association, Abuda Karen Sabers. Okay. Good evening, Superintendent Nelson, board members, cabinet, President Scott, Avuda members, and CSEA members. I want to begin by thanking everyone who came out this evening to support both bargaining units. The turnout was incredible, was an incredible show of unity, and that matters. Tonight, I already presented a strong historical strike authorization vote of 91%. I want to add that our members also delivered a clear and powerful vote of no confidence in Superintendent Nelson. The vote was a staggering 78% in favor of no confidence in Superintendent Nelson with the 87% participation. I formally handed you the resolutions and we'll read that um out to you also. And for the first time in the 39y year history of AVUSD, this association has been has

063been compelled to take this step. Oops, I handed you mine, too. Apple Valley Unified School District, a resolution of no confidence expressed by Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association regarding Superintendent Nelson. Whereas the Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association, ABUDA, represents certificated educators employed by Apple Valley Unified School District and is committed to advocating for effective leadership, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in the best interest of students and staff. And whereas Avuda conducted an in-person vote of the certificated bargaining unit resulting in 78% support for a no vote of no confidence with 87% participation reflecting the collective judgment in concern of a substantial majority of the bargaining unit. And whereas educators within the bargaining unit have experienced sustained and unresolved concerns regarding district leadership and administrative direction resulting in diminished trust, declining morale, and strained labor relations.

064And whereas serious concerns exist regarding fiscal oversight, internal controls, and financial decision-making within the district. And whereas the district has experienced financial instability caused in part by overhiring and the establishment of ongoing positions and programs using one-time funds without adequate accountability for the resulting long-term impact on the general fund. And whereas district leadership has demonstrated a lack of consistent and effective leadership and an unwillingness to engage in meaningful collaboration with the certificated bargaining unit. And whereas a lack of transparency has persisted, including failures to fully disclose information. And whereas district communications have at times been incomplete or inaccurate, contributing to confusion and diffusion. And whereas educator morale has been adversely adversely affected by burnout, disengagement, and reduced retention. And whereas a culture of nepatism and favoritism has been perceived to influence decision-making, assignments, and advancement,

065undermining fairness, professionalism, and trust. And whereas educators have expressed concern regarding a culture of retaliation that discourages the raising of concerns or engagement in protected activities. Now therefore, be it resolved that Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association hereby formally expresses a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Nelson. And be it further resolved that this resolution of no confidence be submitted to the Apple Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees for acknowledgement and consideration. And be it further resolved that Abuda respectfully urges the board of trustees to take appropriate action to address the concerns identified herein, corrective measures and ongoing oversight and be it further resolved that ava seeks good faith collaboration with the board and district leadership to restore trust, stability, ethical leadership, transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability. ility in service of students, educators and community.

066I need to address what we what we heard this evening from CSEA. It was incredibly difficult to listen to the classified employees speak about positions being reduced. Classified staff are the backbone of our schools and our teachers. What is deeply troubling is that in the list of classified educators, there were no management positions identified. That raises serious questions. Tuesday was a very hard day for our certificated staff. 13 teachers receive non-reelect notices. Each year the district says teachers should not be surprised when these notices are delivered. Yet every single one of them was two teachers said that they were surp they were not surprised only because they believed their principles did not like them. That alone should deeply concern this board. Most of the teachers had strong evaluations. Even more concerning for them are special

067education teachers. At a time when we are already struggling to staff special education, we are losing qualified educators. This raises important questions. Why are we not supporting teachers better? Why are administrators reportedly telling teachers that they are not good instead of asking how they can support them? Were these truly non-reelections or were they teachers let go due to budget reductions? And were some released because they spoke up for themselves? Was this retaliation by administrators? Those are questions that deserve answers. Now, let's talk about certificated reductions. This list includes four multiple subject teachers, one teacher on assignment, four virtual teachers, one vacant teacher on assignment, two mild moderate teachers, two additional multiple subject teachers, one intervention teacher, two Prop 28 teachers, one choir teacher, and one preschool teacher. Need to be very clear. Listing virtual teachers

068separately is discriminatory. After ranking forms were posted and discussed, singling out virtual teachers while not listing them as multi or not listing the multiple subject teachers by site sent a clear message. They are all multiple subject teachers period. The way this was handled caused harm and those teachers were absolutely singled out. certificated staff have already absorbed absorbed nearly 10 million in reduction this year. Not $1 of that has returned to this bargaining unit and now we are being told there must be more cuts. So I asked the board, why are we not starting at the top? The decisions to hire permanent staff with one-time money were made at the top despite warnings from the county and the state. Those decisions created this crisis. Cuts should be made as far away from the school sites as

069possible, not on the backs of student, teachers, and classified staff. Our members are hurting. They are angry. And they are united. For the sake of transparency, we were told that we could invite board members next Thursday at 9:00 a.m. to observe factf finding. Please join us in solidarity, Karen. All right. Thank you. The clerk will read out any action taken in close session. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent. B2 Conference on Litigation Government Code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 L Menace versus Avusd. On a motion by M Buchanan, seconded by Longshore, the board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 28th, 2026 of Linda Manassra and the vote was 5. In close session, the board of trustees took action in support

070of the following recommendation from the superintendent. B2 Conference on Litigation Government Code 54954.5D and 54956.95K Menacera versus ABUSD. Um, on a motion by Buchanan, seconded by Longshaw, the board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 20th, 2026 of Karim Manassera. And the vote was 50. Conference litigation government code 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 M Pennington versus Apple Valley Unified School District. On a motion by Tucker, seconded by Raleigh, the board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 21st, 2026 of Michael Pennington Pennington. The vote was 50. Conference on litigation government code 54954D subsection D and 54956.95 Luggo versus AVUSD on a motion by TAS seconded by Raleigh. The board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 12th, 2026 of Lean Lugo and the vote was 50. Conference on litigation government code 54954.D.5

071subsection D and 54956.95 C Rinkcon versus AVUSD on a motion by Tucker seconded by Raleigh. The board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 12, 2026 of Cheryl Rinkan and the vote was 50-0. Conference on litigation government code section 54954.5 subsection D and 54956.95 F Lugo versus AVUSD on a motion by Taka seconded by Raleigh. The board voted unanimously to deny the claim dated January 12, 2026 of Feather Luggo and the vote was 5. >> Thank you. All right. Adoption of the agenda. I move that we rearrange a little bit more. We're going to I'd like to move F, public comments to the front. And then second, wait, hold on. >> I'm trying to make sure I get the right order. And then E, discussion information. And then D, >> a presentation, and then

072from there we can continue in the correct order. >> So we just going backwards >> a little bit. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> A second. >> Okay. >> All right. We'll take a roll call vote. >> Mrs. Longshore. >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Ms. Zakara. >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan. I Okay. As provided on our public comment cards, speakers are requested to limit comments to a maximum of three minutes. If more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, subsequent speakers should limit their remarks to new information only. Public comments shall be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes per item. Our first public comment will be Nicole Aoyas. The second one will be Sandy Witcher and our third will be Kian

073Peak. Just in case you guys need it again in order, it's Nicole, then Sandy, then Kian. This is good evening. My name is Sandy Witcher. I've been an AVUSD special education teacher for the past 28 years. I also serve as a member of the special education committee for Avuda. I have never had to worry about having the valuable support of a PAR educator in my classroom. For the first time in my career, PAR educators are being removed from special education separate settings. Mild, moderate, and moderate severe classrooms serve our students with the most value with the most exceptional needs. Sorry. Inclusion and co-e classrooms in which general education and special education students are together at times receive par support while students in these classes with a more exceptional level of need have little or no

074PAR support. Many middle school and high school's bed teachers are sharing paris. For example, they receive support two periods daily or no support at all. When there is an emergency, a student needs to be tested or one-on-one is absent, then the parah has to leave. Teachers have been told that this is occurring due to an overage of paras in the district. District personnel have stated and I quote, "Ed code does not specifically state that special special education classes are required to have PAR educators in their classrooms. Also, in some cases, sped teachers have been warned that they will not have paras at all in their classrooms next year. SMED teachers have taught for many years have been told that they should have enough experience to handle their classrooms without the support of a parah. PAR

075educators are a critical component in a special education classroom for many reasons. We re we rely on the support of paras for academic reasons such as providing small group or individual student support. In many cases, they are also necessary in providing behavioral support when students elope, meltdown, or need assistance with crisis situations. In every case, the PAR provides support and insight that is directly tied to our students making progress toward their IEP goals. The overage of para educators is an HR issue that should not be solved by punishing our most exceptional student populations. The priority of PAR support should not be given to inclusion classrooms in the general education setting when separate settings are experiencing similar or increased behavioral and academic challenges than we have ever encountered. Our special education students matter and need support.

076Our special education teachers matter and need support. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, Kian Peak, then Autumn Dies and Anna Delgado. So, Kian, then Autumn, then Anna. Hello. First of all, thank you for saying my name, right? It's a weird name. I'm sorry about that. I also got super excited. I'm like, "Oh, yay. I get to speak early." And then I looked at the time and it's 10 p.m. Uh, anyways, good evening. Long time no see, man. It feels like we were just here. Uh, I'm fighting that winter crud. Please forgive me. I told you my fight was just going to get stronger and louder. I'd like to quote some data that was posted yesterday. The voice of Apple Valley, which if you're still watching, please post me. I would like some traction,

077internet traction. um shared that 87% in participation, 78% of voters have no confidence in Superintendent Nelson. I'm not saying this is my belief, too. But how am I supposed to have confidence as a 16-year-old when it took five months to get any kind of response to my querying concerns? I say this especially because the agenda last month reads information on SB 328 and ABUSD rural um status for purposes of exemption from education se code section 46148. But superintendent Nelson, you said it was basically a conflict with elementary start times and money for busing. You said other successful districts following the law such as Victor Valley Union High School District don't have to worry about the littles. There seems to be some nonfeence going on here. You failed to act to obey the law, completely ignoring

078the health of all high school students. Is this laziness in your performance or just absolute disregard for the care and concern of students? Should I, as well as all the others, have no confidence and not just the administration of the district, but the board too? How am I assured that you are going to stay proactive like you said you were when you disregarded the law for seven years, took five months to give me a response, and have admitted it may take a year or more to finally put it in effect if you finally discuss it. If after all the stakes I am going for go beyond wages and standards of living, I am asking for betterment of health and mental well-being being backed by a law that your ignorance has led you to not follow.

079I still plan on continuing to attend monthly and even if I don't or don't speak somehow someway I want to be that thorn in your side because as much as I want this to directly benefit me it is ultimately up it is ultimately about the well-being of the future generations. Thank you and good night. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, I'm going to give four then just in case the two might are they're still here. Autumn Diesson, Anna Delgado, and then we have Annabelle Alcantthar and Sarah. I apologize. It's with a D. It looks like d eu h e. Do you know it? Okay. >> Okay. See if I can reach the mic. Okay, I did not have anything prepared to say. I didn't think I was going to have any time to speak, but

080um we had to wait so long a lot of people had to get home and weren't able to stay. So, I I'm a parent. My name is Casey Weston. Sorry. Um I am a parent of three children in the district and one my oldest in special needs. My youngest is also heart of hearing and is also has an IEP, but my oldest has a one-on-one. I am also a volunteer. I help out in the family center which has not been spoken up about enough today which I understand there's a lot of people that are at risk and this is going to be devastating to our community all around. It absolutely is and I know this is a difficult position to be in. I absolutely understand that. We all understand that but the people that are

081at risk are not the ones who made that situation and these students are going to suffer. I am there a lot at the school. I see it. My child will suffer. Other kids that don't even have one-on- ones or paras are going to suffer because that time is going to be taken away from them from the teachers that they need the support. The schools need the support, the family centers and ours. I'm at Yakaloma. It is absolutely amazing. They all are amazing. But ours really truly makes a difference in our community and we all know everyone's suffering. My family has been helped with food. We help people with clothes. We have created a food pantry there and clothes there. We I help teach crochet and we're teaching families. Brenda teaches classes that help the parents

082with discipline with things that our parents didn't always teach us, right? And we're all learning things. So, we are helping and support each other. And that community comes together and you see it. these parents that are hard for them to leave the house and they're anxious and they're they have anxiety and then they come together in those family centers and they share their knowledge and they're together and then they're in a better state to help their children or other parents that have IEPs, have parents share with me so I know what's going on that I can understand and better take care of my child. These are crucial things that we need in our community. I wish I had it when I was a child. I would have benefited. I wouldn't have fallen through the cracks.

083I don't want our children to fall through the cracks and I know that everybody here wants the best result and we don't have that confidence right now. We want the confidence in you and honestly we do not. And we don't know what you're thinking. We don't know what's going on. We don't know what is going on behind closed doors or where you guys' hearts and minds are. There needs to be more transpar transparency. There really does. I have seen a lot in my life. I was in the army. I've been in all over the country. I've been a lot of different places and I have suffered and I have struggles that that I'm don't want our children to have and I don't want to have I'm I'm you know learning from other people how to

084navigate that with my children. I have children with various different needs and they are getting the support they need and I've loved Apple Valley School. I have ranted to other people about oh my gosh I'm so glad my kids are here. I'm so glad that my kids found this school, found Mr. Clark, found Brenda in the family center, found Yuckoma. I've been passionate and I love it and now I am scared. You guys have to help us. You have a responsibility. That's why you're here. We need you. Our kids need you. Please do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] [clears throat] All right. Item E, discussion information. Number one, receive California School Employees Association Chapter 828 CSEA proposal for successor agreement with ABUSD. >> Yes. Thank you, Miss Buchanan. And actually, for this

085discussion information, um, because of CSEA presenting us, I think JC Scott is probably right out in the hall. He'll be the one to be sure you have it and if you have questions. But I'll basically just shut my mic off and let him come in and do the talking. >> Okay. All right. I am JC Scott. I'm here to present our initial proposal and um answer any questions that anyone might have. um our initial proposal for the California School Employees Association chapter 828. We've elected to open up 14 articles including dependencies A through L for our successor agreement for the 26 through 2029 contract year. We have presented article number one which is our agreement. Article number three, the term of the agreement. Article number six, the association rights. Article eight, concerted activity. Article 11,

086compensation. Article 13, professional growth. Article 14, classification and range. Article 15, filling of vacancies and transfers. Article 17, base duty days, hours of employment, and overtime. Article 19, vacation. Article 20, leaves. Article 22, transportation procedures, article 24, evaluation procedures, and article 25, grievance procedures. Does anyone have any questions? >> All right. Thank you. >> Oh, sure. >> Okay. Now, I I need to have a better understanding of this. So these are articles you're going to present to the district and then the district will present theirs to you, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. They I believe they've already received our initial proposal. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Matter of fact, Miss Dri emailed me because I wasn't prepared with my iPad died. So >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Number two, receive Apple

087Valley Unified School District's proposal for successor agreement with California School Employees Association chapter 828. >> And uh similarly, as um Kristen DRI is the agency negotiator, she should be entering any second to present the reopeners for um ABUSD. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kristen. All right. Good evening, board members. Um, I do believe you have a copy of the articles that we are proposing to open for negotiations with CSEA as we begin the process of building our next collective bargaining agreement. Our proposal includes 10 articles and their respective appendies. Several are routine in nature. They're just mostly name and date changes. Uh we also have a few that address some updates to the law and so those are specifically the ones that mention post requirements or POBAR requirements. We just need to get those law

088updates acknowledged within the contract. Um our last contract we actually spent a lot of collaborative time um building some new streamlined processes, enhancing some benefits for employees. And so now that we've had time to implement some of those processes, we've noticed areas that language could be cleaned up a little bit and just make sure it's a little more clear as to what some of those um the intentions of those processes were. Um and just also I'd like to note that about six of the articles that we're proposing um are also on CSEA's list as well. And so, um, just I think it sets us in a good spot to start some collaborative negotiations for our next cycle. And, uh, just here looking for your consideration and approval to move forward later on. Questions? All right.

089Thank you. All right. Now, we are going to D presentation local control accountability plan. and the LCAP midyear review presentation. >> Thank you. you have um at each seat a copy of the LCAP major review um presentation um kind of a top left and it's a a brief and very quick uh overview of each action in the LCAP from the point of view of whether or not it's been implemented into what level and then how much expenditure thus far. Um so I'll just go through this briefly. Um this is a it's required to be reported to the board. The board is not required to take action, but it must be done before the end of February each year. Um I did provide in the board item also a um a little quite a bit of

090detail about the uh metrics that will be used and also a lot of those metrics will be at the end of the year LCAP because the data that comes in in December is the same data we will use as we go through the spring in LCAP development um because it's from the CASP test last spring. And so I'll just remind you of our five LCAP goals. Three of which are district, two are school site level goals because they are equity multiplier schools and they required to be in the LCAP. So one, two, and three are the district goals as listed. And then number four is HDPA and Apple Valley Virtual. And number five is Phoenix Academy. And so the way we'll report these is by action number and it's a two-digit or fourdigit number usually.

091And it has um first the goal then the action. So 01 D uh 0.01 would be a goal one action one short title and then moving on to expenditures. So look at goal one and those six actions. A couple of things I'll point out. Um for the most part these are expenditures as of the end of December and uh most of them are on track to be right about at half. I'll I'll highlight the English learner counseling support um goal, the DAC last night um took note of that action and that those um we were looking at English learner graduation rates and they reminded me that the English learner graduation rate at 93.1% is one tenth of a percent above the rest of the students graduation rate and they were very proud of that and

092so I'm was happy to see that they are taking note of an action that was really born of their um desires. As we develop this process, goal two has the the majority of our actions. I will mention that um let me look back. Uh I will mention that things like um the instructional coaching, there's no supplemental concentration grant funding there. That is all federal funding. The remaining instructional coaching that is happening is really for our uh teachers who are supporting our uh younger teachers who are still working to clear their credential and that's title two funded and the professional development is also that is almost all either ELOP funded or title one funded. And then on on the next part of goal two, there are the rest of the actions there. I'll also point out

093that the action 0207 has no general fund dollars. Those are categorical dollars in the ELOP category. The expenditures are not yet at half. That's partially because we pay for summer school out of ELOP. I will also mention that the professional development for EL although there's been no expenditures booked there. We have done the um uh trainings that are required for our English language development staff and we will just uh we're waiting to book those expenditures into the proper category. In fact, there was one today. Finally, goal three. Um everything's on track except for the parent engagement. uh we have been uh able to utilize other funding and or most of what we've done we have um been able to do with very low cost so far on that front for the most part sites are

094doing that out of their afterchool funds and or title one parent engagement dollars goal four and five are a little different I will point out that HDPA and AVA both of them are high mobility schools and therefore very likely to continue to receive equity multip multiplier dollars. It will be contingent upon student enrollment and so their uh dollar amounts may go down if their student enrollment counts are down, but they still have over they will have some carryover funds. They are mostly funding a counselor at each school site, an intervention teacher and intervention activities and then some lots of field trips and other activities for students. And then Phoenix Academy and actually Yuck was in this too, but Yuck um does not qualify. It looks like next year they are almost we think it's about

095one student to stable. And I don't mean that in in a negative way. They they are 25% mobility which puts them they need to be greater than 25% to qualify for the next round of funding. And so Phoenix Academy, however, does continue to qualify at the moment. And so they're um far under spending some of those actions, especially a 503. That's a little bit on purpose. They want to be able to maintain and have some sustainability over time. These funds do allow a three-year expenditure. And so what they're doing is making sure they have some funds just in case they don't qualify in a final year. Yuck has done the same thing. And so they will be able to carry over funds and maintain the position they have added, which is a counselor at Yakaloma

096School. I did um mention that the metrics which are quite lengthy are included in the um uh PDF of the document but also uh we'll be going over that we went over that in state of the district in general form. We will be going over that in great detail in the February LCAP meeting school by school. So each school will have a take a look at their dashboard indicator metrics by student group which is always really helpful to kind of take a look and see you know how are students moving not just over in general but like each group and um how are they uh directionally moving in all the indicators that are reported to the state. And so we've been using that data in all the parent engagement meetings so far. And so those

097will be our next steps and we'll be bringing data back to you as we have it and updates from the LCAP meetings as well as from our student advisory meetings which have been going so great. And then um of course um back in June with LCAP and remember this year is is a update to a three-year plan. So we are um not making radical changes other than of course any reductions and in the expenditures um in order to you know sort of match what we're how we're going forward. We need to take to the community and and make sure they're well aware of how that's going to work and where we can make some adjustments there. And so we'll keep you updated as we take those steps. No action is required. Um, I have a

098question on under goal 2 2.11. You said that most of that has not yet been scheduled. Is that going to be scheduled for this semester or will it take place over the summer or a combination? >> Is a combination. actually some has happened and we just haven't booked the expense but we have um uh had some of those trainings and so we just need to approp appropriately account for those substitute costs. It's really just substitute costs in those cases. We have a little bit of extra duty time cards and I I we even had one of those trainings this afternoon at um 3:30 to 6:30 which is now a long time ago but we did have a training today. So, they're ongoing and they'll happen just about monthly from here on out. >> But will

099there be some in the summer as well? >> There will be. There sometimes is some in the summer, but we uh working with this group, we really want to try to catch them um after school. That's been the uh best use of time so that we get the greatest response. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> I have a question. You have quite a few of them that is on under your progress note. It says fully implemented. So when it's full fully implemented, does that mean it's already done? >> What that means is, for example, um if it says that we're going to be um in adding the EL counselors is a good example. It's they're never done with their work, but the positions are hired and they're ongoing in those um uh that go

100that action is about bringing on the those two staff members. So they're on board, they're working in the job they've been tasked to do. And so we are just kind of continuing to support them. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Move on. Um [clears throat] board comments. Renee Longshore. Good evening and thank you for come for making it a point to come and be an intricral part of discussion on ABUSD. I think a point we can all agree on is the motivating factor for each of us to show up tonight that we are here for the kids. I had the pleasure of watching our seventh and eighth grade girls basketball sitting bull versus Phoenix Academy and cheering on Granite Hills High School's women's water polo team in their home scrimmage and banquet

101on January 29th and the men's basketball on February 3rd. Thank you to those who invited me to be part of your celebrations as our seniors finished up their final seasons. I also attended the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools budget perspectives workshop hosted by Capital Advisors Group and learned much about the governor's January budget proposal and financial projections for the coming years. As elected officials, it is essential to make decisions from an informed place. While I've learned a lot this past year, I know that I am not done yet. I want to take this opportunity to offer a public apology for voting in favor of a 6% total ongoing salary raise for management. At that time, I was led to believe this would result in a level of fair compensation for all staff. In light

102of what I've learned since then, I know it did not. Administrators and management were already making comparable salaries to their counterparts in neighboring districts. In fact, in six years, according to Transparent California, director salaries increased 45% and principal and assistant principles 32%. Compare that to certificated teachers and counselors 24%. An additional 6% salary raise was excessive, and I see that now. In fact, with the ESER funds coming in, this board authorized an unbalanced average pay raise of 84,000 for superintendent and assistant soups and 47,000 for directors. We were supposed to use these funds to support and educate kids. Instead, we have been systematically directing money elsewhere. My fellow board members, as a body, we authorize this. Did we make an informed decision? In following this administration, we've made mistakes, but we can work together and

103get out of this mess. Let us look to bring balance and compensation. The average salary increase for certificated teachers and counselors was $17,000. 84,000 for superintendent, 47,000 for directors, and 17,000 for teachers. We need to sort out our finances. Let us begin by adjusting at will employee salaries to comparable levels. We must also review our supervisory roles because a watch pot doesn't boil faster. With 11 new coordinator jobs, why are we looking to cut back on positions now supported with community schools funding? Community partnerships have built our food pantry into what it is today. What other excess administrative positions do we have? Before we take away from hands that directly serve the physical needs of our community, let us look there. We went to great lengths to collect feedback. Did we even listen? What about

104the district office as far away from school sites and classrooms as we can get? With the proposed cut of 241 classified positions, 204 which directly educate and protect our children daily, this is not the place to start. There has been a 139% increase in budget categories 5100 and 5800 services and other operating expenditures. That's a total of $2.3 million increase doubled in sub agreements for services and $ 8.3 million increase over doubled in professional consulting services. Let's look to cut outsourced programs first. Or how about the $17 million of surplus acknowledged this year of funds encumbered but unspent? The two to three million that's been annually moved into our already saturated special reserve funds or the $10 million loan that we approved all while deficit spending roughly $12 million, if we can even still call

105it that at this point in time. We know now that we've permitted an allocation of approximately $15 million with a total collection of approximately $28 million in special reserve funds while deficit spending approximately $23 million out of fund one reserves. How was this okay? It is difficult to give direction when you're asked to approve budget without understanding the details. Hard as we've tried to get information, we've been met with inflated numbers or silence and then an explanation that we can get it in March. As a board, we are in this position because we have not been properly informed. Decisions have been in support of an administration, all to the financial detriment of our district. During a season of increased funding, we have taken out loans and dwindled our reserves. We have spent an exorbitant amount

106of esser funds on capital outlay all with no significant increase in student learning. Yet we are afforded no clarity and are asked to fall in line and give consent. We should not if we do not like where we are headed. That today any employee fears losing their job. That our children are still falling woolfully short of stand below standard. All while ABUSD manages the budget with no substantial oversight or direction to change. We are spending but not investing in our children's future. My hope for this board is that we stand cleared in the responsibility that is ours alone. Even now this administration is not answering questions. A lawyer is being paid to address them. Again we are not properly informed be make before making pivotal decisions. Whose responsibility is this? As a board, we must

107listen and work together to truly understand, giving direction in light of what's best for kids. That we lead in truth and transparency, make decisions for fiscal solvency, so that we never ever have to be in this position again. Thank you, >> Rick Raleigh. Anita Tucker. >> Good evening. I'd [clears throat] like to thank everyone that came out tonight to support our students and staff. And I know how hard it is uh that you all work and how much of a sacrifice it is for you to give up time at home with your families to be here. And I'd also like to thank those who reached out to me and sent letters supporting uh students and staff. I read them. I appreciate you reaching out. Thank you. February is the shortest month, but it's filled with

108meaningful events and celebrations. And this week, we recognize our truly amazing school counselors as we celebrate National School Counselor Counseling Week. This is a time to honor the invaluable contributions our counselors make to support our students, families, staff, and community. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our counselors. You are a lifeline with your unwavering support and guidance for our students each and every day. We also celebrate Black History Month. It's a time to honor the significant contributions, struggles, resilience, and triumphs of African-Americans throughout history. Next week, we celebrate random acts of kindness week. We can celebrate this by leaving unexpected and positive notes, sincere compliments, volunteering at a food bank, cleaning up litter at schools or in our neighborhood, and remembering that acts of kindness are contagious. February is also library lovers

109month. This is a time to renew our love of reading, cherishing books, and supporting our libraries. Thank you to our libraries, our li I'm sorry. Thank you to our librarians, library technicians, and our dedicated volunteers who make our school libraries welcoming havens for our students to discover the joy of reading and what amazing friends books can be for all of us. Finally, as we [clears throat] excuse me, finally, as we approach the difficult decisions regarding our school, our district's deficit spending this February, our primary objective must be to restore fiscal responsibility and long-term solveny. However, fiscal stability cannot come at the cost of our mission. Our focus must remain steadfastly on our students. We must prioritize student needs by ensuring that any necessary cuts are made as far away from the classroom, school sites, and

110core programs as possible. Above all, student safety must remain paramount. Even as we balance the budget, we have a fundamental duty to ensure our students continue to thrive academically, specifically by protecting and increasing their comprehension in the essential essential pillars of math, reading, and writing. We must make these hard decisions and these hard choices with one guiding principle, keeping the impact away from the students we serve. And I believe that every person sitting here, the most important thing is our students. We value our students, our staff, and our communities. Thank you. >> Thank you, Maria Akara. >> Thank you so much for coming this evening. Um, as hard as it is, um, I think the oxygen that I I take when I come to a board meeting is to see the people and because of

111the situation that we faced um that oxygen was taken away um by somebody who is hiding behind something um to threaten lives. >> [clears throat and cough] >> I'm not taking it easy or or trying to pretend that it didn't happen. Um, but I have lived in this high desert since 1985. And in the 1985, I have loved your children. I have soothed their wounds. I have cried with you. I have cried with your families. Uh but at no time did I ever imagine that somebody will threaten to take my life. So as I sit here today, it is not a happy place for me because my passion is still Apple Valley. I still love Apple Valley very much. The question I have is does Apple Valley feel the same thing about me? Does Zappo

112Valley is Zappo Valley willing to stand up and say you cannot hurt people who are here trying to do their best for for our children? And so as I sit here, I am not in a a pleasant place as opposed to what everybody's been talking about. My mind is everywhere. Every time the door opens, I wonder who's coming in and what they're going to do to me. I have heard quite a bit about [clears throat] the conversation regarding the par educators and the support staff. I also started in this district as a teacher who had the benefit of a par educator and I didn't take that for granted. And every day that I get up and go to schools, I let the par educators know that they are the root that waters the plants and

113I don't take it for granted. But I'm particularly troubled by a [clears throat] statement that was made by one of the speakers today and that is how we use our par educators in our in our schools. And I'm not going to rest until I get an answer on that particular use. So I'm going to leave it alone until next board meeting when it's supposed to be presented to us on what that use is. I have also contacted the department of ed to get information on what the instructions are. As a university supervisor, I have been informed that general education teachers must know how to handle special education students. That is their responsibility. But a child who comes to us with special education needs and has a specialized support in the classroom has to get that

114special education support where they belong. Unfortunately, we are going about it the wrong way. when [clears throat] a special education teacher now has to handle 10 or 15 students in their class and their per educator that has been assigned to them is being sent out somewhere. It is a time for the parents to ask the question who is giving my child the services that is written in their IEP. If that service is not being provided by the teacher who is credentialed to provide that service, the parent needs to ask begin to ask questions. So, I think we need to really as a district pay attention to the importance of our par educators. I've heard enough. I've seen enough. But I want to assure you that any decision we make here today is strictly for the

115benefit of the district. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Good evening. [snorts] Tonight is a difficult night for our district, our employees, and our community. I want to begin by acknowledging that openly. The agenda items before us are not abstract, and they represent real people, real families, and a very real anxiety. I know that when reductions are discussed, fear takes over. Fear of job loss, fear of instability, fear of not knowing what comes next. I have lived that fear myself. On a Saturday in 2012, 10 days before Christmas, I stood in a packed special board meeting of the district where I work with a baby on my hip, waiting to find out that my husband had been laid off and whether or not I had made the seniority cut. I remember the uncertainty, the

116panic, and the helpless feeling of knowing decisions were being made that would change our lives while having very little control over the outcome. So, when I say tonight that I understand the emotions in this room and in our community, I mean that sincerely. The resolutions before us are required steps under the law to address our financial situation. They do not represent a desire to lose employees, nor do they reflect a lack of value for the people who keep this district running every day. Our goal always is to preserve programs, protect students, and retain as many employees as possible while meeting our fiscal responsibilities. Unfortunately, some parts of that work must happen in close session. And I know how frustrating that can be when you're the one waiting for answers. I also want to say this

117clearly. Disagreement, advocacy, and even anger are part of public service. They always have been. But threats of violence are never acceptable. Not against board members, not against staff, not against anyone. We are neighbors. We are parents. We are educators and public servants. We can and must disagree without putting our lives at risk. To our employees, you are not numbers on a spreadsheet. You are the heart of this district. To our families, your trust matters deeply to us. and to our community. I ask for patience, for facts over fear, and for grace during an incredibly challenging moment. None of us take these decisions lightly. We are here because we believe in public education, in fiscal responsibility, and in doing the hard work, even when it's painful, to ensure the long-term stability of this district for students

118and staff alike. Thank you for being here tonight and thank you for caring enough to show up even when emotions are high. >> Superintendent comments, Tene Nelson. >> Mine will be brief. We had um student advisories at both Granite Hills High School and Apple Valley High School. I will be sharing some of the comments that um students had um having to do with um how they feel at Granite Hills High School. They'll be a hard conversation for the board, but I would like to share those and I'll do that through um email because I don't want to publicly talk about um the concerns that they had. And then um we had CT competitions here um this week for um medical. Granite Hills High School took the first place team and um Apple Valley High School

119had the first place with a student individual and uh Granite had a third place. So pretty amazing outcomes when we're competing across the the desert with these um students. And then um mentioning the Great Kindness Challenge um several of our schools participated in it last week finishing out January. Um, sweet Cooper. Um, Bo sent me a nice email about um, his kindness challenge and um, thanking me for the work that I do. Um, I do want to let you know that we have some excellent news for the WASK process at HDPA. They got a six-year with a midcycle review and I think that's outstanding for an alternative ed center. So, congratulations HDPA. That is great. All right. Item G, public hearing. [sighs] Conduct a public hearing for the public to provide input regarding California school

120employees chapter 828 initial bargaining proposal to the Apple Valley Unified School District. I now open the public hearing at is that right? 10:48. >> We did not. That's I didn't. Okay. Okay, I'm going to open this. >> Yep. Regarding the California School Employees Chapter 828 initial bargaining proposal to the Apple Valley Unified School District, Mr. Conrad. >> Yes, this is a a public meeting as part of the um the Sunshine process and adherence to government code. Before associations and districts can engage in the negotiation process, we must do what we did earlier, inform through discussion information what the reopeners are to the board so they can be informed. We have to afford the public an opportunity to comment on what they may have heard in that discussion information. And that's what we're at right now.

121Later, you'll take action just approving uh the ABUSD uh reopeners. Obviously, the CSEA controls uh their authority to open their their articles, but right now it's it's uh you know, we give time for the public to comment and if nobody's there, we keep it open for a minute and then wrap it. So, that's >> and I will go my turn. Okay. Our lights are their motion. So, >> but then I thought I would if it wasn't motion I'd feel silly. Are there any questions or comments from members of the board regarding the California school employees chapter 828 initial bargaining proposal to the Apple Valley Unified School District? Are there any public comments regarding the California School Employees Chapter 828 initial bargaining proposal to the Apple Valley Unified School District? Hearing no further public comment, I

122now close the public hearing for the California School Employees Chapter 828 initial bargaining proposal to the Apple Valley Unified School District. And I'll close that at 10:50. And then we need to have a discussion about extending per bylaw 9323. Does anybody have a suggestion? >> Okay. Can I get a second for 11:30? >> Second. >> All right. We'll take a roll call vote. Mrs. Longshore. I >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Tucker. >> Hi, >> Miss Apara. >> Hi, >> and Miss Buchanan. I Okay. All right, guys. You got 40 minutes. Number two, conduct a public hearing for the public to provide input regarding Apple Valley Unified School District's initial bargaining proposal to the California School Employees Association, Chapter 828. I now open a public hearing at 10:51 regarding the Apple Valley Unified School

123District's initial bargaining proposal to the California School Employee Association chapter 828. >> So similarly, I think you know just applies here as well. We received an opener from the uh district and now would be the public's opportunity to comment on those reopeners as well. Are there any questions or comments from members of the board regarding the Apple Valley Unified School District's initial bargaining proposal to the California School Employees Association chapter 828? Are there any public comments regarding the Apple Valley Unified School District's initial bargaining proposal to the California School Employees Association chapter 828? Hearing no further public comment, I now close the public hearing for the Apple Valley Unified School District's initial bargaining proposal to the California School Employees Association, chapter 828 at 10:52. [cough] All right. Item I one um adopt resolution 2526-07 reduction.

124Yeah. Reduction or discontinuence of classified service. I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Um, yes. I would like to uh point out that 204 of the 241 positions of classified staff listed are in front of and supporting children every day. So I move that we hold a special meeting of the board in order to have adequate time for clarification and discussion considering all avenues of savings before providing any direction to cut specific positions. >> Okay. Um we have a motion on the table. We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> No. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. I'm sorry, but I can't vote for this. No. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan, I vote I. Number two, adopt resolution 2526-08, reduction or discontinuence of

125certificated service. I'll make the motion. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. Any discussion? It is essential that we have time to review and consider certificated management positions as well. I would like to move again that we hold a special meeting of the board in order to have adequate time for clarification and discussion considering all avenues of savings before providing any direction to cut specific positions. Okay. Okay, I'm going to call for the vote on the motion to adopt resolution 2526-08. Mrs. Longore, >> no. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> hi. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> I. >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Miss Buchanan, I. Item three, approve the initial proposal from Apple Valley Unified School District on contract reopeners for a successor agreement between the Apple Valley Unified School District and the California School Employees

126Association, Chapter 828. I'll move it. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Take a vote roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh, >> I. >> Mrs. Tucker >> I, >> Miss Apara, >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan, I vote I. Number four, approve the certificated and classified personnel actions as listed. I'll move it. >> A second. >> Any discussion? Okay, we will >> I would like to take a minute to recognize that this math teacher will have been the 64 64th teacher hired for the 2526 calendar year. Okay, we'll be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore, >> I. Mr. Raleigh, >> hi. >> Mrs. Tucker, >> hi. >> Miss Apara, >> hi. >> Miss Buchanan, I number five, approve the recommendations for requested leaves as noted. >> I'll move it. A second. >> Any

127discussion? Right. We will be taking the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> I. >> Miss. Buchanan. I. All right. Number six. Conduct first readings of board policies. First readings and adoptions of administrative regulations and deletion of BP and AR 5145.13 based on AB 495 and AB677. I can move it. >> Any discussion? Um and then we turn it over to Mr. SL. >> Just very briefly I'll explain. I apologize. We had just done a first reading of of 5145.13 and we're about to bring it for a second read and adopt when TSBA came out with this list of updated changes and asking us to now delete 5145.13 because of changes in law that were signed in those referenced bills.

128So that's what this list is. It did come to us this was the first board meeting that was available to us since it came. But now, as you know, we require two readings. So that's why you see a first read and for administrative regulations a first read and adopt. Uh we typically don't do the adoption of the administrative regulation until second read. However, on March 1st or prior to March 1st, I must upload our current board policies regarding um these numbered um board policies as and anything related to AB499 into or 495 um into a state portal that's just been developed for this. And I would really like to be able to show that we have a first read in progress and then administrative regulations already adopted that are compliant with the law. It just

129it's just a factor of our frequency of board meetings and the way this worked out. We will be compliant. Um but I'll pause there for any questions on the particulars of these quite number uh quite a large number of policies and we really just stuck directly with the CSBA language that was provided. I'll move the item. >> We do. Yeah. We'll we will take the vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I. >> Miss Apara. >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan. I. >> All right. Number seven. Approve the recommendation of the administrative hearing chairperson effective immediately on EXP number 8 2025-26 through EXP number 13 202526 expulsion case STIP number 1 202526 and annual review AR number 18 202526 Six. I'll make the motion. >> Second.

130>> Any discussion? We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >> I. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Tucker. >> Hi. >> Miss Apara. >> I. >> Mrs. Buchanan. I. Thank you. Item number eight. Amend board policy and/or administrative regulation 5117 andor 5116.1 related to interd district transfer and intrad district transfers. Can I >> Okay. And I'll second it. Discussion. >> Um yes. Thank you. I pulled this forward for the board to consider it as a discussion action item after much discussion on the on the topic. Um I I am not addressing 5117 because I did not ask for that to be pulled up for a vote. Um so we're looking strictly at intra district transfers. I would like to point out that 282 Apple Valley Unified School District students were

131denied transfer to the high school of their choice while 82 students from outside Apple Valley were let in. Only 22 of these were staff children. That's 60 interdist transfers granted while 282 intradist transfers were denied. We currently have a site that is disproportionately desired 5 to one, while Apple Valley residents are repeatedly denied the opportunity to transfer in. Education code section 35160.5B requires that we honor parent preferences irrespective of where they live in Apple Valley. This will better ensure equitable access and help to limit any possible segregation in AVUSD. I move that we amend board policy 5116.1 to include enrollment priorities. Quote, "Every student currently residing in the district's attendance area shall be given priority over all future non-staff interd district transfer requests." >> I have a question. So, excuse [clears throat] me. what you're

132saying it's not to make one site bigger or add more but just openings that are available the priority would go to Apple Valley residents before they would go to uh residents outside Apple Valley with the exception of staff's children is that correct >> yes that's correct >> okay thank you okay so Before we discuss the specific language, um we do have the motion on um as a board, do we want to amend the board policy 5116.1? Um so we can take the roll call vote. This is do you want to amend board policy? Mrs. Longshore. I Mr. Raleigh. I'm [clears throat] sorry. So, let me get this right. We're amending the board policy. >> We're asking if you want like do you want to look into amending the current policy and then we can discuss

133the language she >> No. Okay. Mrs. Tucker. >> I miss Okara. >> No. >> Miss Buchanan. No. All right. J. The consent agenda. It is recommended that the board of trustees consider approving a number of agenda items as a consent list. Consent items are routine in nature and can be enacted in one motion without further discussion. This procedure conserves meeting time for a full discussion of significant issues. Consent items to be approved in one motion. Currently, it's 1 through 24. Is there anybody that Okay. >> I would like to pull item one. Okay. Are there any others? All right. I'll make the motion that we approve consent item number two through 24. >> All right. Any discussion on 2 through 24. All right. We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longshore. >>

134Hi. >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi. Mrs. Tucker I Miss Apara >> I >> Mrs. Puchicanan I All right we are gonna move to item one which is approve the minutes of the December 11th 2025 board meeting. Um, I have concern because when the meeting ended, there were only three people asked to vote and my understanding is we're a board of five. Even if three people are the majority, shouldn't all five at least have the opportunity to vote to close the meeting? Um, I apologize. We don't have a motion or a second to discuss number one. I'm sure Kylie's mad at us right now. >> Um, I move that. >> I'll second it. >> I'll second >> since I'm the one that booooed. >> Okay, >> it's fixed. Okay. in the December um for you the

135president at the time. >> No, it was Rick. I believe he tried to get attention. There was a discussion going on at the end and we realized at that point we were over the time we had committed to end by. >> I understand that there's times when things can be a little bit chaotic, but I I do feel that we need to value everyone's vote. I [clears throat] I don't remember exactly uh what had happened but can you um refresh our memory my memory at least >> um at the end of the meeting it was very chaotic uh and the meeting ended I was sitting at the end and we never had a call for vote or if we did we never heard it >> I don't remember it so I can >> clarif no

136worries I just feel, you know, sometimes it gets a little bit crazy, but if we could just remember there's five of us and absolutely. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. Just a question of clarification. >> Um because I know like just to be sure um do we is it a problem if we um do not all vote on an adjournment? I I'm going to tell you that I've been told that adjournments don't need a vote. You can set a time and you can adjourn. I understand what you're saying and I do >> that you want to just point out that you didn't have an opportunity to vote. You're not asking to change the minutes. You're using it to talk about the fact that he didn't. Yeah. >> Yes. We'll make we'll make every attempt that

137does not occur again. >> Thank you very much. I really appreciate it and thank you for giving me the time to go through this. >> All right. Are there any other questions or comments? Or can I call for the vote? >> Call for the vote. >> All right. Mrs. Longshore. >> Hi, >> Mr. Raleigh. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Tucker. >> I miss Okara. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Buchanan. I All right. Closing items. Future items. Do any members of the board have any future items? >> Yes. I still want to make sure that um next at the next board meeting we'll get a reporting on how special ed instructional support staff are being used in our schools. And um I'm going to make a request that in the next uh few board meetings that we place

138the certificated um president to speak ahead of the classified president in the agenda. Okay. Uh Mrs. Nelson and I will discuss that when we set the agenda. Are there any other future items? Next regular board meeting will be Thursday, March 5th, 2026, approximately 5:00 p.m. in the Educational Support Center. There being no further business to come before the board of trustees, it is recommended that the meeting be adjourned. >> Thank you. >> Do we want to take a vote? >> No. Yeah, I'll do it. Mrs. Longshore. Or wait, let me I'll I'll make the motion that we adjourn at 11:09. >> Second, >> Mrs. Longshore. >> I Mr. Raleigh. >> No. >> Mrs. Tucker. [laughter] >> Was that a yes? >> I You're not paying attention. >> I thought I heard a is what I

139heard. I'm sorry. >> I vote I to Okay. I'm sorry. It's late. Miss Aquara. Miss Buchanan I thank you Yes.