001will not follow to order the meeting of the Mount Unified School District for January 21st, 2026. Let the record show that our student trustee, trustee Baro Oriana, has joined us. The rest of the board is present. We start with our land acknowledgement. We recognize that the Mount Deb Unified School District sits on the territory of the Confederated villages of Lashon, the ancestral and unseated land of the Baywok and northern Yokot, the successors of the sovereign Verona Band of Contracasta County. As members of the Mount Dav Unified School District community, it is vitally important that we not only recognize the history of the land on which we learn, but also we recognize the land that we inhabit and learn on is the ancestral land of these people. who are alive and flourishing members of the Mount
002Davl Unified School District and broader Bay Area communities today. Will you please join me for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And now we will have review and potential approval of the minutes for the regular board meeting held on January 14th, 2026. >> Madame President, I move the board approve the minutes for the January 14th, 2026 meeting. >> Second. >> We have a motion from Trustee Mayo, a second from Trustee McDougall. We'll be voting tonight. Our votes won't show up on the screen, but we will announce them. We're all logged in. >> Okay. Trusty Oriana Brian. They're backwards today. Herrerero Oriana. >> Yes. >> Trustee McDougall.
003>> Yes. >> Trusty Lawrence. >> Yes. >> Trusty Enzo, >> yes. >> Trusty Mayo, >> yes. >> Trusty Mason vote yes as well. So that passes unanimously. Our next order of business is >> I believe it is the approval of the agenda as presented. >> No changes, Madam President. >> Thank you. >> I move that we approve the agenda. >> I'll second. >> Okay. We have a motion. Keep going verbally. Okay. We have a motion by Trustee Enzwi, a second by Trustee Oriana. Trusty Barero Oriana, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Trusty McDougall, >> yes. >> Trusty Lawrence, >> yes. >> Trusty Mayo, >> yes. >> Trusty Enzi and Trusty Mason votes yes as well. >> Okay. Report out of close session under in our closed session, the board received information. We also um
004on discipline, dismissal, release or reassignment of public employee, we had a vote of 50-0 and the board took action to approve the resignation of one employee per a separation agreement and anticipated litigation. In a matter of one case of anticipated litigation, the board by a vote of 50 gave direction to outside council. And that takes us to public comment. Under public comment, the public may address the board regarding any any item not on the agenda. The public comment will also be allowed on each specific agenda item prior to that board action thereon. In accordance with the Brown Act, the board may not take action or engage in dialogue on items that are not on the proposed agenda. Our uh public comment period lasts 30 minutes. So, we will be done at 6:34. And I just
005want folks to know that um even though we can't comment or engage in conversation, you can be assured the people that need to hear what you have to say are here and listening. And we're going to do two minutes due to the amount. The first is I believe Nor Hamid. >> Can you turn on your microphone by pressing the button? >> Press the button. >> Thank you. >> There you go. Thank you. Uh when I first uh come to the United States, communicating in English was very difficult for me in official places. I often felt confused and alarmed because I did not know how to express myself clearly. I realized that if I wanted to build a better future, I had to learn English and learn how to speak professionally. I decided to enroll in
006an English class at Luma Vista Adult Center, family literacy program. Uh my teacher, Miss Susan Roush, encouraged me uh by giving me grammar books, reading materials and dictionaries. She believed in me even when I adapt on myself. Uh she taught me how to write a strong resumeumi prep professional cover letter, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. She even supported me by becoming my professional reference which means everything to me because I was new to the community. I did not know many people. I applied and got the job. the position of community services uh for uh Meadow Homes Elementary School as well as for Cambridge Elementary School. Today I'm proud of how far I came. Uh I'm grateful for the support that uh that helped me grow both academically and professionally. My journey continues with
007confidence, determination, and a strong commitment to uh long life learning. I sincerely appreciate the United States, the adult learning center and my kind and inspiring teacher uh for always leaving me and supporting me become my dreams true. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Marin Anton. >> Good evening trustees. Dr. Clark, I'm reading a letter on behalf of a student who couldn't make it tonight because she had to work. My name is Akiya Amandi and I am from Afghanistan. I come from an educated family in which my uncle and father served as government officials and medical doctors. I completed both my high school and university education in Kabul, Afghanistan. My father consistently supported and encouraged my brothers, sisters, and me to pursue education to the highest level possible, believing that education
008is a powerful weapon that no one can take away from you. After completing my education, I worked for more than 14 years as project manager at ACSOR Surveys, Afghan Center for Socio, Economic and Opinion Research, a private research company with its managing directorship based in Virginia, United States. During my tenure, I managed and successfully delivered numerous national level quantitative and qualitative public opinion research projects, ensuring that they met high client and quality standards. Due to security pro problems, I left my country in 2021 and moved to Pakistan. In 2023, I immigrated to the United States. After staying at home for a few months, I decided to join LMA Vista Adult Education. I began my first semester at Miss Terry's class where I learned many valuable things. I was then promoted to higher levels and studied
009for two semesters in high one and high 2 before advancing to the advanced level. I'm very grateful to all my teachers, Mrs. Terry Fogles, Mr. Michael Mason and Miss Elizabeth Lenahan for their dedication, guidance, and support for me and other students. After completing my ESL classes, I joined the medical assistant program where I am currently studying. It's with a student uh teacher that we have. Um I will complete this program in January 2026 and afterwards I will participate in a two-month externship. I would like to thank Miss Jennifer Reeves also who wanted to be here but could not attend tonight for her support and instruction in the medical assistant field. I hope to serve as a medical assistant in the future. I would like to thank the resp respective organizations and the government of the
010United States for supporting and providing valued opportunities for all immigrants who are struggling to improve and serve here. Troy Heath or Hes. Uh, thank you. My name is uh Troy Hes. I'm an instructor at Mount Davo Adult Education. I lead the EMT program there. I teach with Gary Juie uh and many other people as part of my team. I wanted to bring acknowledgement to the program that we have over at Mount El. uh it'll one day probably go out on all of you at some point, although I hope it doesn't, but it will take care of you and stabilize you uh and hopefully make you uh feel better in return. Um we do tremendous things there. I'm I'm not exaggerating on a daily basis. I get an email from a student or a letter that
011they saved this person's life or that person's life and it means uh a lot to me to be there. Uh I work very very hard. I'm a retired uh firefighter paramedic. I've been teaching now for over 25 years. I taught at Los Madanos College and Contraosta College. I was also the director there. So, I've been in EMT programs before and I know what works and what doesn't. And we consistently put out a a very high caliber uh student. Um I implore that. It it has to be that way. Um we have very high standards that they have to uh you know live by and we put out really really important people and we're doing important things and currently we are dead last in pay and I ask that you help us retain people like myself
012and others who come after me and and come up to something that's fair and equitable because being dead last is not not fun in the pay department uh especially for what we do. I have some students here uh that represent my program uh that can speak to you as well but I very much appreciate each of you listening to me and I hope that we can meet a common ground and you're all welcome anytime to come and visit our program. I know Mr. McDougall has and uh you're all welcome. >> Thank you. Aubrey and I don't I'm gonna let you say your last name because I'll butcher it. >> Hi everyone. Uh my name is Aubrey and I am a part of the EMS core program that Tro was just talking about. And before I
013say anything else, I just want to say how grateful I am for everything this program program has done for me so far. I'm grateful for all of my instructors. I'm for Troy Hass, for Gary Juicy, for Tony and Lup, for every single person who had given me any piece of advice. I want to say thank you and I want to truly emphasize on the fact that this program has truly saved me. Uh I am currently 18 years old. I graduated high school la um last year because since it's 2026 right now and I felt very lost in life. I had no clear idea of what I was going to do past that. And one day I discovered medicine as a whole and I discovered it as a field and I discovered it as a chance
014for me to advance in my professional career. And I feel like this program as soon as I found out about it, as soon as I joined it, it has helped me tremendously to understand my true path in life and to give me an insight of what it looks like and what it feels like to be in the healthcare field. So, I really want to say how grateful I am one more time and also I really hope that all of my instructors, all of the people who had helped me, all of the resources are being truly compensated for it and I want to make sure that this program lasts a long time so that people like me can find their solution to their life and the advice that they need. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nama.
015I I messed it up a >> Hello, I am Neve Affilure. I'm currently a student with the EMS Corps. Um, as Aubrey said, this program is honestly amazing. I also came from a place where I wasn't sure I'd be able to do what I wanted to do with my life until I met my instructors. Troy Hes personally shows me that I can be more than what I think I am. He pushes me. He pushes my classmates, all of us, to be the top tier students he knows we can. And there hasn't been a second where he's given up on us. He's never mad. He's never angry. And he just wants what's best for us and what's best for the community. So at in March when we graduate, we get to be the people who come
016and save you. I just think that's wonderful. >> Thank you. >> Dominic Moore. >> Hello. I'm Dominic Moore. >> And I'm a part of the Contraosta EMS Corps cohort number two. I want to share a bit about my experience in this program so far and how it's changed my life. A year ago, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn't living with purpose and felt extremely stuck in what I was doing. Now, thanks to this program, my peers, and especially my instructors, I live every day with purpose. I know exactly what I want to do with my life and exactly how I want to get there. I have every resource that I would need along the way and I have an amazing program to thank for that. I don't feel
017stuck anymore and I feel like I'm finally thriving by doing something I actually care to do. I'm thankful every day for the opportunities I'm given. Our instructor, Troy Hess, makes learning fun while also upholding the effectiveness of his lessons, which is something I genuinely didn't know was possible. I have such a great time in class and I'm already super close with my peers. This program has changed our lives as future EMTs and deserves to be recognized for that. >> Thank you, Diego Damashion. >> Hello, my name is Diego. Um, just like all my friends here, um, I felt like I've actually found a purpose in this course. And, you know, I used to be a drifter, too. My life has been a little chaotic from the time I graduated high school in 19 to 2026
018now. I've never thought I'd be in a field where I'd be saving lives and it kind of feels nice for once to finally feel like I'm helping people even if it's just a little bit. And that's thanks to Mr. H and Mr. Gusty and they do a lot and when I mean a lot I mean they get paid bottom of the barrel and fast food workers get paid more than that which when he told me that I think is kind of unfair that always the best teachers the best instructors the people who have character the ones that actually motivate people always the ones that get put under at the bottom of the list and I feel like you guys have a chance to actually make a difference to maybe invite more people who want to
019come into the program and make a difference and that's what I hoping you know this is kind of would come to and that shows that maybe there can maybe be a difference for the teachers to maybe bring in more like-minded people like my classmates and myself who maybe didn't have a purpose or didn't have anywhere going for them and actually find someone. And I actually think of Mr. Hess as a great mentor. He's very much like Neim said there for every student. You know, he's never mad. He always wants you to push even if he sees you're struggling and he thinks that you might not do. He always gives you a leg up. And so I think that's more than enough to show that he deserves more and he deserves the respect. I think he
020really earns. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Katie Reynolds. >> My name is Katie Reynolds and I'm the director for the Can you hear me? >> Oh, that microphone. There you go. I'm a little short. I'm the director for the dental assistant program for LMA Vista and I've worked for Mount Diablo Adult Ed for 16 years. The program is very dear to my heart. Um, it was my program 42 years ago. Um, my favorite part of my job is getting our seeing our students have a viable skill and support themselves. We have a 98% higher rate. We're very proud of that. I do worry though. Um, thanks for this opportunity to talk to you about our concerns retaining teachers. Um, I have a second job to make ends meet, even though I'm full-time. And I've
021had three teachers that I've worked with there that have left because they couldn't support themselves on the salaries. So, I definitely hope you'll consider that. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, >> Nicole Newman. Hello everyone. My name is Nicole Nikon. I'm from the Philippines and um I really didn't know about the dental assisting program. I'm from the dental >> you lean into the >> I'm from the dental assisting program and I had a background in the dental field in my country but when I moved here I was really lost and I found the LMA Vista dental assisting program through the mail and it kind of gave me hope even if you know um Miss Katie Reynolds and Miss Stephanie and all of my friends my classmates really gave me um purpose cuz to
022be honest I don't really know what to do here and yeah and I've improved my skills even if I had a background and I'm learning the things I didn't learn when I was in my country. So now I'm in my externship program and I'm having fun. I'm excited to meet new people and my doctors instructors there are really helping me gain more skill and to be more prepared in this country. So all of this to say is this program really means a lot to me and I hope you know you give them what they deserve cuz they do a lot for us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Stephanie Marquez. Hello, trustees and Dr. Clark. Um, I'm Steph Marquez. I'm an instructor for the dental assistant program along with my colleague Katie Reynolds. And I also
023am a product of our um program. I graduated about 10 years ago. And um, our program, like Troy said, our programs on our campus are doing very important work. Um, we're serving our community. We have over the decades that our program has been in existence. We've placed dental assistants in every office in Contraosta County. You know, there's uh our students are graduates all over the place. Um we're very proud of the work we do and we teach with our whole hearts. Um it is challenging. Like Katie mentioned, many of our instructors are working multiple jobs. Myself uh work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Um and our hope is that we can continue to attract instructors and retain instructors to continue doing this important work. Um our students come from all backgrounds all uh across
024our community and we are just so proud of our statistics like Katie mentioned almost 100% higher rate with each cohort. Um and we just hope that you consider that. Thank you. Thank you, Beatric Kamacho. Good evening. I'm Beatatric Kamacho. I am enrolled in the dental assisting program. It's such an important program to have. You have no idea, not even just the dental program, but the medical assistant and even the EMTs. You might not realize, but if you go to the dentist or your medical office, you might not know. Maybe one of them have attended this program and next time you go, you will probably see that it's even my instructors, they're amazing. It's I can't even put to words. Our class is small and even it's not enough. Two instructors is not enough. They do
025so much work. It can be as easy as, "Hey, we're clocking in at this time. We're clocking out at that time. Figure it out on your own." But they're truly not like that. They really put in work. They love what they do. They love us, hopefully. Um, yeah, it's such an amazing program. I had to travel more than 15 miles just because my city did not have this program. And luckily I am able to drive here, attend and hopefully just grow this more than grow this program more because it is needed. And that is all I have to say. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Is it Adri? Surely not here Kim Rosales. Hello, my name is Kimberly. Um, I'm really grateful for the dental assisting program. Um, it's definitely my instructors have
026definitely motivate motivated me so much. Um, I wouldn't I wouldn't ask for any other instructors. They they do so much for us and they care for us a lot and they motivated me to be um sorry um they really changed my life because they just give me so much drive to skills and um sorry um I I didn't know what I wanted to do with my career before I found this program and they've just changed my life for the better and um yeah I I don't know um what I would do without them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh Miss Rodriguez, I can tell it starts with an M. >> Hi, my name is Marissa. Um, I just want to share how this program is very important for me because a year ago I
027didn't know what to do with my life. I felt stuck. I come from immigrant Latino parents and I've seen them work very hard their whole life. Our teachers invest so much time and so much effort into pushing the drive in us to be better for ourselves every day and I don't think they get recognized enough for that. Um I'm currently in the dental program. I'm currently doing my extership hours. Um, it's been such a fun time for me and hoping that once I'm done with this program, um, I can be better for myself. And I want I want to thank my instructors, Miss Stev and Miss Katie, for always being there for all their students and caring and pushing them to always be better. Thank you. And you And last speaker speaker is DMA Clon.
028She here D A I M A it looks like. No. Okay. That concludes our public comment. Thank you all of you for sharing your stories. Uh, do we have any communications tonight? Does not look like it. All right, we'll go on to 10.0. Recognitions and resolutions. Review and potential approval of resolution recognizing February as career and technical education month. Dr. Clark. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Tonight uh we bring forward resolution 25/26-48 in recognition of career and technical education CTE month whereas February has been designated career and technical education month by the association for career and tech and technical education and whereas students in CTE programs participate in authentic meaningful experiences that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement. And now therefore, be it resolved that the governing board
029of the Mount Dable Unified School District proclaims the month of February as career and technical education month and urges all schools to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by the CTE programs in this community and to support and participate in these programs to enhance their individual work and productivity. Madame President, I leave this resolution in the hands of the board. >> Madame President, I'd like to move that we approve this month as career and technical education month. I'll second >> by trustee McDougall, a second by trustee um Oriana. And I think we can vote this way now. So >> just make the comment on this >> and then become comment. I think this is one of the mo the most important areas we can concentrate on in our district to improve our career
030and technical education because not everyone goes to college, but they do need to have some way to make money when they get out of high school. And we just heard from these guys, well, they've left the room now, but um they had a life-changing experience by going to EMT school or dental hygienist school. And uh I think that's the kind of story we want to hear regularly so that we know that uh 100% of our graduates are qualified either for a career or go to college. So I'm really proud that these guys are doing such a good job. Thank you. >> Well said. >> All right. Trusted Guerrero Oriana. How are you? >> Yes. Are we getting Oh, we are. >> And that passes by a vote 500. Okay. Next. 10.2. Review and potential approve
031of resolution 25-26-49 in recognition of February as Black and African-American History Month. Dr. Clark. >> Thank you very much, Madam President. I bring before you resolution 25/26-49. Whereas the deeprooted intrinsic value of black and African-American history presents our educational institutions with an opportunity for recognition, teaching and celebrations. Whereas the civil rights movement helped change helped change public policy from segregation to integration resulting in the repeal of the postreonstruction era state laws mandating racial segregation in the south known as the Jim Crow laws thereby leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Acts of 196 65 and other anti-discrimination laws aimed at ending economic, legal, and social segregation in America. So whereas black and African-American history is continuously being made and concurrently classroom discussions that is courageous is encouraged in
032the Mount Diablo Unified School District as an essential function of student centered wellness and education. Madame President, I leave this resolution in the hands of the board. I move I move that we approve resolution 2526-49 in rec recognition of February as Black and African-American History Month. >> Second. >> Any comments by board members? >> Okay. Um I don't have a book to read this year but I do want to encourage um within our district education may if for the um schools and teachers who recognize the month the education often um goes around like the expected players Martin Luther King we just celebrated Rosa Parks um the enslavement of black of Africans in this nation and whatnot. And that's all good. And there is probably much more to be taught about that because what we've all
033been taught has been what um textbook companies, usually run by white folks, have told us we should know. And there's way more to know than what we know. And so I encourage that we can stay because there's so much more to learn. we can stay with the um usual suspects for lack of a better term, but I encourage our teachers and our students and families to go deeper. I'd also like folks to know that at the end of February, the last week of February is Black Children's Book Week and cultural affirmation is so important for everyone. Um that every child should be in a space that is culturally and linguistically affirming. um not just responsive but affirming. And how we can do that year round um to make a culturally affirming place for black children
034is to ensure that there are books um that all children can see that show black children just being children like everybody else. Um so you can go to the website black baby books even though it's black children's book week. It's not just baby books, but it's all children's books. And um see ideas for how um you can have books in your classroom space and libraries to affirm black culture um which is just beneficial to all of our students. Other comments will take a vote. Trustee Oriana, how do you vote? >> Yes. And that passes 500 with consent of our student trustee. All righty. 11.1 Review and potential approval of second amendment to employment agreement for Adrien Vargas as chief business officer for the Mount Dav Unified School District through June 30th, 2027. >> Madame President,
035we have Ryan Shehy to present this item. >> Thank you. Thank you. The human resources department is bringing forward for review and potential approval a second amendment to the employment agreement for the chief business officer Adrien Vargas which is effective through June 30th, 2027. The annual salary is set at step two of the attached revised CBO senior management salary schedule and is $240,855 plus district medical, dental, and vision insurance. The salary is based on a positive work uh work calendar of 219 days with vacation acral waved. With that, I leave this second amendment in the hands of the board. >> Thank you, >> Madame President. I move that the board approve the second agreement to the employment agreement for Adrien Vargas as chief business officer for the Mount Diablo Unified School District through June 30th,
0362027 as presented. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Motion made by trustee Mayo. Second by trustee McDougall, trustee Oriana. How do you vote? >> Yes. Can I make a comment before the vote? >> Um I just want to compliment Mr. Vargas because um even though we're in deficit spending mode, uh you do a darn good job at it because I continually read about the districts around here and um we're doing pretty well. And so I I want to make sure that you know that we appreciate that. Uh I just wish we could get out of the deficit spending mode. And that passes 500 with support from our student trustee. All righty. The next one 11.2 Two, reviewing potential approval of second amendment to employment agreement for Suzanne Sturiki Kim as general counsel to the
037Mount Dav Unified School District through February 28, 2028. >> And she he has this item as well. >> The human resource department is bringing forward for review and potential approval a second amendment to the employment agreement for general counsel Suzanne Stere Kim which is effective through February 28th, 2028. The annual salary is set at step four of the attached revised DMA salary schedule, which is $280,465 plus an advanced degree stipen of 3548 and district medical, dental, and vision insurance. With that, I leave this second amendment in the hands of the board. >> Thank you, >> Madame President. I move the board approve the second amendment to the employment agreement for Suzanne Stki Kim as general counsel for the Mount Diablo Unified School District through February 28th, 2028 as presented. >> I'll second. >> Okay, we
038have a motion and a second. The motion was by Trusty Neo. The second was by Trusty Orana. Um, any comments? Okay, >> I was going to say student can't second. >> Sorry, >> personnel. >> So, we're going to have a second. Second. >> I'll second on behalf of our student trustee. >> And that passes 500 with consent and approval of our our student trustee. And I just say I'd like to thank both of these individuals for doing such a tremendous job for our district. >> We are speaking of doing a tremendous job getting a budget update. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> We have Adrien Vargas to do this. I know he and the team were in Sacramento yesterday hearing firsthand about the budget and so um he's going to report back some some Thank
039you, Dr. Clark. It's a short update. Um, as Dr. Clark said, we were just at the workshop yesterday listening to the um governor's proposals for the fiscal year. Um, so I'd like to start with our LCAP goals and I do want to thank our friends at the attendance office. they did a presentation and this is the first one where I've ever seen it on one slide and um I want to thank them because most of mine you know there's quite a bit of information but as Dr. Clark reminds us these are our guiding principles. So, I'm going to go through some of the highlights from the governor's uh proposal and then just things that we will be evaluating for our second interim which will be presented March 11th. Uh first, these are the uh cola
040change impacts or cola changes. So, at first interim, which was just a month ago, we presented cola to be 3.02 next year and 3.42 in 2728. So you can see with the new governor's budget proposal, those have dropped. Um, so those were two big changes. Um, also within the proposal is another one-time student support and professional development block grant funding. Again, this is one time but at 2.8 billion. As a reminder, for the 2526, they issued out 1.7 billion. Um, and then there's the last remaining uh dollars for the learning recovery block grant of about 757 million. Another 68 million for universal meals program. So that continues with the budget uh proposals. Um a billion dollars of ongoing dollars for community school grants. Uh an increase to ELOP. It should be 60 million, not 600
041million. So, uh, just a little >> 800 sounded so good. >> Yeah, just little typo there. And then we're they continue the educator investments and literacy investments. So, moving um forward, these are just some slides that I pulled from yesterday's presentation. Just showing you the base grant um adjustments with the 2.41% 41% applied by grades spand. Um, also the TK add-on per ADA. So, that goes up as well. Um, and then the other slide to the right just kind of shows other programs that will be um, uh, getting the 2.41 uh, applied to it. So, we're talking youth and foster care, child nutrition, uh the mandated block grant, um special ed, state preschool funding. Um and then you can see the slide at the bottom just basically breaks out the different funding sources for our
042special ed uh funding we receive. So, that as well, we'll see the 2.41%. And I I just pulled that out because it's not something I really share in most of my presentations, but you can see what um those allocations look like. I could try next time. And then moving on to the next slide. Uh these uh basically highlight the student support and professional discretionary block grant. So, it is the same use as we have this year. Um, they do have an estimate of $51,248. So, if we were to calculate that based off what we think we might be at at P2, it would be roughly about $14 million for Mount Diablo. Again, I will stress one-time dollars. And more than likely it will help in the third year that is not showing this year which
043is the third year of next year's budget if that makes sense. So um I haven't done that work yet. We will present the fourth year with the second interim and then flow these these proposals through that um one with and one without. So we can kind of see the impact. And then here is the learning recovery block grant. Um that $757 million um would generate probably close to $2.9 million for Mount Diablo. Again, this is one-time funding. Uh we received roughly about 1.5 million this year. Um and basically what that is is we paid back 4.4 million a couple of years ago when they pulled it back and now we're getting it. And then uh just the different uh programs related to the food and nutrition services program. >> Adrien, can I ask a question
044on that? >> Sure. >> You say onetime block grant. What's the time span that they are valid for? >> Uh on the learning recovery. >> Yeah. >> Uh through 2728. >> Okay. So that's the third year of our budget, right? >> Uh that cor of this current >> current >> of this current fiscal year. It's a third year and then next year it'll be our second year of the three-year multi-year. >> But you mentioned a fourth year too. So how does we don't get the money that long? >> So um what when I referenced the fourth year all I'm saying is first interim we gave I we provided a three-year multi-year because that's what we're required to do. When we did the adopted budget we did the same thing. So at second interim I will
045show the fourth year because it's not a requirement but it sets up the adoption of the next year's budget because it will become the third year out. So it just again the multi-year projections um just give us kind of a road map of where we're going. Uh we make our best guess at what those assumptions will be in those out years. Um, and then you you can kind of see a picture of what what's coming. And you know, as as you talked about earlier, I mean, more than likely there will be deficit spending uh because our fund balance is being spent down intentionally. So, um, I haven't done it yet, but I would I don't know what that number looks like, but it will involve deficit spending. Then moving on, um these are just slides
046highlighting expanded learning opportunities program or ELOP and then the community schools grant and then just uh a slide on other significant uh investments that are included in the governor's January proposal. And then um this was a slide they shared yesterday just kind of you know kind of the risks to the Prop 98 or local budgets. Uh luckily for um Mount Diablo we have not experienced declining enrollment but it's really based on the growth of our TK program. Um based off what we're projecting for next year we we think that we will expand that even further. Um we'll we're working on those enrollment projections and refining them. And so we'll give a more um detailed update in March. Of course, deficit spending, we're doing that now. Um, and we're trying to utilize all our resources as
047best we can to mitigate, you know, the impact of potential layoffs and also meeting the 3% reserve in the third year out, which is a requirement um for all school districts of our size. Um, and then lastly, this is a new thing, the Prop 98 settle. um it started last year where they withheld $1.9 billion out of Prop 98 that should have been allocated. That's going to get repaid back. Um it's kind of it's kind of tricky of how the state's doing that and really what they're doing is they're buying back the def cash deferral that we would have experienced. Um but it's basically just moving money around. But it's important to know that in next year's budget that uh settle up is projected at about $5.5 billion. Um one slide I didn't show is
048the one that school services shared yesterday. If the uh governor was to allocate what Prop 98 should be, that would probably be about $99 per ADA for school districts. And so again, if I were to project that out for us, we're about 27,388. You're I think the number was in the $24 million range. Um but that isn't what's more than likely not going to happen. Um but it was just a pretty impactful slide if you look at $99 per ADA. So moving on to second interim. Um, so we will be evaluating the attendance data trends. We filed our P1 report in the early part of January. Um, I will say that we uh based off that report, we were close to 94% attendance to SEAB's enrollment. So that's 1% higher than what is our assumption
049at 93. Um, but again, like I said, we will evaluate that. I you know I evaluate from P1 to P2 and so P1 um is the first time we report our attendance. P2 is the second time we do that and that's due in the first week of May. So it won't be part of second interim but we will do our best to project that out. Um, so we will evaluate that and maybe update that assumption from 93 to 93 and a quarter or maybe 93 and a half. But we will see what that trend looks like. Um, our final Calpads uh number was at 29,377. So that was our seabeds enrollment. So again, another year of growth for Mount Diablo. Um, we will incorporate the multi-year projection co in in the multi-year projections. will incorporate
050those updated colas. Um again, we'll update the attendance assumptions for LCFF and remember our our negotiation settlement is based off the funded cola. So with those dropping, we will take those minus 2/3 of a percent and make that adjustment in terms of what that impact will look like in the two out years. And again, as I stated earlier, I will be including the fourth year. so we get a a better idea of what we're looking at when we come back in June for the adopted budget. And so that is the end of my short presentation, but I can answer any questions. >> When do you predict that the cola will change again because we know it's not going to stay that way for the whole year. >> So they they get there's eight data points
051that drive the cola and I believe they said yesterday that would be in late April. So, uh, what we would receive in May will will for the May revise, which will be, I believe it's May 10th or 11th when that comes out from the governor. Um, that will be more than likely the cola for 2627. And then again, you know what I that's good for the c the the budget year we're going into, but again, we work in the multi-year. So, I'm always like, okay, that's great, but what are the two out years? because that impacts your LCFF projections. >> Thank you. Any other questions from board members? >> Yeah, I do have a question. Um just read I think it was the CSBA newsletter that um quoted the legislative analysts office that disagreed with
052the optimistic um projections of the governor. Was that under discussion yesterday at your meeting? um they they discussed it in terms of charts and they put up the LAO, they put up um the governor's proposal and they they contrast the two. Um I I'm just trying to think for all the years I've been doing this, I don't think they've ever been in agreement, the LAO and and the governor's proposal. uh the governor governor's proposal uh even when Jerry Brown was governor like they're always their their tax um assumptions are always more than the LAO the LAO is is very conservative um but that's been the historical piece at least from my viewpoint um you know and I I just think about the settle up you know I I do think about like holding back the
053full funding Like I could see the argument for that. It staves off mid-year cuts. I I was around doing this in 2012 before Prop 30 was passed and we were going through, you know, the the idea of mid-year cuts. And so I I've seen what that looks like. Um that could be, you know, one of the reasons and just kind of what happened and I believe it was the end of 2425 the tax projections didn't come to fruition. Um, granted we've made up for it and they talked a lot about the AI boom which is driving a lot of these tax revenues here in California. >> We hope that's not a bubble. >> Yeah. Um, they commented on that too. >> So you see the historic trends though what the governor has proposed very optimistic
054then the LAO that's a little more conservative. >> Correct. who really has come closer to the mark over the past few >> I I would say the governor's proposal is the one that gets passed. >> It gets passed but >> it is probably a lot closer um than the LAO but I you know I'm working off >> the assumptions from the governor's or from the state enacted budget. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. 12.2 report from student advisory committee. I believe I turned this over to trustee bur. Okay. Back to you that forum. >> I'm just, you know, if if id have known when I knew we had students coming, I should have put them earlier on the agenda. I know you guys got homework and stuff to do tonight. Right. Right. So So my
055my fault. I I owe you guys. Um I I just I just want to I just want to recognize our our student trustee. Um um he does a great job and takes his takes his work very serious, but he is he is here to represent the voice of our students and um and I know that we had a couple staff members um who attended your all meetings and wanted to take over the meetings and gather all this information because you guys are such a wealth of knowledge of things that are going on out at the schools. And so I'm I'm glad that Samantha Allen and um and Christina Filios have 100% turned it over to the student trustee to uh to to get you guys here. So and a couple of you were here quite
056early today. So I also want to recognize you guys for being punctual. Yes, thank you. I see these young faces walking down the hall. I'm like, who are these people? So anyway, Allan, please uh the show is yours and thank you so much for your service for the students of the Mount Deba Unified School District. >> I'll just give them a quick little intro. So we have almost all the members from the student advisor committee here and they're just going to give you a special report about their perspective on areas of strength and areas of improvement in each of their respective high schools. Unfortunately, the members from Northgate weren't able to come to the last meeting, so we don't have a slide for them. But I think one of the great things about this committee
057is the sharing of ideas, perspectives. For me, it allowed me to understand what a day in the life of another high school student is in the district and to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of each school because having that open dialogue created a stronger connection between us. But yeah, I'm let him take it away. >> Oh, okay. Um, I guess um our our goal is to analyze the respective strengths and weaknesses of each high school in Mount Diablo School District. Oh. Um, I'm Gabriel Spragggins and I'm here representing College Park High School. Um, next. And we are the student advisory committee. Oh no. Am I hitting the wrong button? Oh, awesome. Okay, Mount Diablo teamwork. All right. Okay. So, good evening board members and Superintendent Clark. How's everyone? We are good and thrilled to be
058here and I'm quite anxious, but hey, we are quite excited. So we present you Mount Diablo High School. So we have a survey and its data and if questioned will be provided through any possible means. This survey has 204 respondents and was the basis of the bullet points as you see here. So I would like to go over first the weaknesses. So the inconsistencies with multiple departments. Sorry, it's kind of close. All right. So, I clarify these inconsistencies that I'll be talking about correlate to the enforcement of rules and the need for more staff in the college and career center due to the heavily limited time frame in that department. To elaborate more, um, I conducted student interviews and I recognized a pattern of concern among students regarding skipping classes where most skip to the
059bathrooms, into other classrooms, and even hop the fences in most cases. My primary concern is a growing lack of surveillance on these students. In most cases, the students not in their classes are repeat offenders, taking time from other students opportunities to use their passes for necessary things and they don't get caught by the staff. We appreciate the work the staff does and for the sake of better effectiveness, we've noticed differences in how student experiences experiences policies and support. Some still slip from their radar and don't follow the rules and still skip. The students are getting more creative but in the wrong way. From this they need to widen their scope of enforcement and have a consistent guideline and more transparent communication and even a regular feedback opportunity like the newly formed student senate represented by
060club presidents and students who want to advocate so student concerns can be addressed early. Furthermore, the college and career center is the most prominent center that caters into to students. It actually makes students think of what lies ahead of them, especially their future. And the two counselors that we have, um, me personally, I'm lucky, um, to have them in the school. Um, but from what I recognize, uh, there's a lot of students that they cater to. Basically hundreds or even thousands from what I recall. And um from what I ask is that we just need um more people from the CCC or the college and career center so that the students would have a more um larger time frame to consult with these adviserss and would have more efficient um more efficiency and more effectiveness
061in deciding of what their future goals are. Now, next bullet point, I would like to go over infrastructure. Though I would like to thank the district for re recent maintenance projects at Mount from what I see, I would still like to highlight that the school needs repair in so many buildings, especially bathrooms. Based on the survey, a combination of 67.7% or 138 students rated the bathroom quality as a one or two out of five where one student called it a nightmare to enter a bathroom. The state of most bathrooms are bad with some mirrors being splattered with paint and the high need for menstrual needs, soap and tissue is not being consistently supplied based on the accounts of multiple students and other unsan and other unsanitary factors. Another factor is the water fountains. As an
062athlete myself, I don't find the water fountains dependable, especially in one case where the water was orange. It was fixed quickly, but the taste has been low quality ever since. Additionally, there's a serious rat problem at the school. I hear reports that some show up in the cafeteria and even in the classrooms in several buildings. I really recommend a serious survey of the campus and its facilities needs because there are more issues with the school's infra infrastructure that I haven't mentioned. I don't want the school's infrastructure to be the main worry of students. It should be books and Chromebooks and not rats running around. >> Can you please introduce yourself? You never did. >> Oh, sorry. My name is Kevin Andrew Villaina. >> I'm Juliana Lopez and I would like to move on to the
063third bullet point, teaching and learning. In a survey we conducted, 101 out of the 100 out of the 204 students who responded rated their teachers lessons as a three or lower on a scale of 1 to five. This rating was based on the level of engagement in their classes. I would also like to mention that most of them were a three, but that's I think that's still too low. Okay. Um I would like to share some quotes with you guys that we got on our survey. One student said, "I think it's just a me thing, but I can't really focus only because it's not very stimulating. Apart from my electives, all I really do is just sit at a seat and use my Chromebook to write stuff down, so it's easy to space out." Another
064student said, "The majority of my teachers do a fairly good job at teaching, but some of them do not seem to be teaching at all, or at least not in a way that their students could successfully gain knowledge from the material." And the last quote I want to share is once again it depends on the teachers because two or three of my classes have little to no engagement while in the other two or three I am fully engaged on learning. Overall I believe Mount Diablo High School should place a greater emphasis on creating more engaging lessons to help students stay focused and retain knowledge better not just mo move through the motions of school. >> Okay. Our next bullet point is pride peer sorry pride and spirit. Another one of our weaknesses is pride and
065spirit. The notable the most notable thing being the removal of rallies. School rallies help build a sense of community, belonging and identity among the students. Because of the removal of rallies at our school, people feel less connected to it. Also, rallies and more schoolwide events help give students a break from academic stress and help acknowledge student athletes. Without school pride, we can't have a defined identity as a school, which leads to low morale about students learning environments. Now lastly in her weaknesses I would like to talk about the bathroom policy or the policym um policies such as the bathroom limit have not resonated well with so many students with 101 or 50% estimated of students rating this new policy as a one out of five in the survey. Basically to give a gist of this
066policy, the bathroom limit only allows students to go to the bathroom 24 times per semester or 12 per quarter with the intention for students to gain more class time and reduce incidents of cutting class. This has raised questions and concerns as people thought about conditions where one may need to go to the bathroom above that limit and especially the ladies out there who need to go a lot because of their menstrual needs. I heard that um if you run out of passes, you need an escort going with you once you run out of passes, which raises more questions. This situation is complex and the school is already figuring this thing out through um experimentation with rewards from safe passes and much more configuration with the new policy. This honestly needs more coherence with the student
067body and more listening to feedback on the bathroom policy. And let the staff and student body be heard as many have mixed opinions and thoughts that need to be brought at the table. So moving on to the positives. >> Our first bullet point is student and staff persistence. Our staff shows persistence by supporting students even when learning is challenging. This can be seen through the after school tutoring we have during final exam periods. When students fall behind, there is a good support system to help them recover. This includes credit recovery and counseling support. Staff helps students when they need adapted situations based on their personal lives. This can include excl extending deadlines and extra support for them. staff members make the most out of these situations by providing extra supports for students during lunch, after
068school, and even on some weekends. Um, the next bullet point is strong community. Mount Diablo High School I would at Mount Diablo High School I would say we have a strong sense of community which are largely which is largely built from student ran clubs which allows students to form meaningful con connections based on shared interests and identities. There are many cultural and community oriented clubs at our school. Personally I believe that this is one of Montiablo's greatest strengths a motivated and passionate student body. For example, we are both students who are actively involved in community clubs. I serve as the president of our gender and sexuality alliance club, our ballet fuorico club and Latino club >> and I serve as the president of FAA or the Filipino American Student Association. Through these clubs, I have
069seen students build communities where they feel safe, supported, and comfortable, giving them a sense of belonging and a positive space within the school. All right. Now, I would like to go over opportunities in and out. So, in day-to-day life, uh I see opportunity after opportunity in my school life, especially coming from the Philippines, um a year ago. So especially that being a part of the student committee, Mont Diablo never shies away from such. Walking in the college and career center provides summer programs in universities, field trips in top campuses and a plethora of scholarships from multiple sources. Basically, as I said before, a clear path into the future provided directly for the student body. Uh for my personal take, this is how I got lucky and got into a summer program in UC Berkeley where
070I got to study there for a month and I made a lot of connections with professors and students and I've never been more lucky and happy and thankful. So, um it's not too shabby for seniors. They also help out with college applications. um especially during seasonal breaks, the counselors open up their doors besides from heating up the turkey for Thanksgiving. So, and I would also like to mention again the studentr run clubs empower the students in many aspects of culture and hobbies. It is nice to see the performances and the hard work of these students where they put in hours after school where they try to do their little nickling dance. I was like leading one of them and it was nice to see them like working hard. And basically the school also holds events
071like club carnival where we get to showcase those performances and even last December we had this thing called cocoa and cram where they get to study after hours as well and that is where that that is opportunity where I got to gather student insight for this presentation. So and oh one more thing um the admin um they provided a small volleyball net for the people that want to play at lunch. So yeah that's also one thing go one good thing to add because that installed my passion for volleyball and that's how I became varsity so you can shine in mount if you choose to the doors are open and I am lucky to enter each one in my path. The people who work for the school all work with these students shining and I commend
072all them for putting in the hard work. So last but not least the teachers. So to clarify after giving this much thought I want to broaden this out to the entire staff like teachers, administration and other staff members on this campus. So this is all about them. From the interviews I conducted one person said it well. being a therapist, a coach, a parental figure, many more than just what they work for in this school. They spend hours putting more than their intended time of doing work for these students and I would highly recommend the staff of the school." End quote. So the staff who brought life into this campus other than the students and who laid an open arm in assisting others besides from the subject or duty they pertain to. From my experience, many
073staff members have their own take in doing their duty. One educates medical subjects while running medical businesses, even giving kickstarters for students in the field. One helps me with my club and makes it survive and thrive. Having a lively sense of home and community, one of my dreams coming here in America. One is brave and fosters ethical thinking. One, as I said, brought out that volleyball net, many to enjoy. One brings out fun questions at the end of the quiz to lighten up the mood. One brought me up in this stage, giving me this opportunity to talk to to talk to important people like everyone in this room. Regardless of the staff having weaknesses, this roster is strong and I am thankful for it. I always love imagining their smiles matching with the students regardless
074of who they are and that is what I see every day. I hope that any teacher watching this or hearing about my thanks and I hope that they keep on striving for the love of knowledge and empowering the student body of Mont Diablo High School. So I would like to conclude that many people say or stereotype the school for being ghetto and I think that is a far perception. This school truly needs change and we represent the student body or even everyone at that matter when we say this. We want to show all of you how much the school means to us and how it changed us and how everyone got a and and how and to show everyone a closer perception of what Mount truly is. Mount should be highlighted in places where it
075hasn't, where you will see a strong, diverse, and persistent community where educators and staff members intend to make students shine and not just graduate. Thank you. Thank you everyone. My name again is Kevin Andrew Venova >> and I'm Yuliana Lopez >> and thank you all for listening. It's been a pleasure. >> Fantastic job. And I would like to call on Ignasho Valley High School. Hello. Good evening everyone. My name is Vanessa Aurela and I am representing Ignesi Valley High School. So to start, thank you. Okay. I like to leave best for last. So I would like to start with the weaknesses. Um so for my first bullet point I have put um we need more school spirit/pride. Um so what I personally have seen um from my perspective at my school I believe sorry >>
076okay okay um yeah so I believe that our school needs more um spirit/pride um for example I have personally seen many of our sports it's home games. Um I've I've I've only seen um parents showing up. I don't notice many students. For example, um football games. I believe that football is one of the most important um high school experience um which many of us have experienced. Um and it just disappoints me to see um a few students showing up every game. Um and another point would be um our leadership um class. Um we have leadership as a class and not a club which I personally find um a bit disappointing due to um many of our students schedules being filled up with many um important classes that are needed. Um so I don't see much
077um leadership representation being shown. Um sorry. Um yeah, so I would just like to see more um student involvement. Um and moving on to my second bullet point um what I mean by we need better representation. um is everyone sees um from outside perspectives. Most of the um inputs that I've gotten for um views of of YB is um ghetto. It's not a good school. Um before I actually came to Ignesio Valley High School, um me personally, I was thinking, "Oh, I am nervous. I am scared of everything I've heard. But when I actually came onto the campus, when I've actually um became involved, I have noticed that it is the complete opposite. Um for example, I have seen many um new stations come to YV this year. I have noticed that um the only
078way that YV gets any form of um no gets noticed is due to the bad things. Um the news stations have only came to our schools due to um our bad things. It puts a bad reputation on us. I've had many of my friends from other schools tell me, "I don't know how you go there." And I it just disappoints me every day. Um, so I do think that Ry needs a better representation. Um, I believe that it's not the students who are giving the bad representation, but I believe that it's the pre prejudice, sorry, and um outputs more from people from outside the school. I have gotten many um staff tell me the opposite um that they believe YV is a really good school. Um, I would also like to mention um my I
079have a teacher that um I am really close with. I enjoy talking to her. Um her current daughter goes to um College Park. And so for the next school year, she will be um transferring to White Ignesi Valley High School. and she has claimed that many people are shocked, surprised, like, oh, you're moving your kid from College Park to Valley High School. And many people just take it as a negative thing. Um, so for my third um bullet point, I also put we need more student representation. Um, what I mean by that is more student perspective. Um so as for now I have noticed that this student advisory committee is one of the only things we really have about student perspective. We have a site council which I'm currently enrolled in. Um I have been
080um sorry people have voted for me to be on the student council. Um not once did that I get like an email like oh we're going to do this we're going to continue with this um until a week ago when I have been um selected to be site council months ago um and as for now we do not have um a student site council um which I believe that it is kind of disappointing because I believe that schools should see more of student perspectives um So this is why I really like being the this um committee because I like to um really share out on what I think. Um and so for my fourth bullet point um I believe that we need more information presented to students. Um, so many of the students that I
081talk to, many of my friends, um, acquaintances, I ask I asked them, "What do you want to do after school, after high school?" Many of them just tell me, "Oh, quote unquote, just DVC." And it disappoints me. Well, it doesn't disappoint me. Sorry. I am happy that um they want to continue with school but many of them don't know of the opportunities that we have. Um, I have noticed that every time I ask a student, are you aware that you can get a seal of bi literacy? Many of them just stare at me in confusion. Many of them don't know what it is. Um, and it disappoints me because we have um many students of different backgrounds. They can speak many languages. Um, and most of them move um out of high school without knowing
082what a steel literacy is. not knowing that they can get um that diploma of like, oh, I speak another language. Um and for my last bullet point, I believe that um our school should provide more funding for our schools and sorry for our sports andmies. Um I have gotten a lot of um student perspectives about this. Um, many of them tell me that their sports are not getting as much funding. Um, as for my personal experience, I have been on the varsity soccer team for the past 3 years. Um, this year is my third year. Last school year, we would all have to carpool all together to away games. For example, we would have to carpull to places as far as Benicia because we couldn't get a school bus. Um, and another thing is our
083um health pathway. Um, I have a lot of friends who are involved with this health pathway. Um, they have told me that their teacher pays mostly everything out of pocket. Um, which I get that most teachers like get a lot of stuff out of pocket. Um, but they have told me they have seen this happen numerous times with um, stuff that are like for their assignments for the school. It's supposed to be for the necessities of the pathways. Um, and so another thing is most of our teachers are coaches. Um, I love the coaches. I um I enjoy their um their presence. Um but I have noticed um that many of them um have a lot um of stress on them. Um most of them have a lot of experience but they not sure how
084to have experience with the sport but not experience with coaching. And this has been um happening with many of our sports. Um and so I would like to move on with our strengths. So for my first bullet point um we have many opportunities due to our title one school which um I think it is really great. For example um an opportunity that title one provides for us is making our testing more accessible. our SATs, our AP classes, IB classes, um they are paid for by the district, which um I think is an amazing thing. Um because as for my personal experience, um my family currently um wouldn't be able to support um financially with my um test due to me. Um, I take a lot of like AP classes, IB classes, and I just really
085think it's great how, um, title one school because we are title one school. Um, we can get that paid for. For example, our AP exam, history AP exam, um, most of the students only paid $5 for it, which I think it's a really huge strength um, because it relieves a lot of families um, with their financial situation. Um, and another um, opportunity that a title one school provides for us is our CARES program. Um, Mount Diabella also has this CARES program which I think it's great. Um, I spend all all my break time in there such as lunch and um, nutritional break. I love spending my time there. Um, they provide many um, fun activities. We have a lot of field trips. We have field trips to um colleges. I just recently took um sorry
086a field trip to UC Davis which I was really excited for. Um UC Davis is one of my options for the future which um I think is great. And our CARES program also provides a lot of like food pantries. Um I see many students actually taking the food which I think is really great. um many students um I have noticed are in need for this. So I just think this carish program is also um a great strength due to the title one school. Um and I would like to move on with our international baloria program. Um I'm sure many are aware of the um inter international um balor balora um program. Um me personally, I did not know about this until um I actually got into my sophomore year. My teacher um she speaks about
087it a lot and she encourages many to take this. Um the IB program um makes um has greater chances of a student getting to a college if you get um the IB diploma, which I personally think it's great. Um, the IB program also prepares students greatly for um for their future. Um, it doesn't necessarily have to be for college. Last year we actually had a student that um gained their IB diploma and they moved on to the Navy and that student has come back and spoke about it and they have told us um that the IB program really um prepared him for um for for it. Sorry. Um and I also think that the IBU program is a really huge strength for us um because the IBU program has um the same small group of
088students which um many students really appreciate because I believe that many students um really like to keep to themselves, keep their own small circle. Um so yeah, I just think that IB is a really great strength for us. Um and moving on to my third bullet point, we have math tutoring offered in four different languages. The four languages being English, Pashtu, Spanish and Dari. Um, which I think is great due to um we us having many um students of different um ethnic groups um cultures and not many of them really fully um understand English very well. And I just think it's really great because they can be provided with the same opportunities that um as everyone. And so moving on um I believe that our diversity at Ignesi Valley High School is one our biggest
089strengths. Um I've noticed that we have really accepting students. Um, for example, we just had um some new students come in and I noticed that a lot of my friends just like are friendly to them. They start talking to them. They make sure that they are not left out because you know many it sucks to be left out. And um I just think that our diversity is a really big strength. Um and so moving on to my last um strength. So by proactive anti- bigotry I really mean um that our school faces a lot of discrimination. Um, we face a lot of discrimination like I mentioned before by um such as the news um people that I know outside of Ignasio Valley. Um so um yeah um about 2 years ago we actually had um
090some Trump supporters go to um sorry um they like went to the side of our school and they just displayed a bunch of Trump stuff and um yeah they just started making many racist comments to us and Um, it really disappoints me because um, sorry, it's really sad to see um, many of my friends of my family being discriminated. Um, and it really sucks. Um, like I said before, the news station has actually um, came to YB. They only come for our bad stuff. They never really come for good stuff. Um, and yeah, um, I'll be passing it on to, um, college, sorry, conquered high school. And thank you so much. Okay. Good evening everyone. My name is My name is Kobe Aqu. I'm a senior at Conquer High School. um in talks of the
091strength and weaknesses of conquered high school. I'm going to start with the strengths. First, we got Wellness Center. Lift it up. Okay. Okay. First, we have the Wellness Center. So, I am personally the TA of our wellness center advisor. So, I get to see all the people she works with. So, every day on a daily basis, I see how people are struggling mentally or they can't focus in school. And like I just see how helpful she is. She gives good advice, great advice. Um, she's I consider her a second mom to be honest. She's just that good of a person and I think every campus needs someone like her. Second outstanding college and career adviser. Um, being a senior in high school right now, we're focused on applying to colleges, getting scholarships. So, our college
092and career advisor, Mrs. Bam. She's really good at advising us, telling us new scholarships are available and like basically pushing us to be better and apply to uh colleges and make sure that our future is bright and yeah. And it's crazy that she's literally the only college and career adviser on the whole campus and she still manages to make an effort and like find she goes to you and make sure that you're filled with the correct information, the right information and she's so genuine and I actually love her. Um, third, great and reliable counselors. Okay, so we have three counselors at Conquer High School. Miss Yagi, Miss Agusa, Miss Hindell. I'm personally my counselor is Miss Sarah Gagusa so I can speak for her but she's amazing. I mean I come to her for school
093non-school. We talk about sports. It could be anything to be honest and like I think we've buil built a closer relationship this year and our counselors are just really reliable and trustworthy. So next we got a diversity of students. Sir, at Conquer High School, we have people from different backgrounds, people from who speak different languages, different cultures. And I think this is a strength because I feel like you need people from different communities to come together. And that that's what builds a strong community. Without that, I feel like it's it's not really a strong community because it's just one, you know, culture or one. So when you have multiple cultures and multiple people from different backgrounds come together, it just makes it stronger as a whole. And lastly, our quality of band, well, Conquer High
094School, I think it most people know our band is one of the best. Not to flex, but yeah. Um, yeah. So, I mean, we've won so many events. We've won a lot of money in the past. Like, our band is probably our best program. So that's self-explanatory. Um on to the weaknesses. Uh limited activities for upper classmen. So being an upper classman myself, I'm in link crew, which is in a which is a class that focuses on planning events for freshmen. And I feel like we as upper classman, we do most of the planning, but a lot of there not that many activities for us. So it feels like when you're junior or senior like a lot of people describe it as feeling like going through the motions like they're not really in it. There's
095really nothing there on campus for them and it's just us planning for them other people. So I just wish we had more activities for us and more yeah focus more on juniors and seniors as well. Next moderate school spirit. I think this goes hands to hand to what I said before about, you know, students not feeling or not having enough activities because if you don't have enough activities, you're probably not involved on campus and if you're not involved on campus, then your school spirit is definitely going to be low. So, so yeah. Um, next we got short variety of clubs. Like I said earlier, we have different variety of people here at Conquer High School. So I would I personally wish being Nigerian American like I wish I had more clubs like towards me. So
096I feel like there are a lot of people on campus who relate to me who are from different cultures and backgrounds who feel like there are clubs who are basic or generic and there's not that many clubs for them. So if we had more clubs for that more diverse that would be awesome. And lastly, the lack of recognition for grades 10 and up. Okay, ever since sophomore year, I can say that I've received maybe two or three awards and I can I consider myself like a pretty good student. Like I work hard every day. I study hard. Um, I think a lot of the times we focus on students who are doing bad and then we tend to forget about the students who are actually exceeding or like performing, right? Like we don't have that
097many ceremonies. We don't have that many, you know, awards for students who are 4.0. Like I have a 4.0. like I I feel like I should be getting something if that's safe to say like you know uh but yeah I just wish you know students grade 10 11 12 I feel like freshman year our freshman in our school at least we're really good at like like we have link crew we guide them and then make sure they know what they're doing and we're extra what's the word? We take care of our freshmen in our school, but then because of that, we're limiting other grade levels and I think we need to focus more on other grade levels as well. Thank you. And to College Park, >> um we are with College Park High School. My
098name is Dara Mitchell. >> Hello. Uh, good evening board and superintendent Clark. I'm Gabriel Spragggins and um, today I'm going to be going over the strengths of our school. We have a very active student body on our campus. All of our scholars, they um, participate in clubs, extracurriculars, sports. Um, they're very proactive um, with students in general on our campus. Um, next bullet point. We have very supportive and friendly staff. I want to say our counselors. They're they're very wonderful people. I moved here from North Carolina last year in uh January. And as a transfer student, they really helped me adjust to California and just um the new school in general. They were very supportive and uh helpful. And also our teachers as well. If you need anything, you can go to our teachers. They're
099also very nice. um they're willing to work with you on things if you're like sick or absent if things come up. Um to add on to that, our principal, Dr. Richardson, um best principal I think I've ever had. He um he you often see him walking around campus. He's very happy. Um he'll stop and say hi to you. And even though we have like 2,000 plus students, he'll somehow remember every single one of our names. and if he doesn't, he'll give you a Starbucks gift card. He's a he's an incredible person and he'll always be on the intercom being like, "Good morning. Good morning, young scholars." He's a great person to have around and I'm very grateful for him. Um, moving on, we have uh uh we offer DVC dual enrollment classes where you can
100take college classes early. Um, it's very good for students that want to um get ahead early, get ahead sooner. We also offer a lot of advanced placement classes. We actually offer every single math class at our school for uh in AP um which it's incredible that they have so many options for all the everyone that wants to really um take advantage of their their schooling in high school. We also offer a biomed pathway for those that want to get into the medical field and want to ease a have an easy transition into a medical profession. We have a very diverse club options. I want to say we have a club about for anybody. We have a Christian club. We have a Filipino club where we also do the tenling dance. Um, we even have a
101club rally where people of different cultures or ethnic groups can show off what makes them special and where they come from, which I think is a beautiful thing. I that that also ties into the diversity, but I think um adding on to the diversity and just diverse club options as well. Um, we have people from just about anywhere. Uh, a lot of my friends, they actually live out in Antioch, which cool. They they drive all the way down to College Park and they they share their experiences and everyone is different and very unique. I'd say >> um with a large student body comes some challenges as well. Namely that the infrastructure of our school is not built to accommodate 2,000 students and nearly 200 staff members. With a studenttoteer ratio of nearly 30 to1, it
102is impossible for teachers to teach to their full abilities. hallways become completely unwalkable and bathrooms are constantly full at this scale leading to a poor quality quality of life for students. Um the large population also leads to some students becoming very comfortable in their anonymity causing people to act in destructive ways that they wouldn't typically. Since there is no way to find the culprit in a large crowd, individuals are get are able to get away with inexcusable actions. Um, additionally, many staff members do not punish students for behavior that happens in their room or around campus. They often shy away from difficult conversations, either from fear of being fired or an inability to sit in discomfort of the topic. This affects the student body negatively because students aren't told why a certain symbol or word
103is hurtful. Um, on the other hand, certain teachers can be very comfortable in the power imbalance that occurs in a classroom using their authority and influence to intimidate students. Um, our large population comes with positives like diversity and our supportive student body, but it ultimately affects the student life and education negatively on campus. Uh, does anyone on the board have any questions or comments for the schools? So, I had the question for Mount Diablo High School. You indicated that uh you didn't have any rallies. Is there a reason why rallies uh were cancelled? Because I recall uh attending a rally. >> Okay. So, um Okay. So, would it would it be okay if I see my answer, then she says your answer? Go ahead. >> Sure. All right. So, um, in Mont Diablo High School,
104um, it's from what I recalled, uh, the it doesn't it hasn't really been made clear to the students as much, though, you know, I don't really want to say rumors to spread misinformation, but it hasn't been made clear to the students and why there no rallies. >> That's fair. Um, we only talked about it once in our leadership class, which is what, you know, produces the rallies and we didn't really have a conversation about it. It was just a small comment that we wouldn't be having any until our end of the year rally, the multicultural rally. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. >> And do the other high schools have rallies? Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Uh, I just wanted to say number one, love hearing from all of you. Um, the rest
105of them know this and they get sick of hearing it. I graduated from this district and I graduated from Pacifica High School, which was out in Bay Point, which the rest of the district called Kakahigh. That's what we were met with. So trust me that the things that challenge you and the things that make you feel bad are the things that are going to make you persistent, going to make you stronger, going to make you better citizens. And pretty soon you'll be like me and people hear your name and go, "Oh no, here that person comes." Because you're going to hold people accountable. So I thank you for your bravery and speaking your truth, for being willing to stand up for the people you go to school for in the communities you live in, and
106you make me as a board member very proud to be a board member. Thank you for that. Yeah, I don't have a question. Sorry, I don't have a question. Just a comment. Thank you. Um, thank you all for your thorough thorough research and analysis which you can write on your college applications if you haven't gotten there yet. Um, and that that was like very and conclusions and recommendations. So, you did the whole thing. So, um, I really appreciate your hard work and your, uh, insight into things we don't see or even hear from our own children. >> Uh, so I would just echo my fellow board members and in in commending you for a great job. We're so excited to hear from you. Um, it's something I've been looking forward to. And also in terms
107of how we make our district better and how we make our schools better, it begins with what you just did here, which is gathering this information, presenting this information, being advocates for it for it. So, um I just wanted to thank you for that and great job. >> And I just as as your superintendent, I just want you all to know that I'm extremely proud of each and every one of you. And um I come to work every single day with high hopes and you are the reasons why I work so hard. Um if you've ever tuned into our board meetings, I talk about you all at every meeting and I talk about how um the adults perceptions of you all is unfair because each and every one of you are incredible people. Um, you
108represent incredible student bodies and it is not there is nothing wrong with our students. It's the adults that need work. Every one of your highlights and lowlights were spoton. As someone who's been doing this work for over 30 years and has multiple degrees and has been in multiple schools, you all were spoton in every single thing that you said about your schools, what make them great and where we need to improve. And so, um, I want all of you to hold your heads up high and to continue to work at doing whatever it is that you're doing, whatever, whether it's school or whether it's at work or whether it's at home or your communities, to continue to bring that level of care and representation of your people and to elevate them. And I assume all
109seniors almost juniors some juniors there. >> Senior and do we all want to go to college? >> Every last one of you. Very good. That is our goal here is to prepare you all for college and career and um and I know that um the stories that are told about our high schools um they don't reflect the students that are in them because as I go out to our schools and I've and I've seen some of you around um you guys are doing wonderful things and I'm extremely proud of you and I hope I hope that the adults in this room because you have some very powerful people in this room who heard what you said and we have the power to continue to work on that to try to make your experiences even better.
110They should be the absolute best experiences and this ought to be your best experience in high school. You only get one high school experience and we truly want to make it the best. So, um before you guys leave, I'm going to come over in front of your little picture there and we're going to take a picture. And um and again, I just want you all to know how proud we are of you. your your words are um we're taking it to heart and we have this on tape and we will be following up with many of the things you you guys brought up and and just know the things you guys brought up are not new. We we've known about these things and we've worked on these things and shame on us adults for not
111fixing them a long time ago. And Allan, I just want to say like like kudos like you this is the work that you're doing. This the best. This the best presentation we've had all year in many years. This this is it. >> Years, six years. >> Yeah. I mean, so so you all did a great job and I know it's not easy to to talk in front of a microphone. It's not hard to talk in front of strangers and things like that, but you all did a a fantastic job and I'm extremely proud of you all. All right, Alan, will you come over and take a picture with us? Let's see. Where's the You're welcome to stay. >> Thank you. Good doctor. Okay. >> What board member wants to follow that report? >> Why don't
112you start with this folks? Stay on our good roll here with our student. >> Uh, as you can see from the last presentation, I met up with the student advisory committee last Thursday to work on this presentation and we were able to elect two vice chairs and a secretary. Yesterday as well, I was able to meet with Miss McKinnon, the principal of Conquered High. As Kobe talked about in the presentation, he felt that lack of recognition sometimes towards academics. So, we talked about creating an honoral program. We talked about areas of improvement and change that we see in the school. This Monday on MLK day, I went to Conquered High School and participated in the community service there, cleaning up the campus. I just want to send a thank you to everyone who was there
113and cleaned up. It really doesn't make a difference when a campus is cleaner. It enhances the students ability to learn. For many of us, it's a second home. It's important to take care of it. In honor of MLK Day, I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes of his. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. His messages of hope, justice, and equality expand generations. His message will never die as long as they're young people like we have today willing to speak out against injustice. >> Thank you. Okay, any volunteers? If not, I'll call on people. >> Happy to volunteer and I'll I'll keep mine short. And um you know, again, just that that was a fantastic presentation. And I think the important thing is and my expectation and I know the
114superintendent's expectation is that our administrators as they get that feedback that they are going to be receptive. Not everything's going to be done immediately but that they have a a fair hearing on those things that they take that student input and we hear back. So it's not just a presentation but rather it's an ongoing process. So um and then I do also want some names for Northgate as to why they weren't here. So, >> um, and then outside of that, I will say in in the Northgate area, I will call out the fact that our new Cal football coach is a uh he went to De La, but he is a Walnut Acres and Foothill alum, which is great to see. Uh, and a proud Jaguar and and Griffin. Um, and we were just here
115last week, so I was going to keep mine short and I will uh continue the rest of my time. Thank you. Of course, it was a short time, so there's not much to report. Uh, I did take a a weekend up to the mountains and then the holiday Monday, so there weren't a lot of opportunities. The upcoming schedule is busy with the start of um CTE and MDBEA sessions. So, we're looking forward to that. And finally, uh, I will have a town hall on the 2nd of February. It will be at the conquered library from 6:45 to 7:45. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I had the opportunity despite my cold to attend three meetings uh since we last met. The one first one and Miss Mason was there as well was the district learner
116advisory committee meeting which was last Thursday. There was a presentation by Aaron Vallejo regarding the AI tools and use in Mount Diablo School District uh which are available in multiple language across our district. These tools include Brisk Teaching and Magic School AI. And I have recommended to um our 18 PTA schools that they perhaps invite Miss Fileo or someone else to make a presentation to parents in their uh school communities because I believe this is of profound interest to our parents and we should know more about it. I attended the parent advisory committee meeting on the 20th and we had a presentation by about student services by Melissa Brennan and Jessica Posus and they included all of the services and mental health services our wellness centers therapeutic services and social social emotional uh educational collaborative
117and I don't think our community understands the breadth and depth of the services that we provide. side and I believe that many of the parents that attended the meeting uh last night were uh surprised to learn about some of those. So thank you for those. Um in addition um there was a comment some information shared about SOORE which stands for support office for access and resources and um working on student um re-engagement in learning building connections for schools and families and community resources. And tomorrow night at 4:30 at Willow Creek Center, they're having a sore event where families can come uh share some bread and uh also pick up some uh items that will be helpful to the families uh like coats, gloves, blankets, those sorts of things. Um Miss Martini D. Martini uh gave
118the education services presentation along with Miss Mrs. Steel and Lauren Ashton. And um we're looking at they discussed the beginning of the year evaluations, the midyear evaluations, and the endofear assessments. And now our teachers are looking at fall and winter data to advance student learning. And uh the common instructional practices were shared in addition to the professional development that's ongoing and creating se safe and welcoming environments. Uh the translation in our uh across our district is a plus as well as our numerous community events, surveys and newsletters and volunteer opportunities for our families. So I felt um last night's presentation was exceptional and I hope the PowerPoint and other information are available on your web page. Uh today I had the opportunity to attend the capital advisors and CSBA governor's budget presentation at 2 o'clock.
119I mean I'm sorry at 1:00. It was a 2-hour presentation and all of you should have received an invitation to it and I hope that in the future you can attend one of these if you uh have the opportunity. Some of them are in person and then some of them are virtual. and uh they gave a two-hour overview of the government's governor's proposed budget. And if you know Kevin Gordon and uh Jack Oonnell, they have the um knack they have a knack at um um making jabs at uh congressional our uh leaders in Sacramento on both uh sides of the uh political spectrum and also uh brag a little bit about um past history and also provide um what do I want to say possible changes uh that they predict that will be happening and
120leading up to the May revise. I would say uh they were optimistic. Um they want us to stay tuned. They indicated that CTA is going going to be coming more involved around the second deferral or the settle up that Mr. Vargas spoke about and that the governor has the potential with the incoming revenue to uh resolve the budget problem this year if he has the will political will to do it. So, we'll have to see what happens. uh the December income was $3 million $3 billion higher than predicted. So we it remains to be seen what will happen in these coming months towards June 30th and what the revenue is and um how everybody plays the game. They predicted a couple of u possible changes in the candidates for the governor's position as well as
121for the state superintendent. So um it's it's going to be an interesting spring. Thank you. >> Zi, >> I have nothing. >> Well, you have a lot. You're just not reporting tonight. Okay. I haven't >> uh the day after our last meeting, I had a trifecta. I went to Mount Dabau High School to the career pathways meeting that they had there. And then I shot over to the DACA meeting where they had the presentation on AR, which was very good, and then swung over to Conquer High, which is on my way home to go to the uh Apac meeting and listen to the presentation of Martin Luther King. I find it fascinating that probably I might be the only person that was alive when he was assassinated. And the story that we heard at that
122time is very different than the true story that we hear today. I always learn something when I listen to Dr. Francis. I'm sorry he already left. I would have complimented him on that. And then um on Monday, Martin Luther King Day of Service, I um joined the city council member Carolyn Carlin O'brer and uh she invited me to go over and uh mulch trees with them in um Hillrest Park over in Conquered. And it was freezing and cold and wet, but I had a lot of fun mulching trees with the folks from City of Conquered. And then by the time I got home to Baypoint shock, it was the only time I saw a sun in two weeks. So I went and worked in the garden at Riverview, cleaned up the garden and the leaves
123there for um continue my day of service. And then I went to the pack meeting yesterday and it was a very comprehensive presentation on student services. And what I liked best about it is our kids don't come all in the same size with the same needs. So, we're developing programs to meet kids at wherever they're at to give them whatever they need to be as amazing as the students. We saw her earlier this evening. And with that, I'll turn it over to Dr. Clark. >> All right. Thank you all for those um presentations. Um, you know, I'm I'm very intentional in what I do and what I say and um and so as I share these goals before every meeting like like these words have have a purpose and we see them live out in
124our students and we see the reasons why our adults need guidance on what's important and um and what we value and what we stand for. And so I just think it's always important to have these at the front and center of of the work that we're doing. Um, you know, I think the students validated the things that I talk about all the time and and Allan, I did not um meet with you to uh censor anything that they said or to go over anything that they said. And so, um, you know, there's a there's a benefit to having a superintendent who who, um, um, understands young people and understands our systems and understands the narrative around our systems. Um, and so, again, I'm not to not to bore you all to death, but we're going
125to talk data. Um because I feel it um our kids are listening and the narrative that adults are talking about when it comes to our young people and our kids is not positive and it trickles down to our kids. We heard it last night in the PAC meeting as we talked about the hundreds and hundreds of uh mental health issues that we have with our students. Um, and we we heard it tonight from the you directly from our students. I mean, what more evidence do we have? So, like we can pull out data reports, we can pull out all these types of things, but I think talking to students and um is something that that really shows us and validates the work that we're doing and shows us the work that we still have to
126do yet. Um, um, you know, Trusty Mayo talked about this again. It's the beginning of the year assessment, middle of the year assessment, end of the year assessment. Those are things that we are going to take extremely serious and we're going to look at extremely closely as as we continue on from here out. we for the last several years we've been putting all these pieces together and I really am excited um you know about the coherence that we're seeing as a district um all the way from the board level all the way down um to our students and everyone in between and so I have some secondary um just some this is going to be the secondary day and um you know our secondary director put out a spreadsheet to all the principles and the
127principles filled and um you know filled in data sets and stuff that's going on at their schools. Just so I'm clear, we're we're measuring um we're measuring ELA, math, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rates. And Mr. Vargas uh said earlier that our um ADA, our average daily attendance has grown. That that that does not just happen. We have we have intentionally gone after attendance and making sure that students are at school every day. Not for the financial bump that we may get. Um but we spend millions of dollars on programs. If the students aren't here, then it's all for not. So our students have to be here. So our principles are being intentional at looking at their chronic absenteeism data. if if not daily, weekly, and definitely monthly, we are logging that information. And you all
128know as a board, I've been unable over the last several years to give you all accurate data because we're all collecting it in different ways. And and with the changes that we've made, we're now able to really collect that stuff very clearly. So, this is Valley View Middle School, and again, they they've decreased their chronic absenteeism from 13.9% down to down to 9%. Now, again, Chronic absenteeism is when you miss 10% of the days of school that we've had so far. So if it's the first week of school and you miss one day of school, then you've missed 20% of the school year. So you can just think in a in a 180day uh school year, it's not a lot to get to 10% where folks are chronically absent. And so here is Valley View.
129Um and it just shows suspension rate is down. um in seventh grade their their reading increased. Now it could mean that their sixth graders didn't increase and their eighth graders didn't increase. But you know what the school knows that and so now the school can target that and can start putting you know putting things in place to see how we can how we can improve that. But star math above their star math scores are above the district average across all grades. Pine Hollow um chronic absenteeism decreased by 2.7% but then with their e students which has also been a target of ours it decreased um 6.5%. You know I had I I I put up Pine Hollow's data in here many times because their suspension rates were off the charts. So guess what they're doing?
130They are focusing on their suspension rates. They have a youth court going on at the school where they bring conflicts and things like that to the students and the students hear cases and render um solutions, punishments, whatever you want to call it. But it's really working and and the principal there has a lot of good data over that and they've they've reduced their suspension rates almost in half, a little more in half. And again, they're showing um the highlights. And again, you may not be able to say like, "Yeah, every kid is is growing at this rate or something, but let's celebrate what is going on." And I think that's what the young man was saying earlier is like, "Yeah, I'm getting straight A's. I'm a 4.0 student, but where's someone to pat me on
131the back and say, "That's great." Young lady from YV. Yeah, the news shows up all the time when there's a fight or there's a problem or there's something like that, but where are they when they're doing great things? um the news does show up for their um for their engineering and stuff like that, but other than that, like just come on campus and interview kids. You can find a story. Um Diablo View, chronic absenteeism decreased. Again, Diablo View, our highest performing uh middle school, they're still focusing on on on their absentee rate. Maintain 0% full day suspension rate. I like that. Now, they did put full day in there, so they're doing some fudging of the books and stuff like that. I get it. Whatever. it's all good as long as we're working in the
132right direction. And then also just that like this might seem like something little and someone might say, "Oh, well, where's your data on that?" But you know what? Implementing schoolwide literacy and collaboration focus on instructional walkthroughs. That's big, especially in such an isolating um profession such as teaching. Usually, you know, you can do all these trainings and stuff and then teachers go in their in their classrooms, close the door. but to have it um intentionally collaborative across the school. Extremely proud of that. El Dorado chronic absentee rates down. STAR ELA scores increased. Math increased. Um here they are launched a wellness center. Now we have wellness centers at all of our high schools. And we found the need that it's also in the middle schools here. And so they launched a wellness center this year.
133201 assessing services in that in that wellness center. Um, and again to have a wellness center to keep if you have a student who's having an episode, whatever it may be, to keep them out of the office dealing with the vice principal who's usually using with discipline, they're able to go and actually get help from the professionals, which would be social work specialists, MFTt interns, things to that nature. So, um, proud of their work over there. Mount Diablo High School um chronic absentee rate decreased from 30% 30% of their students are chronically absentee are chronically absent. They've brought it down to 19%. Still, hey, I'd like it to be at zero or 1%, but you know what? We got to take we got to take wins where we can. Um suspension rates reduced by 29%.
134Um you know, Dr. McCain, the principal there, when he took over, he had to suspend a lot of students because um it was an issue. It's an issue at Mount Davo High School with the bathrooms right now. I I you know, I listen to the students. Students are right, but you know what? Students do unthinkable things to bathrooms and so things have happened. So, like, you know, they went from you know, they locked the doors, now you need passes, all these things. Um, but I think there's other things that you can do besides punitive things to go ahead and bring about change and it's always that that work in between strong after school tutoring and align and aligned grading practices. Now, if we can if we can crack that net and get aligned grading practices
135across core areas, we would be doing some amazing things. So, um, so they're they're at least having those conversations and um and and working on that. Very proud of the work at Mount Diablo High School. Chronic absentes rate at conquered high school down 4.9%. Suspension rates decreased three uh 3.1%. STAR scores um I know it says decrease but 4% decrease in students below benchmark. So again when you got students at that bottom level they've decreased that number 4%. So it's all in it's all in the wording. Um but it's it's something to celebrate. Northgate High School. Now, Northgate, when we we had conversations with Northgate about how their students who learn differently were progressing at that school. So, look at look at what they put here. They're showing like our students with IEPs uh uh
136their absentee rate was 21%. Um I guarantee you that the absentee rate for the Northgate overall body is nowhere near 21%. for students who have IEPs who weren't feeling connected at the school and weren't being looked at with the highest of expectations. That's been a shift in that leadership. So, that's something I want to I want to celebrate. I want to acknowledge that. Um 17% of students raised their GPA earned AP gold honor honor role and I brought that up last week, but did just want to highlight them. Ignatial Valley High School, look at their chronic absentee rate, 33%. They got it down to 20. And then just in January in January last last year it was 22%. This January it's down to 19%. Or so up to January or or so. So again something
137to something to celebrate there. Yeah. I mean it's the it's at least getting kids in school and that is that is critically important. I would love for there to be, you know, all kinds of things on here and I know there are, but the things we're focusing on are those areas we've we've con, you know, I don't want to hear about, oh, our basketball team got this award or our debate team got this award. I want to hear the whole card facts around our goals and how are they meeting the goals that that we've that we've set out. Olympic High School, Olympic High School, one of our um flagship schools, not just flagship alternative school, one of our flagship schools. They are absolutely kicking butt in all areas. Chronic absentee rate dropped on-site on-site mental
138health services increased 119%. So what that means is the needs of their students mental health needs are that much more. These are students who the regular high schools wasn't working for them. They're coming here. They these students have gone through stuff. So they're showing that number. Um, new workshop model boosted student participation by nine. Now, I might have to check on Adrian what like 960% is, but they're doing some some good work there. Um, you know, I I like this severe severe behaviors of hate violence down 75%. That is great. And positive referrals up 151%. So again, just can't um you know, and again, they have a small population. So you get, you know, the that's why you have these these big huge numbers because it's a small population there. But I think what it's
139shown is that there's a tremendous amount of needs at that school and they're working very hard to address those needs and calling it out. Uh College Park, their bullying suspensions dropped from eight down to zero, which I which I think is which I think is good. and and that that student today brought up I mean just the the um the wherewithal of that young student to say and this is what she said when you have the group mentality students do things that they wouldn't do you know like normally right on their own and that group mentality leads to some of this but I think with and the way you combat it is you have an administrator out there who knows everyone by name who walks the halls who knows what's going on with students who's
140a trust trusted trusted thing instead of that punitive relationship where I'm out to get you. How can I get you? Walking around with the walkie-talkies. You didn't do this. You didn't do that. But flipping that and being much more positive like that. That's an example of that. And then consistent tutoring and ELA math co-eing model implemented co-eing model. I just want to say um what that means is usually with students who learn differently. Unfortunately, in our systems, we often isolate those kids. We often send them out. we send them to a resource specialist. When you have a co-eing model, the resource specialist comes into the room and teaches with the teaches with the teacher and not just, oh, you take your four kids who have IEPs and go sit in the back table and work
141with them. That's not it's actually treating them all as professionals. And it might be the regular teacher working with the students who have IEPs and learn differently. And it might be the IEP teacher, the resource teacher who's working with other students. But that's that co-eing model for that to be happening at at any of our high schools is a is a is a thumbs up and hopefully that's something that can that can spread out and then just earned a spot on the AP honor role and I know Dr. Richardson talked about that last week. So again that that's my presentation. I I feel and again I did not um sync up with these students but because and you heard it from our students because of the negative rhetoric from adults about our students. They need
142people who are going to advocate for them. And that is what I see as the primary purpose of my job here in this district is to advocate for our students. And if I could spend all day every day with students, it would be a lot easier. But working with adults is difficult, but I'm up for the task and we have a great team and everyone is rowing the boat. In the words of PJ Fleck, uh, football coach for the University of Minnesota, he says, "Row the damn boat." Everyone needs to be rowing in the right direction. And that's what we're doing in trying to serve our students. And I'm extremely proud of that work and like nothing better than to show it off when I come to these meetings. We're not there yet, but we
143are getting there and we're heading in the right direction. So, thank you. That concludes my report. >> Okay. I'd like to make a comment. >> Um I want to thank you Dr. Clark for um leading this district and I want to call out there were many points to call out in your presentation. But for Olympic High School and their wellness program to see an increase of 119% of students um seeking mental health services, that's amazing because the students felt comfortable and safe visiting there and seeking those services. That's a huge step because it takes a lot of courage to be able to seek out assistance and mental health services. I also want to call out College Park High School. Tonight we heard the student using the word scholars. He called himself and his peers scholars.
144I had a conversation with a grandmother who I've known for many years over the holidays and she called out Dr. Robertson. She mentioned that he calls the student scholars. So this is the grandmother repeating what she heard from her grandchild and the fact that he knows every student's name on campus. So she has heard this from her grandson as well. These are the connections and the relationships that we need to make sure that our students feel supported and safe on our campuses so they can be successful. And I just want to thank everybody in the room and everybody that's involved. Thank you. >> And and um Trusty May, I just want to I just want to um I just want to share the word scholars and what it means and why um why Dr. Richardson
145uses it. Um Superintendent Janet Schultz from Pittsburgh, she uses it. um during the during the attacks on the terms of equity and things like that when school boards in the south and in in Republican states were outlawing the terms of equity and things like that. Um educators needed to find ways to describe their students and they came up with the term scholars and so this is what this is what scholars mean. Scholars are individuals dedicated to deep learning, research and expertise in academic or intellectual fields. Um so that is what we call our our our students and it really is around scholars and um I personally I don't use the term I like calling them students and young people but there's a there's a reason why that term is used and there's a reason why
146um superintendent and and educational leaders use it and so I appreciate you picking up on that and bringing up that term. So anyway, >> I also chuckled when he used scholar because I'm like, "Oh, there's Dr. Richardson Rubenoff on his students." And I love that as much as we make fun of it in my own house because my daughter is like, "Oh, scholars, but it's making fun of and appreciation because this for the the same reasons of being seen um by that leader on campus of how important it is and how they hear every morning, good morning scholars." And now they they think of themselves as that even if they might chuckle because he's um dependable. >> But you you'll find it used where there's where there's um minority students. That's that's the term that
147they that they had to use in order to and this isn't like I'm not telling like Harriet Tubman tales or anything like that. We're talking like five years ago and stuff. So this is all relevant. Anyway, I digress. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. Okay, we are to the consent agenda. >> If there's nothing to be pulled, I'll entertain a motion. >> I move that we approve the items listed under the consent agenda. >> I'll second that. Okay. >> By trustee Inley, second by Trustee McDougall, correct? Okay. All these male voices this way. I got to distinguish. Okay. Trustee, why am I blanking on your name tonight? I'm just want I keep wanting to say Allan. That's not appropriate. Okay. Trustee Oriana, your mom's going to be sending me an email. >> Yes.
148>> Thank you. Waiting everybody vote. >> Scroll up. There you go. >> Okay, that passed. Five zero zero. Okay, with consent from our student. All right, next item is action eight. 181 reviewing potential approval of the school plans for student achievement. >> Yeah. Uh Joe Bruno, president of Delta View or principal of Delta View is going to do a presentation. No, I'm joking. I'm sorry. I'm joing with No, it's all good. You're on. Good evening, board of trustees. Um, previously we've brought to you the schoolwide plans for Westwood Elementary School and Conquered High School and also for Riverview Middle School and um, Olympic High School. And tonight we are bringing the bulk of the rest of the site plans for your approval. We have attached Delta View Elementary School, Highlands Elementary School, and Oakrove Middle
149School's plans as >> samples. Yes, Dr. Ramos is also here along with principal Bruno. We thank them and um Dr. Nirheim sends her apologies. She has a family emergency but um please let us know if there else. >> Can you can you can you tell me why these are coming in different um >> in different phases? Well uh most of our schools approve somewhere in late October to November and then we do have a review process but we've had some shifts in we have new principles etc. So there are some timeline shifts, but for the most part, it takes us just a little moment to review the plans and ensure that everything's in place and in case anything needs to go back to school site council. And we do have a few plans that um
150we I will bring at the next meeting. Again, we've had some um leadership changes at our sites and so for some special extenduating circumstances, we'll have a few coming in the next two weeks. Well, I would just say that I read them all and first thing I say is thank you to the school sites. There's a lot of information there. I know it's got to take a lot of time to gather. It's got to take a lot of time to put down, but it really like Dr. um Clark's presentation, you can get a sense of what's going on at the schools and the improvements and the adjustments they're making. So, I thank all the staffs and the principles for doing them. It really is a good snapshot for us board members to see what's going
151on at our schools. So, I don't mind that they keep coming in little chunks because it gives us more time to read them in between. Any other comments from board members? If not, I'll entertain a motion. >> Madame President, I move the board approve item 18.1, uh, the school plans for student achievement. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, we have motion by Trustee Lawrence, second by Trustee McDougall. How do you vote? Trustee Barrera Oriana. >> Yes. >> And that passes 500 with consent from our student. Okay. 18.2. Reviewing potential approval of changes to board policies and administrative regulations for California School Board Association. And this one is for action. I move to approve the revisions to board policies 5113.1 and administrative regulations 5113.1 is presented. Second. Thank you. We have a motion by trustee Zwi.
152Second by trustee Mayo. Trustee Guerrero Oriano. How do you vote? >> Yes. And that passes 500 with consent from our student trustee. 18.3 reviewing changes to board policies and administrative regulations for California School Board Association recommendation June 25 quarterly update. This also is an action item. Madame President, I move the board approve item 18.3, changes to board policies and administr administrative regulations per CSBA recommendations. >> Second. >> We have a by trustee Lawrence, second by trustee McDougall. Trusty Barrera Oriana, how do you vote? >> Yes. And that passes 5 0. And that would conclude our meeting unless there is I left trustee Lawrence out last time. Any recommendations for future agendas for any board members? >> No ma'am. >> Nothing. There we are.