Mendocino County Office of Education Governing Board Meeting

001anywhere. Heat. Heat. N. Do you know hey Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Let me tell Heat. Heat. anybody. N Heat. Heat. N. anywhere. Hey Well, welcome everybody. I'd like to open our December 8, 2025 annual organizational meeting and regular board agenda. Um item this is uh this meeting is being recorded and live streamed. Um item 1.1 call to order and flag salute. Please stand. 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. Moving on to item 1.2, roll call. Starting with Nancy Bennett, >> present. David Strong, >> present. Donald Cruiser >> present. >> Priscilla Stevenson present Puget present. And are we calling any

002staff or just us? >> Um item 1.3 approval and adoption of our agenda. Do I have a motion to approve? >> I move that we approve the agenda. >> I'll second that. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Moving on to item 1.4. four annual organizational meeting election of officers. Um I would like to nominate Nancy Bennett for the president sit seat and nominate myself for vice president for ease of our transition. Do I have a second? >> I'll second both those. Yeah. >> Thank you. All in favor >> and you should do discussion before the before taking the vote. >> Everyone is willing to do the job. It looks All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> N. >> All right. I will hand the meeting over to Nancy Bennett.

003Thank you very much. Congratulations. You can start item 1.5. >> Oh, that's effective right now. >> That's effective right now. >> Okay. >> That's how >> All right. >> You have some big shoes to fill. So, I hope you guys are patient with me. Thank you. Um, item 1.4, annual organization meeting of the Oh, sorry. Did we just do that one? We just did that one. Okay. Okay. 1.5, approval and adoption of minutes of uh November 10th, our regular board meeting. Do we have a motion to approve? >> I move we approve item 1.5. >> I'll second. Okay. >> I almost said all in favor. >> All in favor? I >> I >> Any opposed? >> Okay, motion carries. >> I I need to interject right here. I'm sorry. I think there's a mistake here

004because 1.6 adoption of the minutes of the Minnesota County Committee on School District Organization, even though it's the same group that that should be adopted when that when the committee convenes. See what I'm saying? So that if the public were to show up and say, "I want to hear about those minutes." They would be attending that meeting. So I'm sorry I missed that before. So okay >> we should um >> are we >> there's we actually no we don't need to delete it we just as in the function of a board we actually have no authority to you have no authority to take action on this it's only when you convene as that committee >> okay gotcha understand okay moving on to item 1.7 public participation do we have any public participation moving on to

005item 1.8 Eight, remote attendance of a board member. Looks like we're all present and so that doesn't apply. Um, moving on to 2.1 poets in the schools. >> Yes. So, we put this on because we had an issue with poets in the schools that that we did not anticipate being resolved by the time we had this meeting. So, we wanted to make sure that um it could if the public wanted to come uh talk that they could. Um but the the issue so public the poets in the school is a a program funded by Minnesota County Office of Education. There's money set aside um for that. Um and uh the funding pays for poets, local poets to get into schools and to teach poetry. It's a wonderful program. Um the the issue that we encountered

006is that because we're an LEA, a local education agency, um the funds can and this and the work all the work that we pay for has to be categorized as either certificated work or classified work. So either stirs state teacher retirement or hers public employees retirement system. And this is I've never felt like such bureaucrat as I am right now explaining this, but this work has been deemed to be the work of pers because otherwise it would be it would require that people have a credential to do this and they're poets. They don't need to come. They're they're they're augmenting what's happening in the classroom. They're not taking the place of it. And so um any retired teacher cannot work cannot be paid as a poet in the school. And so we um so at

007this point we're able to move forward um with this but we aren't able to pay we we aren't a not able to employ anyone who is a retired teacher. Fortunately as it currently stands the main person who runs this um while she has been a teacher is not retired from the state teachers retirement system. So she's able to um to continue in her capacity of of kind of leading this work. um they're paid like um kind of like you would pay a coach, you know, an athletic coach. It's not it's not a full-time job. So, we are still trying to find ways to make it so that anyone, whether a retired teacher or not, can can do this work, but for now, we're able to proceed um with very little interruption um um as and

008still comply. The issue with the stirs and purr, there's no decision for this body to make. There's no decision for me to make on this. Um this is a decision made by stirs and pers. And um one thing that is really important that we always keep in mind is that when it comes to stirs and pers um we have to we we must comply. Um if we do not the agency may pay a penalty, but worse than that is the employ the retiree could pay a penalty. and we never want to put a um somebody in that position where they're being penalized in the retirement system. So, we hope hopefully we can find a way to make it so that retired teachers can also participate, but we're just pleased to be able to move forward

009with this as we Yeah. >> seemed like I remember where somehow or other they made a special aotment that allowed retired teachers to come in and substitute teach. >> They they they can substitute teach because that work has been determined to be Stir's work. this work. However, um and just to give a more kind of dramatic um comparison, a retired teacher cannot come in and be employed as a substitute or regular custodian or food service or tech or you or secretary. Um it's the same sort of idea unless we want to create it so that all the poets have to have active credentials which would eliminate most of them then it's PERS work and so retired teachers can't do it. Retired teachers can as retirees go and do certificated work but so like I said

010I I have never felt like such a bureaucrat as I do right now. Yeah. >> Um but that is a system that we have and it's not something that we we can maybe try to influence for change or legislation that may influence this. But um that was the issue that we had and and because we had a um we had uh we thought that this was going to um impact more people um we anticipated many people coming to the board needing to advocate for the poets in the school program which is we are moving forward with. So that's a summary of it. So if there were a poet who was a retiree from the PERS uh retirement system, they would be allowed to >> they would in fact some teachers um who may have started

011out um as a a teachers aid and then became a teacher, they can remain in PERS and if they retire from PERS, they can do the poets in school. However, if they're a teacher that was never in PERS, is only in stirs, they cannot. >> That's interesting. Yeah. >> Yes. Very confusing. >> Yeah. >> Yes. This is Yes. And they the rules for pers and sters um are somewhat fluid but they are not becoming more permissive. They're getting more restrictive. So that was that. Any other questions? Okay. Moving on to item 2.2. Uh student board member report. Our student board member is absent. Did they submit a written report? >> There's no written report. Moving on to item 2.3, press release for the MCOE, bring holiday joy to homeless youth. Yes. So, you can see

012that press release and there's also a flyer um if any of you are interested in contributing. I know some of you already have, you can contribute um as you leave if you want to actually get a a gift rather than make a cash donation. um in our um entryway in the in the um front front building, there are gift tags you can take and buy gifts for students who are experiencing homelessness. >> Okay. And then they can also write a check to the county and Okay. And if you do it online, there is a little bit of a fee, but >> Yeah. Yeah. I brought my old school checking >> checkbook checkbook that I never bring with me anymore. So, >> all right. Moving on to discussion action item 3.1 proclamation school board appreciation month.

013>> Right. So when we have we we try to bring the um different resolutions to you a month prior to the the month of acknowledgement or celebration. Um and so January is board member appreciation month and so there is that attached um resolution. Um, also, um, one thing that we have done, um, to the extent possible, um, board members, um, once our boards within our county have approved their 2026 board calendars, we'll put together the dates of all the January board meetings and I will try to get to as many of those meetings as possible. If I can't go, some other staff member will try to go and then we'll share that schedule with you. And if you would like to attend with us any of the board meetings, you are more than welcome to

014do that. that we give them a copy of the resolution um usually just during public comment and um and we um bring small momentos or you know something with MCOE's logo on it as a gift of appreciation to all the board members to recognize the work that they do. So um we don't have that schedule yet because their board calendars haven't been approved yet just like ours has not. Um but when we do we'll send that out in a Google doc and you can sign up and if you can't attend any meeting it's completely understandable. um the timing of it can be pretty um inconvenient depending on your schedule. So we will get that out as soon as >> Thank you. That'll be a great thing to do. I do have >> Yes. Um, since

015this is dated December 8th and it says Marilyn and Puget President, are we going to change this to >> because we didn't have prior when you know >> it's probably still valid whoever signed it, >> right? >> I was perfect until I won't be offended if you sign it. It's all good. Whatever you guys decide. I just want to be on the up and out here. Any other questions or comments? Thank you all for doing what you do. It's a great team. Okay, moving on to item 3.2, local planning council application approval. >> Dr. Odell, is this you? >> Um, yes. This is for our early education and care department. Uh this happens annually and um we basically are approving their um me the membership for the local planning council and there you will see

016attached that there is two applications for the memberships um for Brandy Maxwell and Denise Hartley if I said that correctly hopefully um and >> I don't know if there's any questions this is is something we do annually. Um it has gone through their piece at the local planning commission and been approved there. I move that we approve the two applicants in item 3.2. Do we have a second? Also, I I just had a question because it seems like there's more than there's more than two names on this uh document that I'm seeing. So, which are the two new ones? >> Uh let me just open >> because I see Brandy Maxwell at the top, but then as I scroll down, there's several other >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, there's a lot of different there's a

017lot of people um in place for the council. I apologize. We are approving two new members for that and um one is just looking at >> Brandy Maxwell and Janess Harley. >> Yes. And one is a parent and one is a special education teacher and parent um for our in the county. >> Is that the Kate Dunla? >> Kirsten Lima Dunla. So they both have it looks like we have uh different pieces to the application there. Um that's the other application and this is for they are a child care provider as well as a consumer of the services. So there's a couple applicants here. Um I wish I had early education care here to explain it more fully, but it's already gone through their council um approval at the local planning. So this is kind

018of a um approval at the county level because we oversee the LPC. >> Dr. Odell, I just want to make sure it's clear. So, is Kristen Lima Dunlap and uh Janess Hartley the people that they're approving or because the the the application has a different name on it? And I wonder if we should postpone this and I get early learning here. Sorry. With with being out last week for CSBA, we didn't do our normal prep for the >> I apologize. I was out as well. My husband was very ill all week. Um I could also just see if she's available. >> Yes. So, let's move on and we can come back to it when she comes back. Nicole, did I get a Did we get a count for the proclamation? >> Oh, early learning car

019right here. Look at this. >> Want to answer any questions. I'm Maddie. I'm the coordinator for the council. >> Maddie, the membership certification. There's a application for Janess Hartley and uh K. Dunlap. >> Yes. So, what is on here is two parts. So, there's Janice Hartley has previously been a member of the council. she's just switching her category of membership which requires reapplying. >> Um Kirsten Lima Dunlap is a new person applying. So it's approving those applications for those members. And then also we annually have to submit to the state our membership certification which lists all of our members. So that's why there's more names because some of them have previously been members. Um and so we just if you approve the me the new members then this form will be accurate and you would

020approve this. We also get it signed from board of supervisors and then we submit it to uh department of social services. >> So what they so uh the action that they need to take is to I want to make sure that the motion is clear. Do they need a motion to approve the two new applicants partly and Dunlap and the membership certification? >> Yes. >> Okay. So I will change to approve partly and that and the members membership certification item 3.2. >> Thank you. And do we have a second or >> Yeah, I'll second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Clarification. You had a question about the last word. Was there a motion on the operation? There was >>

021yes >> Marilyn and I believe David seconded. >> Yeah. >> Good recall. >> Just fast. >> The pressure. Good thing I had my coffee. Okay. Moving on to item 3.3, consideration and approval of the 2025 2026 first interim budget. >> Okay. I have Suzanne Stley here to guide us through this. Yes. Good morning. Good morning. So, I'm going to present the first dinner budget today. Um, you should all have a copy of my presentation. It makes it easier to read, but it's also on the screen. Um, I'm going to start by going over the budget cycle. And the purpose of a budget is to allocate resources, meet goals, and ensure that public funds are spent responsibly. interim budgets are developed so that we can monitor and adjust different budget components according to the goals of

022the county office. So the first um item in the budget cycle is a June adopted budget. We develop that beginning in April and the work continues through May of each year and we use the information that we have available at the time. Then we close the prior year's books after that and the result of closing the books are a set of reports called unaudited actuals and those are submitted to CBE by October 15th. Then we move on to the first annual budget and this is a significant budget because it's developed after we've closed the books and we know the actual numbers from the prior year and this allows us to more accurately budget carryover revenues and expenditures and it's due to CDE by December 15th. And then the final one in the budget cycle is

023the second interim budget and that is developed in February each year and is due to CDE by March 15th. So you can see that we're the bottom circle there in the budget cycle and we're going to go over the first inter budget today. So what has occurred since adopted budget 2425 P2 was published by CE. Can you explain what P2 is? >> Yeah, so it's a reporting period where they capture ADA and um property taxes to calculate the funding for all school districts and county offices. Um the 2425 books were closed, new or revised funding sources were made available and the new or revised expenditures became known. The effects of this on the first interim budget are that we were able to budget the actual carryover from the 2425 um unodited actuals. There was a

024slight adjustment to our alternative education ADA. There was a two 2.3% cola applied to our county operations grant and our LCFF funding. LCFF funding is local control funding formula. Revenues and expenditure adjustments were also made per the revenue changes. And the adjustments included on this first interim budget were increases to beginning fund balance, revenues, expenditures, and our ending fund balance including unappropriated. So this is just a little snapshot of the budget in total. So and it also compares it to the June adopted budget. So you can see at first interim our projected beginning fund balance, it's actually known beginning fund balance is 29.6 million. That's an increase of 4.7 million from the June adopted budget. Revenues also increased and they're now 29.7 million. That's a little over a million dollar increase. Expenditures were saw an

025increase as well. They're at 33 million. And then there's a net decrease to fund balance of 3.5 million and I'll go into that um a little later on. Our ending fund balance is $26.1 million and that's a $2.8 million increase. So now we're going to get into the details. So fund balance, uh, the beginning fund balance is 29.6 million and that's an increase. And this is the actual beginning fund balance that was a result of closing the 2425 books. The increase includes carryover and also a surplus of actual revenues over actual expenditures. Carryover includes amounts reserved but not expended in resources resources that allow a fund balance and also there are resources that are ongoing or multi-year and all of the revenue had been received in a prior year but they're they weren't spent in

026that year. So since they're multi-year funded we're able to spend those in subsequent years. Total projected revenues are $29.7 million. And we saw increases in all of our sources of funding, some more than others. The LCFF revenue limit increased $155,000. That's our main state funding. Um it's our aortionment. The increased projected revenue was due to a 2.3% COLA which was added to our alternative education funding and our alted funding gets a base grant and they also get supplemental concentration. We also apply to two 2.3% cola to our county operations grant and then the uh local property taxes which is another main source of our funding. Um those were budgeted per the P2 2425 P2 federal revenues increased $22,000. Not much. There was a significant increase in um title one part D delinquent and neglected. It

027was an $85,000 increase. The rest were uh decreases. We saw decreases in title one part a um supplemental inclusive practices title 2 title 4 um and mental health awareness training state revenues increase $744,000. The increase is due mainly to learning community school success grant. A new cohort is beginning and we saw an increase of $680,000 and I believe it's a three-year grant. So that 680 is to be spent over three years. California Community School Partnership also increased about 51,000. Other increases included mandated costs um the alternative education student support and enrichment block grant, foster youth coordination program, learning recovery emergency block grant and home to school transportation reimbursement. The only decrease we saw in state revenues was the K16 Redwood initiative and that decreased about $14,000. Local revenues increased $132,000. This is also a net

028increase. There were some decreases, some increases. Um notable increases were in our inter agency services $31,000. I'll talk about that a little bit more in the expenses. Um the alternative education base grant supplemental concentration increased 36,000. That was due to the cola and also to a slight APA change. The juvenile justice snack pack donation increased 20,000. Um, last year they donated $50,000. This year they're going to donate 70. And then the county medical services program, $150,000. That's a new grant. Um, there was a decrease in PAL MC MSCS steering 28,000. Um, the CYBHI, California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, and that was a $612,000 decrease. But we still have the funds available. They were just taken out of revenue because we received all of them last year and now they're in the fund balance, but we

029can still spend those. >> Suzanne, >> yes. >> What is the um acronym MSCS steering stand for? >> That's the California math science computer science steering committee. We had a member that was on that steering committee for the state. they reorganized that committee and so we lost that seat which means we lost the money that was funding that seat. >> Okay. And you just clarified my second question. We still have those funds because youth behavioral health is instrumental. >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. We're still working on that and I believe we have through 2027. They keep extending it so I'm not sure what the current date is. >> Okay. Yeah. So they're still doing work on that. >> Oh, wonderful. >> Yeah. And I think that's like an it's the implementation part of it. >> Yes.

030>> Thank you. >> And then this slide shows a breakdown of our revenues and you can see that local revenue makes up most of our funding. The next are the LCF sources. We get very little federal. So expenditures, the projected expenditures are $33.2 million and that's an increase of $2.9 million. Salaries are 15.7 million which is in a decrease of $138,000. And this is due to vacancies. Um vacancies that are ongoing and remain unfilled, the cost of those vacancies are reduced at each interim budget because there's less of the year to fund them. Also too, vacancies that were filled since the uh June adopted budget were those staff members were placed at a different um step in the salary schedule. We also rem removed two vacancies that cannot be filled this year. Uh benefits are

031a little over $7 million, which is $137,000 decrease. We cleaned up benefits that were posting incorrectly and also to um when there are vacancy savings there are benefit savings. PERS is 26.81% which is a very slight increase from prior year.24%. Um which is good news because they PERS was increasing significantly each year. Um Stirs remains flat at 19.1%. There was a slight increase to workers comp and then our benefit costs to salaries are 44.8%. This has remained pretty constant over the past 5 years. The range is 44 to 46%. Materials and supplies are 1.1 million which is $186,000 increase and that increased in conjunction with revenue adjustments and also to aligning the budget to actual. So we what we do when we're developing interim budgets is we look at our actual expenses and if we

032can see that they're trending up or down then we make adjustments to the budget. The u a notable increase was the learning community school success that increased 80,000 in conjunction with the new revenue and then also to the county medical services program. travel and conferences is $619,000 and that's a $12,000 increase. It's a slight increase. Um most of that was due to increased mileage reimbursements to staff and then MCOE vehicle use by itinerate service providers. Those are psychologists, nurses, speech and language pathologists, mental health clinician and physical and occupational therapists. and those um staff travel all over the county to the school districts and provide services to the students at the school districts. So there is an increased cost with that. Dues and memberships is $61,000 and that's an $8,000 increase. Rentals, leases, and repairs

033is $221,000. It increased 50,000. The majority of that is due to us adding uh vehicle fleet leases. So, we're starting to lease vehicles instead of purchasing them now. So, it's a better bang for the buck. And um we reduced the um asset category. Utilities are $242,000 and um of course utilities are going up. So we align the budget to match the trend. Contracts operating expense is 3.7 million which is a $600,000 increase. This is one of our largest expenditure categories and it includes services of professionals when our staff can't provide those services. It includes presenters, contracts for facility work, our software, auditors, legal, advertising, fingerprinting, physicals, online curriculum. Notable increases included a special education non-public school placement, one placement, it was $80,000. >> Home to school transportation increase 36,000. Differentiated differentiated assistance increased 185,000. That's

034mainly due to um an increase in the carryover for differentiated assistance and then um inter agency services to districts increased 50,000. We increased our uh staff tuition assistance $10,000 and then special language special education sign language interpreter services was $60,000. equipment and facilities have increased 100 are 188,000 they increased 122,000 um I mentioned the vehicle fleet before so it was a reduction from the equipment and added to the leases but there is an increase of 153,000 and that's for our new certified nursing assistant program this year and they're remodeling the space their classroom so then that can um begin We added an intra fund transfer of $2.25 million. And this is a transfer from the general fund to our capital facilities building fund to cover the cost of the solar project that this board approved.

035And then the next page shows a chart of our expenditures by type. And then you'll notice that all of the salaries and benefits combined make up the majority of our expenditures. And then the next largest segment is the services and operating expenditures. There's a net decrease to fund balance in the amount of $3.5 million. This is revenue of 29.7 less the expenditures of 33.2 million. Um, and this includes that $2.25 million transfer of funds. And that transfer of funds is covered by the beginning fund balance. Expenses are more than revenues due to funding periods and carryover. And as I mentioned before, in many cases, there are multi-year grants, awards, and allocations where revenue has already been received but not spent in the years that it was received. So all of that goes into the carryover

036to fund the expenses in the current year. And they essentially these um carryover beginning balance amounts act like revenue because they're available to spend. Our beginning fund balance is $29.6 million and it includes that carryover I mentioned. And then when there and when added to the net decrease there's an ending fund balance of $26.1 million. Below shows a little calculation how we get to that number. That ending fund balance is made up of these different components here. So we have restricted programs which is 1.3 million. Our commitments are 5.9 million. That number never changes unless um we need to use the funds and then we'll come to the board and ask to uncommit the funds. Assignments are 1.2 million. our reserve for economic uncertainty 4.9 million and that's 15% of our general fund expenditures and

037then what's left is unappropriated or unassigned 12.6 $6 million. And then the next graph here shows a breakdown of the ending fund balance component. In summary, the first budget was prepared using current assump assumptions and actions to date. As a result of closing the 2425 books, we saw an increase in the beginning fund balance. Revenues increased with the COLA and newer or adjusted grants and awards. expenditures increased in conjunction with the beginning fund balance and revenue increases. We're also spending downtime funds. There's new programs and enhancements and educational supports to at MCO schools. The ending fund balance is $26.1 million. And after reserving the mandatory components, the restricted committed reserve for economic uncertainty and assigned amounts, there's an unappropriated amount of $12.6 million. And this unappropriated unappropriated reserve should be maintained as to cover unexpected

038expenses that come up through the year negotiations and most importantly as a safety net for any economic downturn. The first interim report will be certified with a positive certification and based on current projections MCE will meet its finance financial obligations for the current year and two subsequent years. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Questions, comments? >> Already asked my questions. >> Do we have any public comments? >> I guess I could make a comment. I always am very happy to see those those extra reserves. There's security in that. And ever since I've been on the board, we've had that. and just takes the pressure off. >> I agree, Don. I think we've got some instability in the future. Hopefully, our reserves will stay robust. >> Yeah. >> So, this is something Oh, sorry. Go ahead.

039>> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Um I have a question about federal resources and funding. Um, and we're asking quite a few months ago about um our ability to to create an analysis of of what it would look like to tap into title six funds for American Indian students. We would need only 10 students to apply for those federal funds. And I'm wondering if if we have an update on that funding. >> I do not. >> Okay. Any further questions, comments? I make a motion that we approve item 3.3, our approval of our 2025 2026 first interim budget. Thank you. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay, so we have a motion by Trusty Puget and a second by Trustee Cruiser. Any further Oh, sorry. All All in favor? I >> I

040>> Any opposed? Okay, motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving on to item 3.4, annual consideration of board compensation. >> Yeah. So every year in December we come to um well through EDC code there's a um each year we can look at a 5% increase to the salary or the statement that's um given to the board members. Um education code only allows up to 5% of an increase. So in the attachment is um a calculation. The current monthly statement is $316.77. So, with a proposed 5% adjustment, that would increase it by $15.84, making the new proposed monthly statement $332.61. So, this is being presented to you for your review and consideration. >> Questions, questions, comments? Yeah, I know I've asked in the past if we could if there

041was any way we could make our increase, do a one kind where we've done, you know, one time salary increase one for um for our superintendent if we could do a onetime increase and we we can't because it's an edit code, right? I know other new members might have that question too is isn't there a way we can get a one time to make it because some years we're covered on our health insurance and then some years like this we're not and then 2026 give us the shock as well we're guessing >> hopefully not because we have great negotiators on our team but that's all I wanted to say I hear a motion Uh, I'll move to approve. >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> All right. Uh, so I have a motion by Trustee Stro

042and a second by Trustee Cruiser. Any I'm sorry. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. >> Motion passes unanimously. And moving on to item 3.6, six city of Yukaya Corporation yard annexation. >> Um so last month a similar letter came to you. Um this is a a different topic. Um but a letter has come regarding an annexation that the city of is planning. >> Excuse me. We we're on 3.5. >> Oh, sorry. 3.5. >> Oh, sorry. Thank you. >> Oh, we all do it. Uh 3.5 consider approval of the California School Board Association District and County Office of Education Legal Service Agreement. >> Yes. So um the uh this uh generally uh it is not frequent that the county board that our county board has needed legal um counsel and generally the legal counsel that

043the county superintendent uses is the same legal counsel. Um however in the past we have kind of had um an agreement or put in place an agreement with CSBA so that in the event that the board wanted to have different representation than the county superintendent there is somebody available and so this is kind of um this is what we would put in place in order to um use CSBA. Now there are other firms available. This is who the board has used in the past when they did not want would want to use the same um uh attorney that the county superintendent has used. I will also say the other times that we have used CSBA. For example, CSBA presented to us two three months ago um remotely regarding our um our other role um regarding

044district organization. Um and also um because uh the the the role of the board can include um um uh hearings or appeals for expulsions or inner districts. in the event that a district is represented by the school and college legal services who is we usually use um technically you can still use them but I think that um it doesn't feel quite as comfortable and in the past we've opted to not use the same uh law firm that um a school district has used so that both parties can feel very um assured that their attorneys really represented their best interest. So, um, this has come to use, um, because the agreement that we had in place has expired. So, if we were to use them, um, we would need to bring this to you. And so,

045we thought we'd bring it to you in advance of needing it. >> Thank you. >> Any questions or comments for Nicole? >> Yes. Are there other options available besides >> There are so many There are so many options. Um um those of us that were just at the CSVA AEC um there were all kinds of law firms um on the on the trade show floor. There are other options available. >> And what would our path forward look like to explore those options together? >> Um we could you can we can give you a list of some options. I don't have an exhaustive list, but I know some of the names. I' I've got pens and chapsticks from some of them. So if you wanted to look and see what what they have to offer, you

046certainly can. We use CSBA for other services. So it seemed um so in like I said in the past it had been kind of a tidy way to do that. Um but there are other law firms that represent school districts and eleas. Um so we can the the the district or the board could um consider those. >> Yeah. I like the idea of sticking with our CSBA because they are the experts. >> Yeah. in what we we would need. >> Yeah. >> I'm sure there's a lot of competent people. Yeah. >> And then there's an advantage in having a warrior who's familiar with our operation here. >> Correct. >> Yeah. I agree. >> Yeah. >> Um I feel most comfortable exploring our options. Um I believe there's a lot of experts in the field. I

047think CSBA is definitely one of them um that has a farreaching grasp. I do think it's beneficial for us to explore the options to see what is possible. I'm curious to know what that path forward would look like. Would it be board members researching that and and providing that information to Nancy for us to consider at a future board meeting? Or I'm not too familiar with that process. >> The board could the board could choose to put together like to choose two board members to do that research um work with me and staff to do that research and have a subcommittee to do that. >> I'd be available to explore that option. I don't feel comfortable moving forward with an option that um with one option that we are exploring. We're we're we're not considering

048any other options and I think that's a disadvantage to um what we might be able to receive in terms of services and expertise. >> Marilyn, um I move that we approve 3.5 as it stands. Do I have a second? >> Yeah, I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Opposed. >> Noted. Motion passes of four to one. Okay, moving on to item 3.6. Sorry, Nicole, to have to do this to you. We're going back. City of Yukaya uh Corporation yard annexation. >> Yes. I I don't see that this impacts us, but um we we did receive a letter and the county board was identified as and as secretary to the board wanted to bring it to you um because they have a they are holding a meeting um and um

049PE the letter says please submit your project related comments along with any proposed requirements or conditions of approval no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17th. So if the board feels differently that this does apply to the uh the board of education, then the board could uh determine what sort of response or if they want to set send a representative to the meeting or if if the board does not feel that then no action is necessary. >> Questions or comments? Yeah. So this does this have to do with the annexation that Yukaya was >> No. No. This is different. That is my understanding that this is different. This is the corporation yard annexation. >> Yeah. So so city of Ukaya is annexing some other parcel that >> Yeah. So it is the city of

050Ukaya. Um they annexation of one city- owned property located within the high valley for the use of m municipal corporation yard. All right. I guess if it's already city owned, I don't know how do they and I don't >> but it doesn't affect us, right? There's no school property. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> I think it's just if we get sent the notification, we have to put it in front of the >> And what I have re and when I've reached out to them on um on the previous one, I I asked it what you know, why are we receiving this? And they said, "Oh, we want to be super transparent. we're sending to everyone. Um so there's not like they think it influ they they want to make sure that other um government governing

051boards are in the loop on this so that they can maintain transparency. >> Okay. Thanks for the clarification. That's a great great uh question. Do I hear a motion? >> We need one. >> No, you don't need a motion unless you want to do something. >> That's right. It could be good. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Okay, moving on to item 3.7, review by board bylaw 9320. >> So this is um in relation to 3.8 with the next agenda item um regarding the meeting schedule. And so, um, this came to you last month, but it was like along with the, um, with the meeting schedule, um, as the board considers their meeting schedule, um, the if the board feels that there's something here that needs to change in order to accommodate something in the

052meeting schedule, um, usually the board does a first and second reading of of um, bylaws and board policy. But um that's general practice. There's nothing that requires that. I do think that there's flexibility for the board um calendar. Um what this says in relation to regular meetings says the board shall hold one regular meeting each month. Regular meetings shall be held at 10 a.m. But the board may occasionally schedule regular meetings to begin at 3 p.m. to facilitate public attendance. Typically, board meetings will be scheduled on the second Monday of each month. There's and I don't mean I I think that is um the the area that is of most um consideration right now, but certainly the the whole bylaw can be discussed. >> Questions or comments on item 3.7? I think it'd be beneficial

053to remove the date and time for not just our board but potential future boards based on the you know only our availability but future availability of board members um that it doesn't need to be written in there and it's more of a practice. I don't know if there's practice language that can be put in there in terms of board availability but it seems that just that piece feels a little restrictive for boards now and in the future for time and dates. Marilyn. Um I hear what you're saying, Priscilla. However, um for stability and um functionality, we have to have them. And I do recall that when we interviewed you and appointed you, you said you were available. >> I understand we have to have board meetings. I don't think we're talking about my availility right

054now. I think we're talking about the language of the policy itself and um the date and time doesn't necessarily need to be in there. However, if we're going to include it, I'm not sure if we're going to talk about everyone's availability >> right >> at that time. >> And I'll just say, you know, from my experience and the different boards and community um boards that I've served on, it's pretty common. And I I'm wondering if it's if it's spelled out that way in a in a policy so that anyone can go and access it like, oh, when are they supposed to meet so that I can, you know, maybe attend or participate or become involved? Maybe I'm wondering if that's why it's sometimes spelled out that way. It might be um helpful for the public

055to know when we meet, what our policy is. One thing that we can do is this hasn't been updated since March of 2009, which is quite a while. Um, and the time is just one component of this bylaw. Um what we what we could what staff could do is we try to bring to you bylaws and policies to update periodically and there are so many um um and we want to so this might be one that it might be a good time to see what CSBA has if there's an updated version of this that seems more um conducive to the work of the 2026 board rather than you you know what I mean um does not require change but we can keep bring that to you for your consideration. at a future meeting. >> Do

056we need to take action on this particular item? >> It's at the discretion of the board. >> I motion to remove the date and time mandated in the policy from for uh board bylaw 9320 and keep the mandates in terms of meeting once a month that are already stated in the policy. Okay. Do we have a second? Any further discussion? Questions? Clarifying questions. >> Should we take a roll call on this? >> No. If there is no second, then the motion dies for lack of a second. >> I mean, the language. Can I just uh the language does say typically? >> Um so Priscilla, were you more concerned with the time or the or the the second what part of it is is the part that you're concerned with? >> Um removing the date and

057time that's stated in there. Um, and since that's a really old policy, I'm not sure if that was a poll from across the state of typically they they meet on on Tuesdays or why that's included, but I feel like these are well, no, I feel it's a fact that these these are just drafts that were provided and we we can tailor them according to the needs of our community. So as long as the mandate the the regulatory mandate that we meet once a month is included feel like that's sufficient enough although the language in the policy that states a time and specific day can be removed because boards obviously are working together to find that day and time. >> Marilyn, >> um I just wanted to talk about what Nicole brought up because it hasn't

058updated since 2009. So we could um update language in there. >> I my recommendation would be that um in that that an update in consideration of the entire bylaw and I think for the purpose of the date and time it does seem like it does I don't see that there's anything that would prohibit the board from coming up with different date different dates or times um because it does say um the board may occasionally so let me just read it again. The board shall hold one regular meeting each month. That's regular meetings shall be held at 10:00 a.m. But the board may occasionally schedule regular meetings to begin at 3 p.m. to facilitate public attendance. Typically board meet typically boarding board meetings will be scheduled on the second Monday of each month. I I do

059think it is a again the the board can um can do something different from this. I do think that if it's marketkedly different, we would want to update this. But I don't think it's required that we need to update it prior to making a decision. And I would my recommendation in general with board bylaws and policies is um unless there's an emergency that requires a specific thing to be changed that the entire board bylaw and policy be looked at in a first and second reading so that the board has time to really give consideration. Um again I I don't think that this will prohibit I have checked with legal counsel. this does not prohibit the board from doing something that looks different from this. Um, and again, if it's marketkedly different, then we would want

060to bring back and either, you know, update the policy somehow so that there doesn't seem to be a conflict. Carolyn, maybe we um maybe we change the wording or suggest um whoever is going to rewrite this, but the board may occasionally schedule regular meetings to begin at a different time. Take out the 3M at a different time to facilitate public attendance. the board has already done that regularly >> just like for our special board meetings in particular but also not just special our regular meeting in March which we've called a study or a planning session um so we have already deviated from this and so I I think that we we I think the board is should consider whatever will work for the board for >> I think David had yeah I was just going

061to say I I think it is important that the bylaws do say that we typically meet on these days and at these times. Now, that can be changed at some point in the future, but it does say typically. So, we have the flexibility to, you know, schedule one-off meetings or throughout a couple meetings throughout the year at a different time, at a different day. So, um I wouldn't feel comfortable just removing that language because I think the bylaw should, >> you know, say when meetings happen typically. >> I agree. I there's strength in consistency. You know, we we don't attract a lot of public participation, but if you're meeting at the same time of the month in the same place, that makes it easier for people. It makes it easier for me as a board

062member. >> It's not just ease. It's also um this is an elected or appointed position and you have to be able to look at your schedule because most of us have jobs if we're not retired that we have to consider >> in that and if we cannot >> um fulfill that then we shouldn't apply or run for the position. >> I just looked up CSA sample and they do have a sample that was updated in 2024. So, I agree with Nicole that bringing it back as a first read maybe next month to have you guys look at that language that's all updated. >> Okay. Do we need a motion to include that? >> Um, no. >> Okay. >> All right. Moving on to item 3.8. Approve the 2026 Menesino County Board of Education meeting schedule.

063I move we approve item 3.8 our 2026 Mosesino County Board of Education. >> Uh do we have can we open it up for discussion? >> I'll get a second. >> Sorry. >> I'll second. >> Okay. So we have a motion made by Trustee Puget and seconded by Trustee Cruiser. Um discussion. >> I will add one thing. Um and that is that um at the CSBA conference last week um they announced the date of the of the um county board governing workshop in the spring and that will conflict with the meeting in March. Um it's in San Diego. Um um our if the board is intending to go to that um they might want to consider um that date or if it's um And honestly, if the if the majority of the board is still present,

064it's um they can go to that. And typically, we have not gone to every conference, but however, this one is the kickoff of the um county board masters in governance. >> Okay. And so they have an in-person component to it, which I think we have kind of um gone to about every other or you know when they're in Northern California, we've gone to them, but but this one is different because it does kick off the the MIG, >> right? Yeah. And the dates on that >> uh 10th and 11th and 12th. >> Wouldn't it be more cost efficient for us to attend via Zoom? >> I don't know. I don't think they offer Yeah, I don't think they offer the >> So, the the I think it's the is it the 9th that the workshop

065is for the kickoff to make one? >> I looked online and I saw virtual options unless I'm wrong. I don't know if um >> but I I have seen there are Zoom options for completing um the masters in governance training. >> Um but I this workshop I didn't see as being a Zoom option. It's the first of six courses, correct? I think the first one through six are all offered online as a Zoom option. I think the in-person um options are completely voluntary >> and and more expensive. Um, so, um, I also wanted to to voice, um, you know, moving potentially changing that March meeting date to, um, allow people to attend the CSBA if they thought it would be beneficial. Um, the other thing that jumped out at me was I think it was

066a June 8th meeting that included public participation. Did we do we have to change that to a 5:30 rather than a 10 a.m.? >> No, that one is fine at 5:30. Yeah, only the um public hearing for sufficiency is the evening one for the instructional >> and that's something that happens in the fall. >> Yeah, that one happens in September. >> So, I still need clarity on the March one. So, um I think Priscilla is correct on the masters in governance. Sounds like they're offering the first component during the conference. Okay. However, you can attend all the MIGs remotely. I'm pretty sure that that's correct. And then secondly, I'm unclear on what we would have to change. So, we're thinking we'd be traveling on the 9th. So, we have to change the night. Is that

067what we're saying? It would be I'm I'm looking if the conference is on the 10th, 11th, and 12th, are we thinking we cannot have our meeting on the 9th because we'll be gone? >> Is that what we're saying? >> I think so. Allowing that travel uh the flexibility. >> Yeah. I I'm sorry. I I thought that there was actually um something scheduled on that day as well, but I could be wrong here. Now that I look at it online, I'm not not seeing that >> because we wouldn't need to travel till >> I think you're right. I think you're right. I think that was my >> still keep our ninth meeting and all the time. >> Okay, Priscilla, >> I'm just unclear. >> I think you're right. >> Um I think there's another major conflict

068is the proposed October meeting for the 12th. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> So that's indigenous people's day. Our board meeting this year also fell on Indigenous People's Day and um that should be changed. >> Why do you want that change? >> It's a significant um day for our community, including my family. Um, and just for public record, I requested our board meetings to change to Tuesday or Wednesday because there's um there's several weekends that conflict with our board meetings uh in terms of uh cultural obligations for my family. So, I will not support a Monday meeting. I think that's why as a board we have flexibility to change the board meetings even though we do commit to what we say we committed to when we say we're going to take the role. So moving

069forward um I propose that we change our board meetings to Tuesday or Wednesday given those significant cultural obligations. >> Okay. Should >> we still have a motion? We already have a motion. >> We do. We have a motion to to approve it as written. >> Yeah, we have. We have a second by Trusty Cruiser. >> So, we address that one first. >> Okay. And so, should we do a roll call? >> Does that include the changes for October and May or only May? >> No. Right now, the the the current motion on the table is that it's approved as is. >> Okay. Without changing. >> Without changing >> October. >> Correct. And it Yeah. >> for So, we have to see this motion through. >> Okay. before we can entertain another >> either see it

070through or if the person making the motion wants to amend their motion and then the person seconding it agrees to the amendment that is the other option but you're right it has to have to see the motion through >> Marilyn would you is your is your original motion still on the table for consideration >> yeah it is I want to um consider the October um meeting schedule for Priscilla >> um >> what are our other options in October for meeting >> um such as let's go to October um so October 5th is the first Monday of the month >> so we could move it to October 5th Okay, I will amend my motion to move the October board meeting to approve as is u with respect to Priscilla's request um to not have it on

071Indigenous People's Day on October 12th instead moving it to October 5th. >> Okay. So, and is the are the both the June um I know that we we had so many ideas out there regarding the June meetings because we do have to have two June meetings and I kind of thought I need to stop trying to adjust this and just let the board discuss this. Are the June dates both um those are those are both part of your >> Yeah. Okay. Got it. >> Yeah. The only question I brought up was because there is the public hearing and right now it's scheduled for 10. I didn't know if we would have to move that to another time that day to accommodate public hearing. Got it. >> Okay. So, we have an amended motion to approve

072the schedule but changing our October date to October 5th rather than the second um Monday of the month. And who seconded that? >> Uh Don Cruiser, did you want to second the amendment? >> I'll second it again. >> Okay. >> And just to so just to clarify on this motion, we're not we're not uh considering doing anything with the March uh date any longer because that we don't need that for wouldn't. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's the way I understand it as well. Okay. All right. I think we're getting down to it here. Do uh all in favor? >> Uh can I make >> Yes. >> I was just wanted to say I I support um um you know the October 12th Indigenous People's Day um you know observing that as a

073board and uh I think that's that's uh it's good that we're doing that. Yeah. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I I Okay. Any opposed? All right, motion passes 5 to zero. Okay, moving on to item 3.9. Approve the revised 2025 2026 MCOE instructional calendar for West Hill School. Yes. So, we have um a few changes we'd like to request. So, what when we brought our MCOS e school calendar to you, maybe um for this coming year, we set a couple of days aside for teacher work days and emergency closure days. And we didn't notate that um it would be for particular schools. We just left it, which would mean it would apply to all of our schools, including West Hills. And so we would like to do um two updates. January 5th was previously

074a work day for all schools. Um and we'd like to change that so that it's a staff um would be only reflected for our or creek and new beginnings community schools and not West Hills. And then in addition, April 6th is a date that's set aside for um a makeup date, basically a emergency snow day, etc. Um, however, West Hills because of their the exceptional situation of where they're in um for juvenile hall, except in exceptional situation where something is going on at West Hills itself and the the juvenile detention center, there's no need for them if there was a um a snow day or some other things. So, we don't really need a makeup day for that program. So, we'd like to adjust those. And I believe in your attachment you have the old

075schedule and the uh request for the changes. Thank you. Any questions? Do I hear a motion to approve? >> I will move to approve. >> I'll second. So we have a motion by trustee and a second by trustee cruiser. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to reports. 4.1. The California School Boards Association annual education conference. We added this because uh four of us were at the AEC and thought um rather than having everyone include in their individual reports um what they learned from A or um or anything they want to report back, we just make it its own agenda item. And I will say it was really wonderful having um three board members there and um and we I got a lot out of the conference. I've been

076before um and it's a little different every time. So, it was really helpful and I think that now that with a new board president and um both Nancy and Priscilla both went to the pre-conference on the um for board presidents or aspiring board presidents there there were some wonderful ideas taken from that and some wonderful. >> So, I don't know if anybody else wants to share. >> Yeah, I'll I'll share a little bit. Um I I I was overwhelmed. So I I I should have I mean I should have known there's a lot of school districts and there's a lot of board members. So it was a lot of people and uh it was it was really good. You know I sometimes I you know I tend to uh I don't know worry too much

077about things. So it was really good to have you know see that many people with such a positive outlook on you know the education in um in California. uh attended some great um you know individual uh sessions um you know having to do with uh you know better governance and um you know supporting students who fall through the cracks. We we attended a breakfast uh which had a presentation uh some students had developed in some school district in Southern California, I don't remember exactly what school district, but uh an app for you know for students in the foster system uh that helped them um you know with access to counseling um help them with um to maintain their records and and a few other uh it was very helpful uh app that I think um

078um so yeah it was just good very positive Um uh and uh I'm glad I went. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I agree with everything you said and there's a lot of people doing really good work and it's inspiring. And I mean I I attended a lot of sessions. I took advantage of every second I was there to learn and grow. And I think some of the ones that I enjoyed the most were you got to hear from the students >> and how much they really really want a voice. They want to be heard. And so for me that was really inspiring. Like you said at the breakfast there were a couple of students there that were telling their stories and everything that they've overcome was just so beautiful and and you know what they're looking

079forward to. So >> it was it was it was wonderful. So thank you. >> Anyone else? Priscilla, do you want to add anything? Yeah. Um I was grateful to catch up with old friends that we started in a classroom making the difference um with young people um inspired by our own journeys um and actually Wo had a very very different path came from a very privileged background but he's still doing this work um with so much heart and to see um how we continue to carry this work forward in different leadership capacities is something that is always um good to see because a lot of people don't stay in education. They leave a lot of young people who start teaching, they do not stay in education. And so whenever you see someone stick it through,

080um there's no question that there's a passion there. And obviously um uh there's a lot of skill in that in that building as well. One thing that really stuck with me is um at the end the president talked about bold change, bold leadership and standing um and sharing your voice in places that really need that voice because although we've had a lot of change, there's so much more change that needs to happen >> and that's why I'm here. So, I really appreciated um that uh reminder and I think uh I me and David were looking it up. We're trying to how long organization has been in existence and I think it was like upwards of 95 years or something. The school boards are really old, right? So, I wonder um what that has looked like

081over the years. I'm not sure, but um it was interesting. It was definitely interesting. >> I agree. All right, moving on to item 4.2, MCOE, human resources personnel report. >> That is there for your viewing. I don't know if anybody has any questions. >> It's very short and sweet. >> Yes. Not this is not our hiring season, so not a lot. >> All right, moving on to item 4.3, MCOE, school program and student enrollment report. So, you'll see that there's not much difference from November to December. Um there's one or two numbers that change slightly with the exception of our medical assistant class which graduated their last day of class was on November 6th and we um began our CNA program just before our last meeting and that is going strong. >> Thank you. Item

0824.4 education services report. Dr. Nicole Bell again. >> So you have um my report. I just want to uh highlight a few things. Our community schools in West Hills has been involved in um an invitation well not invitation application only program called high impact tutoring training. Uh they apply to learn more about how to do high impact tutoring in the classroom and how to fund it and what ways to um be able to bring that to our schools. And that was a partnership between the schools, between uh business services with uh Debbie Connor as well as Jennifer Collie from um accountability and assessment. And so they've completed the training and now they're looking at how to implement and they've been doing a lot of work on what that might look like at both West Hills

083and at the community school. They also have a demonstration night on December 17th from 5:30 to 6:30 for Or Creek and New Beginnings sites. And um for accountability assessment um the California dashboard had came out in November as on um November 13th and we can now look and see how all of our schools are doing and we have four of our districts that exited differentiated assistance. They weren't identified for this year. It is a two-year program so they will complete their second year with us. Um but um they showed mass improvement in their uh dashboard. And so we're very excited to know that four of our nine um have moved out. In our student services and wellness, um we've received several grants for our homeless and foster youth program. Um we wanted to uh thank

084the community foundation for their check for 7,000. Savings Bank has donated around $1,000 as well. And then our um the JJCP, the Juvenile Justice, uh increased their funding to 70,000. So, we're very excited to be able to do that and support our kids. And then today, as you exit, you might see in our southeast room that we have math materials all over the place. We have our mathematics materials exhibit for all of our county schools to come and see all the new math curriculum. So that as they move forward with with choosing new curriculum for their mathematics programs, we have them here for them to check out as well as to talk to our people who have gone through a lot of training and um have gone through helping pick some of the math curriculums

085for the state. They went through and uh reviewed the curriculum, one of our staff members. So that is going on for the next three days so that uh we can move forward with choosing some new mathematics. >> Thanks. Any questions for Dr. Cole? I had a question. I think it was on page four of eight. Okay. >> Um down at the very bottom where it says a COC update, a no point in time outdoor homeless count for this year. I just had a question on why they don't why they didn't do that or why they don't do that. >> I actually do not know why they're not doing that count this year, but I can find out. >> Okay. And then my last question is, I mean, I try to look up things that I

086don't understand and usually I can find a good explanation, but can you remind me what tupe is? >> Tupe, um, that's tobacco. Um, it's a prevention. Okay. >> Um, education. >> Thank you. Any questions? Priscilla. >> Dr. So, do we do the same um for curriculums and other subjects for our county educators? >> We do. The math framework was just approved this last year and the new math curriculums that the state reviews and approves just came out um in the last month or so. There's 66 programs, I believe, curriculum, different curriculums that have been approved. So, we're doing an exhibit because those are all that's a very hefty load to review. Um, next year, uh, ELA, so English language arts, is being updated by the state and being reviewed and probably around the same timing,

087we'll do another exhibit, uh, for the English language arts. Um, the state is on a a schedule of when they review and update their curriculums. So, we try to follow along. Most of our districts will potentially adopt new curriculum in between those times depending on when their last adoption is or what their needs are. Um, but this is a long time coming with COVID and the math framework released and the curriculum slowed way down and got paused. So, some districts have been waiting for quite a long time, three or four years to adopt when they thought they were going to be able to do it a couple years ago. >> Thank you. Any further questions? Okay, moving on to item 4.5 business business and administrative services report with Heather Vander. >> Well, I'm going to

088keep my report short as you heard from Suzanne today who did a an amazing job. Um, our focus obviously has been on first inter room for both internal at MCE and then as well as supporting our school districts and charter schools getting through their first reports. um in the maintenance and technology world um besides providing um support and stuff here on campus, we're also there's a big focus on getting the CNA um remodel completed. So, we're looking forward to seeing that complete I think by the end of this week so that we're ready for the open house. Um and I think that was all I was going to highlight for you today. >> Thank you. Moving on to item 4.6, our superintendent report and district updates. you know, between the last board meeting and this

089one, um, there was a week of Thanksgiving and then pretty much a week of being at CSBA conference. Um, so I have a pretty short report. Um, uh, last month I was able to present to some high school students at Minnesota High School. It was fantastic. I, um, presented or spoke with both freshman and seniors, very different conversations. um talking about um governance at the local level, talking about issues related to schools um and trying to um let the conversation go where the students wanted it to go. Um and for the seniors that was very interesting because uh we we the the conversation ended um kind of took a a path to getting to talking about um how do you navigate um change? like how do you figure out who to talk to um when

090you see something that needs to be changed um to make your voice heard um and and how do you gather support for an idea to do that? So, it was a really um I I appreciate the invitation to talk to them. Um as we mentioned before, we're we've got donations um for uh gifts for students um who are experiencing homelessness. And I just did a quick like review of those who have done online donations and it's like 40 different people with donations ranging from $25 to $1,000. Um, and then some people that are just coming in and taking the gift tags so that they can go buy the the gifts themselves. It's a really wonderful time to see the generos generosity of our community. And I also have to say um the generosity of the

091staff at Minnesota County Office of Education the online um um many are doing through payroll deduction or online donations and I I just really appreciate that they see an opportunity to give directly to students and they take that opportunity. Um, you have the invitation I at your desk and I know I I I I emailed it to you as well, the December 16th, I'm sorry, December 17th grand opening for the medical um training building. So, very excited about that. Um, also, you may have seen it on the the list of events that I share with you. Um, the there's the medical pathways graduation on December 16th at 6 p.m. at the Mento College Theater. If any of you would like to be there um uh please let me know. Generally they set up chairs for

092us on the stage so that the the so that as superintendent and any board members um are there to um acknowledge and be acknowledged as um for the role that we play in program. So if you're able to go to that, it's a wonderful graduation. Adult graduation cere ceremonies are very um inspiring because those are people that know exactly what they're going to do in their next step. And um many have overcome many obstacles to get to that um to to get to that stage. So um it usually lasts about Marilyn, you're usually there. It's usually about an hour or 40 45 minutes to an hour. >> A good hour. >> Yeah. Depends on how >> Yeah, it depends on how many graduates. You're right. And I think that concludes my report. >> Thank you.

093>> Could you repeat the date for for that graduation? >> Uh December 17 uh December 16th at 6 p.m. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Moving on to item 4.7, board member reports. And I think we'll start with Marilyn. >> Thank you. Um I just wanted to reiterate if anybody can participate in the gift drive um to benefit foster and homeless youth. It's it's um always feels so good to give. It's nice to be able to actually pick a tag and be able to buy that gift. It might be the only gift that child gets this year. Um, I know we're supposed to keep it at $25. Sometimes you can't. Um, it's always appreciated, but never expected. Um, and I'm going to backtrack because I was a little delinquent. I wanted to give

094a shout out to Pat Howard. Um, I'm hopefully hope hopeful it was a retirement separation. Um uh she was a great um great help to me several times with computer assistance and technical issues, phone, all sorts of things. Um she will be greatly missed by me anyway, but we hit it off by many people. >> We hit it off really well. I hope I hope that we found somebody great to um fill those big shoes. Um, as far as me and my family, we've been enjoying all of the seasonal events that have been going on and I'm really um grateful for you picking up the gavl because um I need to focus more on my family right now. So, thank you, Nancy. >> Thank you. >> That's all. >> Priscilla. >> Yes. Um again I'm

095grateful to have attended um the AEC conference. It was a different perspective with uh about through governance in education which is um different but not too far-fetched from just education in general as a as a practitioner. So it was interesting and and um good to be in the room listening to those um conversations and being a part of them through the governance um perspective and not only as an educator um having attend so many education spaces um in in for conferences. So I was a little hesitant because of another education conference but it was definitely a different perspective. So I'm grateful for that. Um, also grateful to have attended ACCBE. Um, they had a couple different sessions and continue to have them on Court and Community Schools. Why I'm uh particularly grateful for those spaces

096is that they're bringing young people to the forefront. um and these young people. Um it's it's like a full circle for me to to see these young people being brought to the to to to the front to share their voice because I was part of a lot of criminal justice reform in the past 10 years that changed our laws to make sure that these voices can be heard and that we're looking at um young paths as the future of our society. No matter where they land um there's going to be an impact. So we need to ensure that we are investing in them um through and through to make sure that um they're good because when they're good we're good. And what I mean by good um in their language you know it means that

097um they uh when we think about whole student education um mind body heart spirit um it really matters and it makes an impact in our community. So besides that, um I have one more. Um President Bennett, fellow board members, Superintendent Glenser, staff, families, and community members, it's an honor to st stand here today in recognition of a young leader whose achievements reflect strength, resilience, and the rich legacy of Native Nations across our region from the lake to the coast. As a county board trustee, I am deeply committed to elevating the voices and accomplishments of indigenous students. And today we have the priv privilege of celebrating one of them in a meaningful way. Today, Menino County Board of Education Trustee Area 2 recognizes the inaugural Native American Graduate of the Year. A practice I'm hopeful this

098board will continue far into the future, Sochi Williams. Sochi has demonstrated exceptional dedication not only to her academic studies, but also to her community, culture, and future. Her journey reflects the values that have carried native peoples through generations. perseverance, responsibility, and a deep sense of connection to both land and community. She has excelled as a student athlete. She has contributed to youth leadership development in her tribal community and beyond. She plans to pursue paths that tackle some of the greatest injustices of our time. I stand here before you in December presenting this because she's graduating early, a whole half semester or a whole semester. your achievements. So you remind us why representation and celebration matter when we honor native excellence. We honor the communities who stand behind our youth and we honor the future leaders

099shaping a stronger and more equitable tomorrow. On behalf of the county board of education trustee area 2, it is my privilege to present you with the Native American Graduate of the Year Award. I'm proud of you, inspired by you, and eager to witness everything you will continue to contribute to our community and to the world. Congratulations, Sochi Williams. You carry your ancestors with you, and today we honor your path forward and present this to her. She's here. And that concludes my report. Thank you. >> Well, I I keep reading all of these emails from CSBA about the whole housing issue, and I have to admit I feel somewhat helpless about it because it's such it's such a big issue. But I have been uh somewhat gratified by the fact that state government seems to be

100getting a little bit involved in it. In particular, Maguire has made a statement or two about it. And again, uh I still think that it's it's something that the county office needs to focus on a little bit. What I know is over on the coast in particular, you know, a young teacher can't afford the rent. >> Yeah. >> And so it's just a, you know, I've told this story before, but it's worth repeating that, you know, we had a really good young social science teacher come in and he was there for two years. And when I heard he was leaving, I went and asked him why he was leaving. He said, "I'll never be able to afford a home here." Yeah. And so again, I just feel like it's such a high priority issue, but

101again, I feel a little bit helpless in in because of the scope of it in trying to deal with it. And yet at the same time, I feel like, you know, it's something that the county board can be involved in. >> I agree, Don. They can't afford the rent, much less down payment to purchase a home. That's a >> Yeah. >> Refresh my memory. What was the program that you you brought up a program before that worked and I don't recall the >> it's called it's called workforce housing >> right but how did you you brought up an example that worked >> the Presbyterian church >> okay did a co-op housing situation or something on the coast >> and then I think uh I don't know whether it was Potter Valley or one of the

102districts in White Lake County, I think it was Upper Lake actually had provided some housing for some teachers there. >> Otter Valley does as well. They own two homes and Round Valley owns one. >> Yeah. So, it has been done here. >> Found a very small. >> Yeah. But again, it it would be interesting to to talk to those superintendents and >> figure out how they pulled it off. I'm with you, Don. Because like Priscilla said, I mean, teaching is it's a passion if you stay with it. >> Yeah. >> Because the gratification is not financial. >> Yeah. >> Unfortunately. >> Yeah. And uh actually I'll I'll touch on that a little bit too, Don. Um just, you know, I'm from Willlets. My wife is from Fort Bragg. We we originally, you know, we wanted

103to settle in Fort Bragg and uh you know, I was going to go into teaching there. I was going to be a math teacher there. Um that was right before CO and uh you know after CO uh we looked at you know buying houses and it just it was just gone you know and that's that's when I started working for the county and you know I just don't know that even in Willlets where the you know the housing uh prices are considerably less than on the coast I don't know that I would be able to afford to buy a house on a teacher salary um which is why you know I work for the county uh still. Um so yeah, I think it is a problem that we have to uh to um that needs

104to be addressed. you know, uh going back to the CSBA uh um conference, you know, there was one um particular meeting that I uh attend on the last day that had to do with different ways um school districts um can surplus their land or go into what's called joint um occupancy uh where they aren't the landlord. uh they don't have that responsibility of being the landlord, but they still can have housing that they can bring that money into the school district. Also provide housing um you know for the general public which brings prices down but also you know offer those uh houses to teachers uh and school employees first. I don't know you know I want to look into it more. there's a lot of regulations and it was an hour presentation. So, you know,

105um but it's it's interesting to me, you know, and I think that's something that um you know, as as a planner by trade now, something that I also want to uh look at um is how do we um how do we get projects, you know, how do we get um how do we get housing projects, you know, how do we what regulations do we need to do to make it so that people can afford it's not just teachers, you know, it's, you know, all kinds of professions that can't afford to live where they work and um uh that's something that we need to look at. And then just to um to finish um you know I did want to thank MCOE for providing the opportunity to go to that conference. It was very enlightening. Um,

106and um, uh, I I'll just say Nancy and Priscilla weren't there, but there was we were at a, uh, I was at, um, with Nicole at a, uh, lunch and there was an icebreaker for activity and, um, she she brought home the, uh, she was the emoji translator. I won. >> She won. Yeah, she won. >> So, she knows her emojis. I love it. >> I'm still working on the acronyms. I don't know if we've gotten an updated list of acronyms for our new members, but it's really helpful to have them. >> Probably. >> And then that's just the last thing I'll say is I'm looking forward to I'm I'm going to be uh visiting some of the school sites tomorrow with with Nicole. >> Uh very much looking forward to that. So, >> great.

107Thank you. um try to get through mine as quickly as possible. Um on November 17th with uh Priscilla, I attended uh the Zoom ACCBE. It was I think the third session of a Corton community school kind of deep dive which was great and I think they saved the best for last because they had um students there, you know, talking and so it was really wonderful to hear. Um that was a really great um event. And then I did the AEC December 2nd through the 5th. Um on December 11th at noon, I think it's an hour session, ACCBE is holding a special presentation overview of the juvenile court and community school data report and independent evaluation of juvenile court and community schools. On December 15th, ACCBE is doing a charter school renewal and appeals workshop. And

108I think I heard a number like there's over 400 um charters that are up for I guess their re renewal this year. Do we know if we will have any that are up? >> So none that come to us. Okay. >> We don't oversee any charters. Um our districts uh I don't know. I imagine that some of our districts that are the chartering agencies will have some appeals. >> Do we see appeals? >> Not for years. Not since I've been in office and I think it's really only been one in the last 10 years. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Um, December 17th is the CNA building grand opening which I hope to attend and bring some people from the coast. Um, and other than that, I just want to say happy holidays.

109>> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. I'm used to just being a regular board member. I'm waiting for Maryland. Um, item 6.1. Uh, did we do 6.1? Oh, sorry. Item six biting my tongue. >> Uh, next board meeting. Oh my goodness. Monday, uh, January 12th, um, here uh, at 10:00 a.m. Um, and item 6.2. Do I do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> I move to ajourn. >> I'll second. >> Thank you so much. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Good job.