[00:00:05]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2023, AND THE TIME IS 5 P.M..
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER WILL PARTICIPATE VIA TELECONFERENCE.
THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED AT 8 P.M.
SHOULD OUR MEETING EXTEND BEYOND THAT TIME.
IF EVERYONE IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND JOIN ME WITH THE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[B. Pledge of Allegiance]
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.I WILL NOW CONDUCT A ROLL CALL.
[C. Roll Call (Including Action on Absences if Necessary)]
I, PRESIDENT CHON, AM PRESENT WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.OKAY, WE WILL ALSO TAKE ACTION TO EXCUSE VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.
SHE LET US KNOW SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXCUSE HER FROM THIS.
SO MOVED BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE MAH.
DR. DEWAN, COULD YOU HELP WITH THE VERBAL ROLL CALL VOTE? YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEES, BEFORE WE ADOPT THE AGENDA, THERE ARE TWO CHANGES.
[D. Set the Agenda]
CLOSED SESSION ITEM SEVEN A IS BEING POSTPONED DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, AND ITEM SEVEN D WILL NOT BE HEARD AS THE PARENT WITHDREW THEIR REQUEST FOR THE APPEAL.TRUSTEE LARI ALSO WANTED TO PULL ITEM FOUR E FOR DISCUSSION AND SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA WITHOUT ITEM SEVEN A AND SEVEN D AND PULL FOR DISCUSSION FOR ITEMS FOUR E.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO PULL ITEM FOUR G.
OKAY, AND A PULL FOR ITEM FOUR G.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THOSE CHANGES.
THANK YOU. SO THAT WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE BERTA AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
TRUSTEES, IF YOU COULD VOTE IN BOARD DOCS, BUT GIVE ROCIO JUST A SECOND TO SET ALL THAT UP.
THANK YOU, AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH FIVE YESES.
ALL RIGHT. A LIVE STREAM OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/SCC BOARDMEETING.
[A. Livestream the Board Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/sccboardmeeting]
ONCE ON THE WEB PAGE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AND CHOOSE LIVE LANGUAGE.SUPPORT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE VIA PHONE FOR SPANISH SUPPORT, PEASE CALL 16699006833. THE MEETING ID IS 727334810#.
FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, PLEASE CALL 16699006833.
THE MEETING ID IS 92181539516# LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IN BOTH SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
HEADSETS MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE TRUSTEE ROCHA IS NOW HERE.
[A. Announcement of 2023-2024 Student Board Member Appointed to the SCCBOE]
DR. DEWAN, COULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION?[00:05:01]
YES. THANK YOU.PRESIDENT CHON. I'M REALLY DELIGHTED TO MAKE THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.
THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEEK AND CONSIDER STUDENTS IDEAS AND VIEWPOINTS TO PROVIDE THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND TO PROVIDE VALUED INPUT TO THE COUNTY BOARD.
THE COUNTY BOARD AGREED BY POLICY TO ENSURE INCLUSION OF A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
MYSELF, I RECEIVED A PETITION FOR STUDENT REPRESENTATION CONSISTENT WITH EDUCATION CODE SECTION 1000 AND A PETITION WAS RECEIVED AND DULY VERIFIED IN JUNE OF 2022, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE'VE BENEFITED FROM HAVING STUDENTS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS PARTICIPATE. AS A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT BOARD OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
TONIGHT, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE STUDENT MEMBER IS IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING AND HAS COMMITTED IN WRITING TO CARRYING OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS BY COMPLETING AN AFFIDAVIT WHICH IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER TERM SHALL BE FOR ONE SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH COMMENCES WHICH COMMENCED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2024, AND OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES VIA TELEPHONE.
SHOULD THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING EXTEND BEYOND 8 P.M., THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED AN ORIENTATION DESIGNED TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCCOE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE POSITION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ROMARIO AND IN SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER TRAINING ON THE BROWN ACT AND AN OVERVIEW OF BOARD BYLAWS 9150 HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED.
PRIOR TO EACH SCCBOE MEETING, OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER RECEIVES AN AGENDA OVERVIEW PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND IN ADDITION THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND A TEACHER ASSIST IN PREPARING EACH STUDENT PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
AGAIN, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE ROMARIO HERNANDEZ.
ROMARIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE AND SAY A FEW WORDS? GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT.
CHON TRUSTEE, SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN AND COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. I AGAIN WELCOME YOU, AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT OUR INCOMING BOARD MEMBER ALTERNATE IS OBSERVING TONIGHT'S MEETING, AND I ANTICIPATE FORMALLY INTRODUCING HIM AT OUR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.
STUDENT BOARD MEMBER HERNANDEZ.
SO WELCOME, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU THIS YEAR.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME.
ONCE WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS.
MODERATOR DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?
[A. At this time, members of the public may address the Board on any issue within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board that is not listed on this agenda. Members of the public may also address the Board on an agenda item before or during the Board's consideration of the item.]
YES, WE HAVE 11 CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.ROCIO, COULD YOU PLEASE PRESENT THE TWO MINUTE TIMER? THANK YOU. A TIMER WILL BE DISPLAYED AND WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP, THE BUZZER WILL SOUND.
YOU WILL BE MUTED AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END.
MODERATOR COULD YOU PLEASE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT? THANK YOU. AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEHIND THE PODIUM.
LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS ARE BRUCE [INAUDIBLE].
[00:10:02]
MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA.FIRST BECAUSE YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS BRUCE [INAUDIBLE].
I AM ALEX ALEXANDER'S YOUNGER BRO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY I HAVE [INAUDIBLE] A GOOD SCHOOL MADE FOR ME AND NOT FOR MY BROTHER.
I KNOW HE IS NOT A PERFECT KID FOR YOU, BUT FOR ME, HE IS MY HERO.
I PROMISE TO GET GOOD GRADES AND BE GOOD IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN GIVE YOU.
PLEASE GIVE MY BRO'S SCHOOL BACK.
UP NEXT IS FABIOLA [INAUDIBLE].
FABIOLA, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY.
STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS FABIOLA [INAUDIBLE].
I AM THE MOTHER OF ALEXANDER [INAUDIBLE], THIS LITTLE GUY RIGHT HERE.
GRANDMA. AUNT, UNCLES, LAWYERS, CHURCHES AND NEWS REPORTERS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALEX IS A KID THAT DOES NOT TALK, BUT HE HAS MY VOICE.
HE'S A KID THAT DOESN'T WALK, BUT HE HAS DAD TO CARRY HIM.
DOCTORS HELP WITH HIS HEALTH ISSUES.
SO YOU SEE THE PATTERN THAT I'M GOING WITH.
WHERE DO YOU GUYS STAND BY HIM? BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, HE HASN'T BEEN GOING TO SCHOOL, AND I'M NOT SENDING HIM BECAUSE THE PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS ARE OFFERING FOR HIM IS NOT FOR HIM. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO TELL YOU GUYS.
TO GET TO KNOW THESE KIDS BEFORE YOU JUDGE THEM.
DO NOT HATE THEM BECAUSE THEY CAME THE WAY THEY ARE, AND I'M HERE FOR ALL THE KIDS, NOT JUST MINE.
BECAUSE SOME PARENTS ARE SCARED AND TERRIFIED OF YOU GUYS.
SO THIS IS WHY I'M STANDING HERE AND I'M HERE AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST FOUR TIMES.
I'VE BEEN PROMISED THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CALL ME.
I NEVER HAVE, AND THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR YOU GUYS.
SO THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANA MENDOZA.
ANA, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY.
STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MY NAME IS ANA MENDOZA AND I WORK FOR [INAUDIBLE] IT'S A NONPROFIT AGENCY, DOWNTOWN AND [INAUDIBLE].
WE REPRESENT THE SOUTH COUNTY AREA AND I'M HERE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THESE PARENTS.
THEY CAME OVER WITH US FOR HELP BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN WENT TO GATEWAY AND THEY WERE IN THE BELIEF THAT THE NEW STRUCTURES BEING BUILT, IT WAS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WITH SPECIAL SEVERE DISABILITIES, AND IT'S NOT FAIR, AND THAT'S THE REASON I SAID, WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR CHILD? WHAT IF YOUR CHILD, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY CAME TO YOU AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOUR KIDS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF YOU TO KEEP YOU HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF YOU STUDENTS TO HAVE A SCHOOL OPEN FOR YOU AND YOUR OWN DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU GUYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN APPROACH SO WE CAN DELIVER IT.
[00:15:03]
DR. DEWAN, WE HAVE SENT MORE MINIMAL LETTERS TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION SAYING WE DON'T GET ANY RESPONSE.SO I'M PRETTY SURE YOU GOT A LOT OF LETTERS FROM MARTY, FROM THE PARENTS HERE.
SO WE'RE JUST SPEAKING UP FOR THEM.
OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS [INAUDIBLE].
CARLOS, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
[SPANISH] GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARLOS [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM THE FATHER OF ALEXANDER [INAUDIBLE].
[SPANISH] SO I JUST NOTICED TWO THINGS.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL.
ONE OF THEM IS A NORMAL KID [INAUDIBLE] AND THE OTHER ONE HAS SPECIAL NEEDS.
[SPANISH] SO MY SON BRUCE WENT TO MURPHY SCHOOL AND HE WAS BULLIED THERE, AND I SPOKE TO THE PRINCIPAL AND TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO SEND HIM THERE ANYMORE.
[SPANISH] OKAY SO HE SAID THAT HE STOPPED SENDING HIM DURING DECEMBER BECAUSE OF IT AND I ASKED HIM HOW HE GOT HE GOT BULLIED.
SO THE STORY WE KNOW FROM HIM AND HIS FAMILY IS THAT HIS SON WAS HELD DOWN, FACE DOWN.
THEY TOOK AWAY HIS PHONE AND NOBODY WAS THERE TO AID HIM.
THAT'S THE REASON HE DOES NOT WANT TO SEND ALEXANDER TO MURPHY.
[SPANISH] FOR ALEXANDER, WE HAVE NOT SENT THEM TO MURPHY EVER SINCE WE WERE TOLD TO SEND THEM.
WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL STATING THAT HE'S NOT ATTENDING TO THIS POINT, BUT YOU CAN HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO MINUTES BECAUSE OF TRANSLATION.
THANK YOU. [SPANISH] SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M STATING THAT I'M FEELING A DISCRIMINATION FOR BOTH OF MY KIDS.
FOR BRUCE, HE'S CONSIDERED NORMAL AND ALSO FOR ALEXANDER THAT HE'S A DISABLED CHILD.
[SPANISH] WHEN BRUCE WAS GOING TO MURPHY AND HE WAS SENT TO SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL CALLED AND SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE SENT TO COURT FOR NOT SENDING HIM TO SCHOOL, AND NOW WITH ALEXANDER, THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION AT ALL FROM THE SCHOOL TOWARDS ALEXANDER.
[SPANISH] SO WHAT I AM SEEING RIGHT HERE VERY CLEARLY IS THAT MY SON, BOTH OF MY SONS, ONE OF THEM GETS ALL THE ATTENTION AND MY OTHER SON THAT HAS THE DISABILITIES. HE JUST BASICALLY, YOU GUYS DON'T CARE.
SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T CARE.
SO IF HE WAS NORMAL AND YOU HAD THE FUNDS FOR IT.
[SPANISH] SO WE SEE VERY CLEARLY THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT GIVING THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY NEED.
THERE'S A LOT MORE PARENTS COMING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA.
MICHELLE, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:20:04]
HI, MY NAME IS MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA.I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY SON, CHRISTOPHER, WHO IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE SOUTH COUNTY ANNEX.
MY SON IS MEDICALLY FRAGILE, DISABLED STUDENT WHO NEEDS CONSTANT SUPERVISION.
THE NURSE WAS NEVER CALLED AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED.
I ONLY FOUND OUT BECAUSE I ALSO WORK AT THE SITE AND THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE NURSE TO SEE WHAT HER INTERPRETATION OF THE SEIZURES WERE AND SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THEM.
NO ONE HAD INFORMED HER, AND ON AUGUST 28TH, THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE SCHOOL.
HE WAS RELEASED FROM SCHOOL TEN MINUTES EARLY, STANDING OUTSIDE IN 92 DEGREE HEAT.
CLASS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DISMISSED AT 2:00.
HIM AND THE AIDES AND THE TEACHER OUTSIDE WAITING FOR THE BUS.
HE CAME HOME WITH A SCRAPE ON HIS LEFT LEG.
SO WHEN HE WAS AT GATEWAY, HE WAS SAFE.
IT WAS AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.
THERE WERE 30, 40 STUDENTS, DIFFERENT AGE RANGES, BUT HE WAS IN A MEDICALLY FRAGILE CLASSROOM.
HE WAS IN THAT CLASSROOM WITH THE SAME TEACHER.
IF THEY OCCURRED, I GOT A REPORT.
SO HE HAS FOUR OTHER STUDENTS IN HIS ROOM AND HE HAS NO INTERACTION WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
SO HOW IS THIS EVEN A SCHOOL? HE NEEDS TO BE PLACED BACK AT GATEWAY WITH STUDENTS LIKE HIMSELF, SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.
OUR NEXT SIX SPEAKERS ARE YOLANDA GONZALEZ, HEATHER BASS, JEFF OLSON, SARA [INAUDIBLE]. VERONICA GUZMAN, AND JORGE ARELLANO, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
YOLANDA, YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOLANDA GONZALEZ, AND I'M THE MOM OF THIS MIRACLE.
HE WEARS DIAPERS, HE WEARS BRACES, AND HE GETS REALLY ANXIOUS.
HE HAS BEEN ATTENDING GATEWAY.
PLEASE PUT YOURSELF IN THESE KID'S SHOES.
TO BE TRANSFERRED TO MARTIN AT 9 A.M..
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO BE IN YOUR OWN MIND TO DO WORK? WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
THEY DESERVE, WELL, EDUCATION, A WELL PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE KIDS WITH THEIR OWN.
DON'T TAKE AWAY THEIR PLAYGROUND TO PUT A PARKING LOT.
REMOVED THEIR PLAYGROUND AND GIVEN ONE SINGLE SWING, WHICH FOR THEM THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WAIT.
I GET EVERY TIME THEY GET ANXIOUS, THEY START PINCHING YOU.
THEY THROW THEMSELVES ON THE FLOOR.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT TAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER BASS.
HEATHER, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY.
STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS HEATHER BASS.
SORRY, I DID NOT HEAR MY NAME BEING CALLED.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES OF GILROY.
IT WAS BUILT IN THE 70S BY PARENTS.
JUST LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORS, SIBLINGS AND PEERS.
[00:25:08]
WE HAD A FIRE AT GATEWAY, IF YOU RECALL, AND THE ENTIRE BUILDING WAS REBUILT AND EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER PARENTS, THE NURSES AND ALL OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT GATEWAY WAS PERFECT FOR THE STUDENTS AT IN THE CLASSES, THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THE STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL FRAGILITY, AND THE STUDENTS WHO JUST HAD DIFFICULTY WORKING WITHIN THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND VISIT THE SCHOOL, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO EMPTY CLASSROOMS, CLASSROOMS THAT AREN'T EVEN BEING USED AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STUDENTS TO ATTEND IN THESE CLASSROOMS, BUT CLEARLY, WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS THAT ARE HAVING TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO SAN JOSE OR THAT BEING PUT INTO OTHER CLASSROOMS THAT AREN'T ADEQUATE AND AREN'T MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS.
SO WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND PARENTS THAT WANT TO GO THERE, CAN WE PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING OUR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL IN GILROY? THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO A LOCAL SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GO TO WAKE UP AND GO TO THE SCHOOL IN THE SAME COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
THE LAST FOUR SPEAKERS, THE LAST FOUR SPEAKERS ARE JEFF [INAUDIBLE].
I WOULD LIKE SARAH [INAUDIBLE], VERONICA GUZMAN AND JORGE ARELLANO.
PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
YEAH, WE'RE JUST TRADING. THAT'S FINE.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR.
DEWAN. MY NAME IS VERONICA GUZMAN.
TODAY, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT NOT JUST OUR SOUTH COUNTY PARENTS AND STUDENTS, BUT IN SUPPORT OF EVERY STUDENT AND PARENT THROUGHOUT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY WITH DISABILITIES.
SEE, WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITHIN OUR EDUCATION.
NEXT, WE ARE TIRED OF HEARING.
WE NEED A RESOLUTION TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, AND IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, WE THE PEOPLE, WE THE PARENTS, WE THE VOTERS CAN UNTIE YOUR HANDS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I WILL BE HERE EVERY DAY IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR YOU ALL TO LISTEN, AND DR.
DEWAN, WITH ALL THE RESPECT I THINK YOU NEED, YOU NEED YOU HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO THESE PARENTS FOR NOT RESPONDING, NOT RESPONDING TO ME AS AN ADVOCATE, AS AN ORGANIZER.
SO PLEASE, I WILL ASK FOR YOU GUYS TO START WORKING.
DO NOT TAKE THIS PLAYGROUND AWAY FROM CHILDREN THAT CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? 'YO SOY TU VOZ.' I AM YOUR VOICE AND EVERY CHILDREN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS.
OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE JEFF [INAUDIBLE], SARAH [INAUDIBLE] AND JORGE ARELLANO.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MY NAME IS JEFF [INAUDIBLE], AND THE LAST CONTRACT, THE CEO AGREED TO REOPEN SALARY NEGOTIATIONS IF THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT WAS ABOVE 6%, THE COLA WAS OVER 8%, AND WHILE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE REOPENED, THE COE IS CURRENTLY NOT WILLING TO RAISE OUR SALARIES TO MEET INFLATION, MEANING THEY ARE CONTENT TO SEE OUR PAY DECLINE IN REAL TERMS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THE GOOD FAITH OF FUTURE BARGAINING IF THE COE WILL RAILROAD US INTO AN EFFECTIVE PAY CUT? THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED CALIFORNIA STATE INCOME LIMIT STATES THAT ANYONE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY MAKING UNDER $96,000 A YEAR IS CONSIDERED LOW INCOME AND UNDER $62,450 IS VERY LOW INCOME.
HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE SUCH A HUGE MAJORITY OF AN ORGANIZATION'S WORKFORCE BE FORMALLY CONSIDERED POOR? WE ARE NOT ASKING TO BE MADE RICH.
WE AREN'T EVEN ASKING TO BE NOT POOR.
WE'RE ASKING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] THE COE MUST BE MAKING SURE ITS WORKERS ARE ABLE TO WORK.
IF WE CANNOT PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES, HOW WILL WE PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY? IT IS ALWAYS CLAIMED THERE IS NO EXTRA BUDGET FOR A RAISE OR THAT IT'S NOT A PRIORITY.
[00:30:06]
AND BOTTOM IS ADDRESSED.ALL MANAGERS THAT THE COE MAKE ABOVE A MEDIAN SALARY FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
IT IS MORALLY REPUGNANT TO BE TOLD BY THEM THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE 90% OF US WHO ARE LOW INCOME.
WITHOUT US, YOUR JOBS DON'T EXIST.
WE ARE NOT UNREASONABLE IN OUR ASK.
WE JUST DON'T WANT AN EFFECTIVE PAY CUT AND WE WANT TO HAVE TO NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT PAYING FOR FOOD AND RENT SO THAT WE CAN SERVICE THE CHILDREN OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CHILDREN LIKE ANTHONY AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO CAME IN HERE TO SPEAK EARLIER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH [INAUDIBLE].
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
BY DEFINITION, COLAS ARE INCREASES IN SALARIES OR HOURLY RATES TO HELP EMPLOYEES MAINTAIN THE VALUE OF THEIR COMPENSATION AGAINST INFLATION AND SCCEO MUST INVEST IN CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED WORKERS BY SPENDING COLA DOLLARS AND ADDITIONAL REVENUES ON IMPROVING SALARIES, NOT GIVING A ONE TIME OFF-SCHEDULE STIPEND.
SCCOE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT THEY AREN'T SOLVENT AND THAT INCREASING SALARIES RESULT IN CLOSING PROGRAMS. THIS IS UNTRUE.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF EXTRA DOLLARS HIDDEN IN THE BUDGET.
CUE'S OWN INFORMATION SHOWS THAT THEY INFLATED THE COST OF OUR SALARIES BY OVER 7 MILLION LAST YEAR.
LATER THIS YEAR, CUE WILL PAY OFF THE MORTGAGE ON THIS BUILDING, SAVING $1 MILLION A YEAR DESPITE FEWER STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE CUE HAS DECIDED TO STOP SERVING THEM.
REVENUE FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION INCREASED BY 10%.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE BUDGET WHERE MONEY FOR SALARIES COULD BE FOUND WITHOUT IMPACTING PROGRAMS. TRUSTEES YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO REVISE THE BUDGET.
COVERING AN ADDITIONAL FOUR MONTHS AND SALARIES FOR MANAGEMENT SHOULD NOT INCREASE BY 33%.
THE AVERAGE LEADER OUTSIDE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING SERVICES SUPERVISES ONLY 1.8 PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND TURNED DOWN THEIR RAISES WHEN FINANCES WERE TIGHT, BUT MANAGEMENT AND SCCOE ACCEPTS THEIR RAISES AND THEN BLAMES WORKERS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE MORE STAFF THAT SERVE STUDENTS DIRECTLY BECAUSE QUOTE OF ALL THE NICE RAISES EVERYONE IS NOW ENJOYING, OUR STAFF ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS, MOVING TO AFFORDABLE PLACES LIKE LOS BANOS OR TRACY AND COMMUTING SO THEY CAN MAKE ENDS MEET.
WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JORGE ARELLANO.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WELL, HELLO, EVERYONE HERE TODAY, DR.
DEWAN AND THE REST OF THE TRUSTEES HERE, NICE TO SEE YOU.
THERE'S A LOT OF PASSION HERE.
SO I'M ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING COVERED.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE TRUSTEES HERE TODAY.
TRUSTEE ROCHA AND TRUSTEE LARI OVER THE SUMMER YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM AND THEY JUST HAD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF YOU AND WHICH IS KIND OF UNUSUAL. USUALLY THEY ALWAYS FIND, YOU KNOW, 1 OR 2 TRUSTEES WHO THEY HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT, BUT THEY WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY, AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE WAY YOU SHOWED UP. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
I KNOW THAT, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
SO THE SECOND THING THAT I WANTED TO CELEBRATE TODAY HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE [INAUDIBLE] REPORT CAME OUT IN JUNE AND I HADN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND SHARE THE RESULTS WITH YOU ALL, BUT THIS REPORT MEASURES THE IMPACT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS ON STUDENT LEARNING WHILE THE RESULTS WERE OVERALL POSITIVE.
I JUST WANT I'M JUST VERY PROUD TO REPORT THAT ALPHA WAS IS CONSIDERED A GAP BUSTER SCHOOL, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE DISPARITIES, LEARNING DISPARITIES AMONG STUDENTS OF COLOR, POOR STUDENTS OF COLOR AND SO WE'RE JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
VERY WE'RE JUST CELEBRATING THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC TOOK A TOLL ON OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THE GRIND AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS JOURNEY TO, YOU KNOW, BE THE BEST IN EDUCATION HERE IN THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
EXCUSE ME. THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
[4. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS]
[00:35:01]
WE DID PULL ITEMS FOUR E AND FOUR G.MODERATOR, IS THERE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE OTHER ACTION ITEMS? WE HAVE ONE COMMENT CARD FOR FOUR G.
OKAY. SINCE WE DID PULL THAT FOR DISCUSSION, I'LL TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT TIME.
TRUSTEES CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS FOR A THROUGH J WITH THE ITEMS FOUR D AND G PULLED.
I'M SORRY FOUR E AND G PULLED.
SO MOVED. MOVED BY TRUSTEE LARI.
SECOND. AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE MAH.
A VERBAL AYE FROM TRUSTEE BERTA.
ANY OTHER TRUSTEES NEED TO GIVE A VERBAL.
YEAH, IT DIDN'T SHOW UP ON MY.
OH, NO, IT'S THERE. OKAY, GOOD.
THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE PULLED ITEMS FOUR E AND G.
[E. Request Adoption of Resolution Recognizing American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month, and Denouncing Islamophobia]
TRUSTEE LARI. YOU WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM FOR DISCUSSION? YES. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FACT COVERED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT IS NOT WIDELY KNOWN THAT THE FIRST DOCUMENTED MUSLIM IN AMERICA CAME TO THE US IN 1527 AS A GUIDE.ISLAMIC SCHOLARS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN LEADERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY.
SO BASICALLY MUSLIMS ARE NOT NEW ENTRANTS TO THE US.
ADDITIONALLY, I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE 2021 SURVEY RELEASED BY CARE MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT HAS SOME STARTLING STATISTICS ABOUT HOW WIDESPREAD ISLAMOPHOBIA IS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ALSO? SURE. I JUST WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE LARI AND ALSO DR.
DEWAN FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION.
I THINK IT'S A VERY TIMELY ONE BECAUSE AUGUST WAS AMERICAN MUSLIM APPRECIATION AND AWARENESS MONTH.
I KNOW ONE OF THE EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, THAT I EXPERIENCED AS A MUSLIM GROWING UP IN AMERICA AND IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS THE TARGETED HATRED THAT I EXPERIENCED THAT I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AS A CHILD, AND EVEN MORE SO AS AN ADULT.
SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ISSUE I THINK WE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE IN TAKING A STANCE ON AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS PARTICULAR WITH THE WITH THE STUNNING DATA THAT STILL CONTINUES TO EXIST REGARDING HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, TRUSTEES, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WITH THE DIVERSE BOARD THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE BRING THESE TYPES OF THINGS FORWARD FOR DISCUSSION THAT REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE COME FROM. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
WE DO NEED A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE TO APPROVE BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO, AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LARI.
THANK YOU. IF I COULD GET ANOTHER VERBAL AYE.
VERBAL AYE FOR TRUSTEE BERTA, AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES.
THANK YOU. NOW, MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR G.
[G. Request Adoption of Resolution Against Book Bans]
TRUSTEE BERTA. YES.DID WE WANT TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT? OH, THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
MODERATOR IF YOU COULD START PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM FOUR G.
THANK YOU. OUR SPEAKER IS RUDY RODRIGUEZ.
CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:40:03]
GOOD EVENING, DR. DEWAN AND TRUSTEES AND ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER HERNANDEZ.MY NAME IS RUDY RODRIGUEZ AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE FRANKLIN MCKINLEY SCHOOL BOARD, AND I JUST CAME TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PLACING THIS ON THE AGENDA AND ESPECIALLY THANK MY TRUSTEE OF AREA SIX, MAIMONA AFZAL BERTA, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE FRANKLIN MCKINLEY SCHOOL BOARD FOR HAVING THIS RESOLUTION PLACED ON THE AGENDA LAST MAY.
THE FRANKLIN MCKINLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT PASSED A RESOLUTION AGAINST BANNING BOOKS, AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE OUR COUNTY TAKE THE LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE A RESOURCE TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY TO STOP THIS EFFORT OF BANNING BOOKS.
OUR SCHOOLS DISTRICTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AT THIS VERY MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE GROUPS LIKE INFORMED PARENTS OF SILICON VALLEY GOING AROUND TO SCHOOLS AND TELLING LIES ABOUT THE TYPE OF CURRICULUM AND ALSO PUSHING, BANNING BOOKS AND TELLING THE PARENTS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE HOLD OF THE POWER TO DO THAT.
THEY ALREADY HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
SO SO I APPRECIATE HAVING THIS RESOLUTION PLACED ON THE AGENDA, AND I TRUST THAT YOU ALL WILL SUPPORT THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING IT.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BERTA I WILL PASS IT TO YOU TO START OUR DISCUSSION.
SO AS BOARD PRESIDENT OF FRANKLIN MCKINLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, TRUSTEE RUDY RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS REALLY BECOME POLITICIZED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND AT SUCH A CRITICAL TIME.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR BOARD TO TAKE A STANCE AGAINST THE BANNING OF BOOKS AND POLITICALLY AND ALSO THE POLICING AND THE SCRUTINY THAT OUR DISTRICTS ARE FACING. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE COORDINATED ATTACKS BY HATE GROUPS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE TO TRY TO BAN BOOKS IN THE SANTA CLARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS FRANKLIN-MCKINLEY, TO NAME A FEW, AND OUR DISTRICTS AND EDUCATORS REALLY HAVE SUCH A CRITICAL AND CHALLENGING TASK RIGHT NOW TO PRIORITIZE CREATING THE BEST LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO THIS IS REALLY A DISTRACTION FROM ALSO ADDRESSING THE ONGOING CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THE LEARNING LOSS THAT OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCED DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
SO I ALSO WANTED TO REITERATE THAT EXISTING LAWS LIKE THE FAIR ACT AND OUR EDUCATION CODE THAT, AS THE RESOLUTION MENTIONED, ACTUALLY REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO TEACH ABOUT THE DIVERSE GROUPS THAT MAKE UP OUR SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITIES, AND SO WE AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, SHOULD ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, REINFORCING AND PERHAPS USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, OBLIGATED TO TEACH, BUT ALSO THERE'S CONSTRAINTS IN MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL WAY. SO DOING IT IN A WAY WHERE NO TEACHER OR DISTRICT IS SPONSORING OR ENCOURAGING BIAS ON THE BASIS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, RELIGION, DISABILITY, NATIONALITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK TRUSTEE RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING ELEVATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, AND I ENCOURAGE MY MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL TO TAKE ACTION AND SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I APPRECIATE HAVING OUR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE TO SUPPORT THEM, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A SCARY TIME TO BE AN EDUCATOR AS WELL, AND SO KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THIS BOARD AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IS IMPORTANT TO REALLY SEE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR I KEEP USING THE WORD IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS THAT STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY SEE THEMSELVES IN THE CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE TEACHING, AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE RESTRICT THAT, HOW ARE WE CREATING MORE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS? SO I THINK I CAN THINK OF BOOKS THAT I'VE READ, BOOKS THAT WERE AROUND BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WERE AROUND UNTIL I WAS AN ADULT, AND SO THE EXCITEMENT THAT I SEE IN MY STUDENTS FACES WHEN WE READ A BOOK OR EVEN TEACH ONE STORY THAT IS ABOUT THEIR CULTURE, WHETHER IT'S IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS OUR ENGLISH BOOKS OR ANYTHING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES IN WHAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
[00:45:06]
MOVE TO APPROVE.SECOND, AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE ROCHA.
A VERBAL AYE FROM TRUSTEE BERTA, AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES.
[A. The members of the Board may give reports on activities related to their duties as members of the Santa Clara County Board of Education]
INFORMATION SHARED DURING THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.I WILL BEGIN BY INVITING OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER TO PRESENT HIS REPORT.
AS WE START A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUS HAVE STARTED AND ARE CLOSE TO FINISHING THE LIUNA PRE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
THIS PAST FRIDAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, STUDENTS IN THE LIUNA PROGRAM WERE ABLE TO EARN THEIR OSHA RECOGNIZED FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION, AND THE OBSTACLE COURSE WAS SET UP IN ONE OF THE PARKING LOTS AND IN TEAMS OF TWO STUDENTS OPERATED THE FORKLIFT AND NAVIGATED THROUGH THE COURSE.
THE DIRECTOR OF LIUNA WAS OBSERVING AND SCORING THE STUDENTS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD QUALIFY.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THIS IS AN ELITE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE CHANGE ON OUR CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TOGETHER TO CHANGE THE YOUTH BILL OF RIGHTS SO THAT ALL YOUTH CAN UNDERSTAND THE VOCABULARY AND KNOW WHAT'S, KNOW AND KNOW WHAT THE RIGHTS ACTUALLY MEAN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HEARING ME OUT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON MY CAMPUS.
I AM HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS BOARD.
THANK YOU. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER HERNANDEZ AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE UPDATES.
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD TO HEAR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AT OUR FUTURE MEETINGS AS WELL.
NOW, WOULD ANY TRUSTEES LIKE TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THEIR ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THEIR DUTIES AS MEMBERS OF AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF ED? AND WE WILL DO COMMITTEE REPORTS LATER IN THE AGENDA.
TRUSTEE BERTA, AND THEN TRUSTEE LARI.
THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO WELCOME OUR NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, HERNANDEZ I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PARTS OF MY JOB IS GETTING TO LEARN FROM OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR SOUTH COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT TYPICALLY SERVE OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE MEDICALLY FRAGILE NEEDS.
I VISITED WITH TRUSTEE MAH, A GATEWAY SCHOOL, GILROY HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS MARTIN MURPHY WITH STAFF, AND I KNOW WE'VE HEARD REGULAR CONCERNS AT OUR BOARD MEETING REGARDING THE CHALLENGES AND CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT GATEWAY SCHOOL INVOLVING OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO RECEIVE A PUBLIC UPDATE ON HOW THE BROAD CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.
I KNOW WE CAN'T GET INTO THE PARTICULARS OF OF STUDENTS AND CONFIDENTIALITY, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY NOW THAT SCHOOL HAS STARTED UP, WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL URGENCY TO REALLY ENSURE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS ARE SERVED, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH RESOLUTION, WHICH WE APPROVED AS PART OF OUR CONSENT ITEMS THAT THE BOARD ALSO GET AN UPDATE, A PUBLIC UPDATE ON ABSENTEEISM IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THUS FAR THIS YEAR AND HOW THAT'S BEING APPROACHED AND ADDRESSED.
I ATTENDED A BEAUTIFUL MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL AT WEST VALLEY COLLEGE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH NIKKI AND MIRIAM, WHO ARE LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ADVOCATING FOR THE INCLUSION OF [INAUDIBLE] REPRESENTATION IN SCHOOLS, AND THAT IS IT.
TRUSTEE BERTA. TRUSTEE LARI, AND THEN TRUSTEE MAH, AND THEN TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
SO I'VE HAD REGULAR WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH MY COLLEAGUE AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS BAY AREA, TO WORK ON AN ONLINE SERIES ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HIGHLIGHT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF HOW PUBLIC POLICY, INCLUDING EDUCATION POLICY, CAN HELP ENHANCE THE HEALTH STATUS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
[00:50:04]
ON AUGUST 13TH, I TABLED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS FOR WOMEN NOW CLUB AT THE MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL AT WEST VALLEY COLLEGE.THANK YOU TO DR. DEWAN FOR YOUR HELP AND VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN AND TRUSTEE BERTA.
THE UNITED STATES SURGEON GENERAL HAS RECENTLY CALLED ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF LONELINESS, ISOLATION AND LACK OF CONNECTION THAT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND WHICH AFFECT RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING STUDENTS.
LACKING CONNECTION CAN INCREASE THE RISK FOR PREMATURE DEATH.
THEY SAY TO LEVELS COMPARABLE TO SMOKING DAILY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS THE MUSIC IN THE PARK ARE GREAT AT FORGING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND I SAW A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THERE REALLY ENJOYING THE EVENT.
TRUSTEE LARI. TRUSTEE MAH, AND THEN TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'VE ATTENDED, WHICH I THINK ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTING.
ONE WAS ACTUALLY TODAY, ALONG WITH STRONG START DIRECTOR MATT TINSLEY.
IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS MAKING FACILITIES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ECE JUST AVAILABLE AND MORE MORE PLENTIFUL AND STREAMLINED AND JUST INCREASING THE FACILITIES ASPECTS OF OUR CHILD CARE CRISIS, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT, THOUGH, IN THAT MEETING WAS THE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNION, WHICH IS CCPU, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A CALIFORNIA UNION OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.
THEY HAVE 44,000 MEMBERS AND THEY ARE AN OFFICIAL FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER UNION.
SO THEY INCLUDE CENTERS, THEY INCLUDE FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND THEY'VE WORKED A LOT WITH GETTING LEGISLATION DONE TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND DOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN THAT ORDER TO UPLIFT THE EASE AND ACCESS FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY GREAT.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE CASI CHARTER CHAT, WHICH IS RUN BY OUR DIRECTOR OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, MEFULA FAIRLEY, AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING. THEY HAVE A REGULAR MEETING WITH CHARTER AUTHORIZERS ACROSS THE STATE AND IT'S A NICE WAY TO SEE HOW OTHER CHARTER AUTHORIZERS ARE DOING AND WHAT KIND OF ISSUES THEY COME UP WITH.
SO THAT WAS ALSO VERY ENLIGHTENING.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE LUNCH AND LEARN, WHICH IS A MONTHLY SET OF MEETINGS THAT THE CSBA LEGAL SERVICES HAS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE AS CLIENTS OF CSB LEGAL SERVICES WE HAVE ACCESS TO AND WE GOT THE NOTICE REALLY LATE, BUT BUT ALL OF US ARE ABLE TO ATTEND IF YOU CAN AND I FOUND IT VERY, VERY INTERESTING.
THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF NOTES AND THINGS THAT I TOOK, SOME OF WHICH I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH OUR COUNTY OFFICE.
THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS WITH RESPECT TO STUDENT RECORDS AND HOW RECORDS NEED TO BE KEPT AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES, HOW STUDENT RECORDS HAVE TO BE THAT PARENTS CANNOT BE DENIED ACCESS TO RECORDS OF A CHILD, BUT SB24 CAN RESTRAIN HEALTH CARE, RECREATION, DAY CARE OF A CHILD AND THAT SOME OF THOSE INFORMATION NEED COURT AUTHORIZATION.
THERE WAS ALSO NOTICES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO PUBLISH AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ALONG WITH ALL KINDS OF POLICIES.
TITLE IX NOTICES ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW POLICIES ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT POSTERS. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF LAWS ON NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED ABOUT WAS WHETHER THESE THINGS NEED TO BE POSTED IN
[00:55:07]
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, AND I WASN'T SURE WHETHER WE COMPLY, BUT THE RULING IS THAT IF 15% OR MORE OF THE DISTRICT POPULATION SPEAK THE OTHER LANGUAGE, THEN THE POLICIES NEED TO BE POSTED IN THAT LANGUAGE.SO I WAS WONDERING, ARE OUR POLICIES POSTED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, DR.
DEWAN? WE CAN CHECK ON THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
WE REVIEW EVERY YEAR THE AMOUNT, THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT POPULATION AND LANGUAGE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THAT AND SO BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AS A COUNTY OFFICE, OUR DISTRICT POPULATION IS KIND OF E VERYBODY WHO ARE OUR STUDENTS, IS THAT RIGHT? IT WOULDN'T BE THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTYWIDE.
CORRECT IT'S ONLY THE STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAMS. IN OUR PROGRAMS. RIGHT, AND THEN IS EACH PROGRAM CONSIDERED SEPARATELY OR WOULD IT BE A CUMULATIVE OF ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS WHEN DETERMINING 15% SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE OR NOT? TYPICALLY IT IS BY PROGRAM.
SO WE LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM.
COMMUNITY SCHOOL HAS A SEPARATE STRUCTURE.
THEN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DISTRICTS.
THEY HAD A NICE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD THAT YOU COULD ASK KIND OF ANYTHING, AND IT WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING AND I REALLY RECOMMEND IT, AND THE LAST THING I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON IS THAT I DID, AS TRUSTEE BERTA MENTIONED, ATTEND A TOUR THANKS TO DR.
DEWAN ARRANGING OF THE THREE DIFFERENT SPECIAL ED SITES, AND YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOOK AT WHAT THE FACILITIES WERE LIKE, CLASSROOM SPACINGS FOR WHEELCHAIRS, RESTROOM ACCESS, AND SO A LOT OF THE STUDENTS REQUIRE A LIFT AND IN SOME CASES A CHANGING TABLE FOR MULTIPLE DIAPER CHANGES A DAY, AND SO WE LOOKED AT IT AND THERE WERE DEFINITELY ON MY BEHALF CONCERNS AS FAR AS HOW HOW ADEQUATE THE SPACES ARE AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE.
BERTA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STAFF REPORT AND, AND ACTUALLY IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT I'M INTERESTED IN, I'D LIKE TO SEE KIND OF THE WHOLE REPORT ON THE CLOSURE OF THAT MEDICALLY FRAGILE CLASSROOM, INCLUDING THE BUDGETARY AND INCLUSIONARY REASONS THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THAT ACTION.
AS DR. DEWAN EXPLAINED TO TRUSTEE BERTA AND I, THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL KIND OF CONSIDERATIONS OF, YOU KNOW, STOPPING SEGREGATION OF STUDENTS AND SO TRYING TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET THAT ALL KIND OF IN I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT ARE THE RULES ACTUALLY, AND PARTS OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CLOSING OF THAT CLASSROOM AND HOW THOSE CLOSURES AFFECT OUR MOUS WITH THE DISTRICTS, BOTH MORGAN HILL AND GILROY UNIFIED AND ALSO TO INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AFFECTED AND THEIR RESULTING NEW PLACEMENTS.
KIND OF HOW MANY STUDENTS ENDED UP MOVING WHERE, AND THAT IS IT FOR MY REPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU TRUSTEE MAH.
TRUSTEE DI SALVO. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I TOO SUPPORT THE STAFF REPORT CONCEPT, HOPEFULLY BY OUR NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I HAVE KIND OF A PAUCITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT ALL.
I JUST NEED TO KNOW MORE, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
I HOPE THAT WE DO SOME KIND OF A MEDIA RELEASE, A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE BOOK BANNING RESOLUTION THAT WE SUPPORTED UNANIMOUSLY WITH SIX VOTES TONIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE.
[01:00:10]
TAKING HIS PERSONAL TIME TO BE HERE AND ADVOCATE FOR US TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION.I'M SORRY HE'S LEFT BECAUSE I WANTED TO THANK HIM PERSONALLY.
ONE OF THE WHEREAS SAID THAT 41% OF THE 41% OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED ARE RELATED TO LGBTQ PLUS ISSUES, AND AS A PRINCIPAL, THOSE ARE ISSUES I DEALT A LOT WITH AND STUDENTS THAT FELT.
DISAFFECTED AND DISENCHANTED WITH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HELPING THEIR ISSUES, AND I LEARNED WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL, WHEN I WAS IN MY 30S, THAT 50% OF TEEN SUICIDES ARE RELATED TO THAT ISSUE, AND THEY NEED INFORMATION.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE BANNED FROM READING BOOKS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT IN FAR REACHES OF THE COMMUNITY IN SOME WAY OR EVEN HAVE OUR OWN PRESS OR MEDIA CONFERENCE ABOUT THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND AN EVENT FOR REPRESENTATIVE ZOE LOFGREN.
I HAPPENED TO RUN INTO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, MARY ANN DEWAN, THAT WAS THERE, DELIGHTFULLY RUN INTO OUR SUPERINTENDENT THAT WAS THERE, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HER THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
I TOLD HER ABOUT THIS AND I'D LOVE THE COUNTY OFFICE TO BE INVOLVED IF IT COMES TO FRUITION, BUT I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ZOOM MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT SAN JOSE STATE ON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I ALREADY HAVE THE FORMER PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE JUVENILE COURT, KATHERINE LUCERO, WHO'S IN A NEW POSITION, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE OFFICE OF LET ME SEE HERE.
I WROTE IT DOWN SO I WOULDN'T.
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AND YOUTH RESTORATION, BECAUSE WE'RE REORGANIZING AND REVISIONING JUVENILE JUSTICE, WHICH IS A MAIN PART OF OUR WORK WITH PROVIDING THE EDUCATION AS OUR STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER KNOWS AT THE RANCH, AT THE JAMES RANCH.
THE EVENT WILL BE CALLED ITS WORKING TITLE IS DEMOLISHED THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE IN SILICON VALLEY, AND JUDGE LUCERO, WHO IS NOW DIRECTOR LUCERO, WOULD BE SHE'S AGREED TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
THERE WOULD BE A PANEL OF EXPERTS, FACILITATED PANEL OF EXPERTS ABOUT ISSUES INVOLVING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, INCLUDING READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE, BECAUSE AS KATHERINE STOOD THERE AS A JUDGE, PRESIDING JUDGE IN 2019, SHE SAID TO US, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THE STUDENTS AT JUVENILE HALL READ THREE OR MORE YEARS BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
SO CERTAINLY READING IS AN ISSUE THAT BRINGS STUDENTS INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO THAT WOULD BE ONE PERSON AN EXPERT IN READING WOULD BE ON THE PANEL, AN EXPERT IN SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. ET CETERA.
THERE'D BE A SHORT BREAK FOR LUNCH, AND THEN THERE'D BE A STUDENT PANEL WITH STUDENT VOICE ABOUT HOW THEY GOT INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM SCHOOL, AND WE COULD LEARN FROM THEM AS WELL.
WE HAVE TENANT KATHERINE SAVING DATES IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND I HOPE I CAN COME BACK TO YOU OR SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN COULD COME BACK TO YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE SPONSORING THE EVENT, WHICH WOULD BE AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER TRUSTEES.
SORRY, THERE WERE TWO THINGS I FORGOT.
ONE IS I JUST WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR THE CCBE CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND IN MONTERREY.
PLEASE COME AND I WILL ACTUALLY BE CO-PRESENTING A WORKSHOP ON SHARED GOVERNANCE.
SO THAT'S ONE THING, AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS I WANTED TO MENTION ALSO THAT I DID ATTEND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AND I WAS INVITED LARGELY BECAUSE THE COUNTY OFFICE WAS A SPONSOR FOR THE EVENT.
SO THAT WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING.
THANK YOU, TRUSTEES, AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, TRUSTEE MAH.
AWESOME. I HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, OUR INFORMATION ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING.
[01:05:02]
DR. DEWAN, COULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE FIRST ITEM?[A. First Reading of Board Policy 6173]
YES. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT CHON.YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS IS AN UPDATE.
THERE ARE QUITE A NUMBER OF UPDATES TO THIS POLICY RELATED TO CODE CHANGES.
IT IS FOCUSED ON HOMELESS YOUTH AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE AT OUR MEETING IN AUGUST, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD SEPTEMBER 20TH FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, AND THESE CHANGES TO THE POLICY WILL BRING IT IN ALIGNMENT WITH EDUCATION CODE.
DEWAN. COULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE NEXT ITEM? YES. THANK YOU. FOR THE NEXT ITEM, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES, STEPHANIE GOMEZ.
[B. 2023-2024 County Schools Service Fund Budget Update]
SHE WILL BE PRESENTING THIS NIGHT ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE 2023-24 STATE BUDGET THAT WAS ENACTED ON JUNE 27TH, 2023 AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THERE WAS SOME TRAILER BILL BUDGET LANGUAGE THAT WAS RELEASED.THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S REPORT IS JUST TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY OF HOW THE STATE BUDGET WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ITS IMPACT ON THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICES FUND.
SO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ.
OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.
PRESIDENT CHON, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THIS EVENING I'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE 23-24 COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICES FUND BUDGET.
THIS CHART HERE JUST REFLECTS OUR OVERALL BUDGET AMOUNT, WHICH IS $339 MILLION AND OUR TOTAL REVENUES AT ADOPTED BUDGET $113.7 MILLION IS OUR UNRESTRICTED, WHICH IS FUNDING.
THAT'S FOR DESIGNATED PURPOSES.
THAT'S FOR SPECIFIED PURPOSES.
SO AS FAR AS THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, WE DID RECEIVE AN 8.22% ONE TIME COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT THAT APPLIES SOLELY TO OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS FOR MANDATED SERVICES FUNDING.
THAT REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 30% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
THIS CHART PROVIDES A HIGH LEVEL OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET AND THE FUNDING SOURCES BY PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF OUR STAFF SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE FUNDED BY THESE FEES PAID BY DISTRICTS.
THE OTHER 23% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL FUNDING, WHICH IS SPECIFIED PURPOSES THAT ARE SET FORTH BY OUR GRANTORS, AND THEN 3% IS OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, WHICH ONLY APPLIES TO OPPORTUNITY YOUTH ACADEMY AND OUR CORE AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND THIS JUST HIGHLIGHTS THE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET THAT WE DID GET THE COLA APPLIED TO, WHICH IS THE BLUE COUNTY OPERATIONS FOR MANDATED SERVICES PORTION.
NEXT SLIDE. SOME OTHER BUDGET UPDATES THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE WILL BE SEEING IN OUR FIRST INTERIM BUDGET IS THROUGH SOME OF THE TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE THAT WAS PASSED.
WE ARE RECEIVING SOME REDUCTIONS TO SOME FUNDING THAT WE DID RECEIVE IN OUR 22-23 BUDGET YEAR.
SOME OF THOSE REDUCTIONS ARE FOR OUR LEARNING RECOVERY EMERGENCY BLOCK GRANTS, APPROXIMATELY 14.4% OR 41,000 IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO REDUCE THAT FUNDING.
SO WE HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING 3.54% OR $307,000 LESS THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED DUE TO DECLINING ENROLLMENT. OTHER AREAS WE'RE SEEING FROM GRANTORS FOR GRANT AWARDS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AS WE ARE STARTING TO SEE LETTERS WHERE WE'RE BEING REQUESTED TO REDUCE OUR BUDGETS BECAUSE EITHER THE FUNDING ISN'T AVAILABLE OR WE'RE HAVING DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS.
[01:10:02]
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AND SO THIS CHART HERE HIGHLIGHTS OUR INCREASES THAT WE ARE PROJECTING AND OUR 26-27 FISCAL YEAR. SO THIS WILL BE FACTORED IN OUR BUDGET FOR THE 24-25 YEAR, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT PERS RATE INCREASING TO 28.7%.SO WE ARE MONITORING THOSE INCREASES AND HOW THAT WILL ULTIMATELY IMPACT OUR BUDGET, AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST WANTED TO, IN SUMMARY, JUST SAY THAT WE ARE MONITORING VARIOUS AREAS OF FUNDING WHERE REMAINING CONSERVATIVE AND HOW WE'RE BUDGETING.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES BY EXPANDING OUR PARTNERSHIPS.
ONE THING THAT WILL BE COMING UP TO IN OCTOBER IS THE STATE BUDGET.
THERE WAS THAT DELAY IN OUR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND, AND STATE GETTING THE TAX RECEIPTS.
SO WE'LL FIND OUT THAT IMPACT IN OCTOBER, BUT THEN ALSO WE ARE LOOKING AT DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND LOWER ADA IN OUR DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO OUR PROGRAMS. SO THAT SUMMARIZES MY OVERVIEW.
THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SORRY REGARDING THE FUNDING REDUCTION AND THE MIGRANT EDUCATION.
I MEAN, I HEARD YOU SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LOWER ENROLLMENT.
IS THAT LOWER ENROLLMENT IN GENERAL OR IN THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM? SPECIFICALLY IN THAT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY.
SO WHEN WE GOT OUR EVERY YEAR WE GET A LETTER SAYING THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BE BUDGETING, AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY GOT THE FINAL NUMBERS, WE JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT BECAUSE OF ENROLLMENT, THAT NUMBER HAS DECREASED.
OKAY. THANK YOU, AND PRESIDENT CHON, IF I COULD ADD THAT MIGRANT EDUCATION, WE ARE REGION ONE.
SO SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION SERVES SIX COUNTIES OUT OF THAT FUNDING ALLOCATION.
OKAY. TRUSTEE MAH, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CHON.
I GUESS I NEED ONE REMINDER, FIRST OF WHERE WE ARE IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR. SO THAT PROCESS STARTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WE START LOOKING AT OUR RATES, ALL OF OUR RATES THAT WE INCLUDE IN OUR BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS.
SO THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, NEXT MONTH OR SO.
GREAT, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, I WAS WONDERING WHEN AND ACTUALLY THIS MAY BE DIRECTED MORE TOWARDS DR. DEWAN, WHEN WILL THE BOARD GET A SUMMARY FROM OUR PRIORITY SETTING THAT WE DID AT THE RETREAT AND BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THOSE PRIORITY IMPLEMENTATION AS THEY CARRY FORWARD INTO OUR BUDGETING PLAN? PRESIDENT CHON AND I HAVE DISCUSSED PREPARING A FOLLOW UP SURVEY TO THE BOARD THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO COME OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND THEN AT A FUTURE MEETING WE'LL PREPARE A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THAT INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO APPROVE THOSE PRIORITIES.
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE ROCHA, AND THEN TRUSTEE BERTA.
THANK YOU, AND THE SURVEY FOR AN AVAILABLE DATE OR SURVEY TOO.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO KIND OF PULL THAT TOGETHER AND TO GET MORE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES FEEDBACK, AND SO THAT WILL BE A SURVEY ABOUT WHERE WE LANDED AT THE END OF THE RETREAT TO GET MORE OF YOUR FEEDBACK AND INDIVIDUAL PRIORITY SETTING, AND THEN THAT WILL GUIDE THE DISCUSSION THAT WE WILL HAVE AT A FUTURE MEETING.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
JUST AGAIN, NOT BEING PARTY TO THE CONVERSATION.
WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? TOGETHER AT THAT MEETING RATHER THAN THROUGH A SURVEY.
IS THAT TO PROVIDE YOU SOME FRAMEWORK SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARER AS TO WHAT TO BRING FORWARD? I'M GUESSING IT IS PARTLY TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO TO HAVE INFORMATION TO HELP GUIDE THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION SO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO REACT TO AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT.
SO RETURNING TO THE PRESENTATION, I HAD A QUESTION ON SLIDE.
OH, SHOOT I JUST WHERE IS IT? SLIDE NUMBER THREE.
THE 8.22% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT COLA.
SO TYPICALLY, FORGIVE ME IF I'M ASKING AN OBVIOUS QUESTION.
THIS IS FOR STAFF SALARIES OR PROGRAMS THEMSELVES, AND THE COLA IS APPLIED TO THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA OF OUR BUDGET, WHICH IS THE COUNTY OFFICE MANDATED SERVICES PORTION.
[01:15:03]
SO THAT REALLY IS FOR MANDATED SERVICES.IT APPLIES TO OUR DISTRICT FISCAL OVERSIGHT, CHARTER OVERSIGHT, BUT ALSO OUR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM SO THAT FUNDING IS APPLIED TO THAT PORTION, SO TO THE PROGRAM FOR THOSE SERVICES TO THE SERVICES COMPONENT OF THE STAFFING COSTS.
OR IS IT THAT ONE AND THE SAME? IT'S FOR OPERATING COSTS IN GENERAL.
SO I THINK THERE IS A COMPONENT OF SALARIES THERE, BUT THAT'S A REALLY SMALL PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.
OKAY. SO THIS ISN'T DIRECTLY THIS 2.5 MILLION FOR STAFF COSTS.
THIS IS FOR PROGRAMS. IT'S FOR OPERATING COSTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE ROCHA.
TRUSTEE BERTA. THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS IN TERMS OF WERE THERE ANY CHANGES? AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE CAPTURED HERE OR WITHIN ONE OF THE GRAPHS, BUT FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHERE THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE FUNDING OR HOW THAT WAS ALLOCATED.
NO, THIS IS THE SAME BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED IN JUNE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND THAT WAS IT.
WAS THAT IT, TRUSTEE BERTA? OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY, MOVING ON TO ITEM C, DR.
[C. Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP)]
DEWAN. SO NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO ASK ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ TO CONTINUE AND PROVIDE OUR NEXT INFORMATION ITEM, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON OUR INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION EXPANSION PROGRAM.THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION EXPANSION GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING INCLUSIVE EARLY LEARNING AND CARE PROGRAMS, AND THE FOCUS WAS PARTICULARLY FOR LOW INCOME AND HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES.
THE IEEEP GRANT WAS AWARDED TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL LEAS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AND AWARDED TO SELECTED LEAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADAPTIVE AND UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS, ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS. THE SCCOE WAS AWARDED APPROXIMATELY 5.49 MILLION AND THE GRANT FUNDING, WHICH WAS RESTRICTED ONE TIME FUNDING TO INCREASE THIS ACCESS.
AS DR. DEWAN MENTIONED, WE WERE AWARDED 5.496M IN ONE-TIME FUNDING THE ELIGIBLE SITES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE PROJECTS AT FOR THIS GRANT WAS OUR GLENVIEW GATEWAY SITE, STONE GATE, HOLLISTER, AND HERE AT RIDDER PARK.
ALSO LOOKING AT WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE SURFACING AND SOME OF OUR OUTDOOR AREAS, BUT THEN THERE WAS ALSO EQUIPMENT AND PLANTS THAT WERE PUT PUT IN SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS TO SUPPORT DIFFERENT SENSORY MODES.
SO THIS IS A BEFORE PICTURE OF THE PROJECT AT GLENVIEW, AND SO JUST KIND OF SHOWS WHERE WE WERE PRIOR TO THE PROJECT, AND THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE PROJECT AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN ITS COMPLETED FORM, AND IT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2023.
THERE WAS INCREASED SHADE STRUCTURE AND ALSO THE ADDITION OF AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
THIS WAS OUR GATEWAY BEFORE PICTURE.
THERE WAS SHADE ADDED THERE AND THERE WAS ALSO AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
NEXT SLIDE, AND THEN STONEGATE, THIS WAS THE BEFORE AND THERE WAS ALSO A PICTURE IN THE CENTER OF SOME OF THE PREP WORK FOR THIS PROJECT, AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE THE PROJECT THAT WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL OF 2023.
THERE'S ALSO THE EXPANSION OF OUTDOOR PLAY AREA AND INCREASED SHADE, BUT THERE WAS VARIOUS ADA UPGRADES AS WELL AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS HOLLISTER, THE BEFORE AND THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE, HERE'S THE PROJECTED.
THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JULY OF 2023.
[01:20:01]
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANTED TO SHOW THIS AS THIS IS THE NEXT PART OF THE PROJECT TIMELINE.SO IT IS FOR HERE AT RIDDER PARK.
THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT THE FUTURE EARLY LEARNING CENTER WILL LOOK LIKE HERE AT RIDDER PARK.
SO IT'LL BE RIGHT HERE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS WE'RE CONVERTING EXISTING CLASSROOMS THAT WE HAVE HERE TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EARLY LEARNING AND ADDING AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE. SO THE PROJECTED PROJECT TIMELINE FOR THIS IS IN NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THESE THINGS HAPPENING AT OUR SCHOOLS.
PRESIDENT CHON. I WAS WONDERING, AS FAR AS THE 5 MILLION, FIVE POINT ALMOST $5 MILLION, IS THAT MONEY THEN? I MEAN SOME OF IT SINCE THE GRANT PERIOD WAS 2020 TO 2024, SOME OF IT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT.
THEN ON A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THOSE SLIDES.
COULD WE GET A AND WHERE THE AND HOW MUCH OF THOSE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, ARE ALREADY COMPLETED, LIKE MUCH OF THE WORK AT GLENVIEW, AND THEN HOW MUCH IS IS STILL YET TO BE SPENT FOR INSTANCE AT RIDDER PARK.
WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE TO GET A BREAKDOWN ON THAT? SO WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF STILL FINALIZING AND WE HAVE A FINAL GRANT REPORT DUE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO WE CAN'T FIND OUT HOW MUCH WAS ALREADY SPENT ON LIKE THE GLENVIEW WORK THAT WAS DONE.
SO WE CAN GET A REPORT AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN THE BOOKS ARE CLOSED.
YES. OKAY. THAT'D BE GREAT, AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KIND OF NOTICED WHEN I DID THE TOUR OF THE GLENVIEW GATEWAY SITE WAS THAT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND THERE IS ACTUALLY FOR THE HEAD START KIDS, AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, OSTENSIBLY ZERO THROUGH THREE KIND OF LIKE AND THAT FIVE YEAR-OLD'S, KINDERGARTNERS IN THE REST OF THE GATEWAY PROGRAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM WERE THE ONLY KIDS WHO REALLY WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT PLAYGROUND.
SO THE REST OF THE GATEWAY KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USING THE GLENVIEW PLAYGROUND AREA AS A METHOD TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE ALSO WITH THE OTHER KIDS ON ON THAT SITE, BUT I GUESS I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT THERE'S THIS HUGE FIELD WHICH I GUESS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ON SLIDE FOUR BETWEEN O UR GATEWAY KIDS IN CLASSROOM TO THE PLAYGROUND OVER AT GLENVIEW ELEMENTARY, AND THAT FIELD IS NOT FENCED OR ANYTHING. IT'S WIDE OPEN.
SO THAT THERE'S A CONCERN THAT A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN GOING TO USE THAT PLAYGROUND, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY RUNNERS THAT BEHAVIORALLY THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING EFFORT TO HAVE OUR PARAS BE ABLE TO CHASE OUR KIDS NECESSARILY WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS.
IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN ALLEVIATE THAT SO THAT THE KIDS WILL BE MORE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PLAYGROUND IN A SAFER FASHION? I BELIEVE THAT PART OF THE AREA THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, THERE'S A PROJECT UNDERWAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GILROY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING IN A PAVED WALKING PATH THAT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE.
SO, THE PAVED WALKING PATH WILL HELP CERTAINLY IN THE RAIN SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER THE GRASS AND ALSO FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS KIND OF THE WIDE OPEN SPACE WHICH IS OF CONCERN FOR OUR TEACHERS WHO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ESCORT TRY TO CORRAL THEM TO GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS.
[01:25:02]
I MEAN, WHEN THEY WHEN WE HAD OUR OWN MORE CLOSED IN IF YOU WILL FACILITY THERE WAS.THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A BETTER, BETTER CONTROL OF SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, RUNNERS JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, AND SO WITH THE RECONFIGURATION, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S JUST ONE SWING NOW WHICH IS LEFT IN OUR KIND OF ENCLOSED AREA, AND THAT SWING IS NOT EVEN OPEN ALL THE TIME OR AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO IS THERE SOME WAY THAT SOME OF THIS FUNDING FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES COULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THESE KIDS AT GATEWAY WHO HAVE NOW BEEN.
REDIRECTED INTO AREAS WHICH ARE NOT NECESSARILY THAT ACCESSIBLE FOR THEM.
YEAH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE K-5 PROGRAM AT GATEWAY.
I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT, AND IN ADDITION, THERE'S THE GLENVIEW FIELD AND INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AND WALKWAY THERE.
SO WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE JUST A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR THE 16 OR 18 STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THERE AT GATEWAY.
SO THEY HAVE BOTH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SWING ACCESS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MORE NOT NECESSARILY THEIR PLAY AREA, BUT MORE PART OF THEIR THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM AND THEN THERE'S THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA.
THEY HAVE INDOOR AREAS AND THEN THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INCLUSIVE PLAY WITH THEIR PEERS AT THE GLENVIEW CAMPUS, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS FOR THAT SITE.
GREAT. YEAH, I SAW THE OPEN AREA, WHICH WAS A NICE OPEN GREEN LAWN AREA THAT WAS KIND OF FENCED IN.
SO IT'S CONTAINED, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT ALL ALL IT REALLY HAD WAS THE GREEN AREA AND THE WALKWAY ADA COMPLIANT SO THAT THE KIDS CAN ESSENTIALLY TAKE LAPS KIND OF THING.
IT'D BE NICE IF THERE WAS OTHER.
YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT WORK BECAUSE THIS GRANT WAS EXCLUSIVELY FOR INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION. SO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS NOT AN ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT OF THESE DOLLARS.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TRUSTEE BERTA. JUST REALLY QUICKLY ON THAT NOTE, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND SEE THE GROWTH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE INCLUSIVE SPACES, AND I SHARE TRUSTEE MAH'S SENTIMENT IN THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPACES CONTINUE TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE'RE ALREADY THERE AS WELL.
SO WHETHER THAT'S ADAPTING, YOU KNOW, THE ACCESS TO GLENVIEW'S, THE BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, PLAY STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ALREADY ADA COMPLIANT, I THINK THAT COULD BE HELPFUL JUST IN ALSO, UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF ELOPING STUDENTS CAN BE CHALLENGING TO SUPPORT AS WELL.
I HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
IS THIS ARE THESE THE PLAYGROUNDS THAT WE LIKE? I FEEL LIKE BACK IN 2020, WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD, WE TALKED ABOUT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS AND BRINGING THAT FORWARD AT THE HEAD START FACILITY.
SO ARE THESE THE ACTUAL PLAYGROUNDS NOW? ARE THESE THE ONES THAT WE DISCUSSED BACK THEN? YES. YES, THEY ARE.
THIS IS A LARGE PORTION OF THEM FOR THE SITES THAT WE OWN OR THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO.
WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS, INCLUDING, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, WE DID AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL AND OPENED THAT I GUESS A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AGO, BUT THE ONE THAT WE SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT TO THE BOARD IN 2020 WERE THESE.
OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE THEM BEING BUILT IN THE PROGRESS.
SO I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OTHER FUNDING THAT'S BEING USED ALSO ON THE PLAYGROUNDS.
IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE OTHER FUNDING IS BEING SPENT ON IT ALSO.
[01:30:08]
SO WE HAVE TO USE SOME OF OUR FACILITY FUNDS, AND THEN BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPORTING HEAD START, THERE'S ALSO HEAD START FUNDS.OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT AND ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. WE'RE MOVING NOW ON TO OUR FINAL INFORMATION ITEM, WHICH IS OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS REPORT.
[D. Charter Schools Update]
DR. DEWAN. THANK YOU.FOR OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS REPORT THIS EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND WELCOME TO THE AREA HERE DR.
MICHELLE JOHNSON. SHE IS OUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SHE'S STEPPING IN TONIGHT FOR OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MEFULA FAIRLEY, WHO IS ENJOYING A WELL-DESERVED VACATION.
SO THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON, FOR BEING HERE.
PRESIDENT CHON, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
I LOST IT LAST NIGHT TEACHING A CLASS.
SO TONIGHT I HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR YOU ON WHICH TO UPDATE YOU.
THE FIRST IS THE UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY ACADEMY.
ON MAY 10TH, 2023, A CCOE ISSUED TO UPA A LETTER OF CONCERN REGARDING FOUR ISSUES.
FIRST, BROWN ACT COMPLIANCE, SECOND, UPA BYLAWS AND BOARD MEMBER TERMS, THIRD, STUDENT EXPULSION, DUE PROCESS AND FOUR ALLEGATIONS FROM A FORMER EMPLOYEE.
UPA RESPONDED TO OUR CONCERNS RELATED TO BROWN ACT COMPLIANCE BYLAWS AND BOARD MEMBER TERMS AND THE STUDENT EXPULSION DUE PROCESS AND THEY DID THAT ON JUNE 9TH.
THE RESPONSE TO THE FORMER EMPLOYEES ALLEGATIONS, HOWEVER, REQUIRED AN INVESTIGATION, SO UPA WAS GIVEN A LONGER TIMELINE FOR RESPONSE, WHICH WAS EXTENDED TO AUGUST 18TH.
ON AUGUST 18TH, SCCOE RECEIVED A SUMMARY OF THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGED REPORT CREATED BY A NEUTRAL OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR HIRED BY UPA TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS LEVIED BY THE FORMER EMPLOYEE.
THE SUMMARY REPORT CLASSIFIED EACH ALLEGATION INTO ONE OF THREE CATEGORIES DEFINED BY THE UPA BOARD.
SECOND, NO VIOLATION OF LAW OR CHARTER.
THEREFORE, NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY AND LAST CORRECTED.
AS INDICATED BY THE UPA BOARD'S DEFINITIONS, ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE SUBSTANTIATED WERE CORRECTED PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF THE UPA'S RESPONSE. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SEVERAL ALLEGATIONS DEEMED UNSUBSTANTIATED THAT SCCOE IS PREPARING TO FOLLOW UP ON WITH THE UPA BOARD. THE UPA RESPONSES OF PART ONE AND PART TWO WILL BE IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S WEEKLY COMMUNIQUE ON FRIDAY ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AND YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A COPY OF SCCOE'S RESPONSE TO UPA ONCE IT IS SENT.
THE SECOND ITEM THAT I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT IS SUMMIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE DENALI HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, LOCATED AT 824 SAN ALISO AVENUE IN THE CITY OF SUNNYVALE, WAS PURCHASED BY THE PACIFIC AUTISM CENTER FOR EDUCATION, OR PACE.
IT IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROVIDING EDUCATION AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SUMMIT STAFF ESTIMATE THAT THE ALL-IN COST TO BRING THE BUILDING AND PROPERTY INTO SERVICE FOR THE SUMMIT STUDENTS WAS APPROXIMATELY $31 MILLION. THE SALE PRICE OF THE BUILDING WAS APPROXIMATELY $13 MILLION AND REFLECTS THE DECREASED REAL ESTATE DEMAND.
THIS SALE REDUCED SUMMIT'S BOND DEBT FROM $22 MILLION TO $10 MILLION, AND THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
PRESIDENT CHON, WE DO HAVE ONE CARD FOR COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
OH, THANK YOU. I'LL GO WITH TRUSTEES FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[01:35:11]
I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT.WE HAD ANTICIPATED HAVING A VOICES UPDATE AND WE LEARNED, I THINK, YESTERDAY THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE NO NEED FOR AN UPDATE TO THE COUNTY BOARD.
THERE HAD BEEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY BE COMING FORWARD FOR A HEARING TO REQUEST SOME CHANGES TO THEIR ENROLLMENT PREFERENCES, BUT THEY LET US KNOW THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED THAT.
THANK YOU. MODERATOR, YOU CAN START PUBLIC COMMENT.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CHON, SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN AND TRUSTEES.
I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO KEEP CORRECTING THAT FOR THE RECORD.
FIRST, I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK IN A COUPLE OF CHARTER LEADERS HAVE AS WELL WITH SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN AND A FEW OTHER TRUSTEES, BUT I THINK WE HAVE OFTEN SEEN THIS CHARTER CHARTER SCHOOLS REPORT AS BRINGING UP SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE FACED.
I KNOW WE CAN ELEVATE THAT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'VE INTENTIONALLY AT ALPHA BEEN WORKING TO DO THAT, AS WELL AS SHARING THINGS WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN GRACIOUSLY ELEVATING THAT TO YOU AS WELL, BUT IT DOES ALSO, I THINK, FEEL IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CARVED OUT TIME AND SPACE FOR EACH SCHOOL TO SHARE OUT WITH YOU BEYOND THE RENEWAL PROCESS, JUST TO CREATE A MORE BALANCED NARRATIVE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE AND SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT BACK ON YOUR RADAR IN A PUBLIC SPACE TO SEE IF THAT REQUEST COULD BE CONSIDERED, JUST SO THAT AGAIN, WE COULD HAVE THAT SPACE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU ALL FOR THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING.
JOHNSON FOR STEPPING IN AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ALPHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SPECIFICALLY, SHE HELPED US NAVIGATE A FEW THINGS ON A REPORT THAT WAS DUE, AND IT'S JUST THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AND I JUST WANTED TO CALL HER OUT FOR THAT BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S OFTEN AT THE RECIPIENT OF ALL THE OTHER STUFF, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD KNEW OF HER. GOOD WORK, TOO. SO THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THIS CONCLUDES COMMENTS.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION.
[7. CLOSED SESSION]
THE BOARD IS ABOUT TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION INVOLVES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.ONCE IN CLOSED SESSION, I WILL CALL THE CLOSED SESSION TO ORDER AND REQUEST THAT EACH TRUSTEE STATE THEIR NAME TO RECORD WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE AND TO AFFIRM AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN CLOSED SESSION.
OUR CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEM INCLUDES TWO ITEMS INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT RESIDENT DISTRICT MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT DESIRED DISTRICT LOS ALTOS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS RESIDENT DISTRICT EAST SIDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ORCHARD SCHOOL DISTRICT DESIRED DISTRICT.
SANTA CLARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE BOARD WILL NOW ENTER CLOSED SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN IN ABOUT AN HOUR.
SO APPROXIMATELY OR AFTER 7:40 P.M..
[A. Report of Actions Taken in Closed Session]
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING OUT TO REPORT IN THE MATTER OF 7B IN THE MATTER OF INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF A STUDENT, A MOTION WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE MAH AND SECONDED BY PRESIDENT CHON TO APPROVE THE APPEAL BASED ON FACTORS EIGHT AND 12 THROUGH GRADE EIGHT WITH A VOTE OF SIX AYES, ZERO NOS, ZERO ABSTENTIONS AND ONE ABSENCE FROM VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN IN THE SEVEN C IN THE MATTER OF INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF A STUDENT.A MOTION WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE ROCHA TO APPROVE THE APPEAL BASED ON FACTOR FOUR THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, WITH A VOTE OF SIX AYES, ZERO NOS AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS AND ONE ABSENCE FROM VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.
MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NINE BOARD MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[A. Committee members may provide or report on recent committee activities.]
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES THAT HAVE MET SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE.
DR. DEWAN, COULD YOU PLEASE PRESENT THAT REPORT? CERTAINLY. SO TODAY AT POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS REVIEWED OUR ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE EXHIBIT AND POLICY AND APPROVED THE NECESSARY REVISIONS, AND IT WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.
[01:40:04]
THANK YOU. TRUSTEE LARI, COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE ABOUT STRONG START COALITION'S RECENT MEETING? YES, ABSOLUTELY.SO THE STRONG START COALITION MET VIA ZOOM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2023 COALITION MEMBERS HEARD A PRESENTATION FROM AMANDA DICKEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT SCCOE, ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET PROVISIONS AFFECTING EARLY LEARNING AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTIONS IN SACRAMENTO.
PROVISIONS SHE HIGHLIGHTED INCLUDED A ONE YEAR DELAY IN FUNDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OR ECE FACILITIES, AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM SLOTS HELD FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES FROM 5% TO 7.5%.
PROGRESS ALSO IN DEVELOPING A COST BASE MODEL FOR ECE PROGRAM FUNDING AND CHANGES IN CSPP ELIGIBILITY AND OPERATIONS INTENDED TO SUPPORT DUAL ENROLLMENT IN CSPP AND TK PROGRAMS. ATTENDEES ALSO HEARD FROM MARIA [INAUDIBLE], EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SUZANNE NAVARRO, EARLY START MANAGER FROM PARENTS HELPING PARENTS ON THEIR PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR EDUCATORS WITH SUPPORT GROUPS FOR FAMILIES IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE.
STARTING FROM BIRTH TO EARLY INTERVENTIONS IN SCHOOL TO ADULTHOOD AND INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE NEXT STRONG START COALITION MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS? OKAY. I THINK THAT IS IT FOR OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
[A. The superintendent may give a report on any activities related to her duties.]
DR. DEWAN. THANK YOU.THIS EVENING I WANTED TO PROVIDE THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY WITH JUST AN UPDATE.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME HEADLINES IN THE NEWS.
THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING RATES OF COVID-19 OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION CONTINUES TO MONITOR TRENDS, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, INCLUDING MAKING COVID-19 TEST KITS AVAILABLE.
THE MOST RECENT WASTEWATER MONITORING DATA AVAILABLE FROM THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA SHOWS HIGH RATES OF COVID IN SAN JOSE AND PALO ALTO AND MEDIUM RATES OF COVID IN SUNNYVALE AND GILROY.
MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED INDOORS, ESPECIALLY IN CROWDS, AND THOSE WITH SYMPTOMS ARE RECOMMENDED TO TEST AND IF POSITIVE, STAY HOME FOR FIVE DAYS FROM SYMPTOM ONSET AND TO WEAR A MASK FOR TEN DAYS.
ON AUGUST 7TH, OUR OFFICE HELD A WEBINAR ON HVAC SYSTEMS. IT WAS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING AIR QUALITY FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.
WE CO-HOSTED THIS WEBINAR WITH CDPH IS REALLY FOCUSED ON HELPING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER SCHOOLS MITIGATE ALL OF THE FACTORS RELATED TO RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, AIR QUALITY TO BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF SMOKE OR FIRE SITUATIONS AND MORE, AND TO EXPLAIN THE AVAILABILITY OF SOME ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN APPLY FOR TO UPGRADE THEIR HVAC SYSTEMS. ON AUGUST 24TH, I PRESENTED AT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING AND ALSO ATTENDED THE SAN JOSE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT ALLIANCE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE GANG PREVENTION TASK FORCE POLICY TEAM MEETING, WHERE WE SHARED SOME UPDATES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ON AUGUST 27TH, WE HAD A STRONG COALITION IN SHOWING AT THE SILICON VALLEY PRIDE PARADE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD A TABLE AT THE FESTIVAL THAT WAS WELL STAFFED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WELL AS WELL VISITED, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAFF WHO PARTICIPATED AND WHO MADE THAT EVENT POSSIBLE.
ON AUGUST 28TH, I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS FENTANYL, A FORUM FOR EDUCATING OUR PARTNERS, WHICH WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO LEADERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCREASING FLOOD OF FENTANYL THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
DATA WAS SHARED ABOUT INCREASING NUMBERS OF DEATHS, INCLUDING CHILDREN.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NARCAN AS JUST ONE TOOL AND HOW IMPORTANT THE NEED FOR TREATMENT IS, AND REALLY, THE FORUM EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR EXPANDED TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND A STRONGER INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION.
ON AUGUST 29TH, I PARTICIPATED IN A MEETING WITH NAMI.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STUDENTS AT BLUE RIDGE WHO EARNED THEIR FORKLIFT CERTIFICATE.
[01:45:10]
CERTIFICATE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A FORKLIFT OPERATOR SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO PURSUE THAT IN THE FUTURE.WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND OF THE STAFF FOR ALL THE EXCELLENT WORK AND OFFERING SUCH A HIGH QUALITY CAREER PREPARATION PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY ALL PASSED FIRST TIME, FIRST ATTEMPT.
IT'S AMAZING. THE ARTS CONNECT PROGRAM, AWARDS GRANTS, PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS AND PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO TAKE STUDENTS ON ARTS FIELD TRIPS, BRING ARTISTS INTO THE CLASSROOM AND FUND STUDENT PERFORMANCES, AND CREATE VARIOUS ART PROJECTS THAT FOSTER CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, EXPLORATION, SELF-EXPRESSION AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
EDUCATORS FROM ALL LEVELS AND CONTENT AREAS ARE INVITED TO CREATE PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT STANDALONE ART EXPERIENCES AND THE FIVE ARTS DISCIPLINES MUSIC, VISUAL ART, MEDIA, ART, DANCE, THEATER OR TO INTEGRATE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, HISTORY, LITERATURE OR SOCIAL SCIENCES WITH THE ARTS. THIS YEAR, OUR PROGRAM IS OFFERING THREE GRANT OPTIONS.
THE FIRST OFFERS UP TO $2,500 PER TEACHER.
THE ARTS, MATERIALS AND SUPPLY GRANTS PROVIDES UP TO $500 PER TEACHER AND THE ARTS EXPERIENCES AND MATERIALS GRANT IS UP TO $3,000 PER TEACHER.
APPLICATION WINDOW WILL OPEN TOMORROW AND.
I WANT TO ALSO CELEBRATE AND ANNOUNCE AN ADDITIONAL GRANT AWARD.
OUR OFFICE RECEIVED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FOR COHORT TWO, WHERE WE'LL BE SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THROUGH EVIDENCE INFORMED PROGRAMMATIC FEATURES, AND THIS GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,175,000, AND WE PARTNERED WITH A FEW OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE RECEIVED A GRANT AWARD FROM THE VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION.
THIS IS A GRANT THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE GRANT IS FOR THE CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM, CONSTRUCTION IN OUR OFFICE WILL BE PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR THE CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THIS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK, AND OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE QUALIFIED SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE TO FAMILY, CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND ELIGIBLE CENTERS AND PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO DO TO UPGRADE THEIR FACILITY, TO REOPEN IF THEY CLOSED DURING COVID OR TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO SERVE MORE CHILDREN.
SO WE'RE REALLY DELIGHTED TO PARTNER WITH THE VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION.
THAT GRANT AWARD WAS $239,817, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU, DR. DEWAN, AND THAT BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND.
MOVE BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO, AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BERTA.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY; HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.