Special Board Meeting - Thursday, January 29, 2026

001Austin at 6:17 on the agenda today is the class that will uh do announcements um and then anybody speak of the board yet followed by a public comment and an opportunity for the court to have a discussion amongst public. So with that please of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. to address the board. There is a translator available Spanish and his name is And so just asking the board with that number and so with that comments Uh good evening board, good evening community. Uh tonight I'm going to start as I've done in the past with a brief overview and also addressing some of the questions that since we met um I want to just mention a couple things that we've heard

002about this time. And just regarding our timeline, I just want to note that it's um it's a really difficult time. Uh and when we think about uh the timeline and the legal runway we got to make a decision. I just want to be clear that runway is a little spring work on enrolling students getting set for the next year. Uh fall we evaluated enroll in um and it's between fall and spring that we really have the opportunity to dig in uh to look at current trends to analyze doric reports. Um and uh we have done starting uh September October and I realize it does feel like it's a quick timeline but at the end of the day it really is the time that we have to work through. Um I also want to clarify that

003really the primary reason for engaging in this work um is based on the actual enrollment that we're seeing at our two small middle schools. uh the numbers of enrollment currently enrolled in our you know two small schools um is is low and that is really the primary reasoning um as superintendent working with um our cabinet it's our obligation to monitor enrollment uh to look at trends to ensure that we spend our dollars in a way that maximizes benefit for our students that really is our charge and bottom line when we're looking at the data as it stands We believe that it's continuing to operate two schools uh two small schools that are significantly unknown well enrolled is not in service to all of our students. I know it's difficult. It's a very difficult decision because

004we value things um and often the things that we value are in conflict with another. Um sometimes it's it's hard to have a choice when small. So we that we're trying to balance and regardless of our decision, we know that there's tradeoffs uh and we have to make trade-offs one way or another and it does fall on the board uh the board's decision with the support of the cabinet and our recommendations to weigh these tradeoffs to make the decision that we believe is best. evaluating uh what we know today um evaluating the facts in front of us and the information shared with those. So with that I'm just going to launch into our depth. I'm not going to spend um a lot of time um just want to kind of reiterate a couple of points

005in that first slide that was showing here really the question is should be considered transitioning from two TAs down to one. you see our current old numbers um approximately 30% of our students attending fifth grade and sound learned um metriculate into those programs in sixth grade. It just shows the level of of transition to the site. We're looking at a number of factors including transportation, financial feasibility, enrollment trends, community desire for middle school uh programs as well as community input and I can keep up with this study. Um the next study I wanted to address kind of the idea um that if we choose to maintain the status quo, the idea of ensuring that we operate these students. Uh what does that look like? We um maximize enrollment at our small schools and how does

006that impact things? a a quote about 36 to 72 uh students would need to be added to our small school programs. We might say that a broad range. Um yes, it is. And I'm looking at numbers at different points in time. The 36 is looking at current enrollment. We brought it to maximum. The 72 is actually looking at survey data from last spring. How many kiddos? uh there was the delta of course being normal people uh students uh following survey. So roughly 36 to 72 um and that's possibly exacerbated by the feeling of frustration for families who already have transfer requests to go through all sides. The second piece that I wanted to mention is this kind of the idea I want to put it out there that if you were to select option uh

007two or three the reduction of the old school program as it were sandpaper we we can further look at another option. uh one is is um to make the transition once uh allow our sixth or current sixth grade and seventh grade uh families to make a decision to attend uh the other small school or transport all student. Uh option two and in my opinion is probably not uh the most optimal. There's lots of complications there. Uh but we could look at maintaining sixth graders graduating seven seven graduating slow um phase out and that would probably be moving down to a self-contained classroom much like our elementary schools are for that short period of time. Um I don't know uh how feasible that second option is for both programs or programmatic concerns uh specifically with the

008model and the final slide uh is just uh reinforcing pretty much what I already shared. I do want to take a moment. The survey is is just simple information. Uh what our families were feeling at one point in time regarding middle school preferences and ideas. Uh it does not um give us a pathway of what options to select. It simply provides us a lens into what community is thinking at one point in time about programs and um desires outcomes from see here. Um and then of course uh you know transportation is one one item that comes up. Uh regardless of the solution we are committed to working with SAM trans um I attended the SAM trans today and we've started exchanging uh information with SAM trans and that is an ongoing process. So uh we

009work with them uh closely with them to uh meet our need. Uh they also are responsive to uh the broader um operations of transportation. So, um, they work with us to investigate our abilities and to determine where that uh, with that I will pass it back over to thoughts. Uh, oh, sorry, I should just mention uh, timeline. January has been our community outreach. Uh, this is our fourping session. Uh, the board will be coming to the board in February out of the recommendation. um uh to move forward with next steps uh so that we can be getting spread in the moment uh and make adjustments for 26. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Uh at this time I just want to kind of go over some good public comment ground rules. Um please complete

010this product uh until you have that. Um three minutes per person for the public. uh the board may even based on the number of speakers only certainly reminded me or please um speak of the time especially if you know somebody that's senator you know the perspective and then we just go to the next point is you have multiple points um you let sure everybody and I know I understand this is a sensitive topic it really students and so Please focus it comments on each experiences and outcomes rather than aiming so many individ so welcome and thank you and M is there you have >> yes so I'll be following up a few of you at a time to All right. So, the first speaker, set of speakers, we have Tuba, Jordan, and Junior H. >>

011Hello, my name is Shango. I have one son who is currently a corporate student at Child Elementary School. We have lived in neighborhood shores for five years and we have been home owners for the past four years. One of the main reason we choose to remove this neighborhood and buy a home here was because of the excellent schools. My son is my only child and since he is still in fourth grade we have not yet decided in school he will attend. To be honest, I had not even begun thinking seriously about the school options. Because of that, I did not complete the survey that was conducted three months ago. Had I known that the result of this survey potentially with the closure of this week, I absolutely would have participated it. I truly believe that

012we still had time if all these decision need to be made. I'm mostly here today not because I saw the meeting announcement from parent but because other parents friends informed me about how serious this situation is. I want to emphasize that many parents like me those children still have time before entering middle school may not even be aware that a neighborhood school such as type of visit is at risk of being closed. And even if they are aware, they may not have get have enough information to determine which middle school would be the best fit for their child. Many parents simply lack or opportunity resource schools like Sway or Bit and understand what they offer. Making such an important long-term decision, we would need such a short time frame feel rush and permature. I respectfully

013ask to the board to keep both 74 and golden. Thank you to the board members for taking the time to listen. I would also like to thank to parents and their children who are working so hard to educate our schools and to protect our community. Hi, good evening. Uh, my name is Jordan Webster. I'm a proud. >> Hi, I'm Jordan. I'm a proud of American second grader. I taught in the district for 13 years and I am currently a teacher at Carmon School. I care deeply about our schools and the long-term health of the district and the broader educational community. Um, I want to acknowledge the many families that have spoken really passionately about keeping their K8 schools, our K8 schools open. And as an parent, I see firsthand the pride and the vibrance of

014the educational community there. I'm here tonight to speak uh for another group that hasn't been as visible, but it's just as important, governments who value choice, particular the option of attending our comprehensive 68 middle school. So I know we are facing declining enrollment and these are difficult decision decisions that and no options came but what concerned me is the possibility circulating informally or maybe formally that if all three schools remain open families lose the ability to choose and instead be assigned to schools based on location. Um for many families the larger middle schools that deliver educational choice that offers scale programs through groups um that uh families have chosen that always matters. I believe that transparency matters just as much enforced assignment as a potential outcome. Families deserve to hear that clearly weigh honestly. If

015preserving choice means making a difficult decision, including closing a school, I urge the board to consider that openly and courageously. In other words, if we don't have the numbers to sustain a two smaller middle schools, we may need to close months and preserve the opportunity for all families to choose the size school that's best for their kids. Uh, thank you for your time and your service. Hi there, my name is Jennifer and I'm proud parent of Nisuma and Arston Ram and I want to thank you all first of all. I don't envy the decision that you're grappling with. This is really really hard and I really appreciate the deep listening and the intense and thoughtful consideration that you're each putting into this. So, thank you so much for what you're doing. I know it's hard.

016Um, I'm here tonight to ask you to please preserve school choice for all our families in this district. I think one of the it's how we serve all our middle school students most effectively. And I think it's one of the greatest assets of our district that when your kid hits middle school, you get to say, "Hey, would my kid be best served in a smaller, more supportive or targeted learning environment?" Awesome. We have that. And would my kid be thriving better in a larger, more comprehensive middle school? Awesome. We have that, too. And I really, really do not want to see that choice taken away from all of our families. And this is hard for me to say because I know that there is a lot of love for all three of our schools. And

017so part of me does not like standing up here saying what I'm about to say, but I'm going to say it because I think it's important to say, which is that if we do not have the number and the demand to sustain two small schools for the long run, then I would rather see you make the very hard choice to close one of those to preserve the opportunity for every kid in our district to have the chance to attend the small or large school is going to be the best fit for them. Because I think what I worry about is that we try to keep all three schools open because it's hard to choose a closed one and then you end up having to force families into those based on where they live whether or

018not that's the best fit for their kids. And I really think that that would be a disservice to our remote schools. I really want all kids to be able to choose with their families what school environment is going to work for them. They like to have that option open to all their kids. So again, I I know this is an incredibly hard place to be in and there's no easy clear black and white right or wrong choice here. Um but I ask that as you move forward, please preserve that really essential school choice for all of our kids. Thank you so much. >> Sure. So, um, next up we have Shane, then Shane, Leo, and Hello everyone, my name is Shane and I First because of the degree most students in elementary and elementary would

019like what's probably like want to go to the same middle school or new schools. If we close our middle school, then the student our students will have to go to other middle schools and they will have to adjust to new environments. They might feel scared or unsecure. Second, second middle schoolers find great role models for us every morning. Every Monday morning during our assembly, there's something called singing the works like this. Teacher picks three students from sixth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade and awards them $20. When they're awarding the students, he or she describes how the student is feeling fun and respectful. Now, middle school do not have phone models to look up. Third, third, our school has an amazing office program, then it would only grade and that will be less fun. And

020I love music. I the cello and the piano. I really looked forward to joining the office. In summer, Sam Pepper Middle School and Ni. Thank you for listening. Have a nice evening. Evening everyone. My name is and I'm here this evening on behalf of Tamara Bakma um able to attend tonight. So with her permission I'll be reading her statement as follows. Dear board of trustees and Minister Gwara, I am a proud parent of some students at Beverly Shores Elementary and our family has been looking forward to sending them to San Middle School. We have taken our children countless times to Sanheiser so they could practice getting to school independently. I strongly urge the board to drop the idea of closing the middle school. My concerns are centered around the impact on student achievement. Stand hyper

021provides a stable familiar learning environment. Research shows that force transfers can lead to learning loss and emotional distress particularly for our most vulnerable students. Stip community anchor. It is more than just ability. It is the heart of our red shores neighborhood. of middle school will lead to an increase of vehicles and traffic which goes against government systems California green initiatives. Our children's education and the stability of our neighborhood should not be the first items on the chap. Thank you for your time and consideration. Good evening board of trust and Mr. My name is Ben Chang and this is my twin brother Ted. We are both third graders at San Piper. We are not even in middle school yet and all we think it's important to support our middle school friends and teachers. We'd like to

022sincerely ask that you keep San Piper Middle School open and we will tell you why. First, the middle school students teach us a lot of abilities, especially during the senior families. Senior families, an activity where TK through 8th graders gather like a family every month. The older kids teach us life skills and how to be good learners. A good learner shows full body listening and they were respectful of other bodies when we are on the playground. I also learned Spanish from the middle schoolers a small birthday and sometimes we get to pick one and make crafts together without the middle schoolers to take care of us. Our secret family might just together why middle school students make me feel like home. When I am with them, I feel a lot of joy in my heart.

023They greet me in the morning and make me feel encouraged every day. They encourage us to do hard things and make good choices. I am a twin and I don't have an older sibling. So in my family, I get to have big brothers and sisters that I never had. Finally, we love our middle school teachers. They're always being in the morning and hanging out with us during the morning recess. And even though I am just a third grader, they know my name, too. The middle school teachers work very hard to prepare the students for high school. And it would be sad if you lost their jobs because they made lots of effort during their careers. Think about it. How would you feel if you lost your job? Sad, right? That is what the teachers would

024feel. And I think middle school should be closed because all the teachers would feel supported. So let's try to keep Sam open by brainstorming ideas to get more students to join us. We can convince other children to come to San Pepper by writing emails, making flyers, and maybe hanging up banners to tell them more about our strengths and awesome activities. For all the reason, please keep our school open and dangerous. >> Hi, Christine. Good evening again. Um, I'm here today to address the point made earlier about, you know, the numbers. I believe it was about six to 17 on the slide. We don't deny that those numbers are in the present the current state. They assume the status quo in the current state where the smaller schools are underresourced and underpromoted. We positively better future

025we can work on together not to deprive choice to better inform that choice. There can be a world outside the false dichotomy of geography versus choice. there can be a better choice. When we say the schools are underresourced and underpromoted by underresourced, we recognize that a small schools naturally receive fewer resources responsible. There's an active group of parents ready, willing, and able to contribute work with the district to address this resource. So diverse ideas will be frozen and many of trustees have a letter in green boxes with uh plans on how to drive with work that will happen. We can work on sourcing together recognized that the district may have too thin but our lived experiments is one of awareness and engagement. Anecdotally, Beverage Lords Elementary fifth graders receive more information about Boston five miles

026away than any information about San Piper one mile away. We can work on building together with better resource and promotion currently can be very much kept for every family but better informed with better information to make the best books for each family. The work of education is to take children in their current state and to improve them through something better and more tomorrow. Let us do the same to our schools for the numbers on the slide. They're not setting still. We would never tell a struggling child that based on what we know today, based on their presently responsible parents. Let's not do that to our schools either. Give us the time to nourish your schools. Okay. Alex board of trustees. My name is Angela Supi and I am proud parenting also seventh grader and a

027sip third grader. Thank the board giving the community the opportunity to speak. I'm here tonight because I'm very concerned with the news that the board is considering keeping all middle schools open and dropping enrollment at Rston Middle School, thus removing choice from us. With Rston being the only comprehensive middle school in the district, restricting access to its valuable resources creates inequitable learning opportunities for the students of this district and moving in this direction should be uncomfortable. It's my understanding from your twice that most families even in the RSSD want to send their kids to Rston, myself included. And as it is a better fit for my children and the better fit for other children's uh based on the data, the enrollment for Sam Piper does it is only enough to keep one neighborhood middle school

028open. And with that information, it makes the most financial sense to only keep one neighbor neighborhood middle school open. For students and families where a small community middle school is the right option uh for their needs, I hope access to one remains a resource available to them. However, there is so much individual and community benefit in having children from all over the district and different middle elementary schools come together in a larger middle school. Um, but I really hope uh this option remains. The board should not be forcing children to attend schools that are not an educational fit for them. remaining uh with the same small cohort of students from kindergarten through 8th grade could be detrimental to the socioal development for many children. It keeps their world small and does not give them enough

029chances to take the safe controlled risks such as making new friends, learning new subjects, taking a public school bus that's bus to school which grows their independence, their executive functioning skills such as planning, time management that will give them the confidence they need to navigate the academic and social rigors of high school. I know my seventh grader has blossomed since coming to middle school and has been so grateful to have the opportunity to learn things she never thought she would such as concert pearl and strategy and music and and math. And so um I think it would be a disservice to not give properties choice to choose the school that's great for them. So I know the board of trustees is facing a very decision. I do implore the board to look at balanced solutions

030that mean educational and developmental needs for the majority of students in this district. Thank you so much and please note the choice of superintendent and board trustees. Uh first off want to thank you for this traditional town hall announc my name is Jella. I'm the proud parent of a fifth grader uh and first grader at Shores Elementary School. So as a family who will have an entering middle school student uh next year shorts uh want to perspective tonight. We live at Weather Shores for 15 years. Um attending Rston Middle School uh this wonderful comprehensive school was made. We decided to plant gem roots here and start a family. Uh we got involved in BRSP as best we could. Served on the school site council for many years. My wife helps run the boat fair and

031as a double room parent. Uh and we've been active donors schools. All that time we've watched and so many of our makers have sent their kids here to Rston. You've heard their stories. Fantastic experiences from both the parents and her students. And our fifth grader has fun stories the driveway around the neighborhood and over the past six months has already planned her journey to Boston. She's eager to play flute and the bigger Wston band is her full elective next year is even excited about taking the bus with her friends and next door neighbors. We've been told by the district for 10 plus years that middle school choice would continue to be an option with the choice families um as seen on the slides uh about you know forced in uh to San Piper or Despite

032has taught us and more importantly our daughter. I ask you to please remember this has been a great class. This is the class that had to do a kindergarten. They had to wear masks and social distance for and chore specifically. After second grade, they lost the principal. Then again after the third grade, their elementary school is surrounded by and this middle school choice was supposed to be their chance to have a predictable future for their education. Potentially taking away that choice to not be able to attend in the school they've been looking forward to for years just weeks before registration would be devastating and my daughter would be crushed. My wife and I've watched both the Zan Piper Mesa town hall events over the past few weeks. We've seen the many passionate community members and

033staff I advocate for keeping their respective home schools open. We're friends of some of those families and I respect their choice to attend San Piper or Nespet. But please do not have their choice to attend. S Piper has been take away the choice for other families like ours to attend be denied the benefits of some of the electives that are offered here like fulltime music. So for this year I for this fifth grade class please do not choice on behalf of many of our English chores LG. Yes, please do not take they deserve same opportunity as other student to attend school choice. >> Hi, my name is Alexa Vel. I am a former NESB student. I was the first graduating class of the Nesbet Elementary School. I do not have a kid today as I

034am also a ser president. I've lived there my whole life. Um I did not know that this was happening between the middle schools. Um I I am a young business owner. I had just opened up someone as I been working all day. I found this out for former family was going. Um it absolutely just devastated me and I just had this feeling that I hadn't here today to speak with you all. um not just to share just my experience but just how much of a home that NES and a K state school is in general um to me and others. Um in middle school or in elementary school I found out that I was really sensitive. I found out that I was at a very awkward time when people didn't know what it was, how

035to help you, how we can, you know, get you through your reading and writing lessons even though you're two, three grades behind, right? I had some teachers that asked me and my family, "What can we do for you? How can we help you?" I had teachers that stayed after hours that paid extra to learn their own curriculums to teach me how being dyslexic is okay, how I can work with it, how to work through it in middle school and high school. For me, Rson, I always thought I wanted to go there. I thought it was going to be the perfect place for me. But once I kind of found out how academic worked and how reading and writing classes worked, I just couldn't find the right place that made me feel comfortable. I didn't have

036that one-on-one time like I did at NESF. I had teachers who would sit there after school with me through all my experiences, the ups and downs. I really wouldn't be where I am today opening up my own business. I have teachers that come and support me that don't miss birthday parties and graduations and, you know, other things. We recently had a Nesbet student who passed away a couple years ago. And the one thing I really wanted to share with you guys was that not only did it turn everything upside down, but the first people that I called were my meditate teachers. I talked to them, we actually met in my living room after that just to kind of talk about the whole experience and what happened. We go back through memories and you know what

037shaped us to be who we are today. And if I didn't go to school, I don't know what I would do or how I'd be able to cope with my learning disability. Um, also lastly before times up, I am certainly not president. Like I said, I just find it a little concerning that nor me or my old students were not informed about this decision that's going to be happening. Again, K through eight schools are great and both of them wish they could both stay open. I know that's just not an option, but I just did want to share my opinion and my experience. So, thank you guys so much for listening to all of us today. Thank you. >> Thank you for the opportunity to come talk to you. I am a secretary at le

038um we moved to California 12 years ago, but we decided to purchase the house. purchased it and fell along for a reason. Um really thought about the excellence of the schools and um I really enjoyed watching my son grow and turn into the person that he is and knowing that I would have the choice of school to fit what he needs um to fit him in his own person to help him excel academically. And I just kind of encourage you to really think about that choice that parents have been planning since joining eST. Um, choosing to buy classes here. Um, thinking about how best to serve their children and other life. Um, I know this is not easy choice. I don't think they do. And I know some people like math of what happens. And

039so, um, it's going to be a hard choice. to the reference. Thank you Patel and Hillary. Um that was going oldish that was just hearing talking about her experience like a little little cluster. It's kind of a I don't know it's different watching your adult child. Um thank you for giving us opportunity to speak. I'm speaking about our personal experience going through NEST a um specifically the middle school. Uh we have a ton of puma pride so many years later because it is not just school. community um for many years is different and I'm here to tell you it is different very different it's beautifully different and it's so different that you actually don't even know and so you come there you've experienced it where you have a child like my daughter who go through

040it with all the help love and support and guidance from those teachers um this up Um, as Lexi stated, she was some she was just glad to go to the Nesbet. She is severely dyslexic, but she was also incredibly intelligent. And the teachers at NESBI fostered that intelligent side of it. They never let her disability become who she is. They let her learn about her disability while they learned with her. When she was going through Nesbia wasn't necessarily something that teachers were excited to learn about. It was extra for them. It was something that they had been additional for. There's a teacher sitting here today that when we were in her IEP, he said, "How can I help her? How can I help you? What can I do? How can I learn?" As I learn

041from her every day. Knowing that a teacher was willing to take the time to learn how she would learn best is something that sticks with me forever. our other daughter um she's 20 she went on to uh SDSU she got accepted to Cal Poly slow I didn't go to college I didn't know the college process teacher took that on with her to sit down and go through the process college applications uh she is now um studying interior architecture putting her real estate license minor in sustainability and her interior design certification as well is a small business owner, one of the youngest in St. Carlos. Um, she runs a salon with four stylists. And I have to tell you that both my girls will forever say that they will be where they are because of the

042teachers and the mentorship that they received from Nesbet. As medical school teachers don't just show up to teach, they show up to wisdom, to support, to encourage care to what they give goes far beyond academics. And it comes from knowing their students understanding, their community, and generally wanting every child to succeed. My family owes a great deal of our children's success to these teachers, and we're forever grateful. Nesbbit changes trajectories. I've watched it not just for my children. I was also PTA president. I watch many others as it is just a school. It's where students learn who they are and who they can become. Thank you. Um, my name is I'm a fifth grader at Maryland Char Elementary School and my friend and I are excited to go to Boston school. We recycle your school

043elect and academics that will improve as fellow high school. We are expecting that our choice of efforts will be sent to us soon. So we can make an choice but also So they say children have not Do not take children not to keep usable. Uh my Hillary have two children. One who attended San Perth and then came here for Wston for middle school and is now at high school. My second is a third grader at Sanford. Um you know first off I'd like to say I definitely support the small middle schools. I think that clearly the reading has shown up and it's a great choice for some families but for my family uh fall time wasn't going to be a great choice and I was really disappointed to hear the idea of one idea of

044keeping San Piper Middle School open would be forcing all the Siberic students to go to San Piper Middle School. Um we chose Rston because of some of the opportunities that are really only possible at a large middle school and I wanted to share those with you. Uh my oldest daughter started violin and had Sam Piper. She took the once a week group lessons and gonna be honest she was away terrible at the end of fifth grade. Uh at Wilston she joined the had the opportunity to join the the large orchestra and there she found the wonderful community of friends and she discovered how much she really truly loved performing as a group. Her growth and skills was absolutely incredible. Taking classes every day she gained confidence and like her bravery during her performances. her journey

045with orchestra is now continues at Carla. Thank you. Um and she is loving it. Uh even this past weekend she performed a duet at the recital. I could hardly for beautiful and founded and the joy in her performance was just incredible to see and I do believe that this was enabled by the Boston music program. Um, she also found running at at rston and joining the cross country and track teams was and being part of what was really a competitive school program built her confidence. She made a great group of friends that she trains with now every day at Promont and she would tell you is a one of the highlight as a school for her. Uh, these experiences were in addition to some of the academic and social benefits of attending Rston. She got

046two years of Spanish. She uh really participated in the flexible math tracks to moving between sixth and seventh grade which was great and she really loved those giant school dances. Um and I don't even say I love Sam France bus. I'm glad I mentioned that. I actually really value the fact that she knows how to get on the public transit and get places by herself. Um so she she had really love. She expanded her community uh making new friends and she transitioned very easily to Carl to the large school. Um I think rston has always been the primary middle school um for all sixth graders since we joined the district 10 years ago. And please do not um take that choice away especially when the enrollment numbers do show be honest that most samper families

047do want to choose well for their job. Thank you very much. Lord. Hello elementary school. I am here to talk about closing schools. First of all, closing the schools is bad. making students feel lost and sad. It causes people to ride the bus. Though some people think the bus, it could cause problems to people like us, making us uh ride every 2 hours and make the sun just close. So why on earth must those schools close? You see the schools should be closed because of lower environmental needs. also gives more room to play. How are the thoughts affecting you last while all the bus is overcome trap making you around? Also, how would you feel if there's no school to walk your children to? How would you feel if that happened to you? Now, there's

048something that causes to enrollment that is low. Oh, it's the students that choose the students to roast in middle school. It's like trusting an 11year-old with Elon Musk's credit card. No. Um, what is another reason and wonder? Uh, well, it is because of the occasion to r that makes them wonder. I'm not doing any field trips to rston at all. And that is why you're saying those schools not any day. I came to that public course not a good solution for the problem school if you are a lower I would love to get music. My oldest brother and published series of the legend of law attack selfish is a good thing because it helps teachers understand there are less students. Next, I would say it's a one sample a pretty late no. Also, did you

049know that? So, if you miss the last one, it's over. Thomas. Yeah, I think I hope so. Closing schools is the wrong thing to do. It will make many teachers and fail causing the district to get into the school. This would also make less fun than less people to join them. When I was younger, I wanted to go to Boston because I'm probably going to be standing children like myself. Technically speaking, I would like to say choice. Here are some suggestions for fun or staff or volunteers. However, let them a market would be left by students or even a lunch. I'm sure that was going on if you had noticed that law school every I hope I've expressed that there are so many ways to put this down just like also so many people actually

050want to know the and thank you for the opportunity to speak and I hope you make a decision. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Leila Vantessa. I want to start by thanking the board members for engaging with me and other parents. Fortunately, since we are not in a financial crisis and we are budgeted to close our deficit with any of the four options we choose, I am hopeful we can take the time to work together and do what's best for our children and schools. According to the alignment survey slide 38, while 59% are confident that their school preference will not change, 41% of respondents could be swayed in their school preference. Together with other parents, we've sent over to the board a list of enrollment and outreach ideas so that we can drive

051more voluntary enrollment at our smaller middle schools. The superintendent said that if we close one of the small schools, the displaced families will likely get their next first choice for middle school. Now, here's my concern. If we do not do anything different from what's happening today, then those families would likely choose Rston as their alternative. While people who prefer Rston will have to go to the remaining small middle school in order to fill spaces there, we can make Rston accommodate more students, but Mr. Duada himself has stated the following in our last September board meeting. quote is a middle school or any school of 1,00200 the optimal size no I probably would say no schools that are smaller are probably more optimal so we will make rston less optimal by making it bigger and families

052who would not have chosen rston otherwise will be choosing it while those who wanted to go to Rston will end up going to the small middle school. There is evidence that a school closures cause student harm. According to Education Week, quote, "Students who attend a school that closes during their K through2 career have lower test scores along with worse attendance and behavior in the short term. In the long term, they're less likely than their peers to complete college and have a job and their earnings tend to be lower. Furthermore, the guidelines of the California Office of the Attorney General regarding school closures and best practices state the following. Quote, "If there is excess capacity at one school and a nearby school is overenrolled, the district should rely on collaborative problem solving with the community to

053identify the causes of this disparity and craft a solution that as much as possible avoids closing the under enroll school. Also, studies show, this is quote, that deep community engagement pays dividends beyond school closures. Increased parent and student engagement leads to better academic achievement and attendance, which in California leads to more funding and decrease likelihood of further closures. These guidelines recommend forming a district advisory committee including teachers, administrators, and parents. I hope the board will do so and follow these best practices so that all of our children and all of our schools will thrive. Thank you. Good evening and warm. My name is mother of two students of Siber 5 years ago. My family alive in the United States. My children spoke English and we were navigating an entire world. and Piper welcomed us with

054open arms and taught them that during one of the most challenging positions in two years ago when my when chosen a middle school for my rul was a default option few consider staying at some piper and that's par many didn't know much about what program was heard that it was last month to collectively sports meanwhile we were concerned about ra massive size and power for the public. The middle school information section was somewhat helpful to us but it left gaps in understanding the reality. This communication gap shouldn't exist. We choose to stay for the design thinking approach and the personalized learning despite most of his friends leaving for us. Two years later, the decision has proven to be one of the best ever. My son is studying family following advancement and exploring that has fast

055genuine fashion to culinary culinary arts. He discovered love for cooking made a museum using book for a quest and even made for his entire class on the last dynamics. He has flourished socially and emotional. He's built meaningful relationships not only with his classmates but also with six and 88. He has found purpose helping younger students at events like to throwing carnival and play on all seasons for football and basketball teams. The closing community of Ser has given him exactly the emotional support that he needed. He is gain independence fighting to school and spending his free time with neighborhood friends. Now my youngest daughter faces the same decision with a difference. She doesn't hesitate. She has seen her brother and was the same experience for her. But this choice could be taken away from her if

056somebody closes next to them. This isn't just about our family. It's about educating other families and shoes right for their their children round as well as are valuable especially for the kids in their neighborhoods. But the lack of information about them is making most of the kids want to stay with the default option. The issue isn't quality. It's inequality of information. Rston has a defaulted bill. Smaller schools like Siber need equivalable opportunities to communicate their unique threat and reach critical mass. I understand that the work faces difficult private decisions but closing the school cannot be enough and will have long-lasting effects in the communities. Our all our middle school and investing outreach at these families the information later. This will help both small schools reach typical step. Our community deserves educational choice, not just educational.

057Thank you so much for your work. Good evening members of the board, superintendent and staff. My name is Daniel resident sixth grader. He's home preparing for the negative business experiment and in all honesty I'm not sure that we're done but trust me but I think it's important to speak my son and I spoke to January 8th as did about the importance you guys since then I've watched the subsequent meetings reviewed the materials posted online tonight I'd like to step back from the personal side the importance to my family and focus on the district's overall there are several questions that from the community's perspective remain unanswered. First is the question of timing. Why does this have to be done now in such short time? Tonight, superintendent said it was necessary to act on short timeline, but

058didn't say why. At the second meeting on this topic, the superintendent explained that moving quickly could reduce disruption. From our family's perspective and that of other students and families at NES and San Diego, closing their current would be highly disruptive as well as our staff. Even if the board believes a near-term decision is necessary, phased implementation would help reduce that disruption. A longer timeline would also give families of younger students more time to thoughtfully consider their options, including for those who might be the best student to consider independent schools, the deadlines for which have already passed. Another area where additional clarity would be helpful is the financial rationale in meetings and written material. Savings of approximately 300 to $400,000 have been cited. At the same time, Superintendent Duara indicated in a Redwood City Pulse interview

059this is not primarily a budget-driven issue and that the district has other plans to address the shortfall. Clarifying how these statements fit together will help the community better understand the underlying drivers proposal and the decisions to be made. If the district is seeing a long-term decline in enrollments that suggests a need for long-term engagement in 2017 and long-term in 2017 BRSSB was the fastest growing district in the county approved Santa Cl expansion and anticipated such growth that we considered converting Barrett to a school. If those projections have changed so much, has the methodology changed? They were off by so much then and why should we have to these are big decisions and they shouldn't be made ephemerally and we shouldn't be reconsidering them again in years. Finally, I want to acknowledge the importance of our

060teachers and staff. Families would appreciate understanding how the district is engaging with teacher representatives and how staff will be supported during transition including credentiing requirements and associated costs. Parents, students and staff from all three middle programs and taxpayers cross and redwood shores share a common interest in thoughtful wellplanned decisions. I respectfully ask the board to preserve NES and San Titer Middle until such time that we can do this thoughtfully and with meaningful community engagement. Thank you. Good evening members of the board and thank you for your time tonight. My name is Kani Wiler and I'm the parent of twin eighth grade daughters at San Hyper Middle School and a senior son at Palmont High School. My family moved here from Switzerland in 2023 specifically because of the strength of this school district and I'm here

061tonight to speak about the equity among our middle schools. Our first choice middle school was actually Rston. We were drawn to its academic reputation, language offerings, strong music and athletic programs. However, because there was no space available, we actually did not get our choice. And as new residents, we had to choose between Sandpiper investment. We chose San Piper for its academic focus, design thinking approach, and the fact that as residents of Brewood Shores, our daughters could walk or bike to school. I want to be very clear, Sam Piper has become a wonderful school for our family. It offers a warm, supportive community where teachers truly know their students. The small school environment has provided tremendous social and emotional benefits during these important middle school years. Academically, our daughters are thriving and I feel confident they

062are well prepared for high school. However, I do have concerns about equity across our middle schools. San Piper does not have the same access to music and world language programs as other sites. This is the first year our daughters as eighth graders have been offered foreign language and it is only available as self-study option before school. for math acceleration. My daughters are bridging geometry outside the district through Silicon Valley High School while students at Boston can take this during the school day. Athletic options are also more limited. In sixth grade, I took time off from work and drove my daughter to school daily so she could participate in track and field. Despite being the fastest sprinter in her class, she chose not to continue in seventh grade as this proved to be too difficult for

063her to move over time. These differences matter. When families choose schools, they are choosing opportunities. If some schools consistently offer more inschool academic pathways and enrichment, it naturally drives demand for those campuses. You have heard from many redwood shores dis residents who are choosing most. I would ask why they are the choosing most. Before closing a school, I urge the district whether enrolling patterns are truly about preference or about unequal access to programs and resources. I strongly support keeping all three of those schools open and we want to get that back. If we want balanced enrollment, every school must offer strong academic pathways and enrichment and electives so family feel they are choosing between great options. Our middle schools are more than hillies. They are communities that shape our children's futures. San Piper has been

064an amazing place for my daughters and I have no regret about our three years. They are very well prepared for their future at Bmont and I hope it can continue to be a home for many more students for years to come. Thank you for the school district. This is my 13th year in the school district and I've worked at every site across the district. So I'm very familiar with the fabric and culture of each school. Um I should start this by saying what I'm about to say based on the assumption that we must so you do have to go that route. Please take it all into consideration. Um preparing for this I watched both of the town halls in San Group and concerns from both schools are basically the same. small school conducive to learning

065community teacher class that sort of thing as well as being able to walk to school in traffic. So if you look at it from that perspective, it's basically a toss which school clos a little bit further at which school will really be more impacted by the closure of the school and uh I think you know by far as would be much more impacted if uh closed just some stats 38% % of the students in negative are considered associative economically disadvantaged compared to 9% across the district. So 38% compared to 9% everywhere else and we have over 4% English language that neu just this is a general data not true for everywhere but had a similar experience throughout the year when we return most kids at every school has tell me about their trips to Disneyland

066or Captain Tahoe um things like that and then I go and edit it and I asked the same question my cousin's house a couple days or we drove to San Francisco got the car a little bit got back and went home. So uh it's just amazing that all these schools are in the same district but kids that are living in very different reality than rest for some enterpies living in onebedroom apartments Israel or vice versa. Um so uh I grew up San Francisco and I grew up with a lot of girls youth center and that sort of thing. Unfortunately don't have that. Um but has basically become the community center for that for that community. Um and every uh event that they have was just just really special and the entire community always showed up.

067U including you know students u they all they all just like reunion it's really special u and again just going back to to the population that they serve. It's very important to have um with similar experiences going the same thing that they can identify with and just build that sense of community and also having resources for work. I just wanted to share that. Good evening everyone. Uh my name is Dean Thomas. I'm a first grader fifth grader at elementary. I like several of us the fifth graders at Central learn just like this afternoon that there is a proposal on the table that could possibly um take uh our choice for our fifth graders who voice a preference to go to Rston next year uh and possibly force them into one of the the smaller schools.

068So here we are. Uh I'm not here to speak for anyone other than uh myself and my wife and kids and we have a strong preference for them to go to Rston. Uh several other speakers who have defended choice in the district uh for us which school we want to go to want to go to Rston very articulately summed up my thoughts as to why in particular that the teacher from Carl not to speaker. Uh I thought just summed that up beautifully. So, I won't give a heap of any of those. I just want to say that I value that choice of my kids and just ask that you consider this as you make this very decision. Um, thank you very much for your service in the district. I sincerely appreciate. >> Okay, we have

069Stacy Townson, Josh Bloom, and Hello, good evening everyone. Um, my name is include uh nearly 20 years ago my wife and I chose to make one called plan to have our kids to central Boston and today and everyone is a fifth grader at Central. um the proposal that we heard today about artificially increasing enrollment of NES and Sam Viper by forcing kids who would have chosen to go to Rston to one of these other schools with different focus um doesn't seem like a fair approach. While all three have strengths, it's obvious that Rston would be compens for their children and family like we do today. And if there isn't really sufficient enrollment to support some of those schools um then it's communication community that perhaps with the student experience is not as supportive and important

070not chosen follow that student experience logical the choice of middle school is important and every family takes seriously. So all we ask is that we try and respect our ability to make a choice park. >> Good evening members of the board. Uh my name is Stacy Townson. I'm a parent of two kids at River Elementary. Uh I actually grew up in River Hallstead myself. Um so my actually relocated back to Rish and she's only in first grade but she's already there that's camps here very much looking forward to it. Um I would just like to reiterate the previous school in Austin. Um I think we're really fortunate in our school district that we have choice for middle school programs. Um families can choose the appropriate school for their child for their situation and with that

071we were able um my family has shifted well many of those specific um but I think everyone walks robust um academically rigorous and opportunities to explore And I think other resource schools that for everybody an opportunity for everybody. Um so I would ask them the board made a difficult but necessary choice at least one of the one. Thank you. >> Tonight I wanted to give up some of the amazing energy and ideas that have come from a group of 50 plus families who believe that with effective outreach and enrollment efforts with support from parents students and teachers or families would choose to enroll by urban design and enrollments without sacrificing the number one priority for a lot of teachers tonight. Um this is not exactly exactly the list but I thought I would give my

072top 10 first come up that have no additional cost to the district. The first three are think of them as districtwide initiatives. Um to create more equal distribution of opportunities for our kids. Um the first category is sports. So creating more districtwide athletic teams that are open to all the middle schools. Um something that really matters to kids and parents. um and giving those opportunities to all kids across the district. The second one is music. Um we've heard lots of stories about kids who want to participate in larger orchestra. Um having that opportunity critical. Um the third one is thinking beyond the boundaries of this district to interface. Enrollment districtwide is such an issue that we considered offering enrollment opportunities to children outside of the priv. The next group of uh items I wanted to

073highlight were ones that are really about the education and outreach about um it's one thing to have a strategy around school choice. It's another to properly execute against that vision. And right now I think there are there are many areas for potential improvement improving outreach timing. Right now most of the activities happen once the school survey has been sent. Um but obviously that become much earlier in engaging with counselors giving guidance to fifth graders or even earlier families on what might be the best fit for them. Um school assembly presentations with uh not just our parents but the students at San Hyper. uh sorry at Redwood Elementary and Stan Hyper specifically would be helpful uh in some of the Belmont schools as well. Um right now we have class trips to as we heard to

074Rston and we're really interested in driving there. um panel presentations. You have if anything a highly engaged parent room right now and uh uh tap into that energy to have them have their voices heard about the amazing experience they have had last week. Um there is a shuttle my understanding from Belmont to Redwood Shores that is available to everyone. I just found out about this about five minutes ago, but um I don't think this is publicized at all that um there are opportunities for people who live in Delan to attend English schools. And the last one um the the publication of these efforts, there are flyers circulating now about Wston Middle School important dates to bring elementary school children. I'm not saying we shouldn't do that, but why is that the only school that's being

075publicized as their option? Um, in essence, you know, supporting premolic choice and values are kids education and our choices as parents, but uh there needs to be a corresponding execution to that vision and that's what we haven't seen from this so far, but together with the energy of the parents, I think we can get there. Thank you. Hello Britain and board of trustees. Uh my name is Ajit Desh Mande and I live in Routures. Uh we are proud parents of two boys. Rishid Desh Mande who currently is a sophomore at uh he went to San Packer Middle School and uh Aush who is currently at Rston in sixth grade. Uh he also went to San Piper Elementary. Uh I'm here today to strongly support both the continuation of San Piper Middle School and also the

076preservation of choice between the comprehensive school Rosen and who was born in San Piper. Um our older son Rishi graduated from San Piper Middle in 2024 and uh like I said he's currently a sophomore at Mont High School. He also went to San Piper Elementary. Rishi is an introvert. Uh he uh uh has always had a close-knit uh group of friends. uh he really loved the environment of being uh both proximity to a school being able to walk there as well as having friends also to the community. Uh the small school environment at S Pepper was ideal for him. Uh as a result of being at San Fer, he developed uh love for basketball. He was able to make it onto the sander school middle school team. uh and uh to this day the group

077of friends he made while playing basketball at S5 continues to be the group of friends he spend most of his time with at home as well u uh on the other hand our younger one Aush he is extremely interested in exploration he doesn't really have any passions at this point but he loves the languages he loves exploring creative uh elements and as a result of his preferencees We thought Rston was the right food for him. Uh and he's having a fun time in now at Rston uh exploring you know uh not just excelling in academics but also exploring things like when business happens and uh strategy and so on. Um uh as far as our experience is concerned, we think scientific middle is extremely important uh for Dr. just for students like Priy and uh

078and and some of his friends. Uh I will also say that on the other hand uh Rston and Adoption continues to help us make the right choice based on the preferences of our children. Uh so between these two schools we are really thankful that we currently have a choice. So we would love to uh suggest and recommend that uh every student we have that choice. At the same time we feel that having a closed uh school that is able to go to the community also matters a lot. So that's that's my thank you. Hey, we have Safari Forest and Shelene. >> Wonderful. Um, thanks everyone for making time this extra weing to hear all these voices. Um, so my name is Paral. I'm uh a local artist here about a mile away. Um, I have

079a daughter who finished up in Boston last year and a son in Fox who is a fourth grader right now. So, most likely have a girl in the near future. Um, I think what I want to feel we've heard a lot of passion books is her choice. Um, I think that's pretty important for a number of reasons. Um, we were lucky enough that uh for high school in our daughter, you know, we had the choice um to have a GTech or Skola. She didn't put a D tech out there having great experience at Wston but for her that is a better option in terms of many of the reasons that people are saying that they want standing by the smaller school environment different programs focus um than the formal environment um and so I I

080definitely appreciate the value of school choice and how that's beneficial in different states um so I want to kind of acknowledge that being said I think that preserving student and having that as an option for all kids in the district and preserving um uh the current ability to go there is is super vital not just from an academic standpoint but the thing I want to speak to more than what all the other folks can speak to a logistics standpoint um I don't know if remembers but me and him had quite a few conversations this summer when my daughter was sent into middle school she was assigned to me and for uh this is when my son was going to be going to first grade and For us, that was not start. Um, I'm an emergency

081physician. My schedule's all over the place and so often times it was just going to be my wife who's going to have to shuttle kids back and forth. Um, so in order to get my daughter to NZ and my son back, it was an unworkable situation like waking up, you know, at that time a six-year-old, seven-year-old at, you know, 6:30 in the morning or something just to sit in the car for 40 minutes to go up and down to get my daughter on time. Um, the reason I bring this up is that I think that regardless of what choice is made, I would like to see a higher level focus on the logistics of getting the kids to and from where they need to go. Um, there is transportation down towards neative shores. Um, when

082we looked at that option for my daughter at that time, this was three or four years ago. Um, I don't know if it's changed to be honest, but at that time you would have her arriving near it was like 7 20th century with sometimes 45 minutes to kill getting dropped off at a major highway off with no crossover to cross right in the offramp and then hanging out I guess outside of the school as a sixth grader unsupervised for 20 minutes. Um so that was the option for the transportation other than driving which again as I mentioned would invol you know throughout the four schools but uh the school by the way could be done two weeks from so I would just say that you know keep logistics for families um especially families that don't

083have the ability to have the children which better decision uh I think uh the kids and some of the other things that public shared um my only question was um much of these decisions that are being made at the data aspect value things are data where I what I did here in this in alpha is um saw a statistic about 30% of kids working from the elementary school for example saying exciting middle school um but I did hear a lot and I was wondering if there's any additional surveys you conducted or outreach those families decided not to vote Santa middle school been there. I heard some reasons, but I think uh instead of um focusing on closing the school, which I think should be the last or spending a little more time on trying to

084close the gaps in education, I think so better. I didn't I didn't care about anything that the this community has done enough what the outputs that they made um over time clearly this is not something that happened overnight and uh decided to open middle school didn't have to not go overnight and I'm sure that was a tough process to get the funding will speak by specifically and I don't know how long it's been maybe 10 years so seems like something went wrong between 10 years ago and now and you can't chalk it all up with kids. That's just doesn't make any sense. So be a little more introspective and what the reasons are and try to solve that problem just shut things down such short. I think that's confusing board members and thank you superintendent

085work and recommendations and thank you all the board for personal committee and all the build of the public regarding such an important issue our district as education The options present to the public about the future of our middle schools send shock to many families. We see the demographic pressure of driving the consideration because one middle school many disagree with this past but and ask you to give both schools more time to see a demographic prediction on your life. However, if board decides to proceed with closing one of the schools, we believe the evidence clearly shows which school the community prefers to keep open. Our petition to preserve another over 330 signatures and continues to grow daily living data shows that the family small schools twice as many choose sand piper state pipers performance parents run

086papers designed in modeling geographic there is no traffic and given the choice to validates between San Ner We understand that you all to serve the public and implement decisions to reflect our entire district opinions. Thank you again for that. We also recognize that most of you are residents of our district and may be personally affected by this decision. Your children and friends may attend one of these schools creating an inherent conflict that is difficult to navigate no matter how dedicated your parents. Given the evidence we we have presented, we respectfully ask. However, if there remains any uncertainty about activity preference, we request to put this question into the districtwide referendum of registered voters within the debate. The referendum will ensure the decision reflects the will of all district presidents not just committees and will provide

087democratic legitimacy to the outcome helping our community move forward together. I urge you to give both schools time this year and stabilizes. But if you determine closure is necessary and want to reassure the real direction from the entire district that similar is the right school that will also give better future to domestic families than people that give the power to the people in decide by representing. Thank you for listening and for service to our community. I'm the mother of an eighth grader at Wilston Middle School and a fifth grader at Central Elementary. We were informed today that some central elementary school students may be told to attend sandpaper or NES, removing their access to choice. I'm advocating for students to continue to have school choice and be able to attend school that fits them best.

088My daughter has thrived in the larger comprehensive RS having access to many electives and learning how to navigate a larger campus and feels well prepared for a pro. Her brother is hoping to attend Rston as well and to be part of the sports community and many electives that it offers. Although Rston has been an excellent option for my daughter, some of her friends have thrived in small school settings. I'm asking that we please preserve a choice. Thank you. Good. Like any family, I care to think about how young they teach schools. I want to announce a model of this appreciate the work of the board and the district. My goal tonight is not to push for specific but better understand potential limits on school choice affect us. Many children thrive in different school environment while

089small school works for others. Um while your little schools offer many benefits for For some, more programs, more opportunities, wider range of social and ethic experiences. For many, for many, that choice really matters. We're hoping for clarity around school choice, especially for children across the 101. What does proximity play a role in this? And how can for our kids. Um my part of this conversation to trust family members we know our children that and their Allow them to support them in the best way that they two students. visited the bathroom since previous I will admit off the bat we are very privileged to live in the district at all very choose our kids that school I also want to unmutably state that while the staff and teachers were incredibly passionate and made a huge effort

090to welcome our son when he came in the middle of the great I must say we have not at all instru exchange at all and he has personally had an incredible connection with teachers across the board. uh the counselor has reached out directly to him but the principles I I just can't say enough good things about the community of Boston and I think that might sometimes be overlooked by people who feel that you can only get that dimension at a small school had ended in or continued his career in school that I no doubt he mentioned as well but that sentiment is pervasive throughout It's not just in my experience it's been just it's been across the board. So thank you to everybody. Thank you so much as well about it as well. One thing

091that I guess I would love and not for this debate here but something that is did have a sense of awareness that felt like a separate community and I actually would love to see more of those families to help transit whether it's to really come in but I think some of those are knowing that exist at the um speaking about if they're efforts to go to our community or our public schools, they're doing so because they trust in the schools. We want to follow this opportunity. So, I don't want them to think that they could get less than. Thank you so much. Hello, my name is Central and I just wanted to support really important and one thing that I do ask you to consider your decisions in this is that deciding having to keep

092two small schools up but they're effectively taking control away from um you know moving to one small school offers people versus keeping open you're going to choose that so I do ask you please take that other thing that I wanted to point out is one of the become very apparent that is that people might be open to smaller elementary school but not with the expense of the extracurriculars and social and the music and other opportunities that a couple school district and we did have four options up there today only three of them are being discussed that option second elementary service middle school is that I think really should be on the table and yes it can be done before registration starts this year but it is a very good field possibility I think solve a

093lot of the concerns that people have um you know people do want their children to have those opportunities they're providing compens might fall environment that pay off and you know thousands of elementary school it also means that you have to run a pretty ship to make work that's a lot of pretty a lot more offers the chance to look at things where we could use the work so well and embedded it within that larger school and have a smaller set of students who have jo not driven by the fact that you know registration for this year starts in a month or so but to actually look into what really makes sense for this might be to look at that option That is not feasible to do with shirt. Okay. Hello everyone. Um, thank you for

094letting me speak tonight. My name is Emily. Um, I am going to the PT president. I also have four daughters. I have one to sixth grader at Boston. I have two fifth graders who are coming into hopefully Rston next year and I have the second grader who already wants to go to R. So, some of the other parents um driving as PTA I've been following this whole thing pretty closely but I was not aware recently of this new option right about recently bringing more kids to um to San Die and it um so I think that's where a little bit of startness on parents day it's like oh wait a minute are you you know if you were to look at geography and say oh central close to that you're going to start planning there

095that's a real that seems real for us to think about I think of mobilized here tonight. It's like, whoa, whoa. We've been following this. We've been supported. We've been trying to be educated, but this is now changed throughout, right? This is a different conversation. We're very excited. So, um, you know, I think what I can say is I would I hope a couple things have been said tonight. I would say first, my sixth graders have an optimal time in Boston. The teachers are amazing. I think some of her classes are smaller than what she had in school, which is pretty amazing. Um, she's bonded closely with her teachers. And I will say one of the things I've heard a lot of parents talking about how we need to advertise in other schools more. I don't

096disagree with that. But I will say she gave it help like they present. They talk about the different schools like it was an actual real conversation. It wasn't like I'm just going to go to Rex to figure out how space we looked at like example for school. We really consider it. We talked about the benefits of scholar class big school. So I know everyone's been very pro-choice tonight and I echo that. But I do want to say more we didn't feel like we had a lot of information about programs. It was four girls who were like really really wanted to make a good decision and so we the rest could kind of fall you know. So I think I prepared to say obviously protect choice. Um my my fifth graders one of them is already

097planning for all of the sports students she's trying out for next year. She actually wanted to be here to talk and I didn't I didn't know that come so I told her no she's probably watching it right now is the one she's not here. very passionate about this. So I just say thank you again. Um I know it's a tough decision. Nobody wants to close school, but it's kind of fair to have smaller school people and a big school for people who want bigger school. Amazing. Right. Thank you very much. Um, I just want to address the word choice and how it's almost an illusion in the situation. There's a lot of fear mongering I feel around this choice. Um if you look at the weight list for RS, there's 20 families not putting their

098choice. But if you close down paper, there's over 100 families that don't get in their choice. And we also move to this neighborhood board that is a middle school program for TK through a we have children ranging in different. So, I'd like to reiterate the fact that if there is a bigger effort to get the other smaller schools enrolled and maybe with more enrollment, they'll have the money to put in some of these programs, they won't be taking away money from Ros, which is going around saying, well, we'll lose resources if they keep saying, but that is not true. And additionally um the system is broken and you really need to increase the equity and you really need to put in an effort to increase enrollment. You have an obligation, I feel as in it

099is code of ed or the state to to work with the community to try and do some move on to resources and if anything it will be easy for easier for you to get into Boston because if more families want to go to NZDA and S Piper there will be more openings at Boston. I don't think shoving more kids up there is think please take mental health into consideration. The bigger the school, the less, you know, onetoone relationships happen in our small schools. The principal knows who the parents are. They know who the kids are. They they are on top of it. There's preventative measures, not just punitive measures to bullying and all the other things that happen in the larger schools. Um the teachers don't want this. The teachers in Samar are so devastated

100by this. You know, it's not just the parents. Please listen to them, too. This is their job. They have been working, some of them did the entire sorry, tenure of a stiger to get into what it is today. Please respect the fact that there are three different schools in three different locations, but for three different populations. They're not equal. We want them to leave and we want everyone to have their choice. I have friends want to go to Wston. I want them to be able to go to Austin. So the other thing if you plan to shut it down, please be mindful if you said it is not feasible to phase it out, but I'd rather I I think that the word ID probably not ideal to it is to phase it out. Another parent

101said, "Please don't transfer kids from one year two years into it." Last thing, the bus. If you're going to make us go to Desmond, please get a specific bus because the Rston bus will drop our kids off at a gas station about 30 minutes before they're allowed on campus. That's not okay. I can't drive my kid because I have smaller kids at TA that's starting to spend time. That doesn't work. So, just be mindful of all these nuances. Please keep me at a servo community. Please keep Rston open for choice. and please put in effort to increase the enrollment and and one last thing from a friend who is we're texting through it. She says our taxes paid for the school she wants her kids to go to post. Okay, our taxes paid for the

102school bonds. They are public schools. No one knew about this and our teachers were literally emailing parents to attend tonight. The public who finally formed were not aware people moved to these neighborhood choice to have the choice neighborhood choice. We have never heard of an enrollment issue. Why elections in 2026? We were aware the district was well abundant. None of us think that. Where is the outrage for the lack of the woman? I was not planning on speaking today. Um I'm a mother of uh fashion shows and we'll be showing loved blossom. It's an amazing school and my is about a chance to blossom. We've heard a lot today about the fact that the clothing of sire preserved and a lot of parents love it. Unfortunately, no matter the choice you make, if they're able,

103that small little community, that small school, that's wrong regardless because the option here on the table is not to keep stand. the option that you will take kids a very high number of children that don't want to do their children in that school if I look at the numbers right now you have 80 kids in sixth grade and 17 of them are trans if we take after 72 more kids and good schools you're going to end up with half of they are unless the parents don't want to be there. They don't want to be there. They are there because they're forced to be there. It is not only to be that community that's there right now. You're going to have parents who are upset, not involved, and feeling that your choice didn't matter. It is

104not going to be what it is today. as a very short parenting. I feel especially impacted because of something that was said at the last minute. Basically saying that the post would remain open which means that my choice to buy at the shows will mean that my kid think one will end up in one of the most likely well his siblings. That is not fair. When I go and I show I'm told it is part of the short school district we are part of one and we get from all the school that's the other two schools go there does not choose and that sounds the case I'm very parent like according to my high school I need to enroll and I know my children I know their education I know they need and I'm Even

105though my current schools, one of the smaller schools might have been okay, for my youngest and for my oldest just graduated from Boston, a smaller school is not okay. They need that big school. My friend about the ability might end up going to St. because of geography. He off um he actually said mom sometimes don't have choice. There are other schools that his friends are going to private schools and open up this college fund without pay for that. Um unfortunately two of his friends had a very had a negative experience of one small schools and it wasn't about activities or classes. It was about emotional wellbeing. You put a bunch of middle schoolers in a class of age of 60 and occasionally they don't get along the most or maybe they don't get along with

106the two teachers who are assigned to teach school those classes and then what the kids hates going hate going to school and often my kid have one teacher that he had one teacher like maybe two people love the rest of his teachers. you get a book you get along with and you love this other group that choice matter for the extra books and of our kids and I really hope that you let the parents make a choice and respect the choice um and we're doing it knowing what it is not this is not any members Uh my name is Justin and I have three children in the same member and also children's community member. Um I spoke at the other two boards down here in um I too was not speaking tonight. Um but what

107really me sitting here where you were again was that everyone in this room we all want the exact same thing. We want the success of our children whether that be even the day before a small middle school environment and we all agree that health bar extremely important. We just all want what is best for our kids. So I really don't like seeing our great VRSSD community pitted against one another this conversation. You know a lot of the people that are in this room in the community are great friends of all of us and we want to be united. Um, we're all not going to win in this situation if we're not united in this conversation. The district's not going to win that. Um, it's already been made pretty clear, and we'll go over the details

108of that. There's no committed financial need to close a school. So, why wouldn't you the status quo? That's really my biggest question. To me, it seems like the most logical and equitable choice for We just need that time to work together, I feel, to formulate a long-term decision that works for everyone. And as the speaker uh told for mentioned, you know, I think a lot of people are thinking there's only a couple of options and if this happens, then remove my child's choice to go this school or this school. I don't feel like there are four options. I feel like there can be a myriad of options and we just need time to look at those options. So why wouldn't we take that time rather than taking a rash to sit in and kind of

109moving forward on something that um I just want you to know you've got our attention. Uh you have such an amazing engaged and passionate community behind you to support you in this and I hope you will let them do that. Um so with the support option one uh keeping the choice that everyone's asking for the short term while we work on a solution that works for not same type not but the entire so we have two more speakers. Justice and I'm a child here and a homeless student that attended Boston. I appreciate the time that you are taking to make thoughtful and decisions to address the final moment and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my I would like to share my concerns particularly regarding how two proposed options would impact students and student

110industry option one and four broadly affect even though the district have mentioned that there's no um this reason to disclose schools but it does pause a lot to maintain lower enrollment campuses. So in the long term you can have and um also the industry is already upgrading and that is suspending. So in the long run for 19 and also this option could result with students being assigned to schools other than being additional stress and this school as a moment this is so maintaining small is not financially responsible because this week does not have limited and to families to and two small schools in order to build is not providing all the families the same opportunity to choose and that can also impact property values as well as there's no guarantee that the families are presenting

111the students to the school um as a comprehensive school provide more programs and electives because of scale and and student population so he rank 25 middle schools. And so the secondary is doing great jobs and the students are dividing and both and development and to take away peaceful spirit to the students the teachers and staff and our family and so option four having two small size middle school also fundamentally changed Boston as it exists today. It was hard to imagine in configuring those schoolsiz comprehensive schools without negatively impacting academics and model experiences are only a strong and a school culture and this option would be what makes it successful. So like what data point will be helpful in in terms of helping us understand the full implications of each option? Well um for one I

112think statistics on how values actively change schools along with first students funding level edge at each middle school would be valuable in every decision making. Thank you for your time and consideration for perspective. >> Hello girls and senator school and um I'm just a little concerned right now about the timeline of your decision making. I know we have two meetings in January. At the last meeting, this was an additional meeting that was added on by the request of the board first. So there was no intent of having this third meeting initially and the decision was going to be made in February about what you're going to do with schools. Um I think you've heard from all the parents how concerned they were. That's why this third meeting is place. I actually did not even realize

113when it came to this meeting that central government would also be impacted u based on the decision that's going to be made so quickly. Um I'm not sure if I understand clearly what would happen come September 2026 and what decisions as parents what we will be facing again will we have two schools if that's what you guys decide which two schools are they can we do we have a choice again we had a tribe at Wston initially we didn't get it and we were at San Hyper say you decide to close one of the smaller schools. Are we then going to be forced again to be on a wait list for the school of our choice? If we want Boston again, do we again get put on a wait list? What happens to essential kids

114who might also want to but now have some sand types or desert parents wanting to go to San Die once you've opened those? What does that look like? What are you going to do to accommodate this new enrollment of kids coming into Wall Street? I I'm not hearing what's going to happen to the teachers student teacher. Are you going to open up three more classes, four more classes? I want to get a better understanding of this because decision. I'm not sure if the decision is going to be made in February and then you will plan out what's going to happen. So I I'm not seeing that in the documentation anywhere and if there is please let me know I'm happy to read it again but we but based on what I've seen so far I'm

115just not sure if a we have this urgency to make this decision next weekend in February whenever it is and have you have you communicated that the clear guidelines as to what we are going to face all the parents in this district are going to come September. Um, so as always, thank you Great. Again, I want to thank the very thoughtful perspectives of the community event and thank you for taking time and share one obviously very important to each and every one of us. want to open this now to the board for an opportunity to kind of continue discussion points but as well as be able to ask district leadership questions that we might have and this about February meeting where we will be sorry so I will open this First of all, I just

116want to say again, thank you to everybody who spoke today and all and also those who have shared am I reading thoroughly And um and I I just want to recognize how deeply our community cares at our schools and the choices that our families want for their children. Please know that all of this input whether shared public comment or writing really is being taken seriously and will be very as we move into our profession. just I I do a lot of stuff that like what you guys are saying here is matters and we care and you're all thinking and struggling. Um Dan, I really have a couple of questions for you. Um first of all, I know that these middle schools were built with significant community support and public. Um, as you consider the possibility

117of consolidation, how is the district weighing on its responsibility for financial stewardship of that investment and the potential impact um, community trust and confidence? Uh I will pass on the financial piece of um on the financial a yeah I I know that there was there's been a lot of tension around um how our schools are being affected and how we are um just making sure that those schools established in our community and I just want to make sure that we as a district are being fiscally responsible with that investment that we have taxed to our community. Okay. So, let me show you again all of the plans as to the projects that happen rightly to pass by the board, right? With that being said, I think it's the purpose of the district, right? And the

118board to make the best decision that they can give them the information that they currently have, right? Um, you know, one thing I will bring up is, um, ultimately Rose also was funded by the 2014 Metro High general obligation bomb. Um and as even though I was not here um it sounds like a word that I made a decision right to build as quick as possible. Unfortunately in 2020 2021 there was a pandemic which we all have to go through which affected our enrollment not just here at Belmont but also across um all districts here in California um and has caused enrollments to decline right um again and it's based on the people who were here at that time to make the best of decision that they did not have fun to do those best

119you know they can't necessarily anticipate what's going to happen. They can just make a decision based on that they have. Um there's some really history that I think is helpful to know. Um we did some research into what the last few general obligation mods were. Um there was a $25 million general obligation bond in 2010 which helped expand walls in um fix some of the maintenance facilities here within this. Also in 2010 it was a $35 bond that helped to mark Fox Central again also to help money um build east middle school and also build a TK as part of our um one of the the most interesting parts of our history and our bond program goes all the way back in 2007 where the regular shores SFI chose to raise $25 million to build

120short. Does that answer your question? Sorry, that's that's kind of a lot. Cool. >> Yes and no. Thank you for letting us through. I appreciate it. >> Fine. Sorry. How am I? Um, I think I just I I am concerned about those members of our community who who work so hard to build these schools, putting together a school, making establishing, getting teachers, having a program and like that takes a long time and I am concerned that not just time, it takes time and it takes money. It takes resources. It takes a lot of a lot of people. And I wonder if we were to say, "Okay, we've taken all this time and resources to build these two schools and we're just going to get rid of them for whatever reason. I miss so I'm sorry.

121So the first job everyone loves their schools and our teachers love their kiddos. Our kiddos love their teachers and our teachers are doing amazing work today. So full stop there. Um and uh I will say when I look back just at my attendance um one of my drivers from uh the board prior to this board was look at enrollment monitor our enrollment ensure working our numbers. Uh it was about three years ago we uh made the decision that actually invest more in sandpaper with designer and international program uh with the idea that our schools um that were small schools needed an ethnicity that helped them grow and um it's been threeish Senly um have remained pretty consistently gone reduced the momentum slightly over time. Right? So like the piece that I look at specifically is

122is how are our families transitioning into those programs? I think our men and our sand paper families um who probably know their programs the best um they're they get the marketing probably every day school program here and there um they're making choices in different ways to attend the larger school and I don't think that is a negative mark on the small school um I think our surveys have shown heard from comments that um families do want a larger environment that it does offer a little bit more uh just due to the size due to the ability of more people and being able to optimize and develop. Uh I do want to mention the exception of being under the resource NASDA and sandpaper. Um from a dollar for dollar um and Santa are not under resourced.

123Uh from a programatic standpoint um yes there are differences. uh the way that the program is set up is not able to uh benefit um from size from options from prevention and we've tried to work to solve that. We tried uh expanding the music force to work within we added I think you're representing um virtual options for music. We've our principles have really tried to double down on sports. How do we do sports differently by combining organism? And again we still find um env to you know garnering community supporting um it's to have a conversation open dialogue um to um always do our best to think about any event uh to use data and input to guide the decisions. and I think we have a little >> so I consider myself a pretty I know

124students I know the teachers I know the principles I know a lot and it wasn't until I came on this board that I really understood and I know you're saying that you know if you're elementary school you would know your program best as much. I will honestly say I have no I mean I have a district I have a district overall shield that we saw on the Zoom. Um, but I I wonder if there's not some merit to the district advisor, would that be? Well, I I hate the idea of closing a school before we've done everything we can to preserve and when something like a district advisor, we activate our parents and have them be cheerleaders for our school because I know I know as a parent I attend the programs that my friends,

125right? They say, "Hey, Shel, you you should go do this program. You should go do this." Okay. And it was similar. We don't have our parents as well saying, "Hey, you should go do this or even advise them. We have parents that go to their teachers and their teachers are told to, oh, we're going to go and ask which school should I go to? Which school is best for my child? Do you know my child best?" um Mr. Orans and these teachers say all high schools go and make a decision right which should fair that they should not be by students or wouldn't it be great if they can say here is one parent who volunteered to talk with you about here's another parent that's volunteered to talk about sandpaper here's another parent I can

126talk to you about city and you describe your childhood them and they can help you guide you through that loss. Right now a lot of parents um who one of the parent speakers can mention that we have a population about 40% of those who make thisision. We have this population that says I make decision but I'm not sure if that's the decision that I would feel confident with that. I'm I'm not sure. Would those characters could they be persuaded to be I was able to not just go into that details option of RS is this big school choice and I'm not one way better or not at the moment. I just want us as a board to really think about that. Is that an opportunity to really engage our community? because I feel any opportunity

127for community engagement as well is really helpful and important and unifying for our district and if our parents are engaged and they're interested in our schools are so um I think that my other question was if you mentioned with the languages it doesn't work programs doesn't work with the program in order to have a second language I sure do the way the um schedule is blocked speaking um it's hard so so currently not all students standing paper or that um say play music. Um, it's far beyond that satisfy those who desire versus those who don't. So they've been creative with the foral music rather than a lost period of music by so nuances there um that they're um trying to solve and creatively thought about um how to adjust I know lost is a little

128difficult. We have those big blocks and we need to go on a daily basis. Is there a way to carve out maybe some time for those elective for that for that music for that language for those >> I will just say our small schools have been incredibly creative and have problem solved uh in as many ways as they have found to do so. Um you know I say nothing's impossible. Um and I also say that we can do a lot but we can't do everything and that is a constraint that is inherent in a small school. Um I do want to mention real quick in terms of um again not a dollar and um could we do more? Absolutely. Um but I can say that we over the last several years have worked. Um so

129that middle school choice and I want to talk about choice too that middle school um this middle school selection that we're presenting um options and kind of right now we have three great schools in this one. That's what we try and push. Uh there was a time where it was a little bit more competitive. There are nights. Come here. Come here. Um, we got a regular started uh a combined event that's recorded for this process that's posted on our website where we both work collaboratively to support one another and providing families those options. Um and um and I'll talk specifically about last year. Um we did individualized events for example only um as a district um before the selection process because there was a programs to have the opportunity to see those um we did

130get quite a few them up on YouTube and they were really great. Um, the other thing I I did uh and I kind of uh been a little vague because I honestly didn't have all the details. I reached out to Hansen and Higgins last year. They actually did some sight specific work and outreach. Um as they work with families from fifth grade conferences, they're families. Uh they hosted their shadow English students. Um and um uh principal can have student ambassadors visit central Fox kind of um geographic feeders and whatnot. Sam and did similar work. They facilitated a family tour amongst their um families. Uh they the their sixth grade teachers visited with fifth graders. So kind of the geographic area they did out is there more likely did the outage translate to something different not

131uh last I mention is an important word uh and I got this too as we talking um so just just honestly for the record we heard one band that said three years ago uh they didn't the choice. Um, we do our absolute best to ensure that the families get the choice. Um, and we've been pretty good at it. Not 100% but the last couple years we've we've gotten close. Um, but that is in service of running two programs um that are very low. as far as >> I keep coming back. >> Mom's talking about the district, right? There's I mean to me there's there's a real difference there. Oh, I think the other day something we all we really think about the last basket of the kids and how can we be sure the decision

132we make is going to lead to what's best. I had another question. >> Thank you everybody for being here. Thank you uh taking time and engaging with us. We really do appreciate all your feedback. Um I did want to address just like one part of uh of the discussion. Um, in previous town halls, um, I felt like there was, uh, and I I I agree with members of the public saying that why why is it so urgent to do this? Why can't you just keep it as status quo? And that is one of our options um, into the status quo. Um, however, I wanted to try everything to communicate to to the families that even though we status low as option, so we uh I I think we owe it to you to that those

133are the only options on the table really at this point is status 12, option two, option three, option four. If we did status 12 that doesn't mean that it's status 12 or in the future we would need to discuss something like geography it is not sustainable to continue status quo for that um I would say that status quo would be status quo as >> from what I was understanding that If we were to go status quo, it would be status quo as keeping with schools, but we would be bumping the moment. >> We would be enforcing that verb. I think >> from my interpretation, I think that was something that I introduced that wasn't actually part of the part of what we said to the public for in the beginning. I don't think we said

134initially that you would What is your choice? >> Yeah, we didn't say that at the beginning, but it's like another choice. I think for Sorry, April. I don't know if I can just jump in. I I wanted to propose something for work and my proposal is that we take his time right until February and we look at how we've um communicated and done information nights and all of the um kind of things that happen to persuade choice or you know persuade people to make their decision on what school they want to go to. And I think that now is a great time because we have a lot of families that are really involved. Community is really involved. The teachers are really involved. The students are really involved. Can we take this time to really focus

135on those giving the families, the incoming families and maybe even the fourth grade families too more information about the programs. I don't know everything about the programs, but I do feel like there is a preference for Rston just by default. Mhm. >> And I think we're doing a disservice to all the families in the district, even the families that think they want rston by not giving all of the information or not or not allowing um you know parent parents to come in um somebody used a really great word and now I can't think what it is. It's like parent like >> Yeah, maybe I don't think you said it's like a group that you said parent something group. >> Okay, I like that. Um but anyway, so so really so my proposal is that we

136don't make a choice at our February board meetings. We don't vote and instead we focus on how can we boost enrollment so that everyone can have their choice. And maybe it takes a little bit more effort from us, from staff, from parents, from students to show people that really thought they want maybe they don't actually want and maybe they really want it or steiper. And then when we get the enrollment numbers for this upcoming school year, if the enrollment is still low, not not enough to you know continue, then we look at what options, what vote should we make. So it's kind of you're going more status quo because So here's the thing. This is what the district is that in February in order to have those in order to set up the next school

137year. This this time I was set five or six months ago. So by delaying even a vote then by default saying we're going wages which is reun. So my question therefore kind of you're continuing the situation you're kind of you're picking the can taking the decision down the road and I've so personally I've I've seen that too many times local national level you know where just we've seen it in in city council the different situations where just kind of decision is is removed and you're kind of saying there will be others that will silence. I guess my question to to to Dan and kind of following up with so that way I kind of that filter that filter you kind of >> yeah I just want to be clear that um I don't want to

138say even can because I feel like the whole process that when we started September I feel like that's still like it's pretty fast right this is a big decision to decide if we're going to close school or or not go to school and so I I feel like and I think a lot of other people feel like it is a very rushed timeline and there's not really any reason for the rush timeline like I know that it's not sustainable to have 100 schools but I really don't think that taking time to really get all the information and get the communities all the information that they need I really think that we we could wait one more to make the decision for that. I feel like that is not merely for the fact that this conversation

139is you're going to have students that say or parents and families say, "Well, I'm not going to be the one since I tested because I may have one who's really close or one's going to be consolidated in the next 2 to 3 years possibly. I don't want my child to be have their dual experience. I feel like if we decide between all school, we really need to be committed and firm and this is what we're going to do. We are going to stand behind these schools and we are going to support support them as much as we possibly can and that's what it's going to pay to them. we make a stand and say we really don't feel that this is the right option for our district and we need an abortion to consult. I

140I don't think pushing it is going to be the best thing because you're going to get schools or you're going to get families that are not going to make a decision. I I kind of we the a decision needs to be made because you're keeping you you're taking away choice but you're also keeping them in an indecisive but what what option were they going to eventually >> I guess my um my idea that I had that we would actually would know and be able to vote um Like once you see I guess yeah asking you what information I guess it comes back to present at the side. What information do we still need to make a decision in whatever that general is versus like taking away and saying no you can't take a decision. I

141think there's a difference between advocating for a position and and going and leading with people as well versus not not saying we can make a decision and then have the community but can I just ask more April's point and I guess that you see when when you said that when your definition of status quo is at the enrollment numbers of this year going forward. Can you kind of and versus versus bringing um having or not or bringing sign elementary to the smaller schools to build up that capacity. What is saying at the low at the under numbers? So I guess I'm I'm opening this up and see what is the randomization in terms of under um that kind of status quo option is the is it to keep it at the numbers we're seeing now

142or is it to um say that that's the direction of the board and you're going to then you know build it up. Is that what you're >> I guess my thought is um that the status quo status watch has different branches, right? And one of them is increase publicity and outreach to the community to try to see if we can increase enrollment at San Diego Middle and another option would be to have some consideration of which I think I was when we said that before I think that's still a possibility for the future. But I did not take a geography early enough. I don't think they went out to the community early enough. I would not support that for this coming year. I don't think we gave the community enough time to uh imagine that

143the entire middle school selection system was changed. I think we could decide on that as a word next year if we all talked about it and if we continue to hear from families that they really really really want middle to stay open and they really want Sam Middle to stay open and say that enrollment did increase and also right there's so many different things but maybe if there were also uh families who initially went to Rston who then decided that they wanted to try a smaller middle school after being their rston. Um things like that. I think we could then engage the community and say, you know, we're going to try to have the offs as equitable as possible at each of the schools and we're going to make it more like the elementary school

144system, right? where you are not guaranteed your choice, you are not guaranteed your closest to school, right? So I think that's the value judgment that we could make in the future if we engage with the community. But again, our fellow board members, if we hear from a community that the community doesn't want geography to be part of it, then then we wouldn't do that. But I don't think we I don't think we introduced that early enough for them. I think uh I think based on the standard we have right now we need to honor people's choice for this coming a chance to activate the people I want to and highly recognize our time and I know that we need to get things done but I feel like right now given the atmosphere in the community

145there is there are a couple who are interested right our fifth graders are really actively actively looking right they are thinking about this our fourth graders and third third graders today thinking about it right can we set out a plan goal to the 10th graders before the the ever saying by everyone needs to resign the school would you like to go to. So we have an in the whole idea of where of then allowing our parents to go and talk to their community members, their friends, their family and understand right now with all this going on what does that say nothing was impossible. That's what I typically always said. Um uh so so we send out a survey. I think we do our middle school selection. Uh now on the safety system it's an informal

146selection. We want to know the numbers once you uh submit your choice. You're locked in. We need we need to know our numbers. But let's get a general sense get a general sense of what it is. I feel like a lot of parents now that give you a general idea but giving a lot of >> but our parents to change the doctors who really want our schools to to say it right who knows the sanizer and the message process who knows their community. If if that's the information that the board desires and needs to move forward with a decision, we will send out a survey get preliminary um thoughts to this very first time that's the second one to say when I think not saying that there's not what you're saying, but I think you're

147doing a disservice to the families that we haven't thought of engaged discussion the past seven 8 n I know I did my son's a sixth grader and I know we did as well and um and kind of thought it through and and make rational decisions that that um right different we on the go. That was a discussion on the balance of the family. And so I just for me the discussion in in my head is the sustainability of two programs and when and the previous whatever eight years I think I've had those those discussions um and and there what I would like to kind of say when I think about like the amazing programs that we've got and they are both truly amazing which makes things a hard way forward but the under enrollment It's

148not just a like one year look back. There's been six to eight years that where families have had the choice to look at and they've made decisions might not be our personal decision but every family values different. And I think that's the beauty of being in a district like ourselves which has that ability to do that and not knowing of any like we were monitoring the enrollment and not knowing about the final enrollment which unfortunately is affecting other districts and nationally local too. They have still made a decision that overwhelmingly favors Boston. Um again it's not uh to a two smaller school but they always had the opportunity to reverse a decision right and so right wherever the district has done with with marketing and outreach and ethics they I trusting that they've done very

149quickly and therefore and the families that have done have made a choice So I guess what the I'm wondering what the poll will show that with the choice I mean the choice I think families have been making choices of >> I think conversations and and I feel like again it goes to mom and dad I skill level district versus parental is different my parents and I feel like if we were to make this decision and not give the power of parents an opportunity to sway the minds of their peers and show them how great these schools are and how wonderful we are. I feel like that's a very disservice to our if we can have those parents who I mean I mean it's a super short timeline guys. Sorry, but we could get them to

150show us. Yes, we didn't really something like this, whatever that is. Some people get that but that's something that we have that is too much and it shows up >> it would help you not already but what future We do believe that the school value that talks about we're getting clos from in 10 days and it shows something outstanding for a site. But we use that clearly survey to guide our five month conversation. >> I feel like it would necessarily be the guiding point, but it would be informative. on on the same topic, I just wanted to uh just reiterate that I I still I hear I hear that that you know there were information being held and that the sites did specific things. Um but I still feel like in a lot of instances

151that um when there were things or all the schools were presented to people um that I don't want to say if preference was given to Boston but I know like I I received information that was shared with all three schools and the NZB and Sam Piper submission was like just the electives for those but And the RO student submission was like everything, every core class, any class, all the classes, not just the electives. So like when people were going through like what does Sank offer, it just got a list of one pager of the electives. What does Rston offer a one pager of the what does offer? One pager, what does RS offer? You know, page page after page after page places. So I feel like we there is work that we can do on

152making sure that we have you know that it's the right information the most information that presented is presented. I think that there are a lot of people um who feel like the smaller programs don't have good back programs, which is false. And I think that they do a better job of presenting. Correct me if I'm wrong. I believe that all your programs have very similar core classes. Is that correct? >> They have approaches slightly different. They have when you have district adoptions uh they have the way they approach their core instruction is different I approach that is interdisiplinary is slightly different than an approach that is uh single subject so yes they are using the same foundation they all um teach uh California standards common core standards that their metric for their are um and

153yes they teach the same things across um accomplishments. There is a little bit different method um and um I will um say that in course selection um rston benefits from having more teachers um and more credentials to teach more things. it's inherent in the program design. Um that that's there. So they're their core. >> I guess I'm saying that that in the advertisement like the two smaller schools could if they would have put all of their classes, it would have been different, but they only put the 11. Do you know what I'm saying? It's just not the same information. you can't compare because the positive information is not just collected when the other two schools it was just collected. I don't know if that makes sense, but what I'm trying to say is that I

154don't feel like we're doing our due diligence and our best efforts to make sure that families understand that med do have very good very rigorous academic programs that will that will prepare their students for high school whether they choose to go to or a different school in the Union District. So like that's kind of my that we have missed the mark a little bit and I think we can do more and I feel like we're making this very rushed decision when I don't feel like granted I have only been on the board for a short time. My oldest child was in kindergarten. I wasn't paying attention to middle schools before I joined the board. Um but I haven't seen you know increased efforts to try to boost enrollment. Um, I think that hearing people say

155that that the fifth grader states do a field trip to Rston, but they don't need to take a field trip to the other middle school seems a little like off to me. >> Uh, I just said does a music performance, is that right? where uh kids from other schools would come and visit a concert. >> The the field trip is done after the schools are signed. We certain we changed that process of the years back because of the issue of so many kids coming here when their parents have chosen something else. So the principles have tried to schedule them differently last spring so that you go to the school that you have been assigned rather than you go see a preschool that your parents are choosing. >> Thank you for the contest. >> Thank you.

156Um I um I think I think building building building off of it and um uh right we're you're you're seeing us work through this in real time because we can't talk about it at the district gods you know whether it was that direction or that direction wherever it is. Um right we have to do our business in public which is which is what we want to do. Um, so although Superintendent Duara and uh CEO uh Matsumoto and all of the district staff have done a big job of keeping us informed about how enrollment is going and things like that. We weren't discussing, we were just like, okay, we got to keep an eye on it. Um, and I do think I did have a little bit of the idea that you said something about it

157that that might make people say, "Well, then I'm not going to finish one of the places that has lower requment to increase." Uh, I think this is a good process. I think this has made everybody or not everybody but a lot of people more paying attention and now we could do more outreach trying to increase enrollment at NES and SE middle schools and letting the community know for example for example that we would be uh keeping status quo Oh choice two years and then two years we would reevaluate or maybe it's three years or maybe it's the whole so that is something that we would discuss uh and if it did that we would we would have to acknowledge that that would mean that we would be continuing to put more money into smaller programs

158that are currently under enroll and would be trying to increase enrollment at those smaller programs through outreach and through word of mouth and that will be that will be that will be the last chance but just presented the pro I mean this is something that is in my but just that you also could be the other the other side. I'm sure you also aware of the option of of status quo short term for any period of time to work on outreaches marketing and building it up organically. I guess the thing to realize is at what point um does it become sustainable versus the inspired parents that we have in them, right? Is that just um now that they're aware is that it we have to find actually same things at the district level because you

159know as well we are all very busy and just the reality is what I hate the word out of the box because obviously somebody else said well what's in the box right everything out of the box really there's no out of the box everybody has solutions out there it's just what works the better but the the cons are that it's not all for awareness or discussion. It's not all bra there on the way to this. So the reality is is there's two programs that again despite best efforts um despite what's been tried they are still under mold and they are still under capacity and that is still funds that could be one allocated to other programs. So it's hard to keep it's hard to make the argument which you make um in my mind without

160the proper outreach I guess sustainable outreach programs if they're going to switch from if they're they're under under capacity and and it's been tried in different ways program switching movement you know to make way just schools I guess the other thing to comment that Um the con is that other families will eventually do depending on I guess what the board maybe decides to write down they will um be assigned. So you're not totally removing the assignment. We surely are prized this past year. They're already mad because they are surprised, right? We've heard that where families are on the way to their son and it's been a blessing, right? It's been one day after pregnancy and I that's out there, right? I'm I'm excited that that the preconceptions of it, but I'm just saying that the

161the status quo option I guess like the open-ended question that I have is what's the period of time for this and can it be a sustainable process and also what are what are the families that get assigned to to keep the enrollment up there too I think at some point at the reality and also what are we doing and we look at is that from a business perspective what I mean by that is an opportunity cost right so it's hard now to make a decision the opportunity cost is would that what would that allocation of 400,000 roughly what would that improve in other services. Where could that wouldn't that give us more flexibility as a district to keep programs open to make sure that we have counselors in place that we don't have school to

162have to split counselors so that if the economy changes we don't have a crystal ball so while we are and I agree the district have done a great job of being conservative and also building in respectable um you know conservative forecasts It's just something to keep in mind that we don't know what's going to occur with the economy, with the future administration, with the current with local politics, with the state Sacramento making some of the decisions that they have certainly made. And so it's just it's just something that we have to then realize like what is that bundle going to look like and what and these are the the cons of what's taking away from a going down to a single school versus I'm throwing this out for us to really kind of consider and

163take it because there's no choice Right. And if it makes it even more I think a little more difficult then I'll be able to but if it makes it even more a little difficult when it's not clearcut based on just finances but here mostly because of financial kind of makes the decision making out of the process because we're doing it so that the district doesn't want I mean we're in a different situation I think but still it doesn't mean that we can allocate um money differently um in different ways that still will benefit the the students, right? So I mean that's how I'm kind of like thinking through >> I definitely agree that there opportunity cost to decision. Um I think though if we were to decide to maintain temporary school it would need to

164be for longer or temporary or short it can't be even three years because three years it's say three years that same problem with the camp right a couple months the same problems you have your you have your your sixth grain in sixth grade, but then your seventh gra or your fourth graders are going to be all, oh, but they're going to make a decision and I'm so minimal to be right and that's a long time for you as you said the but regardless of I feel like there may be many merit to this district school work started because of something with black, right? We needed money. Our district needs needed to do something in order to help support our students in our schools and our parents stepped up and say, "Hey, we are going to

165put together this education pack and that is I mean they've covered a short-term shortfall and it has become something that is integral to our district. Why can't the district advisor group be something similar where have a set of parents where we say hey we need people to join this district advisor and these people are responsible for helping us advocate and market our smaller schools to others to those students and again I'm not saying that that's the right thing to do but to give our parents a chance I bring it back to the poll I really think she will sometime that survey and say where are our current middle school or current where do they what what is it they're thinking right now pay all everything that's going on right now that they're all paying attention

166given that they are looking at all those wonderful things said about the town hall all those wonderful things about this town hall having them think about that and give us an opinion up. I think one thing I would be missing though um digital now is like the whole point of the information right because I do feel myself but I definitely feel like you know we we haven't been putting you know putting the best um I don't know that we do a great job I think we could do better I think we could do better um I wrote a note Um I think one of the things David that for everybody that I'm concerned about is the consolidation and I don't know can we again right now of like the enrollment on our current enrollment number

167so like if we were to consolidate that's been hyper I think it's like Yeah. So like it's too far away. >> Yeah. My point is that I don't I think that if we took all of the students that are on all of the students that tried to slip them into one of the programs there it would have not fit. So, so uh thank you for that Johnny because I did hear curious comments in terms of next steps. Um so when we are looking at enrollment we look at the number of students and we match accordingly with the number of staff. So we have more students going to one we have more students coming back to RA so we make those staffing adjustments based on our budget for the teachers that's what we that's what we've

168always um so making that adjustment um now that if if more they can do that um there's currently 133 invested and 119 119 sand hyper. Um I would not estimate that um my felity if it were the majority wants probably want to go to Wilson if those majority want to go on I think we have enough room to absorb uh folks that want to go to the other small school um within and if we um exceed the numbers of enrollments there's kind of small program too. Um then we open up intra school district of choice for that second the second school or be the only small school to transfer. So we we we balance with the intra district, but I would anticipate that the vast majority if not all of the families from any Catholic

169school would have choice between the use. I think that if we go by what we've heard in all of our listening sessions, it seems to me that all minus maybe the people who are on my list, the rest of the students at St. chose Samber or school and I find it a little bit hard to think that they would all choose Rston and really all didn't choose RS the ones that chose Rston on the wait list the ones that are currently in chose that >> uh for the one uh no me all the ones that are chosen said there were like 20 something probably >> uh I I I don't know the exact number because not necessarily um as students enrolled they were assigned in middle school that had space availability and if they were

170buying on that assignment they just accepted that assignment they didn't get to choose it um if they decided to go across then they build a a transfer So I'd say a majority of them picked it all. >> Okay. What do you think a majority of them who picked it would then pick Rston over the other school? >> Uh when we do when we look at rankings um uh it it typically favors. >> Very interesting. >> I can see We have the slide that says the number of students that know 32 to 7 something. >> Um, and you said that the 36 would be a result of enrolling the current class, right? on the 72 age the full mean plus right >> uh so the third so getting to that maximum capacity 161 we currently look

171at uh the uh if we take what's currently there would be the delta of 36 >> oh We became everybody would be like 36. When we did our survey spring, um that number would have been more like because we'd be balancing at a different time of the year. We wouldn't have already enrolled um with families. Um and so so I think this the realistic number is some more >> and so if we were to decide from schools you know we're not saying that we're doing the full 36 right we're not imagining classes we're going to keep going I said classes and where we be focusing Molly is the sister. >> Correct. >> We wouldn't say it was from >> um I do uh want to just mention something. Um when we talk about making choice,

172I I want to make sure that we're clear. Um that we always value our choice. that is I think one of our values um and we do our best to accommodate parents. Uh we haven't always been able to offer 100% of choice. Um so I don't want um our community to also recognize if you're a fifth grade family that you're absolutely guaranteed your first choice. We've never made that guarantee. Um and I think uh to justify to to move numbers even more so we can ensure we hit that number further detriments our small students. Um and I would uh two other things before that um I I think what you said about that if we say five years out or I revisited five years it comp at some point it always um I want to

173say that um you know I said that we do a survey that was the course of desire I'm I'm reiterate actually point. It's probably not a good idea to do so because that's not so about us. For me, it's about giving these parents the opportunity and seeing if they're available to me because I I really believe the power I do. and and I would say um we we have some pretty strong opinions about support and I think our families um are different. I think that conversation exists in our community. Um I said I don't think it does. >> I would say prior to this that in my mommy circles there was never any trying to convince people to go somewhere. It was just well everybody's just going to decide what they want. And so I've

174never I never tried to convince people to go somewhere before I was on board and nobody ever tried to convince me to send my kids somewhere. >> And I think that's right. You know, nobody wants to be the person who says, "All right, you're good. You're going to help, >> right?" But having a person where we can go and say, "Oh, if you're considering thinking about this, please talk to this person and this person can help me help me walk through what that program means." someone's intimately aware of what is involved in that they can help you through it. if you have a designated this is a person to talk to. I feel like that really helps to shape the conversation right now and your child needs this type of school. That is not going

175to happen. But but we have parents in the district. I know parents that go where my child go school where what do you think about school where right and unless someone asks me that question I am not going to offer that information. And often times often times now I feel like now there's a big chance for us to meet what um from this popup poll the school for this or other survey or other data what what is it going to show or not residential we don't know what show but what are you looking from as a data point to complement the other data that you've seen what what are you hoping as a data point that you that you want to um city is >> I think like I said I've been having a lot

176of conversation and something I is we need to give them we need to give our parents a chance to help educate and I feel like if we know that we give them an opportunity to show us that you can even see the you know these members We aren't 12 in like we're at like right we're able to activate enough people to say hey looking at this right now having talked to these people I feel like Sam or this might be the best if we can show that our parents can help move the needle I feel like for me that's valuable. If they're not able to invent it, that's also valuable, right? Like to to me it's it's an enrollment, right? And we want you don't want to enforce when we go. I hear that a

177lot. We need to have that choice for for our be able to fix the small to be able to make these choices and decisions. And again, as I mentioned, I I didn't hesitate to close a school without making sure that we've done as much as youth can do to try and our job ad. Someone someone said this to me, our job is to be the cheerleaders, right? being patient with these people trying our best to make them and we have this contingent of parents that are so vocative to the school. Can we not give them a chance to show us that they can help us with this issue? Because right now our history are laughable, right? Can we see that they can do season? And in that process, can we use that as a data

178as we think about what to do? It's >> okay. I think outreach is a valid is a valid um discussion, right? I'm just particular to what a poll because originally I thought you said we're going out kind of doing a middle school choice. Which way are you leaning? But again, that's without a superintendent. It's kind of don't think it's going to maybe yield what we what we're hoping it might yield or what because then it's kind of going out while this the hot topic and asking people and it's always good to get the their thoughts related but um it's not it's without education they they still are faced with what they know currently and I don't think how that would change from what they currently know about the free programs and so and they also

179in it hasn't happened where they can educate themselves because we have have those presentations. So I'm just I'm just wondering I think we might be disappointed depending on what you envision for the question. I think we might be disappointed um by putting time and efforts into something and we might not get back what we need to have better deliberation. That's what I have another data point and as president is saying you've had heard report you've also have the the plan room but we've also know other things that have been presented in board presentation. So I'm just wondering like what this flash forward I guess will yield us >> so >> to help us >> I'm not hoping for >> No I don't want to see what can happen and I feel like a poll or

180a survey is a lowrisk way to get an informal idea and I'm not saying that we're going to go and educ everything right. What I'm saying is that I know we have a gentle who are very and if they can help we're going to go out and do the right here. That's not going to be the class. But can a mom have an informal coffee chat with another friend who has a dictator, right? And talk about it like you're your product. That's all they need to talk about. And not sending out I'm not saying send out the survey to them, right? I would say at the time this is when we're going to send out the survey, but maybe survive, right? and see if you can get and and have the parent I mean we

181would obviously this we're going to have in that time frame now before then our parents have a chance to talk about can I just >> come back There are serious questions. Many of us here tonight in might serve people who engage with the survey. um actually financial just a variety of projects that don't necessarily um the design and I switch middle school was that effort to increase that >> absolutely >> did it work >> uh I I think uh for I just certification >> um I I think anecdotally we've seen a little bit of increase there Yeah. >> Um a little bit easier with the magic. Um however I just certified last year. like the team accelerated their work to get that certification and and I I I do think um that that operation that

182information about certific is one of the early efforts you can lay out as acknowledging that they're they were unnervable than whatever they were for those programs. >> We we actually went out to to NES and then Siber >> So yeah, who chose those? >> Uh they're in this room. We put out options and and and that's where we make sessions before we're very sad. Okay. Um I mean turn around. Uh there was comments made I've heard same uh what's the math question that with 400 kids in a grade level you are able to offer multiple sections of 30 kids. their math six, math six, directed studies, math six, advanced studies seven, geometry etc. With only 50 to 60 kids, they do math 78 students with two teachers are the period. You get one period advanced

183six, one period of regular six, one period advance seven, one period regular seven, one period elder, one period 8. So all of the kids have an opportunity whether you're in some type of ordinance but to do regular and advanced but how it would >> yeah that's and I I would program as people are thinking about the decisions that they want to make whether it's next week or in a month but the fact is we we can all agree that all three programs prep and when somebody believes that designing you know something but math is more advanced you're saying there's something to that that well there's >> there's something more options not more advanced in your class they've all aligned their standards and they teach six 6 as 7 7 as they all that's spent all

184our time working together as a math level team over the past years uh and uh whether when you do your team best placement I imagine there's something of choices that like it doesn't happen no matter how so there were only 100 students who made me as a first choice included in intern students would you had 20 to 30 more on any given year or we only talking about that right >> uh I applied there only students that you have gone forward with the year students for middle school for one of those ones or would you have added 20 more but people who the first would have done their second or third to get that number above >> uh I'm sorry I didn't s or not a lot of people were here tonight worried about yeah

185losing choice >> and there's a harder problem in whether a pound forwards are but the schools right now are 133 and 119 because of however we're talking I'm saying that you have not given the first choice and wasn't because of a certain number so that you get the kind of one >> yeah so this year we did we did um have rston number that was an established number that was based on uh the way we do enrollment in staff. Once we hit that established number, everybody was given the choice of stand actually if I'm recalling right actually reached uh more capacity. that are negotiating people towards um but families that enrolled in the district um and did not attend fifth grade did not get their children >> right so we're currently talking about practice that's

186already you have been very good about first three years that being true also there are people that put that sites relative to the numbers so if if we kept what we've 91 next year whether this body have data choices it's a practice 16 and that number could be anywhere from 119 to 116 like I think we're talking about right talk me what it look like if it were if we talking about gendry I think is a right word we're talking about choice and we move forward I understand you know 40 people 36 72 what would that look like how would you do >> that's a that's a huge question um so first off I want to say I believe I so as a board I I do believe that we have to look at how

187we spend our dollars in a way maximize benefit our students in the best possible And when I look back at two underenrolled middle school programs, I don't think they're were better than our students, right? Uh when I step back and I look at a lens of of kind of data, I think there's room for one small program and one larger group. And I think, you know, at that point of work, you can say, you know, we're we're comfortable running that one small choice program a little bit lower, right, in spending a little bit more money, but to do that two times over, I I can't say that I just I can support that. >> Would it be fair to say that that what you're talking about that we can decide that we're comfortable a little

188bit lower? I'm I'm not trying to push out that that agreement could exist with perhaps any of the options. >> Correct. >> Right. Like we're not saying that going forward both that we would meet in when you say a range of 33 to 72. We're not saying we have to be 72. So people come in saying you're saying that my odds are twice as low. We're actually not saying >> and I what I'm saying is uh regardless of which option we select. >> Yes. Um there are tradeoffs and uh and flexibility to be comfortable with those tradeoffs >> and flexibility. >> Correct. >> Um when you when you question about I I hesitate that >> right. Um if we came to a point where we said uh we have these amazing programs across the board,

189um all of our students should be confident in going to any one of those programs and follow our programs. Um at the end of the day, um get kids where they need to be. So wherever you end up, uh you're going to have a strong education, which I actually believe. I do believe. Um, but if we were to say that and optimize enrollment across the board, um, you couldn't say, I have 400 slots of RS and 50 slots of this and 50 slots of standby and do a a lottery for all of those spots because you'd have people going everywhere across the district, >> right? So then, you know, the next idea is is okay, it's a comprehensive school. We want to make sure every school has an opportunity to attend that comprehensive school. Yes.

190>> So do you create clusters, >> right? Probably uh you know Fox, Rston, Criani, NESB, Central, San Hyper and do some calculation percentages. Um yes, that's probably getting a little closer. Um but still when you have families um at the top of the district that could um by percentages and and um lottery being flip-flopped. Uh the other thing that I think we we look at is um we starts to be kind of shoes of of um you know if if you are that kiddo who took the trumpet which you were too um we want to play the trumpet and pursue that dream. Um and in that case um that is that is real stuff. If you are a kid who says um I um thrive anything with um love loving a love language um I

191uh desire kind of integrative design kind of thinking um interdisiplinary projects nest we want to honor that same thing with that out of box think we want to do designing a new bunch of them. Um, so it it starts to to limit um flexibility and and whatnot. >> Um, the final thing I'm going to just say was a little bit off topic. Um, the survey that we do and we're reaching out to families. Um, we I'll just say we haven't I didn't believe in the next two weeks. Um, we don't all staff. We send out that survey over and over. Um, our staff when they haven't heard that pick up picks up the phone and makes phone calls and we do our best to catch up with those events. Um, so rushing survey um has

192the potential of actually not capturing the data in a way that is representative. So I would exercise that caution. um uh question whenever um phasing out come up what's the timeline for deciding like is that something that is is it part of of the next board meeting or is that perhaps a like from I'm somebody who wondering >> yeah um >> uh there's still still work to be done. Do I think it can be done? Uh I I so uh I I think it would be very difficult to phase out an model just because of uh organization startups and challenges. Um I think it would be um not ideal in Sam Pepper's model but I think this could be possible. um in a way that doesn't necessarily have multiple teachers, but it has a single

193teacher um teaching a single class in a self-contained way. And we need to verify that um that the credential actually allows that seventh and eighth grade >> from a from a educational standpoint. Um and I was my judge know that it's is uh what we want for our kids. >> You're answering a different app you're asking potentially a different question for for a parent who's >> watching us work right now. Yeah. >> Knowing that we're going to be on February 12th. >> Yeah. >> Will they know the answer to this before then or after? >> Uh uh most likely. Sure. Uh I think it's like I said before I think one one pathway is easier than another to make that decision. Um I can certainly gather the facts to make sure the board knows what

194the opportunity is as they're deciding. Um I think there's all the critical mass. I think you know if if the number in a class is say let's just pick a random number you know 20 24 >> um then that's the number that I have to leave for I don't think it makes sense to maintain my six days. So, so like when I sound like we're answering the question after the selection per um uh I no because they were we're answering but we're we're making that decision for six and seven work already. So that's a different survey. >> Okay. You would make a decision and there'll be a separate survey. We we would work with our questions. >> I will do my best to work around options should um we decide to move should I we're

195talking about um like what it might look like to to commit to that school for a certain number of years. Um, would that be I don't even know what it looks like to like have that as a decision or something. We're discussing it, but would that be contingent upon an effort towards numbers? We'd say for the next pick a number of years, we need to get to blank. I'm going to start my question. We would have it where somebody could look at their stool and know that in two years this is this is there would be no like hidden message that they would be surprised by us talking about feasibility by building they would say while we're at 115 the district >> I did I depend on what you have to decide to have the

196transition Um, >> um, I'd like to ask a question about staffing. If a smaller school does close, um, are there is there room for all of the staff to have at a different pool or are we talking about moving people off? >> Uh, no. I didn't clear her out. we will not sub lay off. Um, we had a good reaction otherwise. Uh, thank you for for bringing that up. Um, uh, a layoff is is a lengthy and complex process. It is a legal process um that is taxing from districts. Um, and uh, we would realize the nutrition. we would be a natural electrician might not lighters or moves on takes a different position we would we would stop. Um there is the potential that um we may be overstepped in the short term though we

197um navigate that but we have the flexibility to do that. Um we will look at at uh we our team has started to look at options and where those might um my commitment to the RSFA is to work closely with them uh to ensure that um we have flexibility uh to um do movements that support that Um and then I assume that would include other staff not just including teachers other staff like like middle school or any other staff members that >> um I think it's classified staff but if there's any educator who's supposed to move with the kiddos we have not talked about in the custodians um staff who is our assistant principles. So that is a factor of consideration as well. And then um you mentioned that there could be talk of overstaffing.

198Will the staff say at any point if there's going to be over staffing like over another? >> Yeah. Um actually all of the movements for staff is for the most part dictated by contract. So within the contract there's the provisions if an adjustment needs to be negative consolidation needs to happen the ways in which staff and capital priority over positions we would be uh filtering our first priority would have been we credential this is differential um and and hopefully we find spaces that everybody loves as equally as they did their original position. We can't currently um comments around E or or drug test. Why is that there? So, so we um guarantee our goal is to get families to one or two closest and uh a lot of the demographic piece is just the demographics

199of the district. Um primarily um and then there was another question earlier that specific question are teachers that we have heard on this you're talking >> uh so I'll I won't judge uh how their end is right um I will tell you what done. I started uh with with this conversation Sam asked me to meet went out with checked in with me and and she said that was good. Then they wanted to meet so talked with me folks. We had more conversation folks have seen it come out again. I haven't talked to folks standing and so yes I've talked with anybody from the middle there was table I'll leave it to the board collectively that provided that is uh the board requesting information that helps you. Um I uh will say uh we we need

200to proceed with caution if we do so because they haven't had the opportunity for uh program design. any others staff alone have the opportunity to do outreach and um I I wonder I don't know what is going to say the data could come back a certain way that looks different than all of the historical data she has um and I don't know what to do with that My my thought would be because I do I do think um I I really appreciate the idea of doing a survey um and it's um seeing what the results would be. I do think we could um have not done enough outreach so that there's not really any significant change. So what I would propose um is that um if we were to stay on these guys globally and

201we decided that February, if we were to decide that then we would uh in partnership with the parents and the community organize uh in-person open houses at the two smaller middle schools and ask the parents who support those middle schools to help us with those. Um, and then give out a survey that is asking what is your choice for your middle school and that's your choice. If I can, I just want to exercise caution with volunteering staff uh for additional engagement. Um outside of the contractual, we we can ask we can provide an overtime, but I I can't necessarily guarantee that we can organize an additional open house um outside of what they're all doing. Um that is a lot to ask but uh certainly I I appreciate uh the sense of energy will work

202towards that but that's the closest trying to see if there's want to ignore. So is there is there still a request um for survey on discussion or is this tabled until after I just question for all I know the main one. Um and then you mentioned that San did like their own scripting. Would those also via Zoom or were those >> uh Yes, they were. Yeah, they were. >> So like this year's plan would then be to probably do them via Zoom as well. >> Yes, that's correct. Uh and and if I can say I don't want to um so I I just ignore I appreciate your request and the idea. Um I think it's a good one. Um I uh we you know we certainly could work towards those open house opportunities. Um but

203I hesitate making that commitment without working with our staff in advance. And I think that's that's my biggest piece. uh in terms of response >> I I understand um and I I totally respect um all our our time and um >> so um I I would then say maybe it could be it could be it could be parled and my understanding although I could be wrong is uh or princip principles that they are expected to go to a community event center. So, so it could be parents and the principal would be expected to be there and we would of course appreciate other staff. >> Yeah. And uh I mean there's there's pretty opportunity I think um our school showcases. So maybe there's opportunities of showcase not just local community. >> I just want to um

204just say trusting Dr. I think that's a great idea. I think that um you know having parents and you know whatever staff would would want to participate. I think that I a good plan that only happens decision on keeping folks both and I'm hearing that even after we keep even after we decide for that decision that we may not be able to do an additional open Uh, so I mean the hope is that if you're doing it on the house so much, >> right? Um, and then I don't know if that's possible actually I will go as far as to say I don't I don't think open house you guys open house >> so you know perhaps opportunities but there is no there's families to see what their kids are involved in kind of we

205we can work on that. Um sorry I don't know. Yeah. um final. Um I I know the members and talk about finances and I I wanted to do just a little bit of clarification on that before. Um yes point blank we will be able to close the deficit that should all the options that are above. However I want to take it just one. So um again that's a gross overation which means that our revenue right the way that close that gap is by relatively flat to catch up with us. Yeah. Gross over as part of that, right? Um, you know, 400 to 400 plus thousands ultimately, it's not a ton of money. When you think about our entire budget, those roughly 697 million, right? But what that means is as we look at our budgets,

206steady, right? Like there are tradeoffs and I guess as a way to help to animate what those tradeoffs right? You know that $400ish,000 will ship across the district, right? So that probably means that you have a few thousand dollar lost here or there sites amongst the central office. That may mean if a specific site is thinking, oh, we want to pull out a specific new tool that we're interested in trying that may not be able to happen, right? Or if a specific central office department is thinking about trying a new tool or their software, that may not be able to happen, right? So these are things that you know are a trade-off and again it may not be the biggest thing in the world but again to bring it all together just because there ultimately

207will be fine without it doesn't necessarily mean that you know the effects very robust discussion I think um I guess I have a motion motion that do second. All those in favor have problems.