001to the district's and congratulations to Mr. on re-election. Uh she sends her regrets. She's unable to tonight, but she sends her congratulations to everyone in the room and her regrets for not being able to attend. With that, I'll move on to the superintendent of school to start with our great presentations. Yes. And Mr. Were you at some event? Yeah, a lot of us were there. It was a great time. Sure was. So tonight we're gonna highlight our two wonderful programs, our Lark program and our Odyssey online program. So with that, Dr. Ros, I'm gonna do your narrating, but I'll hand it over to you and we'll start with you. So we are very, very proud of all of our students tonight and we have so much to celebrate. What we're going to be doing is
002watching beautiful videos um first of the students in our log program that won a array of different awards and then we're going to see a video from our mind students as well. So, what we're going to do is ask all the students that are here to pay very close attention. If you see your name and picture at any time, we think that you need to go on the stage when the video is over and you're going to take a big picture with the board of education because they are so proud of you and so proud to be able to honor you tonight. So, without further ado, we are going to show our first video. So, enjoy and look for yourself and your friends to cheer on. And we'll take a pause at the end. Okay.
003[Music] about one of the hardest challenges we have in it's called the word master challenge. It is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of very interesting and very complex new words and then challenges us to use those words to complete analogies expressing various types of logical relationships and three different natural needs throughout the school year. Working to solve these analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and medical. This challenge is considered to be one of the hardest vocabulary challenges in the nation. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Applause] You don't [Applause] concepts of economics, investings, and finance. Along the way, competing against nearly 200 teams, these dark students demonstrated exceptional analytical thinking, teamwork, and financial literacy skills, scoring scoring top placement in the region. The Sigma stock market
004game challenge is an educational simulation in which student teams invest invest virtual funds in real time stock, bonds, and mutual funds. [Applause] Robotics competition is an international coding and robotics competition. Almost 8,000 kids competed worldwide from 70 countries. Only 12% of the teams qualify for the invitational round. Teams did four rounds of intensive mission over five months. Teams showed strong problem solving, growth mindset and creativity through coding. Way to go. challenging competition I did this year Thank [Music] [Applause] you. Researchers, biotechnology scientists and physicians. This year's winners have shared proposals to help overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world today. From healthcare challenges to sustainability efforts and energy efficiency. The honorable mention award places the team projects among the top 10% of all projects. The Toshiba NSTA explore vision competition is a pro
005project learning based program which encourages innovation and real world problems. Students must imagine a and produce a system or a technology with the potential to solve problem of the future. Projects are judged by [Applause] So, thank you all. That was amazing. One last round of applause for all and we have some award-winning teachers as well. So, I just want to recognize Dr. King [Applause] and Mr. CR. [Applause] on that video up into the stage and we'll take a picture with the board of education. So if all of those award winners go up on stage [Applause] [Music] I think everybody All [Music] right. [Applause] Any students who did not get their certificate before going up on the stage can go back after our award ceremony and Dr. Okay. Come on. All right. So, we have more
006words to give. If everyone can have a seat and our Long Beach Odyssey, the Lions teams have met with extraordinary success this year. Before playing our video and inviting all to teams up for their future with board of education, I want to congratulate our middle school teams and advisers Eric Fox and Rachel Yoshua. [Applause] We have representing tonight Cooking with Bucks problem three regional champions. We have problem three, third in New York State and 12th in world. We have the astronomers problem five, fourth in New York State and third in world. I also want to congratulate our elementary teams and advisors Doug McConnell and Andy Ala. Our elementary teams all advanced from regionals to states and then to worlds mechanicals problem two second in the state 10th in world astronomer problem five astronomers problem five
007first in New York state and seventh in world and through the cooking glass. Problem free regional state and world [Applause] champion video. Enjoy this. [Music] [Applause] I [Applause] say already know. You know [Music] [Applause] [Music] my chance. [Applause] [Music] Do it when I [Applause] [Music] say something. [Music] [Applause] Let's go up to two. In third place, we have [Applause] your division one champions. Long Beach Elementary School. [Applause] We're also very proud of you. We need our last photo off. So, please come on up with your certificates and we'll have one picture all [Music] Come on. I see you. Let's go down. They're going to mar their team. I'm going to go Yeah. [Applause] Oh, he did it. You also Congratulations everyone. You're more than welcome to say the most exciting part of the meeting just
008passed. You're more than welcome to say your parents. I was going to say if anyone is deserving of ice today feel the need to leave or not offended. Anyone wants to stay in the comments welcome to stay alive. Just before we move on, just want a reminder if anyone from the audience would like to make a comment on the night's agenda or environment in general. We have our common cards in the back. Cards are [Music] Just before we move on, if anyone left a set of keys in and seats on the sixth or seventh rows are up here. All right. Once again, on behalf of the board, congratulations to all the students and all their accomplishments. It definitely shows how we're investing in our kids. Success, the wide range of successes, whether it's in technology,
009English, math, web masters, OM, or the arts and sciences. It just really shows how proud we are of you guys and you all well deserving your awards. Thank you again to all the teachers and the parents who support the kids. Anyone else for the board? I just wanted to take a minute to congratulate the students. We support them and celebrate academic achievement. Mr. just said it's sort of academic achievement across the board almost every discipline was recommended or was recognized in that video both videos that show I also want to take a moment to thank the high school and the elementary school concerts high school concerts from last week and they were outstanding we want to salute those kids who participated and worked hard there's so many competitions going on now in athletics and fine
010arts arts and so many other disciplines. It's just an exciting time of the year as epitomized the earlier part of this meeting. So, congratulations to the students, congratulations to the teachers who work the students and congratulations to the parents who support the students and we are grateful of education. Thank you. I I just wanted to add also congratulating the students and just comment someone asked us recently what's so special about Long Beach, what we like so much about being part of this district and I think this exemplifies it, but also what Dr. Brian said certainly exemplifies it. From now until the end of the year, there are activities every night highlighting our students whether they're involved in academics or sports or music. And my answer to that question was, I have three very different children
011that have attended the Long Beach schools and each one of them has had a wonderful experience, experiencing it in a completely different way. And I think that's something we really hang our hat on here. And hopefully as a board of education we provide for our students and for our families. And I'm really proud to see tonight all the kids so excited about education because that that really was amazing tonight. There was a lot of energy in the room. So I appreciate that. That's all. Um, I'm just going to add a little bit to that. Also, congratulations to all of our students whose creativity and hard work didn't go unnoticed. We're also very proud of you. And again, what Doc Ryan said, this is just a wonderful time of year for us with the concerts and
012the awards ceremonies and all of this great stuff going on here. And it just really shows you what Long Beach is all about. We're all very proud of the accomplishments of our teachers and our staff and our students. So, looking forward to the next couple of weeks. Thank you very much everyone. Um, moving on for student organization announcements. [Music] Okay. So, um just wanted to talk about um we started elections for next year's student organization and we decided this year or next year that we're going to have two treasures instead of one. Um so that the fundraisers are more sturly and like more constant. It's just easier to get things signed. Um and we've been moving to increase exposure between the principal and the students. So monthly we've been having our roundt meetings where we
013discuss the student life and sometimes Mr. Swan attends and we talk about the food in the cafeteria. Um and so that's been like the building morale and class structure we've been talking a lot about lately. Um, it's also the end of the year. It's the end of my experience with student organization. And I mean, personally, it's been great for me. Um, best decision I ever made was to join it. Um, next year though, they've been talking about integrating the Island Park student with student organization because usually it's a lot of Long Beach kids. Not many Island Park kids attend, but it's hard to do. So, we're just trying to like advertise more maybe at the club fair, at orientation. Um, and then we just had our final blood drive of the year and it was
014very successful and we actually got enough blood donated to um received two scholarships this year to give to seniors. Um, and then next year at the carnival, we're looking at companies to present to the district to make homecoming next year more exciting for the community. And for the past few weeks, we've been trying to figure out ways to um drum up more student participation in like sporting events like hockey games, football games, lacrosse games throughout the year. So like just boost school spirit. Yeah. Great job. Great job. Thank you. Um at this point, we're asking for questions and comments from the public on tonight's item agenda agenda only. If you have a comment, please there's a card up there. Fill it out on items. Hearing none. Miss Malleti, do we have any comments on the
015agenda or are they all just general? Um, they are general. There is one uh parent who'd like to speak about OM. Is that here? All right. Fun. Hi. So, hi. Do I need to say my stuff or address? What? I'm good. All right. Thanks. So, um, hello Dr. Gallagher and all our board members. As we celebrate with our children their accomplishments over the past year and years, Odyssey of the Wine program has changed in so many ways and is absolutely incredible. And at the end of this, I'll speak about my child in particular, but all of the children that have been doing this. and my daughter was in Odyssey of the mind and I think it is one of the best programs and clubs that we have. Um even though my daughter is going to
016list and you know came in first and all this I love this all of the things that we have for academics for these kids. Um we have appreciated all of the previous financial backing um and we are concerned over the future of this program. Mr. McConnell and Mrs. T has taken children from one level of competition and into the next level where they have had success beyond our wildest expectations. They have been so proud to be Long Beach and now on speech to represent our community and our district. Um, and like you said, Alexis, it's amazing to have these programs and have programs that are more geared for thinking outside the box, problem solving, and things that are really very academic and change the lives of these children. Um, going forward, we have heard the
017possibility of having to pay for registration, having our coaches needing to use their own bank to travel with their teams, and having to pay their own way. How can the district continue to cut funding to a program where the students do so well? I mean, these kids like first and third in the world, competing with countries, Japan, Korea, Poland. I mean the the experience there is is certainly unmatched and I haven't seen this anywhere else. Um as for our fundraising efforts for next year, we would like to have some concise expectations so we can proceed to be sure that our students are not disappointed. Um this is a you know a big issue for all of us and we're trying to understand like what is going to happen and where we are. Um, can we
018talk about that now or I just throw that out there and we leave it on its face because this is really important and you know and I just want to say something about like the sports where there's always money for sports and kids. There was not one issue with these children when we go away in all of the years of Odyssey of the Mind. This is one specific club where these kids put in so much work, so much time and they are the most respectful, fun children and they just are they run the gamut of like where they are in school and it is something that would be a tragedy if we couldn't continue this for this district. So I can tell you Leah just what we have discussed as a board um and center
019administration team everything that you said is true and OM is wonderful and we certainly support the program. There is no other comparable program where we send students to a world competition and it was costing the district over $100,000 to do it. That's a tremendous amount of money for any activity whether it's athletics, arts, academics, amenities. Um what we had said this year was we really are not encouraging our district to participate in worlds. We felt that for elementary middle school kids it was enough of a you know a competition and a challenge and an exciting experience to compete at the state level. If parents want to fund raise or pay their their own way for worlds of course I mean we can't stop people from doing that. We this year paid for the registration fees
020for the teams. Um, and we came to an agreement with the coaches that if they want to do this again for next year, we won't clock them. They won't have to use their personal time. But we really felt that we had we had to draw the line. Supporting it beyond that financially as a district. If that's something the board wants to revisit, we certainly can. In no way is it diminishing what we think is a wonderful program. It's just being realistic about what the taxpayer dollars can support. So we're so we're okay. So just to be clear, so the the board of ed and the district will pay for the registration fees for those who are not paying for states. We do pay for states but not registration fees for we did that this year
021because there was some confusion. Okay. So and that's where we are. But if we're fundraising for it and the the coaches are not going to be docked or anything like that, right? Okay. Just wanted to have Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. At this time, we're going to move on to the presentations of the superintendent. I'd ask the board to cons before we do this reading. Could the district clerk please read a walk on resolution? Resolve that pursuant to section 913 of the education law, the employee named executive session and referred to as employee A may be directed by the superintendent to appear for medical examination of the office of Dr. Ira Fineold. And it is further resolved that Dr. Ira Fineold is hereby appointed school medical inspector pursuant to section 913 of
022the education law in order to evaluate said employees ability to perform her duties as an employee of the district. Thank you. Can I get a a motion? A second. Any discussion? Miss Pel, yes. Dr. Ryan, yes. Yes. Miss Pace. Yes. As amended. And yes, as amended. Item one, certificated personnel. Motion made. Second. Any discussion? I would just like to say a couple things. First off, um, Mr. Nas, I still have a picture of the two of us that was taken a million years ago with you sitting in my classroom with that same wonderful smile that you're wearing tonight. And I just want to congratulate you on your appointment tonight. You deserve it. Well done. And then Mr. I don't even know what to say. You wear so many hats for us and you wear them
023well and you make us proud every day. So, welcome to your new position at Long Beach High School. Wish you all the best. Any other comments? I I second what Miss Pel Miss Pel said. Agreed. I vote. I vote yes. I vote yes. Doc Ryan. Yes. Miss Pace. Yes. Yes. Congratulations. [Applause] Second. Any discussion? Yes. Brian? Yes. Pace? Yes. And I vote yes. Items three and five require no action of second readings of revised policies. However, item four is the adoption of revised policy just a motion for item four motion. Second discussion. Yes. I just want to thank the superintendent uh Dr. Bran Cashio, Mrs. Teleti. Sometimes doing policy is worse than watching paint dry. you go through so many documents and so many regulations that it takes a lot of time. So I just
024wanted to thank them for their reference and also Mrs. Conway who's also member policy committee. Thank you. Miss Kelsey, how do you vote? I vote yes. Yes. Miss Pace. Yes. And I vote yes. And I'd ask the board to take items 6 through 11. Motion. Second. Second. Any discussion? Yeah, I just wanted to ask about the uh theater guild. Now, is Lindell their home or is the middle school their home or do they have a home or do they have multiple homes? Well, their home depends on um what's going on in our home actually. So, um we actually looked at trying to move them to the middle school this year. We thought it might be better space for them and might be more convenient for us, but it conflicted with too many events in the
025middle school auditorium. So for now it discussion. Yes. Dr. Ryan. Yes. Miss Pace. Yes. Yes. Board of Education. Any additional new or old business? All right. Moving on. Question or comments from the public on any item? Dan, my name is Dan Kraton. I'm the city manager of Long Beach. First, let me congratulate all the awardies tonight. I think that's impressive. It's good to see that the city's future is in good hands. Congratulations to all of them. Um, I originally didn't plan on speaking tonight, but I feel it's important to get some facts out as I know a lot of conversations have been had since our last city council meeting regarding West School and its uh playground. It's important for everyone to know that I've worked hard since I started a year and a half ago
026together with the school district to foster a better working relationship between a school and the city as we both serve the taxpayers of our residents of the city. I believe both are integral parts of the city and our success of failure depends on each other. At last week's city council meeting, we approved the city's capital plan, which is our wish list, not necessarily what we'll be able to accomplish, but what we'd like to do. One of the items on the capital plan is a plan to solve the parking issues in the West End, which as we know is a big issue that we all want to solve. That being said, I approached the school district approximately a year ago, I believe it was in August, to discuss the possibility of a parking structure in my
027school. There have been many discussions by phone, email, and in person. Since with the understanding that we need to get it included in the city's capital budget, we need to move forward fairly quickly but thoughtfully. All discussions were positive. I even believe I believe I had a short conversation with one of the schoolboard members who also at the time said he thought it was a good idea. So any conversation about this being in the done in a vacuum is fairly inaccurate. The discussions focused on solving two issues. Parking or lack thereof on the west end and the need for a new and improved playground for the west school. By combining forces, we could work together on a new and improved structure would benefit the community and the community's children. The school district would benefit and
028the city would benefit. This is one of the true situations where we actually have a win-win situation. Since our council meeting, I did some research and see that this was not the great unique idea I thought it was. 2018 comprehensive plan for the city did significant outreach to the public in which this site was proposed as a parking garage. A parking garage of up to five stories. Surprisingly, I'm shocked by this. The overwhelming feedback from the residents on the west end was positive, receiving the highest level of public support for the entire comprehensive plan. Now, I do not personally believe a fivetory building is appropriate in the West End. I do not even believe multiple stories is appropriate. I do believe however that an aggraate parking structure there is a major addition that alleviates a
029significant portion of the parking shortage for the west end is centrally located serve both residents and businesses alike. I believe this is a game changer for the area. A true game changer which does not come up often. Furthermore, I believe it has little to no downside to the school district. In fact, I will list some of the positives as well as alleviate some of the concerns I've heard since the meeting. Aside from increasing parking for residents and customers for the businesses would provide parking for school staff during school hours, the lot is expected to see most of its usage in the evenings, weekends, and summer when school is not in session. While school is in session, it is perfect for school employee parking. As for the schoolyard, which is in need of replacement or upgrade
030currently, I do not propose any change except location on the roof of the parking structure. It would be the exact same dimensions with the exact same amenities. Furthermore, it would be removed from street level which separates the children from the public which I feel is positive. People may not always have good intentions and separating children from from the public is always a good thing. It is safer on the upper level. Furthermore, handicap ramps and elevators will be available to access the roof structure. The dedicated ramp will be accessible to the school property to restrict access for safety purposes and proper lighting and security cameras will be included with direct access to the police department. I just wanted to come to this this meeting to address some of the concerns I see on social media and
031answer any questions that people may have. I will be available after the meeting to discuss with anyone who may have questions. Make myself available to the school board or school administration that may want to discuss this further. We can do it individually groups. I don't mind. I'll make myself available at any time. I just want to point out our community and the import of our input of our community is important. We need to work together for our community. The tax state both us and to you. I see this as a positive again with little downside, but understand my opinion is not shared by everyone. However, I do think the benefit to the residents far outweigh the negatives that may be presented. Thank you for your time and for allowing me to speak. I can answer
032questions now and take them afterwards. I can set up a meeting discuss further group or individually. But again, I just want to thank you for the time to speak and appreciate the time you give today. Thank you, Mr. Green. Appreciate it. Can I just make a few comments? Sure. Um, first of all, thank you for coming. Second of all, I don't attend city council meetings and I don't watch them. Um, so I don't know what was said there and I don't follow the social media, so I don't know. I only know what was shared by superintendent about this project. Um I'm open to having a conversation. However, I from what I've understood of the project, I disagree with you that I I do think there are more disadvantages than advantages and that's just my personal
033opinion. Um I also have heard from people in the community that largely disagree with you as well that have children in the schools. So, from my perspective though, I'm very open to listen and I don't that's going to be up to the board whether they want to do a meeting with you or not. Um, typically we don't do that and the time I've been on the board, I don't think I can ever think of the time that we sat down with any members of the city council. I'm willing to change willing I'm willing to change that. I'm not saying that that's, you know, I just I'm just saying the president is there. But um I do appreciate you coming and raising it as something that we should be thinking about. Um and I just wanted
034to make sure that you know that I'm here. Absolutely. I appreciate your comments. I think everybody has an opinion and that mine isn't always right. I mean there's anyone else's. But I will say um the positive the feedback we've gotten from the community included in the 2018 uh capital plan I mean not capital plan comprehensive plan fairly significant on the positive side. I do understand there are people with negative opinions. There are always going to be positives and negatives. I would say you do some reach some reach out. You'll see the positives far outweigh the negatives. But that being said, I'm more than willing to talk to anyone that has and have a conversation about it. And Dan, you know, just so you know, I think Michael communicated with you. We had a conversation. We
035had some significant concerns just in terms of safety, security, aesthetics, you know, and I'm happy to talk to you about that. I'd love the chance to do so. Great. Thank you again. Anyone else from public? Angela Scero. Hello, Angela Scalero. Um, I'm actually a less school parent and my comment card was simply to ask the board's position on LE Park in structure. Um, so I didn't come with a full list of my bullets um, prepared to follow up Mr. Kraton. But um since we're here, I will start out by asking the board's position on the parking structure um with a clarifying question of who ultimately owns that decision and has that final decision been made? I mean, I can we we convey to the city that we were not in favor of the project. and
036who owns that property, just to be clear. The district. Okay. Um, so just some points to counter uh that proposal. Um, I do happen to live on Louisiana Street on the on the beach end. Um, so a stone throw from the school. Um, in terms of benefiting the neighborhood, um, post Sandy, my block now has 12 street parking spaces available. On that block alone, we have four five if you count south of Ocean View houses where four to five um single unmarried individuals live in each home. So if you do the basic math on that, that's um more cars than we have parking on our block alone. So I think addressing those issues um would truly mitigate the parking problem. not building a structure that's up to five five stories high. Um if you think
037about if I buy a bigger house, I'm going to fill that house with more things. Um if we big build a bigger parking structure, we're going to invite more four to five uh roommate households to rent there. Um move to Long Beach. There's more parking. I would also invite you to um ask some of the locals for their ring cam footage on a on a weekend evening after 10 p.m. Um where people have set up booby traps of buckets of water to catch those who are urinating on their property. Um and that's in open spaces. That's not an enclosed parking garage. Um obviously our school administration and our PTA board have had conversations about this. um putting an enclosed structure, obviously lighting, security would all be factors considered um in the West End where it's
038fairly notorious on weekends. Um one one image we couldn't get out of our heads was what would it look like for our principles the day after Irish day having to comb through the parking structure um in preparation for the next day of school. Um, in terms of sorry, um, safety, we have prek students, possibly 40 at a time after lunch that are taken to recess by lunch aids. How will that look in an elevator? Um, obviously this would be fenced in on the rooftop, but will it be caged in balls fly over? Maybe the children will not, but the balls will fly over. How does that affect passers by down below? and have the residents on either side of of that block been consulted on this. So, I I obviously welcome the opportunity to further
039discuss this. I do have quite a list of bullets that I' that I'd like to share. Thank you so much. Any other questions or comments from the public? Oh, okay. So, like I said, first thank everyone of the hockey team. So, thank you for letting us go to nationals. Um, we had a great time. Uh we have a little bit of leftover fundraising money that we have and we'd like to donate it to the school to purchase um uniforms for the boys. Uh the current uniforms all have their national emblem on it and would be a nice thing to give to the seniors and the boys can have for the rest of their lives. you know, the one time they went to nationals and this way we'll give them new jerseys and they can keep
040their jerseys and the donation money does not come from any GoFundMe money. It has nothing to do with GoFundMe money. I haven't document how the GoFundMe money was spent so you don't have to worry about it coming from there. It came from a raffle in Scalis. You always have the ability to make a donation to the school district, but I think the issue was directing the donation for a specific purpose. So, we can't make a specific purchase of uniforms, right? Okay. Can we purchase uniforms and then just donate them like the actual fabric to you? Like order uniforms and then just give them to you. I I guess I'm just confused why you can't just use the money to make the jerseys. That's what I want to do, right? She said that. Yeah. So, I
041I don't know how many jerseys the school district purchases. So, I that was my original question was how many do you purchase? Like, do you purchase 20 uniforms every year or every couple years or do you purchase 40? Like, I don't know. And I that was my question. That was my question. I never had a response to that question when I asked how many like a workable project. We take it offline and have a discussion, right? All right. Okay. Because it was sold out. So that's why I'm trying to the original question. We said no because so we're restricted in how we can accept donations. It's not our rules. It's New York State rules and we have to account for things in certain ways. If that money was from a gunding page and it was
042supposed to be going towards a trip, we can't do that. Right. I told you it did not come from that. So we we can follow up with this. Right. The money didn't come from the go funding. that money that specifically went to the busing and then to the young children. All right. So that and then on the west end of school thing I thought was kind of neat idea just I just think putting a grass field like field up there since the kids only have cement or maybe put a dirt field in the west so that the kids can actually you know run and not be on anyway. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments from the public? Sarah more deadly. for density. I'm Sarah. I'm a parent uh for the school child
043near got to hear us say last week. Um, so I wanted to come by tonight um because there were a few cuts uh to the budget made this year. Um, and they sort of have direct effects on students like my daughter Mera. Um, students that have AHB, students with uh that will benefit from alternative learning, students that uh thrive with arts programs um and students that truly will benefit from mental health the resources that the school provides. Um being a middle school kid is not that easy and finding out where you fit in and belong um has a lot of challenges. VR is very successful this year with the transition to to middle school and um that is a direct result of the arts programs and the Long Beach program. uh the theater and arts
044programs have inspired her to go to school every day and she looks forward to working with teachers like Miss Lone um especially next year in a theater uh program and while we are hopeful that Mera will get to enjoy that new learning opportunity. We are concerned that the cut in hours for her teacher may end in her losing that opportunity um with such a highly skilled professional go. Um, I know that other parents perhaps here tonight may feel strongly about her skills and teaching and cuts her hours are detrimental to those students. Um, another vital resource that Mer has relied on this year is the counseling provided by Long Beach Reach. Um, having a person that Mer can talk to at school has been amazing for her overall mental health. Uh mental health services are
045very costly for families and having programs like Long Beach Reach pulled from the school can make it untenable for some families to access those resources. Every child's success story during school is different. I know every child is different. Um but programs like theater and mental health programs lead to more successful students. Um they provide more equitable opportunities uh and care for our kids. Students should have teachers that play with their minds and in and in the and in the subjects that they are passionate about and all students should be given opportunity to reach out for support when they need it. Thanks very much Miss Bansky I just just two quick things. Um first of all here is wonderful. Second we have not cut the arts programs at all. Those same arts programs will exist. I
046can't discuss personnel issues with you. We're not even allow people to address step numbers by name. We didn't make any cuts to the program and we did not make any cuts to mental health. Removing reach to an afterchool mental health clinic model because so many parents have said they have difficulty accessing counseling and therapy outside of school. We're backfilling them with our own staff provided school. who can kind of be better prepared to refer them then to REACH. We we're talking with Reach about setting up either um clinic either at the high school or at one of our elementary schools or both after school where we could refer students to it wasn't a cut. It was actually just a better model that would provide more help. I think that that's great. Um I I do
047think it's a really great program to have during the school day for kids, especially maybe not even my kid, but just kids that, you know, maybe um their school day isn't the most vital point of their day. Um and to try to get a kid in a program when they can't get the help or it's less difficult for parents to get them there. Uh when I speak about that, I sort of speak about kids that maybe have a difficult home situation or kids that would uh struggle to try to get to a different building after school. Um the program is just so beneficial to my kid, but I know it branches out to other kids. Um and sometimes the easiest way to get care is to make it most accessible, especially for the most needed
048kids. So, um I just have that in mind and I really do appreciate that you are keeping the program. Um but thanks so much. I'm sorry. Michael and Michael, uh, I board of education. Um, I'm just going to say give you a speech real quick. Um, my name is Michael Melas Canyon. I'm an 11th grader here at Long Beach High School. First, I want to say I have had amazing teachers in Long Beach High School. And our our theater teacher is one one of them right at the top on the list. In our theater teacher class, I learned more in one year than I have in the past years of high school. They're all put together. There is no one else that can teach all we need to know to be successful in in this
049craft. She has so much education and experience and she has shared it all with us. She tries to teach us to be better human beings also and treat each other with dignity and respect. You know it's a tough crowd in theater and sometimes you want to give up. But you know she won't let you and she will help you be strong enough to move forward and to be successful in this field. She doesn't just know how to sing, dance, and act. She understands how to teach teens and kids through trial, error, heart, and understand it. We afraid to lose her. We don't understand why you guys aren't. I guess I I don't know. Maybe you need to take a class uh and for yourself to see how much of an asset she is. Hope hopefully
050you guys can see the bigger picture and make the right choice uh the choice for all of us students and uh the future and the right choice for the future of Long Beach High School Theater Department. Thank you. Thank you Gary V. Good evening, school board members. I have requested that someone read this statement aloud at tonight's meeting as my current teaching schedule does not allow me to attend. My name is Brooke Robin Darman and I am the director of professional youth theater as well as the co-director of dance halls here in Long Beach. It is my great pleasure to work with many of the young people in the Long Beach school district who are interested in the performing arts. I understand that there has recently been some discussion about downsizing theater education at high
051school level. I would like to respectfully lend my voice to the conversation. For the past 10 years, I've been many I've seen many of my students benefit from the presence of theatrical education in the school setting. While the opportunities that my companies offer provide students with enrichment outside of school, for many students interested in the performing arts, they need something that will anchor them and keep them engaged dayto-day. Theater often attracts students who might otherwise not feel seen or heard. Perhaps a student isn't a star athlete who struggles academically. They will often find a place of creativity and acceptance in theater and that can be a lifeline for students looking for a place in the world. At Professional Youth Theater, we strongly we feel strongly that students should be well trained in the disciplines that
052make up musical theater. So offering an afterchool club where students perform is simply not enough to fully understand and embrace the art world. Providing students with small enough classes that are specific to their their level and interest is key to keeping them engaged. I understand that funding is limited, but I urge you to consider the impact that is that a robust comprehensive theater program could have on your student body. I joined this theater teacher and many others in advocating for the continuation of this programming at Long Beach High School. Thank you for your time and consideration. Mr. those problems there professionally. Thank you. Dr. Gallery, can you just reiterate for the public that we are not in any way reducing our program? Correct. That's correct. Our program is staying the same. We have always run
053our theater in school classes over the past 10 years in conjunction with another subject. So, we've never had a 1.0 in a theater position that fluctuates year to year depending on how many students select a class or in some cases as is true this year we have like only two students who select a certain section and we co-ceed it with another section we do that in every subject we do that with AP chemistry offering it every other year because we don't have enough to fill a section each year it's part of what we have to do to maintain our programs including the third Thank you. I I think it's important that we clarify that. Thank you so much. Juliana Carmichael. Hello. Um I just wanted to thank Mr. Creek for coming and speaking about the
054schoolyard because it has been a big question. Um I am actually a resident West school parent formerly parent in district and I stare at the slide every single day from my desk at home that I work at. Um everything that Angela had mentioned living down a block times 10 amplified by me and fears from the height and the elevation hearing five stories and I petrified having watched okay not five too but petrified because I watch these kids and I watched my daughter West school is one of the schools where they take advantage of the outsourced space so drastically and we as the residents that don't have in that space very high multi- homes that would just be ridiculous to me and we police what happens in that schoolyard. So like Irish day is an extreme
055but there is stuff that happens and we protect that space all day even in daylight and we help educate and teach the kids on Saturday and Sunday that are enjoying that space. So the neighborhood children who have gone to West and go through West, how did they get to appreciate we're losing so much opportunity and space that like towards the school board. I I don't see how it's a benefit and homeowner there prior to 2018 and I spoke with some of my neighbors the last couple of days. They came up to me because the schoolyard was closed this weekend in the last couple of weekends and they don't understand why. if I told them about this change, I can only imagine what my neighbors would say. So, I'm thought this was a new thing considering
056how much I've spoken with them just because the gate was locked. Um, you know, I really encourage the school board not to continue on with this. You know, I think there's some great ideas that we can come up with about improving, but bring, you know, outdoor space is outdoor space. And those kids, they do class lessons outside of that space. It's not just recess. It's gym class. It's English class. It's reading writing time. It's heart time. It's not just recess. Please consider that. Thank you. And we do have um funds allocated in the bond to improve that space. I love it. Anyone else? No, I I just want to come thank you and I want to thank the other mom and I'm not sure um your name. I'm sorry, but I I'm listening to what
057you guys are saying. I do not live in the West End, but I I know what happens down there and I can predict it as well. And I'm having a little bit of deja vu with with some of the things we've dealt with this year with the community and our schools. And I really don't want to revisit that. So, I'm going to implore um you guys over there at the city council to to keep that in mind. We've had a lot of drama um with our schools and our communities and I I really I'm feeling a little anxiety for my fellow West School families and it's not making me feel comfortable as a school board member. Um so, I just I need to say that out loud. Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association All [Music] right.
058LBCTA. Just a quick congratulations to all the students and teachers from tonight and two people specifically in this room that we are very happy about. Mr. Nos and Mr. Webble. Congratulations to both and we look forward to lots of years together. Thank you. Good evening. Congratulations to all the students who were recognized for their accomplishments tonight and for thanks to the teachers for their dedication to the programs. Also, congratulations to Mr. Ms and Mr. Revel on the new position appointment. Thank you. Thank you. Group C. Group C. Sorry. Carissa and Shelby SCA. I join my two other union reps and congratulating all the awardees today and all the students and their accomplishments and congratulations to Mr. Mr. Moss. Um I very much look forward to seeing you every day. Thank you very much. Right. Really
059awesome to see the amount of awards that these kids got and how phenomenal they are and the staff members that make it all happen. Um Amy had to go to Marbll because they're celebrating. My son had lots of great moments. So, you know, we're sorry we can't be here, but Mr. Webble um super excited for you and moving on up to the high school. Um and it's not here, but I did congratulate her already. So happy for her. Thank you. Thank you very much. With that, can I get a motion to oppose? Motion. All in favor say I. I. Thank you everyone. Have a great night. Congratulations. S