Mendocino County Office of Education Governing Board Meeting

001Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Hey man, hey. [Music] Black. [Music] me. Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Black. [Music] Number down. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Welcome. Welcome everybody to the September 8th, 2025 regular board meeting and public hearing. Uh we will begin our meeting uh with item 1.1 call to order and flag salute. >> I pledge allegiance 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. Item 1.2, approval and adoption of our agenda. Do I have a motion? >> I'll move that we approve the agenda. >> Thank you, Don. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. Thank you, Nancy. All in favor? >> I motion passes. Moving to item

0021.3, approval and adoption of the minutes of our 81125 meeting. Do I have a motion? >> We'll make a motion that we adopt the minutes as um written. >> Thank you, Nancy. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Don. All in favor say I. >> Item 1.4 is our public hearing starting at 10:10. So we will move on and we will go to public participation. Item 1.5. We don't have any public participation. Item 1.6 remote attendance of a board member. We always have this on here now which is a great thing because sometimes we need to attend remotely. U moving on to item two close session. There is none. Um item three, consent agenda. There is none. Item 4.1, discussion action item. Review and approve resolution 25.9.1, week of the

003school administrator. >> Um yes. So this comes each year and this is a week that is um to recognize the hard work of school administrators. Um I won't read the whole resolution. Um in the in the past what our board has done is um besides adopting this resolution um we've written notes to the administrators or the superintendents in our county and then MCOE will um recognize it with internally and externally with our um with with school leaders and then school lead then school districts in our county some recognize it some don't but it is a statewide um week so we wanted to acknowledge it. It's a great thing that we do. They >> It's a tough job. >> Yes. And somebody's got to do it. >> Somebody's got to do it. >> All right. And

004everyone's had a chance to look that over. Are there any questions about it? >> Do we have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you so much for >> I'll second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Item 4. Item 4.2. So, this is going to take a while and we've only got six minutes. >> I I think that the next item >> BBL Okay. >> 4.3 will take less time. >> Absolutely. >> I know we've approved the agenda, but I think you still have a latitude to >> Yeah. >> um come back to that item. >> Yeah, we we don't want to hurry you, Heather. >> Right. That's going to take some time. >> Okay. We'll move on to item 4.3, Board Board bylaw 9150. our student board members. Um, we did

005a really good job rewriting this. Let's see. >> Yes, it's still slow. >> Yeah, I'm I'm having a hard time pulling up, but it's it's it's up on the screen and I know you received it in your word packet. So, Chris Francis and I met and kind of synthesized what the board discussed um last um last month and um added this to the board bylaw. We we um I consulted with legal counsel to make sure this was the you know where should we add it, how should we add it and kind of came up with this is an appropriate place to add it. So this is all still within the latitude and of what was currently there. It better describes the the requirements to become the school board member and or the student board member

006and how to maintain that role. Um while still making it very clear that the student board member is selected by the students. Um uh we put that they um they must be passing classes they enrolled at the time the student um uh is is considered as a candidate and they must receive an endorsement from school staff. That's a very broad statement and intentionally so the endorsement being can can look a lot of different ways um but gener in general does the school staff say yes we this is a good representative of our for our students. Um and also if the student is involved with probation that probation also gives an endorsement and that that can be come in a couple of different ways. That's both how to become the student board rep and how to

007maintain the position. Um, so in other words, if at any point that that endorsement that came from probation or from school staff were to be revoked for any reason, then the student um, uh, could be removed from the position of board representative. So, um, are there any questions about what what's been added? >> I think it's awesome that CSBA is offering a training as well. Yeah, they actually have it at the training. They have a um also have invited us to see if our board um representative would u be part of a um a council. Um they want to make sure that the student board representatives that represent students in court community and alternative schools are represented. And in most in most school districts, it's going the board rep is from their comprehens comprehensive high

008school. And so they really want to make sure that the voice of students such as the students that we've served have their voice heard. So they reached out to us. Um and I asked them I let them know that we will be appointing or uh selecting someone as soon as possible but that we had not yet um selected anybody. So I I hope to have our um and that will be contingent upon that student wanting to participate of course but we will make sure that they are aware of that. >> I did have one question about the um it's a great idea to also have an alternate. I saw they but that's in there too that they have the choice of having an alternate. Does the alternate step in if the member is sick or

009unable to attend or do they only step in if they're getting replaced? >> Usually if they're not able to attend. >> Okay. But that would be a great >> but in this case if they were if their position were be to be re revoked so to speak and they're >> um great. Can we do a public reading of what was added? Sure. >> If if you want don't mind. I'm going to stand up to do that. Um and I'm going to stand here less awkward for me. Um so under the choosing selecting a student board member I'll read the whole section. Student board members shall be chosen by by students enrolled in the high school within the county in accordance with the following procedures. Any high school student enrolled in a school operated by the

010Menino County Office of Education can be considered as a candidate for the position of the student board member to be selected by a student voting process established and overseen by site leadership if the student meets the following eligibility requirements. They cannot be actively expelled from any school in Menesino County. As just a side note on that, it's because many students in our schools are expelled and we thought that that was um important to put it up because um when they're expelled, they literally can't be on the property of the school district from which they were expelled. And we sometimes have our board meetings there um and and thought that this is probably something that as far as the student representing the student body and representing that school was an important thing to happen there. Um,

011they must be passed in the classes they are enrolled in at the time of the student vote. They must be receive an endorsement from school staff if they are actively engaged with the probation department. They must also receive an endorsement from a member of the Menesino County Probation Department. They must have a 90% attendance rate for the school year in which the election takes place. The site principal will ensure that all candidates meet these criteria before their names are presented to other students for the vote. The principal will also ensure that the selected student continues to meet these requirements, including remaining in good standing with site staff and the probation department if applicable. A student who fails to maintain these requirements may be removed from the position. If a student who wishes to stay in

012the role, if I'm sorry, if a student wishes to stay in the role, they can petition the site principal to be placed in an improvement plan. If an improvement plan is put in place, the student can continue in the role as long as they're making progress toward meeting the criteria. >> Thank you. And then uh I wanted to point out there was some language that was taken out that was not related to this at all, but um since we have already established the board position, it was it's not needed. It's on how you get a a board rep and this board has already made that determination. So we thought we would tidy it up since we're already in there >> and it's a very important subject. However, we are running into our timed event, so

013we have to cut it short. I guess we'll just return to it because we still have to take a vote. So, we'll return to questions on item 4.3. >> We are backtracking to our public hearing. I would like to open our public hearing for item 5.1 at 10:10 a.m. >> So to say a a few words on this. Um after we posted this after we posted the hearing, we um we became aware that you actually can't have this hearing during the school day or immediately after. However, we already posted the hearing. So we're still having the hearing um because if the public were to join, we would not want them to not be able to hear. um or be heard. Um but um we are going to have another hearing um at the special board

014meeting that we'll have later this month. And that special board meeting, as you know, is taking place at 5:30 p.m. And so um so it's still on the agenda because for the sake of the public, we didn't want anyone to show up and be disappointed. But we will have another hearing and we will post it. And in the future, we'll make sure that our September board meeting isn't after um not immediately after the school day or during the school day so that we don't have to have a special board meeting for it. But it is fortunate that we are having a special board meeting this month anyway. >> Wonderful. I was wondering why it was on the 25th and it's today. That's why. >> But it in regards to the to the hearing, we should

015still go over what the what it was to be heard and we could repeat it again. So Nicole, Dr. Odell, could you go over that? >> Certainly. So every year and see if this actually my computer's so slow bringing things up right now. Um so we bring before you the um resolution that we've met our um sufficiency of instruction materials which means that all students in our county and our programs um are um having enough materials to be able to successfully do their schoolwork. So they have enough textbooks, they have enough um laboratory equipment if they're in nine grades 9 through 12 and that every student has the required um items and we do counts on those as well to ensure that those are present for the number of pupils and this is a requirement

016for us and our for our schools and for our LEA is that they all make ensure that all students have the materials they need. So, every year we're required to bring that forth. And you'll also see in your materials that there is a letter. I'm bringing that up right now. That would be from our schools ourselves from with Chris Francis verifying that we have met all of our requirements for our elementary school programs, middle school, and high school programs, and that we have sufficient textbooks and materials. We do not teach any laboratory science classes. Um if they do receive a science class, it's through one of their own LEA or through our Mundo College. So um we don't have actual laboratory science materials at our site, but all the core materials are there and met

017for all of our students. >> Thank you. >> And no action is required because we need to postpone that till the actual public. >> Well, thank you for that. Being said, I would like to close the public hearing at 10:14 and we will move back to item 4.3. Student board members, we were getting some good conversation going. Um, did you have any questions? I want to thank Nicole and Chris for coming together and reviewing the policy. I appreciate it. Um after the concerns were brought to our attention as a body. Um I have a couple clarifying questions and um those include I recognize that we're implementing practices within the policy which which can be a good and bad thing. So I I want to you know I want us to think deeply about the practice

018that practices that we're implementing within our policy. And the first one is just clarity on the expelled. So they can be expelled from district schools, but they cannot be expelled from M our schools. And >> they cannot be an expelled status at all. >> At all. >> Right. Um so I would say most of our students are not expelled. Most of them are are in our schools for other reasons, but there are um a handful that are an expelled status and that would prohibit them from being on grounds for those school districts. I I would um I'm not in support of that policy because um if you look at the LCAP of um I mean half over half of the students within the county are in Ukai Unified School District and if you look at

019the high school which is very large um around 2,000 students I believe the largest population of students that's suspended and expelled is American Indian students and students with disabilities. So I think that would negatively impact the tribal community tribal students. Um, also it's concerning that probation needs to endorse it because of the um, well, one, the sentencing disparities that tribal students face within our county. And then also the relationships that probation has with our families is not where we need it to be yet. And so that's a little concerning. Um, I believe that Chris would be more fair in that process. He's he's shown to be um, I would say more invested than past school leaders. And so I think that he would be good to lead the process. But um in terms of system

020impacted tribal students that are formerally incarcerated that would be interested, I don't believe this policy would necessarily provide a a fair playing field for them to be involved as student leaders. So I would move to to take out the expelled status um of students at any and all campuses. I think that all students should be eligible. Um, I would also take out the probation endorsement. Um, the staff endorsement is a little concerning, but I do want to place faith in our staff. Um, and so with that said, it would have been this process. My hope was for it to be studentled so that u you and Chris facilitate the process but you bring students in to identify what this would look like um for students. And so that is a truly studentled process for me.

021This is this kind of this doesn't create a level playing field. It's not truly studentled. Students can choose from what's left of the students that you guys kind of endorse. And so that's a little concerning for me. Um, attendance is important, but I don't think it it should stop a student from from leading. Um, I mean, my personal experience, I remember being suspended and expelled multiple times in high school. And um, it was student involvement that turned that tide for me and then I started going to school. So, it's kind of the opposite. And I wouldn't want a student to not be able to have that opportunity. In fact, I remember uh we attended I'll include it in the more detail within my report, but we to one of the sessions we attended was um

022the cost of incarceration and system impacted students and and what that looks like in terms of not only providing the best opportunities or any opportunities only to our best students, but to all of our students. Um and I mean I that's part of why I do what I do. I remember a cop telling them, "My mom didn't come to school to pick me up often, but when she did, one of her experiences was was the staff police telling her that I was going to be dead by the time I was 21." Um, and obviously that, you know, that didn't come true. And, um, I think that these policies, we have to be very careful because they can, um, they create an uneven playing field. And when we want to advance equity, they're not helpful. especially

023for students who are impacted by current practices that um systems are are are it's still playing out, right? And so I would move to take out the expulsion requirement. I'd also move to take out the probation endorsement. Um the staff endorsement, I don't know what how else it can look. I think it's important, but I don't think it should be a requirement. And I would also move to take out attendance. Um because I would want a student who truly wants to be a part of this to have that opportunity and for their students to select them to be on that roster to be selected and voted for. Again, I don't know what that specifically looks like. It sounds like it's a vote. Um but I would want them to have that opportunity. Um but I

024thank you for for thinking about this. I just don't think with our current practices within our county and who's who's impacted the most about with unfair practices that this is going to be helpful. >> Thank you for that. I hear what you're saying. Um and unfortunately it's impossible to have an expelled person as Nicole just explain on the premises. >> Can can I let me go into a little bit more detail on that? It's that's something that we talked about quite a bit. Um Chris and I. Um because the amendments that are being brought to you are what we have thought was in response to the discussion um which was not about attendance or expulsion. It was a bigger picture of a spec related to a specific situation and we don't want to make we

025didn't want to bring forward policy that is specific to a situation but rather would address a larger concern. um uh the staff um we are comfortable with the policy as it is without these amendments. Um and certainly if you want to if the board wanted to adopt this with taking out some of the language that we added in, >> we're comfortable with that as well. Um so I I think that that's the because and the expelled status. So, for example, if a student who is currently expelled from um Menesino High School were in our program and we had our meeting at Menescino High School, they wouldn't be able to be there. >> In that situation, it's likely they wouldn't be there anyway. Um but but that doesn't prohibit them from attending every other meeting. It

026would just be the situation where the specific district that expelled them also happens to be one of the few districts that we have a meeting on that year. Um so, Priscilla is right. Um, Yukai Unified is um, our largest district. They're also geographically the most convenient for students to get there. So, most of the students have come from Yukai Unified schools. Um, that being said, we did just have Yukai Unified, a meeting in Yukai Unified last year. Probably not going to circle around for a couple years. Um, so comfortable with all with taking out any of the bullets. Those bullets are we're comfortable with none of this language. So, taking those out, comfortable with that, too. Um, as far as the staff approval, um, is that a a rubber stamp? >> So, that does not

027mean it's because it was sort of broadly written. >> It is broadly written. So, it is >> it's there's student selected still. Correct. >> Correct. >> And then okay. And then but if princ if the principal who is staff there says oh there's lots of reasons why this person should not be then that principal if the principal is not there it could be a counselor uh you know whoever we're saying is you know filling in or kind of running student events while the principal is not there. So we didn't put a title with it um because the title may vary but um I think it's that is um I think to meet the that was the one thing that is is very broad but also see the most likely to actually meet the larger concern

028that was discussed last um last week because I think if we we need to hire administrators that we trust to make those decisions um and to they know they're closest to the work. >> I think it's important too because they are the ones who are boots on the ground, right? >> They know what's going on. It is good. It's good to have their input. >> That's why I wanted to make sure it wasn't their decision. >> It is good to have I think it's good to have their input. >> Yeah, theoretically there they should have a closest relationship with the students in Fres. So, I think it's a good thing. I also think that it's not a rubber stamp, but it's something in place as a safeguard for the concerns that were brought to our

029attention. >> Right. >> I'd like to comment. You know, I really believe that students need to be held accountable for their behavior. And I I remember some years ago the whole issue came up in one of our staff meetings and we talked about how school rules should rele reflect the laws outside of school and it we talked about it in terms of physical fights. you know, you get in a physical fight on down on the street, there's a good chance you're going to go to jail for it. And so students need to understand those sorts of consequences for that type of behavior. And I know in my experience, I can only think of one student that was expelled and he was expelled for pulling a knife on another student on the school bus. And that's

030the sort of thing you go to jail for. >> And you know that you lose your rights to ride the school bus like that student did and he was he was expelled from the school. That's a consequence that a student needs, you know, they need to learn those lessons early in life. >> Um and and to that point, Don, so as we're really trying, again, if you want to take away all this language, totally comfortable with that. as as we listen to what the board discussed um in a in a in a uh surfaced by a situation that happened during the summer that the school so this in general a the school can't take um uh can't take punitive measures against a student for something that is not related to school >> right >> or

031outside or happens outside of school. So there and you generally we we work with legal counsel when we feel like this when there's a gray area we work with legal counsel um and thought in the event that this is something where the school cannot if something were to happen where we felt like something something is a miss um but it's outside the school's purview. Well, if we thought if probation's involved and probation says, "Hey, you should know about this and we can no longer endorse the um your school promoting this person in a in a leadership capacity or whatever." Um, we thought that that was addressing the concerns brought here. Again, totally comfortable with that not being in there. But that's that's where we that's why we put both the school and probation because the

032school cannot take if if it's not unrelated to school and there's no nexus to school, the school cannot take punitive measures um against a student. Um but so anyway, it's this is a it's a this is a kind of a squishy thing that we're trying to uh wrangle but change it. >> Yeah. >> And I appreciate you and Chris doing all the hard work. Go ahead. >> I agree. I appreciate the thought and consideration that went into the language. And one of the things I just wanted to bring up was when we discussed this last one of the points we made was we want this board representative to mirror our values and to me when I read the bullet points I I think it it does a really good job in in taking care of

033that to ensure we we we do select the right student. The only change that I am requesting is after the bullet points, the the following two paragraphs need a period at the end of each sentence. >> Oh, they sure do. >> That's my only input. Thank you. >> If we don't have any more questions or comments, then I'm asking for a motion. >> I have a comment. Um, I prefer that I entrust our school leaders to be more qualified to make a decision of not the rubber stamp, but a relationship. I don't even like the word endorsement because it sounds like a rubber stamp because their um, probation is on the punitive side. It's on the criminalization side of youth. And um, California, the 2030 model is trying to get away from that. Their job

034even in the adult system is to rehabilitate. to prepare because these individuals are coming home. They're coming home. Our students are already home, right? And they're on house arrest, probation, >> and our job is to prepare them. In fact, when they're incarcerated, our job is to protect them as if they're our own. So, we're we're their parent, per se. That was the original um creation of the juvenile system. Of course, it didn't end up like that because we have a bunch of lawsuits of bad things happen to kids when they're when they're incarcerated, but and we've gotten away from that, but we're starting to get back to that where we're supposed to look out for them as if they're are kids. Um, and the whole point is to rehabilitate them, meaning to get them to

035their best. And, um, that's just not in practice yet. probation is still very much there's a lot of inequities especially in rural counties like our own and um those inequities impact um tribal students and students of color more than any other student and so um that's why I feel more comfortable leaving school personnel in there to have that have relationships that are more than just monitoring and surveillance of youth but they have a more well-rounded perspective in a social regard to you you know, the education is is a is a social part of our society, right? To make sure that we're meeting those needs. And um frankly, I can see Chris, you know, saying in in a situation, whatever the situation is, any of the youth that that are candidates, saying, "Okay, are they getting

036their their needs met? Do they have the capacity in their life right now to fill this role in a way that's going to get them to their best self?" because that especially when it's a gray area whether it's inside or outside of school can be a really hard decision and the best people I believe that are um poised to make that decision are people that work with youth all the time and want their best interest in mind. Um I don't believe that our criminal justice system is there yet. I don't believe that um they always want the best for youth and in in in the same way that our school officials want and they're definitely the numbers and the data if you know about them um paint that picture very clear. So, as a society,

037we're not there yet. And if we were, I would look at this differently. But because the numbers are where they are, the relationships are real reality within our communities, I would move to um revise the current um policy to take out probation endorsed attendance being 90%. And um I wasn't clear if we need to keep the expel. I think we don't need to keep it. they can attend all of the meetings except the one if we do >> if we don't work around it where they can't be but I would suggest that we do work around that if at all possible um so that they can be at all the meetings if that's something um and I would even move I don't know if we can change it but I think that um there is

038a possibility to have our incarcerated students eligible to be um student trustees I don't know if that's possible because of the attendance if the attendance this legislation only applies to us or or if it would automatically apply to them too or if we would can accommodate them through Zoom. >> Are you asking a question or making both? First I want the question >> can you make a motion in one sentence? >> Oh, one thing I want clarified with by Nicole. Do you know if the legislation for attendance is for our attendance is the same requirement for a student trustee? >> I' I'd have to check that. I do know that that um the um the um legis the the allowance for um a trustee to attend remotely um that expires in July. Um and so

039that will mean that the the the um the place where people so we can still do like Fort Bragg and Mukaya but that means needs to be open to the public. So, if we were to add Juveninal Hall, by definition, it's not open to the public because the public could not attend there. Um, so I if to the logistics of having um of releasing um a student to come, I I I don't know. So, I'd have to do >> not necessarily releasing, but I'm wondering if we could set up something because they have classes that are through Zoom and stuff. if we can set it up so that John, the director of the juveninal hall, can set up a Zoom with our team, our tech team, so that they can attend while they're in question.

040Is that possible? No matter where >> I'll have to check because that because right now, as any other board member were to attend there, it'd have to be open to the public. >> I see. >> And Juno Hall is not open to the public. >> Okay. >> So, I'd have to research that to see if there's some sort of way through that. >> Yeah. Well, we can revisit that later. We don't have the answer. So, the motion would be to pass the current um proposed pol uh revised policy with the revisions of excluding the expelled piece um probation endorsed piece uh and attendance at 90%. And we would leave the everything else including uh the staff relationships and the um >> grades >> passing of classes I think isn't there. Yes. >> Okay. So you

041had three changes there. All right. We have a motion to exclude >> I'm not going to repeat all those items. I was trying to write them down. >> Well, four and five. 14 and five. And I'm going to take a roll call vote because this is important. Um, yes or no. >> You need a second. >> Oh, and do we have a second? Okay. >> I'll second. >> Um, roll call vote. Yes or no? Um, for passing it and including her exclusions from one, four, and five. >> Starting with me. Sorry. Okay. Uh, no. No. >> Yes. >> And I'm no. Um, do I have another motion? I'd like to make a motion that we adopt the recommendation for changing the policy as written. Okay. Except for the periods at the end of Okay. Changing

042the periods. Okay. Um, all in favor? Roll call vote. >> Yes. >> No. >> And yes. 4.3 passes. Moving on to item 5.2 since we've already gone over 5.1. First read of board policy. >> Oh, hold on. We're actually going back to section four. >> Oh, >> yeah. So, we're on 4.2. >> That's right. I'm jumping all over here. Item 4.2, to solar project feasibility and implementation presentation by our assistant superintendent rant. >> Yes. And there's a presentation that is included and it's slowly loading. >> I think I already um while this is loading, I'll just kind of give a little bit of a background. Um so what we're bringing forward for your consideration today is um some energy efficiency measures and ultimately some cost savings that we're looking at um over hopefully the next

04330 years. Um looks like it's almost loaded. [Music] Um, so part of this background maybe Oh, here we go. >> And you can just go straight to Yeah. >> Don't look at me. I computers, too. You know, it's a good time to say that maybe um one of us, the board president, has a full print out of our folage and not just the bullets here, but so if if we did have >> an event like a lightning strike or something, today and we all lost power, we'd still be able to, you know, go through our items, don't you think? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> One of us should have it in your property. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, it is loaded. Um, so part of this background is, um, we're we've been looking at some energy

044efficiency savings that we might be able to realize at our campuses here, um, the main river campus and then our two school sites. Um, and part of that is PG& is forecasting from the 2023 through the 2027 year a 49% increase in cost. So, I think we're all seeing it at home as well, but we're seeing it here as well. Um, and um, we're also looking part of our one of our projects that we're working on is installing EV chargers, which is inevitably going to be increasing our utility cost. And when we looked at the cost of utilities from 23 24 going into the 2425 year, we're seeing here on our campuses a 13.7% increase just in that one year. And that's before the EV chargers. Um so we contracted with Ciser Co energy solutions

045um through a Z energy audit. It's 100% free. Um and what um so this audit covered our three primary campuses, River Campus, Or Creek and Community School. Um and it was really just to kind of look at like what are the viable measures um and some long-term savings that we might be able to realize. Um and so this looked at things like, you know, gaps and doorways. It looked at, you know, our our lighting. It looked at all the things. Um you got a good um and what we found through that audit is one we're doing quite a bit already um and things that Ryan's team um has been working on and then there's some things that have come forward in this audit that we feel like we can do internally. Um only the solar

046portion and then the HVAC armor provides a significant financial return. Um, and when we look at the HVAC armor, these are things that we feel like we might be able to do internally. So, we're not going to be um we're not planning to move forward with that at all. Um, the improvements to building thermostats and control systems, while they have some potential, um, it really offers some limited energy savings and it's not as financially compelling at this time. And then we were also looking at battery storage. Um, and that doesn't make sense for our needs. Um, and really the main benefit is the backup um, which we have generators and then we're also looking at we're working on a a P Gen micro grid which isn't going to really savings for us but it will

047help us with that resiliency and keeping our facilities um, uh, functioning even without power. Thank you. Um and so the reason why we're talking about it today is um with the one big one one big beautiful bill act um it really significantly alters and and and um eliminates the inflation reduction act and some of those green subsidies that make it cost effective for people to do solar. Um, and to qualify for this, solar projects have to be construction has to start by January 4th or July 4th of 2026 or being in service by December 31st, 2027. And that latter part comes with a whole bunch of restrictions that are almost impossible to meet. So, um, when we look at our community school, um, they're eligible for a 40% IRA tax credit plus an additional 10%

048due to the low income value. And then the same as Or Creek. So, those two schools are looking at a 50% IRA tax um, credit. And then our our river campus, because it is the biggest one, we have the most space. It does have the most return on investment. Um, but we're only eligible for the 40% IRA tax credit. Um, and then like I said, if construction is not started before July 4th, 2026, um, it has to be in service by December 31st of 2027. Um, as well as meeting all those additional requirements. So, those are things that, um, you can't have products or financing or anything else from certain countries. Oh, you have a question, Tom? >> Yeah. That that 40% tax credit, does that cut your overall cost by 40%? Is that >>

049It does. Yeah, you pay it up front, but you get reimbursed for that in the first year. Um, and then if you miss any of these deadlines, um, you you lose the eligible credit. Um, and then beyond 2027, there's there's no credit available at this time. Who knows what's going to come in the future, but those are the reasons why we're bringing this forward to today. And then, um, when we looked at each site individually because we wanted to see what's the return on investment. So all of our sites are going to generate return a positive return on investment um over the life of the the solar project. The river campus like I mentioned provides the best just because we have the availability, we have the space and then also the cost here is pretty

050significant. We have more staff um on this campus. Um and then >> I have another question. >> Okay. >> So how long will it take to pay off the cost of the system? >> We there actually is a slide for that. So, we'll we'll get to that, >> I think, pretty soon. Um, and then the solar systems are really sized to maximize their return on investment because we don't want to go too large or too small. It's really trying to find that sweet spot. Um, under the NEM3 rules, which is, um, the California Public Utilities Commission established this, which is a rate for crediting solar exports through a net billing policy based on some of those avoided cost rates. Okay, next slide. I'm not an expert on NE3. So um and um so when we

051look at um because we we're looking at it without battery because it doesn't make financial sense. So this is just um a slide to show you for all of those um the school sites and the main buildings here on this campus um the kilowatts the offset percentage and then um the solar size is going to stay the same but those offsite offsets might be a little bit different based on if they're um a roof mount or a ground mount. So um those are things that we haven't figured out which would you know make sense for all of those. So it might vary a little bit as we kind of move forward on in the progress. Okay. And then I wanted to point out that on the river campus there's u we have a lot of

052meters throughout our our facilities. Um on the river campus we have five. Um we have in red we have one over near the fur building, one over near Cedar, one at Elm, which is the the Selva building, one below the it's the souththeast side of our campus back where the old school was. Um and because of the NEM3 rules and like the metering configurations in our campus, um the consultant that we were working with does not recommend um looking at an individual solar for the Elm building just because of um the number of staff that are in that building. It doesn't it just doesn't make financial sense. So that would be um excluding that building. Okay. And then when we look at each of these school sites, community school and or creek are recommended for

053rooftop mounts. Um they are the ground mounts are possible um if space permits. Community school I think when we looked at it was going to be the most challenging just because of like the trees um the lack of space and then also there's a housing complex right next that's kind of higher up. Um it certainly is possible in roofing, but we would want to explore if there would be an opportunity to do some sort of like shade structure for the kids. um we just aren't sure if that's going to be possible um in the birch and cedar buildings because of the um the trees and things that we have right here. Um and we wouldn't be able to utilize all of this space. Um it would make it's only being recommended that we accommodate the

054roof mass. Um the southwest side of the campus um which is over by where the old school was located. Um that would be um ground mount only. Um and then the Alder building which is our main admin building and the fur buildings could accommodate either or. Um I know that at um or creek um it might be possible to do a ground mount or some sort of like covered car space um like a shade structure there for the in the parking lot as well as here. It does cost a little bit more. So we're just kind of looking at all of those pieces and then so these are some estimated key project uh milestones we wanted to um share. So if we were to move forward and proceed with this project in let's say October

055um we're going to start the first thing is letting we're signing a letter of interest with um Caesar Co energy solutions and they will so what they did was the zero cost. So they would really kind of fine-tune everything and kind of really dig in and um and figure out like what's going to be a roof mount, what's going to be a ground mount. So then we would come up with the actual cost. Um we're going to talk about that as the estimates preliminary of like what we know. Um and then we're looking at by March um we're looking at it says commissioning but it should say March is um project implementation. So, we still would have to put this out to bin. Um, which should get us to the before the July 1st construction

056start date because we would that's the goal that we're really aiming for because we don't want to get stuck with all the other requirements and then because everybody's going to be trying to do the same thing, it also could delay all the product that we're needing and so we if we end up missing a deadline then we just lose all and we even if we're already partway through that project. So if um work can the work can begin immediately after the authorization is given um and we'll do a formal progress review meetings with MCOE staff which is going to be Ryan, Nadia and Suzanne and myself and then of course we're going to have meetings throughout the process. Okay, so let's talk numbers and Donna this will help answer your question. Um, again, these are

057just the best estimates that we have based on the information received during the preliminary analysis. And those actual numbers won't be known until we finalize the scope of services and all of those pieces. >> And this sheet, that slide is in front of you. It's it's blurry, so you don't need to get your vision checked, but you should be able to see the numbers. >> Yeah. Um, yeah. And so, we want to make sure I know on the slides it's probably going to be even harder to see. So you have a print out to us to be able to look at that a little bit more closely. So in this the first scenario is what it would look like if we if the project was paid for with capital meaning like if we take and

058just pay for it with cash. So the cost of the solar um the estimate is 2,255,472. Um you can see under that year one there's an IRA incentive of $92,189. So that would reduce the cost by that amount. Um, and so you'll see annual savings in year one is 974,000. You're also going to start seeing solar savings each year that it's implemented with a cumulative um savings when we go down to year three. Um, it's 5.8 million or almost 5.9 million over the life of the the solar. Um, and let's see if we if you turn the page over to the next one. Um, oh, and that is the in that first scenario is the IRA incentive is, you know, projected at 40% of the total project cost. And then in scenario two, um, this

059is if we were to finance the entire thing, including the amount that the IRA incentive would um, reimburse us. So because um because it would be financed, there's a we're estimating that to be which is the standard of 4.5% interest rate and then the IRA incentive amount actually reduces um by about 15% and it's not dollar for dollar. That's why it doesn't look you know it's 36%. Um and that's it would be less because it's uh less than the cash cash purchase option. the the cost of solar is still the same, but you're going to see an additional line for the um the tax exempt municipal lease purchasing finance. So, you'll see it's estimated to be 157,000 each year. Um and then the annual savings in year one, well, the IRA incentive drops down to

060766,000. Um and then the annual savings is 681,000 in year 1. Um, and so you'll start seeing um down to so the annual savings is going to be not realized until we get down to year 17 where we'll see um 700 or 7,333. Um and then beyond that you'll we'll start seeing you know an annual saving. So the cumulative savings including that which we would be saving from solar um if it was fully financed is 2 million um compared to the 5 almost 9 million um if it was cash purchased um Don does that help answer your question? Okay >> and then you can Okay. So, some of those options that we just talked about for your consideration, option one is finance the full amount um which is estimated to be the 2.25 million. Option

061two is uh pay the cost of the solar out of the 2.5 million that's committed for facilities in the general fund or um use unappropriated ending balance. Um when we looked I think at adopted budget Suzanne it was about 24 million >> that we had unappropriated >> unappropriated >> I think it was around 14 >> oh 14 million >> for just the unappropriated >> okay so then um those would be those two options um and then option three is finance a portion of it and then also pay some cash just so it kind of splits it somewhere in the middle and of course option four is to not not proceed with this at all. Um, and then >> I have one other question. >> Oh, sure. >> These solar panels, um, I assume they don't

062last forever. Do we have any idea how many years they last? >> Um, the life of them are expected to be 30 years. >> 30 years. >> That's even even here in >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um and then the recommendation that our team is proposing is that we move forward with this um installing at all three campuses um utilizing financing option two. Um and that's because when we look at the cost um savings, we're going to actually realize quite a bit more savings if we pay it cash than we would if we just do the financing. So, that's what we would be recommending to you today. Um, and then our next steps would really be to sign the letter of intent with Caesar Co. um to kick off that project development and get this going

063so that we're able to meet that July 4th construction deadline. Um, anything else that >> Okay. And then the next slide is just if there's any questions, how about the cost of maintenance for the solar panels and the systems? The cost of maintenance over the initial 20 years is included in those. >> Oh, it is. It's included in the numbers. >> Most of them are fairly maintain the most efficiency out of them, >> right? >> But generally any kind of issues we would have warranty. >> Okay. And would the maintenance fall on your department to take care of or Okay. sort of wonder what type of heating do we have in most of these buildings. Is it going to cut heating? Huh? >> Um, we have a kind of a a mixed bag of different

064types of heating. Um, we have some older that's your standard gas heating. Um, and then we also do have some heat pumps as well. You do help quite a bit with the heat pumps. Obviously, the gas ones are still going to run the gas the same. But it will slightly increase the efficiency of the older gas because you are powering the fans and circulation part. >> Yeah. >> So we have a split system in this room. >> That's a a secondary system. This has a main system. That's just a >> Okay. So is this is this electric? >> No, this one's a gas. >> Okay. That's interesting. We should >> and and I assume if we pay some of it off >> then that cuts our payments quite a bit. Saves us money in the

065long run on interest and things, right? >> Yes. Exactly. Yeah. Because with the 4.5% interest, um we're looking at the difference between five almost 5.9 million and 2 million. So we end up paying significantly more if we're doing that's fully financed. And you said we're not incentivized any longer with the big will, >> right? Yeah. That that's um definitely changing what that's going to look like, which is why we're bringing this forward to you. We were really seeking um grant opportunities where we might be able to find some of this. Um, and there was one that we were seeking that had such a low opportunity to um to to be funded that it makes more sense for us to know that we're going to get 40 50% discount versus possibly none. And then um the

066timing of these don't line up to where we could say let's go ahead and try for it and then if not we could do this. We either need to jump on this >> or keep trying to this other route that we are likely not to be funded. >> Right. Because unfortunately at this point, >> oh that's what I think. >> Unfortunately at this point it's if we don't begin construction by the 26 deadline the numbers won't work out to be to make it. >> Yeah. Without the the incentives. >> Yeah. >> So my question is do we have a plan to move away from the gas and go more >> it would be as I think currently because we're still trying to put catch back up on that um maint looking forward into as we're

067replacing this, we're going to be upgrading them to more efficient as well. And if we were to have something like the solar heater, it would also make a lot more financial sense to upgrade to heat pumps and stuff like that. Yeah. The the heat pumps are supposed to be real good. >> Yeah. >> So, Don, you're more familiar with all this with your solar. >> I've got I've got a solar system on my house and it saved us a lot of money and it really works well. And and you know, the primary reason to do this is you you cut way down on how much you pollute. And you know, it's worth a lot of money to quit polluting. Yeah, >> that's um sorry >> the environmental impact is is substantial and something we should

068um >> deeply consider. I have a quick question. Was the analysis conducted with market research or a specific partner of mine? Um this is under government code >> 427 >> 4217. Um there is a a an allowance I would say for us to directly negotiate with a contractor to provide this and the reason um this um CERO um energy solutions is one that is very well known in school communities. Um and what I really like about this company is if they they do their projections conservatively. So, as we're talking about PG Genie rate increases, that's based on like what we know through 2027, these are also included just a 5% increase. So, it's more conservative. And if if it comes out that, you know, they somehow totally messed up any of these numbers, they pay

069the difference. >> So, we would never be out something, right? So, if if they're saying we're going to realize X number in savings and we um it ends up costing us something, they cover that difference. So sounds like both is that I so her question was more >> you answered it. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. CIER code was part of it and also it was part code. So >> yeah allows them to conduct the research with them. So there wouldn't be a RFP. It would be streamlined process with construction breaking with not internal construction but it was it would be with this partner specifically. It would be working with this partner specifically. Um, and then they will help our team do all of the um, RFP and um, kind of going out to bit. So, they

070help put it all together because they're really the experts in this field. >> And then we would go out to bid. So, any contractor could be able to bid on it. >> Um, and I think that they would also help put it out to some that are very reputable and all of that so that we would we would still be going with the lowest cost. um unless there were some concern over the lowest cost that we would you know look at the legal reasons why we wouldn't go with them but um otherwise yes >> I know with the Fort Bragg Unified they put solar panels there outside the pot and they put them so you park underneath it's real nice >> but I also wonder they did that oh 10 or 15 years ago and

071I wonder just how well has it worked out for them we talked to them at all >> um we I haven't talked to them. They probably went under NEM 1 or NEM 2 which had results in a and I I would say better savings than um NEM 3. So they they modified it from NEM 1, NE2, NEM3, and then now this is going away. So >> um and that's why we're really when we're looking at this, we're trying to maximize the size of the solar because we don't want to overestimate what we're going to need and end up paying more. So, it's really just kind of a um which is why this consultant is um pretty great because they're being conservative and trying to take in all the other considerations. They've also looked back at

072um the last two years, I think, of all of our utility bills and things to really come up with some pretty good estimates. Yeah, >> I know the Fort Bra High School also has the uh ground mount and it faces more um residential and I think there was a lot of concern from neighbors over the >> unsightliness. But we have to go through a process of getting approval from our neighbors or do you see it being an issue with ground mount? >> I don't foresee it being an issue. Um certainly being we would want to be good neighbors though and I know we have a neighbor here and a neighbor here. The rest is I think vineyards and then >> be more or um the community school. >> Oh, community school, right? >> Because they

073have neighbors right there. So, we we'd have to up. >> Yeah. But, you know, I think the environmental impact is certainly a huge consideration and also as stewards of public funds. Another consideration and really we wanted to bring this because when those two things come together where you can make a decision that does both things that's a decision to really give serious consideration to. Um and um so the the timeliness of this is um important because um you know if this had been done five years ago we'd be five years ahead. And uh so we're thinking of um in 20 years when people when different people are sitting around this table um they will be both um praising our names and cursing us on different decisions that we've made. But we think that this is

074one that um will have a long-term positive impact um financially on our agency. Because for what it's worth, when I go to Germany, I mean, those great big old barns out there, they've got solar panels everywhere and they've they've cut their electric use enormously over there. It can be done >> and it's the right thing to do. >> Mendescino High School is also good, correct? >> They have some I don't know how much I don't know how much is it's being covered. Yeah, >> I was I'm still impressed with how their light system um brightens and dims >> um depending on the >> the outside light. I think that's really a great idea um to help avoid this seasonal effective disorder, you know, to have a have it get brighter when it's dark outside and

075then have it lighten so it's not too bright when the sun comes out. >> Super impressive. >> I have one quick last question. um if this is the direction we take is the intention to prioritize solar for any future construction. It is and in fact um one thing that we have been talking with him about is this roof leaked. We have birched building that leaks. We have several that leak. And so one thing is if they're going to be roof bound, we want to make sure they're being replaced with solar ready. Um, and so that is something that Ryan has been building into his um, like we're going to be do working on a replacement roof for this building and possibly birch um, in the next several months. Um, so that's something that we're gearing

076up for. Um, what we also have been looking at is if we roll in the roof replacement as part of the solar project, then that incentive can also help reduce the cost of the roof replacement itself. So, we are looking at all those different avenues and just trying to figure out where things kind of make the most sense. >> I don't know how well it's it's worked, but there is a a metal coating on metal roofing and that produces electricity, too. >> Thank you. All right. So, it looks like we are looking for a motion. Motion to approve. >> Second. >> I want to make sure it's real clear because multiple options were presented. Yeah. Option two, right? >> And can you restate what your recommended? >> Yeah. So uh our recommendation would be to

077go with um the financing option two which is either to to utilize that 2.5% or 2.5 million that's committed for for facilities or looking at the unappropriated ending balance which I would um Suzanne and I would lean towards looking at that other the unappropriated especially as we're closing our books this year. we generally see um you know if if we're doing it right, we're going to budget for the year and our costs are going to actually come in a little bit lower. So we're going to see some savings from closing the books um that we're hoping will help offset a lot of that. So we're our recommendation is to move forward with solar all sites um utilizing the an appropriate ending balance >> and so that that's the end of the motion. >> Yeah. >>

078Right. So, we have a motion on the table for option two. Correct. >> Yes. >> And a second. >> I'll second. >> Um, all in favor I motion pass. >> Thank you for that. >> Thank you for the whole team. >> It feels good to make this. >> Okay, let's decision. >> Thank you. We've already done 4.3. I've already done 5.1. Let's move on to 5.2. Correct. >> Correct. >> All righty. 5.2. First of board policies BP0441 AI and AP 513.9 academic honesty. So um really what we were concerned about was bringing you CSBA recently came out with policies regarding artificial intelligence and so we wanted to um bring to you an AI a policy which is coming up albeit very slowly. um in reviewing that um what one of the things one of the

079policies that that um that the AI policy referenced was the academic honesty policy which we do not have and so we thought we would and we looked at the template for that and and it just just to be clear just because it didn't have a policy doesn't mean that kids were just allowed to cheat. There are lots of schools rule school rules that don't have to be a board policy. Um so but we thought since that was um referenced we would bring that to you. It made sense. Um so we are um AI has been used for a while. So the the use of AI has um far outpaced um legislation and policy regarding AI which is problematic. Um nonetheless we have a template that we thought um makes sense and want to bring that

080to you. And to be clear, the biggest concern regarding AI is not that kids will use it to cheat. Kids can cheat all kinds of different ways. >> Um but um so we, you know, but we thought, well, we should bring both nonetheless. So that's why this is coming to you. It is a first read. There's no rush on it. AI has been used for a long time. Feels like we're way behind. Doesn't matter. There's we don't need to rush the policy. So, um, I want to make that clear because if you have any questions or anything you would like clarification on, we have time to get that before we bring it back to you next month for approval. >> I was really glad to see this because it's it's an area of big concern.

081It seems like to me, thank you. >> Have a question. >> I think it's item number nine where it talks about uh MCOE will evaluate use of AI by students and staff. Is that the right one? >> Yeah. >> Should regularly evaluate the use of AI by students and staff and adapt policies, procedures and professional development to align with best practices in the evolving technologies. >> And how how would that happen? Like what would that look like? >> So um so we are we it will happen a lot of different ways. I imagine that we will need to work with our tech to kind of look at the back end of how things are being used. Um, but a lot of this is just hearing from staff. Um, so for example, we just sent something

082out on Friday regarding Gemini, which is a generative artificial intelligence tool much like chat GPT. Um, however, it is Gemini is within our platform. Um, and so it is guarded. And so, um, I I I I put up the circle like it's guarded. Um because as you know as you may know when you put in something into a generative AI you ask a question or put in you know put in a report and say help me um um update this report or find the five themes in this whatever you're asking that report is now part of AI's knowledge that informs other queries in our closed use of Gemini what we put in there does not inform what is outside of our agency. That's really important because um the biggest concern that I have with AI

083is um the the the information that gets out there and protecting the privacy of our students and staff. >> And so what we have told people is if you're using Gen AI for something regarding student or staff information, this is the only thing you should be using. And even when you use that, you should take out names. Just just take out names, make so that it's it's more generic and then check your work and put back the details that you need. Um, and we're also advising staff that if there is another AI tool that you think that you need, talk to your director. Um because the the number of AI tools that are out there are I mean we unfathomable >> and as we really want to make sure that we're protecting people's privacy and

084um and that we're using AI responsibly because there's also an environmental impact. Um there's also the fact that AI doesn't always give you authentic and real information. There's also the fact that there it is it's been demonstrated over and over again how AI has been misused and misused, how it has bias. So all of these concerns also AI has some amazing tools and so to balance those two things is pretty hard and so we don't want to be gatekeepers saying no we can't we're not using AI. Can you imagine when the internet came out if schools had said we're not using the internet internet till we get all the all the issues worked out? Well, the issues have still not been worked out. >> And so, we don't want to leave people behind and leave

085tools out, but we also want to proceed with caution. We don't want people just using that without bringing in our directors and with the idea that the director is not making the decision either. Now we're working with tech and like there's a conversation and exploration and so our tech um our directors and our staff know how they're using it and what they're using and whether or not it's working. So that has that's what we're advising staff right now. Um if something were to change and we needed to advise them to tighten it up or loosen up then we would need then we will do that. And that's how I kind of see this happening. And with the AI for students um you know our students in our schools have um much more restrictive access when

086it comes to um internet and um and um technical tools and so that we'll we'll be working with Chris uh France to see how >> how he might want to use Gemini or any other tool with students. >> Yeah. >> So I think the county has already done some training of teachers with AI haven't they? Oh yes. And >> I assume you're going to keep doing that. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> What is the train you've been focused on? >> Um you could probably answer that better than me. >> So there's different trainings that we've done. We've kind of um looped into the other types of training we're doing on like UDL, universal design for learning on multilingual learners. And then we have a grant um that we're doing. Let me pull

087up It's um focused on training school teams or districts teams around AI and the implications of NI AI AI and how to roll it out to their sites. So really kind of aligning the vision for AI each district and with their team and building that out. Their first um session was last week this Saturday. Um they're calling it the Wave Institute. they did it on the coast and um we have quite a few of our districts that are going. The grant that we received um was through an organization that really wanted to focus on rural communities. And so we were one of 18 um across the nation that received it. And so it's a series to really start the conversation at the district or school site level and talk about all the ethical implications, all

088those pieces and then how do they roll it out down the line. Um, so that's our main focus right now is making sure people are informed about all the pieces, not just the technical, um, but the ethical pieces, um, the lenses that AI has, the blind spots that AI has and how to build something that is useful for our students because it's the world they live in, but also how do we build that into students to know about the different blind spots and all those pieces. So that's our main push right now is to get each team each district to have a team that's well informed. >> Was that pulled from any best practices currently in education? >> Yes. I mean it pulls from all the pieces that we train on um and >> or

089specifically for AI. Um can you give examples of um best practices? For example, if San Diego County Office education did a training like this, you've talked to them and partnered with them just education is using AI in education. So we are building that from scratch as a team. Um we have uh Dr. Rebecca Bailey who is well known for her um ability with she's was a computer science major um computer science teacher as her background and she has been on um state level computer science uh initiatives and workg groups and so she has all the connections to help build that. She's also well ingrained in um not just AI but all the computer technology. She was one of the leading starts for all when we started using oneto one and all those pieces. She helped

090build those out as well. And she's working um concert with our specialist Randy Kohler who has a lot of background working with um alternative education um and teachers in those kind of settings as well. >> Thank you. >> I see this is a very important role for the county. >> Mhm. >> And some of our districts are doing certain things. are pulling in people. Fort Bragg had a training for their teachers on opening um that we attended just as um to view what they were presenting on. They had outside organization come in and talk about it. We've had some at our superintendent retreat. We presented from different uh lenses for our superintendents how to use it as well as um what to watch out for when we did our pack six um symposium which is

091the county offices um that Glenser led uh we had a thing on AI it's very hot topic right now >> especially the ethics related to it um and beside the e ethics or the concern about is I AI giving you something that is um perhaps perhaps biased um uh because it is relying upon what it can reach and it can't reach everything. So >> yeah. Um but the other concern I have besides safety and privacy is also the over reliance upon what AI produces because not not only might it have bi bias, it may just flat out be wrong. >> And there have been multiple incidents where people have relied upon the information of AI only to find out that what AI gave them was um was was not truthful. And then so in an

092agency like ours, we need people to be able to trust that what we say is true. And if we're using AI and it's not giving us something that's true and we're not checking it, we're our our our professional reputation is at risk. So, we're we're we're excited about um I mean, we've been using AI for a while, but we're excited to take on a more um a broader approach with it, but um we want to make sure that we have a policy in place. >> There was a website called factcheck.org. Does it work on AI? >> Uh I don't know. I haven't tried it. Well, the the thing is with AI, there are AI a AI tools to check to see if AI generated something. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, it's again that some

093of them are reliable and some of them are not. And I don't even know that there are some that are not. I think that it it's um you can get a report um one report that is and one report that isn't reliable. And in and for example in the I might have shared this with you before but in the um when I did the nomination for Mike Maguire by virtue of me saying to the to the tool I want to nominate you know I've nominated Mike McGuire for this award you know giving a very thorough prompt it knows I'm in favor of Senator Mike Maguire and it wants to give me what it thinks I want to hear and I don't want that. I want to know what what is his voting record and show

094me the links to so I can you know so so that I can check and go to those links myself without having to figure out well where might I find this so AI can pull those things together for me but I still have to do the due diligence of making sure that what it says is true is true and so that's some of the work that we're doing we're we're going to do um what's what is commonly referred to as a tech jam um where people can come together because some people are using it deeply, some are not. But um especially for those who are not that want to come together and see how people might be using it um and how to give a good prompt. Um so we internally with our own staff,

095we want to do more training on how to use it. We have a responsibility to train the educators in our in our county, but we also have a responsibility to train our own staff. And that's an area that we um want to focus a little more on. >> Fact.org or is very independent. You'd have to retype whatever it is you want to check and I haven't used it in years, but at various times I did and it was very accurate. It was very good. >> One of the one of the other pieces um that we're focusing on is the environmental impact because when you're doing the deep dives into AI, it's needing to cool down the computer systems and they're using vast amount of water. And if you're not if you can use it with

096a Google search, use a Google search and not use AI. Um, you might have seen that there's been some uh news reports about people losing their wellwater in Central of America um because of some of the industries that have been built there around AI and they're sucking all the groundwater out to cool their uh facilities. So, I think we're going to see a lot of on that side of it as well. I was just going to say I wish they would talk more about the environmental impact because like you said the infrastructure is water cooled that's 24/7 >> and then when you ask AI for an answer I think I read a 100word response requires half a liter of water. >> Wow. >> That is a lot. >> Wow. >> For just 100word response. >>

097Yeah. So, I hope that the environmental piece of that is talked about a lot more because it's that's scary. >> Yeah. >> Has the template from CSC CSBA been individualized for our student population? >> Um, no. This has been brought brought to you for our for our agency. Um, but I I'm not sure how how we might otherwise um individualize it. Uh my first thought would be this is just a suggestion is to um you seem like you have a good grasp on what the status of AI is in our district. Um I mean a a listening session with educators or or district leaders might help um personalize the direction that we're headed to with this. I do want to say um that I believe AI is the future. Our youth are going to use

098it um whether we like it or not. And the more that we empower them to use it in a really smart way, the better. Um I'm not uh totally um educated about the environmental impact, but I'm going to do some research about that. Um I would say a lot of our education is already biased. I mean, if you just look at our curriculum that are in the schools right now, u my daughter learned about um California history through the textbooks that they provide versus what we teach her at home. And there was a lot of things that um we had to uneducate her about that was coming from school. So I would say yes AI is biased but any source of information is going to be biased. Humans are biased based on the information and

099the proximity to the problem that we have. Right? So um I don't I don't see that as a huge threat. I see it AI more as an opportunity alongside our youth to be more smart to have more access to information. Historically, um, uh, communities of color have had limited access to information and AI levels the playing field. And so, I think it's a huge opportunity for education and, um, whether we decide to get on board or not, it's going to proceed to be advanced with our youth. And so, I want to make sure that we're approaching this in a smart way, not in a gatekeeper way. I really appreciate that, you know, coming from Nicole that you want to explore this as a conversation and exploration um versus gatekeeping it because our youth are going

100to use it. And I think even at the conference where we're just at, you know, the future of work looks very different where the future for youth, they're not going to college. You know, we were promised um this dream. We have all this debt left over. We were promised we went to college to learn to work, right? Well, the future is the opposite. They're going to work to learn. the junior juniors in high school right now, they're projecting we'll have 26 or more jobs spanning five industries for two to three years each job. >> And so I think that's really important information to use or to understand and um AI is going to definitely be a part of that. And so I I don't agree with the biased piece of our analysis. I think that

101a lot of education that our youth already has access to is extremely biased. Um, and it comes from perspectives that of people in power that have held power for a long time, but not forever. It's really new actually in the history of California. But, um, the environmental impact is something that is really important to me. And so, I'm going to do some more research. And I definitely think that individualizing every CSBA policy that comes across our desk is really important to make sure that it's tailored to our student population and our educator population because we need to meet these specific needs. Is there a specific recommendation you have for this policy? >> I will bring that forth next time since this is just a reading, but that my my overall recommendation is to tailor it

102to the needs of our students and educators. What we're experiencing right now with AI and I think a lot of the grants that are we're seeing on a state and policy federal level are trying to be geared more towards rural communities is because we're behind in these conversations and in these trainings. So, it's about time that we get on board. Um, I do think that we should maybe tap in with other educators across the state that have been exploring this because there are some best practices out there and it would um I think it would be more efficient if we don't start from scratch. >> But I'm I'm I'm glad that we are starting. >> I I I I think there's so a lot of this discussion related to AI. Dr. Rebecca Bailey is leading

103the work even within within the Northern California region and she she's one of our staff members. So I think starting from scratch is um the conversation is not starting from scratch and the convers so and we're bringing in information from some of the work that she and some others are leading. >> Yes. Um the institute that they are making is individualized towards Menesino County and our needs. So in that manner is what I'm kind of was leaning on starting from scratch. she's deep in the knowledge and deep on knowing what's going on um in all the aspects and on those work groups and contributing. So I I I think I misspoke in or led you down the wrong way on that. She does know the best best practices. She's been in that world for years.

104Um, way before any of us were diving into AI, but the institute was really handcrafted to fit our populations and get our districts up to capacity to decide where they're going to lead from here. >> Thank you, Dr. Nicole. Does anyone have any more comments or questions on 5.2? Okay. Well, we'll get to work on our homework with that and bring it to our next meeting. Moving on to item 5.3, our trustee area 3 board vacancy update. >> Yes. So the um application period closed um last week and um so our next step is to interview and we um will have a special board meeting September 23rd at 5:30 to do that. We will have um people can either attend here or in Fort Bragg at the Fort Bragg High School room 306. Um, and

105we we will be specifically in this room because the audio in here is um the best for that sort of meeting. Um, and so that is our next step is to interview um, and then appoint. And so we are on track to have this person appointed in um, time of our deadline which I think is October 6th. >> And we still just have the one the one >> we have one applicant. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for that. Moving on to item 6.1, MCO school programs and student enrollment reports. As you can see, our schools have officially started for those that have enrolled through the summer. Um, we have quite a few in our early start program. Our preschools are pretty full and then we have our adult programs that are rolling. So, we

106don't have much changes except for this the numbers for students coming back to school start in August. Thank you. My computer's frozen. Moving on to item 6.2, MCO HR personnel report. Looks like we have some additions and I can't get mine to load. Does anyone have it on their screen? >> Mine Mine won't load any. >> Mine's not loading either, but we all got a chance to read those. >> Yes. Okay. And moving on to item 6.3 ed services report with Dr. Nicole Delin. >> So you have the report. I want to um call out that we have a new director Chris Kenny of uh student services and wellness and he has him and his team have been quite busy um getting things rolling and they are launching a counselor network um in September. It's

107uh in coordination with some of our work that we're doing with principal network and some of our other networks to try to get that back up and running. It had ran through before COVID and into COVID and they kind of died out because it got all virtual. We are starting with virtual just because we need to get something rolling and um it's hard at this time of year to have counselors leave their sites. Um then some of the other things that I want to point out in his department is that we are partnering with custom insights to do um a countywide survey that uh our charters and our eleas can opt into. It's um anal survey, climate and culture survey and we can get countywide data so that we can look at the trends in

108the county across all of our districts and then be able to take that year to year. Um we're in the steps right now of approving the uh questions and seeing if there's things that want to add on. Um custom insights will be presenting to our charter school collaborative this week to see who which charters would like to opt in and then to our LEAs at our superintendent meeting. So we're deep in that process. We're really excited. Sonoma County does one countywide um which I was able to be a part of when I was down in those districts and it was nice to be able to see year after year data and see where we were trending. >> And the other thing I want to call your attention to is in his report under homeless and

109foster youth. Um we have 243 students currently in foster youth care um as of the end of August. And we have a large number of homeless students as well. I don't have the number right there, but we have we're already starting to serve our students with our snack pack program and uh there's greater need than ever. So, I just want to call out that we're seeing that. >> Thank you. >> Moving on item 6.4, business administrative services report with Heather Rant, assistant superintendent. You've heard so much from me today, so I'm going to highlight just a couple. Um we have a new director of external fiscal services. She's been here um since July. Um but since she's been here, we've had part of our ongoing support for school districts and charter schools. Um her and

110her team have been working very closely with everybody um on closing their books and then, you know, we're also doing reviews of budgets and LCAPS. And over the past three weeks, we've had at least one person from a district or charter school um in the business department either here or we're in a district. So, I think they're, you know, we're really being relied on and I it's it's good to see them kind of getting out and being very helpful for the districts and kind of getting them to that next level that they need to get to. um in maintenance. Um we had the opportunity, we've talked about this in previous meetings, but we had the opportunity to with the CDE team to go out to certain school districts um and do facility walks. And it's

111really kind of eye opening for us at at our in our office just to see some of the facilities that are really in need of repair, even if it's just modernization. Um, so as we continue to look for grant opportunities, we're also looking for grant opportunities for school districts, but seeing their specific needs like with our own eyes, um, helps us to kind of look a little bit deeper into some of those things that might fit those those spec those specific needs. So that was really, um, CDE was also with us, which was, I think, eye opening for them. Um the school districts we recently visited were um the schools in Willletz Unified, Leget Valley, and then we started in um Fort Bragg, and then the rest of them when we come back later in

112September, we're going to be hitting the other coastal school districts. Um and so seeing that we're driving all the way out to Will Gulch as part of one of those visits, I think, um the CDE team coming from Sacramento, it's just very very different. and it's good for them to see the the work that we're all doing here in our local rural communities. So, >> another important role for the county. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Heather. Moving on to item 6.5, our superintendent's report with sir. >> Well, since we last had a meeting of schools underway and I had the unanticipated but very welcome opportunity to um sub for Chris Francis who was um out had to miss a couple days of school. So I I got to kind of fill in the school sites

113run just fine without having an administrator there. But it was nice to have an um a reason to be on campus and to feel quite useful um because it was still the first week of school and there's a lot of settling in. So um great staff there and the students were um glad to be back in school. Um I attended a workforce housing in fact we hosted it here workforce housing meeting. Um Carrie Castro she's the public she's a public affairs and community engagement rep for the um for the north coast region through CSBA. She's also she lives in Anderson Valley. She's also the co-chair for the Anderson Valley Housing Association and Ad Hoc Community Land Trust Committee. So, she reached out and set up a meeting. Um, and those of us that attended besides

114her and uh me were Tyler Nelson, who's a USUSD board member. He's also a farmer and he's also um CS the CSBA um rep from our region. And then Nat Corey who is um an Anderson Valley Unified School teacher and who also serves on the community land trust committee and Kristen Larson Valier who's the Anderson Valley superintendent. I I have to say >> he's one of my former students. >> Yes. Um I have to say the conversation was much like other conversations that Don and I have been a part of. Uh it really kind of comes down to is there an interest? Sure. Are we going to do anything? Not sure. Um, so there was some more information that um, Carrie Castro was going to get back to us looking at some legislation um, and

115um, that or you know seeing what changes might be coming in that might be making it easier for um, school districts to do this um, sort of work. Um, I again for us to do for the county office to do to actually build housing would really not serve a countywide issue. It would only serve whoever can drive to that particular housing. um but for us to serve to do some of the heavy lifting for the learning and the getting the information out. So that's really the role that we've taken on this. So we're continuing to take it. So we welcome the opportunity to meet with her. So we'll be meeting with her again. Um I believe that she was going to do a follow-up meeting. Um >> Nicole, >> yeah. >> Have we talked to

116our representatives at the state level? I mean, >> but there there's so much work being done. It really comes down to does the district want to do something? >> Yeah. And so and that's it's a it's a lot to ask of a district and um some don't necessarily feel like they've got the land. The need might not be as acute. We also discussed the difference between the short-term need of get them to Mendescino County and the long-term need of them being able to uh buy and own a home or live in in something that is a little bit larger than say a tiny house which might be appropriate when you first come here. But um and we all agreed um that well it was more than we just agreed. Uh Anderson Valley Unified had done

117um a few years back had kind of done a survey of staff and the concept of the tiny home was not everybody's favorite idea which I can very much appreciate. Tiny homes are a very um special and unique thing but to um kind of relegate um people to um you're an educator so a tiny home you don't need a yard. um you know like it's it's it's that's a very personal choice and so um but it was agreed that there might be that might be the sort of thing that for transitional housing of transitioning from outside the county to inside the county to kind of get settled and and see where you want to go from there. Um and then also some of the discussion about um if if school employees uh were paid more

118then they would be able to compete more in the housing market. So this discussion has so many layers and so I I can't say that there was anything new in that conversation but um but we did kind of re-emphasize as a county office we are wanting to be engaged in the conversation learning and sharing information so that if any district says we want to do something we can partner with them. We also talked about the idea that we might be in a position to partner with an agency in a financial way to get some who's doing somebody who's building multiple units. Maybe we pay for two or three units or you know like we're open to ideas on things. So we reiterated that >> and we'll be hearing back. Um, I've attended some back to

119school nights. Well, at the Unified Sanhedrin High School, um, in Yukai Unified, Pomolita in Eagle Peak, and then I'll be attending Menesino Unified. Uh, their high school back to school is tomorrow night. So, those are always great and they're all different. Everybody has their own thing. >> I'll try to bar out for you. >> Great. Um, they everybody does their own thing for their own kind of flavor of back to school night. So, it's always good to see what the student, staff, and administration have come up with. Um I'm I want to share with you I'm sitting on um two new committees. Um well one's a committee, one's a council. Um the Association of California School Administrators on the leadership development committee um for this year for our region, region 4, which includes Medino, Marin,

120Solano, Sonoma, I forget all the counties, but it's a a Northern California coastal region. Um I'm also going to be region one um for the county California county superintendent. So that is Lake Menino Humble Sonoma and Delort. I'm going to be on the California the the advisory committee, excuse me, for the Cal Council, sorry, California Collaborative on Educational Excellence, um which has been around for a while and I'm really excited to be on their advisory committee. Um and then I have a new role. I'm uh the the board president for the school and school and college legal services joint powers authority. So, and some of the work there is there um uh we've you've seen some of their attorneys in various um venues. They're hiring a new general counsel. So, it is um an exciting

121time to see what's happening with school and college legal services. They've um they're doing some great work. and uh uh recently attended just this weekend the California School Boards Association um county board conference. And there were some um uh I think there were two main things that I have a list of things for me to come back and reflect and do some research on, but two main things I wanted to bring up to you was um excuse me, Pler County um county board presented on the advocacy that they're doing. Oh, I have a water here. >> Okay. Um and then also um there was a presentation um related to juvenile um students in in incarcerated students and schools in in juvenile halls and just that there are a couple presentations actually and the um the

122the focus um on on rehabilitation as Priscilla mentioned um but also some of the um interesting work that's being done to bring in the opportunity to take college classes. So, and there was a um student who was formerly incarc incarcerated from the ages of 16, I think, to age 24. Um who was able to um complete two associates degrees by the time he got out and when and apply for college so that when he was out, he um went he's now at UC Berkeley. So, um really inspiring things to hear. Um, and then also want to let you know that that CSBA CSBA will be holding their California um their um county board governance conference March 11th and 12th and they are starting um every other year they do county boards masters in governance and

123the first I believe um the way they're setting it up this year is that the first session of that will be at that conference. I know um I think Don and Marilyn have both completed the masters in governance. It's a real deep dive into into governance. >> Um and I think it's a commitment of about five or six. >> It was a couple it was during co so I was available but otherwise it took up my weekend. Yeah. I mean it was it was very intense. >> So I I don't have all the information on on all of that but I'll get it to you and um anyone who's interested in in going I'm going to see if I can go. um the masters in government in governance is um is I think really important.

124>> It's wonderful and it was a vehicle for us to sit like you're in your couch got your you know professional background but um on your Zoom call and and interact with people like Tony Thurman and just sitting there in your face these people that we would normally never interact with. We got to interact with them >> weekend after weekend. So it's definitely worth it. and real really important in understanding your role. It helps define what is the role of a school county school board. >> Yes. >> So, I'm I'm excited to see that coming around. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you. I'll go next because I wanted to comment on your um your workforce housing. Really, really glad you're um addressing that too. Um, I did attend a session on Friday about

125workforce housing and I took all my paperwork out to try and get my receipts aside and I haven't I left it there. So, I don't have the name of the company, but it's an acronym like RHS or something like that. Um, and they were doing they're implementing what you had suggested with using unused um county property. >> Yeah. and not g not giving homes but you know apartments or duplexes or building it was uh they were working with these contractors and they've got it going on they've got the whole you know >> that's been some of my feeling there shouldn't contractor somewhere recognizes opportunity >> I had the same thing I've got going on here where I couldn't get their material to download and I kept trying to um capture their little icon and it

126wasn't working for me. But >> I've got the guy's um email and I want to reach out to him. I just it's Monday and I haven't had a chance to yet. Um, another session that really impacted me as a keynote speaker um, on Friday was Chris Gardner and he was he was the actual person that the pursuit of happiness was written about the the old movie old Will Smith movie where he's homeless and goes to Wall Street and becomes a Wall Street mogul. Um, and so he was there and he gave us all one of his books. He's a an accomplished author as well and I think he just turned 71 and he's just got all the energy in the world. He he brought tears to my eyes with his story and I had I

127didn't know that's who I had signed up for. I thought, "Oh, wow." Then I got to see him later and network with him. Um, and let's see, Chris. Uh, and we had, um, a last minute fail in from someone who had dropped out and it was, um, a group called Smilekeepers Dental Program and it's so dear to my heart being a registered dental hygienist. Um, it's three RDS and they run Smilekeepers Dental Program in the Dual County Superintendent of Schools Office. So they got their building and all their equipment that would be as if we had one room with all our dental equipment there and then they they were stationed out of the county office of education. And so they're really really integrated in um each school and um leveling the playing field so all

128kids have um equal access to proper dental care because as you know a lot of kids by the time we see some 5-year-olds, sixy olds, they've got bombed out mers and they're in pain. Um, I used to do the give kids a smile day up at the clinic and it was heartbreaking. They do it one day a year and I wanted to do it one day a week, one weekend a month, but it's all volunteer and I get it. They're overworked there. You know, I'll do one volunteer. But, um, anyway, I just think that's a great idea. I'm not trying to push us into doing anything dental here, but we do have um two RHAPS in town. um Jody Todd and Amanda Wright and having the um alternative practice is the the AP acronym that

129gives them the ability to um take their portal equipment into the schools and work without um supervision of a dentist. So it it is a great thing to have and you do have a rural community with a lot of of decay and now that fluoride >> is getting a bad rap from um the current administration we're going to see a real big impact in the next decade in dental care. Um anyway that's my report and let's go down the road. Priscilla you have a lot to share too. Yes, I have a lot to share because I also attended the CSBA county board conference. First, I want to thank our staff for putting the time into all the coordination. I really appreciate that. Um, second, I want to share some of the sessions I attended and

130highlight a few. Some of the main sessions included, there are only a few, but the ones that I chose were advocacy tools and process under a shared governance model, strengthening board leadership in charter oversight. And I thought that was interesting because um there was a few county boards of education that had zero to 10 charters. There was many that had 10 to 20 charters across the state and there was a few that had more than 20 upwards of 30 charters that they oversaw. And here we are with none. So I thought it was really important to prepare for that because um I think the upward trend of parent choice is really important for us to acknowledge in our state. The third is um from awareness to action tackling human trafficking together. Um and some of

131the mini sessions which I really appreciated because I'm I'm not a a sitter. They were only maybe 15 to 20 minutes were um the impact of politics, money, and policy on schools. And that was extremely legislative. If you're not a legislative person, probably would have went to sleep and needed a few cups of coffee. But it was really informative um to know um what's going on although there are other opportunities to keep a breast of that information as well if you weren't present. Um the second how to implement close session items under the Brown Act that was really um interesting sessions. One of the uh recent p pieces of legislature that got passed that's really concerning in my perspective is um the ability for I I believe it's the board president to it's you Marilyn

132it's the legislation to um to to basically excuse um or make sure that someone leaves that's being disruptive but it can be it can be interesting perspective because it's very nuanced what's disruptive versus the freedom of speech. Right? So, I think that's a very concerning piece of legislation that just got pushed through and I I believe CSBA I do not want him to speak but I believe they supported it. I'm not entirely sure but in my perspective it's really concerning um when we think about the freedom of speech. The second piece uh the third mini session was redefining the goal. Um and this was the uh actually this was the main presenter. It was a keynote and this was by far if I went for anything um it was for this because all of the

133information and data I've seen leaned towards this. I didn't have the language. I didn't see the data trending in the way that the presenter has a background expertise in this. And what he basically reviewed was it's not about college and and career preparation anymore. That's not the trend of our society. Our kids are not going to college, which is was was the learn to work model. They're going to work to learn. So, they're going to prioritize um their revenue. They're going to prioritize their earnings and they're going to learn at their job. And they're going to increase their skills, get another job, increase their skills, get another job. That's the future of work. And then the average junior in high school right now is projected, like I said, to have 26 or more jobs over

134their career with spanning four to five um fields and to at two to three years. And that's completely different than our model. It includes the advancement of technology, includes AI, it includes all these things that empower them to learn smarter instead of work harder, which was our past generation's mom, right? He was the last generation to learn to work and was lied to because what he said was true. Because what they're recognizing from seeing their parents struggle, for example, I was the first to go to college in my family is that, hey, my parents, they're they're not doing as good as I that, you know, they were told by their parents if they go to college. Um, I I think there's a smarter way and they're and they're they're taking those risks. And so what

135does that mean for us to know that when we're when we're passing policies and looking at all this information um that's coming across county board. I thought it was a phenomenal presentation really important knowledge for county board members to understand. Um and then the other the third day included not many sessions are not main sessions are about an hour long but they did include a lot of information about incarcerated students. And what I thought was interesting, I've been on the the advocacy end of this, but a lot of the people in the room um they were on the learning the implementation side when um we're like five or 10 years behind. This conversation was happening 5 to 10 years ago and legislation that passed these laws that understood that our youth don't have the same

136ability to make choices as as adults. Their brains are not fully developed until you're 26 years old. So, for example, we no longer convict youth to life in prison um and things such that nature and they have to they have to consider ACEs and all of these things when you com when you sentence a youth. And so what I found is in that room a lot of county board members were learning about the implementation happening in cross probation departments and um county office of education when in fact this conversation is is it's kind of it's kind of dri um movement to do better for youth. And so that was really interesting. Um, with all of that said, the highlight that I found was the advocacy piece. I think um, the the most effective boards are

137on our are um, supporting um, legislation to make our society a better place for youth. And so I want to work with the superintendent more closely. I found that other boards have a they are collaborating board members are collaborating with superintendent um to to aid in the things that that need to happen more within their counties. And so there's a huge opportunity I believe for us to do that here. I want to take more responsibility in that in that way. Um I dedicated um to meet with with Nicole one time some one time a month when I was appointed and so we're going to set those meetings up. I want to be um very transparent with the public that I'll be doing that. Um in that in on that note, um I I bes it

138was a the the highlight of the conference for me was to get a good landscape analysis of where county board of educations are right now. But in terms of the content and and I say this in in a humble way, I've been an educator so a lot of the content wasn't new for me. So um besides getting an a landscape analysis, I don't know if I would ever attend again. um knowing what role I can play in our county and statewide to to help lead some of the best practices. So um in that regard, I've talked to Nicole about possibly skipping the December conference unless the content really was something new, but it probably won't be new for me and looking at other opportunities for leadership um to engage in besides just CSBA conferences because

139that can be biased. That's one organization across our state. Um and there's other there's other conferences that um that are happening that um I can help you know do my job as a board member. So um that is my report. >> Thank you for Yes. I hate to tell you this, but way back when I was teaching for several years, I went to the Q conferences, you know, computer using educators down in San Jose and they made all of those pro projections on how the economy was going to change. And for the most part, they didn't happen. But the only thing I've seen that really happened is more people can work at home. You don't always have to go to the office place anymore, you know, and you know, both of my daughters have had

140their jobs for well over 10 years, you know, and one of them works with technology. She helps people with debt relief. The other one works in the lab for Kaiser. So, I just don't see permanent jobs going away. And especially in education, you know, the teachers get better and better the longer they're there. Other than that, I don't have anything to report. >> Thank you, Don. Nancy. >> Okay, I'll make mine quick. Um, August 17th, I attended an ACCBE summit in Sacramento. Uh, ACCB, ACCBE stands for Association of California County Boards of Education. Um, they had two main focuses. One was a lot of team building and networking and the other a big chunk of the day was strategic direction developing their roadmap for where they where they see themselves going in the future. Um

141so that was really exciting. Um ACCBE has been around for a little while. It's not technically a new nonprofit organization. They're pretty specific and that they focus on just county board of educations. Um, but I thought what was really pretty cool about this was that back in the day CSBA had a county, what was it? CCBA or something. >> No, CSBA had CBE. >> CBE. Thank you. >> So, a lot of those key people are now key people at ACCBE, which is is wonderful because they're bringing with them a lot of assets. Um, a couple things I just want to highlight. There's two upcoming events. one is September 22nd and it's a quarterly uh CBO oh sorry the gathering it's and they're focusing on effective governance for um county boards of education and one of

142the things they're requesting is if we would share our board self-evaluation tool that they can share as a resource >> I think I'm attending that as well but I I can I can email that >> okay great and then October 9th they're doing a support and community school deep dive and this is this will be series one and so that focus will be the overview and um foundational knowledge. So uh I think that will be a three-part series but don't quote me on that but that one sounds really interesting. So I'll definitely be participating in both of those. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Yeah, of course. I got to network with LAS at the convention about she had written to us about student board representative and I answer your question but um I don't know

143if you formally replied yet. >> I did. Okay, good. Yeah, but we talked a little bit about that. >> Um yeah, it's a great group. >> It is exciting. >> It is really wonderful. >> She's a dynamo. >> Oh, definitely. Oh, yeah. >> She's just a little lady. She's a little powerhouse. >> Yes, definitely a powerhouse. All right, thank you everybody. Moving on to item 7.2. Our next regular board meeting will be Monday, October 13th, 2025. And our special board meeting will be Tuesday, September 23rd here in the Fort Bragg facility at 5:30 p.m. to interview David Stro. >> We're all looking forward to that. Um, and item 7.3 is adjournment. If we have >> I'll make a motion that we adjourn the meeting. >> I'll second >> everybody in. [Music] >> All right. Thank

144you guys. This is very challenging. I have my blue line like one inch loaded across the top of the screening.