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>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR MEETING NUMBER 2461 OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I AM A MAIMONA AFZAL BERTA, PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I WILL PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING.
A LIVE STREAM OF TONIGHT'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT TINYURL.COM/SCCBOARDMEETING.
ONCE ON THE WEB PAGE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AND CHOOSE LIVE.
LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE VIA PHONE, FOR SPANISH SUPPORT, CALL 1-669-900-6833.
THE MEETING ID IS 727-334-810 POUND.
FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, CALL 1-669-900-6833.
THE MEETING ID IS 921-8153-9516 POUND.
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND ASL, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
HEADSETS FOR SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
ASL INTERPRETERS ARE AT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ROOM, AS WELL AS THE MONITORS THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR LANGUAGE SUPPORT TEAM FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO ENSURE INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
PERSONS WANTING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO BY COMPLETING A SPEAKER COMMENT CARD AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE ROOM, PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW A SCCOE STAFF MEMBER WHO IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE.
STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PASTRANA JIMENEZ.
HAVE YOU JOINED US YET? STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PASTRANA JIMENEZ WILL JOIN US SHORTLY.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO
[B. Pledge of Allegiance]
PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.>> THANK YOU. I WILL NOW READ THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT.
[C. Land Acknowledgement]
LET US TAKE TIME TO HONOR THE ANCESTRAL CARETAKERS OF THE LAND ON WHICH WE STAND.WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A OHLONE TERRITORY.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY IS THE HOMELAND OF THE MUWEKMA OHLONE PEOPLE.
TODAY, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE LAND.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIGENOUS CULTURES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND REMEMBER THAT WE ALL GATHER, LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
[D. Roll Call (Including Action on Absences if Necessary)]
I PRESIDENT BERTA AND PRESENT.WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA.
[E. Set the Agenda]
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM TRUSTEE PACHECO. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I SECOND FROM TRUSTEE SPEISER.
>> HELLO. GOOD AND BOARD MEMBER HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER FOR JOINING US.
>> A VERBAL I FROM TRUSTEE ROCHA.
TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCKS IF YOU'RE ABLE TO.
>> VERBAL I FROM TRUSTEE PACHECO.
THANK YOU, AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR SPECIAL RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.
[A. Recognition of the SCCOE Employee of the Month]
OUR RECOGNITION IS FOR OUR EMPLOYEE OF MONTH, WHICH I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS EVENING.OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH IS JOSE ROSALES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JOSE ROSALES, HIS SUPERVISOR RICH ALDEVA, DISTRICT BUSINESS ADVISOR AND DBAS TO THE SP PODIUM, AND I'LL JOIN YOU THERE.
AFTER THE PRESENTATION, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN US AT THE PODIUM FOR PHOTOS.
THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES 10 SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES EACH YEAR FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO PARENTS,
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CO-WORKERS, AND CUSTOMERS.JOSE ROSALES, AN ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST II IN THE DISTRICT BUSINESS AND ADVISORY DEPARTMENT, DBAS, WITHIN THE BUSINESS FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS DIVISIONS, IS APRIL'S EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] JOSE HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE DBAS DEPARTMENT FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS.
HE BEGAN AS AN OFFICE ASSISTANT AND THEN WORKED HIS WAY TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST.
IN HIS CURRENT ROLE, JOSE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING DISTRICTS WITH ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE, REPORTING, VERIFICATION, AND RECONCILIATION OF SPECIALIZED ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL RECORDS, AND MORE.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET INTO A DEPARTMENT THAT I REALLY LIKED AND ENJOYED MOVING FORWARD, SAID JOSE.
HIS COLLEAGUES SHARE THAT HE IS AN INVALUABLE DBAST MEMBER.
HIS TECHNICAL SKILLS ARE EXCEPTIONAL.
HE SWIFTLY RESOLVES COMPLEX PROBLEMS FOR BUSINESS TASKS AND DEVISES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE OUR WORKFLOW.
THIS ABILITY TO TROUBLESHOOT AND ADDRESS ISSUES PROACTIVELY HAS SAVED US SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES, SAID RICH ALDEVA, DISTRICT BUSINESS ADVISOR AND DBAS.
JOSE LEANS INTO HIS TOP STRENGTHS OF ACHIEVER AND CONSISTENCY AS HE CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND MOTIVATION TO LEARN.
AS A FATHER TO A ONE-YEAR-OLD, JOSE BRINGS THE SAME DEDICATION TO HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
HIS ROLE AS A PARENT ENRICHES HIS PERSPECTIVE AT WORK, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK AND SUPPORT, SAID RICH.
HE ADVISES THOSE EARLY IN THEIR CAREER TO ASK QUESTIONS AND BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK.
IT IS WITH GRATITUDE THAT WE CONGRATULATE JOSE ON HIS APRIL EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION.
AS WITH ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE JOSE FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE JOB, DEDICATION TO EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS, CONTRIBUTIONS OUTSIDE THE USUAL SCOPE OF THE JOB, AND OVERALL COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.
TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION, JOSE WILL RECEIVE A PLAQUE RECOGNIZING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCCOE, AND GRACE CROSS PEN, AND A RESERVED PARKING SPOT.
[APPLAUSE] JOSE AND RICH ARE JOINING US THIS EVENING, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> [APPLAUSE] HELLO. JOSE'S INITIAL REACTION WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT HE WON EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WAS OF UTTER DISBELIEF.
HUMBLE AS EVER, HE SAID MANY OTHERS IN DBS ALSO DESERVE THE SPOTLIGHT.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, HE BEGRUDGINGLY ACCEPTED THIS NOMINATION ON THE CONDITION THAT I DO ALL THE SPEAKING FOR HIM.
[LAUGHTER] JOSE SHOWS UP EVERY DAY WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE, ALWAYS READY TO SUPPORT THE TEAM AND JUST KEEPS EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, HE'S ALSO SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEEPING US ALL HYDRATED, LITERALLY, BY REPLACING THE WATER COOLER BOTTLES AND NEXT TO HIS CUBICLE EVERY DAY.
[LAUGHTER] JOSE'S DEDICATION AND ALWAYS HELPFUL SPIRIT MAKE A REAL IMPACT.
CONGRATS, JOSE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
>> [APPLAUSE] BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU'LL COME UP FOR A PHOTO.
>> WE'LL HAVE YOUR FAMILY COME OUT ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO JOSE AND HIS FAMILY.
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AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE[A. The student member of the Board may give reports on activities related to their duties as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education.]
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PASTRANA JIMENEZ TO GIVE HIS REPORT, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, DR. HINMAN AND ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS.
LAST WEEK, AT ALL OF THE AD SITES, STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY GRADUATED OR CLOSE TO GRADUATING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR SENIOR GRADUATION PICTURES TAKEN.
THIS PROVIDES US AND OUR FAMILIES WITH THESE PHOTOGRAPHS TO REMEMBER THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AT OSBORNE, WE ARE WORKING WITH A LOCAL ARTIST TO DEVELOP AND PAINT A MURAL IN THE WELLNESS CENTER.
STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
ALSO AT OSBORNE, TWO STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON COMPLETING THE STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
ONE STUDENT WROTE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF SAN JOSE TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS, AND THE OTHER STUDENT IS DEVELOPING A LEADERSHIP CLUB AT OSBORNE SCHOOL.
THE LEADERSHIP CLUB IS EXPECTED TO HAVE ITS FIRST MEETING THIS MONTH.
THEY BOTH PRESENTED THEIR FINAL PROJECT TO THE COORDINATOR AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO EARN THEIR SEAL FOR THEIR DIPLOMA SOON.
AT BLUE RIDGE, THE LUNA PRE-APPRENTICESHIP COHORT ENDED.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING ARE NOT ONLY ABLE TO EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS, BUT A VARIETY OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNISED CERTIFICATIONS, SUCH AS OSHA 10, MC3, HAZARDOUS WASTE, AND FIRST AID CPR.
UP NEXT IS A NEW PROGRAM TO EARN A CERTIFICATION TO OPERATE A SKID STEER.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TWO-WEEK COHORT TO EARN THE CERTIFICATION.
I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A FORMER CLASSMATE OF MINE.
HE BECAME THE FIRST STUDENT AT THE RANCH TO COMPLETE AND PASSED WITH A PERFECT SCORE, THE LUNA AGILITY EXAM, TO BE ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE UPDATES, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PASTRANA JIMENEZ.
WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AT EACH OF YOUR MEETINGS AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATES.
YOUR OBSERVATIONS ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO OUR WORK. THANK YOU AGAIN.
THE NEXT PORTION OF THE MEETING IS RESERVED FOR PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS
[A. At this time, members of the public may address the Board on any issue within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board that is not listed on this agenda.]
THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE SEC BOE.STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM DISCUSSING OR ACTING UPON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. IT IS THE EXPECTATION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT EVERYONE BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND CIVILITY.
PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME.
ONCE WE BEGIN TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.95.
THE SCC BOE STRIVES TO MAINTAIN THE ORDERLY AND CIVIL CONDUCT OF ITS MEETINGS AND TO AVOID UNLAWFUL DISRUPTIONS.
THEREFORE, DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE TEND TO KEEP A RESPECTFUL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE NOTE THAT VERBAL ABUSE, THREATS AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
INDIVIDUALS WHO ENGAGE IN THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
WE ASK THAT THERE BE NO CLAPPING, CHEERING, SNAPPING OF FINGERS, BOOING, OR SHOUTING.
IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY SIMPLY DO SO WITH THE UNIVERSAL SIGN FOR APPRECIATION.
SHOULD BE DONE LIKE THIS. MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU. AS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW COMMENCING, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS.
PLEASE PRESENT THE ONE-MINUTE TIMER.
IF LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED, TIME WILL DOUBLE.
WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP, THE BUZZER WILL SOUND, YOU WILL BE MUTED, AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END.
I THINK WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE TIMER TO COME UP.
IT'S GONE ON MY SIDE. THANK YOU ON THE MONITORS IN FRONT.
BUT WE'VE GOT IT FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU. MODERATOR YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU. AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
AS A REMINDER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME CAN BE AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENT UNLESS LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED BY AN SCCOE INTERPRETER OR ASL INTERPRETER.
THE TIMER WILL BEGIN ONCE YOU START SPEAKING.
COMMENTS EXTENDING PAST THE ALLOTTED TIME WILL BE MUTED AFTER TIME EXPIRES, AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
TO PREVENT SOUND DISTORTION, PLEASE KEEP THE MICROPHONE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM YOUR MOUTH.
OUR FIRST 10 SPEAKERS ARE REJU KRISHNA, JOHN HORNERKAMP, JULIO SALAZAR, ISRAEL RIVERA, JAMES MORASH, MICHELLE OLIVER,
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VERONICA ARIANO, CHRISTINE ETMAN, DELIA KLEIN, AND MERCEDES HILL.PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS REJU KRISHNA.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> REJU KRISHNA, TEACHER, OI DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WHY ARE WE LAYING OFF THE VERY POSITIONS WE STRUGGLE MOST TO FILL? ROUGHLY 30% OF SCCOE STAFF HAVE RECEIVED LAY OFF NOTICES, INCLUDING SPECIAL LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, TEACHERS, NURSES, BEHAVIORIST, AP SPECIALISTS, OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, PARA EDUCATORS, LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSES, WELLNESS SPECIALISTS AND LIAISONS, PSWA, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THERAPISTS, SIU REPRESENTED OFFICE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT SUCH AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE ARE CRITICAL, HIGH-NEED ROLES SERVING OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, NOT OPTIONAL SERVICES, AND YET WHILE WE'RE CUTTING THEM, THE SECOND INTERIM BUDGET SHOWS A $9 MILLION INCREASE IN BOOKS AND SUPPLIES, A $55 MILLION INCREASE IN SERVICES AND OTHERS, AS WE'RE DOING LAYOFFS.
THESE LAYOFFS AREN'T ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
I ASK THAT THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THESE CHARGES AND CHANGES MADE TO THE BUDGET.
THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND AS SUCH, MANY OF US HAVE COMPLETELY LOST TRUST IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN HORNERKAMP.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> DR. HINMAN, PRESIDENT BERTA, TRUSTEES, I'M JOHN HORNERKAMP, PROGRAM MANAGER IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I'M SPEAKING TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT RESTORING THE POSITION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, ELIMINATED AS A RESULT OF RECENT BUDGET CUTS, SO THAT EILEEN CASTRO CAN BE REINSTATED IN THAT POSITION.
EILEEN HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION SINCE IT WAS CREATED, AND IN THAT TIME, HER CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE TRANSFORMED OUR CLASSROOMS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
THE DATA WE'VE COLLECTED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS DOCUMENTS NOT ONLY IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION, AND IEP INTEGRATION, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS A SHIFT TOWARD WELL-STRUCTURED, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS.
FROM OUR INITIAL CONCERNS ABOUT LESSON PARTICIPATION IN IEP GOAL TRACKING IN 2021, WE NOW SEE CONSISTENT DATA-INFORMED INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING, ACTIVE STUDENT FEEDBACK INTEGRATION, AND A BROADENING OF PBIS TO INCLUDE STAFF RELATIONSHIPS AND WELLNESS.
IF ONLY ONE DECISION CAN BE MADE.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIO SALAZAR.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
MY NAME IS JULIO SANCHEZ FROM THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
I HAVE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN ORDER TO HELP OUR FAMILIES WHO WORK IN THE FIELDS, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM.
HERE, WE HAVE RECOGNITIONS FROM THE STATE AND FROM OUR COUNTY.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THAT IS OUR DUTY AS PARENTS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPECT THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN ALSO HELP AND WORK ALONG WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOLS AND SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ISRAEL RIVERA.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I AM THE SPECIALIST LEAD OF MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
I WANT TO SHOW HOW UNFOUNDED AND UNFAIR IS THE DECISION OF THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WHO MADE A RECOMMENDATION OF LAYOFFS FOR THE ENTIRE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
HIS EXCUSE OF LAYOFFS OF THE PROGRAM IS DUE TO LACK OF WORK OR LACK OF FUNDS.
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WORKING IN THIS PROGRAM FOR OVER SIX YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR STUDENTS COUNT HAD INCREASED IN THE STATE LEVEL FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.WE HAVE MAINTAINED OVER 4,700 STUDENTS IN OUR REGION FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
REGARDING FUNDING, THE GRANT ALLOCATED OF '24-'25 IS BASED ON STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE YEAR '23-'24 SCHOOL YEAR.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS GRANT IS ALREADY ALLOCATED AND IS OWED TO US FOR THE WORK DONE TWO YEARS AGO.
WE RECEIVED INFORMATION YESTERDAY CONFIRMATION OF THE NATIONAL MIGRANT EDUCATION CONFERENCE THAT THE FUNDING IS COMING IN JULY. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES MORASH.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR MY DAUGHTER, ADDISON MORASH, WHO'S IN THE DEAF PLUS STUDENT IN MS. DOE'S CLASSROOM AT AUSTRI ELEMENTARY.
I'M ASKING EVERYONE HERE ON THE BOARD TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER'S CLASSROOM OPEN AND TO NOT FURTHER CONSOLIDATE HER PROGRAM.
LAST YEAR IN A LARGE CLASSROOM SETTING, HER PREVIOUS TEACHER WAS UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ADDISON'S IEP EDUCATIONAL GOALS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS YEAR WITH MS. DOE, A TEACHER OF THE DEAF WITH A BACKGROUND IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND IN AN APPROPRIATE SIZE CLASSROOM THAT MY DAUGHTER'S NEEDS HAVE FINALLY BEEN MET.
SHE HAS FINALLY FOUND JOY IN SCHOOL THAT CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE.
I CANNOT EXPRESS WHAT THE SPECIALIZED CLASSROOM MS. DOE HAS MADE TO ADDISON.
IT HAS UNLOCKED HER COMMUNICATION, HER PERSONALITY, AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN SHE GETS ON THE BUS TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER DAY.
I URGE YOU TO KEEP THIS CLASSROOM OPEN AND TO NOT FURTHER HINDER NOT ONLY MY DAUGHTER, BUT ALL THE OTHER DEAF AND SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE OLIVER.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A 26 YEAR EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, AND I WANT YOU TO PUT A FACE TO YOUR LAYOFFS.
SIX YEARS FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT, YOU'RE LAYING ME OFF.
I'M A TEACHER IN A FULL INCLUSION SPECIAL ED PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM.
THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON STUDENTS IS INVALUABLE.
WHEN WE AT THE UNION GOT A LOOK AT THE BUDGET, SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG.
TERRIBLY WRONG. THE BOARD HAS GOT TO INVESTIGATE THIS.
THE MONEY THAT IS SITTING IN BOOKS AND SUPPLIES COULD PAY FOR ME AND 10 OTHER TEACHERS TO CONTINUE WORKING.
I'M NOT A NUMBER, I'M A HUMAN BEING WITH A JOB THAT HAS IMPACT ON CHILDREN.
THERE ARE STUDENTS LIKE THE PARENT WHO JUST TALKED.
THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN MY INCLUSION CLASS LAST YEAR, THEY'RE NOW BACK IN GENERAL EDUCATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VERONICA ARIANO.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, TRUSTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT.
I AM A PROUD SEIU MEMBER, AND I HAVE SERVED EARLY LEARNING SERVICES HEAD START FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS.
TODAY, I SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES, FOR MY FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE, FOR THE CHILDREN WHO RELY ON US.
WE ARE URGENTLY ASKING FOR 30 DAYS, A CONDITIONAL CONTRACT EXTENSION FROM JULY 1 TO JULY 31, 2025.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS SIMPLE, TIME.
TIME TO RECEIVE OUR FINAL AWARD LETTER, TIME TO AVOID PREMATURE DISMANTLE OF A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THOUSANDS OF WORKING FAMILIES, TIME TO PROTECT TRAINED, TRUSTWORK FORCE AND STABILITY OF OUR SERVICES.
WE UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL TIMELINES, BUT SEIU IS CURRENTLY NOT IN A DEFICIT.
WE ALREADY RECEIVE OUR FUNDING GUIDANCE LETTER.
ACTING BEFORE FEDERAL FUNDING IS CONFIRMED WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO OUR MISSION.
IF THE DEPARTMENT IS DISMANTLED NOW, A RIPPLE EFFECT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE ETMAN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRISTINE ESPINOZA, PROUD PARENT EDUCATOR AT HESTER SCHOOL.
NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
FROM A 1/10 RATING, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS, OUR FABULOUS STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF, FROM A RATING 1/10, DO YOU COMPLETELY FEEL YOU ARE FOLLOWING EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION? THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DELIA KLEIN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS DELIA KLEIN.
I WORK AS A PARA EDUCATOR TRAINER FOR COE SPECIAL ED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT TO SHARE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE CUTS TO THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT WITH THE PROPOSED LAYOFFS AND ELIMINATION OF POSITIONS.
[00:25:01]
I HAVE PERSONALLY TRAINED AND HELPED ON BOARD THE PARA EDUCATORS WHO ARE BEING LAID OFF.WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY THESE CUTS? WHERE IS THE DATA SUPPORTING THE INFLATED ENROLLMENT DECLINE PROJECTIONS? IF SEIU LAYS OFF SPECIAL ED PARAS, THEY CAN COUNT ON SPECIAL ED BEING UNDERSTAFFED WITH INCREASES IN SAFETY RISKS FOR STUDENTS AND POTENTIAL INCREASES IN LIKELIHOODS OF ON JOB INJURIES, AND DILUTION OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND DECLINE OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION BY PUTTING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TRAINED BY OUR DEPARTMENT OR WHO DO NOT KNOW OUR STUDENTS INTO THOSE STAFF OPENINGS? PLEASE INVEST IN EDUCATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MERCEDES HILL.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, DR. HINMAN AND BOARD TRUSTEES.
I'M MERCEDES HILL OFFICE SPECIALIST WITH HEAD START HERE AT THE SCCOE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO FIRST THANK PRESIDENT BERTA FOR ATTENDING THE REGION 9 HEAD START ASSOCIATION WEBINAR LAST WEEK WHERE CRITICAL AND ACTIONAL INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO HEAD START STAFF ALL AROUND REGION 9.
I ALSO FOUND IT VERY DISHEARTENING THAT OUR TWO AVAILABLE HEAD START MANAGERS DID NOT ATTEND THIS WEBINAR WHEN SIMPLY SHOWING UP WOULD HAVE DONE WONDERS FOR OUR STAFF MORALE.
BUT INSTEAD, I FELT LIKE WE WERE BEING ABANDONED TO FIGHT ON OUR OWN WITHOUT ANY LIFELINE TO OUR NEW REGIONAL CONTACTS OR APPLICATION STATUS.
I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN UPDATE ON THE PETITION I SUBMITTED TO YOU IN DECEMBER TO REINSTATE ANTONIO FUENTES AS DIRECTOR OF EARLY LEARNING SERVICES.
IT HAS BEEN FOUR MONTHS, AND WE ARE NO CLOSER TO HAVING A QUALIFIED AND WORTHY DIRECTOR.
WHAT'S MORE CONCERNING IS I LEARNED LAST NIGHT AT THE POLICY COUNCIL MEETING THAT ANTONIO WAS NOT EVEN IN THE POOL OF CANDIDATES SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS WHEN HE MORE THAN QUALIFIES TO LEAD OUR DEPARTMENT AND HAS LED IT.
I AND MANY OF MY HEAD START COLLEAGUES FIND THIS INFORMATION VERY TROUBLING AND WE WOULD LIKE SOME TRANSPARENCY AS TO WHY ANTONIO
>> THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
KELLY GOVARA, PATRICIA RAMOS, VAISH NAVI, CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ, MICHAELA AVILA TERA, ERICA TREJO, NICK JACK, CHERRY HUDSON, SANDRA FACOSI, SARA JEANNE OCARO, JURIAT JOG.
SORRY FOR THE MISPRONUNCIATION.
TERESA GRESLIN, KRISTEN DOE, JACK MCGOVERN, CHRISTINE KESLOW AND DIANE CAPILI.
PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KELLY GOVARA.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
MY NAME IS KELLY GOVARA, 14 YEAR EMPLOYEE OF THIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND SEIU BARGAINING TEAM MEMBER.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL MONTHS ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS OFFICE UNDER THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT LEADERSHIP.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TRUSTEES TO SEEK A FULL EXPLANATION FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF LAYOFFS WITHOUT A TRANSPARENT PROCESS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DECISIONS WILL FURTHER DETERIORATE TRUST, QUALITY OF EDUCATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM STUDENTS, WORKERS, AND PARENTS.
DR. HINMAN DOES NOT SHARE THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HIS INDISCRIMINATE SLASHING OF OUR WORKFORCE SHOWS YOU THAT.
THESE CUTS WERE MADE WITH LITTLE NOTICE AND COMPLETE LACK OF REGARD FOR THE SERVICES CUE PROVIDES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M HOPEFUL FOR CONSTRUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT MOVE TOWARDS REPAIRING THE DAMAGE THIS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HAS DONE. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICIA RAMOS.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M PATRICIA RAMOS, ADMIN ASSISTANT 4 AT EPP.
TO THE TRUSTEES AND NEW SUPERINTENDENT, YOU STILL HAVE TIME AND A MORAL OBLIGATION TO RE-EVALUATE AND REVISE RUSHED AND UNCLEAR FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
SCCOE MANAGEMENT HASN'T SHOWN THAT THESE CUTS ARE NECESSARY.
PROGRAMS WITH MAJOR COMMUNITY IMPACT ARE BEING ELIMINATED WHILE THE SECOND INTERIM BUDGET HAS INCREASED THREE TIMES COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WITHOUT CLEAR JUSTIFICATION.
CUTTING THE ENTIRE MIGRANT ED DEPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND ELIMINATING MANY YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS POSITIONS, ERASE VITAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, FAMILY, AND STAFF.
HOW CAN WE CLAIM TO UPLIFT STUDENTS WHILE DISMANTLING THE VERY TEAMS THAT SERVE THEM? I URGE THE TRUSTEES TO DEMAND FULL JUSTIFICATION FOR THESE LAYOFFS AND DIRECT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION.
THESE ARE PEOPLE. THEY DESERVE BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BY VAISH NAVI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
[00:30:02]
AND I'M AN ADMIN 3 IN THE EPP DEPARTMENT.I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADVERSE IMPACT THE LAYOFFS WILL HAVE ON OUR DEPARTMENT.
LOSING THE MAJORITY OF OUR ADMIN TEAM MEANS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING PRODUCTIVITY AND CAPACITY IN TERMS OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE.
WHEN I WAS HIRED ONTO THE EPP TEAM, I DIDN'T COME PRE-PROGRAM, KNOWING EXACTLY HOW TO SUPPORT A CREDENTIALING PROGRAM.
TRUSTEE CHAN, I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE HERE SINCE 2022, BUT I'VE BEEN A FREEMONT UNIFIED PARENT FOR LONGER.
WE MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND DIFFERENT COUNTIES, BUT WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME FIGHT WITH THE UNIFIED GOAL OF PROTECTING OUR JOBS AND SERVING OUR STUDENTS.
IN THE PAST MONTH, I'VE SPOKEN TO FUSD PARENTS, REMINDING THEM WHY OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF DESERVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST WORKING CONDITIONS.
TODAY, I SPEAK TO YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE OF SCCOE.
I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE DEMAND A FULL EXPLANATION FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF THESE LAYOFFS. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ.
I SPEAK TO YOU AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN THE MISSION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
RIGHT NOW, THAT MISSION IS IN JEOPARDY.
THESE LAYOFFS ARE BEING PUSHED FORWARD WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, WITHOUT CLEAR DATA, AND WITHOUT COLLABORATION.
SCCOE MANAGEMENT HAS FAILED TO JUSTIFY THESE CUTS, CUTS THAT WILL HARM THE VERY STUDENTS WE ARE HERE TO SERVE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE PROGRAM.
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE BEING PUSHED ASIDE WHILE NO EXPLANATION IS GIVEN.
THIS ISN'T JUST A STAFFING ISSUE. IT'S A MORALE ONE.
TRUSTEES, YOU WERE ELECTED TO PROTECT PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT TO DISMANTLE IT.
WE URGE YOU TO DIRECT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO RESCIND THESE LAYOFFS, COLLABORATE WITH OUR UNIONS AND SHOW THE PUBLIC THE DATA BEHIND THESE DECISIONS.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MOST OF ALL, WE NEED YOU TO STAND WITH THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRONTLINE WORKERS. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAELA AVILA TERA.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAELA.
I WAS RECENTLY LAID OFF FROM MY POSITION.
BEFORE I WAS LAID OFF, I WAS BEING CONSISTENT IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THE SAME KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
PART OF THAT CLASSROOM, THOSE KIDS NEED TO CONTINUE.
WORKING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS CLASSROOM, FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING KIDS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO HELP THEM THE BEST WAY IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY NEED TO LEARN THEIR NEEDS AND HOW THEY LEARN BEST AND HOW TO CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND HOW WE CAN GIVE EACH CHILD THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE IN THE DEAF PROGRAM.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE KIDS HAVE DEAF ADULTS, PEERS, PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THEIR STRUGGLES.
WHO CAN SEE THEM BEYOND THEIR DEAFNESS? ASL IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LEARNING AND THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
HAVING DEAF TEACHERS, PARAS, AND SUBSTITUTES IN THEIR CLASSROOM, EVERY DAY THAT UNDERSTAND AND KNOW ASL IN ENGLISH IS IMPERATIVE FOR THEIR LEARNING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THE TITLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER THE SUBJECT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE KIDS HAVE SUPPORT IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ERICA TREJO.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ERICA TREJO.
I AM A CURRENT RECRUITER WITH THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE MIGRANT PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY OF YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT THE MIGRANT PROGRAM IS DEDICATED IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO MOVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO COMPLETE MIGRANT WORK AMONG OTHER JOBS.
WITHOUT THE MIGRANT ED PROGRAM, THERE WOULD BE NO ONE TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE GAPS THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO THE DISTRICT FACE WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHO THE SUBSTITUTE IS, THE PRINCIPAL IS.
HERE WE ARE AS RECRUITERS THAT BRIDGE THAT GAP.
I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT ME AS A FORMER MIGRANT ED STUDENT AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROGRAM IS.
WITHOUT IT, THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS WOULD NOT BE HERE.
I PLEASE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THE LAYOFFS FOR THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'M AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SUCCESSFUL IT COULD BE. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK JACK.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS NICK.
I'M A SUBSTITUTE PARA EDUCATOR AT HESTER SCHOOL.
I WAS JUST AT THE JLAC MEETING WITH ABOUT HALF OF YOU.
WE WERE TALKING A LOT ABOUT BUDGET, WORRYING ABOUT FINANCES,
[00:35:01]
IN A WAY IN WHICH SEIU IS CURRENTLY HEMORRHAGING MONEY IS WITH THE CONTRACTORS THAT THEY HIRE.YOU GUYS HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO YOUR JOB EFFICIENTLY IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING AND BALANCING THE BUDGET, WE'RE GETTING SUBOPTIMAL DIRECT STAFF WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR POPULATION AND SPENDING MORE MONEY ON IT.
IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.
IF THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT, OH, YOU CAN'T HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE, WELL, THEN MAYBE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE PAYING YOUR STAFF ENOUGH MONEY THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE RETENTION AND PEOPLE WILLING TO DO SUCH INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING, DANGEROUS WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHERRY HUDSON.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS CHERRY HUDSON, AND I'M A PHYSICAL THERAPIST IN THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT HERE.
I WAS GIVEN A PINK SLIP IN MARCH.
I'M ONE OF THE FOUR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS THAT WORK WITH THE THREE THROUGH 21-YEAR-OLD POPULATION, AND ALL OF US HAVE COMPLETELY FULL CASE LOADS.
IN ADDITION, A PT CONTRACTOR FOR THE COUNTY WAS RECENTLY LAID OFF AS WELL.
WHEN I LEAVE THIS JOB, MY CO WORKERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER MY CASELOAD.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE 47 STUDENTS THAT I SERVE? WHAT ABOUT THE 20 PLUS STUDENTS THAT WERE SEEN BY THE CONTRACTOR? WORK WITH A VARIETY OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING IN MOD SEVERE CLASSROOMS. I HELP WITH EQUIPMENT, POSITIONING, AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS NEEDED TO ACCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
I ALSO TRAIN TEACHERS AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF ON HOW TO WORK WITH THE STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE RESULT OF CUTTING MY JOB IS THAT MANY STUDENTS WILL HAVE NO ONE TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL BASED PT SERVICES THAT ARE IN THEIR IEPS.
I HOPE THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR TEACHERS, THEIR SCHOOLS.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDRA FACOSI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, I'M SANDY AND HELLO TRUSTEES.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS PAST MONTH HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE HARDEST ONE IN MY 27 YEARS AT SCCOE.
I HOPE YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING, INSPIRING, AND PROMOTING STUDENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND ONE OF OUR GOALS TO BE A PREMIER SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
RECENT ACTIONS HAVE MADE ME QUESTION IF THIS IS UNDERSTOOD.
AS YOU WILL BE ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND NATIONAL FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY, DR. HINMAN HAS LAID OFF OUR YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS STAFF, THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WORK TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN CRISIS.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PUT YOUR WORDS OR PUT ACTIONS BEHIND YOUR WORDS.
HOWEVER, I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT CAN RESTORE US TO BEING A PREMIER SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
I STRONGLY URGE THIS PERSON TO MAKE IT HIS TOP PRIORITY TO ROLL BACK THE DOGE LIKE LAYOFFS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND RESTORE OUR ORGANIZATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH GIANOCARO.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> SARAH GIANOCARO, DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN AN SEIU BARGAINING TEAM MEMBER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES STEPHANIE GOMEZ HAS DEPICTED SCCOE AS BEING IN FISCAL DANGER, AND SEIU CANNOT POSSIBLY AFFORD TO GIVE ANY RAISES, YET THERE ARE HIGH ROLLERS EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING $99 MILLION AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
WE FIND DISCREPANCIES SUCH AS DIFFERENT SALARY INCREASES FOR SEIU, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LOOK IN THE BUDGET.
HIGH FUND BALANCES THAT ARE NEVER UTILIZED AND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE ACTUALS.
EVERY TIME THE BARGAINING TEAM UNITS FIND FUNDS STASHED IN VARIOUS PLACES, THE NEXT CYCLE, THEY'RE HIDDEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WHEN WE ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION, WE'RE GIVEN NON ANSWERS AND VAGUE ANSWERS OF PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENT NEEDS, BUT NO ACTUAL JUSTIFICATION.
WHEN YOU ASK, YOU RECEIVE THE SAME.
WHAT IS THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HIDING AND WHY? IT'S CLEAR THAT A CHANGE IN SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT MADE THIS MORE TRANSPARENT.
WHY IS STEPHANIE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE IN THE SAME BEHAVIOR? WHY ARE OVER $55 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES ALLOCATED AT SECOND INTERIM IN BUDGET CODES THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE INITIAL BUDGET AMOUNTS WHEN WE'RE ALLEGEDLY FACING BUDGET SHORTFALLS? WE ASK YOU TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ASK THE CRITICAL QUESTION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JIRAIG HUG.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO, BOARD PRESIDENT BERTA, VICE PRESIDENT CHAN AND HONORABLE TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS JIRAIG HUG, AND I'M SPEAKING AS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CARE POLICY AT WING PARTNERSHIPS USA, AND A CHILDCARE ADVOCATE SPEAKING IN SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT OF OUR EDUCATORS TONIGHT.
IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WE MUST STAND TALL IN DEFIANT DESPITE THE THREATS OF HEAD START CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THESE CUTS ARE DESIGNED BE HANDED DOWN AND DESIGNED TO MAKE US SCARED.
BUT AS TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND EARLY EDUCATION IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT IN THE FIGHT.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE AND CREATE NEW IDEAS AND WORK WITH SEIU LEADERSHIP.
I AM URGING YOU TO EXPLORE NEW FUNDING STREAMS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR WORKERS AND RESCIND THESE PINK SLIPS.
YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD BOARD HERE AND I HAVE FAITH THAT YOU CAN
[00:40:02]
FIND A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THESE LAYOFFS.I KNOW THAT BUDGET ARE REALLY DIFFICULT AT THIS TIME, BUT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE A CREATIVE SOLUTION AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH YOUR UNION. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS TERESA GRESLIN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS TERESA GRESLIN. GIVE MY VOICE.
I'VE BEEN SICK. I AM A TEACHER OF THE DEAF IN THE OSTER CLUSTER.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT OSTER, IN OCTOBER OF 2023, I HAD A CLASS OF 11 CHILDREN.
THE CHILDREN SPAN THREE GRADE LEVELS AND THE LANGUAGE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN RANGE FROM INFANT TO EARLY ELEMENTARY.
I HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS WITH SEVERE BEHAVIORS.
I HAD SEVERAL CHILDREN WHO WERE DEAF, BUT IT WAS NOT THEIR PRIMARY DISABILITY.
OTHER DISABILITIES PRESENTED MUCH HIGHER NEEDS AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
I WENT HOME DAILY FEELING LIKE I HAD FAILED THE CHILDREN IN MY ROOM.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CUTS NEEDED TO BE MADE TO THE BUDGET, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CLASS TAUGHT BY KRISTEN DOE.
HER CLASS IS COMPOSED OF DEAF CHILDREN WITH ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES.
IF THESE CHILDREN WERE NOT DEAF, THEIR NEEDS WOULD NOT BE SERVED IN A GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM.
THEIR NEEDS WOULD BEST BE MET IN A CLASSROOM WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR ACADEMIC AND COGNITIVE NEEDS.
BUT BY CLOSING THIS CLASS, THERE IS NO LONGER AN APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC PLACEMENT FOR THESE CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR UNIQUE ACADEMIC NEEDS MET.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTEN DOE.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, AND COUNTY LEADERSHIP.
MY NAME IS KRISTEN DOE, AND I'M HERE TODAY NOT JUST AS AN EDUCATOR, BUT AS AN ADVOCATE FOR A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO TOO OFTEN GO UNHEARD, ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES.
TONIGHT, I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP MY DHH CLASS AT OSTER OPEN BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST A CLASSROOM, IT IS A LIFELINE.
THE STUDENTS RELY ON HIGHLY SPECIALIZED ENVIRONMENT TO ACCESS COMMUNICATION, INSTRUCTION, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION.
CLOSING THIS CLASSROOM AND DISPERSING THESE STUDENTS WOULD NOT ONLY VIOLATE BEST PRACTICES, IT WOULD RISK THEIR ACCESS TO EDUCATION ALTOGETHER.
IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, HERE'S WHY THIS CLASS MATTERS.
STATE RECOGNIZED BEST PRACTICES, RECOMMEND THAT CLASSES FOR DHH STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS ARE NO MORE THAN 4-6 STUDENTS PER CLASS.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JACK MCGOVERN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH BAY LABOR COUNCIL.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR SEIU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND TO URGE THIS BOARD TO STOP THE HARMFUL STAFFING CUTS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION.
ACROSS THE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, STAFFING LEVELS ARE ALREADY STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING POINT.
EDUCATORS AND PARA EDUCATORS ROUTINELY MANAGE COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL MEDICAL NEEDS WITH FAR TOO HANDS ON DECK.
STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET HURT AND THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE FOR THEM FACE A HIGHER RISK OF INJURY ON THE JOB AND MENTAL HEALTH STRESS.
CUTTING POSITIONS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT IS NOT FISCAL PRUDENCE.
IT'S A DIRECT THREAT TO THE WELL BEING AND PROGRESS OF SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN.
WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT THESE CRITICAL JOBS, INVEST IN ADEQUATE STAFFING AND HONOR THESE COMMITMENTS TO YOUR WORKERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR PUTTING YOUR STAFF AND STUDENTS SAFETY FIRST.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE KESLOW, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE KESLOW.
I AM HERE AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN WITH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUT I AM ALSO THE VICE CHAIR OF THE NORTHWEST COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I'M HERE ABOUT THE PETITION THAT WE SUBMITTED TO YOU ON MARCH 19TH.
WE NOW HAVE TWICE AS MANY SIGNATORIES AS WE DID THEN.
I THINK FROM ALL OF OUR AMAZING AUDIENCE AND SPEAKERS THAT HAVE ALREADY TALKED, JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HEAR COMMUNITY AND PARENT VOICES AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES.
WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD IN THE WAY THINGS ARE RUN RIGHT NOW WITH A GIANT CONSOLIDATED CEC.
WE CAN DO SOME THINGS COUNTY WIDE, BUT WE NEED SOMETHING IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP PROMOTE PARENT AND COMMUNITY VOICES INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPING COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS.
GIVEN THE INCREDIBLE STRESS ON THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL WITH FUNDING, WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE, WE NEED PARENT AND COMMUNITY VOICES. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE CAPILI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR. HINMAN.
MY NAME IS DIANE CAPILI READING THIS ON BEHALF OF TINA CHANG.
MY NAME IS TINA CHANG, AND I'M THE PARENT OF A DEAF DISABLED CHILD IN OUR COUNTY DHH PROGRAM, CELPA CACREP AND ACTIVE CHAIR OF THE SSC.
TONIGHT I AM HERE TO ASK FOR OUR COUNTY TO KEEP
[00:45:01]
MY CHILD'S CLASS OPEN AND NOT TO FURTHER CONSOLIDATE HIS PROGRAM.THIS YEAR, WE WERE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE MS. DOE AS A CREDENTIAL TEACHER OF THE DEAF WITH A BACKGROUND IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, TEACH AN APPROPRIATELY SIZED CLASS.
WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENT IN READING AND MATH THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN SPITE OF THE MANY LEARNING CHALLENGES THAT HE HAS.
IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY.
AS A CHILD WITH LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES AND NEEDING EXTENSIVE SUPPORT, WE AND OTHER FAMILIES HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED AND FIND A PLACEMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR ENOUGH CRITICAL MASS AND LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING DENIED PLACEMENT IN A DHH CLASS BEING MOVED FROM DIFFERENT PLACEMENTS THAT DIDN'T MEET HIS NEEDS BEFORE FINALLY BEING FULLY SUPPORTED THIS YEAR.
PLEASE CONSIDER HOW CONSOLIDATING CLASSES TO TOO MANY GRADE LEVELS AND STUDENTS OF DIFFERING LEVELS.
>> THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.
WELL, NEXT, WE'LL GO TO OUR BARGAINING UNIT REPORTS.
[A. Bargaining Units' Reports]
PLEASE NOTE STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM DISCUSSING OR ACTING UPON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PRESIDENT OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, SEIU FORWARD.PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENTS.
>> SARAH GIANOCARO, SEIU CHAPTER PRESIDENT, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 1,100 PERMANENT STAFF AND 500 SUBSTITUTES, ALSO A DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSE ON HIS EMPLOYEE THE MONTH RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF YOUR SEIU SIBLINGS.
DESPITE PROMISES OF DEEP CUTS TO MANAGEMENT, A CLOSE ANALYSIS OF THE POSITIONS SHOW THE SAME HIGH MANAGEMENT TO STAFF RATIOS WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST IN THIS VERY BUILDING WITH THE BULK OF THE LAYOFFS IMPACTING SEIU, A, AND PSWA.
SCCOE MANAGEMENT HAS NOT PROVIDED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT CUTS ARE NECESSARY WHILE FAILING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE DECISIONS.
WORKERS FACE AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION.
GAMBLE ON TAKING A LAYOFF AND HOPE THEIR JOB RETURNS OR RETIRE TO ACCESS RETIREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OR FIND A NEW JOB.
DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR REDUCED PENSION, THE CHOICES ARE HORRIBLE.
IF POSITIONS ARE ELIMINATED ON JUNE 30TH, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE WORKERS WILL RETURN, AND EXPERIENCE PROVES WHEN FUNDING RETURNS, SCCOE HAS CREATED NEAR IDENTICAL JOBS THAT LAID OFF WORKERS HAVE NO RIGHTS TO.
WORKING WITH US TO ENSURE OUR MEMBERS CAN RETURN TO THEIR JOB AND ACCESS RETIREE HEALTHCARE COSTS THE ORGANIZATION NOTHING, BUT MEANS EVERYTHING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES.
OUTSTANDING INFORMATION REQUESTS FROM AS FAR BACK AS OCTOBER HAVEN'T BEEN DELIVERED.
BUDGET ALLOCATIONS ARE SUSPICIOUSLY HIGH FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES CONTINUING TO DO SEIU BARGAINING UNIT WORK AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
RESTRICTING THIS INFORMATION DAMAGES OUR TRUST IN THE SYSTEM AND EXPOSES SCCOE MANAGEMENT'S PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY WE REPRESENT, WORKERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS.
SCCOE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED BUDGET ALLOCATIONS BY OVER $45 MILLION FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES.
WHEN THOSE EXPENDITURES IN EACH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS WERE NOWHERE NEAR THAT AMOUNT.
DESPITE GRAM EXPIRATIONS BEING A STATED REASON FOR LAYOFFS, SCCOE STILL HAS FAILED TO DISCLOSE POSITIONS FUNDED BY EVERY EXPIRING GRANT.
HOW CAN WE LAY OFF WORKERS UNDER THE GEISER FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHILE WASTING PUBLIC DOLLARS ON UNTRAINED, HIGHER PAID OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS AND FAILING TO SPEND OVER $80 MILLION LAST YEAR? OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDS TO KNOW WHY WE'RE USING CONTRACTORS AND SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY ON THEM INSTEAD OF ON OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.
HOW MUCH ARE OUR STUDENTS FUTURES WORTH TO YOU? FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY, IT'S PRICELESS.
WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
CUTS TO SEIU FRONTLINE WORKERS INCLUDE SOME OF THE HARDEST TO FILL POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSES, AND PARA EDUCATORS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, ALL OF HEADSTART, STATE PRESCHOOL, TOBACCO PREVENTION AND MIGRATE EDUCATION, SUBSTANTIAL CUTS TO YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, POSITIONS THAT GENERATE AND ANALYZE DATA FOR GRANT REIMBURSEMENTS, COORDINATE ALL OF OUR CONFERENCE ROOMS, AND MANAGE ALL OF OUR ORDERS AND DELIVERIES.
ELIMINATING GENERAL FUND POSITIONS ARE UNWARRANTED.
THE FACT IS WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISAPPOINTING NEGOTIATION SESSIONS, WHERE SCCOE MANAGEMENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE REFUSED OUR PROPOSALS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF LAYOFFS UNLESS IT WAS ALREADY REQUIRED BY EDUCATION CODE, OUR CONTRACT, OR MERIT RULES, AND HAVE REFUSED TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO THESE LAYOFFS.
THESE LAYOFFS WILL DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ENTIRE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES.
SCCOE HAS CREATED ITS OWN DECLINING SPECIAL EDUCATION ENROLLMENT BY INTENTIONALLY CLOSING PROGRAMS TO PUSH DISTRICTS TO TAKE STUDENTS BACK, DELAYING OR NOT ACCEPTING APPROPRIATE REFERRALS AND RELYING ON FLAWED INACCURATE DATA AROUND ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.
WE WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD TO EXPECT 120-250 FEWER STUDENTS NEXT YEAR, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S LESS THAN 80, AND THESE CUTS WILL HARM THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.
STUDENTS WITH THE MOST EXTENSIVE NEEDS ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO YOUR FUNDING PRIORITIES ARE BEING PUSHED BACK TO DISTRICT PROGRAMS WHERE TEACHERS WHO ARE MOSTLY CREDENTIAL TO TEACH STUDENTS WHO NEED LESS SUPPORT.
[00:50:03]
HISTORY SHOWS THAT THESE STUDENTS TRICKLE BACK TO COUNTY PROGRAMS. WHY SHOULD THE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS BEAR THE BRUNT OF POOR DECISION MAKING? EVEN IF ALL THE LAYOFFS ARE RESCINDED, THE CULTURE OF TRUST, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND MUST BE REBUILT.SEIU MUST HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHERE OUR EXPERIENCE AND VOICES ARE VALUED WITH IMPACT AND NOT SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGED.
SCCOE IS LAYING OFF WORKERS DESPITE RELYING EXTENSIVELY ON LESS QUALIFIED, MORE EXPENSIVE CONTRACTORS IN THE VERY POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING REDUCED AND FULL CASE LOADS OF STUDENTS WILL NOT BE SERVED.
WE ASK THE BOARD TO STAND UP FOR STAFF AND CHILDREN WHO LITERALLY CANNOT SPEAK IN THEIR DEFENSE AND TO MAKE A LONG OVERDUE COURSE CORRECTION FOR YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DEFEND.
TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE THE PRIORITY IN THE BUDGET AND TO QUESTION SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
TO DIRECT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO COLLABORATE WITH US TO RESCIND AS MANY LAYOFFS AS POSSIBLE, AND TO END OUTSOURCING AND FULFILL OUTSTANDING INFORMATION REQUESTS SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DESIGNEE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST SOCIAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION (PSWA) FORWARD.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENTS.
>> SORRY. I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS EARLIER, BUT WE JUST APPRECIATE EVERYONE JUST RESPECTING OUR ABILITY TO BE EFFICIENT WITH OUR MEETING, SO THANK YOU.
I KNOW THERE'S A TIME WHERE THAT'S UP AND WE WANT TO BE SURE EVERYONE HAS A VOICE IN THIS PROCESS, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MEGAN FAN AND I'M THE PSWA REPRESENTATIVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE PSWA ROLE, AND I WANT TO THANK DR. HINMAN FOR MEETING WITH THE PSWA GROUP AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR UNIQUE ROLE AND HOW WE SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT WE WORK WITH.
AT THAT TIME, THE PSWA LEADERSHIP MET WITH DR. HINMAN AND DID LET HIM KNOW THAT WE WERE A UNIQUE ROLE, AS THE THREE OF US IN THE LEADERSHIP DO HAVE A COMBINED 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH SCCOE, AND YET ALL THREE OF US WERE FACING IMPACTS, WHETHER THAT WAS REASSIGNMENT, FULL-TIME POSITIONS BEING REDUCED TO PART-TIME, OR BEING LAID OFF.
PEOPLE BEING LAID OFF HAVE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS PLUS.
THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW EMPLOYEES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEDICATED TIME TO SCCOE AND ARE BEING IMPACTED.
WE DID MAKE A PROPOSAL THAT WE THINK IS VERY REASONABLE, AND IT IS IF THE CUTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AND THE STUDENT NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ARE ACCURATE.
WE CURRENTLY ARE PROJECTED TO LOSE 4.7 POSITIONS, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR 0.7 OF A POSITION BACK.
GIVING US THAT 0.7 POSITION OF IT BACK, IT WOULD ELIMINATE ALL PART-TIME POSITIONS.
PART-TIME POSITIONS ARE UNATTAINABLE.
A SIMPLE SCROLL OF EDGE JOIN, YOU CAN SEE A MILLION SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST JOBS AVAILABLE.
THESE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE US AND WE WILL BE LEFT WITH VACANCIES.
VACANCIES THAT WE WILL BE LEFT TO COVER AND WILL ONLY IMPACT HOW WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP OPEN THE THERAPEUTIC CLASSES.
THE THERAPEUTIC CLASSES SERVE STUDENTS WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES.
OUR PROGRAM IS VERY UNIQUE AND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO HAVE INTENSIVE SUPPORT WHILE BEING ON AN INTEGRATED MAINSTREAM CAMPUS.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO MAINSTREAM IN CLASSES AND BE ABLE TO WORK THEIR WAY BACK.
BY ELIMINATING THESE PROGRAMS, YOU'RE ALMOST FORCING THESE STUDENTS TO GO TO MORE RESTRICTIVE SETTING AND ELIMINATING A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE DISTRICTS AND BEING ABLE TO SERVE THOSE STUDENTS.
FINALLY, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE PSYCHOLOGISTS OF SCCOE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT HAS A BACKGROUND AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND AS ONE OF US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE THE DESIGNEE OR PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY EDUCATORS (ACE) FORWARD.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENTS.
REJU KRISHNA, ACE PRESIDENT AND DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. HINMAN, AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
DR. TOSTON, WELCOME TO SCCOE, A PLACE I VALUE AS MY WORK, ALMA MATER.
ACE CONTINUES TO HAVE DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE RATIONALE AND IMPACT OF THE LAYOFFS.
A HUGE 30% OF OUR ACE MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED LAYOFF NOTICES, INCLUDING HIGHLY SPECIALIZED HARD-TO-FILL POSITIONS.
OUR SEIU AND PSWA SIBLINGS HAVE SEEN THE SAME.
ENTIRE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AND OUR HIGHLY REGARDED WELLNESS CENTER STAFF, LEAVING 15 MANAGERS, BUT ONLY FIVE FRONTLINE WELLNESS SPECIALISTS.
IN ADDITION, OUR ONLY DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CLASSROOM, SERVING STUDENTS WITH DHH NEEDS WITH ADDITIONAL MULTIPLE AND COMPLEX NEEDS, HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.
[00:55:01]
THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN OUR DHH PROGRAM HAS BEEN WIDELY PUBLICIZED, MAKING ITS DISMANTLING EVEN MORE TROUBLING.YOU HEARD FROM A PARENT ABOUT THIS DEAF PLUS PROGRAM.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT SOME FAMILIES HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THIS PROGRAM, BEING TOLD THAT THIS PROGRAM DOESN'T EXIST.
THE QUESTION THAT THEN NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IS DECLINING ENROLLMENT, VERSUS DENIED ENROLLMENT, VERSUS DELAYED ENROLLMENT.
WE'RE TOLD THESE CUTS ARE NECESSARY DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT THE DATA PROVIDED TO JUSTIFY THESE LAYOFFS IS ERRONEOUS, MISLEADING, AND INACCURATE, IN PARTICULAR DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN ASSIGNED EXPENSES DURING THE SECOND INTERIM.
NOTEWORTHY, SECOND INTERIM BUDGET SHOWS A $9 MILLION INCREASE IN BOOKS AND SUPPLIES, AND A $55 MILLION INCREASE IN SERVICES AND OTHER.
DR. HINMAN, YOU HAVE TRIED VERY HARD.
BUT IN MY OPINION, YOUR DECISIONS SEEM TO BE BASED ON INACCURATE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, I ASK THAT THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHALLENGES MADE TO THE BUDGET.
THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MANY OF US HAVE LOST TOTAL TRUST IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
ADDING TO THE GROWING CONCERN IS THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE INCOMING SUPERINTENDENTS' COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
WHILE IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT SUPERINTENDENT SALARIES ARE NEGOTIATED SEPARATELY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE SUCH A HIGH LEVEL SALARY PACKAGE WITH SIMULTANEOUS LAYOFFS OF FRONTLINE EDUCATORS, BECAUSE COE DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
DR. TOSTON, I DO COMMEND YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS IN EARNING A GOOD CONTRACT FOR YOURSELF, AND I RESPECT THE ROLE YOU'VE EARNED.
THAT SAID, I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL NOW APPLY THAT SAME FINANCIAL ACUMEN AND LEADERSHIP TO RECONSIDER AND RESCIND THE LAYOFFS AFFECTING THOSE WHO SERVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
YOU'VE DESCRIBED BUDGET MANAGEMENT AS ONE OF YOUR STRENGTHS.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO DEMONSTRATE IT.
NOW DO IT FOR US. SAVE OUR JOBS, RESCIND LAYOFFS.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A CRITICAL BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED DISTINCTION.
THE DISPARITY BETWEEN INCLUSION AND BELONGING, WHICH IS ALSO YOUR DISSERTATION.
INCLUSION DURING THIS LAYOFF PROCESS MAY APPEAR EQUITABLE ON PAPER, STRUCTURE, DATA-DRIVEN, AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE, YET MANY EDUCATORS ARE WALKING AWAY FEELING BLINDSIDED, INVISIBLE, AND DISPOSABLE.
THAT IS THE ABSENCE OF BELONGING.
WE'RE NOT LINE ITEMS ON A SPREADSHEET.
WE SERVE STUDENTS AND THAT MATTERS.
A CULTURE OF BELONGING DOESN'T MEAN LAYOFFS WILL NEVER OCCUR.
IT MEANS THAT WHEN HARD DECISIONS ARE MADE, THEY'RE NOT ONLY JUSTIFIABLE, BUT ALSO ETHICAL AND EMPATHETIC.
I HOPE ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. TOSTON WILL LEAD FROM THIS PLACE OF INTEGRITY, ASK HARD QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS TO GET AN ACCURATE FINANCIAL DESCRIPTION OF COE.
A BUDGET REFLECTS AN ORGANIZATION'S PRIORITIES.
WE'RE URGING THE BOARD AND DR. TOSTON TO PRIORITIZE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF COE, AND HOPE THAT IN YOUR FIRST WEEK, BEGINNING MAY 1ST, YOU WILL REVIEW THE ACCURACY OF THE FINANCIAL DATA-DRIVING THESE LAYOFF DECISIONS, EXPLORE CREATIVE ETHICAL SOLUTIONS TO RETAIN STAFF, AND ACT SWIFTLY TO RESCIND AS MANY OF THESE LAYOFFS AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE THE TRUE MEASURE OF AN ORGANIZATION'S INTEGRITY IS NOT HOW YOU TREAT US WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD.
IT IS HOW YOU TREAT US WHEN TIMES ARE HARD.
WE HAVE A SHORT TIMELINE, MAY 15TH.
ACE LOOKS FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RESCIND LAYOFFS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION AS THESE CUTS WILL DECIMATE THE WORK THAT SCCOE DOES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL PROCEED TO ITEM 6, CONSENT ACTION ITEMS.
[6. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS]
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR CONSENT ACTION ITEMS A-J.>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM VICE PRESIDENT CHAN. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE LAURIE.
TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.
THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS SEVEN, ACTION ITEMS.
[A. Approval of the Budget Revisions for the Month of March 2025]
DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THIS ITEM?>> YES. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
THIS ACTION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY STEPHANIE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINMAN AND TRUSTEES.
FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE NEW REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT ARE LISTED ON OUR REVIEW FOR THE MONTH.
[01:00:01]
WE'VE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 2.1 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDS.FIVE-HUNDRED THOUSAND OF IT IS PART OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, AND THIS IS TO COORDINATE AND HELP BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT AND COORDINATE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
THAT'S ONE-TIME FUNDS THAT WE DID RECEIVE FOR THAT EFFORT.
A LARGER PORTION WE RECEIVED WAS 1.547 MILLION FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE SCHOOLING PARTNERSHIP AND CAPACITY GRANT.
THIS IS THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
I HAD PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS ABOUT WHEN WE INITIALLY RECEIVED OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP GRANT THAT SUPPORTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SET TO EXPIRE.
THIS FUNDING IS SET UP THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO HELP BUILD A WAY TO BILL FOR THESE SERVICES AND TO HELP SUPPORT OUR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.
THOSE ARE THE TWO ITEMS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE MONTH, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> I HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE CYBHI PARTNERSHIP GRANT.
THAT IS A GREAT FUNDING SOURCE, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE AMOUNT THAT'S ON THERE.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN USE FROM THAT FUNDING? BECAUSE TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR STAFFING.
WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO BE USED IN THAT WAY?
>> WHEN WE APPLY FOR A GRANT AND WE RECEIVE THE GRANT AND WE ENTER TO THE PARTNERSHIP, THERE ARE SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THE WORK.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT ARE BUDGETED, BUT IT'S PROVIDING THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT ARE FUNDED BY THIS GRANT.
>> LIKE, COUNSELING AND PSYCH POSITIONS?
>> NO. DEBBIE, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN? THIS IS DEBBIE'S AREA OF WORK, SO SHE KNOWS IT MORE INTIMATELY.
>> YES, THIS IS BASED ON THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
ACTUALLY, SOME OF THIS MONEY IS WHAT WE CONSIDER PASS-THROUGH MONEY, BECAUSE THE MONEY ACTUALLY COMES TO US, AND THEN WE GIVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY MUST HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO USE THAT FUNDING AND PROVIDE THAT PLAN TO US AND TO SACRAMENTO WHO OVERSEES US.
IT'S THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION THAT ACTUALLY OVERSEES THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.
>> LET'S JUST SAY COUNSELORS OR SCHOOL PSYCHS, OR SOCIAL WORKERS OR WHATEVER IS ABLE TO CHARGE BILLING FOR THEIR SERVICES AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEN THEY USE OUR PROGRAM; OUR SERVICES AS LIKE A PASS-THROUGH.
THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT WE HAVE WELLNESS CENTERS, AND WE HAVE THOSE TYPES OF POSITIONS AS WELL, SO ARE WE NOT ABLE TO USE THIS GRANT FUNDING FOR OUR POSITIONS?
>> WE HAVE SOME MONEY FOR THAT ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PERSONNEL SERVICES BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME POSITIONS IN THAT AREA THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING BACK WITH SOME OF THIS FUNDING ALREADY.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT IN A WEEKLY REPORT.
>> THAT WOULD BE GOOD JUST TO SEE.
THEN IF WE ARE DOING THAT, JUST MAKING SURE THAT IF THAT'S THE PLAN THAT THAT'S BEING COMMUNICATED TO EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE AS AN EDUCATOR, THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE START TO LOOK, AND SO I WOULD HATE FOR US TO LOSE GREAT EMPLOYEES WITH A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF OUR PROGRAMS AND THEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, I DO KNOW MY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ALONG WITH PERSONNEL SERVICES HAVE BEEN NOTIFYING STAFF MEMBERS OF POSITIONS.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT LONG-TERM FUNDING.
THIS IS STILL CONSIDERED ONE-TIME FUNDING, SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALSO AWARE OF THE DURATION OF THIS FUNDING.
>> SURE. BUT I MEAN, WE APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING ALL THE TIME?
>> I THINK THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS THAT PORTION, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO OUR PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THESE REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS REALLY NEW, THAT THIS WHOLE TYPE OF BEING ABLE TO BILL FOR THESE SERVICES IS REALLY NEW.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S LOTS OF AREAS WHERE WE'RE STILL LEARNING THE KINKS, BUT IT IS GOOD TO, I THINK, WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES ON THIS, JUST SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE ARE INFORMING THEM OF WHAT THIS GRANT IS.
WE DO VALUE TRANSPARENCY AND WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE GRANT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
THEY ALSO KNOW IN THE COMMUNICATION THAT YES, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING FOR MORE FUNDING, AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT BILLING WILL ALSO BE IN A BETTER PLACE IN A YEAR OR TWO TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK MORE.
>> THEN THE CYBHI, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FUNDING IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON A THREE-YEAR BASIS.
[01:05:01]
WE DO THEM IN TIERS, AND IT'S DONE OVER THREE YEARS.IS THAT NOT TRUE FOR HOW IT WORKS HERE?
>> WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO CYBHI BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING STRUCTURE AND THE DELAY IN GETTING BILLING UP AND RUNNING.
THIS PORTION, YES, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A TIERED STRUCTURE.
THIS IS STILL FROM THE INITIAL TIER, IF YOU WILL.
BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A DELAY IN THAT, SO THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE TIMELINE TO USE FUNDING.
>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL BE CONTINUALLY WORKING IN?
>> FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PORTION, YES.
>> THEN A QUESTION ABOUT THE 500,000.
I'M SORRY, I CAN WAIT IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAS A QUESTION.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? TRUSTEE SPEISER.
>> ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT SHE WAS ASKING, AS IT RELATES TO, YOU SAID WITH CYBHI THAT SOME STAFF WERE SAVED WITH THAT FUNDING.
IS THERE ANY OTHER STAFFS THAT WAS SAVED WITH ANY OF THE OTHER NEW FUNDING?
>> EXACTLY. YOU'LL HEAR US SAY OFTEN BRAIDING FUNDING.
IS ACTUALLY WHEN WE USE GRANT FUNDS, WE NORMALLY TAKE A VARIETY OF GRANTS.
THERE'S ALSO, I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER THE ACRONYM.
>> BLENDING AND BRAIDING OF FUNDS.
>> BLENDING AND BRAIDING. BUT THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER GRANT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, SPHEP FUNDING AND SOME OTHERS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TO BRING BACK WHO WE CAN.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE DISTRICTS AS WELL BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MONEY IS INTENDED TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE DISTRICTS.
THE COUNTY OFFICE IS REQUIRED BY MANY OF THESE GRANTS TO BE THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GET EVERY DISTRICT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN HIRE AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD.
>> COULD YOU SPEAK TO ANY WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO IDENTIFY MORE GRANTS, NEW GRANTS?
OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM WORKS IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE OUR GRANTS TEAM THAT IS CONSTANTLY SCOURING PRETTY MUCH EVERY RESOURCE YOU CAN THINK OF, FROM FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, AND PRIVATE FUNDING TO BRING IN GRANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE AT THE GROUND LEVEL WHO ARE OUT AT CONFERENCES AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT GRANTS MAY BE COMING UP, SO WE CAN GET A HEAD START ON THINGS, LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT FUNDING.
BUT HONESTLY, THAT IS A MAJOR PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, AT LEAST IN MY DIVISIONS, IS LOOKING FOR FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO.
>> I WANTED TO GO NOW TO THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, THE $500,000 GRANT THERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE THAT GRANT FUNDING IS BEING ALLOCATED TO? WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMS ARE WE SPENDING ON OR WHAT'S BEING USED FOR?
>> THAT'S ALSO VERY SIMILAR TO THE OTHER? WE ARE A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS BASED ON MOUS WITH THE DISTRICTS WHO APPLIED AS PART OF THE CONSORTIUM TO BE ABLE TO CREATE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICTS.
MOST OF THAT IS ALREADY EARMARKED IN THE GRANT WITH THE EXACT DISTRICTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE FUNDING.
WE ACTUALLY, AS A COUNTY, DO NOT RETAIN A LOT OF THAT FUNDING HERE.
>> I SEE. THEN IS THERE A REASON THAT IT'S DONE THAT WAY THAT, WHY DO WE GET THE GRANT MONEY? THEN WHY DO WE DECIDE WHERE IT GOES THEN IF WE'RE NOT EVEN RETAINING THAT MONEY?
IT DEPENDS ON THE GRANT TOURS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP GRANTS, WHICH ARE THE WELLNESS CENTERS, THE GRANT THAT IS ENDING.
DURING COVID, CDE DICTATED WHICH SCHOOLS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO OPEN UP THEIR WELLNESS CENTER? LOT OF TIMES COUNTY OFFICES ARE IN CHARGED WITH BEING PART OF A CONSORTIUM PER SE TO GET THE MONEY AND BE THE FISCAL AGENT, BUT WE DON'T TECHNICALLY GET TO KEEP THE MONEY.
WE'RE JUST RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS THAT ARE NAMED BY THE GRANTOR RECEIVE THAT MONEY, DO THE WORK, MEET THOSE DELIVERABLES, AND THEN WE HAVE A PART TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY MONEY THAT'S NOT SPENT, THEY RETURN IT OR THEY HAVE SOME REPORTING STRUCTURE.
THAT'S VERY COMMON FOR A COE TO BE THE FISCAL AGENT.
>> THEN THAT SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR, WHERE WE SUPPORTED A LOT OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN BUILDING THEIR WELLNESS CENTERS.
[01:10:03]
I HAVE HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS THAT A LOT OF WELLNESS CENTERS THAT WERE OPENED DURING COVID ARE NOW BEING CLOSED.IS THIS GRANT FUNDING GOING TO SUPPORT KEEPING THOSE WELLNESS CENTERS OPENED, WHETHER IT IS AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> WITHIN OUR COUNTY PROGRAMS, WE ARE NOT HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND WE ARE NOT CLOSING WELLNESS CENTERS COUNTY.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE RECONFIGURING.
KEEP IN MIND THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF SCHOOL CLOSURES.
YOU WILL HEAR THAT SOME WELLNESS CENTERS ARE CLOSING.
THEY ARE CLOSING BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS BEING CONSOLIDATED WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T KEEP A WELLNESS CENTER ON A CLOSED CAMPUS.
YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CENTERS THAT YES, THEY ARE CLOSING.
IN OTHER CASES, DISTRICTS ARE UTILIZING THE WELLNESS CENTER CONCEPT IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE CHOOSING THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING.
THEY MAY NOT BE CALLING IT A WELLNESS CENTER, IT MIGHT BE CALLED SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DISTRICT.
WE DO NOT GET TO DICTATE THAT.
>> I SEE. THE WELLNESS CENTERS I WAS HEARING OF CLOSING ARE NOT IN DISTRICTS WHERE THEY'RE HAVING SCHOOL CLOSURES, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO JUST EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WELLNESS CENTERS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IS UP TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT PART OF IT TOO IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH THROUGHOUT OUR LARGE DISTRICTS, TOO.
>> I WILL BE PERFECTLY HONEST.
OUR GOAL IF WE CAN GET THERE IS TO HAVE A WELLNESS CENTER AT EVERY SCHOOL.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE US A WHILE TO GET THERE.
WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS NOT ONLY THROUGH OUR YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, BUT THROUGH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BLEND AND BRAID FUNDING WHILE WE'RE WAITING AS WELL FOR BILLING TO TAKE HOLD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET FROM THAT TO BE ABLE TO EITHER OPEN OR SUSTAIN WHAT THEY HAVE.
>> BUT FULLY STAFFED AND SUPPORTED.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN, I THINK I SAW YOURS FIRST.
>> THANK YOU. I'M CORRECT IN SEEING THAT THIS PAST MONTH, WE INCREASED OUR LEGAL SERVICES BY $750,000.
>> YES, THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE ALLOCATIONS AND THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.
>> GIVEN LAST MONTH, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF $200,000.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST 1 MILLION OVER TWO MONTHS.
THAT'S DEEPLY CONCERNING TO ME.
I THINK THAT IT LOOKS LIKE UNCHECKED IN TERMS OF THE SPENDING THERE AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET LATER, BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.
BUT FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS.
ALTHOUGH I DO SUPPORT THE CIBHI AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK THAT AS A BOARD, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT TYPE OF SPENDING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S PROPOSED CUTS. THANK YOU.
>> MY QUESTION IS MORE JUST TO UNDERSTAND OUR SOURCES OF FEDERAL FUNDS, WHICH ARE LAID OUT IN THIS DOCUMENT, AND IF YOU CAN JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COMMOTION REGARDING OUR FEDERAL FUNDING.
THERE'S MIGRANT ED, THERE'S HEAD START, THERE'S ESSA, AND THEN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A SEPARATE BUCKET, CORRECT?
>> SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A FEE FOR SERVICE.
WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
IT'S ALL BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO ENROLL THEIR STUDENTS.
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO THE CHART NORMALLY AND IT SHOWS THE AB602 SPECIAL BREAKOUT OF FUNDS AT OUR CELLS DISTRIBUTE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THAT'S WHAT PAYS FOR THE SERVICES, AND IT COMES FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT OPT TO ENROLL IN OUR PROGRAMS.
>> WE RECEIVE NO RESTRICTED FUNDS TO FUND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.
>> CORRECT. IT'S AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM.
NOT EVERY COUNTY OFFICE PROVIDES IT, AND IT'S NOT A PROGRAM THAT WE GET ANY FUNDING FOR.
ANY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WE HAVE, THEY'RE ALL FROM DISTRICTS.
>> MIGRANT AT HEAD START, ESSA, ARE THOSE THREE ONLY BUCKETS FOR FEDERAL.
>> WE GET A VARIETY OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FUNDS.
I DON'T HAVE THEM ALL ON TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THE LARGER ONES ARE HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START, AND MIGRANT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR LARGEST FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THOSE ARE REIMBURSEMENT BASED GRANTS, SO YOU HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSES TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING FOR THOSE GRANTS.
>> WHEN WE SEE ADJUSTMENTS SUCH AS FOR MIGRANT EDUCATION THROUGH THE GRANT AWARD NOTIFICATION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
[01:15:03]
>> WE'VE HAD TIMES WHERE THIS WOULD SAY THAT THE REVENUES, SO THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL SPIKE IN THE AMOUNT OF ENROLLMENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME.
WHEN WE GOT OUR GRANT AWARD NOTIFICATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, I WOULD SAY IN THE JULY TIME PERIOD FOR THE '24, '25 FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN TIMES IN PERIODS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHERE MAYBE WHEN THEY LOOKED AT OUR ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAM.
WE'VE GOTTEN REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING THAT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THIS MEANS THERE WAS A SLIGHT SPIKE, SO WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $43,000. IT DOES FLUCTUATE.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS. IT JUST MEANS THAT WE GOT SOMETHING FROM THE GRANT HORSE SET STATING THAT FOR THIS TIME PERIOD, YOU RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 43,000.
BUT IT'S STILL REIMBURSEMENT BASE, SO WE STILL HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENDITURES, HAVE THE STUDENTS TO SUPPORT WITH THE SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING REIMBURSED.
>> ESSENTIALLY, THIS 43,000 IN ADJUSTMENT, IT'S AN AMOUNT THAT'S ALREADY ENCUMBERED WE CAN'T.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO SPEND.
IT'S JUST INCURRING THE SERVICES WE'RE ALREADY GETTING AND REIMBURSING.
>> ACTUALLY, IT MEANS THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO BUDGET AN ADDITIONAL $43,000.
IT DID GO UP A LITTLE BIT FROM OUR ORIGINAL GRANT APPLICATION. BUT IT'S JUST BUDGET.
IF WE HAVEN'T INCURRED THE EXPENDITURES, WE DO IT REIMBURSEMENT BASED.
WE HAD TO SUBMIT REPORTS TO ACTUALLY GET THE ACTUAL MONEY, BUT THIS BUDGET REPORT IS JUST SHOWING ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR BUDGETS THAT WERE MADE IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
>> MY LAST QUESTION IS, IF WE DON'T SPEND ALL OF THIS 43,000, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
SAME THING WITH THE HEAD START FUNDS.
MAJORITY OF OUR GRANTS ARE REIMBURSEMENT BASED.
WHILE WE GET THE ALLOCATION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL GO THROUGH IN OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION, THE FLUCTUATIONS OF THE BUDGETS, BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET TO KEEP ALL THAT MONEY.
IT'S NOT REAL MONEY. WE HAVE TO GET REIMBURSEMENTS.
IF WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY, THEN WE HAVE TO RETURN THE FUNDS TO THE GRANTS.
>> HAS THERE EVER BEEN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE OVERSPENT AND WOULD HAVE TO DIP INTO OUR GENERAL FUND TO COVER ANY OF THE NEGATIVE.
I THINK THE TEAM DOES A REALLY GREAT JOB MONITORING.
THAT'S WHY WE BRING OUR BUDGET REVISIONS HERE EVERY MONTH.
WE ALSO DO OUR FIRST INTERIM, SECOND INTERIM.
WE BRING ANY UPDATES TO THE BUDGET ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THE FEDERAL.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
DID WE RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL GRANT THIS MONTH, THE $50,000 ONE?
>> YES, WE DID GET $50,000 COMPUTER SCIENCE SUPPLEMENTARY AUTHORIZATION GRANT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT CANNOT BE SPENT ON STAFF?
>> IS THAT PART OF A CONDITION OF THE GRANT OR HOW IS THAT DETERMINED?
>> YES. WHEN WE APPLY FOR GRANTS, THE GRANTS, WHEN WE DO THE GRANT APPLICATION, IT'LL GIVE YOU THE GUIDELINES ON WHAT THE GRANT CAN BE SPENT FOR.
IF IT'S A SMALL GRANT LIKE THIS, TYPICALLY, WE WOULD APPLY FOR, AND IT WOULD TELL US YOU CAN USE THIS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT OR TO SUPPORT SOMETHING IN THIS CASE IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCE AREA.
BUT THE GRANT DOES DICTATE WHAT WE CAN SPEND THE FUNDS FOR.
>> THERE'S NOTHING, I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE OF WANTING OR NEEDING OR REQUIRING TO USE CONTRACTORS FOR THAT.
>> FOR THIS PART GRANT, IT COULD BE FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT, AND IT'S $50,000.
IT COULD BE THAT WE WERE CONTRACTING WITH SOMEONE THAT SPECIALIZES IN THAT AREA TO DO THE WORK BECAUSE THE AMOUNT IS SO SMALL, AND IT'S A ONE TIME FUNDING SOURCE TOO.
>> I DO AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT VICE PRESIDENT CHAN WAS ASKING ABOUT, AND I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE GRANTS, AND IF IT IS ALLOWABLE TO BE ABLE TO USE STAFF.
I KNOW IT'S TRICKY WITH ONE TIME DOLLARS, BUT GIVEN OUR SITUATION, THEN ALSO TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM, WE SHOULD BE MOVING AWAY FROM, WE SHOULDN'T BE USING CONTRACTORS WHEN IT'S ALLOWABLE, OBVIOUSLY, JUST IN THE SENSE OF ALSO STABILITY FOR ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? THERE IS OTHER BUDGET.
YES. THERE'S A LARGER BUDGET ITEM.
BUDGET GENERALLY ITEM, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND FISCAL PLANNING ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. YES.
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2025.
>> THERE'S A SECOND. A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE SPEISER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARDDOCS.
[01:20:06]
THAT MOTION PASSES WITH SIX AYES AND ONE NO. THANK YOU.OUR NEXT ACTION ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF
[B. Approval of Employment Contract and Appointment of County Superintendent of Schools]
THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.FOR THE CONTRACT, WE HAVE DR. DAVID M. TOSTON PRESENT, AND THE CONTRACT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AS PROPOSED ON MAY 1ST, IF APPROVED, AND THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AS AGENDIZED.
MAKE SURE I HAVE MY ATTACHMENTS PULLED UP.
FOR A TERM OF APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AND TWO MONTHS COMMENCING MAY 1ST, 2025 WITH AN ENDING OF JUNE 30TH, 2028.
TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DR. TOSTON.
DR. TOSTON BRINGS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING ROLES OF A TEACHER, COUNSELOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR, AND COUNTY LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR.
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT WE APPRECIATE IN EDUCATION.
EQUITY AND SYSTEMS LEVEL HIS WORK AS AN EQUITY AND SYSTEMS LEVEL LEADER.
HIS STRONG TRACK RECORD OF LEADING STATEWIDE INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT, AND MOST RECENTLY AS SENIOR ADVISER OF THE CALIFORNIA COLLABORATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
IN 2020, DR. TOSTON BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA ADVISORY COMMISSION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION AFTER BEING APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION IN 2017.
HE ALSO HOLDS A DOCTORATE IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE, WHERE HIS RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INCLUSION AND BELONGING IN K-12 EDUCATION.
DR. TOSTON CONTINUES TO MENTOR AND TEACH AS AN ADJECT FACULTY MEMBER AND EMPHASIZES COLLABORATION WITH TRUSTEES, EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DREAMS. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TRUSTEES FOR ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
I DO WANT TO SAY I DO EXPRESS OPTIMISM FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, A POTENTIAL SUPERINTENDENT PENDING THIS CONTRACT.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I AM A STRONG PROPONENT THAT BUDGET REFLECTS PRIORITIES, AND OUR PRIORITY IS HAVING A LEADER IN THIS COUNTY.
BUT WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, I HAD EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SALARY.
I WILL SAY I DO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT MOVING FORWARD, SOMEONE THAT IS VERY STRONG, GOING TO LEAD US THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES AND A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION IS ALWAYS A PLUS IN MY BOOK.
BUT THAT I DO STRUGGLE WITH THE PROPOSED SALARY.
I KNOW THAT WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.
BUT I WOULD JUST HOPE AND URGE THAT GIVEN THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF OUR LAYOFFS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH OUR CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES, AND JUST THE COMPENSATION DISPARITY THAT WE OFTEN SEE IN EDUCATION WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS, PAIRS, AND MAJORITY OF STAFF, THAT WE REALLY CONSIDER THAT AND THINK ABOUT AND ARE COGNIZANT OF THESE IMBALANCES MOVING FORWARD, AND THAT WE REALLY LEAD AS A COUNTY OFFICE WITH EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO COMPENSATION DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
>> TRUSTEES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN AND THEN TRUSTEE ROCHA.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT VICE PRESIDENT CHAN SAID AS WELL. I AGREE.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE DEADLINE TO NOTIFY EMPLOYEES ABOUT LAYOFFS IS MARCH 15TH, AND THERE'S ALSO A DEADLINE MAY 15TH.
TO RESCIND THE LAYOFFS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I KNOW THAT IF THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED, DR. TOSTON WOULD BE STARTING MAY 1ST.
I JUST WANT TO URGE AND REFLECT ON THAT FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE TWO WEEKS FOR THEM TO STUDY AND COME UP TO SPEED ON OUR BUDGET, AND I HOPE THEY WORK WITH STAFF TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.
I ALSO HAVE SOME OPTIMISM, BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT THE TEAM UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP CAN REVERSE AND RESCIND THE MASS LAYOFFS AND MEET THAT DEADLINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
[01:25:01]
>> THANK YOU. GO TO SHIFT GEARS AND GO ON A MORE POSITIVE SIDE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY THIS IS, AND HOPEFULLY IT IS FOR YOU. FOR ME, IT IS.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH A SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS A VISION FOR EMBRACING AND BEING COLLABORATIVE WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, ITS WORKFORCE, AND THE BOARD, AND I BELIEVE THE DECISION WE MADE IS GOING TO LEAD THAT DIRECTION.
CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
I'M SURE YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT. I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND NOT EXPECTING YOU TO CHANGE THE WORLD ON MAY 1ST.
I HAVE FAITH IN YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE THIS AGENCY THE PREMIER ORGANIZATION THAT FOLKS WANT IT TO BE.
YOU HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY HERE IN TERMS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO SUPPORT YOU IN THAT.
YOU HAVE A GREAT WORKFORCE HERE, AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS SERVICE FROM THIS AGENCY.
YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS POSITION.
>> TRUSTEE SPEISER, AND THEN TRUSTEE LAURIE.
>> I WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYBODY SAY.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BRING YOU ON.
BOTH JOJI AND I GOT TO ACTUALLY SPEND TIME WITH DR.
TOSTON THIS WEEKEND AT THE COUNTY BOARD GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP, AND HE WAS TRAINING US ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH AN EQUITY LENS.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WASN'T JUST YOUR NORMAL COMMUNITY, IT'S EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE SKILLS BEING USED IN OUR COUNTY.
ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT TARA WAS SAYING IS ACTUALLY USING THOSE SKILLS TO LOOK AT THE LAYOFFS AND WORK WITH OUR LABOR GROUPS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, JUST TO TRULY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I KNOW IT IS A HEFTY TASK AND IT IS TWO WEEKS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT ONE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE UP TO THE TASK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE MUCH NEEDED STABILITY FROM NOW ON. THANK YOU.
>> PRESIDENT BERTA, IS IT APPROPRIATE AFTER THE BOARD GIVES THEIR COMMENT FOR DR. TOSTON TO SAY A FEW WORDS OR WILL THAT BE HAPPENING? I'M PUTTING HIM ON THE SPOT.
>> PRECEDING THE VOTE, WE DO HAVE A PLAN TO ALLOW FOR SOME TIME, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE DR. TOSTON PRESENT, SO ALLOW SOME TIME FOR FOLKS TO MINGLE. TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> I DON'T THINK I DISAGREE WITH A SINGLE THING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE STATED.
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY EXCITEMENT FOR YOU TO JOIN WHAT I BELIEVE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.
IT TAKES A CERTAIN SPECIAL PERSON TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AT A TIME LIKE THIS.
YOUR TALENT AND SKILLS ARE CERTAINLY THE REASON WHY I DECIDED TO SUPPORT AND WILL SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOU WILL BE THE MOST HIGHLY PAID COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT IN OUR STATE.
WITH THAT, WILL COME GREAT EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL LEAD WHAT I HOPE TO BE THE BEST COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS CONTRACT AND WORKING WITH YOU AS A MEMBER OF THIS GOVERNANCE TEAM. THANK YOU, DR. TOSTON.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL, SO I WILL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I THINK THINGS THAT HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN VERY TOP OF MIND, JUST APPROACHING THIS POSITION AS A TRULY AS A SPECIAL EDUCATOR, AND COMING FROM THE CLASSROOM AND KNOWING THAT, WE DO HAVE EDUCATORS AND FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING REALLY TO SURVIVE IN THE BAY AREA AND THE SILICON VALLEY, AND WE SEE THAT AND TRULY FEEL THAT HERE TODAY.
I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT YOU, DR. TOSTON, HAS BEEN FROM EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED, HAS BEEN REALLY GROUNDING IN THESE REALLY UNPRECEDENTED TIMES ACROSS THE BOARD, ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO KNOW THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE IN YOU, THE LEADER WE NEED IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
RECOGNIZING ALSO THAT, WE DO NEED TO WORK ON REBUILDING THE TRUST AND PART OF THAT IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN A DEEPER WAY.
THE BOARD'S ROLE IS REALLY THE OVERSIGHT IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET,
[01:30:01]
AND SO THAT'S THE HOPE IS, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO, BUT I CERTAINLY BELIEVE YOU'RE UP TO THE TASK AND CAN HELP RESTORE THAT TRUST AND MORALE IN THIS ORGANIZATION.I AM READY THERE WITH YOU AND IT APPEARS THAT YOU HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE BOARD AS WELL IN BEING THAT THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND GOVERNANCE TEAM THAT OUR STUDENTS ULTIMATELY NEED, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TO SERVE. THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, MAY I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. WAITING FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOLS FROM TRUSTEE ROCHA, AND A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE PACHECO.
IF YOU'LL PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.
BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS APPROVED THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND APPOINTMENT OF DR. DAVID M TOSTON SENIOR.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL BE TAKING A SHORT BREAK RIGHT AFTER I GO THROUGH THE CLOSED SESSION.
RUNDOWN. DR. TOSTON IS HERE AS WELL WITH US.
THE BOARD WILL ENTER CLOSED SESSION SHORTLY.
[9. CLOSED SESSION]
CLOSE SESSION INVOLVES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.ONCE IN CLOSED SESSION, I WILL CALL THE CLOSED SESSION TO ORDER AND REQUEST THAT EACH TRUSTEE STATE THEIR NAME TO RECORD WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE AND TO AFFIRM AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARAMETERS FOR THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN CLOSED SESSION.
THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA INCLUDES TWO ITEMS, A, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION, GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 D1.
UPDATE REGARDING LITIGATION THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN? MARIAN DAWAN V. SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, CASE NUMBER 24 CV 449081 SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.
B, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, INITIATION OF LITIGATION, PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 4 OF SUBDIVISION D OF SECTION 54956.93 CASES.
I'M SURE EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO MEET DR. TOSTON WE WILL TAKE A 15 MINUTE RECESS AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT CLOSED SESSION?
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF 15 MINUTE RECESS AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE CAFETERIA FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS.
AFTER THAT TIME, WE WILL RETURN APPROXIMATELY ONE AND 1/2 HOURS AT/OR AFTER BE 8:00.
>> YOU CAUGHT THE END OF ME SAYING SHOULD I JUST SCREAM.
GOOD EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO RESUME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
[A. Report of Actions Taken in Closed Session]
PRESIDENT BERTA JUST NEEDED TO TAKE A BREAK, SO I WILL PRESIDE OVER UNTIL SHE RETURNS.WE ARE READY TO RESUME OPEN SESSION, AND THE TIME IS NOW 9:16 P.M.
UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 8A, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, EXISTING LITIGATION, GOVERNMENT CODE 54956.9 D1, UPDATE REGARDING LITIGATION THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, MARIAN DAWAN V. SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, CASE NUMBER 24 CV 449081.
THERE ARE NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS.
UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 8B, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, INITIATION OF LITIGATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 4 OF SUBDIVISION D OF SECTION 54956.93 THREE CASES.
THERE ARE NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS.
[A. Enhancing the Santa Clara County Office of Education Deaf / Hard of Hearing Program]
WE HAVE FOUR INFORMATION DISCUSSION ITEMS THIS EVENING, AND DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE PRESENT THE FIRST ITEM?>> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT CHAN.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT DR. JENNIFER ANN,
[B. 2025-2026 Special Education Program Update]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OUR DHH PROGRAM. DR. ANN.>> BEFORE WE BEGIN, THE SLIDES ARE NOT VIEWABLE ON THESE SCREENS.
COULD WE ADJUST THAT? THANK YOU, DAVID. THERE. NO. IT CAME FOR LIKE ONE SECOND.
>> REAL QUICK, VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, TO TAKE THIS MOMENT.
[01:35:04]
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS FOR 1TEMS 10A, 10B, AND 10D.WE WILL TAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE PRESENTATION, BUT BEFORE BOARD QUESTIONS.
>> I CHOSE TODAY TO USE MY PROGRESSIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME, SO IT'S REALLY QUITE INTERESTING WITH MY GLASSES.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, SUPERINTENDENT DR. HINMAN, AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS DR. JEN ANN, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, MS. MARIAN BELSKI, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AT THE LAURENT CLERC NATIONAL DEAF EDUCATION CENTER, A LEADING INSTITUTION IN ADVANCING EDUCATION FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS NATIONWIDE.
SHE WILL BE SHARING INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOCUSED ON ENHANCING THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR WORK TOGETHER AND HOW THIS WILL STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR OUR DEAF HARD OF HEARING LEARNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MS. BELSKI TO LEAD US THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE CLERC CENTER TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU, JEN ANN. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US SET UP THIS CAMERA AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FOR ME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ACCOMMODATING MY NEEDS.
THE CLERC CENTER IS NOT A PLACE THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF BEFORE, BUT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND THAT WAS FOUNDED 161 YEARS AGO.
IT'S AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS.
I AM A PROUD ALUMN OF THAT INSTITUTION AS ARE SEVERAL OF YOUR STAFF WHO WORK IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
THEY GRADUATED FROM GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY AS WELL.
THE CLERC CENTER PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS ON CAMPUS.
ONE IS A BIRTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE SCHOOL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ON CAMPUS.
WE ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL OUTREACH TEAM WHO TRAVELS AROUND AND PROVIDES PRESENTATIONS.
WE CAN DO THAT WELL BECAUSE WE OPERATE THESE TWO SCHOOLS.
WE SEE WHAT WORKS WELL IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THEN PRESENT ABOUT IT ACROSS THE NATION.
WE'RE ABLE TO ADVISE SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF THAT CONNECTION.
THE PICTURES I CHOSE FOR THE SLIDES THAT YOU CAN SEE REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE.
THEY CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR EDUCATION.
THEY CAN STAND IN FRONT OF A GROUP AND GIVE A PRESENTATION.
YOU SEE HERE A VERY YOUNG LEARNER STANDING IN FRONT OF A GROUP, GIVING A PRESENTATION.
THEY CAN DO WORK ON THEIR LAPTOPS, THEIR IPADS, THEY CAN IMPLEMENT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT'S WHAT EVERY PROGRAM AROUND THE US SHOULD STRIVE FOR.
THE BENEFIT OF HAVING ASL AND ENGLISH BOTH IS THAT STUDENTS WHO GO THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THAT WILL GRADUATE WITH TWO LANGUAGES.
THEY WILL HAVE ASL AND ENGLISH MASTERY.
ASL IS NOT VIEWED AS SOMETHING THAT IS MEANT TO SUPPORT ENGLISH.
ASL IS ITS OWN LANGUAGES ENGLISH, TWO LANGUAGES.
OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM OUR PROGRAMS AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR JOURNEYS IN LIFE.
OUR JOB IS TO EDUCATE THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED AND THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS AND DO WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO IF IT'S GO TO COLLEGE OR DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE.
THEY HAVE THAT CHOICE, AND THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S OUR GOAL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HOSTED A NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE, WHERE WE INVITED TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS TO COME ON CAMPUS AND SEE OUR PROGRAMS IN ACTION.
IT'S ONE THING TO SHARE A PRESENTATION AND SAY WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IT'S GOOD WORK,
[01:40:03]
BUT YOU HAVE NO REAL CONNECTION TO THAT.WHEN ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AND TEACHERS CAN COME AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING, THEY MAKE REAL CONNECTIONS.
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM FOR SCCOE CAME TO THAT OPEN HOUSE.
WE ASKED THEM, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE AN IDEAL GRADUATE FROM YOUR PROGRAM TO LEAVE WITH? DEAF PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THEM TO SAY, THAT'S AN SCCOE GRADUATE? WHAT DOES THAT STUDENT LOOK LIKE? WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND WE CREATED THE PROFILE OF AN IDEAL GRADUATE.
WE SAID, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE, STARTING IN PRESCHOOL, STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL? HOW DO WE CREATE THAT GRADUATE? THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE CREATED.
BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, YOU CAN PLAN FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT THAT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE AND YOUR PLANS HAVE TO CHANGE, AND WE DECIDED TO PLAN FOR ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SLIDE IS WHAT WE'RE DOING CURRENTLY.
WE ARE PREPARING FOR AUGUST FOR THE KICKOFF OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, WE'RE DISCUSSING THE DATA, WHAT DATA DO WE NEED TO DECIDE WHERE YOUR PROGRAM SHOULD GO, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR PROGRAM ARE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE MEETING WITH SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS ON YOUR STAFF, GETTING READY.
AFTER THAT, WE ARE SETTING EXPECTATIONS.
WE ARE SETTING UP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
WHAT'S GREAT IS THAT THE CLERC CENTER WILL BE OFFERING WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING YOU TAKE IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF AND TEACHERS.
>> NOW WE HAVE SET THE EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THIS SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING ALL OF THOSE TRAININGS.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE IS THE CONTENT THAT WE NEED, THE MATERIALS WE NEED.
IF WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT ALL TEACHERS TO WRITE OBJECTIVES ON THE BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE'LL ASK, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN THAT TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF? WHAT ABOUT THE CHECK INS FOR ADMINISTRATORS? ALL OF THOSE LITTLE GRITTY DETAILS ARE WHAT WE'RE PLANNING OUT AND THE CLERC CENTER WILL SUPPORT THAT WORK.
WHAT'S GREAT IS SCCOE HAS SENT 16 STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GALT AT UNIVERSITY THIS SUMMER FOR SUMMER CAMP FROM YOUR PROGRAM.
I GUARANTEE YOU THOSE 16 STUDENTS WILL RETURN BACK TO YOU DIFFERENT.
THEY WILL BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO DEAF CULTURE, AND THAT IMMERSION AND INTERACTION IS REALLY AMAZING.
I WANT FOR YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO COME BACK WITH OPINIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS.
ARE YOUR PEOPLE HERE READY FOR THAT? BECAUSE IT'S COMING.
THEN LOOKING AHEAD. AUGUST 4TH, 5TH, AND 6TH, THE CLERC CENTER WILL BE BRINGING A TEAM HERE.
THE GOAL IS TO HELP WITH THE KICKOFF PRESENTATIONS AND OFFER SUPPORTS.
TEACHERS WILL HAVE HELP FROM THE CLERC CENTER WITH DESIGNING LESSON PLANS AND WE WILL BE SUPPORTING YOU THROUGH THAT, AND THAT SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE YEAR.
IN DECEMBER, WE WILL MONITOR OUR PROGRESS.
NOW, THE LEADERS OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK AND MOVING IT FORWARD.
THE CLERC CENTER WILL BE CHECKING IN AND OFFERING SUPPORT, BUT WE WILL HAVE THE ONSITE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WORK.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE TYPES OF SUPPORT WE CAN OFFER, AND IT'S A REALLY LONG RANGE SUPPORT.
WHATEVER YOUR PROGRAM NEEDS IS THE SUPPORT WE'RE OFFERING, AND IT'S NOT DIRECTLY TO JUST ADMINISTRATORS AND LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING DIRECTLY WITH YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, YOUR PSYCHOLOGISTS, THE SUPPORT YOU NEED, WHATEVER THAT MAYBE, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE.
THIS IS OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL WEEK LONG IMMERSION EXPERIENCE.
ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SIGN UP TO COME TO GALT CAMPUS FOR A WEEK.
THE FIRST TWO DAYS ARE AN IMMERSION EXPERIENCE INTO ASL AND DEAF CULTURE AND THERE'S NO VOICES ALLOWED.
YOU WILL SIGN LANGUAGE, YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.
IT WILL BE FRUSTRATING AND ALSO FUN.
IT'S A FUN TWO DAYS, AND AGAIN,
[01:45:01]
IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING, BUT IN A FUN WAY.THEN THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THAT'S WHERE WE DO A DEEP DIVE IN TRAINING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD A DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM, AND WHAT LENS YOU SHOULD LOOK THROUGH FOR THAT.
IT'S RICH DISCUSSIONS, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES BILINGUAL EDUCATION, AND HOW TO USE ASL AND ENGLISH WELL.
WHAT DOES A CLASSROOM NEED TO LOOK LIKE TO TRULY REFLECT BILINGUAL LANGUAGE.
WE WANT TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT THAT MAY ANSWER SOME THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT WHY DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEIR HEARING PEERS.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU, PICTURE THIS.
THERE'S A BABY BORN, AND THE BABY IS DEAF.
THAT MAYBE THE FIRST DEAF PERSON THAT THE FAMILY HAS EVER MET IS THEIR OWN INFANT, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY ASK, WHAT DO I DO WITH MY BABY? HOW DO I DO THIS? MOST OFTEN, THE PERSON THEY ASK IS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL VERY ORDINARILY WANTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH MEANS A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SURGERY, A HEARING AID FITTING.
IT MEANS ORAL APPROACH, SAYING THESE CHILDREN NEED TO TALK, THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK.
REALLY, SOME DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN CANNOT.
THEY CANNOT HEAR AND A COCHLEAR IMPLANT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS FOR 1, 2 OR 3 YEARS.
THAT CHILD, WHILE THEY'RE WAITING TO BE FIXED, "WITH A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE," THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANY LANGUAGE.
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS CALLED A BOOK.
THEY DON'T HEAR THE TELEVISION, THEY DON'T HEAR THEIR PARENTS.
TALKING, CAN YOU IMAGINE A BABY WITH NO INPUT WHATSOEVER? NO INPUT.
THEN THEY ENTER SCHOOL, AND NOW WE EXPECT THEM TO HAVE SOME OUTPUT.
WE ARE THEY GOING TO GET THAT FROM? THEY HAVE HAD NO INPUT.
NOW LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT POOR CHILD HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH 3, 4, 5 YEARS OF LIFE WITH NO ACCESS TO THE WORLD.
NOW YOU SEE THE STUDENTS ARE BEHIND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THEY SAY, OH WHY ARE DEAF STUDENTS BEHIND? IS IT THE TEACHER'S FAULT? WHOSE FAULT IS IT? THE CHILD NEEDS LANGUAGE. NUMBER 1.
WE HAVE GOT TO GIVE THE CHILD AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY HAVE FULL ACCESS TO LANGUAGE.
NOW, CAN THEY WRITE ENGLISH THE SAME AS THEIR HEARING PEERS? PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A FIRST LANGUAGE YET.
ASL TENDS TO BE THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE AND ONCE THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT VISUAL LANGUAGE, THEN THEY CAN LEARN ENGLISH.
BUT UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE "DELAYED" BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE IN THE THIRD GRADE AND THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE THIRD GRADE STANDARDS, BUT LISTEN, THEY CAN.
OUR TEACHING, OUR INSTRUCTION FOR THESE STUDENTS HAS TO LOOK DIFFERENT.
IT'S NOT GOING INTO A GEN ED CLASS AND EXPECTING THE SAME EXACT THING THAT YOU SEE IN A DEF ED CLASS. IT'S DIFFERENT.
DEF EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS VISUALLY SO THAT STUDENTS CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
THEIR INSTRUCTION PROBABLY HAS TO BE ADAPTED.
THEY WILL USE PICTURES AND VISUAL AIDS TO TEACH CONCEPTS.
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE JUST YET.
BUT IF WE GIVE LANGUAGE EXPOSURE INTENTIONALLY, THEY WILL, MOST OFTEN, LEARN, THEY WILL ACQUIRE LANGUAGE.
MY COLLEGE CLASSMATES FINALLY WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE LANGUAGE LATER IN LIFE.
THEY WILL GET THERE IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO LANGUAGE, AND IT STARTS EARLY.
ASIE EXPERIENCE IS LIMITED TO ONLY 20 PEOPLE.
IT IS CAPPED BECAUSE WE WANT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 20 PEOPLE TO GET THE IMMERSION EXPERIENCE THEY DESERVE, THEY DESERVE PERSONAL INTERACTIONS, AND IF YOU GO TO A CONFERENCE WITH 100 PEOPLE, IT DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME AS AN INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH.
WE HAVE A VERY INTENTIONAL, SMALL PROGRAM.
IN CLOSING, THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE.
WE ALSO, AS A PART OF OUR NATIONAL OUTREACH CENTER, HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO IS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW TO WORK A DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING CHILD, IT COULD BE A PARENT, A PROFESSIONAL.
ANYONE CAN ACCESS OUR ONLINE PORTAL.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE OFFER IS,
[01:50:04]
IT'S AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION.FORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR'S TITLE IS LANGUAGE RICH ENVIRONMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, WHICH I THINK ALIGNS WITH WHAT I JUST SHARED.
I HAVE ENOUGH FOR EACH OF YOU SO YOU CAN SEE DEAF EDUCATION, AND IT IS UNIQUE.
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DEAF EDUCATION ARE NOT THE SAME.
THEY ARE DIFFERENT, AND DEAF EDUCATION IS BASED ON LANGUAGE.
WITH THAT, I CLOSE. THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ENHANCE OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MARIAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND BEING HERE.
TRUSTEES, BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
THE MODERATOR, IF YOU'LL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR SPEAKERS ARE, AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
REJU KRISHNA, MEGAN FINCHER, TINA CHANG, DIANE CAPILI, DARLENE NORMAN, SARAH GIANOCARO.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS REJU KRISHNA.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> REJU KRISHNA, TEACHER OI DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO DR. HINMAN, THE BOARD, PARENTS, AND OTHER MEMBERS IN THE ROOM FOR ALLOWING THE STUDENT FROM DHH PROGRAM BACK IN SCHOOL TO LIVE THEIR DREAMS. THAT SAID WE NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE PROACTIVE STEPS TO PREVENT SIMILAR SERIOUS AND AVOIDABLE ERROR.
TO THE BEST OF HOW I UNDERSTOOD AND CAN EXPLAIN THIS, BECAUSE COURSE TITLES WERE IDENTICAL ACROSS GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL TRACKS, THE STUDENT WAS AWARDED A DIPLOMA DESPITE NOT MEETING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, THUS LOSING ACCESS TO VITAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS.
TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, WE NEED TWO SIMPLE BUT ESSENTIAL CHANGES.
FIRST, A STANDARDIZED PROCESS FOR DETERMINING DIPLOMA VERSUS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TRACK.
THIS MUST INCLUDE INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH IS THE IEP TEAM, ALIGNMENT WITH THE STUDENT'S IEP AND INFORMED PARENT CONSENT.
SECOND COURSE NAMES AND TRANSCRIPTS MUST CLEARLY DISTINGUISH SPECIAL EDUCATION COURSES FROM THE GENERAL EDUCATION ATG REQUIREMENTS SO THAT A DIPLOMA IS NOT GRANTED JUST BECAUSE.
OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURES DEPEND ON US GETTING THIS RIGHT. JUNE.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN FINCHER.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS MEGAN FINCHER, AND I'M A PARENT IN SANTA CLARA.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE COUNTY DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM.
MY TWIN GODDAUGHTERS GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR AND BOTH ARE DOING WELL IN COLLEGE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY COME FROM ONE OF THE LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SANTA CLARA UNIFIED, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A SMALL DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM, THERE IS NO WAY THAT OUR DISTRICT PROGRAM COULD HAVE MET THEIR COMPLEX NEEDS.
THEY REALLY NEEDED THIS COUNTY PROGRAM.
OVER THE YEARS, THE COUNTY DHH PROGRAM HAS HAD CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INCLUSION AT SCHOOL SITES, AS WELL AS APPROPRIATE STAFFING.
I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES AND WORK WITH STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENSURE STUDENT NEEDS ARE BEING MET. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, TINA CHANG, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR. HINMAN AND OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
MY NAME IS TINA CHANG, AND I'M A PARENT OF A DEAF DISABLED CHILD IN OUR COUNTY.
TONIGHT, I WANTED TO THANK GALT DEAF AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS FOR LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENHANCE OUR DHH PROGRAM.
THERE'S MUCH TO BE IMPROVED UPON.
I'D LIKE TO ASK FIRST FOR YOU TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STAFF THAT WORK DAY-TO-DAY WITH OUR STUDENTS AND KNOW THEIR NEEDS.
ARE THERE CONCERNS AND INPUT BEING CONSIDERED? SECONDLY, ARE YOU TRULY ENGAGING FAMILIES IN THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
FROM OUR EXPERIENCE FROM THE ASTER DHH PROGRAM.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM ON THE CAMPUS, BUT WE LACK INCLUSION AND EQUITY IN BASIC SCHOOL SAFETY AND SCHOOL EVENTS.
THE GENERAL SENTIMENT IS YOU ARE COUNTY KIDS AND YOU ARE NOT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE RAISE CONCERNS, WE ARE GIVEN THE RUN AROUND.
THE RESPONSE WE GET IS WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNER DISTRICTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
I URGE OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO SET THE EXAMPLE AND MAKE REAL CHANGE TO INTEGRATE AND INCLUDE OUR STUDENTS.
I ASKED YOU TO LISTEN AND PUT.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE CAPILI.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR. HINMAN.
MY NAME IS DIANE CAPILI, AND MY SON COLIN IS IN A COUNTY SAI SPECIAL ED PROGRAM.
I'M HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF TINA AND HER SON AND THE OTHER COUNTY DHH STUDENTS.
MY SON COLIN IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES AND WAS IN A COUNTY EARLY START IN PRESCHOOL VI PROGRAMS. ALTHOUGH HE'S CURRENTLY IN AN AMAZING CLASS WITH A SUPPORTIVE TEACHER AND STAFF,
[01:55:02]
I DO WONDER HOW HIS EDUCATION WOULD LOOK LIKE IN A DESIGNATED VI PROGRAM WITH THE SUPPORT OF A FULL TIME TVI.I DO HOPE THAT THE COUNTY DOES ENHANCE THE DHH PROGRAM INSTEAD OF CONSOLIDATING AND SHUTTING IT DOWN.
OUR STUDENTS WITH LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME FINDING AN APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT, AND IT WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING TO SEE DHH STUDENTS AND DHH STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS A VI STUDENTS WITH NO DEDICATED K THROUGH 12 PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DARLENE NORMAN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DARLENE NORMAN.
I'M A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR IN THIS COUNTY.
I'M ALSO THE PROUD PARENT OF JETT, A 12-YEAR-OLD DEAF BLIND STUDENT IN THE DARTMOUTH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
I CAME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT TO THE COUNTY STAFF FOR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING PROGRAMS, SERVING STUDENTS WITH LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE CONTINUUM SERVING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, DEAF BLIND, AND DEAF PLUS STUDENT NEEDS.
SENSORY LOSS NEEDS ARE A SPECTRUM OF ABILITIES.
THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH GALT UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT OUR DHH PROGRAM STAFF, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES.
I'M A CURRENT GALT DEAF STUDENT IN THE ASL CONNECT PROGRAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MY DAUGHTER ATTENDING GALT DEAF OR ANOTHER DHH FOCUSED COLLEGE IN THE FUTURE IF SHE DESIRES.
HER ACCESS TO HER IP PROGRAM MAKES THIS POSSIBLE.
OUR FAMILY, INCLUDING JETT ARE STAUNCH ADVOCATES AT THE LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, ADVOCATING FOR DEAF HUMAN RIGHTS.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR A SUPPORTIVE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUUM FOR DEAF PLUS LEARNERS.
PLEASE COMPLETE A CENSUS OF DEAF PLUS LEARNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IDENTIFY THESE STUDENTS AND BUILD A CRITICAL MASS FOR AGGREGATING RESOURCES.
>> NEXT SPEAKER, SARAH GIANOCARO, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> SARAH GIANOCARO, SCO CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THANK YOU FOR RESTORING PAIR EDUCATOR STAFFING AT ASTER AFTER WE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE REDUCTION TO ONE PAIR PER CLASSROOM.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF ASL INTERPRETERS WHO PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT TO DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSES AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL.
THESE INTERPRETERS MAKE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN INTERPRETERS WHO WORK FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHO WE ALSO HIRE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR STAFF.
WE ALSO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF ASL PARA EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN OUR DHH PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO OUR STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE EXTENSIVE SUPPORTS IN OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING IN OUR NON-CATEGORICAL CLASSES.
WE BELIEVE SCCOE SHOULD PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF TO LEARN ASL BECAUSE IT BENEFITS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO OFTEN ARE IN CLASSROOMS THAT USE MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SIGN LANGUAGE, BUT WE'LL ALSO BUILD PATHWAY TO PROMOTION FROM PARA EDUCATOR TO ASL PAA TO ASL INTERPRETER.
FINALLY, I WANT TO SHARE A CELEBRATION THAT SOMEONE WE KNOW STARTED IN THE DHH POST SECONDARY PROGRAM AND IS SUCCESSFULLY WORKING IN AN AUTO SHOP AS A WINDOW TINTER.
WE'LL BE COMPLETING TRAINING AND BE HIRED AS AN EMPLOYEE EARNING $300 PER DAY BEGINNING IN JUNE.
THANKS TO THE ADVOCACY OF THE FAMILY, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN THIS ROOM. [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE SPEAKERS AND MARIAN AND DR. ANN AS WELL FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TRUSTEES, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN?
>> YEAH, I JUST REALLY, I WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATED THE PRESENTATION AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT.
I'M ACTUALLY GREW UP IN A CITY THAT HAD THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF THE DEAF.
IT'S NICE TO SEE WHEN DISTRICTS ARE AND COUNTIES DON'T HAVE THAT SCHOOL THAT WE SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO REALLY HELP OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
HOW MANY DHH PROGRAMS DO WE HAVE COUNTY WIDE? A GUESSTIMATE IS OKAY TOO.
>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10 CLASSES, AND WE HAVE A PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND POST SECONDARY PROGRAM.
>> WE DO ALSO SERVE 0-2 IN OUR EARLY START PROGRAM.
>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
HOW DOES IT DO WE OFTEN SEE OUR STUDENTS GO FROM PRE K ALL THE WAY THROUGH ADULT ED USUALLY?
SOME OF OUR STUDENTS WE SEE DEFINITELY ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING IN THE 0-2 AND THEN HOW MANY STAY WITH US IN PRESCHOOL.
CURRENTLY, OUR PRESCHOOL NUMBERS ARE LOW.
SOMETIMES DISTRICT SCHOOL WILL START TO SERVE A STUDENT AT AGE 3 AND THEN COME BACK AND REFER TO US LATER IN THE ELEMENTARY YEAR.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT CONTINUUM.
THAT IS SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH GALLAUDET IS HOW TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES ON MAKING THOSE REALLY STRONG CHOICES SO THAT THEIR STUDENTS HAVE A STRONG CONTINUUM FROM INFANCY ON.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT THAT SMOOTH WHERE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
>> I SEE. I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY QUESTIONS,
[02:00:03]
BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTER FOR COMING AND GIVING US ALL THAT INFORMATION.IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT THROUGH OUR COUNTY.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY APPRECIATED THE COMMENT THAT DEAF EDUCATION IS NOT SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT THEY ARE SEPARATE SILOS AND THAT WE OFTEN SEE PATHS CROSS, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THEM IN SEPARATE WAYS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATED THAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> MS. SREEKRISHNAN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE, TOO, AND CAN DEFINITELY SECOND THAT THOSE IN THE DEAF AND DEAF BLIND COMMUNITY ARE VERY STRONG POLICY ADVOCATES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW WE'RE BUILDING YOUNG LEADERS.
I HAD A SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT I KNOW THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK LATER ABOUT BUDGET MORE.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE COST OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TALKS OF POTENTIAL CLOSURES AND LAYOFFS.
THE ASIE TRAINING, DO WE KNOW THE COST FOR THAT, OR IS THAT A COST FROM THE OFFICE?
>> THE TRAINING ITSELF IS FREE.
THE COST WOULD BE FLYING TO DC AND HOTEL.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS, TRUSTEE ROCHA?
>> THANK YOU FOR PRESENT, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S ALWAYS AT LEAST TO ME A MORE IMPACTFUL PRESENTATION WHEN THE PRESENTER HAS A STAKE IN IT OR A PERSONAL STRONG INTEREST BEYOND THEIR JOB, AND I KNOW WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SERVANTS, IT'S ALL VERY PERSONAL TO US.
I APPRECIATE ALL PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT TO ME, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAD A QUESTION THAT'S MORE SPECIFIC TO THE SUMMER, AND LOOKING AT IT TALKED MORE ABOUT PLANNING.
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE SUMMER? I'M ALSO THINKING, AND MAYBE I MISSED THIS SUMMER PROGRAMS AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING, OR IS THE SUMMER A DEAD MONTH, SO TO SPEAK.
>> I'LL ANSWER ABOUT OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND THEN MARIAN, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE SUMMER AT GALLAUDET.
WE DO HAVE AN EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM, A SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE IN THE DEAF HART OF HEARING PROGRAM, WHICH IS PRIMARILY MOST OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT IS JUNE 16TH THROUGH JULY 14TH.
MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, MARIAN REFERRED TO, WE HAVE 16 OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR SUMMER CAMP AT GALLAUDET, THAT IS THE FIRST WEEK OF OUR ESY PROGRAM.
THEY WILL BE GOING TO SUMMER CAMP, AND FAMILIES HAVE SUPPORTED THAT CHOICE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY ENRICHING WEEK, AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK AND FINISH THEIR ESY PROGRAM WITH US.
IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT WE'LL DO THIS SUMMER, WE ARE ALREADY A YEAR IN WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP.
MAYBE JUST BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TOO, MARIAN, IN TERMS OF GALLAUDET, HAS VIEWED OUR PROGRAM, SPENT EXTENSIVE TIME IN OUR CLASSES, OBSERVED OUR TEACHERS.
WE'VE COLLABORATED ON AREAS THAT WE SEE IN STRENGTH.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME VERY DEEP DIVES THAT IT'S SPECIFIC TO SCCOE, AND THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS VERY UNIQUE IN THAT WHEN WE'RE IN A SPACE, WHEN WE WENT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, IT WAS JUST OUR TEAM FOR TWO DAYS ONLY TALKING ABOUT SCCOE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> I THINK I DID TOUCH ON THIS BRIEFLY.
I DIDN'T GO VERY DEEP IN, BUT THE LEADERSHIP HERE, YOUR LEADERS, KNOW, THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM.
THAT'S VERY CLEAR TO THEM, BUT THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW AND THE SEQUENCE, AND THE WAY WE CAN DO THIS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ABSTRACT DISCUSSIONS, AND WHEN THEY CAME RECENTLY AND THEY SAW OUR PROGRAMS, THEY ENVISIONED WHAT A PROGRAM HERE COULD LOOK LIKE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING MAGICAL THAT WE'RE DOING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE CLARA CENTER CAN BE REPLICATED.
IT JUST HAS TO BE PLANNED FOR, AND GOOD TEACHING IS GOOD TEACHING.
IT MEANS FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS.
[02:05:02]
GOOD TEACHING IS GOOD TEACHING.ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT WE ASSESS STUDENTS IN TWO LANGUAGES, BOTH ENGLISH AND ASL.
WE WANT THE STAFF HERE TO SEE OUR PROGRAM AND SEE WHAT A GOOD CLASSROOM LOOKS LIKE.
NOW WE HAVE THE SAME VISION OF WHERE YOUR COUNTY PROGRAM COULD GO, AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, IS READY TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS.
WHERE DO WE WANT YOUR TEACHERS TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR? WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW? WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY? THAT'S THE WORK WE'RE DOING IN THIS SUMMER.
THEY'LL BE LAUNCHING ALL OF THIS WORK IN AUGUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> JUST TO BRIEFLY ADD TO THAT TOO, I THINK THAT WE WANT TO BE REALLY SENSITIVE, AND EVEN JUST THE WORDING OF OUR PRESENTATION, THAT THIS IS ENHANCEMENT.
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF, AND OUR TEACHERS ARE INCREDIBLE.
THIS YEAR IN ITSELF HAS BEEN AMAZING IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE NUMBER OF STAFF.
WE CONTINUE TO GET NEW STAFF, THEY TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT US.
WE ALREADY HAD A PHENOMENAL TEAM, AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ONBOARD MORE DEAF STAFF, WHICH ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AS WELL.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO LOOK TO ROLE MODELS WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
THAT PIECE, I THINK, IS ESSENTIAL TO NOTE THAT GALLAUDET SEES OUR STRENGTHS.
I KNOW SOME OF OUR TEACHERS ARE HERE TOO, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT TO SAY PUBLICLY, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOOD AND WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP GETTING BETTER, AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE EXPERTS SUPPORT US IN ENHANCING THE PROGRAM.
THAT IS JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR IS THAT WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWERING.
I CONTINUE TO TELL MY TEACHERS AND STAFF AT GALLAUDET.
THE BAR NEEDS TO KEEP BEING RAISED ALWAYS, SO THAT WORD ENHANCE IS A VERY POSITIVE WORD.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT POINT.
>> I EXPECT THE PROGRAM TO GROW IN THE COMING YEARS.
>> I HOPE SO. FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, WE DID SEE A DECLINE IN UTILIZATION OF OUR PROGRAM.
WE WERE IN THE LOW 90S, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE HIGH 70S.
WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING IN THE INFINITE PROGRAM, BUT THOSE FAMILIES KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL, THAT DISTRICTS ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE OFFER, THE IMPORTANCE FOR DEAF STUDENTS TO BE WITH THEIR DEAF PEERS.
I THINK THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR OUR PROGRAM TO GROW.
WE'VE HAD LARGER NUMBERS IN THE PAST, AND WE JUST HAVE HAD A BIT OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT AT THIS TIME.
>> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN, JUST HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM.
I KNOW WE GOT SEVERAL E MAILS FROM MARIAN EVEN BEFORE THIS PRESENTATION, JUST REACHING OUT TO MAKE SURE THIS BOARD IS ALSO INFORMED OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN, AND ESPECIALLY, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS THAT I'VE HAD IS JUST EVEN REFLECTING MY WORK AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
INCLUSION LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT INCLUSION MEANS FOR OUR DEAF HEART OF HEARING COMMUNITY.
TRUE INCLUSION IN THIS SETTING IS REALLY BEING ABLE TO BE WITH YOUR PEERS.
I KNOW TRUSTEE LAURIE AND I HAD A CHANCE ACTUALLY TO VISIT LEE HIGH SCHOOL'S PROGRAM, AND ALSO ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO'S IN THE WORKABILITY PROGRAM AND JUST REALLY THRIVING.
BUT IT'S ABOUT BEING IN THAT SETTING WHERE YOU CAN JUST OPENLY COMMUNICATE.
IT'S THE DUAL LANGUAGE ASPECT OF THAT THAT I THINK IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE AND SUCH A STRENGTH, AND REALLY JUST EXCITED TO SEE.
ALSO JUST IN REFLECTING THAT WE HAD SOME STUDENTS ALSO CAME AND PRESENT AT A BOARD MEETING AND TO SEE THEIR ADVOCACY OF THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD, INCLUDING INCREASED ACCESS TO CLASSES WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ASL INTERPRETERS, BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE ACCESS ALSO TO WHAT THEIR PEERS HAVE.
I WOULD LOVE TO JUST HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS THE NEXT ITERATION OF THAT IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR YOUTH, AND REALLY EMPOWERING THEM TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES
[02:10:01]
AND THE PATHWAYS THAT WE'RE HELPING SUPPORT THEM WITH.>> WE ARE A BIG PIECE RIGHT NOW IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
WE DID GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING US TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR ADG GRANT THAT ALLOWED THE FUNDS FOR US TO OFFER FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GO TO GALLAUDET THIS SUMMER.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THERE WAS ENOUGH IF EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WANTED TO GO.
SIXTEEN STUDENTS RIGHT NOW ARE CONFIRMED, WITH TWO ADDITIONAL ON THE FENCE.
THAT IS A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THE MAJORITY, AND WE DO THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH THIS EXCITEMENT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD THE PROGRAM.
I THINK ALSO THE STAFF THAT WE'VE ONBOARDED THAT HAVE ADDED TO OUR TEAM, THE EXPERTISE THAT THEY BRING HAS REALLY CONTINUED TO LIFT OUR PROGRAM.
I WAS JUST TALKING WITH ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TODAY WHO WAS SHARING HOW INCREDIBLE IT IS WITH THEIR FULLY STAFFED AND THAT THEY REALLY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN AREAS OF STRENGTH, AND THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 10 O'CLOCK WEAVING INTO MY BRAIN, BUT I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR ENTIRE QUESTION.
I REALLY DO. I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED SOMETHING. I'M SO SORRY.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST CONTINUING TO HEAR HOW WE'RE ALLOWING STUDENTS, JUST LIKE WE HAD WITH THE TWO STUDENTS FROM LEE HIGH SCHOOL BEING ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND WHAT THEY SEE AS THE NEXT ITERATION AND THE TYPES OF SUPPORTS THEY NEED.
JUST LOOKING FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
>> YES. ALSO, TO ADD TO THAT, THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM COMPETE AT A REGIONAL LEVEL OUT OF STATE FOR A MATH COMPETITION AGAINST OTHER DEAF PROGRAMS. I KNOW SARAH MENTIONED OUR NEED TO CONTINUE WITH JUST WORKING ON THE RECRUITMENT OF INTERPRETERS AND HAVING ACCESS TO INTERPRETERS.
WE ARE REALLY VERY DILIGENT IN THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLASSES THAT THEY WANT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AT ALL LEVELS, BUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT'S A PROCESS THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND WORKING ON OUR INTERPRETER SCHEDULE SO STUDENTS CAN TAKE THE CLASSES THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. WE APPRECIATE IT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT INFORMATION ITEM, WHICH IS ALSO ON SPECIAL EDUCATION.
I GUESS, MORE GENERALLY, 2025-'26 SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATE, DR. HINMAN, WILL YOU PRESENT THIS ITEM? >.
BUT CAN I ASK MARIAN A QUESTION REALLY QUICK? I'M DEAD SERIOUS WHEN I ASK YOU THIS.
DO YOU DO MOTIVATIONAL PRESENTATIONS?
>> IF IT'S RELATED TO THIS TOPIC, I DO.
>> I MUST SPEAK FOR DR. TOSTON HERE BECAUSE MY TIME IS SHORT, BUT I COULD SEE OVER THE SUMMER OR IN THE FALL, HAVING YOU COME IN, JUST TELL YOUR STORY TO SOME OF OUR STAFF WOULD BE SO INSPIRATIONAL.
JUST THAT SHORT TIME TOGETHER, I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND WHAT YOU DO. I'M NOT KIDDING.
WE MIGHT BE CONTACTING YOU AT SOME POINT TO COME IN AND TELL YOUR STORY.
>> AS LONG AS IT'S NOT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
>> [LAUGHTER] FAIR ENOUGH. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, AND DR. ARES IS GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON '25-'26 SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATE.
JOHN AND I WILL BE GIVING AN UPDATE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATES. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM THE FEBRUARY INFORMATION THAT WE HAD SHARED.
THIS IS JUST A RECAP OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ENROLLMENT PLANNING TIMELINE.
THE MONTH OF JANUARY, WE WORKED TO EVALUATE OUR CLASSROOM PROJECTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DISTRICTS.
FEBRUARY, WE MET WITH OUR DISTRICTS TO DISCUSS THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT THAT THE DISTRICTS WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL THEIR STUDENTS FOR THE '25-'26 YEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE REVIEWED SCHOOL DISTRICT SITE LOCATIONS TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS SPACE FOR THE CLASSROOMS. THEN ALSO THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE.
THE INFORMATION THAT'S SHARED TODAY IS AN UPDATE IN THE MARCH NUMBERS, AND THIS IS BASED ON UPDATED ENROLLMENT AS OF THAT MARCH TIME PERIOD.
THEN APRIL THROUGH MAY, WE ARE WORKING TO FINALIZE THE COST FOR '25-'26 YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS EMBEDDED INTO OUR BUDGET AND OUR FEE-FOR-SERVICE CATEGORY OF FUNDING.
THEN ALSO IN THIS TIME PERIOD AS WELL,
[02:15:01]
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDING ADVANCE NOTICE OF POTENTIAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT REDUCTIONS FOR THE '26-'27 YEAR.NOT ONLY ARE THEY PLANNING FOR '25-'26, A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE ALSO PLANNING FOR THE '26-'27 YEAR. NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT FROM THE LAST SLIDE THAT I SHARED IN FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN THE '24-'25 AMOUNT OF ENROLLMENT THAT WE HAD.
I THINK ORIGINALLY, WE HAD A LOWER NUMBER FOR '25-'26, BUT WE HAVE SINCE REDUCED TO A REDUCTION IN ABOUT 107 STUDENTS FROM OUR LAST MEETING, AND THE NUMBER OF CLASSES HAVE REDUCED FROM 119 TO 103, SO WE HAVE HAD A REDUCTION OF 16 CLASSROOMS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. ANN TO PROVIDE SOME MORE UPDATES ON SOME OF THE CONSOLIDATIONS.
>> IN GENERAL, REGARDING THE 16, WE HAVE 16 CLASSES THAT HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
THOSE CLASSES HAVE BEEN REALLY SELECTED BASED ON DECLINING PROJECTED ENROLLMENT AS WELL AS UTILIZATION.
THE 16 CLASSES HAVE PRIMARILY COME FROM OUR SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROG.
WHICH, IN GENERAL, IS THE PROGRAM THAT HAS CONTINUED TO GET SMALLER AS WE GO YEAR TO YEAR.
THAT IS BECAUSE OUR DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING HARD ON BUILDING ROBUST PROGRAMS IN A CONTINUUM IN EACH OF THEIR DISTRICTS.
THIS SLIDE IS JUST PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE COMPARISON OF THE PROJECTED COST FOR THE SPECIAL ED PROGRAM FOR THE '25 '26 YEAR.
WITH THE REDUCED NUMBER OF ENROLLMENT AND THE REDUCED NUMBER IN CLASSES, WE ARE PROJECTING APPROXIMATELY 127.1 MILLION IN FEE-FOR-SERVICE REVENUE THAT WE ARE PROJECTED TO COLLECT FROM DISTRICTS BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.
THEN SOME OF THE '25 '26 BUDGET AND MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS.
THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE STATUTORY COLA.
THERE'S NO COLA FUNDING FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, BUT WE JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THERE COULD BE SOME POTENTIAL COLA APPLICATION TO A SPECIAL ED FUNDING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE COSTS, BUT WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SALARY INCREASES EMBEDDED IN THIS.
WE DO, HOWEVER, IN OUR COST FOR THIS PROGRAM HAVE OUR STANDARD STEP AND COLUMN, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 5% FOR STAFF THAT ARE PROJECTED TO MOVE FROM ONE STEP ON THE SALARY SCHEDULE TO THE NEXT.
THE ONLY OTHER CHANGE THAT WE'RE PREDICTING ON FOR COST-WISE WOULD BE THE PER RETIREMENT RATE.
THOSE ARE USUALLY FINALIZED IN THE MAY TIME FRAME.
IF THAT DOES INCREASE, IT MAY INCREASE THE COST SLIGHTLY FOR THE PROGRAM BASED ON THE SALARIES THAT WE ARE PROJECTING FOR '25 '26.
THEN THIS IS A SNAPSHOT AS OF THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
THESE WERE SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS WE USED IN THE FEBRUARY MEETING WHEN WE STARTED DISCUSSING WITH DISTRICTS THE COST, BUT SINCE THEN, THE SCHOOL THERAPIST LINE BECAUSE THE THERAPEUTIC BLOCK IS NO LONGER REMAINING, THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR ASSUMPTIONS, BUT THIS WAS THE INITIAL EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE SHARED WITH OUR DISTRICTS WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON PROTECTING OUR ENROLLMENT FOR '25 '26.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, I'M GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE.
MODERATOR, IF YOU'LL PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
OUR SPEAKERS ARE ANDREA HIGHTOWER, MEGAN FINCHER, TINA CHANG, SARAH GIANOCARO, REJU KRISHNA, AND MEGAN FAN.
MY DAUGHTER IS A GATEWAY STUDENT, SCCOE STUDENT.
HONESTLY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THIS PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE COME HERE PLENTY OF TIMES TALKING ABOUT HOW DISTRICTS ARE REFERRING KIDS INTO SCCOE PROGRAMS, AND THEY'RE BEING TURNED AWAY, BEING TOLD THAT THEY'RE AT CAPACITY, THAT THEY CAN'T TAKE THESE KIDS.
THOSE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE NOT FACTUAL, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO GO BACK AND LOOK INTO THOSE NUMBERS BY THE DISTRICTS.
HOW MANY REFERRALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED? I ALSO DON'T SEE THE COST IN THERE.
YOU WENT IN AND PUT THE EMPLOYEE COST UP THERE OF WHAT IT COSTS FOR SOMEBODY TO ESSENTIALLY LIVE IN THE BAY AREA TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN.
BUT WHAT I AM NOT SEEING IS, WHAT IS THE COST OF THE WORKMAN'S COMP? I HAVE A STACK.
THINK OF WHAT HAPPENS TO STAFF AND STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE SHORT-STAFFED.
I WANT PEOPLE WHO KNOW MY KID.
I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT I'M OUT OF TIME.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN FINCHER.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
[02:20:02]
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MY NAME IS MEGAN FINCHER.
WE'VE HEARD REPORTS ON DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND PLANS TO REDUCE CLASSROOMS. MY QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THESE STUDENTS GOING? HAS THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION DONE STUDIES? ARE THEY MOVING AWAY OR GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR RETURNING TO THEIR DISTRICTS? CAN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS ACTUALLY MEET THEIR NEEDS? IN THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS, THERE WAS ALSO A POINT ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN PRIOR YEARS BACK IN 2021-2022.
BUT THIS YEAR THERE'S A MUCH LARGER REDUCTION IN CLASSROOMS GOING FROM 146 IN 2019-2020 TO 103 IN 2025-2026.
BEFORE YOU CUT PROGRAMS OR CLASSROOMS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL STUDENT NEEDS WILL BE MET.
LASTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADVOCATE AGAIN FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE SO THAT YOU CAN GET PARENT INPUT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND AT EACH OF THE DISTRICT LEVELS. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TINA CHANG.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TINA CHANG AGAIN, AND OTHER THAN BEING A PARENT OF A [INAUDIBLE] CHILD, I'M ALSO AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SLPA CAC.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE MYSELF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT ALL THAT'S GOING ON, AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS NOT ALWAYS IN CONJUNCTION OF WHAT I SEE IN THE PRESENTATIONS.
I HAVE QUESTIONS TOO ABOUT WHERE THOSE STUDENTS GOING WITH CLASSROOM CLOSURES AS I WAS PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO WAS TOLD THAT PROGRAMS WERE FULL, MOVED AROUND AND GOING TRYING TO FIND A PROGRAM FOR MY CHILD.
I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO HOME SCHOOL, GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, PLACED IN MPS.
I ASKED TO IF THE DATA CAN BE LOOKED INTO TO SEE WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE GOING WHEN CLASSROOM CLOSURES ARE HAPPENING, AND IF THEY'RE BEING SERVED IN THEIR DISTRICTS OR WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE IN MY WORLD, THESE STUDENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND PLACEMENTS AND PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH GIANOCARO.
>> SARAH GIANOCARO, SCU, CHAPTER PRESIDENT.
FOR YEARS, WE'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT HOW SHORT-STAFFED OUR PROGRAMS ARE AT SCCOE, WHICH IMPACTS THE SAFETY OF BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF AND IMPACTS THEIR ACCESS TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND PROGRESS ON THEIR GOALS.
DISTRICTS IN THE UNIONS REPORT THAT SPECIAL ED STUDENTS ARE BEING TURNED AWAY SETTING LACK OF AVAILABLE SLOTS DESPITE OPENINGS.
MANAGEMENT IS INFORMING YOU THAT THEY'VE ONLY TURNED AWAY ONE.
A PROGRAM SPECIALIST FRIEND REPORTED HAVING SIX PRESCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE WAIT LIST LAST YEAR, ONLY TO FIND FIVE STUDENTS WHEN SHE VISITED FOR KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION.
PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES ARE IN SUCH HIGH DEMAND THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN A CASELOAD, NO LONGER RECEIVING SERVICES BECAUSE WE ELIMINATED A CONTRACTOR.
TWO VISION TEACHER POSITIONS WERE ELIMINATED, EVEN THOUGH THE MOST LOCAL DISTRICTS REFER TO SCCOE FOR PRESCHOOL INITIAL EVALUATIONS AND FREQUENTLY FACE DELAYS DUE TO NO AVAILABLE STAFF.
WITH THE REDUCTION TO 8.8 PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE WILL ONLY HAVE 0.8 MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS THAN BCBAS, WHO MUST DO ALL ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDE ALL BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PRIOR TO BCBA REFERRALS, AND THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST 10.
THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE SIMPLY FALSE.
THEY STARTED OUT AT 250 WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAYS WENT TO 120-103, BUT THE CLASS LIST PROVIDED LAST WEEK SHOW ONLY 80.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REJU KRISHNA.
>> REJU KRISHNA, AS WE FACE PAINFUL LAYOFFS IN SPED, WE URGE YOU TO TAKE BOARD AND TRANSPARENT ACTION.
THE RE-BENCHING REPORT SUGGESTS THAT PROGRAMS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY COSTLY, BUT THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP.
MEDICAL FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT STUDENTS, INCLUDING MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, NOT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, SALARIES WHO DO NOT EVEN WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE STUDENTS OR EVEN IN THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT.
POSITIONS ARE BEING ELIMINATED DUE TO DISTRICTS RECLAIMING 40 STUDENTS AND 40 GRADUATES WHICH IS A FAR DISCREPANCY THAN THE APPROXIMATE 120 USED TO JUSTIFY LAYOFFS.
THIS IS BASED ON PROJECTIONS DATA. CUTS ARE NOT PROPORTIONATE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY SEVEN OF 168 STUDENTS SUPPORTED BY OUR BEHAVIORS WERE PROJECTED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME DISTRICTS, YET WE'RE REDUCING A FULL-TIME BCBA.
BCBA SERVICES ARE BILLED AT THE SAME RATE FOR SAI AND MEDICALLY FRAGILE PROGRAMS WHEN USAGE IS MUCH HIGHER IN SAI.
TWELVE OMM REFERRALS WERE DECLINED, SCHOOL YEAR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STAFFING.
NO REFERRALS FOR VISION WERE DECLINED, AS THE DEPARTMENT INCREASED CONTRACTOR SUPPORT, YET TWO VISION TEACHERS WERE BEING LAID OFF.
DECLINE, DENIED, AND DELAYED ENROLLMENT AND REFERRALS. PLEASE AUDIT THESE.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN FAN.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY ROLE AS A SCHOOL THERAPIST.
I SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AT AUGUST BOGER IS, WHICH IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS AND ARE MAKING EXCELLENT PROGRESS TOWARDS BEING BACK INTO A LESS RESTRICTIVE SETTING AND ARE MAINSTREAMING CURRENTLY.
BUT SINCE THEY HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CLOSURES, THEIR NEEDS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
I HAVE SERVED ALMOST 400 MINUTES OF INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO ALL OF THEM THIS MONTH, AND IT'S THE 16TH.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY ALLOTTED AROUND 120 MINUTES A MONTH, BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR EXTRA EMERGENCY SESSIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE STRUGGLING.
MOST OF THE TIME, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR PROGRAM IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
[02:25:03]
THEY ALSO, UPON HEARING IT, WERE READY TO STORM AND COME HERE AND CALL WHOEVER THEY NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT IT.I DID ASK THEM TO PUT THAT TO WRITING.
THEY DID PROVIDE LETTERS, AND I PROVIDED THOSE TO DR. HAM, AND THEY WERE HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM MEANS TO THEM AND WHAT LOSING THE PROGRAM WOULD MEAN.
I HOPE THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERED WITH CARE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE THEM WITH THE TRUSTEES. THANK YOU.
>> THIS CONCLUDES THE COMMENT. THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE TO TRUSTEES FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN AND THEN TRUSTEE LAURIE.
>> THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 4, THE GRAPH SHOWS THAT THE BUDGET WILL REMAIN MOSTLY FLAT FROM 2024-2025 TO OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IS THAT WITH THE PROPOSED LAYOFFS?
>> YES. THAT'S INCLUDING THE PROPOSED LAYOFFS FOR THE SPECIAL ED PROGRAM AND THE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PROVIDED THE NUMBER OF FTE THAT WILL BE LAID OFF.
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.
>> THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT CAME TO MIND, AND SORRY IF YOU PROVIDED THAT EARLIER TO ME.
BECAUSE I'M WONDERING IF WE DON'T DO THE LAYOFFS, WHERE WOULD THE BAR BE FOR 2025, 2026? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE "SAVING," WHICH AGAIN, IS JUST A SHORT-TERM SAVING.
THAT'S REALLY MY MAIN CONCERN HERE.
BUT I GUESS YOU WILL GET BACK TO ME.
>> YEAH, WE CAN PUT THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER FOR DR. HAM, AND WE CAN SHARE IT SO I'M TAKING NOTES.
>> RAEENA LARI, AND THEN VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, AND THEN TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THE INSTANCES WHEN STUDENTS MAY BE DENIED ENROLLMENT IN THE SPECIAL ED PROGRAM?
SURE. I HAVE DATED FROM THIS YEAR AS WELL AS LAST YEAR FOR THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
I'LL START WITH JUST TO HAVE A COMPARISON.
THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR WE RECEIVED 119 REFERRALS FOR COUNTY PROGRAMS. THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE'VE RECEIVED 74.
OF THE 74 THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, WE HAVE PLACED 26 STUDENTS.
WE DO HAVE REFERRALS THAT COME IN THE SPRING AS DISTRICTS REPAIR FOR PROGRAM PLACEMENT FOR THE FALL.
THEN WE ALSO HAD 26 REFERRALS THIS YEAR THAT WERE WITHDRAWN.
THEN WE DO CODE EACH REFERRAL AND THE REASON WHY IT WAS WITHDRAWN.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE BECAUSE DISTRICTS LET US KNOW THEY NO LONGER NEED OUR PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE FOUND A PROGRAM THAT THEY WANT TO PLACE THEIR STUDENT IN.
WE HAVE THREE THIS YEAR, WE HAD THREE STUDENTS WHERE THE FAMILIES DECLINED THE PLACEMENT OF A COE PROGRAM.
WE HAD A FAMILY THAT MOVED, AND THEN WE DID HAVE SIX STUDENTS WHO WE DID LET THE DISTRICT KNOW WE COULD NOT MEET THEIR NEEDS.
WE DID NOT HAVE A PROGRAM COULD MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS THAT FALL IN THAT FOR THE REASON WE CANNOT MEET THEIR NEEDS IS DUE TO BEHAVIOR THAT IS INJURIOUS TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND JUST NOT HAVING THE CAPACITY TO SERVE THE STUDENT WELL, AND WE DID HAVE ONE STUDENT IN WHICH WE CODED THAT THE CLASS WE DID NOT HAVE A CLASS AVAILABLE.
THAT'S OUR DATA FOR THIS YEAR.
DEFINITELY, WE HAD A DECLINE IN REQUESTS FOR REFERRALS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
>> ARE THE ONLY SIX STUDENTS REALLY THAT WE COULDN'T MEET THE NEEDS OF?
FOR TWO DIFFERENT REASONS, SIX, BECAUSE WE COULD NOT MEET THEIR NEEDS AND YOU'RE RIGHT ONE, WE DID NOT HAVE SPACE.
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK JUST ON THIS TOPIC, I'LL ASK THERE FIRST.
THE TYPICAL PROCESS IS A DISTRICT HAS A STUDENT?
[02:30:03]
THEY HAVE AN IEP THAT HAS SPECIFIC NEEDS LISTED ON THEIR GOALS, ACCOMMODATIONS, ETC.THEN, A SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL SAY WE CAN'T MEET THE NEEDS, AND THEN REFER TO OUR PROGRAM, CORRECT, OR REPORT TO THE COUNTY OFFICE FOR SUPPORT.
IF THE COUNTY OFFICE SAYS ONE, WE CANNOT MEET THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE OF SPACE, OR WE CANNOT MEET THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THAT, THEN WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT STUDENT?
>> EACH DISTRICT WILL TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO LOOK AT UTILIZATION OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE OUT OF OUR 31 DISTRICTS, WE HAVE 19 DISTRICTS THAT UTILIZE US AT A VERY LOW RATE OF 19 STUDENTS OR LESS.
SIX OF OUR DISTRICTS WE HAVE NO STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAMS. SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE VERY ROBUST CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
FOR DISTRICTS THAT ARE REFERRING TO US, AND WE DO NOT HAVE A PROGRAM THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THEY WILL WORK WITH THE SLPA DIRECTOR.
THEY WILL WORK WITH OTHER DIRECTORS.
I ATTEND THE SLPA MEETINGS MONTHLY, AND THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF WHAT NEEDS ARE OUT THERE.
SOMETIMES DISTRICTS CAN OPEN A PROGRAM FOR THEIR PARTNER OR PERHAPS A NON PUBLIC SCHOOL MAYBE AN APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT.
REALLY FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE CANNOT SERVE, IT IS BECAUSE OF A BEHAVIOR RELATED ISSUE, IT NORMALLY IS THEN A STUDENT WHO WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL.
>> WE WOULD NEVER ADJUST IEPS IN ORDER TO DIRECT PLACEMENT.
>> WE DO NOT DO THAT, AND WE ARE THE SERVICE PROVIDER, WE ARE NOT MAKING THE OFFER OF THE FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THAT IS THE DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND SO WE ARE HERE AS A SERVICE PROVIDER.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT BECAUSE THERE'S CONCERNS I HAVE WHEN WE ADJUST IEPS TO FIT PROGRAMS RATHER THAN FITTING PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS NEEDS.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE AS WE ARE A COUNTY OFFICE THAT SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT ALSO SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THAT SUPPORT.
BUT A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION I HAD IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE WE HEAR WHY DISTRICTS ARE TAKING STUDENTS BACK, AND, FINDING PLACEMENTS FOR THEM OR BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR THEM IN THEIR DISTRICTS IS BECAUSE OF COST.
WITH LESS STUDENTS, WE HAVE THE HIGHER COSTS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. IF WE HAVE A LOWER ENROLLMENT AND WE DON'T ADJUST THE STAFFING, THE COST WILL BE SIGNIFICANT PER STUDENTS.
>> THEN HAVE WE LOOKED INTO OPTIONS OF BUILDING MORE PROGRAMS SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT MORE NEEDS AND SUPPORT MORE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY RATHER THAN SAYING, HEY, WE DON'T HAVE SPACE BECAUSE OUR PROGRAM IS FULL, ARE WE LOOKING INTO WAYS TO BUILD PROGRAMS OR CLASSROOMS SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT MORE STUDENTS FOR OUR DISTRICTS? BUT ALSO INSTEAD OF HAVING A CLASS OF 10 HERE AND SAYING WE CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE, BUILDING TWO CLASSES OF FIVE AND BEING ABLE TO BUILD THAT MORE SO THAT IF THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT COME IN THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE THEM.
THAT'S A VERY SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS, AND I KNOW I'M BRINGING IT DOWN TO VERY SIMPLE TERMS, BUT I WANT TO SEE THOSE CREATIVE IDEAS, SO WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN MORE STUDENTS BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PROGRAMS, OUR PROGRAMS ARE JUST GOING TO GET SMALLER AND SMALLER AND THEN OUR PRICES ARE GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
I DON'T LIKE SAYING IT LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
WE'RE NOT LIKE A BUSINESS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED MONEY TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND WE NEED FUNDING, BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO CREATE A PLAN OF SUCCESS TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE PROGRAMS. I JUST WANT TO SEE US SEE THAT IN A CREATIVE WAY SO WE CAN SUSTAIN THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE NOT JUST SEEING IT DWINDLE DOWN BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW COUNTY OFFICES THAT SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE DOING THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WHEN WE ARE PLANNING, WE LITERALLY START PLANNING A YEAR IN ADVANCE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE OUR FEBRUARY, MARCH TIMELINE, I WOULD SAY INTO FEBRUARY TIMELINE TO KNOW THE ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT YEAR, AND IF WE WERE TO SAY SPLIT A CLASS FIVE AND FIVE AND WE DIDN'T GET THAT ENROLLMENT, THEN WHATEVER SMALL AMOUNT OF DISTRICT STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, THAT DISTRICT HAS TO ABSORB THE ENTIRE COST OF THAT CLASS.
IF IT'S THE ONE STUDENT THAT COMES MID YEAR, IT'S A REALLY HIGH COST THAT OUR DISTRICTS JUST CAN'T AFFORD.
[02:35:01]
I THINK IF WE DO MEET WITH THE DISTRICTS ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE HAVE RE-BENCHING MEETINGS, I KNOW JOHN AND HER TEAM MEET WITH THE DISTRICTS, BUT THE DISTRICTS THEY ALSO HAVE EXPRESSED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THEY WANT TO GROW THEIR OWN PROGRAMS, AND THEY WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS.I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT WE DO PROVIDE THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENROLL THEIR STUDENTS.
>> I'VE SEEN THIS OFFICE DO AMAZING THINGS.
I THINK THAT WE CAN REALLY TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING CREATIVELY.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY, WE HAVE TO DO IT BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE US DO IT.
I KNOW ONE OF OUR PARENTS TALKED ABOUT DOING A SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT, LISTENING TYPE OF ACTIVITY OR LIKE A GROUP.
I FORGOT THE WORD THAT WAS USED EARLIER, BUT MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO JUST COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE IDEAS.
I THINK THAT THIS COUNTY OFFICE IS VERY INNOVATIVE.
WE LEAD THE CHARGE ON SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF EDUCATION, SO THE BETTER THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS.
I KNOW WE CAN'T SOLVE EVERYTHING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY ISSUES, BUT IF WE'RE ABLE TO START THE WORK ON FIXING THOSE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS, THEN WE CAN JUST IMPROVE PUBLIC END.
I THINK THAT'S THE GOAL, BUT I'LL JUST PAUSE THERE AND THEN LET MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS.
>> PACHECO AND THEN TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION THAT BUILDS UP, BUILDS ON TRUSTEE LAURIE AND TRUSTEE SREEKRINAN'S EARLIER QUESTIONS.
GOING BACK TO TRUSTEE LAURIE'S QUESTIONS REGARDING THE 6-7 STUDENTS WHOSE REFERRALS WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SCO DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS TO MEAN BUCKETS.
FOR THE ONE BUCKET WHERE IT'S ABOUT CAPACITY CLASSES WERE IMPACTED, WHICH PROGRAMS ARE IMPACTED? WHICH ARE THE TYPES OF REFERRALS THAT ARE DENIED DUE TO SPACE LIMITS?
>> THAT INFORMATION I WILL NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU, BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT IT WAS ONLY ONE STUDENT SO FAR THIS YEAR THAT HAD THAT CODE.
I KNOW OUR ORTHOPEDICALLY IMPAIRED MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS IS VERY IMPACTED RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU AT A LATER, THAT'S QUICK FOR US TO FIND OUT, BUT WE ONLY HAD ONE STUDENT THAT THAT WAS THE REASON.
I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT WE DID HAVE ROOM THIS YEAR.
WE HAD A LOT OF ROOM AND WE BUILT OUR PROGRAM BASED ON THAT ENROLLMENT OF LAST YEAR'S FEBRUARY NUMBERS.
WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH LESS STUDENTS THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE BECAUSE DISTRICTS DIDN'T UTILIZE US AT THE RATE THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD.
THAT IS AN ISSUE, THAT IS WHEN WE LOOK AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR IT BECOMES EVEN A A LARGER IMPACT ON OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE HAD LESS THIS YEAR TO START WITH THAN WE HAD PLANNED ON, BECAUSE DISTRICTS REFERRED LESS THAN THEY HAD THE PRIOR YEAR.
THEN NOW WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL 56 STUDENTS PROVIDED TO US BY DISTRICTS THAT THEY HAVE NOTIFIED US THEY WILL BE SERVING THEIR OWN STUDENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOT LESS STUDENTS AND WE HAVE OUR PROJECTED CLASSES FOR NEXT YEAR, WE DO HAVE ROOM TO SERVE STUDENTS NEXT YEAR.
THERE'S A ROOM FOR STUDENTS IN PROGRAMS AND WE CAN DEFINITELY PLAY STUDENTS.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BED PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, RIGHT? I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY.
>> TERMS OF OUR PROGRAMS? THAT SOUNDS RIGHT IN TERMS OF OUR BLOCKS OR PROGRAMS?
>> WITHIN THOSE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND STUDENT NEEDS, BUT WE MAKE A DECISION TO CATEGORIZE OUR PROGRAMS AND WE BASE.
THOSE ARE OUR OUR OWN CREATED LABELS THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE DO SERVE STUDENTS WITH MANY DIFFERENT DISABILITY CATEGORIES, ELIGIBILITY.
>> ONE OF THOSE FIVE BUCKETS, WHICH ONES WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE?
>> AT THIS POINT FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVE SPACE IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. THERE'S SPACE FOR REFERRALS.
>> THE SPACE ISSUES THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR WOULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR IF AN LEA IS MAKING THIS TYPE OF REFERRAL?
>> WELL, I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK WHICH ONE STUDENT THAT WAS.
BECAUSE IF IT WAS ONE STUDENT IN AN OI MIDDLE SCHOOL, I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE IF WE'RE STILL, AGAIN, A STUDENT WITH AN ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THEY'RE JUST SMALL IN SPACE AND WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, BUT I JUST NEED TO SEE WHERE THAT ONE STUDENT WAS
[02:40:02]
AT SO TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT WE HAVE ROOM, AND SO I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT BACK TO BOARD.>> THANKS. MY LAST QUESTION IS, IT BUILDS ON WHAT TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN POINTED OUT, WHICH IS 127,000,024 AND THE SIMILAR FIGURE FOR 25 FISCAL YEAR.
IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE LOST ABOUT MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS IN ENROLLMENT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT YEAR FOR PROJECTED.
FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, OUR CLASS SIZES HAVE REDUCED BY MORE THAN 10, SO WE'RE RUNNING A SMALLER PROGRAM FOR THE SAME COST?
A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH SOME OF THE OPERATING COST INCREASES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD SALARY INCREASES.
I WOULD SAY IT'S IN THE RANGE FROM 20% OVER THREE YEARS.
IN SOME CASES, SOME OF THE PAY EDUCATORS GOT 25%, BUT THOSE COSTS ACCUMULATE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
WE'VE ALSO HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OUR HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS, AND BRINGING THOSE TWO UP IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE STAFFING IS THE LARGEST PART OF THE COST FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY A 40% INCREASE OVER THREE YEARS.
THE COST FOR THE OPERATIONS OF IT HAS INCREASED, WHICH IS WHAT IS REFLECTED HERE.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE REDUCTION IN ENROLLMENT AND THE REDUCTION IN CLASSES, THE COST ARE STILL INCREASING BECAUSE OF THOSE INCREASES AND THEY'RE CUMULATIVE.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE OF HOW MUCH CHANGE HAPPENS BETWEEN 23, 24, WE HAD AROUND THE SAME NUMBER OF CLASSES RUNNING A PROGRAM OF 110 MILLION, AND THEN IT BALLOONS TO 127, AND THEN WE LOSE, I THINK, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CLASSES, AND IT'S STILL THE SAME PRICE.
SEEMS REALLY ODD AND I'M NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING IT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RATIO BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF CLASSES TO FTE, WHICH I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR.
WHAT IS THE FTE THAT WE'RE LOSING FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, IF THE LAYOFFS HAPPEN? THAT'S WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL ILLUMINATE, MORE FOR ME, AS TO HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE TO RUN A SMALLER PROGRAM FOR THE SAME COST.
>> YES, I WILL PUT THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. I COMPLETELY SECOND WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BY MY COLLEAGUES.
I WOULD LIKE THE INFORMATION TRUSTEE PACHECO ASKED FOR AND TO VICE PRESIDENT CHAN'S POINT.
I'M EXCITED THAT OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME SYSTEMIC ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
ARE WE SEEING THAT FOR A DISTRICT SENDING THEIR STUDENTS TO OUR COUNTY SPECIAL ED PROGRAMS, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO SEND THEM TO A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL? IS THAT AN OCCURRENCE THAT'S HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY? > YES. THE COSTS OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE DIFFERENT.
IT IS DEPENDENT UPON THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM AND THE TYPES OF SUPPORTS THAT THAT STUDENT MAY NEED, BUT IN GENERAL, YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN SOME OF OUR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA.
>> THAT'S JUST A CONCERNING TREND, I IMAGINE FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, IT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER COES TOO, BUT I WANT TO REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT THAT IS CONCERNING.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE MAY NOT HAVE SPACE FOR SOME STUDENTS, BUT ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSURES AND SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN TRUSTEE PACHECO'S QUESTION TOO ABOUT, WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE SPACE AND WHY? BUT ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE ANYMORE NOW ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE THAT TYPE OF DYNAMIC GOING ON?
>> YES. I THINK, AGAIN, LOOKING AT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE DO ANTICIPATE ROOM IN OUR PROGRAMS FOR REFERRALS.
[02:45:01]
I'VE LOOKED AT WITH ALL OF THE CLASSES THAT WE'VE CONSOLIDATED, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN OUR PROGRAM STILL HAVE A SPACE FOR NEXT YEAR AND THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE REFERRALS.AGAIN, WE BUILT OUR PROGRAM BASED ON OUR FEBRUARY NUMBERS.
WE DID RECEIVE AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE MORE NAMES OF STUDENTS THAT DISTRICTS WILL BE OFFERING A PROGRAM TWO, AND WE'VE ALREADY BUILT OUR PROGRAM BASED ON THOSE STUDENTS COMING TO US.
THE REALITY IS WE REALLY DO ANTICIPATE NEXT YEAR BASED ON STUDENTS THAT ARE AGING OUT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHICH WOULD MEAN THE 22 STUDENTS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE CLOSED, WHICH IS OUR THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM, WHICH IS EIGHT STUDENTS, AND OUR STUDENT TAKE BACK LIST.
WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT THE LOW 700 FOR STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE WILL HAVE ROOM FOR REFERRALS AND WE'RE LOOKING IN GOOD SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE DISTRICT REFERRALS FOR THE FALL.
>> THEN CAN YOU SHED LIGHT ON PRE-SCHOOLS RATHER THAN OLDER CLASSES AND SOME OF THE TRENDS THERE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?
FOR NEXT YEAR, WE DID HAVE, AGAIN, THE PROGRAM THAT WAS EXPERIENCE MORE CONSOLIDATIONS, REALLY WAS OUR SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
THAT IS THE PROGRAM, AS I SHARED THAT DISTRICTS REALLY ACROSS THE STATE DO SERVE MOST OF THEIR STUDENTS IN DISTRICT PROGRAMS. THAT IS WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE BIGGEST DECLINE IN UTILIZATION, AND THEN AS WELL AS THERAPEUTIC.
LOOKING AHEAD FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, WE DID CONSOLIDATE TWO OF OUR PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CLASS SIZES RANGING, IN THE PRE-SCHOOL ROOMS, FROM TWO STUDENTS UP TO FIVE WITH ONE CLASS STARTING AT SEVEN.
THERE IS A ROOM FOR PRE-SCHOOL.
I DO WANT TO SAY THE DIFFERENCE IN PRE-SCHOOL, AND ALL OF MY PRESCHOOL TEACHERS THAT WOULD BE LISTENING WOULD SAY, DON'T FORGET TO SAY THAT WE START SERVING STUDENTS THE MINUTE IT'S THEIR THIRD BIRTHDAY.
PRE-SCHOOL, WE DO END UP USUALLY STARTING LOW BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE ROOM TO SERVE STUDENTS AS THEY TURN THREE, BUT EVEN WITH OUR TWO CONSOLIDATIONS, WE DO SEE A LOT OF ROOM IN PRE-SCHOOL.
THAT IS BECAUSE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING MORE AND MORE OF THEIR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND DISTRICTS ARE BUILDING CAPACITY.
I THINK WHAT ALSO HAPPENS WITH THAT IS THAT AS DISTRICTS START TO SERVE THEIR PRESCHOOLERS, FAMILIES GET USED TO THEIR HOME SCHOOL AND THEIR HOME DISTRICT, DISTRICTS FEEL THAT THEY KNOW THEIR STUDENTS AND THERE'S A CONTINUUM FOR THAT STUDENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT PROGRAM.
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO SEE THAT DECLINING NUMBERS, AND FOR US, WE'VE FELT THE IMPACT IN PRESCHOOL OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST COMMENT TO WHAT TRUSTEE PACHECO WAS ASKING TO IS, JUST GETTING A BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT A BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET WE SEE, BUT BASED ON INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, PARENTS, TEACHERS, VERSUS ADMIN MANAGERS AND CONSULTANTS TRAININGS, AND AT LEAST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE CLASSROOM COSTS, INCLUDING OUR WORKFORCE THERE, AND I HAVE MORE COMMENTS ABOUT THAT IN A LATER ITEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, GO AHEAD.
>> I'LL MAKE MY QUESTIONS REALLY QUICK.
I WANT TO REFERENCE TO SLIDE 3, AND THEN I JUST HAVE A COMMENT ON OUR CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS.
ON SLIDE 3, WE SEE THAT IN SCHOOL YEAR '23/'24, WE WENT FROM ENROLLMENT DOWN FROM 1,026-916, BUT WE SAW THE REDUCTION IN STAFF BY 0.5.
[02:50:04]
THEN FROM 2024/2025 TO THE '25/'26 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SEE THE REDUCTION OF ABOUT 100 STUDENTS AGAIN IN ENROLLMENT, BUT THEN WE SEE THE NUMBER OF CLASSES.WHEN I SAY NUMBER OF CLASSES, I REFERENCE STAFFING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TEACHER AND PARAS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, 119-103.
THEN HERE WE SEE A REDUCTION OF 16 CLASSES.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT AS TO WHY THAT HAPPENED? THEN AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, AS ENROLLMENT CAN CHANGE, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES DON'T GET AFFECTED? BECAUSE IN 2020, WE SAW A REDUCTION IN EMPLOYMENT FOR A TEACHER SHORTAGE, A PARA SHORTAGE, A SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE.
NOW WITH THE THREAT OF FUNDING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE MAY SEE ANOTHER SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND PARAS AND SUBSTITUTES.
UNFORTUNATELY, A SHORTAGE OF EDUCATORS IS A SHORTAGE IN ALL AREAS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE IF WE CONSOLIDATE THESE CLASSES, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THEN EVENTUALLY, IF WE HIT THIS POINT WHERE THEY'RE AT CAPACITY, WE'RE EITHER GOING TO BE STUCK TO NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD, ONE, ANOTHER CLASS, WHICH AGAIN THEN LIMITS THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE TO DISTRICTS, WHICH THEN DOESN'T SOLVE OUR FUNDING PROBLEM WHERE THE COST IS HIGH, BUT TWO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN STAFF IF NEEDED, AND JUST CONTINUING MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION IN ALL DIFFERENT PARTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE CONSOLIDATION AND REDUCTION IN STAFFING IS NOT JUST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. BETWEEN '23/'24 AND '24/'25, DR. ANN HAD MENTIONED THAT WE WERE PROJECTING 916.
YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE CLASSES FROM 0.5 TO THE 119.
I THINK AT THAT TIME, BASED ON WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING, WE WERE PROJECTING MORE STUDENTS.
THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CONSOLIDATIONS DONE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE WERE THINKING THERE WAS GOING TO BE 916, BUT THEN AS WE PROGRESS TO THE '24/'25 YEAR, WHICH IS NOW, WE'VE SEEN A LOWER AMOUNT, WHICH IS WHAT PROMPTED THE NEED TO DO CONSOLIDATIONS FOR '25/'26.
IT'S THE LOWER ENROLLMENT THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THIS YEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MUCH LOWER ENROLLMENT FOR '25/'26 WHICH IS PROMPTING THE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE CLASSES.
BECAUSE THEN YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STUDENTS IN CLASSES AND WE CAN'T BE OVERSTAFFED IN A SENSE.
THERE'S ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STUDENTS VERSUS STAFF YOU SHOULD HAVE IN A CLASSROOM.
THAT'S WHY THE DECISION WAS MADE THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK LAST YEAR IT WAS WE WERE THINKING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET THAT 916, BUT WE DIDN'T.
>> ALMOST THE REDUCTION IN THE STAFFING OR THE CONSOLIDATING OF CLASSES IS ALMOST FOR TWO YEARS WORTH.
>> THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS JUST HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONCEPTUALLY SUPPORT THEIR PROGRAMS WITH ANOTHER POTENTIAL EDUCATOR SHORTAGE.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ANSWER TODAY, BUT JUST SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AS A COUNTY OFFICE BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE SHORTAGES IN THE CLASSROOMS, IT DOESN'T GET EASIER FOR OUR CURRENT STAFF.
THEY'RE PICKING UP THE WORK BECAUSE TESTING STILL NEEDS TO GET DONE, KIDS STILL NEED TO BE SERVICED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE THINGS GET DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
EDUCATORS ARE NOT GOING TO LET THAT GO UNDONE, BUT THEN THAT PUTS THE PRESSURE ON THEM.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES DON'T GET INTERRUPTED AND THAT OUR STUDENTS AREN'T AFFECTED BY THAT?
>> JUMPING OFF OF THAT QUICKLY, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS I JUST HAVE IS ON THE POSITIONS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO HIRE.
BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE SUCH A FLUCTUATION AND UNCERTAINTY IN TERMS OF HOW MANY STUDENTS WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE IF THESE LAYOFFS ARE GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT AND NOW THESE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED POSITIONS THAT EVEN OUR LOCAL DISTRICTS HAVE A REALLY TOUGH TIME HIRING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO THEN BE TOLD LATER ON DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR NOW WE HAVE TO HIRE CONTRACTORS WHO DON'T KNOW OUR STUDENTS AND WHO DON'T KNOW THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL? THAT'S SOMETHING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.
>> IT IS A CHALLENGE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAM IS FULLY STAFFED.
[02:55:05]
OUR STUDENTS HAVE VERY UNIQUE NEEDS.THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE EXCEPTIONAL.
THIS IS THE POPULATION THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH.
THEY ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK. WE NEED THEM.
IT HAS BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL, CAREFUL DECISION MAKING, AND THIS IS WHERE WE REITERATE TO DISTRICTS.
WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS EVERY YEAR AND REALLY INFORM OUR DISTRICT PARTNERS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO UTILIZE US THE FOLLOWING YEAR? WE'RE BUILDING A PROGRAM FOR YOU.
WE'VE MADE THESE DECISIONS BASED ON OUR ENROLLMENT, BASED ON DATA, BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, AND EVEN WITH THAT, WE DO REALLY STRESS TO OUR DISTRICTS THAT WE REALLY NEED THE INFORMATION BY EARLY FEBRUARY IN ORDER TO MAKE GOOD, SOUND DECISIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE NOW BECAUSE WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET MORE DISTRICTS THAT WANT TO OFFER THEIR OWN PROGRAM, AND THAT IS THEIR RIGHT.
WE DO LOOK VERY GOOD FOR OUR STAFFING.
I KNOW IT IS A VERY BIZARRE SPACE TO BE IN WHERE WE ARE LETTING GO OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
BUT HAD THEY STAYED ON, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERSTAFFED.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY EMAILS AND CALLS I'M GETTING FROM DIRECTORS TO SAY, "CAN YOU PLEASE PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR ME? WE REALLY WANT YOUR PROVIDER." BUT I UNDERSTAND OUR TEAM IS VERY MUCH A FAMILY.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO LOSE OUR STAFF, BUT WE HAVE MADE THE DECISIONS BASED ON DATA AND ENROLLMENT.
WHEN WE LOOK AHEAD AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING WITH DISTRICTS, AND WHEN WE REALLY LOOK AT UTILIZATION, MORE AND MORE OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE JOINING THAT MAJORITY OF UTILIZING US AT A LOWER RATE THAN MAYBE WE'RE USED TO.
BUT WHEN I PARTICIPATE IN COUNTY OFFICE SPECIAL ED ADMINISTRATOR MEETINGS, WHICH ARE EVERY OTHER MONTH, WE ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN OTHER COUNTY OFFICES IN THE STATE.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, WE'RE JUST A LITTLE MAYBE BEHIND OTHER COUNTIES WITHIN THE STATE WHERE DISTRICTS HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO BUILD MORE PROGRAMS. LIKE I'VE SAID, OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY DONE IT WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND SOME ARE STILL MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
BUT THE LONG STORY SHORT, SORRY FOR BEING WINDED, IS THAT IT'S BEEN HARD TO LET OUR HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF GO, BUT WE REMAIN STAFFED FOR NEXT YEAR AND WE FEEL CONFIDENT IN THAT.
>> I THINK SOME OF THE MORE SPECIFICITY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO ANSWER THIS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, JUST FOR TIME SAKE, BUT ALSO I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE DATA AND TRANSPARENCY THAT I THINK IS NEEDED BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT DISTRICTS ARE SAYING, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE BACK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND TOO, IS THAT AS A RESULT OF THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM? ARE THOSE STUDENTS BEING CAPTURED IN THAT NUMBER? BECAUSE THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY OUR DECISION AS A RESULT OF SHIFTING NUMBERS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE SOMEWHAT OF A SELF-CREATED PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW WE'RE HAVING TO RESPOND AND CLOSE TWO CLASSROOMS. ARE THOSE NUMBERS INCORPORATED IN THAT? THEN ALSO IN TERMS OF THE TRANSITION, INCLUSION IS ABSOLUTELY THE PRIORITY.
IT'S LEAST RESTRICT ENVIRONMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, SO MUCH HAS GONE INTO THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BUILT SO INTENTIONALLY FOR THESE STUDENTS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE FOR THE STUDENTS, FOR THE FAMILIES.
WHAT IS THE IEP PROCESS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HOW ARE THEY BEING ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS? BECAUSE IT CAN'T JUST BE LIKE A CLIFF THAT WE'RE CLOSING THESE CLASSES.
NOW, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? HOW IS THE DISTRICT GOING TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THOSE STUDENTS? THOSE ARE ALL LARGE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKING AT ALMOST 11 O'CLOCK, BUT I DO THINK THEY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT IN DEPTH AND REALLY SETTING THE STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS AS WELL.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WHOLE ROLLOUT AND PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
ALSO FOR THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO ALSO UNDERSTAND.
NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO THE THERAPEUTIC CLASS, BUT ALSO TO THE DHH CLASS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
[03:00:03]
AND THESE ARE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT TOPICS, SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ENGAGEMENT ON THAT.I THINK WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM HERE.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BERTA.
AS WE HAVE SAID, I SAW THEM DILIGENTLY WRITING DOWN THE QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL GET THOSE BACK TO THE BOARD IN SHORT ORDER.
IF IT'S NOT THE RIGHT INFORMATION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
[C. Informational Update on the Head Start Program]
THE NEXT ITEM IS YOUR MONTHLY UPDATE ON HEAD START.DR. LEE IS GOING TO COME GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, BUT AT LEAST CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE FROM THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE. DR. LEE.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BERTA, BOARD, AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HINMAN.
THIS EVENING, I WILL TRY TO BE INFORMATIVE AND YET SUCCINCT.
THIS EVENING, WE COME TO YOU TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE OFFICE OF HEAD START MONITORING REVIEW REPORT.
TO JUST GIVE YOU AN OVERALL, THROUGH THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH OUR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE STAFF FROM THE OFFICE OF HEAD START.
WE ALSO SUBMITTED OUR QIP, WHICH IS OUR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND WE DID RECEIVE A VISIT FROM THE T&TA TEAM AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF INPUT FROM THEM.
IT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR ANOTHER VISIT NEXT MONTH.
AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE, WE HAVE A DEFICIENCY IN OUR EARLY HEAD START CCP GRANT, AND IT IS IN SAFETY PRACTICES.
THROUGHOUT, ONGOING, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF VISITS TO OUR SITES, BOTH DIRECTLY OPERATED AND PARTNERS, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS UNDER HEALTH SERVICES.
THE OTHER AREAS ARE UNDER GOVERNANCE AND SELECTIONS, AND WE HAVE FIVE AREAS OF NON-COMPLIANCE THERE WITH OUR HEAD START GRANT.
I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THROUGHOUT.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSING ON PLACING DIFFERENT AGENDIZED ITEMS ON THE POLICY COUNCIL AND BOARD MEETINGS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PROGRAM OPERATIONS.
IN ADDITION, WE'VE BEEN ALSO DOING THE BEST WE CAN IN THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE BOTH THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE POLICY COUNCIL, PARTICULARLY IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SPACE AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICY COUNCIL TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PC MEETINGS.
LASTLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY POINTS, WHAT WE HAD DONE WAS, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, YOU ALL HAD PASSED OUR SELECTION CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY POINTS.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO RECEIVED FEEDBACK FROM THE T&TA SPECIALIST WHEN IT CAME TO HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR SELECTION CRITERIA AS WELL AS OUR FORMULATION OF ELIGIBILITY POINTS, AND ALSO LEADERSHIP RE-EXAMINED BASED OFF OF THE FEEDBACK OF IT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE SO FAR.
>> JUNE 22ND IS WHEN WE'LL KNOW THE FINAL RESULTS, IF WE'RE COMPLIANT AND FINE, MOVING ON?
>> THAT IS OUR CORRECTION DATE, YES.
>> VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, AND THEN TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT. I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE JUST NEED TO KNOW IF WE GET THE FUNDING OR NOT.
BUT I AM CONCERNED WITH WHAT I WAS STATING EARLIER, JUST CONTINUUM OF THE PROGRAMS. WE'VE PRETTY MUCH DECIMATED THE HEAD START PROGRAM.
MY CONCERN IS THAT, I'M OPTIMISTIC, WHEN WE GET THE FUNDING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR EMPLOYEES BACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LIVE LIVES, THEY HAVE TO LOOK FOR OTHER JOBS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO ENSURE THAT IF WE GET THAT FUNDING, WHEN WE GET THAT FUNDING, THAT WE HAVE THE SMOOTH PROCESS TO BUILD THESE PROGRAMS BACK UP? BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT DECLINING ENROLLMENT, ESPECIALLY IN HEAD START.
WHEN I WAS ON POLICY COUNCIL, WE SAW THE VACANT SPOTS, AND I WAS ALSO THERE DURING COVID WHEN WE SAW SHORTAGES OF HEAD START TEACHERS AND PARA EDUCATORS.
I HAVE SEEN WHERE IT'S GONE UP AND DOWN.
BUT HOW DO WE JUST ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM STAYS STABLE? MY FEAR IS THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO HEAR NO HEAD START IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
THERE IS HEAD START IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, JUST THIS UNCERTAINTY.
I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS RELIED ON FUNDING, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE READY TO BRING THIS BACK,
[03:05:05]
THAT IT'S DONE SMOOTHLY AND EFFICIENTLY?>> I'M GOING TO JUMP IN FOR YOU, DR. LEE.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS HAVING STAFF COME ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BI-MONTHLY BASIS, GIVE US UPDATES RIGHT UP TO THE DAY, AND SHARE WITH STAFF CONSTANTLY.
I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES.
I KNOW TRUSTEE SPEISER WAS AT PARENT COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AT THAT MEETING, BY THE WAY.
THERE'S SO MUCH PASSION IN THE SYSTEM.
WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THAT GOING.
NOT TO THROW WATER ON THE FIRE, BUT EVEN IF WE WANTED TO CONTINUE SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM FROM JUNE 30TH UNTIL NOTIFICATION, THE LAW DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW US TO DO THAT.
EVEN IF WE HAD THE FUNDS IN PLACE TO SAY, WE CAN CARRY HEAD START MOVING FORWARD, WE COULDN'T DO IT.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE DISINGENUOUS AND SAY WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.
WE'LL JUST TRY TO KEEP THE MORALE UP AND BELIEVE THAT THOSE PEOPLE, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR TEAM MEMBERS WILL ALSO BELIEVE AND BE READY TO JUMP ON DAY 1.
THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER I'M SURE THAT WE WANTED TO HEAR.
IF I DIDN'T DO THAT, WELL, DR. LEE, IF THERE'S A BETTER ANSWER, PLEASE GIVE IT.
>> WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GREAT UNCERTAINTY AND WE ARE FACING IT EVERY DAY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, NOT JUST OUR STAFF AND OURSELVES, BUT ALSO OUR PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS.
WE DO FEEL IT. HOWEVER, WE DO ALSO FEEL THE RESILIENCE THAT OUR STAFF BRING, AND IT'S VERY HOPEFUL IN THE SENSE THAT EVEN OUR TEACHING STAFF DESPITE AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, EVEN STAFF AT OUR RITTER PARK WHO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS.
ALL IN ALL, YES, IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING AND VERY UNCERTAIN AND ANXIOUS RIDDEN PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THAT, WHAT ALL STAFF HAVE SHOWN US IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE.
THEY HAVE STILL CONTINUOUSLY SHOWED US THAT SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, SERVING THOSE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS IS PARAMOUNT FOR US.
DESPITE WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE STAFF BECAUSE THEY STILL HOLD ONTO THAT.
WE HAVE ALREADY MOVED FORWARD AND STILL PLANNING WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ENROLLMENT PLAN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY STILL HIT OUR FULL ENROLLMENT INITIATIVE OR FULL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS EVEN THIS MONTH.
WE'RE JUST CROSSING OUR FINGERS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT AS WE WORK ON OUR QUIP, AS WE CONTINUOUSLY STILL WORK ON OUR ENROLLMENT, MAINTAINING IT, THAT WE'LL HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS.
>> I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I HEAR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH EDUCATION THAT WE GIVE A LOT OF HEART, BUT WE ALSO NEED SOME SECURITY.
WHATEVER WE CAN GIVE TO OUR STAFF, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU HEAR POSITIVITY AND RESILIENCE.
BUT WHEN I HEAR ABOUT LAYOFFS AND RIFFS AND POSITIONS BEING CUT, THAT DOESN'T COME WITH THAT.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO JUST SUPPORT AND GIVE SECURITY AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO OUR EMPLOYEES TO JUST REALLY KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING BECAUSE I CAN VERY CONFIDENTLY SAY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT PROGRAM FAIL.
WE WANT TO SEE IT SUCCESSFUL, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND GIVING US A LOT OF HEAD START UPDATES BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CONCERNED AND AND GIVE US THIS INFORMATION, AND SO I APPRECIATE AND YOU'RE HERE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
BUT ALSO OUR STAFF IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER TOO BECAUSE WITHOUT STAFF, WE CAN'T RUN OUR SCHOOLS.
JUST MAKING SURE WE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE, BUT GIVE THEM SUPPORT TOO. THANK YOU.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, AND I'VE PROBABLY SAID THIS BEFORE.
I DON'T ASSUME THIS WAS YOUR DECISION DR. LEE, BUT I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE LAYOFFS OF EVERYONE IN THE PROGRAM EVEN WITH THE CONDITION THAT THEY MAY BE RESCINDED.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW YOU LEAD.
I THINK A LOT OF DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN
[03:10:01]
DONE IN TERMS OF OUR WORKFORCE IN THESE PROGRAMS, AND AS WAS MENTIONED, I THINK THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WORKFORCE.IT'S BEEN REALLY CONCERNING TO SEE THAT.
I DO ALSO HAVE FAITH THAT WE WILL GET FEDERAL FUNDING.
I'VE ASKED THIS A FEW TIMES, AND I KNOW IT'S ON OUR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BUT I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN OTHER COUNTY OFFICES APPROACH POTENTIAL CUTS THE WAY WE HAVE WITH PUTTING ALL OF OUR STAFF ON HIGH ALERT.
I DO THINK WE ARE ALREADY LOSING STAFF WITH THE WAY WE'VE BEEN HANDLING THIS.
I HAVE A QUESTION AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT I BELIEVE CONGRESS PASSED A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO EXTEND LAST YEAR'S FEDERAL FUNDING TO PREVENT DISRUPTIONS, AND I THINK THAT GOES UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AND I BELIEVE IT INCLUDES HEAD START, IS THAT CORRECT? DIRECTLY, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL GO TO INTERIM HINMAN OR BUT WOULD THAT ALLOW US TO RESCIND NOTICES BEFORE MAY 15TH BECAUSE WE WILL GET CONTINUED FUNDING FOR HEAD START?
>> I'LL TAKE IT. WE HAVE NO VERIFICATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FUNDING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
A LOT OF THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR FIVE-YEAR HEAD START GRANT.
AS WAS SHARED HERE EARLIER, OUR APPLICATION, WE FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO.
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THERE WITH HUMAN SERVICES.
I EVEN DEVELOPED SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM WITH OUR APPLICATION WE SUBMITTED AND THEN COMPLETELY OUT OF RIGHT FIELD, I THINK TO ALL OF US, THEY CLOSED IT DOWN AND THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE.
WE'RE NOT EVEN 100% SURE WHERE OUR APPLICATION WENT AND WHO'S GOING TO REVIEW IT.
ARE THEY GOING TO MEET THE TIMELINES? YES, MAYBE IT'S A CONSERVATIVE VIEW, BUT THERE IS NOTHING IN WRITING THAT HAS BEEN STATED TO US IN ANY CONFIDENCE THAT OUR FUNDING WILL BE EXTENDED.
>> I GET THAT, BUT MY SPECIFIC QUESTION IS BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT CONGRESS PASSED AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED, WHICH I BELIEVE TAKES US TO SEPTEMBER.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO START IN JULY AND DO OUR ENROLLMENT AND RECRUITMENT LIKE WE USUALLY DO DURING THAT TIME?
>> WE WOULDN'T RESCIND ANY OF THE LAYOFF NOTICES IF WE BELIEVED OUR FUNDING WOULD ONLY GO THROUGH SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE THOSE CONTRACTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.
>> WOULD OUR EMPLOYEES CONTINUE UNTIL SEPTEMBER EVEN THOUGH WE RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THAT?
>> IF WE RECEIVE THE FUNDING, THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.
>> BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION FUNDING.
>> IT'S A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, BUT THAT DOES NOT GUARANTEE OUR HEAD START FUNDING.
>> HEAD START, I UNDERSTAND IS PART OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
>> AS SOON AS I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWS THAT IT WILL BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE 25, 26 SCHOOL YEAR, I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO GO INTO HR AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TO RESCIND ALL OF THOSE NOTICES.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WHOEVER IS ON STAFF AND LOOKING AT THIS SHOULD LOOK AT THE MEASURE THAT THE CONGRESS PASSED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT, AND I WOULD JUST ADD THAT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THAT REVIEW IS THAT THAT IS MORE SPECIFIC TO GRANTEES, OTHER COUNTY OFFICES, POTENTIALLY THAT ARE IN THE MIDST OF THEIR FIVE-YEAR TERM.
WHEN WE ARE APPLYING NOW, WE DID THAT FIVE YEARS AGO.
LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE IN YEAR 3 OF OUR GRANT AND WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS WE WERE ALREADY CONTRACTED FOR, THAT WOULD APPLY.
BUT OUR DIFFERENCES THAT WE'RE ON THE LAST END OF OUR YEAR OF OUR EXISTING GRANT TERM.
THAT'S WHERE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, WE'RE NOT EVEN APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD FOR JULY 1 UNTIL WE GET THE NEW FIVE-YEAR AWARD PERIOD.
>> WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THAT AND BEING ON TOP OF THAT. THANK YOU.
[03:15:01]
>> NO OTHER COUNTY OFFICES IN OUR SITUATION WITH THE FIVE-YEAR TERM THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> EVERY COUNTY OFFICE DEPENDING, SO IT'S A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM, BUT EVERY COUNTY OFFICE MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT YEAR.
THIS WAS THE END OF OUR FIFTH YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE ADJUSTED OUR FISCAL YEAR, SO WE USED TO HAVE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR.
NOW THAT IT'S ALIGNED, WE DON'T HAVE AN OVERLAP IN HAVING THE GRANT FOR A COUPLE MORE MONTHS, SO IT ENDS JUNE 30.
OTHER COUNTY OFFICES THAT SEPTEMBER CONGRESS DECISION MAY SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THERE MAY BE IN YEAR 2 OR 3, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERY COUNTY OFFICE STANDS.
IT COULD BE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE.
>> TRUSTEE ROCHA AND THEN TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK UNDER THESE VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT.
BUT WITH THAT, I KNOW YOU HEAR A LOT OF WORDS ABOUT SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION AND LOOK INTO THIS AND OR CRITICISMS WITH NO ACTUAL ALTERNATIVES ON WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO, BUT JUST CRITICISMS WITH THAT SAID IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO.
ADVOCACY LETTERS TO OUR LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL FOLKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WORK THAT YOU'RE UNDERTAKING OR IF THAT'S EVEN WORTH THE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND RESOURCES.
YES, WE HAVE OUR OWN GOVERNANCE OFFICE MAKING DAILY PHONE CALLS.
I'M TOLD THAT HAS CONTACTS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS THAT TOLD ME AS SOON AS THEY HEAR SOMETHING THEY WILL LET US KNOW.
I DO BELIEVE THEM THAT THEY ARE MAKING DAILY INQUIRIES.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE AT THE DIAS UP HERE HAVE MADE THEIR CONTACTS WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT GIVE US SOMETHING.
WE'RE ALL DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE JULY.
I JUST DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE US HANGING THAT LONG.
THE SOONER THE BETTER, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO GIVE THAT DATE.
>> AS MINORS IT SOUNDS, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE DO LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND REQUESTING LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM OUR LOCAL DELEGATION AND THE APPROPRIATE FOLKS IN THE APPROPRIATE POSITIONS.
HOWEVER, UNREALISTIC IT SEEMS THAT A LETTER FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT OR THIS ENTIRE BOARD IS GOING TO HAVE ANY SWAY BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE A PART OF IT BEYOND JUST CRITICISMS OR WORDS, I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE. THANK YOU.
>> TRUSTEE PACHECO AND THEN TRUSTEE SPEISER.
>> GOING BACK TO TRUSTEE LAURIE'S QUESTION.
SO OF THE 14 COES THAT HAVE HEAD START PROGRAMS, WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES ARE ON THE SAME GRANT LIFE CYCLE AS US. WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN FIND OUT SINCE IT'S VERY PUBLIC?
>> YEAH, WE COULD INQUIRE WITHIN THE COA NETWORK AND WE COULD TRY TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION INTO THAT.
>> THEN IF ONCE WE DO THAT, IT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR SOME TRUSTEES WHO HAVE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT THIS JUST TO SEE WHAT IS THOSE COAS APPROACHES.
I THINK IT'S MORE FOR AN INFORMATIVE MATTER SINCE WE ARE REALLY ONLY A MONTH AWAY FROM THE DEADLINE THAT TRUSTEE [INAUDIBLE] WAS MENTIONING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT DEADLINE APPLIES TO THOSE AFFECTED FTE.
BUT I THINK IF A TRUSTEE IS CURIOUS ABOUT IT AND IT'S EASILY FINDABLE, IT'D BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT THAT COES IN THAT SAME LIFE CYCLE IS, HOW THEY'RE APPROACHING THIS CONUNDRUM.
I GO TO BED AT 10 O'CLOCK JUMPING OFF OF WHAT TRUSTEE ROCHA WAS SAYING.
WE COULD ALSO POSSIBLY ENGAGE THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATIONS LAC TO WRITE A LETTER TO OUR CONGRESS MEMBERS ABOUT THIS.
IT IS WELL WITHIN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WHAT THEY ADVOCATE FOR AND ANYWAY, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT IDEA TRUSTEE ROCHA, AND I WAS JUST THINKING THAT THEY ALWAYS WANT TO HELP ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STUDENTS COME FROM ALL THEIR DISTRICTS TO GO TO HEAD START.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
[03:20:01]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTION SIMILAR TO HOW EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR FUNCTIONS FOR SPECIAL ED, IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY.I DON'T THINK CONDITIONAL CONTRACT IS THE RIGHT TERM BECAUSE I'M TOLD THAT'S NOT LEGAL OR THERE'S NO LEGAL BASIS FOR THAT.
BUT IS THERE SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT COULD BE ENACTED AT LEAST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME IN THE EVENT THAT WE'RE NOTIFIED LATER INTO SOMETIME IN JULY FOR THE HEAD START? YEAH. THANK YOU.
>> WE CAN ALWAYS ENTER INTO AN MOU TO EXTEND IT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE DEADLINE BY WHICH WE HAVE TO DO IT.
IF WE ENTER INTO ANOTHER FISCAL YEAR, THEN THE CONTRACT WILL HAVE EXPIRED, OR THE LAYOFF NOTICES WILL GOING INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 30.
IF IT'S ANYTIME AFTER JUNE 30, THERE'S A BREAK IN SERVICE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD BEEN HAVING WITH THE UNION ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT, GIVEN THAT YOU'LL HAVE A BREAK IN SERVICE AND THAT WILL AFFECT EMPLOYEES IN THEIR RETIREMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF CONTINUITY OR SUPPORT, EVEN IF IT MEANS UNORTHODOX SITUATIONS THAT WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. LEE FOR EVERYTHING.
I KNOW WE'RE AT OUR NEXT ITEM.
[D. SCCOE Budget Development and Fiscal Planning Overview]
I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO, IT'S PAST 11:00 P.M AT THIS POINT.I KNOW THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN DOING A BOARD STUDY SESSION ON THE BUDGET, WHICH WE COULD ALLOCATE A IN DEPTH SOLE FOCUS OF A STUDY SESSION.
I KNOW WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS NEXT ITEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY INTEREST IN POTENTIALLY COMING TO SOME CONSENSUS ABOUT A BOARD THAT ITEM TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AS A BUDGET STUDY SESSION FOR THIS ITEM AND DEFERRING THE REST OF OUR ITEMS FOR THE EVENING GIVEN THE HOUR, BUT OPEN TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY. TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'M REQUESTING, AS I DID PRIVATELY TO YOU TO PLEASE IF WE CAN DELAY AND GO WITH THAT ITEM AND GO INTO MORE DEPTH AT A TIME WHEN IT'S EARLIER IN THE DAY THROUGH THE FORMAT OF A STUDY SESSION.
IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, AND IF EVERYBODY AGREES, I SAY THAT'S WHY WE DO THAT AND I ALSO POSSIBLE TO SKIP OTHER ITEMS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
>> TRUSTEE KRISTIAN AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, JOHN.
>> YEAH, I WOULD MAYBE NEGOTIATE THAT WE MAKE THE BUDGET OUR LAST ITEM AND MAYBE MOVE THE REST TO OR SKIP THE REST BUT ONLY BECAUSE I DO THINK IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THIS ON THE ITEM, AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE HERE.
I KNOW AT LEAST I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS TO BE AGENDIZED, AND I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND IT MAY BE GOOD TO ASK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS AT THE MEETING PRIOR TO OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT STARTING.
EVEN IF WE DON'T GET ALL THE ANSWERS, THEY WILL AT LEAST KNOW WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM IN THE QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION OUR LAST ITEM FOR TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHERE EVERYONE'S AT.
VICE PRESIDENT CHAN, I KNOW YOU HAD A COMMENT.
>> I'M SORRY. COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING, WAS IT TO DO THIS ITEM AND THEN TABLE THE REST OF THE MEETING, OR TO TABLE EVERYTHING AS OF NOW?
>> MY THOUGHT PROCESS WAS GIVEN THAT THERE WAS INTEREST IN DOING A BUDGET STUDY SESSION TO PROVIDE AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME OF JUST THE BUDGET STUDY SESSION, SO NOT NECESSARILY COVERING THAT NOW, BUT SCHEDULING THAT, AND THE REST OF THE ITEMS WOULD BE COVERED AT A FUTURE MEETING.
>> I SEE. THEN I'M GIVEN THERE I WAS ONE OF THE TRUSTEES WHO ASKED FOR THE BUDGET STUDY SESSION I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DO WE ENVISION? IS IT GOING TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING THAT WOULD ENGAGE WITH A PUBLIC REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING, WOULD WE DO AN ADDITIONAL MEETING? THEN ALSO, HOW DO WE PLAN TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE'VE LOST A LOT OF THEM AT THIS HOUR, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INVOLVED WITH OUR FISCAL PLANNING,
[03:25:01]
AND SO WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? IF YOU DON'T KNOW YET, THAT'S OKAY, BUT I JUST WOULD URGE THAT WE HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT THAT GOING.>> I WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION UNDER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH IS HOW IT WAS REQUESTED, BUT I THINK GIVEN THAT IT IS THE BUDGET ITEM.
>> YEAH, AN IDEA. I THINK THIS ALSO GOES IN LINE WITH TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN'S COMPROMISE IDEA.
WHY DON'T WE JUST DO, WHAT IS IT CALLED, A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING NEXT WEDNESDAY WITH JUST ONLY THAT? BECAUSE HOW IS THE PUBLIC ABLE TO EVEN ENGAGE AT THIS HOUR LET ALONE THIS? EVEN ME, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S REALLY LATE, BUT THEN AGAIN, I GET IT. IS THIS AN IDEA? IF WE CAN DO THIS NEXT WEEK, I'M ALSO FINE TO JUST POWERING THROUGH TONIGHT IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO.
>> OTHER TRUSTEES THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS SEEMS QUIET.
>> IF I MAY, THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK FROM STAFF THE TIMELINE AROUND OUR BUDGET ADOPTION AND WORK FROM THERE.
KNOWING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT OUR TIMELINE IS IN TERMS OF WHEN WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, WHEN THE STATE BUDGET COMES OUT, HOW THAT ALL FITS INTO THIS IN TERMS OF OUR ENGAGEMENT AND BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE OUR CONSTITUENCIES AND EMPLOYEES AND THE BUDGET HEARINGS THAT ARE ALL BEING RECOMMENDED, WHICH I'M VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF AND BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW.
>> SO THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION WAS A SNAPSHOT IN A REVIEW OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS THUS FAR, AND INCLUDES WHERE WE LANDED FOR '23-'24 AND THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR '24-'25 AND THE INTERIMS. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE NOW.
THE BUDGET TIMELINE IS THE BUDGET HAS TO COME TO THE BOARD.
I THINK IT'S THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE ADOPTION, THE SECOND WEEK OF JUNE.
THE THOUGHT WAS TO GET THIS INFORMATION NOW, WE COULD EITHER POWER THROUGH IT OR DO A SPECIAL MEETING OR MOVE IT TO THE 30TH POTENTIALLY.
BUT THEN WE COULD ALSO HAVE A BUDGET SESSION.
MY RECOMMENDATION WAS IF WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE UPDATES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S MAY REVISE, IT WOULD BE THE SECOND OR THIRD WEEK OF MAY POTENTIALLY.
I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING THAT DATE BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE NEW INFORMATION ON THE BUDGET UNTIL MAY.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE SHARING TONIGHT IS THE ONLY NEW INFORMATION WE HAVE AND THAT'S FROM THE JANUARY PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF BOTH, BUT I WILL DEFER TO THE BOARD AND DR. HINMAN.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
FOR ME, WE CAN DO OUR DISCUSSION WHETHER IT'S TONIGHT OR ANOTHER MEETING PRIOR.
BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT IN TERMS OF THE REVISE, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT OUR BUDGET SITUATION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, I WOULD EXPECT.
I KNOW WE WON'T KNOW ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, BUT ON THE STATE SIDE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRUE ENGAGEMENT OF WHAT OUR INVESTMENT CAN AND CAN'T BE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED SUPPORT.
IF I WERE KING FOR A DAY, I WOULD TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, AND THEN I WOULD SET UP A NUMBER OF BUDGET HEARINGS THAT ALIGN WITH THE SCHEDULE.
THESE ARE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.
WE CAN SIT HERE AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT TILL WE'RE BLUE IN THE FACE, BUT THEY'RE NOT REAL NUMBERS TONIGHT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN OR PRECLUDE US FROM PROVIDING INPUT ON WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE PROBABLY PRETTY SIMILAR.
BUT IF WE ALL WANT TO REITERATE THOSE YET ONE MORE TIME, I'LL SIT HERE FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST BEFORE WE GET INTO ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION THEN, SINCE WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD TO HEAR THOSE COMMENTS, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS ITEM, IF THAT'S OKAY. TRUSTEE?
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY I AGREED WITH THAT STATEMENT.
>> YES. WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO STAYED TO THIS HOUR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
FIRST, TINA CHANG AND MEGAN FINCHER.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CENTER PODIUM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TINA CHANG.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE SO LATE, AND I'M SORRY IF I'M BECOMING INCOHERENT.
I HAD SOME QUESTIONS LOOKING AT THE SLIDES AND EVERYTHING RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW THE MONEY TO SEE WHERE CAN WE SERVE OUR KIDS AND WANTING TO KNOW WHERE PARENTS CAN BE INVOLVED.
I LEARNED RECENTLY ABOUT THE LEA COLLABORATIVE.
HOW IT OVERSEES MEDICAL FUNDING AND ED COD MANDATES PARENT INVOLVEMENT.
BUT THE MEETING WAS THEN CANCELED.
I WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHERE DID $11 MILLION IN MEDICAL FUNDING GO AND HOW IS IT NOT BEING SPENT ON OUR KIDS,
[03:30:02]
AND HOW CAN IT BE SPENT ON OUR KIDS.WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'LL WAIT FOR FURTHER MEETINGS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN FINCHER.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION IS FACING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DECISIONS WITH THE BUDGET, INCLUDING POTENTIAL LAYOFFS AND SERVICE CUTBACKS.
AS YOU ADDRESS THE BUDGET ISSUES, WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PUT STUDENTS FIRST, WHILE ALSO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD AND SCCOE STAFF CAN FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE IDEA OF HAVING ANOTHER MEETING THAT YOU GUYS CAN DIVE INTO THIS BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SPEISER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE DONE WITH YOUR COMMENT, BUT I WANT TO START WITH YOU FIRST.
>> THAT WAS IT. ALONG THOSE LINES OF THE DISCUSSION WE WERE HAVING, I THINK HAVING THEM, WE GOT THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK WE ARE WITH LIMITED INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.
WHILE WE COULD DO THIS NEXT WEEK, MAYBE WAITING FOR JUST REALLY DIRECTLY AFTER THE MAY REVISE TO HAVE THE STUDY SESSION WOULD BE OUR MOST INFORMED TIME TO HAVE IT.
I DO THINK IF WE CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, WE'RE ALL GETTING INCOHERENT, AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO STAFF.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO GET INCOHERENT.
[LAUGHTER] ANYWAY, THAT'S MY OPINION.
>> THANK YOU. TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT I SUPPORT DOING A STUDY SESSION, TOO, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS TONIGHT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE DEADLINES I'VE BEEN MENTIONING IN TERMS OF OUR STAFF AND THE LAYOFF DEADLINES, AND I WOULD AT LEAST JUST LIKE TO HAVE A MINUTE TO ASK MY QUESTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.
DR. TOSTON, HE'LL ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS TO DIGEST THIS.
THE MAY REVISE IS A WHILE AWAY.
IF THE BOARD COULD JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE TO ASK MY QUESTIONS AND THEN WE GO HOME IS ANOTHER COMPROMISE.
I'LL DEFER TO THE TRUSTEES IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> IS IT JUST ASKING THE QUESTION, SO IT'S PART OF THE RECORD AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT?
[LAUGHTER] I AM JUST LOOKING AT THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT FOR THESE QUESTIONS.
I'M LOOKING AT PAGES 13 AND 21.
BUT IN THE DOCUMENT, IT'S PAGE 15 AND 23.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES IS OBJECT CODE 4,300.
THE BUDGET WAS INCREASED BY 4.9 MILLION TO 10.9 MILLION.
BUT AS OF SECOND INTERIM, ONLY 1.5 MILLION OF THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS SPENT YEAR TO DATE, AND ONLY 3.3 MILLION WAS SPENT LAST YEAR.
I'M WONDERING WHY WE'RE INCREASING THE BUDGET FROM 4.9 MILLION TO 10.9 MILLION.
ALSO, PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES WAS INCREASED 32 MILLION TO 65 MILLION.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE DOUBLING OUR CONSULTING.
AS OF SECOND INTERIM, ONLY 11.7 MILLION OF THE ORIGINAL 33 MILLION BUDGETED WAS SPENT YEAR TO DATE.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE DOUBLING OUR CONSULTING, AND THAT'S OBJECT CODE 5,800.
THEN ALSO LOOKING AT CODE 5,500 TO 5,450, THAT'S INSURANCE.
THIS IS OVER 300% MORE THAN BUDGETED BECAUSE WE'RE SHOWING 3.5 MILLION.
I'M NOT SURE WHY 3.5 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT.
IT DOESN'T LOOK REFLECTED IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY.
ALSO, THE SUB AGREEMENT SERVICES, THAT'S OBJECT CODE 5,100.
THAT WAS INCREASED BY $21.6 MILLION.
I WENT FROM 28 MILLION TO 43.4 MILLION.
[03:35:04]
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE DOING SUB AGREEMENTS AND CONSULTING.THEN I'VE ASKED BEFORE, WE HAVE POSITIVE CERTIFICATION FOR TWO MORE FISCAL YEARS.
WE'VE HAD POSITIVE CERTIFICATION FOR AT LEAST THE THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE WITHOUT CUTS.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A HIGH ROLLOVER EACH YEAR, I KNOW THAT SARAH MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.
I WOULD WANT MORE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE'RE UTILIZING OUR ROLLOVER.
I THINK BROADER, WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF CUTS WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE? IF WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET THIS YEAR, BUT YOU'RE SAYING IN A FEW YEARS WON'T BE BALANCED.
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT US TO CUT THIS YEAR, IS IT 10 MILLION, 20 MILLION? I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FOR THAT AS WELL BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING CUTS, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE GOAL IS.
THANK YOU. FOLLOW UP IN EMAIL TO.
>> THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN.
>> I ALSO DO HAVE ONE QUESTION TOO, IS JUST IN RETURN AND THEN I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION RIGHT AFTER THIS, TRUSTEES.
BUT I JUST DID HAVE ONE QUESTION IS JUST ON WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF LAYOFFS, HOW WE'RE GOING TO JUST SUPPORT THE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
WE'RE SEEING LAYOFFS IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD A PAUSE IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, BUT WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS, OUR CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWALS ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP, INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFERS ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP.
OUR EXPULSION APPEALS ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP.
IT STARTS TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN OUR WORK.
I KNOW IT DOESN'T SLOW DOWN IN THE OFFICE DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE THE MONTH OF MAY IS THE YEAR OF MAY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, THINGS WILL PICK UP AND SOME OF OUR REGULAR WORK WILL CONTINUE.
IF WE SEE LAYOFFS AND CUTS IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THAT WORK IS STILL GOING TO GET DONE, ESPECIALLY IN THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY DO AS A COUNTY OFFICE.
HOW THAT FITS INTO THE BUDGET STUDY SESSION, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WORK GETS DONE AND NOT JUST DOUBLE DUTY FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND MAKING SURE THAT WE AREN'T JUST PUTTING ON OTHER WORK ONTO OTHERS.
I KNOW CONTRACTING SERVICES WAS SOMETHING TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN TALKED ABOUT, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE NOT JUST CONTRACTING LIKE WHERE, HOW DO I EXPLAIN THIS? SLP CONTRACTORS, LIKE THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REALLY SPECIFIC MORE DETAIL IN THAT, IF WE COULD. LITERALLY CONTRACTORS.
HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING FOR CONTRACTORS? THEN WHY ARE WE NOT FILLING THOSE POSITIONS WITH ACTUAL SCCOE FTE EMPLOYEES.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT WORK, IF COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT LAYOFFS IS DONE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP, BASED ON OUR DISCUSSION, GIVEN THE TIME, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A DOODLE POLE SENT OUT BASED ON THE TIMING OF THE POTENTIALLY THAT MAY REVISE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT ON THE EARLIER SIDE OF THAT.
THAT WAY, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A TIME FOR TRUSTEES THAT WORKS FOR A SPECIAL MEETING AND JUST BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT ALSO ON THE BUDGET.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. VICE PRESIDENT CHAN?
>> I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> A SECOND FROM TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO ADJOURN BY VICE PRESIDENT CHAN AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO.
>> YOU HAVE TO VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.
>> YOU CAN GIVE A VERBAL AYE AS WELL IF IT'S NOT ON.
VERBAL AYE FROM TRUSTEE SREEKRISHNAN.
>> ME TOO, BECAUSE MY [OVERLAPPING]
I THINK IT WAS TRUSTEE PACHECO AS WELL.
THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. WE ADJOURNED AT 11:22 PM.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON APRIL 30TH UNLESS SOME MEETING SCHEDULED BEFORE THEN.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU TO STAFF.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.