2026.01.27 LVUSD School Board Meeting

001here to want to document all this fun stuff tonight. Keep your cell phones out, but please silence them. And so I officially want to uh welcome you to the what date is it? January 27th, 2026 school board meeting. And at this time, Dr. Stit, do we have somebody to lead us in the flag salute? And your name is >> Satie Weiss. What grade are you in? Fabulous. Will you ask everyone to rise? And >> thank you. one indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Well, that was fantastic. Thank you so much. I do have something to report out of close session. The board took in a in a 50 vote. The board took action. Hello down there. Hello. Pay attention. Thank you. Uh, in a 50- vote, the board took action to deny the

002complaint filed by a community member against district employees, and a formal response will be forthcoming. And with that, may I have an a motion to approve tonight's agenda? >> So move. >> May I have a second? >> I second. >> Thank you. Any questions on the agenda? Hearing none. Student, do you approve of tonight's agenda? >> I. >> Thank you, board. All those in favor? >> I. >> We have an agenda. I need a motion to approve the minutes from December 16th, regular and uh organizational meeting. >> I move we approve those minutes. >> May I have a second? >> A second. >> Thank you very much. Uh student, do you approve of the minutes? >> I >> thank you. Board >> I I we have minutes. Okay, great. Um next is a superintendent for

003communication, Dr. Stepp. Madam President, members of the board, excited to have three recognitions tonight. We'll start off with our two employees of the month. Then we'll go to our tennis team and we'll finish up with two songs from Boral Elementary. amazing staff with co-workers who support each other, laugh together, and step in without hesitation. Our principal and staff set the tone every day with encouragement, trust, and a whole lot of heart. I'm also so grateful for our supportive families. Their partnership, communication, and trust make all the difference for our students. My students help brighten my day and truly love to learn. I also want to thank my family who support me. Whether it's helping me move furniture in the summer, come in over the weekends, stuff folders, or understand that being a teacher doesn't stop

004when the bell rings. Thank you for believing in teachers and in the work we do. I'm so grateful, honored, and proud to be part of this amazing community. Thank you so much. and my son Wyatt, my husband Brandon, and my mom Allen are here. >> So, give it up for Nancy and Principal. Welcome. Madame President, members of the board, Dr. Stephanosi, distinguished cabinet, it is my pleasure to recognize Nancy Young as tonight as classified employee of the month. I think it's it's hard to put into words what she does along with her partner in crime. Um they they are therapists, they are magicians, they are such caring, wonderful people. And they do so many things to help not just our kids get into college, but to help them navigate this really stressful time of their

005lives and they help their parents navigate this really stressful time in their lives. We're super grateful for all that she does. Um, we were putting together a list of things that we wanted to say and I we would be remiss to to leave any of these out. But her relationships with students and families can't be you can't put that into words. Um, and the relationships with partner schools, they not only can tell kids where to go. They've been there and they build those relationships and they can call the reps on behalf of our students. They put together amazing college and career night along with the Agora High School college and career adviserss. They communicate super effectively with our families to help them know what the deadlines are, what the processes are, and how to navigate

006these tricky times. Um, super passionate and knowledgeable in all that they do. They work tirelessly. They write hundreds of letters of recommendation every year and they work the craziest hours. They put together career speaker series and my favorite thing is she is just a kind, loving, passionate, and super good person. So, it's my pleasure to acknowledge Nancy Yumis. >> And on behalf behalf of the board of education, it is such a delight to welcome you and congratulate you this evening as somebody who's seen you in action. So, we go from our second graders and parents of second graders, if you're here, uh, which you should be, um, in a blink of an eye, and I mean that, they will then be meeting with Mrs. Yus, and so were you. The word that I like with

007Mrs. Young is stressful. As a parent who's been through the pro uh, college process, and I think probably almost every parent would say, it's stressful. You are a rock. You are a rock that brings humor, kindness, a huge heart. you know your stuff and students are so fortunate and parents to work with you. So, thank you for everything you do and here's an apple. >> A couple of weeks ago when the entire district staffed and all of our admin walked into Robin and my office, I was confused, not going to lie. Um, we looked at each other and thought, "Wow, do we have a meeting or did we do something wrong?" >> When Dan announced this, I was shocked and completely at a loss for words, which as all of you who know me know

008that that never happens. Um, I first want to thank the school board. I want to thank my entire admin. I want to take thank our teachers. And I want to thank Robin Lutzky who is my partner in crime. Um, my husband Mark is here. My daughter Molly and her boyfriend Liam and my son Jake and my daughter-in-law Paige are up in Portland. But I'm truly honored by the support I get every day from this entire staff, including the kids and the teachers. Um, it's been a long and winding road for me. My journey is to college and career. I started as an elementary school teacher, which is why, you know, exactly. Um, and then I went into advertising for 20 years. Totally sold out, but I came out. And um, what's nice is that it

009started out because my son was coming into high school and his friends needed help. And so they would come over and say, "Hey, can you help me?" And I said, "Sure, let's brainstorm. Let's, you know, write some essays. Let's see what you've got." And just helping them form their story and gain confidence in their writing. I knew Robin, I knew Marcy Haidider over at Agora. And so I would give workshops over there and help out and do reader sessions. And then when the job opened at Calabasas, uh it was during pandemic and we were all on a Zoom and I was asked a question. If you have a parent and student who come in for a meeting and you don't know the answer about a specific college, what would you do? And immediately I replied,

010I'd ask Robin Lysky. and everyone laughed, but it's true. She's a absolute wealth of knowledge and she has taught me so well. Um, what I love about our program is how much we've tried to reach every aspect of our community. And it starts from bottom to top and then back down again. and we meet with all the students. We write the letters. We're trying to introduce them to this complicated process, but we break it down into small tasks. And our one objective is to keep things calm and reduce the anxiety. And I know it's not easy, but with this community support, it has been incredible. Um, and I could not be prouder of our students who literally go to college everywhere in the country and some even across the world. So, I am incredibly fortunate

011to be able to do the things that we do and I am so appreciative of this and I look forward to working with all of you guys. If I can stay around that long, but we'll try. Thank you very much. All right, we want we want a picture and so uh the board would come on down for a photo with their two employees month. We want our students in front of them with your signs and staff. >> We want you guys in the picture around the edge. So come on down with your signs for Nancy and the signs for Yes. We're investing. >> Okay. chance pumpkins. Shannon's come on out and join us here. Okay, great. Uh so so excited to be in the presence of the greatest tennis team in the nation, right? Greatest

012tennis team in the nation. We love that. A few things about this amazing group of ladies. Um historic 2025 run. Their tano and Marmmont league vanquishing everybody. Uh actually Mr. Klein has a slide also. Could you that last one of my slides has the team on? >> Okay. >> Uh CF Southern Section Division 2 champs. They defeated Gosh, so many thoughts and emotions run through my mind when I say this. They vanquished and crushed Harvard West Lake. >> We got the overall record of 18 and one. >> So, I know we've got the principal here. I want to hear from the coach also, uh, Principal Wii. What else about this amazing group of leaders? Madam President, members of the board, Dr. Stephanoski and cabinet. I am super proud to talk about this team. I've been

013following them all over Southern California the last three years. They were in the in the CIF division 2 finals two years ago, lost the closest of margins, division one finals last year, closest of margins, and this year they said, "Nope, we're not doing that again." And so they put it away super early in the finals against the only team that beat them all year. So they avenged that loss. Um, this team, when I think of them, I think of resilience. I think of teamwork. I think of spirit. And I just think of awesome kids. Uh, I've loved cheering for them. I've loved getting to know their families and supporting them through the ups and downs of the season. Some highlights. Um, as as Dr. Stephanowski said, they beat Harvard Westlake, which is always just so

014satisfying. Um, they're Marmani League champions. They are southern section champions. We to highlight a couple of individuals. Gianucci is our Marmani League MVP and she also was undefeated this entire season and fourear captain or four-year MVP of the team. So, um this is a great way for Gianna to go out. And on top of that, Gianna and Elena um I always mispronounce her name, Colova were individual double champions. That means as a team they went through the CIF championships after winning the Marmani league. They represented the Armani league and won CIF as a team. So on top of all the team accomplishments we have the individual accomplishments. So super proud of this team and can't say enough great things. At this time I want to turn it over to coach Chris Rodriguez. Thank you everyone

015for having us here tonight and for the support you guys have all given us all season. Um we I'm personally truly honored to have worked with these girls, coach them and to have gone all the way. um they've individually and as a team have grown a lot and this season has been truly special not just because of the championship but because of how much we have grown as a program and um I'm just very excited for what we are going to accomplish going forward how we're continuing to build um we couldn't have done this without the support of our administration so walking thinking for um for all the support, the parents and the community. Um but I really I truly believe that I would like you guys all to hear from our champions um about

016what it felt for them to win this year. So I'll turn it over to our senior captain, Giana Mucci, to speak in behalf of the team. >> Um hello everyone. Thank you for having me and the rest of our team here tonight. Um, winning this championship meant so, so much to me and I'm sure it meant so much to everyone on this team and who's been supportive of the team the past four years that I've been here. Um, as a senior going out this way is the best way. I mean, I couldn't ask for any a better season at all. And it's funny because Miss Yus, I was actually just in her office this morning because I committed to my dream school today. So, um, Colorado Boulder, I could not have done it without the

017help of Miss Young and the rest of the administration and the teachers at our school. Um, so I'm I'm just so honored to have been part of this amazing foundation and, you know, group for the past four years. Um it this team is is my everything. It means so much to me. So thank you guys so much for everything. Thank you. >> On behalf on behalf of the board of education, we also want to express our uh congratulations. It takes such determination, grit and a huge time commitment on top of your studies and everything else and social life. So thank you girls. You're wonderful, wonderful role models to everyone and we just appreciate you. And I have proclamations for each of you. I will pass them out. They will not be correct. So, at the

018end, uh, hand them back to your coach and she'll give you out the right ones, but we won't go through the time of figuring out who is who, but you'll get one. You can hold them up for a photo op and take them home and frame them. And Colorado, my daughter went there. Excellent school. Fun school. Go Buffs. Congratulations. and congratulations. Thank you a lot together as a team >> picture for a picture and a principal. >> And uh ladies, we do have we're going to celebrate you with a little bit of confetti. So you hear pop coming on. You got pictures. Don't cover your face. >> There will be a pin on your left and right. I think Dr. Cypress will give us a countdown. Three, two, one. Yes. Yeah. Father, we American songs

019from >> Good evening madam president members of the board Dr. seminars cabinet. We are so excited to share our bural music program with you this evening led by Mr. Josh Barrell. This year he has implemented a kodai inspired curriculum that emphasizes interactive singing and movement. This approach was featured in our district-wide trainings before the school year and during our recent staff development days. It has been instrumental, pun intended, in strengthening our music programs across the district. Please enjoy two selections performed by Mrs. Bansson's splendid first and second grade class and then Mrs. Padama's fourth grade class. And thank you so much for your continued support of our music program in the elementary schools. >> These are first and second graders. Okay, both of these little songs or exercises you're going to see today are things

020that we actually learned in our training both at the beginning of the year and at these last couple uh staff. Okay, so this is like a welcome song that you should do in any sort of kindergarten through September third grade. It is called me and I have to do it with them kind of so I'm going to be doing this hard. All right, let's go boys and girls. Ready? >> Let's face our part and sing. Now, what does that mean everybody? >> Hello, my friends. And what language were we speaking in? >> Can we do it in other languages? >> What do you want to do? >> We'll do Spanish next. All right. You ready for Spanish? That's right. amigos. >> One of the fun things about this song is you get students that bring

021their own languages into it. And in this little group right here, we have three Russian students who taught us how to do this in Russian. Okay. So, >> want to tell everyone how to say it in Russian? >> What do you want me to tell? >> Go ahead. >> You got it. Here we go. Ready? Go. Fore online. never done again. So, one of the greatest ever great things about these songs that we've been learning is some movements happen with them. So you're talking not just about they're singing, we're doing body movement, percussion, uh you know, and that's all their coordination that's happening together. But in addition, they're you can see they're learning in all these languages. They're learning different songs. This is a song we could teach with some board members or volunteers or

022anybody that wants to come up and sing and dance with these kids. We would love a couple of volunteers. Anybody wants to come join us? We got a team shaker. All right. All right. Well, we can be like just building music class. So, you ready? So, we're Let's You know what? Let's show it to them one time. So, you guys face down. All the students are face down. Show them the whole routine one time. Oh, let me get our very easy. Wow. Wow. Wow. That's your first line. Wow. Wow. Ready? Go. So the words are bow dog heart vow motion very easy. Can we all do that together? Ready and great. Now the second line is whose dog art thou? And we're going to pop our hand. >> Hope we put those two together. Ready?

023Place our hands out and we sing. Let's try it next. Little Tommy. Then you drop your hands and you say bow. >> And you're going to get a new partner. Can you make a big circle integrated against kids? >> We can hold hands to make the circle if needed. Boys and girls, let's try to get a kid between every adult. Go between an adult. Go find two adults or adult or an adult between every kid. Mind you say it. Now, if everybody turns and faces the person next to you, we will partner up. We'll see if anybody anybody not have a partner. to go that way. >> Partner here, put your partner here. Don't worry. >> We do the whole thing. And what you'll see is at the end of the song. Hey, your partner

024in front of you. Are we ready? So, just follow your filter. Bow. Ready? Go. It's not very good. The last thing we might do in an exercise like this is we might break into turn it into a round or four circles and turn it into a more complex round. or any picture. >> I don't know. I can Perfect. >> All right. Are you ready? I love my Well, that was so much fun. I think we should do some more bow wow wow and not do this. But no, >> I know, right? And I'm out of breath from doing bow wow. Okay. Is everybody here? Well, that was really fun. Dr. Stepp uh board superintendent board uh communication. >> All right, get fired up, Mr. Klein. >> Uh first up, we've got this week is the

025um great kindness, great Loses kindness challenge in memory of Dr. Kate Vera. I believe this is our fourth year in a row uh doing it. 21 million students participate, 43,000 schools in 135 countries. And I think one of their um guiding quotes is from uh British American author Henry James, and he's quoted as three things in human life are important. First is to be kind, the second to be kind, the third to be kind. Look forward to our schools participating in that this week. Next slide, Mr. Klein. Uh staff dominate. We held that yesterday. Uh a thousand of our employees were at ACL a right in Linderea County Middle School. focused on um strengthening math instruction, refining high impact secondary teaching, supporting positive behavior, expanding and deepening college and career readiness. Classified staff and support

026staff were also engaged in learning as well. Student develop, they focused on student development, relationship building, safety, and effective support practices. Uh outstanding work by our ed services department. Um Mark, Jana, and Kelly, thanks so much for your leadership. Next slide. Congrats also to Calabasas and Gore High School. they both picked up the silver award from the AP honoral system. Uh essentially the the easiest way to explain this is they had more students taking the exam um and more students more underrepresented populations as well and their score results went up as well. So super excited and in fact in there's three different categories and a number of the categories uh Agora was gold and Calabasas actually placed platinum overall award for silver though. Next slide. Congrats to our student board member and there she is

027in the back. actually got youth of the year. Uh Leighton should recognized by Assemblywoman Jackie Irwin. Uh Jackie Irwin is in charge of Assembly District 42, I believe has a million people in it. They had a a ceremony at the Agora uh event center last Thursday where they recognized man, woman, uh nonprofit of the year, volunteers of the year, that kind of thing. So super excited to celebrate Leon. Her family was there and Jackie Irwin in the photo there uh was celebrating her as well. So much fun. Next slide. This Sunday, Battle of the Bands, um at the Canyon Club in Agora. Starts at 2:00, goes through 5:00. Super talented students. Um amazing. A number of them have recording deals from previous Battles of the Band. This is our fourth one. A lot of fun.

028I think we had 400 people participate last year. So, it's such a great great night. Um we I believe we even have a DJ who's a first grader from Chaperel Elementary, I believe, which will be outstanding. So, so much fun and I think that and we just celebrated our champions. That concludes staff comment. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Seagull. >> Madame President, members of the board, Agora High School has been supporting its senior athletes this week with wrestling, girls basketball, and boys soccer all hosting their senior nights. And boys soccer is actually tonight. I'll be going there tonight. Uh we're also getting ready to host our bianual club rush event where clubs get to showcase what they're about to the student population. and Agora Hazma Tasma, not Hazma, is also hosting their bi-annual blood

029drive. Uh over at Calabasas, they're getting back into their routine after winter break. Winter sports are on full spring uh swing with wrestling, soccer, basketball, and other sports playing games this week. We also recently had uh our course fair where students were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn about courses offered at CHS. They also had their annual winter toy drive which is going to be finishing up soon. And that is all. >> Thank you very much, Mrs. Mangus. So, I hope everybody had a resting a restful winter break and uh welcome back this year. And um even though it is so last year, I just had to mention I um at after last December's board meeting, I attended White Oak Elementary where Mrs. Bournehof's third grade class put on uh Greatest Americans of

030the 20th Century and it's a musical and it was fantastic and the the talent in that class. Um I was very honored to be there. >> Thank you, Mr. Lazar. >> Uh, good evening everyone. I hope uh everyone had a wonderful winter break. Uh, I hope all of our families, our students, our teachers, our staff have had a a great start to 2026. Um I do also just want to note that uh today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and on this day uh 81 years ago American troops uh liberated Awitz and ended the Nazi Holocaust um in which 6 million Jews um hundreds of thousands of gypsies and gay people as well were murdered by the Nazis. And um I I do hope all of our students uh build and grow up in a world

031where uh hate of all sorts is is vanquished. Uh a world free of hate. We must never ever stop aiming for it. Uh so I hope we can all uh think a little bit about about that tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Lawrence. Uh, Miss Cop. >> Uh, yeah. I just want to say, um, I in the heavy rains that we had normally the past few years, it would be like 105 roofs leaked. Um, we've done a lot of work and so many of our uh our leaks are fixed. Not all roofs are done yet because we're having to uh stage them out. But if you look at like consent a tonight, it's testament to how much work um our bond team is doing, our MO and our business services are really

032uh getting done and making measure S much better. So I was just so pleased that um normally when we get the heavy rain like we did, it just takes classrooms and NPRs and all kinds of things out of action and it didn't. So sometimes it's not newsworthy what didn't happen, but in this case it was great. So, thanks to uh your entire team, Dr. Gleason. >> Thank you very much. And I just want to give another shout out to uh Leighton Westerberg uh being chosen youth of the year for uh Assembly Member Jackie Irwin's entire district. It was so much fun to celebrate with you and your family. Welld deserved and congratulations. And to follow up on what Dr. Steppp said about Battle of the Bands to get your tickets, some of us will be

033there. So, we hope to see people there. Um, uh, to get tickets, go to the foundation lvs.org and you can click on and buy tickets that way and hope to see you there. That concludes uh, superintendent uh, board communications. Next, I have speakers for items not on the agenda. I have two. I have um Jennifer Shonfeld, hopefully I said that correctly, and Amber Siddenham, hopefully I said that correctly. And if you'll go if you'll both come up and want to get ready to come up, uh we'll take uh Jennifer first. You have three minutes to speak at the microphone and the clock is right there and we'll take one of you one after the other. You each get three minutes and we cannot comment on the item because it's not on the agenda. Okay. Thank

034you. >> Sorry, one second. >> Hi, I'm Jennifer Scoffield and this is Amber Satam. Our children attend Chapperel. We have similar complaints and income concerns. We are both losing income because we've had to give up work. We will read my statement and more at future board meetings. You can contact us with the information on this sign if my son's holding it up. We are asking for help. We tried to enroll our children in LVUSD Plus after school care before the end of the 2425 school year, but LBUSD Plus told us they would not accept CCRC or state childcare payments at their public schools. They also said that if and when they changed that decision, we would be notified. However, when they did decide to accept CCRC, they did not notify us or enroll us. Instead,

035when we accidentally found out, LBUSD Plus was at capacity and we were added to a wait list. Even as of today, no CCRC parents at Chaparel have been officially notified that LBUSD Plus will in fact accept CCRC payments. Now, ultimately, we've been told we simply will not receive child care for the whole 2526 school year. Our income depends on our child care and we have been discriminated against as lowincome parents. We have records of all communication with the district. For clarity, LVUSD plus is the new districtrun after school program which began servicing SHARL this 2526 school year. And CCRC, which stands for childcare resource center, is the only state agency that provides childcare assistance to lower income parents in LA County. They pay providers directly and never reimburse parents. To enroll a child in care,

036providers need to register in their system without initial payments. Since CCRC parents cannot pay to secure enrollment, public schools are not allowed to discriminate against CCRC parents when they have district-run child care. Our children attended the Chapperal Boys and Girls Club paid for CCRC for years and all other LBUSD afterchool care providers always have and still do accept CCRC. Since LBUSD Plus is located at Chapperel, we have no other options. We are working during after school hours and cannot transport or pay to transport our children to another provider and CCRC does not pay for transportation. We were also prevented from inquiring and applying for the statemandated extended learning opportunity program for lowincome and at risk children even though that is what LVUSD told us to do to try to secure after school care. We will

037tell this story in the future. It is hard to grasp that LVUSD would cause such hardship specifically to the lowest income families in their district, causing a loss of income. Still, suing LVUSD will not solve the immediate need for care. A mistake was made by not helping CCRC families, and we are asking LVUSD to thoroughly correct this mistake. Good. >> Thank you very much. I'm going to have um Dr. Dr. Ciphers, if you can leave your contact information with Miss Chambers on the end there, and I will ask Dr. Ciphers to be in touch with you. >> I have a question though for staff. Um, do we accept CCRC for um our LOC plus? >> Yeah, CCRC is an interesting program when you have to apply for it. They don't let you just apply blanketly

038for it. You need a parent uh to be entered into the program. The challenge at Chapperel is um we have such interest and we want to make sure um without disparaging our previous provider, I'll just share our ratios are set for safety um and therefore we can't serve all students who um are interested in the program. So CCRC there is a lag um in getting approval. They are approved now but as the speaker had shared uh the um uh the program is currently full. So the the you can't get CCRC approval for a new program. You must launch the program, then have a parent file who's on CCRC eligible for us to then be able to request to be eligible to take CCRC payments. The state takes its time to approve CCRC approval. During that

039time, the program filled up. We got CCRC approval. >> Correct. Um, so there was no option for parents who wanted to use CFCRC to have like their number held in line while that approval came forward or anything like that? >> No, absolutely not. And we we serve as the speaker uh spoke to, we serve expanded learning opportunities program as as as you know and that uh is another grant program that fully supports. We have 1,200 students who would be eligible for that program in the district >> and next year this will be fixed >> because you reset, right? >> Whatever. No, >> no, but but am I right that eligibility resets for folks coming in? >> I'm going to ask that we limit this. This is now turning into a discussion. I know that we

040all have lots of questions about this. So, at this point, I'm going to ask you to reach out to Dr. Ciphers and the board if if uh Dr. Gleason, I uh if you or Dr. Ciphers can um provide the board with some information on this background and how you know the the uh what we've you know all the information that would be helpful. >> It would be my pleasure. >> Thank you very which committee should this sit under because I I would like to be able to have a discussion on this. I'd like to understand a little better what the topic is. So I don't we don't have to agendaize it for a board meeting but which where should this go? probably safety and wellness or finance but um okay >> uh at this point

041um I want Dr. Ciphers to reach out and then provide us with information and if you have specific questions obviously the board can reach out to him as well individual board members. Um at this point I'm going to invite up uh Amber Sidden. Thank you for your generosity. >> Okay the mic so we can get you on. I'm going to keep it pretty brief because my friend here, she explained most of the situation that's going on, but I am a lowincome single mom of two. Um, one of my children goes to Chaparel and the other goes to Willow. And since the Boys and Girls Club was cut, parents like myself have been suffering um from the lack of financial aid through either EWOP or CCRC. I have lost wages that I cannot afford to lose.

042I have to worry every night, literally every night, whether I am going to be able to pay my rent or if me and my children are going to go homeless. I am not a fortunate parent that has the luxury of nannies or being able to be a stay-at-home parent. As you can see, I work at a minimum wage job and I was notified that LBUSD Plus is enrolled with CCRC, but there has been zero notification of that. And there has been zero notification of more scholarships for ELOP. However, when Chapparel was very adamant about transferring my son to the Willow program because he was too hard to handle, Elo was all of a sudden available at White Oak Elementary. So, my question is, how does the board seek to be more inclusive for less fortunate

043and lowincome students? Because really, it's not about the parents, it's about the students. And the low-income, less fortunate students, they're suffering. like the Battle of the Bands. I'm sure my children would love to go to that. But me not being able to afford to go to work because there's no child care for after school. Me not being able to work a full shift because I have to be at the bell at 2:30 or 1:30 to pick up my kindergartener. I have no money to go to those things. So, we lose out because we are less fortunate. So, like I said, I'm going to keep it very brief because she said most of everything that needed to be said, but we're suffering and we don't get to have the benefits of extracurriculars or fun times, you

044know, whatever is extra at the school. Thank you very much. We appreciate you coming and sharing. Um we we honestly don't want anyone to suffer. So uh reach out to Dr. Cypress. He will be waiting for your emails and the board will be looking into the matter of ELOP and DC RC. Absolutely. So really thank you both for taking the time from your families, from your children to come out. We really appreciate it. Do I would like them to be on the tennis team or go to, you know, elite colleges. >> We hear you. We really do. We hear you. We will look into it. I promise. Thank you. >> I appreciate it. >> Okay. And with that, um, I'm going to ask for a motion to approve items. Um items 1 through 35 on

045the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Thank you. May I have a second? >> A second. >> Thank you. Are there any questions or comments on any of the items? >> Uh I had a couple of questions. Um first of all, it's just great to see all the the progress on the the various measure S projects. Um just a question on there was a lot of stuff about solar projects being completed tonight. Where are we at in terms of because it seems like most of them are done now. When will the solar be turned on? When will we uh experience the benefits uh financially like when should we expect the full benefit is is >> question. >> So solar uh you're talking about solar panels at all sites, correct? >> Yeah. So uh all we

046have permission operate and have uh all of our solar panels turned on with the exception of Agora. We had a DSA inspector um delay on that one. Um we are already seeing material benefits in terms of financial returns for um solar. We have um right now of the panels that are listed 90% of our energy is offset by the panels. Unfortunately 90% of energy offset doesn't mean 90% of cost because of how Edison is restructuring around solar. One thing we're doing is we are actively working with uh spur which is a um electricity JPA pool to um review every bill we have from Edison and Constellation to ensure that we as owners of the panel are receiving our maximum value not being charged utility taxes. Um and that process is ongoing and we've already found

047through that review uh consistent savings. >> Great. Thank you. Um and uh just one question on the fencing at a rightight where which section of fencing was that at a rightight? >> So a rightight uh around um I'm pointing because we're we're nearby uh where the drop off loop ends. There's was two science buildings right across from the district office >> that were not fenced previously that the science classrooms were not being utilized at the time but as a writes enrollment is growing those rooms are being used. And then on the opposite side of the campus where you have really the oldest buildings in Los Virginist, those two classrooms on the other side of the road, um there was um some green space that was right next to and adjacent to the road and it

048was just another corner of campus that we needed to tighten up between there and the monastery. >> Great. And sorry, one last question. I suspect my fellow board members will know the answer, but I'm still learning every element of LVUSD. What is the stunt group? Is that something connected to >> cheerleading? >> The the cheerleading. So, is it folks who like jump up in there and do really impressive stuff or Okay, just wanted to be clear. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. Student, do you approve the items? >> I do. >> Thank you. Board, all those in favor? >> I Okay, all the agenda, all the uh uh consent A items are approved. Onward to consent B. May I have a motion to approve consent

049B? >> I move we approve consent B. May >> I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Uh and this is a board vote only. All those in favor? >> I. >> That passes 5-0. Thank you. Next are action items. Approval of board committee appointments for uh this year, the 2026, whatever year we're in. Okay. Uh board, please um review. Let me let me get to the item. Just a second. Okay. May I have a motion to approve? >> Okay. I I put um I >> I didn't know I was on that one. >> Okay. I um took everybody's um request under strong consideration. You'll see there's not a lot of movement this year. Um Mr. Lawrence, I would we put two I put two people on board on >> I could I

050could >> Yeah, we can cover for you or >> he says the date's wrong, so it's not April 1st. >> Okay. >> Oh, so um >> it's like spring break. So I was like that seems >> Yeah, I was going to say that seems wrong. What is the date? >> The date for the LCAP meetings is March 3rd and April 9th. >> Okay. So, uh I assume Dr. Anderson, as you shouldn't assume anything, you will let the entire committee know when the dates are. And Mr. Lawrence, if you can't make it, let let me know and we'll get somebody to fill in for you, but um um uh and there's only two meetings of you, I think. >> Yeah, that's why I was nervous. I was going to be missing both of them. >> Um

051okay, any other questions or comments? Okay, hearing none, I'll call I'll ask for a motion. >> I move we approve the committee assignments. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you very much. Um all those in favor, student, >> I vote on this. Hi. I vote on the >> Okay. >> I didn't know what's on here. You can >> I >> Great. Thank you. Um, do you have any questions? No. Um, and board. All those in favor? >> I. >> Okay, that passes. Next is anou uh for the administration of the California Healthy Kids Survey. Dr. Stepp. >> Madam President, members of the board, as a requirement of the tobacco use prevention education program, we are required uh to do this annual survey. We do it. We gather data on climate, the social emotional well-being

052for our students. It's very important data we look at carefully. Helps guide our program and decision- making. Mr. Klein, >> uh Dr. Ted pretty much said it. We uh do this annually. It's an important survey with great data that we use. This is actually part of our LCAP goals as well. So, it's important that we collect this data on an annual basis. Uh thisou is pretty routine. It's the it's the same we've had every year. Uh so, we're looking forward to an approval so we can move forward on that. >> Motion to approve. May I have a second? Sorry. >> It's okay. I was just going to say I I just always hate the name of it. It sounds like we ask them about eating their veggies when it covers so much like about their

053school experience and where they are. So I just registering my disdain for the name. It feels like it hasn't caught up with the times. I think it evolved from that right many years ago. But >> may I have a second? >> A second. >> Thank you. >> So I had just a couple couple questions. We have a motion second. So is it is this a anonymous survey that's conducted? >> Uh yes it is. >> How is it conducted anonymously? >> Uh so they there is we actually just provide a link uh for each school that is shared with the students on a designated day and then the students fill out that survey and then we close the link. >> So do I have to log in with my student LBUSD account? >> No. So, I'm

054just trying to because I've so I'm trying to understand how >> how does it remain anonymous? >> How how does a student have confidence because this test is worthless if we're not getting a student who honestly says yes, I vape uh consumer testing. We're asking about vaping, right? We're not asking about >> uh there are various questions about various things. I believe vaping might be one of the questions. Yes, >> we help write the survey, don't we? >> No, the survey is standardized. >> Okay. And do we not know if there are questions about vaping? >> There are. There aren't. Yeah, there's questions about Facebook. >> Yeah, >> so I'm just trying to get my head around. So, so student comes in, it's a generic link. >> It's a generic link. >> So, the student

055could take the survey 10 times. >> They could technically take the survey 10 times. We usually don't give them a window for that up. They would have to power really really fast. So, >> so they just click the link in class one day and take the survey. >> Exactly. >> Okay. When will we get the results back? >> Uh the results take a little while for them to process. Uh typically, you know, we could get some preliminary results about uh within about a month or two, but we get the full reports in the summer. >> I I I am hearing literally almost on a daily basis from parents about the vaping epidemic in our district about kids who have gained the system at uh with the sign out where you're supposed to go, teachers who

056aren't paying attention, the fact the same student goes at 2:00 every single day because that's when he has to go smoke. students who aren't signing out, students who are able to use other students, uh students who are finding out that someone's been signing out for them for a month every day because all you have to do in some of these classrooms because the system is so antiquated is put in a student's ID number, anybody's ID number. Some teachers who are using a clipboard where you write your name on it and they're not keeping track of it. So, I mean, I I I cannot go a day without an event. I was literally at the Agora High School basketball game for 15 minutes today and I was pulled aside by a parent task about what we're

057doing about vaping. So, I I I really want to make sure we get vaping questions and then I would like this board at some point to agendaize a discussion about vaping because it is out of control. And I don't I'm not being alarmist. It I I hear about this more than anything else as a schoolboard member um that it is particularly in the middle schools that it is sadly out of control and that quote perception is we're not doing anything about it. I know we are doing things about it but I think so I'd love to get a sense of that once we have the results from the survey. >> Absolutely. Just a question on the the survey. I noticed that for the students it was mentioned uh in the board pack that there's a

058additional module uh given to the the students like an extra module. Was that mandatory like required by the state or we took the decision to do the extra module? >> We traditionally do the social emotional module in the middle uh and that one's a value provides valuable information about school climate and and how kids actually are feeling on campuses. >> I see. Okay. So that's probably helpful to the counselors as well. >> Absolutely >> Mr. Lazar that that module also um affords us the ability to apply for grants for Prop 56 and through TUPE >> uh by ensuring that we have all the data necessary to show growth over time in that grant. >> So that that module in and of itself has opened up over a million dollars in grant funds for it. >>

059Mr. Spiegel, I don't want to put you on the spot. Do you want to say something? >> I mean, I'll just say this. >> Is your mic Is your mic? >> There we go. No, we can't. Um, I think it it'll give you a lot of information about what's happening in school. There's questions about vaping, but there's also a lot of questions about bullying and how we're interacting with each other. And I think that I think it's kind of formatted in a way that it says how much of the population of the school do you see doing this on a daily basis. And if anyone's going to see what the daily basis is, it's going to be the students, right? Because we're going in and out of everywhere. So, I think I think you'll find

060it to have what you want in it. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. That's great insight. Any other questions or comments? Um, I'm just going to suggest that uh safety and wellness, Miss Thomas, this this uh the vaping um bullying, anything else that that you know comes up on there and vaping in general be taken under a consideration and discussion and safety and thank you very much. And with that, we have a motion and a second, I believe. Correct. Whoever who's keeps track of that. Um and at this point, what >> the board president? Oh, no. It's somebody over there. >> Um, I'm going to call for the vote. Student >> I. >> Board. All those in favor? I >> I Okay. Next one is uh determining uh seniority tiebreaking uh determination. Dr. Ste.

061>> Dr. Sabers. >> Madam President, members of the board, as we begin to look forward to the 2026 27 school year, there's always the potential for fluctuation in program offerings due to fiscal considerations and student preference. In anticipation of that potential fluctuation as it relates to staffing, education code requires that we provide tiebreaking criteria for seniority among employees with the same start date. Resolution 2425 represents that affformentioned criteria. >> Motion to approve 2425. We do this every year. Pretty standard. >> I'll second. >> Any questions or comments? Hearing none. This is a board vote. All those in favor? I >> I. >> Okay, that passes. Next is uh workers comp covering volunteers. Dr. Ste. >> Madam President, members of the board, we are very fortunate in Los Virginist to have uh volunteers that support our

062schools and our partners in their child's education. Uh one option we have um that is uh being illuminated to us as we transition from Keenan to ASKIP is to cover our volunteers under workers comp insurance. This helps ensure that they have the right protections um and also protects the district from exposure that would come from injury claims um that would not be otherwise covered on our site. So, it's recommended best practice um and is again one of those practices that's being illuminated as we make that transition. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion to approve? >> May I have a second? >> A second. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> I have a couple questions. Um, so I was trying to understand, so are if it doesn't cost us anything, so are

063they, so I I volunteer. I'm a parent volunteer and I go on a field trip and the bus gets in an accident. Um, they could still sue us for the accident, the bus, the workers comp would check in if they missing. I'm trying to understand how the workers comp coverage comes into place. Who's paying for that workers comp coverage for them? we paying to for the coverage for the parent while they're on the field trip. So there is a cost for this. So you walk through a little bit. Was it clear in the resolution? >> Yeah. So workers comp insurance is the premiums are based off of the total cost of your payroll. So theoretically there's no additional cost because you don't pay a volunteer. The vol the uh there is an experience modification adjustment

064that would come from um a substantial exposure by this pool. So, I say that to say if a volunteer stood on a chair changing a light bulb and fell, god forbid, that would be a workplace injury. They would go, they would be referred to our district nurse and then would be able to make a claim to ensure that the existing short-term and long-term impacts are covered. Um, nothing. >> We'd be able to make a workers comp claim. >> It would be a workers's comp claim. Even though this individual makes no income from the district, so has no lost income from the district, they would somehow recoup their if they have another job and they can't go to that job, we would be we would be responsible for the for the our workers comp pool would

065cover their lost uh income from their other job. Uh if the injury was substantial enough to impede work, absolutely the um and we would turn that over to a skip as our adjuster. So in terms of how this would affect premiums, just as the fiduciaries of the community, it would affect premiums if there was high experience modification. Um because the premiums are not um uh deter are determined based on whole salary. If you had a lot of volunteers that had a lot of workplace injuries and first off, we would work closely with HR to make sure our volunteers are trained with slips, trips, strains, and pulls. Um, but if you have a lot of injuries, the counter to that is if you have a lot of injuries that are uncovered through workers comp, you have

066a lot of exposure through litigation. So, I guess I'm trying to figure out, we get sued a lot and we get a lot of frivolous lawsuits in this district from people who are seeking settlements. like does this it seems like this would potentially increase the likelihood of that because they now know they're they now know there's a pool of money they can come get if they slip and fall on campus at an event. >> Uh it wouldn't be a lawsuit in that case would be a claim. Um, so the difference is it's a claim under our insurance umbrella that is invest that is reported to our human resources and investigated by our JPA um to determine if it's frivolous in nature >> and if we decline it is the fact that we have this insurance

067mean they now can't sue us or they can still sue us? >> You can always sue us to your point. Um, >> what's the I'm missing the benefit to us then? The benefit is potentially that we can we could find that it is a viable claim and our insurance would cover it versus us denying a lawsuit out of and then having to go straight to court. The benefit is uh that uh there would have to be a core belief that we have mostly honest actors that would utilize this insurance only for legitimate claims. But if those honest actors did not have other means and had damages, they would have only the courts for resolution in the absence of this. >> Yeah. >> So, you're hoping uh if I hope folks are never in this situation,

068but if something happened to a volunteer, they would probably do this first and try and get a decent claim uh which would be covered rather than moving to litigator straight away. First step if a if a volunteer was injured would be they would um report the claim to the site who would report it to our friendly human resources office who would refer them to the district nurse. So in in in that regard, you have the district providing guidance and oversight over the diagnostic process at the outset of the injury as opposed to when you're chasing it in a in a um a claim that's made after the injury, after the treatment, after all those damages have been incurred. >> I guess the I'm just trying to understand because we have insurance on both ends, right?

069So we have a skip that covers us if someone sues us frivolous or otherwise for something and they can cover that insurance that prem. So you have that insurance bucket. Um I guess I'm still missing why we need to why at the end of the day insurance is covering it out of the way. But you're saying this is better for us if this insurance covers this than a skip. >> I'm saying uh I'm saying twofold. one is this is we have Los Virginist and I don't want to uh spoil my budget update but lost virginist as the board knows so well is um we make miracles happen given our fiscal position and the state formula and so we depend on volunteers and to cover volunteers is a good practice full stop. Second, in terms of

070the fiscal impacts, which are is the right question to ask, um it's impossible because we don't have any claim data to adjust from >> but so we are acting on theoretical principles from actuaries that >> um that the the claims that we have which will be pretty limited relatively for volunteer workers comp is very easy to predict. We rarely have in the absence of, god forbid, a extraordinary event, an injury that has a cost that is out of control, um that you you do the right thing by your employees and you save on the potential um exposure of long-term claims. >> Would they be automatically covered? So, say a volunteer rocks up at the school for a particular event. Are they automatically covered or are they going to have to do some paperwork or is

071it automatic coverage for volunteers, which I I like the idea of covering them because they volunteers do do a whole lot for our district? >> They will have to be uh they'll have to meet our definition of a volunteer because we can't cover everyone on our campus that was, you know, present as under. So, uh I think we talked about having at least eight hours of volunteer time, but yes. and and they would be covered if the injury is deemed a workplace injury after uh the adjusters from a skip identified as such. >> Thank you. >> Um thank you very much. Any other questions, comments? Okay, hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of uh resolution 25-25 covering volunteers under workers comp insurance >> a student >> I >> board >>

072I >> that passes next is um transfer withdrawal of uh money from slim JPA reserves and transfer it to another fund. Dr. Ste >> Dr. inclusion. Madame President, members of the board, uh as we uh as we have discussed at many uh board meetings, as we transition to the ASIP JPA away from the Keenan JPA for our workers comp coverage next year and we uh we have reserves that have built in our uh rate stabilization account and confidence interval account in slim over time. Uh those reserves are to be returned to Los Virginus of approximately $2.9 million. Uh I've worked closely with Kenan and their actuaries to assess the value of the tail claims. Those are the claims that were incurred under our time with Keenan and the lifetime uh cost burden associated with it.

073They believe those tail claims at most will cost $300,000 over the life of the claims that are remaining. a very few number that remain uh unclosed. In the meantime, we now know we have official board action that it is in the fiscal and also programmatic benefit of the district as previously discussed to move uh to the ASKIP uh JPA and we're going to $150,000 deductible model because we are covering redeductible claims. Um we want to make sure that we take in uh have the benefit of the value of the cash that we set aside um have maximizing its earning potential. When we invest in or when we have our fund funds in the LA County Treasury, they're automatically invested in the LA County Investment Fund, which has a return of about 4% per year. So

074to uh wait until July to move this money is um uh is not as wise one would say as moving it now so that it can gain 4% interest over the months ahead. We are building a reserve account in fund 17.1. It will require transfers in uh as those uh uh claims are paid deductible over time. However, because those claims because a workers's comp claim is often paid over time and not in one lump sum, as we make investments into fund 17.1 over time in addition to this reserve, it will afford us the ability to grow the cash value of that fund to serve the claims and thus have less impact on the general fund. That was my attempt at cliff notes for this resolution which is connected to a couple other resolutions. Thank you

075very much. Any questions or comments? >> Just want to say thank you for being thoughtful on this actually and you know the fact we're moving it ahead of time because with with our budget literally every $100 counts and uh and adds up. So thank you. >> Yeah. So, um I I sent you some questions earlier and I think you addressed um answers um to those in your presentation, but um so when we um if we approve to move this money, we are going to then move it again to a portion of it to the to the state so that we get a 4% interest on it. Is that >> No, it it will stay. This is a really good question. Uh it'll stay in fund 17.1. I don't anticipate ever in the absence of a

076fiscal emergency ever needing to uh have a fund 17.1 transfer. Although this board future boards will always have that tool in their tool belt. Um the fund 171 uh a great example of this we shifted our health uh benefits um to and those are now paid our retirey benefits are paid out of fund 20. Fund 20 does the transaction directly uh as will fund 17.1. So there's no general fund movement necessary to uh pay the free deductible claims >> and that you think that this fund 17.1 would be a pretty stable fund then not not a lot of movement in it. >> It'll be a stable fund and um uh as as the board made this decision just as a reminder for the public uh we pay roughly uh $3.4 $4 million towards workers comp

077claims right now for dollar one coverage. The premium for $150,000 deductible coverage is about a million. So the actuarial adjustment on our annual claims is um is a delta of about $700,000 if I if my memory serves me correctly. recommendation for the board would be to employ the same fiscal strategy that we've had, which is to set aside the same amount of money for workers comp, but because we won't have the payout annually, we put that money in 171 for it to grow its cash value so that in a few years, we don't need to set aside as much and we we mitigate increases for uh continuing quality coverage. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion to approve? >> I I uh I move to approve. >> Seconded. >> Okay. Any other

078questions or comments? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. Student >> I >> or I. >> This passes. Next is approval of recision of prior award of school bus transportation services and authorization to negotiate with other responsive proposers. Dr. Ste, >> Dr. Gleason. Madame President, members of the board, uh we at the prior board meeting, uh after an extensive RFP process that brought uh began in October, uh it was recommended to provide a tenative award to Durham um school services for our transportation services. Durham has been with us uh for at least 20 years and has been a wonderful provider of transportation services to us. uh through the uh I met with uh Durham leadership at multiple levels in multiple places at multiple times over the course of the last month and uh they are

079were proposing a five-year contract that would have a value of an increase of about 30%. Which would put the total transportation costs when you look at um one-on-one services and busing to about $4 million. For context, we are still reimbursed from the state at the 1979 level of about $600,000 and our writership has gone down 30% in the last three years. So, we're in this position where we have a real decline in wrership and a provider um who I can only assume has the best of intentions wants to increase their rates at 30%. And the way I could the only way I could get them to make movement in terms of uh it being fiscally wise for the district was for them to give more aging buses or have us pick up fuel costs. So

080you have a contract increasing for rider at 30% or wrership that's going down 30%. And the value to our students and community is substantially compromised. Um, I have the deepest respect for Durham, uh, and the service they have provided. They have been a fantastic partner, especially the local staff. I also have deep respect for the fact that they were just bought out by a private equity firm and thus have a more dollars and cents numbers approach than maybe the relational approach we were used to. I can have nothing but respect for that. However, it is not in the best interest of our district to continue a contract in that form. And I believe we can find more value in a more creative strategy through uh in negotiating with one of the other responsive biders. And

081so this is just rescending the intent to award because I cannot bring a contract that I can recommend for board approval tonight. >> Can you give a couple quick numbers? Um what is the current writership? >> Current writership is right about 480 students. >> How how many kids per bus does that kind of work out to? So this is one of the challenges is uh right now Durham has u 80 passenger buses and the average 80 passenger bus has 25 students on it. >> Um what's the cost that we have per year for busing? >> About $4 million >> like for a little more a little less. >> A little less. >> And how much do we get from the federal and state government? >> 600,000. >> So we're at 340 3,400,000 right? Well, there's

082also there's money from bus passes, too, right? >> There's money from bus passes. Bus passes bring in right now about $300,000. Um, and and it's tough because bus pass families um are like a lot of them are I just want to finish the math again. So, make sure I have this right. So, so if we're 480 students who are using the bus today and it costs us 4 million and we get 600,000 from the government, we are our fixed cost is $7,000 per student to bus per year. Is that correct? >> Yes. Uh, basically what it means is about 70 I don't I'm not I can't verify your math, but I'll say it's about 70% of a student's full ADA. >> That was my Yeah. It's so so it's more than half of what we

083get from the entire federal and state government combined to educate the student is what it costs to bus that student. And the reason I'm asking this question is when I hear from parents that say, "But I pay for a bus ticket and that bus ticket is and no doubt $500 is a lot of money. It's it's a chunk, but it is not even 10% of what it costs us to to to bust that kid today. So I I think that there's a a macro issue here as a district that we need to recognize and that is that the world we all grew up in where you get on the bus every day and it takes you to school and that's how life is is not the world we're operating in today. When less than 10%

084of our students or like 5% of our students are taking the bus, it creates pressures on a district that is as as spread out as ours is to operate it. And then when you overlay the fact that California has decided to jack the minimum wage to outrageous prices, it's created price control. So they've had so Durham rightfully has had to pay all their bus people more. So now we're at a spot where it's $7,000 plus dollars a year we are spending to put kids on a bus. Um so I think whether we get rid of Durm or not, we're having a bigger conversation about busing and the realities of this community. So I just think it's important for everyone to hear. We appreciate the fact that people are paying $500. It doesn't even scratch the

085surface of what it costs to bus today. >> Yes. And many of the families who, and I understand this as as someone in South Lake Tahoe, walked uphill both ways to the bus stop each day >> uh in the snow literally to a free bus. I get why I get the frustration. A good portion of our families say the bus pass at $500. It's too high. They have other means, carpool, other strategies. And I I respect that. So passing an increased contract cost on to families is first off it's hard on our families. Second off, I don't think it's going to increase writership and I think it's just going to compound the problem. So to your point, if the if 70% of the reimbursement for a child's education is is already eaten up before the

086child gets in the classroom, that's not good math. >> Yeah. I mean, we we want the bulk of our money in the classrooms. Um, just out of curiosity though, um, we've all obviously been emailed by Durham today, um, trying to negotiate around our head negotiator. Never a good move in my opinion, but that's just me. Um, uh, um, this does not preclude us from ultimately going back to Durham, right? Because we we are rescending the current agreement because it's not good and you're going to look at other options. But if they have a a bright shining moment and realize that the fact that they get to store their entire fleet for the region and our facility back here at a pretty good cost that you know they want to keep this as far part of

087their you know one of the things when a private equity company buys something that yes they want to see revenue go up the last thing they want to see is revenue go down. Um, so there are we barring them from future or could they have uh an epiphany and decide to come back at a much better rate if they wanted to. >> All possibilities exist. >> I'm assuming they're listening. So all possibilities exist. However, >> yeah, >> um, because you mentioned an email today, I will share with you that because we're reflective on our current climate, because there's a long-term relationship. Two weeks ago, I offered, let's just renew it the contract as is for one year while we figure this out. >> Yeah. >> And I heard >> that was very generous. >> And

088I heard crickets until you got an email tonight. So, I say that to I say that to say was disappointed to see um that approach and I believe the people that I work with every day at Durham um are not making those decisions because they know the relationship that they've established over the last 20 years. >> Well, I'm just saying if they came back with a great offer, what we're doing today is not saying that we are disqualifying Durham from being able to compete. We're just saying we're now >> we're not going to do that. >> We're now freeing it up to look wherever we want more more judiciously because our procurement strategy was through a request for proposal formally and we gave an intent to award. This is a procedural step to afford us

089the ability to negotiate. Our negotiating um presence is only as good as the trust we build. And our word that we say and the word I give in Dur I've given Durham is that won't work. I don't anticipate they'll come back, but the board has all options exercised by rescending this award. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Thank you. May I have a second? >> A second. >> Any other comments or questions? >> Uh just been when I saw the the item on the board agenda, I just started googling about Durham and uh I know many people in the community have fond memories of these buses and the first item that came up was from July of last year saying they've been bought out by a private equity firm. So it's clearly connected

090to that change I think uh that there was such a large hike in the the 30% hike is a very big hike. So >> okay and uh with that I'm going to call the vote student do you approve? >> I >> thank you board all those in favor. Okay, that passes. Uh, next item is approval of notice of intent to award summer enrichment and inter session services to Head Start. >> Busy Dr. Lucen, >> Madam President, members of the board, as a pallet cleanser to rescending an award, want to uh offer the opportunity to provide the intent to award. We uh as LVSUSD plus continues to expand into summer and into inter session, uh the board approved an RFP uh process in late 2025 that um went through. We had well over 10 proposers for

091our summer and interession support that and uh after interviews and a careful review by staff, Head Start set apart was selected for summer and intercession services. Um, for context, some of the fiscal parameters that were put around this RFP were a uh per student rate of no more than $25 per day and a revenue share of 30% for any inter session days that were offered. Uh this helps us ensure that we're getting uh maximum value from a provider who's getting maximum value from our partnership and uh to the um to the concern of the speaker tonight. When we can cap costs, we can serve more students in our ELOP programs. Headstart set aart was the uh provider that we used last summer. They were at a fantastic record. They are kid- centered. They are losistbased.

092And uh the two uh individuals that run the company are fabulous and um very much mission-minded um more than profit-minded. >> Now, Dr. Gleason, you get a one recision per school year. So, do you feel good about this one? >> It's important to put out the asterisk that this is just to prove in the award pending contract uh negotiations. I do believe this will be I thought Durham >> never mind. >> We exercise all rights. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Thank you very much. May I have a second? >> A second. >> Any other comments or questions? >> So, how many school sites would they be operating at? >> So, this this RFP will provide summer services at at least one site. So the site this summer will be at SUMAC serving

093at least 250 students for uh that qualify for the ELOP grant for the 1 to 5:00 PM part for um uh LDSD plus then for inter session. One of the challenges we've had as we've entered into the after school space is um you know uh entities like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club are equipped to work on holidays and uh they don't have the kind of bargaining contracts that we have that create cost pressures. So um this will open up they will serve they will provide service for families at least a couple campuses on holidays breaks and um the number of sites will be determined by interest and any revenue that they make 30% will be returned to LBUSD to support our general fund. >> That's great. Okay. Uh with that I'm going

094to call for the vote. Student, do you agree? >> Thank you board. All those in favor? >> I I >> that passes. Thank you very much. Next is two um information items. The first one, Dr. Stepp, is your committee assignments. >> Madam President, members of the board, as Miss Stein mentioned earlier, the Los Angeles has a robust board and superintendent committee structure to complete a lot of work. Um much important work occurs in those committees. Um board and superintendent. This includes data, safety, wellness, supernate discussion, and the foundation. I'm appreciative of the board members and their time on this on these committees and the important work they're doing. No action required. >> Could we just ask for the full data committee dates whenever we can get them for the rest of the year, the rest

095of the school year and calendar year, rest cycle? >> Sure. Yeah, we'll do. Thanks. >> That is a great idea. Okay. And so now on to the next information item, Dr. up is the 2627 budget outlook. >> Dr. Gleason, >> Madame President, members of the year, it is the most wonderful members of the board. Excuse me. Madam President, members of the board, it is the most wonderful time of the year, uh, which is the budget cycle. Um, every CBO uh dreams of this time when uh we get some insight into the next fiscal year. January is the time where the uh governor releases his or her uh current assumptions for the budget uh to set a framework and a foundation to have conversations and dialogue with the legislature in advance of the tax collections in

096April that inform the May revision of the budget and then uh the adoption of the budget along with the LCAP um in June. So, uh, this is an interesting budget, uh, because of, uh, a couple of things. One is a continued strategy by Governor Nuome that is, um, candidly unconstitutional, but has been affirmed, um, by the legislature of the last couple of years, and I'll talk a little bit about why. And also, this is Governor Nuome's last budget. Um and so uh it is well known that he has presidential aspirations and uh many analysts are um suggesting that this budget is structured in a way that has really good political talking points as he exits office. Um so uh the near-term budget's relatively balanced, but it's structurally unstable. And part of that is I just

097I want to cut to the chase and I'm happy to go to the extended cut is uh Governor Nuomo over the last few years has underfunded Prop 98. Now um Prop Prop 98 for for those watching at home uh is uh was necessary following Prop 13 in the 70s. Prop 13 was passed. Property tax um collections were fixed based on uh home sale, home valuation and thus the collection stalled and there was a need to backfill what is what schools needed in order to be funded through Prop$98. Prop 98 is uh funded in by sales tax, capital gains tax and income tax, personal income tax. all of which form uh are over 60% of those that tax base is paid by the top 1% of income earners. It is meant to be a floor constitutionally.

098It it is supposed to prop 98 is supposed to give TK12 education 40% of the operating budget in any given fiscal year. Governor Nuomoe, if you have the most positive presuppositions, uh, Governor Nuomo has not fully funded that constitutional obligation because his belief in the last two years of economic uncertainty was that he would uh disperse money to local education agencies and then have to claw it back when the uh the books were closed on a given fiscal year. that has not materialized. The other challenging thing uh for the last few years is that the cost of living adjustment which is the increase on the that guarantee we we plan the budget in June and July. We negotiate with our bargaining units based off of the estimate of the cost of living adjustment and it

099has had extraordinary variance uh that was revealed to us in December over the last few years. uh the adopted budget, the budget that I presented and the first interim that were presented in December all had what school services and FICMAT UCLA and uh CDE had declared was a 3.05% cola. That has now been reduced to a 2.41% cola. That 6% is a lot of money. It sounds it's a small percentage, but it's a lot of money when you're talking about $120 million entitlement for LCFF. So, that's been really tricky for us. We've been nimble in in our uh in being able to adapt to that. Uh a couple years ago, and I have a slide for this, the cola was reduced from right around 4% down to 1%. That was an extraordinary hit with one

100stroke of a pen from the governor and the LAO in this budget. Um because uh Prop 90 because the the state has overperformed from uh the projections that the uh governor has espoused, there is additional funding uh and he is proposing through a one-time discretionary block grant just like he did in this past fiscal year to disperse that to LEAs. Uh as soon as I heard that, I pulled out a cocktail napkin and a pen and did some napkin math. If it is a proportional share on the same formula, uh that means we'll get about 4.7 million one time. One time money is fantastic. It does not help close a deficit. It helps buoy a structural challenge. And then in terms of transportation funding, there's some very very marginal adjustments that happen in in with

101cola. So, um, the next governor right now is going to have, uh, projected deficits of 27, 22, and 23 billion in each of the next three fiscal years. Um, and, uh, what Governor Nuomo is sharing is that he is going to have a balanced budget this year. He has a balanced budget. And how do you get a balanced budget? You overestimate revenues potentially and you under report expenditures. So you under reportport expenditures by deferring a Prop 98 obligation to the next fiscal year. And you over report revenues because you really believe the AI boom is not going to have a bubble and tariffs and everything else will not impact California's economy. So, uh, Governor Nuome, uh, because he is more in that lame duck, uh, portion of his, uh, tenure is getting criticism from the

102legislature and analysts in, uh, more vocally than he was earlier in his tenure. And essentially, um, here's what the governor's office will tell you right now. Uh, hey, we're trying to risk overappropriation because if I give you money and you spend it, then we have to claw it back. That's really hard on school districts. He's absolutely right. Just hasn't happened the last couple years. And worry about there's a worry about the constitutionality becoming precedent. Um as a new governor comes in. He can say we are fully funding Proposition 98 at historic levels. Well, you're always going to have Prop 98 at historic levels because it always has to increase over the prior year through the Constitution. And then if revenues underperform or expenditures become um more uh robust, that will be the next governor's problem,

103not this governor's problem. So I say that to say I'm not trying to do a critical one-star yelp review of our current governor. I know these are hard decisions in hindsight's 2020. Um but what we have to be prepared for is what looks like right now to be a topline balanced budget is really a major structural problem at the state. there's too many programs um that have been started and there's not enough revenue to fund them. So we this is not a cyclical issue. This is a structural issue and someone will have to come in at some point and either cut expenditures or raise taxes in order to reconcile it. This slide is uh always important for context. So in California, uh, our revenues per student are based on enrollment times attendance time, uh, plus

104how many students that are either low-income, foster, youth, or English learners. Um, we have about 27% of our students qualify for those latter categories. The average district in the state has 65%. So the way that those equity grants work um is uh formulaically disadvantage is disadvantaging um Los Virgin as compared to the average district. We get $5,000 less per student than the average district. But if you look around us because of the equity formula and the federal funding that comes in, we get $12,000 less per student than uh LA USD. And because Santa Monica Malibu is what's called a basic aid district where their property taxes exceed any state aid, they get to keep the excess. They get about $10,000 more than us. And I say this uh this is not a slide I put

105up to play the world's smallest violin. It is a slide for context and the importance of partnership with our community. But I I take great I as as challenging that as that is as this is if our community is aware of it um and can help us rally behind it we have made miracles happen by being in the lowest 10% of funding by this formula and um I'm proud that we've been able to continue on but it is not a fair system uh in its current sense people uh if you're wondering at home hey tell me more about the cola I got a slide for you so this is how the cola adjusted In 2425 it went 1.3 point 3 and a half% to 1% in a given year. In 56 fiscal year 56 it's

106gone from 331 to 2.3. And in 67 78 89 and 930 uh it's also been adjusted to where really as you can see this is an $8 million swing. It's an $8 million swing that uh at one time went into our budget assumptions, helped inform the programs we can afford, uh helps inform uh the reductions we might need to make, and then it's hidden. It's invisible uh until we have to adjust to these realities. So, I say all this to say as we look at the budget ahead, it's going to be really important that we be mindful that we're going to hear potentially a very optimistic outlook from an outgoing governor and a major structural problem from an ongoing legislature and we have to be rel we have to be responsive and nimble to all

107possible scenarios. Um and um to end on a um positive note, you know, I just want to highlight under the the sport's leadership what we've been able to do to help mitigate these co the cost pressures that exist in the very phenomena I'm describing uh in ways that don't affect the uh the classroom. of the passage of measure S, as was highlighted tonight by Miss Cupil, not getting a million calls about uh rain in classrooms, is good for kids, and um also good for the budget because of all the deferred maintenance costs that come from having to patch up a roof you can't afford to replace, but you have to repair. Uh grants, Dr. Anderson's team has brought in over a million dollars of CTE grants just this year under his leadership. conversion to solar

108um we talked about earlier tonight and then the restructuring of health benefits and workers comp that those are not restructuring to reduce quality. In fact, they've improved quality, they've improved rates for employees, they've improved access and services, but they've also improved our fiscal position. It's a rare opportunity to do that. The efforts of Mrs. uh Thomas on attendance have been substantial if the current attendance rates hold. That's $1.7 million more than I was estimating in first interim. Um, so that's uh extraordinary. And then center X and LBST plus are also um helpful to be able to serve our families and serve our community, but you can only do so much with uh being creative and trying to find those positive aspects. uh we do have a deficit and we need to um make sure that

109in in future interim uh uh budgets we want to make sure that um we responsibly address that in ways that have a lot of foresight over multiple years so that we don't have significant blips or interruption in our service to kids and we will try and uh hold that value in our recommendations to the board. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Any questions or comments? >> Um Dr. Lis, first of all, thank you very much for the presentation. Um, I I think you you're coming across as more concerned than you usually are. >> You're also being unusually frank and um are you it this appears you're very concerned about this budget and and the future is what I'm reading, right? >> Yes. uh very concerned um very concerned to see um to see analysts

110and the LAO break from the governor and um what we don't know is how this AI bubble is going to or is AI a bubble but right now our economy is being boosted by this AI boom how long will that last um and yes in terms of um all the tools that we have in our tool tool belt and all the it's kind of one of those fool me once fool me twice seeing cola get reduced one year which is atypical fool me once see get reduced twice fool me twice whatever the saying is seeing cola get reduced now three years in a row um that only should drive us being very conservative and not taking at face value in July what we normally could bank on and Therefore, we need to as this board

111has been uh amazing in giving guidance on but especially conservative in the next year or two. >> Um in terms of the you know you mentioned the fiscal strategies at the end where you know I feel like we've just been so innovative the past few years in uh making fiscal adjustments which have really benefited the budget. Uh it's my sense that there's not too much more we can do in terms of those types of strategies. we've really addressed a lot, but at some point uh I don't think there's too much more we can do, right? >> I always think there's things we can do. Um we have two very innovative members of our team that have brought new money >> and new perspectives and new approaches and things I would not have thought of. So,

112I'm always encouraged when we find those items that can be of fiscal benefit while maintaining our service to kids. So, um futures in Mr. in Dr. Anderson and Mrs. Thomas's hands is keeping money in classrooms. That's the key. >> Um I have a quick question about um I think it's only Prop 98 money. It is not the sort of thing that if we have a boom year that they will go back and reimburse us for money that they did not send give us in prior years. Is that correct? >> No, they will. So, um there's a great scene in a movie >> and I won't cite it. There's a great there's a great I can't not there's a movie Dumb and Dumber by uh Jim Carrey where uh basically burns the money and what's left

113in the suitcases a bunch of IUS that's how Prop 98 works is essentially the governor writes an IOU for the future. >> The problem is if you can't meet your fiscal obligation in one year it's often the case that you can't meet it the following year and then the following year and they cascade and compound. Last time this happened was in the great recession and the only way that we could fix it as a state was to completely change the funding formula and wipe the slate clean. So yeah, uh money is owed to us for prior years. Uh and it does come in and it's nice when it does. Um but usually the absence of it in one year compounds the problem in the future in the next year and you don't really see the

114material impact. I'm just sorry to be such a a a raincloud on that but >> well since Dr. Steppp, I think, and I were the only ones here during the Great Recession. Dr. Steppp was in Dr. Ciphers's. >> You guys have been here a long time. >> Thank you. >> I mean, my goodness. Come on now. >> But, uh, >> I don't even think I was born yet. >> I had to say it. I'm sorry. I had to say I mean, it had to be said. My kids weren't born yet. Saying who might want to stop that line is >> that wasn't my point. Thank you, Mr. Seagull and Mr. Lawrence. Okay. Was to say that you will see the state do all kinds of wacky things like suspend Prop 98 or more appropriately unconstitutional

115things and they'll get away with it. So just you know uh tighten our seat belts because you know it is it is going to be an interesting next few years. And so those of us with the wisdom of past experiences are happy to share that that we survived. We came out stronger and we're here today doing great for kids. So with that, >> but I have I do have >> I have a question. Oh, we don't you have to do the journey. I have a question. Um so I guess what I'm trying to understand from a budget perspective is is is two main things that we're looking at. one. So, it was your previous slide, which I think is probably the most important one that I want to hit on because we have some people

116who watch this meeting and like to focus on. We don't have to go back. It's fine. It's it's the one that outlines all the things that you've done that have right seted budget that we've been voting on that people sometimes get lost through the trees. They don't add them all up. It'd be great if we could have a slide at some point that just totals up the dollar amount. >> Um, totals up the dollar amount of the grants that your team has gone out and written. We do not have a full-time grant writer at this organization, which is crazy for the millions of dollars in grants we bring in. I remember >> Dr. Gleason does between the hours of two and three. >> But I mean, I I do remember pre grant time we had

117a conversation about could it could somebody take this on as a collateral duty and we didn't think it was possible and we're probably tens of millions of dollars grants later. I I just think it'd be helpful >> put numbers to that those strategies >> because we I don't think your team gets the financial credit of what these dollars roll up into when folks choose to focus on an easier number somewhere else. >> That's what my wisdom of 13 years on the board tells me to do. >> Thank you, youngster. I will remind you I've only been on for a year. So you're actually the one that's been on forever. >> And I didn't say the Great Depression for heaven's sake. Okay. And with that, I'm going to adjourn this meeting. Thank you.