Apr 23, 2024 Special County Board of Education

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

[A. Livestream the Board Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/sccboardmeeting]

[00:00:03]

TODAY IS TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2024 AND THE TIME IS 7 P.M..

I AM MOANA OF ALBERTA, PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I WILL PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING.

OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN TONIGHT'S MEETING.

VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY?

[B. Pledge of Allegiance]

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. I WILL NOW CONDUCT ROLL CALL. I PRESIDENT BERTA AND PRESENT.

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

TRUSTEE CHON. PRESIDENT TRUSTEE DI SALVO. I'M HERE.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE LARI PRESENT. TRUSTEE MAH HERE.

VICE PRESIDENT. ROCHA HERE. TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN PRESENT.

[D. Set the Agenda]

SO MOVED. SECOND. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE CHON AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE MAH.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK TRUSTEES TO VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.

I'LL BE A VERBAL I, A VERBAL I FROM TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.

I WILL AS WELL. VERBAL I. VERBAL I FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

THANK YOU. AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. A LIVE STREAM OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT TINYURL.COM.

BACKSLASH FCC BOARD MEETING. ONCE ON THE WEB PAGE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AND CHOOSE LIVE LANGUAGE.

SUPPORT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE FOR IPHONE.

FOR SPANISH SUPPORT, CALL 16699006833. THE MEETING ID IS 72733481 0 POUND. FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, CALL 16699006833.

THE MEETING ID IS (921) 815-3561 6 POUND. LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IN ASL, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE 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 AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AND ON DISPLAY IN THE MONITORS IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE LANGUAGE SUPPORT TEAM FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK THAT 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 IN THE ATRIUM.

IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR THE NEED TO EVACUATE A ROOM, PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW A FCO SCO STAFF MEMBER THAT IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO. PUBLIC COMMENT.

[A. At this time, members of the public may address the Board on any issue within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board that is not listed on this agenda.]

ONCE WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.95. THE SCC BOE STRIVES TO MAINTAIN THE ORDERLY AND CIVIL CONDUCT OF ITS MEETINGS AND TO AVOID UNLAWFUL DISRUPTIONS. THEREFORE, DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE INTEND TO KEEP A RESPECTFUL, CIVIL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.

PLEASE NOTE THAT VERBAL ABUSE, THREATS AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

INDIVIDUALS WHO ENGAGE IN THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.

WE ASK THAT THERE BE NO CLAPPING, CHEERING, SNAPPING OF FINGERS, BOOING, OR SHOUTING.

IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY SIMPLY DO SO WITH THE UNIVERSAL SIGN OF APPRECIATION, WHICH CAN BE DONE LIKE THIS. SO HOPEFULLY LAST MINUTE SPEAKING CARDS ARE IN.

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

OKAY. THANK YOU. AS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW COMMENCING, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS.

PLEASE PRESENT THE ONE MINUTE TIMER. A TIMER WILL BE DISPLAYED WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP.

THE BUZZER WILL SOUND AND YOU WILL BE MUTED AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END.

MODERATOR. YOU MAY BEGIN. THANK YOU. AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.

AS A REMINDER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME CAN BE AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENT UNLESS LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED BY AN AE INTERPRETER OR ASL INTERPRETER.

[00:05:02]

PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.

OUR EIGHT SPEAKERS ARE JOANNE VARS, SANDIA LOPEZ YEE WAN, ELIZABETH ALVAREZ, SHAYLEE KIRK, STACEY SIMPSON, JOHN HORNER, AND ALLISON BUSCARINO.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOANNE VARS. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JOANNE VARS. I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

THE STUDENTS IN THE SCO PROGRAMS ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY.

I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU WANT TO AVOID CONTRIBUTING TO FURTHER HARM, THAT EACH OF YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION.

OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND GUARDIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF DOCTOR DEWAN EFFECTIVENESS IN LEADING THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION TOWARDS ITS ESTABLISHED GOALS, AS STATED IN BOARD POLICY 2140.

OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER THAN TO HAVE THE BOARD CONTINUE TO DELAY COMPLETING THE EVALUATION OF DOCTOR DEWAN IN A TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT MANNER. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN UP IN SUPPORT OF DOCTOR DEWAN OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, THAT SHE PUTS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FIRST. I BELIEVE YOU CAN ASSUME COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND UNITY TONIGHT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDY LOPEZ. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SANDHYA LOPEZ, AND I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A PARENT OF TWO, A DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR OF THE INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE AND A RESIDENT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF DOCTOR DEWAN. AND WHILE YOU'VE HEARD HUNDREDS OF REASONS FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER TWO CRUCIAL REASONS WHY SHE DESERVES, AT THE VERY LEAST, A SATISFACTORY EVALUATION. FIRSTLY, HAVING SERVED AS A PRINCIPAL AMIDST THE CHAOS OF THE PANDEMIC, I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND DOCTOR DEWAN'S DEDICATION AS A LEADER.

HER PRIORITIES WERE CRYSTAL CLEAR. TO BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH STAFF AND FAMILIES, HAD THE SUPPORT TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

WE CANNOT FORGET THAT SHE GUIDED US THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF SCHOOL CLOSURES, THE REVELATION OF DISPARITIES, AND THE REOPENING PROCESS WITH PASSION AND COMMITMENT.

THIS REMAINS TODAY. SECONDLY, DESPITE THE ONGOING EVALUATION IMPASSE, DOCTOR DEWAN HAS DISPLAYED REMARKABLE RESILIENCE AND FOCUS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT MANY COULD DO THIS RESPECTFULLY.

WHILE THE CLOSED SESSIONS HAVE LEFT US IN THE DARK, ONE THING IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR THE SITUATION IS NO LONGER ABOUT HER ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DEWAN. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING, I'M DOCTOR YUAN, DIRECTOR OF STATE AND REGIONAL PROJECTS AT THE SCO.

I HAVE BEEN AN SCO EMPLOYEE FOR 25 YEARS. IN THE SPIRIT OF CELEBRATING APRIL AS NATIONAL BILINGUAL MULTILINGUAL LEARNER ADVOCACY MONTH, I WANT TO PUBLICLY SHARE MY GRATITUDE FOR DOCTOR DEWAN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HOSTING AN ANNUAL ADVOCACY MONTH SHOWCASE CELEBRATING STUDENTS LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND RECOGNIZING IMPACTFUL DISTRICTS.

DOCTOR DEWAN ALWAYS PUTS STUDENTS FIRST. DOCTOR DEWAN ANNUALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED THE IMPORTANT MILESTONES OF PATHWAY TO BILITERACY AND THE SEAL OF BILITERACY.

HER LEADERSHIP IS INSPIRATIONAL. DOCTOR DEWAN GENUINELY CARES FOR THOSE SHE LEADS AND NURTURES A COMMUNITY OF CARE.

EARNING HER THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF STAFF, COLLEAGUES, SUPERINTENDENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE DOCTOR DEWAN AS MY COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT? THANK YOU. IS ELIZABETH ALVAREZ. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

HELLO. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH ALVAREZ. I'M HERE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF HEALTHIER CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, A DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, AND I'M HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR DOCTOR DEWAN AND HER LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY IN MY CURRENT CAPACITY, BUT OVER THE LAST 15, 20 YEARS OF MY WORK EXPERIENCE I HAVE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, I'VE WORKED WITH HER VERY CLOSELY AND OBSERVED HER LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY IN DURING COVID, BUT PRIOR TO COVID AS A DIRECTOR OF THE FRANK MCKINLEY CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE. I WANT TO EXPRESS THAT ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, NOT ONLY IN EARLY LEARNING, BUT AND ALSO IN MY CURRENT ROLE OF BEING ABLE TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND THE HEALTHIER KIDS FOUNDATION IS ESSENTIAL.

AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT HER. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M VERY PROUD TO KNOW HER AND I SEE HER AS A ROLE MODEL TO SO MANY OF US. JUST OBSERVING HER, HER POISE AND BEAUTY AND PROFESSIONALISM IN EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES.

[00:10:05]

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

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHARLIE SARKAR. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, I AM A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE I, AND LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WHO'VE COME AND SPOKEN, DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON OR WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING.

AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I KNOW THAT MY DISTRICT DOESN'T RUN BECAUSE OF ME.

I JUST TRY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SUPPORTIVE.

SIMILARLY, THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION DOESN'T RUN BECAUSE OF YOU, THE BOARD MEMBERS.

IT ACTUALLY RUNS DESPITE YOU. BECAUSE THROUGH THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS OF UNCERTAINTY AT THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND ITS PROGRAMS, ITS PROGRAMS HAVE THRIVED UNDER DOCTOR DEWAN'S LEADERSHIP.

THOUGH YOU HAVE CREATED A VERY UNSTABLE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, AND I THINK IT IS TO DOCTOR DEWAN'S CREDIT THAT SHE'S ABLE TO DO HER JOB EXCELLENTLY AND SUPPORT HER STAFF, HER PROGRAMS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS.

DESPITE ALL OF THE INSTABILITY AND THIS ENDLESS EVALUATION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT HER THROUGH.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY SIMPSON.

PLEASE APPROACH CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

HI, MY NAME IS STACY SIMPSON AND I'M A PROUD EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

I'M A WELLNESS CENTER THERAPIST, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT DOCTOR DEWAN INSTITUTED FOR THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO BE HERE AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS EVALUATION.

REALLY EXPRESSING MY ARDENT SUPPORT FOR HER. SHE IS A CONTINUOUS FORCE MENTOR IN MY LIFE.

SHE HAS DISPLAYED NONSTOP CARE AND CONCERN FOR OUR STUDENTS.

HOW SHE ACTS, HOW SHE GOES ABOUT HER WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW ALL OF US SHOULD BE REPRESENTING STUDENTS FIRST.

SHE DESERVES AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN HORNER. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM CLEARLY, STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

THANK YOU. JOHN HORNER TRUSTEE MORGAN HILL UNIFIED.

BUT SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF. I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING A BAD VERSION OF THE GROUNDHOG DAY MOVIE WITH ONE DIFFERENCE.

IN THAT MOVIE, BILL MURRAY'S CHARACTER LEARNS EVERY TIME AND GETS MUCH BETTER, AND THAT'S HIS WAY OUT.

I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING, I THINK, ON ITEM THREE, THOUGH, THAT'S A VERY OBSCURE ITEM IN THAT IT'S ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, NOT EVEN LITIGATION IN FRONT OF YOU. WE'RE ALL GUESSING, SINCE YOU'RE NOT TELLING US THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE ONGOING EMPLOYMENT OF DOCTOR DEWAN. I'M GUESSING THAT YOU'VE GIVEN HER AN UNSATISFACTORY NET EVALUATION BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THIS GROUP, THOUGH THAT'S NOT CLEAR. I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS IN A POSITION LIKE THAT ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD, MY NAME WAS KNOWN IN PUBLIC AND SOME PEOPLE THANKED ME FOR IT, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL ANGRY AT ME FOR IT.

BUT WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, DON'T JUST TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE TO TELL US.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TELL US. THANK YOU.

AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS ALLISON MAKARENKO. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS.

HELLO, I'M ALLISON BOCARANGA, AND I'M DELIVERING PUBLIC COMMENT ON BEHALF OF DOCTOR HEATHER LATIMER.

DEAR SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS DEAN OF THE CORNELL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, I AM WRITING TO SHARE MY APPRECIATION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SJSU AND SCCO THAT HAS DEVELOPED UNDER DOCTOR DUGAN'S LEADERSHIP DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS, SCCO HAS PARTNERED WITH CSU TO SUPPORT EARLY LEARNING, EDUCATION, TEACHER AND COUNSELOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMING.

PATHWAYS TO CREDENTIAL FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIAL AND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR PK 12 SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT LEADERS. SCCO HAS PARTNERED WITH CSU TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE STATE FUNDING THAT HAS BROUGHT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR REGION TO SUPPORT PK 12 SCHOOLING AND TEACHER PREPARATION. SCCO COLLABORATION WITH CSU DIRECTLY BENEFITS PK 16 EDUCATION IN OUR REGION.

THIS STRONG PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN CHAMPIONED BY DOCTOR DEWAN AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP DOCTOR DEWAN BRINGS TO OUR REGION.

THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM THREE CLOSED SESSION.

[3. CLOSED SESSION]

ONCE IN CLOSED SESSION, I WILL CALL THE CLOSED SESSION TO ORDER AND REQUEST THAT EACH TRUSTEE STATE THEIR NAME TO RECORD WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE, AND TO AFFIRM AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARAMETERS FOR THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN THE CLOSED SESSION.

THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEM INCLUDES ONLY ONE ITEM.

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. ANTICIPATED LITIGATION.

[00:15:02]

CASE. MODERATOR DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM? NO, WE DO NOT. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, GIVEN WE DON'T HAVE COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM, THE BOARD WILL NOW ENTER CLOSED SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN IN APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS ON OR AFTER 9:15 P.M..

THANK YOU. WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION.

[A. Report of Actions Taken in Closed Session]

THIS BRINGS US TO ADJOURNMENT. THE NEXT SANTA CLARA COUNTY REGULAR REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 1ST, 2024. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

SECOND. I'M SORRY I MISSED THE. WHO ISSUED THE MOTION? OH, TRUSTEE LARI. OKAY. MOTION BY TRUSTEE LAWRENCE AND SECOND BY TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

I AM A VERBAL I FROM ME. NO. VERBAL I FROM TRUSTEE CHON.

I FROM ROCHA VERBAL I OKAY. SOUNDS LIKE VERBAL I FROM EVERYONE.

SEE YOU IN THE MORNING. YOU'RE ADJOURNED AT 9:13 P.M..

THANK YOU. AND? WE WILL BE DOING PHOTOGRAPHS, SO.

OKAY. SEE YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.