001Instructions for accessing subtitles in a language other than English are included on our board meetings web page as well as in the description below. All right. Good evening and welcome to the Ross Valley School District Board of Trustees regular meeting. Today is August 6th, 2025 and I'm calling our meeting to order at 601. We have three trustees present in person at the Ross Valley School District office at 100 Shaw Drive in Sano. Myself, Rachel Litwack, Anna Marsh, and Shelley Hamilton. Trustees Landel's Cobb and trustees Cassidy are not available today. We also have cabinet members present, uh, superintendent Tyler Graph, CBO Chris Carson, and our director of student services, Lori Oconor. This meeting is being live streamed via YouTube, and the link is on our website and on the agenda. There will be a 60-second delay
002between the meeting and the YouTube live stream. An audio recording of the meeting will be made available to the public on our district website within 72 hours following the meeting. And the first item on our agenda is closed session. We're going to identify our closed session topics. We have conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation significant exposure to litigation pursuant to government code 54956.9 subdivision D2 or3 special education program dispute one case student SSID 6263516351. And um at this point I will call for public comment on the close session agenda item. We have no public here to comment. So I will recess us to close session at 602. All right. And we recess or we are reporting our re we're returning from our close session. We're exiting recesses at 6:35. Um and report out from close
003session. Um we voted three All three in favor of um special education program dispute one case for student SSID 6263516351. Um our next item on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance and democratic reflection. I do not have a democratic reflection today. I don't know if anyone else does. No. All right. If you would like to join me for the pledge, please stand. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next agenda item is to adopt our agenda and time allocations. Um there is no public here for public comment. Does anybody have any changes or adjustments to this? >> No. >> Make a motion to adopt the agenda allocations as stated. >>
004I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Thank you. And >> Oh, yes. I >> Anna >> I and Rachel I. All right. We have an adopted agenda and time allocations. Our next agenda item is decommunication. We have public comment regarding items not on the agenda for open session. Um we have no public here to comment. So I'll move on to item two, correspondence and communication to the board. Uh there are two attachments there. I think we've all received them and had a chance to read them. So thank you to the community for replying or responding to us. And our next item is three announcements by labor unions CSEA RTA. Seeing no representatives present, I will move on. Our next item is presentation and/or action items. The first item here under
005E1 is Ross Valley School District's 45day district budget update in response to the state's 202526 final budget adoption. Chris, >> this is me. Um, and so thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening related to our 45day budget revision. Um, this is not something that is absolutely required, but is recommended if you have material changes in the adopted budget from as a result of the governor's final approval of the budget. And uh this year we do have uh several items that have impacted our our budget and we did have an idea about those um when we adopted the budget. So I talked about those uh pretty uh pretty well during our um final meeting in June as as well. So I don't have a formal presentation, but what I do want to say is
006that if you look at the um spreadsheet that I have provided, there's no formal um SAX reports that are required for the 45day budget revision. And so really all you have to do is just provide information showing what the changes are. And so what I have done is shown that we have two two items that have gone into our restricted state revenues um which are student support and professional development discretionary block grant which is a new new dollar amount for us um which is calculated at $315 per ADA approximately. These are approximations because we don't have the final numbers yet. Um and also the learning recovery emergency block grant which is it sounds like it's a lot of dollars but it's really a small amount. It's $114 per uh unduplicated pupils looking at our 2021
007and 22 um year fiscal year. So it goes back in time. And so when looking at it it's a total of uh 500 and let me just large enlarge this a bit. between the two it's $538,312. It is only in restricted um rest the restricted general fund does not impact our unrestricted funds at all. And all I've done at this particular point is put in the revenue and the reason for that is we are in the process of um working through the um the expenses. We we are thinking that we would use uh approximately half of those to maintain our um counseling services for one additional year and then the other half of those funds we would look at what how we would spend them. They are only one time they're on the categorical side
008uh again. So I want to point that out. Um and so there is no impact in terms of our uh unrestricted reserve percentage at this particular point. it would be very small when it does happen because it's um just increases our total expenses when we put those in. So, the other thing I want to point out is I know that there's been some um some some >> critique. Well, some people have have asked that we add back positions uh that we had cut as part of the the budget um budget advisory committee process and as part of our adopted budget. We had uh cut $510,000 out of the general fund which was made up of um the um uh >> guest support teachers GSTs and also our counseling services $510,000 plus $200,000 in services in
009the final two years of our um budget. And that's really more asking for uh funding through the PTAs and PTO's. And so if we were to do that where we would cut those dollars out of our out of our um or add the expenses back in what that would do to our reserves, we would go from um our percentage where we're uh over 6.4% where we would drop down to 41%. >> In the third year, >> 0.41, which is under the 3% required minimum reserve. And so I want to point out that what would happen at that point if we were to do that, I would I would be bringing the budget to um include those expenses and then I would have to include another item where I ask the board what the process is
010going to be to cut the dollars to get us above the 3%. So it doesn't really make sense that we would do that at this particular point. And the other thing that I think is important to note is that I am working on closing the books right now. We're deep into that and I don't see any dollars that are going to fall out of our budget the way we have in the past. And the reason for that is the last two years we've really tightened the screws on our budget. It was very very intentional based upon the the feedback we received from the budget advisory committee and the community. So, um, I I think it's going to be something really close to our our budget, our final budget. So, I did want to point that
011out. So, what we're asking you this evening is just to um approve the the revised budget that you have in front of you, which is adding the $538,000 $536,000. So just for kind of sake here um usually what we do after something's presented um like the budget items just presented um we have a chance to ask questions of staff cabinet whoever's presenting um and then we go for public comment and then we come up here and we discuss it. So if you have questions right now this is the time to ask of Chris or Tyler whoever you would like to ask the questions from and we go to public comment based on what they say then we can have a discussion up here and go over >> okay >> just to have an idea of
012the format. >> Thank you. So, anyone have questions for Chris? >> I was going to ask questions, but you answered them specifically. Specifically, and I just going to reiterate to make sure I understood correctly both. I had questions. Specifically, the revisions that we're seeing are in the restricted funding. So, it's not like there was an adjustment in cola or something like that. That was an overall budget. specific really restricted to those two block grant areas which have then specific restricted uses for those funds. Okay, so that was that was one clarification that I thought I heard. And then the second thing that I heard um which again is also helpful was that we then can you you you and the staff will then go back and look at how to allocate those additional block grants
013for one-time uses rather than ongoing positions. Because while we have that additional money, it's not an ongoing. It's just a one-time block grant that we then will use for a one time or one year or two year, but not an ongoing which would then incur, like you said, the three-year >> we would not be adding new positions. >> We would be adding new position. Correct. So, I think one one piece of context to add about this particular block grant is that it was in the governor's budget, then it was out of the budget, and then it was in the budget, and then it was out of the budget, and it was unclear about what how much it was going to be until just recently it got put in. So, we didn't really have this information
014when we brought the budget to you earlier in the year. So, now we have the information and there was dispute whether this block grant was going to happen or not because of the budget back and forth at the state. So, we didn't include it initially, right? However, we had a sneaking suspicion it might be approved. And Chris and I, Chris did some math on what he thought the number might be. And in our budget advisory committee meeting, we essentially kind of had an assumption that this might come down the pike and we could use it to save cutting our counselors, not this coming year, but the following year. We have a grant to save our counselors this year and this is going to save our counselors for next year. So if someone's asking like, "Hey,
015you just got $500,000 of extra money. Bring things back." We've already brought two things back. We've already brought two counselors back for next year. Now we have half the money, about $250,000. We'll come to the board here in another few weeks with a proposal for you around that other $250,000. And I think what Chris is saying is that if if we didn't make the cuts that we did make that we wouldn't be at 6% in the third year out. We'd be at 0.04 and then we'd be required to make cuts. So we kind of are in this catch 22. We proactively make the cuts and not have MCE tell us to make the cuts or we can not make the cuts and then have MCE tell us to make the cuts. Right. >> We have
016to make the cuts either way. >> Right. >> Yeah. Just >> one of the things that the state has done budget-wise over the years long discussion or questions. >> Oh, sorry. >> Okay, hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Question. >> Clarification question. >> Just clarification. >> Sorry. Hold on. Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> No additional questions. >> Do we have public comment on this item? >> Yes. So, you have three minutes, two and a half minutes. You can give a warning ding. >> Um, hi PJ Feffer Manor parent. Um, kind of a bummer I missed the presentation getting 640, but um I think what I heard from some of the questions is that the money isn't being allocated, at least not in full to offset the loss. I think I heard Tyler mention that
017it's going to supplement to bring back the counselors in the second year out um who are now I assume are the ones on the um like second grant fund, you know, they were on the budget and then are currently off of it. Um, I also heard about the funds being in the restricted budget, but the bulk of the funds being added being part of the supplemental uh long acronym, uh, block grant. Um, you know, it's a discretionary block grant. I don't, you know, it's not the first year they've had it. And um while it is restricted funds, the funding restrictions are extremely broad, including any expenses that um would support uh budget items A through G, which is just anything that um goes towards meeting the UC requirements. And it specifically says on the California
018um education department's website that that can go to um salaries, instructors, like it's very broad if you read the language. Um, and you know, we transfer on average 6.1 $6.2 million from our unrestricted general fund to our restricted general fund each year in the budget. Um, because the there are there isn't enough money in the restricted fund um to cover all the restrict the expenses that um that we can allocate restricted funds to. Um, so it seems to me that just because money is in the restrictive fund does not mean that we can't just say that these monies are going towards classes broadly and reduce the amount of money that we're transferring from the general fund. And so it does not seem to me that there really should be any restriction on there's no legal
019or statutory restriction that's practically affecting the board's ability to allocate this money as it chooses. And we have no more public here for public comments. So I will bring it back to the board for discussion. Shel, do you want to jump back on that thought? You Sorry. No, >> I appreciate the uh the comments. Um and one of the things that we've seen over the years um especially when the state moved from what used to be budgets replete with block grants and program funded. It was very very much program funded by here's money for this program and there's all these little different program buckets >> and they were a lot more like refunded it for three years or five. there was this timerestricted grants and then the state moved to more unre heard a lot
020of districts saying we need more flexibility um and that's where we moved to the LCFF funding which was much more unrestricted funding of you got this amount of money you have to accomplish these things with it and there's a lot more flexibility in the last I don't know what' you say three to five years made maybe five years it's been creeping back toward these block grant things which >> personally I think is makes it much more difficult. >> They're they're really difficult because they're one time. Yeah. So if I'm thinking about, you know, if the team wants to implement math intervention across the school district to support struggling students, we do that for one year and then we got to fire people, right? >> So the the one-time funds make it really difficult, which is
021why Chris, myself, and the budget advisory committee essentially made the decision that if we have this block grant money, we're going to use it to not cut the counselors. So half of that money is already allocated for next year for counselors. The other half we've got an idea that we're going to bring to the board um in a few weeks. >> So sometimes the restrictions are by type of use and sometimes the restriction is by one time, >> right, >> or two years or whatever the it's a time restriction, okay, versus a specific use restriction. So when we talk about restricted funds, it might be one or the other. >> Sure. when it's you can't really you can't budget for long-term expenses like salary increases or extra onetime bonds because >> and there's there is
022a conversation from a union perspective and I haven't heard this specifically from our union but more broadly from the state is that teachers want to see salary increases on the salary schedule as opposed to one-time kind of bonuses >> and I think that there's a tension there I was actually talking with the superintendent recently where their union actually would rather have a very small portion on schedule rather than a larger dollar amount off schedule. Um, and it's just there's some philosophical things from a union perspective about getting things on schedule versus, you know, one time here's a check for $1,000 or $500 like we've done over the past few years. We've done that on schedule plus a little bit off schedule. Um, so we need to talk with our union about about that when we
023get into negotiations in September. But >> what is the larger trend that's with the state that's things are going back to the block? Why is that happening? It's easier to get through the legislature on a one by one basis, I think. And it you can have different, you know, elected folks who want to see more of this or like it's a >> it all started in 2007 when we were going through the state fiscal crisis. Um what they started doing is they took a whole bunch of programs and they moved them into tiers. So you had tier 1, 2, three, and they ended up sweeping a lot of those into what was known as the revenue limit at that time. Then in 2011, 2012, Governor Brown uh instituted what he called subsidiarity, which he wanted
024to eliminate all categoricals with the exception of your key ones like special ed and those types of things. And so again, he rolled things into the LCFF when he created the LCFF. And then what has happened is it really started in earnest when we had the COVID shutdown. We started getting huge numbers of grants >> block group for specific here's for masks and here's for computers and here's for that kind of thing. >> And then he uh the the legislature has and the governor have found that there's a better appetite for that than what there had been as a result of the shutdown. And in the instance of COVID, having a block grant that helps with PPE for instance 110, >> right? Like you can you can buy that thing. You don't need to buy
025it ongoing forever. >> However, a lot of these block grants also had to do with learning loss. >> And then a lot of districts made decisions, ours included, to increase counseling services, increase intervention services, increase other personnel. And you're seeing across the state >> declining enrollment, so less money. Plus, the CO money is going away, but you've built up your staff. So, people are shutting down schools. People are laying off staff. And it's not unique to us. It's it's everywhere. The thing that's unique to us is that we're at the bottom of the funding. We have the least amount of funding the state will give essentially. >> Okay. >> Context. I think this district was also very thoughtful and cognizant about knowing that the co money >> was not a forever type of thing and
026so the staffing that I think we did was super for co was very effective but was also with an eye to knowing that it wasn't going to be >> forever we didn't there's a lot of other districts who were in a lot deeper hot water because >> like million dollar layoffs because they just didn't realize that's or whatever Interesting. Okay. Well, is there any further discussion? Okay. I will entertain a motion on this one. Okay. I'll make a motion to be I know here. Uh, I'll make a motion to approve the proposed 45day budget revision as presented by staff. >> I have a second. >> I'll second. >> Great. Shelley. >> And Anna. >> I. >> And Rachel. I. Thank you, Chris. >> All right. Okay. Our next item is Proposition 28, arts and music
027and schools funding annual report for fiscal year 202425. Thank you. Um so with proposition 28, it was designed to provide um supplemental art and music programs to school districts. Many districts weren't offering those types of programs um which is different than where the Ross Valley School District was in. And so again, it's supplemental and the requirement is that we annually just provide information on how we're um how we're providing services and increasing staff because that's really the purpose of it. We're supposed to spend 80% of the the dollars on new staff um providing new programs, which is difficult when you're offering robust programs already. And so um the remaining 20% goes towards um materials and supplies and also um indirect costs 1% of the 20. So I just want to underscore what Chris just mentioned
028there. This money for us is very difficult to spend. You essentially have to like quit a program for a year and then bring it back and then we can fund it. And because YES has been such a great beneficiary to the district that we have these amazing art and music programs, so it's hard to build more because we, you know, we're already doing so much um TK through 8. So I think in a normal district that maybe doesn't have a a band program or, you know, a certificated art teacher in elementary school, this money is pretty easy to spend. But in our case, it's pretty challenging. >> What's the definition of new? >> Like if we had if we had a ceramics course that we were already running and we teacher left or for whatever
029reason we didn't have that program for a year, then we then it would be new in the third year. basically have to like end a program, >> not serve kids for a year, and then bring it back. And it's just like >> this is one of those ones where these block grants can be really helpful depending on your context of your district. And our context, it's not very helpful. And in terms of new, it also from an auditor standpoint, what they're going to do is they're going to look at our staffing in arts and music last year and in the current year and they're going to see if you have new staff. >> So it's not just a shift in the curriculum, right? Correct. >> One year the ceramics was focused on folk art and
030the next year it's focused on modernism. >> Yeah. If I have the same number of staff and I've now charged those staff to this program, they're going to deny it as a >> as a valid expense. >> And the fact that they've had this be 80% staff is a really tough one for us. If if we had more flexibility in materials and supplies, >> we could get all kinds of great things for our middle school program and for our elementary art teachers. Like, but the 20% and then when you take this money, divide it by each of the five schools, >> the materials and supplies money is is pretty negligible. >> Unfortunately, >> just unfortunately because a lot of people voted for it because they're like, "Oh, we're supporting the arts and whatever. We all
031thought this is great." And then yes had the whole backlash of like well we bought 20 we don't have to pay as much but no problem. >> So yeah it's not fantastic. >> And this goes back to the programs that you were asking about. This is a categorical program >> and I have it it's very difficult on me. I have to track it by school site because there's a specific allocation for each school and then down to the 20% and then I can we have up to three years to spend it. So I have to also track it by year. >> What's the total amount of this grant Chris? >> It's approximately a quarter of a million. So 200 So 250,000 you start dividing that by five schools a little bit more for White Hill
032>> by three years >> you're looking at $50,000 and then you're looking at 20% of that $50,000. So you're looking at $10,000 for supplies and then you have $40,000 for staffing for a single school. What can you do with $40,000 for staffing? >> Right? >> You can get a 0.2 FTE a quarter of a of a staff member a little bit more. And do you have to book this as revenue? I mean, you have to because we got the grant, we have to you have to book it. >> Show it as as revenue. Yes. >> So, it shows up as there's this money, but it's really phantom kind of. >> I I am spending some of the dollars, but eventually we're going to potentially have to return some of it. And this is not unique
033in terms of um issues spending it. Many districts in this community in in R County in particular have had these similar issues. >> Right. And again issues of block grants, >> right? >> Why do you say well it could be returned? >> It may have to be returned but it's >> because if we don't spend it if we don't spend the 80% after the three years >> then we would owe those dollars back >> is that built into future budgets or >> what I would do is I would um not record it as a necessarily as a revenue. It might be sitting in deferred revenue or I would record it as a liability going out. So, it's not going to impact our budget negatively. >> Okay. I'm thinking like if that that the third year
034like oh my god it will not >> freaking me out like even 250,000 is going to go away. I'm like >> okay >> what do we need to do on this particular agenda? >> Um public comment first and then we can have a discussion up here. Do we have no public comment? Okay. Um do we have any discussion on this? I mean I feel like those questions kind of like ended any conversation. Yeah. Um, yeah. I mean, I Yeah, I didn't know about this and just had a little education there. Wow. Well, thank you, Chris, for planning ahead. This isn't >> Yeah. >> Is this something where like we could have we could hire one new teacher that would like instead of doing a point 2 FTE for one school, could we do one new
035hire that goes around and helps all the schools? So then like because I know that maybe an art teacher could use some help like especially back to school night or when there's like those huge >> turns to get all that work done. >> I actually just sent a calendar invite to Julia and Chris and I are going to sit down and kind of >> try to find a strategic way to to spend this. Yeah, >> I know our middle school teachers are really eager to spend this because they have colleagues in other districts with more money where it's having a big impact and they're looking at their colleagues going like, "Wait, >> Prop 28 is really helping that school district out. Why isn't it helping us out?" So, I think the three of us need
036to get together and get as strategic as possible. >> Um, and then get whatever, you know, our our art teachers need. >> Okay. >> I like that idea of a support >> a support teacher. Yeah. either for music or art. >> Like we've had like e, you know, English language coaches or those kinds of folks like even having a an arts coach support teacher. >> Yeah. I think the only the only thing I would and I love the idea and I think the three of us will chat about what what's needed and that'll be part of the conversation. I want to be aggressive with spending the money but I don't want it to start encroaching on the general fund. So if it's if we hire someone, it needs to be fully within that grant otherwise
037we can't do it. >> Yes. >> Does the county or I mean offer any sort of strategy for you know so the amongst districts so you can like compare with >> Chris have you heard of what other districts are doing with Prop 28? It actually has not been a topic of conversation at the CBO level. >> Seems like that we can reach out as >> I get the feeling that most of them are in our same position because we all have foundations here. >> Yeah, >> I think they're probably getting funding. >> I do know that several years ago the conversation was surrounding being it having it be a new program and several districts not knowing how they were going to spend it if at all. Mhm. >> I'm thinking of two in particular. >>
038And at the high school, it's pretty easy to do because you can just add a new section. >> You have one more class, right? So, you might have a ceramics teacher who's got a full five sections. You can just give her a sixth section and now she's working 1.2 FTE. Your FTE is increasing and you're adding you're there's more programs for kids. So, >> but in an elementary school there, you can't do that. But it why I feel we could do that, right? >> And we just cut a section of art um because we had a teacher who was teaching a 1.2 who didn't want to teach one 1.2 anymore. So then you've got to go out and find a teacher who's going to teach a >> two. >> And it's hard to find a
039certificated art teacher in general, let alone someone who wants to work >> a quarter quarter time or half time. But the three of us will meet and we'll we'll get strategic. We'll reach out to our art and music teachers and see what we can do because I don't really want to spend send money back to the state if we can. >> No. No. >> Yeah. >> Especially if it's for art music. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Absolutely. >> So if we don't have any more discussion, I'm happy to entertain a motion on this item. What is the just make a motion to approve prop 28 for the fiscal year 2425? >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Great. >> I Rachel I. Thank you Chris. >> Okay. Our next item is consent actions. Um
040the first item is recommended approval of the certificated classified administrative personnel actions and there's no public here to comment on that. Um actually on this one we can do a motion for all of them and the second item here is recommended approval of YMCA lease agreements for facility space at Brookside Hidden Valley Manor and Wade Thomas elementary schools for the 20242 project. So if there's there's no public comment here, no public comment. There's no >> actually that should be 2526. >> Oh, should it be? Okay. >> Yes. >> Should Okay. So, we need to make that addition for change. >> Oh, all of the attachments say 2526. It's just in >> just in the agenda item. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Oh, it's interesting. It's just on the left, but it's right on the actual
041agenda item. >> Exactly. The background is correct. It says 2526 in the background and it says it on all the attachments. So, it's just in a little >> Okay. All right. Subject line. >> Um, I'd make a motion to approve the consent action consent items. >> Okay. >> I'll second. >> Great. And I will uh Oh, yeah. Yes. >> Rachel. I >> Okay, so those are approved. Thank you. And our next item is board business, committee updates, reports from and announcements by trustees. any activity. >> Try to scan through. It's been pretty quiet summertime. >> Committees are going to start up again. >> Got moving, but >> nothing yet. >> All right. I was at the yes board meeting last night. Um I was on Zoom. It's been a long week for me. Um they
042uh they did a welcome because it's the new start of the year for them. So, they did a welcome to the 25 26 board members who were new and returning. Um, everyone introduced themselves. They did a review of last year's um budget fundraising and their their plans from last year. Um, they talked about their budget school like their back to school awareness and fall campaign. They um discussed current project projects and initiatives and they're currently planning for their uh YesFest which is like follow Palooa which used to be Battle of Bands but it's going to be YesFest this year which is their big big like >> fundraiser for the year. Um and then they some round table updates for program leads. Um I guess the there's some open seats. So, Hidden Valley Manor, they both
043need um a yes lead at those two schools. So, if anybody is interested, those two have spots that need to be filled. Um they're looking for an events lead, theater lead, and those can come from anywhere at any of the five schools. They also have a couple um executive committee openings for business partnership leads and secretary, and those can also come from any school. Um, and then, uh, one of the key things is that they almost hit a million dollar fundraising last year, which is first time it's like the most that they've ever come up with. So, they were really close. They were able to fully fund the ask that we had for them for last year with $826,351. So, that's like the first time they we've fully funded it. Yes. Has funded it since
0442019. >> Um, and it was the largest amount that they've fundraised to date. So I think they were just under a million um 985,635. So they were 95.63%. >> Awesome. >> And do you sorry do you know if that was uh at the end of the school year there was they were still a bit away from that. Was it families? Was there private? Don't do you have any idea? >> I don't they usually um reach out to them and they could let you know. >> Yeah. I'm curious to help you with that. Um, so we've had our VSSD has a bigger ask of yes for this coming school year. Um, and they're planning to meet our fundraising the the fundraising goal that we asked for them, but then they're also going to try and get
045over because they have operating expenses. So, they need to make sure that they're, you know, bringing in enough that they can cover that. But they were also really pleased that because they were very profitable with their theater department side of things that they're actually going to be reinvesting in that to like improve things for the kids experience with their theater program. So, they're super excited about that. >> Great. Yeah. Um, and then I think that was most of it. I had to be early because I had a 6:30 meeting this morning. So, there you go. >> Yeah, >> that's great. Thank you. >> Um, all right. And with that, I will move to approval of regular meeting minutes for July 16th, 2025. >> I don't know that we can because it's just the two of
046us tonight. >> Hannah was here. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. >> She stepped on in. >> I was there. >> That's right. She's at visual. She was there. >> I know. I was I was >> This is the first one. So nice. >> We have any changes or edits or comments? >> No, there's no public here for comments. So, I'm happy to entertain on this. >> The only Did you find something? >> Where was it that you cuz I was the reason that came up was I was looking at attendees and the list of board trustees >> just had us on it. But again, at the start of the meeting at the start of the meeting and then it's later that you came in. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But I was there though,
047so >> you were you were you listen you were there the whole time listening to everything. >> D2 board and Marsh. There you go. Which is fine. >> Sounds great then. >> All right. We're covered. >> Looks good. >> All right. >> I make a motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes for July 16th, 2025. >> Great. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Thank you, Shelley. >> I, >> Anna. >> I, >> Rachel. I All right. Our next item is H, superintendent, cabinet report. >> Great. Yeah, I've got a pretty quick one tonight. Um, we had our admin retreat yesterday, which was absolutely lovely to have the principles back with the cabinet and we had some really good conversations. Um, I left feeling really proud to be part of this team. We
048have some amazing administrators. All of our administrators are amazing here in this district and the quality and depth of our conversations were impressive. Um I was really really proud of what we talked about when we talked about the racial equity action plan talking a little bit about um maybe revising that and making sure we stay really actionable with that and some of the actions that we are completing here. Um, we reviewed the LCAP and talked about site actions and district actions to make sure all those goals come alive this year. Um, and then we talked a lot about our our own team goals as a leadership team. We read uh Dare to Lead last year and five dysfunctions of a team and we actually did an assessment and we looked actually did individual personality assessments.
049Um and we used those personality assessments and our knowledge of the two books to kind of say and the assessment we did to say okay where are we strong where we need to make some improvements as a team and um they gave some good feedback and I have a goal to bring to them at the next 18 meeting to set. Um and really the team talked about uh accountability uh as the the thing that we're working on as a team. So setting really clear expectations, holding ourselves accountable for whatever those collective expectations were and then circling back to monitor did we meet our expectation? If not, do we need to adjust the expectation? So um what that requires is that we're giving each other feedback and having really honest conversations and uh the team seems
050up to it. So, I'm really excited about that. I attended good portion of the ELPD today that like Julia, I'm sure we'll talk a little bit more in detail about. Um, and then just prepping the final details of the start of the school year. This is kind of like this this week and next week are the, you know, big intense week for district office administrators with principles coming back and teachers coming back next week. So, just prepping up for that. And those are kind of the three big things for me, Julie. Yeah, definitely. Um, lots of prep work going on. Um, we have, I think, more boxes have been delivered than ever in the history of this district between TK classrooms, K classrooms, and new K5 um, ELA curriculum, the new White Hill curriculum for
051math. Um, and it's just been such an amazing team effort. Um Lynn Marian and Jenny Wright are the ones that do the ordering and tracking of shipments and making sure we're getting everything in, but Chris and Dez and the M department and then the business department left their desks to come and unbox and organize the new new reading materials. Um so just it's amazing to see how much help there is amongst the team and you know I really appreciated that. Um, I loved our retreat just totally >> with Tyler. I I left feeling >> just um super excited for the year ahead and for our team and the leaders in this district and the incredible work they do with their teachers and teacher leaders. Um, so that was wonderful. And then today's EL education training
052was fabulous. We through this process of adopting the program as you know partnered with Larkxburg court of Madera and they joined us here today. So it was both superintendants and myself and my counterpart in Larks and then all of their principles, all of our principles and the instructional coaches. Um and we got a a really thoughtful overview of the program, really understanding the different parts of it and then spent a lot of time talking about um how you enact change in the district and um you know the kinds of all of the different ways in which you need to support um those who are doing the big heavy lifting of making those changes. Um, and then just really I just keep getting excited about th this particular program takes all of these things that we've
053been working on. We've been talking about high impact instructional practices. That's a foundation of the program. We talk about engagement for students and they have these sets of engagement protocols that um are really wonderful. the um as you know um equity work and diversifying our curriculum and is really important to us and there are these beautiful authentic texts um that are representative of of all kinds of folk. Um so >> and the depth and the rigor of that program is really impressive. I think our community and our students will really rise to the rigor that's that program >> high quality work is like one of the cornerstones of really engaging students and in fact some one of the things that teachers grapple with when they talk about the program and and where they're having a
054hard time is actually saying this is really hard for my kids um because the the um depth of knowledge um that's embedded in the program is really high. So anyways very very excited for that. Um, and I just hiring Lori Ross. Thank you. Um, we're moving right along. We've got a couple of vacancies. one actually just came vacant last week, but we're already interviewing and have a couple of strong candidates and um so we've been and then Lori's been partnering with um our HR department and getting a couple of her positions filled and we and um some classified positions and so again really good team effort and we'll be ready be ready for that first case. >> Can I ask you a question? Uh, I love that your enthusiasm and we talked about this when
055in the one-on-one we or twoonone that we had had. >> Um, are you in the process Tyler and Julia writing something an announcement for about all of this because it is so exciting and I think all of the families should hear it. Yes, we actually and our um instructional coach Molina, who's really leading >> the bulk of this effort around the adoption, um we actually have a meeting tomorrow, but we um we want to create kind of a slide slides for back to school night so that every teacher is getting the same message out there. Principles will be messaging out, Dia will be messaging out. there was some talk of a parent evening um where it would be a little bit more hands-on um for parents to really learn about the program. So great. >>
056Absolutely. >> Great. >> And I'll do a few Instagram posts that are, you know, a little bit more surface level, but I think we will put out some, you know, more depth for folks in a newsletter. >> Yeah, that would be great. >> Yeah, it's very exciting. >> Yeah, that would be fun. I remember the time you did a hands-on math thing with us and I was just envisioning something like that with the ELA and parents at back to school night like that that I think that's a great you've been able to do. >> Yeah, >> that's just fun and engaging and >> yeah, you want to share any updates? >> Yeah. Well, um I I'm one month in. Um I'm doing a lot of listening and learning and I've talked to so many people
057and it's wonderful. We have such an amazing team here. Um I was welcomed with open arms here at the district office. It feels so good. I feel such a sense of belonging and um just we have talented, innovative, creative people here and um as I'm talking to teachers and service providers um it's and principles. It's so exciting um to there's so much momentum and positivity um and so I'm excited to partner. Tyler keeps saying slow down. Slow down. like I know, but I'm so excited. Um yeah, so anyway, so I'm I'm thrilled. Um I do want to recognize our our some our ESY extended school year program. We had um we had about 25 kids go through that program, some of our special needs students, and so we had a great um it was very
058successful. I went out and visited a few times. It was really nice. Um also, yeah, with regards to hiring, we are um trying to pull out all the stops and trying to think of some innovative um posting strategies and things like that, like reaching out to our community colleges and our universities for um you know, students to come join us. Um also, we did post on Indeed. Um and we um got the blessing from Chris to spend a little bit of money. Um but we certainly recouped that because we're getting applicants coming in um and you know, trying to hire internally instead of through agencies. Um, so that's really exciting. Um, I did Tyler and I met with Holly Wade who's going to be doing our special education review and we um we met together
059and then um Holly and I met together and we have a really great game plan for her to come out and do some observations and need to come along as well. So it'll be a really good orientation to all of the all the services and supports that were provided and then also figure out a game plan to bring back to our special education advisory committee. Super exciting. Um, and then I just, yeah, as the school year starts, um, I have meetings set with our special ed department in general, and then I've broken out every, you know, school psychologist, OT's, PTS. So, I h I'm going to be meeting, um, with everybody to let them know that their voice is valued and that I'm big on collaboration um, and so we can get some good ideas
060going and to support kids. So, um, yeah. So, I'm really excited to be here. Thank you. Uh we've been really busy in the maintenance and operations division. So um Brookside we have the bridge that's currently at the division of state architecture. We expect comments back from them in the next week, week and a half and then we'll start that in earnest what we're doing with that and um reaching out to the school community on that. uh Hidden Valley, we have um mostly finished the roof um at the multi-purpose room that has been replaced. They're just waiting for one small part and then they'll finish that up. Uh we have painted the center area, which is the the middle building that includes the kindergarten and the YMCA. Um and they are currently in process of working
061on a shade structure in the TKK area. Uh they poured the um the posts last week and they should start putting the actual um shade structure up there uh beginning tomorrow. Manor, we have uh a new fence in the TKK area uh by the library. We have a play structure in the TKK area that's been replaced. We're in the process of finalizing the um the turf area around it and then that will be um open. We are starting we we started asphalt in that same area TKK area um beginning today and that should be done by by um Friday. And at Thomas we have done two fences, one along Woodland uh which includes a push gate and also one uh by the library to prevent people from walking through the middle of the campus during
062school hours. Uh we have done crack filling in the front area to remove trip hazards. Um we've done concrete grinding throughout the campus. Uh and we have replaced carpets in four four rooms and added carpet in one. And we have completed the asphalt work. Um as of today there we do in both the asphalt work at Manor and um in way Thomas. We're going to have to come back and do some um some sealing of it in uh during the October break. We have a one day where we can get in there and do that. So, but for the most part, it's done. And so, that's exciting because that removed some serious trip hazards both on the lower play area as well as right above it along the walkway where the classrooms are and the
063the tables. So, that's been done at White Hill. We uh have um been working on the library um back overhang area and getting that um redone and we'll be adding some corrugated plat um corrugated uh roofing material on there to help prevent um rain from falling on kids there. We are in the process of beginning the 100 building painting. So the 100 building is the sixth grade wing and so that should be painted uh in the next few days and we also have been working on the overhang there at the 100 building as well. So there's been a tremendous amount of work for such a small department. So it's it's really um really the hard work of the maintenance and operations staff and and Dez and Johnny and all of all of the staff in
064particular. So >> yeah, I want to give a huge shout out to Chris, Dez, Sean, Johnny, and Casey, and the whole custodial team. This is not a regular summer. We had we had ext. Um, but we had extra money from the sale of Deer Park and that has given us the opportunity to do more for our facilities, which is really wonderful. Um, and the amount of work that the team has been doing in addition to all the contracts that had to get set up and >> it's just a lot of work for a skeleton crew to do. And when you walk on campuses, you'll notice it. Um, it's a big deal. Um, we wish we could do more uh given more time and more money, but uh what we've done, I think, is pretty significant
065and the team with Chris's leadership deserves a lot of credit. >> Yeah, >> thank you. It's very exciting. >> That would be another great thing to just let everybody know about in the back to school stuff. >> You know, I've been hearing from some parents already how they're been on campus and it looks good. And we will probably bring this back for an actual board item where Dez will come in and provide pictures and so you can actually see some of the work. But that will probably be at the end of September, beginning of October. >> That's great. >> I can just add one more name from our technology department. Sean and Jorge um spent the summer >> installing new projectors in our classroom. So, our projectors had gotten some of them had gotten to
066a place where they were so faint >> like they were very it was very very difficult to see the images. >> Um, and teachers used them a lot for slide decks that helped to, you know, move through lessons and that sort of thing. So, we weren't able to replace all of them. Um, and so what they did was they used, I think, a light meter to determine which ones were the worst. And so Jorge, is it 58 projectors you >> replaced? >> Yeah, something like that. >> Um, and that was just the two of them doing all of that. >> It wasn't contracted out work. That was >> two people. >> It's a huge accomplishment. And when you see the ones where they've been replaced, they are lovely. Like crisp. >> And this isn't just
067like unplug one and plug a new one in. It's actually like drilling in to like mounting, putting mounts on. It's pretty heavy duty work. And all of that was with grant funded onetime money, so not unrestricted dollars. Um, and we we were going to do more of them, but because of the budget situation, we actually tailored back and did a little bit less than we had initially anticipated. So trying to be really fiscally responsible while improving the things that we can. >> Awesome. Very excited for our teachers to >> get in there and see it. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, moving on, I've got future board topics and board direction. It kind of sounds like there's some interest here in seeing some of this information getting out to the public. So, I think you
068guys got that. >> Um, something I wanted to bring up that Tyler had mentioned. Um, we've been trying to do like two newsletters a year, like mailed like fold out mailers. >> I can write one for this coming upcoming one, but I didn't know if somebody else on the board would be interested in writing one for the spring edition, so it's not just Rachel talking all the time. I would very much appreciate if someone else would like to write something. >> So, just something to think of for the future, but um >> Okay. >> Yeah. And Teresa is on she's >> we're gathering all the information. She's helping to do the layout. Um and we're trying to get that out here in the next few weeks. >> Um so, Rachel already has written a piece
069from the board and I'd love to have someone else from the board share something in the We'll probably do something in January. Okay. >> And you said these are mailers. >> Mhm. >> Cool. >> Yeah. >> Um there future topics duration. >> When when does parcel tax conversations come back? >> Sorry. [Laughter] >> What I can do is I can bring an update to uh maybe early se uh maybe maybe the next meeting um because I have a plan right now. the initial plan is and maybe at a next board meeting we can talk about feedback from the board and adjustments to plan but doing two similar uh town halls. So kind of the same presentation with some activities at table groups plus some questions and answers >> um two of those. So if you
070attended one you really wouldn't need to attend the second one. Um, and then from that kind of identifying a couple of pro partial tax folks and a couple of people that have some critiques but want a good faith effort to have their voices heard and make adjustments. Um, getting a small group of maybe 10 to 15 people to sit in this room to if if the the assumption is this needs to pass, how do we get there? Mhm. >> Um and the the $3 million mark is the mark that we we had set last year. Um I firmly believe that that's the right number and in that conversation if we need to adjust that down a little bit or increase it a little bit like that I think is for that. Um and then the
071other conversation we would have in that group um obviously before board approval is you know per square foot per parcel. So that team would kind of wrestle with that idea, would bring those ideas to the board and you all would either approve or adjust or give feedback from there. So the timing on that is the town halls will happen in September. The working group will probably happen in October, two or three meetings, and we'll probably bring something to the board in late November or really early January. >> What's the deadline? Um >> well if we're going for November 2026 election which is what the feedback we heard from surveys seemed to be it would we have like three months before that where you'd have to file. >> So as in a year from November which
072would be the >> yeah so it's a lot more lead time >> and that's just one more example then have a June after that >> we have a June next June and then November 26 we have two options to go >> discuss that. Okay. So that would be part of that discussion >> of timing. >> Okay. Well, that would be definitely sounds like it's a future board topic. >> Yeah. So, I think what what I'll do is bring that to the next board meeting, just give you an update on my plan. Great. >> It was a little bit more detailed than I just gave you. You all can give me feedback or direction from there on that plan. And then we'll bring something back after that working group in November. That's where we can discuss.
073Do you want to do June? Do you want to do next November? you know, do you want the number to be X based on the working group or the structure based on the working group feedback >> and go from there? >> That sounds great. >> Uh, something I wanted to ask about was the um the AEC conference the in Sacramento >> the CSBA. >> Yeah. >> Um, usually we have an item come up for that for when any trustes are interested in going where we approve funds for that. >> Great. >> So we can get that >> we have to approve it before Yeah. spending money on that. So that way if anyone's interested, we can bring that up and vote on it. >> When is that coming up? >> It's in December. The first
074>> I think it's like the third or fourth a lot easier. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Not as easy as San Francisco. >> No. >> Still better than I guess. >> Definitely. >> Yeah. And that'd be good. >> Yeah. >> I think it would be really good for us to go. >> I think so, too. >> I It's falling right on the tail end of my paternity leave, so I gave my wife a little bit of a heads up about that. And because if we do get a group to go, I would love to to be there and have us all kind of do some printing together. >> That would be great. >> Yep. >> Great. >> Do we have any other future topics for direction? >> Do we have an idea of when um
075of when we're going to get the students from different schools? Do we give presentations here? >> Oh, yeah. The schedule for the different schools. Uh, and maybe this was just I don't know. There's background to this. I don't know, but um the board meeting that is on the night where there's three back to school nights. >> Oh, one of them had moved. >> Are we okay? >> There's one now. >> Because I knew you had a conflict with wait because I was like, "This isn't going to work." >> Right. >> Does that change on the calendar invites? It should. We have the August 20th we have Hidden Valleys back to school night. >> Okay. >> And that's it. >> I was like, "Oh, this is not good. >> You did that for me." >> August
07620th. Oh, yeah. Hidden Valley. >> Okay. >> And as far as agenda items for that meeting, we should be cognizant not to put things, right? That parents I don't know. >> We'll talk about CSVA. big to get >> we will talk about par facts plan as well. >> Okay. >> And I don't know what the other agenda items are. >> Sometimes there's like routine things where like a timing where you always have to in certain months you have to do these things. So it might just be a bunch of routine. >> We typically do like an opening of school slide deck as well where we you know kind of celebrate what happened the first week or so. Um, >> and then we've got a >> piggyback contract that's going to be a relatively short board
077meeting as well. I think the biggest one based on this feedback is the partial tax plan. >> Yeah. I think it's just important that we don't have um agenda items that Valley families would want to be here for. >> Yeah. >> But I didn't like you to be out of town on that one. Just heads up. I can push the partial tax one >> to >> I can do the September 3rd because I have the next I have the first parse tax town hall on the 10th. So it would still be leading before that. So if you had direction on what you wanted that town hall to look like it would still be there. So we'll move that one to nine. And if everybody else and if everybody else is gonna be here, I can
078and you want to keep it in the August, I can listen to that and just give you feedback. >> Great. >> I just concerned about Hidden Valley. If there's parents there who want to help with the partic because they're going to go to the back to school night. >> Yeah, we'll we'll do we'll do the third. Uh there's no uh >> I don't see conflicts on that night >> and then the next following Wednesday will be the first town hall. >> Great. Yeah, I think that's a good adjustment. >> Great feedback. >> I don't know who does it, but there's some schools where I always get like the stuff from their their principles or their PTOs or whatever. And then there's some schools where I don't. Is there a way to get all if we're
079interested as a trustee to get on those lists because it is helpful to know what's going on like if there's events I can pop into? >> Absolutely. >> I would like to also >> I think you're just on the transport. >> They all come through transport. Do I get anything else on my trusty account? >> No, but the emails are sent out through the parents career list and then you just have to have your trusty email on the parents career list, right? It's not just individual lists. >> I think maybe we'll look into it and all trustees will get all schools newsletters. >> Okay. Just want to double check that I got everything here. There was request to have some of the facilities updates on the mailer that we send out and other ways to,
080you know, promote that. A discussion around CSBA attendance next meeting, the 20th. Uh an initial plan on parcel tax community engagement. I should say it's not about the parcel tax, it's about the community. It's like the work up to your decision. Yeah, exactly. On on the third, >> um >> scheduling dates for the school presentations. That's on the list. And then um making sure all trustees have access to um all the school newsletters. >> Great. Great. Thank you. >> All right. So, moving on. Do we have a meeting debrief? Any comments? See, we're like right on time. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I just would like to say one thing real quickly. Um, I have met so many people already who have congratulated me out in the world. Um, and I have just been very touched
081by it. um thank all of you for welcoming me so warmly and also so many parents and families have also so just want to say thank you. >> All right. Well, with that I am going to our meeting at 7:39. >> Thank you.