Chico Unified Board Meeting 5-20-2026

001Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Test, test, test, test, test, test, test, test, test. Back, you got nothing? >> Mhm. >> All right, good evening. I'm going to call the regular board meeting to order. This meeting is recorded and live streamed. Uh for the last hour, the um board was in closed session and no action was taken. If everyone could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for Thank you. At this time, I'm going to ask um uh superintendent to please uh Greg Blake to please present the reports and awards. So, we do have uh some fabulous people getting recognized here tonight. Andrew Maul, are you There

002you are. Third row back, Andrew Maul. Uh good afternoon, everyone. And on behalf of the Altadena family, I would like to express our sincere gratitude Good afternoon, everyone. And on behalf of the Altadena family, I would like to express our sincere gratitude uh for the continued support of our resilient students and amazing staff. Um I'm privileged to recognize an educator who has made significant contributions to the Altadena campus, specifically Ferndale High School, in just a 5-year period. Kevin McKay joined the Altadena family as a student teacher and quickly realized that this is his home. From from our initial meetings, I realized that he became a teacher to inspire students to be the best versions of themselves now and in their futures. I can recall several heartfelt conversations collaborating on how to best meet his students

003where they are and then instill hope that they [clears throat] can do whatever they choose to so long as they never give up. Hired as a social science teacher, I've asked him to take on other teaching positions due to his passion to make a difference. He served as a leadership teacher for 3 years working with students who have recognized their ability to lead by example and represent the Falcon way through campus culture enrichment activities and community outreach. Additionally, he previously served as a work experience coordinator bringing community partnerships to campus to enhance student opportunities and join the workforce prior to graduating high school. This year Kevin has played a critical role in establishing the Fairview's first dual enrollment auto one course with Butte College. Students were transported to the auto lab on Monday mornings and

004work closely with Mr. McKay in completing their coursework daily. This week students are completing their finals, excuse me, and with his unwavering support and encouragement, we'll be able to continue the program moving into next school year and beyond with the addition of the 102 course as well. Mr. McKay has a wealth of life experiences that translate to creativity in the classroom. He has a knack in motivating the unmotivated with exciting activities and projects. To say that I lean heavily on Kevin is an understatement, but what goes without saying is how he also leads from the heart. He brings an energy and commitment to our program that enhances the lives of every student that walks into his classroom. I've been witness to meaningful and also difficult conversations with students where Kevin provides guidance when they seem

005to be struggling to find their way and make positive decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. One student in particular shared, "I have never had a father or someone who has talked to me and encouraged me the way you have. Thank you." >> [clears throat] >> It is perhaps one of the most significant moments >> [clears throat] >> I've been a part of in my entire career and exemplifies Mr. McKay's determination to make a difference in all that he does. Please join me in thanking Kevin McKay for his service and congratulating him on his recognition today. >> Were you trying to get out of it by seeing in the back then? To the ceiling. Thank you. Hold that for the We're going to take a picture of you. Okay. Right here. And right

006there. I don't like that. Pretend you like it. Then hold on, I got to get a Congratulations. Thank you. All right. Number two. >> [clears throat] >> Again, thank you for all of your support and again for being able to be up here and acknowledge some wonderful people. It is an absolute honor to present the boss of Alted, Stephanie Boldec, with the Classified Superintendent Award. I heard her. As we all know, yes, that's probably >> [clears throat] >> As we all know very well, the office manager on any campus is in fact in charge of just about everything that takes place daily on a on a daily basis, excuse me. There isn't a month that doesn't pass through their office and this can certainly create chaos during the most inconvenient of times. Stephanie's office is

007a safe place for all, but most importantly for students who see her as a motherly figure. Her kind-hearted demeanor is quite often the first stop for students when arriving on campus to receive a welcoming smile, a comforting check-in, or just a quiet space to decompress early in the morning and get ready for the school day. Stephanie started her CUSD career as as cafeteria assistant in 2013, then moved into the cafeteria satellite manager and into the Intendant's office at the elementary level in 2018. And then in October of 2019, the Alted family would would be graced with her presence as a senior office assistant. That particular year was extremely difficult as we experienced high staffing turnover in our various office positions and throughout all of it one moment stood out the most. During her interview for

008the senior office assistant she was asked she was asked why she is the most qualified for the job. Because I'm amazing. Close up. The panel chuckled for several minutes and we still laugh about it often, but perhaps no words have ever rang so true. She is absolutely amazing. The following two years would prove to be just as difficult with our classified office positions and Stephanie stepped up in a major way, the way she always does. When the long-time office manager Carol Burns retired in January of 2022, Stephanie not only managed her responsibilities as a senior office assistant for attendance, but even after being hired as a new office manager, she still supported the attendance position in every way possible. The attendance position was actually vacant for several weeks after that at the most critical time

009of the school year. For [snorts] folks who have never experienced working on a campus with the four different schools, there's never a dull moment. Navigating the complexities associated with our campus, Stephanie does so with professionalism and outright determination to ensure families, students, and staff receive the level of care they deserve and never hesitates to go above and beyond for anyone. Stephanie makes every important decision with her heart. Some students are often with us for just a few days after having a difficult week, but she speaks to them as though she has been part of their lives for years. Her compassion for others, especially during their most vulnerable and challenging moments, is truly humbling and inspires me to bring that same level of care to every interaction I have each day. It never ceases to amaze

010me when she tells me her experiences with students and families in her previous roles in Chico Unified and those experiences have provided her the opportunity to be the best office manager in the business. Her work ethic serves her well and I'm so very grateful to call her in my boss. The Aldine family loves you, Stephanie, and everybody please join me in saying thank you and congratulations to Stephanie Bullock. >> [clears throat] >> That's obvious. All right, congratulations to Jay. Okay, thank you very much. At this time, I'd like to um introduce CSEA Chico Chapter President uh Kelly Serol to the podium to announce um staff recognition for May. Sorry, I'm short. Well, good evening, everyone. Hello, CSEA School Board and District employees. I'm Kelly Serol, CSEA Chico 110 Chapter President. This week was Classified School

011Employees Week. And it was so awesome to feel the support from District leadership and School Board members with our job shouting program. The feedback from classified employees has been so inspiring and how much they love the interactions they had with leadership companions. We hope to see you all tomorrow night at 4:30 at Nash's. >> [clears throat] >> This month's Member of the Month is Jay Applegate. What makes this recognition so special tonight is Jay is retiring next month after 25 years as a campus supervisor for Chico Unified. Jay was nominated by Nathan Hudson who said Jay is amazing. He does anything that anybody could ever ask for and does it with a smile. He is generous, helpful, easy to talk to, and also very fun. He does this all well working two full-time jobs and

012coaches football. I'm not sure if he sleeps, but his energy is unmatched. He is the epitome of what a good employee is. Chico High admin said that they are happy to celebrate a pillar of the Chico High community. For the past two decades, Jay has shaped the lives of countless students through his role as a campus supervisor and a coach at Chico High. To say he's going to be missed is an understatement. Many know Jay through his role on the football field. Coach Jay has been a fixture of Chico High football, who served as a long-time assistant coach and more recently as the team's head coach. Jay's mission was never just about the scoreboard. His true talent lies in building the foundation. He took young freshman and sophomores and built them up so they could

013have success at the next level. Jay is a master relation- relationship builder, not just with the athletes, but with their parents, too. He is as reliable and accountable as a coach can possibly be. He's been the steady, positive role model our young men needed, teach- teaching them character, discipline, and respect by simply practicing what he preached. But Jay's impact didn't stop when the practice whistle blew. For much of the last decade, he brought that same exact relationship-first spirit to his role as campus supervisor. Whether he's cruising around on the golf cart running you over or holding down the fort in the cafeteria, Jay regularly has a crowd of kids just hanging out around him. Students gravitated towards him because he creates an environment that is welcoming, safe, and positive. As a staff member, Jay is

014the ultimate teammate who is a willing employee who tackles absolutely anything who tackles abs- any task asked of him, no questions asked. And let's be honest, his calm demeanor combined with his physical presence has made him an invaluable asset to our staff. He can diffuse a situation with just a look and a reassuring word. Jay, you have spent over 20 years bringing a positive attitude to Chico schools. You have made Chico High truly a better place for students and staff alike. As you step into the next chapter and ride off into the retirement, hopefully on a golf cart that goes a little bit faster. Know that your legacy here is secure. You've changed lives, you've built a community, and you will always be a panther. Jay said after 25 years with Chico Unified, the time

015has come for me to say goodbye as I head into retirement. My journey began back in 1990 at Chico Junior while I was still attending Chico State, and fate eventually brought me back to Marsh in 20 2001. Over the years I've had the opportunity of working at Fairview and closing my career here at Chico High. To my co-workers and administration, thank you for being such an incredible support system. To the students I've met, helped, and coached, you are the reason I come to work every day. Seeing you all develop into such impressive young men and ladies gives me so much hope for the future. Thank you for all the memories. I will miss this community. Jay, this is from me. You are one of the most kindest, calmest people I've ever met. You always step

016in to help whenever anyone needs it and never says no. When I started at Chico High, I learned quickly that you were someone who could always be counted on. CSEA Chico 110 is so honored to recognize you tonight. Chico High will have a tough task to find someone to fill your shoes. Thank you for all you have done, and we wish you the best as you move on to the next chapter in your life. Thank you, Jay. Thank you so much. >> All right. At this time um I'd like to introduce item number six, items from the floor. Um items from the floor for speakers who wish to address the board regarding a topic that's not on the agenda tonight. At this time um we'll take public comment from speakers who wish to address the

017board for not for topics not on the agenda. Just as a reminder, speakers will have 3 minutes to address the board. A buzzer will sound with uh 30 seconds of speaking time remaining. We as a board are able to listen to public comment, but we are not able to respond to any speaker under items from the floor. We already have a a small little list here, so we'll start with these, and if there um is any time remaining, then we'll we will go to um anyone who would like to additionally speak. All right. So, uh we will be starting um this evening with Mandy Browning. I was hoping you'd call Teresa. >> Oh. You can swap it swap. It's up to you. >> is more comprehensive. All right, Teresa. Good evening. My name's Teresa Bond.

018I'm a parent at Hooker Oak Elementary School, and tonight I want to speak in support of the ACCESS program at Hooker Oak Elementary School and the students it serves. While I do not have a student in the ACCESS program myself, I am here as a Hooker Oak parent because I'm concerned about the physical environment our district is providing some of our most valuable students. To be clear, I want the ACCESS program to remain at Hooker Oak. We just need to change the space to better support the students at Hooker Oak. For those unfamiliar, the ACCESS program specializes in students with significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This program helps students develop communication skills, coping strategies, and healthy peer relationships in a highly supported and hopefully therapeutic environment. But right now, the physical space of that

019program is undermining all of those goals. The ACCESS program is located in a portable next to the TK and kindergarten playground. The only entrance/exit opens in front of the big kids playground. And when students from that program are dysregulated or need support and privacy, those moments unfold in front of all of their peers. Children should not have to have their hardest moments displayed on a playground while they are trying to build confidence, friendships, and trust at school. My concern is that the district has not yet provided the space that matches the level of care these students need and deserve. I've already spoken with Principal Emily, ACCESS teacher Eric Magaña, district staff Jen Scalia, and other about the practical solutions that could be implemented this summer without major construction. These solutions could include separate but attached

020space where students can safely regulate and and continue their school day when the classroom environment becomes overwhelming, or a more private covered space behind their current classroom so students can reset with support from the staff, or an additional exit that allows students to access privacy and space away from the main playground. Tonight, I'm asking the board to ensure that this process moves forward before the next school year begins and works with the educators who work directly with these students to include them in these decisions. These are realistic improvements that can be made over the summer to provide these students with greater privacy, dignity, safe safety, and access to appropriate behavioral support while remaining at Hooker Oak. Creating a more appropriate environment is paramount for these students. And it is on the district to make sure

021that happens this summer. Sadly, when I practiced this speech in front of my 9-year-old, he stood up and clapped. That part was great, but he also said, "You know, if the district does this, those kids will be less sad and I'll be less scared." Let's make the kids of Hooker Oak less sad and less scared. Thank you. Thank you. All right. You guys swapped spots. Okay. So, uh our next speaker is uh I feel like I'm not going to say this correctly. Naseer? Here? Nasar? Nasser? Aba? I'm not going to even You have a You both have a spot if you'd like one as well. You both had Teresa. Okay, you're good. Okay. All right. Okay, I understand. All right. So, Naseer is not here? Okay. Uh we'll be moving on. Oh goodness, this isn't

022much easier. Uh Devinder? Devinder? Got you. Okay. I see where you're going. All right. So, I think that is everything from items from the floor. If If there is anyone Okay, come on up. 3 minutes. Hi there. Hi, my name's um my name's Addison Winslow. I represent District 4 on the Chico City Council, and that's uh that's a lot of the avenues. I live right by Citrus Elementary, and I and I pass every day by Chico High and and and Chico Junior. And I and I'm very well aware of of the importance of schools as a component of the neighborhood in addition to their their role as schools. And I wanted to talk a little bit about that because when I grew up, I went to Chico Country Day School and this is a charter

023school and so it wasn't the nearest school to my my home. And there were other schools that were like I lived in some apartments next to Neal Dow and and the evening times or just just after hours or on weekends I would go to Neal Dow and I would play in the field and I'd play in the playgrounds, we'd use the basketball courts and I would meet other kids there. And uh and I can't think of a school that I ever went to that I didn't return to after hours. And and it hasn't it I've I've noticed that every single school that I went to now is locked off after hours. Um and even just recently I lived in Hobart Street when I was elected to City Council and and I didn't really have much

024of a yard um and the the last place I could see the sunset and then the crows and the bluebirds and the starlings was at Chico High um and it's since I've been elected that there's been a fence that has cut that off access to that. And and I think that while I understand um absolutely and support the reasons why this this program of of controlling access to schools has taken place, I I can't help but think that we've missed some of the value and and and things have been lost that we haven't properly accounted for and and I think about the fact that kids grow up in similar situations to me and live in apartments and they aren't able to access those spaces and don't live near a park and and that's sad to

025me. Um and I don't know exactly what the best answer is. I know that there's been some attempts to to control access and maybe some schools have different arrangements I'm not aware of. Uh and I don't want to just come here and tell you that uh you should figure this out. Um and I I would like you to consider it, but I would say that I can't speak on behalf of the whole city of Chico, but I can speak on behalf of myself and and I think the principles of the people that elected me and what's good for schools is good for the city of Chico and any way that we can help support a program that grants shared access to these spaces, I think would be would be worthwhile. We maintain a police department

026operates 24/7. We train and we equip them to handle situations and nobody no staff member teacher let alone a student should ever have to confront a dangerous potentially dangerous situation without support. Their police department also has a an officer certified in crime prevention through environmental design, we call it CPTED, and that's to like design spaces to minimize the chances and and make them less prone to misuse. And and furthermore, we also just yesterday had had a discussion and came to a consensus that we're going to um we're we're not going to allow or we're going to control the kind of behavior that's taken place in public spaces in recent years. And and I think that we can step up in a way to help make this more possible, less of a burden on schools, but

027it would give us the opportunity give you the opportunity to consider more how we can arrange shared use and and after hours use during the summer and the winter and weekends for for schools and see them as recreational spaces taking the places of parks when those parks don't exist, which is which is a lot of our community. So, thank you. All right. You have a comment? Hello, Chico Unified Board. My name is James Seegert. I'm with Modern Building. Um I just felt compelled just to basically introduce myself. I know that I've met some of you already, but um introduce myself and let you know that I am always available for any discussion on any topic anytime. I know that there's been a number of allegations that have been flying around as of late, um which

028are not dissimilar to allegations and different claims that the Carpenters Union has been making against our firm for the last few years. And um I think they fail to take into consideration that we are also hard working families uh with, you know, in the office side of things and the field that we're fully committed to the city of Chico and the community in which we live. We have enjoyed and appreciated the work that we've done with the board or that's the Chico Unified for the last decades that are still serving the community and Chico Unified quite well. And uh like I said, if there's anything that you guys have or any questions, please never hesitate to uh inquire. Thanks. Thank you so much. Do we have any other speakers from the community that would like

029to make a comment about items not on the agenda? All right. Thank you so much for your everybody's efforts and uh your time coming out and speaking tonight. We're going to be moving on uh to consent calendar. Do any members um of the board have any technical questions in regards to the consent calendar? Madam President, hold on while I get my self oriented. I would like to pull for further discussion uh six and seven, the school plans for student My own? The school plans for student achievement. And seven, which is the school safety plans. Sorry, just give me a quick second. Okay, do we have a motion or a second? I'm just pulling it for further discussion. Somebody will have to move to approve the rest of the stuff. Do we have a motion? Um,

030so to move the rest of it. Uh, yes, I so move. Okay, a second? I'll second. All right, and now we're open for discussion at this time. So one point that I just wanted to note, um, I was uh, in in the, um, consent agenda, I was really happy to note in the, um, accounts payable, um, that there's that all those checks have been being written for the bathroom renovations. So I love I love seeing that that I know that's happening and and so that's great to see. Any other comment or discussion? All right, let's go ahead and do a a roll call vote at this time. We'll start with you, Member Hayes. Hayes, I. Conklin, I. Olson, I. Robinson, I. All right, this passes 4 to 0. Okay, we'll be moving on. Well, now

031we're going to go to the discussion of the two things she pulled. >> Discussion, I'm sorry. >> I pulled six. Yes, I'm so sorry. I I I took notes. >> Yes, thank you. Um, the reason why I asked that these be set aside for a little bit of discussion, um, some was to highlight the importance of these two items. The school um student achievement plan has something in there for every school. Um that uh helps with and trying to get to the plans for that school's um work for that year. A plan of action to raise the academic performance of all students to the level of performance goals established under the California Academic Performance Index. Now, the bad news. I appreciate the hard work that administration at each site puts in to developing these plans.

032They coordinate with our LCAP goals and with the individual school site um goals and um their targeted emphasis. There are an average of 56 pages per item for a board member to review in order to come to a board meeting and speak intelligently about what our schools are proposing. And um I'm going to admit I couldn't get through them all. Those are hours and hours and hours and hours of very well written. I mean that this this stuff is important. And the things that staff have put in these school improvement plans are vital. And they do in fact give a picture of what the school intends to do with their um with their grants, with you know, their their federal monies, their title monies. But if if as a school board member, if I'm going

033to in good conscience come to a school board meeting and be prepared to vote I can't. There are so many hours of reading through the stuff that um you know, I'm I'm just going to let my fellow board members know I don't feel well prepared because I couldn't get through them all. The next one that I pulled was seven, which is the safety plan. The safety plan considers approval of the school safety plans submitted by each site. And I picked a couple of different sites. Some that I'm pretty familiar with and one that I was not. And again, 56 pages of what they say they have available to do to support their students, support counseling, support um just all the aspects of the school site. But with each there's so many pages of recommendations that

034again, a reasonable school board member, I'm going to consider myself a reasonable school board member, couldn't get through them. Some of the I The last one I read this morning was um Chapman. And there's there's beautiful stuff. I mean, the what they have designed in the way of a program and what their report says is admirable and well done. And I wish everyone could see them, but because of the volume in each one of these reports, it's not possible, in my opinion. So, what to do? I have a suggestion. And the suggestion is not to avoid and not look at these reports, because they are important. Um but for Superintendent Blake to take to your administrative council the problem that I'm speaking about and see if there isn't a way to stagger during the year

035when I mean, some of them have a drop-dead date. They have to be done by the 15th of 15th of um October. Thank you. Um but some of them state right in them that they're a living document, that they're an ongoing, and that things get changed with school site council input, with input from administration. So, if if your um senior cabinet could come up with a plan to talk to administration about staggering when those reports are made available so that the board has a chance to truly review them cuz this is good stuff. Um you know, there's a lot of thought going into what administration is putting in these reports. So that's my my complaint and my suggestion. Um the complaint is you you can't get through or at least I can't. 25-30 hours of

036agenda review through these reports. And um pull out questions and things cuz occasionally you'd find something you went, "Hmm, I wonder what that really means." Um but with the time constraints you don't have time to formulate intelligent questions back to you, sir, to get answers to. So that's that's my complaint and and my suggestion and my thanks and gratitude to the staffs at the sites that put these reports together cuz they're clearly um everybody is weighing in on what you know, what the health office does, what the elementary counselors do, what the targeted case managers do, what the expectations for, you know, different parts of the schools interaction with their students and families. So it's it's good stuff. It's just somehow or rather it needs to be I don't want it condensed. I don't want

037anything taken out. Just stagger it possibly so that as a board member I raise my hand and say, "Yeah, I read those. They're amazing." And this is, you know, the safety plan um have some constraints with uh things like an active shooter drill. Um I didn't know until I read um these for this agenda that parents can opt their students out of those drills if they don't want, you know, if they don't want their students to um participate in what we're doing with our active shooters that you're uh run, hide, fight things that that were taught. Um And so, that's Okay, I'm going to shut up now. Well, well, [clears throat] I wanted to comment uh I have it it is a it is problematic. There's only so many hours in a day that one's

038awake and the agenda's published on Friday late afternoon, and then here we are on Wednesday. And so, there's only so much time. And this isn't um this isn't a problem that's unique to us. I don't know if you noticed um uh in the CSBA, the California School Boards Association sends out little updates and there's actually a bill on the assembly floor uh which would eliminate the school accountability report and other duplicative and overlapping reports. It's actually you know, this is this is something that um is problematic not just here, but um but everywhere. Um I also would say that um an idea that I had that maybe senior uh cabinet could could do as having having worked at a high school where I was wholly familiar with our um reports because, you know, you're focused

039on your school. But even our sister schools, I didn't, you know, you just don't have There's only so much that you can submit your attention to. If there were substantive changes year to year, often times there it's really just going through the document saying, "Okay, is there anything that has to be changed? Is there anything any updates that have happened in the last year?" And often times there's not. There there aren't huge changes. But I would say this that if um uh Pedro or Heather um or senior cabinet knows that there there are some specific uh important changes year to year, that would be helpful for the board to know. That that to, you know, that okay, basically it's you know, we have we've reviewed our school safety plan or we've reviewed the student the

040school plan for student achievement and much of it's the same, but here are some important differences. And I think that would be incredibly helpful um because once you do familiarize yourself with um the site plans and one other thing that I would say that would be helpful is on There are certain areas where I think basically school to school should be very much the same. Um and if there are differences like site to site um that seems substantive, like why is that? And there may be really good reasons for that, but like there's um you know, just like in the state of California we have certain um requirements for graduation that are going to, you know, those do change school to school, like district to district, like depending on how many whether they're on a

041block schedule or whether they're on a traditional schedule, you know, the number of credits needed to graduate may change, but typically, you know, it's like you're going to have government and econ your senior year, right? Those sorts of things. There are things that school to school would be very similar, but if there are big changes between, let's say, uh Little Chico Creek and Emma Wilson, why why is there so much difference? That would be interesting to know. I'm going to add a little bit to um because I know I did have some questions on a couple of these things and um it's nice to be able to ask the question and you get the answer on a Monday afternoon, but there's really no discussion around it and I feel like for me that's what's missing,

042especially when it comes to um the school safety plans. Um in today's world, I feel like we need to be able to have discussion and gain understanding of this is what's in the report and how does that look on the campus. I feel like that could be a good discussion for like a special board meeting, maybe, like school safety plans. Where does that leave us tonight? Sure. Nowhere. >> You're the board. All right. Any other further discussion? I think you had a comment. >> Yeah, I I just to to remind what I did, I pulled them for further discussion. Okay. I think we just did that. >> Yes, we did. So now it's it's open >> ahead and vote. >> It's open for a motion and I move approval of the items six and seven

043under the consent calendar. All right. I second. Okay. Awesome. Let's go ahead and vote all together if that's okay. All those in favor of approval of the um the action calendar with the exception of um signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. All right, that passes. >> the consent calendar. consent calendar. Yes. Sorry about that. >> [clears throat] >> So, I will talk to you all about getting something going in the early fall to talk about this, okay? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right, right now we're going to be moving on um to item 8 A2, approval of the uh California Department of Education General Waiver for Academy for Change Community Day School to allow sixth grade students >> President Conklin, I think there's one item prior to that. >> Sorry, I feel very

044aust- Okay, educational services. Okay. Um new instructional materials adoption for junior high school math. Okay, come on up. Sorry, guys. Thank you, school board. It's a pleasure to be able to present to you the junior high adoption math adoption, that is. So, I have Melanie Parent from Chico Junior here along with Carrie Gerrets. I have Mr. Chris Palmer from Bidwell Junior. I have Victoria Hopefully I pronounce it Leitner. Oh, no, no. Let me get that right. Leitner. Leitner. I want to make sure I get that right, Victoria. From Marsh Junior. And so, they're going to be here to discuss the adoption process that we went through and how we came to to bring forth to you the approval for the adoption and the 9. 910,000 yeah, 910,000 cost that's going to incur. All right, with

045that Good evening board. My name is Melanie Perrin. I am a sixth grade teacher at Chico Junior. So we're just going to quickly go over this with you guys what our process was. I'll click this. Maybe. There we go. Okay, so we started this process over two years ago in the fall of 2024. The math departments all got together at the secondary level and we created a rubric that we thought would help us to figure out what is the best curriculum that our students deserve and need to help them. In the spring we were able to have publishers come to us and present their curriculum to the high schools and to the junior highs and we were able to really look deeply into the different options that were out there because there is a lot

046of different ones. In the fall of this school year on our first district-wide day, the very first day we came back, we as courses decided which standards we wanted to focus on while using and piloting these new curriculums that we had narrowed down. So each course, math A, picked two standards that they wanted to focus on, math C, math B. And then in the spring we had another curriculum come out and present to us because we weren't quite certain on the two that we had piloted and three teachers modeled lessons from that curriculum. The curriculums that we looked at and had presentations from were Amplify, Desmos, Illustrative Math, Carnegie, CPM, Imagine Learning McGraw Hill and Savvas. Um oops, sorry. Um so, after uh we were presented um not this school year, last year, after we

047were had all of our presentations from the different curriculums, uh I sent out a survey to the junior high teachers to narrow it down to see which curriculums were they most interested in looking at and which ones did we think that we would be willing to pilot. That's the other thing, piloting takes a lot of time. So, which ones did we feel like we could see in our classrooms? Um the two that we narrowed it down to were Carnegie Learning and Middle School Math. Oops, sorry. Um so, our first our second district-wide day, um this uh fall, we talked got together and some of us had already piloted um a couple of the curriculums. So, the two that we had looked at were Middle School Math and Carnegie. Um in October, uh as a secondary

048group, just the junior highs actually, we decided to create things that we noticed and wondered about the curriculums. And so, with Carnegie, some of the things that we noticed was that uh their textbooks didn't necessarily match up to the online curriculum that they had posted. Also, as a teacher, it was really tricky to navigate their online platform. We had to open multiple windows and have multiple tabs going. And as you can imagine, we were starting to lose it a little bit with that. And then, uh so, we also just wondered like, if we gave them another year, is this going to be fixed or is this something that they're going to stick with? Um for Middle School Math, we noticed that they gave them real-world problems. They um asked the students to watch a video

049and didn't give them a ton of information and then asked them to solve a problem using what they knew how to do. We thought that it was really engaging, but we were um nervous that the use of videos with every single lesson would get um tedious after having that for 3 years because you'd have math A, math B, and math C. And so, those are the reasons that led us to be at this point in October and November thinking like what are we going to do now? And so, now Chris is going to tell you. >> [laughter] >> Great job, Melanie. Hey, folks. My name is Chris Palmer. I'm at Bidwell. Uh so, that Yeah, we'll make this quick here. Like she said, no consensus. So, reach out to another publisher, and we looked at

050Imagine I Am because that's what the high school is going to be looking at. Keep the continuity there. They presented to all junior highs uh math teachers during our district-wide um staff development day. As she said earlier, we had three teachers model some lessons, and then uh every teacher had an opportunity to go and and watch, observe, and we had uh a debrief with the site reps following that. This is a maze amazing. I mean, I I don't know if you you can see that graph, but how often does this happen in the world? But, we voted after that, and uh everyone who voted responded for Imagine I Am. Every single teacher. Chico Junior, Bidwell, Marsh. So, to have 100% vote for one curriculum is pretty compelling. And so, we uh made sure that we

051followed the proper uh board policy as well. We opened it up to the public, allowed them to have be able to um see the curriculum. As you state in your board policy 6161.1, it has a a broadest spectrum of knowledge and viewpoints. It's equal access for all. It's effective learning resources guided by the California state standards. If you go to the next board policy that you you have, board policy 6141, You guys state as a board that you consider curriculum improvement to be a priority for the district. So, we're very very excited to be able to present this to you today. You can see these are some of the comments made by different teachers at the different sites. I don't want to offend you by just reading it to you. You guys can read it

052to yourself, but I just wanted to thank you for this opportunity to be able to speak to you all. So, now it's a board decision. Discussion then action. >> [laughter] >> Does the board have any questions? Not really questions, but congratulations. And I I I have to say um having been a classroom teacher for years and years I I can feel an I felt anxious >> [laughter] >> you're talking about October and November thinking oh my god. This has been like my baby for like 2 years. Right. Right. But, what a nice what a nice thing that um in the spring to to like first of all, I applaud you for like you know, deciding this isn't working and not just sticking with it and gutting it out, but to say no, let's see if

053there's something else. So, congratulations and thank you for all that hard work. Um appreciate that. I have a question. Um because every reason why why we picked it talks about teachers can have flexibility in using it. It works with all um learning and teaching styles. Can you think off the top of your head any like specific examples? Um so, with this curriculum, it really does lend itself for us to use building thinking classrooms, which is a focus of some of our math teachers here at the junior high level. And so for that reason, I was able in my own class, I was one of the three teachers who piloted it, and I was able to take some of the problems that they had and instantly put my kids on the whiteboard like they have been

054doing all school year long. So they didn't even know we were trying something new. They were like, is this that old thing we were doing? I was like, no. No, it's not. This is a totally different thing. And so it was really cool for me to have that moment where my kids could get up, but also for my kids to have that moment where the learning hasn't changed, but these problems are deep and rich and ready for them to like dive into. So that was really nice. I and I know the focus it for the district in math classes, I forget what you are calling it. I but I've been in and observed classes where kids are up and moving and they're here and they're there and they're there and they're there. And this um

055lends itself quite easily to that, it sounds like. And the kids love to be able to move in math. They do. And just to clarify, we are looking for a motion to purchase Imagine I am. Do we have any public comment? Or was there Did you have anything else you wanted to say? Do you want to I have a board Yes. I have a board comment, not a public comment, although I am public. Um this was one of the things when I got my agenda that I was able to go through and understand >> [laughter] >> what you guys were doing. And uh I appreciate that and I did want you to know that with this agenda item presentation, I felt like I knew what what what I was going to be asked to vote

056on and so Madam President, if you are ready for an emotion >> Yeah, let me just make sure there wasn't any public comment first. I didn't Okay. Public comment? Mr. Schwartz, I'd just like to say thank you very much for all the over and above work that you have done. Thank you. >> [laughter] >> All right. So, at this time, Eileen, if you wanted to make a motion. >> Yes, I'm I'm trying to find is are there numbers [clears throat] connected with a resolution? I don't see Huh? 8 8 1 8 A 1 8 A 1. Madam President, I move approval of 8 A 1, the adoption of the um recommended junior high school math curriculum. All right, we have a motion by member Robinson. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. A second

057by member Hayes. Any further board discussion? All right, so let's vote on um the approval of the adoption of the the math curriculum, um 8 A 1. Uh let's vote together. All those in favor, signify by saying I. I. Opposed? All right, that passes with a vote of 4 to 0. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming. All right. Moving along to the item I tried to jump to earlier. Uh 8 A 2, um this is a public hearing discussion action item. Um uh discussing the approval of the California Department of Education General Waiver for Academy for Change Community Day School to allow 6th grade students to attend the program presented by uh Pedro Caldera. Yes, that is correct. We have 6th graders at Academy for Change on the Fairview campus, and

058so we do have this waiver before you. I want to let the the board know that this waiver came before you 2 years ago. And if approved tonight, uh I do believe this is the last time that we have to go before the board for approval. All right. And it was um approved last time, correct? Okay. Um are there any questions from the board? Is is there a reason why it's the last time? Is this just that it's been there uh so many years that then it becomes Okay, so you're Okay. Okay, we need to open um this for uh open the public hearing and ask for public comment at this time. All right, seeing no public comment, we can close the public hearing. Is there a board member that has a motion um associated

059with this agenda item? I motion to approve. Okay. >> I'll second that motion. All right, we have a motion by uh Vice President Olson and a second by member um Robinson. Any further discussion? All right, let's go ahead and vote together. All those in favor, say I. I. >> I. Opposed? All right, this passes 4 to 0. Thank you. Yes. We are moving along to um 8A3. This is informational only, um discussing the annual spring charter school visit report by um Heather Cifuentes. Good evening. It's my honor tonight to bring forth this informational item. We have, as the authorizer in Chico Unified, we look each year annually at each of our charters and have a site visit. We get the opportunity to learn a little bit more of what changes, what goals, what are some

060of the emphasis is that they're focusing on to improve and keep the momentum going on their sites. It's always really a fun for me to get to go out and visit with the amazing charter team that we have and learn a little bit more about the offerings for our community. So, uh with that, it is just informational at the charters were presented ahead of time with a report. They provide information, then we have discussion based on that and get an opportunity to see the classrooms as well. Are there any questions? No, just a thank you to Heather for her flexibility. Appreciate it. No problem. Any public comment? And they all showed up tonight, too. Just There is one person on our list, Devinder. For this particular item, is that person in the room? No. >>

061Devinder Cowart? No. All right. Thank you. Is there any other public comment aside from her? Or him? Them? Okay. This is informational only, so we don't need to um take action on this item this evening. We're going to be moving along um to business services um 8 B1. Um this is discussion along with action resolution uh - 26 declaring the futility of public bidding for change order work on the Marigold Elementary School Transitional Kindergarten Playground Accessibility Project. With Julie Kissel. That's a mouthful. Uh good evening and thank you for having me here this evening. Um this item is regarding our project at Marigold Elementary School. As you know, we currently have uh the addition of two TK classrooms and a new TK um playground on the site. Um unbeknownst to us during planning for that

062project, the campus um has some pretty important needs for special education students on the kindergarten uh playground as well as the main playground for campus. They currently have uh seven or eight students who are wheelchair bound. And um we would really like to create some inclusive play on their campus to um make it so that the students have an equal experience at school. So, what you have in front of you is a declaration of futility. Um it basically is stating that since we already have a contract um under construction on a major portion of the campus, that um we move forward with awarding the work to that contractor that is already on site, which is United Building Contractors. And it's in the amount of $686,550 and 61 cents. The reason we do this resolution is

063because there is a labor code provision that um no no single change order should be awarded that exceeds 10% of contract without this uh resolution. So, that's why you're seeing that tonight. Thank you. I'll answer any questions you might have. Do any board members have any questions? I'm assuming that the term so that declaring the futility is it like a legal term that that comes up? Is that Is that true? Yeah, I assume so. Any public comment? Okay, this is a action item. Is there a board member who has a motion regarding this agenda item? I move that resolution 1726-26 is passed. I'll second. I'll second that motion. We have a motion by member Hayes and a second by member Robinson. Any further discussion? Let's go ahead and vote at this time. All of those

064in favor of um business item 8 B 1 signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed? All right, this passes 4 to 0. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, moving along 8 B 2. This is public hearing discussion action item a fee justification study and adoption of resolution number 1725-26 change in statutory school fees. Also presented by Julie Kissel. So, every 2 years on the even year, the state allocation board sets the amount of money that can be charged as developer fees for residential and commercial construction for school districts in the state of California. Uh several months ago, they did uh increase the amount of fees that we could charge as level one fees, which is the only fees that our district charges. And um that requires um every 2 years that we uh create a

065justification study that creates that nexus between the need for funds to house students that might be generated from residential or commercial development and provide that study to the board for your review. We do have Lynn Gruber here from Kopel and Gruber. She has uh worked on uh these studies for many years for the district. And um she's going to give just a short presentation. I'll like to invite Lynn up. Thank you, Julie. My name is Lynn Gruber. I'm with the firm Kopel and Gruber Public Finance. We've had the pleasure of working with Julie and her staff for a number of years now. And um she basically went through um the first couple of slides. So, um I'll be even uh briefer. Um the State Allocation Board did increase the fees by about 4%, which is

066about a 2% for each year um year over year. Um so, our new fee cap is $5.38 for rent new residential construction and $0.87 for commercial. So, um again, these fees are charged at the request of a building permit. So, they're only charged if there is new construction going on. The fee justification study confirms the nexus requirements are met, meaning that there is a relationship between the construction of new commercial or residential and what those school facilities are needed for those children. Um we determined the cost impact of $10.13 per square foot for a residential. And again, our we're capped at the 5 38. And then for a commercial, the cost impacts range from $0.29 for a rental self-storage up to $22.16 for commercial. But again, we're capped at the $0.87 per square foot. Uh

067let's see. Our study methodology, we look at the projected student enrollment based on the projected new housing. We look at the cost based on the capital improvement projects that the school district has um put together. And those determine the eligible costs. And then the cost per square foot, if it's uh greater than $5.38, it's justified. If it's below that, it wouldn't be justified. Um this puts the numbers to those um that methodology. We anticipate about 3,600 new residential units coming into the district with costs at about 57 million. And that gets to our per square footage cost of $10.13. The commercial is a is a a little bit more complicated. We look at the employee generation rates for the commercial industrial categories. Those are based upon the code uh prescribed by the code. Uh new

068employees in the area create the need for new student housing and inter-district students also impact um new housing because of the employees bringing their students in. Um we don't want to double dip, so we also take off what is projected to be generated off of the new the new residential, and that is our net impact for um commercial. These are the different categories, and you can see the variation in what the impact was justified at, and then the maximum that we can charge. So, the uh fee process, uh again the SAB increased the rates in January. The public hearing was noticed and published on May 8th and May 15th. Tonight is the night of the public hearing. And if the resolution is approved, the new fees would go into effect 60 days after on on

069that would be July 20. This is just a historical uh fees that the state State Allocation Board has adopted over the years, so you can kind of see how they've increased over time. And then the estimated revenue from those increased fees, um it's a fee difference of about $329 per house that the that we're showing the increase. With that, I'll take any questions. Any questions from the board? Well, I was curious the $329 per house. Is that um I would assume is that just an average when you're looking at how I mean, since it's a per square foot, right? >> So, you just have a Right. We anticipate that the average unit that will be built is about 1,567 square feet. So, if that average is built, the difference between the fee that's being charged

070now and the new fee if approved is $329. And remember this is the school district's only opportunity to get that fee. You can't ever go back and and charge once a permit's been issued. So, it is an increase, but that's a small increase. Right, thank you. >> Thank you. All right, we did have one comment that was submitted, but it was my understanding that they weren't able to make it. But I just wanted to make sure there was no one who was planning on speaking on their behalf. And that was the Chico Builders Association. All right. Okay, seeing that they're not here, I'll go ahead and open it up for public comment if there's any comment from the public at this time. Okay. All right, seeing no public comment, um is there a board member

071that would like to make a motion? Yes, I move that >> I'm sorry, this has to be a public hearing. >> Public hearing, yes. >> Oh, sorry. Okay, let's go ahead and open the public hearing. Any public comment? Okay, closing the public hearing. Is there a motion that would like to be made at this time? Um I motion that uh resolution number 1725-26 be passed. I'll second that motion. All right. We have a motion by a member um Hayes and a second by member Robinson. Any further discussion? Let's go ahead and vote. All of those in favor if I may say "I". I. I. Opposed? Okay, this passes 4 to 0. Thank you. All right. Um we are moving along to 8 B3. Um discussion action. Um this is regarding the 2026 summer projects presented

072by um Eric German. So thank you once again for allowing me to come up here and just present these projects to you. And you know, I always like to give a shout out to our CCEA employees. Um the amount of work they get done over the course of the year and especially over the summer. Um our expectations are always high on them and with the increase in summer programs that we're running, those expectations increase even more. You know, we look at our summers now as really starting in July with the amount of students we're having on campus. So we're kind of condensing the amount of work we're expecting out of them to get done and you know it's amazing how much they can accomplish and what they still get done for us. Um can't can't

073really praise them enough for what they do. Um summer projects, you guys have the list that we have submitted to you. Um every year we try to do things that just kind of help our schools the longevity of them. Things like the asphalt repair, the overhang repairs, roofing projects, um just kind of general maintenance items that are just kind of routine things we have to do to keep keep the schools functioning, keep them running. Um and those are kind of what we're submitting to you. And then on top of these projects, we also have our work order system where we get a lot of projects or work orders submitted to us throughout the year that just aren't practical to do when the students are on campus. So we spend a lot of our summers with

074the work orders that we consider summer projects as well that our crews will be working on whether that's replacing lighting in classrooms to carpeting to flooring to wall repairs and you name it our guys uh jump in there and and take care of it. Um So, just love to ask if there's any comments you guys had or questions you had on some of the projects. I think Good evening, Eric. Thank you. Um you already know what one of mine is the uh the first [clears throat] thing on the list for this year was one of the same things that was on the list for last year. And um that's putting lights on the flagpoles at our sites. >> Yes. And in inquiring to you, thank you for the response, um that work has begun. Yes,

075we have started some of them. And um so then my next question was, okay, if the work has been done, why isn't the $5,000 reduced by, you know, an appropriate amount um because some of the work has been done? And your answer was Well, we always want to make sure we're planning ahead and covering in case any emergencies come up. And when you're dealing with schools, we're dealing with a lot of age variation between buildings. So, the amount of work you have to do on the flagpole at say Marigold that had new construction on it versus the flagpole at Parkview is completely different. So, we want to make sure we have a buffer in there that if we run into something that's unexpected, out of the ordinary, we have funds to cover it. We don't

076want to be coming back to you saying, "Oh, we didn't anticipate this." So, that that number our goal is as I said in the email to you, our goal is to come in under budget on everything. The nice thing about this budget is that money can roll forward into other projects. So, our goal is to come in under budget, but I also don't want to underscore us and then end up having to come back asking for more not being able to complete the project. Okay, this is this is just a a request from a board member wanting to make this more useful to me. Yeah. Um when I look at the report, it doesn't um doesn't have a column for what school year you know, those projects are going to be and I know that,

077you know, you do some and then have to vacate because of another project and do some more. But if you could add a column that kind of gives us a date range Yeah. for when this stuff would be done um and uh well, if if there isn't a way to show what's been expended, so how much, you know, cuz it's a 3% what is it? MMR m- re- or R R&A Yeah. That. Um how far we are into um spending our allotment of that 3% cuz stuff is tight and construct- the cost of what you have to do keeps going up. >> never gets cheaper, does it? >> Yeah, that's true. >> Absolutely. And this list here is what we're asking for starting July 1. So, our hopes is to get approval tonight. We're going

078to start cutting POs and then the goal is to have work begin July 1 on on these projects since it's that year's budget we're asking for approval. Okay, if if you could just add a little bit information with another column that, you know, as a board member, that would that would help me to take you know, a look from year to year, although I won't be here next year. Well, and I think, you know, the title of this is a little bit misleading sometimes cuz we call it our summer projects, but that was something we started when we first started getting that 3%, we just came up with the name of, hey, we can get stuff done in the summer, so let's create a a summer project list. But really what it is is, you

079know, a better term I think might be special projects. Because it is something we're starting July, but to have the expectation to get everything done in that July period only before the kids come back is you know, pretty high hopes. So, it really is extra projects that we're going to do throughout the course of the school year. Um a majority of them we try to get done in July just because that's the easiest time with the least amount of ac- tivity on campus and we can jump in focus and getting on work. As you start moving in the school year, then you start to work with the logistics of working around students and and kids and it becomes a lot Or roofing smells like it >> [laughter] >> Right? There's there's always there's always something

080that comes up, so >> Oh, my gosh. Our goal is to try to get done as much as we can in July. Yeah, I understand, but a a little bit more information >> Absolutely. would be wonderful. >> do that. And thank you to to the CSEA people that that uh roped Yeah, and and oftentimes they're behind the scenes, so they're not, you know, they're not seen, but the amount of work they get done is pretty amazing. It is amazing. I do and I thank you. Yeah. My question is regarding um the regrading track um project. Yeah. Uh it just says elementary over here on site. Is that Most all of them. There's a couple of the elementary Shasta doesn't have a track, but it's their jogging tracks. We're going to be putting new material down

081there, regrading them, rolling them, compacting them, just kind of So, all the all the elementary schools Yes, all all the elementary that have the jogging tracks, yeah. Did Citrus get done? Citrus has a track, yeah. So, that'll be one of the ones. Right now, I believe it's kind of within the construction area of the new construction, so it just got fenced off last week, a portion of it. But uh yeah, they they have a track there. Yeah, and and they they have programs that use their track quite a bit. >> all the schools do, Yeah, we've been busy this week. A lot of them are doing their running clubs or their jog-a-thons, track meets. So, we've been busy trying to get them usable for them, marked off, and kids seem to be having fun doing

082it. Thank you. Yeah. Any public comment? Yes. Come up. Yeah, go ahead. Maybe I just had a question. I know that Hooker Oak is on schedule to get some new bathrooms installed. Is that in a different document than this one? Is that like a master plan document, not the summer projects? Just clarification. Different. Yes, that's Question. I I guess I could stand here. Yeah, that's that's a different program. Facilities is working on that, so that's not a part of our summer list. Any further public comment? Yeah, I think Yes. Um I just want to thank you for Hooker Oak has historically not been included in a lot of these lists, and I was we were really excited to see our name on this list in some really meaningful ways. Um we're not even mad that

083we have to repaint our sensory path on the blacktop. We'll take we'll take the win for that, but thank you for prioritizing some of those projects. They're going to directly impact our students in a big way, and I know that the campus is really excited to come back to school in the fall to all of these improvements. So, thank you. Go. We're ready at this time if there's a board member that would like to make a motion. I'll motion to approve the 2026 summer projects. I'll second. Okay, we have a motion by Vice President Olsen and a second by Uh, Conklin. Any further discussion? Okay, let's go ahead and vote together. Um, all those um, in favor of approval of the 2026 summer projects, please vote now by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed? All

084right, this passes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right, we're moving along um, to discussion action item number uh, or in regarding regards to resolution 1727-26 uh, committing fund fund balances presented by Jacqueline Krueger. Yes, good evening board. I'm here in front of you this evening in preparation of the 26-27 original budget that I will be presenting next month at the June 17th meeting. Um, so in front of you this evening is a resolution to to commit fund balance. So, with the district our sides, there's Ed Code that says any fund balance that's over 10% has to have a purpose. Um, so this evening I'm bringing forward a document for you um, to commit $12 million, $4 million for textbook adoption. Um, as we saw we just had junior high math,

085secondary math will be following that. Um, as well as uh, plan deficit spending of $8 million. So, we are in um, declining enrollment looking forward at programming um, moving forward. So, we want to commit some of those dollars acknowledging that we will be using those to cover deficits in future years. Do we have any questions? I have a question of uh, on this resolution, do we have to read it in as the whereas all that whole thing or can So, For the minutes you mean? Well, For the motion? >> Yeah, for the motion. The motion can just be the passage of resolution 1727-26. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. I was willing to read it. I'm just saying. >> [laughter] >> Okay. Any public comment? Were you wanting to make a motion, member Hayes? Sure. I

086motion that resolution 1727-26 be adopted. I'll second that motion. A motion by member Hayes and a second by member Robinson. Um any further discussion? All right, let's go ahead and vote. Um all those in favor um signify by saying I. I. Opposed? All right, this passes also. We are moving right along. Um 8C. Uh this is uh 8C1 discussion action um the updated 26-27 student calendar uh presented by John Shepherd this evening. Great, thank you, President Calkins. So, in front of you is some very um insignificant changes in terms of the length of the calendar. I've brought this calendar to you three times already. We want to make sure we have it accurately represented on our website, but we did get some information from our secondary schools that they wanted to be sure the minimum

087days were accurately represented. So, the major change you'll see there is simply a minimum day shifting from a Friday of finals week to Thursday. And that's the That's it on the first one. Sorry, what month is that, just so I can It's in December. It's the purple days. Got you. Okay. Any ques- further questions? Public comment? We have a motion to um approve the the new calendar for the 27-28 year. I'll move to approve. Is it this 26-27? 26-27. 26-27. Okay, wait. I'm sorry. I just want to make sure I'm clear. I am yes. Okay, I was jumping ahead. 26-27 year. Do those separately. I'll move that the new student calendar for the 26-27 school year be adopted. I'll second that motion. Okay. We have a motion by member Hayes and a second by member

088um Robinson. Any further discussion? Okay, let's go ahead and vote. Again, this is uh regarding the 26-27 student calendar year. All those in favor um signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed? It passes four to zero. Now we are moving on to the 27-28 year. Um also again presented by John Shepherd. All right, thank you. So, you'll see the change for the 27-28 student calendar. There are two two changes. One is to embed an October um non-student day. It's something that's been desired, you know, for 26-27 and we want to continue to um to represent that in the 27-28 calendar. And as well, adding a day in November um because we were taking a look at the impact of the um different holidays in November. And by embedding a non-student day um late in November,

089you can see on uh November 12th, we hope to significantly improve our attendance rate by having that be a non-student day. We can add a student day to the week coming into school. If we didn't do that, school would start on a Friday, which I don't think many people want to do. Um it does allow our staff to come in two or three days before the first day of school after the weekend. And you know, financially, it's definitely a win for us. So, can you tell me um the October day it It looks like it's October 4th. Oh, it is October 4th. Okay. What's the October 25th? That's a district-wide staff development day. I see. Okay. It's hard to see. It's so tiny. Yeah. Well, Erica is going to work her magic and make They're

090going to look great on the website. She's really good at it. But the one The nice thing about the October 4th date is that it's essentially we've got September what, September 6th, October 4th, and then we jump into into November with quite a few holidays, so it's a good balance. Well, I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of having that the 12th off in November because then you have um Veterans Day, 11 11 is a federal holiday, and then I think it's smart to have just go ahead and schedule that in as a non-student day, which allows families to perhaps travel or go visit or just relax. Yeah. So. Any public comment? Okay. Think we're ready to go ahead and make a motion then at this time. I will go ahead and approve um the updated 2027

091or make a motion to approve the updated 27 28 student calendar. I'll second it. Okay. Motion by member uh President Conklin and a second by Vice President Olson. Um any further discussion? Okay, let's go ahead and vote. All of those in favor signify by saying "Aye". Aye. >> Aye. Opposed? All right, this passes. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, uh moving along um to agenda item 8D1. This is um informational only. Um we're going to be doing a first reading of the revised updated new board policies and um Superintendent uh Greg Blake will be doing that this time. >> So So, this is the uh we have six that we're bringing forward uh for a first reading. So, you will have these um until we eventually bring them to you for a final vote

092on June 17th. So, plenty of time to take a look at them and ask any questions you might have and we can help you um with whatever you need to uh look at these and determine on the 17th whether or not that we move forward with them. That's it. Thank you. Are there any questions? Public comment? Okay. Um it is an action item. Um So, is there a motion um associated with this item? No, this one was informational. >> Informational only. >> Yeah. Okay. The next one's an action. item. I'm sorry, I'm jumping ahead. >> [laughter] >> Trying to get through this. There's so much on the agenda. Okay. No no Nothing to do now. Nothing to do now. Um let's move along to the one where the action is actually needed. 8D2 discussion to

093consider an amendment to the previously adopted minutes. Right. So we have uh It's been requested to change uh the minutes from a previous um board meeting. Um essentially what it boils down to is it was a motion made and um we'd like it to reflect the exact language that was used in that motion. So tonight what we do is we actually bring forward a motion to then change the language at a future meeting. But tonight's motion is just to bring it forward for change at a future meeting. So you know something along the lines of making a motion to consider an amendment for a previously adopted minutes for item 9A3 from February 18th, um would be what we're looking for and then we'll bring it at a future meeting to with when Tom is back

094to actually talk about what the language needs to be and how we're going to change it. Make any sense? We have to have two motions to do this. I think it makes sense to most of us. >> [laughter] >> This one's just to say we're going to change it at a future meeting. Or consider changing it at a future meeting. I'll make a motion to do that. Okay. So how about how about consider an amendment to a previously adopted minutes? How about that? That sounds great. Okay. >> [laughter] >> Do we have a second to that? I'll second. Any board discussion? Well, I just want to point out that um I do know uh I I want to recognize the difficulty of taking minutes on uh particularly that that happened to be a particularly long

095meeting. And um also there is no expectation that minutes are verbatim. And I just want to point that out just to the public just in general. So, the fact that um this is considered um in the future uh is just that. It's a consideration and that's all I want to say. Right. So, if I'm remembering correctly, um I made the motion and uh Vice President Olsen made the You made the second. Member Hayes made the second. Okay. Any further discussion? Let's go ahead and vote then at this time. All those in favor? I 5% I. I. Oppose. All right. This passes. Madam President, just for kicks, what was that motion? You're asking me? No, I'm asking Erica. I just want to make sure that we got it right so that we're moving forward. Okay. We're

096comfortable with that. All right. Okay. We are moving along um to agenda item 8 D3. Uh this is also discussion action. Um this is regarding um camera installation, data storage, and infra- infrastructure. Um For those who haven't been here previous meetings, this is a been an ongoing discussion for us. So, um at this time, um you don't really we're not going to be necessarily asking anyone in particular any questions for clarification purpose. Um but if there are any members of the board that would have a specific question in mind. I mean, I think we'll have plenty of time to to discuss later, but Okay. Is there let's see. We do have a speaker. We're going to >> You've got two on the list. Two on the list. Hold on one second. And we will have

097opportunity to have um some time for public comment for those who haven't um submitted a speaker card, uh but we'll go in the order that we have here this evening. And And our first um community member is uh Alicia Trider. Thank you for the opportunity to speak again on this. Um yes, my name is Alicia Trider. Uh and I just want to point out that the recent Canvas hack is a great reminder that everything is hackable. All web and cloud-based technologies have unsecure external access points. Right now, you have the power to set anti-AI policies that protect our children and school staff from predatory company companies like Riverside and Verkada. You have the power to uphold California laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, the California Constitution right to privacy, and student protections under

098federal laws like Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA. However, with this $2 million contract, you have seated your power to a private company with a history of data breaches, sexual harassment lawsuits, and pornographic misuse of their stored data. I'll let you Google it. It's horrific. Riverside Technologies, Verkada, and the CUSD IT department claim that this AI technology is making schools safer, but they don't have any evidence to support this. So, that is a theory, not a valid argument. Riverside Technologies and Verkada claim that their cloud storage is secure, and yet they are already under federal oversight for multiple data breaches. Riverside and Verkada claim that their technology increases student safety, but bringing in a cloud service creates the opportunity for data breaches and for the misuse of predators. Speaking of which, Eric Steven

099Georges was a CUSD IT department employee arrested for child pornography. I have a real problem with the IT department keeping images and videos of children safe because they lack oversight and transparency. Let's be honest. Now, legally, contracts that were passed without proper public input via the consent agenda, like this one, can always be reassessed by public demand. It is your obligation as publicly elected trustees to do this. Robert's Rules of Order, parliamentary procedures, and your fiduciary responsibilities compel you to seek public input from parents, educators, staff, and the public on this issue affecting minors. Your failure to disentangle this item from the consent agenda must be addressed. I also noticed that Tom Lando is not present tonight, so I suggest tabling any vote on this topic until the next meeting because all members should be

100present for such an important topic, discussion, and vote. Thank you. Is Teresa here this evening? Thank you. Me again, first time, third time. Uh hi, my name is Teresa Bond. I'm a parent at Hooker Oak Elementary School. I unfortunately wasn't able to come to any of the public um forums and focus groups on this issue, so I just wanted to make sure that my concerns and the concerns of some of the parent other parents that weren't able to go to those meetings are heard. Um I think I'm here today. I know I'm here today because I believe that the issue before us is not one about the system that we installed today, but what becomes possible tomorrow. Our children should not be a testing ground for emerging AI surveillance, regardless if it's in the classroom

101or not. I think that's actually a really um disingenuous um uh thing that the board has said that these videos won't be in the classroom. My child has three classes that happen outside. Um elementary school kids are outside a lot all day. Um and this data, while we say won't be used for facial recognition, the fact that that had to be taken off the table in the first place seems upsetting. Um will be stored somewhere. These images of our children, the gait in which they walk, the choices that they make of where to go on campus, who to interact with, that will be stored somewhere. That company might be shuttered and go somewhere else. We might have a 23andMe situation on our hands where we don't have control over that data that's happening with our

102students. Right now, many families in this district are familiar with the program I-Ready because our children use it in school. Right now, there's an ongoing federal lawsuit against this company, I-Ready, involving allegations about the collection and handling of student data and behavioral information. Things that I'm sure we were not thinking would happen when we originally purchased I-Ready, but that lawsuit is still going on while the company denies that any any wrongdoings. That case is still going on and from what I read is very concerning. But, that's exactly the point. Parents are increasingly being asked to trust larger education technology systems with huge amounts of information about our children before we really understand the long-term implications, safeguards, and future risks. I ask us to pause and not be on the bleeding edge of AI surveillance on

103our campuses. Let other districts with less concerned parents stumble across these thresholds and see what the ramifications of those choices are and then make different choices as a as a board and as a district. I ask that we pause and wait to make a decision based upon what we see evolving in AI technology in the future. Thank you. Thank you. We have time remaining if there were any members from the public. And I see you also, so you'll be next to follow. Hello, everyone. Um First, I'd like to make a suggestion that if you want more parents involved in these kind of meetings, uh it would be a good idea to offer some kind of child care because we have kids. Excuse me, do you mind introducing yourself? Yes, sorry. I'm Jackie. Jackie? Yes. Parent?

104Yes, parent uh two kids uh teachers. And I want to ask you to think about how much you know about AI and what it's really capable of before you even vote for this, which you already did. But, it's probably not too much. Um and I would try to um ask you to please reconsider because this is just being imposed on these kids and that's just not fair to them. Children deserve privacy in school and everywhere they go, but we're talking about school. And those $2 million could go to a much better use to support our teachers and our students in the classroom. So, I just ask you to please reconsider and nullify this contract. Thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you for this opportunity. My name is Kelly Marie Lavin. I'm an instructor at Chico

105State and I have a teaching credential. I taught high school previously and I'm also a parent. So, um I'm also really concerned about this. I want to say hear, hear to the the idea that the kids deserve privacy. I feel like as someone who grew up in a time where my image was not perpetually recorded as a young person, um I feel protected from a lot of the things that kids are not going to have that kind of privacy if we're not careful. Um Pardon me, I just had a couple notes I wanted to Well, um it disturbs me that if this goes through uh basically in order for a kid to get a public education at Chico Unified Schools, they will be required to be on film and to be um have their image

106stored in a you know, uh location not controlled by our school and honestly stored at all. Um My question for the board is um with whatever security system is in place, is there a reason that footage needs to be saved beyond a week? You know, is there some kind of greater security concern? Um I understand wanting to have eyes on on potential problems that have gone down, but I'm not sure why footage needs to be stored at that uh extent. Just because we can store things doesn't mean it's necessarily for the best um of all involved. Uh I also just want to say again to kind of echo what some of the other folks are saying. Um Uh we don't know who's among us. Um I don't mean to sound paranoid, but uh a colleague

107that I worked with closely ended up getting uh arrested for child pornography. Um a They work among us and I don't It doesn't make me feel very secure about my child going to school somewhere where his image is going to be stored somewhere where if a hack happens either his privacy is violated or you know, it's just it's Why? I guess is is my big question. Is what is the value that we're getting out of this and does it pay off for the risk? Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Hey, Addison Winslow. I I just want to say I think that all the previous speakers have some really good points about this and not that it's it's a perfectly um easy thing to deal with. These are emerging technologies and people are trying to

108come up with the ways to put them into place for for good reasons in a lot of respects and and the city of Chico has has some contracts with similar um companies that I I don't trust very much and I think there's good reason not to trust them very much and uh I don't know exactly how you can um change like the the framing of your arrangement with them, but I think it's worth considering doing something besides what you're offered by the company. Uh I would rather like you're not the only school district dealing with this. Like every everybody is at at the same time and um would rather be part of a negotiated agreement on different terms and conditions and be part of a negotiated settlement agreement once something goes wrong and and we're

109just one of the many school districts that that have a lawsuit to try to make up for that. So thank you. I just got to say that also on the Chico City Council. I just want to say that we had some really great speakers and although I'm mostly here to speak on the next item which I hope people stay for. I hope that you will take seriously the concerns of parents and community members about emerging technologies in the school room. Thank you. I just want to make sure I'm seeing everyone. Any other public comment? All right. Thank you so much for sharing tonight. Okay. This time um We obviously as a board will have an opportunity to discuss this but is there a motion at this time? I would like to make a motion to

110direct the district to install Ricardo cameras utilizing AWS for storage but only enabling the vehicle history feature at this time. Do you want to clarify what that means in regards to any facial recognition features? >> Correct. Right. So there's no facial recognition. Um There were three attributes. It was physical characteristics, personal history or right? And then um And then vehicle history. Um and I think that the first two use facial recognition in that and I think that the community that came out previously and that attended the um focus group or the committee or whatever we call it um that was um something that was very important to to respect that that that those features that feature not be used. Um vehicle history is does not use that. Um and we can disable the other two

111features. Okay. Yeah, and just in terms of our cotta language, um they uh specify by saying we're not disabling these features, but rather we're not enabling the features. >> Yeah, thank you. So, by default they are not there. We would have to turn on the switch for those. Is everybody clear on the motion? Did you have a comment? Well, you have a motion. You have no second. >> Yes, I know. I was going to look at for a second. Any seconds? I'll I'll second her motion. Any audience? Oh, we we will have an opportunity to um discuss later and if we don't bring that item up, then I will give you an opportunity. Cuz we're going to have an open discussion here. Right. So, uh we have a motion um by uh Vice President Olsen.

112Second by member uh Robinson. And let's see. This time uh we'll have uh the opportunity to discuss. Uh yes, I I just want to say I appreciate um comments from from uh the public and I want you to know that the board has has listened um and the board has been responsive. Um I know that um your wishes I I I heard several people ask that the contract be nullified and so this motion may be a disappointment to you. Um I also want to point out that um camera use so uh in essence cameras are being installed um replacing older cameras that have been installed for the last 14 years. So our students have whether, you know, our our parents, there's not a parent that has a student in Chico Unified that hasn't have a

113child that has been recorded since uh kindergarten. And whether or not that is upsetting to you, that's that's a fact. Our seniors have been recorded for their entire uh for the entire time that they were in Chico Unified and so in some ways this is no there's not a lot of difference. Um just better camera No, this is true. We're not enabling the AI. So the AI portion uh what we do have is better pixels and and better um uh image quality uh which we we're hoping will actually um help administrators um when there are issues um assess the situation more quickly. Um I have a I have grandchildren at Loma Vista and at Rosedale. Do I want their images uh being hijacked? Absolutely not not. So I'm I'm I'm thinking that there isn't anyone

114here of course we're hoping that there's not I mean I I'm we're hearing you say that there could be things that happen that we're not um able to to control and we have I think taken to say that we're not going to use AI features is substantive. Any other discussion? Rebecca, I know you have children in the in the district. Um what are things that crossed your mind as well? I I definitely um it was brought to my attention by the public um in regards to Verkada um the history and reputation and I um I recognized that was information that we weren't aware of before making um the full decision and so I take some responsibility um on behalf of the board um that said I feel comfortable moving forward um knowing that we have

115the opportunity um as a board um who listens to the public and has spent countless hours um looking into um the features that are available through the program. Um, and the way I see it is we are replacing an older system with a more current system that's going to, um, be more effective for our staff and hope hopefully provide them a safer environment for our community. Um, I think we could always go down the the path of, um, what if and what if it gets into the hands of the wrong people and I understand that and I hear that concern. Um, I also believe that we have the best interest of our community, um, in mind as parents, as grandparents and we wouldn't ask the community, um, to trust a system that we ourselves didn't

116feel comfortable with. Uh, so to answer your question, as a parent, um, I feel comfortable moving forward with this this choice knowing that we have the full capability, um, and to turn off any facial recognition or, rather, we have the capability to turn on facial recognition if if we chose to do that. And I think we stand before you or sit before you in good faith, um, saying that that's not our intention. Uh, we don't plan to do that. Um, we hear the community and we we want to do what the community, um, has asked us to do. Well, and in fact, this board voted unanimously to make sure that AI features were not used. And I think we all spent, um, considerable [clears throat] time digging deep into what that actually meant, um, on

117our on our own. Any? I I would say more, but you guys have um covered everything that that I would say as well. Um and I just want to reiterate and we have put in countless hours on this. Um and and we have a huge community to answer to. And so, you know, sadly I I we understand that we're not going to um make everyone happy, but I feel that what we have done is um made the the best decision um for our community. Um the safest decision for our community in this case, which I know um not everybody agrees with that, but um Yeah. I I'll also say that at the um at the forum, uh the public was invited to come and voice its opinion. And um the opinion what what we're coming

118to tonight isn't just the board's opinion. These were These were thoughts that were voiced by the public at that at that meeting. And um for example, when um Vice President Olsen um motioned that the AWS um be used for storage, that was based upon conversations there where um where it was outlined that if data was stored at Chico Unified, there would be um perhaps eight or nine entry points for for a hacker to get to stored information. Um and we don't have as I'll just be clear. Um AWS has a more robust um ability to defend against hackers than than Chico Unified does. Uh so, the fact that And this this was what the public felt. This that it was a safer choice than than having it stored locally. So, we we did listen to

119to the public. Um also, I wanted to comment that it's been brought up that staff uh would be recorded. And to the extent that they're outside their classroom, that's I think that's true. Um and I'll say that having taught school um as a high school teacher in Oroville um where also uh there were security cameras in place. Um there were times where it was imperative that uh we look at at camera images to see what actually transpired because when a fight breaks out or when there's um a student being bullied um or there's an allegation of a student being bullied, uh it's important to be able to look at the evidence to say does it does it look like what uh we're being told as a teacher or as an administrator is um verified by

120the video. And there would be times when um students sometimes are not really lying. They just in the heat of the moment, they don't have a clear understanding of of what's of who was there, when it happened. Um and it's just it has I'm just saying that as a public school teacher um it having cameras on the campus is not uncommon and I think has um served a useful purpose. On those same lines um one of the factors that weighed heavily for me in in it's in regards to um being a good steward of our resources um financially but also um the resources of our our teachers and administrators' time um countless hours have been um spent reviewing footage and the um advancements in technology have led to just a more efficient speedy process. And

121so one of the um advantages I see moving forward is just our ability to um and I know I know this comment has been made before like let's use our our energy and our time and our resources in more efficient ways and I think we can do so with um current technology um and free up our administrators to to be you know with those with those students face-to-face rather than behind cameras and and studying footage that is archaic. And President, I call for the question. Yes. No, we're we're at the point where we've had a Okay, I just wanted to make sure cuz I meant I mentioned to you that I Was your question No. Okay. Okay. Right. So Verkada is an AI surveillance That's their whole thing. You've already banned and I think we

122How can you still use this You've already banned the use That's software system if they are there. They say that oh, we can we can enable certain things. Who's checking that? How do we know when it's turned off or turned on? And what access do you have locally to check that? So, there's what Verkada has the servers wherever they are. Those are the two issues right? That have not been addressed by all this discussion and by the That's why again, I don't think it's going to move forward because you're contradicting yourself. And you're really not listening to all May I want to make a comment? Is that a thing that's happening now? I think we've moved on from public comment at this time. I I said that I would answer her question earlier um or

123to my best ability. Do you No, I think I think >> I will review with the board with them. >> think um member Robinson called for the question. Are you Are you going to read it back or you want to So, let's have if we're ready let's have Erica read it back. Okay. >> The motion. However, hold on for People missed it. However, >> Well, I I I don't think I want to restate it but the motion was to install Verkada Verkada cameras using AWS for installation or for storage but only enabling vehicle history. Period, yeah. Yeah. We have a motion and a second, correct? Yes. >> Is there any further discussion amongst us? We're not silencing them. We had an opportunity and we're following the the protocol, the We have we've had um a

124meeting but in February. Um They've they've there have been opportunities to speak and even today they were given an opportunity to speak um to this to this item. In fact, the hands raised had an opportunity to speak. So. So, people have had the opportunity to speak and now it's time for us >> So, what do you mean a motion as well, so you can I have a quick clarification. So, was the focus group When did the focus April 22nd. >> April 22nd, okay. So, based on I think based on public input that we've received in the past and tonight, based on that input we've made a motion and we've seconded the motion already based on input. Let's do a uh roll call vote. Okay. No question from the public. Based on your motion. No, we

125did listen to the public. I didn't hear your motion. Didn't hear your motion. We make our motion based on um public comment that we've heard already. So, we we have. Member Hayes? Uh I uh Hayes, I. Conklin, I. Olsen, I. Robinson, I. Okay, this passes 4 to 0. All right, uh we are going to be moving on to 8D4, uh which is information and this is going to be a presentation um from the North Coast State Carpenters Union. Looking for Good evening, Board. My name is Sean Reese and this is Chris Martinez. We are organizers for the North Coast State Carpenters Union. We have met with some of you here, but for those that don't know about us, we wanted to give you a little bit of insight. Our office is based out of Redding,

126but we cover the nine northern counties of the state from Glenn County to the Siskiyous and from the Nevada border to the coastal counties. We represent all carpenters performing carpenter work. Uh just before I get started, I'd like to say there was an article that came out earlier that suggested all contractors working with the Chico Unified School District are risky. I want to make it very clear. Our message tonight is about pathways to apprenticeship and exposing the practices of modern building and the likes of Bulldog Stadium. That said, we are a member-driven organization representing more than 30,000 carpenters here in northern California and more than 57,000 carpenters across the western three states. We have five training centers located here in northern California and we have an international training center located in Las Vegas, Nevada. We

127also work closely with a help program called Helmets to Hard Hats, where we help veterans transition from a life in the military into a lifelong career in the trades. Where they gain access, instant access to our membership, and they get to train as a carpenter and live a great life as a carpenter. Um I'm happy to mention that our Carpenters Union recently received award for being the second largest in retention and recruiting of these veterans across all trades nationwide. Our members come from all walks of life. We are your fathers, we are your mothers, your brothers, and your sisters. We all come together with one common goal, to build things with our hands and earn our way through our day. We have a an apprenticeship, a pathway to the apprenticeship that helps these apprentices enter

128the middle class. Our apprenticeship alone has graduated 68% of our carpenters over the last five years alone. Uh apprenticeship is also an extended education. We also have a a with Chico State University where our union sponsors roughly four to five Chico State students each year where they become apprentices, they train, and uh they get the knowledge to become uh They They gain college credit. So, when they come out of that, they actually get hired back by our signatory contractor but in project management roles and project engineering roles. Appren- They All of our apprentices gain credit. This is an earn as you learn style of apprenticeship. So, with that being said, that means our apprentices come on the job site and they make money while they're learning. And it it's awesome. Uh part of our part

129of our way that we ensure these apprentices have opportunities in the future is by being a watchdog organization, a resource for the community to help create opportunity for these apprentices. We are placed in the industry so that workers and taxpayers don't get taken advantage of. We work with district attorneys to criminally prosecute wage theft, and we have some examples. Uh one of the examples is Proframe. The charges against the Rocklin-based contractor Proframe were a company underpaid workers on a public affordable housing project in Sacramento where at least 15 employees were affected, receiving only 50% of the wages they were due, meaning they were having them work 8 hours a day and only paying them for four. There's also the situation of US Framing West where a criminal complaint was filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta

130who specified 31 felony counts, including allegations of wage theft, payroll tax evasion, and prevailing wage theft that resulted in losses to the state and 19 workers of over 2.6 million dollars. On our Construction Wage Watch website, you can find a multitude of examples, workers speaking out, and case files, and find resources for workers who are being taken advantage of. This is just one of the many facets of how we protect the community against systematic wage theft and safety violations. As a public agency, Chico Unified School District is tasked with responsibly spending taxpayer money. As a watchdog organization, we have the resources to help bear the brunt of that responsibility. As well as protect and ensure jobs for students in the future. We have found that multiple general contractors pre-qualified to bid on Chico Unified School

131District projects have questionable business histories that may not be deemed responsible. In multiple letters addressed to the staff, we have highlighted our findings when those general contractors were bidding on Chico Unified projects. One of those contractors is Modern Building. Following video is of some workers that work for Modern Building on a Chico Unified School District. Well, we have videos on the Construction Wage Watch page. Where you can go on there and see they tell their story on how they were I'd like to add, we we actually had one of the workers that was going to be coming today to speak with us. Um unfortunately, fear got to him. Intimidation got to him. But he was going to come and describe the the injury that he suffered while working for Modern on a Chico Unified project.

132Um the worker expressed concerns and fear about coming forward. A cease and desist has been issued against Modern for intimidation tactics against their workers. And if you go to that constructionwagewatch.org website, there's a video where the worker himself explains exactly what happened to him and the entire situation. So, we want to come to you today to work together as a team. We we want to see Chico Unified thrive. And we think raising pre-qualification standards is a great way to filter out these bad actors. However, we we we know you guys don't have the resources or the people to police these job sites. And uh, you know, being properly informed by these contractors and making sure that everything they're giving you is vetted correctly. For instance, this past August, another pre-qualified contractor for Chico Unified School

133District, Bobo Construction, provided inaccurate information on a pre-qualification application in the city of Walnut Creek. Specifically to whether they were responsible for it for paying back wages and penalties. They said they were not. It It was inaccurate and their staff was not aware and we made them aware of that. In addition to making sure that public monies are spent responsibly, pre-qualification also helps keep the building safe for all students and staff. So, Modern Building was the original general contractor on the Meriam Park project. This is an area of Chico that was ripe with opportunity, but it started off on the wrong foot. And we no longer have a video for that. Um, but last year, the Department of Industrial Relations released civil wage and penalty assessments naming Modern Building as severely liable for instances of

134wage theft. It showed that from 2016 to 2024, nearly every year Modern was named severely liable on civil wage and penalty assessments. This is a pattern of behavior. Three of those CWPAs at Chico Unified School District, including twice in 2018 on the Marsh Junior High Science Building for failure to pay prevailing wages. After going through time cards of these workers, we dug and found Modern wasn't paying prevailing wage on all prevailing wage projects. Now, these are examples that are taking place in our own backyard. We cannot turn a blind eye, put our head in the sand, and pretend it doesn't exist. Wringing out every dollar from the students is noble, but the cost-cutting comes off the backs of the workers building these projects, whose children attend these schools. Next, we would also like to point

135out that the Chico City Council has been a great community partner with us. And here are some of the members of the City Council to discuss their commitment to Chico Unified School District and what that would mean to our community. Addison and Bryce. All right, thanks. Hi there, Bryce Goldstein as mentioned, Chico City Council. I represent District 7. Um, and I'm just here to show support for the good work that our Carpenters Union is doing to help both train and also support the working people who build our communities. I supported Measure C to help fund our schools and I want to ensure that Chico Unified School District is hiring responsible contractors so that our tax dollars are used wisely and also equitably. I'm also um, concerned that the union has found risks in previous contractor

136selections and pre-qualified firms. So when we spend public dollars on contractors who have proven to exploit workers and commit wage theft, we are doing a disservice to our community. It erodes trust in the government and of course it is really bad for our workers and our working class people in this community. So I'm just asking that Chico Unified School District work with the Carpenters Union to identify problematic contractors and prevent risks before they start. Thank you. I Addison Winslow again. I want to thank you for having these guys come and present and and listen to them. The Carpenters do a lot of really great work in compliance not just for union sites but lifting up the bottom of the working class as a whole and making sure that people are held to equal standards. I

137supported Measure C. I would do it again. I think it's very important that we invest in our school facilities and make sure that the kids here have the best opportunities that we can provide for them. But in the allocations of those dollars, I think that it's important that you as publicly elected representatives think about the broader impact of the things not just for the schools, not just just in that um on the side of the facilities and getting the cheapest thing, but making sure that it has the best external benefits and the workforce development programs that these guys do, I think are very valuable to the community and including the kids and their parents themselves. And I think that we can get the the best out of the money that we have allocated by making

138sure that we do have responsible contractors and we are holding our um holding this work and those who do it to the to the highest standard. I I think these guys represent that here. I think that other contractors can too, but it's important that we pay close attention to um to what that is. So, I I hope you take that into consideration and thanks for having us here. Thank you to our partners on the Chico City Council for getting up there and speaking with us tonight. Um I really wish we had the videos. I think you guys would have really would have really opened your eyes and I hope you get on the Construction Wage Watch and check out the videos that are on there. I think our ask is simple. Use the information we

139have given you and make the best decision, not just for your own dollar, but for your community and your students as well. We want Chico Unified School students to become members. We want them to become apprentices and have a pathway to the middle class. Uh It's what's best for us. It's what's best It's what's best for all of us and the community. The men and women building our community shouldn't be the ones that are taken advantage of. Major part of that is working together to weed out these bad actors and secure responsible spending. So, we've given you a lot of information here about us, who we are, and what we do. We would love to continue this educational journey and invite your students to our training facilities. Some of which some of you have already

140had the opportunity to see firsthand, so you know just how fantastic it is. We can get with the board and work on the details, but we want you to know we are partners in this community and as such is our goal to lift everyone up around us because rising tides raises all ships. Thank you. Are there any questions from the board? Madam President, I don't I don't have a question, but I I do want to make a comment about the importance that Chico Unified has always placed on getting our students with ex- Excuse me, experience with the trades. Um our CTE programs and the capstone classes that go with them. Um you know, our desire is to get our students familiar with how to get into things like your apprentice program, and I did attend

141one of your presentations. It's been a while. Been a couple years. Um it is um it is in fact how the middle class develops. It's by having trained tradesmen. And I appreciate your support for that. Um I know that Ms. Kissel uh Julie Kissel our um uh some kind of long name. >> [laughter] >> That we have utilized um things like, you know, we're building and remodeling some schools. And we're giving some of our students an opportunity to observe what's going on. Um I I know when McManus was under construction, we had some students out watching the big equipment. The students were absolutely um mesmerized by the fact that there were even some women out there operating those big pieces of equipment and that, you know, yay team. Um so, I do appreciate the fact

142that you showed up here tonight and and that you support, you know, the trades and getting our kids an opportunity to become involved with the trades through our CTE programs and other things that that are available and so important. And thank you to the city council members. I've met Addison, but I hadn't met you. Thank you. I I wanted to say also if uh Sean, if you'd step back up to the microphone. I was when I think of carpenters, I think of like swinging hammers, but actually carpentry your union represents so much more than just um you know, somebody with a hammer. And so, could you talk tell um could you talk about like what are all the different jobs that a carpenter might do? Absolutely. And actually I'm going to actually have some uh

143reading material for you. It actually explains all of our principal crafts. Um like as you said, being a carpenter isn't just uh a nail and a hammer. It's uh multiple multiple principal crafts that we have now. Everything from uh concrete to metal stud framing to millwrights to pile driving uh floor laying um being a carpenter is is a a broad spectrum. Now, there's >> So, tell tell us what is mill writing? What what is it? >> Millwright would be So, you you you look at your factories. Say you look at maybe your cereal factories or uh maybe your sawmills and all of the machinery that goes along with that. Those are millwrights. That's actually technically a carpenter. Interesting. >> Mhm. Conveyor belts, um working in uh car factories, things like that. Interesting. And then also

144I wanted to say you mentioned um that you uh partner with Chico State. Um I would really love to see it matriculated down to like Butte College and certainly with with our CTE program as um member Robinson speaks about and so um what I I'd love to see what that could look like um for our students in Chico Unified. Absolutely. Absolutely we do. We want to see that, too. We want to see all the high school students have this pathway and we want to see that and I think the best way we see that happening is by raising these standards and making sure we're giving them the opportunity in the future to be able to come back and work on your schools. Cuz we can pump out a thousand apprentices, but if there's no job

145at the end One of our goals here was to talk about the pathways to the apprenticeship, but I don't think it's fair to talk about the pathways to the apprenticeship if we don't talk about how to protect those pathways as well. So. Well, for sure. I mean, I feel like uh we want to think about a whole student from before they reach our schools to after they leave our schools. So, I um and and again that's why I think it's great to have that connection to Butte and then on into Chico. Absolutely. And and beyond. Mhm. This isn't this isn't >> Thank you. technical information, but um I've I've had and some of you have, too, the opportunity to go see the um program in Fairfield, I believe, um and it it is fantastic um

146what you can do for um young and old alike um to to go into a field that is absolutely meaningful. Um I've appreciated spending time with you guys learning because when I met with you the first time I was like, I don't even know what you're talking about. Then I met up with you again and go, oh, I think I might be getting it. So, um I just appreciate the time and and effort that you guys gave to me to understand truly what it is that you do. So, thank you for that. Yeah, that vis- the virtual, you know, the the little I don't know what it was called, but the little room where you go in and it it projects and at at Fairfield was yeah, is it is pretty incredible to think about.

147>> And Gil, I think that's also a great example of how we want to be a resource, you know, for the school district. We aren't educators, we aren't, you know, in in the school business. We are in the construction business. We understand that. So, we would love to be a resource for you guys moving forward. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any public comment at this time? Okay. This was um informational only, so uh no action is needed this evening regarding this item. We're moving along to uh board member request to agendize item. Yes. Do you want to take it away or do you want me to introduce you and what you're going to talk about? I'll do it. >> Okay. Um so, in the recent past we've had conversations regarding um the

148use of Chromebooks for instruction in the classroom. We made some slight changes to board policy on that. Um however, given the the research that is coming forward and continues to come forward, um I feel that we need to continue to have discussions and um and look at if if we need to make any additional changes to the use of Chromebooks for instruction um but that being said, not only for instruction, but you know, there's also free time that happens and I think what got to me the most was um you know, I have a 2 and 1/2 year old grand baby and I'll see what appears to be a 2 and 1/2 year old kid in a shopping cart on a phone and I think as that kid gets to school and they might be

149spending x amount of time on their Chromebook at school and x amount of time you know, doing videos and whatever at home um I think we we just need to continue to have the discussion to make sure that we're doing the right thing for students. So, that's your motion? I would like to make a motion to agendize make sure I get this right. Agendize um the use of Chromebooks in the classroom for well, I'm just going to say the use of Chromebooks in the classroom. I'll second that. >> Okay, thank you. Any public comment? First time here, fourth time speaking. I'm so excited. I can't wait. My Wednesday babysitter is going to get a raise cuz I'm going to be here more often. Um I can't be more in support of continuing to have this

150conversation about Chromebooks in the classroom. I think the data that keeps coming out is really devastating about what that does to the kids and what that does to our development for our kids in um learning and creating a safe place to learn on um the campuses that we provide as a district. A little hilarious that introducing new technology, now we're trying to pull it back cuz we're realizing how how it is to kids. Interesting that we're having that conversation in this meeting as well. Hi again, my name's Kelly. Uh I just want to say that I appreciate that you are examining the updated data because um it has bothered me as a parent to think that my kid's going to be on a screen as much as I've heard um in some of the older

151grades. He's in kindergarten now, so really no screens, but um I thank you very much for looking into that and I I do hope that there will be less time spent on on the Chromebooks. Thank you. Any other comment from the public? Um let's see. So, we had a motion and a second by me. Um and I get I think we have some opportunity to discuss this and so um doesn't come as a surprise that I'm in full favor or full um approval of discussing this more. We've made some what I consider to be substantial changes in regards to um our board policy in regards to the use of technology, the use of um constructive um technology use. Um but I'm very Treat Miss much anticipated. This. I I just want Oh, okay. Well, I

152just wanted uh the public to know that um if you haven't uh looked at the revised board policy, one of the major policy decisions was that Chromebooks are not going to be sent home with elementary school students at all. Um so, I don't didn't know if you saw that policy update, but I think it's an important one. All right. Um so, if there's no further board discussion, did you want to make a comment? Uh Question, a question. >> process. I know I know we have a process for agreeing to put something on a future agenda, but now I'm confused about the sequence of that action. Do we decide tonight I think what we're deciding um tonight is just if we are um in favor of putting it on a future agenda. Got it. I'm not

153making um changes with the any policy or anything. Thank you. Okay. Um And I think it would be I mean, if you decide to do this, then I would be working with the president and then also the motion maker and we'd figure out what's an appropriate meeting to have this on a future agenda. Thank you. Are you comfortable with that? Okay. Let's go ahead and vote all together. All those in favor of um adding this to our future agenda to be determined um regarding the date, um but just we're just uh basically saying that we'd like to see this on our future agenda. All those in favor, signify by saying I. I. Opposed? All right, this passes 4 to 0. Okay. Moving along um to adjournment, um is there a motion to adjourn this meeting?

154I so move. Is there a second? I'll second. We have a motion um by member Hayes and a second by uh Vice President Olsen. Let's go ahead and vote. All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? All right, this passes. Meeting adjourned.