001Good evening. Welcome to our board meeting. The board just returned from close session and while in close session, the board took action to approve ratify the final settlement agreement and general release dated January 11, 2026 between parents and district and student versus Dwarte Unified School District special education due process case O case number 2025009A pursuing 2 which the district has agreed to fund and provide educational services to the student and the students parents have agreed to release claims against the district in exchange for educational services as specified in the agreement. It was moved by Mr. Tom Reyes and second by Dr. Finley and all board members vote in vote in favor. Will not I call the meeting to order at 7:07. >> Roll call. Dr. Finley >> present. >> Miss Holene >> here. >> Dr.
002Hasso >> here. Mr. Reyes >> here. >> Raina Diaz here. I would like to ask Mr. >> [laughter] >> Madam President, >> sorry, >> Madam President. >> Yes, >> you missed. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Alexis, I put you in a little box. I'm sorry. [laughter] >> Alexis, student rep >> here. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Reyes. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Prao, please, would you please lead us in a flag salute? >> Please stand. Put your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Just take a a moment of reflection before we continue with
003our meeting. If anyone need a translation, we have our dear your friend up there. I'm not good with names tonight. Um Leo Leo, please raise your hand. So okay, I will ask Dr. Finlay, would you please lead us with the believe mission vision and mission? Absolutely. I will. All righty. We believe we are a community of learners. We believe learning occurs in a culture of caring and respect. We believe all students are motivated to learn when they are engaged in meaningful work that connects to their lives. We believe expectations do influence performances and outcomes. We believe learning increases when there are high expectations for performance and conduct. We believe we have the responsibility to find solutions that enable all students to learn. Our vision is 21st century schools producing 21st century students and our mission
004is to provide the knowledge, skills and inspiration for each student for success in college career and life. >> Thank you Dr. Finley. We now move uh to item number seven. Dr. Mr. >> Yes. I have one correction on the agenda. Um we had a clerical error in the um the uh safety plans. The SIPASS the school plans for student achievement that were included were the uh previous year 2024. So, um I would like for us to consider um adopting the safety plans to include the uh SIPs from November of 2025. That would be my correction. >> Thank you. Okay. May I have a motion to adopt the agenda as amended to correct item for 14.12026 27 school safety plan to include the SPSS approved in November 2025. >> So moved. Moved by Mr. Reyes, second
005by Miss Holin. >> Any [snorts] discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> The agenda has been approved. Okay, Dr. Mrano, let's hear about spotlight. I would like to invite Miss Dean to the podium. Um, we are going to be highlighting Maxwell Academy tonight. I see a lot of representation from Maxwell Academy. Let's give them a round of applause as they prepare [applause] to highlight their amazing school. >> Good evening board, Dr. Madano, cabinet and community especially from Maxwell Academy. Uh we welcome you to our spotlight uh this evening. Maxwell Academy is an international balorate world school and so we're focusing on one small aspect of that tonight. We're focusing on student agency. And student agency is the capacity of students to take ownership of their over their learning by exercising specifically voice, choice, and
006responsibility. Shifting from passive recipients of learning to active participants in learning. And so, um, I brought a bunch of teammates to help us, um, identify and, um, spotlight what agency looks like at Maxwell. if you would welcome our Maxwell teacher of the year recently um defined uh Miss Rose Alvarado. [applause] >> Um so in our youngest uh classroom we have the students are able to participate in their learning daily not only during the the centers in that are highlighted here but throughout their entire school day. Um students are able to engage in active learning. They are partic they are eng um communicating with each other. They are um they are given the instructions and they are able to do it in a way that they are able um to active um they're able to do
007it on their own. So everything is student driven. They are once they're done, they're able to go to different uh centers in the classroom that are all um designed and created so that students are able to um participate in their learning, but they have the choice to do so. They they have a writing center, a music center, they have dramatic play, and everything involved has letters, numbers, and shapes. everything that is designed um to be uh developmentally appropriate for the TK age. Um students are able to reflect on their learning because they are the ones that are engaging in the activities and so they know what they're supposed to be. They take ownership and pride of what they're able to do. They able to see where they started and where they end up at the
008end because they realize, oh, I was not able to do that at one point and now I can. And it is something that we help facilitate in the classroom so that they are able to do that daily. [applause] >> Thank you. Next slide, please. In the K8, um all all of the grades, um students are guiding their own goal setting. And so a way that they're showing that uh voice and ownership is the opportunity to look at where they are and where they would like to be going. And this is just an example of one way that one stu uh one teacher is using to help her students um to motivate them with the skills that they need to work on. And so there's a reward for achieving those goals that they've set for themselves
009when they get a bingo. Next slide, please. The next highlight I'd like to uh focus on is our fifth grade exhibition. And I'm going to invite those students to come and stand behind me as I talk about what they're going to talk about. The fifth grade exhibition is at the end of the primary year's program, which is the TK through five program. And it's an opportunity for students to explore the topics that they're personally interested in but that do impact our global community which helps them to demonstrate their own learner profile attributes and it culminates their IBP journey. So next slide and I'm going to turn it over to our group that is focused on the dangers of vaping. Good evening everyone. My um wait good evening everyone. and this is my exhibition group and
010we're going to talk about vaping. My name is Luna. >> My name is Jocelyn. >> My name is Liam. >> And my name is Jonathan. >> The the problem in research is vaping and why people are doing it. We learned that vaping makes people feel relaxed and uh some some people sometimes do it when they are stressed. really cool. >> Also learn that there are harmful chemicals like nicotine and other chemicals and vapes which is harmful for your lungs. And if you're wondering how to stop it, you can slowly slip water fuzzing um getting up the fuzziness in your brain and keeping your mouth busy by sucking on lollipops or chewing gum. Thank you all for our time listening to our speech on vape vaping. We would think Um, thank you all and we would
011like to invite you to our exhibition on Wednesday, May 20th at 6 p.m. [applause] And I believe you have actual invitations so that you can remember that date and time. Um, at that point, all of our fifth grade groups will be presenting their exhibition projects. Um and just a note with exhibition projects there's different styles and so the style of that group was on advocacy so they were enlightening you and that so presenting tonight was actually a part of their project. It's part of their action. Next slide please. My enrichment um something new this year to bring additional voice choice and ownership for our middle years program students offers um a variety of choice and they change every quarter um and we call it crazy Thursday right now. They do have their core classes on
012Thursday uh but then they have three short periods of either enrichment or intervention. Tonight we're focusing on enrichment and Miss Tanya Bachmann is here to share. [applause] >> Good evening. Um my name is Tanya Bachmann and I teach sixth grade math and science and um an eighth grade class of community project, a cooking enrichment class, and a knitting and crocheting class. And uh we're going to focus on the knitting and crocheting. It is a blast. Uh we are having so much fun. Um my students are teaching me so much. They are making squares. They are making headbands, clothing, u blankets, um animals, flowers. They're so excited to teach me, assuming that I will be able to learn as quickly as they are. Um they're having a great time. Every morning there's a group of young
013ladies who come to my class before school starts and they sit around and they crochet and they're just talking and having a great time together. It's not easy to learn something new. Um but these the students have kept at it. Um they have learned something challenging and rewarding. My hope is that through this class they've made some special friendships which um with students they might not normally come in contact with. They're very encouraging of each other and they're developing their um perseverance muscle. I often remind them that um they are going to experience problems um in the future and um they through this class and through learning how to crochet have already learned how to persevere and to not give up. And so when they deal with these problems later on, just to remind themselves
014that they already know how to do something difficult and they'll succeed in solving the problem. Thank you very much. [applause] And please help me welcome Miss Lai Andrade to talk to you about her experience in crochet and knitting. Next slide, please. >> [applause] >> Hello everyone. My name is Cali Andrade. I am a sixth grade student at Maxwell Academy. I am in the knitting and crocheting class. Reason why I joined this class is because of my grandma. She sparked an inspiration to me to learn how to knit and crochet. Um, and I'm a first time crocheter and I've knitted a headband and a sweater. I've so [laughter] sorry. I'm so happy to be in this class and I'm so happy that they have a class for knitting and crocheting. It is I'm very happy. I'm
015I've learned new ways to use my hands. I've learned new stitches. I've learned the process. I'm very happy of that they have this class and I'm very happy to learn every day at this school. Thank you very much and good night. >> [applause] >> Can we? Yes. I like to hurt. Yes. Thank you. >> Great job. Thank you. >> Next slide, please. So, there's uh S Liy with another crochet and knitting project, but a couple of other ones highlighted on this slide. You do see the cooking class as well as a robotics class focused on Lego robotics. Um hoping that we can expand that program into possibly competing. Um but again first year program some of the other ones without a middle school um sports program we've tried to bring that in as well. So
016we do have a football um a football enrichment a soccer enrichment um and we have mentoring groups ladies and boys to men continue to thrive um during this time as well. Next slide please. Finally the culmination of your IB experience at our school is the my community project. That's the eighth graders building upon what they did in fifth grade if they were with us or if not there's their middle years program. It's again a chance for the students to decide what they want to learn about. Think about what they already know. Discover what they'll need to know in order to complete the project, creating that proposal or criteria for completing it, and dealing with all the bumps in the road as they attempt it. So, if you would welcome, I have three students uh going
017to highlight their community project. If you would welcome them to the stage. Next slide, please. [applause] Hello everyone. My name is Preniti. >> My name is Abby. >> And I'm Kimberly. >> We are eighth graders from Maxwell Academy. in our community project is about helping children improve their reading skills and helping them enjoy reading in general. Our research covers the current situation with reading and kids which currently there's a study that shows between 2018 and 2023 the there was a de decrease in reading and increase in device usage which replaces that time. Our bene our research benefiting re our benefits with reading include uh helping with impulsivity and also hyperactivity. Uh next slide please. Next one. Next slide, please. >> Next slide, please. >> And the next one. >> Um, our action plan, our action
018plan includes researching all the way to making plans to build a mini library for Maxwell, which you can see, which you can see on the slides, the posters, and the mini library. Next slide, please. Our project's main goal is to help kids improve their reading abilities and help them enjoy reading as a whole. Next slide, please. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> And again, we'd like you to uh we'd like to invite you to join us for our community project showcase, which will be happening on May 12th from 5:30 to 6:30 uh in our middle year's courtyard area to hear about all of the eighth grade community projects. Next slide. That wraps it up. We want to thank you for your time and attention in spotlighting Maxwell tonight. >> Board, do you have any questions?
019[applause] >> Any comments from the board? >> No, thank you. Thank you very much. I was glad to see the kids up and participating. That's always good to see you young people. Takes a lot of courage. >> Thank you. >> We'll pay you care dollars tomorrow. [laughter] >> Anything else I can answer? >> Yeah. not not something necessarily to answer, but I was I was just thinking with uh Sally with your crocheting. Um have you thought about like making that a fundraiser or a small business or something? Because I I leaned over to Dr. Hasso here and I said, I wonder if she'll take my size, my measurements, [laughter] you talked about it in the past. >> Um no, but I plan to when I get better at my knitting and crocheting. When I get
020better at that first, then possibly I would sell some stuff. >> $29. >> Okay. [laughter] All right. Well, you you've got a couple customers up here already. >> And I I do want to also say her parents did let me know that there it's also helping her with her business skills because as you learn, you have to realize the price of the materials has to be subtracted from the profit. So, >> she learning that along the way as well. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um as well, I wanted I'm very impressed. Um, back in the day I used to crochet and knit. It's been a long, long time, but I got as far as a scarf and a blanket. That's incredible. [laughter] You did great. >> Congratulations. >> Feel free to come and join us
021at any time, Miss Holene. You can come and crochet and knit right along with us. >> Thank you. And on that note, before I leave, I do want to invite you all if anybody in the community or anybody um in the board ever has a specific talent that you would like to share, we're open to new ideas. Like we said, we switch these enrichment classes um every quarter. So um always thinking of new things. The big one right now is karaoke specifically with our um some of our included our inclusion students. Karaoke is real big right now. So if you want to come and showcase your singing talents, we welcome having you. Thank you all so much. Have a great night. >> I would like to ask you if you can please introduce your staff.
022>> Yes. >> I I would love to introduce them. Would you all stand up? >> Thank you. [applause] All right. Wave your wave your hand as I go through. So, you heard from Miss Bachmann and Miss Alvarado. Uh, in the next row we have Miss Heather Lickman, Miss Dana Alvarez, Miss Ashley Ramirez, our our senor who helped us. I appreciate it with the flag salute, Mr. Praau. Next to Mr. Prao is Miss Jennifer Brown. Continuing, Miss Kathy Ramirez. Pseudo staff member, Miss Alvarado's husband, who also has his Maxwell merch. >> [laughter] >> Right behind him is Miss Shelley Curious. Our classified uh employee of the year, Miss Cindy Duffin. [applause] Next to her, six seventh grade teacher, Miss Sabrina Smith. >> And next over there, we have our teaching and learning coach, Miss Tanya Lickman.
023[applause] >> Oh, there she is. And Miss Green, who I couldn't see is our newest RSP teacher. Welcome to the team, to her. And if I could have all of our families that came tonight, if you could all stand up, please. Thank you. [applause] We couldn't do what we do as a staff without you all as parents and uh supporters. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I will take the opportunity to um highlight someone that is very dear in my heart. It is a parent of Maxwell school but she went through Maxwell school through all the school and she graduate for Dwart from Dwarte High and her oldest son also went through Maxwell and all the Dwarte schools graduate from the high school and now she has a son in um the
024high school and a daughter at Maxwell. So >> a son at Maxwell too still. >> Yes. [laughter] Okay. And so I like to just tell that parents do make a difference. Thank you to all of you that are here tonight. And the one that I was referring is because I saw her when she was a baby and this is Stella Co Corona and her husband. They always support our community [applause] and they they are an excellent couple that really support our kids. And so I I extend that to all the gratitude to all the parents that you make the difference. The teachers are there to teach but you are at home to support your kids and thank you for doing the right work to all of you. Thank you. I also would like to introduce
025just to say hi to a dear friend that always come to our board meetings, Richard Moreno. Thank you for Oll. Thank you for being here tonight. [applause] Thank you. you. No, we're going to be have taking a picture right now with the kids, the stuff and then after the picture we will take five minutes recess with the parents and students and teachers everyone to please join us. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> [applause] >> here. >> Yeah. In fact, even a mouse like there's three items here always. No, sometimes sometimes there's like back there, >> but there's always these items here. All the time mouse keyboard. Wow. All right. Okay, we are returning for presentations. presentation on the annual update to the local control accountability plan LCAP and local control funding formula budget overview for parents.
026>> Dr. I'm going to ask Dr. Lawson to join us at the podium. She's going to be presenting on the annual update. This is anformational item for the board and I believe there is a clicker on the podium for your use if you would like. >> That's great. All right. So, just a continuation. We had a great time in our study session earlier. We talked about the dashboard. And the dashboard is directly linked to our LCAP. So, I'm going to give you the midyear update on our LCAP. Just quickly, what it stands for, local control accountability plan. This LCAP is our three-year plan that shows what we want to achieve for our students, what we will do to get to get them there, and how we will send our money to support those goals. We
027do receive um local control um money from the local control funding formula. That's the LCSF, LCFF, excuse me, is um California schools funding system. It provides money based on students and requires districts to plan and report how the funds support student success through the LCAT. So tonight I'm just going to give you updates on where we are with the metrics, where we are with our um actions as well as where we are with our expenditures and with the expenditures is to up to the around our first interim. So it has since shifted but when this was done it was um completed based upon our first interim data. So when it comes to our matrix, there's three buckets that we will be looking at and our reporting on that at this stage in the school year.
028We will either have um we will either know what our outcomes are. So they'll be known. They will either be in progress or unknown. When we look at our expenditures and the implementation of where we are with our actions, it will either show not started, in progress, or completed. So we have five goals that are in our LCAP. I'm not going to read them verbatim. Just know our first goal is basically how we're going to close the academic achievement gap. The second goal relates to our school climbing and culture. The third one talks about our family and community partner involvement. And then our fourth goal is kind of the nuts and bolts, all the things we have in place to help us meet our goals and service our families and unified. And then goal five
029is the money we receive for Mount Olive um our equity multiplier. So I have clustered the matrix. I'm not going to read all of them. I've clustered them according to those that are known, those that are not known, and those that are in progress. So as you can see, I've listed goals 1 point the AC metrics 1.1 and one through 113. These are all related to goal one. And as you can see, all of the areas for our under academic achievement, English learner progress, college and career readiness, and access and opportunity. All those are showing known. All of that data was in our EL um the California dashboard data that represent the information that we use in our metrics here. For metrics number two, this is the one with our welcoming school environments. And on
030this one, I've listed um the metrics that are known 2.1 to 2.5. And then we have a couple that are in progress. So I'll just kind of highlight the ones that are in progress and why with school connectedness that is our healthy kids survey. We are still analyzing those results. So the results aren't final yet. Our students and our teachers and families have completed the survey and those results are being analyzed and I will have that information um when I do the um the revised um LCAP in May. Um and then as far as school safety, we're still doing some trainings and so um that one is still showing in progress because over time there's some more things that need to be done and so that is why that one is showing in progress. And
031then as it relates to student discipline, all that data is known that is information that was on our spring dashboard data for metrics number 3.1 to 3.2. This is related to go three. These two are in progress as well. And with those with that information that's looking at the tools that we're using to enhance our communication and it is over the school year. So it's not something that's done at the beginning of the year. It will continue to be in progress until we are at the end of the year. And with our um parent and family focused events. These are events that are happening at our school site as well as some of the parent engagement opportunities we sharing through our special education parent collaboration and through our African-American parent collaboration through our DAC through
032our ELAC and events at the school sites. And that's a year- round progress process. And that's why that is also showing in progress. Goal four, all of our um goals, there's four of them, I mean there's three, 4.1 to 4.3, and those are all known at this time. And then goal five, this is our equity mult multiplier, 5.1 and 5.2, those metrics are also known. That's information that was in our dashboard as well. And then the next um section, we'll just kind of quickly go through the actions. I'm not going to go through all the actions. Again, it just kind of it identifies what the um action title is and the expenditures that have been allotted kind of where we are with our midyear expenditures and then the implementation process with a few notes in
033terms of where we are, what's been implemented, just kind of up to date to where we are with that. So, the information is there on our goal number one looking at how we provide those um supplemental services. Some are still in progress and kids that have gone to science camps, some schools still need to do that. We have some small group um supports that are in place and so some of these um actions actually take place over the course of the year which is why we show in progress there. And then actions 1.6 through 1.10, we're showing two which are still in progress, which is our high school reading intervention and our K8 intervention. We had targeted four. We identified we were able to hire two inter intervent inter intervention teachers and that is a
034process that's still going on throughout the year. And then with our multi-ter support system of support, we're still providing training and things are still being implemented and that's why that is showing in progress. Then for actions for goal one 1.1 to 113 you're there we're showing most of our areas have been completed with the exception of 113 which is professional development and again that's continues to be something we will continue to focus on all year. We have different levels to the professional development that we're offering for our staff. Then for goal point two are our our actions the one that's still in there's two that are still in progress looking at our enhanced campus security. There's still some more training to be um rendered to our teams. And then looking again at our professional development
035as it relates to conscious discipline. There's still some ongoing training monthly that is occurring at our school sites to support the implementation of conscious discipline. For goal three, we have two that are still in progress. The enhanced communication piece and then our family focus events ongoing. And then for goal four, pretty much all of those actions have been completed. And then for goal five, all those actions um those actions have been completed as well. >> And that's it. Any questions? >> Uh yes, Dr. Lawson. Uh so in uh some of the the budgetary items towards the end there so uh what does it mean when when there was an action that was completed but the the money that was allocated towards it was not all used. Does that mean it's um going to go somewhere
036else or what is what? >> So with some of these it's it could be a position that we're funding and it's going to take place over the year the course of the year. Some of it we're looking at how we how we're build and so some of those actions are paid over the course of the year. The the actual implementation of the action has been completed. >> I see. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other question? >> No. >> Thank you, Dr. Lesa. All right. Thank you. >> We now move to superintendent. Oh, I'm sorry. Report from the student board member. I'm sorry, my dear. [laughter] Hello everyone. I hope hope you are all having a great evening. Um this year has been off to a really good start. We have had many
037activities on campus with great success and great participation. Um at the end of January, our ASB class won leadership league champions against the five other schools in our league, representing our school with our pride and strong leadership skills. Um this past month, three of our winter sports, um boys soccer, boys basketball, and girls basketball all qualified for CSF. And we are so proud of their dedication and their hard work in their sports. And as our winter sports are coming to an end, our spring sports have begun this year. We have baseball, softball, stunt, track and field, and swim. Um at Dearti High School, we currently have over 70 international student ambassadors. Um these are students who act as buddies as international students um come on campus. Um they create a welcoming environment like bridging the
038cultural gaps and providing a friendly introduction to American high schools, specifically all the great things that DHS has to offer. Um this month DHS was hosting three different Chinese high schools for the 2026 winter visits. And over the last two weeks, we hosted over 20 students and teachers. Um, this international exchange program offers our students great leadership experience, giving them guidance to our international friends that we continuously have been receiving requests to schedule visits to come to our school. Um, as of now, we are currently preparing for students to visit from Japan and France, which we are very, very excited for. Last week was kindness week and it was a week that was filled with our students to be able to spread positivity um and gay um to other students on campus. Some activities we
039had we had bracelet making, we had uh like jump roping, we had card decorating, and then we had a mic set up at lunch like where students could come up and say like a positive message or a kind words to their friends. Um and then on Lunar New Year on February 27 uh February 17th, ASB hosted a lunch event where we got to offer foods and traditional um decorations and music and wishing our students a good luck and fortune for this year. Um tomorrow we are celebrating Black History Month. We are having a spirit day of c wearing cultural colors and we are having a lunchtime event where we will be honoring the culture with food and music. Next week is our winter rally. Um, it is themed off the TV show Stranger Things. And
040at the rally, we will be honoring our winter sports, our academic scholars, and also the senior hall of fame. The week leading up to the rally, we will be having a spirit week and like lunchtime activities, like just a fun like to get people excited for the rally that's on Friday. Um, this month has been really exciting and there's a lot more to look forward to. So, thank you Thank you. Okay, moving to item number 11, superintendent report. Good evening, President Diaz, Vice President Hasso, and Board of Education. Um, Alexis, our student board rep, uh, staff who's here and guests. It's great to see everyone this evening. Um, it's hard to believe that it's I just wrapping up my third month in our district. Um, it's gone by so fast and the month of February
041is going by incredibly fast. Um, it's been great to be visiting our schools and seeing our schools celebrate Black History Month, Lunar New Year. Um, and we as a district will be at the city Lunar New Year event on Saturday to be showcasing our schools to the community and um, the staff has really come together to prepare for that event and we're very excited to attend the event and highlight our schools as we are in the middle of enrollment season and capturing students to enroll in our amazing schools. I would also like to take a moment to thank our partners in DUEA, Dwarti um Unified Educators Association for their continued collaboration as we work together in support of our students, staff um and schools and we are grateful for the partnership and shared commitment that
042has guided our work in reaching our settlement. I'm we are also currently engaged with our CSCA um which is our classified employees association and we appreciate the collaborative approach that both teams have brought to the process. We remain committed working together in good faith as we support the important work happening across our district. We are continuing also to make progress in the planning for the relocation of Mount Olive Innovation and Technology um high school or as we call it MIT to the Darti High School campus. Um we will be looking to do that by August of 2026. And this coming week we are going to be convening a transition team. Uh Dr. Lawson, Mr. Haro, and Mr. Morris will be working on that. And that team will be made up of teachers, staff members, and
043students who will work collaboratively to support and plan for the relocation process. We will also be scheduling an evening meeting for families um from both MIT and DHS um to attend so they can learn more about the transition and share any input. This move address not only addresses our need to facil to um vacate the facility for the Crestfield development but also presents an opportunity to expand learning and connect connection of opportunities for both MIT and DHS students while of course preserving each program's unique identity. In addition, as you know, our we are exploring all options to expand our child development programming across our district. Child development serves students beginning at age 2 to age four um in our community. And as you may know, construction has begun at um the Beardsley campus to support
044this program with an anticipated fall opening of 2027. During this interim period, while we have kind of this year where we need to find additional space, we are expanding access by offering additional classes at Maxwell Academy next year where there is a um large list of families that want to access and also opening classes at Valley View Academy where we also have shown a lot of interest. And as you may see um in your mailboxes soon, some mailers are going to be sent to homes throughout our community uh highlighting our middle schools. Um we have middle school programs at Beardsley, Maxwell, and um Royal Oaks. And we are going to be highlighting our upcoming middle school showcases. So, the events um will take place um on March 2nd at Royal Oaks, March 3rd at Maxwell,
045and March 4th at Beardsley, all at 5:30 p.m. And I gave board members each a flyer. We also have some on the table, but if you live in our community, they will be hitting your homes as well. And this will provide families with an opportunity to learn more about our academic programs, student supports, and extracurricular opportunities available at our middle schools. And finally, um, we are proud to share that, um, in the coming two weeks, uh, Royal Oaks Seam Academy will be recognized in Long Beach at the California Schools to Watch ceremony, which is we celebrated them at our last board meeting. And we're really excited to recognize um, this award for our school and we look forward to celebrating this achievement with the Royal Oak student, staff, and families. That concludes my report. >>
046Thank you. Um, we now move to item 12, request to address the board. Dr. Midreno. The first card I have is Lillian Cabra. >> We'll have a timer for three minutes. >> Oh boy. Three minutes. All right. the board of supervisors again, but they gave us one. Okay. So, I'm here today because of the concern that I have um with the children coming home and from Dwarti High School. Have two there now, grandchildren. I've been in your school districts in 1978 when I moved here from the city of Pasadena. So, they're telling me that Mount Olive is being uh you know, sent over to the high school. So, I would like to know your plan. I know you mentioned that the the parents are going to be involved. The parents should have been involved in
047the first beginning of it all because the parents are the ones that have to be able to uh you know find out what's going on with um Mount Olive. Why are they be just found out because of the project Crestfield project which I'm okay. I'm just it's just it's just uh hard to say that you as uh the ones that are governing our school district and then the parents are not even being told. I I'm going to be there at that meeting and I'm going to be asking those questions, but you need to let us know because our the parents are involved, the grandparents are involved. They live in my home, so of course I'm involved. Things have to be changed. You have to communicate, educate, communicate, and let us know what's happening. Um, so
048I'm I'm sure I should be getting a phone call or some kind of uh information so that you will let us know that these things that are happening with the children, they're concerned. The Darty kids are concerned. You know, like long time ago, of course, Mount Olive has changed in its way of presenting itself from the de years that I remember it. So, I just need to know these things from you and for you to keep up the communication open so that we don't have to sit up here and guess. Thank you. >> Thank you. And the next card is Patty Never. We just call the names up and um as we receive them timer will be for three minutes. >> Okay. We had a order we wanted to go through in order for it
049to make more sense, but that's okay. I'll go ahead and go first. Um and I concur with the parent regarding DHY High School because I also have a student there and I was not made aware um regarding the schoolside council. you guys did address it there, but there's only two to three parents that go for that meeting. But I'm here to talk about um Valley View. Um my child is currently in a classroom that is now being placed into a situation the district already knows has caused harm to another group of students. You have you will hear of other students and parents that have experienced um regarding these concerns. Um the most concerning part is that this was not unexpected. The district has had knowledge of what is going on. Um leadership acknowledged the emotional
050and structural impact. When harm is known and documented, the responsibility shifts to the district to prevent it from happening again. Instead, the burden is placed on other classrooms. So my son goes to um fourth grade and is in a combo class and a student is being moved around from classes to classes causing certain types of disruptions. And that's why I want another parent to go first. But that's okay. Um, this can also it has potential harm while the situation is still unresolved. Our children should not be the ones observing the consequences of an administrative problem. They should not have to adapt to instability in order for the system to figure out the solution. The solution should not move the problem. The solution should be to resolve it. DH Unified School students have the right to
051have a safe and stable learning environment that requires proactive planning, appropriate placement decisions, and leadership that protects students before harm occurs, not after. We are asking the board and district to ensure that the district implements proactive safety and placement solutions. classrooms are protected from known and preventable risk. Students and teachers are not placed in environments that have already proven to be unsafe or unstable and that there is clear communication, accountability, and oversight to ensure this does not continue to repeat. This is not about blame. This is about responsibility. The district has both authority and the obligation to protect our students. We are asking you use this authority to ensure safe learning for every children. Um I was not made aware about this situation until another parent brought it to my attention and that it was
052also concerning to me as a DE um district. I in the district I did receive an email from the high school and I wanted to read part of it to you which I think should have happened at the elementary school. They informed us on February 3rd. It says, "I am writing to inform you of an incident that occurred at the school today and to provide reassurance regarding the safety of our students and staff. Earlier today, we implemented a brief shelter in place in response to an outburst involving a student as a precautionary measure and in alignment with our established safety procedures. Students and staff remain in the classroom while the situation was addressed." They go on to say how it was resolved, what happened without giving any specifics because I know there's a lot of
053privacy issues. Um, but they made us aware that there was something happening. So when my son told me something happened at the school, I was happy to see that there was an email that he just didn't just come tell me, hey mom, there was a soft lockdown. Oh, this happened. He gave me the details, but I had gotten information from the school. I would like that to happen at Valley View. There is no communication with incidents like this. They should really be addressed. >> Thank you. We were having an issue with the timer. Um so we will keep time up here. Sorry. Okay. I'm going to go ahead and call the next card. Elina Sarayan. He's very nervous. Is it okay if I stand next to her? >> Of course. You have three minutes. We'll
054go ahead and start the timer up here. I think >> my name is Yayan and my son was actually a victim. >> Just one second, please. One second. Like this. My son was a victim of uh Penelopey who is uh in the fourth grade. We're talking about um Value Elementary School, fourth grade. So she slapped my son uh this neck area and she picked a chair and she actually hit my son and he came home with bruis with bruises and um and uh um Yeah. And um I I started this complaint but uh I was always uh told that oh we are working on it and every time that girl turns crazy they are removing all those normal children outside because of her and um yeah what else? Yeah. And and honestly a lot of
055stuff happened. I'm just a little bit nervous. I don't know. I don't know what to say. But this situation we with parents we talked in the who we talked to the district leadership. >> Yes. the district leadership and we're hoping that this situation can be um improved and uh our children can be say can be saved because if we are parents we cannot um who's going to think about our our kids safety if if it wasn't if it's not us. So somebody has to take care of our children. >> Okay. Thank you. We'll reset the time. Next card is Anhelica Synindelar. >> Hi. Uh, good afternoon or good evening. My name is Anelica Synindelar. My son goes to Valley View or grade. Um, his teacher was previously Miss Pesco. Now is Miss Yang. And in
056the interest of time, I'm going to read a statement I prepared so I can stay on topic and just write to the three minutes if you don't mind. And the reason Patty said that we were going to go in order, we kind of wanted to open this discussion with uh me presenting this statement to you and then presenting somebody that went through a situation with the the placement of a student and then now Patty's son is in the other classroom where the student is now placed. Um, so I'm here because my child and their classmates classmates experienced months of class classroom disruption, repeated evacuations, and loss of instructional time due to a student placement that resulted in ongoing safety issu incidents. The students were required to leave classroom on multiple occasions. These repeated disruptions affected
057their ability to learn and their sense of safety. During one of the incidents, their teacher was physically injured while students were present, which had a lasting emotional impact on the classroom. Additional support is now being offered um to help students process what they experience. Parents raised concerns and met with school and um district leadership to share the impact the students have and to ask for to please have preventive solutions. Children cannot learn effectively when their classroom environment is unstable and unpredictable. We respectfully ask the board and the district leadership to ensure proactive support and placement decisions are in place so that all student have a safe and stable learning environment. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, uh Richard Navarete. We'll start the timer for three minutes. >> Okay. Good evening, superintendent. Um or members. Um
058good to see some faces here. Been a minute since I've been here. But um I'm also a parent. You guys know I'm a parent of two students now in the DH district. And um I'm just going to echo some of the words that the previous parents have um already mentioned. I'm here because a serious [clears throat] incident occurred on the campus involving a student physically assaulting a teacher and parents were not informed. This is not about gossiping. This is not about uh violating students privacy. This is about safety and transparency. When violence happens on campus, especially against a teacher, parents deserve to know that number one, our children are safe. Staff is protected. There is clear response and prevention and a plan in place. California law protects students confidentially. I understand that. We understand that.
059But privacy laws do not prevent the district from communicating that an incident occurred outlining what safety measures are being taken. Three things. Silence creates fear. Silence creates rumors. Silence endors trust. If a teacher can be insulted without communication to families, what message does that send to campus safety? We send our children to school expecting structured, supervised, and secure environment. Teachers deserve uh a safe workplace. Students deserve a safe classroom. Parents deserve transparency. So tonight I respectfully asking if there's lack of communication from the school itself would the board be committed to improving communication with families moving forward. This is not about punishment. This is not about accountability or prevention. Trust between families and the district is built through proactive communication, not reactive damage control. As parents, we are partners in the children's education, but partners
060requires information. Please do not let serious safety issues be handled quietly. Our children are watching how adults respond to violence. Let's model transparency, responsibility, and leadership. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next we have Heather Lickman. >> Good evening. You get a different Heather tonight. Know you're used to Heather Mesner, but she's unable to make it. So I am here on behalf of the union with our treasurer as well. I am our union secretary and Dana, one of our reps. Um, just to thank you all for the collaborative effort that we had in our negotiations. I know it's been a long process that we've been going through. I know Mr. Crosby has been an active member of all that. So, we just want to thank you and we look forward to continuing that collaborative
061process with you all. Thank you. >> Thank you. That concludes our public comments. >> Thank you. We now move to general functions. I need a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 15, 2026. May I have a motion? >> Moved by Mrs. Holin. >> Second by Dr. Finlay. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. Thank you. Move to approve the consent calendar. The next item business of business is the adoption of the consent calendar. Does anyone want to remove any item for separate discussion or action? >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Okay. Mr. Reyes, move to approve this consent calendar with the exception of number six, conference attendance. >> Item number six. Okay. Okay. Um, I need a motion to approve the consent calendar. >> You need a second. >> I'm sorry.
062>> I made the motion. >> Right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. It was moved by Mr. Reyes, second by Rosa Holgin. Okay. Okay. I am then I it was it was moved and second to approve the consent calendar to with the uh exception of item number six. All in favor? >> I I >> I thank you. Okay, we now we now move to approve the consent calendar. No, I'm sorry. that I consider the item number six for discussion. >> I make a motion to approve item number six. I'll second. >> Okay. Move moved by Mr. Reyes, second by Dr. Finley. Discussion. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I added up all these conferences. I don't know if the rest of you did. >> [snorts] >> six close to $67,000. I was shocked, but when I
063sat down with Dr. Madrono, she told me that this is not coming out of the general fund. So, I released and and was able to breathe. So, please let us know, tell the public what funding is is uh what is funding all this. >> Yes, some of the big ticket items on here. Yeah, we do have quite a bit. Um the the I'll kind of focus on the two the last two items if that's okay. Um some of them are no cost to the district like we're attending the schools to watch um event. Um but if you look at uh let me see it's on the PLC at work in Sacramento in July. Um we're looking to take our principles and our district leadership to a conference about uh how we work together to build
064a collective efficacy with our teachers. So it is uh we're we're preferring to go during the summer in order to avoid taking principles off site during the school year. Um and that is actually using uh uh educator effectiveness funds uh that are used to improve outcomes for students is very much aligned to that and those are one-time monies that are expiring this year and that is um uh there's another conference on here that Dr. Lawson is attending that's also using that money. Um and then the final one there that um last one that is a CTE conference that is out of state is also using CTE specific monies that is from a grant. So none of this will impact our general fund. >> Thank you. >> Okay, it was moved and second to um approve
065item number six. And all in favor? >> I >> Thank you. We now move to item number three which is the uh 2026 CSBA delegate assembly election. Um cast a vote for 2026 CSBA delegate assembly election. There are two vacancies in sub region 23. A deadline for submission is March 16, 2026. The candidates are Na Fared Glendel Unifi, Jennifer Hall, Lee Pasadena, Kimberly Kin, Pasadena, and Emily Wesber Burbank. There is only one incumbent, which is the one from Pasadena, and the board might elect two votes for up to two candidates. So, >> do you right now? I I need a motion to >> Well, I'll move to approve uh Kimberly Kenny. I know her from Pasadena and uh she's been on the board for quite some time. And uh Emily Weissberg uh from Burbank. >>
066Okay. I think that I need a a motion and second motion by you and then get the names. Right. >> Second. >> Right. >> I don't know if anybody else wants to choose someone else. >> I have the same strategy. Okay. Um and Holin second. Okay. Uh Mr. uh Reyes the one from Kimberly Kane. >> Kenny. Yes. >> Okay. Kenny and uh Rosa. Oh, and the second one. >> Emily Weissberg. >> Yeah. >> Okay. He's moving. So, Rosa did motion on the second. Yeah. Okay. I can if it is any other nomination. Do you have any other nomination? No. Okay. All in favor or I need to ask for a vote. No. All in favor? >> I. Thank you. >> So we have nominee Kimberly Kaney and Emily Wesburg. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, we
067now move item number four, receive for information the construction and modernization project update. >> I have a question. >> Go ahead. >> It it talks about additionally trees currently located at Andrew Dearti site will be carefully removed and relocated for replanting at Beardsley where feasible. Um, I never got an answer on what trees are those. >> I will have to follow up with which specific trees, but I did get a little more information uh on the trees, but if you want the specific trees, I will have to follow up on that. Okay. >> Yeah. I want to know what and where it's going to be placed over at Bearsy because there's not a lot of room. >> Got it. We'll take note of that and follow up on the those specifics. >> Thank you. >>
068Okay. Continue with personal student services 2026 comprehensive school safety approved the comprehensive school safety plans. May I have a motion? >> So move second. >> Moved by Miss Holin, second by Dr. Finley. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. We move to educational services annual update to the local control accountability plan LCAP and local control funding formula budget overview for parents BOP. Receive for information the annual update of the local control account plan. We move to item number two in educational services 2025 2026 and of the articulation calendar receive for information 2025 2026 and of the year articulation calendars. President Diaz. Yes. I did note that there were a couple of items missing and particularly the middle school showcases. So, I wanted to just add those to the articulation calendar. So, um
069can I see this real quick? Sure. I I have a I know Royal Oaks was on there for March 2nd, uh 5:30 to 7. Um if we could add Maxwell, March 3rd, 5:30 to 7:00, and Beardsley March 4th, 5:30 to 7. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, we now move to um item number 15, public hearing regarding AB1200 public disclosure and tentative agreement between the Dwarte Unified School District and the Dwarte Unifi Education Association DUA. Do I have a motion to open to the public hearing for item 15.1? Motion to open the public hearing. >> Motion by Dr. Finley. Second. >> Second. Or did you second? >> Second. >> Okay. Second by Dr. Hasso. Now the public hearing is now open. >> Oh, I'm sorry. All in favor? >> I. >> Now the public hearing
070is now open. Since I don't see anybody, I move to close. >> Moved by Mr. Reyes that close the open hearing and second by Dr. Hassel. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Okay. Continue with item number two. AB 1200 public disclosure and tentative agreement between the Dwarte Unified School District and the Dwarte Unified Unified Education Association DUA. May I have a motion to approve? Move to approve. >> Moved by Dr. Hasso, second >> Second by Dr. Finley. Any discussion? >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam President. Uh I just I I want to echo uh some of the comments that were made by Heather Lickman earlier. I I very much appreciate the the collaborative nature of the negotiations. I know that they were longer than I think anyone uh wanted, but I
071think that it ultimately got us to a good place. And I I really want to express gratitude to all those who took part in that because um it it takes a lot of patience and uh thought and collaboration to do something like that and so I'm really glad that we we got there. Um so thank you to all who participated in that. >> Any other comment? >> Yes. I'd like to thank Dr. Madron because I don't think I I don't believe that if she was wasn't here, it would have happened. You know, she she helped she was very instrumental in making sure that this happened and that uh she went over and and over and above what what she needed to do, what she shouldn't have had to do. and uh I just want to
072show my appreciation because it it's it's making it's making a difference in this district with you being here. Thank you. >> Any other comment? >> I just echo what Mr. Reyes said. Um I think we have all um endured this process with wanting to fairly compensate our teachers and it just feels really good to be able to do that. So, thank you for your leadership and uh great to be where we are tonight. >> Okay, I do echo what uh my colleagues have shared, but I also like to tell um to say that uh Mr. Crosby uh play a very important role in that during that time. And so I appreciate the efforts that I know it was not easy and um it was tough but finally a a a team really worked and we
073got to the point that we can relax for at least for this year. [laughter] Thank you Mr. Crosby and thank you Dr. Mr. [clears throat] >> Thank you so much. Uh along with DEA's team, um our our team that had Dr. Lawson and Mr. Haro that was part of our negotiating team too uh did an exceptional job working through. Thank you for Dr. Madano coming in and and helping uh move us across that line as well. And just again what the DUA said, the collaboration and working together to make a final settlement. it did uh last longer than we wanted and but I believe that we have a good deal going forward. >> Thank you. >> We now move along. Um um item number three services proposal with alignment for in say that we didn't
074vote. >> I didn't approve. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> Just try to prolong it a little more like to keep celebrating. [laughter] Any other discussion? Any opposition? None. Seeing none, motion is carry. Okay. Moving to ser uh item number. I say they none of them say no. So I [laughter] they none of them say. Okay. We want to say I >> I see. Okay. [laughter] Okay. Much much >> we we really did want to approve this. [laughter] >> Oh my gosh. Okay guys, come on. We are almost there. We're almost there. [laughter and clears throat] Item number three, services proposal with the enlightening for the early childhood classroom relocation plan and health center relocation plan. May I have a motion? >> So move. >> Moved by Miss Holine. Second. >> Second by Dr.
075Finley. There is any other discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Motion approved. Um item number four, resolution 11-25-26 developer fee annual report for fiscal year 24 2024 2025. May I have a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Moved by Mr. Reyes. Second. >> Second by Dr. Hasso. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I >> Thank you. >> Motion approved. Resolution 12-25-26 of the board of the board of education of the Dwarte Unified School District for the designation of applicant of applicants agents resolution for nonstate agency agencies. May I have a motion? So move >> moved by Miss Holin, second by Dr. Hasso. Any discussion? Can you elaborate a little bit in this one? I don't know why it doesn't resound in my head right now. >> This is a a resolution
076that we have to approve in order to receive some reimbursements for some of the damage caused about last January. So Mr. Crosby, >> yes. Damage specifically that happened at DHS High School with the tree that fell down. Um so we have to um have this design designate so that we can um have some funds returned. >> Thank you. Okay, we come to the non-aggenda items >> for vote. >> Oh, I'm sorry. See, I'm I'm in a hurry, right? It has been a long day. >> It has been a long day. >> Okay. Um if there is any other discussion, all in favor? I >> I >> Okay, motion approved. We now come to non-aggenda items. Okay, Dr. Finley. >> Yes, Madam President. >> Go ahead. >> Do do I have the floor here? >> Please.
077>> All right. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Um, so I um I was really impressed with uh the Maxwell students and teachers and staff that came this evening. And in particular, I I really liked uh something that was spoken of at the beginning of the presentation uh that talked about student agency. And it it brought back a memory to me when I was I was probably in fourth or fifth grade, something like that. And um and my mom said she said it was it was after I I think I probably said something, you know, I was giving an excuse like so and so made me mad or so and so made me do this or my brother did this or something like that. And I remember her saying to me, she said, "James,
078are you a rock?" And I said, "Well, I've been I mean, some people have said I'm dumber than a rock, but I don't think I'm a rock." Um, and and I just remember her saying she said she said, "There are things in this world that are acted upon and there are things in this world that act. And you are something that can act. You have agency. you have choices that you get to make every single day. And I just remember that as being um a very empowering feeling. And I love that the students at Maxwell are being taught that because I really feel like when when you're a student, you just feel like you're being told, "Go to this classroom, do this homework, do this, make sure your chores are done, get good grades, all
079those things." And you you really feel like you don't have any agency. Um, but then all of a sudden you you're you get thrust into a world where you have to make choices and those choices have consequences. And so I really love that they're they're teaching them um at a young age that they have power that they have the ability to make choices that have good and bad consequences. And so I think that's just uh it's it's something that is very intuitive. Everybody knows they're not a rock. Um but not everybody really thinks about what that means and what the implications of that are. So I I was just really um touched by that idea that that is being um taught to the students there. And I I hope that all of our students get
080that message one way or another that that they are really here to take action because through agency and action comes growth. And so I'm I'm just thrilled that that was something that's being taught at Maxwell and hopefully at all our campuses. Um and uh our our student board rep here talked about um the the visiting international students. Um that is fabulous that we get to showcase our city and our school district to people from the other side of the world. uh that that is something that I think um really uh teaches our students much more than they're probably hearing from a lot of politicians these days. Um that that people that are different from us um come from a different place, speak a different language, eat different food, all of those things add richness to
081our lives and and we're we're here for that. I was making a comment earlier in a meeting that one of the the best parts about Darti is our diversity and I I value that so much and I really think that that'll be something that will pay dividends uh to our students uh throughout their entire lives. So I'm really pleased to hear that that's something that is uh openly received at Darty High School. Um, anyway, I think that's all I wanted to say, but but um, thank you to again to to Maxwell and and also thank you to the the parents that came and spoke tonight. I know it is not an easy thing to do always, especially when you're you're speaking about something that that conjures up some emotions. So, I really uh appreciate um
082all those that came out and spoke this evening. I think that's really important. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Finley, Dr. Hasso. Thank you. Um, wanted to start by um, acknowledging the great work presented tonight by Maxwell. Um, coming off of the dashboard and getting into, you know, the nitty-gritty of, um, performance indicators and ELA and math. Um, it's just nice to see those other elements of education at play in our school sites. And so, um, you know, those soft skills of having agency and advocacy and, um, resiliency, those are skills, you know, that go beyond, you know, the reading and the writing and the math. And so, it was great to see those in action. Um, I wanted to give a shout out to the Royal Oaks PTO. Um, they held a really
083incredible event. I It might have been last week or the week before. This has been like the longest um quickest month, but um they hosted a crafting for a cause and so was an opportunity to um have a family night where kids and their family members came together um after school hours, but they used it as a fundraiser to raise funds for the immigration resource center here in San Gabriel Valley. And um you know James mentioned the diversity of our community and that is one of the you know beauties of our community um that is currently at risk. And so to see a PTO come together and raise funds to protect um you know the families that that we serve in our communities was really um just something special and I wanted to honor them
084for that. Um they raised almost $800 um and doing it in a really fun way. So wanted to give them a shout out. Alexis, you talked about the students. I'm sorry, the sports teams um going to CIF. And so that is really exciting. Not only do we have so many options when it comes to sports, we have really good programs and really talented um students and coaches out there um who are who are getting our kids to CIF. So, it's really exciting. I got to see a little blip of a boys um their first CF CIF uh soccer game. So, that was great. Um and then finally, Dr. Dr. Madrono and I went up to the Bradberry City Council meeting this week and um just took some time to share with them the highlights about
085our school and so we are their you know public school agency and so we're able to share with them um you know our academics as well as the programs that we offer and so just remembering that we have um that extended part of our school community as well. So um and thanks to the parents for coming out and speaking um and for joining our meeting tonight. Thank you, Dr. Hasso. I gonna move to Alexis. >> Thank you. Um I wanted to spotlight um Maxwell cuz I love to see what they're doing there. Um to get a little more personal. My little sister um recently moved to Maxwell like the middle of the school year this year. Um when my mom was signing her up, they were telling her like, "Oh, this is the Sunshine School."
086And when I drop off my little sister in the morning, like you could really see it. Like the people are the staff members are out there like welcoming the students, starting the day off really well. Uh my sister's a little more shy and like the principal goes and personally walks my sister into school every morning. Um like my mom was telling me that in the office they all know her by name and they're just very sweet and I love that. My sister has that. Um, so yeah, I'm happy to see all the things that they're doing at their school. Um, also I also want to talk about the teacher agreement as a student at DHY High School. Like seeing this agreement um, work out, it's like really improved our students because being able to see
087our teachers doors open during lunch, during break, after school, in the mornings to get that extra help like really helps our students. And so now that we have that again, like I'm very thankful for that. And then also I want to talk about um real quick to shout out Rosa because she was there last week for our kindness week. Um like we had a thing called pancake pals and she was there serving pancakes and it was nice to see her there just because it was like a small little activity for our 10-minute break like she was there. So yeah, thank you. [laughter] >> Okay, Mr. Reyes. Thank you. Some of you, I don't know, um, if you're driving on Central or if you've been around Pamela Park lately, there's been a lot of graffiti. Um,
088and it's not been good graffiti. >> And so, if you see it, please call to have them you know, paint over it right away because what happens is if it sits there, then the other the kids other opposite gang, right? They're going to go over there and tag it and and it just what happens is the tensions increase. So, as soon as it can get removed, if you see it, please call public safety office and let them know, okay, where it's at, the location. Um they all of all of Westminster Garden, the entire wall, they stretched it all out and did that one one uh evening. They hid across the street on Central on the south side of the street um across from Andrew Stardy and Pamela Park has been getting hit the the gym
089walls and the walls that that surround it. Um and and it just it it's very it's very discouraging, very disappointing, you know, because uh this leads unfortunately in the past it's led to more more violence, okay, and the the young people and it's been, you know, black and brown activity. And so hopefully, you know, it's it's not a big thing, but we need to be aware. We need to be aware of it. Um, I went to uh I went to North View to the gym on Saturday to go watch our our young people, our young athletes play basketball. Uh, Royal Oaks has a team and Valley View has a team and they played St. Gabriel and unfortunately we lost. I mean, St. Gabriel had this Asian kid that towered everybody else. He looked like he
090was 16 years old. It was uh what was that? The Chinese guy that played in national >> yaing always. They had a ya. Oh my gosh. But they played well. They did a great job. You know, I had brought this up over a year ago about repairing the bleachers there at Northview Gym and it still hasn't happened. You know, um the stains from the water that came in, they didn't repair it properly. What they ended up doing is like throwing the acrylic on top of it. And I and I sent Dr. drawn all the pictures so she could she could address it. Um, just to let you know, board. Okay. Uh, mentioning uh, Pamela Park, Dr. Madano has been going down there to the Madtown Council meeting for the last few months. And um in
091the beginning she introduced herself or I introduced her and it's a Madtown Council meeting. It's every third Wednesday of the month and she had uh the the first uh her second second time she appeared um she had Maxwell's principal highlight all the good things about Maxwell. And then um last week it was uh or last night, right? Last night it was Mount Olive and Mr. Crosby was there and and he presented um the Mount Olive principal and also um the the Head Start, right, child development. and they both gave presentations and the people were were happy that they were there. Um, this is a real important thing to make a connection, you know, with the school district cuz this has never happened. It's never happened and I'm glad to see that it's happening, you know,
092cuz the community down there, they they they deserve to know what what's going on, you know, and not be left in the dark. when we had um the teacher in what was the teacher in service or that >> professional development. Um I went into the it was in the new gym and uh I had brought up about getting a custodian when the gym first opened to make sure that things were maintained properly and uh went into the bathrooms. I was very disappointed. They were not clean at all. You know, stains are still on the floor that had been there more than a month ago. And we needed $33 million. We need to take care of what we have, you know. Um I don't know if we ever hired a person for that, but that's what
093I had requested and and I'm guessing it never happened. The the bleachers were filthy. There's stains from soda, drinking soda, and things like that. What is interesting is when we were at Dorti High School, okay, we used to have rules that no food inside the gym and now I see all this food in there and it's not they're we're not cleaning up after it and that's unfortunate. I also saw the team up on the second floor where it's supposed to be the wrestling dance room and they were eating up there as well. You know, um we only allowed liquids at the original gym, the high school in the past, especially when we had redid the floor. We were we were very critical about anybody bringing anything in. Um, and I think we need to look
094at that revisit cuz I don't know if that changed between 2020 and 2024 when I was off the board, but I know prior to that. Okay. Um, we were very very very careful. So, I hope you know we can look into that to improve um improve that. The reason that gym was built, the new gym the way it is with the glass is because the people were supposed to eat in there and then go inside to enjoy the game once they were finished eating. That's why you you have that glass wall. Um and I guess somebody missed that. Um there was one more thing. Oh, the school school safety the budget. I went on this on the walks and um they were very very informative. The couple that uh that is um the consultants, you
095know, the husband was telling me that his budget was cut in half, his contract was cut in half. So I asked him what was it and it was $20,000 and we cut it in half to 10 grand. And I asked him, "What does he charge to visit one school?" And he said, " $6,000." And he's been visiting eight schools, okay, for $10,000. I don't think that's fair that we did that to him and and his wife, that's their company. You know, there he's gone over and beyond what he needs to give us. And there was training that also got cut um with the staff because you know he was cut his budget was cut in half. But we need to make sure and we should honor the original agreement you know make that I hope
096we can make that happen please. And um oh and unfortunately I went to the soccer game CIF and we didn't make it to the next level. The same with a basketball game at Edgewood. We didn't make it, you know, but our kids on both both those teams, they gave it their all and I'm proud proud proud of them all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Hog. Last but not least, um I want to thank um Dr. Lawson. Thank you for your presentation on the dashboard. I know it took a lot of time. Was very informative. And Mr. Crosby, thank you um for all your work with the negotiations. I know it took a lot of time, patience, and tears and sweat, I'm sure, but it's over. Thank goodness. Um I want to thank Maxwell. Um
097they did an incredible job and um I did also go to the game. I went to the basketball game and to the um soccer game. Yeah, it was disappointing, but they really tried hard. And I was also at the school. I um Tracy and I and um Gabby, we made pancakes over at Chef um Prince's um classroom >> and um we gave them to the kids. It was a lot of fun. Um, I believe we did 400 pancakes and they loved them, but we had a great time. But anyways, thanks to everybody u for all your hard work. Have a good evening. >> Thank you, Miss Hogan. >> Um, it has been u a really a long um a long day because rain kind of keep us inside the house. But I was able to
098really check I mean recheck the entire um uh board meeting and it was not only one board meeting, but I I really appreciate all the effort of the board for being informed and be ready to vote on many items that we don't explain, but we know what we're doing. But I also know that we have the right information. I also will like to say thank you to the parents that came today and express themsel. Uh it give us uh we we we we read all the reports that we get from the superintendent and we are we ask her uh we are not allowed to go publicly and say what we talk between the the us and her because there is a lot that we need to uh to keep uh the uh students uh privacy
099but we know that there are certain steps that are taken and so I I really appreciate all the parents that came to express their concern and also the parents that came from Maxwell School to show their support. It was a a very interested meeting. Um but I just like to give um just couple of minutes of my time to Dr. Finley to say the difference between being student and I will say it at Duart Unified School District and the school that you went the classroom that you went and paint last week in El Salvador. >> Oh, so you want me to talk? Oh, okay. Well, yes. So, so, uh, Raina is is talking about we we were able to go down to, uh, El Salvador, um, and, uh, work do do some volunteer service down
100there in a school. Um, probably the the entire school was about as big as this stage. Um, and it's a a non a non-public school. Um, so it doesn't receive any government funds. And uh it was it was sort of built uh by a pastor that they they live the the children in that community live too far away from a public school to attend. So this is kind of their only option. And it is um that there it's cinder block walls, uh concrete floor, there's no air conditioning. Um there's there's not uh there's there's desks in there, but they're kind of just hodge podge of of desks and uh and chairs in there. Um but you know, the the the kids are there to learn. They're they're um they're excited. But it it really does
101make me look around um our community at our schools and and think about how lucky we are um to be where we are and for the the the free public education uh that that we're all all of our our students are entitled to. Um that's that's something that I think we take for grant granted sometimes and uh there's there's many many places in the world the vast majority of the world where um that is not a given and it's it's not even something that's even attainable sometimes. So um yes I I felt a great sense of gratitude uh for you know for what we do have and it was an honor to be able to help you know paint and and give some service in in that community down there. How do you feel after
102when you were painting that classroom in the second floor? >> Uh, well, it was it was it was very hot in there and uh there was some paint fumes that were kind of going to my head a little bit. Um but um I I felt um yeah I I think I felt just a a a deep sense of gratitude for for what we have um here in in this country um for for the value that is placed on education and I believe that we place that value in education because we see the overall societal benefit that comes from it and um I'm glad that that as a country. We recognize that and I I definitely don't think we recognize it to the degree that we need to. Um but what we do do to educate
103uh students here I think is is um you know at at the classroom level especially where our teachers are working um there's a lot of miracles that happen in there. >> Thank you. And Miss Holin, I just want to ask you, how do you feel when you were able to um get the D the backpack donation? And how do you feel to see a student when they were receiving that backpack th those backpacks that we that that you deliver to them with school supply inside and where you see their faces? What what can you say about that? Um well we you know I always say we take a lot for granted. We forget how blessed we are. Um but when you have children who don't have the basics and when I mean basics they don't
104get paper they don't get pencils. They don't have toilet paper in the bathrooms. They don't have soap. They don't get lunch. Um the only thing they're provided is or this particular is a little like laptop type deal but that's it. Um, so I got a donation of over 150 backpacks that we took over there. The gratitude to see those kids, um, hug them, hold them, it's just I can't even explain it. So, um, count your blessings and we are blessed. That's all I'm going to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. The only reason that I asked them to share their that their their experiences down there is to let you know that that United States of America is the best country in the world. No matter what we going through right now, no matter what
105what pain we are feeling in our hearts, it is the best country because it's made by parents like the one who came today to this meeting who show that they care about their students and they can speak freely and do the best for their kids. I am very very proud to serve on this board with this amazing members and I can tell you that I've been blessed to live in this community. Even though I don't live in the city limits, I live in the county area. I felt the pain in 1991 when I moved to that area. What Tom was sharing right now, it just brought to my mind what we went through during those years. It was a war between the two areas, the gangs, and it was terrible. But we are I can
106tell you that even though that we have some issues sometimes at schools, the kids are safe. So, thank you, Dr. Mrano. It's your turn. Good evening. Thank you for sharing. Um I'm glad that communication was brought up today because that's what I wanted to talk about in my last final words. Communication is so important and a really as I've been um engaging in my listening tour across our district, it's come up a lot as something really important. Um it came up with the board initially um in my first meetings with you all. And communication is really to me personally the basis of building a strong trusting relationship. in personal relationships, in professional relationships, and in our relationship as a district, with our community. So, I appreciate you all highlighting the ways that we are engaging
107with the community, you know, through the Madtown Council, through our Bradberry City Council, um this weekend with Darty, um finding opportunities to just engage with our community here and um some of you abroad as well. So, um I uh I want to share that I've also continued visiting our school sites and meeting directly with students. I visited um Maxwell this week and got to hear directly from students. I think I've made my tour. I've got one more stop, but it's been really great to hear what students have to say about their experience and what they love about their school and what they would make better if they had a magic wand. That's how I frame it to them. These visits are really important and provide valuable opportunities to hear what's working well, where they feel
108supported, and it's just great to hear how they do feel supported and how we can continue improve their learning environments. And spending time on campuses helps ensure that our priorities remain grounded in the day-to-day experiences of our students and align with much what matters. In addition, this week I spent some time with principles and district leadership, continuing to build systems around strengthening our communication. We had the opportunity to reflect on what are the experiences of our stakeholders, our community partners with communication. What are our strengths? What are our areas of that we're not aligned with where we want to go and how can we improve? So, this has helped me think about how we can strengthen communication, transparency, and collaboration across our schools and departments and in our community. And I look forward to continuing
109to engage with staff, students, and families in the weeks ahead to work together towards our shared priorities. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay, we now move to close session. Ah, [laughter] just kidding. Okay, we um I need a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Mr. Reyes, second by Miss Hogin. All in favor? I I >> meeting adjourned. Thank you. >> Thank you.