[00:00:08]
>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING NUMBER 2432 OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ORDER.
TODAY IS MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024, AND THE TIME IS 5:00 PM.
IF WE COULD JUST QUIET DOWN A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN HEAR.
THANK YOU. I AM A MAIMONA AFZAL BERTA, PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I WILL PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING.
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER WILL NOT BE JOINING US THIS EVENING.
[B. Pledge of Allegiance]
EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND AND PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. READY?>> THANK YOU. I WILL NOW CONDUCT ROLL CALL.
[C. Roll Call (Including Action on Absences if Necessary)]
I PRESIDENT, BERTA I'M PRESENT.WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY. TRUSTEE CHON.
[D. Set the Agenda]
>> I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE MAH.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK TRUSTEES TO [OVERLAPPING].
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK TRUSTEES TO VOTE IN BOARD DOCKS.
>> A VERBAL AYE FOR TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> I'LL ALSO BE A VERBAL AYE, PLEASE.
>> A VERBAL AYE FOR TRUSTEE MAH AND TRUSTEE ROCHA IS ALSO A VERBAL AYE.
THANK YOU. THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[A. Livestream the Board Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/sccboardmeeting]
A LIVE STREAM OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT 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 POUNDS.
FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, CALL 1-669-900-6833 THE MEETING ID IS 921-8153-9516 POUNDS.
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IN SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
HEADSETS FOR SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
THE ASL INTERPRETERS ARE SEATED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROOM AND ARE ALSO VISIBLE ON THE MONITORS THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE LANGUAGE SUPPORT TEAM FOR THE AMAZING WORK THEY ARE DOING TO ENSURE INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
PERSONS WANTING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO BY COMPLETING A SPEAKER COMMENT CARD AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE ROOM, PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW AN SCC STAFF MEMBER THAT IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE.
AS A REMINDER, THREATS OR VIOLENT ACTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
[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.]
WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.NOW IS THE TIME FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME.
ONCE WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE INTEND TO KEEP A RESPECTFUL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.
WE ASK THAT IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU DO SO WITH THE UNIVERSAL SIGN FOR APPRECIATION, WHICH IS LIKE THIS.
AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF AN ITEM,
[00:05:02]
YOU CAN DO SO VISUALLY.WE ARE ASKING NO OTHER SIDE CONVERSATIONS, NOISES, CHEERING OR BOOING OF ANY TYPE OR ANY OTHER NOISES FOR THAT MATTER.
PLEASE NOTE THAT VERBAL ABUSE, THREATS, AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND YOU MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH CIVIC DISCOURSE.
AS SUCH, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM YELLING RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION.
MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS? JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. YES. WE HAVE 10 CARDS FOR ITEM NUMBER 2, PUBLIC COMMENTS. [BACKGROUND]
>> 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.
THIS MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS BEING HELD IN THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE WORKPLACE AND CREATE A RESPECTFUL AND EFFECTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PERSONNEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GUESTS, PRESENTERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN OBSERVING THAT NO VERBAL ABUSE, NO THREATS, AND NO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL BE TOLERATED.
INDIVIDUALS CHOOSING NOT TO COOPERATE MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
GIVEN THERE'S 10, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO ONE MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM.
WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP, THE BUZZER WILL SOUND, YOU WILL BE MUTED, AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THOSE IN OUR OVERFLOW ROOMS IN THE CAFETERIA AND THE GUADALUPE ROOM, WHO FILLED OUT A CARD TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.
AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP FOR 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 BY AN SCCOE INTERPRETER.
TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.
OUR 10 SPEAKERS ARE [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE] APOLOGIES. REED MYERS, MAYAN BENATHAN, GUY R, LIRON, [INAUDIBLE] OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS NATHAN JAY.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NATHAN, I'M A COUNTY RESIDENT AND A FATHER OF TWO.
THE ONLY WAY PUBLIC EDUCATION WORKS IS IF THERE'S TRUST BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND UNFORTUNATELY, EARLIER THIS MONTH, THIS TRUST WAS BROKEN, SHATTERED, IN FACT, WHEN PRESIDENT BERTA, I GUESS WEAPONIZED THIS BOARD AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY, MY COMMUNITY, MY KIDS, IN THE BATTLE FOR PUBLIC OPINION.
HER FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR CARE, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION DISAVOWED BY THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OCTOBER 7, RAISE SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS REGARDING HER ABILITY TO LEAD THIS BOARD WITH INTEGRITY, AND EMPATHY, AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY.
I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A MOTION TO REPLACE PRESIDENT BERTA WITH A TRUSTEE WHO DOES NOT AND WOULD NOT PUT THEIR POLITICAL GAIN ABOVE OUR STUDENTS' SAFETY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [NOISE] MAYA BRENIKI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MAYA.
MY KID IS GETTING SERVICES FROM THE COUNTY. [NOISE] [BACKGROUND]
>> IF YOU COULD COME CLOSER TO THE MIC, PLEASE.
>> MY KID IS GETTING SERVICES FROM THE COUNTY UNDER OHI.
HE IS NOW BACK IN SCHOOL, BUT DURING LONG MONTHS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, HE HAD MINIMAL ACCESS TO THE CURRICULUM.
AT SCHOOL, UNFORTUNATELY, STUDENTS DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE OF HANDICAPPED STUDENTS.
HE'S STRUGGLING ALREADY TO GET IN, AND THEN NOW HE HAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY.
[00:10:02]
OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO HIDE TO BE ACCEPTED AND INCLUDED AT SCHOOL.A SCHOOL THAT PUTS RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AS A LEARNING GOAL, YET SOME MINORITIES ARE NOT RECOGNIZED.
OUR LOCAL EDUCATION HAS MANY NEEDS, LIKE TEACHING STUDENTS COMPASSION TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THERE MUST BE SYSTEMIC SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO THE CLASSROOM TO STUDENTS WITH VARIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE EMOTIONALLY SAFE, THAT THE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS THEM TO LEARN AND GROW. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAY DEE.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK TO ADD TO THE NEXT AGENDA A RESOLUTION HONORING THE FIGHT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
I'D LIKE TO ASK TO ADD TO THE NEXT AGENDA A RESOLUTION HONORING THE FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS, A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION FOR THE SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN.
PLEASE ADD A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT AGENDA, HOW TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR SANTA CLARA SCHOOLS, AS WE SEE AN ALARMING SURGE OF ANTI-SEMITISM INCIDENTS OCCURRING EVERY DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.
I'D LIKE TO ASK TO ADD TO THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE OF WOMEN'S SEXUAL ABUSE BY HAMAS TERRORISTS.
THIS MATTER IS OF A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR GIRLS, AND YOUNG WOMEN IN HIGH SCHOOLS.
I BELIEVE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND FOSTERING AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AVIVIT WEISMANN.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AVIVIT WEISMANN.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, ONE IN FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL AND TWO AT NIMITZ IN SUNNYVALE.
THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND CHILDREN.
THE NEWS FROM OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IS DEVASTATING, AND THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR SCHOOL IS DEEPLY CONCERNING.
THE MINA CLUB CONVERGE AT PLAY WITHOUT FACILITY SUPERVISION AND PLOTTED ACTION AGAINST JEWISH STUDENT.
A TEACHER HAD SO MANY POSTERS ABOUT PALESTINE IN A CLASSROOM AND KEPT WEARING A FREE PALESTINE KEFFIYEH.
AN ISRAELI-AMERICAN STUDENT HAD TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CLASS TWO WEEKS AGO, FEELING OVERWHELMED AND INTIMIDATED.
AS STICKERS ARE DRAWN IN THE BEDROOMS, ON PAPERS IN CLASS, AND EVEN IN NEARBY STARBUCKS.
A TEACHER HAD ANTI-ISRAELI POSTER IN HIS CLASSROOM, AND WHEN THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS COMPLAINED, HE SAID THAT THE CLUB MEETING IN HIS ROOM. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SOLIG POLEVOI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND BEFORE YOU BEGIN AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THIS IS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU'RE CHOOSING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, FOR ITEMS THAT ARE COMING ON THE AGENDA, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE LATER ITEMS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON WHICH ITEM WE'RE ON.
THIS IS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
>> MY NAME IS SOLIG POLEVOI, AND I WANT TO DISCUSS THE DECLINING PERFORMANCE OF SANTA CLARA CHILDREN AND APPARENT LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE AND THEIR EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THEIR SUCCESS.
IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO WITNESS A DECLINE IN THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AS IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN, SEEMS TO BE FALLING SHORT IN ADDRESSING THIS PRESSING ISSUE.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AN EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS, YET THE DECLINING PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED THAT SOMETHING IS LOST WITHIN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REED MYERS.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> DEAR PRESIDENT BERTA AND FELLOW TRUSTEES. I'M REED MYERS.
I WANTED TO COME TONIGHT TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON DR. DEWAN AND MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HER OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.
I WAS ON THE SUNNYVALE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR NINE YEARS AND HAD MANY ROLES ON THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, INCLUDING PRESIDENT.
AS TRUSTEES, SHE KEPT US INFORMED AND GAVE US LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT MADE US DO BETTER WORK FOR OUR DISTRICT.
BUT WHERE SHE SHINED THE BRIGHTEST WAS HER STRONG COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND TO DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
SHE WORKED HARD FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND HER PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY WAS A BENCHMARK FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW.
DURING COVID, I WAS ASTOUNDED AT HOW WELL SHE NAVIGATED THOSE INCREDIBLY TRYING TIMES.
[00:15:01]
I ASKED HER ONCE HOW SHE DID IT AND SHE SAID, "I LOVE MY JOB." IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS THE DIRECTOR OF SILICON VALLEY READS, I'VE SEEN HER FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.AS ONE OF THREE CO-CHAIRS OF THE PROGRAM, SHE IS CLEARLY RESPECTED AND VALUED BY HER PEERS.
THEY LOOK TO HER FOR DIRECTION AND IDEAS, SHE'S A NATURAL LEADER.
DR. DEWAN IS EXTREMELY WELL RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORS, EMPLOYEES, SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES, SHE HAS EARNED THE RESPECT OF SO MANY.
IT IS NOT COMMON FOR A TRUSTEE TO BE SO RESPECTED. [NOISE] SHE IS SPECIAL. THANK YOU
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYAN BENATHAN.
MAYAN BENATHAN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MAYAN BENATHAN, AND I'M A PARENT OF TWO SUNNYVALE STUDENTS.
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW STATISTICS WITH YOU.
THE SAN JOSE SPOTLIGHT RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THE ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY GAPS ARE DIVIDING THE STUDENTS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
ONLY 48 OF EIGHTH GRADERS MET THE EIGHTH-GRADE MATH STANDARDS IN THE '21- 22 SCHOOL YEAR.
OF THAT TOTAL, ONLY 17% OF LATINO CHILDREN, AND 20% OF BLACK CHILDREN MET THAT STANDARD.
NINETEEN STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY WERE CHRONICALLY ABSENT, AND OF THAT TOTAL, 35% WERE PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENTS, 31 WERE LATINO, AND 25 OR BLACK STUDENTS.
I'D LIKE THIS BOARD TO SPEND ITS TIME AND BUDGET ON MAKING SURE THAT STRUGGLING AND DISAFFECTED STUDENTS ARE REACHED, ENGAGED AND TAUGHT, AND GIVEN WHAT THEY NEED. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GUY R. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO THE MASSIVE ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN AGAINST AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN.
THE PAKISTANI MILITARY REGIME IS ENGAGING IN HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, COERCIVE MEASURES AIMED AT EXPULSION OF ROUGHLY TWO MILLION ETHNIC AFGHANS, WHICH THE REGIME CALLOUSLY LABELS AS ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.
THE US, UN, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEMANDING INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS THESE SYSTEMATIC HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, AND A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN.
SINCE SOME ON THIS BOARD SEEM OBSESSED WITH ALL SORTS OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, I WOULD EXPECT THEY'RE QUITE AWARE OF THE MASSIVE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN PAKISTAN.
THE BOARD SHOULD ISSUE A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR SUCCESSION OF THE GENOCIDAL APARTHEID ETHNIC CLEANSING IN PAKISTAN, AND ALSO TELL US HOW THEY PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH INTERNATIONAL ISSUES THEY SHOULD BE OUTRAGED ABOUT, AND WHY THEY'VE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE PLIGHT OF THE AFGHANIS IN PAKISTAN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LIRON, L-I-R-O-N. NO, WE'LL COME BACK TO THEM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED BY THE EVENTS OF THE OCTOBER 7TH.
>> CAN YOU MOVE CLOSER TO THE MIC, PLEASE? CAN YOU COME CLOSER TO THE MIC, PLEASE?
>> I'M LITERALLY STAYING ON IT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED BY THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 7TH MASSACRE, AND INSTEAD OF FINDING SUPPORT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY FACE HATE AND DISCRIMINATION [OVERLAPPING].
>> SIR IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE REFERRING TO ITEMS THAT ARE LATER ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU CAN PAUSE THE TIMER, THIS WILL COUNT AS YOUR TIME FOR THAT ITEM.
>> OKAY. AGAIN, CAN WE START THE TIME?
>> SHE PAUSED THE TIMER WHEN I STARTED SPEAKING.
>> OKAY. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
THEY ARE TRAUMATIZED BY THE EVENT OF OCTOBER 7TH MASSACRE, AND INSTEAD OF FINDING SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY FACE HATE DISCRIMINATION.
THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
KIDS ARE BEING INSULTED ABOUT HAVING JEWISH NOSE, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY NAZI'S CAMP, AND ANTI-JEWS.
JEWISH KIDS START TO HIDING THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY.
I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION, AND THE GROWING ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE USE YOUR POWER TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.
WE THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE YOUR FOCUS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SIR ORLEY LANDOCH.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ORLEY.
I LIVE WITH MY FAMILY IN SUNNYVALE AND I'M HERE JUST TO SHARE HOW ALARMED I AM AS A FORMER MATH TEACHER AND THE FACT THAT WE JUST LOST OUR WAY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ITEM 3B, MADAM PRESIDENT,
[00:20:01]
ABOUT THE FACT THAT LOGIC AND FACTS ARE SACRED WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.I'M ALL FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION AND EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE ALARMING INCIDENT THAT A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE SHOWED ME ON THE HACIENDA MAGNET SCHOOL WHERE SOMEBODY PROPOSED THAT THE GOLAN HEIGHTS ARE A PALESTINIAN TERRITORY.
>> AGAIN, SIR IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE REFERRING TO TOPICS THAT ARE DISCUSSED IN A RESOLUTION COMING UP, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE SURE YOU KNOW THAT IT WILL COUNT TOWARDS YOUR COMMENT FOR THE OTHER ITEM.
THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE PRESENTING OPINIONS.
WELL, THIS IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE CAN HAVE AS MUCH DISCUSSION AS WE WANT ABOUT ANYTHING.
WE NEED TO BE GROUNDED WITH FACTS AND LOGIC.
THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY FOR NOW AND I'LL SAVE MY TIME FOR 3B.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER OR WE'RE COMING BACK TO LIRON.
ARE THEY HERE? I DON'T SEE THEM.
BUT THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MODERATOR THAT DOES CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[A. Discuss and Consider approval of a contract with Separate Legal Counsel for the Board of Education]
NOW ONTO AGENDA ITEM THREE, DISCUSSION ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION THIS EVENING IS A CONTRACT WITH SEPARATE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.THE SCCBOE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ITS INTENT TO CONTRACT WITH SEPARATE COUNSEL AT ITS MEETING ON DECEMBER AND ON JANUARY 10, 2024.
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 35041.5 PROVIDES THAT THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION APPOINT THE SAME LEGAL COUNSEL.
SECTION 1042 D OF THE EDUCATION CODE AUTHORIZES A COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONTRACT WITH COUNSEL TO PROVIDE SEPARATE LEGAL SERVICES IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
FEES INCURRED FOR AUTHORIZED SERVICES UNDER A CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES WOULD BE PAID FROM THE COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICES GENERAL FUND.
MODERATOR, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM?
>> YES, WE HAVE ONE CARD FOR THIS ITEM.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> YES. OUR SPEAKER IS JESSICA SPEISER.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS JESSICA SPEISER AND I'M LSD TRUSTEE AND SEC SBA PRESIDENT.
THAT BEING SAID, I'M SPEAKING ONLY ON MY OWN BEHALF.
TODAY I ASK YOU WHY YOU ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO CONTRACT WITH OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO PROVIDE ADVICE RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND EVALUATION OF DR.
MARY ANN DEWAN TO BE PAID FOR USING YOUR EQUIVALENT OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN THE PUBLIC A REASON FOR CONTRACTING WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL, NOR HAVE YOU ESTABLISHED THAT DOING SO IS LEGAL.
NOR WHY IS IT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO EXPEND GENERAL FUNDS ON THIS WHEN THE BUDGET CALLS FOR TIGHTENING PURSE STRINGS.
IF YOU ARE EXPENDING GENERAL FUNDS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE USED TO PAY FOR THE EDUCATION OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS.
AS TRUSTEES OF COUNTY TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND REPRESENTATIVES, ALL STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR REASON IS SOUND AND WORTH TAKING SUCH RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE COUNTY'S MOST AT RISK STUDENTS.
PLEASE GIVE US ANSWERS AND CONSIDER THIS IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.
WE WILL NOW OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE TRUSTEES.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I DID WANT TO SHARE THAT TRUSTEE CHON AND I WORKED TOGETHER ON AN AD HOC FOR THIS ITEM IN TERMS OF DETERMINING.
THE ITEM IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH SEPARATE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AS PART OF THAT AD HOC, WE DID REACH OUT TO FIRMS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US THE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THREE FIRMS AND YOU HAVE THE AGREEMENTS FOR EACH OF THOSE FIRMS LISTED.
WE DID HAVE SOME DIFFERENT POINTS OF INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE TRUSTEE CHON AND I TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE AT THIS POINT, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE AS WELL TO REVIEW THOSE AGREEMENTS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING HBB AS OUR AD HOC RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT OF THOSE REASONS.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE TRUSTEES THAT I
[00:25:01]
DID INQUIRE ABOUT AVAILABILITIES FOR FIRMS TO BE HERE TODAY, SHOULD THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.I KNOW TRUSTEE CHON AND I DID TRY TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF COST, TRAVEL, AND AVAILABILITY FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS ON THE 31ST, BASED ON THE ITEM THAT WE DO HAVE AGENDA FOR CLOSED SESSION.
AT THIS POINT, I WILL JUST SAY THAT ADAM, SILVA, AND MCNALLY IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT AVAILABLE TO BE PRESENT OR THROUGH TELECONFERENCE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
WE DO KNOW THAT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OTHER TWO WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
BUT I GUESS WE CAN GO INTO A COUPLE OF THE REASONS.
PERHAPS TRUSTEE CHON, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT FIRM?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
WE LOOK THROUGH THESE FIRMS AND WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT TRUSTEE BERTA AND I WE HAD REPRESENTATION WITH FIRMS THAT HAD EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA AND EXPERIENCE WITH COUNTY BOARDS.
THERE WERE HIGHLIGHTS OF ALL THREE OF THEM, WE DID FEEL THAT HBB, WHICH IS HAIGHT BROWN & BONESTEEL, WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE.
BUT WE DID, AS AN AD HOC, WANT TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THE BOARD TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE POSSIBILITIES.
ONE OF THE REASONS AND I JUST NEED A MINUTE TO LOOK.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE FELT THAT WITH HBB THERE WAS EXPERIENCE SPECIFICALLY WITH WORKING WITH COUNTY BOARDS AS WELL AS EXPERTISE IN THE AREAS OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
IS THAT CORRECT TRUSTEE BERTA?
>> YES. AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT FOR RUTAN AND TUCKER, THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO BE PRESENT WITH THE BOARD DURING A DISCUSSION.
HOWEVER, THE ATTORNEY WITH EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION LAW, OR SPECIFIC TO THIS TOPIC WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL IN.
SO WE WERE CONSIDERING TRAVEL COSTS AS ANOTHER FACTOR, WHEREAS HBB IS MORE OF A LOCAL, THE INDIVIDUAL, MR. ROWLAND, WHO PREPARED THE AGREEMENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
THERE'S STILL TRAVEL FEES ASSOCIATED, BUT BECAUSE IT'S LOCAL TRAVEL, WE ASSUME THAT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION AND ALSO FOR YOUR WORK OUTSIDE OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. I WAS LOOKING AT THAT.
THAT WAS REALLY JUST THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION AVAILABILITY.
BUT LOOKING AT HBB, I SAW ON THE LETTERHEAD, IT'S LOS ANGELES.
AND THEN I SAW RUTAN & TUCKER WAS PALO ALTO.
BUT THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TRAVEL FACTOR.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE HBB, HOW THAT'S LA, BUT YET THEY'RE AROUND HERE?
>> SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE WHERE THEY'RE LIKE ONE OF THEIR MAIN OFFICE IS.
BUT THE BOTTOM IT ACTUALLY SAYS LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY, SACRAMENTO, SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO.
AND THEN THE ATTORNEY SPECIFIC THAT WOULD BE HANDLING, SHOULD WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT IS LOCATED LOCALLY.
>> THAT IS SAN FRANCISCO OR PALO ALTO, I BELIEVE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> IT DOESN'T LIST PALO ALTO. IT JUST SAYS LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY.
BECAUSE ALSO FOR ME PRIORITY IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS IS ALSO AVAILABILITY IN BEING HERE FOR THESE MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME PASS TRYING TO GET TO THESE CONVERSATIONS AND TO HAVE TO DELAY OR DEFER BASED UPON FIRMS AVAILABILITY DUE TO TRAVEL, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR THE BACKGROUND.
>> THANK YOU. THE OTHER THING I'LL JUST CLARIFY IS WITH RUTAN & TUCKER THERE WAS SOMEONE LOCAL WHO WAS AVAILABLE TO ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS WITHIN THE AREA.
SO THEY WOULD ALSO ASK TO TELECONFERENCE.
SO WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE PAYING FOR BOTH ATTORNEYS.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WITH RUTAN &TUCKER.
AND THAT SECOND ATTORNEY IS NOT LOCAL.
FOR WEDNESDAY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TELECONFERENCE,
[00:30:03]
BUT THEN WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR THEIR TRAVEL FEES TO COME UP HERE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ITEMS? TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, I WANTED TO THANK PRESIDENT BERTA AND TRUSTEE CHON FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THIS.
I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
I AGREE WITH OUR PUBLIC COMMENTER.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE BEST USE OF OUR COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICES GENERAL FUND DOLLAR AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS, JUST IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.
I ASKED OUR SUPERINTENDENT IF THIS BOARD HAD EVER CONTRACTED WITH SEPARATE LEGAL COUNSEL.
THEY HAD STAFF DO A DIVE AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WE'VE NOT.
BUT IF DR. DEWAN WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT.
>> JUST IN THE RECORD REVIEW THAT YOU REQUESTED, WE DIDN'T FIND THOSE CONTRACTS.
WE DID FIND SOME RECORDS OF SECOND OPINIONS.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE BOARD NEVER DID, IT'S JUST THAT THE RECORDS DID NOT REFLECT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M NOT SO SURE WHY MY COLLEAGUE, TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN, DOES NOT BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I WAS BOARD CHAIR, GRACE WAS ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME AND WE CONTRACTED OUT WITH PRIVATE COUNSEL TO HELP US WITH A SUPERINTENDENT ISSUE THAT WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, BUT THAT'S THE TRUTH.
THE COUNTY RECORDS, ACTUALLY WHAT WOULD SHOW IT IS OUR AUDIO TAPES OF OUR MEETINGS.
WE HAVE ALL THE AUDIOTAPES ARCHIVED. THAT WOULD SHOW IT.
I'M ACTUALLY TIRED OF THE FACT HEARING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BOARD COUNSEL.
BECAUSE WE HAD IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE DECIDING WHETHER TO RENEW A CONTRACT OF A SUPERINTENDENT OR NOT AFTER FOUR YEARS.
IT WAS VERY HEAVY AND THE PUBLIC WAS INVOLVED AT EVERY MEETING.
I WAS THE BOARD CHAIR FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS WHEN WE DEALT WITH THAT.
PLEASE BELIEVE ME, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE COUNTY RECORDS HAVE.
I'M TELLING YOU AS A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS.
>> JUST TO SPEAK TO THAT, I'M STILL NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM.
THAT WASN'T THE ONLY REASON, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
>> THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR PREROGATIVE.
I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT ONLY THAT I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN BELIEVED BY YOU OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM?
>> A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR HBB, HAIGHT BROWN & BONESTEEL.
>> SECONDED BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS ITEM IN BOARDDOCS.
A VERBAL NO FROM TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES, ONE NO, AND ZERO ABSTENTIONS.
[B. Request Adoption of Resolution Recognizing Sustained Peace and Safety for All Children]
WE WILL NOW CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN.THIS DISCUSSION IS A CONTINUATION FROM OUR JANUARY 10, 2024 MEETING.
THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS LEFT OPEN FROM OUR LAST MEETING AND WITH A MOTION MADE BY ME AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LARI TO APPROVE THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE RESOLUTION.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE AT THIS TIME, BUT LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK.
[00:35:16]
AT THIS TIME, I WILL WITHDRAW THE MOTION, AND TRUSTEE LARI, DO YOU AGREE WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF THAT MOTION?>> THAT IS SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THIS NEW DRAFT. THANK YOU.
THE AD HOC COMMITTEE MET AND DISCUSSED THE INPUT FROM TRUSTEES AND COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA IS A REVISED RESOLUTION NAMED THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN.
IT IS IN THIS DRAFT THAT PROPOSED FOCUS OF OUR BOARD'S CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
>> BERTA, IF I MIGHT ALSO JUST NOTE THAT IT'S THE ONE DATED JANUARY 25TH, 2024 TO ASSIST THE TRUSTEES OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OF WHICH VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION YOU WERE REFERRING TO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S THE ORIGINAL.
>> THANK YOU. COULD YOU THAT? THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY ANALYZE.
>> IN THIS ITEM, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE IS ONE RESOLUTION TITLED THE ORIGINAL.
THERE IS A SECOND RESOLUTION, THE ENDING IS REVISED 1.10.24.
THAT IS THE VERSION THAT HAD SOME OF COUNSEL'S RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
THE LAST PARAGRAPH, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A SENTENCE CHANGE.
THEN THE THIRD RESOLUTION THAT ENDS WITH 1.25.24 IS THE CURRENT RESOLUTION THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
I WILL BE MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT AT THIS POINT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE REVISED VERSION, 1.25.24, WHICH IS THE LATEST VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION DEVELOPED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
>> I HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION.
ARE WE GOING TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE ITEM?
>> WE WILL BE LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I JUST MADE A MOTION ON THE ITEM ITSELF.
>> SECOND MADE BY TRUSTEE LARI. TRUSTEE MAH.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
MY QUESTION IS WHETHER I CAN ASK FOR A MOVE FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE MOTION OR DO I WAIT FOR THE AMENDMENT AFTER WE'VE HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> I BELIEVE ANOTHER MOTION CAN BE MADE AS A SUBSEQUENT MOTION IF THERE'S EFFECT.
>> IF IT'S ACCESS, THAT'S GREAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT WITH A COUPLE OF JUST A FEW WORDING CHANGES, IF THAT'S OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE, 1, 2, 3, 4, FOURTH, WHERE IT SAYS, WE CHERISH OUR CULTURAL RICHNESS AND STRIVE TO ENSURE ALL COMMUNITIES FEEL RESPECTED AND HEARD, INCLUDING OUR JEWISH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, ISRAELI AMERICAN, ARAB AMERICAN, PALESTINIAN.
I'D LIKE TO ADD GASH AMERICAN.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
I'M ADDING THE WORD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN.
THEN I'D LIKE TO ADD OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN.
THEN I'D LIKE TO ADD AMERICAN TO THE END OF THE MIDDLE EASTERN SO IT'S MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
THE 4, 5, 6, 7, THAT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED.
THAT FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO ADD, THE SEC BOE STRIVES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE OF DEMONSTRATING TO STUDENTS HOW PEOPLE WITH DISPARATE PERSPECTIVES CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS EMOTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS BY UNITING IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR PEACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE AND RESOLUTION AMONG ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE EAST.
THE TWO WORDS AND RESPECTFUL, PLEASE.
THEN AFTER THE RESOLVED, 1, 2, 3, THE FORTH BE RESOLVED, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SEC BOE STRONGLY BELIEVES IN A CALL FOR, AND THIS IS SOME CHANGE IN WORDING.
[00:40:01]
BELIEVES IN CALLING FOR ALL PEOPLE'S PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN GAZA.OR I'M SUGGESTING A REMOVAL OF HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE IN GAZA AND SUBSTITUTING INSTEAD, CALLING FOR ALL PEOPLE'S PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN GAZA, WHICH WAS TWO WORDS THAT WERE NOT THERE.
THAT'S MY ONLY AMENDMENT SUGGESTIONS.
>> IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION?
>> OR WHETHER THE AMENDMENT IS ACCEPTED BY THE MOVERS, I GUESS.
>> I THINK TO CLARIFY, WE'RE NOT DOING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
SHE'S ASKING FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR CURRENT MOTION TO MODIFY THE RESOLUTION.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO EITHER ACCEPT AND THE SECONDER WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THOSE RESPECTFUL REQUESTS OR DENY THOSE.
THEN WE'D GO WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
SUPERINTENDENT, YOU WERE HERE FOR THE MOMENT.
>> I WASN'T CLEAR IF YOU WERE MAKING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR WHETHER YOU WERE ASKING FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
>> I'M ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING MOTION.
>> I WOULD BE OKAY WITH ADDING PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, WITH ADDING THE TERM OTHER, WITH ADDING AND RESPECTFUL.
YOUR LAST REQUEST, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AS WRITTEN.
I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT SUBSTITUTE.
I COULD ACCEPT A SUBSTITUTE TO MAKE THE OTHER REVISIONS IF WE'D LIKE TO PROCEED WITH THAT.
>> YEAH, PROCEDURALLY, IF IT'S NOT ACCEPTED BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS AND I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE.
IF IT'S NOT ACCEPTED, THEN I GUESS IT JUST GOES AHEAD.
>> YEAH. WHAT I'LL SAY IS I WILL AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, OTHER PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL.
I WILL AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THOSE REVISIONS TO THE RESOLUTION.
TRUSTEE LAURIE, IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO YOU AS THE SECOND OF THE MOTION?
>> I WOULD LIKE YOU IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO REPEAT YOUR LAST REQUEST.
>> THE LAST ONE WAS THE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
THIS IS SOME REPLACEMENT OF WORD.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SEC BOE STRONGLY BELIEVES IN CALLING FOR ALL PEOPLE'S PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN GAZA.
THAT IS, INSTEAD OF A HUMANITARIAN CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA.
I'M TAKING THAT PHRASE OUT AND PUTTING IN THIS INSTEAD, WHICH DEMONSTRATES TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS THAT LEADERS CAN ADVOCATE FOR A PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY AND FOR THE SAKE OF CHILDREN.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU ALSO HAD THE ADDITION, AFTER ALL HOSTAGES, YOU HAD ADDED IN GAZA?
>> THAT WAS THE OTHER ADDITION?
>> RIGHT. THAT ONE ALSO YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE?
>> THE WORDS IN GAZA? NO, I WOULD PREFER TO KEEP IT AS ALL HOSTAGES.
>> TRUSTEE. LAURIE, EXCUSE ME.
AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THIS IS BOARD DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S NOT TIME FOR THAT YET.
IF WE CANNOT GET TO THAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
>> I'VE PROVIDED SOME STATEMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS TO ALL THE TRUSTEES.
SHE'S ASKING FOR A PERMANENT NEGOTIATED CEASE FIRE.
ROKANAS ASKING FOR A LASTING CEASE FIRE.
THE SANTA CRA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE SAYING BRING ABOUT AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE.
THE NEW HAVEN, WHICH ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS BASED ON CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SANTA CRA COUNTY REQUESTS THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND SUSTAINED CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.
I THINK EVERYBODY IN OUR COUNTY IS NOW TALKING ABOUT A CEASE FIRE.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR RESOLUTION.
>> OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER, I GUESS, CONSIDERATIONS TO BE DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE MOTION?
[00:45:03]
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT AFTER WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE STILL DISCUSSING THIS ITEM?
>> YES. PROCEDURALLY, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED, THERE WERE SOME REQUESTS FOR FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.
I ACCEPTED THREE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEN AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS, IT'LL BE UP TO THE BOARD FOR AN ADDITIONAL TIME TO DELIBERATE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> TRUSTEE, IF I MIGHT JUST ADD PROCEDURALLY THAT ALSO THE SECOND ER OF THE MOTION DID ALSO SECOND, AMENDED MOTION JUST TO CLARIFY PROCEDURALLY, THE SECOND AGREED AS WELL.
>> YES. THANK YOU. ESTE DESALVO, DID YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT?
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. I WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU ASKED ME TO BE AD HOC GROUP AND I AGREED TO BE PART OF THAT AD HOC GROUP TO REWRITE THE RESOLUTION FROM OUR MEETING ON JANUARY 10TH.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT IS A MAJOR REVISION OVER WHAT WE HAD BEFORE US ON JANUARY 10TH.
IT FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON CHILDREN AND THE WORK OF THE COUNTY OFFICE WITH EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE INTENTION OF MY PARTICIPATION, TO MAKE SURE IT FOCUSED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, 100% ON THE CHILDREN OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, IN OUR OWN SCHOOLS, WHO ARE AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE DI SALVO FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP AND ALL OF HIS EFFORTS IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE BRING DRAFT LANGUAGE.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THERE WERE OTHER TRUSTEES WHO HAD SUBMITTED FEEDBACK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
SPECIFICALLY, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR THE SANTA CRUZ RESOLUTION OR STATEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED.
I WANT THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT THIS RESOLUTION, THE AD HOC, DID SPECIFICALLY CONSIDER THE SANTA CRUZ STATEMENT AND THE SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS ACTUALLY BORROWED FROM THE SANTA CRUZ RESOLUTION AS WELL.
THAT INPUT WAS INCORPORATED AND DEVELOPED IN THE PROCESS FROM THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
THEN PERHAPS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, DR. WAN, IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE, I KNOW THERE WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING TO NOW, THERE HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THE AD HOC PROCESS IN TERMS OF COUNSEL'S INPUT AND PARTICIPATION?
>> YES, PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND TRUSTEES.
THE AD COMMITTEE MET TWICE TO REVIEW THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AND CONSIDER THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD AND PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FROM THE LAST MEETING, LEGAL COUNSEL JOINED FOR THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
LEGAL COUNSEL REVIEWED THE DRAFTS AND PROVIDED INPUT BEFORE THE RESOLUTION WAS FINALIZED.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS POINT, WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I JUST MODERATOR.
I'M ASSUMING THERE ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, THERE ARE 176 CARDS FOR THIS ITEM.
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE INTEND TO KEEP A RESPECTFUL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.
WE ASK THAT IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY DO SO WITH THE UNIVERSAL SIGN FOR APPRECIATION.
PLEASE NOTE THAT VERBAL ABUSE, THREATS AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND YOU MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH CIVIC DISCOURSE.
[00:50:02]
AS SUCH, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM YELLING RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENT.WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION.
OKAY. AGAIN, THAT APPLIES TO ALL NOISE.
AS YOU UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD WITH THEIR ONE MINUTE COMMENTS.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO STOP PUBLIC COMMENTS SO I JUST I ASK THAT EVERYONE FOLLOWS THE EXPECTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH.
MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> YES. THANK YOU. FOR THOSE IN OUR OVERFLOW ROOM, IN THE CAFETERIA IN THE GUADALUPE ROOM, WHO FILLED OUT A CARD TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, AND I'LL CALL 15 AT A TIME.
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 BY AN SCCOE INTERPRETER TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.
THE FIRST 15 SPEAKERS ARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD HOLD ON FOR ONE MOMENT.
>> QUESTION IS, THERE ARE NO MORE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP?
>> THE ITEM IS I BELIEVE IT'S NOW WOULD BE THE FINAL, RIGHT BEFORE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COMPLETE A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, LIKE THEY JUST ARRIVED TO THE MEETING?
BUT PUBLIC COMMENT HAD NOT STARTED AT THAT TIME.
>> WE'VE ALREADY CALLED FOR THE COMMENT.
DID I CALL FOR THE COMMENTS? [BACKGROUND]
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS STATED IN THE SCRIPT.
[BACKGROUND] SO AT THIS TIME, WE ARE STARTING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED YOUR COMMENT CARD, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DO THAT BECAUSE ONCE WE PROCEED WITH STARTING THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ANY LONGER.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE SCRIPT.
MODERATOR, CAN YOU PLEASE PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> YES. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST 15 SPEAKERS ARE EGAL BLOOM, VALERIE RUTHENBERG, ADAM BARNIF, SAMONA T, DONNA.
FATEN, OMAR, SAMIR LAIMO, ERICK P, MARIV, MUSA TARIK, JONATHAN GUSHRAE, EMMA BRILL, BENJAMIN FEINSTEIN, MAIM ABSA.
IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE PROCEED TO LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS EGAL BLOOM.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> I'M SO SORRY, IF YOU COULD HOLD ON FOR ONE MOMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE ELSE.
WE ARE BEGINNING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED YOUR CARD BY NOW, NOW IS THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
JUST AGAIN, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS CLEARLY.
SO PLEASE AVOID ANY SIDE CONVERSATIONS OR OTHER SOUNDS OR NOISES.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EGAL BLOOM.
PLEASE DO NOT POLITICIZE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BY DEALING WITH DIVISIVE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HAVING NO IMPACT ON BRINGING PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST.
THEY JUST INCREASE THE COMMUNITY DIVISION AS CLEARLY SHOWN HERE.
I COMMEND THE BOARD'S ATTEMPT TO MODERATE THE RESOLUTION.
YET ASK YOURSELF, WHY IS THIS RESOLUTION PUSHED BY TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO THE OFFICIAL ENDORSERS OF THE MOST ONE-SIDED RESOLUTION OF THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WHY DOES CARE ORGANIZATION WITH TIES TO HAMAS ACTIVELY PUSH FOR THIS SPECIFIC CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION? SHOULD THE BOARD PRESIDENT WHO WAS AWARDED BY
[00:55:02]
CARE PARTICIPATE IN CARE'S DRIVEN RESOLUTIONS.I CALL FOR SINCERE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORTING THE US GOVERNMENT PUSH FOR A TWO STATE SOLUTION, BUT LEAVE IT OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VALERIE RUTHENBERG.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, I'M VALERIE RUTHENBERG.
I'M AN EDUCATOR AND A GRADUATE OF SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY.
I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE OFFER MADE BY ISRAEL THAT WAS REJECTED JUST TWO DAYS AGO.
I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE OFFER MADE BY ISRAEL THAT WAS REJECTED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
JUST LIKE I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION THAT WAS REJECTED BY HAMAS TWO MONTHS AGO IN EXCHANGE FOR HOSTAGES.
I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BECAUSE THEN AN AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS WOULDN'T FEEL LIKE SUCH AN IGNORANT SLAP IN THE FACE.
THE LONGER I'VE MOVED THROUGH THE WORLD AS A JEWISH WOMAN, THE MORE I'VE GROWN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEANT BY IGNORANCE IS BLISS.
I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY TWIN SISTER HAD TO RUN TO A BOMB SHELTER THIS MORNING IN TEL AVIV BECAUSE THEN AN AGENDA ITEM THAT DOES NOT CALL FOR HAMAS TO CEASEFIRE OR ACCEPT THE CEASEFIRE OFFERS WOULDN'T HURT ME SO MUCH.
I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS NOT ENTERTAINED ANY SUCH RESOLUTIONS TO CONDEMN HAMAS CONFLICT BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA, BECAUSE THEN THIS WOULDN'T BE SUCH BLATANT ANTI-SEMITISM.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM BARNIF.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT. ADAM BARNIF.
MY DAUGHTER IS A STUDENT AT LSD, AND I'D LIKE TO ARGUE FOR REMOVING THE CALL TO A CEASEFIRE FROM THE RESOLUTION.
KIRA B BUS IS TODAY A 12 MONTH OLD BABY, BUT HE WAS VIOLENTLY ABDUCTED WHEN HE WAS ONLY NINE MONTHS OLD.
KIRA IS LIKELY HELD IN A CAGE IN A DARK TUNNEL SOMEWHERE UNDER GAZA, ALONG WITH 134 OTHER HOSTAGES, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AGES ONE THROUGH 85.
SO HOW DO WE BRING THEM BACK ALIVE? DO WE TRY TO RESCUE THEM OR DO WE TRY TO NEGOTIATE A CEASEFIRE WITH TERRORISTS WHO MURDERED HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS, BURNT ALIVE, DISMEMBERED AND BEHEADED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SWEAR TO DO IT AGAIN.
CAN ANYONE REALLY CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THERE IS A RIGHT ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION? THIS TRAGICALLY COMPLEX SITUATION IS WHY IN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, YOU'LL BE SINGLING OUT ANY CHILDREN WITH SOCIAL OR FAMILY TIES TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE WAR.
YOU WILL BASICALLY ALIENATE THEM AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TAKING A POLITICAL STANCE ON THEIR PERSONAL TRAGEDY AND DOES NOT SEE THEIR SUFFERING. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMONA T. SAMONA T, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SAMONA, AND MY KIDS GO TO SARATOGA HIGH.
APPARENTLY, THE PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD IS AGAINST PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS REQUESTED.
WELL, I'M ASKING THE BOARD THEN TO VOTE NO ON THE CURRENT RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT IF WE MUST VOTE CHANGE TO THE FOLLOWING.
YOU DIDN'T MENTION HAMAS IN ITS ATROCITIES ANYWHERE IN YOUR RESOLUTION.
THIS WAR WAS STARTED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7, AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BROKE THE CEASEFIRE.
IN YOUR RESOLUTION ON UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, YOU CONDEMNED RUSSIA.
AND JUST LIKE RUSSIA ATTACKED UKRAINE, HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL.
THE PEOPLE THEY ARE DEMANDING CEASEFIRE ARE THE SAME ONES THAT WERE CHEERING.
WHEN HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7.
THE SAME PEOPLE CHANTING ON THE STREETS GLOBALIZED THE INTIFADA.
THE VERY OPPOSITE OF CEASEFIRE.
WE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WANT PEACE, CHANGE THE WORDS THAT MATTER.
CEASEFIRE MEANS ISRAEL STOPS THE DEFENSE AGAINST HAMAS WHILE HAMAS REGROUPS TO ATTACK ISRAEL.
DONNA, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I WAS AN EDUCATOR FOR NINE YEARS WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AGES 4-10.
CHILDREN ARE VERY AWARE AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON.
THEY SEE IT ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.
I TALK TO CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY FEEL VERY SADDENED TO SEE ALL THE LOSS OF LIVES AND THE HURTING AND GRIEF OF PALESTINIANS.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION THEY ASK ME IS WHY? WHY NO ONE IS HELPING THEM? ISN'T IT OUR DUTY AS A CARING MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO SET AN EXAMPLE? WE WANT OUR KIDS TO GROW UP CARING AND HELPING OTHERS IN NEED.
OTHERWISE, OUR CHILDREN WILL GROW UP WITH HATE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.
OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE RISING LEVEL OF HATE IN OUR SCHOOLS DUE TO ONGOING VIOLENCE.
I URGE THE BOARD TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO VIOLENCE AND A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, AND AN END TO PALESTINIAN HATE.
ALL LIVES ARE PRECIOUS NO MATTER THE ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FATEN, F-A -T- E-N. FATEN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
[01:00:03]
>> MY NAME IS FATEN HAJAZI, AND I LIVE IN SAN JOSE.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.
HALF OF THIS ROOM IS CELEBRATING THEIR DEATH.
HALF OF THIS ROOM DON'T BELIEVE A GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY'RE BLINDSIDED BY THEIR OWN PAIN.
THEY THINK THEY ARE ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST A POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY DEHUMANIZED BY CALLING THEM TERRORISTS.
LISTEN TO ME, CLEARLY, OVER 100 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THEY ARE DEAD. THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME.
THEY WERE NOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT.
THEY WERE KILLED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE WRONG RELIGION AND THEIR LAND IS WANTED.
AND THIS DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7.
IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS.
STUDENTS ARE BEING TRAUMATIZED BY BEING CALLED TERRORIST.
JUST LAST WEEK MY 11 YEAR OLD SON WAS CALLED A BOMBER.
OUR CHILDREN MATTER TO WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HURT ONE CHILD TO PROTECT ANOTHER.
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I WENT TO ELEMENTARY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH BAY.
ONE OF THE MOST BASIC LESSONS TAUGHT TO ME BY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS TO NEVER BE A BYSTANDER WHEN WITNESSING BULLYING OR ANY INJUSTICE.
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE TO AT THE VERY LEAST SPEAK UP.
TO SAY, PALESTINIANS IN GAZA ARE BEING BULLIED IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT.
MORE THAN 70 OF MY RELATIVES HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST OVER THREE MONTHS AND THOSE ALIVE ARE BARELY SURVIVING.
YOU'RE NOW FACED WITH THE DECISION OF BEING SILENT IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION BY VOTING NO, OR BEING BRAVE AND VOTING YES ON A RESOLUTION THAT SHOWS ALL YOUTH IN THIS COUNTY THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AN UPSTANDER.
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THE STUDENTS OF OUR COUNTY TO DEVELOP INTO UPRIGHT, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IF YOU DON'T LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
OUR STUDENTS ARE COUNTING ON YOU SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION THAT REJECTS VIOLENCE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMIR LAIMO.
SAMIR LAIMO. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION WITH A CLEAR CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE THAT COMMUNICATES THE URGENCY CLEARLY.
JOIN A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT ALL VOTED FOR A CEASEFIRE.
IT'S THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SAFE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA.
AN URGENT CEASEFIRE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OUR JEWISH, MUSLIM, PALESTINIAN, AND ALL STUDENTS DESERVE TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN A FREE OF HATE SCHOOLS.
PLEASE SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE AND REJECT THE VIOLENCE.
OUR STUDENTS ARE COUNTING ON YOU. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIK, A-R-I-K.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
THREE KIDS GRADUATED FROM THE SANTA CLARA EDUCATION SYSTEM.
I'VE NOTED WITH INTEREST THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD IS AGAINST PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE.
THAT'S INTERESTING. THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT IT'S INTERESTING.
ALSO, IS THIS THE PROPER USE OF THE BOARD TIME? DO YOU THINK THAT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE IS INCREASING COHESION IN THE COMMUNITY? THAT'S NOT MY IMPRESSION.
I THINK A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE TENSIONS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT THE BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO WORK ON, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTY DOES NOT DESCENT TO THIRD WORLD LEVEL.
EVEN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IS NOT REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMPLICATED AND WE DO NEED SUSTAINED PEACE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYRAV.
MAYRAV, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENTS.
>> MAYRAV. THANK YOU FOR IMPROVING YOUR ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AND STRIVING TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE.
I WOULD ASK YOU THOUGH TO CALL FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE, SINCE THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE ON OCTOBER 6TH THAT HAMAS BREACHED AND THEY RECENTLY REJECTED AN ISRAELI OFFER FOR CEASEFIRE.
TO EVERYONE HERE, I CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF GAZA.
THE ENEMY IS NOT ISRAEL BUT HAMAS, WHO IS THE SOLE RULER OF GAZA SINCE ISRAEL LEFT IN 2005.
[01:05:01]
WE SHOULD ALL WORK TOGETHER TO FREE GAZA FROM HAMAS.THERE IS NOT AND NEVER WAS GENOCIDE.
EVEN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE HASN'T SUPPORTED THIS SLOGAN.
THE GAZA POPULATION GREW 80,000 TO TWO MILLION TODAY.
PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED BECAUSE HAMAS IS USING THEM AS HUMAN SHIELDS AND USES SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AS ARSENAL DEPOTS.
OUR TAX DOLLARS FUND A REFUGEES AGENCY THAT IS CONTROLLED BY HAMAS WHO ABUSES CHILDREN BY INDOCTRINATING THEM TO HATE AND TO DIE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MUSA TARIQ.
MUSA TARIQ, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS MUSA AND I'M WITH CAIR, THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS.
THIRTEEN YEAR OLD IBRAHIM FROM GAZA AND HIS FAMILY WERE IN A DESIGNATED SAFE ZONE WHEN EVERYTHING COLLAPSED AROUND THEM.
IBRAHIM'S HAND WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND QUICKLY BECAME INFECTED.
WITHOUT MEDICINE, GANGRENE TOOK HOLD AND HE ULTIMATELY LOST HIS ARM DURING AN AMPUTATION WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.
THIS IS ONE OF MANY STORIES UNICEF HAS REPORTED FROM GAZA.
MY LITTLE BROTHER'S NAME IS ALSO IBRAHIM.
STORIES LIKE THIS ARE ROOTED IN REALITY WITH CHILDREN WHO SHARE OUR NAMES, WHO SHARE OUR HOPES AND DREAMS, WHO SHARE OUR DESIRE TO LIVE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF SAFETY FOR CHILDREN IN GAZA.
UN HAS CALLED GAZA, A CHILDREN'S GRAVEYARD.
TEN THOUSAND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT AND COUNTING.
70% OF THE CASUALTIES IN GAZA ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
MISCARRIAGES IN GAZA HAVE INCREASED 300% UNDER ISRAELI BOMBING, 50,000 PREGNANT WOMEN IN GAZA HAVE NO ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE.
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE HAVING C-SECTIONS WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.
MOTHERS CAN'T KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE.
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN YOU MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE SAFELY, SAFELY REPRODUCE, AND SAFELY RAISE THEIR CHILDREN? YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED. PLEASE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN GERSHADA.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. JONATHAN GERSHADA, PALO ALTO RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
THERE IS A WAR IN THE SUDAN SINCE APRIL.
THE SAF LED BY GENERAL ABDEL FATTAH AL-BURHAN HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE RSF LED BY GENERAL MOHAMED HAMDAN DAGALO.
THOUSANDS DEAD, 5.7 MILLION DISPLACED.
THERE IS NO RESOLUTION AGAIN FOR A CEASEFIRE IN THIS CONFLICT PRESENTED BY THIS BOARD.
SINCE 2009, BOKO HARAM LAUNCHED AN UPRISING IN NIGERIA, AN ISLAMIC ARMED GROUP.
CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN FIVE ACCOUNT FOR 324,000 DEATHS.
THIS BOARD HAS NOT PRESENTED ANY RESOLUTION FOR A CEASEFIRE IN NIGERIA.
THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA MARKED 230,000 DEAD, 15,000 BY TORTURE.
154,000 ARRESTED, 14 MILLION DISPLACED ARAB VERSUS ARAB, THERE'S BEEN NO RESOLUTION BY THIS BOARD FOR A CEASEFIRE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMMA BRILL.
EMMA BRILL, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AS A COUNTY RESIDENT TAXPAYER AND VOTER WITH KIDS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO OVERSEE.
I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
THE MANY FAULTS OF THE RESOLUTION ITSELF ARE VERY CLEARLY ARTICULATED BY MANY HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE INJUSTICE YOU ARE PERPETRATING ON THE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS BY WASTING SO MUCH OF THE BOARD'S TIME ON A RESOLUTION THAT DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.
MANY HOURS HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS PROFOUND EXAMPLE OF POOR GOVERNANCE AND INEXCUSABLE WASTE.
YOU ARE SITTING IN THOSE SEATS TO TACKLE THE REAL PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION IN OUR COUNTY.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING AND MAY BE SEEN AS A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW LITTLE THIS BOARD DOES TO HELP THEM.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION AND PRIORITIZE OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENJAMIN FAIRSTEIN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. I'M BENJAMIN FAIRSTEIN, A JUNIOR AT WILCOX HIGH SCHOOL.
THE ANTI-SEMITISM IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY STARTED IN THE STREETS AND ALREADY HAS MOVED TO THE SCHOOLS, BRINGING THE PRO-PALESTINIAN PROPAGANDA IN FORM OF SPEAKERS, SCHOOL NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, AND STUDENT CLUB ACTIVITIES.
THIS PROPAGANDA IS FULL OF HATE AGAINST ISRAELI PEOPLE AND JEWS IN GENERAL.
JEWISH STUDENTS ARE SCARED TO SPEAK UP, TO WEAR THEIR STARS OF DAVID, TO TELL THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ABOUT THE HATEFUL REMARKS TOWARDS THEM.
THAT MEANS THAT WHILE WORKING ON THE WORDING IN THIS RESOLUTION, YOU ARE NOT ACTING TO ADDRESS WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
YOU FAILED IN WORDS AND ACTION.
YOU ARE GIVING JEWISH STUDENTS THE MESSAGE THAT JEWISH LIVES DO NOT MATTER AND JEWS DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THEIR HOMELAND.
PLEASE ACT ON FIXING PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND DON'T ADD TO THE CURRENT HATE AND DIVISION BY RELEASING SUCH A BIASED RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
[01:10:05]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NAIME ALFAZAL.
SUSTAIN PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN REQUIRES IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRES.
PLEASE PASS ON THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT ANY DELAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS ARE NOSHABA AFSAL, ARAN T, LEAH KRUPNIK, SAMIA ISLAM, TASNEEM ISMALI, MIRIAM SHAYID, MATAN J, MAYA BERNIKI, [INAUDIBLE] BRIGG, ROZ LEV, FLORENCE ANDERSON SAUL, ALAN LIBOWITZ HABII, OMAR Y.
AS A REMINDER, IF YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKE ON A SIMILAR TOPIC, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOUR COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOSHABA AFSAL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
BY THE VERY DEFINITION, CEASEFIRE CREATES PEACE.
THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY WANT PEACE BUT OPPOSE A CEASEFIRE ARE ASKING FOR THE KILLINGS TO CONTINUE, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE.
A CEASEFIRE IS ALSO WHAT HOSTAGE FAMILIES ARE DEMANDING.
A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION WILL VALIDATE THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL NEEDS OF ALL OUR STUDENTS AND KEEP THEM SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN KILLED IN GAZA, IT'S EQUIVALENT TO EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN MORGAN HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THERE ARE SCHOOLS, ALL SCHOOLS BEING DEMOLISHED, BOMBED.
EVERY CHILD, EVERY TEACHER AND STAFF BEING KILLED IN THERE AND STILL YOU'D HAVE TO KILL 2,500 ADDITIONAL CHILDREN, NOT SCHOOL AGE IN MORGAN HILL TO MAKE UP FOR THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN KILLED IN GAZA TODAY.
HAVE THE COURAGE TO VOTE YES ON THE CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARAN T. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ARAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING HERE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP.
WHEN LOOKING AT TODAY'S AND LAST MEETINGS AND IN BETWEEN, EVERYBODY SEE THAT THE LEADER OF THIS BOARD, PRESIDENT BERTA, HAS FAILED ON HER VERY FIRST DAYS OF LEADERSHIP.
WHY? BECAUSE YOU AND ALL OF US WE KNOW THAT WHEN SHE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HER LEGAL DUTY TO CARE ABOUT ALL STUDENTS, EVERY SINGLE ONE, OR TO CARE ABOUT CARE IN SOME STUDENT ONLY, SHE CHOSE THE LATTER.
NOW, WE ALSO HEARD THAT SHE PREFERRED PEACE ON A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE THAT WILL BE BROKEN PROBABLY AGAIN.
NOW, THE GENIE IS OUT OF THE BOX.
DEAR TRUSTEE, I SAW YOU STRUGGLING WHEN WE SPOKE WITH YOU.
YOU NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS AND VOTE NO.
DON'T BRING INTERNATIONAL POLITICS INTO THE SCHOOL, CHOOSE THE CHILDREN AND REPLACE THE DIVISIVE CEASEFIRE WITH THE WORD PEACE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LEAH KRUPNIK.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SANTA CLARA BOARD OF EDUCATION, MY NAME IS LEAH KRUPNIK, AND I STAND BEFORE ALL OF YOU TODAY AS A JEWISH STUDENT, AS I KNOW MANY HAVE BEFORE ME BECAUSE WE FEEL LET DOWN.
BECAUSE WHILE WE FEEL UNSAFE ON OUR OWN CAMPUSES, THE BOARD IS PROPOSING A CEASEFIRE IN A REGION MORE THAN 7,000 MILES AWAY.
BECAUSE IN A TIME WHERE ANTISEMITISM IS AT THE HIGHEST IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE '70S WHEN THE ADL FIRST STARTED RECORDING INCIDENTS, OUR CONCERNS ARE DISMISSED AND WAVED OFF, BECAUSE WHEN WE BRING UP OUR FEARS, WE ARE MET WITH VAGUE REMARKS SUCH AS, AND I QUOTE FROM THE RESOLUTION, "WE CHERISH OUR CULTURAL RICHNESS AND STRIVE TO ENSURE ALL COMMUNITIES FEEL RESPECTED." WELL, IF YOU CARE ABOUT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION, AS YOU SAY YOU DO, INSTEAD OF GOING TO HAMAS, WHICH IN ITS OWN CHARTER TALKS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF JEWS AND OF ISRAEL, FOCUS ON THE STUDENTS IN YOUR OWN COUNTY THAT ARE HARASSING, INTIMIDATING, AND BULLYING THEIR JEWISH PEERS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMIA ISLAM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A SANTA CLARA RESIDENT WITH TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN IN FIRST AND SIXTH GRADES.
OUR BOARD MUST DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO ENSURE
[01:15:03]
THAT OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS, MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND FROM ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ETHNICITIES HAVE A SAFE LEARNING AND TEACHING ENVIRONMENT.ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WATCHING ONLINE THE HORRORS UNFOLDING IN GAZA.
IT IS A GENOCIDE BECAUSE IT IS THE DEADLIEST WAR ON JOURNALISTS AND CHILDREN IN MODERN TIMES.
MORE THAN TWO THIRDS KILLED HAVE BEEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
MOSQUES, CHURCHES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, INNOCENT CIVILIANS WAVING WHITE FLAGS HAVE BEEN INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBED AND DECIMATED.
LET'S SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CARE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS WAR BY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE IT, BUT BY NOT REMAINING SILENT, ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES IS SAYING ENOUGH KILLING, ENOUGH DESTRUCTION.
THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS WHO WORKED ON THIS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TEZ NIM ISMALI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> PALESTINE IS MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF LAND.
IT IS HOME TO PEOPLE WHO DESERVE PEACE, JUSTICE, AND DIGNITY.
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE PALESTINIANS SUFFERING IN PAIN FROM ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION, WITH HELP FROM JOE BIDEN.
DO YOU THINK IT IS FAIR THAT MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE ARE DEAD, INCLUDING CIVILIANS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, DOCTORS, REPORTERS, AND CHILDREN LIKE ME, WITH THEIR LOVED ONES BURYING THEIR FAMILIES.
ALSO QUOTED BY NELSON MANDELA, "WE KNOW TOO WELL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE FREEDOM OF THE PALESTINIANS." THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM SHAHID.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> WE KNOW TOO WELL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE FREEDOM OF THE PALESTINIANS.
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF NELSON MANDELA.
WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMING, THESE WORDS HAVE EXTRA POWER AND WEIGHT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MIRIAM SHAHID, AND I'M A SIXTH GRADER IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
OVER 10,000 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED, WITH A TOTAL OF OVER 26,000 PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DEAD IN TOTAL SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.
ABOUT ONE CHILD IS KILLED EVERY 10 MINUTES.
THESE EVENTS ARE AFFECTING US ON US SOIL, TOO.
MUSLIMS AND ARABS ARE FACING MANY MORE THREATS, AND SO ARE STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY.
PLEASE STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND VOTE FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE AND PEACE RESOLUTION NOW.
NELSON MANDELA ALSO SAID, PALESTINE IS MORE THAN A PIECE OF LAND.
IT IS HOME TO PEOPLE WHO DESERVE PEACE, JUSTICE, AND DIGNITY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM SHAHID.
AND AS A GENTLE REMINDER, IF YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ON ANOTHER ITEM TO A SIMILAR TOPIC, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOUR COMMENT AGAIN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
APOLOGIES, Y'ALL. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MITON J.
BUT I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED YOUR COMMENT ALREADY, SIR.
>> PRESIDENT, I WILL DEFER TO YOU.
>> WE WILL NOT ALLOW DUPLICATE COMMENTS.
AS I STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, I WILL NOT ALLOW DUPLICATE COMMENTS.
THOSE WERE FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[BACKGROUND] PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT.
EXCUSE ME. I'M GOING TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE AND ALL INDIVIDUALS HERE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYA BRANIKI.
AGAIN, IF YOU'VE ALREADY PRESENTED YOUR COMMENT ON A SIMILAR TOPIC, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> AGAIN, RESPECTFULLY, WE ARE APPLYING THE SAME RULES.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ON ANY RELATED TOPIC, WE ARE MOVING TO THE NEXT.
[01:20:07]
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SAME EXPECTATIONS.SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
[BACKGROUND] SO YOUR COMMENT WAS ALREADY MADE.
MA'AM, I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CLEAR THE ROOM TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL.
MA'AM, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT DUPLICATE COMMENTS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
EXCUSE ME, THE MEETING EXPECTATIONS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST WARNING.
WE ARE MOVING TO THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YOUR COMMENT WAS ALREADY MADE.
[BACKGROUND] PRESIDENT BERTA SHOULD I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER? I'M ASKING AGAIN EVERYONE PLEASE COMPLY WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS MEETING.
IF WE DON'T GET COMPLIANCE WITH THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO EVACUATE THE ROOM AND PUBLIC COMMENTS WON'T BE ABLE TO BE HEARD FROM ANYONE SO PLEASE FOLLOW THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED MODERATOR, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OREN BRIGG.
OREN BRIGG, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD FOR LISTENING TO ME THIS EVENING AS WELL AS THE LAST ONE.
CLEARLY, CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE AMENDMENT AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, FIRST OF ALL.
WE ALL WANT CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND I'M HAPPY WITH TRUSTEES' MASS SUGGESTION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT TO THE FINAL SUGGESTION.
YET THE RESOLUTION IS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA BUT FAILS TO MENTION SOUTHERN ISRAEL OR CENTRAL ISRAEL WHERE HAMAS ROCKETS ARE STILL FALLING EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, OR NORTHERN ISRAEL WHERE HEZBOLLAH IS SHOOTING MISSILES AND ROCKETS AND MANY PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THEM.
IN ADDITION, WHEN CALLED TO A CEASEFIRE JUST THIS WEEK, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, WITH OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF MATERIALS, TESTIMONIALS, AND THE WORLD-CLASS EXPERTS ON THIS MATTER DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A CEASEFIRE.
AGAIN, I'M VERY HAPPY WITH TRUSTEES' MASS SUGGESTION ABOUT WHAT THIS CAN DO, AND I PREFERRED TO FOCUS ABOUT ACTIONS TO ENSURE [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RAZ LEV.
RAZ LEV, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RAZ, I HAVE CHILDREN STUDYING IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO AVOID ISSUING RESOLUTIONS IN AREAS THAT ARE FAR BEYOND YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND I WONDER IF IT HAS ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO CONTINUE SCARING AND TERRORIZING JEWS AND ISRAELIS ALMOST LIKE SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO CONTINUE THE WORK DONE IN OCTOBER 7.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE TERRORIZED AND I ASKED YOU NOT TO CONTINUE THIS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK WHERE THE BOARD WAS WHEN A STUDENT IN SANTA CLARA IN HIS SCHOOL NEWSPAPER ABOUT HIS JOY AND PRIDE READING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 7.
I'D LIKE TO ASK WHERE THE BOARD WAS WHEN A TEACHER IN MENLO PARK ATHERTON DISTRICT TOOK MADE-UP FACTS AND TAUGHT THEM TO CHILDREN, CONFUSING THEM AND CAUSING A TERROR IN HER COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD RATHER THAN DIVIDE US TO HELP US UNITE AND WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FLORENCE ANDERSON.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS FLORENCE ANDERSON.
I'M A MOTHER TO A 16-YEAR-OLD AND SIX-YEAR-OLD IN AREA FOUR, AND I'M AN ONCOLOGY NURSE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IS VOICING SUPPORT FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE.
A CEASEFIRE IS PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE HOSTAGES, BOTH IN GAZA AND IN ISRAEL, ARE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
[01:25:01]
AS TAL MITNICK, THE 18-YEAR-OLD ISRAELI WHO WAS JAILED FOR HIS REFUSAL TO ENLIST IN THE IDF SAID THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO A POLITICAL PROBLEM.OUR CHILDREN NEED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE AND THEY NEED TO SEE OUR LEADERS SPEAKING UP WHEN CHILDREN ARE BEING HARMED.
JUST AS WE SPOKE UP FOR UKRAINIAN CHILDREN, WE SHOULD SPEAK UP FOR CHILDREN IN GAZA.
THE VIOLENCE WILL NOT STOP WITHOUT OUTSIDE FORCES STOPPING IT AND A RESOLUTION IS ONE STEP WE CAN TAKE TO END THIS VIOLENCE.
OUR VOICE MATTERS AND WE SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF USING WHATEVER POWER WE HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
LET'S JOIN UNICEF, SAVE THE CHILDREN, OXFAM, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. [NOISE]
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SAL, AND I'M FROM GILROY.
BACK AFTER THE HOLOCAUST, THE PEOPLE OF THE FREE WORLD CAME TOGETHER AND STOOD WITH OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHEN THEY'RE PROCLAIMED SO PROFOUNDLY NEVER AGAIN, SHALL WE EVER ALLOW SUCH ATROCITIES TO BE COMMITTED ON ANY PEOPLE.
HERE WE ARE TODAY MIRED INTO POLITICS OF THE BATTER AND THE SEMANTICS OF THE WORD, WHILE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED.
HOW SHAMEFUL THIS RESOLUTION SIMPLY AFFIRMS WHAT WE STOOD FOR THEN TO SAY NEVER AGAIN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELON LEBOWITZ.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A SOPHOMORE AT WILCOX HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF MY SCHOOL'S JEWISH CLUB.
>> CAN YOU BRING THEM RIGHT CLOSER, PLEASE?
I'M A SOPHOMORE AT WILCOX HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF MY SCHOOL'S JEWISH CLUB.
WHEN I FIRST OPENED THE CLUB, I RECEIVED COMMENTS ADVOCATING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL AND THE DEATH OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
YOUR RESOLUTION FAILS TO CONDEMN HAMAS.
YOUR RESOLUTION EQUATES TO CHILDREN, WOMEN, AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS KIDNAPPED ON OCTOBER 7TH, TO THE TERRORISTS WHO BRUTALLY RAPED, TORTURED, AND KILLED OVER 1,000 ISRAELIS.
YOUR RESOLUTION COMPLETELY OVERSTEPS THIS BOARD'S JURISDICTION AND IT FAILS TO ACHIEVE THE PEACE YOU SET OUT TO CREATE.
YOUR RESOLUTION DRIVES DIVISIONS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND DOES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THIS BOARD IS MEANT TO DO.
I ASK YOU REMOVE THE BIAS FROM YOUR RESOLUTION, REPLACE CEASEFIRE WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE, AND FOCUS ON PROMOTING UNITY AND PEACE WITHIN YOUR CITY. THANK YOU.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> THE PANDEMIC WAS A GLOBAL ISSUE WITH LOCAL IMPLICATIONS THE KILLING OF CHILDREN IN GAZA IS A GLOBAL ISSUE WITH LOCAL IMPLICATIONS.
TO ASK IS SIMPLE TODAY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SAME VALUES THAT YOU PUBLICLY SUPPORT AND PUT THOSE WORDS INTO ACTION ON THIS RESOLUTION OR HOW WE LIKE TO SAY TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK.
TRUSTEE DI SALVO HAS OFTEN CHAMPIONED THAT THE HEART OF EDUCATION IS EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
THE RESOLUTION TODAY REFLECTS THESE VALUES TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK.
TRUSTEE MAYA TALKS ABOUT THE VALUE OF EQUITY SUPPORT FOR THE VULNERABLE, THE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, THE RESOLUTION ALIGNS WITH EQUITY FOR ALL CHILDREN TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK.
IN THE HEART OF EVERY EDUCATIONAL MISSION LIES A FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OMAR Y.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY MANY PEOPLE HERE ARE PRESENT TO SPEAK AGAINST THE RESOLUTION.
IT CALLS FOR SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN AND IF YOU OPPOSE THAT, THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN SAY TO YOU EXCEPT SHAME ON YOU.
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BEING KILLED IN GAZA, LITTLE CHILDREN ABOVE ALL, IS EXCRUCIATING TO THINK OF INJUSTICE ANYWHERE, IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
SO HOW ARE WE OKAY AS HUMAN BEINGS WITH ALLOWING SO MANY TO BE SLAUGHTERED SO SENSELESSLY? THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S GOAL IS TO ULTIMATELY DEEM WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTY IN TERMS OF THEIR EDUCATION AND SAFETY AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW CHILDREN THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA ISN'T ALL RIGHT.
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BEING KILLED ISN'T NORMAL, AND IT'S NOT OKAY THAT A CEASEFIRE HASN'T BEEN CALLED YET.
THIS HAS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OUR TAXES ARE LARGELY
[01:30:03]
FUNDING THIS AND THE GENOCIDE AND INSTEAD OF FUNDING THE KILLING OF HUMAN BEINGS, THEY COULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SCHOOLS WE HAVE HERE AND IMPROVING THE MANY PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE ASKED FOR THE BOARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION AND ABOVE ALL, TO HAVE HUMANITY AND CALL [NOISE].>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS SO IF YOU'RE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED.
OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15, NELLY MIRANDA, SHLOMIT BLOM, SAL SELBY, DAVE [INAUDIBLE], MIKE SANFORD, YVGENI LITVIN, CONSTANTINE, LIKBIN KACHEU, SEGAL TREISTER, RONIN AND JENNY SHALAVE.
PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, AND PART OF THIS GROUP IS JESSICA LITCHOK.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I SPOKE TO YOU ON DAY 96, AND I'M HERE AGAIN ON DAY 115TH, IN WHICH THE KIDNAPPED ARE STILL HELD IN UNDERGROUND TUNNELS, AFTER THE BARBARIC ATTACK OF OCTOBER 7TH, WHICH BROKE THE CEASEFIRE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVISED WORDING OF THE RESOLUTION.
YET, AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE CHOSE NOT TO CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT MOTIVATES THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO INSIST ON INCLUDING THE DIVISIVE, BIASED, AND ONE-SIDED WORD, CEASEFIRE IN YOUR RESOLUTION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SCHLUMIT BLUM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
CONTRARY TO ITS MISSION, THE BOARD ACTED OUTSIDE ITS SCOPE AND JURISDICTION BY VOICING A POSITION ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
I OBJECT TO THIS MOVE, BUT COMMEND YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND PRODUCING A MUCH MORE BALANCED STATEMENT.
WHILE IT STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, IT'S MUCH MORE CONSIDERATE AND FAIR.
ADAPTING YOUR SPIRIT OF OPENING HANDS TO WELCOME AND SUPPORT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I'M CALLING ON ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD THE ULTIMATE PEACEFUL GOAL OF TWO STATES FOR TWO PEOPLE.
LET PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI AMERICANS FORM A THINK TANK TO COOPERATIVELY CREATE A BRIDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAL SASBY.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SAL SASBY, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SAN JOSE.
I'M A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST AND A FORMER SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS.
THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN BY ISRAEL IS AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN HERE.
FAMILIES, INCLUDING CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, ARE WAKING UP EVERY DAY TO THE NEWS OF THEIR LOVED ONES BEING DISPLACED AND KILLED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA CAN HAVE PROFOUND EFFECTS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO NEWS ABOUT VIOLENCE AND DISPLACEMENT IN GAZA MAY LEAD TO INCREASED STRESS, ANXIETY, AND TRAUMA.
AN URGENT AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE ALL OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN HATE-FREE SCHOOLS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KAMAL SIF.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KAMAL. YES, GOLAN HEIGHTS ARE NOT PALESTINIAN.
THEY'RE SYRIAN AND CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL, ACCORDING TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 497.
WHAT'S MORE PAINFUL THAN MURDERING PALESTINIANS
[01:35:03]
IS TO MURDER THE IDEA OF PALESTINE AND PALESTINIANS.ISRAEL STOLE THE LAND, STOLE THE CULTURE, KILLED AND DISPLACED THE PALESTINIANS, AND YET HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PLAY THE VICTIM.
WHAT BEING, THEY'RE ASKED TO CONTINUE THE KILLING AND CLAIM TO HAVE A SHRED OF HUMANITY IN THEM.
IT IS LOCAL. IT IS AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN.
KILLING CHILDREN IS WRONG AND SAVAGE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PLIGHT OF EVERY OPPRESSED.
YES, THIS IS OUR DUTY AS HUMANS, EDUCATORS AND KEEPERS OF HISTORY.
IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO FIND AN EXCUSE NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S EASY TO HIDE IN FEAR OF THE ZIONIST BULLYING AND BE A COMPLACENT PARTICIPANT IN THIS GENOCIDE.
IT IS HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING, PASS THE RESOLUTION, AND ALSO ASK FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, INCLUDING PALESTINIAN HOSTAGES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A ANU NAIR.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> NAMASTE EVERYONE. I'M A ANU NAIR, A HINDU AMERICAN, LEGALLY LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.
I'M ALWAYS A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, PAYING MY TAXES, NOT AVAILING ANY UNDESERVED BENEFITS FROM THIS COUNTRY.
FIRST, I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO ALL THESE SPEAKERS, I THOUGHT I WAS IN A WRONG ROOM, AND I WAS SITTING IN ONE OF THE UN HEADQUARTERS.
WHEN I REALIZED I WAS IN A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, I JUST GOOGLED, WHAT'S THE SANTA CLARA SCHOOL BOARD MISSION? THE GOOGLE SHORT IS THAT IT IS PROVIDE, ENGAGING, AND AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO ALL STUDENTS.
I'M NOT SURE THIS IS SOMETHING INNOVATIVE HAPPENING OVER HERE.
THERE ARE MANY HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS WHICH NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND ADDRESSED IN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS REGARDING THE QUALITY AND THE FUTURE OF THE STUDENTS.
IT IS SAD TO SEE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS TAKING TIME TO DISCUSS THESE PROPAGANDA POLITICAL ITEMS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE SANFORD.
MIKE SANFORD, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MIKE SANFORD.
I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN SANTA CLARA.
I HAVE TWO SONS THAT HAVE ATTENDED SANTA CLARA HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE YES, ON RESOLUTION 3B.
AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, I FIND IT MY DUTY TO STOP MY GOVERNMENT FROM COMMITTING THIS PROXY GENOCIDE IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE ARE FUNDING THIS WAR.
I HAVE VISITED GAZA, I HAVE VISITED THE WEST BANK, THERE IS AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF CIVILIAN DEATH AND DESTRUCTION THAT IS GOING ON.
THE EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, FOOD SYSTEMS HAVE ALMOST BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
THE CHILD FATALITY RATE HAS REACHED UP TO 80 TIMES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER CONFLICT THIS CENTURY.
SOME VIEW THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS COMPLEX, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE NEED MORE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AROUND THIS ISSUE.
PLEASE JOIN SANTA CLARA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION IN SANTA CLARA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND RELEASE ALL THE HOSTAGES. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YVGENI LITVIN.
YVGENI LITVIN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I AM PARENT OF THREE CHILDREN IN SANTA CLARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I'M IMPRESSED AND APPLAUD THE INTEGRITY OF TRUSTEES, WHO ATTENTIVELY LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOUND RIGHT WORDS FOR UNIFYING THE COMMUNITY, ALMOST ALL RIGHT WORDS.
WITH SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENT, THE NEW RESOLUTION COULD COMMUNICATE A BALANCED MESSAGE AIMED AT FOSTERING UNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
LAST WEEK, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE DECIDED NOT TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, AS IT DENIES LAWFUL RIGHT OF A COUNTRY FOR SELF DEFENSE.
THE INCLUSION OF CEASEFIRE IN THE RESOLUTION MEANS THE BOARD DOUBTS ISRAEL'S RIGHT FOR SELF DEFENSE AND HENCE ITS RIGHT TO EXIST.
TRUSTEE BURDER MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S HER STAND TODAY BY OPPOSING THE AMENDMENT.
UNLESS CEASEFIRE IS REPLACED WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO WOULD OBJECT, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KONSTANTIN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
KONSTANTIN, K-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N. ARE THEY NOT HERE? MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, LIK BIN KATU.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
AS A RESIDENT, PARENT, AND TAXPAYER OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW ALL SEVEN OF YOU ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR LANE.
HOW INFURIATING IT IS TO FIND OUT THAT YOU, WHO WERE HIRED TO ESTABLISH AND OVERSEE COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS, SERVE AS A PELLET BODY FOR STUDENT EXPULSIONS AND INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS.
[01:40:02]
EDUCATE SPECIFIC STUDENT POPULATION, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DISENFRANCHISED YOUTH.INSTEAD, YOU'RE WASTING OUR HARD EARNED TAXPAYER MONEY, TIME, AND RESOURCES TO PUT OUT RESOLUTION REGARDING MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS.
IT'S NEITHER YOUR ROLE NOR YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE TO ISSUE ANY OPINION, RESOLUTION, STATEMENT, LETTER ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
LET'S SEE IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING YOUR ACTUAL JOB PER THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY OF EDUCATORS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SIGAL TRESTER.
>> SIGAL TRESTER, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SIGAL TRESTER AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS AN AMERICAN ISRAELI AND AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA.
I MOVED HERE 18 YEARS AGO, AND I HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
EVER SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, MY KIDS HAVE SUFFERED HORRIBLE ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE SCHOOL.
JUST LAST WEEK, MY NINE YEAR OLD WAS TOLD BY A CLASSMATE THAT ALL ISRAELIS ARE BAD AND THAT SHE SHOULD STOP KILLING PALESTINIANS.
MY DAUGHTER WAS OVERWHELMED WITH ANXIETY.
SHE REPLIED, SHE'S NOT KILLING ANYONE AND SHE ONLY WANTS PEACE.
SHE FELT VERY UNSAFE IN HER OWN SCHOOL.
MY DAUGHTERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE ACCUSED BECAUSE OF THEIR ORIGINS.
I URGE YOU TO KEEP POLITICS OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND AVOID TAKING SIDES ON THIS TOPIC.
WE ONLY WANT PEACE AND HOPE YOU CAN HELP US. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RONIT, R-O-N-I-T.
PLEASE PRESENT YOUR COMMENT AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RONIT AND I'M A PARENT IN SANTA CLARA.
I ASK THAT YOU REMOVE CEASEFIRE TERM AND REPLACE IT WITH LASTING PEACE.
WHY? BECAUSE IN JUNE 2008, THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE THAT BROKE FIVE DAYS LATER WHEN HAMAS SHOT ROCKETS AT ISRAELI CITIES.
I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS THERE WHEN A HAMAS ROCKET LANDED NEXT TO WHERE I WORKED.
IN JANUARY '09, THE CEASEFIRE LASTED TWO WEEKS BEFORE HAMAS SHOT MISSILES AGAIN.
NOVEMBER 2012, AUGUST 2014, AND JUNE 2021, ANOTHER MULTIPLE CEASEFIRES WHICH LASTED UNTIL OCTOBER 7TH, 2023 WHEN HAMAS BRUTALLY BROKE IT.
CEASEFIRE DOESN'T WORK, LASTING PEACE DOES LIKE ISRAEL HAS WITH EGYPT FOR 45 YEARS, JORDAN FOR 30 YEARS AND OF COURSE THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS FROM 2020 BETWEEN ISRAEL AND UAE, BAHRAIN, MOROCCO, SUDAN, AND UGANDA.
SUSTAINABLE PEACE IS THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY DRIVES A CHANGE AND LASTING IMPACT.
PLEASE FOCUS YOUR MESSAGE ON SUSTAINED PEACE AND REMOVE CEASEFIRE LANGUAGE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY SHALEV.
JENNY SHALEV, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS JENNY. I LIVE IN SUNNYVALE AND MY KIDS ATTEND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS IN OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY ARE EXPERIENCING AN ALARMING INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITISM.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THIS NEWSPAPER THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN A HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT, WITH A STUDENT STATING THAT HE FEELS AWFUL FOLLOWING THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK.
THE WORST ATTACK ON JEWS SINCE THE HOLOCAUST.
IN THIS CLIMATE, IT IS CRUCIAL TO PROMOTE A RESOLUTION THAT REDUCES TENSIONS AND THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT.
I ASK TO REPLACE THE POLITICALLY DIVISIVE TERM, CEASEFIRE WITH A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE REJECTED A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE TO REFRAIN FROM DENYING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITS CITIZENS.
EIGHTY FIVE YEARS AGO, MY GRANDFATHER JACOB, AND MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER RACHEL, DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
RACHEL AND JACOB WERE THE SOLE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS FROM THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES.
IT WOULD BE VERY PAINFUL TO DENY THEIR RIGHT TODAY, 85 YEARS LATER.
>> PLEASE OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA BLITCHOK.
JESSICA BLITCHOK, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JESSICA BLITCHOK, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF JEWISH SILICON VALLEY.
THE WORK OF THE JCRC PRIORITIZES THE ELIMINATION OF HATE IN ALL OF ITS FORMS. UNFORTUNATELY, RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR DO THE OPPOSITE, INCREASING TENSIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND INFLAMING ANTI-SEMITIC AND ISLAMOPHOBIC HATE.
AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JCRC BELIEVES THAT IT IS NOT WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO WEIGH IN ON COMPLICATED AND RAPIDLY UNFOLDING GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICTS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANGES MADE TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGE MANY OF THE CONCERNS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, IF THE BOARD WERE TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, ALL DIVISIVE LANGUAGE MUST BE REMOVED.
THE LANGUAGE OF CEASEFIRE MUST BE REPLACED WITH LANGUAGE OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF
[01:45:01]
ALL PEOPLES OR SUSTAINED PEACE AND THE LANGUAGE OF ALL HOSTAGES SHOULD BE AMENDED TO READ, ALL HOSTAGES IN GAZA.TO ENSURE EACH AND EVERY SANTA CLARA STUDENT FEELS SAFE AND VALUED.
THE COMMUNITY IS BEST SERVED BY A DISTRICT THAT AVOIDS DIVISIVE RESOLUTIONS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS.
AS A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
>> MODERATOR BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH THE NEXT ROUND, WE DO NEED TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK TO ADDRESS.
I'M ASKING TRUSTEES TO PLEASE BE BACK HERE BY 6:51.
WE WILL TAKE A BREAK TILL 6:51 [BACKGROUND]
>> THANK YOU FOR QUIETING DOWN AND TAKING YOUR SEATS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RESUME PUBLIC COMMENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY MORE?
>> MODERATOR, ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE HOW MANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE?
>> I'M SORRY. PRESIDENT BERTA, CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR.
>> IF I COULD ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE.
THANK YOU. MODERATOR, HOW MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS DO WE HAVE REMAINING?
>> BY OUR ESTIMATION, AT LEAST 100.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE IN OUR OVERFLOW ROOMS, IN THE CAFETERIA OR IN THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME SO YOU CAN PROCEED TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM TO PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, NIKKI FLOWERS, SERRI S., ELEANOR T., DONNA WERTALIK, SEDIA SHEMIM, ANNA STEPPENIKE , CORIN F. APOLOGIES. MIRIAM ROTMAN, TAMARI, JANE [INAUDIBLE] ESTY, OTHMAN ASSAD, AND MICHAL LAPEL.
PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS NIKKI FLOWERS.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT. NIKKI FLOWERS.
>> I'M NIKKI FLOWERS. I'M A QUEER AND TRANS PERSON AND A FUTURE EDUCATOR WHO SPENT NEARLY ALL THEIR EDUCATION IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM THE GRANDCHILD OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.
MY FAMILY'S JEWISH HERITAGE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNOW GENOCIDE WHEN I SEE IT.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS, NOT IN SPITE OF THEM, THAT I URGE YOU, IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
CLAIMS THAT THIS RESOLUTION ARE DIVISIVE, ARE FALSE.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE DIVISIVE THAN ALLOWING GENOCIDE TO CONTINUE AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE UNIFYING THAN CALLING FOR PEACE AND LIBERATION, WHICH IS CEASEFIRE AS THE FIRST ESSENTIAL STEP TO ACHIEVING.
OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING JEWISH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT WAS PERFECTLY DEMONSTRATED AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN THE VERY PEOPLE CLAIMING TO SUPPOSEDLY WANT TO PROTECT JEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY YELL DEATH THREATS AT ME FOR SUPPORTING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
ALL INSTITUTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION, HAVE THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO STOP GENOCIDE.
CEASEFIRE NOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARIT S. SARIT S PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS SARIT AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PALO ALTO.
I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE REDRAFTED RESOLUTION WHICH IS BETTER BUT STILL PROBLEMATIC.
CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE WILL ONLY INCREASE TENSION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT.
MOREOVER, EVEN THE INTERNATIONAL COURT IN THE HAGUE DID NOT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HERSELF FROM HAMAS, WHOSE CHARTER CALLS FOR HER DESTRUCTION.
IF YOU INSIST ON ISSUING A RESOLUTION, IT NEEDS TO BE BALANCED.
PLEASE CALL FOR A SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE REGION, NOT A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
AFTER ALL, ISRAEL CONTINUES TO BE BOMBARDED BY HAMAS, AND HEZBOLLAH FIRED ROCKETS DAILY AND 136 ISRAELI HOSTAGES, INCLUDING A ONE YEAR OLD BABY, HAVE BEEN HELD BY HAMAS FOR FOUR MONTHS WITH NO VISIT FROM THE RED CROSS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELEANOR T. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
ON OCTOBER 7 OUR LIVES CHANGED FOREVER WHEN IRAN'S PROXY,
[01:50:03]
THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION HAMAS, LAUNCHED THE MOST MASSIVE, BARBARIC, AND BRUTAL MURDER OF JEWS IN ONE DAY SINCE THE HOLOCAUST.ISRAEL IS FIGHTING FOR ITS VERY EXISTENCE.
WHEN IT COMES TO JEWS, THE WORLD IS QUICKLY FORGOTTEN SO LET ME REMIND YOU THAT OCTOBER 7 IS THE SECOND LARGEST TERRORIST ATTACK, SECOND ONLY TO 911.
WILL THE US TOLERATE THE PRESENCE AND EXISTING THREAT OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IN ITS BORDERS? DID THE BOARD CALLED A CEASEFIRE IN THE BLOODY AFGHAN WAR, FUNDED BY OUR TAXES? ADVOCATING FOR A CEASEFIRE SHOWS A DOUBLE STANDARD AND IS AN ANTI SEMITIC STANCE, TREATING ISRAEL DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER NATIONS.
MUCH LIKE THE CHANT FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE HAVE TURNED INTO ANOTHER SUBTLE WAY OF CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWISH STATE.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE FOR PEACE AND REMOVE HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA WALLICK.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I'M JEWISH AND LIVED IN ISRAEL FOR 15 YEARS.
I LIVED IN GAZA FOR FOUR MONTHS IN 2008 AND WAS NEVER IN DANGER FROM THE PALESTINIANS OR HAMAS ISLAMIC RESISTANCE MOVEMENT.
THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION IS GENOCIDAL AND HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE 1920S.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON A RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE SO THAT ISRAEL WILL STOP TARGETING PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN, AND STOP BOMBING HOMES, HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, WHEREVER THE PALESTINIANS ARE.
THERE MUST ALSO BE A DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE PERMANENT END TO THE COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT SEIZE ON GAZA.
THE PALESTINIANS LIVING THERE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTROL THEIR LAND, SEA AND AIR BORDERS.
THEY MUST HAVE FOOD TO EAT, WATER TO DRINK, BATHE AND COOK WITH.
THEY MUST ALSO RECEIVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND BUILDING SUPPLIES.
ISRAEL DENIES THEM THESE THINGS.
THE PALESTINIANS ARE KIND, LOVING, AND GENEROUS AND TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SO.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SADIA SHAMIM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS SADIA SHAMIM.
CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE WHICH IS PEACE SHOULD NEVER BE CONTROVERSIAL.
ALL CHILDREN OF ALL FAITH, ETHNICITIES, AND BACKGROUND SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
ALL CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN OF LIGHT, BY ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF PEACE, YOU WILL BE FOSTERING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT VIEWS CAN ENGAGE IN A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE.
THIS RESOLUTION SHOWS OUR MUSLIM CHILDREN THAT THEIR VOICE, THEIR VIEWS, THEIR EMOTIONAL HEALTH IS AS IMPORTANT AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
I REMEMBER ALL TOO WELL THE RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE US AFTER 911, AND HOW MY TEACHERS, MY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, FAILED TO PROTECT ME AS A MUSLIM STUDENT FROM HARASSMENT AND BULLYING.
ISLAMOPHOBIA IS ON THE RISE AGAIN.
SOME SOURCES STATE 200% AND LIKE ME IN HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN NOW IN THE WORKFORCE, WE DO NOT REPORT OUR ISLAMOPHOBIC INCIDENTS AGAINST US AND SO THESE STATISTICS ONLY CAPTURE A FRACTION OF TRAUMA MUSLIM STUDENTS FACE.
MUSLIM GIRLS ARE BEING ASSAULTED WITH THE HIJABS BEING RIPPED OFF IN SCHOOL AND THERE'S RETRIBUTION [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA STEPANENKO.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS ANNA STEPANENKO, MY FAMILY LIVES IN SUNNYVALE.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION ASKS FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
WHO DO YOU ADDRESS THIS CALL TO? ISRAEL, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, HOUTHIS, IRAN? THE LAST CEASEFIRE WAS BROKEN BY HAMAS FIRING ROCKETS.
IT WAS A CEASEFIRE ON OCTOBER 6.
ABOUT 15,000 ROCKETS HAVE BEEN FIRED INTO ISRAEL SINCE OCTOBER 7.
THE GOAL OF HAMAS IS TO KILL JEWS AND DESTROY ISRAEL.
THEY REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVEN AFTER OCTOBER 7.
SHOULD ISRAEL DEFEND ITSELF AND ITS PEOPLE? WE ALL MOURN THE DEATH OF CIVILIANS IN GAZA.
ISRAELIS PEOPLE WANT IT THE MOST.
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIKE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN DYING IS HAMAS.
THEY USE THOSE CHILDREN TO RAISE ANTI-ISRAEL MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD. THEY USE THEM.
THIS BOARD WOULD ACCEPT ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTION, THOSE RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT FOR PEACE [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KARINE F. KERINE F, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KARINE FAGERBERG.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR YEARS, WRITING AND REVISING CURRICULUMS IN THE STATES AND ABROAD.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, US EDUCATORS ARE TAUGHT TO BE NEUTRAL.
WE'RE TAUGHT TO LET OUR STUDENTS MAKE UP THEIR MINDS AND WE'RE DEFINITELY TAUGHT TO NEVER IMPOSE OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS.
IN THE LAST 117 DAYS, MY STUDENTS NEEDED TO HIDE THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY.
THEY'RE BEING SCRUTINIZED AND HARASSED BY
[01:55:01]
SUPPORTING THE JEWISH STATE AND LOST MANY FRIENDS.DO YOU KNOW WHEN ANTI-SEMITISM WAS LAST IMPLEMENTED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM? IN NAZI GERMANY AND THAT WASN'T LONG AGO.
LAST TIME I CHECKED, THIS WASN'T NAZI GERMANY.
I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU AREN'T SHARING THE SAME IDEOLOGY.
YOU'RE TURNING YOUR BACKS ON OUR KIDS BY PROMOTING YOUR PERSONAL POLITICAL AGENDAS.
LOOK AROUND THE ROOM BECAUSE OF THIS RESOLUTION, YOU HAVE CONSCIOUSLY DIVIDED AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM ROTMAN.
MIRIAM ROTMAN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MIRIAM ROTMAN, I'M PALO ALTO RESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU GRACE [INAUDIBLE] FOR YOUR AMENDMENTS.
I'M VERY SORRY THAT I HAVE TO STAND UP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION WHICH IS WITHIN MY OPINION.
TOTALLY NOT WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE SANTA CLARA BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEALING WITH.
INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH REAL ISSUES, YOU'RE DEALING WITH DIVIDING ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT LISTENING TO EACH OTHER BUT WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IS ANOTHER THING.
TRUSTEE LARRY, YOU MENTIONED CEASEFIRE.
MAY I MENTION THAT ONE NEW HAVEN IS NOT A LOCAL INSTITUTION THAT IS FOR CEASEFIRE.
TWO, THE JEWISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SANTA CLARA WAS AGAINST CEASEFIRE.
CEASEFIRE IS NOT THE SOLUTION [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHALAPID OR MICHAL LAPEL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY [OVERLAPPING]
TODAY, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU NOT TO CONSIDER ADDING A CEASEFIRE TO THE RESOLUTION.
AS A PROUD AMERICAN JEWISH ISRAELI, THE BIAS OF THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ONLY HURTFUL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THE COMMUNITY WHO'S PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THIS BLOODY WAR.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL SIDES ARE IN PAIN, ARE MOURNING AND ARE SCARED.
AS MUCH AS I WISH IT, THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOT END THIS WAR, WILL NOT MOTIVATE THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES KIDNAPPED INHUMANELY BY HAMAS, AND WILL NOT BRING BACK TO LIFE THOSE MURDERED, BRUTALIZED AND GONE FOREVER.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL CAUSE HATE, DIVISION, AND FRACTURE OUR COMMUNITY.
ON OCTOBER 7TH, OUR LIVES CHANGED FOREVER.
PLEASE DO WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO.
IMPROVE ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ALL AND KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAY OUT OF AFFAIRS WHICH ARE BEYOND YOUR JURISDICTION AND CAN ONLY HURT THE LIVES OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OTHMAN ASSAD.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS OTHMAN ASSAD.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND STUDYING THE ISSUE.
JUST LIKE WE TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, WE NEED TO TEACH YOU ABOUT GENOCIDE IN GAZA.
I'M A PALESTINIAN, I GREW UP IN A REFUGEE.
THERE IS 6,000 HOSTAGES NOW KIDNAPPED FROM THE WEST BANK SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.
THERE IS HOSTAGES ON BOTH SIDES YOU NEED TO RELEASE ALL OF THEM.
GAZA HAS BEEN BOMBED IN 2008, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, AND STILL GOING.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR PAIN SO YOU CAN HEAL YOURSELF [OVERLAPPING]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ESTY AND I'M A SUNNYVALE RESIDENT.
I HAVE TWO BOYS IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSED REVOLUTION.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO REFER TO WHAT I WAS TOLD RIGHT NOW AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE ARE NO HOSTAGES IN ISRAEL.
THE PEOPLE HELD BY ISRAEL ARE HAMAS TERRORISTS.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MENTION THAT WHAT THE MOTHER OF THE HANDICAPPED CHILD THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK AGAIN FOR A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM WANTED TO SAY IS THE SAME THING SHE TOLD PRESIDENT VERDE WHEN THE TWO TALKED YESTERDAY.
THAT IS, WHEN STUDENTS ARE IMPACTED,
[02:00:04]
YOU DON'T ISSUE A BIASED RESOLUTION.YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD IS TO CREATE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS TO COME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TORMER OR TOMEZ, LL OR UGEL?
>> SORRY. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS TORMER.
HAVING THREE KIDS IN SANTA CLARA FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION.
PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT SUCH DECISION THAT YOU ARE TAKING HERE HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN A MENLO PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL, A CHILD WAS CHASED, CHANTED F-ING JEW.
WORDS HAVE MEANING. WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN ACADEMIC DISCUSSION HERE ON AN IVORY TOWER ON EVENTS FAR AWAY, WHERE ANY DECISION HERE DOES NOT CARRY ANY REAL WEIGHT IN THE REAL WORLD, HAVE MASSIVE IMPACT AND WEIGHT HERE ON OUR CHILDREN AND OUR KIDS HERE LOCALLY IMPACTING REAL LIFE AND REAL CHILDREN.
PLEASE ASK YOURSELF, WHAT ARE THE TRUE RAMIFICATION OF THESE DEBATES HERE? HOW JEW HATRED GROWS DRAMATICALLY IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW WELL OUTPACING ANY OTHER TYPE OF HATRED, RESONATING TERRIBLE EVENTS AND TERRIBLE VOICES FROM 70, 80 YEARS AGO.
WORDS HAVE MEANING LOCALLY. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANE FERSTEIN.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS JANE FERSTEIN AND I'M A PARENT FROM CITY OF SANTA CLARA.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR REVISING THE RESOLUTION.
ALTHOUGH THE PARAGRAPH ABOUT HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE IN GAZA SHOULD BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT'S ANTI-SEMITIC.
ONE SIDED CEASE FIRE OPTION IS A SUICIDE FOR ISRAEL BECAUSE IF HAMAS IS NOT DEFEATED IN THIS WAR, THE OCTOBER 7 HOLOCAUST EVENTS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND THEY WILL BE PERMANENT THREAT TO ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN ISRAEL.
ISRAEL IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC STATE IN MIDDLE EAST AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PARTY TO COLONIAL STATE.
TWENTY PERCENT OF ITS POPULATION IS ARABS WITH EQUAL RIGHTS.
ISRAEL IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT IN THE WARTIME MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO SAVE AND PROTECT THE ENEMY'S SIDE CIVILIAN POPULATION, SOMETIMES WITH THEIR LIVES.
HAMAS DOES THE OPPOSITE BY KILLING PALESTINIANS THAT ARE TRYING TO EVACUATE AND USING THEM AS A HUMAN SHIELD.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S CONTINUOUSLY FIRING ROCKETS AT ISRAELI CITIES FROM HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.
THERE CANNOT BE ALSO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION IN THIS WAR SINCE THERE IS NO REASONING WITH THE TERRORISTS THAT ARE KEEPING HOSTAGES UNDERGROUND IN A INHUMANE CONDITIONS, TORTURING AND RAPING.
>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS.
AS A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOMS, IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
OUR NEXT GROUP, GILLY YAHOM, IRINA KRUPNIK, CHADI OR SHADI, MAWAN N, SHAREN O, HANAN O, CARMEL JOHNSON.
MAYA ELDER KADAR, STAB ASHERI, JESSICA SPEISER, JUDY ANDERSON, GALIT SALOM OR SOLOMON, HALIT KASHANII, UNIV BENUSEN.
PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GILLY YAHALOM.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
AS A CUSD PARENT, I'M DISAPPOINTED OF YOU OUR REPRESENTATIVE.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, YOU ARE ACTING LIKE THE US FOREIGN MINISTERS AND NOT WORKING TO CREATE A BETTER EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE HEARD PEOPLE USING THE WORD GENOCIDE.
NEVER IN HISTORY HAS THERE BEEN A GENOCIDE THAT COULD BE ENDED BY A TERRORIST GROUP HANDING OVER HOSTAGES AND SURRENDERING.
THIS IS A TRAGIC WAR FOR EVERYONE, NOT A GENOCIDE.
WELL, THIS BOARD IS ISSUING AN EXTREME BIASED RESOLUTION.
JUST LAST WEEK, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WITH ALL ITS EXPERIENCED MILITARY AND FOREIGN EXPERTISE, ISSUE A WELL BALANCED RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PERMANENT PEACE, DISMANTLE OF HAMAS, AND RETURN OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGE FROM HAMAS CAPTIVITY.
WHY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MIDDLE EAST THAN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT? PLEASE CHOOSE OUR COUNTY CHILDREN OVER YOUR POLITICAL INTEREST. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS IRINA KRUPNIK.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS IRINA KRUPNIK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SUNNYVALE AND THE PARENT OF A HIGH SCHOOLER IN SUNNYVALE.
[02:05:04]
IN YOUR REVISED RESOLUTION, YOU SUGGEST A CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE AND A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION.WHEN DISCUSSING NEGOTIATION FOR A PEACE, WE MUST DO REALITY CHECK AND UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES.
ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE ISRAEL, THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT HAS MADE NUMEROUS PEACE OFFERS OVER THE YEARS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE HAMAS, A DESIGNATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, JUST RECENTLY DECLINED THE LATEST CEASE FIRE PROPOSAL FROM ISRAEL.
HAMAS CHARTER EXPLICITLY CALLS FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWS, UNDERMINING ANY PEACE OFFERS AND EFFORTS.
JUST DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHARTER, ARTICLE 7.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT WILL NOT COME ABOUT UNTIL MUSLIMS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS CHADI OR SHADI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE FIVE COMMENTS.
NUMBER 1, I'M DISAPPOINTED AND DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION WERE NOT EDUCATED ON THE TOPIC OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS HAPPENING IN GAZA DURING THE LAST MEETING.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DECADES LONG CONFLICT.
SINCE THEN, APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF CHILDREN WERE KILLED OR INJURED AS THE ENTIRETY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS.
THIS CRISIS DEATH TOLL HAS NEVER BEEN PRECEDENTED IN THIS CENTURY.
OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS BOARD PREVIOUSLY PASSED A MOTION REGARDING RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE SUPPORTING UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, SO 3B IS NOT A GLOBAL ISSUE.
IT'S ALSO UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, NOT UKRAINIAN AMERICANS.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINIANS AS THEY ARE AND THEN SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN AMERICANS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I OPPOSE THE BIAS OF THE AWARDING OF JEWISH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, ISRAELI AMERICAN, ARAB AMERICAN, PALESTINIAN.
LET'S HAVE IT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER PLEASE, SO THAT THERE IS NO BIAS IN THIS WORDING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAWAN N. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MAWAN.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION WITH A CLEAR CALL FOR A PERMANENT HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE ON ALL SIDES.
CEASE FIRE IS ASKING FOR THE IMMEDIATE STOPPING OF KILLING OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ON ALL SIDES.
I THINK THERE'S A CONFUSION BETWEEN THE ACTUAL CEASEFIRE, WHICH THE MIDDLE EAST NEEDS, AND THE CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE AND STANDING BY A CEASE FIRE, WHICH OUR STUDENTS HERE NEED TO SEE AND NEED TO HEAR OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORTING JUSTICE DESPITE OF INTIMIDATION, ACCUSATION, AND PROPAGANDA AGAINST THAT.
IT'S OUR HUMAN DUTY TO SUPPORT JUSTICE AND PEACE EVERYWHERE REGARDLESS.
THIS IS HOW WE'RE BEING ROLE MODELS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I TRUST YOU AND I TRUST YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE TO NOT BE INTIMIDATED AND VOTE YES ON A RESOLUTION WITH A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN IT. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAREN O.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> I'M A RESIDENT EMPLOYEE AND MOTHER IN SANTA CLARA, AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION WITH A CLEAR AND URGENT CALL FOR IMMEDIATE, A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO LIVE HERE, OUR CHILDREN, WHO ARE ASKING WHY.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF CHILDREN'S SAFETY.
OUR CHILDREN SPEND MOST OF THEIR DAYS IN CLASSROOMS WHERE WE AS PARENTS MUST TRUST THEY FEEL SAFE IN THEIR IDENTITY.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGION, RACE, ETHNICITY, OR BELIEFS ARE SAFE AND REPRESENTED.
PLEASE SUPPORT CEASE FIRE AND REJECT VIOLENCE.
OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES ARE COUNTING ON YOU. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANAN O.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS HANNAH. I LIVE HERE AND I GRADUATED HERE.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THEIR RESOLUTION WITH A CLEAR CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE THAT COMMUNICATES THE URGENCY.
WE'RE HOPING TO STOP THE KILLING ON BOTH SIDES.
THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR THEM OVER THERE AND THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR US HERE AND FOR OUR KIDS.
IT'S CRUCIAL FOR THEM TO WITNESS AND TO HEAR YOUR CALL FOR IT.
URGENT CEASE-FIRE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OUR JEWISH, MUSLIM CHRISTIANS, AND PALESTINIANS, AND ALL STUDENTS DESERVE TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN A HATE FREE SCHOOLS.
IT'S THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE
[02:10:02]
A SAFE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA.SUPPORT A CEASE-FIRE, REJECT VIOLENCE, OUR STUDENTS ARE COUNTING ON YOU, WATCHING YOU, AND LEARNING FROM YOU, AND IN MY OPINION, THIS IS THE BEST USE OF THIS BOARD'S TIME TO LISTEN TO CONCERNED PARENTS ABOUT THEIR KIDS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARMEL JOHNSON.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> CARMEL JOHNSON, FUHSD PARENT.
EVERY MOMENT THIS BOARD SPENDS ON THIS RESOLUTION IS A THEFT OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES FROM THE VULNERABLE STUDENTS WHO ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTIONS ARE THE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA GOAL OF A CERTAIN LOBBYING APPARATUS.
THEY DO NOT PROMOTE LASTING PEACE NOR DO THEY REPRESENT CONSENSUS.
TRUSTEE BERTA, YOU REVEALED YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN YOU WERE ASKED TO CHAMPION PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OR LASTING PEACE INSTEAD OF THE POLITICAL DOG WHISTLE CEASEFIRE AND YOU REFUSED.
YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT PEACE OR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO WRITE THIS SHIP AND I AM ASKING YOU TO BACK AWAY FROM THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, THIS STUFF IS NOT YOUR JOB.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE EDUCATING OUR COUNTY'S MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, NOT BEING A MOUTHPIECE FOR CARE.
A PROFESSIONAL LOBBYING ORGANIZATION THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DISAVOWED BY THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE FOR ITS CELEBRATION OF TERRORISM.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYA ELDER CADAR.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I'M MAYA ELDER CADAR, A TAXPAYING CITIZEN AND RESIDENT.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ALL TALK AND RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON CAPITOL HILL.
I KNOW YOU TRIED TO AMEND THIS RESOLUTION, BUT YOU DIDN'T SUCCEED.
YOU CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, YOU SHOULD BE CALLING FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THERE WAS A CEASE-FIRE, THERE WERE MANY, AND HAMAS BROKE ALL OF THEM.
AND JUST TODAY REJECTED ANOTHER.
THE EU AND THE ICJ HAD UNDERSTOOD THAT IF YOU WANT A CEASEFIRE, YOU NEED TO CALL HAMAS.
WHEN YOU USE THE WORDS ALL HOSTAGES, YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE NARRATIVE, COMPARING PRISONERS WHO ARE HELD IN PRISON IN ISRAEL AFTER COMMITTING MURDEROUS ACTS OF TERROR TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ABDUCTED BY HAMAS TERRORIST ORGANIZATION ON OCTOBER 7 FROM THEIR HOMES IN ISRAEL AND DRAGGED INTO GAZA.
YES, OUR STUDENTS ARE IMPACTED AND YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD IS NOT EMPTY WORDS AS A BIASED RESOLUTION, IT IS TO GUIDE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SET POLICIES TO PROTECT ALL STUDENTS.
FOCUS ON THE GOALS AND THE MISSION OF SANTA CLARA BOARD OF EDUCATION TO IMPROVE, INCLUDE EQUITABLE, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROVIDE QUALITY SUPPORT FOR ALL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STAV ASHURI.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS STAV AND I'M A FATHER OF TWO IN SUNNYVALE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DISTINGUISHED TRUSTEES, I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND, AT THIS HISTORIC MOMENT, THERE IS NOTHING MORE TONE DEAF, NOTHING MORE OFFENSIVE, YOU CAN SAY TO AN ISRAELI, ANY ISRAELI, THAN CEASE-FIRE.
I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO A STATEMENT ISSUED BY MAYOR LONDON BREED OF SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH TO ME, DEMONSTRATES WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
WE SHOULD BE COMING TOGETHER, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, SEEKING THE COHESION AT HOME THAT WE HOPE FOR ABROAD.
THE BOARD HAS DONE THE OPPOSITE, AND I WORRY THE IRRESPONSIBILITY WILL CONTINUE WHEN WE ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY, WE SHOULD STILL CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PAIN AND ARE AFRAID.
WE OPEN OUR ARMS AND OUR MINDS AND WE MUST GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA SPEISER.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
HI, I'M JESSICA SPEISER AND I'M LSD TRUSTEE AND SCCSBA PRESIDENT.
BUT ONLY SPEAK ON MY OWN BEHALF.
I REQUEST AGAIN, THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION.
I RESPECT AND APPLAUD THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THE REVISED RESOLUTION, BUT AS I EXPLAINED IN YOUR LAST MEETING AS SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES.
WE ARE ELECTED AND ENTRUSTED WITH ENSURING THAT ALL THE STUDENTS IN OUR CARE GET A GREAT EDUCATION.
WE ARE NOT ELECTED TO DEAL OR COMMENT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
IN LIEU OF COMMENTING ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE BOARD, LIKE MY OWN, SHOULD BE SPENDING ITS TIME FOCUSING ON THE BEST, MOST EQUITABLE EDUCATION FOR ALL COUNTY STUDENTS.
THAT INCLUDES CRITICAL THINKING, ANTI HATE, RESPECT FOR ALL CULTURES, AND TRAINING FOR ALL TEACHERS IN TRAUMA AND FOREIGN PRACTICES.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY ANDERSON.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JUDY,
[02:15:03]
AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THAT I'M IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT GENOCIDE IS WRONG.I HEAR THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE RIGHTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN, AND I FEEL THAT PAIN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION AND ALL CHILDREN'S FEELINGS DESERVE TO BE CARED FOR.
NOT JUST JEWISH CHILDREN, BUT ARAB CHILDREN, MUSLIM CHILDREN, ANY CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING PENALIZED OR BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OR HARASSED.
IF WE WANT PEACE AND SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN, THAT COMES FROM JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE COMES FROM HONESTY, AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE.
THE HISTORY DID NOT BEGIN ON OCTOBER 7.
THERE WAS A LONG HISTORY OF THINGS THAT WOULD HAPPEN THAT IT'S VERY CONVENIENTLY OVERLOOKED.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU VOTE WITH YOUR HEART.
THERE COMES A TIME IN OUR LIFE WHERE WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IS RIGHT AND NOT STAND UP AGAINST PRESSURE.
EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME IS WASTED.
WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE? BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BLAME ISRAEL, BUT ISRAEL HAS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GALIT SOLOMON.
GALIT SOLOMON, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
MY NAME IS GALIT. I'M A PARENT AND RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA CITY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
I ASKED THAT THE TERM HUMANITARIAN CEASE-FIRE REMOVED FROM THE RESOLUTION.
IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE. THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE BURDEN OF THE CONFLICT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON STUDENT OR FACULTY.
ALSO, THE LANGUAGE IN RESOLUTION SHOULD FOCUS ON EQUALITY FOR ALL SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENTS.
I HAVE DEEP CONCERN THAT NO CHANGE IN THE RESOLUTION MAY HARM THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
FOR THESE REASONS, I URGE YOU TO REMOVE HUMANITARIAN, CEASE-FIRE, AND REPLACE IT WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HALIT KASHANI.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
BUT CAN YOU TRUST HAMAS, A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE ISRAEL BY ITS OWN DECLARATION TO UPHOLD THIS AGREEMENT? FOR HOW LONG? ASK FOR A SUSTAINABLE PEACE INSTEAD.
IF YOU SAY ALL HOSTAGES RELEASED, WHO ARE THEY, ISRAELI CIVILIANS ABDUCTED FROM THEIR HOMES BY HAMAS.
THE YOUNGEST, NINE MONTH OLD BABY JUST CELEBRATED HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY IN CAPTIVITY OR CONVICTED PRISONERS WHO SHARE HAMAS MISSION OF CAUSING MORE HARM IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SO.
IF YOU SAY ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HOW CAN YOU LET A NEWSPAPER PRINT A QUOTE FROM A STUDENT SAYING HE FELT HOPE WHEN HEARING ABOUT OCTOBER 7 MASSACRE.
BECAUSE FINALLY PALESTINIANS ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHTS, INSTEAD OF DISCUSSING FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CREATE A SAFE SPACE IN SCHOOLS TO FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS ON DIFFICULT TOPICS WITH RESPECT AND EMPATHY.
BY THAT SHOWING STUDENTS THERE ARE FACES BEHIND THE NUMBERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS UNIQUE YANIV BASSOON.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS YANIV BEN, SHUSHAN, AND I'M A FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
LAST FRIDAY, I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD, THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN HAGUE REJECTED THE CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
EVEN TODAY, HAMAS REJECTED ANOTHER ISRAELI OFFER FOR A FEW MONTHS OF CEASE-FIRE FOR RELEASE OF HOSTAGES.
THE WORD CEASE-FIRE IN THE RESOLUTION CAUSED HARM, BIAS, AND DISUNITY.
SUSTAINABLE PEACE, HOWEVER, REFLECTS A PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF PEOPLE.
SINCE YOUR PROPOSAL, WE HEARD MORE THAN 70 ACCOUNTS OF HARASSMENT TOWARDS JEWS.
IN PALI, A STUDENT YELLED AT THE JEWS FREE PALESTINE TO A JEWISH GIRL.
A FIRST GRADER TOLD AN ISRAELI STUDENT, ISRAEL IS MY ENEMY.
JEWISH AND ISRAELI STUDENT IN THE COUNTY SHOULD BE SAFE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE, BUT A SUSTAINABLE PEACE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALPE ROOM PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
MAYA BRIKI, YAEL GROSSMAN LEVY, ELIZABETH, LIZ MULFORD.
LYNN BALL, TUPAIAS, IA AUA, SHODDY OR SHADY, CARL DOUBET, RIFKA, SHEINMAN,
[02:20:06]
DORIT-KARIM, NAP GOAT, SANDY IBRAHIM, MOAID, M-O-A-I-D, ISRA A, LIN AYA M, HODA H. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MAYA BARNIQUE.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MAYA, BEFORE YOU BEGIN, IF COULD JUST CLARIFY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WERE BACK HERE AND THAT WAS PER REQUEST.
WE CONSULTED WITH OUR COUNSEL AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COMMENT.
>> IT'S NOT WHETHER OR NOT, IT IS MY RIGHT TO STATE MY OPINION ON EVERY MATTER ON THE AGENDA.
>> WHICH IS WHY WE ARE GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
>> IT'S BECAUSE I INSISTED NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING ME ANYTHING.
IT'S BECAUSE LEGAL COUNSEL SAID I HAD THE RIGHT.
>> AGAIN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THEN PLEASE PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL CHANGE MY COMMENT BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND THAT'S WHY YOU RAN FOR THIS ROLE.
I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED TODAY, JUST WITH MY INTERACTION, IS THAT THERE IS NO TOLERANCE, ESPECIALLY FROM A PERSON WHO IS EDUCATOR IN CLASSROOMS. LET'S GO TO THE BASE OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT.
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL FOR TWO STATES THAT WAS REJECTED.
IF WE CAN'T BE TWO STATES, THEN WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? EITHER THE PALESTINIAN LEAVE OR THE ISRAELI LEAVE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO SUGGEST? I GUESS NOT.
WE WANT THAT PEACE, WE WANT TWO COUNTRIES.
ISRAEL HAS SUGGESTED THAT MORE THAN ONCE.
THIS IS ABOUT YOU ADVOCATING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ISRAEL, THE SAME WAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LET ME SPEAK.
I HAD A VERY DIFFERENT SPEECH THAT I WANTED TO MAKE THAT WAS PEACEFUL, THAT WAS ADDRESSING ALL THE STUDENTS.
I REALLY DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT THIS WAS HIJACKED FOR PERSONAL AGENDA. THANK YOU EVERYONE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YAEL GROSSMAN LEVY.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS YAEL, AND I HAVE KIDS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I AM SPEAKING IN THE MEMORY OF FATMA ABU ARAR, A MUSLIM WOMAN SHOT IN THE HEAD BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7 IN FRONT OF HER BABY.
I AM HERE TO SAY THAT A CEASEFIRE IS NOT PEACE, IT IS A TEMPORARY PAUSE IN FIGHTING AND IT IS INCREDIBLY ONE SIDED.
THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE IN OCTOBER 6, AND IT DID NOT PREVENT THE WORST MASSACRE OF JEWS SINCE THE HOLOCAUST.
THE HAMAS CHARTER EXPLICITLY CALLS FOR THE OBLITERATION OF ISRAEL AND THE MURDER OF JEWS.
BUT HAMAS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, ON OCTOBER 7, HAMAS ALSO MURDERED ARABS, BEDOUIN, CHRISTIANS, THAI, NEPALI, AND FILIPINO PEOPLE.
CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS.
ALL ITS CITIZENS, EVEN ARAB, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN ISRAEL.
INSTEAD OF CEASEFIRE, LET US CALL FOR PEACE.
PEACE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE SELF DETERMINATION OF TWO NATIONS, ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
ONLY THEN CAN THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE BE BROKEN.
I URGE YOU TO AMEND THE CONTENT OF THE RESOLUTION, NOT JUST ITS TITLE, TO REPLACE CEASEFIRE WITH A CALL TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
ISRAEL DOESN'T WANT A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR GENOCIDE, WHICH THEY HAVE OPENLY CALLED FOR AND ENACTING.
THEY HAVE KILLED 11,000 CHILDREN AND COUNTING.
CHILDREN HAVE HAD TO WATCH THEIR SIBLINGS, RELATIVES, AND FRIENDS LOSE LIMBS AND LIFE TO BE CRUSHED UNDER THE RUBBLE, BOMBED TO SMITHEREENS OR SNIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE.
THIS DISTURBS AND SADDENS THE CHILDREN OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY WHO HAVE FAMILY KILLED BY ISRAEL.
HOW CAN YOU SEE THE VIDEOS AND KNOW THE ABSOLUTE HORROR AND DEVASTATION THAT IS HAPPENING IN PALESTINE AND NOT CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, THE FIRST STEP TO PEACE.
I IMPLORE YOU, DO NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN.
WHAT IS A DEMOCRACY WORTH IF IT COMMITS A GENOCIDE? THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LIZ MULFORD.
AS A REMINDER, IF YOU CAN KEEP ABOUT A HANDS DISTANCE OR A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE TO AVOID DISTORTION.
>> I'M LIZ MULFORD. I'M A RESIDENT OF CUPERTINO.
MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, THANK YOU.
>> I'M A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE,
[02:25:01]
A GROUP OF PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LOST PEOPLE SINCE OCTOBER 7, BUT WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO LET THEIR TRAUMA TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT IS INHUMANE TO ANYBODY.THE GAZA CHILDREN HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
YET IN IRAQ, THE WAR, 3,100 CHILDREN DIED IN 14 YEARS, IN GAZA OVER 10,000 CHILDREN IN THREE MONTHS.
I BEG YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IMMEDIATE NOW, TO SPARE THE CHILDREN.
OUR KIDS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY WATCH THE NEWS, SEE THE CHILDREN BEING TRAUMATIZED, AND WANT TO KNOW WHERE ARE THE ADULTS TO PROTECT KIDS AND ARE THEY SAFE HERE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, LINBAL TOPAS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN PALO ALTO AND MY CHILDREN WENT TO PALO ALTO SCHOOLS.
I CAME HERE BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS DISCUSSION AND I READ THE RESOLUTION THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, AND I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE RESOLUTION.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE.
WHY DO I SAY THAT? BECAUSE A CEASEFIRE IS NOT THE FINAL STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE, WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT IT MAY BE THE FIRST AND NECESSARY STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE.
IF YOU DON'T TAKE THAT FIRST STEP ON A JOURNEY, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO THE END.
I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT A CEASEFIRE THERE.
IT'S A TEMPORARY STEP, BUT A NECESSARY ONE.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AYA, A-Y-A.
>> HI, I'M AYA. I URGE YOU TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
I REMEMBER LAST TIME ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ASKED ABOUT THE TYPE OF SUPPORT WE'RE OFFERING STUDENTS THAT ARE TRAUMATIZED BY THE HORRIFIC GENOCIDE IN GAZA, OR HAVE RELATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED AND CAN'T EVEN BE BURIED.
MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY STUDENTS WOULD COME FORWARD ASKING FOR HELP, ASKING FOR SUPPORT, ASKING TO UTILIZE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE WHEN THEIR FEELINGS ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED, WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL EQUAL, HOW WOULD THEY FEEL EQUAL WHEN THE SIMPLEST STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE THOUSANDS OF KIDS THAT LOOK JUST LIKE THEM, THAT THEY SEE ON TV, BEING KILLED AND MURDERED, AND ASKING FOR PEACE AS BEING DENIED.
WITH ISLAMOPHOBIA ON THE RISE AND HATE CRIMES, WOULD GIRLS IN SCHOOLS WEARING THE HIJAB LIKE MYSELF COME FORWARD WITH ANY HATRED SHE HAS FACED IN SCHOOL? WOULD A BOY NAMED MUHAMMAD OR SEMA FEEL SAFE? WOULD ANY STUDENT FEEL FREE AND CONFIDENT TO WEAR THEIR KEFFIYEH SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT TO PALESTINE? THIS STATEMENT ASKING FOR CEASEFIRE WILL NOT FIX THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS HAPPENING TODAY IN GAZA, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR KIDS HERE THAT ALL LIVES MATTER, THAT AS A PALESTINIAN, ARAB, MUSLIM, IMMIGRANT, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GRIEVE YOUR VALUES.
SHADY? PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
>> WELL, I DON'T SEE THEM APPROACHING, SO WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, CARL DOWDS, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE RESOLUTION.
I HAVE TO THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THE LOSS OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY OF INNOCENCE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, IS UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY.
I ALSO HAVE TO THINK THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT CHILDREN NEED A SCHOOL TO WHERE THEY CAN TELL OTHER PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THEIR TEACHERS AND BE TREATED EQUALLY.
STUDENTS MUST FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ASK THEIR TEACHERS TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND IMPORTANT ISSUES SUCH AS THESE, AND TEACHERS NEED THE FREEDOM TO ACTUALLY RESPOND AND HELP STUDENTS WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES.
AS THESE POINTS ARE FOUNDATIONAL, WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ISSUE THIS RESOLUTION AND IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OTHER PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION, IT IS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY TO HAVE A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE MUST COME AS A PREDECESSOR TO ANY LASTING PEACE, AND CAN ONLY SUPPORT THE CALL FOR EMPATHY AND ENSURE ALL STUDENTS FEEL FREE FROM DIVISION AND HATE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RIVKA SCHEINKMAN.
MY NAME IS RIVKA AND I WORK AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN ISRAEL, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I PERSONALLY SEE GOING ON IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'VE HAD STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING HUNGRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD IN THEIR HOMES.
I'VE HAD STUDENTS DISCUSS ALL THE WAYS THEY KEEP WARM AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO HEAT IN THEIR HOMES.
I'VE HAD STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS,
[02:30:02]
WHO'VE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THEIR FAMILIES, DEALING WITH ABUSE, ASSAULT, AND NEGLECT.WE'RE NOT HERE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THAT.
WE HERE TALKING ABOUT INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.
BECAUSE APPARENTLY, SOME PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR PET PROJECTS AND PERSONAL VENDETTAS THAN THE JOB THEY'RE ENTRUSTED TO DO, EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.
PLEASE STOP DEBATING INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND GET BACK TO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS.
I URGE YOU TO NOT PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DORIT KOREN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, I'M DORIT AND I'M A SUNNYVALE RESIDENT FOR OVER 15 YEARS WITH KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ISRAEL HAS WITHDRAWN FROM GAZA IN SEPTEMBER 2005.
HOWEVER, HAMAS HAD BROKEN THE CEASEFIRE SEVERAL TIMES IN 2008, '09, '12, '13, '14 EVERY FEW YEARS BREAKING THE TRUCE.
ON OCTOBER 6TH, I WANT TO REMIND YOU CEASEFIRE WAS IN PLACE.
ON SATURDAY MORNING OCTOBER 7TH, HAMAS BROKE THIS TRUCE AGAIN AND ATTACKED INNOCENT ISRAELIS.
HUNDREDS OF YOUTH, WOMEN, KIDS WERE DECAPITATED AND RAPED, AND OVER 240 PEOPLE WERE KIDNAPPED, THE WORST ATTACK OF JEWISH POPULATION SINCE THE HOLOCAUST.
ISRAEL AGREED TO IMMEDIATELY CEASEFIRE IN NOVEMBER AS LONG AS HAMAS RELEASED HIS NAMES AND HOSTAGES DAILY.
WHO BROKE THIS TRUCE? AGAIN, HAMAS, THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE A LIST OF HOSTAGES ON DECEMBER 1ST AND FIRE ROCKETS.
WE NEED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, AND EXCUSE THE PRONUNCIATION, NOSHE, N-O-S-H-E KA.
>> MY NAME IS NOSHE, AND I'M A PARENT OF TWO, A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
I BELIEVE THAT POLITICS, ESPECIALLY INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, HAS NO ROOM IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN CHARGE OF EDUCATING OUR KIDS.
THIS IS DIVISIVE, IT'S HARMFUL TO MANY STUDENTS.
SPECIFICALLY, ADDRESSING THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR HERE PUTS A HUGE SPOTLIGHT ON JEWISH AND ISRAELI KIDS, MAKES THEM FEEL UNSAFE AND COULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS.
THIS IS APPALLING. IT IS NOT OKAY.
THIS RESOLUTION SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BROUGHT ON FOR A VOTE.
HAVING SAID THAT, IF THIS RESOLUTION IS TO BE VOTED ON, I ASKED THAT THE TERM HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE BE REMOVED FROM THE RESOLUTION.
IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE TERM SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
CEASEFIRE DID EXIST IN THE REGION UNTIL OCTOBER 6TH.
OCTOBER 7TH, THE WORST MASSACRE OF JEWS IN 80 YEARS IS WHAT ISRAEL GOT.
A CEASEFIRE IS A MILITARY. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SANTE IBRAHIM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SANEE NASHASHIBI.
I'M AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT OF THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN IN DISTRICT 4.
CHILDREN HAVE NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD AT LISTENING TO THEIR ELDERS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO IMITATE THEM.
REALLY LET THAT SINK IN FOR A SECOND, THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT FOR HOURS TO SAY WE WANT TO REPLACE CEASEFIRE WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
WHAT ARE WE TELLING OUR CHILDREN? I CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.
WE WANT SUSTAINABLE PEACE, BUT WE WON'T SAY, STOP THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE, THERE ARE OVER 30,000 PEOPLE THAT DIED, AND WE WON'T SAY STOP THE BOMBING, BUT WE'LL SAY SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO TELL KIDS? SHUT UP AND TAKE YOUR GENOCIDE? IT'S JUST INSANE.
LET'S JOIN ALL COMMON SENSE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. [NOISE]
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
A GENOCIDE IS TAKING PLACE IN GAZA RIGHT NOW AGAINST PALESTINIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER OUR OWN EYES AND IN STAGGERING NUMBERS. WHY DO WE CARE? ONE, BECAUSE OF OUR ADMINISTRATION IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED.
TWO, STUDENTS OF PALESTINIAN DESCENT FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS COUNTY WERE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND THAT HAVE LOST SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA.
ON TOP OF THAT, THEY HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AS A RESULT OF LOCAL POLICIES.
PLEASE JOIN THE REST IN SUPPORTING A CEASEFIRE NOW RESOLUTION AND STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
A FOOTNOTE, ISRAEL HAS A PRIME MINISTER THAT LIES AS HE BREATHES.
[02:35:04]
WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ALL NIGHT, [BACKGROUND] THAT THOSE PROPAGANDAS HAVE BEEN REPEATED BY THEIR OWN MEDIA THOSE PEOPLE ARE ASKING. [NOISE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ISRAA.A. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I DON'T SEE HER HEAR THEN SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
LIN. I. M. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LINA AND I'M SIX YEARS OLD AND I'M IN 1ST GRADE.
I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO SUPPORT THE CEASEFIRE SOLUTION.
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE KIDS AND PEOPLE TO DIE. THANK YOU.
>> DO YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING, ANN?
I DON'T WANT ANY MORE PEOPLE TO DIE.
>> [NOISE] OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HODA. H.
>> [NOISE] HI, MY NAME IS HUDAM, AND TODAY I'M HERE WITH MY THREE DAUGHTERS ON A SCHOOL NIGHT.
THIS WAS REALLY HARD FOR US, BUT THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR EDUCATION THAT NOTHING ELSE MATTERED.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
ONLY A CLEAR CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE WILL TEACH OUR CHILDREN THE SANCTITY OF PRESERVING LIFE.
WHAT IS BEING DEMANDED IS A SAFE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY.
MY THREE DAUGHTERS ARE VERY YOUNG.
THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO START THEIR EDUCATION JOURNEY.
THIS RESOLUTION IS THE PRECURSOR FOR THEM TO BE SAFE IN THEIR FUTURE EDUCATION AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
SUPPORT THE CEASEFIRE SO THAT WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, WHEN SOME OF THEM DON'T REMEMBER TONIGHT, I CAN TELL THEM THAT THEIR VOICE WAS HEARD AND THE GOOD PEOPLE DIDN'T TURN AWAY AND THEY DID THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.
>> COMING BACK TO SHADY, S-H-A-D-Y, AND ISRAA.
DON'T SEE OR HEAR THEM, THEN WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT GROUP OF 15.
OUR NEXT IF YOU'RE IN THE GUADALUPE ROOM OR THE CAFETERIA, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM TO PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, MOHAMMED SHAHABI, ABDULLAH SHAHABI, DIANE, SAMINA, GOLITZ, TUZAKI ROSENBERG, ELANA COHEN, DAVID COHEN, HAGGE SCHAKEL, RUTH SILVER, CHARLOTTE CASEY, SHANI SHUHAM, DIANA GLED ROBLE OR ROB. PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME CALLED.
OUR SPEAKER IS MOHAMMED SHAHABI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS MOHAMMED SHAHABI, BORN AND RAISED IN SANTA CLARA, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW YOU SUPPORT.
THE SANTA CLARA CITY COUNCIL WAS BOMBARDED WITH THREATS AND INSULTS, AND THREATS TO BE VOTED OUT WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SIMILAR RESOLUTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY SUCCUMBED TO THAT PRESSURE.
IT'S BEEN 115 DAYS OF GENOCIDE.
AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE EITHER WITH IT OR YOU'RE AGAINST IT.
AT THIS POINT, A PERSON EITHER WANTS A CEASEFIRE OR A PERSON WANTS OUR DOLLARS TO GO FUND BOMBING OF SCHOOLS RATHER THAN BEING SPENT IN SCHOOLS LOCALLY.
WHEN DOZENS OF STUDENTS IN OUR OWN COUNTY HAVE COUSINS THAT THEY'RE GRIEVING THE MURDER OF, WE SHOULD BE CALLING FOR A CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL.
WE SHOULD BE CONDEMNING ISRAEL.
BUT INSTEAD, WE'RE SETTLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. BABY STEPS, THOUGH.
ONE DAY, AMERICANS WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK FREELY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY WITHOUT BEING HARASSED AND ATTACKED BY ISRAEL.
[02:40:01]
TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO SHOW YOU SUPPORT. BE BRAVE.STAND FOR WHAT'S GOOD. TAKE CARE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ABDULLAH SHAHABI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THIS GENOCIDE AND NOT THE OTHER ONES THAT PREVIOUS PEOPLE MENTIONED? BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT IS LITERALLY RUNNING THIS ONE, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR THE OTHER ONES.
ISRAEL HAS HAD ALMOST FOUR MONTHS TO DEFEAT HAMAS AND BRING BACK THE HOSTAGES.
YET THEY HAVEN'T BROUGHT BACK A SINGLE ONE AND KILLED MANY OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES THROUGH THEIR RIDICULOUS BOMBING CAMPAIGN.
THEY EVEN KILLED THREE HOSTAGES THAT WERE LITERALLY WAVING WHITE FLAGS AT THEM AND SPEAKING IN HEBREW.
A CEASEFIRE IS BY DEFINITION TWO-SIDED.
PRO-CEASE FIRE IS NOT ANTISEMITISM.
HOWEVER, BEING ANTI-CEASEFIRE IS BEING ANTI-PEACE, BEING PRO-DEATH, PRO-GENOCIDE, PRO-ETHNIC CLEANSING.
IF A CEASEFIRE DEAL IS NOT THE SOLUTION, THEN WHAT IS? YOU GUYS WANT TO WIPE OUT THE ENTIRETY OF GAZA? THAT'S LITERALLY CALLED THE GENOCIDE.
THE LACK OF A CEASEFIRE IS DIRECTLY CAUSING STRESS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEN THE DEATH AND STARVATION STOP, WE CAN GO BACK TO PEACE.
SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE AND REJECT VIOLENCE.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE CEASEFIRE.
I GREW UP IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK, BEING CALLED A TERRORIST.
MY 31-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO GREW UP HERE IN SAN JOSE, WENT TO A SAN JOSE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ALSO CALLED A TERRORIST.
THIS ANTI-HATE, ANTI-ARAB, ANTI-PALESTINIAN RHETORIC IS GENERATIONAL AND IT CONTINUES ON TODAY.
THIS BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO END THIS.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SAFETY AND SAFE LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND I DO MEAN ALL STUDENTS.
OUR STUDENTS LOOK UP TO YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
YOU CAN STOP THIS GENERATIONAL HATE RHETORIC THAT AFFECTS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
HAVE THE BRAVERY, VOTE YES ON THIS RESOLUTION TO PROTECT ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS SAMINA USMAN, AND I'M A MOTHER OF TWO HIGH SCHOOLERS AT MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE RHETORIC AT THAT HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN VERY PROBLEMATIC.
ALSO WHEN WE HAD SOMEONE FROM LEADERSHIP ALSO SEND OUT A PROBLEMATIC STATEMENT THAT SEEMED THAT THEY WERE PROTECTING ONLY THE ISRAELI STUDENTS OR THE JEWISH STUDENTS.
HONESTLY, WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING IS HAVING A RESOLUTION THAT CALLS FOR PEACE.
I THINK THAT THE REVISED VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
OF COURSE, I WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO BE A BIT STRONGER, TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT WE'RE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
BUT HONESTLY, THIS RESOLUTION IS VERY SIMPLE.
IT'S NOT A JEWISH ISSUE, IT'S NOT A MUSLIM ISSUE, IT'S A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.
HISTORY IS GOING TO BE JUDGING US ON WHAT WE DO TODAY.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO STAND FOR PEACE AND STAND FOR A CEASEFIRE.
I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
HONORABLE BOARD, MY NAME IS GALIT.
I HAVE JEWISH ISRAELI AMERICAN KIDS IN THREE DIFFERENT SANTA CLARA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE LOVE HOW CULTURALLY DIVERSE AND ACCEPTING OUR COMMUNITY IS AND THAT OUR KIDS GROW UP WITH CHILDREN OF OTHER BACKGROUNDS.
MY CHILDREN HAVE FRIENDS FROM BOTH UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, TAIWAN AND CHINA.
THEY HAVE MUSLIM FRIENDS FROM IRAN, IRAQ, AZERBAIJAN, AND BANGLADESH.
WE THE PARENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS WORK HARD TO PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL, DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE DON'T DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND REJECT THIS RESOLUTION.
PLEASE FOCUS ON THE MANY LOCAL EDUCATION ISSUES THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO ADDRESS.
IF YOU DO DECIDE TO COMMENT ON WORLD CONFLICTS, CALL FOR SOMETHING WE ALL WISH AND PRAY FOR.
NOT ANOTHER CEASEFIRE THAT HAMAS WILL BREAK, BUT A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, APOLOGIES FOR THE MISPRONUNCIATION, ZAKAI ROSENBERG.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS ZAKAI ROSENBERG.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION FOR REVISING THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
HOWEVER, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE THE TERM CEASEFIRE.
WHY? BECAUSE IT'S A POLITICAL AND MILITARY ISSUE WHICH IS ONE-SIDED AND THAT DOES NOT CALL FOR PEACE.
IT WILL ALSO CALL FOR HARM, BIAS, AND DIVISIVENESS.
[02:45:02]
THE RESOLUTION SHOULD CONSIDER TERMS SUCH AS SUSTAINABLE PEACE, WHICH REFLECTS MORE ON THE COEXISTENCE OF PEOPLE HERE AND ABROAD.IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE BURDEN OF THIS CONFLICT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
FURTHERMORE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE EXPERTS IN EDUCATION AND NOT DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WHICH LIES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE US GOVERNMENT.
THIS BOARD SHOULD PUSH FOR SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN, FACULTY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY.
HATE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD FOCUS TO PUSH THESE ELEMENTS IN OUR COUNTRY AND ALLOW OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALANA COHEN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
HI. MY NAME IS ALANA COHEN, AND I'M A SANTA CLARA COUNTY PARENT OF TWO WITH TWO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.
I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO VOTE YES, ON GRACE MA'S WISE WORDS OF PEACE.
CEASEFIRE IS A POLITICIZED, POLARIZING MILITARY TERM THAT HAS NEVER ONCE BEEN USED BY THIS BOARD BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR CHILDREN.
WHY NOT A CEASEFIRE IN PAKISTAN? BECAUSE THAT RESOLUTION WOULD NOT BE ANTI-SEMITIC AND WOULD NOT OBTAIN THE FUNDING OF CARE.
YES, CARE WOULD BE THRILLED WITH A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
THEY'VE ASKED THEIR ENTIRE NATIONAL COMMUNITY TO "FLOOD" YOUR INBOXES AND VOICE MAILS FROM NEW YORK TO HAWAII.
THEY ARE HERE. PROFESSIONAL, NON-LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES TOLD YOU THAT THEY ARE HERE TODAY.
BUT FOR US, YOUR ACTUAL CONSTITUENTS WITH CHILDREN IN YOUR SCHOOLS, CEASEFIRE TELLS US THAT JEWISH LIVES DON'T MEAN AS MUCH AND JEWS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
I HOPE THE CARE FUNDING WAS WORTH IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID COHEN.
[APPLAUSE] DAVID COHEN, PLEASE APPROACH [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
AGAIN, THERE SHOULD BE NO CLAPPING, NO SOUNDS OF ANY TYPE BESIDES THE MODERATOR AND THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT, DAVID COHEN.
I'M A 20-YEAR-RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY AND I HAVE TWO KIDS IN OUR AMAZING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS DIVISIVE RESOLUTION SO THAT OUR BOARD CAN GET BACK TO THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION.
I THINK IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THIS, THIS WOULD BE JUST THE BEGINNING, NOT THE END OF THIS BOARD'S ENTANGLEMENT IN MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS AND POLITICS.
BUT WHAT HAPPEN AFTERWARDS WOULD BE A SPECTACLE.
REPORTERS, LAWYERS, INVESTIGATIONS, POLITICAL GROUPS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, MAKING THIS A LIGHTNING ROD, DEFINING THIS BOARD AND DRAINING ITS TRUSTEES' VALUABLE TIME WELL INTO THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTERWARDS.
PLEASE DON'T ENTANGLE YOURSELF IN THIS ISSUE.
GET BACK TO HELPING OUR CHILDREN, GET BACK TO MAKING OUR SCHOOLS GREAT.
DON'T OPEN THIS PANDORA'S BOX.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE RESOLUTION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAGI CHEKEL.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS HAGI CHEKEL.
I LIVE IN [INAUDIBLE] FOR 10 YEARS.
I'M DEDICATING MY SPEECH TO HOMIGONEN WHO IS THE DAUGHTER OF MY FRIEND ATAN.
ON OCTOBER 7, HAMAS CAME TO A HUGE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
THE HAMAS MURDERED, RAPED, BURNED PEOPLE ALIVE, AND TOOK HUNDREDS HOSTAGES.
THE IDF LEFT GAZA IN 2005 WITH AN AGREEMENT OF CEASEFIRE.
ON OCTOBER 7, HAMAS BROKE THE AGREEMENT.
THEY ALSO BROKE THE BORDER AND ENTERED ISRAEL WITH ONE GOAL, TO TERRORIZE ISRAELIS BY MURDERING AS MANY AS THEY CAN.
EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY LIVES IN ISRAEL AND ARE IN CONSTANT TERROR, I SEE THE SUFFERING OF BOTH SIDES.
I'M ASKING FOR PEACE, NOT CEASEFIRE.
PLEASE DON'T COOPERATE WITH MANIPULATION OF REQUESTING A CEASEFIRE.
PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO MURDER US AGAIN.
PLEASE DON'T COOPERATE WITH GROUPS WHO ARE USING THIS BOARD TO PUSH A POLITICAL AGENDA AND HATE INSTEAD OF TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS ACROSS THE SCHOOL HERE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUTH SILVER TAUB.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RUTH SILVER TAUBE.
I'M A JEWISH RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
MY GRANDPARENTS AND RELATIVES WERE KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST.
I SUPPORT AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS CRITICAL COMMON SENSE RESOLUTION.
ISRAEL-PALESTINE HAS A DIRECT, DEVASTATING EFFECT ON SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
THE RESPONSE TO OCTOBER 7TH HAS BEEN UNPARALLELED.
11,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THE ONLY WAY TO END THE SUFFERING IS TO JOIN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING JEWS, ACROSS THE WORLD, AND CALL FOR AN END TO THIS WAR.
THE CALL FOR AN END TO THIS WAR, OR A CEASE FIRE, IS A CALL FOR THE END OF THE KILLING OF CHILDREN AND A STEP TOWARDS PEACE.
[02:50:05]
THE ICG CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID.THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE AID IS FOR THE FIGHTING TO STOP.
THE BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION AND TO STAND ON THE SIDE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLOTTE CASEY.
CHARLOTTE CASEY, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE CASEY.
I'M WITH SAN JOSE PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.
I'M HOLDING A PIECE OF ART THAT WAS CREATED BY A 15-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN GIRL.
IT REPRESENTS A ORPHAN PALESTINIAN CHILD IN GAZA.
THERE ARE 25,000 CHILDREN IN GAZA WHO'VE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THEIR PARENTS, WHO'VE BEEN ORPHANED, WHO'VE WATCHED THEIR SIBLINGS BE KILLED AND THE HORROR OF THIS IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.
I'VE BEEN A PEACE ACTIVIST FOR EVER SINCE THE VIETNAM WAR.
AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A VERY POPULAR POSTER THAT SAID WAR IS NOT HEALTHY FOR CHILDREN AND OTHER LIVING THINGS.
IT'S REPRESENTED BY THIS PIECE OF ART.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANY MORE ORPHANS TO BE CREATED, PEOPLE TO BE MASSACRED.
WE NEED OUR CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY AND ALIVE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANI SHOHAM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SHANI SHOHAM.
I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS IN THIS SCHOOL COUNTY.
ON OCTOBER 6TH, THERE WAS A CEASE FIRE, ON OCTOBER 7 THE NEXT DAY, THOUSANDS OF THIS PENETRATED ISRAEL, KILLING 1,400 PEOPLE, MURDERING THEM, BURNING THEM ALIVE, BEHEADING THEM, ET CETERA.
FAMILIES, ENTIRE GENERATIONS WERE WIPED, AND I KNOW SOME OF THESE FAMILIES.
OVER 200 PEOPLE WERE KIDNAPPED BY TERRORISTS AND ARE HELD IN GAZA.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A NINE MONTHS OLD BABY AND AN 84-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER ARE HELD BY TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION, THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDPARENTS, THINK ABOUT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, THINK ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR SONS, YOUR NIECES, IF THEY ARE HELD CAPTIVE BY A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, WOULD YOU LIKE A BOARD THAT WILL PASS A RESOLUTION NOT CALLING FOR THE RELEASE?
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANA HSU, LAST NAME H-S-U.
>> THANK YOU. WE ACTUALLY HELD AN ART VIGIL YESTERDAY AND CHILDREN MADE OVER PROBABLY 300 PIECES OF ART TO EXPRESS HOW THEY WERE FEELING AND THEY SAID IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY HELPFUL.
I WAS THINKING I WAS GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THE ART, BUT I THINK I'D RATHER DO THIS.
THIS IS AN 18 MONTH OLD CHILD WHO WAS KILLED IN 2014, IT DIDN'T START THIS YEAR.
HERE'S A CHILD, ONE MONTH OLD HAS BEEN KILLED, DIED IN EXTREME COLD AND STARVATION.
THIS IS TWO CHILDREN THAT WERE KILLED.
THE SISTER IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR, ORPHAN.
THESE TWO CHILDREN, OVER 13,000 CHILDREN, BETWEEN 12 AND 17 HAVE BEEN DETAINED SINCE 2000.
THE HOSTAGES, LET'S HAVE THESE DETAINEES COME BACK TO.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOULET ROBLE.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS GOULET ROBLE.
I THINK IT'S JANUARY 29, 2024 AND I CANNOT BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
IT WAS JUST IN 1880S IN SOUTH AFRICA, A WHITE PERSON AT THAT TIME, YOU CANNOT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY A BLACK PERSON HAS TO FIGHT IN THEIR OWN LAND.
IT WAS VERY HARD FOR COPY HANDED.
TODAY, TO ME IT LOOKS REALLY SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
WE JUST SAY LET'S HAVE A CEASE FIRE AND DISCUSS ABOUT IT.
IT'S IRONIC THAT WE HAVE EVEN ELDERS WHO DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER HISTORY IS SUPPOSED TO BE REMINDING YOU SOMETHING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT IT ITSELF.
I UNDERSTAND FOR THE YOUTH I UNDERSTAND YOUNG GUY, BUT FOR THE ELDERS WHO DO REMEMBER THE HISTORY, KEEP REPEATING THE SAME THING INSTEAD OF BEING REALLY THE WISE PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET ME THINK OF IT, LET ME REWIND MY HISTORY.
BUT AGAIN, JUST MORE HATE AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
[02:55:01]
BUT THE STUDENTS DESERVE A CEASE FIRE SO WE CAN REALLY [OVERLAPPING]>> OUR NEXT GROUP OF 15 SPEAKERS.
PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME IF YOU'RE IN THE CAFETERIA OR IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, THE GUADALUPE ROOM, FOR YOUR NAME SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
OUR NEXT GROUP, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
SUMAYA JANATI, FATIMA, DINA SABA, RONDA A, SHARON KATZ, HATT TRAN, NADAV KANARI, SHIEL ARIEL, HAMMER RAGA, ALISH SCHWEITZER, MICHAEL MISNICK, TALL SHAMON AND RONAN BARENBERG.
IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUMA JANATI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS DINA.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF SAN JOSE AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
WE NEED A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW.
THIS ART PIECE WAS CREATED BY A 13-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, A STUDENT IN THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND ITS TITLED JUST OUT OF REACH CHILDHOOD BEHIND.
IT'S AN ART INSTALLATION THAT CAPTURES THE DISTRESS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN CONFINED YEARLY IN ISRAELI PRISONS, MANY WITHOUT CHARGE.
CHILDREN ARE REPRESENTED BEHIND BARS, COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM A NORMAL CHILDHOOD.
THIS IS WHAT OUR STUDENTS HERE ARE GRAPPLING WITH.
THEY SEE, THEY HEAR, THEY KNOW, AND THEY UNDERSTAND.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT PALESTINIAN CHILDREN ARE NOT LIVING A NORMAL AND HAPPY CHILDHOOD, AND THEIR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TARGETED, BOMBED, AND DESTROYED.
THEY ARE WITNESSING THE 100% PREVENTABLE CALAMITY IN GAZA, WHERE OVER 12,000 CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY BEEN MURDERED.
SOME HAVE CLAIMED THAT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE MAKES THEM FEEL UNSAFE AND IT'S DIVISIVE.
A CEASEFIRE IS A CALL TO STOP THE KILLING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FATIMA.
FATIMA, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN JOSE.
I AM A COLLEGE COUNSELOR AND AN INSTRUCTOR AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I HAVE A SON IN THE SAN JOSE DISTRICT, HE'S FIVE, HE'S A KINDERGARTEN.
KINDERGARTENER WHO IS JUST STARTING HIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY, AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED SO FAR.
I HAVE A COUSIN WHO GOES TO SUNNYVALE SCHOOLS. SHE IS MUSLIM.
SHE TELLS HER CHILDREN TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE HINDU BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID FOR THEM.
I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND WHOSE SON IS A SECOND GRADER.
ON THE PLAYGROUND, A FRIEND CAME UP TO HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT THE PEOPLE IN GAZA WERE BAD, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE GETTING BOMBED.
FOR ME, I ACTUALLY WAS REFERRED TO EARLIER IN THE DAY BECAUSE WHILE I'M NOT PALESTINIAN.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DINA SAVA.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
WE HAD AN ART EXHIBIT FOR OUR LOCAL CHILDREN TO EXPRESS HOW THEY ARE FEELING AND WHAT THEY HOPE FOR FOR PALESTINE.
ALL OF THESE CHILDREN ARE ASKING FOR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN TO HAVE FOOD.
JUST THE BASIC NECESSITIES, JUST FOOD.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THESE.
MY HOPE FOR THE KIDS OF PALESTINE IS THAT THEY GET FOOD.
THIS IS FROM A SIX-YEAR-OLD, THIS IS FROM AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD.
I NEED PALESTINE CHILDREN TO HAVE FOOD FROM A SIX-YEAR-OLD.
AND THESE ARE LOCAL CHILDREN THAT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.
MY HOPE FOR THE CHILDREN OF PALESTINE IS FOR THEM TO HAVE CLEAN WATER, FOOD, AND FOR THE WAR TO END SOON, AND I WISH THEM TO BE SAFE.
THESE ARE CHILDREN HERE, LOCAL CHILDREN, NOT CHILDREN OVER THERE, LOCAL CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE.
I HOPE PALESTINE HAS FOOD, WATER, AND ELECTRICITY.
THAT'S ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING CRAZY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON KATZ.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME.
[03:00:01]
YOU NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS MEETING.
YOU'RE DISRUPTING OUR MEETING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON KATZ.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I DON'T SEE YOU'RE HERE, SHARON KATZ.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
HATRAN. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS.
I HAVE LIVED IN SAN JOSE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
ALL AMERICANS SHOULD CONDEMN ANY TERRORIST ACTS SUCH AS THE EVENT IN OCTOBER 7TH AT ISRAEL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COUNTRY YOU ARE FROM, WE SHOULD BE UNITED TO CONDEMN THIS HORRENDOUS ACT.
CALLING OUT FOR CEASEFIRE WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE WOULD ONLY INSTIGATE ANOTHER TERRORIST ACT FROM HAMAS.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE TERROR ACTS.
HAMAS NEEDS TO BE DISMANTLED COMPLETELY TO HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
FOR THIS TERRORIST GROUP, THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE PEACE IS THROUGH STRENGTH WITH MINIMAL CASUALTY TO CIVILIANS.
PLEASE STOP DIVIDING THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NADAV KHANARI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I'M U CITIZEN AND RESIDENT OF LOS ALTOS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT DRAFT IS A GOOD STEP AND MUCH CLOSER, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT THERE.
I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
AND I'M QUOTING, RECOGNIZING SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND NOT ON THE HOW TO ACHIEVE IT IN TERMS OF HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ALL THE ISRAELI KIDS IF YOU DO A CEASEFIRE WHEN HAMAS IS STILL IN POWER? NEXT TIME AFTER MISSILES ARE LAUNCHED.
SO I URGE YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
STICK TO WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO HERE.
THIS IS HOW YOU PHRASE YOUR RESOLUTION.
AVOID THE CEASEFIRE, WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHEER ARIEL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT'S NOT WITHIN THE BOARD'S PURVIEW TO REQUEST A CEASEFIRE, IT'S OUTSIDE OF YOUR SCOPE.
SO I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO AND TO INSTEAD FOCUS YOUR TIME ON EDUCATIONAL MATTERS IMPACTING THE STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
IF YOU MUST VOTE, IT IS CRITICAL TO CHANGE THE WORDING.
I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE YOU ALL WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL CHILDREN.
IN THAT SPIRIT, DOING WHAT IS RIGHT WOULD REQUIRE YOU TO REMOVE REFERENCE TO A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE, AS WE SHOULD ALL KNOW A FEW THINGS BY NOW.
FIRST, A CEASEFIRE WAS IN PLACE ON OCTOBER 6TH, AND THAT CLEARLY DID NOT WORK.
SECOND, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE GOES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF YOUR ROLE.
AND THIRD, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE GOES AGAINST THE VERY OBJECTIVES YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER IN THE RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND JUST CONDITIONS WHERE ALL STUDENTS HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING.
AS WE CAN ALL SEE FROM CITIES AROUND US AND FROM OUR OWN MEETINGS HERE, RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE HAVE ONLY IGNITED HATRED AND CREATED A DEEPER DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SADLY, THEY HAVE KEPT US FROM ACHIEVING OUR TRUE GOAL, WHICH I BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS, WHICH IS UNITY, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HAMA RAZA.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> I AM HANNA. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PEACE UPON YOU.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASE FIRE, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE TERM OF CEASE FIRE, PLEASE CHANGE IT TO STOP KILLING OF THE PALESTINIAN KIDS.
AS A PEDIATRICIAN AND TEACHER AT THE SAME TIME, I'M DEALING WITH KIDS EVERY DAY AND I REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY'RE AUTOMATIZED.
KEEPING WATCHING THE DOUBLE STANDARD OF THE MEANINGS WE TRIED A LOT TO READ THEM ON, LIKE DEMOCRACY, LIKE JUSTICE, LIKE THE VALUE OF LIFE, LIKE HUMANITY, THE EQUALITY.
[03:05:01]
PLEASE, WHAT DO WE WANT TO LEARN AND TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS ABOUT THESE MEANINGS WHEN THEY SEE EVERY DAY THE KILLING ON LIVE STREAM ON THE VIDEOS AND THE TVS? THE KILLING OF HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF KIDS LIKE THEM, EITHER DIRECTLY BY BOMBS ON THE HOUSES, ON SCHOOLS.>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALI SCHWEIZER.
ALI SCHWEIZER, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
IN LIFE WE COME ACROSS MANY TYPES OF PEOPLE.
SOME LIFT YOU UP AND CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN DO QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
ONCE IN A WHILE, THERE'S A BILL THAT COMES ACROSS, AND THOSE BILLS WILL DO JUST THAT.
LOOK AT AROUND THE ROOM, THIS BILL IS A DIVIDER.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THIS BILL THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT YOUR POSITION THAT ALLOWS YOU THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION.
PLEASE DO WHAT YOUR HEART SHOULD BE TELLING YOU TO DO.
STEP AWAY AND CONCENTRATE ON THE CHILDREN.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE CHILDREN, THIS IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM ANY SAFER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAL MISNIK.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MICHAL AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
YOUR RESOLUTION SHOULD NOT EXTEND INTO PROVIDING GEO POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE NOT YOUR MANDATE.
THIS IS NOT THE BOARD MANDATE.
BY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE, YOU ARE GETTING INTO AN AREA OF DECISION THAT IS NOT FOR YOU TO MAKE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT A CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE LEAVES IN PLACE HAMAS, A TERROR GROUP THAT IS CONTROLLING GAZA THAT CALLS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ISRAEL AND JEWS.
NOT ONLY CALLING, BUT WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, AS WELL AS IGNORING THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WORD CEASE FIRE WITH SUSTAINABLE PEACE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAL SHALON.
TAL SHALON, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
MANY KIDS ARE HURTING, JEWS AND ARAB, BUT WE ARE NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT.
THE ONLY REASON WE'RE STANDING HERE TODAY, DIVIDED AND SCARED FOR OUR KIDS' SAFETY IS INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS BACKED BY ANTISEMITIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT INSIST ON PROMOTING THEIR PERSONAL POLITICAL AGENDA IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TO INCITE HATE AGAINST ISRAELI AND JEWISH KIDS.
HOW DARE ARE YOU? THESE BOARD MEMBERS CALLED FOR A CEASE FIRE FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF THE WAR.
THEY ARE PROMOTING AN AGENDA FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL.
DON'T LIE TO US THAT HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE IS FOR ALL.
THIS IS A SLOGAN THAT YOU MADE, CEASE FIRE, AND YOU'VE BEEN PLAYED.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN IN A MINUTE WHAT A MANIPULATIVE LIGHT IS.
ISRAEL IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY THAT IS TRYING TO DEFEND ITS RIGHTS TO EXIST.
FIGHTING A WAR THAT IT NEVER WANTED, ACCORDING TO ALL INTERNATIONAL LAWS.
I ASK THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT ALL KIDS AND NOT TO CARE ABOUT THE HEADLINE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RONAN BERENBERG.
PRESENT YOUR COMMENT, AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RONAN. I'M ISRAELI.
I LIVE HERE AND MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HERE.
I READ YOUR PROPOSAL RESOLUTION VERY CAREFULLY.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO ENDORSE IT.
I WAS WONDERING WHY ARE PALESTINIAN MENTIONED AND ONLY ISRAELI AMERICANS SHOULD I AS ISRAELI NOT FEEL INCLUDED OR WAS THIS A TYPO? IT'S VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISRAEL HAMAS CONFLICT.
SECOND EXAMPLE, CALLING FOR HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.
THE US ARMY SAID THAT THEY WILL RETALIATE ON THREE US SOLDIERS KILLED BY IRANIAN PROXIES IN JORDAN.
IRANIAN PROXY, JUST LIKE HAMAS, WOULD YOU CALL THE US FOR CEASE FIRE? WOULD YOU DO IT NOW? IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL WAY STAY IN YOUR LANE.
YOU'RE NOT THE UN APPEALS COURT.
EVEN THE UN REJECTED THE CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION.
NOT ONLY THIS RESOLUTION IS DIVISIVE HERE, LOOK AROUND YOU.
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A UNITED COMMUNITY TO YOU? THIS IS THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN.
EVERYONE IS HERE TO FIGHT WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR. PLEASE STOP THIS.
YOU'RE CREATING THIS HATE PLATFORM.
YOU'RE DIVIDING OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE SIDING WITH IRAN.
[03:10:01]
>> WE'RE COMING BACK TO SHARON KATS.
I DON'T SEE THEM OR HEAR THEM SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS.
>> IF YOU ARE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.
THE NEXT 15 SPEAKERS ARE SERENA EISENBERG, ELLA COHEN, HANNOCK REVIVE.
ALIZARA ALINE, ROSE LEE, MARMOT SINGER.
HAZME E. RUPINI, VAVITAL RON, NADAV KANAKAREK, AND NASTEJO.
PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS SERENA EISENBERG.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HI, CIRCLING REAL QUICK TO THE PAST GROUP, SUMAYA WAS CALLED.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME? WE'LL VERIFY WITH THE MODERATOR.
>> MODERATOR, WAS SUMAYA CALLED IN THE LAST ROUND? I WAS ABLE TO VERIFY AND YES, YOU WERE CALLED AND YOU MAY SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SUMAYA.
I WAS HERE LAST TIME AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS WELL.
TO BE QUITE HONEST, I'VE SEEN CITY COUNCILS BEFORE AND WHAT I SAW THAT NIGHT BROKE ME.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HUMANITY IN THAT WAY BEFORE IN MY LIFE.
I HAD HOPE THAT NIGHT AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
I THOUGHT WE'D BE EDUCATED ABOUT WHAT A GENOCIDE ENTAILS AND YET WHAT WE SAW THAT NIGHT TOGETHER WERE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD BOOING WHEN OUR PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THEIR FAMILIES THAT WERE MURDERED IN PALESTINE.
WE SAW THAT TOGETHER AND YET WHAT WE ALSO SAW WAS YOU DISREGARDING 80% OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME UP TO SPEAK ABOUT A CEASEFIRE AGAINST A GENOCIDE.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE PEACE WITHOUT A CEASEFIRE? THE SUSTAINABLE PEACE ENTAILS SUSTAINABLE PEACE FOR ISRAEL IN WHICH WE CONTINUE THE OCCUPATION AND CONTINUE THE SLAUGHTER OF THE PALESTINIANS.
WHAT I SAW THAT NIGHT WAS DISGUSTING WHITE SUPREMACY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SERENA EISENBERG.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> IF YOU COULD HOLD ONE MOMENT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT SIDE COMMENTS, BOOING, CLAPPING THERE SHOULD BE NO SOUNDS OR NOISES.
PLEASE ALLOW US TO FINISH PUBLIC COMMENTS AND RESPECT THE EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I'M RABBI SERENA EISENBERG, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, A GLOBAL JEWISH HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
SADLY, MY COUSIN NARKI'S HAND WAS MURDERED ON OCTOBER 7TH HER ADOPTED EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER KIDNAPPED TO GAZA.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT MANY TIMES, HAMAS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BREAKING CEASEFIRE AGREEMENTS.
IN 2008, 2012, '14, '21, AND MOST RECENTLY AND TRAGICALLY ON OCTOBER 7TH.
HAMAS IS CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR A CEASEFIRE TO REGROUP AND RE-ARM WITH A CONTINUED INTENTION TO DESTROY ISRAEL.
WITH IMMEASURABLE COMPASSION FOR ALL THOSE SUFFERING IN THE REGION UNFORTUNATELY, THIS UNILATERAL CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE ALSO EMBOLDENS HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN ESCALATING THE WAR AND SENDING A DANGEROUS MESSAGE THAT A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CAN COMMIT UNIMAGINABLE WAR CRIMES AND NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EITHER ELANA OR ALARA COHEN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALARA COHEN OR ELANA COHEN? I WILL MOVE TO NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT.
HANOCH RAVIV PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME,
[03:15:01]
AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS HANOCH RAVIV, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS YOU ON THE ISSUE OF 3B.
I FIRST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M SUPPORTING THE CHANGES THAT OFFERED BY TRUSTEE MAH PREVIOUSLY.
I THINK MOST OF THE CHANGES ARE OKAY AND I FULLY SUPPORT ALSO THE RESOLUTION OF CHANGING THE HUMANITARIAN AID TO A CEASEFIRE TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION.
THE REASON FOR THAT AND THREE REASONS THE BACKGROUND OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS, IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM.
YOU NEED TO ADDRESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM SEPARATELY.
THERE ARE MANY CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD THAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS AND I THINK BY THAT I'M GOING TO FINISH. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA WIRTZBERGER.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DANA WIRTZBERGER A CONCERNED MOTHER IN THIS COUNTY.
TODAY I STAND AGAINST RESOLUTION 3B.
THIS RESOLUTION IN ITS CURRENT FORM DEEPENS DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY AS CAN BE SEEN HERE TODAY.
THESE ARE DARK TIMES FOR BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS.
BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE ON OCTOBER 6TH.
A CEASEFIRE THAT WAS BROKEN BY HAMAS'S ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS IN ISRAEL.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT AND THE OBLIGATION TO DEFEND ITS PEOPLE AGAINST THOSE WHO DECLARED TO COMMIT OCTOBER 7TH, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THIS RIGHT WAS JUST REAFFIRMED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.
ADVOCATING FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW WITHOUT EVEN CALLING FOR A RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES, A BABY AMONG THEM, PERILOUS, ASKING UKRAINE TO CEASE ITS DEFENSE AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.
YOU ARE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PLEASE STAY FOCUSED ON OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, THE CORNERSTONE OF THEIR FUTURE AND OUR COMMUNITY STABILITY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELENA ITSKOVICH.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ELENA ITSKOVICH AND I'M A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE GRACE MAH FOR SUGGESTING TO REMOVE CEASEFIRE AND TO SPECIFY THAT THE HOSTAGES ARE IN GAZA, ISRAELI, CHILDREN, MOTHERS, MEN.
PALESTINIANS HELD IN ISRAEL ARE TERRORISTS THAT WERE HELD DOING CRIME.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE A PAUSE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT.
WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE THIS BOARD DECIDED TO STEP AWAY FROM ITS LANE AND TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ITS RAMIFICATIONS.
NOT ALWAYS, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU PASS A SPECIFIC RESOLUTION.
YOU SEE TONIGHT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DECIDE TO TAKE A STAND. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELISAR AOUN, A-O-U-N.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ISRAELI MILITARY DETAINS AND PROSECUTES BETWEEN 500 AND 700 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN EACH YEAR IN ISRAELI MILITARY COURTS THAT LACK BASIC SAFEGUARDS FOR A FAIR TRIAL.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT INTERNATIONAL NORMS REAFFIRM THAT CIVILIANS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, GENERALLY SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT BEFORE MILITARY COURTS, ISRAEL REMAINS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO DO SO AUTOMATICALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY PROSECUTE CHILDREN IN MILITARY COURTS.
PALESTINIAN CHILD DETAINEES HAVE REPORTED BEING HANDCUFFED, BLINDFOLDED IN SMALL CAGES, BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND BEING BEATEN.
THEIR MAIN CRIME STONE THROWING.
BUT NEVER MIND THAT, WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY.
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT 10,000 GAZA CHILDREN JUST DIED.
LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT BIDEN BYPASSED CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW TWICE TO SELL ISRAEL WEAPONS.
PRESIDENT BIDEN ALREADY CHOSE A SIDE.
EVERY YEAR THE US SENDS ISRAEL $4 BILLION IN UNCONDITIONAL AID.
OF THAT 23 MILLION COMES FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY TAXPAYERS.
THAT IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION IS RELEVANT. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROSE LEE.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. ROSE LEE, A RESIDENT AND VOTER IN DISTRICT 10 ALMADEN, WHO HAILS FROM A LARGE MEXICAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY IN SAN JOSE.
[03:20:03]
AS A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, SAN JOSE UNIFIED COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, I HAVE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO ADVANCING THE SUCCESS OF OUR COUNTY STUDENTS.SUPPORTING A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO TO END THE USE OF BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO SUPPORT WARS OVERSEAS.
WAR BONDS ARE ISSUED BY THE TREASURY TO INVESTORS AND WE AS TAXPAYERS PAY THE INTEREST ON THOSE BONDS.
FUNDS THAT ARE THEN NOT AVAILABLE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY.
HOW DOES THIS IMPACT LOCAL MATTERS SUCH AS THE EDUCATION OF OUR COUNTY STUDENTS? NEWSOM STATE BUDGET RELEASED LAST WEEK SHOWED A THREE-YEAR DEFICIT SITTING AT $37 BILLION.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS TO INCLUDE A DECREASE OF A WHOPPING 996 MILLION IN '24 '25 ALONE.
THIS WILL INCLUDE A FIVE MILLION CUT TO COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION, IT WILL MEAN DEEP CUTS TO FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS THAT SUPPORT IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OUR COUNTY'S STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MERHAMET SINGER.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS MIRAMIT SINGER AND I LIVE IN NEIGHBORING MENLO PARK.
I HAVE TWO BOYS THAT ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MENLO PARK, AND I'M ALSO AN AMERICAN AND ISRAELI CITIZEN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE LAST SPEAKER, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS NOT LOCAL TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE USED FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT OF WARS OVERSEAS, AND SO THIS IS NOT A LOCAL MATTER.
I THANK THE BOARD FOR REVISING THE RESOLUTION, BUT NONETHELESS, I ASK THAT THIS BOARD REJECT THIS RESOLUTION SINCE IT IS STILL BIASED AND DIVISIVE IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
IF YOU MUST PASS A RESOLUTION ON THIS INTERNATIONAL MANNER, I ASK THAT THE TERM CEASE FIRE BE REMOVED FROM THE RESOLUTION AND BE REPLACED WITH THE TERM SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THE TERM SUSTAINABLE PEACE CALLS FOR LONG TERM COEXISTENCE OF PEOPLE.
LAST WEEK, IN A PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MENLO PARK, THERE WERE NAZI SALUTES DISPLAYED IN MATH CLASS AND A JEWISH STUDENTS ASKING FOR THE SALUTES TO STOP WAS CALLED AN FING JEW, BUT WITH AN EXPLICIT WORD USED BY ONE OF THE STUDENTS AND WAS FOLLOWED AND HARASSED ON AND OFF CAMPUS.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMIR KRESNY.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
THERE ARE THREE PATTERNS I OBSERVED TODAY.
ONE IS RELENTLESS ATTACKS ON THE PRESIDENT TODAY, WHICH PRETTY MUCH SHOWS THAT THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE IGNORED BY THE BOARD.
IT ALSO SHOWS AS TO WHO REALLY IS THE SUBJECT OF HATE TODAY.
SECOND IS, THERE'S A BUZZWORD TODAY HERE CALLED SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THIS DIDN'T EXIST ON JANUARY 10TH SOMEBODY HAS COME UP WITH IT SINCE THEN.
ANYBODY CAN TELL THERE'S NO PEACE WITHOUT A CEASE FIRE AND CEASE FIRES DO LAST THE KOREAN WAR, JUST TO GIVE YOU A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE, A GENOCIDAL WAR ENDED WITH THE CEASE FIRE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS TODAY.
OF COURSE, THEY LAST FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT IS, AND WITH THE BEGINNING OF PEACE.
THIRDLY, I'VE LOST TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MISQUOTED THE ICJ RULING.
ICJ ADMITTED PLAUSIBILITY OF A GENOCIDE GOING ON IN GAZA AND ASKED FOR STEPS TO PREVENT THAT GENOCIDE.
A GENOCIDE IS FAR GREATER THAN A CEASE FIRE ITSELF.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A CEASEFIRE, AND I HOPE THE RESOLUTION PASSES. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SALAM AJULUNI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SALAM.
I'M A GRADUATE OF SANTA CLARA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MY DAUGHTER IS A CURRENT SANTA CLARA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE FOR THE BOARD TO EXPRESS PRO PEACE ANTI WAR POSITIONS ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
ESPECIALLY THOSE AFFAIRS IN WHICH OUR GOVERNMENT IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED, AS IS THE CASE HERE.
INDEED, THE EXAMPLE SET BY THE BOARD IN ADOPTING A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION WOULD REASSURE PARENTS AND PUPILS ALIKE OF THE BOARD'S MORAL LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION WILL HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE LIVES OF ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS THERE.
BUT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON REASSURING US THAT OUR LEADERS TAKE OUR COLLECTIVE SAFETY AND WELFARE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY SERIOUSLY.
THE COHESION OF OUR COMMUNITY MUST REST ON PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, DECENCY, AND BASIC HUMAN SOLIDARITY.
THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION, AND I COMMEND TRUSTEE BERTA ON HER LEADERSHIP IN THIS VITAL MATTER.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HASEM ABDUL HAVES.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
THIS WORLD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE A SAFE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.
SEEING THAT ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE ISRAELI ARMY AND THE GOVERNMENT IN GAZA 24/7, AND FAILING TO ACT EVEN BY A SIMPLE MEASURE, SUCH AS ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION, SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SHOW FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT WE SHOULD NEVER STAY SILENT WHEN A GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING FOR ANYONE ANYWHERE.
[03:25:01]
A CEASE FIRE IS ALREADY OVERDUE AFTER THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN KILLED RELENTLESSLY BY THE ISRAELI ARMY IN GAZA.I IMPLORE THIS BOARD TO SUPPORT THE CEASE FIRE BECAUSE THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE EXCEPT SAYING THAT WE SUPPORT OTHERWISE, WHICH IS KILLING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AND INNOCENT WHO ARE MOSTLY CHILDREN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUPINI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> RUPINI HAD TO LEAVE, I'M MARGARET OKUZINI, I'M SPEAKING IN HER PLACE.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA IS A STAIN ON OUR SOULS.
A WHOLE POPULACE BEING SUBJECTED TO THE MOST CRUEL CONDITIONS ONE CAN IMAGINE WITH UNPRECEDENTED SPEED AND FEROCITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND TAX DOLLARS.
LET US MODEL AN APPROPRIATE ETHICAL, COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE TO THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
NOTHING CAN FOSTER ANTI-SEMITISM MORE THAN ASSOCIATING JUDAISM WITH THE GENOCIDAL ACTIONS OF A NATION STATE.
A NUMBER OF MY JEWISH FRIENDS ARE VERY CLEAR THAT THEIR RELIGION IS NOT TO BE MIXED UP WITH A STATE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ISRAEL TO PRACTICE SELF DEFENSE AGAINST A TERRITORY IT HAS CONTROLLED AND OCCUPIED? THE FIRST STEP TOWARD PEACE IS CEASE FIRE.
ISRAELI FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES ARE CLAMORING FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR THEIR LOVED ONES WHO ARE HOSTAGES.
I STRONGLY URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RAVITAL MAREN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAVITAL.
I AM AN AMERICAN, JEWISH, AND ISRAELI.
I LIVE IN SUNNYVALE AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SAME AS OVER 2,000 SIGNATORIES.
ON THE LETTER WE SENT TO YOU, I CALL TO REMOVE THE WORDING CEASEFIRE IN GAZA FROM THE RESOLUTION.
AS WITH NO CONDEMNATION OF TERROR OR THE ATROCITIES DONE BY HAMAS AND ISRAEL, IT IS EFFECTIVELY A BIASED POLITICAL STAND.
WORSE, IT LEGITIMIZES WHAT MY CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING IN THEIR SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY.
BIASED CLASSES ABOUT THIS CONFLICT ARE ALREADY BEING TAUGHT IN CLASSES WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING OR RESEARCH.
ANTI ISRAELI ARTICLES AND LECTURES ARE BEING ENDORSED BY THE SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED ANTISEMITIC AND ANTI ISRAELI SLURS AND THEY FEEL AFRAID TO GO TO WHAT WAS ONCE THEIR SAFE PLACE.
YOUR MANDATE IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION INSTEAD OF PROMOTING POLITICAL AGENDAS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NASTEVO.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> NASTEVO AHMED. I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISRAELI BLOOD IS BETTER THAN FROM THE PALESTINIAN BLOOD.
IF THE PALESTINIAN BLOOD DOES NOT MATTER, MY OPPONENT.
EACH ONE OF US, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING TODAY, ARE WEARING ATTACK IS A MILITARY SINIST.
WHY DON'T WE ENCOURAGE YOU, PAST REVOLUTIONARY.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO AMERICA RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.
EACH ONE OF THEM WHO SPEAK ARE WEARING MILITARY TAG.
THIS WAS A SINIST AMERICAN NATIONALISM AND WENT TO SETTLEMENT AND SPECIFICALLY OCCUPY A PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT EVEN HAVE NO PROPER WEAPON THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.
MY TAXPAYER IS WHAT I PAY FOR IT EACH SINGLE DAY, THEY KILL PALESTINIAN CHILD.
FASTER RESOLUTIONARY AND THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU ARE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM.
AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ARE SAID H, ORY LANDIF, GUY R. MATON, J. CHEN ATAR, PAZ BRILL, LANDA, AMANDA B, SARIT MAX.
APOLOGIES. SENA MOBASHER, MENACHEM LANDA, NORET AMBROSE.
NADIA M. CHEN A, TARIQUE M, MARAD AZIZ, BAMA, LELANI MICHELLE, NAJAM RAMAN
[03:30:08]
AND VEDAM BISHTAN.OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SAID ITCH.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> BEFORE HE GETS TO THE PODIUM, THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM A TRUSTEE SO I WILL JUST RELAY THIS MESSAGE OF KINDLY SUGGESTING TO PUBLIC COMMENTERS TO SHORTEN THEIR COMMENT OR JUST SECOND OTHER FOLK'S COMMENTS, SO I'M RELAYING THAT REQUEST FROM ANOTHER TRUSTEE. THANK YOU.
THE COMMENTS TODAY ON THE PRESIDENT'S HERE SHOW THE BIAS, AND HATES THAT IS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE PRESIDENT, YOUR COLLEAGUES STAND UP WITH YOU.
BETWEEN OCTOBER, AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR, 3,578 COMPLAINTS OF ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND ANTI MUSLIM HATES WERE RECEIVED RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, HATE CRIMES, AND INCIDENTS, AND EDUCATION DISCRIMINATION, REPRESENTING 178% INCREASE ACROSS THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
ARABS AND MUSLIM CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST SILENCED AND BULLIED.
LET'S NOT HAVE THEM SILENCED HERE BY THE BOARD.
WITH ABOUT 13,000 CHILDREN KILLED BY ISRAEL SINCE OCTOBER IN THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA, SUSTAINABLE PEACE, AND CO-EXISTENCE CAN ONLY START WITH A CEASEFIRE.
LET'S KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE, AND COMBAT THE ONGOING ANTI SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ORI LANDOV.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK ALL THE TRUSTEES FOR MAKING AMENDMENTS.
I BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS VERSION WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIVISIVE.
HAVING SAID THAT, THE ASK SHOULD BE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY.
AS ISRAELIS, WHEN WE HEAR CEASEFIRE, THAT MEANS THAT HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE HOUTHIS, THEY'RE ALL ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR MURDEROUS AGENDA.
A CEASEFIRE MEANS THAT ANYONE CAN KEEP THINKING WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, AND JUST WAIT FOR ANOTHER ESCALATION.
A SUSTAINABLE PEACE MEAN THAT BOTH SIDES ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER'S PAIN AND THE LOSS AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, UNITED.
IT IS MY PERSONAL BELIEF THAT THE PALESTINIANS SUFFER ENOUGH AND THEY DESERVE THEIR OWN STATE.
THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
A CEASEFIRE, IT'S JUST ANOTHER PAUSE BEFORE THE NEXT ESCALATION. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GUY R. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A PROUD ISRAELI AMERICAN, AND A PROUD VETERAN OF THE IDF, THE MOST MORAL ARMY IN THE WORLD.
CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE BY ANTI-SEMITIC CARE HAVE BEEN ISSUED SINCE SEPTEMBER 9TH, WEEKS BEFORE THE GROUND CAMPAIGN EVEN STARTED.
THESE ARE POLITICIZED CALLS, THEY ARE NOT CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
PEACE AND CEASEFIRE ARE VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
CEASEFIRES ONLY ENABLE HAMAS TO REGROUP AND REARM AND REPEAT THEIR MASSACRES.
HAMAS BROKE ALL THE PREVIOUS CEASEFIRES, INCLUDING ON OCTOBER 6TH.
HAMAS BROKE THE CEASEFIRE JUST 2 MONTHS AGO IN NOVEMBER.
HAMAS REJECTED THE CEASEFIRE TODAY.
THIS BOARD CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE OF PEACE, AND NON-VIOLENCE TO THE CHILDREN OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WE SHOULD CALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF HAMAS, WHICH HAS BEEN SUBJUGATING THE PEOPLE OF GAZA FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS.
THE CHILDREN OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION, DON'T MAKE A TRAVESTY OF THIS BOARD BY BEING PAWNS IN CHAOS POLITICAL JIHAD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATAN J.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> THAT WAS QUITE THE ICE BREAKER EARLIER.
>> WE CAN'T HEAR. PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS A GENERAL STATEMENT OF CONCERN THIS TIME IS SPECIFIC TO THIS RESOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU READ THIS.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY EDUCATION OFFICE EARNS AN F. NOW THIS IS SFGATE.
THIS IS SOMETHING 30 MILLION PEOPLE READ EVERY MONTH.
YET 2 MONTHS LATER, WHAT THE BOARD DOES IS DELIBERATE ON THAT RESOLUTION ON TEXT MINUTIA.
MARTIN MURPHY MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS KIDS WHO LITERALLY GO IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS BECAUSE THE BATHROOM IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT.
THESE ARE 3 WEEKS THAT KID COULD HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL WITH DIGNITY.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, YOU'RE JUST DOING THIS AT THE EXPENSE OF
[03:35:02]
THE WEAKEST COMMUNITIES IN YOUR COUNTY.NOW, THE ICJ, THE PEOPLE CALL ABOUT GENOCIDE, ETC.
LUCKILY, THIS WAS DEBATED IN COURT, THE ICJ, THEY REVIEWED EVIDENCE, DELIBERATED FOR 2 WEEKS, AND FOUND NO REASON TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
YOUR CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE IS A CONJECTURE, AT BEST, JUST USE SUSTAINABLE PEACE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHEN ATAR.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS CHEN A CONCERNED MOM OF 3 KIDS AND A RESIDENT IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE PRESIDENT PUSHED A HORRIFIC ONE SIDED RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS DENIED.
TODAY 2 FELLOW ISRAELIS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK BECAUSE THEY SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPIC NOT RELATED TO THE RESOLUTION. IS THIS LEGAL? I'M QUESTIONING IF THERE IS AN ABUSE OF POWER HERE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
A WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST SHOULD NOT BE ON ANY AGENDA OF ANY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
REALISTICALLY, AS LONG AS THE HOSTAGES THAT ARE HELD IN GAZA AREN'T RETURNED, AND HAMAS TERROR ORGANIZATION ISN'T DISARMED, CEASEFIRE ISN'T AN OPTION.
ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF, ESPECIALLY AGAINST TERRORISTS.
NOW I'M ASKING, AS A MOM, FOCUS ON THE KIDS AND AVOID CREATING A TIER BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH YOU'RE CURRENTLY DOING NOW. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAZ BRILL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. DEAR, ELECTED BOARD, I AM A PROUD PARENT TO 4 AMAZING KIDS ALL BORN IN EL CAMINO HOSPITAL IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, AND ALL RAISED HERE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN PART OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 16 YEARS.
THAT'S PROBABLY LONGER THAN MOST OF YOU SO PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.
WHEN OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS POLITICAL VIEWS, AND THEY SURE DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL VIEWS NOR SHOULD THEY.
ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR KIDS, PLEASE REMOVE THIS RESOLUTION THAT ONLY BRINGS DIVISION INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, AND INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS. IF YOU WANT TO CALL FOR GLOBAL PEACE, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT PLEASE REMOVE ANY CEASEFIRE DIRECTIVE AS IT WILL NOT BRING IMMEDIATE PEACE, BUT ONLY INCREASE ANTI SEMITISM TO OUR CITIES AS WE'VE ALL SEEN IN OAKLAND AND IN OTHER PLACES.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A RABBI, AND A LEADER FOR THE ISRAELI COMMUNITY HERE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
[NOISE] YOU'RE SITTING TODAY IN EDUCATIONAL BOARD, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS DISCUSSION AS AN EDUCATIONAL ONE.
WE HAVE GROUP, WE HAVE OUR KIDS, WE HAVE KIDS WE EDUCATE.
BEFORE WE GO ON A TRIP AND THE KIDS GO BETWEEN OTHER PEOPLE, WE TELL THEM, WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEBODY APPROACH YOU? YOU STAY AWAY.
BUT IF A KIDNAP GET CONTROL OF A CHILD, WE DON'T TELL THEM TO BE PEACEFUL, TO BE QUIET, THE OPPOSITE.
CRY, YELL, ATTACK THEM AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, DON'T LET THEM HAVE CONTROL OVER YOU.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE KIDS, ISRAEL WAS KIDNAPPED.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA B.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS AMANDA BACHELOR, I'M AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF INCLUDING THE WORD CEASEFIRE IN THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK THAT DIVISION, AND DISAGREEMENT IS PART OF AN IMPORTANT EDUCATION THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO OUR STUDENTS AND I'M HONESTLY CONFUSED.
I HEAR THAT FOR MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, CEASEFIRE IS A TRIGGERING WORD, ONE THAT CALLS TO MIND FEAR AND ANGER TOWARD HAMAS.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT MY NEWS FEED, WHEN I SEE OUR CHILDREN, MOTHERS, FATHERS, BROTHERS, MEDICAL STAFF, AND JOURNALISTS BEING MURDERED.
I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE MY NEIGHBORS ACTUALLY SUGGESTING? WHAT ARE THEY SUGGESTING? THAT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SUSTAIN PEACE BESIDE THE MURDER OF 25,000 PLUS PEOPLE? THEN WE'LL HAVE SUSTAINED PEACE? THE OXFORD DICTIONARY DEFINES A CEASEFIRE AS A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF FIGHTING,AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING YOU INCLUDE IN THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
[03:40:04]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SERET MARCUS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HONORABLE BOARD, MY NAME IS SERET, I LIVE IN THIS COUNTY AND I HAVE 2 HIGH SCHOOLERS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME EXAMPLES ABOUT HOW JEWISH, AND ISRAELI STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY SHOULD BE SAFE, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY AND YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR RESOLUTIONS MIGHT HURT THEM.
SINCE YOU STARTED TO CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION, WE HAD ABOUT 70 FAMILIES IN OUR COUNTY THAT THEIR STUDENTS ENDURE HARASSMENT AT ONE OF THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A PALO ALTO STUDENT TOLD US, I GOT MADE FUN OF AT LUNCH BY MY FRIENDS.
THEY MADE JOKES ABOUT JEWISH STEREOTYPES, LIKE BEING A BANKER, AND CALLED ME SOME DISGUSTING SLURS.
A STUDENT WEARING A KIPPAH WAS TOLD BY A PEER, I AM OF THE GERMAN DESCENT, WE SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SINA MOBASHER [INAUDIBLE].
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS CENA, AND I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN, JEW OR MUSLIM.
ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, AND I MEAN EVERYBODY, UNLESS IF YOU ARE A NATIVE AMERICAN, ALL OF US ARE STANDING ON STOLEN GROUNDS HERE.
ON THE STOLEN GROUNDS THROUGH COLONIZATION, GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING, AND NOT TO FORGET THE WELL DOCUMENTED INTERNMENT OF INDIGENOUS CHILDREN.
HENCE, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE ABOUT THESE TOPICS.
IT'S OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS AND TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM BY STANDING UNITED AGAINST THE GENOCIDE AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR DECADES THROUGH OCCUPATION AND COLONIZATION.
A WISEMAN ONCE SAID, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF FIRST AS TRAGEDY, SECOND AS A FORCE.
THIS IS A FORCE, AND THE OCCUPATION AND THE GENOCIDE, CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MENACHEM LANDA.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NORETE AMBROSE, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NORETE, A CONCERNED MOTHER AND A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA, AND I WAS HERE ON JANUARY 10TH.
THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDERING THE LANGUAGE OF THE PREVIOUS PRESENTED RESOLUTION.
I HOPE YOU WOULD LEAVE ALL DIVISIVE LANGUAGE FROM THE UPDATED VERSION, BUT WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE YOU INSIST ON INSERTING YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS ON A MATTER THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND FORCING BOARD MEMBERS TO CHOOSE SIDES ON AN ELECTION YEAR.
LOOK AT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION HAS DONE WITH GROWN ADULTS.
DON'T THROW MORE WOOD INTO THE FIRE BY APPROVING THIS LANGUAGE.
IT FUELS THE ALREADY BURNING FLAMES OF HATE AND WILL LEAD TO MORE ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI SEMITISM.
DURING YOUR OPEN DISCUSSION, IF YOU MUST PASS ANY RESOLUTION AT ALL AND YOU DON'T SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE PEACE, I URGE YOU TO TAKE OUT THE SECTION THAT DEALS WITH THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND CEASE FIRE.
IT DOES NOT ADD ANY VALUE AND ONLY TAKES AWAY FROM THE SPIRIT OF THE RESOLUTION.
HAD YOU DONE SO IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD 176 COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT.
TAKE THOSE OUT AND CONCENTRATE ON DOING YOUR JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NADIA MAHASHA.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS NADIA, AND I'M A PELESTIAN AMERICAN MUSLIM MOTHER FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
I'M ASKING FOR THIS BOARD TO UPHOLD ITS ROLE OF ADVOCATING FOR THE EDUCATION AND PROTECTION OF ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF RELIGION AND ETHNICITY BY CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.
SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, OVER 26,000 PALESTINIANS IN GAZA HAVE BEEN KILLED.
OVER 12,000 ARE KIDS AND THOUSANDS MORE ARE MISSING, BURIED AND DECOMPOSING UNDER THE RUBBLE.
IF A PALESTINIAN CHILD HAS NOT DIED FROM AN ISRAELI AIR ATTACK, THEY HAVE LIKELY BEEN ORPHANED.
IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ORPHANED, THEY HAVE HAD AN AMPUTATION WITHOUT ANESTHESIA.
IF THEY HAVEN'T HAD AN AMPUTATION, THEY ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY TRAUMATIZED IN SOME OTHER WAY.
NO PALESTINIAN CHILD IN GAZA HAS BEEN IN SCHOOL SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.
THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT CAN BE ENDED BY A CEASE FIRE AND SHOULD BE ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND EVERY HUMAN'S AGENDA UNTIL IT'S RESOLVED.
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WERE AT THE MOUNTAIN VIEW LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS PUSHING THEIR ONE SIDED POLITICAL AGENDAS.
[03:45:01]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TREK MARAD.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEAR BOARD MEMBERS.
[NOISE] I WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND TO PLEASE ALLOW LOGIC IN OUR DISCUSSION.
I WANT TO ASK YOU TO CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE, TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF THE INNOCENT AND THE CHILDREN, AND TO ALLOW HUMANITARIAN AID IN TO PRESERVE LIFE AND ALLOW DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN, TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
HOW DOES THE CEASEFIRE THREATEN ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE? IT'S THE FIRST STEP AND IT HELPS EVERYONE.
LET'S NOT TWIST THE MEANINGS OF THE WORDS.
LET'S CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND DO THE HARD WORK TO HELP ALL OUR STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND REACH OUT TO EACH OTHER.
OUR CURRICULUMS ALREADY TALK ABOUT WORLD WAR 1 AND WORLD WAR 2, AND THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER THINGS, AND THIS IS PART OF TEACHING OUR CHILDREN AND PUTTING THAT IN OUR CURRICULUM AND ADDRESSING IT.
THIS MAY NOT SEEM AS A DIRECT PURVIEW OF THE BOARD, BUT IT REALLY IS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE DISCOURSE WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.
LET'S CALL FOR THE SANITY AND HUMANITY AND COMPASSION IN OUR EDUCATION. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AZIZ BAAMEUR.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND MAY YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LALONNIE MICHELLE, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> LALONNIE, SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF AS A SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENT TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESIDENT BERTA PROPOSES.
I PERSONALLY KNOW AND LOVE CHILDREN THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HARM DUE TO BEING PALESTINIAN IN YOUR SCHOOLS.
THIS IS AN ADDITION TO OTHER RACE BASED VIOLENCE AND ANTI BLACKNESS IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY THAT I HAVE HAD TO SUPPORT THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH.
NOT BEING HERE WOULD BE A BETRAYAL TO THEM.
THIS ISSUE IS NOT A BROAD ISSUE, IT'S A CRISIS HERE.
MAYBE SHINE SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT.
I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE HERE THIS TIME OF NIGHT, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL DON'T.
BUT I'M RESPONSIVE TO THE VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT I SERVE, AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE TOO.
THIS CRISIS WAS STARTED BY COLONIALISM THAT BEGAN LONG AGO.
THESE RESOLUTIONS IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE IMPORTANT SYMBOLS AND SET THE EXPECTATION FOR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN OUR SCHOOLS.
PALESTINE WILL BE FREE. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEECH SPEAKER IS NAJMA ROMAN.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> SHOULD I START? I URGE YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE AND STOP THE GENOCIDE AND THE ISRAELI APARTHEID REGIME.
CEASE FIRE IS NOT DIVASIVE, DOES NOT DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S A CALL FOR PEACE, TO SAVE CHILDREN'S LIFE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE SAID THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE IF THE KILLING STOPS.
SOMEONE SAID CEASE FIRE, WASTE THE WAR TIME, WELL, DON'T WASTE THE WAR TIME WITH INTERRUPTING THE CALL FOR PEACE RESOLUTION.
THERE WASN'T A CEASE FIRE BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH.
ISRAEL KILLS AND STEALS PALESTINIAN LAND SINCE 75 YEARS, FREE THE 10,000 PALESTINIAN HOSTAGES KIDNAPPED BY ISRAEL.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VADIM BIRSTEIN, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS VADIM BIRSTEIN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF [INAUDIBLE] DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GOOD EVENING.
I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A FEW POINTS.
I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WE'RE ALL GATHERED HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HUMAN LIFE.
WE ALL AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENED IN ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7TH AND HORRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN GAZA AS WE SPEAK AND WE WOULD LIKE ALL OF THESE HORRENDOUS THINGS TO STOP.
BUT WE MUST REALIZE THAT TAKING SIDES ON INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS AFFECTS OUR CHILDREN HERE IN THE SANTA CLARA SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI KIDS.
YES, MANY FAMILIES HERE ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE ONGOING WAR.
BUT WE MUST RESIST THE URGE TO BRING DIVISIVE POLITICS INTO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
IT WILL ONLY SOW DIVISION AMONG KIDS AND PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS.
LET'S NOT USE OUR KIDS AS PAWNS IN A POLITICAL DEBATE.
LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE COMMENTING ON INTERNATIONAL POLITICS.
WE HAVE THE CONGRESS FOR THAT.
>> IF YOU ARE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM,
[03:50:03]
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ARE KEREN, JAZELLE, SARAH FINN, MARIEL, ISLAS, NOAH, BILL BASIE, AYELET, MARNOVIC, FADI, AL JADA, KIM, JENNY R, L. O, HEATHER ROTHENBERG, YELLHAD, SATISH CHANDRA VALE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KEREN, SPELLED K-E-R-E-N.
>> MADELINE, CAN YOU SHARE APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE?
>> THIRTY TO THIRTY FIVE MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KEREN.
>> I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A SECOND TO GET OVER.
>> SPELLED, K-E-R-E-N. I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, GISELLE SARAH FINN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME.
AS A TEACHER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW OUR DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN SILENTLY REPRIMANDING TEACHERS FOR PRESENTING THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE WITH FACTS, ALL THE WAY FROM 1948.
I SHOULD NOT FEAR LOSING MY JOB FOR SIMPLY DEMANDING THAT PALESTINIAN INNOCENT LIVES SHOULD BE GIVEN LOVE, MOURNING, AND OUTRAGE FOR THEIR SUFFERING.
HAVE A FIRM STANCE ON DEMANDING A CEASE FIRE.
EDUCATION IS POLITICAL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIEL ISLAS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIEL ISLAS.
I AM A PROUD AND DOCUMENTED EDUCATOR IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE CROSSING OF VIOLENT BORDERS, THE EVERY DAY BARRIER OF NOT HAVING DOCUMENTS, AND THE CONSTANT REMINDER OF A METAL WALL THAT SEPARATES ME FROM MY FAMILY, AND NOW WORKS WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE FACED SIMILAR OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSES TO CONSTANT POLICING, HARASSMENT, AND GENOCIDE OF HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE US.
WE CAN NO LONGER BE COMPLICIT AND COMPLACENT.
YOUR ACTIONS REPRESENT WHO YOU ARE, AND THEREFORE YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR DECISIONS, WHETHER YOU STAND FOR GENOCIDE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN LIFE OR NOT.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE AND TEACH FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF ALL OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR PALESTINE UNTIL OUR LAST BREATH.
NOW, I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUESTION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOOR BILBEISI.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NOOR BILBEISI.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA AND ALL THE MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION, AND HOPEFULLY, BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
I WAS BORN IN OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM, AND RESIDE IN THE BAY AREA.
IN MY PLACE OF BIRTH AND THAT OF MY FOREFATHERS, I WAS REFUSED CITIZENSHIP BECAUSE OF ISRAELI APARTHEID.
I URGE YOU TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE PEOPLE OF GAZA, AND AN END TO AMERICAN FUNDING OF THE APARTHEID AND GENOCIDE HAPPENING BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
TALK ABOUT THE THEFT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE MAKES IT CLEAR TO OUR KIDS THAT WE CAN PROTECT OTHER CHILDREN AND LIVE IN PEACE.
WHY WOULD THE WORD CEASEFIRE EVER BE OFFENSIVE? SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS ARE CLEARLY NOT PAID BY OUTSIDE LOBBYISTS LIKE APEC, AND I HOPE THEY WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BASED ON VOTING ON THEIR HUMANITY.
USING THE WORD TERRORISM DOESN'T JUSTIFY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AYELET MARINOVICH.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> BEFORE YOU BEGIN, IF WE COULD LIMIT, THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND NOISES AND TALKING.
SO IF WE CAN AGAIN, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S QUIET. THANK YOU.
I'M A JEWISH MOTHER OF TWO SCHOOL AGED KIDS IN LASD, AND A LONGTIME EDUCATOR AND RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
MY GRANDPARENTS SETTLED IN 1930S IN PALESTINE.
MY FATHER WAS BORN IN ISRAEL, JUST AS IT BECAME A STATE IN 1948.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO INCLUDE A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, WHICH IS WHERE WE START IN ORDER TO MOVE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
[03:55:04]
I KNOW WHAT I JUST SAID IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.I HAVE ABSOLUTELY EXPERIENCED ACTUAL ANTI-JEWISH HATE IN MY LIFETIME.
I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT THE VERY REAL DANGERS OF HATE SPEECH, DISCRIMINATION, BIAS, AND RACISM AGAINST ANY RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC, OR OTHER SOCIAL IDENTITY.
I TEACH THEM THE MEANING OF GENOCIDE, THEN AND NOW.
ARE MY CHILDREN AWARE THEY COULD BE TARGETS IN THESE DARK TIMES WHEN ANTI-JEWISH HATE IS ON THE RISE? YES. ARE THEY AWARE THEIR MUSLIM ARAB AND PALESTINIAN LOVED ONES CAN ALSO BE TARGETS? YOU BET YOUR SWEET LITTLE BOTTOM, THEY ARE.
>> AS A REMINDER, TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE AT A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FADI AL JADA.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS FADA.
WHILE THE MISSION STATEMENT IN THE SANTA CLARA OFFICE OF EDUCATION COUNTY IS THAT YOU ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING, INSPIRING, AND PROMOTING STUDENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SUCCESS, I FIND IT HARD TO SEE THAT HOW DOES THAT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE VIOLATE YOUR MISSION STATEMENT? WE HAVE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE ROLE MODELS, LEADERS, ETHICAL.
WHILE YOUR JOB IS TO UNDOUBTEDLY FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND EDUCATING OUR KIDS HERE, BUT WHAT'S THE HARM OF LETTING OUR KIDS KNOW THAT YOU DID THE RIGHT MORAL THING BY CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE? THE OPPOSING SIDE IS BEGGING YOU NOT TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
THE TIME AND LABOR THAT YOUR CITY IS SPENDING ON CONVINCING YOU TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SAVING LIVES OR STAYING YOUR LANE IS QUITE A LOT.
I'LL REMIND YOU FROM THE WORDS OF MANDELA, EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON THAT YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
OUT THERE, I HEAR SO MANY REQUESTS TO CONDEMN HAMAS.
IF THAT POINT IS EVEN DISCUSSED, THEN THE CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL FOR COMMITTING 115 OCTOBER 7'S IN GAZA SHOULD BE MENTIONED 100.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
KIM? I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY R. NOT SEEING ANYONE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNY R, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
MY OLDER KIDS GRADUATED FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS.
I HAVE A 10-YEARS OLD DAUGHTER THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, MY DAUGHTER ARE BEING HARASSED AT HER SCHOOL AND COMING HOME DISTRESSED.
HATEFUL MESSAGES FROM OTHER STUDENTS OF BOYCOTTING ISRAEL ARE BEING TOLERATED IN THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM.
I CAN'T IMAGINE MY KIDS DOING THAT TOWARDS OTHER KIDS IN SCHOOL.
I FEEL MY CHILD HAVE NO SOLUTION OF PROTECTION FROM THIS HATE.
THE DISTRICT SHOULD REJECT ALL THESE DIVISIVE RESOLUTIONS AND UNITE AGAINST HATE, AND INSTEAD TO CREATE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT TO ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
O. YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ELLA [INAUDIBLE].
I'M A LONG TIME COUNTY RESIDENT AND MOM OF THREE KIDS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS DIVISIVE RESOLUTION IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOCUS ON ENSURING SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, INSTEAD, AS ANTI-SEMITISM SKY ROCKETED 500% IN THE US.
AS A DAUGHTER OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, AND SOMEONE WHO WAS IN ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7 UNDER NONSTOP BOMBARDMENT FROM HAMAS ROCKETS, FEARING FOR MY LIFE, AND TOGETHER WITH 9 MILLION OTHER RESIDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND FAITH.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS RESOLUTION, AS I BELIEVE IT'S A STEPPING STONE TO INTRODUCE BIAS PROPAGANDA TO OUR CLASSROOMS, WHICH BECAUSE IT OMITS CONDEMNING HAMAS, TO BEGIN WITH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER ROTHENBERG.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, I'M HEATHER ROTHENBERG.
I WANT TO HONOR YOUR REQUEST, AND I'M GOING TO SECOND THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE PREVIOUS BY JESSICA BLITCHOK OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YALE HEART.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS YALE HEART, AND I'M A PARENT AND A RESIDENT OF SAN MIGUEL.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS, THREE WHO'VE ALREADY GRADUATED FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME
[04:00:01]
WHO ASKED THIS BOARD TO FOCUS ON EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND, ON THE SAFETY OF JEWISH AND MUSLIM CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY, AND NOT ON A MATTER ON WHICH THEY HAVE NO INFLUENCE.WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA IN OUR COUNTY, AND IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE FOCUSING ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED MILES AWAY FROM HERE.
IF YOU INSIST ON GOING FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION, I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, AND I ASK THAT THE TERM HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE BE REMOVED FROM THE RESOLUTION.
I'M A LIBRARIAN AND AN EDUCATOR.
IN MY PROFESSION, WE TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEANING OF OUR WORDS.
WE NEED TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO OUR STUDENTS WHEN WE WRITE AND WHEN WE SPEAK.
WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR WORDS CONVEY THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO GET ACROSS.
I'LL STOP BECAUSE I HAVE ONE MORE SECOND.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SATISH CHANDRA VALE.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> [FOREIGN] EVERYONE. I'M SATISH VALE, A HINDU-AMERICAN LEGALLY LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY FROM PAST 25 YEARS.
I'M APPALLED TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION BROUGHT BY SOME MEMBERS HAVING ANY AUDACITY TO TALK ABOUT DELICATE AND COMPLICATED POLITICS HERE, WHICH IS NOTHING, BUT YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE MORE HATRED AND POISON IN THE SOCIETY.
OCTOBER 7 IS A 911 FOR ISRAEL, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON 26/11 IN INDIAN SOIL BY SIMILAR MILITANTS.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THE INNOCENT SOULS WHO DIED IN THE CONFLICT, BUT DON'T YOU-ALL THINK THIS HAS STARTED BY RADICAL TERRORISTS.
THE HAMAS MASSACRED KIDS, WOMEN.
I'VE SEEN A VIDEO WHERE INNOCENT PREGNANT WOMEN, A TRUCK HAS GONE THROUGH THAT.
THIS IS APPALLING AND PLEASE SAY NO TO THIS. THANK YOU.
>> AS A REMINDER, TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE AT A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
HELLO, EVERYONE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
MAYBE I CAN REPHRASE FOR YOU THE WORD.
IF CEASEFIRE IS NOT WORKING, MAYBE THEN WE CAN SAY, STOP THE KILLING.
EVERY MINUTE THAT WE ARE STANDING HERE AND WE ARE TALKING, GENOCIDE IS TAKING PLACE, AND THAT'S CHILDREN AND MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ARE INNOCENT, WHO DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A MEANS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE AND WE ARE ADVOCATING.
WHY? BECAUSE OUR TAX MONEY IS INVOLVED.
BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS KIN AND I'M A NURSE, 16 YEARS SERVING THIS COUNTY; SANTA CLARA COUNTY. WHERE DO I WORK? VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER.
WHO DO I SERVE? EVERYONE. HOW DO I SERVE? WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
THAT'S WHAT CEASEFIRE MEANS. THANK YOU.
>> I AM CHECKING TO SEE IF KEREN IS HERE, SPELLED K-E-R-E-N. NOT SEEING ANYONE.
I'M CHECKING TO SEE IF AZIZ BAAMEUR IS HERE.
LAST NAME SPELLED B-A-A-M-E-U-R. NOT SEEING ANYONE.
IF YOU ARE IN THE CAFETERIA OR THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ARE OHAD BARACK, CHARAT LYNN, NARA Z, SARAH, HAKIM A, TAMARA HALL, YUSUF K, ZAM SAYKID, NICHOLAS SABAD, S. PHILIPS, APOLOGIES.
SOLOMON KUDRI, TAMIR SIGAL, GEORGE KUTRON, SHAY L, AND CONSTANTINE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS OHAD BARACK.
[04:05:01]
I WILL WAIT A MINUTE AS PEOPLE TRICKLE INTO THE ROOM.OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS OHAD BARACK.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE REVISED RESOLUTION.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF CEASEFIRE VERSUS SUSTAINABLE PEACE THAT WE SEEM TO BE PLAYING AROUND.
IT'S NOT SIMPLY SEMANTICS, BUT A PERSPECTIVE SHIFT.
THE ARABIC VERNACULAR OF THE LEVANT, A CEASEFIRE HUDA.
TO PARAPHRASE INIGO MONTOYA, I DO NOT THINK IT MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.
FOR THE HAMAS, IT IS NOT THE FIRST STEP ON THE ROAD TO PEACE, BUT A MERE INTERLUDE ALLOWING FOR REARMAMENT, PLANNING FOR FUTURE ATTACKS, HAMAS SAYS SO PUBLICLY.
IT DOESN'T MEAN, AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID HERE AND I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
BUT FOR THEM, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT.
WHAT USE WILL A CEASEFIRE BE FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE KILLED IN THE NEXT ROUND OF VIOLENCE? FAR BE IT FOR ME TO SPEAK FOR OUR PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORS HERE, BUT THEY DESERVE BETTER.
THEY AND WE DESERVE A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARAT LYNN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> YES, MY NAME IS DR. CHARAT LYNN.
I'M A RESEARCHER IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND POLITICAL ECONOMIST.
THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IS A FIRST STEP TO A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO REWORD THE RESOLUTION, YOU CAN SAY A CEASEFIRE AS A FIRST STEP TO A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THE ISRAELI FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES THEMSELVES HAVE CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE PROPERLY THAT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE HOSTAGES RELEASED.
BUT THERE ALSO ARE THE HOSTAGES, 6,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THE WEST BANK SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, AND MOST OF THESE ARE POLITICAL ARRESTS, THEY'RE ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTIONS WHICH HAVE NO CHARGES.
THERE ARE 130 ISRAELI HOSTAGES, BUT THERE ARE 6,000 PALESTINIANS.
FINALLY, THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TAKE A CEASEFIRE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NAWRAZ, SPELLED N-A-W-R-A-Z.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NAWRAZ, AND TODAY I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION WITH THE CLEAR AND URGENT CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
I TALKED TO A WOMAN INSIDE WHO IS A MEMBER OF JVP AND A LONGTIME SCSD EDUCATOR.
AND SHE BROUGHT UP AN IMPORTANT POINT, OUR CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN WHILE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE BEING KILLED AND THEIR GENOCIDE IS BEING DENIED.
JOIN A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN VOTING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT DIVISIVE.
INSTEAD, IT HAS SIMPLY REVEALED DISAGREEMENTS THAT WERE PRE-EXISTING AND THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN NOW WORK ON.
CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IS A FIRST STEP.
IT IS THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE SAFE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY, JEWISH, PALESTINIAN, AND MUSLIM WHO ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF ISRAEL'S WAR ON GAZA.
THEY ALL DESERVE TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN HATE FREE SCHOOLS.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, RESPECTED BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SARAH, AND LISTEN CAREFULLY.
I'VE GONE TO SCHOOL AND HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
I GREW UP UNDER THE SHADOW OF 9/11.
AS A YOUNG GIRL, I WOULD HEAR ABOUT US DRONE STRIKES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IT HURT ME EVEN THEN THAT MY COUNTRY WAS HURTING MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AS I GOT OLDER, I WOULD READ ABOUT THE NEWS AND DEHUMANIZING BIAS I ENCOUNTERED THERE AGAINST PEOPLE OF MY FAITH ALSO HURT ME.
THIS HURT HAS NEVER GONE AWAY.
I STILL HEAR THIS BIAS IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
IT AFFECTED ME WHEN I WAS A KID BACK THEN, AND IT'S AFFECTING KIDS TODAY.
WE NEED YOU TO USE YOUR PLATFORM TO HELP COUNTER THIS.
WE URGE YOU TO PASS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU CALLING FOR A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE AND THE RETURN OF ALL HOSTAGES TO UPLIFT THE VOICES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WANT TO SEE JUSTICE AND PEACE PREVAIL IN THE WORLD.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAKIM AL HUSSEIN.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
[04:10:01]
LET ME REMIND THE BOARD WITH THEIR RESOLUTION ON UKRAINE.NUMBER 22973, THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND HAS REPORTED THAT RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS NOW DISPLACED MORE THAN 4.5 MILLION CHILDREN.
ACCORDING TO UNICEF, THREATS TO UKRAINE'S CHILDREN HAVE GROWN AS HOMES, SCHOOLS, ORPHANAGES, AND HOSPITALS HAVE ALL COME UNDER ATTACK.
TWO MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE UKRAINE, WITH MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION CHILDREN ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN INTERNALLY DISPLACED.
MEANWHILE, CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ARA AND SANITATION FACILITIES HAD BEEN HIT, LEAVING MILLIONS WITH LIMITED OR NO ACCESS TO SAFE WAR.
SWAP RUSSIA WITH ISRAEL AND UKRAINE WITH GAZA.
THIS IS WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTION BY PRECEDENT.
WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD? THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMARA HALL.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS TAMARA HALL.
I'M A TEACHER OF NEARLY A DECADE IN SAN JOSE.
AS A BLACK AND MEXICAN WOMAN, I HAVE FACED MANY STRUGGLES IN MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.
WHAT I CANNOT FATHOM IS TO BE A STUDENT SEEING WAR WAGED ON THEIR PEOPLE AND KNOWING THAT IT IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY WERE BORN TO RESIDE.
A STUDENT TOLD ME, I QUOTE THIS, HE FEELS PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT HIM OR HIS FAMILY AND HE WISHED HE WASN'T PALESTINE.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IS TRAUMATIC AND OUR STUDENTS NEED TO SEE ALL STUDENTS BE THE UPSTANDERS WE ASK THEM TO BE.
THE IDEA THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS DIVISIVE REMINDS ME OF WHEN PEOPLE SAID THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER IS TOO DIVISIVE.
WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS IS THAT IT EXPOSES THE DIVISION ALREADY AMONG US AND FUTURE HISTORY STUDENTS AND CURRENT HISTORY STUDENTS WILL BE JUDGING US.
AS A TEACHER, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GUIDE MY STUDENTS INTO THINKING CRITICALLY AND TO QUESTIONING WHAT IS UNFAIR AND TO BE AN UPSTANDER AND I ASK THE BOARD TO BE UPSTANDERS WITH US ALL.
THANK YOU TRUSTEES FOR TAKING THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. THANKS. BYE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YUSUF KURNIAWAN.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY NAME IS YUSUF KURNIAWAN. SAY IT.
>> THAT'S THE VOICE OF ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
I'M PROUD FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN STUDYING IN SANTA CLARA.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION TO SAVE LIFE OF CHILDREN.
OUR FAMILY BACKGROUND IS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY FEEL HEARTBROKEN WITH THE SADISTIC VIOLENCE PRESENTED IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEST FRIENDS, SANTA CLARA STUDENTS WHOSE 50 FAMILY MEMBERS, MAJORITY ARE CHILDREN MURDERED BY ISRAEL.
THEM AND 11,000 MURDERED CHILDREN BY ISRAEL CAN NEVER BE RETURNED.
MY CHILDREN, WHICH ARE YOUR STUDENTS, TOLD ME THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TOTALLY ALIGNS WITH THE VALUES OF EDUCATION.
EDUCATION BUILDS HUMAN AS A WHOLE, INTELLECTUALLY, MENTALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND ETHICALLY. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HASSAM SHAKIM.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> DEAR BOARD MEMBERS AND ADULTS IN THE ROOM.
I'M A STUDENT SOPHOMORE IN MISSION EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR THE ADULTS PRESENT TODAY.
WERE THE CHILDREN OF GAZA WHO WERE MURDERED BY THE WEAPONS OF WAR RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTACKING ISRAEL? IS THAT RIGHTEOUS TO MASSACRE THE CHILDREN FOR SIMPLY BREATHING AIR IN THE GAZA STRIP? IS THAT RIGHTEOUS TO MASSACRE THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN? IS THAT RIGHTEOUS TO TARGET CIVILIANS? IS THAT RIGHTEOUS TO LOWER OUR HEADS AS AN ETHNIC CLEANSING IS BROADCASTED IN FRONT OF US? I WANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH MY WORDS AS ADULTS USE THEM LIKE SWORDS.
BUT WHEN I SEE THE OPEN MURDER OF CHILDREN OF GAZA FUNDED BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, I CAN'T HELP BUT SAY THAT WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO PREVENT IT.
I VIEW A CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION AS NOTHING AS OUR COMMUNITY'S AFFIRMATION TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS.
IF YOU FEEL THREATENED BY SUCH AN AFFIRMATION, THEN YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A COWARD.
A SPINELESS LIVING THING, DON'T WANT TO STAND UP FOR HELPLESS CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICHOLAS SABA.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> NICHOLAS SABA. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY FOR VIOLENCE.
NOW, LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE WE ARE SETTING.
IN HALF THIS ROOM, YOU HAVE PEOPLE SHOWING THEIR BLOOD LUST.
THEY THROW SAND IN YOUR EYES SAYING CEASE-FIRE IS SOMEHOW ANTI-PEACE.
SAYING THAT THIS IS A FOREIGN ISSUE, ALTHOUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE KILLING OVER 100 MEMBERS OF FATON'S FAMILY, AMONG TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
SAYING THAT THE ICJ DID NOT VOTE AT LEAST 15-2 IN EVERY SINGLE MOTION THAT ISRAEL MUST DO EVERYTHING
[04:15:03]
IN ITS POWER TO STOP COMMITTING ACTS OF GENOCIDE AND INCITING GENOCIDE.SAYING THAT ADVOCATING FOR THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN THE MIDST OF A GENOCIDE IS A WASTE OF TIME.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TEACH STUDENTS TO BE LOVING AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY INSTEAD OF WARMONGERS.
IT'S LIKE YOU CAN BE EITHER ANTI-NAZI OR PRO-NAZI OR ANTI-KKK OR PRO-KKK.
YOU CAN EITHER BE ANTI-GENOCIDE OR PRO-GENOCIDE.
THIS VOTE IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YOU'RE ANTI-GENOCIDE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS S. PHILLIPS.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, SANDRA PHILLIPS-SVED.
I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A MOTHER, AS AN EDUCATOR, A TAXPAYING VOTING US CITIZEN, AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN.
I'M ALSO A DESCENDANT OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE, AND UNDISPUTED HUMAN ATROCITY AND FAILURE OF HUMAN MORALITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WAS NORMALIZED AND PERPETUATED FOR OVER 400 YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CONTINUE TO BETRAY OUR SHARED HUMANITY, AND WE ARE GUILTY OF FORGETTING THE ATROCITIES PLOTTED ACROSS OUR SHARED GLOBAL HISTORY.
VALIDATING HUMAN LIFE AND SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN IS EXACTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EDUCATORS.
WE AS EDUCATORS CANNOT CALL FOR ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN.
IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS.
YOUR ACTION AND COURAGE TONIGHT ON THIS VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC IS NEEDED TO MODEL TO NATIONAL LEADERS, AND I URGE THIS BOARD TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR SUSTAINED PEACE AND A CEASE-FIRE THAT IS HUMANITARIAN AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SALMAN QADRI.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SALMAN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA CITY.
MY SON ALSO GOES TO SCHOOL THERE, AND I ALSO WORK IN SANTA CLARA.
I BELONG TO THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN THE COUNTY CALLED THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, AND OUR IMAM, SAHIH AL-DIN AL-BUKHARI, HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN GAZA WAS KILLED IN AN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE IN OCTOBER.
EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT GOES BY, MORE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AT RISK OF DYING IN GAZA.
I SAW THE RESOLUTION ON UKRAINE, I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
IT WAS STRONG. THIS IS A MUCH WEAKER RESOLUTION.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE DIED IN GAZA FAR EXCEEDS THAT OF UKRAINE.
IN FACT EXCEEDS THAT OF ALL THE CHILDREN WHO DIED IN ALL CONFLICTS COMBINED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, SUMMED UP TOTAL, ALREADY THE LAST THREE MONTHS MORE CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN GAZA. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMIR SAGAL.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
TAMIR SPELLED T-A-M-I-R, NOT SEEING ANYONE.
I'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT COMMENT.
OUR NEXT COMMENT IS FROM JORGE GUITRON.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JORGE GUITRON AND I'M A PROUD EDUCATOR IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY SERVING IN YOUR COURT SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TO ELEVATE AND EMPHASIZE THE VOICE OF OUR INCARCERATED YOUTH UNDER YOUR EDUCATIONAL CARE, WHO ARE INFORMED ABOUT AND WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
WHILE INCARCERATED YOUTH IN OUR COUNTY CANNOT BE PRESENT, I BRING THEIR SHARED STRUGGLES AND THEIR FIGHT FOR LIBERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE TO THIS MEETING.
CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE, OUR STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF OUR CURRENT EVENTS, THEY ARE AWARE AND I QUOTE, "THAT THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE FOR PALESTINIANS INVOLVES RECOGNIZING THEIR RIGHT FOR SOVEREIGNTY, SELF-DETERMINATION, AN END TO THE OCCUPATION, AND A PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE.
UNTIL THIS HAPPENS, PALESTINIANS AND ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE PEACEFULLY MUST RESIST THE INJUSTICES THAT ARE BEING DONE TO THEM." OUR STUDENTS WROTE THIS, ''AND OUR STUDENTS CONTINUOUSLY EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE AS THEY ARE OFTEN BRINGING THESE QUESTIONS TO CLASSES.
IT'S CRUCIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.'' [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAY EL.
CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENT.
YOUR TAXES ARE PURCHASING WEAPONS FOR ISRAEL, WHICH ISRAEL USES TO AIR STRIKE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, REFUGEE CAMPS, AND HOMES.
DEFEND IT IF YOU WANT, BUT DON'T CLAIM IT'S HAMAS.
ACCORDING TO A US CPR STUDY, WE THE RESIDENTS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, PAY ISRAEL $21,577,734 IN FEDERAL TAXES EARMARKED SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR WEAPONS.
THERE WAS NO CEASEFIRE ON OCTOBER 6TH.
YOU JUST DON'T CARE BECAUSE ONLY PALESTINIANS WHO ARE DYING.
ON OCTOBER 6TH, A 19-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT BY ISRAELI SETTLERS WITH THE ARMY SUPPORT.
[04:20:04]
PLEASE DON'T INSULT US WITH THAT TALKING POINT.WHAT APPALLS ME IS THAT EVEN THE MOST DEHUMANIZING, DEGRADING SUMMATIONS OF ATROCIOUS FOOTAGE THAT WE HAVE WATCHED AND DETAILED IN HOPES OF GETTING YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION HAS NOT MOVED SOME OF YOU.
THESE ARE OUR STUDENTS' FAMILIES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE DIGNITY, LIFE, AND THE SAME HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WE AS AMERICANS TAKE FOR GRANTED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ARE MORALLY OBLIGATED TO TAKE A STAND ON.
THIS IS COLONIALISM. WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE. [NOISE]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KONSTANTIN, SPELLED K-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N. NOT SEEING ANYONE, I WILL CHECK BACK IN, IS TAMIR SAGAL HERE? NOT SEEING ANYONE, THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC FOR THEIR COMMENTS THIS EVENING AND STAYING WITH US THIS EVENING.
AFTER HEARING FROM OUR PUBLIC, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD FOR BOARD DISCUSSION. TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT AND ON JANUARY 10TH AS WELL.
>> EXCUSE ME. THIS IS A WARNING.
PUBLIC COMMENTS HAS CONCLUDED.
[BACKGROUND] PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE CONCLUDED AND WE ARE MOVING THIS.
[BACKGROUND] THIS IS YOUR WARNING.
WE WILL HAVE STAFF CHECK WITH MODERATORS, SO IF YOU COULD REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTING.
>> CAN YOU CALL THEM QUICKLY THE PLEASE, SO WE CAN PROCEED? BECAUSE THIS REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
>> PRESIDENT BERTA, WE HAVE FIVE MORE SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS, IF YOU'RE IN THE CAFETERIA OR IF YOU'RE IN THE GUADALUPE ROOM, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO BE CALLED.
LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
THE SPEAKERS I'M CALLING ARE MAY DEE., SARIT POLEVAG, VALERIE ROTENBERG, ALAN LIEBOWITZ, MAYAN BENATHAN.
[04:25:03]
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM YELLING INTO THE MIC, AND PLEASE KEEP IT A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM YOUR MOUTH TO PREVENT DISTORTION.OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MAY DEE. PLEASE PRESENT YOUR COMMENT AND STATE YOUR NAME.
>> CAN YOU GET THE TIME TO ONE MINUTE, PLEASE? IT'S NOT RESET. THANK YOU.
TRUSTEE BERTA'S 2022 CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTED THREE KEY MESSAGES: POLICIES FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, EARLY LEARNING AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COUNTY WIDE RESOURCE EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
DOES ANY OF THAT RELATE TO FOREIGN POLICY OR A CEASEFIRE? I THINK YOU FORGOT WHAT YOU WERE HIRED FOR.
I WANT TO ASK ALL OF YOU HERE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, HAVE YOU FINISHED ADDRESSING ALL THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE CITY? IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE REALLY BORN AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO DO IN OUR CITY.
THERE'S NO MORE ISSUES TO HANDLE IN OUR CITY.
IT APPEARS THAT ALL THE TOPICS FOR WHICH YOU WERE ELECTED HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND NOW YOU HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT ARE NOT RELEVANT OR RELATED TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND CERTAINLY NOT RELATED TO OUR CHILDREN.
TRUSTEE BERTA, WE ALL KNOW THAT YOUR POLITICAL AGENDA IS AGAINST ISRAEL.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARIT POLEVAG.
>> I'M GOING TO REMIND THE PUBLIC AGAIN, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> SARIT POLEVAG, PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SARIT POLEVAG, AND I'M A MATH TEACHER AND I AM A PARENT OF A STUDENT IN CUPERTINO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I ASK THE TERM, HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE TO BE REMOVED OR REPLACED WITH THE RESOLUTION.
IF REPLACED, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE TERM SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
CEASEFIRE IS A TEMPORARY TERM.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IT MEANS THAT THE FIGHT WILL CONTINUE LATER.
IF YOU WANT TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN RESPONSIBILITY IN HOW TO SOLVE CONFLICT, WE SHOULD DO IT STARTING WITH THE RIGHT TERM, SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
PLEASE REMOVE THE CEASEFIRE FROM THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
IF I HAVE MORE TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED TODAY IS A DISGRACE.
I AM ASHAMED THAT THIS IS OUR EDUCATION HERE IN CALIFORNIA, IN SANTA CLARA.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VALERIE ROTENBERG.
ONE MORE CALL FOR VALERIE ROTENBERG.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, ALAN LIEBOWITZ.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, MAYAN BENATHAN.
THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL RETURN AGAIN TO TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I WAS THANKING THE AUDIENCE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SUBJECT ABOUT OUR RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION THAT I HELPED DRAFT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST ONE WE PRESENTED ON JANUARY 10TH THAT DEALS WITH CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS, SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOLS.
I HAVE TO SAY, AS ONE TRUSTEE, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SAID, THIS IS NOT OUR BUSINESS.
WE ARE THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AND THERE ARE 265,000 CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTY.
THE CHILDREN ARE HURTING IN THIS COUNTY.
WHETHER THEY'RE ISRAELI AMERICAN CHILDREN, JEWISH AMERICAN CHILDREN, PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, ISLAMIC CHILDREN, THEY'RE HURTING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AFTER OCTOBER 7TH.
OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS.
IT IS OUR BUSINESS IF CHILDREN ARE HURTING.
I WAS A PRINCIPAL FOR 20 YEARS,
[04:30:02]
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU IN PALO ALTO AT JANE LATHROP STANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL, I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE HERE WITH MY PARENTS AT THAT SCHOOL.IN MY PRINCIPALSHIP, I LEARNED THAT IF STUDENTS DON'T FEEL VALUED AND SAFE, THEY DON'T LEARN.
OUR BUSINESS IS ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
IN FACT, I'LL MEET WITH ANYBODY ABOUT THE OP-ED I WROTE IN THE MERCURY NEWS IN MAY OF THIS YEAR WITH KAREN MARTINEZ.
IT'S ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, AND THE RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP.
IT'S 600 WORDS. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT.
THE DATA IS RELATIVE TO OUR STUDENTS SCORES. I WROTE THAT.
I MET WITH MAYOR MAHAN OF SAN JOSE WITH ABOUT FIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BECAUSE I WANTED HIM TO POST THE DATA.
I DEALT WITH THE SIX LARGEST DISTRICTS IN SAN JOSE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DISAGGREGATED DATA BY RACE, IT'S HORRIBLE.
THIS IS MY LAST YEAR OF ELECTED OFFICE, I'M DONE IN DECEMBER OF 2024.
I'VE SERVED, IT'LL BE 16 YEARS AT THAT TIME ON THIS BOARD.
IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE, BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ISSUES ABOUT EDUCATION, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE, AND I'M GLAD I'M HERE AT THIS TIME TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF YOU WILL NOT AGREE WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO MEET WITH ME ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND MY OP-ED, YOU COULD READ IT.
I'LL BE GLAD TO MEET WITH YOU AND FIGURE OUT MAYBE MEETING WITH MORE OF YOU, AND MAYOR MAHAN WILL GET HIM TO, I WAITED FOR THE ELECTION TO BE OVER IN MARCH, AND THEN I WAS GOING TO HIT HIM UP AGAIN ABOUT WHAT HE PROMISED, AND THAT WAS TO PUT ALL THE SCORES AS A LINK ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T KNOW THE DATA, WE'LL NEVER FIX IT, AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DATA.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE, TRUSTEE MAH, WHO'S BEEN ON THE BOARD WITH ME FOR THESE 15 YEARS, SHE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN I, AND WITH TRYING TO COME UP WITH LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BE MORE AGREEABLE TO THE MAJORITY.
I'M TRYING TO CHANNEL MY FATHER.
MY FATHER RAN FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
HE HAD NEVER RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN HIS LIFE.
HE SPENT $60,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY BECAUSE HE WAS SO INCENSED ABOUT THE WAR IN VIETNAM.
I MARCHED IN 1969, IN 1970, IN 1971, '72, '73 AS AN ANTI-WAR PERSON WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
I'M AGAINST WAR, I'M AGAINST KILLING PEOPLE INDISCRIMINATELY, WHETHER THEY BE WHOEVER THEY ARE.
YES, WE COULD SOFTEN THE LANGUAGE.
WE COULD COME UP WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, WE COULD COME UP WITH TRUSTEE MAH'S LANGUAGE.
IT SEEMS LIKE 90% OF THE RESOLUTION IS COPACETIC TO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CEASEFIRE, WHICH IS A TRIGGER WORD FOR SOME.
I TRIED TO UNDERSTAND IT, I'VE MET WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE OVER THE LAST, SINCE JANUARY 10TH ON GOOGLE ZOOM, BY THE PHONE, EMAIL.
I DON'T THINK I REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.
I COULD LIVE WITH THE LANGUAGE AS A CHANGE TO WHAT WE HAVE, STOP THE KILLING NOW WITH A CEASEFIRE.
I COULD LIVE WITH CEASEFIRE AS THE FIRST STEP TO A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
BUT I CAN'T ANYMORE CHANNELING MY FATHER, WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT UP, THEN HE GOT 45,000 VOTES AND FINISHED FIFTH, RUNNING FOR US SENATE, AS CRAZY AS THAT SEEMS. IN CHANNELING MY FATHER, WHAT WOULD MY FATHER DO? WELL, MY FATHER WOULD PROBABLY SAY, HEY JOSEPH, READ WHAT MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, AND LET THAT BE YOUR GUIDE.
BECAUSE I POSTED THIS ON FACEBOOK, I'VE GOT TO FIND IT, I'M SORRY. HERE IT IS.
[04:35:03]
I POSTED THIS ON FACEBOOK A DAY BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY, AND I SAID, I WILL QUIETLY CELEBRATE MLK'S VISION ON RACE, PEACE, AND RECONCILIATION AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY.HERE'S WHAT HE SAID, "THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE MUST TAKE A POSITION THAT IS NEITHER SAFE, NOR POLITIC, NOR POPULAR, BUT HE MUST TAKE IT BECAUSE HIS CONSCIENCE TELLS HIM IT IS RIGHT." MY CONSCIENCE TELLS ME I NEED TO VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION AS IT IS, OR WITH MINUS MODERATE AMENDMENTS TO THE LANGUAGE IN THE CEASEFIRE PORTION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AT THIS TIME, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, IF WE COULD LIMIT TO NO NOISE.
ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES? TRUSTEE JOAN?
>> IF I CAN ASK TRUSTEE DI SALVO QUESTION THROUGH THE CHAIR, IS ARE YOU SUGGESTING FOR A CHANGE IN THAT PARAGRAPH OR NO?
>> I AM SUGGESTING CEASEFIRE TO STAY, BUT WHATEVER WORDS ARE BEFORE OR AFTER IS A DISCUSSION THAT'S BEYOND MY PAY GRADE.
>> SORRY. THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF THAT'S OKAY, COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT YOUR SUGGESTIONS WERE?
>> SURE. WHAT I HEARD FROM THE AUDIENCE AS ALTERNATIVES, STOP THE KILLING NOW WITHOUT THE CEASEFIRE.
I HEARD FROM THE AUDIENCE, CEASEFIRE IS A FIRST STEP TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
I HEARD, ALWAYS IN TANDEM WITH THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN GAZA, ALWAYS WITH THAT IN TANDEM, BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE RESOLUTION.
I HEARD FROM ONE THAT TEXTED ME ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO IS, HOW ABOUT END ALL HOSTILITIES? IT'S A LITTLE BETTER THAN CEASEFIRE.
I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THAT, BUT WITH CEASEFIRE.
>> I HAD HEARD CONCERNS THAT A CEASE FIRE MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE.
SO WE CAN USE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION USED WHICH SAID SUSTAINED CEASE FIRE OR WE CAN USE THE LANGUAGE THAT CONGRESSMAN O KHANNA USED WHICH WAS LIKE LASTING CEASE FIRE OR WHAT CONGRESSMAN ZOLTAN USED WHICH WAS A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE.
IF THAT'S A CONCERN THAT A CEASE FIRE MAY NOT LAST.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE TO THE LANGUAGE THAT YURI USED PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
I THOUGHT HER LANGUAGE WAS NEGOTIATED CEASEFIRE.
>> PERMANENT AND NEGOTIATED, YES.
NEGOTIATED WAS ALSO USED THERE.
AND OF COURSE, CONGRESSMAN RO KHANNA SAID LASTING CEASEFIRE AND SUSTAINED CEASEFIRE WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
>> ARE THEIR COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES? VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.
>>WELL, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR EFFORTS ON THIS DIFFICULT TASK, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE AD HOC AND ALSO FOR THE COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BERTA AND TRUSTEE LARI.
I SHARED MY FEELINGS AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, SO I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN GIVEN THE LATE HOUR.
I DO ALSO AS TRUSTEE DI SALVO MENTIONED, WE WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO'VE TAKEN TIME TO SHOW UP IN PERSON, SEND US E-MAIL, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.
I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS JUST BY THE SAME ONES YOU DID PHONE, ZOOM, IN PERSON.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE PATIENT AND INSIGHT.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT. BASED UPON THE COMMENTS I FEEL WE'RE EXTREMELY CLOSE.
AGAIN, I SHARE A LOT OF YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS TO LANDING IN A PLACE THAT I WASN'T ALL THAT CONFIDENT WE COULD.
WE'RE REALLY JUST AS I'VE HEARD TWO WORDS AWAY FROM THAT.
I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS ON WHAT WORDS MEAN TO THEM.
[04:40:02]
YES, WORDS MATTER, BUT TO ME CEASE FIRE IS SUSTAINABLE PEACE, AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE IS CEASE FIRE.FOR ME, IF WE COULD LAND IN A SPOT WHERE A MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS OR THE PUBLIC THAT SHOWED UP AND TOOK THE TIME TO REACH OUT TO US LEFT FEELING HEARD, PERSONALLY, I THINK USING SUSTAINABLE PEACE TO ME IS SOMETHING I AM COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT I APPRECIATE TO OTHERS THAT THOSE WORDS ARE IMPORTANT.
THIS, AGAIN, IS THE STRUGGLE THAT I TALKED ABOUT THAT I DON'T FEEL I'M IN ANY POSITION TO DETERMINE WHAT'S RIGHT OR WRONG AND WHAT MEANS WHAT TO WHOM.
AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE WITH THAT FOR ME YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MAKING MODIFICATIONS AND COMPROMISES.
AND I ASK THAT YOU MAKE ONE LAST COMPROMISE.
IF NOT, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
I WANT TO ECHO THE THOUGHT OR THE COMMENT MADE BY OUR FELLOW TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD, IN OUR SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE AS AN EDUCATOR MYSELF, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS, IT TELLS STUDENTS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO TALK ABOUT.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT.
AS EDUCATORS, AS TEACHERS, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, WE JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT WE LEAD THE KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL IN A DIRECTION THAT MAKES SOCIETY A BETTER PLACE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY CAME HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE THE ONE THING I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ABOUT IS THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT CHILDREN BECAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD.
I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK TRUSTEE BERTA FOR MAKING COMPROMISE ON THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE I THINK YOU HEARD THE VOICES OF THE PUBLIC.
YOU HEARD THE VOICES OF OUR BOARD AND WORKED TIRELESSLY.
I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS SUB-COMMITTEE.
I DO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF IT, BUT I DO WANT TO FIND A PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS THE CITIZENS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, TO MAKE THAT ONE PARAGRAPH SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN AGREE ON.
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO WALK AWAY TODAY, I KNOW WE SAID 175.
BUT I THINK WE ARE CLOSER TO 200 COMMENTS TONIGHT.
THAT IS THE MOST AMOUNT OF COMMENTS I'VE EVER HAD AT A BOARD MEETING SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIND A PLACE THAT CAN MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY, BUT SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN MEET TOWARD THE MIDDLE.
I'M VERY TORN BY KEEPING CEASE FIRE AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
CEASE FIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
I'M OPEN TO HAVING MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE IDEA THE SAN JOSE CITY COUNCIL HAD PUT OUT A STATEMENT, AND I WAS REFERRING TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THEY TALK ABOUT REJECTING HATE, UNEQUIVOCALLY REJECTING HATE.
I WANTED TO PUT THAT IDEA OUT THERE, BUT I'M OPEN TO HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
I DON'T THINK THIS BOARD HAS DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE WE NORMALLY WOULD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, WORD SMITH THE RESOLUTION.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING TOGETHER.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT AD HOC DID.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR DOING THAT.
>> SO LET ME RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS.
AS ONE OF THE TWO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING ON THAT AD HOC.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL SAW THE FIRST VERSION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND I FEEL I HAVE MADE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REVISIONS AND ACCEPTANCE OF TRUSTEE DI SALVO'S GREAT WORK.
WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE SAN JOSE CITY COUNCIL STATEMENT.
THERE'S ELEMENTS OF THAT IN THE NEW DRAFT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY WE TOOK A LOOK AT, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THE CEASE FIRE LANGUAGE.
HOW THAT GETS US ANY CLOSER TO SUSTAINED PEACE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN WE TALK TO STUDENTS, THEY ARE SMART.
LET'S GIVE OUR STUDENTS CREDIT.
OUR WORDS AND OUR CHOICE OF WORDS DO MATTER.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE MESSAGE THAT WE SEND, IF WE SHY AWAY FROM USING PRECISE LANGUAGE,
[04:45:04]
IS THAT WE CONDONE VIOLENCE.AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THE FACT IS PALESTINIAN LIVES IN GAZA SHOULD NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL.
IT SHOULD NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL TO SAY ALL LIVES HAVE EQUAL WORTH.
HONESTLY, I FEEL THE NEED TO CORRECT THE RECORD A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.
HONESTLY, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I EXPECT ALL OF US TO TAKE A FIRM STANCE.
WE'VE ALREADY ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS DENOUNCING ISLAMOPHOBIA, DENOUNCING ANTI SEMITISM, DENOUNCING ALL FORMS OF HATE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF HATE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ISLAMOPHOBIC COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED IN THIS ROOM AND VIA E-MAIL, ASSOCIATING MYSELF AND TRUSTEE LARI WITH EXTREMISM, AND THAT IS ISLAMOPHOBIC.
I AM DISAPPOINTED. HONESTLY, I'VE ONLY HAD ONE TRUSTEE OUT OF THIS BOARD.
ASK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BOARD STANDS FOR.
TO ME, THAT FURTHER EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND THE DEHUMANIZATION THAT'S HAPPENING.
IF THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ME AS A BOARD MEMBER, AS BOARD PRESIDENT, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PRECEDENCE THAT THIS IS SETTING? IT UNDERMINES, QUITE FRANKLY, THE SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, LOCALLY AND ABROAD.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO BE SPECIFIC IN THE LANGUAGE.
I CAN'T COMPROMISE ON A CEASE FIRE.
QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STRONGER AND IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
BECAUSE AGAIN, A CEASE FIRE IS ACKNOWLEDGING ALL SIDES.
IT'S SAYING ALL VIOLENCE MUST STOP.
THIS IS A WARNING THAT WE ARE IN BOARD DISCUSSION TIME.
IF YOU CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS MEETING, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
SO I HAVE TO JUST SAY THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO BE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN COMPROMISE ON.
BECAUSE THEN I'M COMPROMISING WHO I AM AS AN EDUCATOR, WHO I AM AS BOARD PRESIDENT, WHO I AM AS A MOTHER.
I JUST HAVE TO SHARE BECAUSE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OURSELVES IN THE CONTEXT OF WHERE WE ARE.
THE UN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM, 10,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF US.
THAT'S ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE MILPITAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, POLO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S MORE CHILDREN THAN THE ENTIRE OAK GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT, CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR SUNNYVALE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I KNOW THEY SOUND LIKE NUMBERS, BUT WE NEED TO CONCEPTUALIZE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE CAN BE A FURTHER COMPROMISE TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY COMPROMISED ON AND WORKED VERY HARD TO HEAR AS MUCH INPUT AS WE COULD ON THIS RESOLUTION.
I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT.
I'M WILLING TO HEAR THE ADDITIONS OF OTHER PHRASES, CEASE FIRE IS THE FIRST STEP TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
IF WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE SUSTAINABLE PEACE WITH THAT, I'M FINE WITH INCORPORATING THAT.
BUT I WILL LEAVE OUT THERE. TRUSTEE MA.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA. I HATE TO BRING THIS UP BUT I'M JUST GOING TO.
WE'VE HAD SO MUCH CONVERSATION AND COMMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID NOT BRING IN EARLIER WITH AMENDMENT IS SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS WHO SPECIFICALLY CAME OUT WITH SOME POLICIES REGARDING THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST I'LL JUST READ IT ONCE SO YOU CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT THAT WE ADD BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THE SEC BOE
[04:50:02]
AFFIRMS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS FOLLOWING POLICIES.THERE'S ONLY THREE. CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE HARMED BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, AND OTHER BELIEFS AND VALUES OF THE CHILD AND/OR THEIR FAMILY THAT'S ONE.
SECOND IS HARM TO CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS A TOOL OR TACTIC OF WAR, OF CONFLICT THAT'S TWO, AND THE THIRD ONE IS THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THE DIRECT EFFECTS OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND THEIR FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SAFEGUARDED.
I THINK THAT HITS ON WHAT WE AS BOARD OF EDUCATION CARE ABOUT CHILDREN.
OF COURSE, CERTAINLY NOT ONLY CHILDREN IN THE CONFLICTED AREAS BUT ALL OVER AND THAT THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY WITHIN OUR PURVIEW OF CHILDREN AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND THAT AS FAR AS THE CEASE-FIRE, I WOULD STILL FEEL THAT AS OUR GOAL IS PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE, THAT WE LEAVE IT AS THE GOAL BECAUSE AS A BOARD, WE DO NOT HAVE, IN MY OPINION, THE POWER OR THE AUTHORITY TO CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
HOWEVER YOU INTERPRET THE WORDS, THANK YOU.
I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO INCLUDING ALL OF THAT LANGUAGE.
BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET THERE WITHOUT THAT FIRST STOP STEP OF THE VIOLENCE TO STOP, AND THAT'S WHY I TRULY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE ON THAT.
BECAUSE TO SPEAK TO THE FACT OF FOOD, CLEAN WATER, THERE'S A FAMINE LIKE THE UNICEF HAS LITERALLY DECLARED, THERE'S A FAMINE.
CHILDREN ARE EATING PIGEON FOOD AT THIS POINT.
IF THAT, AID, FOOD, CLEAN WATER, ALL OF THOSE SUPPLIES, THEY CANNOT GET IN, IN THE AMOUNT THAT'S NEEDED WITHOUT A CEASE FIRE.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE LANGUAGE THAT TRUSTEE DI SALVO SAID OF THE CEASE FIRE IS THE FIRST STEP IN ALLOWING US TO GET BACK ON THIS PROCESS TOWARDS A SUSTAINED PEACE.
I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS THE WEEK OR SO ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE ISSUE, ON HOW THEY FELT ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.
I HAVE BEEN TELLING FOLKS WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO DRIVE MY DECISION IS LIKE HOW DO OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS FEEL? WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE AUTHORS IS WANTING TO KEEP SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN AROUND A CEASE FIRE.
ONE SUGGESTION THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP IS ENDING ALL HOSTILITIES, OR ENDING VIOLENCE, OR ENDING THE WAR.
IS THAT PERHAPS A WAY WE COULD YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THIS? BECAUSE WHAT I AM HEARING IS THERE ARE FOLKS ON THE BOARD THAT WANT TO KEEP CEASE FIRE.
THERE ARE FOLKS THAT DON'T WANT TO MAYBE ENDING A HOSTILITIES ENDING ALL HOSTILITIES ACROSS ALL SIDES.
IS THAT SEEING SOME HANDS UP FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE? I'M SEEING SOME THUMBS DOWN BUT WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS PRESIDENT BERTA.
>> PRESIDENT BERTA CAN I JUST INTERRUPT REALLY QUICKLY?
>> CAN I JUST SAY THAT IF I COULD ADDRESS THE PUBLIC THROUGH CHAIR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ALLOWED.
BUT I WILL SAY I DO APPRECIATE AS A JAB WEARING WOMAN ON OUR BOARD, I WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR BRAVERY FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND I AM SO SORRY IF EITHER YOU OR TRUSTEE LAURIE HAD FELT ANY TYPE OF MUSLIM HATE TONIGHT.
I WOULD JUST REMIND THE BOARD THAT THIS TIME
[04:55:01]
OUR BOARD WAS RESPECTFUL AND LISTENING TO YOUR COMMENTS.I WOULD ASK THAT AS WE DISCUSS THINGS TONIGHT, I GET IT.
I KNOW IT'S HARD AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BE QUIET.
BUT WE CANNOT HAVE A RESPECTFUL, BUT I WANT TO ADD, IN ADDITION, A SAFE DISCUSSION.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW AND HAVING TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
THE AUDIENCE IS NOT GOING TO HELP US COME TO A PLACE THAT IS GOING TO HELP THIS RESOLUTION MOVE IN A DIRECTION, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND I HOPE I'M NOT STEPPING OUT OF LINE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DO SUPPORT YOU AND I JUST RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING THIS EVENING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE IN THE PUBLIC MULTIPLE TIMES THIS EVENING.
I JUST WANTED TO DO THAT AS WELL, SO I'M SORRY IF I STEPPED OUT OF LINE IN ANY WAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU FELT SUPPORTED IN CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION THIS EVENING.
>> NO, I WANT TO SECOND THAT TOO.
NO ONE SHOULD BE SPREADING ANTI HATE OF ANY FORM TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE, AND SO WELL THANK YOU TRUSTEE CHON.
>> ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I WAS GOING TO REQUEST FROM TRUSTEE MAH IF SHE COULD E MAIL THE LANGUAGE SO THAT WE MAKE SURE TO GET THE AMENDMENTS CORRECT, AND SO WITH YOUR PERMISSION, PRESIDENT BERTA, OUR STAFF CAN MAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOLVE STATEMENTS THAT TRUSTEE MAH SUGGESTED.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE STAFF TO DO AT THIS TIME.
>> WERE THE REST OF THE TRUSTEES ABLE TO GET THE LANGUAGE OR SHOULD I READ THEM OUT AGAIN? I KNOW TRUSTEE LAURIE'S HAD HER CARD UP FOR A WHILE, THEN I'LL COME BACK TO TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT CEASEFIRE.
CEASEFIRE CONVEYS AN URGENCY THAT IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE 90% OF THE POPULATION OF GAZA IS FACING DEATH BY STARVATION, DISEASE OR INJURY.
IT'S LIKE A REALLY URGENT SITUATION AND WE SHOULD CONVEY THE URGENCY IN OUR RESOLUTION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> JUST TO ASK THE QUESTION I WAS ASKING EARLIER.
IF MAYBE A WAY IS IMMEDIATE DEESCALATION AND END OF HOSTILITIES AND ALL VIOLENCE IS MAYBE A WAY TO PHRASE IT.
>> AGAIN, I'M FINE WITH INCLUDING THAT WITH KEEPING CEASEFIRE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S POSSIBLE AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT CONVEYS A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT THIS ISSUE HAS THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE AND MY VIEW OF THE ISSUE.
ONE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS BECAUSE I DO APPRECIATE YOU ELEVATING YOUTH PERSPECTIVE AND YOUTH VOICE.
I KNOW ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS BOARD THAT WE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED AS A BOARD PRIORITY AND IT REALLY HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL, BUT IT'S BEEN TOP OF MIND FOR ME IS CLIMATE JUSTICE AND ALL OF THIS.
I KNOW THIS PROBABLY FEELS OUT OF LEFT FIELD, BUT I BRING IT UP BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO OUR BOARD PRIORITIES AND THE BOARD COMMITMENTS THAT WE MAKE.
THERE CAN'T BE EXCEPTIONS TO WHAT WE SAY SO WHEN WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN CLIMATE JUSTICE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CALLING OURSELVES CLIMATE ACTION LEADERS, AND KNOWING THAT OUR STUDENTS DEMAND THAT OF US.
A RECENT RESEARCH STUDY PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON AND LANCASTER UNIVERSITY STATES THAT THE CARBON EMISSIONS FROM JUST TWO MONTHS OF BOMBING IN GAZA HAS SURPASSED THE ANNUAL CARBON FOOTPRINT OF OVER 20 CLIMATE VULNERABLE COUNTRIES COMBINED.
IF YOU STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS ON THE LIVES IN GAZA, CONSIDER THE CONTINUED ECOLOGICAL COSTS TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN WITHOUT A CEASEFIRE.
I THINK I'M OKAY WITH IN THE COMMENTS THAT TRUSTEE MAH MADE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO OTHERS.
[05:00:04]
>> IT IS TO ME. THE PEDIATRICIAN COMMENTS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE THOSE.
>> I'M FINE WITH INCLUDING THAT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS FROM THE REST OF THE BOARD, I WILL FORMALLY AMEND MY MOTION IF TRUSTEE LAURIE IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO INCLUDING THAT LANGUAGE.
I'LL JUST READ IT ONE MORE TIME, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE AFFIRMS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS THE FOLLOWING POLICIES.
CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE HARMED BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, OR OTHER BELIEFS AND VALUES OF THE CHILD AND/OR THEIR FAMILY.
HARM TO CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS A TOOL OR TACTIC OF WAR OR CONFLICT.
CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THE DIRECT EFFORTS OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND THEIR FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SAFEGUARDED.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS ACTUALLY REMINDS ME OF IS IT REMINDS ME OF OUR BILL OF RIGHTS FOR CHILDREN.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THAT WOULD APPLY TO ALL CHILDREN.
TRUSTEE LAURIE, ARE YOU AMENABLE TO THAT CONCLUSION?
>> JUST BACK TO MY SUGGESTION.
I TOTALLY RESPECT WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO SEE OTHER TRUSTEES, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE SUGGESTION OF REPHRASING IT INTO ENDING ALL HOSTILITIES IMMEDIATELY AND VIOLENCE IMMEDIATELY?
>> EVERY TRUSTEE, THAT'S UP TO THEM.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEM.
I THINK SOME OF US HAD MADE OUR POSITIONS CLEAR.
I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE OTHER TRUSTEES IF THEY'D LIKE.
OTHERWISE, I THINK IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THEN WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE VOTE. TRUSTEE MAH.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN REALLY A VALUABLE CERTAINLY DISCUSSION.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP WITH A FINAL WORDING NOW THAT TRUSTEE DI SALVO PUT IN AS FAR AS HAVING BOTH CEASEFIRE AND FIRST STEPS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE, WHAT THAT FINAL WORDING WILL BE.
THIS IS NOT USING ANY OF THE SUCCESSION OF VIOLENCE THAT TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN HAD JUST SUGGESTED, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I'M NOT SURE FULLY UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION, BUT IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR A DIFFERENT WAY OF SAYING IT, I KNOW ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND TRUSTEE DI SALVO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO REREAD THAT, CEASEFIRE IS THE FIRST OF. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ME IN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION AND WHERE I'M COMING FROM IS CEASEFIRE IS THE FIRST STEP TO A SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
HOWEVER, THAT NEEDS TO BE WORDED SO THE SYNTAX WORKS.
BUT THAT'S WHAT MY SUGGESTION IS.
>> IT COULD BE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> I THINK HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IS APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE.
>> HUMANITARIAN. THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE NOT PUTTING HUMANITARIAN IN THERE, JUST LEAVE IT AS A CEASEFIRE AS A FIRST STEP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> YOU'RE SAYING CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PEACE?
>> IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO ME AS WELL.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES OR QUESTIONS?
>> JUST TO CLARIFY SO THAT BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NO CHANGES WHEN WE ELIMINATE WHICH DEMONSTRATES SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENT LEADERS, THAT'S ALL GONE OR IS THIS A NEW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WOULD REPLACE THAT FIRST PART OF THE LANGUAGE.
THE ENTIRE PARAGRAPH WOULD READ, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN GAZA AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES.
[05:05:02]
[BACKGROUND] AGAIN, PLEASE RESPECT THE BOARD.>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE STAFF COULD PUT THE LANGUAGE ON THE SCREEN SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR?
>> YES, WE CAN PULL UP THE WORD VERSION.
DR. CHON, IF YOU CAN PULL THAT UP IN JUST A MOMENT.
>> TRUSTEE CHON IS THERE A REASON TO LISTING IT AS A CEASEFIRE AS A FIRST STEP TO SUSTAINABLE PEACE VERSUS LIKE A CEASEFIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE? THAT WAS A SUGGESTION SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE WAS A REASON FOR SAYING FIRST STEP OR NOT.
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT TOO. CAN YOU REPEAT IT AGAIN?
>> I'M KIND OF CONFUSED IF WE TOOK OUT HUMANITARIAN OR NOT, BUT CEASEFIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE.
>> DR. CHON CAN WE MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIGGER? THANK YOU.
>> WHAT I HAVE NOW IS THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE, IF I'M READING THE RESOLUTION AS IS IN GAZA, AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, WHICH DEMONSTRATES TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS THAT LEADERS CAN ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY AND FOR THE SAKE OF CHILDREN.
THEN IT GOES TO THE NEXT STATEMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO PROCEED TO REMOVAL, BUT PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR WARNING.
YOU'RE DISRUPTING OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
IF THE BOARD COULD REVIEW THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW.
>> I'M NOT SO SURE WHY I DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT WHEN WE TALKED IN OUR AD HOC GROUP.
BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IF THERE'S ENOUGH AGREEMENT ON THE BOARD TO ADD ISRAEL TO THAT FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN GAZA AND ISRAEL OR SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH IS BETTER, BUT I'M FINE WITH ADDING THAT TO THE LANGUAGE.
>> SO MY ONLY THING WITH THAT THEN WOULD WE CHANGE IT TO THE PALESTINE IN ISRAEL? [BACKGROUND] AGAIN, PUBLIC.
>> AS WE WORD SMITH, WE GET MORE DEEPER INTO THE ISSUES, BUT I THINK PALESTINE, ISRAEL, IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
YOU HAVE OTHERS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING BECAUSE I DO WANT TO JUST STATE THAT THE ONE I KNOW BEFORE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW STUDENTS ARE SMART AND THEY HEAR THE WORDS THAT WE USE.
BUT THE ONE CONCERN I HAD WITH CEASE FIRE WAS WE HEARD STUDENTS WHO FEEL TRIGGERED BY THE WORD AND STUDENTS WHO FELT LIKE THAT WORD SUPPORTS THEM.
IT'S CONFUSING ON HOW STUDENTS FEEL.
BECAUSE SOME STUDENTS FEEL ONE WAY AND OTHER STUDENTS FEEL ANOTHER WAY.
I'M GLAD WE'RE WORKING TOWARD A PLACE TO WORK AND I HEAR YOU ON KEEPING CEASE FIRE, BUT MOVING TO THE IN GAZA PART.
CAN WE JUST SAY SUSTAINABLE PEACE? AND I HEAR IN GAZA, ISRAEL, PALESTINE ARE NOT PUT A LOCATION OR IS THERE REASONING BEHIND IT? I WOULD BE OPEN TO HEARING THAT.
THE VIOLENCE IS OCCURRING IN THAT REGION.
[05:10:02]
I THINK TO DENY NAMING THE REGION WOULD BE TO DENY THE HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT REGION FROM ALL COMMUNITIES.>> WE KNOW MIDDLE EAST IN THE SECOND, WHEREAS WE SAY SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLES OF THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAELI CHILDREN.
COULD WE DO SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL? WOULD THAT WORK, BECAUSE IT'S REFERENCED EARLIER?
>> TO ADD THE MIDDLE EAST, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IN ADDITION?
>> THE OTHER PART, THE BEGINNING OF OUR WHEREAS LIST IT THAT WAY.
SO, I'M JUST THROWING OUT SOME IDEAS.
>> AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM WORKING WITH TRUSTEE DI SALVO, THAT WAS PART OF THE BORROWED LANGUAGE THAT WE GOT FROM THE SANTA CRUZ RESOLUTION WHICH REFERRED TO IT AS THE MIDDLE EAST.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE, I'M OPEN TO INCLUDING THE LANGUAGE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW YOU SAID IT.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IN GAZA, IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND IN PALESTINE, ISRAEL.
BUT ARE YOU SAYING CHANGING IT HERE? ARE YOU SAYING CHANGING IT?
>> I'M SORRY. USING THAT AND CHANGING THE BOTTOM.
SO LEAVING HOW IT IS IN THE SECOND PRAYER.
I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE ANOTHER PARAGRAPH JUST MAYBE BECAUSE THAT WAS UP THERE, WE COULD JUST USE IT AGAIN. JUST A SUGGESTION.
>> MIDDLE EAST WOULD INCLUDE LIKE SAUDI ARABIA, UAE AND ALL THOSE AREAS WHICH ARE NOT REALLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> AGAIN, PUBLIC, I CANNOT HEAR THE BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS.
>> MIDDLE EAST IS A HUGE AREA.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CONFLICT IN ONE PART OF THE MIDDLE EAST.
>> OR WE INCLUDE ALL THREE AS YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID, THE MIDDLE EAST, PALESTINE, AND ISRAEL.
I THINK WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO WORDSMITHING HERE AND I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, WORDS DO MATTER.
I'M GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GET TO A PLACE WITH WHAT WE HAVE UP HERE.
WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SYRIA.
>> I KNOW, BUT TO TRUSTEE CHON'S POINT, IT'S MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK SHE'S ASKING IF WE WOULD CONSIDER INCLUDING MIDDLE EAST PALESTINE AND ISRAEL, WHICH I AM OKAY WITH.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER TRUSTEES.
I'M SEEING SOME NODS. TRUSTEE TOM.
>> I DID WANT TO INCLUDE IT BECAUSE IT'S WRITTEN EARLIER.
I THINK JUST FOR THE CONSISTENCY.
BUT PART OF IT TOO IS BECAUSE THE WORD CEASE FIRE.
IT'S ONE WORD AND IT HAS A DEFINITION, BUT TO TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE IT MEANS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, TRUSTEE LAURIE.
BUT THE MORE THAT WE CAN INCLUDE, I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS.
THERE MORE WE CAN INCLUDE THE MORE STUDENTS WE'RE INCLUDING IN THIS.
I NEED TO THINK. BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
IT'S CONSISTENT, IT'S USED EARLIER, AND I WANT ALL OUR STUDENTS TO FEEL SUPPORTED IN WHEREVER WE MOVE WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
THAT'S MY INTENTION IS FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY IT WAS USED EARLIER.
>> BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THE PREVIOUS, [BACKGROUND] AGAIN PUBLIC. PLEASE.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE REALLY HARD WORKING STAFF HERE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP GET US ALL THROUGH THIS EVENING.
SO IF YOU COULD ALSO JUST BE RESPECTFUL OF THEM TONIGHT AS THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP SUPPORT US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
[05:15:01]
DON'T MAKE THEIR JOBS MORE DIFFICULT.RESPECT OUR STAFF HERE, PLEASE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE LANDED ON THAT.
IS IT OKAY TO INCLUDE MIDDLE EAST, PALESTINE AND ISRAEL?
>> ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO READ IT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEN IF WE'RE READY TO VOTE, TO VOTE ON WHAT WE READ FROM THE BEGINNING? BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SPEAKERS THAT MISSED SOME OF THE CONTENT OF THIS AND DIDN'T SPEAK TO IT AT ALL.
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A WHEREAS THAT TALKS ABOUT OUR ROLE AS HELPING TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE AD HOC AND THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES THAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD READ IT IN TOTAL AND THEN CALL A VOTE.
I HOPE THAT'S OKAY WITH THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES, SEEING SOME THUMBS UP.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND JUST READ WHAT I HAVE ON THE SCREEN HERE.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SUSTAINED PEACE AND SAFETY FOR ALL CHILDREN, WHEREAS THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SCCBOE, IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INCLUSIVE AND JUST CONDITIONS WHERE ALL OUR STUDENTS, STAFF MEMBERS, AND FAMILIES FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING, AND WHEREAS THE SCCBOE ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLES OF THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI CHILDREN, AND AFFIRMS OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
WHEREAS THE SCCBOE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS DENOUNCING ANTI-SEMITISM AND DENOUNCING ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND REAFFIRMS OUR DENUNCIATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA.
WHEREAS WE CHERISH OUR CULTURAL RICHNESS AND STRIVE TO ENSURE ALL COMMUNITIES FEEL RESPECTED AND HEARD, INCLUDING OUR JEWISH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, ISRAELI AMERICAN, ARAB AMERICAN, PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, AND OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE ADDED THAT.
PERFECT. YES. CAN YOU KEEP THAT, PLEASE? MIDDLE EASTERN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THE SCCBOE RECOGNIZES THIS HISTORY OF CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND WHEREAS THE SCCBOE VALUES PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS NOW.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THE SCCBOE STRIVES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, IN DEMONSTRATING TO STUDENTS HOW PEOPLE WITH DESPERATE, THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, PERSPECTIVES CAN SUPPORT STUDENTS EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS BY UNITING IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE AND RESOLUTION AMONG ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE URGES OUR COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER RESPECT, EMPATHY, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND RELIGIOUS FAITH.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE LOOKS FORWARD TO A FUTURE WHERE ALL CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND SECURITY IN PEACE.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE BELIEVES TOGETHER AS CONCERNED LEADERS, WE MUST FOSTER HATE FREE COMMUNITIES, CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS BY IN WHICH HATE SPEECH, BULLYING, AND VIOLENCE ARE ADDRESSED.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A CEASE FIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL, AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES WHICH DEMONSTRATES TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS THAT LEADERS CAN ADVOCATE FOR PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY AND FOR THE SAKE OF CHILDREN.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE AFFIRMS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS FOLLOWING POLICIES, CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE HARMED BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, AND OTHER BELIEFS AND VALUES OF THE CHILD'S AND/OR THEIR FAMILY.
HARM TO CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS A TOOL OR TACTIC OF WAR OR CONFLICT, AND CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM THE DIRECT EFFECTS OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND THEIR FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS SAFEGUARDED.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STRIVES TO ENSURE EACH AND EVERY SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENT FEELS SAFE AND VALUED AND THAT HATE SPEECH, ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM, ANTI-ISRAELI RACISM MUST BE CONDEMNED AND ELIMINATED IN ALL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
[05:20:02]
BASED ON NOT, TRUSTEE LARI.>> I HAD A QUESTION EARLIER WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CEASE FIRE AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES.
SHOULD IT BE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES? BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCCBOE CALLS FOR A CEASE FIRE FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL.
[NOISE] [BACKGROUND] TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> THANK YOU. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'M MAKING MY DECISION BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH STUDENTS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE AT THE PLACE WHERE I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THE ITEM JUST FROM DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS AND STUDENTS TELLING ME HOW THEY FEEL AND HOW CERTAIN WORDS MAKE THEM FEEL ON CAMPUS.
I'M JUST STATING THAT IF WE'RE VOTING ON THIS DRAFT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> CAN I ASK TRUSTEE LARI WHY YOU WANTED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE?
>> BECAUSE IT'S CEASE FIRE AND HOSTAGES AND THEY'RE BOTH HAPPENING THERE, INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL. [BACKGROUND]
>> BECAUSE WE'RE CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE THERE AND WE ALSO CALLING FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES IN THE SAME AREA.
>> WHAT? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
>> YES. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE CEASE FIRE IS HAPPENING THERE AND SO IS THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES. [BACKGROUND]
[BACKGROUND] I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE LARI, COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING?
>> WHEN WE SAY THAT THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES AND THE CEASE FIRES ALL HAPPENING IN THE SAME AREA, SO THIS PUT THEM TOGETHER JUST MAKES MORE SENSE, I THINK.
IF YOU DON'T AGREE, WE CAN TINT IT BACK. THAT'S FINE.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? HEARING NONE, I'M GOING TO ASK SUPERINTENDENT DR. DEWAN TO TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST INCLUDING PALESTINE AND ISRAEL AFTER THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES.
>> I'LL PASS AND HAVE I COME BACK. TRUSTEE LARI.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES WITH FIVE YESES AND TWO ABSTENTIONS.
ABSTENTIONS: VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA [APPLAUSE] AND TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
[BACKGROUND] THE ROOM IS GOING TO BE CLEARED.
[BACKGROUND] STAFF, IF I COULD REQUEST ALL STAFF TO HELP CLEAR THE ROOM, PLEASE.
[05:25:05]
[BACKGROUND] CAN I ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN?>> SO MOVED. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY TRUSTEE CHON AND SECONDED VICE VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED AND PLEASE VOTE IN PORT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.