Nov 20, 2024 County Board of Education

ALSO, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE THERE'S TWO COMMENTS FOR 5D.

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR CONSENT ACTION ITEMS.

[5. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS]

AND YOU SAID 5D, IS THAT CORRECT, MODERATOR?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> THERE ARE TWO COMMENTERS FOR ITEM 5D, DIANE, KAPI AND TINA CHANG.

>> DIANE CAPILI, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> HELLO, TRUSTEES AND DOCTOR HENMAN AGAIN.

MY NAME IS DIANE CAPILI AND I AM A PARENT OF A SCCOE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT ATTENDING A COUNTY SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY.

I REALLY HOPE SCCO REMAINS DEDICATED TO BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN CREATING ACCESSIBLE, RESPECTFUL, AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT EMPOWER EVERY STUDENT TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITHIN THE SCCO SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT IT IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE CAPILI.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

OH, I'M SORRY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TINA CHAN, PLEASE CLEARLY WITH STATE YOUR NAME.

>> HI, MY NAME IS TINA CHAN AND I'M A PARENT OF A DEATH DISABLED CHILD IN OUR COUNTY DHH PROGRAM.

[00:50:01]

AND I AGAIN, THANK THE BOARD FOR HAVING THIS RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.

BUT I ALSO ASK FOR THERE TO BE ACTION ALONG WITH THE RESOLUTION, THAT WHEN PARENTS COME FORWARD, ASKING FOR THINGS LIKE INCLUSION FOR EQUITY THAT THE RESOURCES WILL BE THERE AND THAT OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR COUNTY WILL BE COMMITTED TO USING THINGS LIKE INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE.

TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

WHEN WE REQUEST FOR EVEN OUR COUNTY PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR DISTRICTS, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE THE FINGER IS POINTED TO THE OTHER SIDE THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, AND THUS, OUR KIDS, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A PROGRAM THERE, DOESN'T GET THE INCLUSION THAT THEY NEED.

AGAIN, I ASK THAT YOU GUYS WOULD JUST CONTINUE DOING THE WORK. THANK YOU.

ITEMS 5C AND F WERE PULLED.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

BUT OTHERWISE, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION.

MOTION FROM VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.

>> I'LL SECOND

>> A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE CHAN.

I BELIEVE TRUSTEE LAI WAS DISCONNECTED BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET HER BACK ON SOON.

WE WILL NOW VOTE. DOCTOR HENMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE?

>> TRUSTEE LAI. NOT PRESIDE CONNECTED. TRUSTEE MA.

>> TRUSTEE ROCHA.

>> AND SO THAT ITEM PASSES WITH SIX AYES AND ONE NOT PRESENT A VOTE.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

>> JUST GIVE US A MOMENT HERE.

>> HI, PRESIDENT BERTA.

WHILE WE WAIT FOR TRUSTEE LAURIE, WE MISSED ON WHO MADE THE MOTION AND WHO SECONDED.

>> VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE CHAN.

>> CAN YOU HEAR US, TRUSTEE, LAURIE?

>> YES, I CAN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO ITEM 5C,

[C. Second Reading and Request of Adoption of Board Bylaw 9270 Conflict of Interest]

WHICH WAS AN ITEM I REQUESTED TO BE PULLED.

AND I GUESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS ITEM, SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THIS ITEM COME BACK, BUT THE QUESTIONS WHEN WE HAVE RESPONSES.

I'M JUST A LITTLE UNCLEAR ON HOW THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHETHER THIS WENT THROUGH POLICY COUNCIL, HOW THESE PROPOSED CHANGES WERE DETERMINED.

>> PRESIDENT BERTA, WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ HERE TO HELP ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY WENT TO THE BOARD POLICY DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTE ON OCTOBER 2.

THAT WAS WHERE THERE WAS A REVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE CATEGORIZED AS A ONE OR TWO, DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL OF AUTHORITY AND THEIR INSIGHT ON CERTAIN MATTERS RELATED TO FINANCIAL OR CONTRACTUAL.

AFTER THAT MEETING, THERE WAS A REVIEW DONE BY THE COUNTY THAT WE WERE WAITING FOR.

THE COUNTY CONCLUDED THE REVIEW AND THEN AT THE BOARD PREP SESSION FOR NOVEMBER 6, WE DISCUSSED THERE WAS THREE MINOR AMENDMENTS.

THERE WAS THREE POSITIONS.

THE THREE POSITIONS THAT HAD MINOR AMENDMENTS FROM CATEGORY 2 TO BE RECLASSIFIED TO CATEGORY 1 WAS THE MANAGER RISK AND LIABILITY, THE SUPERVISOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND SUPERVISOR RISK AND LIABILITY.

SO WHEN IT CAME TO THE BOARD ON NOVEMBER 6, IT WAS MADE TO MENTION THAT WAS THE FIRST READING, AND THERE WAS THOSE THREE MINOR AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS THAT CERTAIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, IN THE LIST OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, FOR INSTANCE, SOME ARE CLASSIFIED AS A TWO AND OTHERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS A ONE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS,

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

[00:55:02]

SO IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON THAT THEY'RE CLASSIFIED THAT WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME THRESHOLD, I GUESS, EQUIVALENCY?

>> CORRECT. SO YES, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN A REASON.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIRECTOR 3 GENERAL SERVICES, THAT ONE'S CATEGORIZED AS A ONE BECAUSE THAT POSITION TYPICALLY DEALS WITH CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRACTUAL THINGS THAT THAT POSITION HAS TO MANAGE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S HIGH AT A HIGHER LEVEL 1 OPPOSED TO A DIRECTOR 3, IT'S INCLUSION COLLABORATIVE THEY'RE A LEVEL 2, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME LINE OF OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IT'S BASED ON THAT LEVEL OF THEIR ABILITY TO WORK ON DIFFERENT AREAS AND THEIR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.

>> UNDERSTOOD. AND I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT JUST IN REVIEWING THE CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE HAD AND THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP, THE ONES THAT GO THROUGH A SOLE SOURCE PROCESS OR AN RFP PROCESS.

I GUESS I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THAT THESE ARE CLASSIFIED, NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S BEING DONE IN ANY PARTICULAR REASON BUT FROM AN EQUITY STANDPOINT, I'M JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD DO A DEEPER DIVE TO UNDERSTAND AND FURTHER LOOK INTO WHY THERE ARE SPECIFIC BY POSITION, AND IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE OPEN TO BRINGING THIS BACK WITH SOME FURTHER REVIEW.

>> SO PRESIDENT BERTA, IF I MAY, ARE WE UNDER ANY TIMELINE ON THIS, IF WE WERE TO PULL THIS ITEM, WOULD IT PUT US IN ANY KIND OF.

>> SO THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, WE WORKED WITH THEIR LEGAL TEAM TO REVIEW THE CLASSIFICATIONS AND THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AND SO WE DO HAVE TO APPROVE THIS ANNUALLY.

SO THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT IT WOULD GET APPROVED TONIGHT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RENEW THIS ANNUALLY.

SO EVERY YEAR, THE COUNTY LOOKS AT IT, THEY PULL THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A CATEGORY 1 OR 2.

SO THERE ARE SOME TIME CONSTRAINTS TO GET IT APPROVED.

>> BUT HAVING IT DONE ON THE 13TH WOULD STILL SEEM TO MEET THAT TIMELINE? BOARD MEETING?

>> DECEMBER 18. YEAH, WE HAVE TO TYPE WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.

>> I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY ON THAT.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND IF THE BOARD IS NOT COMFORTABLE, WANTS A DEEPER DIVE ON THOSE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND RATIOS, BY ALL MEANS, WE CAN PULL THE ITEM.

>> TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN? TRUSTEE CHAN?

>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S THE SAME AND WE CAN COME BACK WITH IT.

BUT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE ASKING, PRESIDENT BERTA.

SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT AND ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS, SOME ARE TWO AND SOME ARE ONE, AND THEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SEPA PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

THEY ARE ALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

THEY ARE ALL ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS AND ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENTS, BUT THEY DIFFER IN TWOS AND ONES.

SO IS IT BECAUSE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THEY LOOK OVER?

>> IT'S OVER THE DEPARTMENTS BUT ALSO THE FUNCTIONS, YES.

IT DOES VARY ON THE DEPARTMENTS THEY OVERSEE.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, WE'RE TYPICALLY ONE BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF MORE OF THE BUSINESS FUNCTIONS.

THE TWOS ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED.

THERE IS PART OF THAT PROCESS BUT IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND FUNCTIONS THAT EACH DEPARTMENT PLAYS.

>> THEN THE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS, WE ARE ALL CATEGORY 1, SO THIS IS THE FORM 700.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT CATEGORY 2 DOES?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CATEGORY 2 IS THERE IS SOME LINE OF OVERSIGHT TO WHERE THERE WOULD NEED TO BE THE FORM 700, BUT IT JUST RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY HAVE, THE ABILITY TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND ACCESS TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, A MANAGER OR SPECIALIZED MAY BE REVIEWING CONTRACT, BUT MAYBE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING THAT THAT'S NOT THEIR MAIN FUNCTION OF THEIR JOB.

IT COULD BE A PIECE, BUT IT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED.

>> SO CATEGORY 2 STILL FILLS OUT FORM 700.

IT'S JUST THEY FILL OUT MAYBE LESS OF THEM OR DIFFERING ONES?

>> EVERYONE FILLS OUT OF FORM 700.

IS THE COUNTY HAS US DO THESE CATEGORIES.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM REVIEWING THIS REQUIREMENT IS THAT THERE'S THE CATEGORY BASED ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

>> I SEE.

>> SO THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY HAS STEPPED IN TO HELP SUPPORT US TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WERE CLASSIFIED CORRECTLY BASED ON THE JOB DUTIES OF EACH RESPECTIVE POSITION.

AND I WAS GOING TO SAY THESE ARE REVIEWED EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

SO THEY'RE REVIEWED FOR ACCURACY.

THEY'RE REVIEWED FOR IF THERE'S JOB DESCRIPTION CHANGES, THEY ARE REFLECTED IN HERE.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO STATE THAT I DO REMEMBER DOING THIS IN POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

I AM COMFORTABLE JUST APPROVING THIS THIS EVENING, BUT IF THE REST OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE IT TO COME BACK, THAT'S FINE TOO.

>> YEAH. I SECOND WHAT TRUSTEE CHAN SAID AND HAD SIMILAR QUESTIONS.

[01:00:01]

FOR INSTANCE, WHEN A FORM 700 IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE ARE CERTAIN PERSONNEL THAT DEAL MORE WITH REAL PROPERTY SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN A CERTAIN CATEGORY.

BUT EVEN IF THEY'RE IN CATEGORY 2, THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE THEIR REAL PROPERTY.

>> YES. THAT'S CORRECT. YES.

>> THE FORM 700 HAS THE BOTH FOR EITHER CATEGORY.

>> EVERYONE DISCLOSES THE SAME THING.

>> IN THAT REGARD, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS IS, I'LL SECOND IT.

>> THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE AS IS FROM TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE CHAN.

I DID JUST WANT TO CLARIFY AS AN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION POINT.

IF YOU LOOK AT EXHIBIT B, WHICH IS THE DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES, CATEGORY 1 LISTS A PERSON DESIGNATED IN CATEGORY 1 SHALL DISCLOSE, SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ENTIRELY OR PARTLY WITHIN THE COUNTY BOUNDARIES, INCLUDING WITHIN 2 MILES OF THE COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

THAT SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION IS NOT INCLUDED IN CATEGORY 2, AND SO THERE IS THAT DIFFERENTIATION THERE, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION ON.

BUT I ASSUME DEPENDING ON THE MOTION, I CAN GET THAT CLARIFICATION REGARDLESS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES? COMMENTS OF VICE PRESIDENT, ROCHA?

>> THANK YOU. AS FAR AS THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON, IS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT STAFF TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING IF THIS HAD BEEN DEFERRED?

>> YEAH. I WAS HOPING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY CERTAIN POSITIONS WERE ONES VERSUS TWOS AND WHAT TYPES OF RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD PRECLUDE THEM, FOR INSTANCE, OF NOT HAVING AS MUCH TO DO WITH REAL ESTATE OR THAT TYPE OF OVERSIGHT OR WHAT TYPES OF CONTRACTS WOULD GO UNDER THEM?

>> GIVEN THAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, THAT THERE'S NO IMPACT, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE DEFERRAL.

I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

I'M HAPPY TO HONOR AND RESPECT COLLEAGUES INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN?

>> YEAH. TO CLARIFY IN TERMS OF THE DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES, EVERYONE DISCLOSES THE SAME THING.

THEY DISCLOSE IF THEY HAVE ON A FORM 700.

>> CORRECT.

>> I GUESS WHY IS IT SPLIT UP IN TWO CATEGORIES ON PAGE 6?

>> I WAS HOPING NOT TO PUT STAFF ON THE SPOT.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING FOR US TO IF THERE'S NOT THE INFORMATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THAT WAS WHY, IF WE NEED TO COME BACK TO IT, THAT WOULD BE MY ASK OR MY RECOMMENDATION.

>> THE CATEGORIES HERE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ARE RELATED TO THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS MAY FALL IN THESE CATEGORIES, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE FORM 700 IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

IF THERE'S NO REAL PROPERTY OR ANY INTEREST THAT WILL BE NA NOT COMPLETED.

BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO HAVE THE CATEGORY 1, THAT THERE MAY BE THAT POTENTIAL, THEY WOULD PUT THAT INFORMATION THERE.

SO IT REALLY IS BASED ON, AS I MENTIONED, THE SCOPE OF THEIR ROLE, AND IF THEY HAVE INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY OR NOT.

>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GOMEZ.

>> BUT WE'LL DEFER TO PRESIDENT BERTA, DOCTOR HENMAN, IF YOU WANT US TO BRING IT BACK WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> NOW, WE CAN CONNECT OFFLINE AS WELL IF THIS MOTION PASSES OR DOESN'T PASS, WE'LL DETERMINE NEXT STEPS BASED ON THAT.

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

>> SURE. I JUST WANT TO SHARE PRESIDENT BERTA BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS VOTE GOES, THE BOARD WILL BE GETTING UPDATED INFORMATION.

>> THE MOTION DOESN'T CARRY.

>> TWO, THREE, TWO.

>> CORRECT.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE CHAN.

>> I'LL MOVE TO BRING THIS BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE CHAN TO BRING THIS BACK AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING.

>> AND PRIOR TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE THIS SPELLED OUT BECAUSE THERE CLEARLY WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE, BUT WE'LL HAVE.

[01:05:02]

THIS IS NOT AN EARTH SHATTERING DISCUSSION, SO WE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM.

>> APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE CHAN AND A SECOND FROM VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.

DOCTOR HENMAN, WILL YOU DO A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE?

>> YES. PRESIDENT BERTA?

>> IT'S A SIX. MOTION PASSES.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR HENMAN AND TRUSTEES.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 6 OR 5F,

[F. Request Approval for Budget Revision of Head Start Grant PY4]

WHICH WAS THE REQUEST APPROVAL FOR BUDGET REVISION FOR HEAD START GRANTS.

HE ALSO REQUESTED THAT THIS ITEM BE PULLED.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT QUANTIFIED IT TO EXCEED THE 250. YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS IS THRESHOLD. I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF. BUT THERE WE GO.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA, TRUSTEES.

THIS, I ACTUALLY HEARD A COMMENT YOU MADE EARLIER AND YOU WERE WONDERING IF THIS WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY POLICY COUNCIL, AND I'VE NOTED TO MYSELF THAT I WILL MAKE SURE IN THE TRANSMITTAL FOR THE FUTURE.

I'LL GIVE THE DATES OF WHEN THE POLICY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVES IT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S SHARED GOVERNANCE, AND THAT'S A WISE MOVE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE POLICY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THIS ON NOVEMBER 12TH.

THE REASON WHY IT'S COMING TO YOU IS YOU'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY APPROVED THIS CARRYOVER BUDGET AND THE OPERATIONS BUDGET, BUT WE NEEDED TO MOVE $250,000 IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES.

ONE OF THE CATEGORIES WAS FOR PERSONNEL BENEFITS AND SALARIES.

ANYTIME WE HAVE OVER THE THRESHOLD OF $250,000, WE NEED BOARD APPROVAL AND POLICY COUNCIL APPROVAL.

SECOND ITEM THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE OVER $50,000 IS WE HAD PUT CERTAIN PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THE OFFICE OF HEAD START HAS ACTUALLY ASKED US TO MOVE IT INTO THE OTHER CATEGORY.

DUE TO THE SCOPE AND THE SEQUENCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO DO DIFFERENT FEDERAL INTEREST MODIFICATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE OFFICE OF HEAD START SAID, YES, THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL APPROVED, BUT WE WOULD LIKE THE BUDGET CATEGORY OF OTHER.

THE SCOPE HAS NOT CHANGED.

THE APPROVAL PROCESS THAT YOU ALREADY DID LAST YEAR FOR THESE PROJECTS IS STILL IN EFFECT.

IT'S JUST WE HAD TO MOVE THE MONEY TO OVER $250,000.

>> THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, THOSE WERE ALREADY PIECES THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED AND COVERED?

>> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

>> OF COURSE.

>> VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.

>> THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE YOU PULLING THIS ITEM.

I WOULD JUST MOVED TO APPROVE IF YOU HADN'T, BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON IT WHEN I SAW THE DOLLARS, AND YOU MENTIONED THE PERSONNEL COSTS.

ARE THESE UNFORESEEN OR ADDITIONAL STAFF OR JUST COSTS THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT?

>> COSTS DUE TO RAISES, NEGOTIATIONS, ADDITIONAL COSTS IN OUR BENEFITS PROGRAMS. IN ORDER TO COVER IT, WE'RE USING THESE MONIES AND WE'RE MOVING OVER $250,000.

IT WAS NOT ADDITIONAL STAFF, IT WAS JUST ADDITIONAL COSTS.

>> THANK YOU. I'LL ACCEPT THAT MOTION, VICE PRESIDENT, IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE IT.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> SECOND FROM TRUSTEE CHON.

DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU DO A ROLL CALL VOTE?

>> YES. PRESIDENT BERTA.

>> AYE. PASSES SEVEN NIL.

>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE CHON.

>> I JUST HAVE A POINT OF ORDER QUESTION.

I WAS WONDERING WHY WE'RE DOING A ROLL CALL VOTE, AND WE'RE NOT VOTING ON BOARD TALKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

BECAUSE OF THE TELECONFERENCING, ALL VOTES HAVE TO BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING, SO I APOLOGIZE.

>> NO PROBLEM. THE BOARD IS ABOUT TO ENTER OUR FIRST CLOSED SESSION.

[6. CLOSED SESSION (1)]

CLOSED SESSION INVOLVES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, MODERATOR?

>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXCUSE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER DE LA ROSA AGUILAR.

[01:10:01]

STUDENT BOARD MEMBER DE LA ROSA AGUILAR, WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US, YOUR SERVICE ON OUR BOARD, AND FOR YOUR REPORT AND PREPARATION TONIGHT, YOU ARE EXCUSED NOW AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> THANK YOU, BOARD AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU. THE FIRST CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEM INCLUDES FOUR ITEMS, 6A, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9, ONE CASE, COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

6B, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9, ONE CASE, COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY BRILLIANT MINDS CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

6C, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9, ONE OR MORE POTENTIAL CASES, COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOLS RENEWAL.

6D, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9, CASE NUMBER 24(C) V 449859 SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.

THE BOARD WILL NOW ENTER IN CLOSED SESSION.

WE WILL RETURN IN APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AT OR AFTER 8:15 PM.

THANK YOU. A QUICK CORRECTION.

WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT AN HOUR, SO WE WILL BE BACK BY 7:15 PM AT OR AFTER. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. WE ARE READY TO RESUME OPEN SESSION.

UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 6A,

[A. Report of Actions Taken in Closed Session (1)]

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9, ONE CASE COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMIES CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

THERE IS NO REPORTABLE ACTION.

UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 6B, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9 (1) CASE, COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY BRILLIANT MINDS CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

THERE WERE NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS.

UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 6C, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION 54956.9, ONE OR MORE POTENTIAL CASES, COUNTY BOARD ACTION ON BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOLS RENEWAL.

THERE IS NO REPORTABLE ACTION.

UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 6D, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (1) OF SUBDIVISION (D) OF GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9, CASE NUMBER 24(C) V 449859 SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.

THERE ARE NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[A. Request for Action/Decision on the Renewal Petition Submitted by Rocketship Alma Academy Charter School]

ITEM 8, PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION ITEMS. THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL NOW CONSIDER AND REACH A DECISION ON THE COUNT WIDE BENEFIT RENEWAL CHARTER SCHOOL PETITION FOR ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL.

THIS ACTION ITEM IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2024.

THIS ACTION IS BEING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE SECTIONS 47605.6, 47607 AND 47607.2 AND BOARD POLICY 0420.4.

THIS ACTION WILL PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

FIRST, THE BOARD WILL HEAR AN OPENING STATEMENT FROM STAFF WHO WILL BE GIVEN 15 MINUTES.

SECOND, ALMA WILL BE GIVEN 15 MINUTES TO COMMENT AS A RESPONSE TO STAFF ANALYSIS.

THIRD, SAN JOSE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT FOR NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO COMMENT.

FOURTH, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM WILL BE LIMITED TO 20 MINUTES UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE BOARD PER BOARD BYLAW 9323.

SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE.

SPEAKERS UTILIZING A TRANSLATOR SHALL HAVE 2 MINUTES.

SPEAKERS SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND ARE URGED TO AVOID REPEATING POINTS MADE BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

[01:15:04]

FIFTH, BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.

THEREAFTER, THE BOARD WILL DELIBERATE ON THIS MATTER AND MAKE A DECISION REGARDING THE CHARTER SCHOOL PETITION RENEWAL FROM ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL.

AT THIS TIME, I CALL UPON INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINMAN TO INTRODUCE STAFF.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT STAFF, LED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MEFULA FAIRLEY.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, TRUSTEES, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINMAN, STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

JOINING ME THIS EVENING ARE DAVINA HARDEN, PARTNER AT ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD, AND ROMO, DR. MICHELLE JOHNSON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT, AND SHALLU SHARMA, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE BOARD'S ACTION ON THE RENEWAL REQUEST FOR ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY OR RSA CHARTER SCHOOL, A DIRECT FUNDED COUNT WIDE BENEFIT SCCBOE AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOL.

RSA'S CURRENT TERM RUNS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025.

RSA IS SEEKING A FIVE-YEAR TERM AS IT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR CDE AS A MIDDLE PERFORMING CATEGORY SCHOOL.

CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 420 STUDENTS.

AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, RSA IS A COUNT WIDE BENEFIT CHARTER SCHOOL.

THE SCCBOE HAS SUBSTANTIAL DISCRETION IN CONSIDERING A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO DENY A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL ON ANY OTHER BASIS BEYOND THOSE SPECIFIED IN STATUTE, THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FINDS JUSTIFIES THE DENIAL AND THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BEYOND THOSE REQUIRED BY ED CODE SECTION 407605.6, THAT IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY FOR THE SOUND OPERATION OF A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DENIAL OF A RENEWAL OF A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL MAY NOT BE APPEALED TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2024, THE SCCBOE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RSA RENEWAL PETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO DO SO WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE RENEWAL APPLICATION.

SCCOE, RSA AND ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION, DOING BUSINESS AS ROCKETSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR RPS, ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN 2017, WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT DURING ANY CHARTER RENEWAL OR APPEAL UNTIL A NEW AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED RSA AND UPDATED MOU TO ALIGN WITH THE CURRENT LAWS AND PRACTICES.

RSA HAS EXPRESSED ITS INTENT TO ENTER INTO AN UPDATED MOU.

IF THE SCCBOE RENEWS THE CHARTER, SCCOE, WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH RSA ON FINALIZING THE NEW MOU AND RECOMMENDS ENTERING INTO THIS MOU VIA REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL OF THE CHARTER AS NECESSARY TO ITS SOUND OPERATION AS A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL.

I IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT STAFF, INCLUDING MATT DOHERTY, CYNTHIA TAPIA, MICHELLE JOHNSON, AND SHALLU SHARMA, ANALYZE THE PETITION FOLLOWING CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD'S GUIDELINES FOR CHARTER RENEWAL.

OUR TEAM HAS EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWALS AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, ENGLISH LEARNER DEVELOPMENT, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL GOVERNANCE, AND EDUCATIONAL FINANCE.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE LEAD PETITIONERS, JANINE RAMIREZ, AND ABEL IBARRA, AND THE ENTIRE RSA STAFF.

WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ON NOVEMBER 18TH, RSP PROVIDED TO THE SCCBOE VIA EMAIL, THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AND DATA REQUESTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 2ND.

WE WANT TO STATE THAT OUR REVIEW OF THE RSA RENEWAL REQUEST WAS COMPLETED IN AN OBJECTIVE AND FACTUAL MANNER.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDED FINDINGS, INCLUDING EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PUBLISHED AND SHARED WITH RSA ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, WHICH IS 15 DAYS BEFORE THE COUNTY BOARD'S DECISION TONIGHT AND ARE FOUND IN TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW.

AS EXPLAINED IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD, AB 1505 ESTABLISHED A NEW THREE-TIER SYSTEM FOR CONSIDERING CHARTER RENEWALS.

BASED ON ITS PERFORMANCE ON THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD, INDICATORS FOR THE PRECEDING TWO YEARS, RSA WAS NOT DEEMED A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL WITH SCHOOL WIDE ACHIEVEMENT AND THE TWO HIGHEST PERFORMANCE LEVELS ON THE DASHBOARD,

[01:20:01]

OR SCHOOLWIDE MAJORITY GROUP ACHIEVEMENT HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE ON ALL ACADEMIC INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD, NOR WAS RSA DEEMED A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL WITH SCHOOL WIDE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE TWO LOWEST PERFORMANCE LEVELS ON THE DASHBOARD OR SCHOOL WIDE AND MAJORITY GROUP ACHIEVEMENT LOWER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE ON ALL ACADEMIC INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD.

CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO BE CATEGORIZED AS HIGH OR LOW PERFORMING ARE DEEMED MIDDLE PERFORMING AND ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL.

RSA IS A MIDDLE PERFORMING TIER CHARTER SCHOOL.

IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO RENEW A MIDDLE PERFORMING SCHOOL, THE SCCBOE IS TO CONSIDER THE SCHOOL WIDE AND SUBGROUP PERFORMANCE ON THE STATE AND LOCAL INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD, GIVING GREATER WEIGHT TO MEASUREMENTS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE BASED ON VERIFIED DATA SHOWING EITHER THE CHARTER SCHOOL ACHIEVE MEASURABLE INCREASES IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, DEFINED BY AT LEAST ONE YEAR'S GROWTH FOR EACH YEAR OF SCHOOL, OR STRONG POST SECONDARY OUTCOMES AS DEFINED BY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, COLLEGE PERSISTENCE, AND COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, EQUAL TO OR SIMILAR PEERS.

RSA IS A TK SCHOOL AND THE POST SECONDARY OUTCOMES DO NOT APPLY.

THE SCCBOE MAY DENY A MIDDLE PERFORMING SCHOOL ON THESE PERFORMANCE BASES ONLY BY MAKING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS, SETTING FORTH SPECIFIC FACTS TO SUPPORT THREE FINDINGS.

ONE, THE SCHOOL FAILED TO MEET OR MAKE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING STANDARDS THAT PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO THE PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL.

TWO, THE CLOSURE OF THE SCHOOL IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUPILS, AND THREE, IF APPLICABLE, THAT THE DECISION PROVIDED GREATER WEIGHT TO PERFORMANCE ON MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

STAFF REVIEWED RSA'S STATEWIDE SUMMATIVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT DATA AND FOUND ITS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT DATA DEMONSTRATES STUDENT PERFORMANCE IS COMPARABLE TO OR OUTPERFORMS THE COUNTY AND THE LOCAL SCHOOLS WHICH NEAR WHERE IT IS LOCATED.

RSA ALSO SUBMITTED SEVEN YEARS OF VERIFIED DATA FROM THE NORTHWEST EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OR NWEA, WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE SCHOOL ACHIEVED ONE YEAR'S PROGRESS FOR EACH YEAR IN SCHOOL AS MEASURED BY NWEA CONDITIONAL GROWTH INDEX.

RSA'S RENEWAL PETITION INCLUDED A REVISION REMOVING THE TEACHING CREDENTIALS REQUIREMENT FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS.

THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR POSITIONS OF PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CONSTITUTES A REQUEST FOR MATERIAL REVISION TO THE CHARTER AS EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS ARE A REQUIRED CHARTER ELEMENT.

THIS PROPOSED CHANGE HAS POTENTIALLY HAS A POTENTIALLY SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND TEACHING AT RSA, IMPACTING THE OVERALL SOUNDNESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.

THE SCCBOE MAY ACT ON THE MATERIAL REVISION REQUEST SEPARATELY FROM ITS ACTION ON THE REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

>> WE NOTE THAT RPS EXPLAINED IN ITS CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO THE COUNTY BOARD ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, THAT IT AGREES THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS MUST BE HELD BY INDIVIDUALS WITH CALIFORNIA TEACHING CREDENTIALS AND INDICATED IT DOES NOT NEED TO PURSUE A MATERIAL REVISION ON THIS POINT.

RPS FURTHER AFFIRMED ITS AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIAL AS A PREFERRED REQUIREMENT FOR THESE POSITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

AS SUCH, RSA'S POSITION APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE SCC BOE DENY THESE MATERIAL REVISIONS TO TO THE CHARTER AND INSTEAD REQUIRE VALID CALIFORNIA TEACHING CREDENTIALS FOR THE POSITIONS OF PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIAL AS A PREFERRED QUALIFICATION.

THE RENEWAL PETITION REQUESTS COUNTY BOARD APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL ADMISSION PREFERENCES IN CASES IN WHICH THERE ARE MORE APPLICANTS THAN SPACES AT A PARTICULAR GRADE LEVEL.

RSA IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING PREFERENCES IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER.

ONE, SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY ADMITTED TO OR ATTENDING RSA, TWO, CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES OF RSA, NOT TO EXCEED 10% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT, THREE,

[01:25:01]

STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS, FOUR RESIDENTS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AND FIVE OTHER CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS.

THE REQUESTED CHANGES ARE TO ADD THE PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS AND TO ADD A PREFERENCE FOR SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO RSA, IN ADDITION TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIBLINGS WHO ARE ALREADY ATTENDING RSA.

THE NEW PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS INCREASES ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS PREFERENCE.

STAFF ALSO RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING FAMILIES TO ENROLL ALL THEIR CHILDREN AT THE SAME SCHOOL.

RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCC BOE APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE PREFERENCE FOR SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO RSA.

IN CONCLUSION, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE RSA CHARTER BE CONDITIONALLY RENEWED ON THE CONDITION AND WITH THE REQUIREMENT NECESSARY FOR THE SOUND OPERATION OF RSA AS A COUNTY-WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL THAT ROCKETSHIP ENTER INTO AN MOU AND OR AN ADDENDUM TO AN MOU ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025 THAT ADDRESSES THE SCO ADDRESSES TWO SCCOE SATISFACTION, EACH OF THE STAFF'S CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AS IDENTIFIED IN THE STAFF ANALYSIS AND AS NECESSARY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT LAW AND SCCOE BEST PRACTICES AND EXPECTATIONS.

STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNTY BOARD DENY THE MATERIAL REVISION, SEEKING TO REMOVE THE TEACHER CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS.

STAFF FURTHER RECOMMENDS THAT THE SEC BOE ADOPT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION ENTITLED RESOLUTION CONDITIONALLY APPROVING FOR A TERM OF JULY 1, 2025, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2030, THE CHARTER RENEWAL FOR RSA CHARTER SCHOOL, WITH THE ADDITION OF REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE 407,605.6B, AND ALTERNATIVELY MAKING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS, SUPPORTING DENIAL AND DENYING THE RSA CHARTER SCHOOL.

RENEWAL IF THE REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET AND SEPARATELY DENYING THE REQUESTS FOR MA REVISIONS AND ADOPTING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS.

THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. DOES ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE STAFF ANALYSIS, AND WHO WILL BE SPEAKING FOR ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL?

>> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, SPEAKING WILL BE MYSELF, JANE RAMIREZ, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCOMPANIED BY.

>> PRINCIPAL ROCKETSHIP ALMA [INAUDIBLE].

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, OFFICIALLY.

PRESIDENT BERTA, SUPERINTENDENT, TRUSTEES AND CHARTER STAFF AND TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES JOINING US AS WELL.

WE ARE PRO TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AGAIN WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A FIVE-YEAR APPROVAL FOR ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY.

WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE STAFF AND COLLABORATION THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CHARTER DEPARTMENT TO GET TO THIS POINT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS PROCESS AND TO THE TRUSTEES FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE BOARD ROOM, ALWAYS PUSHING OUR THINKING AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO BETTER BY ALL STUDENTS.

WE SUBMITTED RESPONSES AS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE REPORT JUST NOW TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED IN THE HEARING, AND WE ALSO RESPONDED IN WRITING TO THE STAFF REPORT.

THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, IT IS OUR INTENTION TO SHED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT IN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED THAT YOU WERE ALL WERE CURIOUS ABOUT OF WHO WE ARE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE OUR PROUD PRINCIPAL, ABLY BERTA TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS ABE WADA.

I'M THE PROP PRINCIPAL OF ROCKETSHIP SHIBAMA ACADEMY.

LAST TIME IN OCTOBER, I NAMED THAT WHAT START AT ALMA CHANGES THE WORLD.

THAT SCENE THROUGH OUR ROCKETEERS, THROUGH OUR TEACHERS, THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT CHANGE BEGAN WHERE ALMA IS LOCATED.

OUR SCHOOL IS ROOTED IN THE HEART OF THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO BE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY.

BUT BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY MEANS MORE THAN PROXIMITY.

[01:30:01]

IT MEANS PURPOSE. IT'S OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE, UPLIFT, AND OPEN OUR DOORS TO CREATE A SPACE THAT FEELS SAFE, WELCOMING AND FULL OF LIFE.

THROUGH COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP PROGRAMS, LIKE GIRLS ON THE RUN AND FAMILY EVENTS, ROCKETSHIP ALMA EMBODIES THE SOUL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'RE HERE NOT JUST AS A SCHOOL, BUT AS A CORNERSTONE FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND NEIGHBORS ALIKE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

BEING A MEMBER OF ROCKETSHIP ALMA MEANS CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY AND HONORING THE RICH DIVERSITY AND CULTURE THAT MAKE UP OUR FAMILIES AND RACKETEERS.

THROUGH CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, WE COME TOGETHER TO SHARE, LEARN, AND UPLIFT THE TRADITIONS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO OUR FAMILIES.

THESE GATHERINGS REMIND US THAT WE'RE NOT JUST EDUCATING STUDENTS, WE'RE BUILDING CONNECTIONS, FOSTERING PRIDE, AND STRENGTHENING THE BONDS THAT MAKE US A TRUE COMMUNITY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY BEGINS WITH INVESTING IN ITS PEOPLE.

AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, OUR COMMITMENT STANDS NOT ONLY TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO TO THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO BRING OUR MISSION TO LIFE EVERY DAY.

STANDING HERE TODAY, I AM A REFLECTION OF THAT COMMITMENT.

THE SUPPORT I RECEIVED AS A TEACHER AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA HELPED SHAPE MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SCHOOL LEADER AND NOW THE PRINCIPAL THERE.

I AM GRATEFUL NOW TO LEAD A TEAM OF EQUALLY PASSIONATE EDUCATORS, EDUCATORS LIKE MISS JENNY, WHOSE CONNECTION TO ROCKETSHIP GOES BACK TO HER OWN FAMILY'S JOURNEY.

AS A FOUNDING FAMILY MEMBER OF ROCKETSHIP ALMA, SHE EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT THAT ROCKETSHIP FIRST HAD THROUGH HER SISTER, MEGHAN MEGHAN'S EDUCATION.

INSPIRED BY WHAT SHE SAW, MISS JENNY PURSUED A CAREER IN EDUCATION, STARTING AS AN ASSOCIATE TEACHER AND EVENTUALLY TRANSITIONING TO LEAD HER OWN KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.

DRIVEN BY A DESIRE TO GROW, SHE EMBRACE FEEDBACK AND DEVELOP A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH HER COACH, LEADING HER STUDENTS TO SURPASS EXPECTED YEARLY GROWTH.

TODAY, SHE CARRIES FORWARD THE EXPERIENCE THAT FIRST INSPIRED HER AND SHARES HER INSIGHTS WITH HER PEERS AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, CONTINUALLY STRIVING TO ENHANCE HER PRACTICE BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES THAT WHAT START A ALMA CHANGES THE WORLD.

IT'S DEDICATED EDUCATORS LIKE MISS JENNY, WHO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF INVESTING IN OUR TEACHERS, GROWTH, AND LASTING IMPACT THEY HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AT ROCKETSHIP, WE KNOW THAT CONSISTENCY AND CONNECTION ARE KEY TO BUILDING A STRONG SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY WE FOCUS ON CULTIVATING TALENT FROM WITHIN ENSURING THAT THE EDUCATORS OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS SEE EVERY DAY, REFLECT THE VALUES AND DEDICATION THAT DEFINE ROCKETSHIP ALMA.

NEARLY A THIRD OF OUR TEACHING STAFF STARTED IN HOURLY ROLES, GROWING THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE RIVET SCHOOL AND REACH, WHICH SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS IN EARNING CREDENTIALS, COMPLETING DEGREES, AND STEPPING INTO IMPACTFUL ROLES IN OUR SCHOOLS.

BY INVESTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EDUCATORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, THRIVE, AND CONTINUE SERVING OUR RACKETEERS WITH COMMITMENT AND HEART.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. BUILDING ON OUR COMMITMENT TO INTERNAL PATHWAYS, OUR FOCUS DOESN'T STOP AT SIMPLY BRINGING TEACHERS IN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

WE PRIORITIZE OUR ONGOING GROWTH AT EVERY STEP OF THEIR JOURNEY.

JUST AS WE ENCOURAGE OUR RACKETEERS TO EMBRACE FEEDBACK AND DEVELOP RESILIENCE, WE EXPECT OUR TEACHERS TO LEAN INTO THEIR OWN GROWTH PROCESS WITH THE SAME DEDICATION.

GROWTH AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA GOES BEYOND REACHING A SET BENCHMARK.

IT'S ABOUT HOW OUR EDUCATORS RESPOND TO REAL TIME COACHING, TAKE OWNERSHIP OF FEEDBACK AND BRING NEW INSIGHTS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

THIS APPROACH NOT ONLY STRENGTHS INDIVIDUAL TEACHER PERFORMANCE BUT CULTIVATES A CULTURE OF IMPROVEMENT THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITS OUR RACKETEERS.

OUR GROWTH CENTER CULTURE IS HOW WE CELEBRATE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND HONOR THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEACHERS AND ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS.

WHEN OUR TEAM GROWS, OUR RACKETEERS THRIVE, AND OUR COMMUNITY BECOMES STRONGER.

AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE GROWTH OF OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

WE ALSO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PROGRESS WE SEE IN OUR OUTCOMES.

OUR RECENT 2024 CAST RESULTS SHOW THAT WE STILL HAVE GROUND TO COVER SO THAT OUR RACKETEERS CAN COMPETE WITH ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

WE'RE WORKING TO MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS RESULTS WITH TRANSPARENCY AND DETERMINATION.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO INNOVATE, ADAPT, REFINE OUR MODEL AND WORK, AND IMPLEMENT NEW STRATEGIES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR RACKETEERS IN ACHIEVING THE SUCCESS WE KNOW THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.

WHEN I THINK OF OUR MISSION AND WHO WE ARE HERE TO SERVE, I THINK ABOUT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

WE BELIEVE THAT ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY STARTS WITH ACCESS TO A STRONG EDUCATION THAT THE COMMUNITY WE BUILD STARTS WITH STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.

EIGHT OUT OF EVERY 10 ALMA ROCKETEERS ARE SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

[01:35:03]

OUR RESULTS HERE SHOW THAT ALMA IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

OUR OUTCOMES FOR THESE STUDENTS ARE A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR WORK TO DELIVER ON OUR MISSION, AS WELL AS A STEPPING STONE TO OUR CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO RAISING THE BAR EVEN FURTHER, ENSURING THAT OUR ROCKETEERS NOT ONLY KEEP PACE WITH THEIR PEERS BUT CONTINUE TO PROGRESS BEYOND THESE BENCHMARKS AND COMPETE WITH ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

OUR COMMITMENT TO GROWTH MEANS CONTINUOUSLY ENHANCING OUR SUPPORT FOR EVERY LEARNER, INCLUDING OUR MULTILINGUAL ROCKETEERS.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE'RE BRINGING AN EVEN MORE FOCUSED APPROACH TO HOW WE GROUP STUDENTS BY ENGLISH LEVEL, CREATING INTENTIONAL SPACES FOR BOTH INTEGRATED AND DESIGNATED LANGUAGE SUPPORT.

THIS HELPS US MEET OUR ROCKETEERS WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CHALLENGE AND GUIDANCE.

WE'RE ALSO TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT HOW READING AND WRITING CONNECT ACROSS SUBJECTS WITH SPECIFIC CURRICULUM TO TACKLE THIS.

BY IDENTIFYING KEY SKILLS THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BUILD ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE UPPER GRADES, WE'RE ABLE TO TARGET FOUNDATIONAL GAPS AND PROMOTE MEANINGFUL GROWTH.

THROUGH THESE STRATEGIC DATA-INFORMED APPROACHES, WE'RE SETTING OUR STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS AS CONFIDENT READERS, WRITERS, AND CRITICAL THINKERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

IN OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, FAMILIES DESERVE ACCESS TO SCHOOLS THAT TRULY SUPPORT SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL, ESPECIALLY IN FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS LIKE READING.

I'M PROUD TO SHARE THE ROCKETSHIP ALMA STANDS AMONG THE TOP THREE SCHOOLS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR READING OUTCOMES, DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO LITERACY AND ACADEMIC GROWTH FOR EVERY STUDENT WE SERVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE MATH OUTCOMES, ROCKETSHIP ALMA IS PROUD TO LEAD AS A TOP CHOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.

THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT REFLECTS OUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION IN COURSE SUBJECTS, EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL WHERE THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING IS PRIORITIZED AND SUPPORTED.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A ROCKETSHIP ALMA ALUM? IT MEANS CARRYING THE ALMA, THE SOUL OF OUR SCHOOL INTO THE WORLD.

OUR RACKETEERS STEP INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AS PREPARED, CONFIDENT LEADERS, GROUNDED IN THE VALUES AND RESILIENCE THEY DEVELOPED HERE.

AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, THEY RECEIVED MORE THAN AN EDUCATION.

THEY GAINED A SENSE OF PURPOSE, AS SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY AND THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED.

WHEN THEY MOVE ON, THEY BRING WITH THEM THE HEART AND SOUL OF ROCKETSHIP ALMA, READY TO LEAD AND INSPIRE IN THE NEXT SCHOOLS AND BEYOND.

I HUMBLY STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AS A MEMBER OF ROCKETSHIP ALMA, REPRESENTING NOT JUST THE SCHOOL BUT THE ALMA, THE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY DAY, I CHOOSE, AND I'M PRIVILEGED TO SERVE A COMMUNITY THAT RESEMBLES MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

I DO THIS WORK FOR WOMEN LIKE SISTER LYDIA.

A WOMAN WHO BELIEVED IN THE ABILITY I HAD TO CHANGE THE WORLD SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND JUST LIKE HER, ROCKETSHIP ALMA BELIEVES IN EVERY SINGLE ROCKETEER THAT HAS WALKED THROUGH OUR DOOR SINCE WE OPENED IN 2012.

WHAT WE'VE SHARED TONIGHT ARE MORE THAN PROGRAMS OR NUMBERS.

THEY'RE THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY TO ENSURE EVERY ROCKETEER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, TO LEAD, AND TO CHOOSE THEIR PATH.

ROCKETSHIP ALMA IS WHERE STUDENTS BECOME CONFIDENT, PREPARED AND DRIVEN INDIVIDUALS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

IT'S A PLACE THAT BELIEVES IN EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL AND NURTURES THEM TO REACH IT.

THEY LEAVE NOT ONLY WITH ACADEMIC SKILLS, BUT WITH A STRONG SENSE OF SELF AND PURPOSE BECAUSE WHAT STARTS AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.

WE'RE HERE TODAY, ASKING FOR THE CHANCE TO CONTINUE THAT MISSION.

I'M GETTING AFTER YOU UP, TO KEEP BUILDING ON THE WORK WE'VE STARTED AND TO SERVE THE FAMILIES WHO TRUST US WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR TRUST, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION TO RENEW ROCKETSHIP ALMA ACADEMY FOR FIVE MORE YEARS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SAN JOSE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WISH TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME?

>> HEARING NONE, WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

[01:40:02]

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM WILL BE LIMITED TO 20 MINUTES.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE HAND IN A SPEAKER'S CARD.

SPEAKERS SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND ARE URGED TO AVOID REPEATING POINTS MADE BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?

>> YES, WE DO. WE HAVE 10 CARDS FOR COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. FOR THOSE IN OUR OVERFLOW ROOM IN THE CAFETERIA WHO FILLED OUT A CARD TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PROCEED TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM ONCE YOUR GROUP IS CALLED.

PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.

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 SCCOE INTERPRETER, OR ASL INTERPRETER.

THE TIMER WILL BEGIN ONCE YOU START SPEAKING.

COMMENTS EXTENDING PAST THE TIME ALLOTTED WILL BE MUTED AFTER TIME EXPIRES AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.

THE 10 SPEAKERS ARE: DIANA JUSINO, CASSIA QUIN, VANESSA RETUDA, MATTEO CORIO, BERENICE HERNANDEZ, TYUMI HOWARD, PATTI LAMAS, DIEGO RAMIREZ, SOCHIL HARP, MIRIAM GUANA.

PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DIANA JUSINO.

>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS DIANA JUSINO, AND I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO BOYS WHO HAVE ATTENDED ALMA FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

WHEN MY SON, IAN, WHO IS DEAF IN ONE YEAR, STARTED FIRST GRADE AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, HE COULD BARELY READ.

BUT BY THE END OF SECOND GRADE, HE WAS A WINNER OF THE WORD MILLIONAIRE AWARD, AN INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO READ A MILLION WORDS BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT'S THE IMPACT OF RSA.

ROCKETSHIP ALMA GAVE MY SON THE TOOLS AND CONFIDENCE TO THRIVE.

IT TRANSFORMED HIS LIFE AND MINE IN A WAY THAT WILL IMPACT OUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AS A MILITARY FAMILY, WE ARRIVED HERE WITHOUT A COMMUNITY, BUT ALMA PROVIDED THAT SUPPORT FOR US.

NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE MOVING DUE TO MILITARY ORDERS.

BUT WITH YOUR HELP, ALMA WILL STILL BE HERE, AND THEIR IMPACT WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THIS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME, TRANSFORMING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CASSIA QUIN.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHILA QUIN, AND I HAVE BEEN WITH ROCKETSHIP ALMA FOR SIX YEARS.

THE REAL MEASUREMENT OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION DESIGNED TO LIFT UP A COMMUNITY LIES IN HOW IT NAVIGATES REAL CHALLENGES.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAN THE PANDEMIC? THE VERY SAME DAY THE COUNTY ANNOUNCED THE LOCKDOWN, TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE HANDING OUT STUDY PACKETS AND CHROMEBOOKS UPON DISMISSAL.

THE SCHOOL WAS BACK UP AND RUNNING ONLINE IN A MATTER OF TWO BUSINESS DAYS.

APART FROM ACADEMICS, TEACHERS OFFERED FUN ONLINE COOKING LESSONS, ENGAGING BIOLOGY SESSIONS FROM A BACKYARD, AND COOL SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FROM HOME.

ROCKETSHIP ALMA HAS DELIVERED ON ITS PROMISE WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IMAGINABLE.

AT THIS SCHOOL OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED FOR THE FOUNDATION TO BECOME WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS.

IN THE INTEREST OF THE KIDS AND THE COMMUNITY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE RENEWAL.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VANESSA RETUDA.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS VANESSA RETUDA AND I'M HONORED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSION IN OUR SCHOOLS.

FIVE YEARS AGO, I JOINED THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM AT ROCKETSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY INSPIRED BY WHAT I SAW.

I SAW A SCHOOL THAT DIDN'T JUST ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS AND EMBRACE THEM AS EQUALS.

AT ROCKETSHIP, EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES, IS GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR IT.

THERE IS A SENSE OF BELONGING AT OUR SCHOOL, AND WE ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD, WHETHER THEY'RE LEARNING ENGLISH, HAVE A DISABILITY, OR COME FROM A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, FEELS VALUED, RESPECTED, AND EMPOWERED.

RENEWING OUR SCHOOL ISN'T JUST A DECISION FOR TODAY, IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORTING THIS VISION AND ALLOW US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

[01:45:03]

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTEO CORIO.

>> HELLO, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS MATTEO AND I'M IN FOURTH GRADE.

I'VE BEEN AT MY SCHOOL FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN PART OF THE ALMA COMMUNITY SINCE I WAS A TODDLER BECAUSE MY MOM IS MRS. ZALES.

I LOVE HOW SUPPORTIVE THE TEACHERS ARE.

MISS D IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP ME WHEN I STRUGGLE, ESPECIALLY WITH LONG DIVISION.

I USED TO SKIP INSTRUCTIONS, BUT SHE WORKED WITH ME AND NOW I'M PROUD OF HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ALMA IS HOW WE ARE TAUGHT TO RESPECT OTHERS AND HELP ONE ANOTHER.

ALL THE ROCKETEERS ARE WELCOMING AND IT'S EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS.

NEXT YEAR, MY LITTLE BROTHER NOAH WILL BE TURNING FIVE, AND HE'LL GET TO BE A ROCKETEER TOO.

I'M ALREADY TEACHING HIM MATH TO GET HIM READY FOR TK.

I HOPE YOU CAN RENEW OUR SCHOOL FOR FIVE MORE YEARS. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BERENICE HERNANDEZ.

BERENICE HERNANDEZ.

LAST CALL FOR BERENICE.

NOT SEEING THEM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.

TYUMI HOWARD. PLEASE STEP FORWARD, CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> HELLO, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS TYUMI HOWARD.

I'VE BEEN A PARENT AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA FOR THREE YEARS.

MY SON STARTED IN FIRST GRADE AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, AND AFTER WE MOVED TO ANTIOCH, HE ATTENDED ROCKETSHIP DELTA.

NOW THAT WE'RE BACK IN SAN JOSE I CHOSE TO RETURN TO ROCKETSHIP ALMA.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT ALMA IS THE STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY PROVIDE.

THIS YEAR, THEY'RE TEACHING CORE VALUES LIKE RESPECT AND PURPOSE, WHICH HAS HELPED MY SON NOT ONLY GROW, BUT ALSO GUIDE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER NOW THAT THEY ARE BOTH AT ALMA.

THROUGH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND SOCIALIZE CONFIDENTLY.

EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN FREMONT, I COMMUTE DAILY, I DO THIS BECAUSE I WANT MY CHILDREN TO RECEIVE THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE I CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PATTI LAMAS.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> [FOREIGN] HELLO. MY NAME IS PATTI LAMAS.

SOME OF YOU HEARD ALREADY ABOUT MY SON DIEGO RAMIREZ IN THE LAST HEARING.

SEVEN YEARS AGO, I WAS IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE SAME REASON BECAUSE MY TWO CHILDREN WERE PART OF ALMA.

I LOVE TO SEE HOW MUCH MY CHILDREN GREW.

ONE OF THEM IS NOW TAKING UNIVERSITY CLASSES WHILE HE'S IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AS A MOTHER, I ALSO GREW A LOT, INVOLVING MYSELF AS A LEADER OF THE PARENTS IN THIS SCHOOL IN VARIOUS WAYS.

THANKS TO THE RESOURCES AT ROCKETSHIP, I FOUND MOTIVATION TO START MY OWN BUSINESS.

I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR SCHOOL TO STAY OPEN SO THAT MORE FAMILIES CAN HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP THAT I HAD HERE AT ALMA.

TODAY, I'M STILL A VOLUNTEER AND I LIKE BEING A LEADER OF PARENTS, MOTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PARENTS.

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY SO THAT WE CAN KEEP EMPOWERING MORE PARENTS AND MORE ROCKETEERS. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DIEGO RAMIREZ.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DIEGO RAMIREZ.

I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR WHO'S TAKING COLLEGE COURSES AT EVERGREEN VALLEY COLLEGE.

I'M PLANNING TO MAJOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ONCE I GRADUATE.

I WOULDN'T BE AT THIS STAGE WITHOUT ROCKETSHIP ALMA, WHERE EVERYTHING STARTED.

THEY HAVE HELPED ME GET OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

I WAS SCARED TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS MIGHT SAY ABOUT ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.

THEY ACCEPTED ME AS PART OF THEIR FAMILY.

THEY INVITED ME TO EVENTS, CELEBRATIONS, AND MADE ME FEEL INCLUDED AND NOT LIKE AN OUTCAST.

I ALSO GAINED SKILLS THAT I THOUGHT I NEVER ACHIEVED,

[01:50:03]

SUCH AS DEVELOPING MY LEARNING OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH MY PEERS, AND SUPPORT MY TEACHERS.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO HELPED ME ACADEMICALLY, ESPECIALLY HELPING ME LEARN MANY SKILLS IN MATH.

I HAVE FOUND AN AMAZING INTEREST TO PURSUE A MATH MAJOR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I COME BACK TO ROCKETSHIP ALMA OFTEN AND SEE THE GREAT RELATIONS I HAVE BUILT WITH MY FORMER TEACHERS, SUCH AS MR. IBARRA, AND MENTOR SUCH AS COACH HARMAN, AND SEE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO MY EVERYDAY LIFE. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SOCHIL HARP.

>> HELLO. I'M SOCHIL HARP, A MOTHER AT ROCKETSHIP.

MY SON HAS BEEN A STUDENT HERE SINCE KINDERGARTEN.

HE CAME SPEAKING BOTH ARABIC AND SPANISH.

I LEARNED ABOUT ALMA FROM A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IT.

WHEN MY SON RETURNED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AFTER QUARANTINE, I WAS HESITANT, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE'S A MULTILINGUAL LEARNER.

THE ENGAGEMENT AND EXCITEMENT HE BROUGHT HOME EVERY DAY WAS INCREDIBLE.

HEARING HIM SHARE WHAT HE LEARNED LIKE COLORS AND NUMBERS, BOTH IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.

IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO SEE HIM SO THRILLED ABOUT LEARNING, BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE EXPERIENCE HE HAD AT A REGULAR SCHOOL.

I TRULY APPRECIATE THE CONSISTENCY AND TEACHING AND THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF.

I FEEL GENUINELY INVOLVED IN HIS EDUCATION.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT FUTURE KIDS CAN EXPERIENCE THE SAME AMAZING COMMUNITY.

>> THE LAST SPEAKER IS MIRIAM GUANA.

MIRIAM GUANA.

LAST CALL FOR MIRIAM GUANA.

NOT SEEING OR HEARING THEM, THIS CONCLUDES COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

SEEING NO FURTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS MATTER, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

WE WILL NOW GO TO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.

EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH ONE TRUSTEE ALLOWING EACH TO TAKE A TURN ASKING ONE QUESTION.

EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, AND I WILL ROTATE UNTIL ALL QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.

ARE THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, I GUESS, OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION, PRESIDENT BERTA.

>> YES. BEFORE YOU START, TRUSTEE LARRY, I'LL JUST REMIND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT HERE EARLIER, TRUSTEE LARRY IS PARTICIPATING VIA TELECONFERENCE, OBVIOUSLY. TRUSTEE LARRY?

>> THANK YOU. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE ABSENTEEISM RATE THAT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY OVER 10%.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THIS WAS ACHIEVED AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE GOING TO BE MADE TO CONTINUE THIS DECREASING TREND? WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A STRONG LINK BETWEEN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, SO IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE IF IT CONTINUES ON THIS DECREASING TREND. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED IN REGARDS TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN REGARDS TO CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THAT KIDS ARE LEARNING, BECAUSE ROCKETSHIP ALMA CHANGES THE WORLD.

MY STAFF IS TIRED OF ME SAYING THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND THAT STARTS WITH OUR CARE CORPS PROGRAM.

WE HAVE A CARE CORPS COORDINATOR WHO'S DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN REGARDS TO DIFFERENT MULTI-TIER SUPPORTS.

ONE OF THOSE SUPPORTS IS AROUND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

OUR CARE CORPS COORDINATOR PARTNERS WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER ARE SOME SUPPORTS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, SUCH AS OTHER EMERGENCIES THAT HAPPEN AND JUST OTHER THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO ENSURE THAT KIDS ARE COMING CONSISTENTLY TO SCHOOL.

THE SECOND THING IS WE HAVE OUR OFFICE CONSISTENTLY REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES AS WELL.

THEY REACH OUT, THEY GET A CALL EVERY MORNING, ONCE ATTENDANCE IS SUBMITTED AS WELL, SO THAT WAY WE CAN REMIND THEM WHAT HAPPENED, HOW CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT YOU? WE ALSO HAVE GOTTEN REALLY CLEAR WITH FAMILIES AROUND, WHAT ARE SOME REASONS TO KEEP YOUR STUDENTS AT HOME AND WHEN TO BRING THEM TO SCHOOL AS SOMETIMES KIDS HAVE A LITTLE STOMACH ACHE AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM AT HOME, AND WE'RE LIKE,

[01:55:02]

ACTUALLY, LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO SCHOOL, AND WHEN ARE REASONS TO ACTUALLY KEEP THEM AT HOME, SUCH AS WHEN THEY HAVE A FEVER HEIGHT AT 102 DEGREES.

WITH THAT CLEAR COMMUNICATION THAT ALSO HAS SUPPORTED, FAMILIES REALLY WELL TOO TO ENSURE THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY, AND MORE KIDS ARE COMING ONTO CAMPUS.

THEN LASTLY, PARTNERSHIP WITH TEACHERS AS WELL AS TEACHERS ARE BUILDING AND CONSISTENTLY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES.

SAME THING, LETTING FAMILIES KNOW, WE'RE LEARNING THIS TODAY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY'RE HERE TODAY.

WE HAD FIVE KIDS ABSENT TODAY, LET'S MAKE SURE TOMORROW WE HAVE LESS THAN THREE KIDS ABSENT.

CONTINUE TO SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS THERE, BUT ALSO CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AROUND THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES, AND THAT ALSO HAS ALLOWED FAMILIES TO ALSO BE INVESTED AND SEE THE IMPACT THAT ATTENDANTS HAS ON THEIR EDUCATION.

>> IF I MAY, MATS, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS VP OF SCHOOLS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THIS ROOM AND ACROSS OUR ROCKET CHIP SCHOOLS.

I JUST WANT TO HONOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT ROCKETSHIP ALMA AND FROM MR. IBARRA AND THE TEAM FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE ON CAMPUS AND TO BE LEARNING, AND WE ALSO KNOW YOU ALL THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A TON OF DIFFERENT BARRIERS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF THAT BEING ABLE TO HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY IN AREA WHERE WE LIVE, WHETHER IT'S LIKE EMPLOYMENT OR LIKE HOUSING INSTABILITY OR ACCESS TO ALL OF THINGS THAT OUR FAMILIES NEED.

I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT PERSONALIZED LEARNING.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR US, PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE FANCY OR IT HAS TO DO WITH TECHNOLOGY AND LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S A PART OF IT, BUT REALLY WHAT IT IS, AND I THINK THE ALMA TEAM HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF MAKING THIS COME TO LIFE IS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT STUDENTS NEED AND WE FIND A WAY TO GET IT TO.

IF I CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE, I ACTUALLY JUST HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN A FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM AT ALMA EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THEY WERE WORKING ON IT'S VERY RELEVANT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE LONG DIVISION IS IN WITH OUR FOURTH GRADERS.

THEY WERE WORKING ON LONG DIVISION AND THERE WAS A STUDENT ON THE SIDE WHO WAS LOOKING AT ME A LITTLE BIT.

I WENT OVER TO HIM AND I WAS, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? LONG DIVISION IS REALLY HARD FOR ME. I WAS LIKE, OH INTERESTING.

THEN HE THAT'S ALL RIGHT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

THEN HE JUST WENT RIGHT BACK TO WORK.

WHAT THAT STUDENT NEEDED WAS A TEACHER WHO LOOKED AT HIM AND WOULD SAY, LIKE, I BELIEVE IN YOU AND I BELIEVE IN THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE.

JUST A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR IT'S NOT JUST A NUMBER, THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT AT ALMA IS 15%, WHICH IS IN COMPARISON TO I THINK AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING CLOSER TO 25%.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN A NUMBER FOR US.

IT'S ABOUT OUR STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> JUST BRIEFLY, I DO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK BOTH OUR CHARTER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STAFF AND ROCKETSHIP ALMA'S TEAM FOR PROVIDING THE RESPONSES TO THE TRUSTEES QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME AND JUST GIVING US A CHANCE TO DIGEST THE INFORMATION.

I THINK IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO A COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR BOARD AS THE CURRENT AUTHORIZER AND YOUR SCHOOL TO SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP AND REALLY PUSH ON BOTH THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING WELL THAT WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND ALSO THINGS THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT AND AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THAT THAT I APPRECIATE AND AS WELL AS IN YOUR PRESENTATION, EVEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU TALK ABOUT DATA AND IT HAS THE COMPARISON AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, YES, THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IMPROVEMENT, BUT DEMONSTRATING THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THOSE GAPS.

ONE OF THOSE AREAS I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE IT'S TOP OF MIND FOR ME AS I KNOW IT IS FOR YOUR FAMILIES AS WELL.

BUT JUST SLIGHTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE.

JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE AS TO WHY THAT IS AND GENERAL STRATEGIES TO HELP ENSURE THAT YOUR ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS.

>> YEAH. I'M HAPPY TO RESPOND.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, DANNY AVERY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL SUPPORTS.

ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO CALL OUT THAT WE DID SEE A DECREASE OF FIVE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES 2223-2324.

IT ALSO HAD TO DO WITH SOME OVERALL ENROLLMENT DECLINE.

WHEN THE WHOLE SCHOOL POPULATION WAS DECLINING, I WOULD ACTUALLY POINT OUT THAT WE INCREASED THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FROM 12% TO 13%.

IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY-WIDE RATES, WHICH IS AROUND 12% AS WELL FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

BUT I THINK IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SERVING THE COMMUNITY,

[02:00:03]

BEING THAT HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICE IS, THERE'S A LOT OF WORD OF MOUTH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS WILL COMMUNICATE TO ONE ANOTHER AROUND OUR PROGRAM AND OUR INCLUSIVE PRACTICES.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THOSE NEW FAMILIES COME TO US, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IN OTHER SCHOOLS FOR TWO, POSSIBLY THREE YEARS, AND THEY'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND SO REALLY PROUD OF THE APPROACH WE'VE TAKEN AT ALMA AND THE WORD IS BEING SHARED AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE REFER TO OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AS INTEGRATED SPECIAL EDUCATION.

I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE SEEN A PRETTY CONSISTENT PERCENTAGE AT ALMA OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT WORD OF MOUTH AND THAT COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE PRACTICES.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEES, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER HELP, VICE PRESIDENT.

>> DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO MAKE COMMENT OUR MOTION THAT'S RIGHT.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I'LL FIRST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO RAISE THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE AROUND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THAT ON THIS ITEM AND MANY OTHER ITEMS. I'LL JOIN THE THANK YOU TO THE ROCK SHIP TEAM AND STAFF, AND ALSO THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS THAT CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUR EDUCATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

PLEASE DON'T SEE THE LACK OF QUESTIONS AS A REFLECTION OF OUR LACK OF EITHER INTEREST OR SUPPORT.

THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE PROCESS HERE THAT I'M LEARNING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THESE CHARTER RENEWALS IS THAT WE GET A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK QUESTIONS, WHETHER IT'S AN OPEN SESSION, CLOSED SESSION OR ON THE SITE.

THIS IS JUST REALLY A MATTER OF EVERYBODY DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB TO GET THE ISSUES CLEAR FOR US. THANK YOU ALL.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS LISTENED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

>> I'LL SECOND ON THAT MOTION.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

TRUSTEE CHAN, I DID SEE YOUR HAND UP.

DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT OR QUESTION?

>> YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT AND ECHO THE GRATITUDE BY OUR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT TO THE PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE VICE PRESIDENT ROCHE'S COMMENTS AND THAT OUR LACK OF QUESTIONS IS NOT FROM A LACK OF INTEREST OR ENGAGEMENT.

I THINK THAT WE I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN THE INFORMATION THAT WE I'M SORRY, I SHOULD NOT SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD.

I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

THANK YOU FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THAT AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT WE DID HAVE CONCERNS WITH AND BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER FORWARD. I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DID SAY AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I THINK THE STUDENTS SHOULD GET A FREE DRESS DAY, SO I'M ALSO GOING TO SHARE IT WITH THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR ONE SCHOOL AND THE OTHER, SO I WILL PUT THAT OUT THERE.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

>> IS THAT AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION?

>> ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WE WILL NOW GO TO A VOTE, DOCTOR HYMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE?

>> AYE WITH A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

>> TRUSTEE SHRI KERNA.

>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER OUR SECOND CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL REQUEST OF THE EVENING.

>> PASSES 70.

[B. Request for Action/Decision on the Renewal Petition Submitted by Rocketship Academy for Brilliant Minds Charter School]

THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL NOW REACH A DECISION ON THE COUNTY-WIDE RENEWAL PETITION FOR ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY FOR BRILLIANT MINES CHARTER SCHOOL.

THIS ACTION ITEM IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 2024.

THIS ACTION IS BEING CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODES 7,605.64 7607 AND 47,607.2 AND BOARD POLICY 0,420.4.

THIS ACTION WILL PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

FIRST, THE BOARD WILL HEAR AN OPENING STATEMENT FROM STAFF WHO WILL BE GIVEN 15 MINUTES.

SECOND, MINDS WILL BE GIVEN 15 MINUTES TO COMMENT.

THIRD, ALAMO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT FOR NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO COMMENT.

FOURTH, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM WILL BE LIMITED TO 20 MINUTES UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE BOARD PER BOARD BY LAW 9323.

SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 1 MINUTE.

SPEAKERS UTILIZING A TRANSLATOR SHALL HAVE 2 MINUTES.

SPEAKERS SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND ARE URGED TO AVOID REPEATING POINTS MADE BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

FIFTH, BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.

THEREAFTER, THE BOARD WILL DELIBERATE ON THIS MATTER AND MAKE A DECISION REGARDING

[02:05:02]

THE CHARTER SCHOOL PETITION FROM ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY FOR BRILLIANT MINES CHARTER SCHOOL.

AT THIS TIME, I CALL UPON INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINMAN TO INTRODUCE STAFF.

I WOULD ONCE AGAIN LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHARTER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STAFF, LED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MF FAIRLEY.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN. PRESIDENT BERTA, TRUSTEES, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HENMAN STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT JOINING ME TONIGHT OUR COUNSEL DEVINA HARDEN FROM AALRR, DOCTOR MICHELLE JOHNSON, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT.

SORRY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT, SHALLU SHARMA, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT AND MYSELF.

WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE BOARD'S ACTION ON THE RENEWAL REQUEST FOR ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY FOR BRILLIANT MINES.

A DIRECT FUNDED COUNTY-WIDE BENEFIT, SCC BOE AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOL.

RBMS CURRENT TERM RUNS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025 AND RBM IS SEEKING A FIVE YEAR TERM AS IT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS A MIDDLE-PERFORMANCE CATEGORY SCHOOL.

CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 490 STUDENTS.

AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, RBM IS A COUNTY WIDE BENEFIT CHARTER SCHOOL.

THE SEC BOE HAS SUBSTANTIAL DISCRETION IN CONSIDERING A COUNTYWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO DENY THE COUNTY-WIDE CHARTER ON ANY OTHER BASIS BEYOND THOSE SPECIFIED IN STATUTE, THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FINDS JUSTIFIES THE DENIAL AND THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BEYOND THOSE REQUIRED BY E CODE SECTION 407,605.6 THAT IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY FOR THE SOUND OPERATION OF THE COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DENIAL OF A RENEWAL OF ACCOUNTING-WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL MAY NOT BE APPEALED TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ON OCTOBER 2, 2024, THE SEC BOE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RBM RENEWAL PETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO DO SO WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE RENEWAL APPLICATION.

SCCOE, RBM AND ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION, DOING BUSINESS AS ROCKETSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOL OR RPS, INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN 2017, WHICH REMAINS IN EFFECT DURING ANY CHARTER RENEWAL OR APPEAL UNTIL A NEW AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED RBM AND UPDATED MOU TO ALIGN WITH CURRENT LAWS AND PRACTICES.

RBM HAS EXPRESSED ITS INTENT TO ENTER INTO AN UPDATED MOU.

IF THE SEC BOE RENEWS THE CHARTER, SCCOE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH RBM ON FINALIZING THE NEW MOU AND RECOMMENDS ENTERING INTO THIS MOU A REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL OF THE CHARTER AS NECESSARY TO ITS SOUND OPERATION AND COUNTY AS A COUNTYWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL.

I IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT, STAFF, INCLUDING MATT DOHERTY, CYNTHIA TAPIA, MICHELLE JOHNSON AND SHALLU SHARMA, ANALYZE THE PETITION FOLLOWING CDE CALIFORNIA ED CODE, SORRY AND CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD'S GUIDELINES FOR CHARTER RENEWAL.

OUR TEAM HAS EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWALS, SPECIALTY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, ENGLISH LEARNER DEVELOPMENT, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL GOVERNANCE, AND EDUCATIONAL FINANCE.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE LEAD PETITIONERS, JANINE RAMIREZ AND LISA GREEN AND THE ENTIRE RBM STAFF.

WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ON NOVEMBER 18, RPS PROVIDED THE SEC BOE VIA E MAIL, THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AND DATA REQUESTED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 2.

WE WANT TO STATE THAT OUR REVIEW OF THE RBM RENEWAL REQUEST WAS COMPLETED IN AN OBJECTIVE AND FACTUAL MANNER.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDED FINDINGS, INCLUDING EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WERE PUBLISHED AND SHARED WITH RBM ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, WHICH IS 15 DAYS BEFORE THE COUNTY BOARD'S DECISION TONIGHT AND ARE FOUND IN TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW.

AS EXPLAINED IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD, AB 1505 ESTABLISHED A NEW THREE TIER SYSTEM FOR CONSIDERING CHARTER RENEWALS.

BASED ON ITS PERFORMANCE ON THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD INDICATORS FOR THE PRECEDING TWO YEARS, RBM WAS NOT DEEMED A HIGH PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL.

NOR WAS RBM DEEMED A LOW PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL? CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO BE CATEGORIZED AS

[02:10:05]

HIGHER LOW PERFORMING ARE DEEMED MIDDLE PERFORMING AND ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A FIVE YEAR RENEWAL.

RBM IS A MIDDLE PERFORMANCE TIER CHARTER SCHOOL.

IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO RENEW A MIDDLE-PERFORMING CHARTER, THE SEC BOE IS TO CONSIDER THE CHARTER, THE SCHOOL-WIDE AND SUBGROUP PERFORMANCE ON THE STATE AND LOCAL INDICATORS OF THE DASHBOARD, GIVING GREATER WEIGHT TO MEASUREMENTS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

THEY ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE BASED ON VERIFIED DATA SHOWING EITHER THE SCHOOL ACHIEVED MEASURABLE INCREASES IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, DEFINED BY AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF GROWTH FOR EACH YEAR IN SCHOOL OR STRONG POST-SECONDARY OUTCOMES AS DEFINED BY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, PERSISTENCE, AND COMPLETION RATES EQUAL TO SIMILAR PEERS.

RBM IS A TK5 SCHOOL AND THE POST SECONDARY OUTCOMES DO NOT APPLY.

THE SEC BOE MAY DENY A MIDDLE-PERFORMING SCHOOL ON THESE PERFORMANCE BASES ONLY BY MAKING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS, SETTING FORTH SPECIFIC FACTS TO SUPPORT THREE FINDINGS.

ONE, THE SCHOOL FAILED TO MEET OR MAKE SUFFICIENT PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING STANDARDS.

THAT PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO THE PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL.

CLOSURE OF THE SCHOOL IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUPILS AND IF APPLICABLE, THAT THE DECISION PROVIDED GREATER WEIGHT TO PERFORMANCE ON MEASUREMENTS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

STAFF REVIEWED RBM STATEWIDE SUMMIT OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT DATA AND FOUND A ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT DEMONSTRATES STUDENTS PERFORMANCE IS COMPARABLE TO OR OUTPERFORMS THE COUNTY.

>> RBM ALSO SUBMITTED SEVEN YEARS OF VERIFIED DATA FROM THE NORTHWEST EVALUATION ASSOCIATION OR NWEA, WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE SCHOOL ACHIEVED ONE YEAR'S PROGRESS FOR EACH YEAR IN SCHOOL AS MEASURED BY NWEA'S CONDITIONAL GROWTH INDEX.

THE RBM RENEWAL PETITION INCLUDED A REVISION REMOVING THE TEACHING CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS.

THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR THE POSITIONS OF PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CONSTITUTES A REQUEST FOR A MATERIAL REVISION AS EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED CHARTER ELEMENT.

THIS PROPOSED CHANGE HAS A POTENTIALLY SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND TEACHING AT RBM, IMPACTING THE OVERALL SOUNDNESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.

THE SCCBOE MAY ACT ON THE MATERIAL REVISION REQUEST SEPARATELY FROM ITS ACTION ON THE REQUEST FOR RENEWAL.

WE NOTE THAT RPS EXPLAINED IN CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO THE COUNTY BOARD ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, THAT IT AGREES THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS MUST BE HELD BY INDIVIDUALS WITH CALIFORNIA TEACHING CREDENTIALS AND INDICATED IT DOES NOT NEED TO PURSUE A MATERIAL REVISION ON THIS POINT.

RPS HAS FURTHER AFFIRMED ITS AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIALS A PREFERRED REQUIREMENT FOR THESE POSITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

AS SUCH, RSA'S POSITION APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE SCCBOE DENY THESE MATERIAL REVISIONS TO THE CHARTER AND INSTEAD REQUIRE A VALID TEACHING CREDENTIAL FOR THE POSITIONS OF PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIAL AS A PREFERRED QUALIFICATION.

THE RENEWAL PETITION REQUESTS COUNTY BOARD APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL ADMISSION PREFERENCES IN CASES IN WHICH THERE ARE MORE APPLICANTS THAN SPACES AT A PARTICULAR GRADE LEVEL.

RBM IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING PREFERENCES IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER.

ONE, SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY ADMITTED TO OR ATTENDING RBM.

TWO, CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES OF RBM NOT TO EXCEED 10% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT.

THREE, STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS.

FOUR, RESIDENTS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

FIVE, OTHER CHARTER RESIDENTS.

THE REQUESTED CHANGES ARE TO ADD THE PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS, AND TO ADD A PREFERENCE FOR SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO RBM, IN ADDITION TO SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY ATTENDING RBM.

THE NEW PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS, INCREASES ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS PREFERENCE.

STAFF ALSO RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING

[02:15:03]

FAMILIES TO ENROLL ALL THEIR CHILDREN AT THE SAME SCHOOL, SO RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCCBOE APPROVE THE ADDITION OF THE PREFERENCE FOR SIBLINGS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO RBM.

IN CONCLUSION, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE RBM CHARTER BE CONDITIONALLY RENEWED ON THE CONDITION AND WITH A REQUIREMENT NECESSARY FOR THE SOUND OPERATION OF RBM AS A COUNTY WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL, THAT ROCKETSHIP ENTER INTO AN MOU AND, OR AN ADDENDUM TO AN MOU ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025.

THAT ADDRESSES THE SCCOE SATISFACTION THAT EACH OF STAFF CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDED ACQUISITIONS, INCLUDING AS IDENTIFIED IN THE STAFF ANALYSIS, AND AS NECESSARY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT LAW AND SCCOE BEST PRACTICES AND EXPECTATIONS.

STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNTY BOARD DENY THE MATERIAL REVISION, SEEKING TO REMOVE THE TEACHER CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITIONS.

STAFF FURTHER RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCCBOE ADOPT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION ENTITLED RESOLUTION CONDITIONALLY APPROVING FOR A TERM OF JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2030, THE CHARTER RENEWAL FOR RBM CHARTER SCHOOL WITH THE ADDITION OF REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE 407605.6 B, AND ALTERNATIVELY MAKING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS, SUPPORTING DENIAL AND DENYING THE RBM CHARTER RENEWAL IF THE REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, AND SEPARATELY DENYING THE REQUEST FOR MATERIAL REVISIONS AND ADOPTING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS OF DENIAL.

THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S OPENING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. FOR ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY FOR BRILLIANT MINDS.

I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE COMMENTS REGARDING THE STAFF ANALYSIS AND WHO WILL BE SPEAKING FOR ROCKETSHIP ACADEMY FOR BRILLIANT MINDS CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> HELLO AGAIN, JANINE RAMIREZ.

BEFORE I PASS IT OVER TO OUR INCREDIBLE PRINCIPAL, LISA.

AS WE'RE COMING TOWARDS THE END OF THIS RENEWAL SEASON FOR US, AND WE'VE HAD THREE, AND AS WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF SOME OF THE LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD WITH SOME TRUSTEES THAT WERE HERE IN THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN ROCKETSHIP WAS COMING TO THE BOARD, I KNOW THAT THE CHARTER LAW STARTED OVER 30 YEARS AGO WITH AN INTENTION, A RISK, IF YOU WILL, OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENT AND TRYING TO DO THINGS BETTER AND BETTER FOR ALL KIDS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST BACK WHEN WE STARTED, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TRUST AND ON THESE ONGOING MONTHS.

TODAY, I GUESS I'M JUST SHARING A BIT OF NOSTALGIA, BUT REALLY JUST COMING FROM A PLACE OF GRATITUDE BECAUSE IT IS OUR MISSION TO DO GOOD BY ALL KIDS, AND THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR GROWTH, AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WORKS REALLY HARD AND PUSHES REALLY HARD TO GET THERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST. WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO MS. PRINCIPAL GREENE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JANINE.

GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES, PRESIDENT BERTA, SUPERINTENDENT, AND ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE GATHERED HERE THIS EVENING.

AS JANINE SAID, MY NAME IS LISA GREENE, AND I AM THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF ROCKETSHIP BRILLIANT MINDS.

I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF CALLING IT MY WORK HOME SINCE 2020.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WELL, SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING RBM RECENTLY.

I KNOW THAT FOR SOME OF YOU, IT'S BEEN A WHILE OR PERHAPS YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY YET.

MY HOPE THIS EVENING IS TO GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE OF WHAT RBM IS BEYOND THE NUMBERS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HARDWORKING, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY THAT HAS INSPIRED CHANGE IN OUR ALUM ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WHOSE HEARTS ARE PERSISTENT IN CONTINUING TO IMPROVE OUR PRACTICE AND ELEVATE OUR OUTCOMES FOR OUR ROCKETEERS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE RBM COMMUNITY IS COMPOSED OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES WHO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE, PRACTICE TOGETHER, AND GROW WITH ONE ANOTHER.

I COULD POINT TO SO MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS ACROSS OUR CAMPUS, BUT I THINK MANY OF US WHO KNOW RBM WELL, WOULD HIGHLIGHT MS. BRUNI HERNANDEZ AS AN EXEMPLARY MODEL OF HARD WORK AND HEART IN OUR PROFESSION.

YOU MAY REMEMBER HER STORY FROM HER PUBLIC COMMENT IN OUR OCTOBER HEARING, BUT IT'S WORTH REPEATING.

MS. HERNANDEZ HAS BEEN AT RBM SINCE ITS FIRST DAYS IN 2012.

SHE SERVED AS A PARAEDUCATOR AND AN ART TEACHER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, SHE PIONEERED ROCKETSHIP'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RIVET SCHOOL AND EARNED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE WHILE WORKING FULL TIME.

[02:20:03]

SHE'S NOW SERVING IN HER THIRD YEAR AS OUR FIRST GRADE STEM TEACHER.

SHE TRULY SETS AN EXAMPLE OF USING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE HER TEACHING CRAFT, BUT SHE NEVER LOSES SIGHT OF THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WHO ARE AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK.

PERHAPS THAT'S BECAUSE SHE WAS ONCE ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES.

HER SON, DOMINIC WAS A ROCKETEER OVER A DECADE AGO, AND THIS SUMMER, HE COMPLETED A MURAL IN OUR NEW OUTDOOR LUNCH SPACE.

HIS MURAL READS ONCE A ROCKETEER, ALWAYS A ROCKETEER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OFTEN SAY TO OUR GRADUATING FIFTH GRADERS, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE OF OUR ADULT CULTURE.

ONCE A ROCKETEER, ALWAYS A ROCKETEER.

I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR, OUR TEACHER RETENTION RATE WAS OVER 85%.

WITHIN THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF REHIRING TWO TEAMMATES WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY MOVED AWAY.

ONCE THEY RETURNED AND RESETTLED IN THE AREA, THEY FOUND THEIR WAY BACK HOME TO RBM AS WELL.

THEY WOULD LIKELY TELL YOU THAT'S BECAUSE AT RBM, WE DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT OUR TEAMMATES FEEL SEEN AND RESPECTED FOR WHO THEY ARE, THAT THEY FEEL APPRECIATED FOR THEIR HARD WORK, AND THEY KNOW THAT THEIR VOICE AND OPINIONS MATTER.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR STUDENTS, ONCE A ROCKETEER, ALWAYS, A ROCKETEER, IS ALSO A REMINDER TO US AS THEIR TEACHING TEAM OF THE CHARGE THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE THEM WELL.

NO MATTER HOW LONG WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH A STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILY, WHETHER IT'S SEVEN YEARS OR JUST A LITTLE WHILE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPACT THAT WE MAKE, THE GROWTH THAT THEY ACHIEVE, AND THE LESSONS THAT THEY TAKE WITH THEM IN THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR EDUCATION.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS, WHO THEY ARE AS YOUNG PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THEIR STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES.

WE USE BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS AND SCREENERS THREE TIMES A YEAR IN ORDER TO DO SO.

THE DATA GLEANED FROM THESE BENCHMARKS INFORMS OUR TIER 1 SUPPORTS THAT REACH OUR FULL COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO CRAFTS THE WAY THAT WE ORGANIZE AND PROVIDE INTERVENTION.

WHETHER IT'S ACADEMICS, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS, MENTAL HEALTH, OR ATTENDANCE, OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORTS ARE BUILT TO BRING STUDENTS WHO ARE FACING CHALLENGES TO THE ATTENTION OF THOSE WHO CAN PROVIDE HELP, AND THAT'S WHEN THE STRENGTH OF OUR TEAM'S COLLABORATION SHINES.

GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, OUR INTEGRATED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM, AND INTERVENTIONISTS NEVER STOP COMMUNICATING IN REGARD TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING AND NOT WORKING TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF A STUDENT.

FURTHERMORE, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF STUDENT SERVICES MEETS WITH OUR WELLNESS COUNSELOR AND OUR CARE CORE COORDINATOR MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT EACH MONTH TO ENSURE THAT THE WRAPAROUND SERVICE IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE CHILD ARE IN PLACE FOR THE ROCKETEERS WHO NEED IT MOST.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IT'S HARD WORK AND HEART FROM ACROSS OUR CAMPUS, BUT SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED BY OUR SPECIALIZED INCLUSION PROGRAM TEAM THAT SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE DISABILITIES.

THERE'S NO SINGULAR WAY THAT WE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

LIKE THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, THEIR IEPS ARE EACH UNIQUE AND ARE THEREFORE ALIGNED WITH A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THAT BEST MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH RACKETEER.

THESE SERVICES COULD INCLUDE PUSH IN SUPPORTS OR MODIFICATIONS OF CURRICULUM THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM, OR SPECIFIC SKILL BUILDING AND PRACTICE THAT OCCURS WITHIN OUR SPECIALIZED INCLUSION PROGRAM CLASSROOM.

THAT PRACTICE INCLUDES COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.

IT COULD BE GAINING INDEPENDENCE OR ACADEMIC SKILL BUILDING.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR INCLUSION MODEL PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE RIGHT AND JUST FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH MORE SEVERE DISABILITIES, AND IT'S MUTUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEIR NEUROTYPICAL PEERS AS WELL.

INCLUSION OF ALL STUDENTS MEANS THAT ALL STUDENTS LEARN TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT DIFFERENCES.

IT BUILDS SKILL IN EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.

ULTIMATELY, OUR INTEGRATED SPECIAL EDUCATION APPROACH IS ANOTHER DELIBERATE WAY THAT WE LEAN INTO PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR ALL ROCKETEERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

A KEY COMPONENT OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING IS UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHERE EACH STUDENT IS AT AND WHERE THEY NEED SUPPORT.

OUR HARD WORK AND HEART LEAVE AN IMPACT BECAUSE THEY COME WITH INTENTIONALITY THROUGH DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING AND THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION AMONGST TEAMMATES.

THREE TIMES EACH YEAR, OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE WITHIN A DATA DAY.

WE GET TO KNOW OUR STUDENTS EVER MORE BY ANALYZING BENCHMARK TESTING RESULTS THAT ILLUMINATE THEIR CURRENT SKILLS AND PROGRESS.

OUR TEACHERS CAN THEN CREATE SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS ORIENTED AROUND SHARED SKILL GAPS AND BEGIN TAILORING INSTRUCTION THAT SPECIFICALLY TARGETS THOSE GAPS.

THESE DATA DAYS, AS WELL AS ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,

[02:25:03]

IS HOW WE CONTINUE GETTING BETTER.

WE LEARN TOGETHER, WE PRACTICE TOGETHER, WE HELP EACH OTHER GROW.

IT'S THE PASSION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, THE HEART FOR STUDENT GROWTH THAT DRIVES EACH OF US TO CONTINUE GROWING AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR LEARNING TOGETHER AND HOW WE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE MULTILINGUAL IN THEIR READING AND WRITING DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH OUR SPAC OUTCOMES LAST YEAR FOR STUDENTS IN THESE SUB POPULATIONS, AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO MORE TO HELP THEM REACH GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY AND ABOVE.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN APPROACHING LAST YEAR'S OUTCOMES HEAD ON.

WE'RE UTILIZING A NEW READING INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH IEPS, AS WELL AS OUR READERS WHO ARE FURTHEST FROM GRADE LEVEL.

FURTHERMORE, WE'VE SOUGHT TO HIGHLIGHT BEST PRACTICES IN INTEGRATED ELD THAT LED TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN OUR MATH CLASSROOMS LAST YEAR AND REPLICATE THOSE APPROACHES ACROSS OUR CAMPUS.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR UPCOMING MIDYEAR BENCHMARKS TO ILLUMINATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR EFFORTS THUS FAR AND HELP US DETERMINE NEXT STEPS FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WHAT WE DO IS HARD WORK, FULL STOP, BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR'S CAASPP DATA OUTPERFORMED THE STATE AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN BOTH ELA AND MATH.

THIS SUCCESS AFFIRMS THE STRENGTH OF OUR MODEL AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEAM, BUT WE VIEW IT AS A FOUNDATION, NOT A FINISH LINE.

OUR NORTH STAR IS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS REACHING GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY, SO WE KNOW OUR WORK IS FAR FROM FINISHED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

ROUGHLY THREE IN FOUR STUDENTS AT RBM ARE CONSIDERED SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPH, OUR FOCUS ON SOCIOECONOMIC EQUITY IS YIELDING RESULTS.

SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AT ROCKETSHIP BRILLIANT MINDS ARE ACHIEVING OUTCOMES THAT OUTPACE THEIR PEERS LOCALLY AND STATE WIDE.

THESE RESULTS FUEL OUR BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WHEN WE LOOK DIRECTLY AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER THAN STATE OR DISTRICT COMPARISONS, OUR STUDENTS ARE OUTPERFORMING THOSE AT NEARBY SCHOOLS IN BOTH READING, AND IN MATH.

COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOLS WITHIN A TWO MILE RADIUS, BRILLIANT MINDS LEADS IN THESE ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY LEVELS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED BY THE TRUST OUR COMMUNITY PLACES IN US.

WHILE WE'RE PROUD OF THE PROGRESS OUR STUDENTS HAVE MADE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE NUMBERS ONLY TELL A PART OF THE STORY.

BEHIND EVERY DATA POINT IS A CHILD WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, STRENGTHS, AND CHALLENGES.

WE KNOW THERE ARE FAMILIES WE STILL NEED TO REACH IN STUDENTS FOR WHOM WE MUST DO MORE TO ENSURE SUCCESS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

BECAUSE OF THIS, WE APPROACH EVERY NEW YEAR AND NEW CIRCUMSTANCE WITH HUMILITY AND GRIT, FACING CHALLENGES AND SETBACKS HEAD ON, KNOWING THAT WE CAN ALWAYS BETTER OUR APPROACH AND IMPROVE OUR OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES.

WE'RE HOPING THAT TONIGHT YOU GRANT US THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP DOING JUST THAT.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP GROWING AND IMPROVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING OUR EASTSIDE COMMUNITY THE OPTIONS THAT THEIR CHILDREN DESERVE.

PLEASE VOTE TO RENEW OUR CHARTER, ALLOWING US TO OFFER OUR HARD WORK AND HEART FOR HUNDREDS OF MORE ROCKETEERS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE KNOW THE BRILLIANCE OF RBM IS JUST BEGINNING TO SHINE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ALUM ROCK UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WISH TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME?

>> HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM WILL BE LIMITED TO 20 MINUTES.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE HAND ANY SPEAKER'S CARD.

SPEAKERS SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND OR AND ARE URGED TO AVOID REPEATING POINTS MADE BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

>> YES, WE HAVE 13 CARDS FOR COMMENT.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED.

>> THANK YOU. FOR THOSE IN OUR OVERFLOW ROOM IN THE CAFETERIA, WHO FILLED OUT A CARD TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

PROCEED TO THE SANTA [INAUDIBLE] ONCE YOUR GROUP IS CALLED.

PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.

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 SCCOE INTERPRETER.

THE TIMER WILL BEGIN ONCE YOU START SPEAKING.

COMMENTS EXTENDING PAST THE TIME ALLOTTED WILL BE MUTED AFTER THE TIME EXPIRES, AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.

TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION,

[02:30:04]

PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.

OUR SPEAKERS ARE LAN FAM, ALEJANDRA VIERA, LARIXA MADRID, PHOEBE JACKSON, TU NUIN, GANA DEEP GILL, ADIN DONG, RICARDO JUNI, JARED DIAZ, ESME ARTIS, JENNIFER ALVAREZ, ABBY WEINER, AND FELIX GONZALEZ.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LAN FAM, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS LAN FAM.

MY SON IS IN SIXTH GRADE.

HE FINISHED AT ROCKETSHIP BRILLIANT MIND LAST YEAR.

AS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER, I'VE BEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE SCHOOL, I HAVE SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE SCHOOL HAS HAD ON HIS EDUCATION.

DESPITE FACING HEALTH CHALLENGES WITH EPILEPSY, MY SON HAD EXCELLED ACADEMICALLY, THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF HIS TEACHERS AND STAFF.

ROCKETSHIP IS NOT ONLY TEACHES CORE SUBJECTS BUT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO ENVISION A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND EMBRACE VALUES LIKE RESPONSIBILITY AND KINDNESS.

MY SON WITH A NATURAL APTITUDE FOR MATH, HAS TRIED USING PROGRAMS LIKE LEXIA AND ZERN, AND I'VE ENROLLED HIM IN ROBOTICS AND ADVANCED MATH TO KEEP HIM CHALLENGE.

I BELIEVE ROCKETSHIP EQUIP ALL STUDENTS TO DREAM BIG AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEJANDRA VIERA.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALEJANDRA VIERA, AND MY DAUGHTER CLARISSA IS NOW IN THIRD GRADE AT RBM.

SHE'S BEEN HERE SINCE KINDERGARTEN, AND WHILE WE HAD A ROUGH START, THE TEACHERS WERE INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.

I TRULY LOVE HOW ROCKETSHIP NEVER GIVES UP ON THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY'RE SOLUTION-ORIENTED, CATERING TO EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS WITH PATIENCE AND CARE.

THE EDUCATORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO HEARING PARENTS CONCERNS AND TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION.

THEY GO BEYOND ACADEMICS BY CHECKING IN ON FAMILIES, MAKING US FEEL SUPPORTED.

MY DAUGHTER ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT HERE.

RBM HAS BECOME HER SECOND HOME, A PLACE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE.

WHEN CLARISSA FIRST STARTED, HER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER MS BECA WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, ESPECIALLY WITH SPEECH THERAPY.

CLARISSA HARDLY SPOKE BEFORE, BUT NOW SHE'S MUCH MORE CONFIDENT IN EXPRESSING HERSELF.

PROGRAMS LIKE THE BOUNCE PACK PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HAVE ALSO ENRICHED HER EXTRA KINDERGARTEN EXPERIENCES.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING RBM HAS DONE FOR OUR FAMILY.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LARIXA MADRID.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> HI, I'M MISS MADRID, A SECOND-YEAR ISC SPECIALIST, AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS ROLE FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PARTS OF MY JOB HAS BEEN SEEING THE PROGRESS OF CHILDREN WE SUPPORT.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE OTHER SPECIALISTS, AND I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW POWERFUL IT IS WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS WHEN A CHILD WHO INITIALLY COULDN'T SAY THEIR NAME WAS ABLE TO DO SO AFTER CONSISTENT SUPPORT.

THESE MOMENTS REMIND ME WHY WE DO THIS WORK.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE HERE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, AND INCLUSION IS KEY TO THAT.

THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH TEACHERS, SPEECH, OT, AND ADAPTIVE PE PROVIDERS, WE LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

EACH TEAM MEMBER BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, AND WE COMBINE OUR EXPERTISE.

WE CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE PATH FOR OUR STUDENTS TO THRIVE.

THIS UNITY AND SHARE GOALS OF HELPING CHILDREN GROW IS TRULY WHAT MAKES THIS JOB SO SPECIAL. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PHOEBE JACKSON.

>> HI, MY NAME IS PHOEBE JACKSON, AND I AM MY FIRST GRADER AT ROCKET SHIP BRILLIANT MINDS.

I LOVE BEING A ROCKET TIER LAST YEAR, I COMPETED IN OUR SCHOOLS TALENT SHOW AND SHOWED MY GYMNASTIC SKILLS.

THIS TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE, BUT I FELT CALM BECAUSE MY MOM AND MY TEACHERS HAVE HELPED ME BECOME A BRAVE LEADER.

I LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS AND HELPING MY FRIENDS.

WE ARE ONLY FIRST GRADERS AND WE HOPE TO HAVE MANY MORE YEARS TOGETHER AT RBM, WHERE WE CAN LEARN MORE AND MORE, PLEASE RENEW OUR CHARTER FOR FIVE MORE YEARS.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TU NUIN.

[02:35:03]

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> WE GIVE HER ONE MINUTE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TRANSLATE WHAT SHE SAY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS NOTUM AND I'M THE MOM OF A STUDENT, AND WE'VE BEEN WITH BM FOR THREE YEARS.

THE THING THAT I LIKE THE MOST IS THAT I SEE MY CHILD BEING VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED TO GO TO SCHOOL.

I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEE ALL THE STUDENTS HERE CAN COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH.

THE MOMENT THAT'S MOST MEMORABLE TO ME IS WHEN MY CHILD RECEIVED THE AWARD AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED SCHOOL, HE DIDN'T KNOW ANY ENGLISH.

HE WAS AFRAID AND VERY TIMID AND DIDN'T EVEN DARE TO COME INTO CLASS.

BUT WITH THE HELP OF THE TEACHERS AT RBM, HE BECAME CONFIDENT AND ACHIEVED A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN EVERY TEST.

I REALLY HOPE RBM WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE FOR FIVE MORE YEARS SO THAT THEY CAN HELP OTHER CHILDREN LIKE MY SON PASS THE BARRIER IN LANGUAGE. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS A DEEP KILL.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GAGAN DI GILL.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE ROCKETSHIP AND THE SCHOOL COUNCIL FOR THREE YEARS AS A VICE PRESIDENT AND NOW PRESIDENT.

I WANTED TO BE ON THE COUNCIL BECAUSE I WANTED TO FEEL CONNECTED TO MY CHILD'S SCHOOL.

ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID AS A COUNCIL WAS INNOVATING ON HOW TO MAKE READING FUN FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WE CREATED A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR READING WHERE WE INCENTIVIZE STUDENTS IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

THIS WAS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WHEN MY CHILD WOULD GET IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD GET EXCITED TO READ BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE THEIR TEACHER PROUD.

SOME OF THE THINGS I LOVE ARE HOW OUR TEACHERS PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR STUDENTS.

I LOVE THE DAILY HOMEWORK PRACTICE THAT CHILDREN GET THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE TEACHERS, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS WE GET TO BUILD WITH THEM.

FINALLY, I LOVE THAT OUR SCHOOL PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL SO MUCH THAT I RECOMMEND IT TO ALL MY FRIENDS BECAUSE OF MY CHILD'S ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT, SO PLEASE RENEW IT BECAUSE I'M COUNTING ON THIS SCHOOL, AND THIS IS THE ONLY SCHOOL MY CHILD WANTS TO GO TO. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, EXCUSE ME, KAIDEN YOUNG.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

>> HELLO, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS KAIDEN YOUNG, AND I AM A STUDENT ALUMNI AT RBM.

WHAT I CAME TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE DURING MY YEARS AT THE SCHOOL WAS HOW RBM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR THE ROCKETEERS AND FAMILIES BY ALLOWING THEM TO BE SEEN, VALUED AND RESPECTED THROUGH CELEBRATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DIVERSITY, SUCH AS DIA DE SMERTOS, RECOGNIZING CULTURAL HERITAGE MONTHS AND MANY MORE CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS.

I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I BELONGED THAT I WAS APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED BY MY PEERS AND TEACHERS DUE TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING SUCH A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE.

RESPECTFUL AND FRIENDLY CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS OR STAFF MEMBERS, THE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE SEASONAL FESTIVALS AT THE SCHOOL OR THE COMMUNITY EVENTS HOSTED BY RBM.

ALWAYS SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEDICATED AND COMMITTED FAMILIES TO THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, WITH RBM BEING OPEN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

HOPEFULLY, FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME, IT WILL ALLOW THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO FEEL THAT FULFILLING SENSE OF BELONGING AND COMFORT, BEING IN A WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT'S PRESENT MESSAGE OF PERSISTENCE.

I STAND HERE JUST LIKE HAMADA WAS YEARS AGO SPEAKING HERE.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RICARDO JUNI.

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

>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MY NAME IS RICARDO JUNI, AND I AM THE KINDERGARTEN STEM TEACHER AT RBM.

I HAVE PROBABLY SERVED THIS BAYAN NAN, THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS.

WHAT PROPELS ME EVERY DAY IS SEEING OUR ROCKETEERS GROW BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY.

OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SO LESSONS SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS DEEP SENSE OF BELONGING BECAUSE SPACE IS OPEN FOR THEM TO EXPLORE DIFFERENCES, FIND COMMON GROUND, AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER.

I ALSO LOVE HOW ROCKETEERS ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO PERSIST THROUGH CHALLENGES.

A MOMENT THAT STANDS OUT IS WITH KYLE, A KINDERGARTEN RRAINBOW WARRIOR.

WHO ONCE WAS SO DISMISSIVE OF HIMSELF.

BUT LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SHINE FROM HIS PEERS.

ONE DAY, HE SAID, I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP WRITING, MR. JUNI.

I CAN DO IT ALL ON MY OWN NOW.

[02:40:02]

AT THAT MOMENT, I KNEW A POSITIVE CONCEPT OF SELF WAS BLOSSOMING.

THE WORK HERE IS TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE.

I HOPE RBM STAYS OPEN FOR MANY MORE YEARS BECAUSE OUR FAMILIES TO SERVE TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL THAT IS SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND PRIORITIZES WHOLE STUDENT LEARNING. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JARED DIAZ.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JARED DIAZ.

I GRADUATED LAST YEAR FROM RBM, AND I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A ROCKETEER WAS BEING A PART OF SCIENCE CAMP.

IT TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT SCIENCE AND NATURE, LIKE LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BIOSPHERES.

THE TEACHERS WERE ALWAYS WELCOMING AND KIND.

EVERY DAY WE'D GREET THEM WHEN WE WALKED IN AND WHENEVER I NEEDED SUPPORT, THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.

WHEN I GOT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, I CONTINUED THAT HABIT OF GREETING MY TEACHERS.

I USED TO STRUGGLE WITH WRITING ESSAYS, BUT MISS SIEBERT HELPED ME PREPARE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BY GUIDING ME THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES.

THANKS TO HER SUPPORT, I'M NOW DOING REALLY WELL WITH STRAIGHT AS IN ALL MY CLASSES.

I HOPE RBM STAYS OPEN FOR FIVE MORE YEARS SO STUDENTS LIKE ME CAN GROW SUCCEED. THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AMARON ARTES.

>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS AMARON ARTES, AND I'VE BEEN A PARENT AT RBM SINCE 2015, AND I BECAME PART OF THE RBM TEAM AS A OFFICE ASSISTANT SINCE 2017.

MY ELDEST CHILD GRADUATED FROM HERE.

I CAN TRULY SAY RBM FEELS LIKE FAMILY.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER.

I LOVE HOW WE CELEBRATE ALL CULTURES WITHIN RBM COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF TRADITIONS AND WE ALSO CREATE NEW ONES WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR, WE HELD OUR FIRST EVER DEAL FESTIVAL WITH OVER 200 FAMILIES CELEBRATING TOGETHER.

A DAY DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING CHILDREN.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE A RACKETEER IN THIRD GRADE, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HER CONTINUE TO GROW.

I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD AT HOME, AND I HOPE SHE'S ABLE TO BECOME A FUTURE ROCKETEER.

RBM IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL.

IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT CARES, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON MY FAMILY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER ALVAREZ.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER ALVAREZ.

I AM ANTON'S MOTHER AND MY ROLE IS TO BE PRESENT IN THE LIFE OF MY DAUGHTER, GUIDING HER AND EDUCATING HER SO THAT SHE CAN BE BETTER INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY.

I'VE BEEN AT THE SCHOOL FOR THREE MONTHS, AND I'VE NOTICED AN INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENT IN MY DAUGHTER'S ENGLISH.

EVEN THOUGH HER NATIVE LANGUAGE IS SPANISH, SHE IS THE ONE WHO SOMETIMES INTERPRETS FOR US WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

ONE MOMENT THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME IS WHEN HER TEACHER, MISS HERNANDEZ, TALKS TO US.

SHE ALWAYS TRIES TO BE VERY PATIENT AND FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HER.

ONE THING THAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT ROCKETSHIP IS THE WAY THAT THEY INTEGRATE AND INVOLVE ALL THE PARENTS IN THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, IT'S SOMETHING TRULY INCREDIBLE.

I HOPE THAT RBM CONTINUES TO BE OPEN FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR MY DAUGHTER AND THE WAY THAT THEY TEACH IS SOMETHING REALLY INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ABBY WEINER.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.

>> MY NAME IS ABBY WEINER, AND I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED AS THE WELLNESS COUNSELOR AT RBM SINCE OCTOBER 2021.

I WORK CLOSELY WITH PARENTS, SCHOOL LEADERS, STAFF, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DELIVER A RANGE OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS USING THE MTSS MODEL.

OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HELPED BUILD TIER 1 SERVICES,

[02:45:03]

INCLUDING COACHING FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND ESTABLISHING CLASSROOM CALM CORNERS.

I'VE INTRODUCED TIER 2 SUPPORTS LIKE SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS, LUNCH BUNCHES, AND THE CHECK-IN CHECKOUT TEACHER MENTOR PROGRAM WHILE PROVIDING TIER 3 COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS NEEDING INDIVIDUALIZED CARE.

A MOMENT OF PRIDE WAS SUPPORTING THE RESET OF A THIRD-GRADE COHORT COMMUNITY TWO YEARS AGO, TRANSFORMING CHALLENGING RELATIONSHIPS INTO A COMPASSIONATE FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS MAINTAIN THEIR GAINS THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.

SEEING IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT WELL-BEING DRIVES MY PASSION, AND I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THIS CRITICAL WORK FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

I HOPE YOU WILL NEW OUR CHARTER TO ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FELIX GONZALEZ.

>> HI, I'M FELIX GONZALEZ, AND I'M A FOURTH GRADER AT RBM.

I'VE BEEN A STUDENT HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU THAT YOU KEEP US OPEN FOR ANOTHER FIVE.

WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY HERE.

OUR TEACHERS HELP US WHEN WE MADE MISTAKES. THEY HELP US FIX THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY HUMANITIES CLASS, MISSES SIEBER HELPED US WRITE OUR OWN GREEKS.

BECAUSE OF HER ADVICE, I'M NOW USING MORE DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE.

I'M ALSO A PART OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AFTER SCHOOL.

THIS YEAR, I WAS CHOSEN TO BE AN LITE LEADER IN TRAINING.

I LIKE HELPING THE STUDENTS AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEM.

I HELP WITH TK THROUGH SECOND-GRADE CLASSROOMS. I HOPE YOU WILL VOUCHER TO A NEWER CHARTER SO THE YOUNGER STUDENTS COULD HAVE THE GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT I DID. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

SEEING NO FURTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS MATTER, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

WE WILL NOW GO TO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.

EACH BOARD MEMBER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH ONE TRUSTEE AND TAKE TURNS.

I'LL ROTATE THROUGH ALL BOARD MEMBERS UNTIL EACH MEMBER HAS ASKED ALL THEIR QUESTIONS OR MADE COMMENTS.

ARE THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SOMEBODY ALLUDED TO THIS, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISS RAMIREZ, THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, THE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW WAS PASSED, AND IT WAS A VISION OF SENATOR GARY HART, A DEMOCRAT WHO WANTED TO SEE THAT PARENTS HAD VOICE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND THAT'S CERTAINLY EVIDENT TONIGHT HERE.

PARENTS HAVE VOICE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

HE WANTED THERE TO BE COLLABORATION WITH WHAT PARENTS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO SEE THEIR SCHOOLS TO BE IN A CHARTER WORLD, PUBLICLY FUNDED CHARTER WORLD, AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC DISTRICTS AFTER THAT? THAT WAS THE GOAL. MY QUESTION TO ROCKETSHIP.

I ASKED THIS ONCE BEFORE AND I GOT A VERY SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ANSWERED THIS TIME.

ALMA ROCKET SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE DISTRICT THAT BRILLIANT MINES IS IN.

ALUM ROCK IS GOING THROUGH SCHOOL CONSOLIDATIONS AND CLOSURES SOON. TWO QUESTIONS.

HOW WILL THOSE CONSOLIDATIONS AND CLOSURES IMPACT ROCKETSHIP ALMA? THE SECOND QUESTION IS, SINCE GARY HART'S 30 YEARS AGO, VISION ABOUT CHARTERS AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC COLLABORATING TO MAKE EDUCATION MORE EFFICIENT, MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE EFFICACIOUS FOR ALL.

HOW IS THAT WORKING FOR YOU IN NOVEMBER 2024?

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE DI SALVO, FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND FOR BRINGING BACK THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CHARTER LAW THAT I MENTIONED.

TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS.

I'LL START WITH THE LATTER ONE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE REASON I KNOW I'M HERE, AND I KNOW IT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE ALL HERE IN THIS ROOM, WHETHER IT'S OUR INCREDIBLE PRINCIPLES THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE ONES GOING THROUGH THE RENEWAL PROCESS, BUT REALLY ALL OF OUR PRINCIPLES ARE IN SPACE.

I'VE BEEN SEEING THEM AROUND TEACHERS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR ROCKETEERS.

YOU ASK, HOW IS IT GOING AND ROCKETSHIP HAS BEEN AROUND NOT QUITE 20 YEARS,

[02:50:05]

ALTHOUGH WE'RE ALMOST THERE FOR 20 YEARS.

WHAT I CAN HONESTLY SAY IS WE'VE GROWN A LOT AND WE'VE LEARNED A LOT.

I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE'RE SERVING MORE THAN 6,000 STUDENTS.

MUCH OF THOSE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF PD.

WE SERVE ABOUT 80% OF SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.

WE SERVE OVER 50% OF ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS.

THAT PROMISE FROM DAY 1 THAT WE WANTED TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

I KNOW THE GAP IS NOT CLOSED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A BIGGER SYSTEMIC ISSUE.

THEN ROCKETSHIP OR CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN SOLVE AS ONE BUT I'M A WHOLEHEARTEDLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE UP TO THIS POINT AND ALSO OF THE PUSHES THAT COME BECAUSE IT MAKES US THINK DIFFERENT AND IT MAKES US SHOW UP DIFFERENT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS THE PARTNERSHIP LOOK LIKE.

FULLY TRANSPARENT WHEN WE STARTED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE FIRST TIME WE DID IT, IT WAS MAJORITY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND WE GOT FEEDBACK ABOUT, HEY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT HOW ARE YOU OPENING IT TO EVERYONE? I WAS LIKE, THAT'S A VALID POINT AND A GOOD ONE.

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTEN PUSHES FOR THE WORK.

I'M PROUD OF HOW WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.

I'M PROUD OF HOW IN ROCKETSHIP, CALIFORNIA, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT NOT JUST FOR THE ROCKETEERS BUT FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL OUR KIDS DESERVE TO LEARN.

I THINK ABOUT MYSELF, AND I'M ONE OF FOUR.

UNTIL THIS DAY, I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN MY FAMILY THAT WENT TO COLLEGE AND THAT'S NOT A PRIDE POINT.

IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WE GOT STATISTICALLY LUCKY.

ALL OF OUR KIDS DESERVE THAT.

ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DESERVE TO GO TO A PLACE THAT THEY CHOOSE THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, A PLACE THAT SEES THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE, AS MATEO'S ALLUDED TO EARLIER, AND A PLACE THAT RECEIVES PUSHES TO BE ABLE TO BE BETTER, DO BETTER, AND MISTAKES ARE INEVITABLE ALONG THE WAY.

BUT I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION AROUND THE IMPACTS FOR ALUM ROCK, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> IT'S THE IMPACT TO YOU ONCE THERE'S A CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS AND PARENTS HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE LEAVING.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IMPACT TO YOU AS FAR AS NUMBERS OR OVERFLOW FROM THOSE CLOSURES, OR HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED?

>> WHAT I CAN SHARE IS THAT, UNFORTUNATELY ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE SILICON VALLEY THAT HAVE BECOME SO EXPENSIVE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO SURVIVE.

GENTRIFICATION HAS DEFINITELY IMPACTED ENROLLMENT, NOT JUST IN ALUM ROCK BUT ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS.

ROCKETSHIP HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED BY THAT.

I CAN ALSO SAY THAT WITH THAT INTENTIONALITY AND PART OF OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT TRENDS, AS WELL AS BIRTH RATES, AND LOOKING AT THE ECOSYSTEM AT LARGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FROM THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE OF COURSE, FIRST AND FOREMOST SCHOOLS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR SO THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE DOING WELL.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION.

MAYBE I'LL WAIT TO ASK IT.

I'VE TAKEN TOO MUCH TIME.

LET ME GO AROUND TO THE OTHER TRUSTEES THAT WE HAVE QUESTIONS, AND IF YOU COME BACK TO ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> TRUSTEES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WELL, HOLD ON, MR. VICE PRESIDENT.

IF I COULD JUST ONE EXTEND APPRECIATION.

I KNOW EVERY TIME IT GETS TO THIS HOUR OF THE EVENING, I THINK ABOUT MY LITTLE ONES AT HOME AND I THINK ABOUT THE LITTLE ONES IN THE AUDIENCE.

I APPRECIATE THE FAMILIES AND PARENTS, AND KIDS WHO'VE STUCK AROUND TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS AND MAKE COMMENTS AND SHOW YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS.

AGAIN, I WANT TO APPRECIATE STAFF, BOTH OUR CHARTER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT STAFF AND ROCKETSHIP BRILLIANT MINDS TEAM,

[02:55:04]

AND ALSO JUST IN LOOKING AT THE DATA, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THE DATA SAYS ABOUT HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS REFLECTING ON IN THE RESPONSES THAT YOU SHARED AROUND STAFFING IS SPECIFICALLY, WITH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF NEED, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS AND INTENTIONALITY BEHIND THAT.

I'D LIKE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'RE RECRUITING AND RETAINING EDUCATION SPECIALISTS OR SPECIFICALLY TEACHERS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE INTEGRATED SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

I NOTICED YOU HAD SOME TEACHERS ON WAIVERS OR INTERNS AND I GET IT.

I'VE BEEN THERE TOO, AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION WHERE IT IS, I THINK BACK TO MY DAYS AS AN INTERN TEACHER VERSUS A FULLY CLEAR CREDENTIAL TEACHER, AND THERE IS A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS.

I'D BE REALLY GREAT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PROCESS IS LIKE AND HOW YOU'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, DANNY CHEERY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL SUPPORTS.

I THINK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE WANT TO SEE ALL OF OUR TEACHERS PROGRESS THROUGH THE CREDENTIALING PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S ALSO WORTH NAMING 100% OF OUR TEACHERS, NOT JUST OUR ED SPECIALISTS, BUT ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TEACHERS ARE FULLY COMPLIANT AND CREDENTIALED AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

OUR TEACHERS UNDERGO HUNDREDS OF HOURS, OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE A REGIONAL TEAM WITH A SENIOR DIRECTOR OVER SPECIAL EDUCATION AND A DIRECTOR, MULTIPLE PROGRAM SPECIALIST, AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.

WHEN WE HAVE A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER, A SECOND-YEAR TEACHER, WHO'S ON THE PATH TO CLEAR CREDENTIAL, WHETHER THEY'RE A NED TEACHER OR AN ED SPECIALIST, WE HAVE A ROBUST TEAM AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL TO HELP SUPPORT AND GUIDE THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER, WE PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME CREDENTIALED.

AT TIMES, WE SEE TEACHERS LIKE MISS HUNG, WHO WAS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT [INAUDIBLE], WHO WE REAUTHORIZED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SHE WAS A TEACHER WITH A CLEAR CREDENTIAL, AND WHEN WE MOVED HER UP INTO AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ROLE SO SHE COULD EXPAND HER IMPACT, IT CREATED SPACE FOR A NEW TEACHER TO COME ALONG.

WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR SUPPORT STRUCTURES, AND MOVING TEACHERS THROUGH THE PROCESS, ULTIMATELY GETTING TO THAT LEVEL OF CLEAR CREDENTIAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE. IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE STRATEGIES ARE LOOKING LIKE, TRUSTEE CHAN.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS IS TEACHER BURNOUT, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN I HEAR HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PD, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, THAT IS A LITTLE CONCERNING.

CAN YOU SPECIFY MORE WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE I'M SURE IT'S NOT JUST SITTING IN A ROOM, LISTENING TO POWERPOINTS? I HOPE IT'S NOT.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT HOURS OF PD TO JUST ENSURE THAT TEACHERS ARE BEING SUPPORTED BECAUSE THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN TEACHER SUPPORT AND JUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HOW IS THAT EFFORT BEING USED IN ORDER TO RETAIN TEACHERS? I DID SEE SOME RESPONSES IN REGARDS TO TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL.

BUT WHAT IS BEING DONE IN ORDER TO RETAIN THEM MORE LONG TERM?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION, AND HONESTLY, I'LL SPEAK FOR RBM, BUT I THINK I CAN SPEAK MORE BROADLY FOR ROCKETSHIP PRINCIPALS IN GENERAL AND SAYING THAT WE CARE IMMENSELY ABOUT OUR TEACHERS NOT BURNING THEM OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN FEEL WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHILE PURSUING THEIR PASSIONS LIKE I TALKED ABOUT HARD WORK AND HEART IN MY PRESENTATION.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE DO TO MAKE THAT COME TO LIFE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, I DO WANT TO PUT YOUR FEARS AT EASE.

THEY'RE NOT SITTING AFTER HOURS IN LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE DESIGNATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SET ASIDE EACH THURSDAY.

SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS AT A REGIONAL LEVEL, ALLOWING US TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES ACROSS SCHOOLS IN OUR REGION.

SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS MORE IN-HOUSE AS A SCHOOL, ALLOWING US TO GO AFTER SPECIFIC FOCUS AREAS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WE MATCH THAT ALSO WITH INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATED PLANNING TIME.

[03:00:04]

IT GIVES THEM TIME BACK AS WELL.

THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR, WE ACTUALLY MOVED UP OUR DISMISSAL TIME ONE HOUR ON THURSDAYS TO PROVIDE THAT DESIGNATED PLANNING TIME BEFORE WE EVER ENTER INTO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AT RBM, I CAN ALSO SPEAK TO, WE PROVIDE ONE MORNING EACH WEEK, WHERE WE COLLABORATE AS A TEAM TO COVER ARRIVAL AND BREAKFAST TIME SUCH THAT A TEACHER GETS ANOTHER CHUNK OF TIME BACK WITHIN THEIR WEEK.

BUT I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TEACHER BURNOUT OR IN OPPOSITION TO THAT TEACHER RETENTION, IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR HARD WORK AND PASSION THAT THEY PUT INTO THIS, THAT WE HEAR THEIR VOICES, THAT WE NOTICE WHEN THEY ARE SUCCEEDING AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HELP KEEP OUR PEOPLE AROUND AT ROCKETSHIP AND PARTICULARLY WITH RBM.

I KNOW I SPOKE EARLIER TO THE FACT THAT LAST YEAR, WE HAD OVER 85% OF A RETENTION RATE, WHICH WAS JUST LOVELY AND A GREAT POINT OF PRIDE BECAUSE WE HAVE REALLY WONDERFUL TEACHERS WHO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AS YOU HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY THEMSELVES THIS EVENING.

I THINK WE DO BUNDLE THE IDEA OF, YES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WHERE WE HEAR VOICES AND LISTEN TO FEEDBACK, WHERE WE ACKNOWLEDGE SUCCESSES, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY FEEL SEEN AND ACCEPTED AS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IS THAT PROCESS, THE MEETINGS, AND WHATNOT, THE AFTER-SCHOOL ONE, THE MORNING ONES? IS THAT LIKE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT YOU ESTABLISHED WITH THE TEACHERS IN ORDER TO FIND TIMES THAT WORK BEST FOR THEM AND TOPICS AND WHATNOT?

>> YES, MOST DEFINITELY.

WHETHER IT'S LIKE A MEETING OR A ONE-TO-ONE WITH A COACH OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, WE'RE REALLY LISTENING TO TEACHERS OF, WHEN IS THE TIME THAT FITS BOTH WITH YOUR SCHEDULE, BUT ALSO WITH YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS.

I THINK PEOPLE JUST FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY AS WELL.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY PERSONAL PREFERENCES THERE.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, I THINK EVERYTHING IS DONE WITH TRYING TO THINK ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR TEACHERS AT THIS POINT, AS DANNY REFERENCED BEFORE.

WE'RE ALREADY COMBATING SOME THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO COST OF LIVING IN THE AREA AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

WE SEEK TO CARE IMMENSELY ABOUT OUR INCREDIBLE TEACHERS AT RBM, AND I KNOW OUR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY CARE A LOT ABOUT THEM AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I KNOW IT'S A LATE HOUR, SO THANK YOU.

AGAIN, FREE DRESS TOMORROW FOR THE SCHOOL TOO.

>> IF I MAY, WE HAVE PAJAMA DAY TOMORROW DUE TO YOUR FEEDBACK SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ALL DAY WORKS TOO. THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES, TRUSTEE DI SALVO?

>> MY QUESTION IS ABOUT WHAT WE USED TO GO THROUGH, AND MAYBE TRUSTEE MAS THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT WENT THROUGH THIS, LIKE I WENT THROUGH THIS, BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN DISTRICTS WOULD COME, AND THEY WOULD ARGUE ABOUT THEY WANTED TO RETAIN, OF COURSE, THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY DIDN'T WANT THEM TO GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL, BE IT ROCKETSHIP OR ALPHA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, VOICES, THEY WANTED TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS UNDERSTANDABLY.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. SAN JOSE UNIFIED WAS ABSENT.

ALUM ROCK WAS ABSENT FROM THIS DISCUSSION TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S HAPPENING.

DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT'S HAPPENING?

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE ASKING YOUR FIRST QUESTION, YOU USED THE WORD INTENT.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT JUST THAT FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF AND INTENT ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE CHOOSE TO OPERATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE GET TO SERVE, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT'S INTERESTING SITTING HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS MY 14TH YEAR AT ROCKETSHIP.

I'VE BEEN A TEACHER, I'VE BEEN AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT ONE OF THE CAMPUSES THAT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING THROUGH THE OPENING PROCESS FOR.

YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS, BUT AS PART OF WHAT WE DO, WE BELIEVE IN FAMILY VOICE, WE BELIEVE IN FAMILY POWER.

WHEN WE NAME OUR SCHOOLS, FAMILIES GET TO PICK THE NAMES OF OUR SCHOOLS.

WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, RBM HAD ACTUALLY BEEN OPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS RIGHT BEFORE AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF FAMILIES FROM BRILLIANT MINDS WHO JOINED US.

I REMEMBER THINKING, WE'RE GETTING RIGHT TO THAT POINT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS REALLY GREAT, BUT IT GETS A LITTLE HEATED AT CERTAIN POINTS.

WE WERE GETTING RIGHT TO THAT POINT WHERE IT WAS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT HEATED WITH FAMILIES GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THERE WAS ONE FAMILY FROM BRILLIANT MINDS WHO SHARED THAT WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THERE WAS A BIG DEBATE BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS IDEA THAT BRILLIANT MINDS, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE A SCHOOL THAT SERVES STUDENTS WHO ARE BRILLIANT?

[03:05:01]

ARE WE ONLY GOING TO BE A SCHOOL THAT SERVES THIS TYPE OF STUDENT WHO COMES TO OUR CAMPUSES? IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR BECAUSE WHERE THEY ENDED UP COMING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY WAS THAT THE ANSWER WAS YES, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BRILLIANT.

EVERY SINGLE STUDENT THAT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEIR PARENTS MAKE OR THE ZIP CODE THAT THEY GROW UP IN, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BRILLIANT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WORK, WE LOOK AT IT AS IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS TO SET THEM UP TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ AND THE RIGHT TO DREAM AND THE RIGHT TO DISCOVER THEIR UNLIMITED POTENTIAL, OR TODAY, FOR CLARISSA TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF HER VOICE OR JARED TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF WRITING OR FELIX, WHO'S A LEADER IN TRAINING.

I MIGHT SAY FELIX. I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN TRAINING ANYMORE, MAN.

I THINK YOU MIGHT BE THERE, OR ANTONELLA, WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT TRANSLATING IN KINDERGARTEN FOR HER FAMILIES.

I THINK IT COMES FROM THAT SHARED BELIEF AROUND OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR INHERENT BRILLIANCE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORK THAT WE DO AND THE WORK THAT TRADITIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS DO FOR US AS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, IT'S ABOUT THAT WE'RE NOT COMPETING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT FAMILIES HAVING THE CHOICE FOR WHAT'S GOING TO BE BEST FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

I THINK THAT'S HELPED TO REALLY CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE LANDSCAPE IS FORMED.

>> IT SHOULD BE ABOUT COLLABORATION, NOT COMPETITION.

IS THERE MORE TRUST WITH YOUR PARTNERS IN THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC WORLD THAN THERE WAS 8, 10, 12, 16 YEARS AGO?

>> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY.

JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD THE CHANCE TO JOIN A TUTORING SUMMIT THAT YOU ALL HOSTED RIGHT HERE.

I THINK I WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW, TRUSTEE DI SALVO, AND WE WERE JOINED BY FOLKS FROM TRADITIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS, FROM PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND FROM DIFFERENT TUTORING ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE COMMITTED HERE FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPO, AND FOR US IT'S OUR STUDENTS DESERVE NOT TO FIGHT FOR COLLEGE, BUT FOR COLLEGES TO FIGHT FOR THEM, AND WE LOOK AT THAT TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL IN A SIMILAR WAY.

WE OPEN UP OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPO TO FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE FROM TRADITIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS OFTEN JOIN US AND OFTEN ALSO JOIN US AS PART OF THE OPTIONS THAT THEY GET A CHANCE TO GO TO.

WE'RE PROUD OF THE GAINS THAT WE'VE MADE THERE AND THE RELATIONSHIPS AND REALLY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO BUILD TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> THANK YOU. WELL, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL AND THE AUTHENTIC NATURE OF YOUR REPORTS TO US WITH YOUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND FACULTY.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SYMPHONY TO MY EARS FROM THE 16 YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS WORK.

I KNOW I DID NOT GET THE MERCURY NEWS ENDORSEMENT THE FIRST TIME I RAN BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS ANTI-CHARTER.

I KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE THAT STORY.

I DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO BE ANTI OR FOR, BUT WHAT I'VE GROWN TO LEARN IS THAT WHEN YOU PUT A GROUP OF PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND STAFF TOGETHER THAT HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND WANT TO WORK HARD AND GET THEIR FINGERNAILS DIRTY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD SUCCEEDS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, IT WORKS.

I'M DELIGHTED AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS DISCUSSION FOR 16 YEARS.

THIS IS MY LAST MEETING VOTING ON A CHARTER. I KNOW I'M GOING TO VOTE.

IN FACT, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION IF THAT'S OKAY WITH MADAM PRESIDENT TO APPROVE FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS, NO, I KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] I'M GETTING CARRIED AWAY, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH OUR STAFF REPORT, THE APPROVAL OF BRILLIANT MINDS FOR FIVE MORE YEARS.

>> I SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE MAH.

HEARING NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL NOW VOTE.

DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE?

>> YES. PRESIDENT BERTA?

>> AYE WITH THE SAME ENTHUSIASM AS BEFORE.

>> TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN?

>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CARRY 7-0.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THE CLOSED SESSION INTO TWO PARTS AND CONSIDERATION OF OUR FAMILY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. JUST THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WILL BE CONTINUING ON WITH OUR OTHER ACTION ITEMS.

>> PRESIDENT BERTA, PLEASE EXCUSE THE INTERRUPTION.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 9A, 9B, AND 9C. I HOPE YOU HEARD ME.

>> YES. THANK YOU.

[03:10:44]

WE ARE ON OUR ACTION ITEMS, STARTING WITH ITEM 9A.

DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE FIRST ITEM?

CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 35041.5 STATES THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF THE SAME COUNTY SHALL APPOINT THE SAME LEGAL COUNSEL.

THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS HAVING A JOINT LEGAL GENERAL COUNSEL PROVIDED BY THE LAW OFFICE OF ADRIAN CANOGA AND ASSOCIATES, LLC.

>> I'M SO SORRY. WE ARE ON ITEM 9A,

[A. Action on Compliance with Conditions of Approval Memorandum of Understanding by and Between the Santa Clara County Office of Education and The Bullis-Purissima Elementary School]

THE ACTION ON COMPLIANCE.

>> I WAS ON YEAR 29.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THAT'S WHERE I WAS. MY APOLOGIES.

>> MY APOLOGIES TOO FOR THIS COMMUNICATION.

>> THANK YOU. APOLOGIES. ON AUGUST 26-27, 2024, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TOOK ACTION ON THE REQUEST SUBMITTED BY THE BULLIS-PURISSIMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A CALIFORNIA NON-PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION OPERATING BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR RENEWAL OF BULLIS CHARTER.

THE SCC BOE ADOPTED RESOLUTION 2446-1 CONDITIONALLY APPROVING FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2030.

THE CHARTER RENEWAL FOR BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOL AND ALTERNATIVELY MAKING WRITTEN FACTUAL FINDINGS, SUPPORTING DENIAL AND DENYING THE BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOL CHARTER RENEWAL IF THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET.

THE CONDITIONS OF RENEWAL ARE THOSE SET FORTH IN RESOLUTION 2446-1, REQUIRING THE BULLIS AND THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR ADDENDUM TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO BE BROUGHT FOR SCC BOE ACTION ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 18, 2024 OR A SUCH LATER DEADLINE AS MAY BE AGREED BY THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE.

RESOLUTION 2446-1 INCLUDES THE CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED IN THE STAFF ANALYSIS AND PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACTS REGARDING REVIEW OF BULLIS CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICT APPEAL RENEWAL PETITION PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 9, 2024, AS WELL AS THE CONDITION THAT BULLIS REMOVE THE LIMIT OF 10% OF THE TOTAL OPENINGS AT EACH GRADE LEVEL FROM THE ADMISSION PREFERENCE FOR STUDENTS WHO RESIDE WITHIN THE LOS ALTO SCHOOL DISTRICT AND QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PRICE MEALS, AND THE ADDITION OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ADDENDUM ADDRESSING THE CONDITIONS BE APPROVED BY THE SCC BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE PROPOSED COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BY AND BETWEEN SCCOE AND BULLIS ADDRESSES EACH OF THE CONDITIONS IN RESOLUTIONS 2446-1.

THE MOU IS 22 PAGES LONG, AND INCLUDES AN EXHIBIT, BULLIS LCAP, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL 75 PAGES.

BULLIS BOARD TOOK ACTION TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE MOU AT ITS NOVEMBER 15, 2024 BOARD MEETING.

>> THANK YOU, DR. HINMAN.

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> PRESIDENT BERTA I HAD A QUESTION?

>> YES, TRUSTEE LARI.

>> SO WE CONTINUE TO SHARE FROM THE COMMUNITY DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT BULLIS'S COMMITMENT TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH MOST OF THEIR DISABILITY.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO EMPHASIZE FURTHER IN THE MOU, ACTIONABLE ITEMS THAT ADDRESS AND ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS? THIS IS FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE LARI.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I BELIEVE THAT SINCE WE HAVE WORKED WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND NEGOTIATED WITH

[03:15:06]

BULLIS THAT WE HAVE COME TO AN MOU THAT ADDRESSES ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP OR DOCUMENTED IN THE RESOLUTION, AND THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST MOU THAT WE CAN GET AT THIS POINT.

>> PRESIDENT BERTA, WILL WE BE HEARING FROM OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS FIRST OR SHOULD I ASK MY QUESTIONS NOW?

>> TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

YES, WE CAN GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

>> WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, DANIELLE JAMES.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> TO REJECT THIS MOU.

THE MOU FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION'S AUTHORITY.

IT DESCRIBES THE BOARD'S FINDINGS AS MERE CONTENTIONS RATHER THAN FINDINGS AND FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION AS AN OVERSEER AND AUTHORIZER RATHER THAN A MERE CONTRACTING PARTY.

IMPORTANTLY, THE MOU STATES THAT THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION SHALL NOT ATTEMPT TO DENY RENEWAL FOR ANY REASON EVEN THOUGH THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THE MOU IS TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION UNDER WHICH RENEWAL WAS GRANTED.

THE BOARD SHOULD NOT GIVE UP ITS AUTHORITY AND SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DRAFTING BY BCS.

SECONDLY, THE MOU FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS OF SEGREGATION.

PLEASE REJECT THIS AND TAKE OVER DRAFTING YOURSELF OR DO A SUBSTANTIAL REWRITE. THANK YOU.

>> I'LL GO BACK TO TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.

>> THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT CONCERNS ME AND WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS SOME OF THE OPINIONS THAT ARE IN THE MOU IN TERMS OF THE BOARD'S OVERSIGHT AND THE COUNTY OFFICE'S OVERSIGHT, CAN OUR COUNSEL EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S IN THERE AND IF THERE'S PRECEDENT TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED IN THE MOU?

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> I DON'T THINK YOUR MIC IS ON. MAYBE CLOSER.

>> SORRY. I'M USUALLY VERY LOUD.

I BELIEVE THAT THE PROVISIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE SOME WHEREAS CLAUSES, AND THERE ARE TWO WHEREAS CLAUSES.

THE FIRST ONE, JUST AS WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE WHEREAS CLAUSES ARE THE HISTORY AND THE RECORD.

THEN THAT THERE ARE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH WHICH EVERYONE HAS TO COMPLY.

THERE IS A WHEREAS CLAUSE THAT SIMPLY RECORDS THE CHARTER SCHOOL'S POSITION THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE FACTS SUPPORTED THE FINDINGS THAT THE COUNTY BOARD MADE OR THAT THEY ACTUALLY EXCLUDED ANY STUDENT WHO WISHED TO ATTEND, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE RECORD.

THERE IS A COMPANION WHEREAS CLAUSE AS WELL, THAT SAYS THAT THE COUNTY BOARD AND THE COUNTY OFFICE CONTEND THAT THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE AND THE LAW ARE CONSISTENT WITH AND SUPPORT THE COUNTY BOARD'S ACTION ON THE RENEWAL, WHICH IS ALL THE FINDINGS THAT ARE ADOPTED.

NOTHING IN THIS CHANGES THE BOARD'S ACTION OR THE BOARD'S FINDINGS.

THIS IS JUST A STATEMENT OF POSITIONS BECAUSE THIS IS A NEGOTIATED CONTRACT BETWEEN PARTIES.

NOTHING IN THOSE WHEREAS CLAUSES LIMITS OR CHANGES EITHER PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MOU, WHICH THE MOU SPECIFIES ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE CHARTER FOR ALL PURPOSES.

>> IS THAT NORMAL FOR MOUS SUCH AS THIS?

>> IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY UNUSUAL FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN PARTIES TO INDICATE THAT THE PARTIES DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO THE CONTRACT OR THE SITUATION,

[03:20:02]

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PARTIES ARE NOT BOUND BY THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS.

>> BECAUSE I PERSONALLY WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IN THERE AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS HAS BEEN WHAT'S NEGOTIATED.

THAT WOULD PERSONALLY NOT BE MY PREFERENCE, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST LISTING THEIR FINDINGS THERE.

THEN CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? IT TALKS ABOUT DISPUTE RESOLUTION ON PAGE 13, I BELIEVE, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH FORMAL PROCEDURES.

CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF ANY POTENTIAL REVOCATION?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THROUGH A MATERIAL REVISION PROCESS OR ANY SORT OF VIOLATIONS THAT THAT'S FOR ANY OF OUR CHARTERS, THIS BOARD CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

CAN THAT BE CLARIFIED?

>> SURE. THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT PROVIDES THE GROUNDS ON WHICH A CHARTERING AUTHORITY MAY REVOKE A CHARTER WHICH INCLUDES MATERIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE CHARTER.

AS I MENTIONED, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MOU ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE RENEWAL CHARTER, AND SO AND IT'S EXPLICIT IN HERE THAT MATERIAL VIOLATIONS OF THIS MOU WOULD ALSO BE GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION IN THE SAME WAY AS IF THEY WERE WRITTEN INTO THE ORIGINAL RENEWAL CHARTER.

THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE IS THE CONDITION THAT WAS IMPOSED WAS THAT BULLIS AGREE TO THE COUNTY OFFICES DISPUTE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE AND THAT IS WHAT THIS LANGUAGE IS.

THIS IS THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO ALL THE OTHER CHARTERS.

IT STARTS WITH A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND THE COUNTY OFFICE WILL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITHOUT HAVING TO GET TO A FORMAL PROCESS.

IN NO WAY DOES IT LIMIT THE ABILITY TO USE A FORMAL PROCESS.

THAT STATEMENT IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A PAGE AND A HALF OF A FORMAL PROCESS THAT EXPLICITLY PROVIDES THAT THE COUNTY OFFICE, IF THE COUNTY OFFICE BELIEVES THAT WHATEVER THE DISPUTE MIGHT BE COULD LEAD TO REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER, THE COUNTY OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS AT ALL.

SO THERE IS A CLEAR FORMAL PROCESS.

THE COUNTY BOARD CONTINUES TO HAVE ALL AUTHORITY OVER REVOCATION, AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE COUNTY OFFICE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE PROVIDES.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCIL HARDEN DIRECT FAIRLY.

>> OF COURSE.

>> TRUSTEE CHON.

>> THANK YOU, TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.

I WANTED TO GO A LITTLE BIT MORE OFF OF THOSE.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ON PAGE 13 AND 14, THIS PROCESS.

SO WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WHEN THERE ARE AREAS OF CONCERN.

SO ARE WE ABLE TO FOLLOW THOSE PROCESSES? YOU MENTIONED WE DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS ONE, WE'VE DONE OTHER AREAS AND I'M NOT SPEAKING JUST WITH BULLIS.

IN GENERAL, WE HAVE OUR OWN PROCESSES, SO WE CAN STILL FOLLOW THOSE; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, AND THAT'S PART OF THE STATEMENT THAT WE TRY TO RESOLVE DISPUTES AMICABLY AND REASONABLY WITHOUT GOING INTO THIS STEP BY STEP MEETING PROCESS.

YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT STAFF.

THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY WORKING WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, NOT JUST BULLIS, BUT ALL THE CHARTER SCHOOLS WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR ISSUES THAT ARISE.

SOMETIMES IT'S A PHONE CALL OR A MEETING, IT'S A LETTER, WE SEND MORE AND LESS FORMAL NOTICES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS REMAIN COMPLETELY AVAILABLE.

>> THAT PROCESS IS OUR PROCESS, CORRECT?

>> OKAY. THEN THERE IS ONE SECTION ON PAGE 4 THAT TALKS ABOUT MATERIAL VIOLATION OF CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO NOTICES AND REVOCATION UNDER ED CODE 476.

IT'S A SECOND OR IT'S THE FIRST FULL PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 4?

>> THEN IT SAYS THE SCCOE AGREES IT SHALL NOT ATTEMPT TO RETROACTIVELY DENY OR RESCIND THE RENEWAL FOR ANY REASON.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT PORTION MEANS? BECAUSE BY ITSELF, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD NEVER PURSUE REVOCATION, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING, SO I JUST WANTED SOME CLARITY ON THAT PORTION.

>> YES. JUST AS A NOTE, THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT ALSO TALKS ABOUT MATERIAL VIOLATIONS BEING A CAUSE FOR REVOCATION,

[03:25:02]

BUT THIS HAS TO BE READ TOGETHER.

THERE'S A SENTENCE THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, MATERIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO REVOCATION.

THEN THE SENTENCE THAT SAYS, SCCOE AGREES THAT IT SHALL NOT ATTEMPT TO RETROACTIVELY DENY OR RESCIND THE RENEWAL FOR ANY REASON, THAT IS THIS ACTUAL RENEWAL ACTION.

RESCISSION OF A CHARTER IS NOT AN OPTION.

LET'S SAY IN TWO YEARS, BULLIS DOES SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS A VIOLATION OF LAW OR THE CHARTER, RESCINDING THE CHARTER IS NOT AN OPTION, IT'S A REVOCATION PROCESS.

RESCIND HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING IN THE LAW AND THIS IS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT BECAUSE BY ENTERING INTO THIS MOU, THE CONDITIONS WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH AT THIS LEVEL, IT WOULDN'T BE RESCINDED BECAUSE THE BOARD'S ACTION INCLUDED CONDITIONAL APPROVAL WITH ALTERNATIVE FINDINGS OF DENIAL.

NOW, IF BULLIS DOESN'T MEET THE CONDITION OF ENTERING INTO THIS MOU TO COMPLY WITH THE OTHER CONDITIONS, AND THAT ALTERNATIVE DENIAL SAYS IF THEY FAIL TO MEET THE CONDITIONS, THEN THE APPROVAL IS RESCINDED BECAUSE IT HADN'T BECOME FINALIZED YET.

THAT SENTENCE IS ONLY ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A TECHNICAL SENTENCE ABOUT A PROCESS THAT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY LIMIT THE ABILITY FOR THE COUNTY BOARD AND THE COUNTY OFFICE TO CARRY OUT ALL OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS TO ENFORCE ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE CHARTER AND THE MOU, AND TO REVOKE THE CHARTER THAT IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE TO WARRANT REVOCATION.

>> OUR PROCESSES STILL STAND IN PLACE, EVEN WITH THIS MOU, OUR PROCESS IS STILL STAND IN PLACE.

WE HAVE THAT RIGHT TO DO THAT IF WE SAW IT AS NECESSARY?

>> YES. TO BE CLEAR, THAT WE COULD NOT CONTRACT AWAY THE OBLIGATION AS THE OVERSIGHT AGENCY TO CARRY OUT OVERSIGHT, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IT GOING THROUGH A REVOCATION PROCESS.

>> OKAY. THEN JUST ONE GENERAL QUESTION: WHEN COMING UP WITH THESE TYPES OF MOUS IS THIS DONE IN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, THIS IS DONE WITH BOTH TEAMS TOGETHER, THIS IS NOT JUST ONE SIDE SENDING IT FOR SIGNAGE; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES? VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

IF I MAY, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RENEWALS COME THROUGH, SO THE OVERLAPPING IN TRYING TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S TRANSPIRED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HEAR FROM THE FIRST HEARING, ET CETERA.

THIS ONE, IF YOU COULD REMIND ME, FROM WHAT I RECALL, WE HAD OUR HEARING, WE HAD IN FRONT OF US, BULLIS HAD MADE STATEMENTS THAT THEY WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE ACTION THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

WE APPROVED IT ANYWAY THAT EVENING.

FROM THAT POINT, WHAT'S TRANSPIRED SINCE THEN IN TERMS OF EITHER THE STEPS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN OR THE STEPS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN WORKING WITH THEM?

>> THEY WILLINGLY, IN FACT, REACHED OUT ABOUT WORKING THROUGH AND TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE MOU, AND THEY EXPRESSED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, ONCE THAT STARTED, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO AGREE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE IN THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE BOARD'S ACTION IN THE MOU.

SO WE PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THAT, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH IN LANGUAGE TWEAKS AND NEGOTIATIONS, BUT IT HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS TO GET HERE AND THE WHEREAS CLAUSE, THEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN THEIR RECORD BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR POSITION.

BUT AS FAR AS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS, THEY WERE EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE.

>> THANK YOU. SO THEN REFRESH MY MEMORY, AGAIN, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO, THERE'S THE RENEWAL APPLICATION, AND THEN THERE'S THE MOU.

>> SO THEY SUBMITTED THEIR CHARTER RENEWAL, WHICH THEY SAID, THIS IS OUR CHARTER.

THE STAFF REVIEWED THAT.

IN THE PARTICULAR CASE OF BULLIS, IT WAS ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF HAVING BEEN PROVIDED NOTICES AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT SOME CONCERNS WITH SERVING ALL STUDENTS.

THEY SUBMITTED THEIR CHARTER, THEY HAD A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN STAFF DID AN ANALYSIS, STAFF'S ANALYSIS WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE COMPONENTS, AND THERE WERE MANY THINGS IN THE CHARTER WITH WHICH STAFF HAD NO CONCERNS,

[03:30:02]

THEN THERE WERE AREAS THAT IT HAD CONCERNS THAT THE CHARTER HAD NOT NECESSARILY UPDATED THE CHARTER TO REFLECT THE LAW OR THEIR CURRENT PRACTICES, AND ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT DESIRING TO HAVE MORE COMMITMENT RELATIVE TO THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE 47 607E NOTICE.

THAT'S WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS.

THEN THE BOARD TOOK ACTION AND APPROVED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS TO CONDITIONALLY APPROVE THE CHARTER ON THE CONDITION THAT THEY ENTER INTO AN MOU THAT ADDRESSED THE CONDITIONS AS IDENTIFIED IN THAT STAFF REPORT AND IN THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN THE BOARD AT THAT TIME ADDED THE CONDITION RELATIVE TO THE PREFERENCE FOR FREE AND REDUCED, AND THAT THE MOU, WHICH WAS ENCAPSULATING THE OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS, COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

THIS IS THAT MOU, WHICH IS A CONTRACT, AND EFFECTIVELY WHAT THIS IS WHAT THIS WILL BE IS ANOTHER PART OF THEIR OVERALL CHARTER, BECAUSE IT'S INCORPORATED INTO THE CHARTER IF IT GETS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD AND BULLIS.

>> THANK YOU. THEN JUST TO BE CLEAR, AND THERE'S THE APPLICATION AND THE MOU IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO THAT?

>> DOES ONE TAKE PRECEDENT OVER THE OTHER, THEY'RE COMPLIMENTARY?

>> THEY ARE COMPLIMENTARY, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THAT FOR ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS THERE WERE THINGS IN THE CHARTER THAT STAFF WAS RECOMMENDING BE CHANGED.

THIS MOU MAKES CLEAR THAT IT TAKES PRECEDENCE, LIKE IF THERE'S A CONFLICT, THEN THE TERMS OF THE MOU PREVAIL.

>> THEN TO UNDERSTAND AND AGAIN, FIRST TIME AROUND WITH THE MOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS NEGOTIATED TO THIS EXTENT, THE PAST ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH, AS THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN, THEY'VE BEEN A LOT MORE COLLABORATIVE.

WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT ISSUES THAT REMAINED OR TO BE ADDRESSED, WERE THEY ADDRESSED, IN YOUR OPINION, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE AT THE TABLE, YOU'RE THE ONE IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

WE'RE SEEING THIS POST, WHICH IS PART OF THE PROCESS.

BUT WOULD YOU STATE OR BE COMFORTABLE STATING THAT THEY WERE ADDRESSED BASED UPON THE INTEREST OF THE BOARD AND WHAT WAS CONVEYED AND THE CONCERNS THAT STAFF HAD AS WELL?

>> YES, I WOULD. THAT ALL OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE ADOPTED AS CONDITIONS BY THIS BOARD ARE DIRECTLY REFLECTED AND INCORPORATED INTO THIS MOU.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU. SO THEN IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THIS RESOLUTION, ONE OF THE WHEREAS, HYPOTHETICALLY, THAT THE BOARD IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH, WE HAVE THE DISCRETION AND THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE ONE OF THESE WHEREAS, AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

>> IF THE BOARD WERE TO APPROVE THIS OR PROPOSE REVISIONS TO THIS, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO BULLIS' BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

THEY'VE ALL READY APPROVED IT, SO IF THE BOARD APPROVES IT AS WRITTEN TONIGHT, IT WILL BE SIGNED AND FINALIZED AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

IF NOT, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK FOR ADDITIONAL NEGOTIATION AND/OR CONSIDERATION BY BULLIS' BOARD.

>> IS THERE ANY TIMELINE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF OR COGNIZANT OF?

>> THE BOARD'S ACTION SPECIFIED THAT IT WAS TO BE APPROVED BY BULLIS' BOARD BY DECEMBER 6TH AND BROUGHT BACK TO THIS BOARD BY DECEMBER 18TH, UNLESS EXTENDED IN WRITING BY THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGN THAT TIMELINE.

SO THAT'S THE SPECIFIC TIMELINE.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO THEN IF THE BOARD TAKES ACTION AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND OUR AUTHORITY AND OUR ABILITY IN THE RAMIFICATIONS OF ANY DECISIONS OR CHANGES.

WE MOVED TO APPROVE THIS MOU AS IT'S WRITTEN WITH, LET'S SAY, HYPOTHETICALLY, ONE OR TWO WHEREAS IS REMOVED, AND THEN THAT ACTION IS DONE.

SO WE HAVE APPROVED THE RENEWAL AND WE'VE APPROVED THE MOU, CORRECT?

>> NO. THE PARTIES HAVE TO ENTER INTO THE MOU.

>> GOT YOU. BUT WE HAVE.

THEY STILL NEED TO APPROVE IT IN TERMS OF EXECUTING IT AND SIGNING IT?

>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, IT'S TO AGREE ON TERMS OF AN MOU, AND THEN HAVE BOTH PARTIES APPROVE IT.

THAT'S THE FINAL ACT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT WHAT YOU JUST STATED IS STATE LAW, OR THAT'S JUST FOR THAT TO BE FINALLY EXECUTED IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?

>> THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES FOR THE PARTIES TO ENTER INTO AN MOU, AND YOU CAN ONLY ENTER INTO A CONTRACT IF BOTH PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT ON THE SAME TERMS.

>> OKAY. BUT THEN WE COULD GIVE OUR APPROVAL TO WHATEVER MOU THAT WE SEE FIT TONIGHT?

>> YES, BUT THEN IT WON'T HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO.

>> IT WON'T BE BINDING, I UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES.

[03:35:07]

>> THEN YOU GO.

>> OKAY. I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MOU.

I THINK A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, THERE'S BEEN SOME DIALOGUE ABOUT THAT.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THE MOU MAY NOT FULLY ALIGN WITH THE INTENT THAT WAS CAPTURED IN THE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, AND IN THE RESOLUTION.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT AS ONE OF THE FOUR TRUSTEES THAT VOTED FOR A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL.

I'M CONCERNED NOT JUST ABOUT CONTRADICTORY LANGUAGE, BUT ALSO TO THE DEGREE THAT THE ENROLLMENT ACTION PLAN AS EXPRESSED IN THE RESOLUTION IS CAPTURED, AND I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THAT LANGUAGE WAS DIRECTLY CAPTURED, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S ADDRESSING THE FAILURE TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS, THAT'S STILL A CONCERN OF MINE.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE DENY THIS OUTRIGHT.

I'M SAYING, I DON'T THINK IT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

I THINK GIVEN THAT OUR MINUTES ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK IN DECEMBER, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY IT WAS DELINEATED IN THE RESOLUTION IN TERMS OF IT BEING APPROVED BY BULLIS BOARD BY THE 6TH AND COMING BACK TO OUR MEETING BY THE 18TH.

BUT JUST THAT THE CONTRADICTION IN OUR OWN MINUTES MAKES ME EVEN MORE UNCOMFORTABLE MAKING THAT DECISION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

SO I WANTED TO SHARE THOSE REFLECTIONS.

>> I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO RECONNECT TRUSTEE LARI.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WHILE WE'RE WAITING?

>> YOUR CALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED AS DIALED. PLEASE.

>> I GET A GO AROUND. AGAIN, IF NOBODY ELSE HAS A QUESTION, I CAN DO A FOLLOW TO WHERE I ENDED.

THAT WAS HYPOTHETICALLY FOLLOWING ALONG THIS HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION WHERE WE SAY WE MAKE ONE CHANGE, WHETHER IT'S SMALL OR LARGE, AND THEIR BOARD DOESN'T AGREE TO IT, THEIR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GO TO THE STATE BOARD?

>> IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE AND WHERE IT LANDS.

I CAN'T SAY.

>> IF I REMOVED ONE WHEREAS, WE APPROVE IT, THEY DON'T AGREE TO THAT ONE WHEREAS.

WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT WHEREAS IS? IS THEY JUST SAY, WE DON'T AGREE TO IT, AND IT'S THE RENEWALS NOT EXECUTED?

>> WE WOULD CONTINUE NEGOTIATING TERMS, AND IF THE CONDITIONS AREN'T MET TO ENTER INTO AN MOU, THEN THE DENIAL WOULD GO INTO EFFECT, AND BULLIS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ITS DECISIONS AS TO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IT DOES IN RESPONSE.

>> THEN OUR APPROVAL WITH A NON AGREED UPON APPROVAL BECOMES A DENIAL.

>> IF THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, WHICH IS ENTERING INTO AN MOU, WHICH MEANS THAT THE PARTIES HAVE TO REACH TERMS. IF THE PARTIES DON'T REACH AGREEMENT AND THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, THEN IT'S A DENIAL.

>>IF THE CONDITIONS AREN'T MET AS PER STATE LAW, WHICH IS REQUIRED OF US IN CHARTER RENEWALS.

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU SAY NOT MET, WHAT'S NOT MET? WHAT ACTION DID I NOT MEET?

>> THE COUNTY BOARD ADOPTED A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL THAT REQUIRED AS A CONDITION THAT THE PARTIES REACH AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS OF THE MOU AND ENTER INTO THE MOU.

IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, THEN THAT CONDITION WILL NOT BE MET, AND PART OF WHAT THE BOARD'S ACTION WAS WAS APPROVING AN ALTERNATIVE DENIAL.

IF THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, IT'S THE BOARD'S ACTION THAT WOULD DRIVE.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE KEY PART. WE APPROVED IT WITH A CONDITIONAL DENIAL OF THE MOU WAS NOT AGREED UPON.

>> YES. THAT'S THE ACTION THAT YOU TOOK.

>> WAS OUR DIRECTION?

>> THANK YOU FOR REFRESHING MY MEMORY ON THAT.

BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO THINK THROUGH THAT LET'S SAY OUR DIRECTION WAS TO APPROVE THE CHARTER WITH DIRECTION TO NEGOTIATE AN MOU AND JUST LEFT IT THERE.

IF THE PARTIES DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT, LET'S JUST SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, ONE PARTY IS BEING UNREALISTIC IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF MOU,

[03:40:03]

JUST EXPECTING THINGS THAT STAFF WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AND THE BOARD WOULD NOT SUPPORT.

THEN THAT BECOMES A DENIAL THAT GOES TO THE STATE BOARD.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT SCENARIO AND THE OTHER SCENARIO THAT LAID OUT IS THAT OUR DIRECTION AND APPROVAL INCLUDED THAT MOU NEEDED TO BE EXECUTED.

THAT WAS OUR OWN DIRECTION TO OURSELVES.

>> THE BOARD'S DIRECTION WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO ENTER INTO AN MOU WITH BULLIS, AND BULLIS IS WHO HAS THE RENEWAL PENDING.

BULLIS NEEDS TO ENTER INTO AN MOU WITH THE COUNTY THAT ADDRESSES ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF RENEWAL.

THAT'S THE OVERRIDING CONDITION IS ENTERING INTO THE MOU, AND IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND THE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET, THE BOARD AT THE SAME TIME ADOPTED ALTERNATIVE FINDINGS OF DENIAL, AND THOSE WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.

>> THE ALTERNATIVE FINDINGS OF DENIAL COMPONENT IS THE KEY PART HERE THAT I'M TRYING TO DO GYMNASTICS OVER AROUND OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

IS THAT REQUIRED OF US IN AN ACTION? I'M AGAIN, THINKING TO THE FUTURE, IF WE'RE IN A SITUATION, DO WE LEAVE OUT THAT CONDITIONAL DENIAL, OR IS THAT PART OF REQUIRED?

>> THAT'S HOW YOU ENFORCE THE CONDITIONS, BECAUSE IF YOU IMPOSE A CONDITION AND THEY DON'T COMPLY WITH IT UNLESS THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE, YOU'RE AT AN IMPASSE.

YOU ADOPT CONDITIONS AND SAY IF YOU DON'T MEET THE CONDITIONS, THEN WE'RE DENYING YOUR CHARTER.

THERE'S NOTHING IN STATE LAW THAT SAYS THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE TO DO IT, BUT THAT'S HOW YOU ENFORCE THE CONDITIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME AS I GO THROUGH THAT.

I THINK PROBABLY AT THIS POINT, AND I THINK I'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO ASK THESE OFFLINE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LATE HOUR AND THESE ARE MORE, I THINK MY OWN INTERESTS IN TERMS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE AROUND CHARTER RENEWALS WITH A ENTITY THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LESS FORTHCOMING IN TERMS OF THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OR SPIRIT OF TRYING TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, JUMPING OFF OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

SAY, FOR INSTANCE, WE WANT TO REMOVE ONE OF THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, CAN BULLIS THEN APPEAL OUR DECISION AND THEN BECOME APPROVED WITHOUT CONDITIONS BY THE STATE BOARD OF ED IF WE WERE TO REMOVE A WHEREAS CLAUSE TODAY?

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO BE MINDFUL OF THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND ADVICE THAT I WOULD GIVE THAT IS PRIVILEGED.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT IF YOU REMOVE A WHEREAS CLAUSE THAT THEY COULD APPEAL, THE CONDITION IS THAT WE ENTER INTO AN MOU THAT COMPLIES WITH THE CONDITIONS.

IF ULTIMATELY WE DON'T ENTER INTO AN MOU THAT COMPLIES WITH THE CONDITIONS, THEY WILL NOT HAVE MET THAT CONDITION OF APPROVAL AND THEIR CHARTER WOULD BE DENIED AND THEN, WELL, THEY HAVE THE OPTION THEN IF THEIR CHARTER IS DENIED OF APPEALING TO THE STATE BOARD, AND THEN IF THE STATE BOARD DETERMINES THAT THERE'S AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN DENYING THE CHARTER, THEN THE STATE BOARD HAS THE OPTION TO RENEW THE CHARTER.

>> I JUST AM ASKING IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

THEN THAT'S GOING TO INFORM MY VOTE TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> TRUSTEE CHON.

>> I KNOW WE'RE PRETTY STUCK ON THIS WHEREAS.

I JUST WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE AGAIN.

FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CONVERSATION, THIS WHEREAS'S ARE PLACED THERE AS BACKGROUND, CORRECT? SORRY.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> NO, GO AHEAD.

>> THOSE ARE MERELY STATEMENTS OF THEIR OVERALL POSITION AND OUR OVERALL POSITION, THOSE TWO WHEREAS CLAUSES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THE ONE ON PAGE 2. THE BULLIS IS STATING THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS FACTUAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTED THEY ACTUALLY EXCLUDED ANY STUDENT WHO WISHED TO ATTEND AND DISAGREE, AND WE ARE STATING THAT WE CONTEND THAT.

>> THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE AND THE LAW ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD'S ACTION, AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS FACTUAL EVIDENCE TO

[03:45:04]

SUPPORT THE FINDING THAT THEY ACTUALLY EXCLUDED ANY STUDENT WHO WISHED TO ATTEND, WHICH IS NOT A FINDING THAT THE BOARD MADE, BY THE WAY, AND DISAGREES WITH AND OBJECTS TO THE CONDITIONS.

THAT'S THEIR OPINION.

VERSUS THE BOARD MADE FINDINGS, AND THIS IS A STATEMENT OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY OFFICE'S POSITION AND OPINION.

>> JUST BECAUSE IT IS LISTED IN THERE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE AGREE TO THAT.

THAT IS JUST THEIR STANCE, AND THAT IS OUR STANCE.

>> IT'S VERY EXPLICIT THAT THAT IS THEIR STANCE, AND THE OTHER WHEREAS IS THE COUNTY BOARD IN THE COUNTY OFFICE'S POSITION.

>> THANK YOU. THEN IF THERE ARE THINGS IN HERE THAT WE FEEL ARE BEING VIOLATED A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE WOULD GO THROUGH A SPECIFIC PROCESS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> WE WOULD RESPOND TO THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE WOULD RESPOND TO ANY VIOLATION OF ANY CHARTER THAT IS UNDER THE COUNTY BOARD'S AUTHORITY.

>> THAT'S A MATERIAL REVISION.

THEY CAME TO US AND ASKED FOR MATERIAL REVISION.

IF WE THINK THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S BULLIS OR ANY OTHER CHARTER SCHOOL IS VIOLATING THEIR CHARTER, THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE VIOLATION AND HOW SEVERE OR WHAT THE CASE MAY BE, IT COULD BE HANDLED AT THE STAFF LEVEL WHERE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FAIRLEY AND HER STAFF RESPOND AND GET COMPLIANCE.

WE MIGHT SEND NOTICES, WE COULD SEND MEANINGS.

ULTIMATELY, THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY THAT THE COUNTY BOARD ALWAYS HAS FOR VIOLATIONS OF A CHARTER IS THE REVOCATION PROCESS.

>> THEN JUST ONE OFF QUESTION.

I KNOW WE HAVEN'T REALLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ATTACHED LCAP THAT WAS ON HERE BECAUSE THE MOU DOES END ON PAGE 22.

WITH THAT, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHY THAT WAS ATTACHED TO HERE?

>> THE CHARTER RENEWAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY BULLIS PRESUMABLY INADVERTENTLY HAD AS AN ATTACHMENT, IT'S LCAP, BUT IT WAS AN OLD VERSION OF THE LCAP.

BULLIS HAD SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW TO THE COUNTY OFFICE, IT'S CURRENT LCAP.

COUNTY STAFF WHEN REVIEWING THE CHARTER HAD THE CURRENT LCAP AND CONSIDERED THAT CURRENT LCAP IN ITS ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD AND STATED THAT.

BUT BECAUSE THE WRONG LCAP HAD BEEN ATTACHED, A CONDITION WAS SIMPLY THAT THE CURRENT LCAP BE ATTACHED TO THE MOU SO THAT WE HAD A CURRENT COPY AS PART OF THE PACKET.

>> BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY CONSIDERING THIS PORTION FOR THE MOU, CORRECT?

>> NO. THE COUNTY BOARD DOES NOT APPROVE THEIR LCAP.

>> JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

AT THE JULY PUBLIC HEARING, THERE WAS REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM THIS BOARD AS WELL AS REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM STAFF.

HAVE THOSE REQUESTS BEEN COMPLETED? HOW LONG DID THAT PROCESS TAKE TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK?

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU AN EXACT.

>> APPROXIMATELY IS FINE TOO.

>> A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> WE JUST RECEIVED EVERYTHING SEPTEMBER 30TH.

>> SEPTEMBER 30. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT ALTERNATIVE TO APPROVING THIS TONIGHT IS NOT JUST AN APPEAL TO THE STATE BOARD, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I WANT TO CONFIRM THIS.

IN THEORY, BCS COULD COOPERATE AND WORK TOWARDS AN MOU THAT THIS BOARD COULD ACTUALLY APPROVE.

I PERSONALLY WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE IS SOME ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN COLLABORATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT WENT INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT IT REALLY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL THAT WE DID WITH THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

BECAUSE I'M STUCK WHERE YOU ARE, PRESIDENT BERTA.

WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE? HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE? BECAUSE I KNOW WE NEGOTIATED THIS, BUT IF WE WANT TO TRY AGAIN, WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE?

>> THE BOARD'S ACTION SPECIFIED THAT IT

[03:50:05]

NEEDED TO BE APPROVED BY THE BULLIS BOARD BY DECEMBER 6TH AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE COUNTY BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION BY DECEMBER 18TH OR A LATER DEADLINE THAT COULD BE SET BY THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

>> COULD THIS GO TO THEIR BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 6TH?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER 6TH.

>> DO WE KNOW THEIR BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE?

>> THEY HELD A SPECIAL MEETING LAST FRIDAY FOR THIS.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING, PROBABLY.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> THEN I GUESS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OURSELVES OPEN IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS TO COMING BACK WITH AN OPTION WHERE WE HAVE EVEN LESS OVERSIGHT.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE IN THAT REGARD?

>> MY ADVICE IS TO APPROVE THIS MOU BECAUSE IT COMPORTS WITH THE CONDITIONS.

>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER, TRUSTEE DI SALVO.

>> JUST GOING TO SAY I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MOU.

>> I SECOND.

>> THERE'S A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE DI SALVO AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE MAH.

DR. HEMAN, PLEASE PROCEED WITH ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> THANK YOU. PRESIDENT BERTA.

>> VICE PRESIDENT, ROCHA.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF ONE MORE? I'M SORRY.

>> FAILS, FOUR TO THREE.

>> VICE PRESIDENT, ROCHA.

>> IN THE TIMELINES THAT YOU LISTED OUT, THOSE WERE BOARD DIRECTION.

WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF OUR OBLIGATION ON THE CHARTER RENEWAL AND MEETING ANY TIMELINES THERE? DO THOSE ALIGN WITH THOSE SAME DATES?

>> THERE ARE DIRECTORY TIMELINES TO ACT WITHIN 90 DAYS, OR 120 DAYS.

IF AGREED TO, OUR ACTION HAPPENED IN AUGUST, WHAT BULLIS'S POSITION WOULD BE, I CANNOT SPEAK TO.

OUR ACTION HAPPENED IN AUGUST, AND THIS WAS ALL PART OF IT, INCLUDING THESE DECEMBER TIMELINES AND THE STATE BOARD HAS ALREADY TOLD BULLIS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN DENIED.

THOSE TIMELINES DO COMPORT AT THIS POINT.

>> IN TERMS OF MEETING THE LETTER OF THE LAW, WE'VE ACTED WITHIN THAT 90-DAY TIMELINE.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. THEN AT THIS POINT NOW, THIS IS JUST CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS, AND WE COULD DO THAT FOR AS LONG AS WE WANT, IF BOTH PARTIES WERE WILLING TO.

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SO THE NEXT TIME AROUND, I DON'T HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME ONCE MORE.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHO IS FIRST TRUSTEES. TRUSTEE CHON.

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE.

WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS COME BACK AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING, ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY THE WHEREAS ON PAGE 2? ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT?

>> I THINK THAT YOU CAN GIVE DIRECTION TO THAT EFFECT.

>> THEN I WILL MOVE THAT THAT THIS COME BACK AT OUR DECEMBER 18TH MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE]

>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE CHON AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE LAURIE.

I DO HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT FROM TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.

>> I'M SORRY. IF THE BOARD WANTS TO GIVE SPECIFICS AS FAR AS PROVISIONS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE, WE SHOULD BE HAVING A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION SO THAT I CAN GIVE LEGAL ADVICE.

[03:55:01]

>> YOU'D LIKE ME TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION THEN?

>> YOU CAN STILL VOTE TO BRING IT BACK, BUT STAFF IS GOING TO NEED DIRECTION.

TO CORRECT IN THE BOARD'S MIND, EACH ONE OF YOU, TO CORRECT WHAT YOU FEEL IS AN ERROR IN THE MOU, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN STILL PASS THE MOTION TO BRING IT BACK, BUT BETWEEN THAT POINT AND THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF.

OTHERWISE, THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU NEED TO SEE.

>> CAN COUNSEL JUST CLARIFY PROCEDURALLY WHAT NOW THAT WE HAVE A MOTION IF THAT MOTION PERHAPS NEEDS TO BE? THERE HAS. YEAH.

>> HAVE AN OPEN SESSION CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING NOW, BUT YOU NEED TO AGENDISE BOTH IN CLOSED SESSION AND OPEN SESSION IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

>> I WILL WITHDRAW. I'M NOT SURE IF TRUSTEE LAI COULD HEAR ALL OF THAT.

TRUSTEE LAI COULD NOT. OKAY.

>> OKAY. I SAID THAT THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WOULD NEED TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION AS WELL AS THE SECOND.

THE BOARD NEEDS DIRECTION ON SOME OF THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH WOULD BE ADVICE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.

THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE IN CLOSED SESSION.

HOWEVER, IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, MUCH LIKE THE DISCUSSION YOU'RE HAVING NOW, YOU CAN ALSO AGENDIZE IT FOR OPEN SESSION SO THAT YOU CAN RECONSIDER IT AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, TRUSTEE JON.

>> YES, I AM. OKAY. SO I WILL WITHDRAW.

>> OKAY. AND DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE AMENDED MOTION THEN TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM AT OUR TRUSTEE, LARRY, DO YOU AGREE TO WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND?

>> OKAY. SO COUNSEL, CONGER, JUST BE SURE, IF WE AGENDIZE IT ON OUR NEXT MEETING, THAT WILL BE THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF, WHICH WOULD WIPE OUT THE DECEMBER 13 TIMELINE.

SO WE WOULD BE PUSHING INTO JANUARY IF WE DID THAT.

>> I COULD ALSO MENTION THAT WE DID HAVE THIS ITEM AGENDIZED FOR CLOSED SESSION, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GO BACK TO CLOSED SESSION ON THIS ITEM. QUESTION.

>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO HIT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.

WE CAN PUSH IT OUT. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

>> YOU STILL HAVE A CLOSED SESSION ITEM TONIGHT THAT WOULD COVER THIS ISSUE.

YOU CAN GO BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION AND DISCUSS IT TONIGHT AND THEN BRING IT BACK IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO THAT AND HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

>> BRING IT BACK TO OUR OPEN SESSION TODAY?

>> YES, IF YOU'D LIKE TO.

THE ITEM IS STILL ALIVE ON THE AGENDA.

YOU WOULD RECESS TO A CLOSED SESSION, HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND THEN PICK UP THE ITEM WHEN YOU CAME BACK.

>> I'LL MOVE TO DO THAT.

>> YES. THANK YOU.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TO MOVE IT [INAUDIBLE].

>> YOU DON'T.

>> OKAY.

>> I WILL SECOND. I DON'T.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO YOU CAN JUST RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION.

WHEN YOU GO BACK INTO CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER.

>> WOULD IT BE CAN WE PROCEED WITH OUR AGENDA AND GET TO THIS CLOSED SESSION WHEN WE HAVE THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDIZED?

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. TRUSTEE KRISH.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THIS AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING SO WE CAN MEET OUR TIMELINE.

AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY WHERE THIS CAN SOMEHOW I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE WE APPROVE SOMETHING BY THEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE CURRENT VERSION CAN BE SOME A BACKUP IF THAT NEEDS TO BE AGENDIZED TOO.

>> OKAY.

>> QUESTION.

>> NICE, REST ROCHA.

>> AND WE DIDN'T GET TO VOTE ON YOUR MOTION.

I DID HAVE A QUESTION.

AS FAR AS THE PATH THAT YOU WERE GOING,

[04:00:01]

AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS.

IS IT JUST THE ONE WHEREAS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO REMOVE FOR US TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I BELIEVE COUNSEL'S INDICATED THAT SPECIFIC DIRECTIONAL QUESTION SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

>> WHICH SAME QUESTION WAS ASKED.

>> TRUSTEE SUSAN.

>> OH, I THINK COUNSEL HARDEN WANTED TO RESPOND TO WHAT I SAID.

>> THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE MOU THAT WAS APPROVED BY BULLIS THAT THEIR APPROVAL IS IN PLACE ONLY THROUGH TONIGHT'S MEETING.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT ACT ON THIS MOU AGAIN.

>> OKAY. BUT THAT ALSO WENT INTO MY THINKING BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT TO ME EARLIER, SO THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. GIVEN OUR PLAN, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM. THEN.

>> EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENT BERTA, MY APOLOGIES.

THERE IS A COMMENT FOR 9_B AND ANOTHER ONE FOR 9_C.

OKAY. WE ARE AT ITEM 9_B.

[B. Approve Contract of Separate Legal Counsel for the Board of Education (Mundell, Odlum, and Haws, LLP)]

DOCTOR HYMAN, WILL YOU INTRODUCE THIS ITEM, PLEASE?

>> I WILL. I'M USING.

CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 35,041.5 STATES THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF THE SAME COUNTY SHALL APPOINT THE SAME LEGAL COUNSEL.

HOWEVER, PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 1042, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY CONTRACT AND EMPLOY PERSONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURNISHING SPECIAL SERVICES AND THE ADVICE TO THE BOARD IN FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, ACCOUNTING, ENGINEERING, LEGAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE NEED FOR SEPARATE LEGAL COUNSEL PROVIDED BY MANDEL ODLUM AND HAWES, LLP, AND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED.

SPECIFICALLY, THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING THE SPECIAL SERVICES OF MONDELL, ODLUM, AND HAWES, TO PROVIDE LEGAL AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES TO AND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR HYMAN.

MODERATOR, IF WE PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE.

>> WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, DAN MASON.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> GOOD EVENING, DAN MASON.

I'M NOT A THERAPIST, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PAYING FOR LAWYERS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO TRAVEL UP HERE FOR YOU, I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING OUT ON A LIMB TO THINK THAT THIS SERIAL CONTRACTS WITH LAW FIRMS THING HAS TURNED INTO A DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR.

IT'S LIKE THE GUY WHO KEEPS GETTING IN THE BARROOM BRAWLS AND THEN COMPLAINS ABOUT THE PLACES HE GOES OUT TO.

YOU HAVE TO LET HIM KNOW. IT'S NOT THE PLACES.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT THE LAWYERS.

IT'S THE PEOPLE HERE WITH THE DELUSIONAL THINKING, THE EXTREMELY COSTLY DELUSIONAL THINKING.

IT JUST YEAH, IT'S MIND-BOGGLING.

AND YEAH, I'M KIND OF ALSO WONDERING WITH THIS IF IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLICIZED, YOU KNOW, IN THE MORNING WITH A PRESS RELEASE, I'LL BE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONTINUING DOWN THIS PATH. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, TRUSTEE?

>> YEAH. I HAD, YOU KNOW, ASKED OUR BUDGET STAFF AND THEY HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, A FEW MEETINGS AGO THAT THE BOARD HAS GONE ABOVE, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT ABOVE OUR ALLOTTED AMOUNT FOR BOARD COUNSEL.

AND SO YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE VERY CONCERNING TO ME.

AND SO WITH B AND C, WOULD WE NOW HAVE THREE NEW BOARD COUNCILS AT LEAST SINCE YOUR TENURE, DOCTOR HENMAN, BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY DON'T MAY NOT KNOW BEFORE THEN. IS IT THREE OR FOUR?

>> IT WOULD BE THREE, BUT ONE HAS CONCLUDED SERVICE.

>> OKAY. YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH THE FREQUENT CHANGES, I'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH I SHARE AROUND, YOU KNOW, TAKING FROM OUR SCHOOL SERVICES FUND, AND IN THIS CONTRACT AS WELL,

[04:05:03]

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S A CAP OR A COST ESTIMATE WITH THE SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING JUST CONTINUES.

BUT I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THE ITEM, AND I THINK THAT I CAN'T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF THE AMOUNT OF BOARD COUNCILS WE'VE HAD SINCE THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT MAY BE AT SIX OR SEVEN, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE TO DO THIS, AND IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM ESSENTIAL SERVICES THE COUNTY OFFICE PROVIDES.

>> SITING QUESTION ON, I JUST I WANT TO CLARIFY.

I THINK IT'S FACTUALLY INACCURATE TO STATE THAT THE BOARD HAS HAD SIX OR SEVEN COUNSELS.

WE HAVE NOT.

>> HOW MANY HAVE WE HAD THE PAST YEAR? WELL, I THINK THAT IS THIS IS THE FOURTH OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

>> THIS IS THE FOURTH. THE BOARD COUNSEL.

SO YOU'RE SAYING FOUR, BUT YOU JUST SAID SIX OR SEVEN.

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE JOINT COUNSEL TOO.

>> JOINT COUNSEL IS REPRESENTING THE OFFICE AND THE BOARD.

AS JOINT COUNSEL. RIGHT.

>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT COUNSEL THAT SERVES THE BOARD.

>> OKAY.

>> TRUSTEE CHAN.

>> I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE I BELIEVE WAS STATED EARLIER, BUT I WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE THE PURPOSE OF THIS COUNSEL IS FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. YOU'VE RUN INTO SEVERAL CONUNDRUMS AND I'LL TOUCH ON YOUR POINT AS WELL.

YES. ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID VERY PUBLICLY IS YOU HAVE A MENAGERIE OF LAW FIRMS. YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE FIRMS WILL NO LONGER BE.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU EXACT NUMBER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE TWO THAT YOU'LL BE BRINGING ON BOARD.

SPECIFICALLY, WITH THE ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU IS THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THE BOARD HIRE AN INVESTIGATOR SPECIFICALLY FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD COMPLAINTS.

ORIGINALLY, I BROUGHT ON MR. HAWES AS THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHICH I HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO.

THEN IT WAS ARGUED THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AN INVESTIGATOR TO INVESTIGATE MYSELF, LET ALONE THE BOARD, THAT ONLY THE BOARD COULD DO THAT.

WHICH IS WHY MR. HAS IS BACK TODAY.

HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE IN A NEW CAPACITY, WHICH WILL BE REPRESENTING THE BOARD, NOT STAFF NOT DOING STAFF INVESTIGATIONS, BUT INVESTIGATING ANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT SITTING OR OTHERWISE, AND THE BOARD ITSELF.

>> AND JUST ONE OTHER FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THIS OFFICE IS THE ADDRESS ON HERE IS IN SAN BERNARDINO.

IS THERE A REASON THAT WE WENT THAT FAR SOUTH VERSUS LOOKING FOR A LOCAL OFFICE?

>> THIS PARTICULAR FIRM CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

BOTH THESE TWO CONTRACTS WHO DID A LOT OF WORK THERE.

PAUL GOFOLD WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

OF EDUCATION HAD VERY SIMILAR INVESTIGATIVE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING IN SANTA CLARA.

IT WAS MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THAT BACKGROUND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, BASED ON THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT WE BRING HIM FORWARD.

>> THANK FORWARD. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> PRESIDENT BERTA, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE.

>> CHECK-IN.

>> A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE MAH.

DOCTOR HYMAN, PLEASE CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> THANK YOU. PRESIDENT BERTA?

>> VICE PRESIDENT ROCHA.

>> TRUSTEE SUSAN.

>> THANK YOU. DOCTOR HYMAN,

>> OKAY. THAT PASSES 61.

[C. Approve Contract of Joint Legal Counsel for the Santa Clara County Board of Education and Office of Education (Law Offices of Adrienne Konigar & Associates, LLC)]

PLEASE INTRODUCE THE NEXT ITEM.

CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 35,041.5 STATES THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF THE SAME COUNTY SHALL APPOINT THE SAME LEGAL COUNSEL.

THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS HAVING A JOINT LEGAL COUNSEL PROVIDED BY THE LAW FIRM OF ADRIAN KONIGER, AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, AND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR HENMAN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM TRUSTEES?

[04:10:04]

>> EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENT BERTA. THERE'S A COMMENT.

>> TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN, DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST?