001Welcome to the August 12th, 2025 school board meeting. It's a pleasure to have you all here. We'll start the meeting with our flag salute and I'm thrilled to welcome up Samantha Savannah. Thank you for being volunttoled uh uh to to do this uh 60 seconds before the flag salute. If you come up to the microphone and lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please. You want to go first? Ready? Ready? Okay. I >> stand. Yeah. Okay. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you both for doing that. I have nothing to report out of close session. Um, may I have a motion to approve the agenda? And before we
002do that, I would like to ask that we move uh information item number one, cell phone policy to fall uh before action item number one. >> Okay. I move to approve tonight's agenda. >> I'll second. >> Great. All those in favor, student vote. I >> board >> I motion passes unanimously. Uh may I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> I move to approve the minutes. >> There's a motion to second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, student board vote. >> I >> board. >> I motion passes unanimously. With that, Dr. Steinowski, that brings us to superintendent board communications. >> Mr. President, we have a new member of the team I'd like to welcome. So if you join me at the podium first >> got it. >> Mr. President, members of the board, I am
003thrilled to introduce Miss Kim Mashad as our principal for Baylor Elementary. A little bit about Kim. She has 10 years experience teaching elementary school. She taught K three and fourth grade in Pleasant Valley and Lndale School District. So was a teacher on special assignment for curriculum instruction and assessment for three years in Pleasant Valley as well. She has 10 years administrative services experience, seven years as dean of students in Los Cerritos in Kho Valley and the past three years as assistant principal at Westlake High School. Uh she was also most more recently a member of the Wasque team, the accrediting team that visited Calabasas High School. Mr. Watkkey, how' we do on the Wasque? That was a little touch and go there for a second. Um, >> he passes. >> Exactly. Miss Fashad has a
004bachelor of arts and communication from UC San Diego, masters in arts from in education in Pepperdine. We're thrilled to welcome her to the team. Welcome her to the team. Mr. President, we're thrilled to have you. I will say um this is my first year uh in 11 without a kid in elementary school in LVUSD. And I I'm very sad by that because our elementary schools are such just incredibly special places. Um and I know we've all had kids uh I think you were the last one left. Alas has a kid elementary school. >> Yes. >> With you. Um good luck with that. Uh uh um but we all have experienced that. We know just how special elementary schools are and we know it starts at the top. So the principal really sets the tone and
005builds that team, inspires the kids. So, in advance, thank you for all you're going to do for the young ones that are coming up. We are so grateful. And I will pin you somehow. I'm going to see how about right there. Okay, there we go. Welcome to the team. >> Thank you. >> Meet you. >> All right. So, Mr. President, members of the board, Dr. Stephanoski and Cabinet, uh thank you very much for welcoming me here tonight. Um I have brought my family. I have my husband Mike of 19 years tomorrow as well as our two kids. I have my son Parker who is a rising senior and my daughter Payton who is a rising junior. So I'm at the tail end of of the schooling which is a little frightening. Um I am super
006excited for this opportunity at Bay Laurel and here at Los Virgin. Um when I did the Wasque uh visit in the spring I really got to see the culture here at Los Vergynous and I knew that that's really what I wanted. So it's been great from day one. Everyone has been so welcoming from Bay Laurel to the entire community. My elementary principal team is awesome. I can't say enough about that. Um, I really have enjoyed getting to know my staff, some of the families already, and even a few students have popped by to meet me, which has been awesome. I really look forward to inviting you all to my school. Uh, any day you want to come, just pop on in, and I'd love to show you all the great things that our students and
007staff are doing. So, thank you again for the opportunity. and don't feel like you need to stay. It's the summer. We get it. >> Your kids definitely look like they want to stay, though. >> Yeah. Make budget stuff. They'll love it. Uh Mr. Klein, next slide. Few slides. Mr. president. Uh we on Monday um sorry on Friday we held our leadership retreat gathered the entire team certificate and classified um at Lupin Elementary uh spent uh threequarters of a day together was fantastic team building uh Dr. Anderson led our staff development there um which was fantastic spent some time rolling up sleeves getting into student achievement data which was really fantastic. Next slide. The carnival is right around the corner Labor Day weekend. Um they are ex they've been expanding this event each uh year. So
008tickets are on sale right now support the the foundation which supports all of our schools and uh August 29th through September 1st. Uh please join. Next slide. And right around the corner is our first day of school on Wednesday. So we welcome our students back. Very excited about that. And since we're welcoming students back, I'd also like to welcome to the team Dr. Anderson and Miss Thomas. We're thrilled to have both of them on the team that come to us with extensive experience. Uh Dr. Anderson, assistant superintendent for ed services. Miss Thomas um uh assistant superintendent for student services. Thrilled to have them both on the team. Welcome. >> That concludes superintendent comments. >> Lead us off on our first board member communications. >> Hi. Um oh, >> first of all, welcome back. >> Welcome
009back. Debbie, for those who don't know, our I think the most senior tenure student board rep in the history of LVUSD. She is now being sworn in for her third term uh as our student board rep. Um Alan, she has more seniority than you. So um she she gets to uh but we're thrilled to have you back. We're thrilled your voters sent you back. Uh so welcome. >> Thank you. It's been so long I forgot how to start these. So Mr. President, members of the board, Calabasora High School have been preparing for the upcoming year. Both schools began registration today and started with the seniors and will end with the freshman on Friday. Fall sports has started a practice and are getting ready for the upcoming season. We hope everyone enjoys their last few days
010of summer. >> Thank you, Mr. Lazar. Well, I will point out that with the addition of our wonderful new administration members, I'm no longer the most junior member of >> um I I don't have much to say except of course welcome to our new administration members and our wonderful new bay laurel principal. I've heard so many great things. Um, and also just to say having visited Bural campus and Calabasasa's high campus uh past couple days, I was just struck by how much has been done over the summer. And uh just congrats to our district team and uh of course as usual big shout out uh to all of our voters uh who so kindly approved measure S uh and have given us the wherewithal to really take our campuses to another level. Uh I just
011feel so proud. I see uh all of these new developments gets me really proud and excited. So, thank you. >> This time, >> thank you very much. I had the opportunity to visit the LVUSD plus program that was held at Willow Elementary for our elementary students this summer and I visited the sports camp that at at Agora that that's where I went and those are brand new programs to Los Virginist that Los Virgin has created and hats off to everyone. amazing happy kids, happy uh staff members, opportunities for high school students to work and earn money being counselors or interns as they were called. It is really a remarkable programs. I was never I'm always proud of Los Virginist and that the those were amazing. I want to welcome um Leighton back as uh on
012her third term as student board member. Uh Mr. Lawrence and I had uh the student board member orientation with Dr. Stephanowski yesterday and we are pleased to and delighted to welcome Ben Seagull from Agora High School who will be uh the other student board rep. So, welcome. Uh let's see. Welcome to Miss Thomas, the assistant superintendent of student services and Dr. Mark Anderson who's of student what are you? >> Thank you. Education services. >> This guy right here. >> They're new too. So, we have a lot of uh breaking in and have you had any initiations yet? Don't answer. So, um just be on the lookout. Those two over there, >> Miss Cupill >> are very good at that. So, welcome back to everybody. The facilities look amazing. There's work being done on every campus
013uh this summer and hope everybody has a nice smooth uh beginning of the school year. Thanks, >> Couple. >> Thank you. Uh welcome back to everybody. I'll be I won't be repetitive. That's all I'll say. >> So, I I hope everybody had a fantastic summer and I look forward to a great start to the school year. And um I do want to even though it's on the agenda later, I do want to thank our LVA and LBCA negotiation teams. And um I um have to say that I did miss sitting at the table this past year. Part of it is because it plays to my strengths which is our ro role in the past has been to be a fly on the wall and just sit and listen and I love to do that. Um
014and but I voted with the board um and um uphold that that we were following SBA protocol and not um sitting at the table this past year. But I just wanted to let unions know that I did miss that. Um and I also want to share that I had my own Mrs. Malarkey does not live in room 10 moment yesterday. I stepped outside of my house and somebody said, "Hi, Linda." And I and I said, "Oh, hi." And she goes, "It's um Mrs. Suamani from White Oak Elementary." And I was like, "Oh, you now I know who you are, but you were not on White Oak's campus. You were outside of my house." But, uh, it was a lot of fun. And I, um, she said, "Yeah, they're back, um, on Monday, and I hope
015everybody has a great start to the school year. Thanks. I'll be quick. Um I just wanted to one thing I did want to read is what Miss Stein said is I was so impressed by the sports camps. Um launching any program in a first year, you're going to have untold number of things go wrong. Um but as I got zipped around the campus on the golf cart seeing the kids play. Um my kids were in the golf were in the water polo camp. Um my son never would have done water polo had it not been for this program. I wanted him to try water polo. He want he loves to swim and he loves soccer. He loves basketball. like that's it's swimming with soccer, basketball, one sport. You'll love it. Wouldn't have done it. Uh
016having those players as coaches, uh having high school kids they look up to as mentors come in and engage them. Brilliant. The kids I was watching the player coaches, they seemed like they were having as much fun as the kids doing it. Um if you guys get a chance next year, the most fun one to go watch was the wrestling. >> Yeah. Um uh because it was the wrestling team and some big guys on the wrestling team wrestling in front of which was which was mostly second and third graders who who signed up for the wrestling and they were having a ball. Um I think in that case the high school kids were actually having more fun than than the eight nine year olds. But >> I heard nothing but positive things from it. Have
017some feedback on lunch um that we'll share um going forward. Some ideas uh it was it was good. Uh um it wasn't it wasn't Oak Park. It wasn't uh I'm not um Oaks Oaks Oaks Christian level, but um they all high praise. They said it was it was good. I said, "Oh, good. That's that's amazing." Uh from from these kids. So, uh it was so well done. You were going to nail that. Um they want a habit truck. That's what I heard. They want the habit truck next year. >> We have chef special on Wednesday, so we can take that under adisement. >> Habit truck. Uh but again, thank you for that. It was it was just I I know what a lift that was to pull together that program that fast and have it
018be that efficient. I know we're going to get a briefing on that, not this week, but maybe the next week. So, thank you for that. That was fantastic. Um and uh really looking forward to a great school year. It it is amazing how much happens on our campuses over the 60 or so days where school is out. Um and it it is like an entire literally a swarm comes over all of our campuses and just takes care of all the little things need to get done. Somehow the magic seems to happen and it all happens right before school starts. So we know there are a million things that that go into that. So thank you to the entire team for that. With that I will move to uh consent A. >> I move to approve
019consent A. >> I'll second. >> It's a motion a second. Any discussion? Uh without that uh student vote >> I >> board vote. >> Motion passes unanimously. Consent B. >> I move to approve consent B. >> I second. >> Uh there's a motion to second made. Any discussion? Seeing none, there's no student board vote on this board. >> I I >> I >> motion passes unanimously. That brings us to action items or we're going to jump to information. >> Do you have yellow cards for items not on the agenda? >> I I don't think so. Well, Melanie Hartlet sign said she wanted to speak about studentformational. It's not on the agenda. >> What is student informationational? >> Let her come and speak. >> Is it on the agenda? >> No. >> Okay, then come. I
020thought it was on the agenda. Okay. What's that? Oh, yeah. No, please. Yeah. come up to the mic for the ponium, please introduce yourself. >> Three minutes. >> You'll have three minutes. Uh you'll hear a beep when there's a minute left. >> All right. Just don't start until my three minute. >> Mr. uh >> probably not going to like it, but somebody's got to speak up. And this is information that I received from about half of the >> of last year's senior class. >> My name is Melanie. I'm here today to exercise my first amendment right, not just for myself, but on behalf of students, former students and parents of Agora High School. We're speaking out against ongoing misconduct and abuse of power by principal Garrett Lepto. After hearing from many students, more than half
021of the entire senior class, including my own daughter, it's clear what's happening on campus is not appropriate and very unacceptable. So, what's happening? Bullying and intimidation. Mr. Mr. Lepto has repeatedly yelled and humiliated students in front of their peers. Physical contact. He has grabbed uh students by the arm, an action that crosses professional boundaries. Bathroom violations. This one really got me. He's entered the girls' restroom while female students were inside, allegedly searching for vapes. He's also entered the boys' restroom and reportedly looked over the stalls while students were using the toilet. Security misconduct. Uh the security guards came there in 2024. Male security guards uh both were both sent into the girls and boys restrooms. Female students were reported being hit on by these guards. And uh the girls when they complained Mr. Lefestto, nothing
022was done. Illegal searches. Students have been subjected to body searches without parental consent. This is a violation of their rights. It is unethical and illegal. Postlockdown trauma. You had what? four or five different fall school shootings in 2024. Um, a lot of those, uh, there were kids who were traumatized and you guys didn't let them go home with their parents. And I just think that's not very a good thing to do. It seems that the students came last. Fear-based assemblies. All of them told me about this. Assemblies have been held with extreme rules and consequences, discouraging students from speaking out. Those who do are threatened or punished. >> This is a culture of fear. Students are afraid to speak up. terrified that their diplomas will be withheld. This is why I'm talking this now because
023they were all worried about their diplomas or not being able to walk. The impact on teachers coach Russ was the subject of a defamatory email sent by Mr. Leposto despite overwhelming support from over 400 parents and students. The emotional troll toll led to a suicide. Joshua Lander was persecuted over a fake video known to be fabricated by a student named Zachary as well as other false allegations and they are still attacking him. Students who defended Lander were threatened and assemblies used to intimidate them further. These are not isolated incidents. This is they reflect a pattern of abuse enabled by administrators including Cypress Stanowski and Faulk who failed to intervene. Mr. Leposto was never properly vetted. He was placed in the role temporarily after a pre previous principal passed away. Yet, he remains in power despite
024lacking the qualifications and the character required to lead a school. To the parents, would you feel safe knowing your child's principles entering the restrooms while they're inside? Would you accept good teachers being pushed out and vilified by false accusations? Thank you. We demand accountability, transparency, and change. >> Thanks. Thanks for talk coming today. Um, we obviously we obviously can't engage in a back and forth uh items on the agenda. Um, but we appreciate you coming in today. That moves us to our first item on the agenda, which is uh we're we're shifting information items and bringing those forward. So, we're going to discuss our uh cell phone policy update for our new bell-to-bell cell phone ban that's rolling out uh districtwide in less I guess a little more than a week. Dr. Ste, >> Mr.
025Mr. President, members of the board, uh excited to bring this agenda item forward. Um student safety and wellness and our staff safety and wellness remain our priority. They are always our priority and one of those elements is our student emotional and mental health. Uh so this is exciting uh policy adoption by the board relative to student mental health and their focus. Uh I'm excited about this personally because um I enjoy the ability to let kids be kids, interact with each other, connect with each other, build relationships, focus on their instruction. Um you know, these devices that we all have, um their number one job is to grab and attain our attention and pull our attention away from family, friends, teachers, instruction, learning, growth. And so um the board adopted a board policy relative to that.
026So we've got um our principles here to present as well as Miss Thomas. And so start off with a little bit of the why which I've shared. Next slide please. You know really about letting kids uh be kids um have fun, engage with each other. Um you know mental health issues, the studies are astounding. Uh to the extent that cell phones have distracted and disrupted our children. Had I had a chance to do it over again as a parent, I would not have handed my children a phone and they're in sixth grade. I can't advocate enough for wait until 8. Um you know, at the least. So our middle schools and elementary schools began this last year and had great amount of success. And of course this applies to all types of devices, phones, smartwatches,
027uh earbuds, all those sorts of things. The policy of course most simply put is uh their devices are off and away uh bellto for the entire instructional day. Next slide. As I said, I want kids to be kids. I want them to be present, build those relationships. Um, you know, not be distracted by those devices and pulled into um adult type condont content. Research clearly shows uh that during the school day putting these phones away having them off out of reach f improves academic performance focus well-being fostering peer stronger peer uh connections and of course dramatically reduces classroom disruptions along with keeping kids away from social media throughout the day uh improves the behavior and uh climate of the entire school. Next slide. Again, more data here from the Educational Psychology Study, students who kept
028their phones out of reach, scored essentially a half grade higher on their exams. Huge. The APA, a well-renowned organization, the American Psychological Association, teams who checking social media throughout the day report, no surprise to any of us, higher levels of stress, lower levels of focus. And of course, schools that adopt phoneaway policies have documented more peer-to-peer interactions and fewer classroom disruptions. all of which lends itself to healthy relationships, positive interactions, and increas increased academic outcomes. >> So, I'm going to review a little bit of the what of the policy before handing it over to our high school principles and some students we have here tonight. Um, under the new policy, students will keep the cell phones off and away um from bell to bell um during the school day. So, that includes all class periods.
029even if there's a study hall um an off period when they are there on campus the cell phones are off and away. Um the device is allowed to be used when directed by a teacher or administrator for specific instructional purposes. Um and the device may be used uh before school or after school. Um also in the secondary schools there's progressive consequences for violations including the first infraction would be um taking that phone away and having the student pick it up at the end of the day. The second infraction would be the device is confiscated and a parent or guardian must come pick up the cell phone device. Um third infraction, it'll be confiscated, the parent or guardian must retrieve it, but also that student um may receive a detention, may be required to check in
030the device for a specified amount of time. And then fourth and subsequent infractions and also possibly in a third infraction may also result in a referral to some district counseling for that. It could be um longer amount of check-in time on the phone, loss of campus privileges, um extended detentions or school service hours. So, we're going to talk more and get more in depth about the how and the roll out and communication plan as we're moving this into high school, which will be new this year, although successful in elementary and middle school so far. Um so districtwide we'll have our our welcome back video by our superintendent here who um will go over um you know among other welcome back items the the cell phone policy and really focusing on that. Um an email announcement
031will also go out by our superintendent. Um posters have already been given to all the school sites and we just ordered a load more. Um but these posters will be all over your campuses with the off and away learning on um displayed all over the campuses. Um it's also been passes. Um, it's also shared with our parents and guardians in Aries when they do those annual updates that come out to acknowledge in the forms that this is uh in in those forms and they acknowledge they have to initial off that they've acknowledged and received those forms about the cell phone off and away. Uh, districtwide we've also done uh media outreach has started. Um, superintendent will have a column in the acorn. We also have an FAQ or frequently asked questions link on our uh
032will go out in email communications. um on it's already on our district website and on the school websites and the social media post regarding the new cell phone policy. Um this was the the first one that came out. This is on our district website. It's also on our high school um landing pages and when you click on that land learn more, it'll take you to the the website that has the FAQs and the other information about are live now. >> They are. Okay. And the uh board has a copy of my column to the acorn on the disc. >> Oh, they have it. >> Okay. And so I'm going to welcome up our our Calabasas principal, Mr. WKY and Mr. Leisto from Agora as well as their student leaders to talk a little bit more
033about the next slides. So, we've already began some of the roll out. Um, on Monday, we had our new student orientation and we had our freshman parents there and you can see there's that's a beautiful picture of me presenting to the parents. Thank you, Alan, for taking that. Um, and the parents as I was presenting, I'm watching their body language and lots of nodding and lots of smiles and lots of positive um, just non-verbal as we're talking about why and how. And um I think with our ninth grade students, you know, it's not going to be as shocking because they're used to it. So as I'm working with kids in registration this week, I'm just kind of planting the seed. Again, we were doing it all spring and they're understanding, but there's going to be
034some kind of like Gollum taking his ring away. It's going to be a little tricky. Um but we're putting out videos that will be going out this Friday with a letter that's going to the families and Mr. Leisto and I are going to be um on video talking about why this policy is so important, how it will benefit our students academically like Dr. Stephenowski just explained. And then um we'll be going class to class talking to the them about all of our rules, but specifically about the cell phone policy. And then they'll have an opportunity to sign a pledge and say, you know, why there this is important for them to participate. very excited about having additional staff members um on campus to help us the security. Um it just the more eyes the marrier
035and our campuses are large and there's lots of nooks and crannies and so the more people we have that can help us do that. So having the secure all staff there through at least the end of October and then having extra cabinet presence on campus will just give us so much more ability to support our students in embracing this policy. Can you share maybe a second or two maybe the both of you? Um if you want to pun it till later you can. One of the things we heard from principles we met with who've rolled this out is how critical the first 30 days is um and how critical it is to um you know have immediate uh you know implications for this. So what is the logistical process? Um the security sees a kid
036with a phone, they just can't take it and put it in their pocket because they're going to forget whose phone that was. So, does that person then have to then walk off the yard with that one kid in the phone, go check what is the logistics? That's how does that rubber meet the road there? >> Yeah, that really is the tricky part. That's what we've been trying to wrap our heads around, too. Um, you know, as far as as far as the administration staff, we can carry small bags with us as we're going around at lunch. And so, if a security guard says, "Hey, can I have an administrator just meet me over here?" We could take that. I wouldn't want the security guards to be handling the phones just for liability purposes. But if
037we are each walking around with a small bag, we can grab those and take them back in. We'll be keeping them in the office. We're actually going to be handing kids a numbered cards because they're going to at our school, we talked over the summer about every class putting them in the caddies. We want to make it uniform because if it's not, the kids will play the teachers off each other. So, we're all going to put them in the caddies and they're going to have a card to represent that they don't have a phone. So they can't be telling the teacher, "Oh, it's taking it away." But really, they still have it. So, um, >> so you're going to have them take their phone out of their bag in the classroom and put it in
038a caddy when we have an off and away policy. >> Yeah, exactly. >> I mean, that's how we have done been done in the past. We can pivot from that. We just we were just going to have them put it there because that's a way we've always seen that they've done it. But um if that's uncomfortable for the board, >> what we I think we were trying to achieve was phones not being out. That when you see phones out going in and out of backpacks, then you haven't changed the culture of phones being out. >> Yeah. It's a it's a case of out of sight, out of mind. I believe that's what we really want to aim for. >> There's like a psychological study around what we're trying to break is the student human connection
039to touching the phone and having to look at it. >> Yeah. And the fact that what we've heard and seen from the data is by like week four, five, and six, the kids stop grabbing for their phones like drug addicts. Um because they've not touched it for eight hours a day. >> The science behind why we considered for a while the bags because the underbags were created because they broke that synapse in the developing brain of wanting to reach for the phone. So if we're taking phones in and out every class, I feel like we we've done nothing. >> Yeah. And I I definitely hear that. and we're used to the cell phone caddies in in our classrooms, what teachers and students are used to. Um, I think from the teacher perspective, if they notice
040that that cell phone is in the caddy, they know the student has put it away. Um, and less likely to then be kind of working with students on if a student's trying to get it out of their backpack or something like that, it's already in the caddy. But that's something we can definitely uh unpack and and work towards as well. If the preference is it's in your bag and it's off and you keep it there. >> I think I think that's what our policy actually is. >> We can't do the caddyy thing. Unfortunately, >> we got about that one. Just keep they should be off and away. We don't want kids touching the phones period. >> That's a super easy adjustment. We just we'll just make that really clear when we talk to staffs next
041week and just say they will stay off and away. They're not putting them in caddies and they just stay off and away. >> Same for the earbuds and the the watches. >> Great. Thank you. Glad I asked. Yeah, thank you. >> Mr. Watkkey, I just want to emphasize as well your your comment at the uh new parent orientation yesterday, how you were reading the body language in the room. I was sitting in that audience and I felt exactly the same thing. There was a lot of people gently nodding. There was no negative vibe. Uh it felt overwhelmingly uh positive. >> Yeah. >> So, >> I felt that. >> I didn't mean to interrupt your presentation. Go ahead. You're right. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Now we can do it correctly. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um
042and of course as as principal Watkkey shared our our presentations with our staff as well is critical. Uh so they understand the policy and protocols. Uh so if a phone is out here are the next steps. They will also have the information of where that phone will go if they are confiscating the phone. The staff member who will be collecting that in the office. And then of course for students and parents will have a great understanding and if the phone is taken away here are the next steps. We've also been partnering with our student leadership groups for Agora High School. It's been student council in the spring. Really also working towards what lunch will look like. With the campus being so big and spread out and with our our supervision, uh we want to make
043sure that we have activities that students will be actively participating and engaged in and not bored. And what I've seen in the past is students eat really quickly at the beginning of lunch and then they have a lot of free time. Um, so we want to give them some structured time, um, but also make it fun. Um, I brought a couple student council members with me and Sam Rosen, uh, she's our junior class president. She'll share a little bit more about some of the ideas that we have with that. The next slide will address it too, but from more so the club perspective. >> Hi. Um, so a few ideas I've had from student council. One of them being so we have a commissioner of clubs in athletics or um anyway but clubs I think
044that clubs should be used as a general idea. So club meetings tend to happen during lunch which I think that on the next slide it'll more address it but I think that clubs should have different like opportunities. So like I'm a club president of two different clubs and I enjoy it so much but students tend to be on their phones during lunch and not want to go do things because they're like oh I can just sit over here and be on my phone like who cares. I think that being able to have clubs be advertised through which will be on the next slide about talking about like what's happening during lunch and like what activities activities there are. I think during that we can also talk about stuff like that. So for example on the
045screen talks about like ceramics having a class or culinary slime station arts and crafts stuff like that. I think that clubs being advertised and being like oh in this room there's a club about like I know there's a bait baits blade blade club like we can talk about that and do different things like that. I think being able to get the students involved because students want kids to go to their clubs. That's why they make them. They want them to be shown and actually kids to actually enjoy them. So, I think being able to advertise those through that would be very important because then students actually will attend those clubs while also having the students that do the clubs have like more students attend and things like that. I think that would be very helpful
046to get students involved with different things around campus and also experiment with what they like. There's a bunch of different clubs. They could try different things that they don't know if they like or not. They can kind of see. Are there things that we're going to do differently to help advertise them that we've done in the past? >> Um, I think that what one thing we should do, so at Agora, we have a kindness wall which is like in the middle of campus. I think on there we should have every week student council I know we have a huge printer we can print out on Monday there's we're going to do stuff like cornhole like a small like all different kinds of things we can advertise that be like on Monday there's cornhole this this
047and this and there's also a club meeting in this room about that and I think there's a bunch of different ways to advertise it. I know during school they can't be on their phones, but during like outside of school obviously everyone texts their friends. They could be like, "Oh my gosh, like I see there's a club meeting in this room during lunch. We should go there." And just advertising throughout school. I think the media center we could put up on like there's TVs we could do like a slide for that. I think there's a bunch of advertising we can do through posters and ad like a bunch of different stuff like that I think would be very helpful to get the students to see it when they're not on their phones. So when they're walking
048around campus, they can see it and they're not on their phones. >> I love your excitement and your enthusiasm. I I think these are great ideas and actually I was looking at the list of clubs at Calabasas High a couple days ago and I was struck by oh my gosh there are so many wonderful clubs and I hope folks are going to participate. So uh this all sounds so positive and and so great for the kids and it's it's getting students together face to face off their devices. Uh I think it's great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And with that we we want want to provide a menu of activities for students week over week. Um, and for example, a culinary class where maybe students couldn't sign up for culinary because they couldn't
049get into the class. Um, it was full or they're taking a different elective and so give them an opportunity during lunchtime to be engaged um, and away from the the phone. Um, and then our our Calabasa student uh, wanted to speak as well. >> Hello everyone, my name is Michael Bronstein and I am the ASB president at Calabasas High School. And with the new phone policy, ASB wants to support the policy. And the three ideas that the ASB advisor and I came up with is the first lead by example. If the ASB class is following the policy and advertising the policy, I think other people will follow it within the school. The second would be we advertise a lot with flyers, daily announcements, and posters around school. If everybody kind of understands the reason behind
050the policy, I think it also encourage people to follow it more. And lastly, we thought with FiveStar, with the imp implementation of FiveStar, we could have little check-in events at Reflect conferences and kind of monitor who's going to the um to the phone policy reflections and also incentivize people to attend them and understand why we're having the policy with point system. >> Well, we really appreciate the the leadership and leading from the front. That's that's amazing to see. So, thank you. >> Great enthusiasm. Thank you all the students, the principles for really uh leaning in to you know implement this with such fidelity and again enthusiasm. Thank you. >> Announcements will be more important than ever. >> Yeah. Yeah. You'll have to actually listen to announcements. >> We have one more student who wanted to
051I think there was one idea that I heard I don't think I heard mentioned today though and that was about opening up the gyms. >> Can you talk maybe a little bit about that? >> Yeah, if we go to the last slide. Um, so some other options during lunch, um, we've been opening the gym during lunchtime. We have about a hundred students that are in there playing basketball or volleyball during that time. So, we'll continue that practice. Uh, we we are ordering ping ping pong tables for the quads to have another physical activity option that's outdoor cornhole games, spikeball stations in the grass spaces. That makes sense. Um, and then also special events and competitions from Friday tournaments, working with our student council to organize those tournament games with pingpong and and some of those
052things that we'll be bringing to campus. More organized activities and seasonal activities. Our media center is a great space where students use at lunch as well. Uh, some students are are studying individually at at a single desk. Uh, some students are more kind of collaboratively working on a project. Some are playing chess in the media center. So, we'll maintain and enhance that space as well. Um, and our our student um Savannah, and sorry, Savannah, I looked down because I had a student named Georgia, and now I know of Savannah Georgia. Um, but Savannah, she she's our sophomore class president. Uh, and she wanted to share some ideas about ceramics and culinary and slime because at her middle school, they had some of these opportunities, and she helped lead that. Hi. Uh, yes, my name is
053Savannah. Um, so at my old middle school, something that we used to do is like every other Friday, I was in leadership and we used to like host these events that people would love watching. They were like silly like pumpkin rolling in the near Halloween or like three-legged races that people would sign up for. And like we had like huge audiences. Like I would participate, other people would participate. We had like cup stacking like races that had little prizes and it was just fun to be in and to watch and we could have like Google forms for people who want to like join them or whatever or signups. So like kind of getting people involved and like watching especially and play fun music and just really fun things that people would usually be like just
054being on their phones instead. So I think that's a really cool opportunity and something that student council can work on as well. So that's kind of all. Thank you. >> That sounds great. It sounds like a hundred times better than going to Instagram. >> Um, just maybe a macro question on budget. I mean, this is the largest culture change I think we've brought about in a generation in this district. Uh, we know it. Um, we're doing it for all the reasons that Dr. Steppp has outlined and discussion. Are do you have the resources you need to make sure you could and cup stacking doesn't cost a lot of money, but it adds up. Like I don't I don't would it be a sad to kind find out is we weren't able to do five or
055six great things that would have cost a couple thousand dollars because ASB didn't raise the money. So are are we do you have the funds you need to be able to create these spaces and activities and keep them fresh throughout the year? >> I mean that's definitely something we would look into and like ahead of time like map out kind of. I'm not sure exactly like off the top of my head but I know that would be something we would look into throughout >> a as the sites we do. Um Dr. Gleon was able to allocate some funds for us. So we both sites have $75,000. So we're able to use that for stipens for people. >> Did you guys hear that? 75 grand. >> Yeah. So we're able to, you know, pay stipens to
056teachers who will because they can't work during lunch unless they agree. And so they'll get stipens for those days they dedicate to that. We'll be able to get people to help us coordinate all of this. We've already been purchasing like Garrett mentioned um tons of really cool things. I got all the things he talked about. We've got a foosball table. We've got some papa shot coming. But I also what was on my mind was the kids when I walk around campus at lunch who are all by themselves watching Netflix in the corner. So I was trying to find some more quiet space things for those kids to do too. So we going to have some dedicated quiet spaces, some coloring books. We might have like a soduku class from prom. We couldn't shut down the
057karaoke room. So we're going to have a karaoke room at lunch. So if anybody wants >> That's awesome. >> Come by and sing. Maybe not every day, but some days >> when uh this all gets rolling and you know everybody's settled into you know the first of school, will you invite us to come visit at lunch because it just sounds so much fun. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you students, principles. Amazing. >> Can you share a little bit about what you're both doing to get teacher buyin? Uh and by that I mean kind of two things. One of the one of the things we heard um from a lead teacher at a high school was that she had a realization at like week two that oh I really should put my phone away too.
058Uh and the teachers began talking saying we really have to model this uh as well. We obviously can't enforce that. It has to kind of be organic but the second piece being inclassroom enforcement. Um, I think it's been hit or miss in the district about certain teachers have different philosophies about cell phones and we really need to see them have them approach this as like it's a vape. I mean, they're illegal in our classrooms unless the teachers authorizing it. So, how are we bringing about the culture change so they feel they feel not only empowered, but they know they're required by board policy if they see a phone out to enforce that phone and confiscate it? >> Yeah, it's a great question. Uh over the summer, we were working with our academic council, which is
059our department chairs, really dialing into the policy and enforcement of the policy and making sure they're working within their departments to share the information and enforce. Of course, we we do classroom visits as well administratively, so we're going to get to every classroom uh within the first two weeks and and make sure folks are following the policy, too. I think the timing is right as well. Um when we we look in the United States currently, there's some states that are banning bones in schools and so >> 13. >> Yeah. And and I've seen actually positive feedback from some teachers on on social media, but sharing what a positive impact it has been in their classroom and how almost the comment was, was this the problem for the last decade? Um, so it's interesting timing as
060well and I think the timing is right and and I know our teachers will be on board and that's I mean I think that's what we we hope and believe. I mean that's certainly what the survey of our teachers told us when we surveyed them and they came back and said the overwhelming majority of them wanted phones out of the classroom. So I'm excited to hear that and I think I hope I think part of our goal was to take this not put this burden on them but to say you don't you no longer have to police your classrooms and have individual policies. we're going to have a district-wide policy. So, you don't have to be the bad guy or gal in the room. You're just enforcing the rules. So, great. >> Um, I think,
061uh, one thing which is encouraging to me is also the way that the two principles of our high schools are talking to each other and collaborating. And that's one of the great things about being in a smaller to medium-sized district uh, that uh, people can share ideas, can figure out the stuff that's really working uh, and benefit all of our high school students. So, it's great to see. Thank you so much. I'd love to if you guys maybe could come back in a month or two after school starts on lessons learned and maybe kind of innovation things you're seeing. I mean, one of the favorite things I learned from a principal is is he was sharing he shared with us how one of his high school English teachers kind of built it into the curriculum.
062Uh, and you know, the first week's assignment was they had to write a breakup letter to with their phone. Uh, you know, ideas like that where is this really being bred into the culture of of the of the classroom. So if you start to see those things popping up, it'd be great to just hear that back. So maybe we could find a time Dr. Stepp whenever it makes sense maybe when things dust is set a little bit to come in and get an update on how that's going from you guys and and from the students. >> I have a couple questions. One thing, we're getting an echo, so if you're not, if you can turn your microphones off if you're not. >> Um, just because we're all >> um, one question is, um, the FAQs
063talk about how it is allowed for off-campus lunch, which is kind of sort of redundant because if you're off campus, then you're on your own, right? So, um, if you could speak, uh, a bit to, um, the enforcement of that. So like kids flipping open their phones, you know, getting them out on their way off campus. It it's when they're off campus, right? And secondly, tell me how you're talking to office staff who are going to be the recipients of confiscated phones who are going to have to have people come pick them up that they have been trained and have clarity on what's a first infraction, what's a second. Right. >> Yeah. I hate I hate to go to enforcement and the hammer, but I want to know about being ready for that. >> Yeah,
064five star. We use five star for checkout. It's proven to be fantastic to help us keep track. But our our the fivestar had a great update last spring and so it reads the students ID cards just as well as it reads their phones. So they don't actually have to pull out their phone um to to be able to get off campus. And so we will just make sure that they're always showing us their ID card to get off campus and that won't be a problem. Uh as far as enforcement, Dr. Scott had a really simple solution for us. And we can download from Aries um a list of all kids with their ID numbers and then so we just have a spreadsheet with a tab for 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade. And
065then we just keep a column first infraction, second in fraction, third fractions, etc. And then we just put the date of each infraction when a kid does it. And it's very simple for us to do that. and then we can we can input it into areas as needed. But I think as far as keeping track of how many fractions a student has, that that plan seems simply awesome. >> I do Sorry. Go ahead. >> No, please go. >> Oh, and to answer your other question, so we have a designated staff member who's going to be collecting the phones and recording them. And my conversation with her is you don't need to engage. if they're getting angry with you and frustrated with you, you just you just simply stop the conversation and you come find an
066administrator and let us do that. But as far as the staff members taking the hit when a kid's upset or a parent's upset, we're not going to ask them to do that. >> And I do have I'm looking at the FAQs. I got a couple questions here. It feels a little loose and open-minded for people who will want to find the loophole to say devices may be used in emergencies. Well, it was an emergency. I needed to call my mom. Well, it was an emergency. Um I I wanted to check if I have a if I have to work tonight. You know, you're going to get that. But it says emergency. So emergencies is determined by whom? Um and for medical needs. Well, I needed, you know, I needed to call my mom to bring
067me a Tylenol. Like, okay, is that a medical need? >> Question because the principal is getting pounded with this. From my perspective, the emergency is a school emergency, >> right? So, I feel like in the FAQs, it needs to say as determined by school staff. I mean >> I mean even I mean >> for both >> to take that to the next level a key a key reason why we move to ban cell phones during the day is because in the case of emergency they cause problems and challenges when every kid gets on their phone. So to miss Cupell's point if the kids are saying okay uh well we've uh they've shut the school down for some reason I can take out my phone now and call home. That's exactly the exact opposite reason that
068we did. It's it's so I think I think we just launched these today. I think there's probably a good reason to go back and scrub them a little bit for things like this because I think in this case, Miss Couple, to your point, um, uh, like a good Navy regulation, the more specific, the better. The looser it is, the more likely someone is to fall overboard. So, I I think we want to be very, very microspecific. In case of a district declared emergency where phones are authorized by staff, you may call or something like that, that level of insight. >> Change is hard. And I also um heard a question. And there's going to be lots of questions as you know directed I'm sure at registration and after and first day of school was with
069the fivestar they're used to doing it on their phones and you said the ID card. So in emails in communications you may want to include that because there's some you know questions about well are they allowed to use their phone then to check in and out because they're not allowed to have their phones out. So you might want to want to address the u the student ID card on that one. where check me where >> where are we educating people that the boundary of the school begins >> because in my mind it's the parking lot I mean it's the it's the roundabout like that you're on school grounds at that point your phone goes away it's not you're not on your phone right up to the gate and then you put your phone away so
070what is the mindset of when the bell rings at 8:30 if you're you know rushing into the parking lot are you still on your phone or is our rule that you know or if you're walking walking off campus and it's lunchtime, can you have the phone in the parking lot or must you be off our campus grounds? Um, I think that's that's the type of thing we need to be both consistent at both campuses and very clear about or you're going to have a lot of people who said, "Well, I was in my car in the parking lot. I thought I could do that." No, you're still on school grounds during the bell period. >> I think a lot of it's going to have to do with um supervision. How many people are out there?
071Because I mean, for me, my comfort level is, you know, once they enter school. So, and I think one of you who visited schools said like at the beginning they were all there on their school, you know, outside of school on their phones and then once the bell rang or whatever, they all, you know, went in. So, >> I'm just saying I think I just think we need to be very clear uh about, you know, my understanding of our policy is the school parking lot, the school football fields, those are inside the school campus and there are no phones outside on those on a bell to bell period. No, if you're if you're going off campus for lunch, your phone does not come out of your bag until you have left our physical property. And
072that is but I those are the types of things I think you two need to get and in the district need to have very consistent and spelled out because the devil is going to be in the details on this. >> Right. >> Anything else? >> Well, we have we know that the rubber meets the road with you two, so thank you very much. But also very much so with the three behind you. So I I think >> appreciate you. I >> I you guys and being >> believe it or not, you'll probably have a bigger impact on the success or failure of this than anybody else in this room. Uh if the student leaders who've been elected by their peers are modeling this program and embracing it and saying is not the end of the
073world. Oh my gosh, I have all these clubs I get to go do. I It's going to be infectious. Uh and I think that that's what we've seen at other schools that have done it. Um so we are incredibly grateful for you guys. studies I read looked at 5,000 schools, secondary schools that had done this across the country and they couldn't find one that had regretted it. Not one. >> Yeah. >> They all said um everybody was happier, the students most especially. So >> that's the point. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for all you do. >> Thank you so much. >> With that, we'll return to action items. Item number one is standby. I'm opening it. Approval of resolution 30 325 transition of health plans from Kalpers to a skip. Mr. First,
074members of the board, um the team has done, as we've shared a number of times with the board, extensive research into a way to better support our 1100 employees um with their benefit package and have positive outcomes, great care at the best possible prices. From our research, it appears that Los Veress has been in PERS for its entire history, 60some years. We've got billing that goes back I think to the 50s. Um so Dr. Gleason u began this investigative research and I greatly appreciate his early work on this um to consider the transition. It's difficult for us being in PERS. Um PERS does a good job of keeping you there as evidenced by us being there for 60 years. They won't share your experience data with other providers. Um they if you leave you're gone
075for 5 years. um when you do get quotes, you'll often get them for two or three years, which is also challenging for staff as well. So, um we've looked at it. We brought in three experts as well to assist us in this. Um and um I think this has a tremendous benefit for our staff, all 1100, um along with some of our liabilities, obligations, and the financial um soundness of the entire district. Dr. Gleason, >> Mr. President, members of the board, uh excited to bring this to you. This is a kind of change uh that only comes with a lot of trust, a lot of collaboration, a lot of work. So, I want to thank uh both of our bargaining units for their work in this as well as the board for their leadership. Um
076knowing that uh we have uh talked about this extensively in committees and other places. I will do the cliffnotes version, but happy to do the extended cut at any point. Um as Dr. Stein said, we have been with Kalpers for decades. uh Kalper's rates have become um really uh challenging. Uh the PPOs uh their rates have increased so substantially that the HMOs have had to subsidize the PPOs over multiple years to where a family plan for a PO in LA County costs $44,000 a year. Um and uh we of course work in the public sector, >> which is the starting salary of a first year teacher in our district, isn't it? >> Uh it's uh a little little less than the starting salary. um but definitely is uh exceeds the salary of many of our
077classified employees. Uh the uh as Dr. Ste said, leaving Kalpers is really challenging. So we have to navigate this shift that we've been on uh that of this provider that we've been with for decades. We only have 60 days to notify the uh Kalpers of the shift and then we have to completely reimagine the open enrollment process. Uh, Miss Edna Sandival in, uh, human resources deserves a special shout out uh, because she really has led a lot of the behind the-scenes work um, to help navigate this and will be the face of a lot of this moving forward. Um, our recommendation, we received a quote. Uh, the board might recall we did an RFP last spring. We did have one provider provide a quote, ASIP. Uh, ASIP is currently the provider for our uh, property
078and loss insurance. Uh we've had a great relationship with them through fires and pandemics. They've been second to none. Really responsive, have defended us in hard uh cases. Um and when we did reference checks, had glowing references for health and welfare. Uh in terms of uh really the bottom line, so Kalpers has come out with their rates. A skip has quoted us. A skip is quoting us based on LA County averages because our loss rates are not uh made available by Kalpers. Shifting to a skip will allow us to shop the market with our loss data moving forward. Um so even though we're going to be um excluded if the board approves us tonight from being in Kalpers for at least 5 years uh this will allow us to shop the market on CISK uh
079and um CDT and some other health plans every year which will be to our employees and to the district's benefit. You can see here in the green negative this is one of those cases where I do a presentation a negative is good uh in terms of the cost to the employee. You can see in several circumstances on especially on the family plan and we're talking 10 $11,000 of premium difference for a plan that is actually superior to that offered by Kalpers. So the a skip pool is um definitely favorable to most in our district. Uh with two exceptions the two HMO plans in LA County. uh we'll uh the 88 employees there will see a nominal uh increase relative to the savings across the other plans. Um the big challenge in this and this is
080uh where a lot of collaboration uh came was uh Kalpers requires a lifetime benefit for all existing retirees and uh so we have 377 retirees who've provided service to our district and we have put in our open enrollment uh booklet every year that if we were to ever leave Kalpers that um that uh $171 a month that goes up at the rate of CPI annually would not be provided. to them. That said, there's a big shift. We've had decades of uh being with Kalpers. If I'm an existing retiree, um this change is going to be somewhat disruptive because I'll need to get a new plan. And the uh that benefit theoretically would go away. Um so uh the recommendation in the next uh agenda item is to provide uh 2250 per year to our existing
081retirees through Jan uh January 1st, 2032. It's a six-year benefit um and uh helps helps them transition away from um the lifetime benefit, gives them enough time to find a new plan and set up a new structure. um under the tenative agreement that would go we have an order of operations tonight. They can't we can't approve the tenative agreement until we are uh pass a resolution to get out of Kalpers and then take care of the existing retirees. If the tenative agreement is approved tonight, we have a structured early retirement um excuse me, a a 365 uh benefit for anyone who is 55 years and older with 10 or more years of experience on the certificated side and then anyone with 10 or more years of experience on the classified. both units have uh different
082structures to that benefit model uh based on the average retirement age and the needs of the respective unit. Um knowing that you are the fiduciaries uh of our public money. Um as Dr. Stepp said, this is a math problem I don't want to get wrong. Uh so reached out to school services to validate the math, reached out to our uh former uh longtime broker to validate the math and the assumptions and then had a full actuarial study done. um the structure of the six years of uh uh benefits to our existing retirees followed by uh looking at a demographic model for the 55 to 65 year old employees. If the board approves this tonight, our oped liability, the liability that we report for credit agencies will immediately reduce by $16 million. In terms of cash
083flow, uh we will have um you know just from a mathematical standpoint about about a quarter million dollars of cost spread over the next four years and then positive cash uh should come in from the employee turnover of high dollar employees uh who take that 55 to 65 incentive plus the roll off of the books of not having a population whose average age is 52 moving towards retirement having a lifetime benefit. So essentially bottom line uh this move is one of those uh interesting win-win scenarios where our existing employees will significantly benefit and over time uh the district uh whoever's sitting at this table in 24 2049 will be able to pat themselves on the back and say we saved uh $25 million uh over excuse me $28 million over 25 years that would have
084otherwise had to be paid out. That uh answer any questions you may have. Is there a motion? I move to approve. >> There second. >> Mike, wait. >> I move to approve. >> I'll second it. >> Uh, Dr. Gleason, is it common for districts to move between both? >> It's very hard for districts to leave Kalpers. >> Uh, our surrounding districts have moved several times. >> Oh, they have. >> Um, what's what's challenging for us is the longer you're with Kalpers, the harder it is to leave because you build up this retire this pool of retirees. Um and that has always been our biggest challenge. Um we have a number of things that make us not uh enticing to offer a quote to. One was the number of retirees. Um that is taken care of
085by this resolution. The second is the number of optouts we have for health benefits. We have a lot of optouts because of the cost of health benefits. So hopefully that will adjust as well. >> You know, I want to say that this is really transformational. Um, this is really a huge lift and thank you for uncovering this and doing all the research for this and bringing this to both associations and working with them on this because this really is a win-win for everyone. So, thank you. >> Yeah, I I would like to add to that as well. Uh, I've just been so impressed by this uh and other changes that have been made uh recently just to uh really improve the fiscal sustainability of the district. And you know you when you can use terms
086like fiscal sustainability but what that actually means at the end of the day is we can continue to uh offer great education and great schools to our communities uh and hopefully for the long term with all the the challenges ahead. Um so uh just very impressed by the whole thing and I also just wanted to shout out to Steve and his team uh and also the collective bargaining units of our uh teachers and our staff um for uh making all of this happen. Uh I'm very happy that there will be benefits in terms of health benefits for many teachers and staff. Uh I did want to ask um you know for that small group of uh blue shield folks who uh will see a slight increase uh can there be something in uh the process
087which perhaps can help them or encourage them to move to other plans? I mean I myself uh moved my family from Blue Shield to Kaiser a couple years ago and I've been incredibly happy with the change even though I'd been with Blue Shield for a long time. So it may not make sense for everybody or every family uh but to the extent that it can that can really um help uh that that that small group as well benefit from these changes. I mean I'd love to see everyone benefit from the changes. >> Yes. Uh so as we look at I went back to the slide the blue shield HMOs um just for anyone watching at home these discount these prices I'd indicated inferior plans these plans are superior uh in most cases on the face
088value in terms of deductible co-pay chiropractic services um if I'm on that Blue Shield uh Trio HMO in LA County um the premium now for the Blue Shield PO Gold is about the same as my Blue Shield HMO So, so the logical move um if I'm on that tier would just be to have a PO plan for a pretty similar cost. So, I think they'll be okay. >> That's correct. >> Um >> to Mr. Lazar's question, um you know, this is going to be a huge change to employees. Um you know, will there be do you need extra support? Does Edna need extra support to really hold employees hands and help them? >> Edna is a force of nature. Uh we have developed a website anformational website that will roll out. Um most of this
089will need to be um administered by a third-party administrator. Okay. >> So um for the uh boring uh details at the end of the prescription drug commercial uh as it relates to this agenda item, we'll need to open a fund 71 at a subsequent board meeting. That's a new fund. >> Can you do it as fast as they do in the commercial? >> Uh the fund 71 might >> I think we can. Yeah. I saw heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach. Um, that fund 71 will serve as a trust uh ongoing. So, think about now we will have an ongoing continual benefit that'll be paid based on the demographics of our district. So, we'll need to fund that trust. I have ideas creatively uh how we might uh do that and not hit the general fund,
090but those need to go to committee before we go there. Um uh so the third party administrator would we would pay um an amount. It's going to be like $5 per employee per month or per retiree per month to collect the receipts, provide the reimbursement. We need to fund the third party administrator and otherwise will turn into collections. Uh retirees could get frustrated because there's a bottleneck because we're lean lean stacked >> in terms of open enrollment. You know, Dr. Ciphers and Miss Chambers are um as much as I tease my colleague to the left, phenomenal leaders um have really um been amazed. Don't write it down. Uh have been amazing at really building the trust with the units to have these transition and are leaning in. I think we all met with Miss Sandaval
091several times today. >> I want to thank you for all the time you put into this, the time you spent walking me through all these changes over the summer um and diving into the details. So I appreciate the the twofold the sort of the fiscal management that we have here but also the responsibility to provide good coverage for our employees and options for them. So um very much appreciate I think this is a terrific change. >> I I appreciate it as well. I I do have a question. I I do feel like um it's easy to get information to our active employees. Um, but what about the retirees? Do we have an uh a way to get the information to them? >> So, we have more than 337 retirees that are still um living their
092best life somewhere in on this planet. Uh, the reason we have those 337 number is >> you gave them a check every month. >> Uh, they have received the PMKA benefit. And so really this this uh the next uh item, the resolution speaks to continuing the benefit for those that are drawing off of it. Um and so we have all their active addresses and their active phone numbers because if they don't keep it active, Kalpers wouldn't have been able to give them the benefits. So this is also why we need a third party administrator. Of course, uh you know, uh as as individuals uh age and move and everything that might happen in their lives, that third party administrator will support us so we can continue running a school district and they're not a collections
093and a um health benefits uh administration department. >> Any further questions? If not, we have a motion and a second. I'll call to vote. Uh all favor, student board member >> I. board. >> If I can indulge the board, if you could ask me, do you mind if we go out of order? I It's my bad, Miss Hatfield, that I should have moved your item up before have you wait any longer. Could we move to approval of the LVA contract because that's what she's here to speak about rather than make her wait for the next 45 minutes to get to it. Is that okay? And she's got a million other things getting ready for school. I'd love to let her be able to go do if that's okay. >> I appreciate that. In terms of
094order of operations, we do need the board to technically adopt the next resolution, but that should be quick because we just covered it. So that'll be a if at the sport's pleasure that'll be a couple minute item. >> Okay. Uh item number two, approval of resolution 4-25. Would >> you like a motion? >> So moved. Second. >> No, no. I I was I was introducing it. I was I was introducing it. I wasn't pass yet. So >> I was moving. So moved in a second. Yes. Dr. Gleason. >> Mr. President, members of the board, as was said stated in the previous item, we have no obligation to our 337 retirees from a contractual legal um or uh any there's no documentation that requires for us to uh provide additional that PMCA benefit for additional years,
095but I think we're a district that takes good care of our employees, helps smooth transitions. recommendation from staff to the board and working with the board is we provide six years of uh additional benefit to the existing retirees that were drawn on the pen benefit so they can uh navigate shifting their lives around the new plan. Great. There's a motion, a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? >> Just one thing to clarify. Obviously, these are in addition to whatever Medicare benefits they would get or or or Medicaid as well, right? >> Absolutely. This uh the PEMA benefit was always a Medicare supplement. >> Um but this will be a shift for them because they'll have to I'm thinking of my parents who uh change can be hard older uh as they're older
096in life. They're going to have to change their health plan. uh while they change their health plan or that supplemental plan, we want to try and support them on the fiscal. >> All those in favor uh student board member >> I >> board >> I motion pass. Thank you very much. As the board has said, I remember when you first introduced this about four or five months ago, I thought, well, pipe dream, you know, could it happen? Can we actually save our employees millions of dollars in insurance and have it be a win-win? Those are so rare in this in this space that we live in. So, thank you for seeing that to fruition. If that if the board is okay, I'd like to switch the order and jump to item number six to open
097the public hearing on approval of LEA LVA tenative agreement. Um so may I have a motion to approve motion to open the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion is open. Um public hearing is open. I think you actually want to speak on the actual next item as I understand. So we'll wait to have you come up on the actual agreement if that's okay. Unless you want to speak during the public hearing. Okay, great. Um, seeing no one speaking at the public hearing, I'd like a motion. Oh, did we vote on it? Yeah. Can I All those in favor, uh, board vote only to open the public hearing. >> I I >> I. >> Anybody here to speak on this topic, the public hearing? Seeing none, may I have a motion
098to close the public hearing? >> So moved. I'll second. >> All those in favor? Board only? >> I. >> Motion passes unanimously. Approval of LEA LVA tenative agreement. Um, Dr. Steinowski. >> Mr. President, members of the board appreciate the negotiating team. from LVEA and CA 11 days of negotiation um to work on this agreement. Also appreciate the board meeting together in special session under um a short time frame to review all of this. Um a lot of hard work by a lot of people. Um the two resolutions we just passed are um you know a significant part of the agreement we have in front of us. So um thanks to all involved. Um Dr. Ciphers you know did yman's work in all of this. Dr. Cyp. >> Yeah Mr. President, members of the board, first
099of all, second those words by Dr. Steinowski and just want to uh sing uh the praises of both the LVCA, the IW here in a little bit and the LVA negotiating teams. Uh as Dr. Ste mentioned, 11 total negotiations sessions to get to hear all those full day. Uh when people asked me if I had a summary, I said we really did not have one because we're working uh on these agreements, tenative agreements that we're bringing here for the board's approval. Uh and also uh would also like to extend our gratitude to the board for their support and communication along the way all throughout the process. >> Uh is there are you introducing something for us to vote on? >> Sure can. Yeah. So that was my that was my intro. >> The preamble >>
100the the agreement that you have before you >> slide >> no slides though. The agreement the agreement you have before you has uh all 22 contract articles uh negotiated. Uh it's 137 page uh document. So it's hard to cover them all on slides, but major talking points. The entire contract opened and agreed upon with the associations uh consist of a uh 2.0 ongoing compensation and then an additional uh potential compensation dependent on enrollment. Uh if the district has an enrollment number of 9900 uh by October 1st, that would be additional.3. The district has an additional an enrollment of 10,000 by October 1st, that' be additional five. And the other things outlined in the TA are all the information just heard Dr. Gleason as they relate to uh the benefits switching to the uh switching to
101a skip from Galpers and then the uh standardized retirement program for employees 55 to uh 69. >> Great. Um before the board speaks, Mrs. T happen, would you like to come and address uh well thrilled to have you join us. Thank you for coming on a busy week, I'm sure. Good evening. >> Evening. >> Nice to see you all. Um, I'm here with Christine and uh I'm sure you were expecting Joanne, but she's in some godforsaken humid raining place right now. So, I think it was not exactly what she thought it was going to be. But, uh, you have me here. Um, we would like to acknowledge the hard work and collaborative process that led us to this tenative agreement. Both the union and the district teams met for many hours uh committed to finding
102common ground on some very difficult issues. We also appreciate that the board called a special session to review and discuss this agreement which means that it can now move forward and important deadlines can be met. This is not easy work and I may have lost a few dollars to the bad language jar. Um, but I'm proud of the work that we all did um for the benefit of all our stakeholders here. This agreement delivers major benefits for our membership. It gives our teachers a raise which helps us stay competitive and allows us to retain the great educators who work with our students every day. Um, it also creates a significant financial savings for our members on their health care. The rise in health care costs have been astronomical over the last couple of years and
103this agreement goes a long way to h help us tamp down those costs. It means and it's going to be people have no idea how excited they're going to be about this. We are also pleased that uh this TA ensures the district's long-term financial stability. Um, we know how much work Dr. Dr. Gleason has got done and Dr. Cypress and we really do appreciate all that work. It shows what we can achieve when we work together with a shared vision for our schools. The work this summer has reflected our mutual respect for each other as well as the negotiation process. We look forward to continuing this collaborative and purposeful way. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. Thank you both and for the time you put in at all the many with your team. We
104do appreciate it. And um it the other night when we were talking to the past class, they were like, you know, there was a question, what if you could basically like win the power ball, you know, as a district, what would you do? And you know, what is there never enough of? And it was like, you know, um compensation for teachers. It is a struggle um with the budget and our the constraints that we're given. So, um, it I don't know if it ever proportionally represents our gratitude and our thanks to our staff, but we hope it goes in some way to know how much we value them and that they are the lifeblood of our district. So, thank you. >> Well said. Um, is there a motion in a second? >> Uh, so moved.
105Second. >> Uh, any discussion? Any other comments? Uh just again I'd like to repeat and reiterate what uh Mrs. Cutill and Mrs. Hatfield and thank you to the uh negotiating teams of lva and the district. Always a a real honor to to know the collaborative spirit uh to have this be done in the summer for you to all to take your summer right to to to be committed to this to collaboration. It is a very unusual thing in many districts and this is now over in the summer. Um >> well, we haven't voted yet. >> Okay, it's now over in the summer and and we can focus on going back to school. So, I can't tell you enough how how much I appreciate everyone and this is really um one of the significant um uh
106reasons why LBUSD is so special. We really do care about our people. We all do. So, thank you. I would just like to thank my board colleagues. I think in my 11 and a half years, this was probably the most complex and um uh difficult is the wrong word, but unique negotiation. I think I'm seeing a lot of north and south here uh from the board. First time the board felt the need to actually re-engage on this. I I think the board we came we were on three different continents when we had that meeting. Um so I think that speaks to our commitment to make sure that we came together and made this happen. I think it was 5:00 a.m. for you. It was 11 p.m. for me. It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon
107for you guys. It was um um I really appreciate that. But I and I appreciated the discussions that we had and I think um what was clear to me without sharing things that were said in the whole session is everybody was coming from this from the same standpoint and that is how do we ensure that our classrooms are set up for success? Um and the the key driver of that success is the the the man or woman at the front of the classroom leading it. Um that teacher. uh and so uh we we really were going having a very robust I think both philosophical and policy level discussion about how best do we set that individual up to be optimally successful in the classroom and to show the appreciation that we have for them. So
108I I um I I appreciate the discussion. I thought it was a great one and I appreciated that we're here today um and voting to show our support for our staff. So with that uh would love to call. Yeah. Yeah. One or two comments just uh I I've been struck actually through this process over the summer. I've been reading all the CSBA newsletters. I'm not sure if the uh other board members still read them >> but I you know I I read so much about issues going on between districts and and collective bargaining units and acrimonious and the way everybody came together uh I I just think was terrific. Uh Miss Hatfield, I'm so grateful you came tonight. Uh I'm delighted actually. Um and uh yeah, just great seeing the way everybody worked together to
109get this done and uh going back to school next week. Uh two kids in LVUSD schools. It's that usual positive feeling and uh it's what everybody accomplishes for our community and our parents and our kids is uh uh just so valuable and means so much. So thank you. >> Great. No further comment with I'll call it to a vote. All those in favor to the students vote. All those in favor board members only. I >> I I >> I motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much and thank you for all. You can do this here for us. >> Um no one's here for LBCA, right? If not, I'm going to go back to our regular order of the agenda. Back to item number two, approval of resolution, excuse me, item number three, approval of resolution
110525, change order excess of 10% for reliable flooring. >> Wow, that was a real let down. >> This is the feelood item of the agenda. Stop it right now. >> They need floors. >> Dr. >> Mr. President, members of the board, this is so exciting. >> This is a pallet cleanser. Uh this summer we uh had uh some uh unexpected uh uh work that had to occur when we pulled up our old flooring at a couple of our schools. It exceeded the change order threshold uh by a a small amount. um public contract code would require us to go out and rebid unless going out to rebid would create a material uh fiscal impact that would exceed the amount of the change order. So, we're asking the board uh we cited the case along on
111the agenda to uh ratify the change order uh for the flooring project so that it uh can continue and we can be compliant. >> It was pretty straightforward. Um I'll call for a motion and if we >> I'll move we approve the change order in excess of 10%. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none student board member >> I >> board. >> Motion passes. Uh item number five approval of termination of joint use agreement with the Agora Baseball Foundation. >> Dr. Lucy. >> Wait, what happened to the uh borrowing one? >> Did I skip? I'm sorry. I did. Approval of resolution 625 authorizing interfund borrowing pursuant to education code section 42603. Dr. Station. >> Mr. President, members of the board, uh it is good practice whenever you have a deferral that is built
112into the budget um to ensure that we have all tools available for cash flow purposes. Certainly from a budget standpoint, we are in good place. We've certified that. You see that in our AB1200 tonight. Sometimes cash uh in terms of state aortionments or property taxes can be on delay and for us to be able to uh borrow from uh our other funds is uh much more favorable than having to go and receive a tax revenue anticipation note. This is a proactive resolution uh to prepare for us to have uh any inter fund borrowing. Of course, we have a special reserve in fund 17 of 14.5 million uh is where we would borrow from should we need to. And having this resolution on file uh just allows us to keep uh day-to-day business moving. >> Any
113questions? Is there a motion to approve? >> Uh move to approve resolution 6-25, authorization of inter fund borrowing. >> There second. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Uh all those in favor student board member I >> uh board I >> motion passes unanimously. Now we come to item number five approval of termination of joint use agreement with Agora Baseball Foundation. Dr. Gleason. >> Mr. President, members of the board uh the uh agreement the termination of the agreement with the Agora Baseball Foundation is before you tonight. We have had um a long and positive relationship with the foundation. Uh after uh discussing our facility use needs as well as our maintenance needs at the fields um as well as the needs of the athletic programs, we have mutually decided that it is in our best interest
114and their best interest to terminate this agreement. Um so with the board's approval tonight, we will authorize and sign this tomorrow and uh send it off to ABF. >> Certainly prefer a mutually agreeable termination. That's that's fair. Thank you. Um is there a motion? So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Oh, you're not termating. Sorry. >> Okay. Second. >> Second. Um, any discussion? >> No. >> Thank you to the foundation for, you know, all of uh the work that they've done to keep the field and to support uh the school and the baseball. And thank you to the district for taking over those responsibilities. I I I would just say I think it's important to view this through the lens of a consistent policy change throughout the district of getting out
115of sticky unnecessary joint use agreements. So, >> agree. >> If you have a joint use agreement with our district, you're probably next. Uh and it's not personal, you know, >> because we're getting out of the business of joint use agreements >> managing our our facilities. Yeah, >> it's not personal. Um >> and also just to add that the reason for that is so we can focus on education. >> Yeah. Ex absolutely right. And have our facilities be managed by actually people who manage facilities. Um great. Um all those in favor of the motion uh student board member. >> Do we I >> thought we had a motion. No. >> Yes. We had a motion to second. I have to drag it out of you guys, but yes, we do a second. >> Yes. Yes, we
116do. >> Uh there's a motion second. Student board member >> I. >> Uh board. >> I passes. Um that brings us to um item number eight uh public hearing approval of LBCA tenative agreement. May I have a motion to open the public hearing? >> I move we open the public hearing and I'll second it. >> Motion to second. All those in favor board only. >> I I motion passes seeing nobody here to speak on the public hearing. >> I move we close the public hearing and I'll second. Great motion. >> There's been a motion to second. All those in favor, student board member only, please. >> I >> Did you want us to vote? >> Yeah. Sorry, everybody. Okay, good. >> It's getting loopy here, folks. >> I think it's because it's 85 degrees in
117here right now. That's why we're getting loopy. Uh >> Dallas and I are still jetlagged as well. >> Yeah. >> Um approval of item number nine, approval of LBCA scientific agreement. Dr. Stepp. >> Mr. President, members of the board, uh though our classified staff don't have representatives here tonight, they are absolutely a valued member of our team. They literally are 50% of our staff. Um they do a variety of jobs. The challenge for LBCA is that the job positions are so different. Um it's very disparate group. So it takes a special level of creativity and ingenuity working on a deal. This deal looks very different um on the surface from the LBEA deal, but it represents um you know meeting their needs and where they are. So I appreciate M Chambers, Dr. ciphers again um
118our negotiating team and their team uh for putting this together being creative and again these are 550 members there are uh generalists our groundskeepers our IAS our security guards our child nutrition um fantastic employees they are valued they are appreciated and um thrilled to bring this agreement before the board again and thank the board for meeting in special session uh on short notice Dr. Ciphers sorry Miss Chambers >> Mr. President, members of the board, the district did work collaboratively with LBCA over the summer to reach the tenative agreement that's being presented this evening. I'd like to start by extending my appreciation to both the LBCA and district negotiating teams as well as the board support through this process. So the TA that's being presented includes a 50 cent per hour increase as of July 1st,
1192025, then an additional 50 cent increase as of January 1st, 2026, which will mean that all classified employees make $20 or more an hour, which is um amazing for compared to neighboring districts in our area. Um, in addition, the TA includes a $250 increase ongoing to health benefit allowances, a shift to the district health and welfare benefits that we heard about earlier this evening with ASIP. Um, retirement programs for unit members 55 or older with 10 plus years of experience as well as updated contract language on article 3 that specifically talks about salaries and benefits. Article 7 vacation, article eight, leaves, article 10, evaluations, and finally article 18 professional growth. So pleased to bring the tenative agreement uh for this evening. >> Thank you. Um only start with a motion and we can have discussion.
120Motion to approve. >> To approve >> motion in a second. Um uh Mr. Kazar and Miss Vegas >> discussion. >> I just want to echo and thank thank Miss Chambers and Dr. Cypress and your entire negotiating team and LVCA negotiating team again taking the time over the summer to come together to collaborate to problem solve to be creative. It's amazing to to know that we are in a district where we value collaboration cooperation and doing doing what we what's the best for employees. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. I I know. I mean, it it's a little heartsick because of the the the the we can't move that bottom number in a larger way to have a bigger impact at that level. Um because it just doesn't have the same impact as it
121would on a different salary schedule. um and the cost of anything going up in California. But I I appreciate that we're ahead of the curve, but we're still behind where I think we would all think we should be for um the baseline bottom of Well, I'll speak for myself. I feel like we should be >> for the bottom of these hourly workers who are the front line of defense. So, the many cases the first people our kids see when they come on campus or the last ones they see when they leave classroom at night. Um and they do just an amazing job for us. I wish more of them were here for us to talk to. uh to tell this to them. >> It is such a disperate group. >> Yes. >> So you have
122you know the difference between you know office managers, plant managers, people who are working hourly, par Yeah. >> aids. Yeah. It's so I appreciate how thoughtful you always are about all those employees. >> That that that's a more tactful way for saying what I was trying to get to which was I you had to be creative to try to move the needle >> with I think Miss Cup Alexi we have to spend every dollar three times which I love that statement. Uh, and it's hard to do, but I appreciate that you had some flexibility to try to have a a meaningful impact for some of the folks who are kind of at the bottom of that range. So, thank you for that. >> Um, no further discussion. We'll move it to a vote. All those
123in favor, board only. >> I motion passes unanimously. And with that, I believe we are management. >> No, I think we're >> no management one. >> See what you did there. >> He's having a little fun. Approval of I have to have it. >> I'll make a motion to approve the management request for salary adjustment. >> Uh um uh >> is there a second? I'll second. >> So awkward. Um uh Dr. Ste, do you want to take this one or who should >> go near? Mr. President, members of the board, using the same allocations of funds outlined in agenda item number six, the following proposal mirrors uh the agreement that was reached with the certificate of duts. >> Any discussion? >> Yes, I have a question. Uh so all employees, we always do the me
124too, right? Every employee basically gets the same uh raise, you know, dollar in the buckets. Um do CTE teachers, every employee now getting an increase? >> Yes. uh CTE teachers are now uh a part of LVA there association. So so actually so what might be different from what the board has seen in past years that there is there typically would be a separate one for CTE now that CTE is a part of the association they're all under that same >> uh bucket just as like no underco teachers are they have their separate salary schedule but they're part of the same unit. >> Great. So is there anybody in the district that's not covered by raises? Yes, they're sitting at the deis. >> Yep. >> Five board members. >> Uh >> yes. Uh by the way,
125so so everybody in the district other than board members are getting a raise. >> Yeah. And it's it's outlined in all the supporting documentation. >> Terrific. Thank you. And again, thank you for everything you do to our management, our principles, our administrators, our cabinet members, everybody who is under management. Thank you very much. >> Would you like a motion? >> Yeah, I think we >> think we have one motion and >> we have the second. Yeah. Motion, a second. Uh, all those in favor? >> I motion passes unanimously. Uh, now we may adjourn. Thank you very much. J, good luck next week, everybody.