Central Unified Board of Trustees Meeting March 10th , 2026

001The regular meeting of the board of trustees for March 10th uh 2026 is called to order at 5:31 p.m. Please let the record reflect for purposes of attendance that we are missing uh Trustee Singh and Trustee Sadu. Uh what are the wishes of the board on the agenda? Thank you. I have a motion by trustee Kirk. I have a second by trustee Keron. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries. We will now take any comments from the public on any close session items. Again, if you uh wish to provide a comment on any of the close session items, now is the time to provide it. The number to call uh is 559-276-3150 or if you are in the room you can step forward. >> Board President, 30

002seconds have passed and there's no callers at this time. >> Thank you. Hearing no comments from the public on our close session items, we will adjourn to close session and return at 700 p.m. for our open session. Thank you. Hey, hey, hey. Yes. Yeah. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Moo. Woohoo. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey. Oh. Oh. Heat. Heat. Hey, oh, Oh. Hey. Oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hallelujah. a Hey. Ouch. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, Oh hey. Oh. Oh. Hey, oh, oh. Oh, hey. Hey oh. Oh, oh. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hallelujah. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Yes. Yeah. Hey, hey. Dire. Heat. Heat. Heat.

003Hey, Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey. Oh. Hey. Oh. Oh. Hey oh. Oh, oh. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, oh, heat. Thank you. Heat. Heat. Are you There you go. Heat. Hey, Heat. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Oh. Hey. Oh. Oh. Hey oh. Oh, oh. Hey. Hey oh. Oh, heat. Heat. Heat. Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. Hallelujah. Heat. Hello. Thank you. Oh. Oh. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Yes. Yeah. I'm heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. The board reconvenes to open session at 700 p.m. I do just want to announce that beginning uh our first April meeting, we will begin open session shortly after close session, uh we will no longer uh wait until

0047 PM just so that we can get as much business done during a reasonable hour for uh everyone attending and in consideration of our student trustees. Um items to report from our close session. We had Trustee Sudu join us at 5:34 p.m. and Trustee Singh join us at 5:37. The certificated personnel report was approved unanimously by a motion by Vice President Sers and a second by Trustee Singh. Uh we also had a unanimous approval of the classified personnel report, a motion by Vice President Sers and a second by Trustee Singh. The board also took action to approve a resolution uh terminating vice principles for Central East. Uh motion was made by Trustee Kirk and a second was made by VI by Vice President Sers. Motion carried unanimously. The board also took action uh to approve

005resolution number 2526-36 nonreelecting three certificated employees. Uh that was by a motion by Trusty Kurfon, a second by Trustee Kirk, unanimous support. And finally, the the board took action to approve case number CSS C2526.05. A motion by Trustee Kirk and a second by Trustee SDO. Motion carried unanimously. And with that, we will move on to our pledge of allegiance. If I can please have Vice President Sers lead us. Thank you. We move on to community engagement information. If I can please have our interpreter translators come forward. >> Good evening. If you wish to address the board, please call 559-2763150 or fill out a request form provided on the table near the entrance and submit it to the clerk of the board prior to the meeting. If you wish to speak on an item on the

006agenda, please do so when that item is called. If you wish to speak on an item not on the agenda, you may speak during the public comment section of the agenda. The district welcomes other language speakers to the board meetings. Anyone planning to attend and needing an interpreter for a language other than Spanish should call 559-274-4700 extension 10150 by noon on the Friday preceding the board meeting or at least 48 hours in in advance of the meeting so arrangements can be made for an interpreter. Thank you. >> Thank you. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! translator. Thank you. We move on to our presentations. We'll begin with our school activities presentation. I'll invite the representative from Central High School, Karai Page. Did I say that correctly? Okay. Good evening, board president, superintendent and trustees and student trustees. Um,

007my name is Kar Paige and I'm ASB president at Central High School. And it seems like every time I come here, I speak about like, you know, how Central has broken another record, we won another championship or started something new. So tonight, I'm going to ask you all to buckle up for a minute because our Grizzlies have been very busy making history. Recently, we celebrated National FFA Week recognizing the leadership and agricultural programs that are such a big part of our campus. We also celebrated Lunar New Year during lunch where the Fresno City College Asian Club performed a traditional lion dance, bringing culture and celebration to campus. Our annual donkey basketball game wrapped up in February, and I'm happy to report that the staff took home the win this year. Students also showed up for

008a blood drive, helping support our community and local hospitals. Academically, we are incredibly proud that five RO students were selected for the future nurses program at Fresno City College. And I'm honored to say that I am one of those students. The future nurses program um essentially gives students a direct pathway into the registered nursing program after completing their prerequisites. It's a highly competitive opportunity and being selected means that those students have already demonstrated the academic skills and commitment needed to pursue a career in healthcare. In athletics, our boys wrestling team won the CIF Central Section Division 3 dual championship and they were overall champions in division 4, which is a huge accomplishment for our program. Many of our seniors are currently waiting on college acceptance letters, and we're excited to see where that journey takes

009them. Spring sports are already off to a great start with baseball beginning the season 4 and one and Batman starting 1 and0. Our RO criminology program recently introduced a dish dispatcher trailer which is actually the only one in California on our side of the Mississippi. Students were able to respond to realistic emergency calls generated by AI, giving them hands-on career experience. Students in the educational careers pathway are also serving as teaching fellows at local elementary schools in our district, gaining real classroom experience while inspiring the next generation. Our FCCLA program recently had five students compete at Fresno Pacific University and all five qualified move and and decided to move on to state competition. Their projects include areas like fashion design, menu planning, interior design, and event planning. Our counselors also recently completed registration for incoming

010freshmen at Elcapatan as well as scheduling for our current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. We are also looking to expand opportunities for students next year by potentially adding new courses such as theater technology, physics, and entrepreneurship to our master schedule. Our winter guard and percussion programs just finished a successful season, improving their score at every competition. Reson City also visited campus recently to register seniors for their fall classes. helping prepare class of 2030 at Fresno City. Looking ahead, we have several exciting events coming up. First is Chicken Week, which students are definitely looking forward to. Our theater company is making history this year as well. For the first time in 30 years, Central High School will be performing a musical. This year's production is High School Musical taking place April 23rd through the 26th at

011Central East. So, we hope to see you all there. This weekend, we will also be hosting our Satie Hawkins dance at Gateway Ice Center. Um, our grad night for seniors is also getting closer every day. It's just 58 days. I know the seniors are very excited about that and we are all very thrilled to walk across the stage on June 8th. At Central High, we actually celebrate two graduations in addition to our Central High School ceremony. 32 seniors, including myself, will also be graduating from Fresno City College with our associate degrees. That ceremony will take place May 22nd, 2026 at the Savemart Center at 6:30 p.m. Students will also also participate in CTE RO um career challenge day. And our FFA students will attend the state convention March 21st through the 24th in Ontario. Our

012jazz band is also entering festival season where they continue representing Central Strong Music Program. And before I close, I'm going to tap on your prior knowledge. By a show of hands, does anyone remember what we do as grizzlies at the end of every presentation? Good. Okay, I'm glad you all remember. So, let's try this together on the countdown from three. 3 2 1 claws up. Thank you everybody. Thank you. Next, we invite uh Persian and Pathway student representative Jesus Felix. and our former student trustee. >> Good. Good evening, board president, career, members of the board of trustes, and superintendent Dr. Marshall. My name is Felix and I'm the president of Professional Persian FFA and Person ASB. I'm excited to share some of the great things our students have been involved in over the past few

013months. First, I want to highlight our FFA program. On February 26th, our marketing cooperative students competed in an FFA contest and one of our students earned fifth high individual in the entire competition. That's a big accomplishment and we are very proud of the hard work that went into it. Our academic decathlon team also continues to do an outstanding job. They won their division for the second year in a row, brought home 35 medals. They competed against Central High and Centuries in their division and came out on top again. Their preparation and teamwork really paid off. In January, student in January, students in our opportunity class went to Scout Island for a leadership trip. They took part in a high rope course that focused on trust, teamwork, and building confidence. It was a powerful experience, especially

014for our freshman and sophomores, and it gave them a chance to step up and support each other. Our students evolved in the Mount Olympus project sponsored by the Elks Lodge, visited Cowpali and later presented to the Elks Lodge in USA about how they plan to make a positive impact in their communities. They represented our school well and show strong public speaking and leadership skills. Several students are in veteran video project class. Students are learning how to conduct interviews while recording the stories of local veterans. It's a meaningful way to preserve history and build real world communication skills. On the college and career side, we took students to really college on March 2nd so they could explore programs and career pathways. We also have trips planned to foil city and friends state. Tomorrow we'll host career

015day on campus where students will hear from employers and trade programs about future opportunities. On February 10th, students attend the attended the world eye expo in Teraryi. They saw the ladies agricultural technology and enjoy the experience. And athletics, our boys and girls basketball teams continue to show great teamwork, sportsmanship, and school pride. We are proud of their effort and positive attitude they bring to our campus. We also celebrate Black History Month by sharing videos that highlight important black historical figures. This learn this learning continued with 12 of our students visiting Cornell Allenssworth State Historic Park today. a historical a historic black settlement right here in California. It's a great way for students to connect with local history and understand its importance. Finally, seven of our fresh FFA leaders will attend the state FFA leadership conference

016later this month. Thanks to the foundation of central schools, their costs are covered. They're excited to grow as leaders and represent our school at the state level. Overall, our students are working hard, stepping into leadership roles and taking advantage of the many opportunities available to them. We are proud of their growth and thank thankful for the continued support that makes the experience possible. Thank you board members. Have a great evening and go Mustangs. >> Thank you both. And let's give our students another round of applause for all their Thank you very much. We move on to employee recognition. Uh we will I will turn it over to Assistant Superintendent Mlennon. Good evening. I'd like to invite Mr. Mike Scott and Lauria Hinkle, our director of special education, to the podium for tonight's recognition. We're going

017to invite up Mike Ross. >> All righty. Good evening, Board President COO, trustees, student trustee, and Dr. Marshall. Tonight, we would like to recognize Mike Ross, a PE teacher at Glacier Point Middle School. He was recognized as fall semester's 2025 teacher of the season by Special Olympics Northern California and was honored in the January edition of School Partnership Program newsletter that is received by their contact list with the Special Olympics Northern California footprint. His nomination will also be forwarded to the Special Olympic Volunteer of the Year Committee for the Educator category during the 2025 selection process where the selections take place the spring of 2026. A little bit more about the teacher of the season. The teacher of the season recognition loss educators who demonstrate exemplary commitment to their students, their respective schools, and the

018school's partnership program. In a typical school year, nominations are submitted after each semester or season or sport. This is what was mentioned in his nomination. When unified physical education was introduced at his site three years ago, Mike jumped in wholeheartedly. From day one, he embraced the program with enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to inclusion. His passion for unified PE is evident in every lesson he teaches and every interaction he has with his students. Mike const consistently brings creativity and thoughtful planning to his classes, ensuring activities are engaging, accessible, and meaningful for all students. His strong connections with students create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. In addition, his deep knowledge of physical education and unified practices allows him to adapt instruction effectively and maximize student participation. Mike Ross exemplifies the

019spirit and mission of the Special Olympics through his dedication, leadership, and unwavering belief in his students abilities. He is truly deserving of recognition as Special Olympics fall 2025 teacher of the season. When I reached out to get a little bit more information about Mike and all that he does for United PE, I received an overwhelmingly response of positivity and description of of ways that he has made the program and the relationship between general education and special education stronger. I'd like to read you what his principal said because it was pretty powerful. Over the course of his students K12 career, they will encounter about 45 classroom teachers. Teachers like Mike Ross are the ones they remember. They remember he cares truly and genuinely about each person he encounters. They remember because he makes him feel heard

020and valued as an individual. They remember because he never saw them as their worst moment, only as the possibility of their best moment. Mike Ross is being recognized as the teacher of the season for the Special Olympics for his work with the United PE program at Glacier Point. His work with this class and these students stands as a testament to who he is and what he believes in. When the time comes to look back on Mike Ross' career, it won't be defined by years on a resume. It will be defined by the students who felt seen because of him, who believed in themselves because he believed in them, and whose lives are better because he was their teacher. That's the true measure of an educator, and that's the legacy Mike is building every day." End

021quote. Thank you for your dedication and the commitment that you have to the program and more importantly to the students at Glacier Point. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Go find other. Let's give Mr. Ross another round of applause. I know we hear great things from the students in the program, so thank you. We have one more recognition, correct? No, we don't. Fall semester. It's all one. Okay, we move on to employee association highlights. Do we have President Laura Bolton from Centry Unified Teachers Association? Laura Rep. Okay. Uh we now invite uh Miss Agiri uh president for California School Employees Association. >> Hi. Uh good evening board members, President Gario and Dr. Marshall. I just want to give a little shout out to our bus drivers uh who participated in the 2026 Loco Rodeo. Their dedication,

022willingness to represent our district does not go unnoticed. Uh congratulations to the drivers who placed in their events. Robert Munoz first place. Carrie Linder second place. Ricky Woods second place in transit. Brian Rodriguez third place transit. Ricky Woods, Brian Rodriguez, and Tony Hiro first place and transit team. We are proud to share that they will now be advancing to the sectionals in Bakersfield. Thank you for all the bus drivers who represented our district with professionalism and pride. Best of luck at sectionals. And that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We move on to superintendent board communications. We'll first hear from Dr. Marshall. Superintendent. >> Okay. All right. We'll start with some highlights. I want to first celebrate a lot of our student athletes. Uh the Garza High School boys and girls basketball teams, they

023won their league championships. Rio Vista won league championship. Our centuries girls varsity basketball team, they advanced to the state regionals. I was at that game. Uh and for the first time in 20 years, her and Barstow, the wrestling team won the championship in the district. Uh Central High School's wrestling team. They won both the uh CIF section championship and then the boys dual championship. Uh congratulation to Central East is Ma James. She's one of our women's state wrestling champions as you can see from the picture and I was spoken about recently the donkey basketball. That was my first time seeing that. That was that was a big success and I really got to feel like a celebrity at Tilly for Read Across America. So I want to thank them for inviting me to that. Next

024slide. Looking ahead. I mean, that's a nice picture. I mean, it's a picture that says that this is from Madison. They're thanking me for the sign, but I want to thank the board for going with the plan as far as upgrade down facilities. I mean, that's how this work gets done. So, I want to give the board thanks. But at the next board meeting, what's going to happen is that the the firm that you engage, uh, Cwell Flores and Winters, they're going to come back and they're going to give a scoping sequence of all of the different sites and the money that's available to fix up each site. So, they're going to do that next month. Uh, we're going to be doing a series starting with, you know, to get to know the students better.

025I'll be doing lunch with the superintendent series that all the different I think all the schools have signed up. Okay. Uh, Justin Garza High School, they're presenting the uh the presentation in the Heights. I'll be uh going to that this weekend. I wanted to go last week, but the basketball um championship I wanted to go see that too. And then um we had the LCAP meetings. Uh there was one at Biola last night and the one tomorrow at LCAP. Those are good meetings. It's really good to kind of hear the feedback that the families have to what we what we do for our students. And the last thing that I have is that one thing I'm going to work with fiscal really it's about building some understanding around the budget because if we go into

026a different era in California I think things are starting to change a little bit. So I think right now more than ever it's it we really need to get a handle on the funding aspect of it and so I'll be doing that as well. And that's it. >> Thank you Dr. Marshall. Um, we will now move on to board violence policy and board engagement subcommittee report. We met last week on Tuesday. Uh, both Trusty Kirk and I, members of this great committee, we reviewed uh, I didn't count them, but a ton of board policies that are before you today for approval. Many of them were updates uh consistent with changes in the law and then others to uh document our processes uh in place. So if you have any questions when that item comes up,

027ask administration. I'm sure they can answer your questions. Um anything else, Trusty Kirk, you'd like to add. Okay, perfect. Uh board reports. We'll start with our student trustee if there's anything you'd like to report. >> Hi. Um, I don't have much to report. Just the musical that opened in the pack in the Heights. I talked to some students about it. I personally watched it and it was beautiful. One of the best high school productions I've ever seen. >> Oh, one um one review I call it um said, "The set was majestic, the vocals were beautiful, and the dances were fantastic and smooth. They made it feel as if we were actually in Washington Heights. I definitely recommend seeing a show or all of it. Anelise Davidson. Another one said, sorry, the show was an amazing

028production, very organized, and overall a lot of talent from everyone in the cast. Jenna Davidson. That's it. >> Thank you. Is there any member of the board wishing to speak? Trusty Kirk. Thank you, President Curio. I would just like to take this brief public opportunity and speaking on our personnel reports that we approved today. Um there's not a a we don't always get a chance to do this, but I would like to do a special shout out to Miss Oliver, Miss Hamlin, Mr. Lowey, Margaret, and Celia. If you all do not hear enough the impact that you have on children's lives, these are teachers that individually impacted my kids' lives. So, thank you for all of your years of service, Miss Oliver, Miss Hamlin, um Mr. Lowey, Margaret, and Celia. Thank you from this very

029proud warrior parent. >> Trusty Saint, >> um just wanted to share with the board and with the community. uh Trustee Sers and I and and Dr. Lopez, we had an uh opportunity to go participate in the uh Black History Month celebration uh in in downtown. It was a fantastic event. Had great participation from so many central students and I think uh Trusty Sers and I were just looking at and and really just hoping there's ways that we can um better integrate uh in terms of curriculum and bring it make sure into our district boundaries in the future. But it was a great event. >> Thank you, Trusty Kurfon. Thank you, President Curio. Uh, I'm also going to follow U trustee Kirk steps and I just want to also give a shout out to Mr. Wattress

030at Central High who is one of my teachers. He's a phenomenal teacher. Um, some of my best experiences in the classroom at Central were in his class. So, um, and then I also want to thank the principles and teachers and aids that invited me to speak during Read Across America. Uh this year I got to speak I got to read to the classes at Madison Elementary at Teague and McKinley. Uh thank you for everyone there. It was a great experience. Um and I got to teach uh got to read to different grades whether they were in fifth grade in second grade or our special day classes. So great experience. Your kiddos are very well behaved. So all the teachers, principal you should be very proud of them. And uh everyone remember to keep reading. You

031know, the Fresno County Library is rewarding kids with In-N-Out if they read a 100 books or something like that. So, make sure you're reading this summer. >> Fantastic. And we will have a formal agenda item to uh celebrate all of our retirees. So, um keep an eye on our agenda for that. Um hearing Oh, Dr. Marshall, you had >> something to share, >> right? I forgot the most important item uh as far as the board approved the uh master facilities plan recently and that work is getting started and I think the kickoff will be at Central High School next week. Share that. >> Fantastic. Thank you. We move on to comments from the public. At this time we will take any comments from the public on any item not currently on the agenda. Uh we've

032allocated 20 minutes for this item. Uh, anyone in the audience wishing to provide comment, now is the time to come forward. Or if you are watching or listening to us from home or wherever you may be, the number to call is 559-2763150. Do we have any comments from the public? >> U, yes, and I see folks in the audience can raise their hand. If you can fill out a comment card, we'll call you in the order we receive them. Um, >> how many do we have? >> We have two cards on consent. So they will have three minutes to address the board. >> Who is our first speaker? >> So the these are on consent items. >> Oh, okay. >> So call those now. >> Um sure. Let's take them now. >> All right. So

033our first comment is from Esther uh Kercher. Good evening, President Courio, members of the board, Dr. Marshall, cabinet, and the central community. My name is Esther Kercher, an elementary principal here in our district, and I am speaking in support of my colleague ER, Mr. Eric Winrich, who is currently subject to the proposed reconfiguration of the position of supervisor of RAE, formerly known as REA, research, evaluation, and assessment. specifically consent item number five. I have had the honor of working with Mr. Wrich in various capacities over the last 10 years. During my four years in educational services and as supervisor of English learners and migrant services, Mr. Winrich supported our department greatly by providing professional development to educators and by helping us acquire and analyze student data to support the assessment and identification of English learners.

034He assisted in leveraging our student information system ARIES to effectively progress monitor our English learners. This data was critical in facilitating the reclassification process for many students across our district in grades K12. His support was also invaluable during our federal progress monitoring cycles FPM and I very much believe that his work played a critical role in helping our district remain in compliance. As an elementary principal, I have also seen Mr. Renick's work extend far beyond developing assessment calendars that support our K12 system. He has consistently supported site leadership teams by providing detailed student data reports that help us make targeted decisions to improve student outcomes. Lastly, I would like to speak as a parent. My son is a long-standing student here in our district who also happens to be vision impaired. Mr. Wenrich personally reached

035out to other neighboring districts as far as and including San Francisco to collaborate and educate our district's technology team as well as Fresno County's technology representatives. His efforts helped to ensure that my son had the accessibility tools and resources necessary to participate in both local and state assessments as a blind student, paving the way for other visually impaired students in our district and county. Mr. Mr. Winrich has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to this district. I respectfully request that the proposal to eliminate and reconfigure the position of supervisor of RAE be reconsidered so that the full scope and impact of his work continues to support our district office, school sites, and community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Our next comment comes from Eric Wenrich. You will also have three

036minutes. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Eric Wenrich and I am again speaking to L5. It occurs to me that the team proposing this resolution is too new to know who I am. For years, I have put together board presentations others have delivered. As a result, you don't know who I am. For too long, the title of supervisor has been used to exclude me from rooms where decisions are made. Collecting the right data for program evaluation needs to be built into the program planning. Otherwise, we stumble from year to year, unable to provide clear evidence of a program's successes or struggles. People come to me after the fact seeking a report, and I'm stuck with whatever available information I can find. As a result, we don't know when to stop interventions, and we

037don't learn to improve. I've been requesting a 225day contract for years. My only major point of disagreement is thinking I should continue to be paid at a competitive salary at the director level. I've provided evidence regarding multiple violations of board policy in a carefully rewritten job description, not the attached version that fails to address API going away in 2013 or as Esther said, RA being aligned with the two positions in the department or excluding major job duties. But it's not my responsibility to explain the behavior of others. I've shown how this proposal imposes more work and an 18 sal% salary deduction while saving less than 5100s of 1% from classified salaries. I've graphed the roughly 28,000 gap separating a fair reclassification from this proposal as a budget dust. But there's a lot going on in

038that little speck of budget dust. It's about developing a quick flip procedure for reclassification. so that Eli and his fellow sixth grade EL students start middle school with an elective class. It's about helping Beth process CHKS results. That was the earlier survey. And then when she leaves the district, taking over full responsibility for stakeholder surveys so that school leaders like Aaron and Nicole have reliable data to create a school culture where kids can thrive. It's about withstanding a swirl of constantly changing leadership in special education and making sure Marcus along with hundreds of other students have the accommodation and supports they need to present the Berry vest version of themselves on our assessments. It's about making sure we never again fail to submit the SSB paperwork by taking responsibility for ensuring that Mia and 187

039of her peers can use their state seal by literacy to gain a competitive edge on their job applications. It's about compiling math placement variables to ensure Glory and all eighth grade students are properly placed in their high school math class. It's about making sure every mom, dad, and extended family and guardian has an answer to the question, "Is my child learning what they need to know to take it to the next level?" And it's about you providing information that trustees need to make complex decisions. Most impactfully, it's about Christ and hundreds of other teachers getting reliable, comparable data on every student in every classroom to guide instruction every day. And that's central to our success. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Our next comment not on under consent is from Gerinder Johan >>

040and you will have three minutes sir when you begin. >> Evening everyone. Um, I'm here today because of a safety concern regarding Central Unifi's property located near West Dakota between Hayes and Pulk, uh, which is designated as a future uh, Cipher Elementary School. For several months, large trucks with, uh, trailers and rundown RVs have been parking illegally along the fence on this property. These vehicles frequently obstruct traffic by parking partially on the road, creating hazardous conditions for drivers traveling through West Dakota Avenue. Um recently, just this Saturday, um one of the big rugs was uh backing up and crashed into one of the power poles. Um this incident caused a brief fire and resulted in a power outage affecting about 5,000 um homes in my neighborhood alone or in this area. Uh the driver did

041attempt to flee but our neighborhood uh we did stop him and prevented him called Fresno PD who handled it from there. Um the ongoing presence of these vehicles has made the area increasingly unsafe. The trucks and RVs block visibility at night uh making it difficult for drivers to navigate the road. I've also noticed that uh central uh high school students that are, you know, walking back home, it can interfere with that because it really limits how much what what areas they can walk through because it's covering half the the sidewalk. Additionally, the noise from these vehicles, especially when they are started or parked late at night, has become a significant uh disturbance for me and my neighbors. Um, as a property owner and someone who ha has children at Central Unified, I respectfully request that

042the school district install um signage on the chain link fence indicating that illegal park parking vehicles will be towed. I'm also urging that the district uh coordinate with Fresno PD since you guys are the property owners and they're more likely to take action on preventing these uh vehicles from even being on that property. Thank you so much. Thank you. And I understand you also sent an email and Dr. Marshall confirmed he's received your email. >> I apologize. I know you haven't had much time to respond. Um, we all work so have to take the time for that. >> I just wanted to acknowledge that we have your email and so administration will follow up and take the necessary steps to ensure we take action. >> I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you for advocating

043for safety. President Korea, I have no other cards at this time. >> Okay. Do we have any calls? Okay. Hearing no further comments from the public on consent or non-aggendaized items, we move on to our consent agenda. What are the wishes of the board on the consent agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. I have a motion by Trustee Kirk. Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a second by trustee Sadu. Any discussion? If not, student trustee, how do you vote? >> I. Uh board members, all in favor please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries unanimously. We move on to our action items. Our first item is student discipline cases. Uh is there any desire to vote for them individually? Hearing none. What are the wishes of

044the board on the three listed cases? >> Motion to approve as recommended. >> Thank you. Thank you. I have a motion by trusty Kuron to approve uh the three cases listed uh as recommended by administration. Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a second by trustees to do. Student trustee, how do you vote? >> I. >> Trustees, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries unanimously. We move on to approve the 2526 second interim budget report. And we will first have a presentation. Good evening. We have our fiscal director, Miss Patricia McKinley. She's going to be presenting there. >> Good evening, President Curio, members of the board, Superintendent Marshall. This evening, I do bring to you the second interim budget report. Each year we have four

045separate opportunities to provide formative information regarding the health of our school district through the lens of fiscal solvency. The next report that will be brought to the board will be after the close of the year for unodudited actuals. As we focus on our second interim report, there are three types of certifications. Each certification has various consequences based on the district's ability to meet its financial obligations for the current year and two subsequent years. Using our current multi-year projection, we are submitting our second interim with a positive certification. Our district's current enrollment is 16,08 students with a projection of adding on average approximately 50 students a year. This low variance of numbers has our enrollment projected to be flat. Our daily average attendance is projected at 91.84% and our unduplicated pupil percentage is at 80.95%. An

046unduplicated pupil is defined as a student who is lowincome, an English learner, and or a foster youth. The state adopted budget includes a 2.3% cost of living adjustment, which supports salaries, health and welfare benefits, and the increase in cost of goods and services. Before we look at the numbers, it is important to understand that this budget is a snapshot in time. Our ending fund balance allows us to meet our current 5% reserve requirement per board policy. I think it is imperative that everyone knows and understands our district pays around $14 million each month for salaries and benefits for our employees. The additional ending fund balance will allow us to maintain positive certifications for the next two years. We will we will revisit this $39 million ending fund balance later in the presentation. Our district is

047projected to spend $196.5 million of unrestricted funds on employee salaries and health and welfare benefits this year. This totals to more than 80% of the district's total unrestricted expenditures. Restricted expenditures are funds that uh must be spent for specific purposes on required state, federal, or grants rules and regulations. These expenditures require reporting at various points of the year. 49% of these funds are also spent on salaries and benefits for staff to support student learning. Our multi-year projection is based on the projection of a flat enrollment over the next two years, steady and dduplicated pupil percentage, the 2.3% cola, a projected slight increase to LCFF funding, the increase in the cost of the COP loan, and the cost of our annual step and column salary increases, which include retirement plans and the health and welfare costs.

048Now is when I'd like to revisit the $39 million ending fund balances. This is the balance that carries us over to start our district off for the following school year. As we look forward to the upcoming years, we will need to continue to research the cost of effectiveness of expenditures to ensure we will remain fiscally solvent and maintain our required 5% in reserve in year three. As we are planning, we are looking forward in anticipation of what is coming up in the 2627 year. We have a large textbooks adoption required by the state that our teachers and ed services have been working on diligently. We have a device refresh for student Chromebooks and we have increasing contributions to deferred maintenance to address facility repairs at various sites and departments. As we wrap up our second

049interim reporting, we are in the position to continue to meet our financial obligations with the one the support of one-time federal and state funds. However, we do need to be cautious of the political uncertainty ahead in California. Our costs are rising. I don't know if anyone's gotten co gas lately at Costco, but it's clear. It's a clear indicator of what we need to prepare for. It is important that we maintain our reserve in order to continue to provide the necessary services for our students and the community. At this time, if there's any questions from the board, I can answer. I'd be happy to. >> Thank you. Question. I'm going to assume if we have questions or comments from the public that someone will let me know. Uh, student trustee, do you have any questions? Questions

050from the board or comments? >> Uh, Vice President Sers and then Trusty Kuron. >> Uh, it's not so much a question, but just a request. Can we get >> So, we'll move on. I'm just >> copy of the uh, presentation. It wasn't included in >> Yes, we can get you guys a copy. >> Thank you. >> Certainly, Trusty Kon. >> Thank you, President Creo. And uh uh Director Mccurley, I know this is your first time presenting this the budget to us. Uh I know at least in my time on this board every year I kind of have the same request is that if we can get a version of this budget that is not designed as one big spreadsheet for the county accountants I would prefer us to have some version of the budget that

051is legible for layman's for people of the public so we can understand where exactly the buckets of money are going to how are different sites receiving funds you know that way we can better understand the inequities in our budget and how we can better do our job as trustees to um know allocate funds. >> We can certainly prepare that for the next time. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> You're welcome. >> Do we have any documents uh within the budget packet that we received the second interim that would provide that information? >> It is embedded in that entire one-inch thick packet. >> Correct. It's there. it but it is complicated to read through. >> Okay. And then did you have any Okay. Can you go back to the slide um that shows the unrestricted

052funds and I think it showed what the unrestricted funds would be for this one. >> That one there. So the the 5% reserve which the board has adopted via board policy, we would not be meeting that >> in year three. Correct. >> Okay. Okay. >> Correct. We meet it in year two. Um we do not currently meet it in year three. >> Okay. Just want to point that out to us and and to the public. uh as trustees, one of our primary duties, fiduciary duties, is that we maintain solveny and that we comply with our own by uh bylaws. And so we just want to be cognizant of that as we're uh allocating additional funds and acknowledging that I think 86% of our budget >> right now about 80 81%. Um it has reduced slightly.

053>> Okay. >> But it's and and we have some reductions coming. However, we still don't meet with those projections. We still currently do not meet our our 5% reserve in year three. >> Okay. Uh and I also want to note the second interim doesn't reflect any of the retirees and that analyses that needs to be conducted. Okay. Correct. And we should expect to see that at the next >> interim. And what we know for certain is everything just keeps going up. >> It does. It does. And so we thought that it was important that everyone sees the the carryover from the end of this year to next year and then from the end of 2627 to 2728. >> Okay. Thank you. If there are no other questions, what are the wishes of the board on

054the approval of the 2526 second interim budget report? >> Thank you. I have a motion by Vice President Sers. Is there a second? >> Second. I have a second by trustee Singh. Student trustee, how do you vote? >> I. >> Board members, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries unanimously. We move on to approve validictorian criteria board policy 5127, graduation ceremonies and activities. >> So, this item is back at the request of the board after the um deliberations on the conversation at the last board meeting. uh the board subcommittee uh assisted in putting together two options for the board to consider. Both of them do change the um legal requirement for regalia and being able to wear cultural and religious regalia. So just something to note that

055is an additional thing on top of the valadictorian that is a change in this particular board policy about graduation. Um option one includes basically what is the status quo right now um policy with A's and B's in all courses even augmented courses. Um the number one top student would still be speaker and declared suma kumladi which is the current practice and then the um awards which are part of the current awards that are given out are documented in there. Basically what it does is it complies with the board's request that we move it into board policy. Um, option number two takes into account the conversation regarding C's in augmented courses only that seem to be part of the consensus for dual enrollment and AP courses. It still does the top student is the speaker. It

056still does the other honors that are in there and it just memorializes those inboard policy. >> Thank you. So, um, after we have any discussion or questions, what I'd like to do, if you all will allow me to make the motion, is to make a motion to approve one of the BPs and then each board member can vote on option one or option two. That way, instead of fighting over and having a lengthier discussion that we previously had, um, we can more efficiently decide. Uh, but are there any questions on the policy? I saw Trusty Kon and then Trusty Singh. Thank you, President Creole. Uh, Director Mlennon, you said that uh option A was the uh the standard uh procedure we currently have. Okay. Because last board meeting uh I was informed that we don't

057have a standard uniform procedure among the three high schools. So I think what they've told us before is we have a pass we have a practice of allowing the A's and B's and when Garza there was a transition with Garza and there was a presentation that incorrectly reflected allowing C's and so that's what essentially has created what I will classify uh and term as chaos and uh inconsistencies across our campus. But the practice has been um to allow the A's and B's. Correct. >> So the the new policy was supposed to take place with the CLA last year's class. I did go back through and check on all the um programs for last year's the students that were marked validictorian. Um in the initial programs, they all had A's and B's. There was one student

058that had a C, but it was in the last semester of the senior year, which doesn't count because it's the first seven was the practice and they have already announced at that point. So last year was the first group that was supposed to be doing that. The inconsistency we had last year that I discover or that was discovered and pointed out had to do with um again some of the students at Garza being showed a video their freshman year of it mentioned C's. And so since that created some confusion, some turmoil, that kind of brought us to this discussion. And so that that was the the picture from the investigation. >> So can we say with confidence that before graduating class of 2025, there have never been any students that graduated as valadictorian with a

059C? >> I can only say that I checked last year's because that was when that was what the new one was implemented. Before that theoretically or allegedly the policy was no bees. So, but again when the schools split there was some uh difference and variances between the schools apparently. I have not gone back and hand checked all the other years before last year. All I did was pull the transcripts for last year's. >> Thank you. Those are my questions for now. >> Trusty Sing. >> So, um thank thank you uh assistant superintendent uh for for providing all the information. So I I missed the last meeting, but I did get an opportunity to to watch and and sort of get some sort of sense of the gist of the conversation. I I can say with

060confidence um that there have been valid Victorians that had received C's because some some of them have talked to me personally about it. But in years past what I what I am going to suggest potentially is a option C which uh which uh I I will make make a particular motion but but I I believe that in this option it preserves some of at least the conversation that I heard especially uh points that trustee Kirk, trustee um President Curio and and others had made and just creates sort of a an efficient system that hopefully uh just creates transparency for the entire community. My suggestion uh an emotion I'll be making then would be the valid Victorian option designation would only be for the top GPA holder of that graduating class. So there would only be

061one valid Victorian the salutotoran or salutatoran uh would be the second highest GPA. So only one single student would receive a salutatoran designation. Then we have what essentially co colleges and universities do where we would have certain honors for those above of 4.0. So my suggestion would be and having uh got some data in terms of what it looks like at uh some of our high schools 4.0 O to 4.14 would be kumlad 4.15 to 4.3 would be magnaumlad and sumokum lladi would be 4.31 plus again only one person would be a valad victorian only one meaning the highest GPA only one person would be a salutatoran the second highest GPA and of course we have these augmented classes so we are giving opportunities based on where they fall based on their GPA how how

062whatever grades they have, it's just based on their overall GPA. So, you know, how however they they fall. >> Trusty Kirk, >> thank you so much. Thank you, Trusty Sing. I wish we would have had that while um I I I concur with with uh the idea that you are bringing with that third option. However, I know that we are pressed for time. Um, as we are coming to the end, we're uh regalia needs to be ordered and these decisions need to be made. So, what I wanted to say is that that I have not changed my mind. I will be going for option one. But I did want to reiterate just these these few points because I did hear I heard the students at the the town hall and I heard some of the

063reasons for extending. Um, but I also know that this is because of a mis miscommunication and so it was never really the intent to accept C's um other than this one presentation that seemed to get to some students. Um, so I do not believe that we should lower the standard for excellence for academic achievement. Um, but we do celebrate academic um the attempts for academic uh success. I want to say that a C is not a failure. Um it demonstrates room for growth and as you seniors continue on your academic journey you will see a value in finding the areas that you need to grow and so this is not a failure on your part to achieve academic excellence. It demonstrates room for growth and so your grades do not define you but recognizing the

064opportunity for growth in your educational journey can define you and that is why I'll be voting for option one tonight. Vice President Sers, >> thank you. Uh, I like the idea and I will support that. Um, I think the time frame that we still can't really enact that would be until the class of 2030, which we have to deal with the interim. And I ask again, I've said this before. I know the district is presenting the stance that we have always had this policy and I've asked for my frustrations come that I have sat in this seat. Actually, it was that seat and I have been provided misinformation before the past. I'm asking for supporting documentation that the district has had this policy all along. I really haven't received that. But I have received from

065the community documentation that contradicts the district stance that it miscommunications did not occur at just one school site. It was at all three high schools that we've never had anyone graduate with a C. Had people reach out and say I was validictorian with a C. So, it's it's kind of frustrating to come back and sit here and say we are going to implement a policy that we've always had and we can't really demonstrate that we've had that. Meanwhile, we've had students graduating with C's honoring them as validictorians, listening to students come forward and say, "Hey, we're not asking to change it. We just want to continue the past practices that have already been established that if I have a single C, if I still maintain a GPA above 4.0, I could graduate with honors as

066a valued. While I disagree with the the sentiment that we can have multiple first place winners and things of that, if we have already set this precedent that this is how we operate, I really am frustrated with the fact that all of a sudden there's a new policy and we cannot show any supporting evidence that we've had this. So unless the district can present evidence and say, "Hey, this has been the policy. We've communicated this policy across the board. Everyone was aware of it. I I don't feel like I can support changing what we've already been offering to students. And And that's part of um I I hear your frustration. What I want to move past that. I think we've all acknowledged our administration has heard loud and clear. Unfortunately or fortunately, they're all new.

067And so I think just for effic efficiency purposes, we got to move past that. I I just want us to now and part of also part of why this is now before us and it's come to this board uh four times now to have this discussion about uh validictorian and what grades are not going to be included is we now have a written policy. So there's going to be no debate. This board gets to decide and then the boards that come after us get to choose whatever they want to do with that. So I I acknowledge I hear you. My hope is the board will take action today and we will move forward. Our students will have a clear policy that they can point to and now we can hold administration and employees accountable when

068they fail to comply with our written policy. >> I I agree. Uh I understand the cabinet is new, but we still have staff members that are not new and were part of the original discussions. So there should be some ability to provide supporting documentation. This is quite asinine that we have spent this much time discussing this. It should be a simple here's the the evidence. Here's the documentation. Here are the town hall meetings. Here's the parent square demonstrations. Here's the flyers. This is the message that we changed the policy. Here it is. I shouldn't be sitting here asking for it over and over and over again and then we continue these discussions uh trying to sort through what may or may not have been said. >> Understood. Trusty Sadu. >> Yes. Um so um thinking

069out loud and point of clarification if needed. Um so uh option ones and two uh I was actually thinking about abstaining from this vote but um I do like um Trusty Singh's proposal. Uh however I do know the crunch uh uh time crunch that we're on. So my question is um this uh um options that we're going to vote on. Can we vote on it for the current high school students from 2026 to 2030 and then before the next freshman class comes in have something that Trusty Singh has come up with for classes that aren't currently affected by this decision? >> Short answer is we can do whatever we want so long as you can get four people to agree. >> Okay. um trusty singing and I believe the intent is he's going to make

070a motion to offer option three option C whatever a third option that would include that language so we would just need to ensure that the language gets recorded and then it'll get reflected in the board policy and we can circulate that somehow in compliance with the Brown Act to ensure that administration can still move forward and make that we're ordering the regalia that we need to so we're not delaying and this doesn't if it comes back and it can be information but there's no further delay. Does that answer your question? Okay, go ahead. >> Um I just wanted to confirm because I'm going through and I'm a little confused. So option one is A's and B's and option two is C's allowed but only in augmented courses. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And

071we have a third option three which would be to have >> which doesn't really care A, B's or C's. It's just looking at your cumulative GPA and it just sets the standards. There's one valid Victorian, there's one salutatoran and the rest you follow as you do. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Okay. So, I'll move to approve option one, two, or three of BP 5127. Is there a second? >> I I I think I think there's a there's a persistent question that that we we we h have to >> So, let's hold on procedurally. >> Yeah. >> My motion dies. I'll open the floor. Go ahead. I I think there's I as I understand trusty sellers there's there's one particular persistent question that we we're it's not even a question of time it's just however we're

072going to address it. So obviously I I'm giving a suggestion and even option one and option two essentially are a set of uh a board policy that we would like to see going forward. So I understand what trustee sellers is is there has to be something in this particular moment and his frustration has been is that it's just been inconsistent based on location. It's been based on our particular site. Uh so there has to be there can be an addressing and and I'm excited to do that about what to do going forward but we still have to address the question of what do we do that we have given un unfortunately different information at different sites at different time and sometimes conf >> so I will commit our administration on their behalf that they promise

073to comply with our rules and do their very best to bring information here's Here's the deal. I really just want to move past that. I don't want to dismiss your points because they are very valid and I agree with you. I've sat here now for eight year for seven years, seven and a half, but who's counting? And it's frustrating that we're we're constantly getting conflicting information. The community will say one thing, administration will say another, and everyone in between has their opinions. But I I don't and I'm not going to support directing administration to go back and spend more time looking for what exactly happened. I think the So I I what I ask of you is what do you want? What what are you asking for so that we can >> I'll make a

074motion then that we accept option B through the class of 2030 or through to this graduating class up through 2030 and then trustee Singh's policy would then be enacted and in the meantime we communicate that across the board to all of our school sites all of the students all of the community. These are the standards moving forward for the graduate that graduating class. >> Okay? >> So there's no miscommunication anymore. There's no, hey, what about this? Hey, what about that? It's we will honor the commitments or the offers we made until that point. The incoming freshmen will have a new set of rules that they will be well informed. >> Okay. So I have a motion by Vice President Sers to approve option two of BP5127 uh for the period of 2026 through 2030 and

075to approve uh BP5127 commencing with the class of 2031. >> No sorry 2030 2030 that identifies the validictorian as the number one student. the saladan >> salutatorian >> salutatoran as number two and will designate three categories of student ranking rankings based on the GPA which was sumakum lad >> kum lad >> okay >> uh 4.0 to 4.14 magna kumlad 4.15 to 4.29 29 and Sumakumlad 4.30 plus. >> Did someone write that down? Okay, that is the motion. >> Second >> on the floor. I have a second by trusty Sadoo. Any further discussion? Student trustees, how do you vote? >> I I board members, all in favor, please say I. >> I. Any oppose? I nay. Uh, and so that leaves us, motion carries, student trustees and four I votes with, uh, trustee Kirk and myself

076voting no. >> President Creel. >> Yes. Uh so if we have any administrators in our district who are confused this year, can we just please refer them to this board meetings live stream so everyone is clear on the exact same policy? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> And I would also refer you to BP5127 option two and the next BP 5127 which will be effective for 2030 and on. >> I will bring that amended one to the next one just so all of that is enclosed. So it's all updated at once. And we have moved to a new practice of approving all programs including the designation of validictorians at the district level so that all programs look alike and so that they are screened. >> Thank you very much. Great job team. Moving on to

077the next item. Item number four, approve revised board bylaws and policies. Dr. Marshall. >> Right. what you have in front of you. These are the uh policies and bylaws that were um brought forward at the um subcommittee meeting and they're ready for approval. >> Any questions or comments from the board? >> Hearing none. >> Vice President Sers, >> just to clarify, the U board policy 51318 gun-free schools being deleted. Is that because California law is already preventing firearms on campus. >> Go ahead, Dr. Lopez. >> Yes, that is correct, but it it's included in another board policy. So, this was just eliminated through gamut. >> Thank you. >> And I believe that number's going to be replaced by another policy, right? >> Mobile communication devices coming next time. >> Yes. Thank you, Vice President Sers.

078Trusty Kirk had the same question to ensure that it is clear. We st we still do not support having guns on any of our campuses. >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you very much. I have a motion by Vice President Sers to approve the revised uh bylaws and policies as listed on the agenda. Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a second by trustees sedu. Student trustees. How do you vote? >> I. Uh board members, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any absentions? Motion carries unanimously. Uh thank you very much. We move on to item number five. Adopt resolution number 2526-34 regarding reduction or discontinuence of particular kinds of certificated services. Do Dr. Childs. >> Yes. Uh thank you uh President Kado. So as board members it is

079attached the resolution is within the attachment within this M5 and this fiscal impact of laying off five teachers and the five teachers would be classified as three English lang English language arts um one music and one art teacher. It will save the district approximately $500,000 just for those five. Uh administration is recommending the board adopt resolution 2526-34 regarding reduction of discontinuence or particular kinds of certificated staff for the 2627 school year. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? Trusty Kun. >> Thank you, President Creo. Uh assistant superintendent uh Charles, can you uh say again the number how much we're saving with this item? It'd be approximately $500,000. >> Thank you. And how are we determining which ELA teachers are being >> based on the seniority list? So, we look at the seniority

080list and then we also examine to see if they have bumping rights based off credentials held. >> Thank you. And can you also just explain just for the public's benefit why we're choosing these five positions? >> Yes, because uh those are the five positions that we have highlighted that we are actually overstaffed in at the secondary level. It's not because we hate the arts and we hate English. >> Of course not. Those those will continue. >> Thank you. >> Is this going to have any impact on the programs we're delivering to our students? >> No impact at all. >> And I know that none of us enjoy um this part of our responsibility as trustees. Uh, do we anticipate that we're going to have any additional uh positions being eliminated? >> Um, not this year.

081Based off what we've already done with our classified, based off the reconfiguration of some management positions, this would be the final uh reduction based off the 2526 school year going into the 2627 school year. Okay. >> Thank you. And I I think I can speak on behalf of all of my colleagues to say that these are some of the things that we don't enjoy doing, having to eliminate positions, but I'm glad that at least it's only five uh instead of seeing what some of our neighboring uh districts are are having to to do. And I just uh want to make sure that we're taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that we're making decisions that that we can um sustain moving forward. Uh because these are lives that we're impacting. We're we're very well aware

082of that. If there are no other comments or questions from the board, what are the wishes of the board on this resolution? I'll move to approve. >> Second. >> Thank you. I have a second by tr by vice president sellers. Student trustees, how do you vote? >> I thank you. Uh trustees, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries unanimously. And our final item uh for uh action is to interview and appoint an area 3 board member. So this item comes back to us uh for the board to review. We do have candidates present today uh that have submitted their application timely and as the application identified uh we said we would be conducting interviews today March 10th, 2026. We timely posted that information uh on our agenda

083on Friday. In front of each board member, you should res you should have a packet um with each applicant's uh application. They are the application itself is two pages. Two pages. If any of the applicants submitting submitted any additional responses, those are in front of you. uh the applicant's address, phone numbers and emails have been redacted to protect their right of privacy. So the process that I am recommending um we conduct today is alphabetically we interview the candidates uh that we ask all the candidates who are not currently uh being interviewed or who haven't been interviewed to wait outside. Uh we do have a list of questions. These have not been published. These were submitted by uh board members and reviewed to make sure uh that they were all appropriate questions and really that none

084of them violated any laws or rules. Um I would recommend that we select three or four questions that we have uh our student trustees select one and then as as a board um we can select the other three and decide which of us board members will be asking the question. uh that we allow up to 10 minutes for each candidate interview and then at the conclusion of the interview uh that we have a discussion about the candidates and if there's any recommendation by any particular uh board member or uh what I ideally would like to do is um request nominations. This is an option the board can decide. We don't want to choose anyone. Uh and we can decide uh to bring back an item next board meeting to simply uh allow the item to

085be placed on the ballot and allow the members of the community to vote. Regardless of our decision today, if we choose to appoint someone, this seat will still be on our ballot in November and the constituents of area 3 will still get to decide who they will vote for um should people uh submit for candidacy. Uh Trusty Sadu. >> Yeah. Uh just for uh clarification purposes, uh once a candidate interviews, do they return outside uh while the other candidates? >> Yeah, I would propose that once a candidate has been interviewed, they can stay in the room. Trusty Kurfon. >> Thank you, President Creo. Uh, I think this is a very important of we have to take we have to be very methodical with interviewing these candidates. So, I feel that 10 minutes is too short

086to get a full comprehensive idea about these candidates. Uh, I think if we were to do like five minutes or maybe not five minutes, like a couple minutes per question. I think keeping it to like a dozen questions is fair. I know you want to get home early, but this is an important decision. >> I mean, I don't make the decisions. We've got to have four board members agree and ideally I'd like unanimously. Um, I I'm I'm not going to support asking 12 questions. That's too many questions uh in my view. But again, whatever the board um decides. I don't have to ask a question. So, if we all agree on questions, anyone else can ask, I'm I'm fine with that. Um but thoughts, any other board member? And I want to clarify, this is

087not about me getting home early. My encouragement of being efficient is just that we still have other business and information, and I want to be reasonable about everybody being able to get back home at a decent hour. Uh, Trusty Kirk, >> I would like us to consider question 3, 5, 12, and 14. And >> our student, sorry, our student trustees also have packets, right? Okay. >> I would like to also make sure we include uh questions one, two, and four. Um, everyone just said the questions I wanted, but can we do six? >> Uh, question number six. >> Number six. Okay. Are you sure you want to ask number six? Okay. Any other questions that the board should consider? >> Hearing no further. >> No, sorry. Um I I I don't know if we want

088to have a qu conversation because some of some of the questions being suggested a little some of them are a little bit out of actually our purview, but I don't know if we want to have have that particular conversation. Um but I would definitely suggest question number 13. >> Number what? >> 13. Okay. Um, can we at least begin by uh agreeing with question number six and having our student one of our student trustees ask? >> Are you guys okay with that? Okay, perfect. We have one question down. >> President Ko, I'd like to motion to approve all questions that were uh asked for by various board members >> during this open session. >> Okay. So, I have a motion to approve approve questions 1 through five and 12 through 14. Is there a second?

089>> Okay. Any further discussion? >> And number six was from the student trustees, correct? >> Uh, yeah. I wasn't going to vote because we already agreed, but sure, we'll put it in there. Will you accept an amendment to the motion? Trusty Kirk, will you accept the amendment to the motion? Okay. Um, so we would be approving questions 1 through six, 12 through 14, having our student trustees ask number six, and then we'll divvy out the other questions. Uh, student trustees, how do you vote? >> I I board members, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries. We have our questions. Uh, okay. Do we have other than having our student trustees do number six, are there any particular questions any of you want to ask? Three, four, six,

090eight. >> Uh, student trustees, >> sorry. Oh, student trustees, is there a question from option one to five and 12 to 14 in addition to number six that you'd like to ask? >> Yeah. So, one of you would ask number six and then the other would ask the second question. President Curio, if I can just make suggestion that you as the chair read all the questions. >> Okay, >> that would simplify things and we can get moving. >> Is there any objection to that? >> Okay, great. So, we have our questions. Um, can we have all of our candidates please wait outside and then we will call you alphabetical order. Uh, Oh yeah, absolutely. You mean you don't want to sit or stand outside in the cold? >> President Coreo. >> Yes. >> As a

091clarification or whatever it is, if you would like me to take over uh after three, your voice is tired. I will be happy to. >> Okay. >> Thank you. So, I do now that all of the candidates I don't see anyone else here. Um, we actually have four candidates that we will be interviewing today. I believe their names were already disclosed on our agenda. Um, so the candidate list would be just so that we're all on the same page. You have a candidate ranking form. Philip William Cervantes, Erica Pedra, uh, Herman J Singh, Andrea Sto. Those are the individuals that are present. Okay. So, alphabetically, we'll start with Cervantes and then Pedra and then Sing and Sto. Well, they're already in order. Perfect. And can we have one of our administrators bring Mr. Cervantes back?

092>> Okay, thanks. We have a proposal to next time send pigeons to call our our candidates. That is Yes. >> Good evening. In fact, if you wanted to pull a chair instead of standing, that's fine. Okay. >> Can't hit a base hit if I'm sitting down. >> So, we have nine questions for you. >> Thank you. Uh our first question is generally community schools are public schools that function as neighborhood hubs integrating academics with essential health, social and family services to support the whole child. Do you support imple implementing them in Central Unified? >> Absolutely. >> How would you address inequity in the district as a board member? >> Uh that's a great question. um based on data. Uh data will show you everything in regards to um where we're exceeding, where we're failing, and

093what different ethnic groups uh with different schools. Um yeah. Um most of that information, as my past experience from being a board member, is brought to our attention. Uh so it's easy to kind of siphon through and identify where we might have some short balls or some pitfalls and where we need to improve or add additional infrastructure and supportive systems. >> Thank you. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our district? academic achievement, safety, facilities. >> Okay. What role should teachers unions have in decision making in Central Unified? >> Well, they're are boots on the ground, so they have an active role on what's happening in the trenches in the school system. Um but they I strongly believe they should also be part of the accountability system and uh hence we have our

094administration who uh should work collectively with those bodies to ensure that we are holding our staff and um people accountable for better outcomes. >> Okay. Do you think school boards should take an active role in shaping policy or should they defer to administrators? >> Absolutely. I believe they should be involved in the policy, but they should also rely on their feedback from their administration to work collectively together to enhance our policies for better outcomes. How will you prioriti prioritize safety for students on campus? >> I'm not sure how to answer that question. Um, can you repeat the question again, please? >> Yes. How will will you prioritize safety for students on campus? number one. Um, student safety has to be number one. If kids don't feel safe at school, how are they going to learn?

095um by putting in policies and procedures to ensure that students are safe and that we're putting in mechanisms with our security systems, cameras, um vaping alarms, um staff locating the right proximities of their school district, schools, heavy flow areas. Um yeah, on and on on that one. describe how you would work with your fellow board members and the superintendent when there are disagreements on important issues. >> Well, that's a big um attribute if you have the ability to work across the aisle, so to speak. Um to work collectively um and I'd like to try to share a little bit about my personal experience from being on the board. There was many times I walked into this boardroom and I had a mindset of what I thought was going to be best. But after being very

096open-minded and listening to other board members and their points of view and having the opportunity to be open-minded and I'm not going to use the word persuade, but perhaps change my direction of thinking, change my direction of how I initially thought or perceived something based on the information I either gathered, received, or asked questions about. So here by listening to the prospective opinions of other board members, I think it's incredibly important to unify the voice and to collectively make a better decision for the interests of our students. >> The second to last question is if selected, what do you what would you hope to accomplish during your time on the board? >> Very simple. academic achievement, safety, clean and green schools. I truly believe that the the greater good is everybody. It's not one sector

097over another. It's everybody. And I think collectively we have the ability to make those decisions. We know we can't have everything, but we can have almost anything we want if we work together. And >> Okay. And our last question for you is, as a trustee, we sometimes make difficult decisions. Do you believe you make decisions based on the constituents you represent or the whole district? The whole district, but the students first. >> Okay. Well, thank you for your time. That'll conclude the questions that we have for you. >> Thank you. It was an honor and a privilege to be considered. >> Do I stay or do I leave? >> Yes, you're welcome to stay. >> Do you think Well, it's only my opinion, but do you think by staying it makes the other person being

098interviewed a little bit more nervous? >> I want to be fair to them. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, I'll excuse myself. Thank you. Does anyone need a couple minutes? Okay, our next cate candidate is Erica Pedra. Hello. >> You're welcome to stand or if you want to grab a chair, we're fine with >> I think I'll stand for now. I've been sitting for a while. Okay. Uh our first question for you is generally community schools are public schools that function as neighborhood hubs integrating academics with essential health, social and family services to to support the whole child. Do you support implementing them in Central Unified? >> Absolutely. I think um bringing in the community um into the school system is something that that is advantageous. It just um marries the community of the school

099with um with our students. And so if we can provide a one-stop shop for all of our students needs um and be a place that is inclusive um I I think that that is something that is important and that I would definitely um think would would produce positive outcomes. As a matter of fact, I've seen it produce some positive outcomes. >> Thank you. How would you address inequity in the district as a board member? >> You know, this is a a a really important um area for me um being that I was raised as an English learner, a migrant student, and um I'm the daughter of to parents that um came to this country um as immigrants. Um equity is is important. And so, um, it it is it what drives my work as an

100educator, um, for serving in Fresno and, um, and I think it's it's something that's extremely important and that we need to to really keep our eye on with our with our student groups. And so um taking a look at um what are the gaps in our students especially around their performance and ensuring that our our students and our staff the the staff that is working on behalf of of students is working to close the gaps where we see that those gaps are evident. And of course we need to always use data to make those dis uh decisions and then think through what are the best practices that we can implement in ensuring that we close those gaps for our for our students. >> Um what do you see as the biggest challenges facing our district?

101I I think that there's just overall across the the state of California um and across the nation we are in some very difficult um times um and with along with that has come um you know this pressure on budget and so how do we um as a board ensure that we are using every penny that is allotted to us by by our community and by um state and federal programs to ensure that um that we are addressing the needs um of of the district. I think absenteeism is something that um is a struggle. Um I I noticed that there's, you know, some absentee work that maybe can be done around attendance and improving that. And then um no matter you know how much growth there has been, there still is this gap to ensure that

102more of our students are reading on grade level, are graduating college and career ready and are ready to to go out and be a part of um you know having success um in college, in their career and in life. What role should teachers unions have in decision making in Central Unified? >> So, um all of our unions um have an important role in working together to achieve the mission of the district. And so each and every employee brings something um important, a service that must be provided. In order to do that, we have to establish relationships with all of our our um our employees and our staff. Um, and this is something that I'm really um you know, just really passionate about because I served u myself as a classroom teacher, as um a vice

103principal, a principal, and and now a district leader. Um and the relationships that I have built along the way um are important. So, I really um look at it as a team effort and um and I think we need to uh to listen to the voices of our our our classified staff, um all of our union members, our teachers. They are the ones that are in the front lines with our students each and every day. And so, it definitely has to uh be a collaborative effort to to do that. >> Thank you. Do you think school boards should take an active role in shaping policy or should they defer to administrators? >> Um, I think that the development of policy is is important. Um, as elected officials, our job is to ensure that the superintendent

104has clarity of what the vision is. That is and that vision comes straight from our community. what does our community want? What do they expect from us? And it's our job to really as a board come together and determine what's going to be the best path. And um there is a responsibility on the superintendent and every employee that collects a paycheck has a responsibility to ensure that they are doing what's best for kids and that we are um leading the district through the vision of our families and our community. >> How will you prioritize safety for students on campus? You know, safety is one of the most important things. And so, um, you know, our kids need to feel safe, um, when they come to school. Families need to to feel confident that when when

105they are sending their children to school that the staff there and and us as as a as um board set the expectation for what we expect for for safety. um to better understand that I think um listening to the community, understanding um what is happening at the school sites and then providing guidance and recommendation on how that safety need needs to be improved. Um but it absolutely is a a big priority. If our students do not feel safe, they will not be able to learn. And so we have got to create a safe environment where our students can thrive and where our our families feel um comfortable sending their children to our schools. >> Describe how you would work with your fellow board members and the superintendent when there when there are disagreements on important

106issues. So I think that um disagreements are are are good. I don't look at that as a negative because in in every disagreement there's a conversation that can happen and one person can give their opinion and their belief and and and somebody else can give theirs. And I think that um that we shouldn't be afraid of that because the job that we need to do is so important. So, we've got to leave like our egos at the door and we've got to um be able to roll up our sleeves and and have tough conversations and um and not be offended by it. Um, and you know, I as a school principal, one of my my things that I learned more than anything is that at the end of the day when you go home, um,

107the next day you come back to work and everything that happened the day before, you forget it and you start on a clean slate. And so, um, we don't hold grudges and we welcome diversity and thought because it makes us better. The second to last question is, if selected, what would you hope to accomplish during your time on the board? >> Well, first of all, um I I would want to ensure that I understand um the needs um and that I'm listening to our community. I think the the second thing um would be um to ensure that we are working collaboratively. Everyone on a team has things that they are um are are gifted and talented in um and they and they bring experiences that can be shared. And so I welcome the opportunity to

108learn from you and I hope that I would bring something that can um also support um this entire team in making the right decisions of you know for for our district. And our final question is, as a trustee, we sometimes make difficult decisions. Do you believe you make decisions based on the constituents you represent or the whole district? I think the constituents we serve um have elected us to to take this role. And so definitely their voice um is is extremely important. um there's a balance that that and a role that we can also play with the community in fostering um having conversations with them. But at at the end of the day, we we definitely need to put the voices of our communities at the forefront um while balancing um you know, what are

109our our staff and what our employees um you know the tough job that they have to do. And so understanding that tough job and understanding what our um you know what our families want is that that that difficult um job and work that has to that has to be done. And so um so um I I welcome it. I I welcome it. And I think that we have to have a balance between the the two. >> Well, thank you very much. That was our last question. >> Thank you. Our next candidate is Herman Jot Singh. >> Did I pronounce that? Did I say that correctly? >> Like uh the O is elongated. Herman Jot. >> Herman Jo. Thank you. Our first question for you is generally community schools are public schools that function as neighborhood

110hubs integrating academics with essential health, social and family services to support the whole child. Do you support implementing them in Central Unified? So uh first of all I'd like to say good evening sasrial buenos uh to everyone to president CO uh you know fellow trustees uh and Dr. Marshall, uh, would I support the implementation? Sorry, what was the name of the >> Community schools. Would I support community schools, um, and their implementation in Central Unifi? I So, I'm a first firm believer that students are our first and foremost priority. Um, I don't believe that conventional learning is always the way, uh, that students can, you know, learn. uh uh you know when we're stepping into a classroom often maybe you know 30 40% of students don't understand uh you know in a traditional classroom format.

111So if we can employ strategies uh such as community schools uh within Central unified I would be more than supportive of it. >> How would you address inequity in the district as a board member? >> Yeah. Um to me uh equity isn't just like a buzz word. Uh it's a lived experience. I myself attended Central Unified. Uh I went to Harnan Barstow, Rio Vista, graduated as valadictorian from Central West, now Central High. Um I grew up in a single mother household. I used the resources that Central Unified gave me, uh whether it be the free lunch program, uh you know, resources such as uh after school programs, tutoring, all of that good stuff. and that allowed me to go to UCLA, graduate from there, and come back and give back to my community. Um, how

112would I I how would I address inequities? That's a very big question because, you know, I don't think there's any one-size solution that fits all. Uh, but I do believe that it is putting students first and foremost. Uh, when it comes to, you know, how are they what are the challenges that they're facing in the classroom, on the playground, at school, um, and even at home. you know, uh, often times there's things going on behind the door that we can't address, uh, or that we can't we don't know of. Uh, but it's our job as, you know, uh, you know, adults, uh, educators, trustees, uh, to to make sure that we provide all available resources that we can. >> What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our district? >> Um, it's a good

113one. Uh actually I would say we have quite a few challenges. Uh as it was brought up earlier in the meeting uh we clearly you know our neighbors at President Unified they're facing a budget deficit. Uh we're facing uh you know uncertainty of uh you know federal dollars. Um and just even uh sort of uh which you know how are p what is the direction that public schools are going to go? Uh I think um you know ensuring that you know we're uh remaining committed to uh especially you know school uh attendance you know addressing chronic ab absentism um all these things are super important uh but uh for me I I I I do believe that you know there's no one particular issue that's the biggest that's facing the district. I think we have

114to look at uh the sum of the the whole. >> What role should teachers unions have in decision making in Central unified? Um so teacher unions are in my opinion uh you know oftentimes uh you know the you know unions and trustees or boards will tend to clash uh but I don't think that's the type of relationship that we necessarily uh need to foster. I think uh instead of something that we can see we oftentimes see as adversarial we can see the as more of a kind of uh you know uh teamwork sort of uh thing teacher unions tend to uh you know address issues uh of whether it's you know underpaid uh you know uh wages or you know uh overworked teachers all these things at the end of the day go back and

115affect our students and that should be our first first priority. Um, we need to make it a working relationship. It can't be an adversarial relationship. >> Thank you. Do you think school boards should take an active role in shaping policy or should they defer to administrators? I think that every decision that the school board uh makes uh ultimately the onus falls on us to make sure that um you know we are properly doing our research uh you know we're looking at best practices not just in Fresno but uh not just in California but through the nation um for which policies are implemented because at the end of the day each yes yes and no vote comes down to uh you know your our respective decisions um administration of course uh does their due diligence to

116provide information but even just as we saw today you know sometimes there is uh conflicting information that's that's proposed and so the ultimate decision lies in the trustes hands >> how will you prioritize safety for students on campus >> um safety in my opinion isn't just physical it's also you know emotional mental Um uh of course you know making sure students feel safe on campus uh physically uh you know that they don't feel harmed threatened uh you know that's that's super important but also extends to you know how do students uh feel in terms of you know do they feel like they're being bullied? do they feel like uh you know even the the stresses of academic uh performances that that a lot of our students do have uh because we expect them to achieve

117uh and do do well um all of that is also important for safety. Uh I know just this just within this past year we had a student u pass on the freeway that that was that was huge uh that that that broke my heart. Um and I think that it's on us to make sure that you know we are utilizing every available resource to make sure that uh students feel safe physically, emotionally, mentally, all of that. >> Describe how you would work with fellow board members and the superintendent when there when there are disagreements on important issues. Um I don't think that disagreements are a bad thing inherently. Uh we should come to the table with uh you know different perspectives, different ideas. We want to ensure uh you know whatever decision that we come

118up with eventually uh is the one that is best for the students. Um and I think that if all of us are attending these meetings, uh you know, working with each other in good faith, uh I think that is the the expected outcome. >> And the second to last question, if selected, what would you hope to accomplish during your time on the board? >> Yeah. Uh first thing first, I would hope to be caught up. Uh I know there's a lot of things that are that are happening that have been happening. Um uh so I would hopefully uh meet with all of you and and and learn uh you know what are the issues that we are facing uh of course you all have a lot more inherent knowledge uh than than than I do.

119Um and and from there uh you know see see which issues need the most priority move forward from there. Okay. >> And our final question is as a trustee we sometimes make difficult decisions. Do you believe you make decisions based on constituents you represent or the whole district? >> Um, so I think that when we are implementing policy, it doesn't just affect one student. It doesn't just affect the students in our district. It affects all students uh districtwide. I do believe there's a role for trustees uh that that trustees do play when it comes to uh you know listening to their constituents. ultimately you were elected. whoever is, you know, you guys the point from here. That person was elected. But at the end of the day, you do have to answer to your constituents

120to listen to them. But when policy affects every student, um, uh, you know, we have to, you know, in the best interest of students, uh, across the district, vote, vote that way. Uh, what's that one saying? Uh, rising tide, uh, lifts all boats, right? So, uh, I think that's the way we need to perceive this. >> Great. Well, that was our last question, so thank you very much. >> Thank you. Are we to go back? Okay, sounds good. Okay. And our final candidate, Andrea Sto. Oh, good evening. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> Our first question for you is generally community schools are public schools that function as neighborhood hubs integrating academics with essential health, social and family services to support the whole child. Um, do you support implementing them in Central Unified? >> Absolutely. Supporting

121the whole child is actually our mission. Um, I've been an employee with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for over two decades and we thrive on uh providing service to all students of all uh walks of life, different backgrounds, different needs and we're focused, my focus um not only as a professional but also as a parent um to support student success. That has been our motto um under every single superintendent that I've served. I've served under four actually four superintendents and every single superintendent from Dr. Miaz um to Larry Powell uh to Jim Yino and currently uh Dr. uh Michelle Kwell Kofur um they all have a mission and a vision to support student success. >> How would you address inequity in the district as a board member? >> I would address uh the inequity

122inequity. Yeah, inequities >> of the district. Um that's very simple. I would approach it first with empathy. Um I would uh be empathetic to the different and diverse needs of the students. Um it's from a fiscal background. It's uh clear that not every student um is gets an equal share of time, support, even resources. there are students that have additional needs that require additional support and additional resources. And so addressing every single need that that either comes to the board or comes forth from the community is addressed first with empathy. Um but it's also addressed um with factf finding um qualitative and quantitative data that's huge right now. Um and so just approaching uh the the matters and the needs of every student with empathy and um facts um I feel is the best approach.

123>> Thank you. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our district? >> That's a great question. Uh the biggest challenges I feel um really come from a lot of our current events. um a lot of the current events now um with uh things that are uh going on in not only our community but also in the world I feel safety is one at the forefront. We want to keep our children safe. I as a professional but also as a parent I have a live perspective. Uh my children both attend uh Central Unified Schools and I know safety is really at the forefront. Um we want to make sure that our kids are safe. We want to make sure that the resources from the community as well as our educators and professionals um those

124resources are provided to the students. Um but I also feel with a professional fiscal background that budgetary needs are very critical as well. Um we're seeing in the media as well as I'm seen in my professional career that there's a lot of budget cuts. Um those are things that we need to keep at the forefront. We're also hearing from the state uh level that um lower birth rates is something that is going to creep up and I feel like those are things that we need to keep at the forefront. But first and foremost, I feel the safety of our students is is prime and key. >> What role should teachers unions have in decision making in Central Unified? >> That's another great question. I feel um teachers have a voice as well as all employees

125um have a voice. Um I feel that again going back to factf finding and um presenting the needs in a professional manner is something that that really does go a long way not just with the board but also with the community. I feel that teachers um are really boots on the ground. They're at the forefront um providing these services to our our children and our students. Um and they do deserve to be heard. um not just teachers but also classified members as well. Um in my background I uh served on the union board for quite some time. We dealt with advocacy, negotiations, um things like that, disciplinary actions. I feel that everything has a process and everyone has some sort of expertise um within the process and I feel that as long as we're following

126uh the the protocol um I feel that you know teachers deserve the the right to be heard. Folks deserve due process. Um and it doesn't really matter the the position or the profession. I feel that unions in general, you know, have the right to advocate and present their their needs and their concerns. >> Thank you. >> Do you think school boards should take an active role in shaping policy or should they defer to administrators? >> I think that that is a great question, but I also feel that it is a shared responsibility. Um, it's not a one-sizefits-all. uh everyone again brings their own expertise, their own needs and I feel that um when you're developing student govern or student centered governance that really requires uh it requires everyone. It requires the community. It requires administration.

127It requires educators. It requires a board. Um we really need to have options presented to us so that we could decide um the best of the best. um we can take the best of the best and present that and provide that and implement that for our kids, but it is a shared responsibility. >> How will you prioritize safety for students on campus? >> That is a great question. I'm actually quite pleased that that was asked. I I mentioned earlier that safety is I know a big concern for many parents, many professionals, many educators. Um I myself I uh look uh you know forward I look ahead. There's a lot going on in the in the world today. Um I do want to mention too that I come from um also my husband's in law enforcement.

128I come from a law enforcement background. Um I do know that there are resources available. There's um resource officers. There are uh safe campus safety and security. And I feel that again as a community and as a shared responsibility we bring these resources together. Um some that do exist and some that may not. I feel that bringing those ideas to the table so that our children's safety is at the forefront of everything I feel is you know a a great plan of action. >> Thank you. describe how you would work with fellow board members and the superintendent when there are disagreements on important issues. >> That answer is is also um quite straightforward and simple. I would approach it with empathy. Um I feel that uh it's again not everyone thinks the same. It's not

129a one-sizefits-all. Um but I feel that um with healthy communication, open communication, transparency and active listening, I feel that we could uh come together as a whole and make the best decisions for our students. >> Our second to last question is, if selected, what would you hope to accomplish during your time on the board? >> Uh if selected, I do plan to put my best foot forward. I would give the district 110%. I would hope that every student that comes into any Central Unified School District doors, my children included, um have the best educational experience, have all the resources available to them. Um and not just the students, I'm I'm also talking about the whole student. And when I mean the whole student, that's also their families. I feel that that uh Centry Unified has

130done a wonderful job in um providing resources to students as well as parents. Um there's educational classes, business classes available to parents. I'd love to see that. Um I would again endorse those movements and those resources. I would also uh hope that the child has a great um educational experience throughout their time with Centry Unified uh so that when they do uh graduate and go into college life or adulting they are successful but it takes a community it takes everyone to assist in every child's success. Okay. And our final question for you is as a trustee we sometimes make difficult decisions. Do you believe you make decisions based on the constituents you represent or the whole district? >> I I believe the school uh trustees uh make their decisions uh collaboratively as collaborative with collaborative

131effort. Um and it's a unified approach. Again, it's not uh one person's opinion or one person's idea. I feel that the shared responsibility and the collaborative efforts with everyone um again allows the decision making to take the best of the best and we use that information to provide the resources to the whole child. That's student, that's family, that's community engagement. Um and it's for the well-being of the entire whole. >> Awesome. Well, thank you very much for your time. That was our last question for you. >> Thank you so much. and she was our last candidate. Um, so now any discussion by the board on any of the candidates? Do we need a few minutes to reflect on our notes? Yeah. Okay, why don't we take a few minutes and everyone can look up when

132you are done reflecting and reviewing your notes. Uh, you should probably leave them here. Yeah. So, the question is our notes, uh, are we keeping them or are we leaving them here? And we should leave them here and have them shredded by Anita. So, first thank you to all of our candidates for taking the time uh to apply and uh wanting to serve uh as as a trustee. Having served all of us at least uh for some time now, it's a thankless job. So, thank you for your willingness to to commit to that. Um, with that, I'll open the floor for any discussion. Our student trustees. >> Okay. This is a little um weird because I wrote some notes down for all of them. I'm going to say the positive notes if that's fine. >>

133Sure. >> Okay. Starting with our first candidate. Um, you were very confident, which I really like that. Second, Miss Pedra. >> Mhm. Um, you were very calm and explained really well. Uh, number three, um, your, um, word usage was amazing. I really liked it. And Miss Sodto, >> um, you, what did I write? You served under four superintendents. Um, I thought that was like you have experience, so that was amazing. Uh, I was also going to say, uh, everyone seemed, uh, very prepared and I really liked all their responses, especially with student safety and concerns about, um, attendance and all that because I do see those issues and I agreed with a lot of issues that they pointed out because I do notice those in our district. >> Thank you both. Who would like to

134start the discussion or continue the discussion? Our students led by starting the discussion. >> Vice President Sers. >> Uh thank you. And first of all, I appreciate everyone's interest in coming participating tonight. Um thanks. Uh this is a very large decision and as trustee Kurpon mentioned earlier the the impact that this will have. Fortunately I don't think that the brief interactions we've had here qualify me to make a decision for a entire body of people that I don't represent. For that reason I'm I'm going to abstain from any votes for appointing anyone. I would prefer to just wait until November and let the community decide who they want to represent. Those are my thoughts. >> Okay, Trusty Kurfon. >> Thank you, President Curio, and thank you to the candidates who applied, those who can make

135it today, um, and those who had conflicts. This is the opposite of what we had earlier in last board meeting. This is a good problem to have that we have multiple qualified candidates that care about our community. Uh this is a difficult decision. It's not one that we can make lightly, but the fact that we have multiple good options, I think is a great great uh boon to our district. And um as alluded to, this is u but a kind of preview. The voters will get to decide this race among others uh in November. Um so if you're not picked, you know, you can still, you know, as anyone in this uh country, you know, run for office and uh may the best person win. Um, for for me, I think, you know, what I'm

136looking for, I'm looking for some a trustee who is student centered and can also be humble. Uh, someone who knows Central Unified. Um, and has lived that experience. Uh, someone who is not going to fade away even if we don't appoint them because they are involved in the community and hopefully someone who is policy oriented. I will I have a motion ready, but I will wait to hear other voices. Trusty Singh. >> Again, I want to appreciate all the candidates that took the time to uh come share with us their their vision, their hopes, and their aspirations for Central Unified. I think for me, I'm really sort of like Wayne. We have uh some folks with clear expertise that they've drawn from their professional world that really seek to uh bring bring that that expertise

137here on their board. And then you also have you know just sort of a community folks uh in some way way which is the beauty of a small D democracy where where everyone's voice matter matters and and in some ways uh just echoing sort of the the community that we live in. So these are some of the things I'm just sort of like weighing out in terms of the decision. But again want to thank you all for uh taking the time to share share tonight. Trusty Kirk, >> thank you very much. I'd like to also echo um our thanks and gratitude to our community members who did step up uh for this very important role. Not thankless, but very important role. Um I am I am more aligned with Trusty Sers and I'm I'm having

138a little difficulty putting myself in the place of all of area 3 um to be the spokesperson. But I do also understand that we have a responsibility as a board to be able to function at our full capacity. Um so that was where I am. I do appreciate all of you coming out tonight and sharing um your thoughts and hopes for your role on the board with us. Thank you. >> Trustees do. >> Um I also uh share concerns uh that trustee or vice president sellers has. Uh the only thing I'm fearful of is you know happen stance. You know we split three. we do need a deciding vote. Um so that is my I would say the guiding reason. Uh but I 100% agree that um to make a decision for an area that

139I am not involved with um doesn't sit right with me. Um other than that um all four candidates did uh really good. Um uh everybody has good answers. I'm very happy that we got the level of engagement we did um on such short notice and just the fact that you know all the candidates who applied um were willing to put their um proverbial hat in the ring just to uh in the race just to um be a part of our community and be a voice in our community. Um, speaking for myself, this this is a hard decision, but um, kind of echoing what um, Kurfon um, Trusty Kurfon said that um, I feel like no matter who comes out on top, um, Area 3 did send their best. So um, um, looking forward to what's

140going to happen next, but um, I'll limit my comments to that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, do you have any new comments? new comment and as there's no other comments, I'll make a motion. >> Uh, no, I would like to provide some comments. Thank you. >> You go first, please. >> Um, I won't repeat what my colleagues have have shared already, but I do just want to say how impressed I am with just the involvement and the background of each of the candidates. um for me and and I understand the the conflict and it's one uh and one of the questions that we did ask is just acknowledging that as trustees yes we get elected by our constituents um within the the area um but as someone who was in a position to have

141to make a difficult decision uh that would be in the best interest of the district as a whole and that um those members of my uh specific area constituents who vocalize their perspectives um disagreed and and I I went against that. And so um with that, I I also acknowledge that this is not an easy decision for me. Uh the person that I I will support in in appointing for this position to serve until uh the November election um is someone who's really focused and centered uh on students. and you all responded in in focusing on on students for me um one of the candidates that really stood out and I just really appreciated um every response was was student focused um Mr. seeing uh and so to me uh he was one of in

142my perspective the strongest candidates as far as his experience and it may be uh that he most recently served as a student in our district and experienced a lot of our programs but I do just want to acknowledge um just the level of expertise and experience that you all bring to the table um was phenomenal and and I appreciate and just want to thank our our student trustees as well for listening and providing some great feedback to all of our candidates. Um, so it sounds like Trusty Garon, you have a motion and some additional comments. >> And my additional comment is that in addition to thanking all of our candidates tonight, I also want to thank former trustee Natalie Chavez, who in her time on the board brought accountability to Central Unified, you know, was

143student focused and had a sharpness that I really appreciated having being able the opportunity to serve with her. Um, but I agree with President Coreo. Um I my preferred C uh candidate tonight would be uh Harmon Jot Singh. So I will motion to appoint him to uh the area three. I do I do represent area 4. I do have ties to area 3. That's the neighborhood I grew up in. I attended Riverwolf Elementary and I believe that Tman Jot Singh represents you know a lot of the best of that neighborhood. So I will motion to appoint him. >> Okay. I have a motion by trusty Kuron to appoint Mr. Hmon J. >> Herman Jot. Okay. Herman Jot Singh. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. And that was Dusty Kong. Right. Any further

144discussion? Okay. We'll do a roll call vote. I have the forms. I will conduct a roll call vote. Uh, student trustee Alazani, how do you vote? >> I. >> Uh, student trustee Kong. >> I. >> Trusty Singh. >> I. >> Trusty Keron. >> I. >> Trusty Kirk. >> I. >> Trusty Sers. >> Going to abstain. >> Okay. Trusty Sadu. I >> and myself will also vote I. Um the ice have it. We have student trustees and five board members with trustee sellers abstaining from the vote. Um congratulations. So I will now administer the oath. So if I can have you join me up here. Okay. Thank you. So before we move on to our information items, um just to recap, so following this appointment, uh the board will need to um via our superintendent post

145notice to our community of the appointment that we have made. It is a provisional appointment. If the constituents disagree with our uh appointment and decision, they do have the right uh based upon the education code and the elections code to petition to have you re not you per se but our decision not take effect. Um and then if that happens uh then the seat would remain vacant until there is an election. So uh our notice will include all the required uh education code sections and elections code sections. uh and then we will get notice. I think they have 30 days, the constituents have 30 days to challenge uh our provisional appointment. Otherwise, you take duties immediately until we're notified uh by the county uh board of education differently. Okay. Um I don't do we have

146an agenda we can give him? Do you have a copy of the agenda? Okay, great. Um, so we move on from our action items to our information items. Uh, and the first item to discuss is receive information regarding district dress code policy. Dr. Lopez. Good evening, board president Karo, board of trustees and superintendent Dr. Marshall. Central Unified School District Board Policy 5132 states that the governing board will annually receive AR-5132 six months before each new school year as an information item and direct staff to communicate any changes to the public through school newsletters and other related vehicles. AR-5132 dictates the district dress code for all students TK through 12 and is reviewed and updated annually to maintain order and provide a safe school environment for all students. This item here for is only here for

147information only. Uh and I will be happy to answer any questions as well. >> Thank you. Do we have any questions about our dress code policy? >> Go ahead, Trusty Kirk. >> Thank you, President CO. Thank you very much for making the correction to the language of this to make it more aligned with how our students identify difference between the term grooming as it meant back in the early 20th century and as it means today. So, thank you very much for making that correction. >> You're welcome. Thank you guys for the feedback. >> Yeah. So, just as a note, when we had this policy come before the committee, one of the things that Trusty Kirk uh pointed out and Trustee I'm sorry, um Dr. Child's as as well flinched with the use of the word

148grooming and acknowledging that that has a different meaning and so um thank you for that vice president sellers. >> Thank you. Uh as this is the district's dress code, do school sites have the ability to amend, add modify anything to it themselves. >> There is portions here regarding safety. So for example, pathway persing has certain rules associated to that for safety reasons. So there is some discretion. However, it has to be presented as part of their enrollment packet provided to families. So there's guidelines that they have to follow. >> Okay. So the school site makes that decision themselves >> with their uh committees with their uh school site councils and presented to parents. >> Okay. Uh can we just ensure that that any changes that are amended or additions added to that that's communicated with

149the board? I couldn't hear that. I'm sorry. >> Any site that makes their own additions to Can we make sure that that is communicated to the board? >> Yes. And I'm just going to make everyone aware. No other school besides Persian Pathway that I'm aware of has done that because of specific safety concerns. >> Okay. I just >> conversations with parents that some sites implement things differently and I want to make sure we're doing things consistently across the board at all sites. >> Yeah. And that's why I have this presentation here as well. By the way, I forgot I kind of got ahead of it. Do you mind if I go quickly through it? >> Uh yeah, let me see if there's any other comments or questions. Go ahead. >> So now in the feedback

150that we received, uh majority of our parent community states that they would like no changes. So 17 schools notated in their surveys uh that the parents did not want any changes to the current policy compared to staff 15 and 13 sites reported data from the majority of the students stating that they would like changes. When you look at the sites that reported feedback for changes, the number of sites that reported suggested changes to the dress code uh are here for students about 19 uh staff 13 and parent community 4. These are the overall themes that came up. And just to summarize them for you, this clearly called out that there's a little bit of a misunderstanding of what is policy and what isn't. Uh so that is why we're representing this again. This is sent

151out after we present this to the board. This is sent out through all of Parent Square like we did last year and this is going to it has a direct link through the QR code to our actual AR stating these policies. We also review this with administration in our next in-depth meeting. Um some of the things that they noted were comfort and this a lot had to come with footwear. So um we do have to explain to students that due to safety reasons we don't allow Crocs. So that is part of our policy. However, there was a lot of comfort discussions that they discussed with footwear. Um, the other ones were related to pajamas. They are still bringing up the same discussions as last year wanting to have pajamas allowed at schools. Uh, however, we

152do allow flannel pajamas. So, those are here just so everyone can see with a visual of what is allowed and what it's not. This is what it looks like. This is the flyer that we're going to send out again via parent square. And we felt like we wanted to include visuals because some of the comments made were also uh genderneutral uh kind of comments stating that some of the pol the policy items in the policy may not be genderneutral. However, the board and our district has made large efforts to ensure that everything in the policy is gender neutral. So I wanted to show pictures that tank tops are allowed for both girls and boys. So those were some comments that we constantly saw on the feedback, but they're reflected in our policy. So, we want

153to make sure we clear that up. Uh shirt length. Uh it shows appropriateness. Uh underwear types, sleeveless shirts, uh see-through fishnetss, um or other attire which exposes the body such as bare mid rifts, tube tops, halter tops, dresses, skirts, skirts, shorts, etc. are not acceptable. And there's an example of what is acceptable. layering phrase and uh holes, short sleeves, they are allowed, but not in an excessive amount where it shows a large um portion of your skin. Uh as you can see, we do allow hairstyles and being able to showcase your identity through your hair. Uh so we provided examples of that. Again, the pajamas is the confusion. The flannel is allowed, not the full-on pajamas or pajama pants that are not flannel related. The Crocs are not allowed. That is one of the feedback

154that we received. Go ahead. So, I'm looking at the no Crocs, but I'm also looking at it must have a back strap. And I believe some Crocs come with sport mode that you can put the strap on. So, is it no Crocs or no shoes without a backstrap? I could see that being a question. So, what it stated is, and I'll read it out, all TK students must wear shoes with the backstrap. However, what we notice is they'll bring the Crocs and they will not put the backstrap on. They'll flip it to the front. So, that is why they're in here as a not as a what not to do. >> As I learned, sports mode is >> Yeah. And other sandals like you can't do that. can't flip the the back with these. You

155can um leggings are acceptable and must be thick enough um so as to not be see-through and again the comprehensive AR is linked to the QR code so our families have access to that and we are in the process of translating and ensuring that the new policy is updated. So um this will be sent out via parent square as soon as we send out the translation as well. Trusty Sadu. >> Uh just one question. Uh let's say it's like you know pajama day then any pajamas are okay. Okay. >> So exceptions are those um climate culture kind of events that the school set. >> Yeah. And our board policy reflects that that if it's a special event like sports teams or things of that nature, then students are allowed to wear it. Um, and then

156I I I know that our student trustees uh went home already, but I just want to note for everyone else on the board that the hairstyle change was uh something that the students brought forward um a few years ago early on when both Trusty Singh and I were elected um to the board. And so I just want to thank them and and remind folks that we do listen to the student feedback because we want to make sure that they feel comfortable and safe uh identifying themselves while also balancing any disruptions in in the classroom which is kind of the discussion around uh hairstyles previously. So thank you. Thank you. And then I I do just want to reiterate, I agree 100% with uh Vice President Sers that we need to ensure that our staff at

157all of our campuses um are well aware of what our expectations are and how they're interpreting the the the AR um to ensure that there isn't any inconsistencies or inequities. And this board has worked tirelessly to make sure that our policy is written in such a way that is genderneutral and is inclusive of all of our students. however they may identify. >> Thank you. That this will be included not just in the next inepth but as a reminder when we open the year we also review this with our staff. Okay. And so then we'll have this item return under consent to our September uh March 24th 2026 board meeting. Uh we move on to item number two. Receive information regarding proscreen community school proposal for Roosevelt Elementary. Dr. Lopez. So, I keep on bringing these

158community school items to you guys and I just want you to see the faces behind um the work. You guys can come forward. So, uh the administrator as well as our community school coordinator work together to create agendas in collaboration with their parents and teachers that are part of the committees at the school sites. They lead discussions and they identify needs and gaps assessments that based on surveys that have already been provided to the community. So I just want our coordinator, I know you haven't met the coordinator, so I want them to introduce themselves. >> Hi everyone, my name is Amy Cruz and I'm the coordinator at Roosevelt Elementary. >> My name is Blanca Huarez Rico and I'm the community schools coordinator at Stbec Elementary. Hello everyone. My name is Blanco Martinez Ayala and I

159am the community schools coordinator at Madison Elementary. Good evening board trustees. Judy Martinez. I am a teacher on special assignment serving in the role of community school coordinator at Teague Elementary. Now I want to introduce two of our principles for the programs that I'll be presenting with you tonight. Stephanie Hamlin, principal at Roosevelt Elementary. Esther Kercher, principal of Steinbeck Elementary. Last but not least, you've met her already. So, we have our supervisor of community schools. >> Good evening. Good evening everybody. I'm Diana Padilla. >> And thank you all for being here and and being patient at 9:35 for this item to come before us. Thank you. So having said that, we are going to start with our proposal. So this was uh attached for your review. Oh, hold on, never mind. This is the next

160one. Roosevelt Elementary is more than a school. It is central, a central gathering place for students, families, and the surrounding community. This project is designed to strengthen the sense of identity, pride, and belonging by enhancing the visual environment across campuses. Currently, several several highly visible areas of the school lack cohesive design elements and reflect Roosevelt's cultures, values, and spirit. Procreen has supported schools across our district with highquality graphics, banners, and signage that strengthens campus identity and visibility. It also aligns to our PBIS framework and being able to provide these vision statements uh mission statements for the school uh and pillars. The sustainability. Well, this proposal represents a long-term investment in durable visual improvements that will serve the school community for many years. Financial impact. The cost is that is proposed is 78,822. That is a

161one-time cost as this will remain part of the visual uh of the school. Administration is recommending this item be placed on the March 24th board agenda for action. Again, they align and this went through their committee process. They got approved through their committee process and it aligned to the pillars that they selected in the smart goals for the school. >> And I think we have another um community member, either a coordinator or someone else. >> Well, that will be for our next presentation. I kind of skipped through it. I almost got into that. >> Okay. Uh any questions or comments on this item? >> Trusty Singh, >> just a quick uh question. Dr. Lopez. I mean, I I can imagine uh most of our community schools just wanting to sort of like um kind of

162uh illustrate pride, you know, kind of uh increase the sense of belonging and and and safety. Could you just kind of share a little bit like um like obviously Roosevelt is one of our community schools. Was that sort of the the basis in terms of funding? Why? Because I can imagine this being a wider conversation probably at all our schools at some point. >> Yes. So, I know Roosevelt is one of our older schools. Um, and I know that they determined one of the specific pillars was to create the sense of belonging for the school. So, signage was important to them. Signage or images or visuals uh can reflect the PBIS framework for their school and the specific pillars that they stand behind. So, that is a way of carrying out the message of what

163they stand behi behind uh in alignment to PBIS. So uh we don't want it just to be seen as oh we're just wrapping the school with visuals. That is not the case. They are looking at messaging that will be embedded in those visuals to create the sense of identity for the school. >> Thank you. And I and I think maybe at some point just a broader conversation I I know in central there is a desire for us to talk about branding to talk about sort of inclusivity belonging and I think and I think uh it's great that Roosevelt's leading the way as as it often has. Trusty Geron. >> Thank you, President Co. Um, and it's great to see all the coordinators here tonight. And I know Principal Hamlin and Vice Principal Woodard are doing

164great work at Roosevelt. Um, quick question. Do we have a mockup as to what this design would look like? >> I'm going to have the principal because I know she's been more involved in this process. >> U, so this is actually broken up into multiple parts across our campus. Um, this is most centrally aligned to one of our goals where we want to create a community hub for Roosevelt. With the redistricting, our demographics changed dramatically and now our population is truly central to our school. If you've been out to Roosevelt, you know, we're deep out there. We are way out in the country. Um, what we want to do is create Roosevelt as that community hub where our families come for events. they come for our um community resource fairs that it is truly where

165we go to get together to um create that sense of community right there in our little rural area. So with that we have a couple different phases. Um Trusty Keron, you've been to our school, you saw and Superintendent Marshall, you saw our um student wall in the hallway. We're looking to expand that in the front office and throughout our cafeteria. Our cafeteria is one of our main areas for our family events. Um, it's pretty old and so this updating would actually take our student faces, pictures from over the years and currently and be putting them up on our walls. I'm a big believer as a principal that you should see our kids even if they aren't on our campus. You should know who is there, what this school means, and what's it a part of.

166And that's a part of what we're doing here. So that's fa that's one of the phases is the front office and the cafeteria would have those student photo walls along them. Another phase is our softball fields and our baseball fields. We want to have mesh banners along the back walls of those. When you enter our school and walk through our hallway um first thing you see when you open the door is our huge beautiful field and right there on our fields are softball and baseball diamonds. So by putting these mesh banners there that is really eye-catching. Um that's also where we host all of our spring outdoor events, our back tochool fall events is all out there on those fields. So again, it's creating that community feel to it. Uh the next project is the

167classroom windows. We started this last year with putting um beautiful coverings over each of the windows. If you've driven past Roosevelt, you've seen it all along the front. This would now finish off the last two final buildings so it would all be in uniform. It's all with our PBIS motto. um that same imaging and um I'm sorry losing the term I'm looking for the same imaging imaging and the same word space in all of our areas. The last phase of it would be along our back fence line. We would like mesh banners along there. We have them in the front and on one side. This would partly be to keep with that same imaging, but also to create that sense of um barrier and safety and privacy for our students because we do back right

168up into private residences. Their backyards are literally our backyards. So, being able to have those mesh banners along the fencing would create that privacy barrier. >> Excellent. Thank you. probably just a very short comment just more for the benefit of all of our uh uh trustees what principal Hammond was talking about and even uh President Curio had alluded to. Um previously we had like a Roosevelt annex which was actually separate from the school and so when we did the new school boundaries uh that started this year we wanted to consolidate to actually have neighborhood schools so in one particular area. So hence to create that actual sense of community at Roosevelt and and all of our other schools and uh Trusty Creo made a very brave vote as as uh she alluded to earlier >>

169and perhaps once the project is done we can schedule tours in compliance with the Brown Act. >> That is correct. >> Um for anyone who would like to go >> any other comments or questions? Okay. Any objection to having this return under consent? Okay. Um item number three, receive information regarding Corine Campus Compost and Associates contract. Hello again, Corine. Uh so let me introduce her first so you guys get to see the name uh the face as well. >> Hi, I'm Karen Compost. I'm the owner and principal consultant for Karine Compost and Associates. Um, I've had the privilege of working as a consultant with Central Unified in supporting the planning grant for the community schools initiative, um, which I'll talk about in just a minute, as well as securing the $8 million grant for, um,

170the six schools. As you see, the work is happening. It's being presented before you today. Um, and I just want to thank uh, President Kio and the trustees, the cabinet, and all that are here today. I do have a short presentation. So, um I'll go ahead and get into that. Um so, essentially what's before you is really to look at, um renewing the contract for the implementation phase. So, we're well past the planning phase of the grant. As you all know, we have an implementation grant for community schools. We've just um began finishing our first year envisioning and we're stepping into a deeper implementation which is really going to take the work into a whole new echelon of district-wide steering committee building on some of the community engagement that's happened over the planning in the

171first year's implementation. Um and really setting some what we hope will be ambitious goals around the four core pillars family engagement integrated services for students so on and so forth. um why Korean Compost and Associates. Our firm brings more than 45 years of collective experience doing community- based work directly. Um and you know really focused on impact evaluation performance. We've worked with uh school districts, higher education, and we also have a fund development branch where we've raised more than $120 million um from schools, government, and dozens of nonprofits. We're really really embedded and entrenched into the community as an organization. Um and so we have deep roots. We're local right here in town. Um and so our approach is really focused on collaboration, equity. Even when we supported the planning grant, we were meeting with

172parents, families, students, teachers. The process was co-created and co-designed by the school sites. And so those are just some core examples of the way our firm does business. I've presented just a few examples of some of the pillars and the work that um this contract will afford you all. Really looking at collaborative leadership. So really what's before the district is launching the district-wide advisory which is really going to be comprised of all of the different site committees as well as community- based organizations to really lead the overarching theme of what community schools looks like for this district. Because the beauty is that there's variance sight by sight based on those specific neighborhoods and what those schools and parents and families need, but there still are overarching goals at the LEA level. And so this getting

173this right is going to be critical for the success and the sustainability of community schools moving forward. While the state is looking at um launching some additional funding, um it's really a big downgrade from the more than $4 billion that was released initially. And so the billion dollars that will hopefully come out is going to be may not be competitive, but it's going to be a small fraction of the cost. And so this is the time to really set our goals, prove the vision, do the implementation, and exceed our our overall goals. Um integrated student supports. So the firm will really be focusing on enhancing and strengthening the ongoing community connections at the site level around integrated student supports to remove barriers for learning um for students and families and really exploring how we can

174look at replicating some of them at other schools too. These are just the initial community schools. It doesn't have to be the end. Um the other pillar is around active community engagement. And so this is really where we're focusing at the site level community advisory to design and support best practices around full engagement. So it's less about consulting families and students and more about sharing decisionmaking. And so we're really looking at using the um spectrum of community engagement. And so I've been working uh closely with the district on designing that process um around some professional learning development and really creating what we call enabling factors for success. And then finally looking at expanded and enriched learning um really that's a critical part of community schools. It ties directly to some of the community- based learning

175that will likely um happen in the classrooms but also through recess and through the extended learning. There's a lot of funding out there and so I'm excited to explore and dig into some of that because there's no reason why community schools needs to just be an $8 million grant. If the if the needs and gaps analysis shows that we have a $40 million goal, then then let's look at braiding funding and outside funding to help supplement the good work that the district is doing. Um, and so again, just summary that summarizing that really this this Crane Compost and Associates is set apart because me and my team really offer hands-on support through coaching, strategy, community connections, and bringing deep expertise to advancing the community schools initiative with a focus on implementation and sustainability. So, thank

176you. >> So, she is the historian for our district. it uh community schools has has shifted multiple hands. So she brings in the historian component and helps us apply for additional grant funding. We just completed an an additional ASUS grant for uh Josan St. Kra and that was with her support the historian component from prior years and surveys done. Um so we are looking at a potential application coming soon for additional funding for u community schools for more of our sites. So she would bring in that whole consultant that that piece that she completed in the past help us ensure that we are meeting those deadlines and uh a great support to our new supervisor of community schools. Additionally, she has played a huge role in making connections amongst districts. So it's because of her

177that we were able to build relationships with parlier with Fresno, attend their committee meetings uh and learn from those districts as well. I'm happy to answer any questions. uh administration is recommending that this item be placed uh for action in our next board meeting. >> Thank you. Questions or comments from the board? >> Just Kon. >> Thank you, President Curio. And I'm always uh very engaged with these presentations. A lot of the community schools in our district overlap with area 4. Uh Roosevelt at least we know had the annex with uh Steinbeck, Madison, Tilly. Those are all schools I that are within my boundaries. So I know we're we're within year two of our a community schools grant. Correct. >> Yes. >> And have we applied for the next phase of that grant yet? >>

178There isn't any yet. There's a potential opening soon. Uh so that's what we're planning for. >> So we So that is that the same thing as you mentioned with the ACE grant or is that a separate >> that's another grant we applied for. So I'm really excited and we're hoping to hear soon. >> Right. Um, and I think it's very imperative that we do apply for that or we if we don't that we're finding outside funding sources because a lot of our budget for community schools comes at the expense of these salaries for our community schools coordinators >> and it would be really unfortunate if we don't apply for those grants and then we run out of funds and then we end up in a unfortunate position at that point. So, >> so know that

179my priority is that that's why we applied for the hope grant and we received it and thank you guys for approving that. So, that'll give us billing so hopefully revenue for a couple years and we'll apply for something else next. >> Thank you. And Miss Compost, you mentioned uh braided funding. So, can you elaborate more about our plan for applying for those braided funds? >> Absolutely. Thank you so much, Trusty Kerfon. The concept of braided funding is much like what you're describing where you apply for multiple grants, you also look at um mixing that stack. So it doesn't just have to be grants because while we love evergreen, all grants have a term so they all end. And so it's really looking at grants, but you can also couple fee for service, collaborative partnerships, and

180other ways of generating revenue. Um grants tend to be the most popular because they have biggest bang for buck. But the point is is like braided funding would be uh applying for the extended learning funding, looking for more funding for integrated services. Like across all those pillars, there's a lot of different um grant funds available. And so my hope is that we can really maximize our applications. >> Excellent. And uh should we get approved for those funds, do we have an idea of how we plan on spending those funds, whether it's programming, facilities, staffing? >> All the grants come with a specific guideline. So we would have to follow that guideline. For example, the ASUS grant supports safety um in the after school program, but also um identifies with climate culture components, staffing. So then

181we're able to use it for after school program staffing. So depending on the grant, we would have to follow those compliance pieces. >> And I'm glad you mentioned safety because as uh new trustee Singh mentioned, safety is not just physical but also uh emotional and uh mental. So >> that is correct. Are we looking at um using those grant funds for mental health as well? >> Yes. So we received the grant last year for LCSSP $2 million and that is addressing those components. ASUS grants already cover that as well. We provide training for um safe talk to all our leads to all our staff in the after school program. So yes, so I do want to make sure that our discussion is focused on the contract before us. if we need to have a much

182larger conversation about where we are with our community schools and we need to properly agendaize and and have a thorough discussion and and update as to how we're funding the various aspects of it. Please, >> thank you. I'm done with my questions, but I do feel like they were germaine because a lot of the implementation of the community schools grant is happening through uh compost associates. >> No, a lot the implementation is happening through the community school committees. She is supporting us and leading the work in building connections with other districts, other entities, other CBOS, and also helping us apply for more grant funding. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Trusty Kirk. And then Vice President Sers, >> thank you. I have a question. I'm looking at the budget. >> I'm trying to understand where the

183funding is going. So, >> the one that was attached, correct? >> Yes. I'm sorry. The one original state board approved. >> Yep. So that was the f the grant that was submitted to the state and approved by the state. So when they applied for the the community schools grant about three years ago, >> they had to submit a budget. So the when they evaluated that they had to look at other districts that already had gotten the grant funding and what was successful implementation of those. So uh uh a position such as hers was kind of something essential in those districts. So even when we commute and visit other districts, they do have somebody like her that we've connected with because then they bring in the historical context, the application process, and you name it. Okay.

184But this budget is what we're looking at. This is this is like a this is not a real budget. My question is about some of the line items. And so let me give you my question then we'll see if it's if it's relevant. So we're looking at the total site allocation budget at the bottom line. says, "Does not include books, supplies, and training cost." However, if I look up a few lines up, books, and supplies, line 4,000 is included. >> Yes. >> Books and supplies included or not included? >> Yes. So, the budget line above it is for books and supplies. The bottom part is hers. Correct. The one that you're referring to, the 90,000 15 by for each site. I would have to see it. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. I'm looking I'm looking

185at the the I don't know how to describe it. the ones that are blocked in green. So, books and supplies has a 4,000 next to it. Consultant has a 5,000 next to it. Training conference has a 5,000 when I'm looking under the description. Okay. So, I would agree, Trusty Kirk, that the number at the very bottom that says total site allocation balance um as it states does not include those additional components and those are outlined separately. So, we're getting a balance. Oh, yes. That does include the book supplies and training cost. But then the last green line, the 11,884,79 fatigue is does not include the book, supplies, and training cost. And then the that's what we see. Um then above that the books and supplies are 15,000 and then a portion of that is the

186consultant fee is 15,000 and then training conference is 3,000. >> Um so I can explain this. I I got it in front of me now. So sorry. Thank you. So this was presented last year when we were trying to approve the coordinator positions. So the reason why I uploaded this one is because the prior one that was submitted to the state did not have the actuals for the staff that we hired. So this one does. So what you see at the bottom is we wanted the sites to know how much money they would have left to do as they needed with their committees. Uh and that is what you see at the bottom. And why the reason why we add it does not include books, supplies, and um training costs because those are already in

187the budget. So this money at the bottom is basically what they have left to do as they please to meet those areas. However, this is very different right now because year one, as you guys recall, we didn't spend any money. We waited. We had to approve the positions. We had to get the job descriptions approved, you name it. That took us quite a bit of time. We were able to finally approve them, I believe, in February. So then we started the hiring process. So year one you you didn't have expenditure so all that money rolled over to this year. >> Yeah. Vice President Sers. >> Thank you. It's been a while since we've spoken talk about community schools. Uh, I was wondering, I think this is kind of in line with the uh, agendaized item,

188but can we get a recap of how much money the district has received, how much we've uh, if there's expiration dates to that, uh, how we've allocated it so far, we have any noticeable return on investments yet, and um, just kind of an overall summary of the the community's feedback and that I I know certain sites have different needs and it's As board trustees, I think it'd be good for all of us to know ahead of time what certain things are being asked of the community so that we can help allocate resources. >> I can definitely submit a report to you guys just because that's a lot of information that I want to provide to you, but I um I want to be able to reach out to the sites and compile that information. we

189are in the middle of uh completing the March um deadline, end of March or April deadline where they have to report everything that they've submitted, the evidence and you name it. So then I'll be able to give you a better report when when we finish that phase. Uh what I can tell you is we haven't spent much money because it took us a little while to get the SOP, not SOP, standard operating procedure done, completed, approved, training, you name it. So, we're at this point of spending, which I really am eager for them to spend because we need to show a report that says, "Yes, we spent this money and we still need it. I don't want to lose it." Um, the other piece is um you asked the last one was about um oh

190gosh, it was a presentation the actual spend expenditures and there was a third one >> the uh the results from the community's feedback. So the results that feedback is supposed to align to their goals. So that is going to be part of that report they're completing to the state. Okay. >> What we are going to request the state Oh yes that the last one that you asked is are we allowed to keep the funding if we didn't spend it or somebody asked I think that question >> just when it expires. >> Okay. So every year if we don't expend the funds we have to ask permission basically to roll it roll it over. So, in this March deadline that we have or April, early April deadline, we are going to request for the state to

191allow us to roll over the funds again because we did that last year already. So, it would have to get approved. >> Okay. I I appreciate that. And I I know that some of the monies expire and recently seems like we've approved a handful of uh items. My concern is that are we just spending it to spend it because if we don't we're going to lose it or are we actually investing it in quality things that we're really going to do good for them. >> So there's a reason why we're in March and they're finally ordering because they had to go through the standard operating procedure processes. They had to include the community. They had to include the committees. They had to create goals in alignment to the ST. It took us quite a bit

192of time just to collect all of that and get it done so it could be done the right way. Like we don't ever want to spend money just to spend it. But I appreciate your question. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So let's make sure we agendaize this information item um or we look at our next uh workshop. I don't have the calendar in front of me so that we can have a more in-depth discussion about community schools and get an update as to where we are. >> That Yeah, that works. But yes, we had a lot of delays because we as a board uh tabled the positions three or four times. I remember that. >> Yeah, specifically about five four. >> Um okay. Any other questions about the contract? Okay. If none, are we

193okay in having this return under consent or were we want action? >> I would like this under action, please. >> Okay. It'll return under action to our March 24th board meeting. Item number four, receive information regarding expanded learning opportunity contracts for summer and school interessions. >> Dr. Lopez, >> the district operates expanded learning programs including afterchool interessions and summer programming funded through the state and federal uh sources including expanded learning opportunities program grant. We partner with qualified vendors to deliver specialized services for enrichment camp offerings. uh due to the cumulative cost. So basically what I so I am very type A. So I want to make sure if we have a board policy that we're abiding for it. So what I did is I reviewed the budgets and the expenditures we had with vendors all

194vendors starting last year in July because July camps fell under this year's uh budget. So once I calculated that by winter program I realized some of these by springtime will be over the 50,000. So that's why they're in front of you. Uh we do want to still provide these camp opportunities for our kids because they highly rated them. They're the ones that have one of the highest enrollments. Um so I believe I attached also for you um the list of all the camps as of Thursday uh this last week. That was the number of registered students. We already have kids on the wait list. So we um would have to move forward with this proposal in order to provide those opportunities for kids else uh we will not be able to meet that demand. Okay,

195any questions or comments? And so again, this these are uh vendors and camps we're already providing and have been providing, but the expenditure is going to exceed the $50,000, which is why it's coming before us. >> Any objections to having this return under consent? Okay. And as a reminder, any items under consent we can pull. just let me know um in advance or uh at the time we move to our consent item. Uh number five, receive information regarding LFO proposal for TE community school. Dr. Lopez, >> that is correct. Um Judy, do you want to come and join me at the podium? Teague Elementary School is seeking to partner with IBO in order to provide structured recess opportunities that also address social emotional demands. Elibo already partners with other schools in our district and that

196is why it's coming to you. So even though this contract is not over the 50,000, we know that that'll put our district at over the 50,000 threshold. By providing organized games and enrichment opportunities, ALO will help students regulate energy and productive ways which in turn reduces disruption and enhances readiness for the classroom. So this is similar to HPA which you guys saw two other community schools. What this one does is also uh provide uh social emotional learning embedded in their um in their structured recess approach. This will also be paired up just like HPA with professional development for staff uh around how to create these structured opportunities that align to PBIS. Um, additionally, uh, they're going to going to provide this training to 10 of the site members just like HPA will too, just so

197they can continue carrying this kind of work, uh, after their, uh, term expires. We're happy to answer any questions. Administration is recommending this item be placed on the March 24th 4th agenda for action. And I have Judy here. She's part of the committee for take >> BP sellers and then Trusty Gon. Can you provide a little bit more in-depth information as to what they are actually doing and how it differs than our other school sites right now with lunchtime activities? I'm I'm I'm not understanding it. >> So, they create they bring equipment, they teach lessons to the kids on how to actually perform the the game, the whether it's so I use soccer as the last one, it could be basketball. they create these structures um and bring the supplies with them. They train the

198kids but then they also provide um opportunities for kids to interact in a positive way. So then they provide uh positive feedback in return. They assign them roles. Um so it's just a structural resource activity. >> Is that not something that our school sites already do? >> They should. Yes, all sites should be doing that. However, some see it more of a struggle. So they feel like they need some coaching support. So they it's almost like they're providing on-site coaching as they're doing the activities to staff. So that's why they include professional development for the staff. >> So maybe Miss Martinez can provide some information as to why the uh school is asking for this contract. >> So one of our smarter goals was to increase recess equipment as well as support. Um we have

199aids out there. Um a lot of times though if uh we have teaching fellows out there however they're not trained in properly how to um work with our students. So they're bringing in SEAL. Um they have a curriculum. Um we're going to be able to shadow them. We will not be able to to use their curriculum or they won't share the curriculum with us because it's what they use. but they're also doing social emotional as well as uh things like they would do with sports, teaching them how to lead, teaching them how to be respectful uh with each other. Um our aids and our that are out there, they're not doing that. They are simply there making sure that our kids are not hurting themselves, that are not fighting. They have activities out there. They

200have balls. Yes, they have all of those things, but it's not structured. This is structured. And so we have um that's the idea, right? They have to be structured. So that and again this was brought to us by not just our staff but our students um that this is what they wanted. >> Um when it comes to uh the community input side of things for our community schools um >> how did we get the input? Yeah. How did we get the input and how many parents said that this is, you know, exactly what we should spend our money on? >> So, we have a committee and the committee voted and we have parents on the committee. Do we have are we asking every parent to vote on this is what we want? It it doesn't

201work like that. It's like a school site council or ELAC, >> right? My concerns with the school site councils are in my time that I sat on them, you're struggling to get input and participation from parents and students. Absolutely. >> And so you have one maybe two parents providing input >> the minimum, right? Yeah. >> And that's my concern that >> absolutely >> one or two people are making a recommendation for the entire school community. >> Right. Well, and just so you know, um, when this is brought to our at least at my site, I'm not just getting input from the community school steering committee. We do meet. However, I sit in school site council. I sit in ELAC. I sit in every engagement that we have for their family like principal's coffee chat. Again,

202are they well attended always? Not always necessarily. We also get input from our staff on our site leadership team asking them. We also get input from all of our classified because on every Wednesday agenda for professional development uh committee schools is on the agenda and so we are getting their input. Yes. So it's not just the committee. >> Okay. >> Trusty Kuron. >> Thank you President Creo and uh Mrs. Martinez and Dr. Lopez. This is not the first community school that's used, right? I think Tilly we was we approved that my first or second year on the board. >> Uh yeah, HPA. However, other schools are using a Leo uh through their school site council. So that they they're doing the SPSA process. Um and to kind of discuss the goals, I think it's important

203for us to remember they don't just adopt purchases, they adopt a goal. So if their district goal if their goal for their committee and their in their site they as identified by the needs assessment the survey that was sent to all the all the parents um it identified the need for a positive school climate and culture. So then we hone in on that a little bit more. We asked more questions and they were able to really understand behaviors and needs for need the need for structures and that's where these purchases come in. So with the fact that we have other sites using Alva or have used them before, what are they saying about this contract? Has it been beneficial? Do they want to continue it or have they discontinued? Based on the ones I saw,

204they are returning from last year. So I would have to ask those leaders to identify in their SPS how effective it's been and why they're returning this year. Uh however, this is the first one for community schools and again it's only coming to you because other schools are using it. So I know it's going over with our purchase. >> Thank you. I I would want Oh, did you give us ad? >> I did. I did ask them. I called the schools and I asked to speak with the principles and the vice principles to ask uh before we made that decision because I had to report that out to the steering committee and our staff. Yes. And they are very pleased with ALO. >> Thank you. And is this structured emotional learning something that our current

205staff are unable to do themselves? depends on sites and training, right? So, some sites have done a really good job at providing and teaching structures and reinforcing those. Um, there's a reason why we have restorative practices training for our whole district. We want to ensure that everyone understands how to engage in those conversations with kids when incidents are happening in the yard. We're start this is year one of restorative practices. So the ideally once we are done with that, everyone should be able to understand how to interact, how to have conversations with kids when they're uh proactively before they engage in something. So that is pro uh part of our uh training this year. >> And having approved a LEO before, I support the framework and the curriculum it provides. Um wondering what is our

206timeline for being able to provide this type of curriculum ourselves internally? So we already do through PBIS. So just as a reminder, we have structured systems, a matrix that has to be created with goals and expectations for kids during unstructured time. Cafeteria classrooms have their own classrooms. Now we are evaluating as a system. I know I brought the PBIS presentation to you guys. Fidelity of implementation. Is it really happening at all all our sites? And that is what we're evaluating. What we're seeing is inconsistency. Some schools are doing amazing, right? You have platinum status. you have all these great things happening at some other sites. We're still integrating practices through PBIS and structures. >> Thank you, >> Trusty Kirk. >> Thank you. I think you said at the beginning at your presentation that you wanted

207to increase equipment. I think that was part of your goal. So, I notice equipment isn't included. So, are you going to have the equipment to play the games and the sports that they're going to train on after that contract ends? >> Equipment is included. Their their lessons are not. So, we are keeping the equipment. We are keeping the structure. So, that remains how they play the game, right? Even the norms that they're going to set, we keep all that. We do not keep their lessons, their lesson books. >> Any objection to consent? Okay, this item will return under consent. Thank you very much. Um, it is 10:12 and as hopeful as I may be that we would finish before 10:30, it's probably not realistic. So, may I have a motion to extend? >> Motion to

208extend. >> Second. >> Thank you. I have a motion by trustee Singh. I have a second by trustee Keron. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Any abstensions? Motion carries. So, we have a board policy that requires us to extend our board meetings past 10:30. So, ideally, we're supposed to be finishing our board meetings by 10:30 is what that policy says. In any case, we move on to number six. Receive information on change order for bid package SBO2 just Swan St. Calra Elementary School. Director Rodriguez. >> Thank you. Uh, board president uh board of trustees and superintendent Dr. Marshall. This item uh comes for you comes to you as an information item regarding change order uh number five for bid package two at the Jazwat Singh Kra Elementary School. As with

209any major constru construction project, adjustments sometimes become necessary to the original design during the build. These kind of changes are normal uh in a project of this size and these changes have been reviewed by our district staff uh our construction manager Kit Kitchell CM and PBK architects. These modifications ensure that the school is delivered safely, efficiently, and align with the district expectations. Administration's recommended this item come back uh to the board on March the 24th, 2026 for action. and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have on this item. >> Thank you. Questions or comments from the board? Trusty Singh? >> Uh, director Rodriguez, um, you know, I I think I have a just a huge concern and you have to really help me out in terms of understanding the um just the either

210the frequency or the is is this a common occurrence? Because so many of the reasons to change order is not shown in drawings, not shown in drawings, not shown in drawings. Is is that a issue with our vendor? Is that an internal issue where we're not catching these particular things? Because I mean some of these things in terms of like like elevator shaft waller I mean my assumption that for no group neither for us nor for the vendor are we drawing a elevator for the first time. So my assumption is that we would have kind of standard operating procedures in terms of how how this is done. I mean just like it wouldn't catch my attention if it was just the the reoccurring nature of uh this this particular issue and hence why we're we're

211we're paying for it. >> Yeah. And that's an excellent question. So the first thing that comes to mind when I see quite a bit of change orders is is the uh coordination among the consultants and the uh that work for the architect. Uh there's that that seemed to appear to be lacking. Uh that's number one. Uh number two, this particular bid package is the biggest of the 11 bid packages uh of the multi-prime project that we're that the school was delivered on. So this particular bid package had it was general specialties. So they have all of the building uh structure. They have all of these things combined. It was like 57 if I can recall correctly was they had their the bulk of the package was like 50% 57% of the actual hard construction cost.

212So that's pretty big. And when we look at the change orders and to date we're we're we're sitting at around 3%. So for for a project of this size I get what you're saying. It it does, you know, it does appear to be that way. But again, this is a multi-prime project to where I'm bringing to the board several where I would just bring one if it was just a hard bid. Right. >> Um, so it it has the appearance and I get what I get what you're saying, but it's it's just uh the way the statute's written, we're still way under the threshold uh for a project of this magnitude. >> Trusty Kuron. >> Thank you, President. So when these change orders say we have to pay these costs because they were not shown

213in drawings, who is responsible for doing the drawings? >> So it's the architect's responsibility >> and who is responsible for making sure that the architect is following the drawings correctly. >> So we did a constructibility review. We hired a CM firm uh to actually do the constructibility uh review. Uh myself and the staff actually went through the drawings and caught a lot of things. Uh the contractors kind of helped us out, the ones that were actually interested in bidding this project by we call them pre-bid RFIs. So they're pre-bid requests for information. So those things are gathered up into an addendum and pushed out. Uh so when they're bidding this project, they're actually looking at these things. So sometimes u as far as responsibility uh you know it it would be the the design the

214design professional >> and am I understanding this correctly that our change order total is going to cost us $390,000 >> $3669. >> That is correct66. Thank you. >> Yeah, that is correct. >> Right. So, I understand you're saying it doesn't seem like that much because percentage- wise, but it is quite a bit of money that could be recouped for other infrastructure projects. >> Absolutely. >> So, I I hope moving forward we can uh avoid these issues that seem to stem from our multi-prime bids. >> Any other questions or comments? Um, who's responsible for coordinating all the consultants? >> The the architect. >> Okay. Um, so I I get it. I mean, this is common as someone who grew up in construction and looked at plans frequently. Um, I just I I've said this from day

215one that I've been on the board. Um, this is really unacceptable. I mean, we're paying good money and we're using tax dollars to pay each of the consultants, the architects to bring their uh expertise. Um, I understand from a global perspective as as both trustees have shared that and and you commented, it's not significant because it's below statute, but some of the thing these things are are really unacceptable and quite ridiculous that that were missed. um in the first round. So I guess moving forward and perhaps this is another uh opportunity to have another information item or discussion about what are we going to do differently and the recommendation to go to a um whatever structure we have now a construction build design build. >> Yeah, design build no design bid build. >> Design bid

216build. Mhm. >> That was a recommendation brought by administration that the board approved because we were told it would be better. >> Um I am an expert in education law. I can tell you a lot about that. I am not an expert even though I have basic understanding and can read plans about what it takes to build a school. Um so when we're we're relying on the administration's recommendations and relying on our our various contractors um it's discouraging and disappointing to hear and say well you know this is what the board elected and overall it's not uh a significant cost. Um, so I think what we need to focus now and have a conversation moving forward is how are we going to do things differently so we can address this at the beginning because the

217fact that this is happening now $390,3669 even though it's like less than the 2% you commented about. This is a higher cost than if it would have just correctly been done. There's no room for argument. I mean, the cost of things, the labor, >> it's costing us more money. This is less money that we have to spend on other projects. >> Um, so I do just want administration to consider what's the next conversation look like for this board to have because this clearly isn't working. Unless I'm mistaken, and please any board members if you disagree with my summation of of our our feelings and thoughts. >> May I? >> Yes. So if you remember we hired two architect for the new projects. So what we probably plan to do is the architect should be giving

218a status report like a in a monthly basis. That way you get the status report and that way we have the architect in front of you saying okay this is what I'm doing so that we have a little bit more accountability with the architect because when you sign the contract there was an addendum letter that I had them sign that hey >> if we feel like the cost is more then you have to sit the table and negotiate with us. >> So I have that letter that you you know there was three things >> so moving forward I'm going to talk to Mr. Rodriguez and I want to get more involved with the architect and see where we get from there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you. >> I think my next career is going

219to be to become an architect. >> Um Okay. Any other comments or questions? I mean the reason I hate these kind of items is because our hands are tied. So any objection to having it returned under consent? >> No. >> This will come under consent. I think we voiced loud loudly and clearly our concerns uh with these types of projects. Uh number seven, receive information on change order for Justin Garza High School athletic complex increment number three project. >> Thank you again, board president, board of trustees and superintendent Dr. Marshall. This item uh comes as an information item for change order number one for bid package number 10. Number 10 is the electrical package uh for the athletic complex increment 3. This project is located uh where the former ponding basin was off Grantland Avenue

220just northwest of Colligian Stadium. U these modifications uh ensure that our facilities are delivered safely, efficient efficiently, and align with our expectations. Administration is recommending that this item come back uh to the board on March the 24th, 2026 for action. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have on this item. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? Were we not able to identify that we needed these sound system speakers when the plans were initially drawn? >> So, so what happened on the sound system? They had them in there. that the the problem is they were inadequate and we would have been our staff would have been disappointed during the testing. So the architect realized that you know they made the mis they they aired on their end and so they're

221picking up the cost on this. >> Okay. And so, >> so there's no really no no u expense uh for that particular item, but I'm bringing it because I have priv privy with the actual contractor. >> Okay. So, you'll bring back another information item just to show that we didn't pay for it. >> I can get an email from them acknowledging that they uh are going to be paying for that. >> Okay. So I think what we'd want I mean and maybe the um actually no an information item just confirming receipt that okay it's they've paid for it it's not coming out of our construction budget would great >> trusty Kuron >> very briefly so if that's the reason for this change order how come the document says not shown on drawings >> because the

222the items that they showed the items that were added were not shown on the drawings >> this particular sound system essentially it sounds and correct me if I'm wrong We upgraded our system because the initial system wasn't adequate and we knew it would present problems. So, I'm glad we're catching that. My concern with my minimal understanding of how these bids work is we choose the lowest bid on these contracts and then have these change orders. Are we actually choosing the lowest bid? Because I don't know. We don't I don't remember. I don't memorize to know what type of furnishings or sound systems other contractors may have pointed out uh in this area. And if it's our architect, then it's still an impact. >> It's the architect. So, the architect specs it out, contractor bids the

223work, and so that's that's typically the way it is. >> Okay. >> If there's a substitution, they'll fill out a substitution request saying there's no impacts. So, yeah. in the drawings >> just to refine. >> Yeah, it it's our duty to find the lowest responsible bidder. My fear is that throughout all of central, throughout our various facility projects that we are overemphasizing lowest and not even recognizing responsible. We need to have more focus on having responsible biders, responsible contracts. >> Yeah. I think the problem becomes as if our our architectural plans are inadequate. I mean, literally, as someone who used to read electrical plans and bid on projects, like you bid on what you have in front of you, if that plan is wrong, the electrician is not going to be like, "Well, this really

224should include something else because the lowest bidder is going to get the uh the job." I mean, that's what's written in the law. So, okay. Any objection to having this return consent? Okay. Uh, next item is number eight. Receive information regarding bid schedule and award for Hton Karnney parking lot reconstruction and expansion and bid schedule and award for 2026 school uh, painting projects. Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. So, this is an information item for the two projects that are currently being advertised. Uh, they are the Hton County parking lot reconstruction and our summer painting projects. Uh, the bid schedules are in your attachment. So, the public advertising dates for both of these projects were fee February 2nd and again on February 16th. Bids will be open tomorrow on March 11th starting at 2 p.m. And administration

225has recommended this item return uh on March the 24th uh board agenda to present the awards for each uh project and for the board to take action on that item. And I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have on this item. >> Yes. So, this item is coming to the board more of a placeholder. We'll have the final bid documents come March 24th, so it'll be action. But, uh, Vice President Sers, >> just kind of building on previous conversation, have we gone through these plans with a fine tooth comb, looking for any mistakes to catch it ahead of time? >> Always. We always go through these. Yeah. Looking checking, crossing our tees, dotting all our eyes. Sometimes uh we don't catch everything but we catch the big the big the big things that

226we we have gone back and reviewed these. >> Trusty Kon >> is two weeks enough time to find a suitable amount of different biders. >> Yes. Well, it's it's all according to the public contract code. we go outside of that then they'll you know the people the biders out there >> would it be outside of those norms to extend it for a month instead of two weeks? >> We can extend it. The the the the problem is is that we got to allow time for protest. We have to allow time um if we do that then we're going to be end up pushing it uh into after the summer projects. We'll be painting when the ski the kids are in in school. So >> if if I may, Director Rodriguez, and I mean this is

227for for everyone. So like generally speak as I understand, trusty Kon, you have groups that just look at school contracts. So So they're kind of already primed, ready to go. It's often times the same players. what you're saying might make sense if there was a new player wanting to to enter, but but generally speaking, um, most of the firms in this area and everywhere, they're getting pinged as soon as these >> Got it. Thank you. >> They are very much the same people. They're the only ones that have the bonds. >> Yes. Okay. Uh this will come under action uh with the bid information and number nine receive information regarding rate network electronic bid award. Director Robles director Rodriguez you get a break. >> Uh thank you board president. Um today I have for you

228um uh two competitive bids to outfit the West Art Center with the new uh network equipment it needs. Um, Central Unified uses -ate funding for network purchases like this. Um, uh, RFP went out and closed on February 24th. The RFP included network switching equipment, Wi-Fi access points, and all the required accessories for us to install those. The bids are scored using an -ate approved matrix with price is the heaviest weighted factor. Uh, the financial impact on this is going to be approximately $59,972. uh - is estimated to discount 80% of that cost back to us and our final cost will be just shy of 12,000 um which will be paid out of the general fund and we're recommending this come back on the March 24th uh board meeting for action. >> Thank you. Any questions

229or comments? >> Uh this can return under consent, right? We don't have it doesn't have to be formal action. >> Yeah, we just have to choose the the suggested bidder is on the form that Okay. Um, then we'll have this Well, I mean it would be to accept your recommendation. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> We'll have this return under consent. >> If we need to pull it, we can. >> Great. >> Thank you so much. That concludes our information items. Advanced planning. The calendar should be attached. Any additional information and closing comments. So, this item is on the agenda intended if there's any request for additional information or future agenda items. Um, Trustee Singh, >> uh, probably a question um, for uh, for assistant superintendent. In some ways, I was reminded and I

230appreciate Dr. Lopez you're bringing up that uh, when we have uh, numerous contracts, even if each individual one is below the uh, threshold of $50,000 that that that came. I just want to make sure that that's like like um that should be sort of consistent practice because maybe I'm also thinking at city hall where they had an issue that was very uh slippery where they were purposely putting multiple contracts below their thresholds to do that. So I just want to make sure that that's something that we're um we're talking about and and make sure that that is practice for us. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, my understanding is at least this year and maybe even last year um any any vendors contracts that will total and exceed the 50,000 are coming before the board. >> Yes.

231And I just want to make sure that that that is becomes standard practice >> and Yeah. And I want to say that's something that you implemented and flagged for us. >> Sometimes what happens is if you look at the consent agenda items, we do bring it back in then. So, but if you want, we can bring it as an info item. That'd be the big ones. >> Okay, >> we can make that decision when we're planning for the agenda, but >> I think agenda prep is best for that. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But to conf to answer your question, yes, that is what administration is doing and that's what they've been directed to do. >> Okay. Any other closing comments? Okay. Um, our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th. Our uh close session

232will begin at 5:30 p.m. and it'll be our last scheduled public session at 7 p.m. Beginning in April, we will just begin uh open session as soon as we conclude closed. Uh we don't need to adjurnn into close session again or reconvene. What are the wishes of the board on adjournment? Thank you. I have a motion by trustee Singh. I have a second by trusty SU. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Any oppose? Any absentions? Motion carries. We adjourn at 10:34 p.m.