001Good morning. The time is now 10:00 a.m. The date is June 4th, 2025th. Welcome to the regular meeting of Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, which will also include closed session items. I will take role uh and then I will read the purpose and authority for having the meeting. and I will take public comment on those items and then we will recess into closed session. That's the order of things. So I will take role. Miss Newell present. Dr. Rivas, Mr. Melvin here. Miss Grigo, Miss Gomez here. Miss Ortiz Franklin President present. That's four. So we have a quorum. More folks will be showing up shortly I understand. So here we go. I'll read through the purpose and authority and then we will take public comment. Uh under close session items under tab one
002personnel pursuant to government code section 54957 public employee discipline dismissal and release. Uh public employment looks like Dr. Revas is here. Hello Dr. Revas. Under public employment the following contracts uh will be heard. Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations, Chief Procurement Officer, Chief of Police, Chief of Transitional Programs, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Director of Facilities Program Support Services, Senior Director, Office of the Deputy Superintendent, Business Services and Operations, Chief Eco Sustainability Officer, Three Regional Superintendent, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Information Officer, Director of Transportation, Senior Administrator, Enterprise Applications, Executive Officer of the Board of Education, Chief Exit chief executive of the general counsel, general counsel, deputy chief facil facilities executive, chief human resources officer, and chief facilities executive. Also, there will be the superintendent's evaluation under tab 2, conference with legal counsel, uh, pending litigation
003pursuant to government code section 54956.9D1. I'm going to read the case names. The case numbers are listed on our website. Um, and if you go to the order of business, the case numbers are also listed there. The reason I say this is because if you want to look up a case specifically, you can do that using do that using that information. Uh John John J. Vo Vo1 at all or Estiera VLAUSD at all. Uh Kim VLAUSD. Uh Jimenez Martinez VUSD. John Doe VUSD. Bobadia VLAUSD. Uh Cordova uh v Olympio Casillas at all. Uh, Perez, VLAUSD, HW VALUSD, Romero at all, VLAUSD, Jackson VLAUSD, and Fleming VLAUSD. And under anticipated litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.9D4, there's one case uh, under conference with labor negotiators pursuant to government code section 54957.6. the same uh let's
004see the same positions will be discussed that I mentioned earlier in addition to uh the following organizations negotiators Dr. Murphy and the employee organizations represented are Associated Administers of Administrators of Los Angeles Teamsters 2010, California School Employees Association, Los Angeles County Building and Construction Trades Council, Los Angeles School Police Association, Los Angeles School Police Management Association, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, Local 99, Teamsters, United Teachers Los Angeles, and District Represented Employees and Contract Management Personnel. So when we do recess into close session, the board will be discussing all of that. Now we'll go to public comment. So we have six commenters under tab one personnel. Uh I will call as usual on the folks who are listed as speaking in person and then we will transition to those speaking remotely. So uh let's see the
005first speaker is Gabriella Isita. Gabriella I are you here? Gabriela Isita. Okay. So, uh, Missita is going to speak in Spanish. So, if you'd like to hear what she's saying in English, please put your hands up and we'll get you these translation headsets. They turn on automatically to the channel that you need. Okay. Okay. Gracias. Buenos. Good morning. My name is Gabriela. I'm a mother of two students of a school and I am here to know about the evaluation of the superintendent and my big worry is the safety of the schools. We need school police inside the schools because of safety school for the children. At my son's school, uh returning back from vacations or coming back from vacations, there was a shooting and this was something well good thing that they weren't at school.
006Can you imagine everything that would have happened with so many kids inside schools while the shooting was there? But there was no safety and there is no safety even now. So and this is what we need at the schools to avoid certain cases. Uh in reality everything you want to send safety after everything has happened after a disgrace has happened and I believe that this shouldn't happen. Therefore we need safety inside the schools and as a mother I am very worried for this situation. Therefore, you as people of higher rank, I would like for you to I want you to listen to what I'm asking you for and make everything possible so that safety inside the schools can be a pri priority. And thank you for for listening to me. Thank you for your time.
007Monica Razola. Monica is not online. So, let's see. Uh Simone Baker. Simone Baker. Uh, Veronica RG. Veronica R. Call in Erinda Morita. Are you here? I thought Erinda Morita. Oh, there she is now. Erinda Marita, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Erinda Morita. Good morning. My name is Elinda Morita and I want to know what it is that the superintendent made or do this year because certain parents were speaking came to speak to the board about the academic side. And I also went to speak with Antonio Placencia in regards to the academic studies and I told him there were issues at the school in downtown Magnet High School. And you and Alberto Calvalo, you said that you were going to do an investigation and
008you never did it because the issues continued. There weren't concrete personnels inside so that they can teach the classes. Also, I wrote to Miss Francis Bayas and she never gave me an answer. I've spoken to many people in high at at a higher rank. Mr. Jose Guera, Miss Moreno, Anescoedo. I'm not sure who else I need to speak with. We the parents also gave you signatures. We want answers. Please listen to our voices. We want school police back into schools so that they drugs don't come into the schools. firearms, knives, and different types of drugs, illicit drugs, drugs, weapons. And within the LA USD committees, Mr. Antonio Placencia said that he would investigate, he would silence the microphone and a series of many things that he would do to parents. And you are violating the
009rights of the parents and the students. Respect the academic protocols and the committees. Be transparent. We want for you to give us answers. We want for you to speak with us, the parents, because we've obtained signatures. All parents have given their opinions and saying that schools are insecure. There have been deaths. There have been issues. There have been stabbings. And you want to silence us. They want to investigate us. And you want to investigate us. And it is written that you do not have the right to do this discriminatory actions to us parents. As parents, we have a right to advocate for our ch our children's rights. Thank you for your time. Okay, we have concerned parent on the line. Concerned parent under tab one, please press star six to unmute yourself. Concerned parent. Concerned
010parent, I see you on the line. Please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Concerned parent. Uh before you start my time, please. I'm a concerned educator, not parent. Is there someone else who's a parent? That's not me. No, it's you. You have two minutes to speak. Thank you. No, that's not what I put, but thank you. Please start my time. So, it barely got pressed, yet a Senate hearing happened May 21st for the permanent subcommittee on investigations. Topic: The corrupt the corruption of science and federal health agencies. Tell health officials downplayed and hid myocarditis and other adverse events associated with the COVID 19 vaccines. At least the VA's came out of this. That's the silver lining. It's extremely important the board not scare but inform
011the school community about the continuing effects of the CO 19 injection. Cardiologist Dr. Peter Mcola spoke to this in the hearing. Recall he advised against the shots to the board on June the 22nd, 2021. Anyone who would like to hear him one of his LUSA comments can go to bitch.com/vide/ r capital s vmmy capital x capital e gx capital h. So there are detox protocols the community may not know about including for the spike protein. Many have suddenly developed turbo cancer. Turbo meaning fast and aggressive. There was also DN D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D contamination in the vials oncologist Dr. William Mockus has had success with cancer that's makis and I just heard a recommendation for those with cancer
012to get a biopsy to see if spike protein is in it. Even now the spike protein may still be manufactured in people. There are treatments but keeping this info suppressed is doing no one good and morally you are obligated to share this info. I am requesting again this to be your priority. And another note there there's spike protein shedding or transmitting to others. That's sh e v d i n g. People need to be aware of that as well. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Okay. Moving to tab two, conference with legal counsel. We have Mr. David Tokovsky. Come on up. You'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Thank you very much. Uh board members, Mr. Superintendent, staff, um board, uh as these litigations keep coming up, you have a large number
013of them today. One one wonders whether the outside costs of outside counsel is escalating. You should get a report as boards before you have always done. You have two board members who are lawyers. We ought to be able to scrutinize some of these cases. Um, for example, um, today you'll see the Elena Perez case, which is the tragic, um, incident at Bernstein High School regarding, uh, fentanyl consumption and, uh, the remedies that the district has put in afterward. Uh, how much is this case now cost? Uh, how much did it escalate? How much are the special ed cases, some of which are appearing today, as well as the um continued u uh now that you have a judgment obligation bond to take care of the cases with the molestations going back decades. And finally, the
014Marramar case, which is the school right across the street, you have a writ of mandate. this this school land building and now fines by the state is costing this the public over $50 million. Um something should be done about it. Secondly, you had a good discussion on Palisades High. One thing that did not come up at Palisades High is uh Pasadena Unified has sued Southern California Edison for their neglect. We have not uh contemplated here a suit of the neglect of the city of Los Angeles with respect to the fire in the palisades and particularly Marheads Elementary School did which wasn't a raising burn, it was a smoldering burn. Uh similarly uh yesterday you heard on this children youth behavioral health initiative and all the problems there. There ought to be a political discussion with
015the governor about what the county has done to you as well as the opportunity to file litigation against the state for giving you only $3 million rather than $40 million. The county owes that to this district. And uh finally, as you do the senior staff, make sure you look at all the goodies that might be in any contract and what are the specific evaluation and perks. Thank you very much. Thank you for your time. Moving on to tab three, conference with labor negotiators. We have Dian Guen. Come on down. And after Miss Guen will be Juan Mcandhandi. Good morning members of the board. My name is Diana Guen and I'm here uh to represent the parents because of the school district and we have given you more this more we've given you a lot of
016f signatures and we represent more than 3,000 schools and we want changes we want changes that need to bring safety back to school you have certain groups of students which are being supported by UTLA by the teachers UTLA and honestly they're not representing the teachers because they're not representing their interest we are we have presented a resolution to guarantee control authority and the autonomy and election of school site and of the community when it has to do with the safety and the protection of our students and personal and we presented this to the secretary of the school meeting 2025 and considering that the district is uh autonomy authority we want you well you're saying that you collaborate with the inequity and the excellence for every student so that they can be ready for the world.
017Mr. Smearlson, we want to know, the community wants to know if you're going to take this so that you can go and vote in voting because we want you to vote if you are going to ignore the 5,600 signatures and we'll continue the people or we'll follow the people that are being supported by UTLA. They will continue to vote against the community and the people that are being funded by charter schools, they are also voting against the community. Why? because thanks to that many parents are removing their children from the public schools and they are taking them to charter school. Therefore, Mr. Nick Melville and Miss Gomez are very happy with this and they have have not made any plan to better to better the safety of the schools and you are not listening to
018the parents. You are bringing two or three children that are here and that are being supported by UTLA. Stop and take responsibility to what? to the safety of our students and of our our schools. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Um, Mr. Juan Mandi, I see you're out there. Please come on down. You have two minutes to speak once you begin. Wo Diaz. Good morning. My name is Kwan Mang Gandhi, ex-chairperson for the English learners. Well, today is black mass when we're going to get together and figure out who's going to get what part of the pie. And here's the great problem. I think every negotiation that you do with these organizations within the district is a is treachery when it comes to expectations and the future of our students. And it's a it's
019treachery because you have put UTLA and these unions creating these things to get more workers to get more money so that they can keep doing these conferences and this money to sponsor you because it's a double quote. So it looks like we're in the middle like they say in my country we're we're being we're bargained by a small group and the problem is that we're bargained by these group because for why and here's where we have the big problem. we're not doing something so that the unions take responsibility, social responsibility, and represent the interests of that electorate, but also the interest of the people that they supposedly represent. Yesterday, I was with one of the teachers and they said the problem of the principles is they want to do something. They want to bring the
020school police. But you know what? UTLA has a blacklist of things that they want to do for the school. and the union. What they're trying to do today is hire people that have kids to infiltrate the system of the district and create more monsters that they only understand. So, this is corruption. And corruption isn't just with the money, but the process. These people not responding to the parents. They're activists contracted by UCLA to to do UCLU because they're employees. They're not parents. Thank you and have a good day. Norma Gonzalez. Norma Gonzalez is listed as speaking remotely, but I do not have her online with us. Is she in the room? Nope. And we do have it's it says concerned parent, but concerned parent is not online. Is concerned parent in the room? here. Okay,
021we will go to general public comment. We have 20 speakers today. I will call on the speakers who are listed themselves as speaking in person and then we will transition to those who are speaking remotely. So, um Mary Lee Omos, are you here? Mari, come on up and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Good morning. My name is Maril Lee Olmos. I am the UTLA chair and special education teacher at 24th Street Elementary. I am still invisible. I am invisible due to Prop 39 stating that my class along with five other special education classes are not being counted for as physical space in our own public school. Therefore, giving a majority to a private charter school colllocated on our compass for far too long. 12 years too long have they taken our
022fifth grade and we simply ask demand and want our own fifth grade back. We are the only LUSD school, the only LUSD school, the only LUSD elementary school without a fifth grade. Our continuity of learning for both our gened and sped students stop at fourth grade. We have 10year-olds who have to leave our school to find another public school. This is not okay. ECAS and ECAR is showing that my public school only has 20 spa spaces when in reality we have 26. There are six spaces not being counted for. Therefore, we are losing services. We are losing camping campus space because special education is not being included. I am not being included. My 10 wonderful, beautiful children are not being included. This is injustice. We want, seek, and demand the return of our fifth grade,
023and we request to be on the agenda for the next school board. You have seen us. You have heard us. You have met with us. Please begin to give our fifth grade back before the start of the next school year in August. We need to stop sending our students elsewhere. They belong in their home school. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Maria Louisa Palma Maria Louisa Palma and then after Miss Palma is Esther Mesa and then Cindy Carrera. Who has the right to decide how children are educated? Is it you and others in this building or is it their parents? Let's not forget that formal education is compulsory. The law requires parents to have their children educated. Yet on the subject of safety, one of the basic needs of children, individuals may not agree
024on what or how, but all want direct community control. Yet here, what we have is one-sizefits-all. So when you establish one-sizefits-all rules, you are saying you know better than their parents, than individual communities. You are saying that everything that you stand for here then is contrary to the spirit of democracy and the natural law in which parents are responsible for their children and also have the authority for their upbringing. And yet you sit here and you scratch your heads and pretend you don't know why the enrollment here continues to decrease. Come on, let's be real. The customers don't want what you are selling. That's what they're telling you. They're voting with their feet. the resolution that we brought to you as members of the public which we emailed to you on May 19th and I
025presented to you here on paper on May 20th. I don't even have an email over two weeks ago, not even an email acknowledging receipt to the board secretariat to the board chairperson, Mr. Schmurson. When are we receiving at least an acknowledgement? Are you going to adhere to the letter in the spirit of the law, but the public is supposed to be able to place an item on your agenda for discussion and vote? The item titled Ensuring local school site and community control, authority, autonomy, and choice regarding safe campuses and the protection of our students and staff. Is it any wonder that the recent statistics show that the numbers of lowincome homeless families are increasing in the district? Why? Because everyone else with the resources is leaving the district and will continue to leave the longer
026you don't pay attention to the community needs. Please pay attention. Thank you for your time. Esther Mesa. Esther Mesa, come on up. You'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Buenos. Good morning. My name is Esther Mesa. I have a student in third grade in elementary school in first grade in 24th Street Elementary School, which is a school, a community in a different personnel who accepted the terrible idea to accept a grade that's so small in a uh middle school. The school currently that my children attend is a is a tier one school, but constantly they have their programs suspended and services too because there's not enough space. They waited anxiously for their English classes as a second language and clothing and laundering also as something that isn't cared about. We have no space.
027This is very frustrating because if 24th Street Elementary doesn't have space or classes available for parents to contribute and form part of the community, what other things can you take away from my children and the other children and not offer in return? And it looks like a lot. And it seems you can't give them a fifth grade. The teachers and the personnel are qualified and dedicated to my children and all the children. And the motives and their motivation to is to grow. I want my kids to continue to count on that support and their elementary. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh, Cindy Carrera, come on up. You have two minutes to speak once you begin. Good morning. My name is Cindy Carr. I am and my son is a kindergarten student at 24th Street
028Elementary. My son is autistic, although he is mainstream in a general education kindergarten classroom. Yes, knowing the fact that the special education population at his school is invisible on paper because they are not being counted for when calculating space for the next school year is heartbreaking. Children who have a disability like my son are real and should be involved and count it included in every aspect of a school because it is their education and it is their right. 24th Street is losing spaces and classrooms for student services like RSP for my son because Prop 39 states that 6A special education classes at my son's school are not being counted and that they are not important. Therefore, reflecting that Crown Prep gets more and more space on my son's school grounds because according to Prop 39,
029they have more enroment. This is incorrect count. He and all other students at 24th Street Elementary continue to get restricted from classroom space, computer lab, playground space, and auditorium spaces. Did you know that on raining days sometimes they have to stand outside and cover with a tree because they don't have enough space? or they have to put in other classrooms or in the library during rainy days when they could have their own classroom for coverage or place in other teachers classrooms all because it is not their day with the auditorium. They have to share their auditorium with the other school. So we don't always have space in the auditorium for them because CPA gets more auditorium space than they do all because special education classes are not counted for and considered to be counted. We
030ask that you guys please count the kids with special education needs for the next school year. Thank you for your time. Uh Graciella Narete, are you here? Graciella Navarete. After Graciella is Lady Cabra and then Edeno hear me? Yes. Sorry. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Graciella Navete. I consider myself a mother in the district because I have my kids in a district school. I'm here because the truth is that I'm not here to fight for my school. I'm here to fight for all the schools in the district. The kids can't even walk to enter in the schools. They're invaded by homeless people, delinquency, invaded by so many everything. Uh, Bri, I recently heard a a elementary school child in fourth grade bring drugs. Can you imagine that? And this isn't stuff that schools
031tell us. We're very malinformed because of our principles because this is happening to me. There's so many schools that don't even have a coffee with the principal. I ask you also to as a favor go to the schools without letting them know and monitor for yourself because the parent center is a calamity. I'm telling you another thing that concerns me is safety. Safety is very important for our kids. We need safety. How? You must know how for school police to return. Please we ask you to hear us. We are mothers of kids that are in danger and we go to schools and we leave our kids there supposedly safely. But that's not the case. An orthopedic high school, that school recently had a fist fight. That's terrible. Maybe you know I don't know why you
032don't do something respectively and hear our voice. for the love of God. Please think in our kids. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Uh Lady Cabera, Buenos Diaz, may Lady. Good morning. My name is Lady Cabra. I have a son in kinder in third grade at 24th Street Elementary School. As a mother, I feel I feel as if I don't have any other option. My daughter will be entering in fourth grade and soon I will find myself in the same situation that more than a hundred families are in. We would have to find another priv uh public elementary school so that my daughter can finish her primary school and after I would have to find a middle school and after a year in a new school is an unnecessary stress. My community deserves to
033have a complete elementary school that gives services from kinder transition to fifth grade. Why? Because we are the only school in the whole district that does not have a complete elementary school. Our ele 24th Street Elementary School is an excellent school. Teachers and personnel are an incredible group of people that are doing their job well. As a mother, I would like for my son and my daughter to complete their primary school at an at an elementary school. And when the time comes for them to enter middle school, I would like for them to have a middle school experience. At this moment, Grandp is not is not the ideal school that where I want to see my daughter in the Grandpap school are from a school that does not offer a good equitable school experience. The
034schools from 24th Street Elementary School deserve better. Please fight for us. We want fifth grade to come back immediately and we demand that special needs should be accounted for. Thank you. Uh, Irene Quintterero. Entero. Irene. Good day. And I hope that you take note of this because we don't want words we we don't want our words to be taken by the air. We want you to act. Safety inside the schools is priority. At Al Alexander size center about two months ago, a man came in and children were in the yard. How is it possible that these things can happen at schools? Because you know that these young children and the children that are at the schools are the future of this country. in which they can become the future president of this country. They can
035also use the seat that you're sitting in now. They are the trans transition of us that are moving on. I hope that you not only are sitting there, but that you are also acting on it. It's time to act. Let's not just sit there and listen to these words and be taken and disappear. We need to act. You are adults. We are adults and children are the priority of this country. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Next inerson speaker is Isabel Gonzalez. Isabel Gonzalez. If I had to evaluate you, I would give you an F or fail. You wouldn't even reach a D, just like you do with our students. I want to remind you that we are the second largest district of the United States. The first one is New York, the second
036one is California, and the third one is Chicago. In case you didn't know, our children, well, your students are the ones of the are the ones they are the representative of the academic success. We are space 31 that is 30 times less smarter, which is 30. This is why they've failed and they continue to fail. We are in charge of maintaining presence in the memory of our children because of the bad work that you've done because of their safety for the next generation. Right, Miss Rosio? This will be injustice and inequality and more than anything discrimination. We will make sure to remind you that you never wanted to look out for their safety when we need it the most. And based on that you there were deaths, drugs, fentanyl, bullying, stabbing, everything that was bad
037you everything that was bad you were able you you could have avoided that but we were discriminated congratulations for that legend that you are leaving a legend that's filled with blood and discrimination a legend which in which BAP black student achievement plan was created for African-American students only just like the name is saying it discrimination And you have safety here, but our children or our student don't have it. Discrimination. You ordered for them to put a zipper in our mouth by Mr. Placencia. A legend that is tainted with blood because of the shooting, stabbing, death, drugs, fentanyl, bullying, fights, alcohol, cigarettes, and these continue inside the schools. We'll see that if with the resolution that was presented to you on May 20th, you will listen to that and take us in consideration, serious consideration, or
038you are just here to to warm these comfortable seats. They look very comfortable. Maria Daisy Ortiz, there you are. Please come on up. You'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Oh, okay. Bueno. Good morning to all. My name is La Maria Desi Ortiz and honestly it is very sad that parents here are worried because their school are in danger and that is the responsible and the fault of yours. everything that is happening with our children, you are the responsible ones. And I am here to ask you because I want the indicated people, the people that you have to measure safety for schools and provide safety, factual safety inside the schools. And I'm saying this because you know that bursting and I decorated that school in in a in during a graduation's two consecutive
039years I decorated that with STEM academic and when I found out about Melanie honestly it broke my heart. I'm not sure you, but yeah, if you can sleep in peace at night because you know that the school knew about the problem that was happening at the school and they decided to ignore it because it's not their children. And that doesn't just happen at Bernsteeen. It happens at every school because of the incompetence of you. Parent centers instead of being conspir instead of being conspiracy or a place for parents they have to be a center for instruction where 75% of that parent center needs to be instruction for the parents and 25% should be recognition. This is when you listen to the voice of the parents. You see parents as enemies. You see them as problems
040when in reality you are you have destroyed the lives of many children. This is why your conscience probably doesn't let you sleep good at night because a life hurts. It hurts to lose it especially when you're just sitting there and you're not doing anything. You're incompetent people. Have a great day. Thank you for your time. The rest are remote callers are folks who have listed themselves as speaking remotely. Uh Jamila I see you're on the line. Jamila, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Jamila or Kamya. Hello. Hello. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you. Please uh make sure to speak up so that we can all hear you and clearly enunciate please. Okay. Good morning. My name is Jim Santo and
041I'm a student at the leadership and public service for academy and a resident board member new district. I first chose virtual learning to help care for my grandparents who face serious health challenges. Being close to means everything to me. Allows me to support them by still focusing on my school. Virtual learning made that bond possible. But this year that bonds has started to fall apart. Many of our many of our teachers who still teach entirely online have been forced to report to physical campuses and that decision has created a whole new set of problems. One of the major problems is the lack of privacy as someone with an IP and know that the IPS are supposed to be confidential private due to federal law. However, because of shared spaces, multiple teachers can hear IP meetings
042as well as students in other Zoom classes. This is a major issue. This is also a potential legal issue for LUSD. I do not feel comfortable doing my meetings. I know other students feel the same. Imagining you had a meeting happening right next to you in this very room, not a noise, distracting. Would that make you feel comfortable? Would that help? Would that also help you focus? The answer is probably not. Let's also talk about the environment. Board member new my representative you have you have spoken about quote green grinning efforts by LD on LED website. This policy honestly leads to more calls on a road and more pollution. I accept the LC frequencies this policy for sure and firmly gave me comfort and a safe space to go into my home. Please don't take
043that away from me. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Jamila you had 40 seconds left. Ju just the next time you call if you speak slower the board will be able to hear you a little bit better. Just a small uh small piece of advice. Uh Christopher, I see you're on the line. Christopher, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Christopher, uh hello. Can you hear me? We sure can. Okay. Good morning everyone. My name is Christopher Stellator and I am a sophomore at the Leadership and Public Service Virtual Academy. Coming from a low-income household, having traumatic problems, and suffering from financial problems, the virtual academy brought a safe space and an opportunity to learn without experiencing transportation or inerson problems. And this provided
044more growth with less challenges. However, this year, one continual problem that I refuse to overlook is that numerous teachers will be assigned to physical campuses even though they are teaching online. The fact that teachers have to drive up to hours to go to work or home brings problems such as wasting time and pollution and puts more drivers at risk on the road. Even worse, many teachers are now facing the sufferings of having their rooms trashed, being unsafe in the school, and experiencing car crashes. If this doesn't raise concerns, I don't know what will. This action of having teachers work in schools affects students as well. Many teachers are now in the shared room. This makes it much more common to hear other classrooms or announcements such as fire alarm, earthquake drills in the background, which
045is extremely distracting. Even worse, it raises privacy concerns by having other individuals hear private discussions with our teachers. That doesn't feel or sound like a safe safe environment to learn in. There needs to be change. Teachers should have the option to choose between working remotely or on campus, but as close of a location to their homes as possible. However, many locations are packed together and are far. This is simply outlandish. Many teachers already work at locations outside of the main welcome centers. There should also be a rotating onampus schedule to end the daily distractions both we as students and teachers have to face in the classroom. Thank you for your time and goodbye. Thank you for your time. Takur Singh, I see you're on the line. Thakur Singh, please press star six to unmute yourself
046and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Takur Singh, please press star six. Hi, can you hear me? I can. Yes. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Good morning. I am Sakur Singh. I'm a member of the Superintendent Student Advisory Committee, a student board member candidate this year, a resident of board member Ortiz Franklin's district, and a student from the leadership and public service virtual academy. This year, over 300 virtual academy teachers were suddenly required to report to physical campuses to continue teaching entirely remotely. I applaud Lacy's commitments to sustainability in our planet, but this policy has contradicted these goals unnecessarily. Instead of being placed on campuses near their homes, teachers have been placed indiscriminately. Many have been forced into extensive daily communicates four hours in a single day, adding to traffic, pollution, and burnout
047and leading to resignations. There are also the extensive learning issues. Teachers have been placed into shared rooms. As students, we often hear other classes in the background. Teachers are provided headphones, but some refuse to wear them because it may cause pain or discomfort. Also note the seriously concerning privacy issues. Some students may be afraid to speak about issues in their lives because of others in the room. We're also actively conducting a survey of our educators. 100% have indicated that they have some form of distraction in their workspace. 100% have also indicated issues with with workspace quality such as poor ventilation and bathroom issues. And yes, that includes rodents and rodent droppings. We have the data to prove this. Going back to the environment, this policy, which is totally unnecessary because these are remote teachers still
048teaching remotely on Inerson campuses, has led to more hours in traffic and more pollution. Here's a quote from LD's website. LUSD is committed to becoming the most sustainable and environmentally friendly large urban school district in the country. Board member Franklin, who often appears here on Zoom. On your website, you state, "I urge Los Angeles County to develop and commit to a more proactive, urgent, and equitable approach to climate change. How is it sustainable and equitable to hurt students who are learning virtually primarily due to health reasons, bullying, homelessness, or other reasons, and who come from primarily marginalized communities? How does that make sense? How does that support the environment? And most importantly, how does that support us as students? Also, many of our teachers are resigning. You are losing teachers. Consider that as well, please.
049Board member Melvoyne, you said just yesterday when I was here that students are LHD's best. Board member Grego, you said that you applaud students taking time to advocate for ourselves. Well, if that is true, we ask that you please listen to our request. Thank you for your time. Next speaker is Briana Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Briana Hernandez. Good morning. My name is Branny Hernandez and I am a sophomore at the leadership and public service virtual academy. Before joining this program, school was a really painful place for me. I dealt with constant bullying about how I loved, acted, and existed. It got to the point where I didn't even feel safe walking into a classroom. That kind of stress doesn't
050just stay at school. It follows you home into your mind into your ability to learn. Virtual learning changed that. I had a space where I felt protected, where I could actually focus. For the first time, I felt like I was seen for who I am and not judged for it. But lately, it feels like that safe space is slipping away. This year, many of our teachers were forced to report to physical campuses even though they're still teaching online. Because of that, we're now dealing with constant background noise, echoing classrooms, fire alarms, PA announcements, and total lack of privacy. It's hard to feel comfortable when you can hear other students voices through your teacher's mic or worse when your own voice doesn't feel private. Teachers are burnt out, too. You're losing hours to long commutes and
051it's affecting us. We've lost the club that helps us make friends. We've lost the one-on-one time that help struggling students stay afloat. That support matters. It still matters. And let's not forget the environmental cost. Long drives every day for remote teachers. That's more gas, more pollution, and more harm to the planet. Why make a policy that hurts students and the climate? If LUSD really wants to protect mental health, education, and the environment, then give teachers real options. Let them work from home if they can. Let's not go backwards. Virtual learning gave me a second chance. Please don't take it away. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Next caller is Cassandra Kario. Cassandra C, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Cassandra Cio. Good morning.
052Can you hear me? Yes. My name is Cassandra CO and I'm a virtual academy student. Today I'm here to speak on behalf of a virtual academy school. As a student from the leadership and public service virtual academy, although we as students aren't in your typical school setting, something impacting the quality of learning has taken place. A policy that began this school year has been impacting not just teachers, but most importantly, students and our overall school community. Our teachers were set and instructed to return to campus when we as students aren't even in the school setting. Not only can it be timeconsuming for them to drive to campuses where there are no students, which takes away time that was formerly offered for one-on-one support for students like me, but why is it that the locations our
053teachers have been placed in are often riddled with insects, rodents, and experienced burglaries. And because workspaces are shared, we as students hear other classes in the background all the time, as well as PE announcements. There are also fire alarms and lockdowns of main school property, requiring our teachers from our school to have to spend time away from us as students. There are also serious wheel is Wi-Fi issues due to the poor quality of Wi-Fi on the campuses. There are also rodents and pests creating an environment that is not at all comfortable space for educators which hurts the quality of our education. Also, think of the environmental impacts. Teachers are forced to sit for hours on end in traffic because of this policy leading to more emissions which hurts our planet. If you say have if
054you say you value the environment, why don't you show it? Because right now you aren't showing it. We students ask that you repeal this policy. Give virtual teachers will still teach entirely remotely on campus the option to work from home or on a campus. You can't be helping th you can help thousands of students. You can help teachers and you can help the planet. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Alex Halo, you're listed as speaking remotely but I do not have you online in front of me. Alex Halo, are you in the room? No. Alex Halo. Uh Alejandra Tihada. Alejandra Tihada, are you in the room? You're signed up to speak remotely, but you are not signed in at the time. Alejandra Tihada. Rion Olivia Rhodess. Rion, you're supposed to speak remotely, but I
055do not have you signed in. [Music] Rion, Izzy Tles, Izzy T, are you in the room? No. Izzy T. And you're also not online. Uh, Abigail Deator, you are on the line. Abigail Deator, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. Hello. Good morning. My name is Abigail Delator. I am a student in the LA USD Leadership and Public Service Virtual Academy and a resident of board member Gon's sixth district. I'm here today to express concerns shared by both students and teachers regarding recent changes to the virtual academy program. When I joined the virtual academy in the fall of 2022, the experience was incredibly positive. We had meaningful one-on-one time with teachers during office hours, the ability to
056collaborate with peers, and the learning environment free from distractions. That support helped many of us thrive. This school year, however, has been much more challenging. Teachers are now required to work from physical school campuses, which has introduced a range of disruptions. Fire drills, intercom announcements, background noise, and unreliable internet, all of which interrupt our learning. In addition, required on-ampus activities like drills cause long delays. Students wait in virtual waiting rooms for up to 30 minutes while teachers complete procedures that aren't relevant to remote learners. We've also lost valuable access to our teachers. Previously, teachers were more available at class hours. Now, their time is limited due to long commutes and increased inerson responsibilities. This is especially harmful for students balancing school with work or family obligations. For many teachers, commuting up to two hours each
057way adds unnecessary stress, reduces their availability, and ultimately affects student success. The reality is whether teachers are at home or on campus, instruction remains remote. So requiring inerson attendance offers no real benefit to students. Students in the virtual academy now face more distractions, less support, and less instructional time. I respectfully ask the board to reconsider this policy and allow virtual teachers to work from home once again. Newman Phil would restore the support and structure that has helped many of us succeed. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. And we have a final in-person speaker from 24th Street. Came in a little late. There you are. Two minutes is yours. Oh, let me turn on the mic. I'm sorry. I misled you. Now the two minutes is yours. Thank you. Thank you. I'm
058Hrien Carter from 24th Street Elementary. So despite assertions that LUSD and the collic colloccated charter on our school site regarding servicing the underserved, our students are being underserved at our site. We currently have over 480 students. We have experienced inadequate provision of services because of our lack of space. The implementation of Proposition 39 has adversely affected the student body and school community. A fact acknowledged by the charter school. Discrepancies regarding our official count uh with the conclusion with the exclusion of six classrooms have been taken away and that accounts for 70 students that are not being counted. So although our school maintains 26 classrooms that are assigned with teachers were registered caring teachers, we only receive accreditation for 20. So certain students cohorts which are PALS and our special ed population, they are not being
059counted. That includes our teachers and the aids. So that shrinks us into a small box. But we have a lot of students, a lot of uh parents, a lot of a lot of um a lot of teachers and staff. So, one other thing, the charter school has the ability to overestimate their ADA and as a result, this decreases our ability to give our students their services. And it also uh stops us from giving them their extracurricular activities because they're going to have more space always despite the fact that we always have more students than they do. So based on what we've done and how we're supposed to conduct um emergency drills, the charter school provides us numbers and based on their numbers, we have an average of only 350 students at their school site. So,
060at this point, we have a huge issue at 24th Street. We need it resolved. We need to be put on an agenda so that we can hash all of this out. Thank you for your time. That concludes public comment. The time is now 10:55. The board is going to recess until close session and we will reconvene when that business is concluded. Thank you. Okay, welcome back. The time is now 3:40 p.m. on June 4th, 2025. The board is now returning from the close session recess. I have quite a bit to um read out, but I will take role first. Uh Miss Newell present. Dr. Rivas present. Mr. Melvin, Miss Grigo here. Miss Gomez, Miss Ortiz Franklin, present. And board president Schmolson present. Okay, here we go. I'm going to report out on action taken. Tab
061one, public employee discipline dismissal and release. The board of education authorized this dismissal I mean authorized the non-reelection of one certificated probationary employee. The vote was five I's two absent uh Gonz and Melvo. The board of education authorized the non-reelection of one certificated probationary employee. The vote was four I's one no Miss Newell and two absent Gomez and Melvo. Uh further the board of education authorized the dismissal of one certificated employee. The vote was seven I's under public employment. I have quite a few contracts to read out so please bear with me. Um all all contracts were vote of seven uh eyes and terms and conditions will be made available upon finalization of the agreements. Here we go. The board of educa education appointed Dennis Bradburn Bradburn to the position of director of facilities maintenance
062and operations with a term ending with a term beginning on June 4, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The Board of Education appointed Matthew Freriedman to the position of chief procurement officer with a term beginning on June 4, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Aaron Picarowitz, I'm sorry, to the position of chief of police with the term beginning on October 31st, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026. The board of education appointed PSA Katmal to the position of chief of transitional programs with the term beginning on June 4, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Lordis Ramirez Ortiz to the position of regional superintendent with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Kurt E. John to the
063position of deputy chief financial officer with a term beginning on July 14, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Chris Allejo to the position of deputy director of facilities program support services with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. The board of education appointed Patricia Chambers to the position of senior director office of the deputy superintendent business services and operations with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Christos Cressilu to the position of chief eco sustainability officer with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Denise Collier to the position of regional superintendent with the team term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending on June
06430, 2027. The board of education appointed Denine Cox to the position of deputy general counsel with a term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Sahal Catal to the position of chief information officer of the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending on July June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Daniel King to the position of director of transportation with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Douglas Lee to the position of senior administrator enterprise applications with the term beginning on June 4, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Michael A. McLean to the position of the executive officer of the board of education with a term beginning on July 1,
0652025 and ending June 30, 2028. The board of education appointed Alexander Molina to the position of chief executive to the general counsel with a term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education approved appointed D'vora Reed to the position of general counsel with a term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Alex Walsh O'Brien to the position of deputy chief facilities executive with the term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Francisco Serato to the position of chief human resources officer with a term beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. The board of education appointed Andre Spicer to the position of regional superintendent with a term beginning on July 1, 2025
066and ending June 30, 2027. in the board of education appointed Anaheed Tes to the position of chief facilities executive with a term beginning on July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027. All right. Like I said, terms and conditions will be made available upon finalization of the agreement. The vote for each position with seven eyes. The board of education authorizes settlement in case John J. Do vo1 at all. The board of education authorized a settlement in the case of Orusia va USD at all. The board of education authorized a settlement in the case of Kun Hyong Kim v LUSD at all. The board of education authorized a settlement in the case of Anna Jimenez Martinez va USD at all. The board of education authorized a settlement in John Doe va USD. The board of education
067authorized the settlement in I'm sorry Daksha Cordovia v Olympia casillas at VLA USD I mean I'm sorry DACA Cordova v Olympia casillas at all um that's not it for that one and then the education board of education authorized a settlement in Alba Romero v LUSD uh board of education authorized a settlement ment in Jackson va USD and the board of education authorized settlement in Fleming v LUSD. Terms and conditions will be available upon the finalization of all of these agreements. The vote on each of these cases was seven eyes. That's all I have to report out for today. Um unless there's any objection, the meeting is adjourned. Yes. One second. Thank you. Confirmed. I have reported out everything. Is there any objection to adjournment? No. Hearing none. The time is now 3:47. Thank you.