Nov 09, 2023 County Board of Education

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ALRIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD STUDY SESSION NUMBER 2328-SS1 OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TODAY IS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023, AND THE TIME IS 5:31 P.M.

I AM VICTORIA CHON, PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I WILL PRESIDE OVER THE STUDY SESSION.

OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES VIA TELECONFERENCE AND THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED AT 8:00PM.

SHOULD OUR MEETING EXTEND BEYOND THAT TIME, PREFERENTIAL VOTING BY THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS AUTHORIZED BY EDUCATION CODE SECTION 1000, AND STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS MAY EXERCISE PREFERENTIAL VOTING RIGHTS BY STATING THEIR OPINION AND OR POSITION ON AN ACTION ITEM, WHICH WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES BEFORE SCCBOE VOTES ON THE ITEM.

[B. Pledge of Allegiance]

THANK YOU. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ALVAREZ.

I WILL NOW CONDUCT A ROLL CALL.

[C. Roll Call (Including Action on Absences if Necessary)]

THEY LET US KNOW, THEY'LL BE A LITTLE LATE THIS EVENING.

[D. Set the Agenda]

SO MOVED. MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.

SECOND, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BERTA TRUSTEES.

PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.

I'LL BE A VERBAL AYE PRESIDENT CHON, I WILL AS WELL.

OKAY. A VERBAL AYE FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO AN A VERBAL AYE FROM VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH FIVE YESES AND TWO NOT PRESENT AT VOTE.

A LIVE STREAM OF TONIGHT'S STUDY SESSION IS AVAILABLE AT

[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, PLEASE CALL 1 (669) 900-6833.

THE MEETING ID IS 727 334 810 POUND.

FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, PLEASE CALL 1 (669) 900-6833.

THE MEETING ID IS 921 8153 9516 POUND.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IN BOTH VIETNAMESE AND SPANISH IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE. HEADSETS MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

PERSONS WANTING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO BY COMPLETING A SPEAKER COMMENT CARD AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE OR NEED TO EVACUATE THE ROOM.

PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW AN SCC STAFF MEMBER THAT IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE.

A REMINDER THAT OUR STUDENT BOARD MEETING IS PARTICIPATING VIA PHONE AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED AT 8PM.

WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.

[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.]

PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME.

ONCE WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS.

MODERATOR DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, WE HAVE TWO CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.95, THE SCCBOE STRIVES TO MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL, ORDERLY AND CIVIL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS MEETINGS AND TO AVOID UNLAWFUL DISRUPTIONS.

COULD WE PLEASE PRESENT THE TWO MINUTE TIMER? OH, THE TIMER IS ALREADY DISPLAYED.

WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP, THE BUZZER WILL SOUND, YOU WILL BE MUTED, AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END. SPEAKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO AVOID REPEATING COMMENTS MADE BY OTHER SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS MAY CHOOSE TO SIMPLY STATE THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. MODERATOR.

CAN 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.

AS A REMINDER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME CAN BE AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENT UNLESS LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION AT THE MICROPHONE.

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OUR TWO SPEAKERS ARE DIANE CAPELLI AND TINA CHANG.

DIANE, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.

CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HELLO, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN.

MY NAME IS DIANE CAPELLI AND I AM AN ACTIVE PAC AND SSC MEMBER.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM THE PARENT OF COLIN CAPELLI, WHO ATTENDS A SAI COUNTY PROGRAM AT ARGONAUT ELEMENTARY.

COLIN CURRENTLY SEES 15 DIFFERENT MEDICAL SPECIALISTS.

HE HAS ENDURED TEN PLUS SURGERIES, INCLUDING THREE OPEN HEART SURGERIES, THE LAST ONE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

DESPITE ALL THAT, HE'S A VERY SWEET, FUNNY AND HAPPY BOY.

WE WERE ASKED DURING OUR FIRST PAC MEETING OF THE YEAR, WHAT IS THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CHILD THIS YEAR? MY HOPE FOR COLIN IS TO CONTINUE TO BE HAPPY AND TO BE SAFE AT SCHOOL.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, LEAVING A MEDICALLY COMPLEX CHILD AT SCHOOL CAN BE TERRIFYING.

AS A PARENT, I VALUE THE TEACHER AND PARAEDUCATORS IN THE CLASSROOM WHO SPEND MOST OF THE SCHOOL DAY WITH COLIN, MAKING HIM HAPPY AND TRYING TO KEEP HIM SAFE WHILE TRYING TO ALSO PROVIDE A GOOD EDUCATION.

I VALUE THE SCHOOL NURSE THERAPISTS, ITINERANT STAFF AND OTHER STAFF WORKING WITH COLIN AND DEDICATING THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO HIM.

I VALUE THE RELATIONSHIPS FORMED WITH OTHER PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

I VALUE RELATIONSHIPS FORMED WITH [INAUDIBLE] MANAGEMENT.

IN MY OPINION, THIS IS WHAT MAKES A GREAT SCHOOL PROGRAM.

ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, THE DAY AFTER THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I PICKED COLIN UP EARLY FROM A DOCTOR FOR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND OBSERVED THAT THERE WERE ONE TEACHER, ONE PARAEDUCATOR, AND ONE SPHC FOR SEVEN STUDENTS.

COLIN HAS A ONE ON ONE DEDICATED PARAEDUCATOR LISTED AS A SERVICE ON HIS IEP.

IF COLIN'S IEP WAS LAWFULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE TEACHER WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR FIVE STUDENTS, WHICH IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SAFELY.

COLIN'S SAFETY IS IMPORTANT IS A CONCERN, BUT AS A PARENT, SO IS THE CONCERN FOR ALL OTHER CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SITUATION I WALKED INTO THURSDAY WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE OUR PEER EDUCATORS FEEL VALUED, AND PAYING THEM A LIVABLE WAGE WOULD BE A START. WITH THAT SAID, SOMETIMES DEDICATED PARAEDUCATORS SHOW UP TO WORK KNOWING THEY WILL BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE CLASS FOR THE DAY, WHICH MEANS DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THEIR WORKLOAD.

WHAT IS THEIR INCENTIVE TO SHOW UP TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WHO NEED THEM? CAN WE SOMEHOW MONETARILY COMPENSATE THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION? LET'S SHOW THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE OUR KIDS THAT THEY ARE VALUED BY COMPENSATING THEM ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TINA CHANG.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS TINA CHANG AND MY SON EVAN IS A DEAF PLUS STUDENT ATTENDING THE COUNTY DHH PROGRAM AT OSTER. I'M AN ACTIVE PAC MEMBER AND SELF CAC VICE CHAIR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FIRST, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE GREAT TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH MY CHILD OVER THE YEARS.

WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE WITNESSED THE CLOSURE OF MANY SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED FAMILIES.

CONSOLIDATION AT OSTER HAS MEANT GOING FROM TWO GRADES TO THREE IN A CLASS.

NOW WE ARE SEEING CLASS SIZES INCREASE, AND YET WE KNOW DEAF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM CLASSES FOR BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL.

CAN OUR STUDENTS BE GIVEN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONS? IF TEACHERS ARE FORCED TO TEACH AT A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND VARYING ACADEMIC LEVELS AND NEEDS, AND HOW CAN APPROPRIATE EDUCATION BE PROVIDED FOR A CHILD WHEN THE ONLY TC DHH PROGRAM IN THE REGION IS FULL? LACK OF ADEQUATELY TRAINED STAFF AND INABILITY TO RETAIN TALENT HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED OUR STUDENTS.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I'VE SEEN MY CHILD THRIVE AND ACHIEVE ACADEMIC GOALS BECAUSE OF EXCELLENT SUPPORTS PROVIDED BY HIS TEACHER AND OTHER EXPERTS.

HOWEVER, WE'VE SEEN MANY OF THESE TEACHERS AND STAFF LEAVE THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING MY CHILD'S TEACHER FROM LAST YEAR WHO WAS NOT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TEACHING IN THE COUNTY BEFORE THE START OF THE YEAR THE DHH PROGRAM WAS LAST LACKING THREE [INAUDIBLE] A NEW TEACHER WAS PLACED IN THE CLASSROOM DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND MY CONCERNS GREW AS I SAW REGRESSION IN MY SON'S ACADEMICS, INCREASE IN BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, AND INJURY REPORTS COMING HOME.

THE TEACHER HAD [INAUDIBLE] BUT LACKED EXPERIENCED TEACHING ELEMENTARY GRADES AND HAD MINIMAL MENTORING SUPPORT.

THANKFULLY, FOUR WEEKS AGO, A NEW TEACHER WAS HIRED ON WHO WAS EXPERIENCED.

IF WE WISH TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE FOR OUR STUDENTS, QUALITY PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS SHOULD STAY OPEN AND NOT SHUT DOWN.

LET'S SUPPORT AND TRAIN AND PAY OUR TEACHERS.

FAIRLEY. THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU MODERATOR.

WITH THE CONCLUSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

[A. Introduction to Study Session]

THE ATTENDED PROCESS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE PRESENTATIONS AND BOARD DISCUSSION WERE DESIGNED TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THE BOARD DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE PRIORITIES. THE STUDY SESSION WILL BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND DRAFT PRIORITIES, FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC COMMENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO ASK QUESTIONS. THE OVERVIEW SECTION IS PLANNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES.

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EACH PANELIST WILL PROVIDE INPUT ON PRIORITIES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WILL OCCUR AND THE BOARD MAY THEN ASK QUESTIONS.

THIS SECTION IS ANTICIPATED TO BE ABOUT 55 MINUTES.

NEXT, THE BOARD WILL ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PRIORITIES AND EACH TRUSTEE MAY PROVIDE THEIR INPUT ON THE DRAFT PRIORITIES.

THEN, EACH TRUSTEE WILL BE ASKED TO NAME THEIR TOP 1 TO 2 PRIORITIES TO HELP FACILITATE A PROCESS TO GAIN CONSENSUS IN PREPARATION TO POSSIBLY TAKE ACTION ON THE PRIORITIES. AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD MAY DISCUSS SOME NEXT STEPS.

I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE BERTA AND VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN FOR GIVING FREELY OF THEIR TIME TO PLAN THIS STUDY SESSION AND THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, INPUT PANELISTS, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

SO WE WILL BEGIN, DR.

[B. Overview of SCCBOE Priorities]

I'M DR. MARY ANN DEWAN, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, AND MY TOP FIVE STRENGTHS ARE RELATOR, ACHIEVER, LEARNER RESPONSIBILITY, AND ARRANGER.

I WILL BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AFTER I POINT OUT THAT IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM, THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT SURVEY.

WE'LL PULL UP THE SLIDE DECK.

THANK YOU. SO THE THEME AND OVERARCHING PURPOSE OF THE SCCBOE STRATEGIC PLAN IS INVESTING FOR IMPACT.

RECOGNIZING THAT AS AN AGENCY, WE'VE BEEN FLAT FUNDED SINCE 2013 WHEN THE LCF FORMULA CAME TO BE. WE WANTED TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT WITH OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, AND TO LEVERAGE OUR CAPACITY TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT BY INVESTING IN PARTNERSHIPS AND PURSUING GRANTS AND ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED FUNDING.

NEXT SLIDE. WITHIN THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOUR CORE PRINCIPLES EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND PARTNERSHIP.

THESE CORE PRINCIPLES GUIDE ALL OF OUR WORK AND SERVE AS OUR BENCHMARK BY WHICH TO MEASURE OUR SUCCESS.

AND THESE CORE PRINCIPLES ALSO GUIDE OUR DECISION MAKING.

OUR THREE OVERARCHING GOALS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDE ALL OF OUR WORK.

THOSE INCLUDE ONE IMPROVING ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.

TWO PROVIDING QUALITY SUPPORT TO DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES.

AND THREE BE A PREMIER SERVICE ORGANIZATION.

THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SUCCESS.

NEXT SLIDE, WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE IDENTIFIED FIVE VALUES WHICH SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE OVERALL PLAN.

OUR FIRST VALUE STUDENTS FIRST MEANS THAT WE FOCUS ON STUDENT SUCCESS.

OUR SECOND VALUE OF COLLABORATION IS INTENDED TO ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE OUR COLLECTIVE CAPACITY AND AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT VALUES INNOVATION AND CHAMPIONS CREATIVE THINKING, AND TO BE A SERVICE AGENCY WHERE OTHERS FIND THAT WE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.

AND FINALLY, OUR VALUE OF BEING A STRENGTHS BASED ORGANIZATION MEANS THAT WE LEVERAGE OUR STRENGTHS IN ORDER TO DO OUR WORK.

AND BY ENGAGING OUR STRENGTHS, WE CAN IMPROVE RESULTS.

NEXT SLIDE.

I'LL NOW GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BOARD PRIORITIES, HISTORY, AND RECENT YEARS.

IN 2019, THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPTED THREE PRIORITIES EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY, VULNERABLE YOUTH, AND ADVOCACY FOR FULL AND FAIR FUNDING FOR EDUCATION. PRIORITIES ADOPTED ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2021 BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WERE IDENTIFIED TO ACHIEVE THE OVERALL ASPIRATIONAL TARGET NAMED AT THE TOP OF THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH STATES THAT THROUGH ADVOCACY AND PURSUIT OF FUNDING FOR THESE SIX PRIORITY AREAS, THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WOULD BE SEEN AS THE EDUCATIONAL HUB FOR THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU, DR. DEWAN.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CHON, DR.

DEWAN, TRUSTEES, I'M DR.

JESSICA BONDURIS ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND SUPPORT, AND MY TOP STRENGTHS ARE MAXIMIZER, CONSISTENCY, INDIVIDUALIZATION, DISCIPLINE, AND ARRANGER.

FOR EACH OF THE POLICIES, THE BOARD IDENTIFIED SOME KEY DESCRIPTORS.

THIS NEXT SECTION WILL PROVIDE SOME HIGHLIGHTS ALIGNED TO THESE PRIORITIES.

UNDER THE HEADER OF SYSTEMATIC CHANGE IN EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE, WE FOCUSED EXPANDING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES IN CLASSROOMS TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT FEELS SAFE, WELCOMED AND

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FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLKIT.

NEXT SLIDE. EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS, WE FOCUS QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. NEXT SLIDE.

AN EXAMPLE OF WORK DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MODEL WELLNESS CENTERS.

NEXT SLIDE. UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL STEM LITERACY PREPAREDNESS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WE ENHANCED OUR CLIMATE SCIENCE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. FOR EXAMPLE WE STARTED THE GROWING GARDENS WORK STARTING WITH AN ANALYSIS REPORT.

NEXT SLIDE. UNDER EARLY LEARNING, UNDER EXPAND EARLY LEARNING AND DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON EXPANDING OUR EARLY LEARNING WORKFORCE.

NEXT SLIDE. EXAMPLES OF WORK DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE OUR UPK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORK AND OUR ENHANCEMENTS MADE UNDER IEEEP.

NEXT SLIDE. ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES IN FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TO ADDRESS OUR FUNDING FORMULA.

NEXT SLIDE. EXAMPLES OF WORK DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA ARE SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS GRANT AND OUR EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION GRANTS.

NEXT SLIDE. ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES INCLUDE MODEST INCREASES IN FUNDING FOR OUR COURT AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS OUR TEACHER RESIDENCY GRANTS.

NEXT SLIDE. THE SIXTH PRIORITY AREA WAS DIGITAL EQUITY AND LITERACY.

NEXT SLIDE. EXAMPLES OF WORK DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE OUR WORK AT ARTURO OCHOA MIGRANT CAMP PROJECT AND OUR DIGITAL EQUITY WORK.

NEXT SLIDE. THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OR JLAC, ALSO ADOPTED PRIORITIES.

MANY OF THESE PRIORITIES OVERLAPPED WITH THE BOARD PRIORITIES, AND SOME WERE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. NEXT SLIDE.

THE PRIORITIES WE USED, WERE USED TO REVIEW BILLS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE STATE BUDGET. ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE BOARD PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY WERE ALIGNED TO THE JLAC PRIORITIES AND HOW BOTH WERE ALIGNED TO THE GOALS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

NEXT SLIDE. WE WILL NOW REVIEW THE DRAFT BOARD PRIORITIES FROM THE RECENT BOARD RETREAT, AND SHOW SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR WORK ALIGNS WITH THESE BOARD PRIORITIES.

NEXT SLIDE. THE BOARD CONDUCTED A SURVEY TO IDENTIFY THEIR PRIORITY AREAS, AND LISTED HERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH FOUR OR MORE TRUSTEES RATED AS HIGH PRIORITY.

NEXT SLIDE. SIX DRAFT PRIORITIES WERE IDENTIFIED.

NEXT SLIDE. NOW MY CABINET COLLEAGUES AND I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BOARD DRAFT POLICY PRIORITIES AND PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR CURRENT WORK ALIGNS TO THESE DRAFT PRIORITIES.

GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT CHON, SUPER DEWAN AND TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE GOMEZ AND I'M THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES. MY TOP FIVE STRENGTHS ARE LEARNER, ACHIEVER, BELIEF, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RELATOR. EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION IS A PRIORITY AREA THAT FOCUSES ON ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILD CARE, IMPROVED FACILITIES, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. EXAMPLES OF EXISTING INITIATIVES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE TOOL FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES TO INCREASE ACCESS.

EXPANDING INCLUSIVENESS IN HEAD START PLAYGROUNDS AND THE EARLY EDUCATION TEACHER DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

NEXT SLIDE. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS TERESA SHIPP AND I AM THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. MY TOP FIVE STRENGTHS ARE DEVELOPER, POSITIVITY ACTIVATOR, RELATOR, AND ARRANGER. ONE OF THE TOP DRAFT PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD IDENTIFIED IS EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE.

THIS MAY INCLUDE ADVOCACY EFFORTS OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING AND EXPANDING PROGRAMS AT THE COURT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

CONTINUING TO BE THE LEADERS IN INCLUSIVE PRACTICES AND SPACES AND POSITIVELY IMPACTING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SOME EXAMPLES OF EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES FOR FOSTER YOUTH, LGBTQ PLUS STUDENTS, AND FURTHERING THE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. FURTHERMORE, THIS TOPIC INCLUDES ADVANCING THE WORK OF THE INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS IS ANOTHER DRAFT PRIORITY AREA.

NEXT SLIDE. OUR WORKPLACES SCHOOLS AS THE CENTERS OF WELLNESS WITH FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS WORKFORCE, PIPELINE, SERVICE DELIVERY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. NEXT SLIDE.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS EFFORT IS OUR ESTABLISHMENT AND ONGOING EFFORTS OF OUR COUNTYWIDE NALOXONE TRAINING AND USABLE RESOURCE GUIDE.

NEXT SLIDE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE OUR SCCOE WELLNESS PROGRAMS HOMEPAGE.

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OUR NEXT DRAFT PRIORITY IS ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY.

THIS ENCOMPASSES OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT YOUTH LED ADVOCACY, EFFICACY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CURRICULUM, AND CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES IN THIS AREA.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

IN THIS SLIDE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STATE BILLS AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES INTENDED TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ELIMINATE FOOD WASTE, INCREASE USAGE OF RENEWABLES, AND CONSERVE WATER.

AS PART OF THE SCCOE COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATEWIDE POLICY AND GUIDELINES, WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR DISTRICTS IN THESE VARIOUS CAMPUS AND OPERATIONAL INITIATIVES.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE WORK DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE OUR WORK TO DEVELOP THE 23/24 ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE, THE LAUNCHING OF THE 23/24 GARDENS COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND OUR SUPPORT OF THE GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS AWARD PROGRAM. AS THE ORGANIZER OF THE COUNTY WIDE GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS NETWORK.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

I AM DR. DEBBIE GORGULHO, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

MY TOP FIVE STRENGTHS ARE LEARNER INPUT, ARRANGER, RELATOR, AND RESPONSIBILITY.

OUR NEXT DRAFT PRIORITY IS LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

NEXT SLIDE. AN EXAMPLE OF ALIGNED EFFORTS INCLUDE THE CALIFORNIA COLLABORATIVE OF LEARNING ACCELERATION WITH COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS, AND ALSO ONLINE COURSES.

NEXT SLIDE. GOOD EVENING.

I'M LARRY OSHODI, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES.

MY TOP FIVE STRENGTHS ARE ACHIEVER, INTELLECTION, INPUT, STRATEGIC AND LEARNER.

IN THE LAST TWO SLIDES OF OUR PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF CURRENT WORK IN THE PRIORITY AREA OF WORKFORCE PATHWAYS AND DIVERSIFICATION.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

CURRENT WORK BEING DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE THE INITIATIVES ON THIS SLIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, RECRUITMENT FAIRS AND ENHANCED ONLINE PRESENCE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

OTHER EXAMPLES OF CURRENT WORK BEING DONE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS PRIORITY AREA INCLUDE THE INITIATIVES ON THIS SLIDE, LIKE CTE PARTNERSHIPS, WHERE SCCOE IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR GRANT CONSORTIUM THAT INCLUDES SIX LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES AND COLLABORATES WITH 35 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

MODERATOR IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? YES, THERE ARE 19 CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.95, THE SCCBOE STRIVES TO MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL, ORDERLY AND CIVIL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS MEETINGS AND TO AVOID UNLAWFUL DISRUPTIONS.

CAN WE PLEASE PRESENT THE TWO MINUTE TIMER? THE 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.

ALL RIGHT. NOW THAT WE HAVE THE TIMER.

MODERATOR, COULD YOU PLEASE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT? OUR FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.

AS A REMINDER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME CAN BE AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENT.

UNLESS LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.

THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ARE MIKE, EXCUSE ME, MARK CAMILLERI, ELISA VICTA, MATT BELL, DIANE CAPELLI AND ANDREA MAES.

MARK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

MARK CAMILLERI.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CHON, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN AND COMMUNITY.

I AM GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO OFFER MY SINCEREST SUPPORT FOR OUR BELOVED ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.

OUR TEAM HAS A LOVING AND CARING PARTNERSHIP THAT IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE, AND GROW WHILE IN OUR CARE.

WE STRIVE TO LEAVE OUR STUDENTS IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN OUR PROGRAMS. WE ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PREMIER SERVICE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR FELLOW STUDENTS.

OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE HIGH LEVELS OF TRAUMA, ADVERSITY, ABANDONMENT, AND STRUGGLE, AND WE DON'T JUDGE THEM FOR IT.

WE WRAP OURSELVES AROUND THEM IN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO BRING THEIR LIGHT TO SHINE, FOR THE

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WHEN THEY COME TO OUR PROGRAMS, OUR STUDENTS GET A NEW TAKE ON SCHOOLS.

STUDENTS GET TO LEARN AND PLAY, TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, TO GROW FOOD, TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE NATURE IN A WAY THEY HAVEN'T BEFORE.

EXAMPLES AQUARIUM, KAYAKING, HIKING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.

STUDENTS GET TO VISIT MUSEUMS AND SEE LIVE THEATER.

THEY GET TO PLAY AND COMPETE AND LEARN TO PRACTICE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.

THEY GET TO CREATE MUSIC AND ART AND HAVE THEIR CREATIONS BE PUT ON DISPLAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY GET TO SEE UNIVERSITIES THAT SIT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, BUT TO WHICH THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THEY GET LINKED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE DAY. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS COME WITH A DIVERSE SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT SET THEM APART FROM MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR TASK IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION TO BECOME POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

AS A PRODUCT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY MYSELF AND ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN SAN JOSE, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCE.

WHAT ARE OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZA VICTA.

PLEASE PRESENT. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS LISA VICTA.

SINCE 2014, I HAVE BEEN A PARENT, LEADER AND VOLUNTEER IN THE FRANKLIN-MCKINLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THREE OF THEIR TITLE ONE SCHOOLS BEGINNING IN 2016.

THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS INFLUENCED ME IN SUCH A POSITIVE WAY THAT I THANK THEM FOR THE SKILLS AND LESSONS WHICH HELPED ME TO PARENT THREE HIGH ACHIEVING, SELF-CONFIDENT AND LOVING LITTLE HUMANS.

I TOOK THE TRAINER OF TRAINERS FOR PARENT PROJECT JUNIOR, A MULTI WEEK PARENTING SERIES WHICH WAS ALSO VERY CULTURALLY SENSITIVE THAT FOSTERED A STRONG AND LASTING PARENT CHILD BOND WHILE TEACHING PARENTS HOW TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN THE COMMON CORE.

I FACILITATED THE WORKSHOP FOR OTHER PARENTS AND COINCIDENTALLY OR NOT, THEIR CHILDREN ARE ALSO ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THEIR FAMILY BONDS ARE STRONG, LOVING, AND SUPPORTIVE. THOSE PARENTS ARE, TO THIS DAY, SOME OF THE MOST ACTIVE PARENT LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS AT SCHOOL.

I WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE FAMILIES LEARNING TOGETHER EVENTS FOR SEVERAL SEASONS.

INSPIRED BY THEM, I CREATED MY OWN SCHOOL SITE VERSION TO WELCOME INCOMING KINDERGARTNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT WAS A THREE DAY PARENT RUN SYMPOSIUM SUPPORTED BY ADMINISTRATION AND THE KINDER TEACHERS. ON EACH OF THE THREE DAYS, WE HAD A THEME GENERAL SCHOOL SUPPORT, MATH AND ELA.

WE HELD PRESENTATIONS AROUND THE SCHOOL IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE AND RECONVENED FOR COMMUNITY TIME AND FAMILY CRAFT.

WE SERVED ABOUT 30 FAMILIES.

MANY OF THE KIDS ARE DOING EXTREMELY WELL.

AND AGAIN, THOSE PARENTS ARE SOME OF THE MOST ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS IN THE SCHOOL.

AND ONE PARENT WAS SO TAKEN BY THE STRONG PARENT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

SHE CHOSE OUR SCHOOL OVER HER OWN HOME SCHOOL.

I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I COULD REACH OUT TO JAMIE KOO AND SCCOE FOR ANY PARENT ENGAGEMENT NEED. THAT TIME ARRIVED MOST RECENTLY WITH A DIVISIVE GROUP CALLED THE IPSV.

THROUGH HER CONNECTIONS, I MET A VIETNAMESE INTERPRETER TO COMBAT SOME OF THEIR MISINFORMATION AND AN AUTHOR FOR A POSSIBLE LITERACY AND CAREER DAY.

SHE HAS ALSO GIVEN STRATEGIES ON GETTING PARENTS INVOLVED AT BOARD MEETINGS WITHOUT HESITATION. I CAN SAY THAT THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS STRENGTHENED ME AS A PARENT. MY CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND THOSE OF OTHERS, AS WELL AS INSPIRED THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT WILL PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE LONG RUN.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT BELL.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATT BELL.

I'M CEO OF PIVOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATION, WHOSE MISSION IS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN AND FROM FOSTER CARE TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THE LIVES THEY WANT FOR THEMSELVES. WE PARTNER WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, FOSTER AND HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEPENDENCY THROUGH ADVOCACY, CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION, AND ESSENTIAL REFERRALS.

SPECIFICALLY, WE PROVIDE ONE ON ONE COACHING, INTERNSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ENRICHMENT SERVICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH AGED 13 THROUGH 21.

THIS PARTNERSHIP AND SERVICE FROM SCCOE, LED BY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES JOANN VAARS, IS IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND EQUITY FOR STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE CAPELLI.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HELLO AGAIN, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN.

MY NAME IS DIANE CAPELLI AND I'M THE PARENT OF COLIN CAPELLI.

I AM AN ACTIVE PAC MEMBER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY EXPERIENCES WITH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WHAT I HOPE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRIORITIZES.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH SCCOE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN VARIED.

COLIN WAS IN A VI EARLY START IN VI PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT CHANDLER CHIP.

THEY WERE BOTH AMAZING PROGRAMS. UNFORTUNATELY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IN 2019 2020, THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM WAS RESTRUCTURED TO BE PART OF AN INCLUSION PROGRAM WITH HEAD START, WHERE THE HEAD START

[00:30:02]

COLIN HAS SINCE BEEN SINCE THEN BEEN IN SAI PROGRAMS BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO COUNTY VI PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO HIM.

I WANTED TO RESPECTFULLY BRING UP TO THE BOARD THE DOCUMENT TITLED SANTA CLARA COUNTY CONTINUUM OF SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES STUDY, RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2019 BY SCCOE. I HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WHICH I PULLED FROM THE SCCOE WEBSITE AND HIGHLIGHTED SOME IMPORTANT FACTS.

THE FULL 68 PAGE REPORT IS ACCESSIBLE ON THE SCCOE WEBSITE.

IN THE STUDY, INCREASING COSTS AND LACK OF FUNDING STRAINING DISTRICT BUDGETS ARE CITED AMONG ALONG WITH CREATING A CULTURE OF INCLUSION.

COULD THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS STUDY HAVE IMPACTED DECLINING ENROLLMENT IN SCCOE PROGRAMS? I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IN MY OPINION, THERE APPEARS TO BE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN WHEN THE STUDY WAS RELEASED IN 2019 AND WHEN YOU SEE A SHARP INCREASE OF SCCOE CLASSROOM CLOSURES STARTING IN 2020.

WE AS PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF OUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM WILL BE NEXT TO BE CONSOLIDATED OR CLOSED.

AFTER REVIEWING THE CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION PRIORITIES, SPECIAL EDUCATION DOES NOT PRESENT AS A POINT OF EMPHASIS.

I HOPE THAT THE BOARD PRIORITIZES KEEPING QUALITY PROGRAMS OPEN AND POSSIBLY CREATING NEW PROGRAMS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT I HOPE THE BOARD WILL PRIORITIZE IDENTIFYING FUNDING SOURCES TO INCREASE PAY FOR PARAEDUCATORS BY DOING SO.

THIS WILL HELP WITH RETAINMENT AND RECRUITMENT, WHICH WILL ONLY BETTER OUR SCCOE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. I'D BE HAPPY TO MEET AND WELCOME MORE CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA MAES.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREA MAES.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WALDEN WEST FOUNDATION.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY AS ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH DR.

DEWAN AND THE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE OR FAMILY'S INCOME.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CREATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS, WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT WALDEN WEST REMAINS THE PREMIER RESOURCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY. AS YOU MAY KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL ED, SUCH AS WALDEN WEST SCIENCE CAMP GAIN INCREASED KNOWLEDGE IN SCIENCE, MATH, READING, WRITING, AND MORE. THEY IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

THEY HAVE REDUCED STRESS AND IMPROVED WELL-BEING, AND THEY HAVE BETTER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES.

CAMPERS LIKE SUNFLOWER TELL US, WALDEN WEST NOT ONLY TAUGHT ME ABOUT NATURE, BUT TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE AND HOW TO SAVE THE PLANET.

THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.

DEWAN AND THE COUNTY STAFF, WALDEN WEST WEATHERED THE DISRUPTION DURING THE WORST OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, BRINGING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS AND HELPING BUILD ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, WITH THE WALDEN WEST CABINS FILLED ONCE AGAIN.

WE'RE PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH WALDEN WEST STAFF TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE BY MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY A PRIORITY IN YOUR ANNUAL PLAN.

YOU WILL SHOW YOUR SUPPORT NOT ONLY FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS AT WALDEN WEST, BUT ALSO THE PLANS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SCIENCE CAMP TO CREATE A ROBUST GARDEN PROGRAM THAT WILL ACT AS AN EXEMPLAR FOR AREA SCHOOLS AND FOR THE CRITICAL NEED TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS AND NATURE ENTHUSIASTS.

WE'D WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOU WALDEN WEST IN ACTION IF YOUR SCHEDULES ALLOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE SUSANA RUIZ, TINA CHANG, MILA.

OH. EXCUSE ME. MILAN BECKLEY, JENNIFER CASALE AND DAPHNE XU.

PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SUSANA RUIZ.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME.

PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

MY NAME IS SUSANA RUIZ, A FORMER TEACHER, DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALIST AND NOW A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE.

I'M ALSO THE PROUD PARENT OF A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT IN THE COUNTY, HESTER CLUSTER CLASSROOM WITH AN AUTISM DIAGNOSIS.

MY SON IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF INCLUSION.

HE'S A HIGHLY SOCIAL, TALKATIVE, ACTIVE, AND INQUISITIVE YOUNG MAN.

AND KINDER, I ASKED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HIM PARTICIPATE IN GENERAL EDUCATION FOR CIRCLE TIME. THIS WAS MET WITH RESISTANCE.

I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE A PRINCIPAL WHO SUPPORTED MY SON AND IMPLEMENTED INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES. I WAS ALSO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A PARAPROFESSIONAL WHO LOVED MY SON AND SAT WITH HIM, EVEN WHEN IT WAS HARD.

THROUGHOUT THE MANY SCHOOLS HE TRANSITIONED INTO, IT WAS ALWAYS A BATTLE TO MAINTAIN INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I FOUND EDUCATORS STAFF RECEPTIVE TO INCLUDING MY SON IN DANCE , BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS, AND EVEN WALDEN WEST SIMPLY CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE IN MAINSTREAMING OPPORTUNITIES AT HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SCIENCE.

[00:35:01]

IT TAKES DISTRICTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STAFF TO IMPLEMENT INCLUSION WITHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION. IT IS JUST THAT A STATEMENT OF BEST PRACTICES.

TODAY, [INAUDIBLE] IS LEARNING TO READ AND I KNOW HE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.

HE WOULD NOT. HE WILL BE HERE TODAY.

HARD TO I'M SORRY HE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY HAD HE NOT HAD THE EARLY EXPERIENCE OF INCLUSION. ONE OF THE MOST INDEPENDENT SKILLS WE CAN TEACH OUR STUDENTS IS TO READ.

THE SKILL ALLOWS [INAUDIBLE] TO ENGAGE WITH HIS PEERS.

AS A PARENT WHO HAS SEEN THE POWER OF INCLUSION, I MUST SHARE THAT I AM STILL ON THE FENCE ABOUT WHO BENEFITS THE MOST.

I HAVE SEEN FIFTH GRADERS CRY AS THEY SHARE HOW MUCH THEY LOVE LEARNING ALONGSIDE MY SON, OR ASK HOW THEY COULD BEST COMMUNICATE WITH HIM.

THERE IS A BENEFIT TO INCLUSION THAT WE TEND TO MINIMIZE GENERAL EDUCATION PEERS ARE PRACTICING PATIENCE, DIVERSITY, ACCEPTANCE, AND COMPASSION.

WE NEED A WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BUY INTO THE POWER AND PRACTICE OF INCLUSION.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THIS WORKS.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TINA CHANG.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HI AGAIN. MY NAME IS TINA CHANG AND I AM A PARENT FROM CAMBRIAN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ALSO THE [INAUDIBLE] CAC VICE CHAIR.

MY CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] IS COMPRISED OF 11 SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BECAUSE OF OUR SMALL SIZE, BARRIERS TO PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THAT CAC ARE WRITTEN OR REQUIRED IN CODE, WE HAVE LOW VISIBILITY AND FEW MEMBERS IN REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICTS. THIS YEAR, WE WERE TOLD BY ADMINISTRATORS THAT 20 DISTRICTS WILL BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE [INAUDIBLE] DIFFERENT CAC MEMBERS FROM OTHER [INAUDIBLE] HAVE CONCERNS THAT LOCAL VOICES WILL BE DILUTED IN LOCAL INVOLVEMENT AND OTHER AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL PLANS.

AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF SMALL DISTRICT, I HAVE CONCERNS THAT MY DISTRICT'S PRIORITIES IN SERVING THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND FUNDING DECREASES WILL OCCUR AS FUNDING DECREASES WILL OCCUR AS WE MOVE INTO THIS NEW STRUCTURE.

AS MORE PROGRAMS CLOSE AT THE COE MORE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM SMALLER DISTRICTS, WILL HAVE LESS OPTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE PLACEMENTS.

OUR DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY FACING THESE CHALLENGES AND CHOOSING TO KEEP STUDENTS IN DISTRICTS OR CHOOSING NPS PLACEMENTS.

LOOKING AT WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR SOUTH COUNTY PROGRAMS, I FEAR MORE AND MORE THAT WE WILL SEE CLOSURE OF PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS BEING BUSSED FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.

I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF KEEPING PROGRAMS LOCAL FOR STUDENTS, AND TO TRULY SUPPORT OUR DISTRICTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AS WE REWRITE THE LOCAL PLAN THIS YEAR, I URGE THE BOARD TO PRIORITIZE THE FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES SUCH AS VIDHHOI MEDICALLY FRAGILE PROGRAMS THAT SMALLER DISTRICTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THEMSELVES. DECLINING ENROLLMENT SHOULD NOT BE THE SOLE REASON FOR CONSOLIDATING AND CLOSING PROGRAMS. WHEN THE 2020 CENSUS SHOWED THAT WE HAD AN 8.9% OR 153,000, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MILA BECKEL. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MILA [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT UC SANTA CRUZ WHO ATTENDED SAN JOSE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT MY K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION.

I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE SAN JOSE TEAM OF SILICON VALLEY YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION.

IN 2022, I CO-FOUNDED AN INITIATIVE TO TEACH STUDENTS AT MY FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ABOUT THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

I SAW A LACK OF CURRICULA ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOLERS, AND CONSIDERED THIS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES.

IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING MORE THAN 200 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS, THE LACK OF CLIMATE LITERACY AMONG SAN JOSE STUDENTS HAS BECOME EVEN CLEARER TO ME.

FEW STUDENTS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT CAN DEFINE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MOST CANNOT DESCRIBE THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOSSIL FUELS, GREENHOUSE GASES, AND A CHANGING CLIMATE.

STUDENT TAUGHT INITIATIVES LIKE OURS AREN'T ENOUGH TO EDUCATE SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S 240,000 STUDENTS.

SCHOOLS NEED TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE.

CLIMATE ILLITERACY IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT FOR ADULTHOOD TO ADVOCATE FOR A LIVABLE FUTURE.

STUDENTS DESERVE TO LEARN HOW AND WHY OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING, SO WE CAN CHOOSE TO TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION.

FURTHER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF ITS EFFECTS WILL BE THE CONTEXT FOR EVERY STUDENT'S FUTURE CAREER, NO MATTER THE FIELD.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE INTERSECTS WITH MANY OF THE BOARD'S OTHER PROPOSED PRIORITIES, FROM HEALTH TO JUSTICE.

A CORE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE PLANET STUDENTS WILL LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK IN IS CHANGING IS CRITICAL.

[00:40:01]

SETTING THIS AS THE BOARD'S PRIORITY IS HOW WE CAN CHANGE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR CLIMATE LITERACY AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S TOP PRIORITY.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER KASSEL.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER KASSEL.

I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY AT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL VISION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, WHERE STRENGTHS ARE CELEBRATED AND AREAS OF GROWTH ARE IDENTIFIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING INTERVENTIONS THAT ALLOW ALL STUDENTS TO THRIVE.

MY PERSONAL VISION ALIGNS WITH OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO SERVE, INSPIRE, AND PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE AS A PRIORITY. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE WATCHED OUR AMAZING STAFF GROW THE INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES ON THE SITES AT WHICH THEY WORK, CHALLENGING THEIR STUDENTS TO PUSH THEMSELVES ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND SOMETIMES PHYSICALLY.

INCLUDING STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS WITH THEIR SAME GRADE LEVEL PEERS.

CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE IN A COMPREHENSIVE DISTRICT, LET ALONE A COUNTY PROGRAM WHERE SOMETIMES WE ARE SEEN AS GUESTS AND NOT AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

OUR STAFF HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO CHANGE THIS, AND WHILE WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, THEY'VE MADE SOME AMAZING PROGRESS.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE NEW HEAD START SPECIAL EDUCATION AND INCLUSION CLASS AT CHANDLER TRIPP, AND I WAS ASKED BY THE PARENTS OF ONE OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS CLASS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

THEY COULDN'T BE HERE THIS EVENING.

MEGAN AND KEVIN WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT HEAD STARTS INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT HAS GIVEN OLIVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW BOTH SOCIALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY.

SHE'S LEARNED NEW WAYS TO COMMUNICATE AND PROBLEM SOLVE, AND THEY'VE NOTICED A DRASTIC DIFFERENCE AT HOME IN HOW SHE ENGAGES WITH HER FAMILY AND SURROUNDINGS.

SHE'S HAPPY TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING AND HAS DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH HER PEERS AND HER STAFF.

MEGAN AND KEVIN ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH ALL OF ITS SCHOOL, AND ENSURE SHE GETS THE MOST OUT OF EVERY DAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAPHNE XU.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DAPHNE XU.

I'M A JUNIOR AT LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN JOSE, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SILICON VALLEY YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB MEETING, A STUDENT SAY THE WORDS CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T REAL.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING SO CLOSELY TIED TO THE DROUGHTS, THE FIRES, THE FLOODS WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING MEANT SO LITTLE TO THEM.

IF STUDENTS ACROSS SANTA CLARA COUNTY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULL GRAVITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, THIS IS AN URGENT PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. NONE OF THE CLASSES I'VE HAD THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL HAS TOUCHED ON CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO TAKE BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IN MOST HIGH SCHOOLS, THE ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION STUDENTS GET IS THROUGH AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.

IF THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE IT, MY SCHOOL RANKED AS ONE OF THE TOP CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS STEM SCHOOLS IN THE NATION, DOES NOT EVEN OFFER THE COURSE.

HOW CAN STUDENTS AT ONE OF THE BEST STUDENTS IN THE COUNTRY GO THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT LEARNING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WHICH ARE ALREADY AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR JOBS, AND OUR SAFETY.

HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO A CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR GENERATION, AS WE DECIDE THE KIND OF WORK WE'LL SPEND OUR LIVES DOING.

THOUGH I KNOW I WANT TO STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY CAREER PATH WILL BE. EXPOSURE AND RESOURCES FROM MY SCHOOL WOULD BENEFIT NOT ONLY ME, BUT MY PEERS AS WELL.

TWO OF THE FASTEST GROWING CAREERS PROJECTED FOR 2020 TO 2030 ARE CLIMATE RELATED, ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE WILL CREATE JOBS IN EVERY DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING ONES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE, AND THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN ABOUT EARLY ON.

EDUCATION HAS AN UNPARALLELED INFLUENCE ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENING, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.

THE PASSING OF AB 285 IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY IN ALL OUR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS.

NOW, BY MAKING IT THE TOP PRIORITY IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS ARE MANNY [INAUDIBLE], LISA [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], CLARIBEL WANG, AND MARIE BOBIAS.

PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MANNY.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MANNY [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN.

[00:45:04]

I MYSELF HAVE BEEN TAUGHT VERY LITTLE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FURTHERMORE WITH SUICA, I VOLUNTEERED IN AN INITIATIVE TO PRESENT TO OVER 200 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SAN JOSE, IN SCHOOLS, IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THEIR LACK OF PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

SOME WERE NOT EVEN FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM, AND ONLY A FEW HAD ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE ARE WORKING TO EXPAND THE REACH OF THIS INITIATIVE, BUT STUDENTS SHOULD BE LEARNING THIS IN THEIR SCHOOLS, AND WHAT'S THERE NOW IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.

ON THE STATE LEVEL, ONLY 29% OF CALIFORNIA TEACHERS INCORPORATED ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPTS OF ANY KIND INTO THEIR CURRICULUMS IN 2020.

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY ARE CRITICAL TO STUDENTS, AND I KNOW THAT THE EMPOWERMENT OF STUDENTS IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY AND BUT AND THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR.

OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE, AND WE NEED TO KNOW THIS.

CALIFORNIA AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY YOUTH MY AGE HAVE HAD WEEKS EVERY YEAR AS FAR BACK AS WE CAN REMEMBER, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GO OUTSIDE SAFELY DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE FUELED WILDFIRE SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT, AND I EVEN HAD TO PREPARE TO EVACUATE MY HOME IN 2020. WE'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE EFFECTS, AND WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE AS WELL. THIS EDUCATION EMPOWERS US TO TAKE PERSONAL ACTION AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE, AND IT PREPARES US TO JOIN A RAPIDLY GROWING AND BROAD GREEN EMPLOYMENT SECTOR.

RECOGNIZING THIS, THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED AB 285 DIRECTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RAPIDLY IMPLEMENT CLIMATE LITERACY.

PLEASE FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

PLEASE PLACE CLIMATE LITERACY AS NEXT YEAR'S TOP EDUCATIONAL PRIORITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA [INAUDIBLE].

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M A SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENT, A MOM AND AN EDUCATION AND CLIMATE ADVOCATE.

PLEASE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GET AT THE ROOT OF THE COLLECTIVE, OUR COLLECTIVE VALUES, SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION FROM WHICH TO PROCEED WITH PRESENT LIMITATIONS.

WE CAN START WITH FIVE KEY PURPOSES OF EDUCATION, AS POSED BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE. ONE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

2, BUILDING IDENTITIES AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

3, AS LIBERATION TO CONFRONT STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION.

4, FOR WELL-BEING AND FLOURISHING, AND FIVE AS CULTURALLY AND SPIRITUALLY SUSTAINING.

LET US KEEP THIS LIST IN MIND AS WE REFLECT ON OUR OWN CLASSROOM EDUCATION.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU PROBABLY DID NOT LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM THAT POOR WATER MANAGEMENT EXACERBATES DROUGHT.

YET, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT WHY THE STREAMS THAT WATERED MY SMALL FAMILY FARMS CROPS DWINDLED YEAR BY YEAR, SO I WOULD HAVE SOME HOPE TO CHANGE THIS COURSE.

THAT BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS IS A TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

YET I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT THESE WOULD ONE DAY LEAD TO CHOKING, WILDFIRE SMOKE AND LIFE THREATENING HEAT THAT WOULD ENDANGER MY CHILDREN, AND THAT FACTORY FARMING IS UNHEALTHY AND CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

I DID NOT LEARN THAT MY FAMILY'S SMALL FARMING WAS A DYING LIFESTYLE, AND THAT OUR FOOD SYSTEM WOULD BECOME NOT ONLY UNHEALTHY, BUT A TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO HARMING OUR PLANET.

WE MUST BREAK THIS CYCLE OF IGNORANCE BY ONE, SUPPLEMENTING THE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CLIMATE CAREERS, AND TWO, HELPING OUR STUDENTS TO GROUND THEIR IDENTITIES IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AS CLIMATE ACTION FOR OUR COLLECTIVE HOME TO THREE, BRING ABOUT LIBERATION FROM THE UNHEALTHY AND DISCRIMINATORY, CLIMATE THREATENING SYSTEMS WE'VE HISTORICALLY BUILT TO FOUR, HELP BRING ABOUT THE CUMULATIVE WELL-BEING AND FLOURISHING THAT FIVE, WILL CULTURALLY, SPIRITUALLY WILL BE CULTURALLY, SPIRITUALLY, AND LIFE SUSTAINING.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAXIMUM [INAUDIBLE].

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HOW'S IT GOING? I'M [INAUDIBLE], I LIVE IN MORGAN HILL.

I'M A STUDENT AT DE ANZA COLLEGE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SILICON VALLEY YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION. MY ENGAGEMENT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT JUST ACADEMIC, IT'S PERSONAL.

A FEW YEARS AGO, MY FAMILY AND I WERE AMONG THOSE WHO HAD TO EVACUATE OUR HOME DUE TO THE THREAT OF NEARBY WILDFIRES.

THAT EXPERIENCE BROUGHT HOME THE REALITY OF OUR CHANGING CLIMATE AND THE DIRECT IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR LIVES. WHILE IT MIGHT BE EASY TO THINK ABOUT AN ISSUE THIS BIG IN ABSTRACT, FOR ME, IT'S AS REAL AS THE SMOKE THAT HUNG IN THE AIR AND THE REALIZATION THAT THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN MIGHT NOT BE THERE WHEN I RETURNED.

IF THE TOP TEN HOTTEST YEARS EVER RECORDED, NINE HAVE OCCURRED CONSECUTIVELY STARTING IN 2014. WE'RE LIVING IN.

WE'RE ENTERING AN ERA WHERE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ARE A FACT OF EVERYDAY LIFE. EVENTS LIKE THE WILDFIRES I MENTIONED EARLIER ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND

[00:50:01]

WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL THEORIES, BUT THE PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE TO NAVIGATE AND RESPOND TO THESE CHALLENGES.

THIS IS WHY I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO MAINTAIN ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING CLIMATE LITERACY A KEY PRIORITY. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AB 285 ISN'T JUST A LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A FUTURE WHERE CLIMATE CHANGE IS A CENTRAL ISSUE. BY EMPHASIZING CLIMATE EDUCATION, WE'RE NOT ONLY ALIGNING WITH STATE MANDATES, BUT ALSO INVESTING IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE AND ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR EMERGING GREEN INDUSTRIES.

WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE SANTA CLARA COUNTY CAN CHOOSE TO EITHER POSITION ITSELF AS A LEADER IN PREPARING YOUTH FOR THE CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE, OR OTHERWISE GET LEFT BEHIND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INITIAL SUPPORT OF CLIMATE LITERACY.

I TRUST THAT THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE ITS IMPORTANCE AND ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CLARABELLE WANG.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CLARABELLE.

I LIVE IN CUPERTINO AND ATTEND CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE ON THE BEHALF OF THE CUPERTINO TEAM AT SILICON VALLEY YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION.

ACCORDING TO THE2017 US CLIMATE SCIENCE SPECIAL REPORT, WE'RE PROJECTED TOWARDS A 5 TO 10 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT INCREASE FROM 1960S LEVEL BY THE END OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

COMPARING THAT NUMBER TO THE 11 FAHRENHEIT DIFFERENCE FROM NOW TO THE EXTREME WEATHER DURING THE ICE AGE, WE CAN TELL THAT THIS SMALL NUMBER HAS A BIG IMPACT.

HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT MY EDUCATION HERE AT SANTA CLARA COUNTY, I'VE ONLY BEEN EXPOSED TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH A MOVIE IN MY SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE CLASS AT LAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A BRIEF PROJECT IN MY CHEMISTRY HONORS CLASS AT CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL COVERING ELECTRONIC WASTE.

WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, I'VE TURNED TO DE ANZA [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM AND INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH.

HOWEVER, AT DE ANZA, I FELT THAT ONLY AFTER DELVING INTO MAJOR SPECIFIC CLASSES THAT WAS ABLE TO LEARN OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF GENERAL INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR A DEVASTATING PHENOMENON THAT WILL IMPACT ALL INDUSTRIES, SECTORS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE COMING YEARS. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE RECEIVE LITTLE TO NO EXPOSURE TO THIS IN OUR SCHOOLS. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE PREPARED TO TACKLE THIS CRISIS? LET'S BE CLEAR IT WILL BE OUR GENERATION THAT BEARS THE BRUNT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

CLIMATE LITERACY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO UP TO DATE CLIMATE INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN NOT ONLY BE INFORMED, BUT ALSO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO COMBAT THE CRISIS AND EVEN CHOOSE CAREERS WITHIN THEIR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS THAT WORK TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING NOW, NOT IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE NEED TO EQUIP OUR YOUTHS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THANK YOU FOR THE INITIAL EFFORTS ON CLIMATE LITERACY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP CLIMATE LITERACY A TOP PRIORITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIE BOBIAS.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

I'M MARIE BOBIAS, I'M DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT WALDEN WEST AND TEACHING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CLIMATE LITERACY HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL FOR THE LAST 73 YEARS.

WE'VE EDUCATED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE GRADERS THROUGHOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES AND SCIENCE, AND AN IMMERSIVE, HANDS ON RESIDENTIAL THAT ALLOWS FOR CRITICAL THINKING, SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE, AND ECO ACTION THROUGH STEWARDSHIP.

SO ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD, BECAUSE WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE URGENT CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE OF OUR TIME. IT'S OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES EFFECTIVELY.

THIS INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE, CLIMATE CHANGE, ITS CONSEQUENCE AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE WE'RE IT'S LOCALLY RELEVANT TO SILICON VALLEY TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND CLIMATE PATTERNS HELP THEM APPRECIATE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THEIR ACTIONS AND DECISIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO MORE BEHAVIORS AND STEWARDSHIP OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND THEN LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY. EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE ISSUES HELPS US INSTILL A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY WITH SCCOE.

THIS INCLUDES SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES WITH OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES, OUR TRANSPORTATION, OUR FOOD SERVICES.

REDUCING SCCOE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.

SO PRIORITIZING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IS NOT ONLY AN ETHICAL AND IMPERATIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE, THE WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF, COMMUNITIES AND THE PLANET.

IT EQUIPS STUDENTS AND STAFF WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT WORLD.

AND I WANT TO THANK DR.

DEWAN FOR HER CONTINUED SUPPORT OF WALDEN WEST, HER TRUST AND FAITH IN MY STAFF AND MYSELF TO CONTINUE OUR OUTDOOR PROGRAMS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

[00:55:04]

OUR LAST BATCH OF SPEAKERS ARE SEAN MENDELSON, GARY LATSHAW.

SHINPEI LIU.

AND STEPHANIE MILOS ANDREWS, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.

OUR SPEAKER IS SEAN MENDELSON.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE.

STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HELLO. SEAN MENDELSON FROM CAMPBELL.

I HAVE I WAS TRAINED BY AL GORE TO BE A CLIMATE REALITY SILICON VALLEY LEADER.

I LEAD UP THE FAMILY'S PROGRAM FOR CLIMATE REALITY.

SILICON VALLEY I LOVE OUR SCHOOLS.

I HAVE TWO KIDS IN CAMPBELL UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, EIGHTH GRADE AND 10TH GRADER.

AND ALL THE TIME THEY'VE BEEN EDUCATED THROUGH THIS GREAT SYSTEM WE HAVE.

THERE HAS BEEN ONE SEMESTER ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, ONE SINGLE SEMESTER.

MY SON EXPERIENCED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THAT'S TERRIBLE.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A COUNTY, AND I BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE LITERACY IS CRUCIAL IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN PARTICULAR.

I JUST INTERVIEWED SOMEBODY AT PETALUMA, A TEACHER, A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY WHO HAS THEY HAVE 7 OR 8 CLIMATE PROGRAMS THAT THESE THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS ARE DOING UP THERE.

AND THIS I INTERVIEWED THIS KID, AND SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

SHE'S GOT HER HANDS IN THE DIRT.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING FOR MY KIDS IN THIS AREA.

AND I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB.

LET'S GET OUR KIDS EDUCATED ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE MY JOB.

I'VE BEEN GOING PRO BONO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SOME OF THESE KIDS HERE, WE DID MOUNTAIN VIEW SUSTAINABILITY EVENT WHERE WE HAD TO BRING IT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT SHOULD BE THE TEACHERS EDUCATING THE TEACHERS SO THEY CAN TEACH THE KIDS SO THEY HAVE A SAFE FUTURE ON THIS PLANET.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I COMMEND ALL THE KIDS THAT CAME UP HERE TODAY.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU? THAT ALL THESE KIDS CAME OUT HERE TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE EDUCATION? THEY NEED THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ADVOCACY FOR THEM AND BIG UP TO TARA.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL IN THE PAST.

PEACE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GARY LATSHAW.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

GARY LATSHAW I'M A RETIRED PHYSICIST.

I GOT A DOCTORATE FROM STANFORD IN 1971.

I HAVE BEEN A PROMOTER IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OF TRYING TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH NOW SHOULD BE CALLED CLIMATE EMERGENCY, AND I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY CRITICAL THAT YOU TEACH THESE CHILDREN ABOUT CLIMATE LITERACY, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THEY UNDERSTAND BOTH THE SCIENCE AND THE PLETHORA OF CLIMATE DENIAL THAT IS ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY, IT'S FRIGHTENING TO ME THAT CLIMATE DENIAL EXISTS AT SUCH PERFUSIONS.

IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO, I'VE SEEN ON TELEVISION ADS CLAIMING THAT NATURAL GAS IS CLEAN. AND THEN JUST THIS MORNING, AN AD FOR PROPANE THAT'S CLEAN.

WELL, WHAT DOES CLEAN MEAN IN THIS CASE? IF YOU BURN IT, IT MAKES POISONOUS GASES.

IT MAKES GREENHOUSE GASES THAT HEAT THE EARTH.

SO THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THEM TO LEARN JUST THE SCIENCE AND HOPEFULLY IN THEIR POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASSES OR WHATEVER IN THE CURRICULUM.

THE EXTENT OF THE DENIALISM AND JUST MISINFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACHIEVED.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY IN THE LAST YEARS HAVE ACHIEVED A LOT IN THE 60S AND 70S.

THEY GOT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION.

THEY COULDN'T VOTE. THEY WENT DOOR TO DOOR LATER.

THEY PROTESTED AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR.

AND THERE WAS A MAJOR ELEMENT IN CLOSING THAT WAR IN RECENT YEARS.

THEY ACCEPTED GAY MARRIAGE WHEN FEW OTHERS WOULD, AND THEY MADE THAT THE NATIONAL STANDARD. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ARM THEM, LET THEM DO THEIR THING, AND WE CAN FIX THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

ALRIGHT. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I AM A STUDENT CURRENTLY ATTENDING CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE POSITION OF CLIMATE LITERACY TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTY'S TOP PRIORITIES.

CLIMATE LITERACY FOR YOUTH AND THE COUNTY IS CRUCIAL TO COMBAT THE CURRENT CLIMATE CRISIS WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE OFTEN STATE THAT TODAY'S YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE WORLD, AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE RADICALLY TRANSFORMING WORLD, WE LIVE IN THIS VERY MOMENT.

EDUCATION IS MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER TO EDUCATE TODAY'S YOUTH, TO FIGHT AGAINST AND PREVENT REPEATING OUR PREDECESSOR'S MISTAKES THAT LED US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CURRENTLY, EDUCATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS LIMITED IN SCOPE, NOT HOLISTIC AND JUST SIMPLY SOUL CRUSHING IF WE EVEN LEARN IT RIGHT NOW.

[01:00:01]

IF ONLY EXISTENCE OF CLASSES AND EVEN ZENAPES CLASSES AREN'T AVAILABLE AT EVERY SCHOOLS. CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALSO INTERSECTIONAL BY NATURE.

PEOPLE FROM ALL SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS NEED TO BE EDUCATED TO INPUT THEIR UNIQUE VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES TO COLLECTIVELY END THIS CRISIS AS A WHOLE AND IT'S NOT JUST SCIENCE AS WELL.

ALSO, CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALSO PRESENT IN ART, HISTORY, WRITING, SPEECH, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. HOW CAN WE COMBAT THIS CRISIS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS REALITY? PEOPLE NEED TO RETHINK THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, AND NEED TO BE GIVEN THE TOOLS AND ABILITY TO THINK ABOUT MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS AND ACTION ON ALL LEVELS, AND HOLISTIC CLIMATE LITERACY ACHIEVES THIS, GIVING THE YOUTH THE FUTURE BEARERS OF A WORLD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER FOR THE WORLD.

THIS IS WHY CLIMATE LITERACY NEEDS TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTY'S TOP PRIORITIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR LAST SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE MERLOWS ANDREWS.

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

HI, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MERLOWS ANDREWS.

I LIVE IN CAMPBELL.

I'M NOT A PARENT AND NOT A STUDENT, BUT I AM AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND A NATURALIST.

I'VE TAUGHT ALL OVER THE BAY AREA FROM LODI ALL THE WAY TO EAST SOUTH SAN JOSE AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND THEIR STUDENTS ARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT, IT'S PRETTY ABYSMAL. WE'RE IN SILICON VALLEY.

WE'RE IN CALIFORNIA.

THIS SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE INNOVATION HAPPENS, NOT JUST WHEN YOU'RE AN ADULT, WHEN YOU'RE OLDER, BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE EXPECT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IF WE DON'T EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG? STUDENTS COME UP WITH REALLY GOOD SOLUTIONS WHEN THEY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IMAGINE ALL THESE STUDENTS HERE WHO, IF THEY HAD THAT KNOWLEDGE WHEN THEY WERE IN SECOND GRADE, IMAGINE WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH BY NOW.

RIGHT. SO AS PART OF CALIFORNIA, AS PART OF THE BAY AREA, WHICH IS KNOWN AS AN INNOVATION HUB, WE SHOULD BE EDUCATING THEM ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT'S A NO BRAINER.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A TOP PRIORITY, BUT OF THE TOP PRIORITY, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FUTURE.

I ASSUME SOME OF YOU GUYS HAVE KIDS.

THIS IS THEIR FUTURE AND WE SHOULD EDUCATION SHOULD BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE.

RIGHT? AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE FUTURE.

IT'S RIGHT NOW. SO HOW CAN WE NOT PREPARE THEM FOR IT? IF WE DON'T EDUCATE THEM? THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES.

EXCUSE ME.

THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU. MODERATOR.

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO WE'RE GOING TO GO AROUND WITH THE TRUSTEES IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PRESENTATION.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ALVAREZ.

STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. ALVAREZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO SEE THESE PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT MY EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE THAT ALL AREAS YOU TOUCH ARE ON OUR PRIORITIES AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION.

AT BLUE RIDGE, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MANY DIFFERENT CAREER TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS HAS ALLOWED ME TO GAIN VALUABLE REAL WORLD SKILLS.

THEY HELPED ME OPEN MY EYES TO DIFFERENT PATHWAYS.

I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THESE SKILLS INTO ACTION WHEN ENTERING ENTRY LEVEL CAREERS.

I HAVE LEARNED HAVE EARNED CERTIFICATES IN WELDING, FOOD HANDLERS AND FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION. THESE HAVE ALL HELPED ME DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS AND IMPLEMENT HANDS ON SKILLS. STAFF ON CAMPUS ARE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE.

WHILE STUDENTS ARE ENGAGING IN THESE PROGRAMS, HAVING EXTRA SUPPORT IN THE CLASSROOM ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.

THE WELLNESS CENTER IS A CRUCIAL PART OF OUR WELL-BEING.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HAVING A COMMON SPACE ON CAMPUS HELPS US NORMALIZE ASKING FOR HELP.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN SCHOOLS IS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP.

THIS WILL ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL AND BECOME STUDENT ADVOCATES. THANK YOU.

[01:05:03]

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SUPERINTENDENTS FOR PRESENTING OUR REPORT.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENT SPEAKERS, THIS EVENING. DR.

[C. Community Stakeholder Input Panel]

IT IS POSTED WITH ITEM THREE B.

THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS FROM THE SURVEY THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. THE SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY, EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS AND EDUCATION, EQUITY, AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE WERE THE TOP THREE PRIORITIES FROM THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS.

THERE WERE 142 RESPONSES COLLECTED, REPRESENTING A BROAD SWATH OF DIFFERENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THE FULL REPORT IS SUMMARIZED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM FOR OUR PANEL TONIGHT.

THE BOARD WILL HEAR FROM YOUTH AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES.

FOLLOWING THE PANEL, PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD AND THEN THE TRUSTEES MAY ASK QUESTIONS. DR.

GORGULHO. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CHON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

AND WELCOME TO OUR PANELISTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AROUND AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR SCHOOL AND THE PRIORITY AREA FOR WHICH YOU WILL BE PROVIDING INPUT. SO, TANNER, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

HELLO, I'M TANNER, I'M FROM INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M REPRESENTING THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CLUBS THERE AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW WE CAN INTEGRATE IT INTO SCHOOLS.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS HANNAH. I'M FROM LOS GATOS HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR INCLUSION.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

I'M FROM MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL AND I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR TOBACCO USE PREVENTION EDUCATION AS A PART OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY PACK.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREW LU.

I'M FROM OVERFELT HIGH SCHOOL AND I'LL BE ADVOCATING FOR WORKFORCE PATHWAYS AND DIVERSIFICATION. HI, I'M [INAUDIBLE] I'M THE CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER AT TEN STRANDS AND ALSO FORMERLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR AT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

AND I'LL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY.

I JUST WANT TO INTERRUPT REALLY QUICKLY, ALL OF OUR PANELISTS.

YOU CAN MOVE YOUR MICROPHONES CLOSER TO YOU SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD.

SO PLEASE DO. SO YEAH.

OH, SORRY. HELLO.

MY NAME IS ROSIE CHEN.

I AM FROM SANTA.

I'M FROM WILCOX HIGH SCHOOL IN SANTA CLARA CITY, AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CLIMATE EDUCATION.

HELLO, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

I'M FROM SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STUDENT WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I'M FROM EVERGREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M ALSO ADVOCATING FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

AS A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP.

HELLO. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M A CURRENT FRESHMAN AT UC BERKELEY.

BUT I GRADUATED FROM EVERGREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AND LIKE THE OTHER TWO, I'M ALSO ADVOCATING FOR STUDENT OR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AS PART OF THE STUDENT WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP.

THANK YOU.

NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR FACILITATED QUESTIONS.

PANELISTS, WE HAVE PREPARED SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO ANSWER.

YOU WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MINUTES TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PREPARATION AND PARTICIPATION ON THIS PANEL, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.

SO, HANNAH, THE FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE IMPACTS OF INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS IN EARLY GRADES ON YOUR EDUCATION? THE IMPACTS OF DIVERSITY IN CLASSROOMS REALLY DEPENDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

[INAUDIBLE]. OKAY. THE IMPACTS OF DIVERSITY IN CLASSROOMS REALLY DEPENDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE CLASSROOM.

FOR EXAMPLE, I AM DYSLEXIC.

I AM, AND I'M A RELATIVELY QUIET KID IN SCHOOL.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WATCH ME IN MY FASHION CLASS ENVIRONMENT VERSUS MY ACADEMIC CLASSES

[01:10:04]

ON THE OTHER HAND, I WILL STRUGGLE IN SILENCE TILL AFTER CLASS TO ASK MY TEACHER QUESTIONS BECAUSE I FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE MY HAND IF THERE, AS IF THERE WAS A WEIGHT HOLDING DOWN MY HAND.

IF I AM CALLED ON.

IN A CLASS LIKE FRENCH, I HAVE A SOFT VOICE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THAT WILL COME OUT.

SO INCLUSION IN CLASSROOMS REALLY DEPENDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

I SAY THIS BECAUSE IN MY AP [INAUDIBLE] CLASS, I WILL RAISE MY HAND AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M STILL VERY SHY.

BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF CLASS, I WAS ABLE TO RAISE MY HAND IN AN AP CLASS AS A NEURODIVERSE STUDENT, HAVING A MORE OPEN INCLUSION WITH MY MORE OPEN INCLUSION WITH NEURODIVERSITY SPECIFICALLY, WOULD MAKE MORE NEURODIVERSE KIDS FEEL LESS ISOLATED BECAUSE IT IS ISOLATING SOMETIMES BECAUSE NO ONE TRULY GETS IT.

AND ESPECIALLY FOR ME, WHO HAS SEVEN YOUNGER SIBLINGS, ALSO NEURODIVERSE, AND WATCH THEM STRUGGLE ALONE, BEING UNABLE TO HELP THEM BECAUSE AS WELL AS MY OWN NEURODIVERSITY, I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS BROTHER WHO IS IN SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSES WITH OTHER KIDS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

HE IS ABLE, IF HE WAS ABLE TO BE IN MORE INCLUSIVE CLASSES, GIVING HIM MORE OF A SOCIAL ASPECT OF SCHOOL, GIVING HIM SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR THING THAT THEY'RE GOOD AT, THAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL AND HAS HAD THEIR OWN PURPOSE. I'VE SEEN INCLUSION FIRSTHAND.

I SAW HOW BEING INCLUDED HELPED THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MY SIBLINGS WHO WERE STRUGGLING.

THANK YOU, HANNAH.

SANJANA, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? AND WHAT IMPACT DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE? YEAH. SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL, ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE OTHERS TO KNOW IS JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR IT TO BE PRIORITIZED, ESPECIALLY ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES, AND HAVE THINGS SUCH AS SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS TO HELP SUPPORT IT.

FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL GIVE LIKE A SMALL TRIGGER WARNING, BUT.

AS SOMEONE WHO'S GRADUATED FROM THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, I THINK THE ONLY TIME THAT I HAD A TEACHER TALK IN CLASS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH WAS IN 11TH GRADE WITH MY AP BIOLOGY TEACHER, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD SEEN AND WITNESSED A SUICIDE ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES, AND THAT'S WHY HE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE AND HOW THAT IS A THREAT TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, AND HOW IT IS A BIG AND GROWING ISSUE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND REACH OUT WHEN YOU NEED HELP.

AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE PRIORITIZED, ESPECIALLY ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES.

AND IN TERMS OF WHAT I SEE FOR THINGS CHANGING IN THE FUTURE, I REALLY THINK THAT A SHIFT TO PRIORITIZING PREVENTATIVE CARE INSTEAD OF JUST REACTIVE MEASURES WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALL STARTS AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO ESCALATE TO A CERTAIN POINT IN ORDER FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SANJANA. [INAUDIBLE], THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU NOTICING IS HAPPENING WITH STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH? WITH YOUR PEERS? ALL RIGHT, SO TO GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CAUSES IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH OR NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH THAT I'VE OBSERVED FROM MY PEERS.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, OF COURSE THERE'S EDUCATIONAL PRESSURE.

SO BASED OF COURSE, WE LIVE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN THE BAY AREA.

AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE BAY AREA, THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS TO BE HIGH PERFORMING.

AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT STRESS INTERNALLY OR FROM OUR HOMES, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES FROM OUR PEERS, WHETHER IT BE LIKE THEY BE TAKING A LOT OF AP COURSES OR THERE'S LIKE A CONSTANT PRESSURE TO BE HIGH PERFORMING THAT I'VE OBSERVED AT MY SCHOOL.

AND THAT JUST LEADS TO A LOT OF STRESS THAT ACCUMULATES WITHIN THE STUDENTS.

AND AS FOR THE PRESSURES FROM OUR HOMES, IT'S ALSO TIED INTO CULTURAL STRAINS AND TRAUMAS THAT ARE HARD TO ADDRESS BECAUSE WHILE WE LIVE IN A VERY CULTURALLY DIVERSE AREA, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THOSE CULTURES THAT ARE NOT EASILY TRANSLATED FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER, STUDENT TO ADMINISTRATION, EVEN FROM PEER TO PEER.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENCES THAT ARE HARD TO BE ADDRESSED.

AND EVEN IF STUDENTS TRY TO GET HELP AND ACCESS THOSE SERVICES, OFTEN THERE ARE NOT MANY LONG TERM SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVES THE HOME OR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THOSE

[01:15:01]

AND I THINK WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITHOUT BRINGING UP THE PANDEMIC AND ITS AFTER EFFECTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST TWO GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS GOING INTO THESE, INTO ALL GRADE LEVELS AND ALL SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, HAVE HAD THEIR LEARNING FOUNDATIONS IMPACTED, WHETHER IT'S REGARDS TO THEIR ACADEMICS OR IN RELATION TO THEIR LIKE, SOCIAL SKILLS.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP AN ANECDOTE FROM THE SOCIAL WORKERS AT MY SCHOOL WHO ARE OBSERVING THESE FIRSTHAND.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL STRUGGLE TO BE MOTIVATED TO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND JUST GO TO SCHOOL AND TRY TO COMPLETE ALL THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

AND IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE DIGGING A HOLE, A DEEPER HOLE FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY AREN'T COMPLETING THOSE ASSIGNMENTS OR THEY FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CONTRIBUTION OF LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE WE'RE SO AWARE OF EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

AND BECAUSE NOW STUDENTS NOWADAYS ARE NOT ONLY WORRIED ABOUT THE WHAT ASSIGNMENTS TO COMPLETE OR WHAT'S LIKE WHAT TEST OR WHAT GRADE THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE FOR THE YEAR.

BUT NOW ALSO, WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD AND OUR COUNTRY? AND WHAT ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR RIGHTS? AND BEING AWARE OF ALL THIS AT ONCE IS VERY STRESSFUL.

BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEAPS AND BOUNDS THAT WE'VE MADE POST PANDEMIC.

AS THE SOCIAL WORKERS AT MY SCHOOL SAID, THE SOCIAL ANXIETY LEVELS FROM POST PANDEMIC TO OUR CURRENT YEAR HAVE DRASTICALLY LIKE LOWERED AS WE'VE BEEN AS STUDENTS ARE NOW ABLE TO HAVE LIKE STRUCTURE AND ADJUST TO THE IN-PERSON LEARNING CLIMATE.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO LIKE, SAY THAT A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTERS AT OUR SCHOOLS.

MY, A LOT OF MY PEERS AND WHAT I'VE OBSERVED FROM MY WORK IN SWAG, A LOT OF THE STUDENTS SAY THAT THEY BY HAVING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTERS AT SCHOOL, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT AS A RESOURCE TO NOT ONLY DE-STRESS, BUT ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT AND BE AWARE OF MANY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUES, SUCH AS THE SOCIAL WORKERS AT MY SCHOOL WHO ARE MANNING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.

THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EVENTS, JUST SUCH AS A SUICIDE PREVENTION MARCH, AS WELL AS DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS.

AND SO IN MY INSPIRED BY MY WORK FROM SWAG, I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY FOUND A STUDENT LED MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS ORGANIZATION AT MY SCHOOL WHERE WE'VE STARTED, WE'RE STARTING OUR FIRST PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A HOST OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR.

AND WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IS THAT MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT I DESCRIBED BEFORE OF CULTURAL STRAINS OF ACADEMIC PRESSURES, THEY'RE ABLE TO BE KIND OF ADDRESSED BY THE STUDENTS IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS GROUP, BECAUSE BY THE STUDENTS BEING MADE UP OF VERY DIVERSE AND CULTURALLY OR OF COURSE, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, ALSO BACKGROUND LIKE, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT, THEY PROVIDE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT OFTEN LIKE LEADS TO US WHEN WE DEVELOP THESE SOLUTIONS MORE EFFECTIVE AND FEASIBLE, ONES THAT HAVE SHOWN LIKE TANGIBLE RESULTS AT OUR SCHOOLS.

SO THE FACT THAT AS WE'RE DOING THIS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KAYLEE, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE WELLNESS CENTER PLAY IN ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY? I THINK, LIKE [INAUDIBLE] SAID, THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTERS ARE VERY NECESSARY ON IMPROVING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.

I MEAN, I'M SPEAKING FROM A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE, AS EVERGREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DOES HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER AND A GREAT TEAM TO ORGANIZE IT.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE TO GO TO DURING SCHOOL, SO THERE'S NO LONG WAIT TIMES. THERE'S NOTHING PREVENTING STUDENTS FROM GOING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER. AND BECAUSE IT'S ON CAMPUS, THERE'S NO ISSUES WITH TRAVELING OR THERE'S NO BARRIERS, AND IT'S A VERY EASY RESOURCE TO ACCESS.

I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER COMES FROM THE FACT THAT IT'S OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER HAS A STUDENT LED SERVICE CALLED THE COUGAR SUPPORT DEN, WHICH IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE SOCIAL WORKERS THAT OFFER RESOURCES SUCH AS PEER COUNSELING, WHICH IS A LOT MORE CONVENIENT FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE IT'S A SERVICE THAT THERE WHERE STUDENTS CAN TALK TO OTHER STUDENTS AND THEIR PEERS ABOUT STRUGGLES THAT MAYBE TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATION MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF JUST THAT'S JUST ONLY ONE OF THEIR SERVICES THAT'S SO IMPORTANT AND SO NECESSARY.

WE ALSO HAVE OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS SELF EDUCATION AWARENESS RESOURCES.

[01:20:05]

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO LEARN FOR THEMSELVES.

THAT AND THE LAST RESOURCE IS ALUMNI OUTREACH, WHICH IS BEING ABLE TO TALK TO PREVIOUS ALUMNI FROM EVERGREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT MAYBE THEIR CLASSES THAT THEY'RE TAKING, HOW TO DE-STRESS FROM SCHOOL, ACADEMIC PRESSURES, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE FUTURE ANY CAREER OPTIONS OR OTHER ROUTES AND WAYS TO TAKE A BREAK FROM MENTAL HEALTH OR TAKE A BREAK FROM EDUCATION AND MAYBE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES OTHER THAN COLLEGE, WHICH IS SO PUSH OUT THERE TO STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN EVERGREEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, HIGH SCHOOL, MY DISTRICT, AND THE BAY AREA IN GENERAL.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S SO NORMALIZED TO GO TO COLLEGE, BUT NO ONE'S REALLY ADVERTISING OR PROMOTING THOSE OTHER ROUTES THAT ARE VERY VIABLE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE KIND OF PUSHED IN ONE DIRECTION BUT AREN'T EXPLORING THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER IS REALLY IMPORTANT ON DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAYLEE.

SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

HOW HAVE YOU OBSERVED CHANGES IN ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS TOWARDS TOBACCO USE AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE I'VE NOTICED IS THE EVOLVING PERCEPTION OF TOBACCO USE.

IN THE PAST, SMOKING OR USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS WAS SEEN AS COOL OR REBELLIOUS BY A LOT OF STUDENTS. HOWEVER, WITH THE INFLUENCE OF TV PROGRAMS AND THE EMPHASIS IT PLACES ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, TOBACCO USE IS BECOMING LESS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE AND DARE I SAY, COOL.

I BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZING THAT MAKING INFORMED, HEALTHY CHOICES IS MORE ADMIRABLE AND APPEALING.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT TWO PROGRAMS FOCUS ON INFORMED DECISION MAKING AND PEER INFLUENCE, WHICH I BELIEVE HAS RESULTED IN A DECREASE OF PEER PRESSURE RELATED TOBACCO USE. STUDENTS NOW MOSTLY SUPPORT THEIR PEERS IN MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES RATHER THAN PRESSURING THEM TO USE TOBACCO, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A MORE POSITIVE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TEACHERS.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TWO P PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS TWO P YOUTH LEADERS IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, AND HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING THE USE OF RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE BY THESE PROGRAMS. MORE AND MORE STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY MADE AWARE OF THE RESOURCES THAT TWO P PROVIDES, BUT ARE ALSO ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO ACCESS THEM.

PEER SUPPORT NETWORKS, PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE AND ONGOING EDUCATION HAVE PLAYED CRUCIAL ROLES IN THIS PROCESS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHIFT IN BEHAVIOR REFLECTS A MORE HEALTH CONSCIOUS AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, WHICH ULTIMATELY BENEFITS THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AT 2 P SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TANNER, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

HOW ARE YOUTH IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE? YOUTH ARE IMPACTED BECAUSE YOUTH MAY NOT THEY'RE FEELING MORE OF THE EFFECTS THAN YOU GUYS ARE BECAUSE WE ARE COMING INTO THIS GENERATION WITH HOTTER, A HOTTER SUN, MORE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WE'RE DEALING WITH MORE CHALLENGES.

CAN YOU PULL YOUR MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU, OR MAYBE YOUR MIC ISN'T WORKING? HELLO? YEAH. THANK YOU.

WE'RE DEALING WITH MORE CHALLENGES GEOGRAPHICALLY, ALSO IN CALIFORNIA WITH ALL OUR ALL THE AIR POLLUTION THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN PUT ON US AND YOUTH, WE CAN REALLY DEVELOP THESE SUSTAINABILITY CHANGING HABITS AT OUR SCHOOL QUICK WHEN WE'RE YOUNG.

WE CAN DEVELOP THESE HABITS WHEN WE'RE YOUNGER.

SO WE CAN CHANGE. WE CAN CREATE A NEW REVOLUTION OF CHANGES THAT CAN CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR EARTH OTHER THAN JUST OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE THESE WAYS BY STARTING NUMEROUS CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR SCHOOL THAT HAVE TRIED TO COMBAT THESE WAYS, SUCH AS A GREENHOUSE CLUB, A RECYCLING CLUB. I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S RECENTLY BEEN A LOT OF TRASH ON OUR CAMPUS FROM PLASTICS, WE CAN USE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INSTEAD OF JUST PLASTIC.

PLASTIC BAGS, PLASTIC UTENSILS WE CAN USE, I DON'T LIKE SEEING THESE PLASTIC UTENSILS

[01:25:05]

I THINK WE CAN CHANGE THIS, MAKE OUR SCHOOL A CLEANER CAMPUS AND ALSO RECENTLY WE HAVE THE EARTH BEEN CHANGING AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BUILDING BUILDINGS, HOUSES.

IT'S BEEN REALLY TURNING INTO A CONCRETE JUNGLE IN OUR AREA, AND IT'LL BENEFIT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF HIGH SCHOOLERS, OR JUST STUDENTS IN GENERAL, FROM JUST PLANTING A FEW TREES OR BRINGING NEW FLOWERS.

WE DON'T REALLY NEED ALL THESE BUILDINGS, ALL THIS AND THAT WE CAN.

WE CAN ADD MORE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE CAN ALSO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL GARDENS.

THERE'S MANY SCHOOL GARDENS THAT ARE JUST A BUNCH OF GROWING WEEDS.

THERE'S BEEN JUST 1 OR 2 TEACHERS THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY AND MAKING FOOD USABLE IN THE CLASSROOM, AS IN CULINARY, AND ALSO FOCUS ON THE CULINARY ASPECT OF HOW WE CAN USE IT INSIDE OF SCHOOLS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE BUYING ALL THIS FRUIT FROM OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE CAN BE GROWING IT FROM INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS.

WE CAN PUT MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE TO GROW THESE CROPS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO USE AND LEARN FROM.

AND ALSO FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS OR ADULTS.

WE CAN HAVE THEM BE MORE ENCOURAGING TO STUDENTS.

WE HAVE A BIG SCHOOL OF INTELLIGENT STUDENTS THAT WANT TO CREATE CHANGE AND HAVE GREAT IDEAS, AND WE WOULD ALL ONLY ASK FOR YOU TO BE MORE ENCOURAGING AND BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS TO THIS SCHOOL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TANNER.

ROSY THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

WHY DOES SUSTAINABILITY MATTER TO YOU? HELLO, TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN.

TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION SUSTAINABLY MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE IT'S SUSTAINABLY AND CLIMATE EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS NOT ONLY PLANT LIFE AND WILDLIFE HUMAN HEALTH.

IT AFFECTS THE FUTURE OF THIS PLANET.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH A FEW PERSONAL STORIES.

I WORK AT THE ULISTAC NATURAL PRESERVE IN SANTA CLARA CITY, AND THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE GUADALUPE RIVER, FOR HISTORICALLY IT WAS RIPARIAN.

IT WAS A FLOOD ZONE.

IT FLOODED REGULARLY EVERY YEAR.

IT WAS ALWAYS WET.

NOW WHEN YOU GO THERE AND YOU EXPECT TO SEE ALL THESE RIPARIAN PLANTS, WHAT YOU FIND ARE NOT RIPARIAN PLANTS.

YOU FIND CALIFORNIA DESERT PLANTS.

AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY THAT A ZONE THAT SHOULD HOUSE ALL OF THESE NATURALLY RIPARIAN PLANTS IS INSTEAD HOUSING WHAT SHOULD BE IN DEATH VALLEY. TO BE HONEST, AND WHEN I TELL MY PEERS ABOUT THIS, THE ANSWERS I GET ARE MORE LIKE, WELL, WHAT IS A TOYON? AGAIN? BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND AND CAN'T IDENTIFY ANY OF THESE NATURAL PLANTS NATIVE PLANTS IN OUR AREA.

ANOTHER STORY IS WITH THE BAD AIR QUALITY DAYS THAT WE ALL KNOW.

MY HUMAN PHYSIO TEACHER HAS SEVERE ASTHMA AND BECAUSE OF THIS, HE CLOSES HIS DOOR DURING THESE DAYS AND HAS ALL OF THE STUDENTS FILE THROUGH ANOTHER DOOR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SCIENCE BUILDING, SO THAT THE BAD AIR QUALITY DOESN'T FILTER IN TOO MUCH INTO HIS CLASSROOM BECAUSE IT SEVERELY AFFECTS HIS HEALTH.

AND I KNOW OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAVE ASTHMA LIKE THIS, AND THESE BAD AIR QUALITY DAYS ARE A SEVERE DETRIMENT TO THEM.

AND WHEN I ASK STUDENTS, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE DAYS? THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S JUST NORMAL.

A FEW DAYS EVERY YEAR WE GET BAD AIR QUALITY DAYS, BUT IT'S NOT NORMAL.

WE ARE FORGETTING THAT JUST 20, 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR US TO SAY, OH, THERE'S A WILDFIRE, SO WE HAVE A BAD AIR QUALITY DAY.

IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR US TO SAY WE NEED TO CLOSE THE DOORS.

WE CAN'T HAVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD AIR QUALITY DAY.

WE MUST ALL STAY INSIDE.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

AND WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IS MY PEERS DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY DON'T COMPREHEND THAT IT ISN'T NORMAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

TO BE HONEST, WHEN I SURVEYED THE MAJORITY OF MY CLASSMATES, A LOT OF THEM SAY.

WELL, CLIMATE CHANGE MAYBE.

BUT IS IT REALLY HAPPENING? IT'S CLIMATE DENIAL.

AND IT'S HAPPENING IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, THE MIDDLE OF SILICON VALLEY, WHERE WE SHOULD ALL BE EDUCATED, THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.

THAT IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN.

[01:30:01]

AND THAT IS WHY CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, I SINCERELY ASK THAT IT BE MADE A PRIORITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROSY.

[INAUDIBLE]. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

HOW CAN YOUTH AND THEIR VOICE CONTRIBUTE TO EFFORTS TO SCHOOLS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE? HI, SO THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU TO DR.

DEWAN FOR BEING SUCH A PARTNER IN BRINGING ADVANCING CLIMATE RESILIENT SCHOOLS TO SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA AND FOR TRUSTEE.

OH MY GOSH, EVERYONE MESSES UP MY LAST NAME.

SO I'M GOING TO MESS UP YOURS.

SREEKRISHNAN FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AND REALLY ADVANCING THIS WORK.

THE QUESTION ABOUT LIKE HOW THIS CAN REALLY IMPACT YOUTH.

I MEAN, YOU KIND OF HEARD, RIGHT, THE EXAMPLE ALL NIGHT LONG ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO REALLY IMPACT YOUTH AND HOW YOUTH VOICE IS SO IMPORTANT.

I'LL SHARE THAT WHEN I HAD THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, WE LAUNCHED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT YOUTH CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS FOCUSED AROUND ACTION AND ADVOCACY AND REALLY HELPING YOUTH DO KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION LEADERSHIP. SO THEY WERE WORKING ON STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

THEY WERE WORKING ON THEM IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND REALLY CATALYZING CHANGE.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE DID AS A CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM ACROSS OUR COUNTY.

BUT ALSO WE TRAINED ACTUALLY, IN FACT, WE TRAINED OVER 951 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SAN MATEO COUNTY, TEACHERS, YOUTH AND ADMINISTRATORS TO BE LEADERS FOR THIS WORK.

AND ALL OF THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE WERE THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO LAUNCH AN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE.

SO I'M HERE TO JUST REALLY SHARE THAT IT'S TOTALLY POSSIBLE TO BE THAT CATALYST FOR CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND TO REALLY HELP THE YOUTH IN THE COUNTY TO BRING FORWARD THEIR VOICE AND TO REDUCE ECO ANXIETY, AND ALSO TO MEET THE STANDARDS RIGHT.

THE STANDARDS ARE CALLING FOR THIS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS ARE PART OF CURRICULUM.

AND SO WHEN A COUNTY OFFICE LAUNCHES AN INITIATIVE LIKE THIS, IT CAN REALLY, REALLY HELP THE SCHOOLS IN THAT THAT REGION TO UNDERSTAND THE STANDARDS MANDATE TO DO THIS WORK AND TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

A LOT OF I KNOW A LOT OF YOUR DISTRICTS ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU FOR GETTING THAT SUPPORT.

AND SO BY DOING PLACING THIS AS SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY, I THINK IT'LL REALLY SIGNAL TO THOSE DISTRICTS THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO THEM AND THAT YOU KNOW THAT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT IT. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT OUT OF THIS, THERE'S SIX OF 58 COUNTIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA WHO HAVE LAUNCHED COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION, WHO HAVE LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE. TWO OF THEM ARE YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, SANTA CRUZ AND SAN MATEO COUNTY.

AND YOU ALL ARE VERY WELL POSITIONED TO DO THIS RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A COUNTY OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THIS COUNTY.

THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

YOU HAVE MULTIPLE MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE PASSED CLIMATE ACTION PLANS AND YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WRAPPING UP THE THREE YEAR PROCESS OF CREATING A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

YOU ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY PARTNER, SILICON VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY, WHO HAS MENTIONED, MANY TIMES THAT THEY'D LIKE TO FUND INITIATIVES RUN BY THE COUNTY OFFICE.

AND YOU HAVE A PARTNER IN THE COUNTY OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY DOING THAT WORK WITH YOU ALL TODAY FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP.

SO I REALLY THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT TIME FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO EMERGE AS A LEADER IN THIS SPACE AND TO REALLY DO THE JUSTICE TO ALL THE VOICES YOU HEARD TONIGHT ABOUT ELEVATING THIS WORK FOR YOUTH, BUT ALSO FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AS WELL.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN BE A LEADER, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO HELP.

THANK YOU, [INAUDIBLE]. ANDREW, THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

WHAT CAN DISTRICTS DO TO PROMOTE YOUTH VOICE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SERVING ON COUNCILS? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, AND THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND I'M FROM DISTRICT SIX OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

SO ALWAYS NICE TO SEE SOME REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD.

SO MY NAME IS ANDREW LIEU.

I REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FOUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN 1947.

SO WE'RE PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WE'RE A TOTALLY STUDENT-RAN ORGANIZATION, AND THE MISSION OF CASC IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WORLD BY DEVELOPING SKILLED, ETHICAL, AND SENSITIVE LEADERS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES.

A REALLY IMPORTANT MISSION STATEMENT.

SO THIS PAST WEEK, THERE HAVE BEEN 75 DELEGATES THAT ATTENDED THE STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD ON EDUCATION, WHICH I WAS A MEMBER OF.

I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING

[01:35:03]

AMONG THEM WERE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, SOCIAL EQUITY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS ALL REALLY IMPORTANT TOPICS, RIGHT, AND I THINK THAT THE BOARDS, GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL, CAN REALLY WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. SO YOU HAVE A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.

CASC HAS BEEN IMPORTANT IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

CASC SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWED A PREFERENTIAL VOTING MEMBER ON EDUCATIONAL BOARDS ACROSS THE NATION.

SO STUDENTS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALLY TO CONNECT WITH THAT STUDENT BOARD, BECAUSE AT A LARGER CAPACITY, I KNOW THAT THE BROWN ACT COULD ALSO HINDER SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL, BUT REALLY ENCOURAGING THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE LCAP.

THE LCAP IS THE LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONTROL PLAN, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE UNTIL SUPERINTENDENT THURMOND WAS ABLE TO COME AND SPEAK WITH US AND SHARE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS RIGHT.

ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN THE LCAP.

STUDENTS ARE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, RIGHT? THAT TERM EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.

I DON'T THINK STUDENTS KNOW THAT ENOUGH.

OUT OF THE 75 DELEGATE DELEGATION THAT WAS AT THE STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD ON EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE, ONLY 18% KNEW ABOUT THE LCAP.

RIGHT.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY SMALL NUMBER, AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS, IT SHOULD BE THEM, BUT IMAGINE HOW MANY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS LIKE MINE, THAT DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE IN THIS.

RIGHT, AND I WILL SAY ONE MORE THING IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING FOR PATHWAYS.

THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

THERE ARE SO MANY.

I THINK THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COULD REALLY PUSH OUT IN TERMS OF PUBLICATION, MAKING SURE THAT THIS GETS TO FOLKS.

RIGHT? RIGHT NOW IN CALIFORNIA, THERE'S A $20,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE A TEACHER, WHO WANT TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION TOWARDS BEING A TEACHER.

HOW MANY OUT OF THIS STUDENT PANEL RIGHT NOW? HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS KNEW THAT? ONLY TWO STUDENTS HERE KNEW THAT.

RIGHT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK LIKE THIS CAN ALSO ENCOURAGE A CAREER NOT ONLY IN PLUMBING AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FIELDS, BUT ALSO IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

RIGHT. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANDREW.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR FACILITATED QUESTIONS PORTION OF OUR PANEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF OUR PANELISTS FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS WITH US THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY. BEFORE WE MOVE TO QUESTIONS FROM THIS TRUSTEES.

MODERATOR DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? WE HAVE NO CARDS FOR THIS PART.

THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO CALL FOR A 15 MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM THE TRUSTEES, AND THEN WE'LL RETURN BACK WITH.

SO WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN OUR PANEL, IF YOU COULD RETURN BACK TO YOUR SEATS.

I'LL DO 15 MINUTES AND WE'LL RETURN BACK AT 725.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

I'M BRINGING US BACK AT 7:28.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. SO WE ARE NOW WE HAD NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE TRUSTEES.

SO TRUSTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR FROM OUR PANELISTS.

WHO'S GOING TO GO FIRST? VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.

WE'LL GO TRUSTEE BERTA. TRUSTEE BERTA? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY ENJOYED HEARING FROM ALL OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

I ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS WE ARE CRAFTING NOT ONLY THE LARGE BUCKETS OF PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD'S CONSIDERING, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE INDICATORS.

SO THE INFORMATION THAT GOES WITHIN EACH OF THE BUCKET AREA PRIORITIES, AND SO WITHIN

[01:40:02]

SO IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION OF WHAT ARE SOME WAYS STUDENTS CAN, IN ANDREW'S WORDS, AS EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, BE INVOLVED IN THESE PRIORITIES.

SO WITHIN WITHIN THOSE BUCKETS, ARE THERE SPECIFIC WAYS THAT YOU SEE YOURSELVES AS BEING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, OR HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOURSELVES AS EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS? I COULD START, YEAH ROSIE.

SO ONE WAY THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR CLIMATE EDUCATION IS SUSTAINABILITY, THAT WE CAN BUILD SORT OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENTS SO THAT YOU CAN GET STUDENT FEEDBACK IS AT EACH SCHOOL.

I THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL THAT CONNECTS ON THE REGULAR WITH ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE FEEDBACK ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON HOW STUDENTS ARE FEELING AND TO STUDENTS ON WHAT ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DO IN TERMS OF CLIMATE. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS THAT'S GREAT, I THINK, IS IN SANTA CLARA DISTRICT, THE SANTA CLARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THERE'S A SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL THAT I'M ON, AND IT HAS A GROUP OF A LOT OF STUDENT LEADERS TO COMBINED WITH DISTRICT STAFF AND THAT IN THOSE MEETINGS, WE TALK TOGETHER ABOUT PRIORITIES THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON AND HOW STUDENTS CAN BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU, ROSIE.

[INAUDIBLE]. SO I'D ALSO IN REGARDS TO SPECIFICALLY YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, I SAW THAT IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION HOW ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OR TWO OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WAS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN REGARDS TO STUDENTS, AND AS I LIKE BRIEFLY MENTIONED IN MY EARLIER QUESTION, I STARTED A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION AT MY SCHOOL WHERE WE'RE LITERALLY TRYING OUT AND ENACTING THOSE STRATEGIES OF INCORPORATING YOUTH VOICE AND INTO THE IDEATION AND ALSO LIKE KIND OF LIKE POLICY, AND WHAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF INCORPORATING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES AT OUR SCHOOLS, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY A TRIAL AND ERROR PROCESS.

IT WAS DEFINITELY DIFFICULT TO TRY AND COORDINATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AT SCHOOLS. LIKE I TALKED TO THE PRINCIPAL ABOUT HOW WHAT TIMES ARE OKAY TO TALK WITH, TO TALK WITH OUR ORGANIZATION ABOUT LIKE POTENTIAL STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATIONS THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SCHOOL AND THE RESULT OF THAT IS THAT WE'RE NOW HAVING A PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM AT OUR SCHOOL, WHICH HAS BEEN NEVER DONE BEFORE, AND IT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR LIKE IT'S BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE PEERS AT OUR SCHOOL, AT LEAST BECAUSE I HEARD FROM MY FRIENDS THAT BY SEEING, LIKE THEIR FELLOW FRIENDS AND THEIR FELLOW PEERS BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, IT OPENS UP MORE SPACES, IN A SENSE, FOR PEOPLE, FOR STUDENTS TO ACCEPT THAT AND DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH IN A SENSE, BECAUSE OF ACTIVELY SEEING LIKE THEIR PEERS, BEING INVOLVED IN THOSE SORTS OF ACTIVITIES IS LIKE ALREADY LIKE SO BIG AND SO HUGE, AND SO THAT'S WHY BY HAVING THAT LIKE WHAT ROSIE TOLD BEFORE ABOUT MAYBE HAVING LIKE AN ORGANIZATION AT EACH SCHOOL IN A DISTRICT TO WORK WITH ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER TO TACKLE A CERTAIN LIKE TOPIC OR ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SHOWING IMPACTS AT LIKE MY SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO I BELIEVE THAT CAN BE A STRATEGY.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

ANDREW. A PART OF ME WOULD LOVE IF TRUSTEES WOULD COME UNDERCOVER INTO ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS AND SPEND A DAY WITH STUDENTS.

I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE INCREDIBLE INSIGHT INTO THE DAILY THINGS THAT STUDENTS FACE.

RIGHT? YOU KNOW, SANTA CLARA, SO MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALSO SO MANY STUDENT REPRESENTATION BOARD MEMBERS, RIGHT, THAT'S A WAY TO START, RIGHT, TO CONTACT THOSE STUDENT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND I THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU GET OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION.

RIGHT? IT'S REALLY SIMPLE.

IT'S REALLY SIMPLE.

YEAH. THANK YOU, ANDREW.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT ALL OF US CAN LOOK LIKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS? THANK YOU. WE TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

HANNAH. I LOVE THAT IDEA OF LIKE ACTUALLY SEEING WHAT LIKE WHAT WE'RE FACING,

[01:45:08]

IF YOU JUST SEE THE ACTUAL STRUGGLE WE'RE FACING, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED BECAUSE IEPS ARE SEEN AS AN ADVANTAGE SOMETIMES AND NOT A TOOL WHEN IT'S TRULY BEING USED AS A TOOL, AND IT JUST BE GREAT TO ACTUALLY BE SEEN AND BE HEARD, AND I WAS AT ANOTHER STUDENT PANEL THIS INCLUSIVE.

INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE STUDENT STUDENT PANEL, AND I FELT SO HEARD BY EVERYBODY BECAUSE IT WAS FINALLY SOMEBODY WHO WAS UNDERSTANDING AND SOMEBODY WAS LIKE ACTUALLY KIND OF SEEING WHAT WE WERE DOING.

LIKE WE WERE ALL PLAYING WITH FIDGETS, LIKE WE WERE ALL VERY MUCH LIKE BEING OUR NEURO-DIVERSE SELVES, AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO LIKE SOMEBODY TO SEE THAT WOULD JUST MAKE BEING INCLUSIVE SO MUCH EASIER.

THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO MORE FROM THE PANEL, I'M GOING TO GO TO VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN FOR YOUR QUESTION MY QUESTION WAS SIMILAR IS HOW DO WE INFUSE STUDENT VOICE? BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE ANSWERS FOCUSED ON STUDENT VOICE.

SO THAT WAS A STRENGTH OF TONIGHT THAT I SAW REALLY STAND OUT.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERY STUDENT WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT, AND IT WAS REALLY HEARTENING TO SEE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON THEIR EDUCATION, BUT ALSO THEIR PEERS AND TAKING TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PEERS.

SO I HOPE WE CAN HOST MORE FORMATS LIKE THIS TO INCORPORATE STUDENT VOICE.

I KNOW, ESPECIALLY TRUSTEE DI SALVO'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR STUDENT VOICE, AND I KNOW MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AS WELL.

SO BRINGING IN MORE PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS TO OUR BOARD MEETING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE, BUT I DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

SO IT WAS ACTUALLY FOR OUR ONE NON-STUDENT ON THE PANEL, BUT YOU WENT INTO BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU WORKED AT A COUNTY OFFICE OF ED, AND SO I JUST LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY, AND IF YOU COULD EXPAND UPON THAT ANY MORE.

SURE. I'M HAPPY TO EXPAND UPON IT.

ANY SPECIFIC AREA OR JUST.

YEAH, YOU JUST MENTIONED THE INITIATIVE YOU HELPED LAUNCH AND GOING INTO GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THAT. YEAH, SURE.

SO THE SAN MATEO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, THEY WERE THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE TO LAUNCH AN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY INITIATIVE, AND THE THING THAT REALLY SPURRED THEM TO DO IT WAS THE BLUEPRINT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY THAT WAS DRAFTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN 2015 AND TEN STRANDS, WHERE I NOW WORK, WAS REALLY CRITICAL IN CATALYZING THE MOVEMENT FOR FOLKS TO IMPLEMENT IT, AND ANNE CAMPBELL, WHO WAS THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT IN SAN MATEO AT THE TIME, SHE WAS THINKING LIKE, YEAH, WE'VE GOT OUR OUTDOOR ED PROGRAM, AND THAT'S AWESOME, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR LIKE 40, 45 YEARS, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S MEETING THE URGENCY OF THE TIME.

RIGHT, AND SO SHE SHE DID SHE WENT THROUGH A WHOLE PLANNING PROCESS IN HER COUNTY AND KIND OF CAME TO THAT REALIZATION, LIKE, WE REALLY NEED TO LAUNCH A ROBUST INITIATIVE AND TO REALLY TO REALLY DO THIS CATALYZING CHANGE PIECE, AND THEN SHE SAID, WHO HERE COULD LEAD IT? AND THE WHOLE STAFF WAS LIKE, NO, YOU NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY, RIGHT, AND SO THAT WAS A REALLY CRITICAL PART, I THINK, FOR THE INITIATIVE THAT THEY LAUNCHED IN SAN MATEO COUNTY WAS TO HIRE A COORDINATOR WHO COULD ACTUALLY REALLY OVERSEE THAT WORK AND REALLY MOVE IT FORWARD, AND THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THAT JOB, AND SO WHEN I DID, WE SHAPED THE INITIATIVE TO BE FOCUSED ON CAMPUS CURRICULUM, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE SO THAT IT WAS REALLY ALL ENCOMPASSING OF WHAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOL LIFE AND THE SUSTAINABILITY PART OF IT WAS REALLY AROUND BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WE DID A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT WERE ON SCHOOL DECARBONIZATION, ON GREEN, GREEN AND LIVING SCHOOLYARDS, AND NOW LIKE CALIFORNIA SCHOOLYARDS, SORRY, SCHOOLYARD FOREST SYSTEMS, GARDENS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE DID A LOT OF THAT TYPE OF WORK, AND THEN WITHIN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, WE DID A LOT TO SHOW HOW ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IS LIKE A FOUNDATION FOR MANY, MANY DIFFERENT SUBJECT AREAS AND HOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS ARE REQUIRED NOW TO BE. IT'S BEEN CODIFIED IN SB 720, TO BE EMBEDDED IN ALL THE CORE SUBJECT AREAS, AND ALSO IN HEALTH AND [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL, AND SO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DID IN THOSE FIVE YEARS WAS TO EDUCATE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO UNDERSTAND THAT, TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THAT ACROSS A CONTINUUM FROM LIKE SUPPLEMENTAL TO REALLY ROBUST KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION CURRICULUM, AND THEN, ROSIE, WHAT YOU SHARED ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEES, THAT WAS ANOTHER HUGE PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DID.

SO WE STARTED TO GET A LOT MORE DEMAND FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAYING, CAN YOU HELP US?

[01:50:03]

SO HOPEFULLY THAT PAINTED MORE OF A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, AND I CAN SAY, BECAUSE WE DID A LOT OF DATA AND METRICS IN THAT WORK, WE KNOW THAT INITIATIVE WAS LIKE DIRECTLY LIKE IT WAS CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP, NOT JUST CORRELATED RELATIONSHIP, BUT CAUSAL AND MOVING FORWARD, A LOT OF THE WORK IN THE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS.

SO I THINK THAT WAS LIKE REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT DATA AFTERWARDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO GO TO TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.

I THINK STUDENT VOICE IS IMPORTANT, AND I CERTAINLY DO, AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE HAD NOT ONLY COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUT STUDENT LEADERS TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS US ON BOARD PRIORITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE LOOK DURING BUDGET TIME, HOW WE CAN DO WHAT SAN MATEO COUNTY OFFICE OF ED DID, OR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY OFFICE OF ED, YOU MENTIONED AS WELL, AND HIRE SOMEBODY TO FOCUS THE ENERGY BECAUSE YOU SAID THE GROUND IS VERY FERTILE HERE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY BECAUSE OF THAT FERTILE GROUND.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN, AND I WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THAT TO HAVE A PERSON WHOSE FOCUS AND ENERGY IS CLIMATE LITERACY, ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AT THE SAME TIME, I SAY THAT.

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO DO IT.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN HELPED ME START ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND NOW WE HAVE A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LITERACY OR A STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT DIPLOMA.

STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

SO I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR CLIMATE LITERACY ON DIPLOMAS AS WELL BUT HERE I WANT TO EDUCATE YOU ALL BECAUSE I SIT HERE AS A TRUSTEE AND I WOULD ADD THAT THIS IS MY FOURTH TERM.

SO THIS IS MY LAST TERM OF ONE YEAR LEFT 16 YEARS SITTING IN THIS ROOM AND THE OTHER BOARD ROOM ADVOCATING FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, IT'S ABYSMAL WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF OUR RACIALLY DIVERGENT PEERS.

LET ME JUST READ TO YOU.

83. THIS IS FROM THE CHILDREN'S DATA BOOK OF 2022, SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

THIS IS WHAT I CAME TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR, BUT I'M ALSO ADVOCATING FOR CLIMATE LITERACY AT THE SAME TIME. 83% OF ASIAN AND ONLY 26% OF CHICANO OR LATINX THIRD GRADERS MET OR EXCEEDED THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS.

THAT WAS FOR 2022 SMARTER BALANCE AND 2023.

THE DIFFERENCE IS 57 POINTS.

THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.

OVER 50% OF SAN JOSE'S 19 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 51 PLUS PERCENT ARE CHICANO,

[01:55:06]

WHAT TERM YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE USING.

SO IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE FOR US.

TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DATA FOR STATE TESTS.

SO HOW DO WE AS A COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION? WORK TO ADDRESS THAT WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ADVOCATED FOR.

ONE. SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME REALLY TOP OF THE LIST TONIGHT WAS INCLUSION BY PARENTS WHO CAME TO SPEAK BY YOU SPEAKING ABOUT INCLUSION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE PROBABLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE NEED TO DO BETTER, AND I KNOW SUPERINTENDENT DEWAN CAME FROM INDIANA SIX YEARS AGO. HOW MANY? TEN YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY PRECEPTS, SHE SAID.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE INDIANA DID IT WELL.

CALIFORNIA DOESN'T DO IT WELL IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY IS NOT DOING IT AS WELL AS IT CAN. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THERE'S A CRISIS IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

IT'S ON FIRE.

MY OP ED THAT I WROTE WAS IT'S CODE RED.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE DATA OF THE SIX LARGEST DISTRICTS IN SAN JOSE, AND I REPRESENT SAN JOSE UNIFIED OAK GROVE AND A CORRESPONDING CORRESPONDING PORTION OF EAST SIDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT'S CODE RED.

WE CAN'T TURN OUR BACK FROM THAT.

NOR SHOULD WE TURN OUR BACK FROM CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY.

ONE LAST THING.

I THINK IT WAS TANNER TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL GARDENS, RIGHT? SO THERE IS A FAMOUS CHEF, ALICE WATERS.

YOU KNOW WHO ALICE WATERS IS? TANNER. HER FAMOUS RESTAURANT, FIRST FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANT IN AMERICA WAS CHEZ PANISSE IN BERKELEY, AND SHE HAD A PROGRAM THAT I TRIED WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL.

I TRIED TO START THE EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD PROJECT THAT SHE DESIGNED.

IN FACT, PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE CAME TO VISIT THAT FIVE YEARS AGO.

THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS IN BERKELEY, TAKING ONE ACRE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY AND MAKING IT A GARDEN WHERE STUDENTS GROW AND EAT THE PRODUCE FROM THOSE GARDENS SO THAT EXIST. WE COULD TAKE THAT MODEL AND DO IT.

IN EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL THAT WISH TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE TONIGHT.

I, TOO, HOPE WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE STUDENT VOICES AT THE TABLE, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT BOARD PRIORITIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

DR. DEWAN. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY COORDINATOR, WHO IS HERE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, JEN, MUCH AND THANK HER FOR ALL OF HER LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING TO LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, WORKING WITH MANY OF THE STUDENTS, DEVELOPING TOOLKITS, SUPPORTING GREEN SCHOOLS, AND A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED BY OUR PANELISTS.

SO THANK YOU, JEN, FOR ALL OF YOUR GREAT COORDINATION.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE ROCHA.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS TONIGHT AND ALSO THE ONES WHO LEFT. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY VALUABLE, AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR STAFF DOES AS WELL, AND WE REALLY SHOULD ENGAGE, AS HAS BEEN SAID BY MY TRUSTEES, THE STUDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, MORE THAN WE DO, OR AT LEAST AT THE LEVEL WITH THE BOARD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I THINK WHAT WAS INTENDED IN TERMS OF THE UNDERCOVER BOSS CONCEPT WAS MORE AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, NOT STUDENTS, BUT YOU CAN COUNT ME IN ON THAT ONE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS ABOUT THE CODE RED AND THE TEST SCORES AND THE INEQUITIES. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND WHILE WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE NOT TURNED IT AROUND.

SO THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

ANY OTHER TRUSTEES.

WELL, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL JUST FOR COMING OUT HERE, ESPECIALLY BEFORE A THREE DAY WEEKEND FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE.

I DID WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM EACH OF YOU HANNAH, I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR DEFINITION OF INCLUSION ABOUT HOW IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR CLASSROOMS. I'M A TEACHER MYSELF, AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN INCLUSION PRACTICES AND I THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID TODAY ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I NORMALLY HEAR IN A GOOD WAY, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT, AND SANJANA, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT HOW MENTAL HEALTH COMES WITH PRIORITIZING PREVENTATIVE CARE.

[02:00:02]

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND, KAYLEE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THE MENTAL WELLNESS CENTERS. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEVER GOT TO EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT, AND SO HEARING THAT AND HEARING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND THE LESS STIGMATIZATION THAT'S COMING AROUND, OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE, AS WE AS A BOARD, HAVE BEEN REALLY PUSHING THAT FORWARD AND ARUSHI FOR YOUR EVOLVING PERCEPTION ABOUT TOBACCO USE. THAT IS SUCH A POSITIVE THING TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THAT HAS BEEN CHANGING AND HOW EDUCATION AROUND TOBACCO USE HAS BEEN EVOLVING AND THE WAY THAT OUR YOUTH SEE IT IS SO IMPORTANT. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND GREAT TO HEAR THAT VOICE, AND TANNER, FOR JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO FEEL THOSE CHANGES IN OUR EARTH AND IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT SCHOOLS ARE THE WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY START TO PRIORITIZE THAT, AND ROSIE FOR YOUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND THE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE AIR QUALITY EXAMPLE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WAS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE NEVER ONCE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, DID SCHOOL CLOSE OR DID WE CLOSE DOORS BECAUSE OF AIR QUALITY.

THAT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING EXAMPLE TO JUST KIND OF SEE HOW MUCH CLIMATE HAS CHANGED.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT AND [INAUDIBLE] FOR JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUTH VOICE AND HOW OUR CHILDREN AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, AND BRINGING UP THE STATISTIC OF SIX OF 58 COUNTIES. WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT, AND TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND JUST SITTING ALONGSIDE OUR STUDENTS AND EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH AND ANDREW, FOR JUST EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE WORK, AND I HOPE TO SEE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT IF YOU RUN FOR OFFICE SOMEDAY, LET US KNOW, BUT SEEING STUDENTS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SO IMPORTANT, SEEING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND EVEN BRINGING FORWARD JUST KIND OF LIKE OUR BOARD, OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SO IMPORTANT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE AS A TEACHER, I ALWAYS SAY THE FUTURE IS IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM RIGHT NOW.

SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND JUST KNOW THAT YOUR VOICE HERE TODAY HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. OKAY, TRUSTEES, WE WILL NOW BE MOVING TO OUR BOARD DISCUSSION.

SO PRESIDENT CHON, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE ONE CARD FOR THIS ITEM 3C. OH, FOR 3C? OKAY, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

MODERATOR COULD YOU DO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM? YES. WE'LL PUT UP THE TWO MINUTE TIMER.

OUR SPEAKER IS ELIZA [INAUDIBLE].

PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PREVENT YOUR COMMENT.

HI AGAIN. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LISA [INAUDIBLE] AND I HAVE LISTENED ALL NIGHT TO THESE STUDENTS PRIORITIES, AND I'M INSPIRED TO SUPPORT ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUSION, WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND STUDENT ACTIVISM, AND MY CHILDREN'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FRANKLIN MCKINLEY AND SAN JOSE.

A WELL-FUNDED, MOBILIZED AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP IS TRYING TO INFLUENCE OUR BOARDS AND PARENTS AGAINST THESE ISSUES.

THEY ARE THE INFORMED PARENTS OF SILICON VALLEY.

THEY DEMAND THE BANNING OF BOOKS OF LGTBTQ+ AND BIPOC VOICES.

THEY QUESTION THE PURPOSE OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

AT OUR LAST MEETING, THEY EVEN SPOKE OUT AGAINST A CONTRACT WITH A STEM PROGRAM, WHICH WAS MEANT TO INCREASE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR LOW INCOME STUDENTS IN STEM FIELDS BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE, ACCORDING TO THE SPEAKER, WAS NOT REAL.

I AM MORTIFIED BY THEIR ATTEMPTS TO KEEP OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE DARK.

THEIR ATTEMPTS TO DISEMPOWER THROUGH HIDING FACTS, THEIR ANCESTORS' STORIES, THEIR PEERS' EXPERIENCES FROM THEM, THEIR SCORCHED EARTH TYPE OF STRATEGY THAT COULD LEAD TO FURTHER DISINVESTMENT FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

A COUPLE OF PARENTS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COMBAT THEIR DISINFORMATION.

WE FEEL OUTNUMBERED BECAUSE OF HOW MANY RESOURCES THEY HAVE, BUT TONIGHT, I AM SO ENCOURAGED AND RELIEVED TO SEE THESE STUDENTS STAND UP FOR THESE ISSUES THAT WILL

[02:05:01]

I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS TO HEAR THEM OUT WITH AN OFFICIAL BACKING OF THESE PRIORITIES BY THE SCCOE.

OUR COMMUNITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE CAUSES THAT WILL PRESERVE A SAFER AND JUST FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS.

THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MODERATOR, AND THANK YOU TO OUR SPEAKER.

NOW WE WILL MOVE TO OUR BOARD DISCUSSION.

[D. Board Discussion of Priorities]

SO WE'LL TAKE TIME TO ROTATE THROUGH EACH OF US.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER EACH TRUSTEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PRIORITIES. OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER DID HAVE TO LEAVE ALREADY, SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM HIM THIS EVENING, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ROTATE THROUGH THE TRUSTEES, AND WE'LL DO A COUPLE ROUNDS UNTIL WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SAID OUR PORTION.

SO ARE THERE ANY TRUSTEES THAT WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN? SOMEBODY HAS TO START US OFF.

OH. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE LARI.

SO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER PRIORITIES, THEY'RE ALL RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

SO HOW CAN YOU HAVE LITERARY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS? HOW EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION CANNOT HAPPEN IF STUDENTS ARE NOT WELL.

INCLUSION HELPS WITH WELLNESS ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE DEFINITELY AFFECTS OUR WELLNESS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF STUDENTS, AND I JUST HAVE SOME STATISTICS FROM 2019 FROM CDC AND THEY'RE REALLY ALARMING.

SO THIS IS FOR SCHOOL FOR AGES 12 TO 17.

1 IN 5 HAVE HAD A DEPRESSIVE EPISODE, AND THIS IS PRE-COVID.

1 IN 3 KIDS HAVE FELT SAD AND HOPELESS.

1 IN 5 HAVE THOUGHTS OF KILLING THEMSELVES, AND 2 IN 5 STUDENTS FROM THE AGES OF 6 TO 17 HAVE A CHRONIC PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITION.

SO I THINK THIS IS LIKE A FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON.

SO THAT'S MY TWO. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE LARI.

VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.

I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, BUT I APPRECIATED THAT, TRUSTEE LARI AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY TEAM, TO DR.

DEWAN BEAT ME TO IT, BUT I, I THINK JUST GOING THROUGH THE STAFF PRESENTATION AND HEARING FROM THE STUDENTS AND WAS REMINDED THAT AT OUR LAST OR TWO YEARS AGO, I THINK PRESIDENT CHON, TRUSTEE MAH AND TRUSTEE DI SALVO, WE CAME UP WITH SIX PRIORITIES AND MADE PROGRESS ON ALL SIX, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL, AND I THINK I HEARD ABOUT ALL SIX ON THE PANEL, AND DEFINITELY FROM THE STAFF PRESENTATION, AND PERSONALLY, JUST ONE VOICE AS A TRUSTEE, I WOULD FEEL GREAT MOVING FORWARD WITH ALL SIX AND WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND MAYBE.

THERE'S 1 OR 2 I MAY WANT TO TWEAK OR ADD SOMETHING, BUT THAT'S INITIALLY WHERE I'M AT, AND THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE BERTA FOR SERVING ON THE AD HOC WITH ME, AND AGAIN, PRESIDENT CHON, WE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT OUR BOARD PRIORITIES THIS YEAR.

IT'S BEEN GREAT.

THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.

TRUSTEE BERTA? IS THIS THE TIME WHERE WE'RE GOING THROUGH EACH IF WE WANTED TO.

YEAH, SO JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST KIND OF GOING AROUND AND CALLING ON TRUSTEES IF THEY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A SPECIFIC PRIORITY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PRIORITIZE FOR OUR UPCOMING YEAR.

TRUSTEE LARI'S WAS CHILD HEALTH AND WELLNESS VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN SAID, ALL OF THEM. SO WHATEVER YOU REALLY WANTED US TO HIGHLIGHT, I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OUR STAFF TO OUR OFFICE STAFF TO KNOW IF THERE'S LIKE A SPECIFIC THING UNDER EACH PRIORITY, IF WE WANTED TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS.

SO JUST WELCOMING THAT DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.

WELL I THINK WE CERTAINLY HEARD A LOT, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, OF EMPHASIS AROUND HOW MUCH OUR YOUTH ARE INVOLVED AND NEED TO BE AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT ALSO

[02:10:04]

MY WONDER, I GUESS, IS WHETHER THERE ARE CHANGES WE COULD MAKE TO KIND OF CONVEY THE SENSE OF URGENCY MORE TOWARDS THAT.

I KNOW SOME OF THE COMMENTS INCLUDED TALKING ABOUT IT AS AN EMERGENCY.

ALSO, THE IMPACT ON HEALTH, WHICH WE KNOW IMPACTS SCHOOL DAYS.

I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT AS WELL AS GREENER CAMPUSES.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF LIKE SOME OF THE KEY TERMS RESOURCES.

I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THOSE, JUST AS SOME IDEAS OF SOME COMMON THEMES THAT I HEARD.

FOR ME, I THINK IN ADDITION TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY, I THINK THE.

IF I HAD TO PICK.

ALTHOUGH I'M ENVIOUS OF VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN STRATEGY TO SELECT ALL OF THEM, BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT CAN BE ENCOMPASSED IN EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE.

AS I WAS HEARING THE COMMENTS AND I THINK JUST OVERALL THE MY FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE GATHERED FROM NOT JUST THIS MEETING, BUT INTERACTIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY, INTERACTIONS WITH PARENTS, WITH STUDENTS.

ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT I WOULD LIKE MY BOARD COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER IS MAYBE BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLICIT ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WHETHER THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION OR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT IT COULD BE CAPTURED, BUT I JUST THINK BY ASSUMING THAT WE MEAN IT INCLUDES SPECIAL EDUCATION OR INCLUDES STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, WE'RE NOT BEING EXPLICIT ENOUGH, AND I DON'T SINCE THIS IS LIKE THE PRIORITIES, I THINK I'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND REFLECTED ON THIS A LOT, AND I JUST I STRONGLY FEEL WE NEED SOME INTERVENTION, A LITTLE BIT MORE INTENTIONALITY IN WITHIN THE PRIORITY.

I KNOW IT'S LISTED AS SOME OF THE INDICATORS, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO INCORPORATE THAT, AND I RECOGNIZE THERE'S PART OF HAVING PRIORITIES IS BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND WORK EFFICIENTLY TOWARDS THEM.

SO I WASN'T TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT THIS BECOMES KIND OF A SILO, BECAUSE I ALSO IN THE INTEREST OF INCLUSION, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE CARVED OUT AS A SEPARATE THING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. REALLY, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO SHOULD BE INCORPORATING AND SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, WHICH THERE'S DEFINITELY INTERSECTIONALITY THERE.

SO THAT WAS ANOTHER THOUGHT I HAD ABOUT THAT BUCKET SPECIFICALLY, AND JUST SOME OTHER THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THE OTHER BUCKETS.

THERE WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT PANEL.

I KNOW DR. DEWAN AND TRUSTEE MAH WERE ON THE ZOOM LAST NIGHT FOR THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, AND THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ON BUILD THE FUTURES.

I THINK THAT'S OKAY.

YEAH. SO AN INITIATIVE AROUND HIGH QUALITY DEMONSTRATING THE URGENCY OF ACCESSIBLE, HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND ALSO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE BROUGHT WERE THE ECONOMIC, BUT ALSO JUST THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME WAY EITHER WITHIN THAT TITLE OR THAT BUCKET, EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO INCLUDE WHETHER IT'S JUST LABELING IT AS EARLY LEARNING IS A FOCUS REALLY ON EXPANSION.

IS IT MORE ON KIND OF WHAT TRUSTEE DI SALVO WAS BRINGING ON? AND I KNOW THIS IS GETTING INTO EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, BUT REALLY, EARLY LEARNING IS A PATHWAY TO EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, AND SO BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF AND I'M SELFISHLY SAYING THIS, AS A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING SOMEONE TO WATCH MY KIDS. IT'S FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE SET UP FOR THE REST OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE CREATING, SO THAT THEY DO HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR OWN KIDS, BUT ALSO FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY, AND A COUPLE OTHER POINTS, AND I KNOW IF WE NEED TO GO AROUND, I CAN DO THIS IN THE NEXT ROUND TOO.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. IN TERMS OF THE EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS, I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN ADJUST THAT BUCKET INTO EXPLICITLY CALLING OUT MENTAL HEALTH.

I THINK ALSO POTENTIALLY AS AN INDICATOR TALKING MORE ABOUT THE PANDEMIC RELATED IMPACTS, I THINK THAT WILL HELP KIND OF FOCUS IN ON WHAT IT IS WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.

[02:15:07]

I'M WONDERING HOW THAT CAN ALSO INCLUDE WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS, THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH FENTANYL AND SPECIFICALLY, RIGHT.

MAKING IT RELEVANT TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW AND SUPPORTING THAT CRISIS, AND YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS INITIALLY MY THOUGHTS FOR THE BUCKETS THAT WE HEARD MOSTLY ABOUT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TRUSTEE BERTA.

TRUSTEE ROCHA.

AGAIN, I'LL BE BRIEF.

I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THE ISSUE THAT TRUSTEE DI SALVO SPOKE ABOUT AND THAT I ALSO TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SIMPLIFY IT TOO MUCH, BUT FOR ME, UNTIL WE HAVE EQUITY IN LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ALL THE OTHER ONES TO ME ARE IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE IRRELEVANT, BUT UNTIL WE ACHIEVE THAT, THEN THEY'RE JUST SIDE ISSUES TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

I KNOW THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE'S THREE OF THEM THAT TO ME FEED INTO THAT, AND THAT'S EMPOWERING CHILD WELLNESS, EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION AND EDUCATION AND SYSTEMATIC JUSTICE.

TO ME, THAT ALL FEEDS INTO REALLY GETTING THE EQUITY IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT COUNTYWIDE, AND REALLY WITHOUT THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO INVEST OUR TIME AND RESOURCES, BUT IF I WAS KING FOR A DAY, I WOULD FOCUS ON THAT UNTIL WE HAD MORE EQUITY ACROSS THE BOARD AND THEN MOVE INTO THESE OTHER AREAS BUT THAT'S JUST SIMPLIFYING IT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, BUT I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE BERTA AND TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN FOR YOUR WORK IN SETTING THIS UP, AND SUPERINTENDENT, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

I'M GLAD WE DID THIS AS A STANDALONE MEETING.

SO I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF GIVEN THE TIME AND JUST HOLD THERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE ROCHA. TRUSTEE MAH.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT CHON.

I WOULD SAY THAT YES, THE PANEL WAS VERY EFFECTIVE AND I GUESS I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE, BUT I WAS WONDERING ABOUT KIND OF AVAILABILITY OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO MAYBE HAD.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INVITED, OR IF THEY WERE EVEN AWARE OF TONIGHT'S PRIORITY SETTING, BECAUSE THERE WAS, FOR INSTANCE, THE EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION, WHICH I DON'T THINK HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE REALLY INTO, BUT IF, LIKE THE STRONG START COALITION, MAYBE WERE INFORMED ABOUT THIS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT AND ADVOCACY THERE, BECAUSE I STILL THINK THAT FROM KIND OF INVESTMENTS THAT ARE LONG LASTING AND HAVE THE GREATEST LEVERAGE, THAT EARLY LEARNING IS STILL REALLY HIGH, IN MY OPINION.

I AGREE WITH TRUSTEE ROCHA ABOUT THE LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT BEING JUST CORE TO EQUITY AND ACADEMIC AND EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

CERTAINLY THE BIG, BIG PUSH TONIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY IS ALSO REALLY HIGH THERE. JUST BECAUSE THAT, AGAIN, IS SUCH A LONG LASTING PROBLEM AND HAS SO MUCH LEVERAGE TO BE BROUGHT ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTY.

I MEAN, WITH SUCH LOW LITERACY ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AMONG OUR STUDENTS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO AS FAR AS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT, BE THERE KIND OF NOW JUST TO GET IT GOING.

SO I CONSIDER THAT ALONG WITH THE EARLY LEARNING, JUST KIND OF INVESTMENTS THAT CAN ONLY HELP US AS WE GO IN THE FUTURE.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF MY TOP THREE-ISH ITEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MAH.

TRUSTEE DI SALVO. WELL, YOU JUST HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET, SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.

LET ME JUST REITERATE WHAT I ATTEMPTED TO SAY IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THAT THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO AND THE RESOURCES ARE ARE NOT ALWAYS THERE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES TRUSTEE ROCHA AND TRUSTEE MAH AND TRUSTEE BERTA

[02:20:06]

LET ME JUST READ FROM SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY SENT ME THIS WEEK.

I HAD IT OUT EARLIER.

LET ME SEE. OH, HERE IT IS. IT'S IN THE DATA BOOK.

A LOW LEVEL OF LITERACY, AND THIS IS DIRECTED TO THE WORK WE DO WITH ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH.

A LOW LEVEL OF LITERACY IS NOT A DIRECT DETERMINANT OF A PERSON'S PROBABILITY TO BE CONVICTED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES, BUT CORRECTIONAL AND JUDICIAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED A CONNECTION BETWEEN POOR LITERACY, DROPOUT RATES, AND CRIME.

READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL MILESTONES IN EDUCATION. STUDIES SHOW THAT 74% OF THIRD GRADERS WHO READ POORLY STILL STRUGGLE IN NINTH GRADE, AND THIRD GRADE READING SCORES CAN PREDICT A STUDENT'S LIKELIHOOD TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN WE HAD PRESIDING JUDGE KATHERINE LUCERO, WHO IS NOW IN SACRAMENTO AFTER BEING APPOINTED BY A GOVERNOR TO AN OFFICE THAT'S HANDLING RE-VISIONING JUVENILE JUSTICE IN CALIFORNIA, SHE SAID THAT IF YOU WERE AN ALIEN AND YOU CAME DOWN AND LANDED A SPACESHIP IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY BY OSBORNE SCHOOL OR THE RANCHES, YOU WOULD THINK ONLY BROWN CHILDREN COMMIT CRIMES, AND I'M SURE THAT'S NOT OKAY WITH ANY OF US SITTING HERE, AND WE ARE THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND I THINK.

OUR NAME IMPLIES THAT WE AND OUR MISSION IMPLIES THAT WE SHOULD.

THAT SHOULD BE A STRATEGIC AREA OF OUR SERVICE TO TRACK THE DATA, TO CONVENE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN I WORKED FOR THIS OFFICE, THAT WAS THE POWER OF THIS OFFICE IS THE ABILITY TO CONVENE PEOPLE TO SAY AND TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS AND BRING IN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DOING IT WELL.

EVEN MISSISSIPPI IS DOING READING WELL NOW BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE SCIENCE OF READING. WE'RE STILL ALL OVER THE MAP IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING AND SO I THINK THAT IN MY LAST YEAR, IF I COULD WILL SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD BE THAT WE TRACK THE DATA.

INTELLIGENTLY AND STRATEGICALLY ABOUT READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE, STARTING WITH WHATEVER MEASURES WE GET OUT OF HEAD START AND OTHER EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TRACK IT THROUGH FIRST SECOND TO THE END OF THIRD GRADE AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AND SEE THAT WE'RE MAKING SOMEHOW, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BRINGING IN THE EXPERTS, CONVENING PEOPLE.

WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

SOMEBODY RUNNING FOR MY SEAT ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY, WELL, DO WE REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO? MY ANSWER WAS ABSOLUTELY WE DO.

EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE LOCAL CONTROL AND THEIR OWN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS.

WE CAN SET THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION THROUGH LEADERSHIP OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BOARD, AND THROUGH OUR ACTIONS.

I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE DID SJSV 2020.

WE WERE GOING TO END THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

WE STARTED IN 2010.

THE ROTUNDA IN SAN JOSE.

THE MAYOR WAS INVOLVED.

THE SAN JOSE STATE PRESIDENT WAS INVOLVED.

MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE INVOLVED.

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS WERE INVITED, BUT IT WAS AT THAT TIME, SAN JOSE 2020 AND THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN SAN JOSE IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

THAT WAS THE MISSION.

CHARTER SCHOOLS WAS ONE WAY.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT. IN FACT, AS YOU KNOW, WE VOTED ON 20 ROCKET SHIP CHARTERS AT ONE TIME, AND A YEAR BEFORE THAT, WE VOTED ON FIVE THAT GOT APPROVED AND ARE ALL OPERATING RIGHT NOW IN SAN JOSE.

THE 20 NEVER GOT, NEVER HAPPENED BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP, AND WE GOT SUED FOR THAT VOTE BY SAN JOSE UNIFIED, BUT MY I GUESS MY RAMBLING AND MY POINT IS WE DIDN'T GET THERE BY 2020.

WE STOPPED IT. WE ABANDONED THE EFFORT IN 2015 BY THIS BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT GUNDRY AT THE TIME, AND I THINK WE SHOULD RECOMMIT TO THAT EFFORT AND TO TRACK THE

[02:25:06]

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ON MY LAST YEAR JUST RAMBLE.

NOT RAMBLE, YOU'RE GIVING US GREAT [INAUDIBLE].

I WAS A LITTLE BIT OF RAMBLING.

I WANTED TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON OUR PRIORITIES, TOO, AND I'LL GO BACK TO VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN.

AS I HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS, I THINK BACK TO JUST THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS AS A BOARD, AND I REMEMBER THE BOARD WHILE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BACK IN 2021, WE TALKED ABOUT BEING THE EDUCATIONAL, THE EDUCATIONAL HUB FOR THE COUNTY, AND TRUSTEE BERTA, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT HOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR THAT MEANS SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A LARGE WORK OF WHAT WE DO AT THE COUNTY OFFICE AND SUPPORT MANY SUPPORT MANY OF OUR LOCAL DISTRICTS, AND SO I ALMOST WONDER IF WE CAN, BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE PRIORITY BUCKETS AND THEN THE KEY ITEMS THAT GO UNDER THOSE BUCKETS, AND I'M KIND OF WITH VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN. I DO THINK ALL SIX ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I WONDER IF ALMOST ALL OF THESE FALL UNDER EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, BECAUSE I THINK OF ALL EVERY PART THAT WE HEARD TODAY FROM OUR PANEL, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED AS TRUSTEES, A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO WORKING RE-THINKING ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM AND THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS ARE SET UP AND HOW WE CAN SET THOSE UP FOR SUCCESS, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN A YEAR.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN DO IN FIVE YEARS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUALLY HAVE TO WORK FOR.

SO I ALMOST WONDER IF WE COULD CHANGE THAT PHRASE OF THROUGH ADVOCACY AND PURSUIT OF FUNDING FOR THESE PRIORITY AREAS.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WILL BE THE EDUCATIONAL HUB FOR THE COUNTY AND EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, AND PUTTING THAT REALLY AS THE OVERARCHING GOAL OVER OUR BUCKETS OF PRIORITIES AND TAKING THE EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE BUCKET AND CHANGING THAT TO BE MORE CLEAR, TO BE MORE CLEAR THAT IT INCLUDES SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUT ALSO EDUCATION OF OUR OF OUR COURT SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS ADVOCATING FOR AND TALKS ABOUT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES THERE, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER VERY UNIQUE TYPE OF EDUCATION THAT THIS BOARD DOES THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT COUNTY BOARDS OVERSEE, BUT IT'S SUCH IMPORTANT WORK BECAUSE EVEN IF WE LOOK AT THE DATA OF HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE IN COURT SCHOOLS, WHAT, TEN YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT BLUE RIDGE. MONDAY WAS IT MONDAY? TUESDAY? TUESDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE USED TO BE 130 STUDENTS AT OUR COURT SCHOOLS. LOOK AT ME.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATA, BUT IT WAS HUNDREDS VERSUS NOW IT'S 70 AND DURING THE PANDEMIC IT WAS EVEN LOWER, AND SO I THINK WE'RE DOING GREAT SYSTEMIC WORK IN THAT, BUT IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE.

IT'S NOT A BAD THING THAT OUR ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING IN COURT SCHOOLS, AND THE WAY THAT I SEE THESE STUDENTS JUST RETHINKING ABOUT THEIR FUTURES, IT'S SO IMPORTANT, WHICH I THINK GOES UNDER OUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND LITERACY BUT AS WELL AS OUR WORKFORCE PATHWAYS, WE HEARD OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER TALK ABOUT HIS CERTIFICATION TO USE THE FORKLIFT, WHICH WAS REALLY AMAZING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF MY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IS CHANGING ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES TO FALL UNDER EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE.

I KNOW WE HAVE ALL MARKED THAT AS A HIGH PRIORITY IN OUR SURVEY, AND THEN CHANGING THE KEY ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED UNDER THAT AS SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I DON'T KNOW COURT SCHOOLS LIKE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT, THAT I CAN'T THINK OF SOMETHING ON THE SPOT, BUT THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF THESE COME UNDER JUST DOING BETTER WORK IN IN EDUCATION.

SO. WONDER IF I COULD ASK RUBY TO PULL UP THE ONE PAGER THAT HAS SOME OF THE INDICATORS JUST SO WE CAN HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN, IF THAT MIGHT.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU.

MIGHT HELP VISUALIZE HOW YOU'RE DESCRIBING THAT.

[02:30:03]

THE ONE PAGER.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW WE CAN'T READ THAT.

YEAH, NOW THAT IS HARD TO READ.

IF WE CAN MAKE IT BIGGER, BUT SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT YOUR IDEA AROUND HAVING AN OVERARCHING STATEMENT AGAIN IN THAT SECTION AT THE TOP, SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS BEFORE, AND THEN INCLUDING THE TERM EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE AS PART OF THAT.

YEAH, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD EARLIER AND LOOKING AT IT IN THAT PORTION. I GUESS IF WE TURN AROUND, WE CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BETTER.

SO VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN, I KNOW YOU HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

YEAH, AND I WAS GOING TO MENTION SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO YOU, ACTUALLY, PRESIDENT CHON, BECAUSE AS TRUSTEE BERTA MENTIONED, AND JUST HEARING FROM TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT ALSO OUR PAST FEW BOARD MEETINGS MY INITIAL IDEA WAS CHANGING THAT SECOND PRIORITY TO EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I HAD THE IDEA OR TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE, LIKE PRIORITIZING OUR COURT SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SO THAT WAS SORT OF ONE IDEA I HAD AND DEFINITELY SUPPORT BOTH OF YOUR CALLS TO ADD SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE PRIORITY TITLE, AND THEN A SECOND THOUGHT THAT CAME UP IS, I REALIZE IT'S UNDER THE BUCKET FOR LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

I DON'T THINK WE EXPLICITLY SAID CLOSE THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN SUCH A PRIORITY FOR THIS BOARD.

SO MAYBE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP CAN HELP EMPHASIZE THE EQUITY ELEMENT THAT I THINK WE ALL ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND THEN JUST LASTLY, A REFLECTION, AND I DON'T THINK THIS HAS TO GO IN ANY OF THE WRITING, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THE PANEL DID A GREAT JOB OF EXEMPLIFYING US BRINGING STUDENT VOICE TO ALL SIX OF THESE PRIORITIES.

SO WHETHER THAT'S LIKE UP AT THE TOP THROUGH PRESIDENT CHON, AS SHE WAS MENTIONING IN TERMS OF THE OPENING LINE, JUST USING THE TERM STUDENT VOICE, BUT EVEN IF IT'S NOT THERE, IT'S CERTAINLY IN ALL OF THESE BUCKETS, AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL AND WANTED TO REFLECT ON THAT AND WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT HERE TONIGHT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BERTA.

YES, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR BRINGING UP THOSE POINTS.

I THINK THOSE I AGREE COMPLETELY IN TERMS OF I THINK THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED LIKE THE OVERARCHING PIECE.

I DO THINK EQUITY SHOULD BE INCLUDED OR THAT PURSUIT OF CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE OF EQUITY.

THAT TERM SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THAT BUCKET.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I JUST MISSED IT, BUT DID WE TALK ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS AT ALL OR.

OKAY. YEAH, OKAY.

SO JUST IN TERMS OF BECAUSE I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DURING THE AD HOC COMMITTEE KIND OF DISCUSSING THAT, AND I WANT TO JUST BRING THAT BACK UP FOR A MINUTE IN TERMS OF ANOTHER WAY THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY EVEN MORE BROADLY.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF THOSE, WE ACTUALLY DID GET A NUMBER OF RESPONSES FROM JUST SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND SO I THINK THAT TO ME, IT REITERATED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CONSENSUS AROUND THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN JUST PULL UP.

OH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ATTACHMENTS.

I THINK I JUST LOST.

YES. THAT ONE.

SO FROM WHAT I JUST IN LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGES, I THINK IT'S PRETTY ACTUALLY EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.

I MEAN, WITH OBVIOUSLY AN EMPHASIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY, WHICH WE HEARD FROM THE STUDENTS AS WELL, BUT I THINK TO ME THAT ALSO KIND OF EMPHASIZES THAT THE

[02:35:05]

SO THAT MAKES ME MORE COMFORTABLE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH LARGELY WHAT THESE PRIORITIES ARE THAT WE INITIALLY CAME TO SOME CONSENSUS ON.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEE BERTA.

ANY OTHER TRUSTEES WANT TO COMMENT? TRUSTEE ROCHA. THANK YOU.

PRESIDENT. SO, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I SHARED, AND AGAIN, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL OPINION, WAS IN THE INITIAL RETREAT THAT WE HAD, AND THEN IN THE FOLLOW UP MEETING ABOUT WHERE OUR STAFF TIME, RESOURCES, FUNDING IS SPENT KNOWING OR AT LEAST GETTING A SENSE OF WHERE WE'RE INVESTING OUR TIME ALREADY, AND I UNDERSTAND APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY A DIFFICULT ENDEAVOR, BUT THEN TO BE THE DONNIE DOWNER, THEN I'M JUST CONTEMPLATING AND HEARING AND READING AND JUST SEEING WHAT'S WRITTEN HERE IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY AND THE POWERPOINT THAT TALKS ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT BUCKETS.

SO IT'S ADVOCACY.

IT'S ADVOCACY, ADVOCACY, ADVOCACY.

SO I DID ASK AT THE RETREAT ABOUT HAVING A SENSE OF WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN IF WE DID CHANGE THE PRIORITIES AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO THE STAFF TIME AND THE RESOURCES THAT THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WAS SPENDING, AND IF IT WAS MINIMAL, SIGNIFICANT, NOT AT ALL WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND JUST TO BE...HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE THIS, LET'S JUST SAY THIS IS JUST WINDOW DRESSING AND NOTHING'S REALLY GOING TO CHANGE, AND YEAH, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

YEAH, I WILL SUPPORT BILLS THAT TOUCH ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND THE BOARD PRIORITIES, AND WE HAVE NO DISCRETIONARY FUNDING OR GENERALLY THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY ROLE IN THE BUDGET OUTSIDE OF SAYING YES OR NO IN TERMS OF WHERE THE PRIORITY FUNDING OR THE FUNDING SPENT IN TERMS OF THESE PRIORITIES.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GUESS I'M LEFT WITH WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? AND I DID ASK THAT AT THE BOARD RETREAT, AND YOU DID GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT YOUR STAFF AND YOURSELF LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU DO SPEND YOUR TIME AND RESOURCES, BUT AGAIN, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT LEVEL OF RESOURCES THAT IS, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF DENT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IN ANY OF THESE BUCKETS, IF AT ALL, OR MAY BE SIGNIFICANT.

SO THAT, FOR ME, IS WHAT I'VE JUST BEEN WRESTLING WITH, AND I KNOW I'M NEW TO THIS BOARD. IT'S BEEN TEN, 11 MONTHS, SO I'VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN, AND I ALSO HAVE A LOT MORE TIME THAT I SHOULD BE INVESTING IN, GETTING A BETTER SENSE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO.

SO THAT'S ON ME. THAT'S NOT ON ANYBODY ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M KIND OF SITTING HERE CONTEMPLATING AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE TOMORROW AFTER WE TAKE AN ACTION TONIGHT, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, AND IF WE TAKE AN ACTION.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY I'M NOT TRYING TO GET US OFF ON A TANGENT.

I SEE THE TIME AND I HAVE NO INTEREST IN REALLY UNPACKING ALL OF THIS IN ANY FORM, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE AT LEAST WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS SET UP HERE TO DO.

SO I'M SHARING MY THOUGHTS AND THAT'S ALL I'M DOING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE ROCHA. OKAY.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHTS, AND I KNOW THAT WE WERE KIND OF JUST SHARING OUT WHAT OUR THOUGHTS WERE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PRIORITIES AND HOW WE'RE AND TRUSTEE ROCHA I APPRECIATE IN, IN KIND OF QUESTIONING HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE OUR WORK FEEL IMPORTANT, AND SO I THINK WHAT I WANT TO DO HERE IS KIND OF SEE TRUSTEES, I KNOW WE SHARED THOUGHTS, BUT IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN NARROW DOWN AT LEAST YOUR TOP TWO PRIORITIES, ONE TO 2 OR 3 OR ALL SIX IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUT JUST SO THAT WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE, AND THEN SEE IF WE CAN KIND OF GET TO A LEVEL OF CONSENSUS.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO AROUND AND IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE TO SHARE SOMETHING OR TO SHARE WHAT YOUR TOP ONE, TWO, THREE, SIX PRIORITIES ARE.

TRUSTEE BERTA. IF WE'RE GOING WITH THE OPTION OF TAKING ENVIRONMENTAL OR EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE AS LIKE THE HEADING AND REPLACING THAT WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND POSSIBLY COURT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE, THEN I REALLY DO THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE EMPHASIS ON THE SIX BUCKETS AS SIX PRIORITIES.

[02:40:01]

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE GET TO AT LEAST TOUCH UPON THAT PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THESE PRIORITIES, SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST CHECKING THE BOX OF LIKE, YES, WE GOT COMMUNITY INPUT.

YES, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRIORITIES.

YES, WE ADOPTED PRIORITIES, BUT LIKE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS NOW? I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE BERTA, AND I AM GOING TO GIVE KIND OF A VERY BRIEF IDEA OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'LL YEAH, I'LL EXPLAIN IT WHEN WE GET THERE.

TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

I ENDORSE THE CONCEPT OF EDUCATIONAL AND JUSTICE, SPECIAL EDUCATION, ALTERNATIVE ED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, IT'S PHRASED AS THE CHIEF BUCKET PRIORITY.

I'M NOT SO SURE WE NEED ALL SIX UNDERNEATH.

MAYBE WE DO, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE AN ALIGNMENT OF THAT BIG BUCKET WITH THE DOLLARS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.

IN OUR BUDGET AND THE PROGRAMS THOSE DOLLARS ARE RELATED TO, AND THAT WE TRACK THAT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY'S SAKE THAT WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO TRACK.

WHAT ARE THE DATA POINTS IN SIX MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IN A YEAR, IN TWO YEARS BEYOND MY TIME, BUT I STILL THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRACK THE DATA, BECAUSE WHAT EXISTS TODAY WITH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THOSE NUMBERS EXISTED 50 YEARS AGO, AND WE ARE SPENDING 50% MORE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THAN WE DID 20 YEARS AGO, AND THOSE NUMBERS HAVE NOT CHANGED.

SO TO ME, THAT'S AN INDICTMENT OF ALL OF US IN THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, FROM THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE TO EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD.

I CAN'T BLAME THE TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TO BLAME.

IT IS THE ADULTS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE BUDGET MONEY AND THE VISIONING OF WHAT HAS TO OCCUR. SO WE GET THOSE DATA POINTS AS EQUAL AS POSSIBLE AND HOPEFULLY UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN STILL IN MY LIFETIME.

LOVE TO SEE IT, AND I THINK EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE IN SOME WAY.

HOWEVER, IT'S EDUCATIONAL AND HOWEVER IT'S PHRASED IS A GOOD PLACE TO PUT OUR EMPHASIS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND I THINK BETTER THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME THAT I'VE SAT IN THIS SEAT ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE DI SALVO. TRUSTEE LARI.

SO HOW DO WE REALLY DECIDE HOW THE QUANTITY OF RESOURCES WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON EACH PRIORITY? DOES IT DEPEND ON GRANTS.

HOW DO WE FIGURE THAT OUT? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT QUESTION.

I MEAN, THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AGENCY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES UNIT.

SO OUR ALL OF OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE TO THE EDUCATION CODE, AND WE GET FUNDED FOR THE MANDATED SERVICES.

SO IT'S THE OVERSIGHT PROVIDING DIFFERENTIATED ASSISTANCE, THE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, AND MOST EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO IS FUNDED BY A GRANT THAT WE PURSUE OR BY FEES THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE FUND THE INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE OUT OF GRANTS AND FEES THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR THE SERVICES AND ALL OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AS A FEE FOR SERVICE MODEL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAY FOR THAT.

WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY STATE FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM.

FOR OUR COURT SCHOOLS, WE RECEIVE ADA FUNDING, SO WE RECEIVE DIRECT FROM THE STATE FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

[02:45:01]

EARLY LEARNING IS ALL GRANT FUNDED.

IT'S HEAD START STATE PRESCHOOL AND SOMETIMES DONATIONS AND OTHER GRANTS.

OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ALL GRANT FUNDS AND DONATIONS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY.

WE DO USE SOME OF OUR THE WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE MANDATED TO SUPPORT THE ROLLOUT OF CURRICULUM AND THE STATE STANDARDS, BUT ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO IN THAT AREA IS GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE, AND WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF THOSE WE MENTIONED A BUNCH OF THEM IN THE SLIDE DECK.

ARE SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES EASIER TO IMPLEMENT THAN OTHERS BECAUSE IT'LL BE EASIER TO GET FUNDING FOR THEM? I WOULD SAY YES, AND THAT THERE'S I THINK A LOT, AND WE HEARD IT IN THE PANEL.

WE HEARD IT IN THE SAW IT IN THE SURVEY AND CERTAINLY SEEN IT IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS THAT THERE IS A GROWING EMPHASIS AT THE STATE LEVEL ON ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT THE ISSUES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND ADVANCING A LOT OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA, THERE'S A NEW EQUITY MULTIPLIER THAT KIND OF ADDRESSES SOME OF THESE GAPS IN FUNDING THAT LEAD TO ALSO GAPS IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. FOR THE YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORK, OUR FOCUS WILL BE SUSTAINING SOME OF THE GRANTS, BUT THEN ALSO HELPING WITH THE ROLLOUT OF SOME OF THE FEE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE GOING TO EXIST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND FROM THE STATE STATEWIDE UNIVERSAL FEE SCHEDULE.

THAT'S A BODY OF WORK THAT WE'RE BEING FUNDED TO DO.

SO COULD WE DELIVER AND SHARE WITH THE BOARD EFFORTS AND IMPACT IN THAT AREA? YES, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED THAT WE'LL BE DELIVERING SERVICES IN THAT AREA BY THE STATE, BUT TO, I THINK, TRUSTEE DI SALVO'S POINT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DO AND A LOT OF THESE AREAS AND OUR INFLUENCE AND IMPACT ISN'T SOLELY IN AREAS WHERE WE'RE FUNDED. IT'S ALSO IN HOW WE DO THE WORK AND THE WORK FUNDED, CONVENING, PUTTING OUT REPORTS.

TALKING ABOUT THE PRIORITIES IN A WAY THAT INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE OTHERS TO ALSO FOLLOW, AND I THINK WE SEE THAT BENEFIT AND THAT IMPACT.

WE HEARD IT TONIGHT OUR STUDENT WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP OR STUDENTS THAT WE'VE CONVENED, AND IT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF OUR WORK, AND WHILE WE'RE OPERATING A NUMBER OF WELLNESS CENTERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DOING THEIR OWN.

SO SOME OF THAT ADVOCACY IS REALLY ABOUT ADVOCACY AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT HELP OTHERS DO IT.

LIKE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL DIRECTLY.

WE CAN'T WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE FUNDED AT THAT LEVEL TO MAKE THAT A REALITY, BUT CAN WE LEAD? CAN WE CHANGE THE CONVERSATION.

CAN WE ADVANCE EQUITY AND HAVE AN IMPACT? ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THE POWER OF THIS GOVERNANCE TEAM IS THAT; IT'S THAT ABILITY TO LEAD, CONVENE, PUT OUT INFORMATION, MONITOR, SHARE INFORMATION AND DATA, AND DO THE WORK TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

TRUSTEE LARI DID YOU HAVE PRIORITIES THAT YOU SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO PRIORITIZE? OKAY. OKAY.

SORRY. TRUSTEE LARI, COULD YOU USE YOUR MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT THE WAY WE HAVE EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION, WE NEED TO HAVE EARLY EMPOWERING OF CHILD WELLNESS.

ALSO BECAUSE WE FOUND THE EARLIER YOU KNOW WE GET STUDENTS IN THAT PATH, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THEM. SO MAYBE WE CAN ADD SOMETHING.

LIKE AS ONE OF THE KEY ITEMS. [INAUDIBLE] THEY'RE ALL AMAZING PRIORITIES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE LARI. TRUSTEE MAH.

YEAH, I THINK THAT AS FAR AS THE ORDER OF PRIORITIES, THAT, AS WAS SAID EARLIER, THAT

[02:50:01]

ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE LITERACY, AND THE LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR ME.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEE MAH.

TRUSTEE ROCHA. THANK YOU.

SO I'M GOING TO APPROACH THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY OF COURSE, AND BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LONE WOLF ON THIS.

IF I HAD SIX DOTS, THEY WOULD ALL LAND ON THAT ITEM OF LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND EQUITY TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND UNTIL WE ACHIEVE SOME LEVEL OF THAT, THE OTHER ONES AREN'T MY PRIORITY.

I MEAN, IF IT IS REALLY, TRULY CODE RED, THEN NOT TO DISMISS OR TO DISCREDIT ANY OTHER ONES UNTIL WE GET THERE.

FOCUSING ON THESE OTHER ONES TO ME IS JUST WHAT IT IS, AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A POPULAR THING TO SAY, BUT I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF ALL THIS.

I WAS ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THAT INITIATIVE WAS TAKEN UP, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR FAR TOO LONG, AND I KNOW WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND LIMITED CAPABILITIES, AND FOR ME, THIS ALL GOES BACK TO SACRAMENTO, AND REALLY, TRULY INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AT A LEVEL THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE TO GO TO THEIR PARENTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH BONDS OR PARCEL TAXES AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TEACHERS STRUGGLE TO TEACH IN CLASSROOMS WITH THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE, UNTIL THAT, FOR ME, IS MADE EQUAL THEN OR WHOLE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO, TO MOVE ALONG AS WE ARE.

SO FOR ME, THIS IS MORE OF A PROTEST VOTE IS I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THAT ONE, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM HONORED TO SERVE WITH THE TRUSTEES ON THIS BOARD IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WHAT MY FELLOW SIX OF YOU DECIDE AND DETERMINE I CAN SUPPORT. I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ALL BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND ADVOCATED FOR, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU'VE EVER SAID UP HERE THAT I DISAGREE WITH. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE ROCHA.

VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN. THANK YOU.

I JUST WOULD REPEAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ALL SIX, AND I'VE BEEN REALLY INTERESTED IN SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AROUND METRICS AS WELL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WORTH ANOTHER AD HOC PRESIDENT CHON, BUT AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING. I'M ON ALL THE AD HOCS, BUT I WAS SORT OF THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME TRUSTEES WHO'VE SERVED ON OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS.

RIGHT, AND SORT OF SEEING WHAT THEY DID, IF THEY DID BOARD PRIORITIES OR MAYBE LEARNING FROM THAT BUT I'M OF THE MIND THAT THIS IS A STATEMENT OF OUR PRIORITIES.

I DON'T SEE IT LIKE, ESPECIALLY TIED TO SPECIFIC BUDGET ITEMS BUT IF WE WANT TO WORK TOWARDS THAT, THAT COULD BE INTERESTING AS WELL, BUT IT'S FROM I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS ONCE BEFORE AND I AT LEAST FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, OUR LAST BOARD PRIORITIES WORKED AS A STATEMENT OF WHERE THE BOARD WAS COMING FROM, AND I ACTUALLY DID SEE STAFF INCORPORATED IN THE WORK, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE PROGRESS OVER TWO YEARS, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT.

I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE IN CLOSING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP AS WAS STATED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D DO A REVAMP OF SJSV 2020 REVAMPED BUT YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT CHON.

I KIND OF AGREE WITH MY FELLOW TRUSTEES THAT I THINK ALL SIX ARE IMPORTANT FALLING UNDER THIS BUCKET OF EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME SUPPORT IN COMING UP WITH LIKE A NEW PHRASE FOR THAT SECTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF OUR KEY ITEMS UNDER THESE BUCKETS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT UNDER EDUCATION AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT I SEE, AND TO TRUSTEE ROCHA'S POINT UNDER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND LITERACY, I WOULD SAY, AND IT'S NOT ON HERE, IT'S ON ONE OF OUR OTHER. IT'S THE RESULT OF OUR SURVEY OF HOW WE FILLED OUT THE SURVEY.

[02:55:03]

SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE THOSE KEY ITEMS AS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT GIVEN IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT DOING WORK IN, WE WILL NOW DO BETTER IN THAT.

SO IF WE COULD ADD JUST A FEW MORE KEY ITEMS THAT WERE IN OUR SURVEY ONTO THIS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT, AND AGAIN, PUTTING EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE EFFORTS AS THE OVERARCHING PART, BUT I DID WANT TO ADDRESS ONE THING, AND IT IS THE BULLET POINT THAT SAYS EQUITY AND WELLNESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

I ALMOST WOULD APPRECIATE IF THAT IS SEPARATED BECAUSE I THINK EQUITY IN CLASSROOMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS ONE THING, AND WELLNESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS A SEPARATE THING.

SO IF WE COULD SEPARATE THOSE OUT, BECAUSE I DO HEAR ABOUT INCLUSION, I HEARD FROM OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

EQUITY IN CLASSROOMS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WELLNESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON FOR THE DAY TO DAY IN SCHOOL.

SO IF WE COULD SEPARATE THAT BULLET POINT AND WHEN I SAY EQUITY IN CLASSROOMS, I'M TALKING ABOUT MORE SUPPORTS FOR OUR EDUCATORS, MORE SUPPORTS FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, PARAEDUCATORS AND WHATNOT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE SEPARATED, AND I DID NOT HEAR ANY TRUSTEES REALLY SPECIFICALLY, NO WORKFORCE PATHWAYS AND DIVERSIFICATION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL INTERESTED IN KEEPING AS A SEPARATE BUCKET, OR DO WE WANT TO ABSORB IT INTO OTHER BUCKETS? YOU WANT TO KEEP IT SEPARATE.

SEPARATE. I JUST KIND OF WANTED SOME OPINION ON THAT ONE.

TRUSTEE BERTA. YEAH, FOR ME IT WAS ACTUALLY LIKE MORE THE MOST EMPHASIS ON THAT SECOND BULLET POINT OF TEACHER, EDUCATOR AND STAFF RETENTION.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN JUST OUR STAFFING IN GENERAL WITH TEACHERS, EDUCATORS.

IT'S SUCH A CRISIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY CAN'T GET ENOUGH STAFF, BUT IT'S ALSO JUST REALLY HARD TO SUSTAIN EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE ASKING OF OUR STAFF WITH JUST, FRANKLY, THE COST OF LIVING AND THE SUSTAINABILITY FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, FROM LIKE AN EMOTIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND JUST AS A SYSTEM.

SO I FEEL LIKE FOR ME, THE EMPHASIS THERE SHOULD REALLY BE ON, YES, TEACHER, EDUCATOR, BUT ALSO STAFF RETENTION, LIKE THE INVESTMENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO DO THAT, AND OF COURSE INCREASING THE PIPELINE WITH I THINK THE OTHER BULLET POINT IS ALSO VALID, BUT I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO LOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SUSTAIN IT, THEN IT'S JUST NOT REALLY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE.

SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT ON THAT.

I HEAR IT, I THINK WE I AGREE, I THINK I SAY LET'S KEEP IT SEPARATE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE I KNOW ONE OF OUR OTHER BULLET POINTS.

THE KEY ITEM I DO WANT TO ADD IS OUR CTE PROGRAMS AND OUR TECHNICAL CAREERS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THAT, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THAT WORK.

SO, OKAY.

OH, YES. I'M SORRY, DR. DEWAN.

YES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED HERE WERE THE ONES WHERE A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD HAD INDICATED THAT ITEM DESCRIPTOR INDICATOR WAS A PRIORITY. SO IT WASN'T MEANT TO EXCLUDE ANY.

WE JUST ONLY LOOKED AT WHERE THERE WAS MAJORITY AND FOSTER THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION, BUT ANY COULD BE ADDED.

YES, YES, I SAW THAT WITH THE SURVEY RESULTS, BUT I THINK WE COULD ADD IT.

IF WE COULD ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

[A. Possible Action to Adopt Board Priorities]

SOME POSSIBLE NEXT STEP COULD INCLUDE UPDATES TO THE GOVERNANCE TEAM CALENDAR FOR PERIODIC REPORTS AND UPDATES AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON, PROGRESS RELATED TO THE PRIORITIES, NAMING ALIGNMENT TO THE PRIORITIES WHEN APPROPRIATE, TO AGENDA ITEMS THAT COME UP ON FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS, AND SUPPORTING ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PURSUE GRANTS, LOCAL AND STATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT WORK IN THE PRIORITIES.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MORE CONSCIOUS EFFORT IN SEEING HOW THESE PRIORITIES ARE LEADING THE WORK OF THE COUNTY BOARD, AND I DO REALLY WANT TO THANK VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN AND TRUSTEE BERTA FOR REALLY DRIVING THIS WORK AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE PANEL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT ALL OF US AS TRUSTEES HAVE REALLY TAKEN THAT INFORMATION TO HEART AND REALLY SEE THE IMPORTANCE IN OUR PRIORITIES.

SO THANK YOU A LOT FOR DOING THAT, AS WELL AS SETTING UP SOME PRACTICES MOVING FORWARD WITH

[03:00:05]

I DO THINK AT THIS TIME WE'RE READY TO SET OUR PRIORITIES.

SO FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS TO HAVE A LARGER OVERARCHING UNDER EDUCATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE WILL STILL KEEP OUR SIX BUCKETS.

I DO WANT TO ASK THE BOARD IF THEY ARE READY TO SET THEM.

IF WE ARE NOT READY TO SET THEM, WE CAN BRING BACK LIKE A THE.

THE ONE PAGER THAT WE JUST HAD, LIKE AN UPDATED VERSION OF THAT.

SUMMARIZING ALL OUR DISCUSSION THIS EVENING, WE COULD ADOPT THE PRIORITIES, AND THEN THAT ONE PAGER COULD BE PRESENTED TO US AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING IN WHICH WE WOULD REAFFIRM OUR BOARD PRIORITIES.

OR WE CAN WAIT TO SET THEM AFTER WE SEE THE ONE PAGER.

I'M OPEN TO EITHER OPTION.

I WOULD MOVE TO ESTABLISH AND SET THE PRIORITIES AS STATED BY.

THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE BOARD TONIGHT AND AND.

HAVE THAT COME BACK TO US, AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE REVISED, WE COULD REVISE IT, BUT I THINK. SITTING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE UNTIL DECEMBER.

YEAH, IT WOULD BE AT THE DECEMBER. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO DO SO TONIGHT.

OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT I MOVE.

OKAY. THAT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT SREEKRISHNAN, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.

TRUSTEE DI SALVO THAT WAS THE SIX BUCKETS UNDER WITH ALL UNDERNEATH THE OVERARCHING OF EDUCATION AND SYSTEMIC JUSTICE WILL PREPARE LIKE A NEW ONE PAGER THAT HAS ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS MADE THIS EVENING THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD, MOST LIKELY AT THE DECEMBER MEETING, AND THEN WE'LL REAFFIRM OR MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED AT THAT TIME.

YES, WITH ONE ADMONITION THAT SOMEHOW WE MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT SPECIAL ED, ALTERNATIVE ED AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN THE TOP PLACE IN THE HEADING.

YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TO REWORK THAT ONE.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEES, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THAT ONE.

DR. DEWAN, COULD YOU ASSIST WITH THE ROLL CALL VOTE ON THAT ONE? THANK YOU.

IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEES. THIS THEN BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT.

THE NEXT SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. MOVED BY TRUSTEE BERTA AND A SECOND? SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LARI.

WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED AT 8:53 P.M..

THANK YOU. EVERYBODY. HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.