001Heat up here. Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. Data. Nat. Hey. Hey. >> [music] >> Number Heat. Heat. N. N Heat. Heat. N. Nice. N hey. Buddy, it's 10:00. [snorts] Are we live? Okay, this meeting will be recorded and livereamed. Um this is the Menescino County Office of Education regular board meeting November [clears throat] 10th, 2025 um 1.1. I'd like to call the meeting to order and start with our 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 [clears throat] you. >> Item 1.2, approval and adoption of agenda. Do we have a motion? >> I move that we adopt the agenda. >> Second. >> Thank you.
002All in favor? I >> I >> 1.2 passes. Moving into item 1.3, approval, adoption of minutes for October 13th, 2025. Do I have a motion? >> I move that we approve the minutes of written. >> Thank you, Nancy. Second, please. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Don. All in favor? >> I motion passes. Item 1.4 is public participation. Do we have any today? Thank you. Item 1.5, remote attendance of a board member, which is still valid until January 1, 2026, [clears throat] and no close session. No consent agenda. Moving on to item 4.1, Menosina County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District annexation of a Redwood Valley CWD. That was a big mouthful. It was [laughter] um this is a letter that came um to Minnesota County Office of Education. I don't um
003it does not impact us as an agency. Um but it was addressed to you as a board. So I didn't feel like I could not give it to you. Um and I'm if you looked at this, you saw that there's an opportunity if the board wanted to make comment. Um, and so it's it's on as a discussion item because if the board um does want to make comment um collectively, then you would need to choose someone to do that and decide what that person would be saying to represent you. But again, this does not affect um any of our properties. >> David, [laughter] >> uh I was just going to uh move that maybe we uh send this back with no comment. Um uh we don't you can um you also don't need um >>
004we don't need to respond. >> Okay. >> Right. >> It doesn't really affect us but it came to us. >> So we can just leave it or um but if we want to take some sensor action um then we would need to do that but we can also just go to the next item or Yeah. >> Any discussion? Anybody questions? Okay. [laughter] Moving on to item 4.2 to approval of surplus Zoom pod, which is pretty cool. When we first got those, I remember sitting in it. >> Yes. >> but so when we um had staff come back to the office, there was a great deal of concern that there was not enough space for um because so many people have shared spaces that there would not be space for them to take meetings. Um, well,
005it turns out we so we ordered two Zoom cotss and they're that's not what they're officially called, but that's what they are. Um, and we we ordered two two they're both on this uh in this facility and there's one that is being used periodically and there's one that is not being used. Um, and we have a couple of school districts that would be interested in it and since we're not using it, it's um not sort of thing that's going to like get by time. We should. So, I thought we would bring it to you for consideration to surplus it so we could make it available to school districts if they would like it and they would like it. >> Awesome. Okay. Everybody had a chance to look at it, think about it. So, we just
006need a motion to be able to set this. >> Yeah. I'll move that we surplus the Zoom pot. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. All in favor? [clears throat] >> I 4.2 passes. [clears throat] Moving on to item 5.1. Our student rep Selena is not in attendance today, so we will skip our student rep report unless she wanted to. >> I will say she and I have met a couple of times. Um um so it's I I'm sorry that she's not here today. She didn't have a report um a verbal report ready. Um, and there's a possibility that she might be attending the CSBA. There's a a one-day conference or one day, you know, session workshop for student board reps. So, I'm working with her to see if she wants to go, we'll make that
007happen for her. >> Wonderful. And moving on to 5.2, our press release about David Stro, our newest member. [clears throat] Welcome again. >> Thank you. Yeah, I'll just say, you know, you guys have been very welcoming and I'm excited to be here. You know, it's funny to uh because there's people that I told that I was on this board, but it wasn't until they saw the article that they congratulated me. They saw on Facebook, so it was real. So, [laughter] [cough] >> congratulations. I told you that a month ago. [laughter] >> Yeah, that's a very nice write up. It was. >> Oh, yeah. It was very good. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Good job. [clears throat] Moving on. Item 5.3, review the draft 2026, Menescino [clears throat] County Board of Education meeting schedule. Darn
008it, I'm losing my voice. Well, I can do most of the heavy lifting on this one as far as talking. Um, so last month we brought you a very rough draft. Um, and we discussed potential different times. Um, attached to this. Um, now is we have the we actually looked at the board of policy. Um and board of policy does say that our um actually for bylaw that our the meetings of this board do take place on the first Monday of the month at 10:00 a.m. and that occasionally can take place at 3 p.m. So we kept them as is at 10:00 a.m. Um board board by can't be changed, but that's what it says. So we put it there. Um so we we filled in the times. The other changes that you'll see here
009is that um uh I've been in contact with um a couple of our school districts to see if we can have meetings in their school district and um so the timing happens to fall on backtoback months, April and May having u meetings in Anderson Valley and Leightonville respectively. Um, so we're trying to get to all of the districts over um a few years time. And so those um those are in here as well. And then the other um another change is the um June meeting. In June, we have to have two board meetings um because that's where we approve our budget and our LCAP. Um and we have them two weeks apart. However, the second one was a Monday after a three-day weekend. And I think both for the board and certainly for staff, it'd
010be nice if they can make that a 4-day weekend since it's the end of most people's work calendar. So we um which we can move it back if you would like, but we had tentatively put that on [snorts] the schedule for um June 8th is our regular Monday meeting and then June 10th, 2 days later having that second June meeting. And then the other thing that is not yet finalized here is uh the location of our annual uh planning workshop which we usually do on the coast. And so we're working [snorts] on finalizing that um date. So this um does not need to be approved today. Um but we wanted we wanted to make sure we were very diligent about making sure it is what we want it to be. Um so that when it
011comes to you for approval in December. I also want to point out one other thing and that is today after immediately after our meeting or maybe a short recess after the meeting we're going to meet um for the first time um since I've been in office anyway as a Minnesota county committee on school district organization and David you weren't here for that a few months ago we had a presentation on that there's no um in the past that that um entity has only met when they've had business um to to discuss um but um it is a best practice for them to meet periodically anyway so that if anyone wanted to come address that board they know when those meetings are and and and [clears throat] if there is business for the board to or
012for that committee to address it may be at a regular meeting or if it's time a time um timesensitive issue it might be a special meeting. Nonetheless, we wanted to get two on the agenda. They probably are going to be very brief meetings with not no or little business and we have scheduled those um in August and February. So those are the changes from last month to this month. And again, if you have things that you'd like to see different, it'd be great if we could hear about it today or between now and the next board meeting. >> Thank you, Nicole. [clears throat] >> Any questions or comments from Nicole? Looks good to me. Okay. >> The coastal location that'll be at a school site or >> It's usually been not at a school site
013at a hotel. Um it's often at Samford in and last year we actually did it at the Noy Harbor um restaurant. >> Oh, that was beautiful. Beautiful. Yeah. >> It's the sort of meaning that it's a um there's more planning and it it's just nice to be in a more um creative environment. Okay. Thank [clears throat] you. Moving on to item 5.4, the Williams sufficiency. And I'm not going to read all that. >> Is this is Yes, the volume sufficiency [cough] for instructional materials. Veronica, are you presenting on this? >> Um, sure. Um, so this is um or Nicole, you can chime in whenever. Um this is a um three so this sorry California Department of Education they came up with the new list this year um based on the criteria that's on here on
014the agenda and so this list of 32 schools are the schools that we will visit for the next two years after this year sort of three year cycle. Um, so we where's a team? So, um, myself and Jennifer Maui, the director of accountability and else. Thank you. Um, she and I, um, worked together with our admin assistants this year to schedule their the visits throughout the post. Um, we, like I said, we had 32 schools and it was a combination of LEAs and charter schools. um she and I and the admin assistants um took care of the the um instructional material portion where Ryan Barto and his team took care of the um fits inspections. So um there's a couple things that aren't going to be presented here today. We um the data analysis for
015um is in progress for the fits. they've completed all their fits, it takes time to kind of go in and change put it into their new system and figure out where the deficiencies are. >> And the fit is a facility inspection tool. >> Yeah. Um and the other one is the teacher vacancy and miss assignments. I'm working we work closely with HR our credential analysis um Samantha and so we're waiting on this um calas report to come out and that usually gives us the exact numbers on what um districts have the [snorts] 50% or less that are assignments or not valid credentials. Um but what you have here in front of you is a summary of the um you have the summary of the instructional material visits for the 32 schools. Um and then you
016have um so we indicated uh yes if they were sufficient. Um you can you can see here um the only district on here that we have no on is legit and we're actually working closely with them. Um we're going to be doing a followup visit um probably this week or next week. Um and it wasn't it was just two areas. I think it was social science and um history I believe or one or the other that we just found some we couldn't when we visited I didn't find all of the books related to the student. So, we're going to go back and just look at those again and try to pull and we go as far as even pulling things out of the closet for them and being like, "Hey, this is what you're approved.
017This is what you have." And so, we follow up with that with the teacher also and um and figure out if um you know what they're teaching and stuff that. So, um and then so next month we'll bring back the facilities and we'll bring back the other report. Um the other report on here is UCPS. Um, and this is a report that uh we we bring to you guys actually every quarter for our schools and then every district um also sends us their report every quarter. And so here you can see that all of our districts in our county have zero complaints and instructional materials and these are very specific to the uniform complaint. Um so the instructional material facilities are [snorts] teacher assignments. Um you do see one on here and that was in
018Brown Valley and that was also resolved. So they are able to give us that report. >> What is a mis assignment? >> Um this assignment [cough] is it means that their credential doesn't authorize them to teach in the area they've been assigned. It's often in very rural small schools that um you don't have a teacher that lines up exactly and there's waiverss that can occur, local assignment options that can occur to align a teacher for um a short shorter term, but it's like a science teacher potentially teaching a math course, right? they might have the number of credits to do it, but so then you can locally assign them or get a waiver or maybe they're short one class to be able to do that. Even though, you know, >> as a science teacher, I've
019taught math before, for example. I didn't hold the credential, but I was in a private school at the time, so it didn't matter. Um, but so the misalignments or vacancies, many of our schools have vacancies um and don't have teachers in those cases. [clears throat] With some of these as well, it said 15% or more they would have gotten pulled to get counted for for the textbooks. Most a lot of our districts were very high on teachers that don't have a credential or interns, etc. because of the rural nature of our county, but one of the [clears throat] highest in the state next to LA County. >> Yeah. When I was reading it this weekend, I thought, well, you know how sometimes you get a teacher who teaches maybe first grade [clears throat] for 10
020years and then they get bumped to let's say third grade, you know, and I thought, okay, well, maybe that's what in this assignment I didn't realize it was tied to their credential. So, thanks for clarifying. >> Yes. So, that would be a multi-ubject. They could go either way. A lot of times this also happens at middle school because um if you have multi-ubject teachers or a single subject and it depends on how they core the students together. Um so for example um [clears throat] if they're cord then they're probably having the same teacher for multiple subjects even though they're in middle school. >> Whereas if they're single subject teachers and they're rotating through and depending on who you have sitting at that middle school it can be a little bit of a puzzle piece to
021get everybody aligned perfectly. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Just one comment. It's been our problem for years to get enough math teachers >> and so very often you end up with the BE teacher teaching some sort of a math course. >> Yeah. I just want to say a special thanks to the admin assistants that um really worked hard on getting out there to our very geographic area. So we had seven admin assistants from the edge services um department and they all were they all teamed up really well and um all the eleas were really welcoming when we showed up. They know exact there and they just direct us to wherever we need to find that regul. Thank you. Any more questions or comments? Moving on to item 6.1, our HR personnel
022report. I wanted to congratulate Alexia. I've had the pleasure of working with Alexia. It looks like >> they got a [clears throat and cough] excuse me, a promotion. >> Yes. >> Yay. And go ahead and take it away. >> Well, there's besides uh her promotion, we have a a behavior aid. Um and I think that they were even in transfer, so I don't think that they're new either. So, not this is not prime hiring season, so it's very short list. [laughter] Fortunately, we're most most of our positions are filled. >> Moving on to item 6.2, NCA school programs and student enrollment reports. You can see that there's not much change in our enrollments. We have a little bit more at committee school. West Hills, um we did have some return, but we had some come
023in. So, you see the numbers up slightly in November. Um Or Creek, there's a little shuffling of one or two students here or there. Some of our early start programs, we had a couple students age out of the program. And you can see that um we have some of our coastal preschool programs that are enrollments up at the time of year. And um all of our adult ed programs are running right now. So we'll have the CNA program that will be added to it. It started last Monday as well. Um so that we can see that next time as well. >> Thank you, Dr. Nicole. Any questions or comments on that? All right, we will move on to item 6.3, our in services report with Dr. Nicole Lel again. >> Thank you. Um, I just
024wanted to point out three items in the report in case you had any questions on anything else, but our snack bag program. Um, we received a JJCP grant um in the increased amount to 70,000 for the food program. It was previously 50. We also received um it says we're awaiting funding application from the community foundation, but we actually received money for the jacket program in the amount of $7,500. Um so that was received. And then last week we had our first classified conference ever and we had 68 classified staff from all all around the county um attend and they had a really fun time uh learning about a lot of things but I think in particular the PA players theater was um they did improv with them about how to react in a situation and
025making communications and it was really enjoyed. You can see there's some feedback there. We're already starting to plan for what does it look like next year? How do we grow it? Um what can we do? And uh that's the highlights. Any questions? >> Just one comment. I was really glad to see that you're trading those people. I I always remember way back when I did my student teaching. One of one of my teachers at the college there said, "The person who really runs the school is the school secretary." [laughter] >> Absolutely. Any more questions, comments for Dr. Nicole? >> I'll just mention that I I just happened to I saw a play yesterday at UPT and I happened to talk to one of the actors who would ran that improv or I don't know if
026he ran it, but he was >> participated in it and uh I think it's a great idea. You know, improv is a great confidence builder. So, it's cool to see that we're doing stuff like that. >> Thank you, David. [clears throat] Moving on to item 6.4, for business and admin service report with Heather Brantel. >> Hi, good morning everyone. >> Um for internal and external fiscal services, the main focus right now is really on the first interim budget [snorts] um updates. So internal, we're working with all the departments to get those budget updates done and then of course supporting the school districts and charter schools in their um their budget updates as well. um in maintenance. Um the CNA program that we're you you all got to see at the last board meeting. Um we
027did a a site walk for some biders because the roof is leaking. Um go figure. No, I'm just kidding. Um so that um we got that and the price actually came in quite a bit lower than we anticipated. So that's a it's always nice to have that. [cough] Um we're also meeting with um we're always looking for grant um opportunities to support our facilities and our programs working within services um as well as supporting the school districts and charter schools in our area. So um we had a meeting with um a representative from USDA to kind of explore what some of those opportunities would be and as soon as the government shutdown is over we'll be able to continue those conversations. Um um our IT team um actually yesterday updated the firewall system. So that
028was awesome. Um and then they're working together with department to um for the technology infrastructure pieces needed for the CNA program. And I think that was all I was going to highlight for you today unless there's any questions. >> Any questions for Heather? Moving on to item 6.5, our superintendent report. >> Yeah, I almost called you Dr. Nicole. Sorry. Go ahead. My mom would love that. [laughter] Uh so in the last month since we've met, um MC had a table at the High Pumpkin Fest um that [clears throat] our early learning and care team and our adult ed um staff, they they were the main people manning it. And we even had some of our adult ed students um that were there. So it was in the kids zone. If you've ever been, they have
029information and vendors and then they have a kids zone. And so early learning and care put together a fun activity for kids. And then there was pamphlets to give out to people regarding some of the programs we run. So um that is a two-day long commitment and I really appreciate the staff that volunteered to do that and the students. Um I had lunch with state senate um proemporary Mike Maguire. Um he um reached out to set up um a lunch meeting because he was not able to um attend the ceremony where he uh where the awards were given from the California county superintendent and he was a recipient. So he made an appointment with or a lunch date with me and the county superintendents from Lake and Snow County. and I just wanted to kind
030of let you know that he he really does a good job staying in touch with u what's going on in our county. Um and he took that opportunity to just talk to us about the impacts of government shutdown impacts on some funding issues. So um wanted to point that out. Um [clears throat] you players are getting some love at this meeting. Um they were also um they also um did some improv with the students that are going to be part of mock trial. Um, when mocktra comes around, I'll give you I think I've already sent you the information. It's fun to go watch. Um, it's it's you watch it's it's both theater and like debate and law all, you know, all in one. And those that do really well um especially at the state level
031are able to think on their feet. And so the improv was really good at helping the students gain the confidence to just speak and to think quickly. kids. So, the the the parents that were there sure seemed to enjoy watching it. I was there for a little while and the kids were really outstanding. Um um I've also had um I'm on the North Coast School of Education Advisory Council. So, they had a meeting this last month and I set up a follow-up meeting with them just to get some more information on um work that they're doing in our county. Um they provide um um teacher credential um a teacher credential program and administrative service credential um as well as teacher induction and administrator induction and just trying to I'm [clears throat] trying to see how
032we can um make it more accessible to um our to our people who are in our schools because it's um many of their programs require a certain number of days um at Stone County Office of Ed um And that can be really challenging, especially for somebody who's like a new principal and has to take a day off work or an afternoon off work when they might be the only administrator on site. So just trying to problem solve with them ways to make it more accessible and they seem very open. I also want to give kudos. I know Nicole mentioned it, Dr. Odell mentioned it, but the the classified training day was really outstanding. Um it was held at the Windham Garden Hotel and Conference Center um in River Valley at the Coyote Valley by the
033Coyote Coyote Valley Casino um which is a really wonderful venue. Um really wonderful staff. Um the training was um it was set up to have everybody come together and then breakout sessions where people rotated and and they got to hear from some MCOE staff as well as the players and um it's I I stayed for a couple of hours and popped in and out so I could see a little bit of every session and um I'm I was really happy to see the MCO staff doing such a great job presenting but what really made me um happy was to see the engagement of those that were attending and how willing they are to like talk about things and learn new things like brain science and how um students with trauma may not respond the way
034you might expect them to respond. um and and talking about why that is and just really [clears throat] learning about things and um learning about engaging activities and learning about um there was in one session they were talking about um things like um when you're responding to an emergency and you're on a walkie-talkie, what's an appropriate thing to say on the walkie-talkie, what's not and just talking about student privacy rights and um anyway, it was it was um really well done and I'm really proud of the staff here at NC that together. And that was in response to lots of people asking that we do some training for classified employees um who are really a web of um outstanding people that keep the schools running um and in many ways connect with students in a
035um in a really important way that teachers aren't always able to do. So anyway, I was really impressed with that. Um, and then I appreciate uh a couple of you were able to come to the CSBA session that was set up here with Assembly Member Chris Rogers. Um, it was great um that he came to do a listing session um with with um board members and I really appreciate the work that CSBA does to facilitate advocacy um like focused ad advocacy so that we can you know pull our efforts and our energy. So, and I appreciate you guys taking the time to come. I think we had four different districts um represented here. Um we had about 20 people in this room. Some of them were staff m staff, but it was well attended. So,
036I appreciate that um that CSBA put that together and we were happy to host it. And that concludes my report. Thank you, Nicole. Any [clears throat] comments for her? Um moving on to 6.64 is in the report. I usually let you guys go first, but I'm really excited about something. So, I'm gonna [laughter] um being the dental nerd here. [clears throat] AB341. Um California expands access to dental care for people with autism. Finally, so I'll just do a little quick read here until my voice gets out. California has taken a landmark step towards inclusive oral healthcare with the signing of AB 341 which establishes the oral health for people with disabilities technical assistance center program beginning January 2026. This statewide initiative will provide oral health professionals with educational tools to deliver compassionate effective care for
037individuals with autism and other de excuse me [clears throat] developmental disabilities. and it goes on and on, but um it's it's in its infancy. Um it's saying that um it's going to be administered through a public California dental school that has yet to be determined. So I'm thinking UCSF, you know, for uh for our resources um to train providers in behavioral, preventative and patient centered strategies. So I'm really excited about that. [clears throat] Also, I attended the bumping fest, which was wonderful. I went to our booth and I shouted out um the people manning the booth until nobody else finally said, "Do I know you?" [laughter] I said, "You probably see me on the wall." And [clears throat] um it was it was a good time. I got to bring my three-year-old grandson. I had
038an excuse to go. Um so we can just go on down the list. Starting with Priscilla and >> um I'm finishing one last thing. >> That' be awesome. >> Oh um I don't have a ton to report. Um I'm signed up to attend the CSBA AEC, my very first one. So I'm totally excited. Um that's December 3rd through tothr. >> Yeah. >> Um so I'm excited about that. Um I tried participating in an ACCBE workshop um a couple weeks ago and it was module two of the court community school series >> and I never got my Zoom invite and I sent Bina an email and I said, "Hey, I'm sitting by my computer." So I waited half an hour. You know, I never got it. So, I hope they figure out um what's going on
039there. Um so, I'm a little disappointed about that. Um tomorrow is Veterans Day. So, if anyone here is a veteran or any veteran listening, thank you for your service. Um it's also national or I'm sorry, uh Native American Heritage Month. I went online to see if there were any events happening to celebrate, but I think that those happened in October and I missed that. Um, >> that's all I have to report. Oh, and happy Thanksgiving. I don't see you. >> Thank you. Can't believe it's that time of year already. Go ahead. Uh, not a lot to report. Still getting my feet wet a little bit. I did happen I was able to attend the uh the meeting here with Chris Rogers. And at that meeting, I did uh get to introduce myself to the superintendent
040of Willlets Unified. And uh also met there were several um board members uh from the Willlets Unified board. Um, so I did have some productive conversations there. Um, um, I did stop by Pumpkin Fest also and saw the booth. Henry got a a book about uh, Halloween from from the booth. >> Yeah, just getting my feet wet and um, you know, looking forward to uh, continuing with y'all. Yeah, >> there was one thing I wanted to mention and that was I forget where it was on the radio or I read it somewhere that uh [snorts] Anderson Valley High School was getting an all-weather track. >> Oh, >> which is an expensive item over a million dollars. I don't know where they got the money for that. >> It was a bond. Yeah. >> But a
041significant accomplishment, you know. It means you can have track meets even after it rains and and then it's a wonderful sport. I ran ran track through college and I still remember San Monteo Junior College. I went down there to a meet and they had an all weather track. I liked it. >> I think they I think they make them out of old tires. >> Shred them out. So they've got a little bit of cushion to them >> and they stay dry. >> I've seen that before. stall that type of recycled tires. >> It's wonderful. >> Probably stays in the hot sun though. >> Good. Not too much of a problem in Bloomville, though. >> Thank you, Don. >> Thank you, Marilyn. Um, as a trustee, I believe our work must reflect the values and diversity
042of all communities we serve. Our decisions shape not only policy but also the message we send to our students about who belongs and whose stories matters in Menescino County. November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the original peoples of this land, the enduring contributions, leadership, and resilience for us here in Menino County. That means acknowledging northern Polmo families on whose traditional homelands we live and learn and the many local tribal communities whose students, families, and educators strengthen our schools every day. As a court county board, we have the responsibility to ensure that indigenous students are not invisible in our systems, that their histories are taught accurately, their families are welcomed as partners, and their cultures are reflected in the educational spaces we oversee. The data continues to show persistent inequities
043for native native students in academic outcomes, discipline, and access to culturally responsive support. But behind those numbers are students with deep cultural knowledge, creativity, and potential. young people who deserve to thrive in our schools that understand and respect where they come from. This today I want to take a moment to honor a few individuals and families whose dedication to cultural education and community represents the heart of Native American Heritage Month. Their leadership as educators, as students, and as families reminds us that equitable community responsive education, what it truly looks like. These recognitions are not symbolic. They are the an act of an alignment with our mission to serve all students across the county and to lead with integrity, inclusion, and accountability. Recognizing native educators, students, and families strengthens our relationships in the community and models
044what partnership looks like when it's rooted in respect for each community's history and the shared belief that every child deserves to see themselves reflected in their education. It is my hope that this board will continue to grow in our awareness and commitment to tribal education, not just during November, but throughout the year through collaboration with our local tribes, educators, and families who have carried this work for generations. I now invite us to honor and recognize the first recipients of our Native American Heritage Month certificates from my trustee area 2 of the board. The first recognition will be student leadership. This is a Yukai Unified School District student athlete. I'm very proud to recognize Julian Williams Jr. for your leadership, academic achievement, and cultural pride. You remind us that the future of education is strongest when
045it honors heritage and community. Thank you for inspiring your peers and representing the values of Northern Pomono youth with excellence. And with that, I want to present this to our student present here today. Julian, if you can come up here, please. >> [clears throat] >> There's so many good things to say about Julian, but the first thing I want to acknowledge is his heart and commitment. His growth is phenomenal on his recent progress report. His stu his parent his teacher said a bunch of wonderful things about him, but it's been an honor to know you, Julian, and um we'll make theation more formal in the future. I appreciate it. Thank you. [applause] Can you come back up here, please? I have something very special for you. I'm not the leader in the family. My husband
046is from our family. Congratulations. Keep up the great work. >> [applause] >> Next is um so teacher leadership also from Yukai Unified School District. I'm honored today I'm honored to recognize Buffy Smith whose teaching uplifts students and honors the stories, knowledge and traditions of this land. Her leadership embodies what it means to educate with both excellence and heart rooted in community and cultural respect. Thank you for your commitment to inclusive, equitable education in the homelands of northern pomo families. And with that, as the teachers should be here today, but if you can accept it on her behalf, I'd be very grateful and give us since you're going back to school. Awesome. Thank you. And lastly, last but certainly not least, it's a privilege to recognize one of our own families for your commitment to culture,
047education, and community. Your example reflects the strength and wisdom of indigenous families and the importance of passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Thank you for helping our schools grow in respect and belonging here in Northern Palmer Homeland. Yolanda, it's for you leadership [applause] very well, but it's been an honor to get to know you personally. Um, what stands out the most is relationship for you. Thank you. Appreciate you. [applause] In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, I am honored to recognize Buffy, her student Julian, and our staff Yolanda for their dedication to building inclusive, equitable, and community responsive learning environments. Your student, teacher, and parent leadership strengthens our shared vision to honor cultural knowledge, leadership, and values in the traditional homelands of Northern Po families. On behalf of Menino County Board of Education
048Trustee Area 2, thank you for your contribution to our schools and our community. As part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion, I'm calling for [clears throat] the board of education to formally adopt resolutions that recognize key dates honoring Native American communities, including California Indian Day in September, Indigenous [clears throat] People's Day in October, Native American Heritage Month in November, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in May, and a land acknowledgement formal for MCLE and our county boards as a model of excellence for local school districts. Establishing these resolutions would not only honor the original peoples of this land, but also serve as a model for local school districts, demonstrating how countywide leadership can uplift tribal voices and strengthen relationships with indigenous communities. I am dedicated to working with
049the board president and superintendent to develop these resolutions for presentation at our December meeting. Together, we can set a precedent for honoring indigenous history and leadership across Medino County. By taking this step, we demonstrate what educational leadership looks like when it is grounded in respect, partnership, and a shared commitment to all students and communities. Lastly, I attended the CSBA listening session that Nicole talked about the event with assembly member Chris Rogers, and I appreciate his time to both share his vision and listen to board representatives from across the county. I appreciate the presence of our our fellow board member, David. Thank you for joining. It's really important for our board to show up to opportunities to engage in advocacy. I look forward also to attending AC with Nancy next month in December, including specialized um
050lunch panel topics um and a pre pre-conference train. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you for moving on to item 7.1 board meeting Monday December 8th 2025 at 10 and item 7.2 to adjournment. Do I have a motion? >> I move that we today's meeting. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Meeting is adjourned this one. Anyway, we did well you guys. [clears throat] >> Very well. >> Do we want a little break? >> You turn this into a special occasion. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Does anyone need a breaking? We're doing really well. [snorts] We're >> on a [clears throat] roll. >> All right. Our county committee on school district organization Monday, November 10th, 2025 1.1 call to order. And item 1.2 approval adoption of the agenda. Do I have a
051motion? >> I move that we approve today's agenda. I'll second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> And then 1.3 public participation. >> All right. 2.1 review the draft 2026 county committee on school district organization. And this is a draft and right. Yeah. Um, however, I um because this this committee doesn't meet again prior to the next one, I would recommend that the committee um approve the dates of our meetings um that are in there. And again, that's in February and August. >> Okay. >> I move that we approve the meeting schedule for 2026. >> Thank you. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> schedule is approved. Thank you. Moving on to item 3.1 minutes of the family committee on the school district organization. So we um there's no action
052here to take. There's no business coming before you, but we thought since um we're meeting we should um give you a link to the school district organization handbook. Um and what we have on the agenda is that one of the roles of this um committee is related to um trustee areas for school districts. However, in our county, there are only three boards of education [cough] that have [clears throat] trustee areas. The rest are at large members. Um and those that have trustee areas are Mento Unified, Kai Unified, and then this board as well. Um this board's um trustee areas coincide with the board of supervisors. Um and then Medsino and Yukaya both have trusty areas based on um criteria that they that their boards set up. Um so [clears throat] again there is no there
053is no business to come before you. Um we just gave you some information um because there's not a lot there's this committee would make decisions regarding board trustee areas or school district areas as well. I have I don't anticipate there's not been any utterance of changing school district boundaries. Um I um we do have one board U Yukaya they have a seven member board and they have had one area that they have struggled to fill. At some point they may decide to consolidate to a five you know more conventional five member board. Um and if ever they did that it would come to this they would go through their process and then it would end up [clears throat] here. Um I happened to be employed by Yukai Unified when they were made the decision as
054to what when they went from being at large to trusty areas and the discussion at that time was should they they questioned whether or not they should become a five member board but they wanted to make sure that there were more opportunity for community input so they kept it at seven but but because it's trustee areas it it can create a very narrow area of who because it's not based on who has kids in school it's based on where where there are registered voters people that can >> people that can um take the position. So um so um Veronica has done the footwork on this and one of the things that she added here was school district organization handbook. Um this is within the handbook but you can see there's like a flowchart just this
055is just for information and honestly um if if there is something that comes before the board we will 100% be working with legal counsel to make sure that we're interpreting everything. This isn't it's not a lot and it's unlikely anything will come to you, but when it does, it is very important that it be done correctly. So, we will be working with legal counsel. So, you don't um you are welcome to look at this and and ask questions. We will gather in um answers for you, but I don't want you to feel like you have to know everything about this because we will rely on legal counsel um if if we actually are faced with any decision to make. >> Makes sense. I remember hearing about that. Is it you kind of reported the seven
056member. >> The seven member is UKIA. Okay. [clears throat] >> Any questions? >> I dug into the those resources quite a bit last night and I was one thing of interest that I noted in there was that certain combining of districts is considered a project under SQA. I just found that interesting. Um but I guess trustee areas for a school district maybe that's doesn't reach that threshold. >> I think it's more of a combining districts. >> Yeah. or >> I'm not sure. >> Yeah. Anyway, there's just something. >> Yeah, >> that was interesting. >> Well, I'm glad that you dug into it. [laughter] >> You're on the right board. >> That's what it takes. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Okay. Um, any more questions or comments before we go to item 4.1, adjournment? Okay. Do I
057have a motion to adjourn? >> I'll move that we adjourn the meeting. >> Thank you, Don. Second. >> Okay. All in favor? Thank you guys. Thank you. Cool.