001ly she showed immense support and encouragement towards the team. She really wanted us to get first place and I think that just shows how much of a great teacher and character she is of always wanting to just support people and [music] build them up to their highest heights, you know, getting first place, becoming becoming the best person that they are. And further proof of this is like a lot of graduate students they visit her even if they are like from Berkeley or out of state they always come back to Miss Lou to [music] say hi to give her a visit and just just to talk to her and that just shows of how much of a amazing individual she is. I am truly honored and grateful to be chosen as employee of the month. And
002[music] honestly, I'm surprised, but it feels so wonderful to be noticed. It's especially special to me because I am surrounded by wonderful people who make my job rewarding and fun. I love [music] working in the office. My most favorite part of this job is the people around me. Our students are truly wonderful. [music] Seeing them in the mornings brings a special kind of joy to my heart. I love hearing about what [music] they did over the weekend and what they enjoy doing in their spare time or if [music] they did well in their softball games or even made it to the playoffs during football season. Our parents are wonderful as well. [music] I enjoy meeting new families, making connections during the school year and getting to know them along the way. I hope they feel
003welcomed in our office [music] and know that we are keeping their children safe while guiding them to becoming successful and happy young [music] adults. The entire staff at Patton is absolutely amazing. From administration to office to teachers, custodians, kit [music] to staff, and our SSAs. Everyone brings a special something to Captain. Our staff is different. There's a [music] bond here you don't feel find everywhere. They are like family to me. The kindness and support they show [music] me every day makes it easy for me to do my job well. I'm grateful to [music] be part of such a caring school community and truly look forward to seeing my work family every day. >> Congratulations, [music] Jessica. This is a welldeserved honor. Miss Jessica is the first person you see when you walk through our school
004office. [music] She has garnered an incredible relationship with our parents, [music] our community, our staff, and our students. She is the first person [music] you see. She has made this such a welcoming office. She is so dedicated to our school. I can't think of anyone who deserves this honor more than Miss Jessica. I'm so grateful she is part of our patent staff and family. >> Patton Elementary School [music] is truly a special place. And it's special because of its people. And Jess is a perfect example of that. Anyone who walks through our doors, our scholars, our families, our [music] parents, our community members, they're greeted by Jess. She greets [music] everyone with warmth and care. And she has this special way of making everybody feel welcome. And that changes every aspect of our school and
005everything that we do. So, at the heart of Patton is our people. And the first person you're greeted by is Jess. [applause] >> Ready for photos? >> Yes, >> we are. >> [laughter] >> All right. Two. Principalities. >> [laughter] >> I see you again. >> Can you be seen? >> Oh my god. I can't see me. It's not you got to look. Yay! [cheering and applause] >> [laughter] >> Hello. Ready? [clears throat] >> One, two, three. [applause] Again, you're all welcome to stay and hear us talk about things like the price increases on cafeteria supplies and [laughter] and some of the other things that are on the agenda this evening or we can take a break for a couple of minutes and [laughter] >> sleep out. You can sleep out. >> Thanks. >> That was
006pretty >> Oh, this is now. >> Okay. See, as soon as you set into being then it decided, >> don't tell me I'm not working. I'm going to work for you. Oh, okay. Just hand it to Lucy. >> No, that's okay. comments. Okay, we're back in session and next item on the agenda is, you know, before we go to public comments, Jennifer, could you please call the role? Student trustee Christy Gatichu. >> Hi. >> Trusty Dino Winn >> here. >> Trusty Walter Wington >> here. >> Trusty Terry Roco >> here. >> Trusty Lenwin >> here. >> Chairperson Bob Harden >> here. Okay. Next item on the agenda is public comments. >> Those of you who have have filled up cards, we will call you up in the order the cards were received. Um, you have
007three minutes and there's a clock on the wall that will give you some cues when your when your time is winding down. And the first up is Crystal Cervantes. >> You want to sit with me? >> It's not It's not his first rodeo. Good evening, Dr. Mafy, board leaders, uh, trustees, and district leadership. Um, my name is Crystal Servantes, and I'm homegrown GGUSD, and I'm a proud mom of a kindergartener at Failane, a seventh grader at Bell, and a senior at high school at Pacifica High School. I just wanted to report on the amazing turnout that ice out walkout happened today in front of Pacifica. I'm so so proud of our students and the community for coming out to stand out for to stand up for what they feel is right. GGUSD has a sixth
008grade um field trip to the Museum of Tolerance where students learn about the Holocaust, the Japanese internment, and Menddees v. Westminster. Why do we teach our kids this history? Because we don't want history to repeat itself. In anticipation of this walk out, it became a litmus test for Pacifica, bigotry, racism, and intolerance. It came out in the form of bullying, but it also magnified the good in our community, especially in the numerous messages of support we received. It created a positive culture in Pacifica where students bonded together over their shared concern for our community. At today's walkout, there were media who were inquisitive of the bad reputation of Pacifica, primarily the water polo incident where they sang the Nazi song Erica back in 2018. That was an off-campus banquet. And there was some backlash at
009how GGUSD handled that situation once they were aware of it. And I feel like this walk out is the perfect opportunity for GGUSD to redeem itself because how wonderful is it for Pacifica to be known for something greater than the irresponsible actions of students long gone. To be recognized for student leadership, initiative, and for caring for their community. This not only repairs Pacifica's image, but also reflects well on GGUSD for raising thoughtful leaders, which is part of goal two. I came today to ask the district leadership to please take into consideration the bravery and empathy that it took for our students to participate in this walk out. While we completely understand that there are district policies regarding truency, I would like to ask the board and district leadership to not unduly punish our students. While
010the walk out happened at 2 PM after fifth period had already started, many students tried to return back to school so that they can resume their sixth period classes. They had even left their back backpacks and belongings on campus before walking out. However, they were denied entry by campus security even though admin was aware of the possibilities of students returning back to school. And so we asked for leniency especially for those students. I understand the district position on walkouts. However, we're living in unprecedented times. We're teaching our kids to be leaders. So, we ask that they can do that without fear of consequences. Lastly, I just wanted to congratulate GGUSD for being recognized by the city. I was so proud after hearing things after things that our district is doing right. And I really want
011to commend Dr. Mafi and all the leadership for supporting parents and families. Thank you. >> Next up, Nicole. All right. Hi, I'm Nicole Himeus. Um, I don't have any participation trophies to pass out, but I just have an overall concern and issue with special education. And so with one of my children, when we have these IEP meetings and we're the purpose of that is an individualized education plan and you're supposed to talk about the child at hand. However, when staff go, well, all the kids do this or lots of kids do this and based off of your own academic standards, it's not at grade level. Then that's a child fine issue for you guys and not for staff to kind of bring up. So it's kind of a polite redirection of thank you please be
012quiet this is about my child and the all the data that you guys generated and if there's a widespread issue then that's something the district needs to handle. So perhaps when you guys for you know years and you go around and discuss you know all the events you go to why don't you visit some of the schools too and be like this school is doing this really really well maybe we could bring it somewhere else or this school has a little bit of trouble why don't we put some extra attention over here instead of look at me I went to parties and that kind of ties in with the um Thursday January 15th it was like a CAC PTA um at TAS and TAS came and told some of these parents who they had concerns
013and a lot of them mentioned you know my child has you know autism the district put my child in a 504 but there's so many other issues and task told these parents and uh Steve Yun was there along with you Terry and um basically was like well IEPs are for academics. If your child has good grades, then um there's nothing else. And you guys should all know that that's not that's not true. That's not correct. It's not just based off of ABC's, D's, and Fs. And also that there's limited space in special education. So if it becomes between your child and another child, then you should give up your space for the more severe child. That's a horrible thing to tell parents. you know, children are our future and you guys do all these accolades
014and clapping and awards for our kids, but then you have an organization come in and be like, we're going to weigh the severity and we're going to say not you, but yay for this one. That's that's not right. And there was no correction on the part of the district. There was no um all the parent questions were fielded to a parent volunteer, not the district. And that's also not okay as well. That's a lot of data for a parent volunteer, especially when we have district personnel and a board member there. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Next is Anthony McGee. [clears throat] Uh, good afternoon. My name is Anthony McGee. I'm a the graphic design teacher over at Hair High School and I wanted to shine a spotlight on one of our great students
015that are there at Hair and their accomplishments. Um, one thing about being a teacher is that you find those artists um, those bright spots in your classrooms that you don't know that are there until they actually show you and actually put that effort into their work. see it in their actual work and it's it's amazing to see and it's it's a it's it really warms your heart as a teacher, as an artist, as a mentor and you see these students really come through and really show and show their interest in their work which is amazing. So, uh one of our students at Hair High School, he's here with us today. It is Jesus Faras. Like to invite him up right now to speak about his experience in my class and um his current f current
016and his future. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah. So, Jesus Faras, >> please. >> Uh, right. As um, Mr. McGee introduced me, I'm Jesus Farius. I'm a senior at Hair High School. Um, I'm 17. I'm currently attending his uh, graphic design uh, advanced class, his graphic design 2. uh during his graphic design one class it it really did help me a lot like um to express myself I guess it's amazing like um working with computers like designing all these cool projects like I think it was like an absolute amazing amazing way to like I I I mean obviously I can't express it enough. Uh he's an amazing teacher. Um let's see. Uh I think well I chose this class mostly because I think it would help me a lot in my future
017cuz um in the future I hope to become a computer engineer. So I hope to learn more about computers or software, how they work. Uh, I plan to go to I plan to go to Irvine Valley and then transfer from there to UCI hopefully if it all goes well. Um, and it's just like it's been crazy uh for me. I I was a past student in Santiago High School. I was not going to be able to get all my credits. So, I uh I went to hair. At first, I just I didn't really care much about my assignments, about what I was doing there. But, um it as soon as I did go there, it's it's slowly like started to grow on me. It really it really it um [clears throat] it felt more comfortable
018I guess just like how small it was and how like um [snorts] like each student could talk to their teacher. It's like each teacher has has their own students and it's not like overwhelming. So, um, but I mean it's, yeah, it's been it's been amazing at here. I I've had a great time. Uh, all the teachers are amazing. It's they really like changed my even the substitutes. Even the substitutes uh they really like uh they changed my way of thinking. Um, they didn't like they made me believe that, you know, I could have more in in my life. [applause] Jesus, thank you for sharing that and uh we're excited to hear congratulations that uh it appears your experience at hair has helped to turn your life around and that you've found your passion and we
019wish you the best going forward. Thank you. Next up, Charlene Quay. Last one. Okay. Good evening, President Harden, trustees, Dr. Mafy, and all of the administrators here this evening. Hi, my name is Charlene Quayar. I'm a proud GGUSD parent of three students across multiple schools and I'm a resident of Trusty Area 2. Tonight, I speak to you as a parent. I don't represent any agencies, associations, councils, or any other group. I'm just a community member. Today, I want to first congratulate our incredible staff um of the characters, coaches of character and athletes of character. I love watching all of that happen in front of me. It helps to inspire me why I do the work I do as a volunteer. Um, and also congratulations to the incredible uh employees of the month and all of
020their families. It's such a big important import big deal. These uh employees have been employees for years and years and to be able to celebrate that accomplishment with their families and have such important recognition from the community. I just love that. I love to see that so much. Tonight, I'm here to highlight my personal experience volunteering at Garden Grove High School and how positive it's been. And I want you all to know what it's been like for me there. As a parent, when I walk in to see Miss Carrie Brown, Miss Trinidad, Escobar, Miss Rachel Wolf, and how they welcome warmly and professionally all of the families that come in. It makes me feel every time like I'm coming home and I love that feeling. I'm so proud to work closely with principal Mary Jane
021Hibbert and her incredible staff of assistant princip assistant um assistants there who are all leading the charge del delegate delegently collaboratively and studentled initiatives willing and open to hearing families collaboration together. It's so inspiring. Dr. Pedro Espinosa, Dr. Kelly Moore. I see them in the morning time waving and welcoming students. I see them in the afternoon supporting students one-on-one. And then they're there later to watch the boys basketball games go. That type of dedication and tenure shows me as a parent not just how they interact with me, but how they interact with students and what they do every day imprints this longlasting care, belonging, and community care that is so vital and important to community members like me. Thank you so much for hearing me and having this opportunity. Goes always. Thank you, GGUSD. All
022right. >> Thank you. That concludes our public comments for the evening and uh another bit of housekeeping. Apparently, we're back up and running on the live stream. Uh so, those of you who made who made public comments, yeah, this evening, uh those comments were streamed and they will also be available as part of the recording that'll be up on the website tomorrow. So, thank you. Next up, minutes uh from our regular and organizational board meeting of December 9th, 2025. Each board member has been given copies of the minutes the regular and organizational board meeting and we take a vote on approval of the minutes. >> Student trustee Christy Gatichu. >> Hi. >> Trusty Dina W. >> Yes. >> Trusty Walter Mun. >> Hi. >> Trusty Terry Roco. >> Hi. Trusty Lenwin. [clears throat] >> I.
023>> Chairperson Bob Harden. >> I. >> Minutes are approved. Next up, item five, programs and instruction. I need a motion. >> Walter. I move 5. >> Second. >> Lan win. I just second. >> Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Item 5A is out of district events. Um, we have two events for the Rancho Alama High School color guard. An event in February in San Diego and one in March in Palm Desert, Garden Grove, Lita, Los Amigos, some Pacific high schools, 125 health occupation students of America students attending a conference in Ontario at the end of March. We have the Pacifica High School drum line, 35 drum line members going back to Dayton, Ohio again for the Winterguard International Percuss percussion championships. And then we have 35 CT Health Occupation Students of America students heading to
024a national convention uh in Indianapolis in June. And those are students from Garden Grove, Lintita, Los Amigos, and Pacifica. Questions or comments on any of those out of district events? Hearing none, we call the vote, please. >> Student trustee Christy Gatichu. >> Hi. >> Trusty Dina Win. >> Yes. >> Trusty Walter Monoton. >> Hi. >> Trusty Terry Roco. >> I. >> Trusty Lenwin. >> Yes. >> Chairperson Bob Harden. >> Item six, business. I need a motion for items 6 A through H. >> Trusty Roco. I move we approve items 6 A through H. Do you know what? I second the motion. >> Okay. 6A is the item I referenced earlier that authorizes a price increase on eight items from individual food service for food service supplies. Uh an average price increase of 6.6%. 6B. Staff
025is asking the board to ratify awarding of informal bid numbers 251 172 through 178 under the California Uniform Public Construction Costing Act. These are small scopes of work with Ben's Asphalt LLC, Econo Fence, Inc., Franklin Mechanical Systems Inc., JL Cobb Inc., RCM Masonry and Wolverine Fence Company, Inc. 6 C authorizes price increases on six items from Gold Star Foods for fresh produce for food services. 6D authorizes a one-year extension of our contract with School Health Corporation for automated external defibrillators, accessories, and maintenance services. 6E authorizes the attached list of food items uh that may be sold by student organizations in accordance with California code of regulations title five uh at our high school and inter intermediate schools. 6F is the quarterly uniform complaint summary. staff recommends that the board accept the unifor uniform complaint reports
026summary that's required by the Williams settlement for the period of October 1st through December 31st, 2025. No complaints filed against the district. 6G authorizes the use of three district buses and bus drivers for transportation and participation in the TP parade on February 21st. And 6H purchase orders and checks totaling 80,888,9447. Questions or comments? I have I have a number of question regarding mostly to the food service. Uh first question is um I have been seeing a request to increase the contract in in terms of the food service uh supplied to us. The question is what's an average of that? How much does it come out in dollar amount and how do we address to that on in terms of the uh the budget? And my second question is regarding the nutrition um uh dietary guidelines.
027I know that the CDC has issued a new dietary guidelines recently. How does it affect our uh student school lunch in terms of nutrition uh compliance in terms of the supply and the cost or the changes to the menu to the students? Those are my two two question. So, in regards to food costs, for a variety of reasons, food costs have increased um somewhere between 8 to 10% from last school year and the supplies have increased and you've seen those go to the board um month after month um an increase of about 6%. But those average increases have been factored into the food services budget and I can provide a more detailed um follow-up information for you as well. In respect to the new dietary guidelines, the DGA, um we are waiting as all school
028districts are from two entities. The federal entity, which would be the US Department of Agriculture, which sets the um the federal food um guidelines for schools, but then also the California Department of Education as um education is the function of the state. And so once it goes through the I'm sure there's attorneys looking at them, trying to make decisions, um reviewing all the guidelines, but we know there will be some changes. One change was that whole milk has just been approved for schools. And um that has been something that wasn't available before, but now it will be available at the proper carton size. And then there were some um new guidelines about food coloring. So that will require a shifting to natural food dyes. So, you're going to see um if food or colors have
029colors, they're going to be from natural sources such as beets that already bear a color. But in terms of what exactly the guidelines will be for school use, we're still waiting to hear. As soon as we have that information, we will share that with the board. >> Questions? >> Call the vote, please. >> Student Trustee Christy Getu. >> I thank you. Trusty Dina Win. >> Yes. Trusty Walter Moon. >> Hi. >> Trusty Terry Roco. >> Hi. >> Trusty Lenwin. >> Yes. >> Chairperson Bob Harden. >> Hi. >> Next is item seven. Uh, and I need to report out that we did have a close session under item agenda item 7E to discuss an employee discipline situation with the superintendent and Jason Mvaka, the assistant superintendent of personnel services and also to discuss some administrative appointments
030with the superintendent. Uh, Jason Bakqua, the assistant superintendent personnel services and our CSBA consultants, Lan Rivera and Angel Angelina Pride. No action was taken during that closed session. So I need a motion for 7 A through D. >> Walter, I move 7 A through D. >> In a way, I second the motion. >> 7A is our certificated personnel report. 7B is a classified personnel report. 7B is resolution number 15. Um, back in November of 2022, um, the Office of Secondary Ed Career and Technical Education Program was a recipient of a regional K through 16 educative collaborative education collaborative grant. Um, the district used funding from the grant to create and fund a temporary work-based learning specialist position to assist with work-based learning opportunities with students. Uh unfortunately that grant has expired and ed code section
031which which means we no longer have funding to maintain that position. The education code requires that when classified positions must be eliminated as a result of the expiration of a specially funded program. The employees to be laid off shall be given written notice not less than 60 days prior to the effective date of their layoff informing them of the layoff date and their displacement rights. of any and reemployment rights. Staff recommends that the board adopt resolution 15 uh to eliminate the classified position listed therein due to the expiration of that specially funded program effective March 31st. 7D. Uh on January 1st, the minimum wage in California increased to 16.90 per hour. Uh in order to comply with that change in state law, the hourly rate for our high school student worker and student worker training
032job classifications uh need to be increased to 1690 per hour um effective backdated to January 1st. Questions on 7 A3D >> hearing none. Can we call the vote? Student trustee Christy Gatichu >> abstain. >> Trusty Dena Dina W. >> Yes. >> Trusty Walter Munaton. >> Hi. >> Trusty Terry Roco. >> Hi. >> Trusty Lenwin. >> Hi. >> Chairperson Bubart. >> Hi. >> Which brings us to item eight, which is board member comments. And we'll start with our student board member Christie Getty. >> Hello everyone. Returning from break. I'm glad to see that students and staff across the district are settling back into the rhythm of school and adjusting to the new school year. Well, it's been exciting to see college acceptances begin to roll in for our seniors, as well as the continued creativity and
033hard work showcased through elementary and middle school performances. These moments highlight the dedication and adapt adaptability, excuse me, of our school community during this time of transition. I would also like to congratulate everyone recognized today. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and we truly appreciate all those across the Garden Grove Unified School District who continue to make our district such a supportive and inspiring place. I look forward to sharing more updates at our next meeting and thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Christine. Um, first I wanted to uh congratulate all of our uh award recipients tonight, the student and the teachers. Um, and I wanted to make a comment regarding the videos. It's really good quality and I think everyone look good in them. I don't know who shooting those videos is really good.
034So, wanted to let staff know that. Um, I wanted to see if I could meet with the director for special ed in February, the first second week. I want to learn more about the IEP process so I have a better understanding of it. Um certainly um again I want to reiterate that I'm not for impute imputing any political agenda on students and I feel that students should have their free will to make their own decisions. So I don't make any comments regarding any political statement on this das. Um but I do feel sometime our students are being politic politicized and I wanted to see you know I want the public to know that and I want the parents to be more aware of that. our recent walk out. It's a statement and I think it's
035very political because it's uh a subject that's been talked about in the news, in the media, in social media. And to have our students um engage in that kind of political statement, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. But in doing so, I think just wanted to um make parents aware that when they walk out like that, they violate the rule, school rules and regulations. And incidentally, they don't know that they hurt the entire district. When students are in school, that's determines our funding for the district. When students are absent, our funding is reduced by those absences. So incidentally, we want to promote something that's valuable to us, but then we affect the entire district that compile of many different um backgrounds and diversity. And I want parents, students to maybe uh give that
036some thought when they have, you know, their political statements. And I think outside of school, go for it. But while we're in school, let's focus on our mission. Our mission is to advance the goals that we have and uh to give student lifelong success. And I think that's what I think I should talk about. That's what I think I should promote. Uh anything else that uh is not an a disadvantage to our students then I will not be promoting. That's all I have to say. And the last thing, I hardly, you know, talk um at the end, but today I'm a little bit longer because I remember something very funny because we voted on the student um wages. And when I was at Los Amigos going in a RO program and going to work, I
037was paid $2.85 85 cent and I and everybody else I heard and you know I heard minimum wage is 335 and I said wow why am I getting paid 285? So I called the labor board on the house of fabrics where I was assigned to and said the house of fabric are they violating the law? So the lady board said, "No, it's because you're in the RO program, dear." And I was like, "Oh, it's because I'm in a program." Okay, I get it. They get a discount because they train us. So, um, that's a funny story and that I remember. So, the next summer I went to apply for something that wasn't RO so I can get the minimum wage. That's all I have to say. Thank you and thank you staff for your reports.
038>> Yes, thank you President Harden. Good evening everybody. It's been a minute since we last uh saw each other, right? Early December last time. A lot has happened since we've had the holidays and New Year's and here we are now uh this evening uh now that we're back on the live stream. You'll see I'm rocking a very nice uh Eisenhower Eagles polo. Uh just highlighting their um awesomeness that they have. You'll see that they are a California distinguished school. Um and they have a really solid program. So kudos to to their team and and thanks for that. Uh Polo, um did not attend any parties. Um but I I have attended a couple of school events. Um a lot to name. I don't want to go through a full laundry list, but one that I
039really enjoyed uh in December um alongside my colleague uh Loin uh was over at Crosby Elementary School. I know at last time I had reported that both of us would be going uh to serve as Santa Claus and give some Pokemon cards to some of our our Crosby Cougars and uh L accompanied me there and we had a really great time. I wasn't sure who had more of a great time, whether it was the students or whether it was my colleague London because he and I were both enjoying ourselves, spending some great time uh with those students and getting to play a card game that many of them love. So, it was really nice uh to do that and I'm looking forward to doing it again this year as I've done in the past. Um
040just some uh highlight events uh that I've uh participated in so far. Uh the Latinos Unidos conference couple of days ago actually. Uh I was there with uh Trusty Terry Roco and got to enjoy uh some time there talking to students and and getting to hear what some of the stuff that they're doing. Um, and also a couple of days ago, actually yesterday, it's so I think me and uh Dr. Mafy talked about this. When there's a holiday on Monday, we forget to we lose track of what what day it is. But actually yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. uh day and this is uh the second time uh I've organized a community park cleanup. Um this year uh we cleaned up Has Basin Park. For those that don't know where that's at, it's on
041Hastur Street uh in the Warren Elementary community. And we were able to clean that park up thanks to the help of OC Parks. Uh thanks to Supervisor Vicente Serento. Um I partnered with my wife, of course, Councilwoman Astige. Uh we had for the first time uh we've had a a food sponsor, Estrea de Mexico. Uh they are a local uh panaderia and kitchen that's um off of Chapman and Hastaster and they provided meals for all of our lovely volunteers, all of our parents, all of our youth. Um so it was really great uh to be in community uh to have OC Parks there support us um and um to really honor uh a day of service as MLK Jr. would do so him himself. Um, one thing that I will also say aside from, you
042know, this really positivity and and the positive vibes that the um holidays have have uh shown us is that uh there's definitely been a lot of, you know, uh anguish, hurt, fear still so much in the community um in regards to, you know, immigration enforcement. That's really, you know, the bottom line as most of us here on this DAS and out in the audience get to enjoy time with our friends and loved ones. A lot of our community members are are are in fear. Uh not just uh those who have documentation and citizenship, but even those that do have citizenship as we saw in Minneapolis and many other parts of this country. Doesn't really matter whether you're documented or or or not. Uh talking to a member of the community, there's definitely a lot of
043fear. I attended about two or three uh community fundraisers uh in the last couple of weeks for people who have become victims of violence due to immigration enforcement or people who have lost their jobs um who really have really know where to go and what to do and try to connect them to resources. I feel very humbled and honored to be invited to these sacred spaces because there's obviously a lot of fear on who to invite and who not. Uh so being a trusted member of the community and having the confidence uh to be invited feels a tremendous blessing. But nonetheless, you know, the the fear is really [clears throat] out there. And then uh you know, talking to uh folks out in the community, um you know, there's just a lot of of whatifs
044and and it's just really important to acknowledge it. Um, I won't get into, you know, the the politics of, you know, how should somebody um react to this news or not or what they should do or or not to do when it comes with this information. But a lot of our youth are very very confused right now. It is such a really tough time right now to be an adolescent uh because of what they see, what they hear, whether what something is true, what's not true. Um it's just really tough, right? And and and I think it's it behooves us to be a little bit more compassionate during these times and really try to understand what the other person is telling um us and and them. And and that goes for us adults as well,
045right? It's not just all on them. So, you know, I I pray for or for for better times. Um but although I've done that, it really hasn't seemed to happen. Um, but you know, maybe collectively we can think about some ways to kind of shine a little bit more uh, you know, positive vibes out there. So, uh, yeah, thanks for thanks for listening. That's all I have. >> Yes. Um, it has been a long time since the last meeting, so I'm not going to go through all the list. I decided I'm going to pick one from each area. Community events. One that really stands out for me was in December um a car club called um the Brown Descents car club uh did a uh toy toy uh drive where first part of the morning
046people were bringing toys and they did it right next to Rancho. So in that area, which is my trusty area, very low income. And um and then the second half of the day, they distributed toys. They had food, they had Santa Claus, they had uh it was a a beautiful community event. And this this car club, I want to give them a shout out because they they do a lot, but they don't let everybody know. And so they most of them have gone to school in Garden Grove in their younger days and that's been their area. Rancho, the feeder schools to Rancho and even Pacifica and they want so much to do for the community and so I went to support what they were doing. Our Rancho CTE auto tech program um the instructor was
047there with his students volunteering. So it's a great connection for them to connect with the car club which uh gives them opportunities to participate and learn from them but at the same time give back to their community. So big kudos to both of them. Um the school event that stands out for me um was pastries with the principal at Stanford uh last week where um Brian Ball had sixth graders come in and do a PowerPoint presentation to parents on a level that parents would understand to show them what they do with their Chromebooks in school. They had Chromebooks set up, parents there, and many students that could go around. And first of all, they they showed them what they did and explained why this helps them. Then they had them they uh while they were
048sitting there, they looked up all the their students numbers to be able to get into their um what is it called? Class link. Thank you. so that they could explore some of the um some of the programs that they use uh Excel and something else. I can't even think of but uh just to show them and have them get in there to see what does it look like, what is my kid doing on the Chromebook at school and even at home. I thought that was an excellent way for the principal to connect with the parents and bring in the student voices and use the students. What a great resource to have them one student or two students for each parent to help them navigate this. So I really really like that. Um and then of
049course district event. I would pick Latinos Unidos conference this last week. I've gone every year and every year it gets better. But I really noticed this year because I went into all the different breakout sessions is that more kids were participating, asking good questions when at the end where they were asked to do some kind of summative uh recollection of what they learned, how they're going to apply that, how they're going to make changes at their school. It was noisy in those rooms. They were really working. Um and and that means they're we're doing the right thing by not only giving them empowering them but engaging them but giving them a space where they feel comfortable enough to express their ideas. Whether their ideas were outrageous or e so so or excellent. Everybody had a
050chance to express those ideas and felt comfortable doing it and uh without judgment. they'll take that back to their schools and they'll work on it to to actually put into practice what they all collectively feel they want to do. So kudos to everyone that was involved in organizing that they of being there. There were a lot of hands on deck and a lot of support for our kids. We had more kids this year than any other year. Um more elementary kids are getting on board. So it's all the high schools, all the intermediates and more and more elementary. And I think it's building um great leadership, pride in the culture, and u more a better understanding of who they are. These are things I don't remember as a Latina doing till I got to college,
051knowing who I am, appreciating my culture, learning the history, um seeing how I fit in and what do I want to do with what I have. So, I think our kids are at a real advantage. And thank you, Dr. Muffy, and everyone who is involved in putting this together year after year. Thank you. Thank you. Um first of all I want to congratulate and con uh commend the the the presentation of the athlet uh athletic character and the student and the staff there. Uh I for a long time I misunderstood uh that um athletic activity are exclusive of academic performance. for over time very quickly I learned that they are just overlapping [snorts] and actually the academic I mean the I'm sorry the athletic activity were really supportive uh of the the academic mission that
052we are pursuing so over years many years now we have seen uh our athletic uh uh actually scholar in the by by all right themsel going on and I can it really reaffirming to see that the the athletic program that we have in our district really support our students academic endeavor. Um as a confirmed many of them graduate with the highest achievement uh academically. So I I am very fortunate I have my only son who participate in in in sport in the high school year. uh for some time I worry because he spent too much on on practicing and and do all kind of thing. I I did worry as a as a parent uh that that he spent too much and then as a board member at the same time I thought wow all
053this activity could take too much time from the student. I could see him uh coming home late. So I wonder how could they have time to do homework and end up staying late and end up getting up late and and it it it get to the domino effect of that. But pretty soon I learned that those activity really helped build his character, his build of leadership and he become very responsible in taking care of his team and do all that. those are the learning uh process that he did uh while being an athletic uh participate in in sport program. So I'm more convinced in that uh our sport program really help out building up our student character and leadership and all the ability uh the attribute that help them uh do better academically and for
054that I had my head out to uh to the uh the leader in the athletic program and and a program. Our district support them uh a lot in terms of providing facility, providing support, providing staff to encourage the activity. And with that, my head out to uh to to recognize our um director and our athletic character. And today now a day my son become a teacher. He's also the coach uh in the program in a school that I can see how much he spent time in school and for me and a parent I worry too that you spend too much time but I think that time now he give back he invest in student those that is the the good thing and for that I respect more with our coaches with our teacher who volunteer
055to be a coach just walk on coach all kind of coach was there they spend inordinate amount of time compared to whatever stipen what compensation they get. So with that the sacrif the dedication to our uh student program uh must be recognized and for that I appreciate all the coaches and and athletic staff include many of our teachers who like they can get a go home early they can do all the thing. uh but they do spend time as a coaches which is I admire them more than being a teacher being a coach and out there and I could see with my bird eye view because I appreci the sacrifice a lot and moving on to another uh issue that can occur today with the walkout student uh what whatever for I don't know what
056the issues are even but I understand there some sort protest against something I still don't know the issue. Uh but on one hand I always admire uh student engaging in in civic activity even though speaking up advocate for something even come to the board. I do see that uh teenager, adolescent student grown up and now a day they have the the free thinking, uh critical thinking in the same way. I see that in my own son and of course we engage in many uh discussing political debate. I have to uh give in. I have to kind of take a loss on many of those argument but then that's what we do uh in terms of we have always reach out to our student to encourage them I always admire student who come to me and
057say certain thing argue certain thing even as I always appreciate our student come into the board and speak to whatever that is and then that take a lot of curse from them to speak out on what say what matter to them but on the other hand I know uh we have a mission to do to do here not only that group of student we have a responsibility to let's say 40,000 student out there to minimize distraction to focus on our education and and to to to avoid to protect and uh uh the the safety and security of our student. Uh for that reason, um I'm just I want to make it clear that I just don't want to interfere uh with our staff, our administrator at onsite who make the best judgment of that. I
058live it to them to do what's best for our student and they know that the mission that that we all achieve uh strive for and I support the student I also support uh our staff for doing what's best uh for the student and that conclude my statement Focus city council meeting. I think everybody for about three more minutes. And that was for um or I could talk about the fact that Abby wrote me this beautiful tried to read it without my glasses on. Um didn't go very well until I did get my glasses on. I think the one event that was Um, but I'm I intend to go out to a few more PTA See the impact that spending five minutes something that's gonna stick very small group of people an awful lot for that
059school. Um future meetings February 3rd we have closed session session at 5:00 p.m. with legal. Both those evenings then are our regular board meeting.