Mar 04, 2026 County Board of Education

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I WOULD LIKE

[A. Call to Order]

TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH.

THE TIME IS 5.06 P.M. AND ACTUALLY WE WILL LET PRESIDENT SHAWN SIT DOWN AND LET HER ACTUALLY CHAIR THIS MEETING. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. APOLOGIES FOR MY TARDINESS. OKAY, I'M HERE. I WILL PRESIDE OVER THE REST OF THE EVENING.

DID YOU CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

HERE. OKAY. GOING ON TO OUR LIVE STREAM. A LIVE STREAM OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT HTTPS COLON SLASH SLASH TINYURL.COM SCC BOARD MEETING. ON THE WEB PAGE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

BOTTOM AND CHOOSE LIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE FOR SUPPORT IN SPANISH 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 937-523-6196 POUND LANGUAGE SUPPORT IN ASL, SPANISH, AND VIETNAMESE IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

HEADSETS FOR SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. THE ASL INTERPRETERS ARE AT THE FRONT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROOM AS WELL AS ON THE MONITORS. PERSONS WANTING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO BY COMPLETING A SPEAKER COMMENT CARD AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR IN THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE ROOM, PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW AN SCCOE STAFF MEMBER WHO IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ANDINO. WE WOULD

[B. Pledge of Allegiance]

EVERYONE, IF YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.

AND THEN PLEASE BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. STUDENT

[C. Land Acknowledgement]

THANK YOU, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ANDINO. I

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

I, PRESIDENT CHAN, AM PRESENT.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? HERE.

TRUSTEE BERTA? PRESENT.

TRUSTEE LARI? PRESENT.

TRUSTEE PACHECO? TRUSTEE ROCHA? AND TRUSTEE SHRIKRISHNAN? PRESENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO ABSENCES. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA. I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO

[E. Set the Agenda]

TRUSTEE SHIRKISHAN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING WITH THE AGENDA? I AM HAPPY TO SECOND THAT, BUT I JUST ALSO WANT TO NOTE THE INFORMATION ITEM 7. I'M NOT GOING TO PULL IT OFF CONSENT THIS TIME, BUT I WANT TO THANK DR. TOSTIN AND JESSICA SIMPSON AND TIFFANY FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND I KNOW THAT.

MAYBE IN YOUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, WE'RE EVEN DOING MORE THAT'S NOT ON THE REPORT FOR AN INITIATIVE THAT MAY BE STARTING THIS YEAR FOR STUDENT VOICE. SO FOR THE PUBLIC, TOO, AND THE BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE READ THAT REPORT AND JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. AND I WILL SECOND. AWESOME. THANK YOU. SO MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT SPICER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNA. I THINK I'M A VERBAL EYE BECAUSE I'M HAVING ISSUES GETTING TO MY POOR DOG. DID YOU NEED ANYONE ELSE'S? OKAY, AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SEVEN AYES. THANK YOU, TRUSTEES. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON

[A. Recognition of the SCCOE Employee of the Month]

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THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES 10 SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES EACH YEAR FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, COWORKERS, AND CUSTOMERS.

GRISELDA GONZALEZ, SUPERVISOR OF THE HEAD START FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES IN THE EARLY LEARNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IS THE MARCH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. SHE WAS AT... SHE HAS WORKED AT THE SCCOE FOR 18 AND A HALF YEARS. IT IS WITH GRATITUDE THAT WE CONGRATULATE GRISELDA ON HER RECOGNITION AS MARCH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

BEFORE JOINING THE SCCOE, SHE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCIES THAT HELP FAMILIES FIND HEALTH INSURANCE.

HER EAGERNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LED HER TO THE SCCOE, WHERE SHE BECAME A FAMILY ADVOCATE. AFTER WORKING AS A FAMILY ADVOCATE FOR 14 YEARS, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO SUPERVISOR OF THE HEAD START FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES. I HAVE A PASSION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT MORE SO FOR HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, SAID GONZALEZ. AS A SUPERVISOR OF HEAD START FAMILY SERVICES, SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DENTAL SERVICES FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN. WHETHER SHE IS NAVIGATING A COMPLEX CONVERSATION WITH A PARENT OR COLLABORATING WITH HER PEERS, HER STEADY DEMEANOR AND ACCESSIBILITY MAKE HER A PILLAR OF SUPPORT FOR HER STAFF AND LEADERSHIP ALIKE, SAID KRISTEN LEE, MANAGER OF PLANNING AND SUPPORT IN THE EARLY LEARNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. SHE DOESN'T JUST MANAGE HEALTH SERVICES. SHE FOSTERS A CULTURE OF GRACE AND MUTUAL RESPECT.

IN HER ROLE, GRISELDA ALSO SUPERVISORS. A TEAM OF FAMILY ADVOCATES ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. HER COLLEAGUES SHARE THAT SHE IS A COLLABORATIVE LEADER WHO MAKES HER TEAM AND THE FAMILIES THE PROGRAM SERVES FEEL SEEN, VALUED, RESPECTED, AND SUPPORTED. AND I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN HER DO THIS IN PERSON. SHE'S AMAZING.

GRISELDA HAS IMPACTED STUDENTS THROUGH HER DESIRE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT. SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES, SAID LILIA VEGA, FAMILY ADVOCATE. SHE IS ALWAYS READY TO LISTEN TO CONCERNS BROUGHT FORTH TO HER. BUT REFLECTING ON HER TIME AT THE SCCOE, GRISELDA ENCOURAGES THOSE NEW TO THEIR CAREERS TO BE KIND AND PATIENT WITH THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERSON NEXT TO US IS GOING THROUGH, SAID GRISELDA. AS WITH ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE GRISELDA FOR HER OUTSTANDING SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE JOB, DEDICATION TO EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS, CONTRIBUTIONS OUTSIDE THE USUAL SCOPE OF THE JOB, AND OVERALL COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION, GRISELDA WILL RECEIVE A PLAQUE RECOGNIZING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCCOE, AN ENGRAVED CROSS PEN, AND A RESERVED PARKING SPACE.

KRISTEN AND GRISELDA ARE JOINING US THIS EVENING. I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

CONGRATULATIONS. HI EVERYONE, I'M KRISTEN. I HAVE THE JOY AND HONOR TO BE WORKING WITH CRISELDA GONZALEZ. I HAVE TO SAY IT'S A TRUE HONOR. TO HAVE HER AS MY COLLEAGUE AND AS MY PEER ALONGSIDE WITH EVERYONE ELSE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO TRULY EMBODIES EMPATHY AND KINDNESS, PROFESSIONALISM AND GRACE, YOU CAN FIND IT IN CRISELDA.

SO AGAIN SHE'S JUST AS MUCH OF A TEACHER TO NOT JUST STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BUT TO EVEN US AND SO AGAIN IT'S A REALLY BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO HER. THANK YOU EVERYONE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY IN THIS FIELD REALLY MATTERS.

IT REALLY COUNTS AND JUST REMEMBER WE LEARN FROM THE KIDS JUST AS MUCH AS THEY LEARN FROM US AND WITHOUT THEM WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. SO THANK YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND I COULDN'T DO WHAT I DO WITHOUT ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND

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TRUSTEES, IF WE CAN JOIN OVER THERE TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE.

KRISTEN, WHO ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO CALL UP? COME ON UP IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE PHOTO. AWESOME. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, GRISELDA. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,

[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.]

ANIMAL ASSISTED HAPPINESS COLLABORATED WITH THE SCHOOL AND BROUGHT THEIR MOBILE PHONES TO THE STUDENTS. STUDENTS TOOK A BREAK FROM THE ACADEMIC WORLD TO INTERACT AND SPEND TIME WITH GIANTS, RABBITS, GOATS, AND CHICKENS. ALSO, SOME NEW STUDENTS TOOK A TOUR OF SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE AND WERE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE CAMPUS AND VISIT THE RAISING SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

STUDENTS AT BLUE RIDGE ARE AT THE HALFWAY POINT IN THE LA UNA COHORT. AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW GREENHOUSE FOR AQUAPONICS AND EARNING THEIR FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION.

AT OSBORNE SCHOOL, WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR ONE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED WITH HONORS AND EARNED HIS STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. HIS YEAR-LONG PROJECT FOCUSES ON INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMMING FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE.

RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK. HE WAS AWARDED A MEDAL FOR COMPLETING THE STATE SEALS AND A LETTER SENT TO HIM BY THE MAYOR OF SAN JOSE. ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK TRUSTEE ISER AND TRUSTEE BERTA FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME TO THE CELEBRATION. THANK YOU.

AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR WORK, AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AT OUR MEETINGS. SO THAT WAS A GREAT REPORT. ALL RIGHT,

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS OF PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD]

PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE

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UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.95, THE BOARD STRIVES TO MAINTAIN ORDERLY AND CIVIL MEETINGS AND PREVENT DISRUPTIONS.

DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL AND PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT. VERBAL ABUSE, THREATS, OR PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING, OR SNAPPING, BOOING, OR SHOUTING. TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR A COMMENT YOU MAY. USE A UNIVERSAL SIGN OF APPRECIATION BY WAVING YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR LIKE THIS. AND THEN WE WILL ALLOW FOR SOME LAST-MINUTE CARDS, IF THERE'S ANY, TO GO UP RIGHT NOW.

BUT MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DO. WE HAVE 50 CARDS. 50 CARDS. OKAY, THANK YOU. AS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW COMMENCING, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS.

PLEASE RUN NOW. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS. ALL RIGHT, PLEASE PRESENT THE ONE-MINUTE TIMER.

IF LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED, TIME WILL BE DOUBLED. A TIMER WILL BE DISPLAYED. WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME IS UP, THE BUZZER WILL SOUND. YOU WILL BE MUTED AND YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WILL END. MODERATOR, CAN YOU PLEASE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, THANK YOU.

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

PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.

FOR THOSE IN HERE, IF YOU ALSO FILLED OUT A PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, 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.

ANY COMMENTS EXTENDING PAST THE TIME ALLOTTED 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, ABOUT A HAND'S DISTANCE. OUR FIRST TEN SPEAKERS ARE... AND CARLOS BATAZ NICO, NICIO. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MERCEDES HILL. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.

GOOD EVENING, DR. TOSIN AND BOARD MEMBERS. I AM MERCEDES HILL FROM THE HEAD START AND SEIU MEMBER. LAST OCTOBER, I STOOD BEFORE YOU EXPRESSING CONCERNS REGARDING THE HEAD START ENROLLMENT NUMBER SHORTAGE AND THE SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS ON BUDGET AND STAFFING.

I FEARED WE WOULD ONCE AGAIN FACE UNNECESSARY LAYOFFS COME MARCH, AND HERE WE ARE. WHY ARE RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT LEADERSHIP NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE? THERE WERE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO PRIORITIZE ENROLLMENT DURING THE SUMMER. INSTEAD, WHILE APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED, ENROLLMENT WAS PAUSED AND DID NOT RESUME UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 30TH DEADLINE. WHY? WHY WERE FRONTLINE POSITIONS PERMANENTLY CUT IN 2025 WHILE MILLIONS OF UNSPENT DOLLARS WERE RETURNED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? AND NOW, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS THE FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE BEING ASKED TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.

BEFORE ANY LAYOFFS ARE CONSIDERED, WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MILLIONS IN RETURN MONIES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CLARITY REGARDING THE CURRENT MILLIONS IN UNEARNED AWARD BALANCE AS OF DECEMBER, AND REASONS UNDERPINNING THE DECISIONS TO DEPRIORITIZE HEAD START ENROLLMENTS LAST SUMMER. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DELIA KLEIN.

GOOD EVENING, DR. TOSTIN, BOARD MEMBERS. I'M DELIA KLEIN. I'M A PARAEDUCATOR TRAINER IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

WE STAND TOGETHER TODAY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OUR STUDENTS, IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IN EACH OTHER. AND WHEN HEALTH CARE COSTS RISE HIGHER THAN OUR WAGES, THAT'S A PAY CUT. WE FOUGHT FOR A FULLY COVERED HMO PLAN BECAUSE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IS NOT A LUXURY, IT'S A NECESSITY. CLASSIFIED WORKERS KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE, WE KEEP OUR SCHOOLS RUNNING, AND WE DESERVE LIVABLE WAGES, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, FAIRNESS, AND DIGNITY. WHEN WE STAND UNITED, WE ARE POWERFUL.

AND TOGETHER WE WILL PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MONICA CALDERON OR IS IT MARIA CALDERON? ONE MORE TIME, MARIA OR MONICA CALDERON. GOOD

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ENTONCES YO PIDO QUE SE RESPETEN SUS DERECHOS CIVILES Y DIGNOS DE HUMANIDAD Y VIOLAN SUS NECESIDADES BÁSICAS.

GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS MARIA CALDERON AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY SON WHO IS A STUDENT AT ORCHARD SCHOOL AND I'M HERE TO FIGHT FOR HIS RIGHTS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CLOSE HIS CLASSROOM AND TAKE HIM TO A NEW CLASSROOM WITH NEW STAFF AND FOR HIM THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DRASTIC CHANGE BECAUSE HE HAS A HARD TIME ADAPTING TO A NEW LIFE. I KNOW HE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL EVENTUALLY BUT IT IS NOT YET HIS TIME AND SO I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO RESPECT HIS CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO RESPECT HIS HUMANITY AND HIS DIGNITY. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RON LAUDER. HELLO.

MY NAME IS RON LAUDER, BETTER KNOWN AS SPIDER, AND I'M A PROGRAM LEAD AT WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL. WHILE I'M HERE REPRESENTING WALDEN WEST STAFF, I ALSO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH FELLOW UNION MEMBERS THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS AS SCCOE ISSUES LAYOFFS TO 13 PERCENT OF THEIR STAFF. AND I'M HERE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SCCOE'S PLANNED TOTAL CLOSURE OF WALDEN WEST OPERATIONS AS IT UNDERGOES MUCH-NEEDED RENOVATIONS. DESPITE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LODGE, PANDEMIC, ROAD CLOSURE, AND OTHER SETBACKS, WE'VE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO STAY OPEN. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR ABILITY TO BE ADAPTIVE TO EVERY CHALLENGE WE HAVE FACED. WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER OTHER VIABLE OPTIONS THAT WOULD ENABLE WALDEN WEST TO CONTINUE SERVING STUDENTS DURING RENOVATIONS. ONE WOULD BE TO PHASE CONSTRUCTION SO FACILITIES REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMMING. ANOTHER WOULD BE TO LEASE ANOTHER AVAILABLE SITE. WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT PROJECTED CONSTRUCTION COSTS WERE $3 MILLION LESS THAN ORIGINALLY BUDGETED, WHICH COULD BE APPLIED TO LEASING COSTS. THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE 75... THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ISEL TORRES.

GISELLE TORRES, DHH TEACHER.

WE SHOW UP FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY WITH OPEN HEARTS AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THEIR SUCCESS, BUT WHEN CLASSES ARE CLOSED AND INSTABILITY BECOMES THE NORM, IT IS OUR STUDENTS WHO PAY THE PRICE. THEY LOSE CONSISTENCY, SUPPORT, AND THE TRUST OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT HELP THEM FEEL SAFE AND READY TO LEARN.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE GOAL IS MINIMAL STUDENT IMPACT, BUT THAT'S THE OPPOSITE THAT'S HAPPENING. THESE CLASS CLOSURES AND THE RESULTING LARGER CLASS SIZES WILL HAVE AN IMMENSE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS. DOING OUR JOBS EFFECTIVELY MEANS CLASS SIZES THAT ARE REALISTIC. IT MEANS STUDENTS AREN'T JUST NUMBERS SHUFFLED AND SQUEEZED INTO OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS WHERE THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ARE LOST. AND WHILE STAFF-TO-STUDENT RATIOS MAY LOOK ACCEPTABLE ON PAPER, THEY DO NOT REFLECT WHAT'S HAPPENING. THE REAL LIFE WORKS.

IF WE ARE EXPECTED TO TRULY SERVE OUR STUDENTS WELL, THEN TEACHERS MUST ALSO BE SERVED FAIRLY. A FAIR CONTRACT PROVIDES STABILITY, RESPECT, AND RESOURCES NECESSARY. IT IS ESSENTIAL, IT'S NOT OPTIONAL.

WE NEED A FAIR CONTRACT. WE CANNOT WAIT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAMARIS DEVITO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DAMARIS DEVITO, AND I'M FROM THE SAME SCHOOL THAT MY PREVIOUS COLLEAGUE JUST SPOKE FROM. ACCORDING TO THE COE, A MISSION STATEMENT, THIS ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO SERVE STUDENTS, SUPPORT EDUCATORS, AND ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION. AND I'VE WORKED HERE FOR 13 YEARS IN SPECIAL ED, AND WHAT WE SEE ON THE GROUND DOES NOT MATCH WHAT IS THAT MISSION. THERE IS $109 MILLION CARRIED OVER.

MEANWHILE, SPECIAL ED CLASSROOMS ARE LABELED LOW ENROLLMENT AND QUIETLY CLOSED, NOT BECAUSE STUDENTS NEED SERVICES OR THAT THEY DON'T, BUT BECAUSE STAFF ISN'T FUNDED.

WE ARE TOLD THERE'S NO ROOM, WHILE ROOMS SIT PARTIALLY EMPTY. AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS ARE BROADENED.

THEY'RE OPENED. AND WE SEE THE DISCREPANCIES, WE SEE THE INCONSISTENCIES, AND OUR STUDENTS SEE THE CONSEQUENCES.

YOU CAN BALANCE THESE SPREADSHEETS HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE,

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THEY GROW UP AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFF MCCANNON. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JEFF MCCANN. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS WHO ARE PART OF THE YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS DEPARTMENT. THIS IS MY 19TH YEAR WORKING AT SCOE.

LAST TUESDAY WE WERE INFORMED THAT ALL FIVE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST POSITIONS WERE BEING ELIMINATED, WHILE ALL 14 WELLNESS CENTER LIAISONS AND ALL THREE COORDINATORS WILL REMAIN EMPLOYED. ONE OF THE COORDINATOR POSITIONS HAS BEEN USED FOR THE ROLE OF CLINICAL SUPERVISOR, BUT WITH ALL CLINICIANS BEING ELIMINATED, WHAT IS LEFT TO SUPERVISE? WE ARE WONDERING, WERE ALL ALTERNATIVES EXPLORED? WERE FUNDING PRIORITIES EXAMINED TO PRESERVE DIRECT SERVICES BEFORE ELIMINATING EVERY CLINICAL POSITION? THIS DECISION IMPACTS CONTINUITY OF CARE AND STABILITY FOR STUDENTS WITH TRAUMA HISTORIES, CRISIS NEEDS, AND ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE CONSISTENCY, ACCESS, AND CLINICIANS WHO KNOW THEM.

WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO EXAMINE THIS ACTION AND PRIORITIZE RESTORATION OF DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN SCOE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDER BATAZ. THIS IS ALEXANDER BATAZ. A LOT OF YOU GUYS HAVE KNOWN HIM FROM GATEWAY. I JUST WANT HIM TO SAY A LITTLE WORDS SO YOU GUYS SEE IF YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND WHAT HE SAYS. OH YEAH. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FABIOLA BATAS.

OKAY, SO I HOPE YOU GUYS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID. HE'S UNHAPPY. WHEN YOU TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM THESE KIDS, THEY'RE UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS WEEK I FOUND OUT A KID WAS PUT IN A CLOSET AT RUTGERS SCHOOL IN GILROY. SIX YEARS OLD.

AUTISTIC. THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL INCLUSION? YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE MONEY, BUT YET YOU GUYS GET MONEY OFF THESE KIDS. WHAT NUMBER DO I HAVE TO PUT ON HIS HANDS TO MAKE SURE HE'S WORTH SOMETHING? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

SUPERINTENDENT IN GILROY DOES NOT CARE FOR THESE KIDS AT ALL. AND I'LL SAY IT TO HER FACE, AND I WILL THIS FRIDAY. IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PROTECT THESE KIDS, I WILL. IF I NEED TO GO TO STATE, I WILL. IF I NEED TO GROVEL TO THAT UGLY MAN THAT WE HAVE AS THE PRESIDENT, I WILL. HE MIGHT NOT SAY IT A LOT TO YOU GUYS, BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD HIM. BECAUSE THEY'RE WORTH IT. THAT EXTRA LITTLE DOLLAR, IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE HE CARES FOR THEM. THEY CARE FOR HIM AT ALL TIMES. I TRUST THEM.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS...

OUR NEXT TEN SPEAKERS, IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM OR IN THE BOARD MEETING ROOM.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.

I'M SO SORRY,OUR SPANISH INTERPRETER. WE'RE GONNA, CAN WE DO THE TRANSLATION FIRST BEFORE WE CALL UP THE NEXT TEN SPEAKERS? FOR THE INTERPRETATION FOR THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. HI,

[00:30:01]

BUT ALL OF THIS ABOUT INCLUSION FOR KIDS LIKE HIM IN REGULAR CLASSROOMS ISN'T REALLY FUNCTIONAL. I KNOW HERE HE'S ALREADY SEEN AS A BOTHER. PEOPLE ARE SAYING, OH, I CAN'T HEAR BECAUSE HE'S MAKING NOISE. NOW IMAGINE A REGULAR CLASS WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT. AND HOW ARE THE OTHER KIDS GOING TO BE FEELING? THE TEACHERS ALREADY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TYPICAL CHILDREN. NOW IMAGINE FIVE OTHER CHILDREN LIKE HIM WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT IN THAT CLASS. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO THE GENIUS IS WHO HAD THIS IDEA, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO CONGRATULATE HIM FOR IT.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT TEN SPEAKERS, TERRY CASILLO.

VERONICA ARELLANO, JEREMY STRAMETZ, CHRISTOPHER TSENG, GEORGE GUITARON, VALERIE WOLFE, CORINNE RICCI, DIPALI PARLIKAR, RENEE LIU, RAFAEL PERALES. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TERRY CASCIO. GOOD EVENING, MR. TOSTIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS TERRY CASCIO. I AM A HEAD START TEACHER. THE HEAD START PROGRAM TODAY IS NOT THE SAME PROGRAM I CAME INTO. THE DYNAMICS OF OUR CLASSROOM HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED.

TEACHERS ARE NOW BEING ASKED TO TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, OR SUPPORT TO HANDLE EFFECTIVELY, AND WE ARE FEELING THE LASTING EFFECTS. WE ARE WORKING WITH VERY YOUNG STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE NOT POTTY TRAINED, AND WHO DISPLAY BEHAVIORS THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED TRAINING.

WE ARE GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, NOT SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

YET, WE ARE EXPECTED TO MANAGE COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS WITHOUT THE PROPER PREPARATION OR RESOURCES. TEACHERS HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES WITHOUT ADEQUATE TRAINING. WE NEED ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SUPPORT. ALTHOUGH WE ARE ASSIGNED THREE STAFF MEMBERS PER CLASSROOM, ONCE BREAK AND LUNCHES BEGIN, A CLASS OF 20 STUDENTS... THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VERONICA ARELLANO. GOOD EVENING. LAST YEAR, WE HAD TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PREMATURE LAYOFFS.

WHEN WE ENDED UP RECEIVING THE FULL GRANT, AS WELL AS THE STATE GRANT ALLOCATIONS, GIVEN THAT THE FUNDING REMAINED INTACT IN 2025-2026, THE QUESTION IS ASKED, WHY DID THE STAFF GET LAID OFF? WE UNDERSTAND FUNDING ALLOCATION WITH THE NO-COST ENROLLMENT REDUCTION IS BEING REDIRECTED TOWARDS OPERATIONAL EXPENSE. WE HAVE QUESTIONS.

WHAT SPECIFIC COST INCREASES ARE DRIVEN FOR THE RISE IN OPERATIONAL EXPENSE? WHAT IS THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE NO? COSTS ENROLLMENT REDUCTION.

BEYOND THE OPERATION INCREASE, WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE OF WHAT THE CURRENT ALLOCATIONS ARE? THESE DECISIONS HAVE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE CORE PERSONNEL WHO SUSTAINS THIS PROGRAM, EARLY LEARNING SERVICES. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JEREMY STRAMETZ. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. I AM A MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS SPECIALIST AND I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK IN A COUNSELING THERAPY ROLE WITH SCCOE FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. I'VE PERSONALLY HELPED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS HEAL, STAY IN SCHOOL AND BUILD BETTER FUTURES AND THROUGH PROGRAMS WE'VE SCALED, THOUSANDS MORE HAVE BENEFITED.

THESE NEEDS EXPLODED AFTER COVID AND OUR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS STILL RELY ON THE SERVICES MORE THAN EVER. I WAS VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BRING SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL STUDENTS IN NEED WHEN IT IS SO OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND IT. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE BILLING SYSTEM AND FUNDING MODEL, EMBEDDING MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT AND BRAIDING SYSTEMS, BRAIDING FUNDING SYSTEMS AND EFFICIENT WORKFLOWS SO THAT WELLNESS CENTERS COULD COVER SOME OF THE COSTS OF LONG-LASTING TERM AND COME TRULY SELF-SUSTAINING BEYOND THE INITIAL GRANTS.

JUST AS THAT SUSTAINABILITY WORK IS STARTING TO SHOW RESULTS, THE RUG IS BEING PULLED OUT FROM UNDER US. THE VERY CORE STUDENT FACING POSITION MENTAL HEALTH THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTOPHER SANG. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER TSENG.

I, ALONG WITH COLLEAGUES FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS SPECIALIST TEAM, RECEIVE LAYOFF

[00:35:01]

STUDENTS EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, GRIEF, AND TRAUMA. WE CONDUCT SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENTS, CREATE SAFETY PLANS, AND SUPPORT STUDENTS UNTIL THEY ARE STABLE AND SAFE.

WE'VE WATCHED STUDENTS WALK INTO SESSIONS FEELING HOPELESS AND WALK OUT FEELING SEEN, HEARD, AND SUPPORTED. DESPITE THIS, THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO ELIMINATE THE WELLNESS SPECIALIST TEAM, EVEN THOUGH ALL MANAGEMENT STAFF AND WELLNESS CENTER LIAISONS ARE BEING RETAINED. LIAISONS ARE INVALUABLE PARTNERS, BUT THEY DO NOT PROVIDE CLINICAL CARE.

IF WELLNESS SPECIALISTS ARE GONE, WHO WILL RESPOND WHEN A STUDENT SAYS THEY WANT TO SELF-HARM? WHO WILL MANAGE THE NEXT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AT THE SCHOOLS WE SERVE? WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THESE LAYOFFS.

OUR STUDENTS DESERVE DIRECT CLINICAL CARE WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JORGE GUITRON IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JORGE HUITRÁN AND I SERVE AS A COLLEGE LIAISON WITHIN THE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION. THE PROPOSED LAYOFFS ARE NOT JUST FINANCIAL DECISIONS, THEY WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT FRONTLINE STAFF WHO SERVE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH IN OUR COUNTY. IN MY ROLE, I SUPPORT JUSTICE IMPACTED YOUTH IN ACCESSING COLLEGE PATHWAYS, FINANCIAL AID, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THEM ENVISION AND FUTURES BEYOND CUSTODY. SOME OF YOU HAVE VISITED OUR FACILITIES AND HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORMATION THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT AND I ASK YOU TO HELP PROTECT THE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE THAT TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE. CUTS TO ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT YOUTH WHO ALREADY FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS. THESE STUDENTS DEPEND ON OUR CONSISTENT EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO SUCCEED. I RESPECTFULLY ASK ALL OF YOU TO RECONSIDER LAYOFFS HAPPENING WITHIN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND FRONTLINE STAFF TO HELP PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN SPEAKER IS VALERIE OR WOLF ONE MORE TIME IS IT VALERIE VALERIO LAST NAME I BELIEVE A W-L-E-V-E-S AS A PARENT, IT MEANS A LOT TO SEE A CLASS WHERE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND NEEDS ARE SUPPORTED WITH PATIENCE, STRUCTURE, AND CARE. IN ROOM TWO HERE AT SEVEN TREES, I'VE SEEN HOW POWERFUL THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT CAN BE FOR STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM EXTRA UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT. WHEN CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE SPACE TO LEARN IN WAYS THAT WORK FOR THEM, IT HELPS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO KEEP GROWING. CLASSROOMS LIKE MS. GARCIA... SHOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SHARED GOAL OF HELPING EVERY CHILD SUCCEED. I TRULY BELIEVE THE APPROACH BEING USED HERE IN ROOM 2 AT SEVEN TREES EDUCATIONAL CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTY. THANK YOU TO THE TEACHER AND STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HEART YOU BRING TO SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY.

BEFORE I CLOSE, I ALSO WANT TO SHARE A HOPE FOR OUR BROADER SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THE PROGRESS HAPPENING HERE IN ROOM 2 AT SEVEN TREES. EDUCATION SHOWS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND LEADERSHIP WORK TOGETHER WITH CARE AND... THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CORINNE RITCHIE.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING OUR SPECIALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICES ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS. OUR PROGRAM IS NOT SIMPLY ANOTHER PLACEMENT OPTION. IT'S A LONGSTANDING, TRUSTED COMMUNITY RESOURCE... THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS RELY ON. MANY SURROUNDING DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE THE SPECIALIZED FACILITIES, INTENSIVE SUPPORTS, OR SEASONED STAFF THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS AND NUMEROUS EXPERIENCES. WHEN WE CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE CLASSROOMS, WE DON'T ELIMINATE NEED, WE SHIFT IT. AND OFTEN THAT SHIFT RESULTS IN HIGHER COSTS TO DISTRICTS THROUGH NON-PUBLIC AND NON-LOCAL PLACEMENTS THAT REMOVE STUDENTS FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND INCREASED TRANSPORTATION AND TUITION EXPENSES. OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS ALSO COMPROMISE STUDENT PROGRESS. THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION STRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENTS, AND CONSISTENT EXPERTISE. WHEN CLASSROOM SIZES GROW... NEXT SPEAKER IS DIPALI PARLIKAR.

GOOD EVENING. I'M SPEAKING IN RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN CLASS SIZES AND CLOSING OF A CLASSROOM AT OSTER DHH ELEMENTARY PROGRAM. RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF DEAF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES THAT SMALLER CLASS SIZES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENT GROWTH

[00:40:01]

SMALLER CLASSROOMS ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO MEET STUDENTS' INDIVIDUAL NEEDS INCLUDING LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION, ACADEMIC GAPS, AND SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT. THE CLASSROOM WILL PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO ACCOMMODATE NEW REFERRALS.

WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSED CONFIGURATION OF THE CLASSROOMS, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROGRAM IS QUESTIONABLE.

THE PROPOSED THIRD- TO FIFTH-GRADE CLASSROOM WOULD INCLUDE 17 INDIVIDUALS IN ONE SDC CLASSROOM. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RENEE LIU. HI, MY NAME IS RENEE LIU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. OUR EDUCATORS WORK EACH DAY WITH SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE AND VULNERABLE STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY. THE WORK WE DO REQUIRES DEEP COMPASSION, SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING AND GROWTH OF EVERY CHILD WE SERVE. WHEN WE ARE ABSENT, IT REMAINS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND QUALIFIED SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WHO CAN STEP INTO THESE COMPLEX AND DEMANDING ROLES. A CLEAR REFLECTION OF HOW SPECIALIZED AND ESSENTIAL OUR WORK TRULY IS.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE COST OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, PLACING AN INCREASED FINANCIAL BURDEN ON EDUCATORS AND PARAEDUCATORS.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS DISHEARTENING AND DISRESPECTFUL TO SEE AUTOMATIC RAISES AND FULL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PROVIDED TO ADMINISTRATORS, WHILE THOSE OF US WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS EVERY DAY ARE NOT AFFORDED THE SAME CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RAFAEL PERALES. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS RAFAEL PERALES. AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SCCOE HAS NO PLAN TO ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY DISCOVERED FINANCIAL WRONGDOINGS. LAST NOVEMBER, THE BOARD DISCUSSED 14 AREAS OF FINANCIAL WRONGDOINGS IDENTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION THAT TOOK PLACE... UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT STEPHANIE GOMEZ'S OVERSIGHT. THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW HOW THE ORGANIZATION ENHANCED PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT ONE EMPLOYEE CIRCUMVENTED ALL FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS IF THAT'S WHAT OCCURRED. IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT, HOW HAVE THEY BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE? HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE OFFICE LOSE THROUGH THESE ACTIONS? WE, THE PEOPLE, BARGAINING UNITS, AND COMMUNITY NEED TRANSPARENCY AND COMMITMENT. COMMITMENT TO REMEDY THESE WRONGS. WE CAN'T WAIT. WE CAN'T WAIT. OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME.

TARA GUERRERO, MICHELLE GARZA RIVERA, RAJU KRISHNA, TINA LANE. CINDY MCCAFFREY, DANIEL ROBINSON, STEPH PIDONE, CYNTHIA PUNO, CHERYL JIMENEZ, AND MINDY SHEPARD. ONE MORE TIME FOR THOSE MAKING THEIR WAY FROM THE OVERFLOW ROOM. TARA GUERRERO, MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA, RIJU KRISHNA, TINA LANE, CINDY MCCAFFREY.

DANIEL ROBINSON, STEPH PADONE, CYNTHIA PUGNO, CHERYL JIMENEZ, AND MINDY SHEPARD.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TARA GUERRERO. LONG TIME NO SEE. MY NAME IS TARA GUERRERO, AND I'VE WORKED FOR COE FOR OVER 22 YEARS. CURRENTLY, I TEACH FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH ACADEMY. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS AND... STAFF DESERVE RESPECT, NOT SILENCE.

FOR TOO LONG, WE'VE CARRIED THE COE'S GOALS ON OUR BACKS WHILE OUR PAY AND BENEFITS HAVE STAGNATED. NO RAISES, NO CONTRIBUTIONS TO INSURANCE. THAT'S NOT JUST A NUMBER ON OUR PAYCHECK. IT'S OUR FAMILY'S HEALTH, OUR SECURITY, AND OUR DIGNITY.

MEANWHILE, WE SEE TOO MANY OVERPAID ADMINISTRATORS DRAWING SALARIES. THE REST OF US CAN ONLY DREAM OF, AND WE'RE FORCED TO PAY FOR COACHES FOR ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE INEFFECTIVE. WHY ARE OUR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS FUNDING BLOATED LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING THAT DOESN'T IMPROVE OUTCOMES

[00:45:03]

PLEASE HOLD DR. TOSTIN ACCOUNTABLE AND HIS CABINET TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA. I'M READING MICHELLE'S TOO. OH, I'M SORRY.

YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ONE TIME ON THE SAME ITEM. OKAY, GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT TOSTIN AND SECOE BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MICHELLE GARZA-RIVERA, AND I'M A PARAEDUCATOR SERVING STUDENTS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE URGENT NEED FOR HIGHER PAY FOR PARAEDUCATORS.

PARAEDUCATORS ARE ESSENTIAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS. WE SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, MANAGE BEHAVIORS, ASSIST WITH INSTRUCTION, AND HELP CREATE SAFE CLASSROOMS. WE'RE OFTEN THE STEADY PRESENCE THESE MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY, YET MANY OF US STRUGGLE TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE IN ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY. LOW PAY LEADS TO HIGH TURNOVER OR HAVING TO GET A SECOND JOB, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE CONSISTENCY AND QUALITY OF SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE.

WHEN PARAEDUCATORS LEAVE, STUDENTS LOSE THOSE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS AND CRITICAL ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WE'RE ASKED TO STEP IN AND COVER A TEACHER, WE TAKE ON SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

IN THOSE MOMENTS, WE'RE LEADING THE CLASSROOM.

WE DESERVE APPROPRIATE LEAD PAY THAT REFLECTS THE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY. INVESTIGATING IN PARAEDUCATORS IS INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT FAIR UNION NEGOTIATIONS, COMPETITIVE WAGES, PAID MEDICAL BENEFITS, AND LEAD PAY WHEN WE COVER CLASSROOMS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RAJIV KRISHNA. MY NAME IS RAJIV KRISHNA. I WORK AS A TEACHER. SO IN AN ORGANIZATION WHERE MY SUPERINTENDENT MAKES MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I WORK WITH MY PEERS WHO ONLY MAKE $51,000 PER YEAR. $51,000 PER YEAR. IN AN ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS A CARRYOVER OF $109 MILLION. $109 MILLION CARRYOVER. THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND. ACE AND SEIU GET A 0% SALARY RAISE. ON SCHEDULE.

$109 MILLION. LET THAT SINK IN.

SECOE NEEDS TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH NOW BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS...

TINA LANE. DEAR SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE ARE PARENTS OF A SIXTH GRADER WHO ATTENDS THE COUNTY'S SPECIAL EDUCATION ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT PROGRAM LOCATED AT SIERRA MOUNT MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE WANT TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS OVER POTENTIAL SCHOOL CLOSURES AND STAFF REDUCTIONS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH STAFF CUTS AND HOW STAFFING WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

SCHOOL CLOSURES AND STAFF CUTS DISRUPT STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY. REDUCING AND RELOCATING STAFF CREATES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS. STAFF CHANGES CAN HAVE A DEEPLY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SINCE THESE STUDENTS OFTEN RELY ON CONSISTENCY AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CINDY MCCAFFREY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CINDY MCCAFFREY. I'M A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WITH THE COUNTY. COUNTY PROGRAMS EXIST FOR EXACTLY THIS REASON, TO PROVIDE PURPOSE-BUILT ENVIRONMENTS THAT LOCAL DISTRICTS CANNOT. BUT THESE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTS DO NOT RUN THEMSELVES. THEY ARE SUSTAINED BY HIGHLY SPECIALIZED EDUCATORS, YET BY REFUSING TO INCREASE THE SALARY SCALE FOR TEACHERS OF COE EDUCATORS, YOU'RE DEVALUING THE EXACT PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO MANAGE THESE COMPLEX, MEDICALLY FRAGILE-INTENSIVE CLASSROOMS. PUSHING OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR HOMESCHOOL DISTRICTS IS NOT AN INCLUSION STRATEGY. IT IS AN ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY. LOCAL DISTRICTS SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE SPECIALIZED INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

OUR STUDENTS, OUR COE STUDENTS.

A STANDARD CAMPUS CANNOT EASILY REFLECT, REPLICATE, EXCUSE ME, THE HIGHLY CONTROLLED SENSORY ENVIRONMENTS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL ROBINSON.GOOD EVENING BOARD

[00:50:08]

LAST NOVEMBER, THE BOARD DISCUSSED 14 AREAS OF FINANCIAL WRONGDOING IDENTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION THAT TOOK PLACE UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT STEPHANIE GOMEZ'S OVERSIGHT. IF AN EMPLOYEE WAS ABLE TO CIRCUMVENT FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS, WHO LOOKED THE OTHER WAY? AND HOW HAVE WE ENHANCED OUR PROCEDURES? TO ENSURE THAT THIS MALFEASANCE WILL NOT BE REPEATED. IF THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT, WHETHER THEY SIGNED DOCUMENTS OR PAYMENTS, OR ALLOWED ITEMS TO BE PROCESSED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE APPROVALS, HOW HAVE THEY BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE? HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE OFFICE LOSE THROUGH THESE ACTIONS? AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE ARE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE? WE, THE PEOPLE, THE BARGAINING UNITS, AND THE COMMUNITY. YOU NEED TRANSPARENCY AND A COMMITMENT TO REMEDY THESE WRONGDOINGS IN ORDER TO HAVE FAITH IN THIS ORGANIZATION'S FINANCE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPH PADONE.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE PADONE. I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 28 YEARS, AND I'M A DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. CAN YOU MOVE THE MICROPHONE CLOSER? I'M SORRY. TONIGHT, MANY OF US WILL STAND HERE AND SPEAK JUST AS I AM RIGHT NOW. AS EACH PERSON STEPS FORWARD... THE REST OF US WILL STAND BEHIND THEM BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED, WE ARE RESOLVED, AND WE ARE HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE DIDN'T COME HERE TONIGHT TO WATCH VIDEOS. WE DIDN'T COME HERE TONIGHT TO ARGUE OVER FANCY PRESENTATIONS. WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO ASK PARSEC AND AI HOW TO FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE CAME HERE TO DEFEND IT. WE ARE ASKING THIS BOARD, THIS ADMINISTRATION, TO DO SOMETHING SIMPLE.

TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, TO SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS, AND TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE WE STAND BEHIND, IN FRONT AND NEXT TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STUDENTS. AND TONIGHT, YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY, OUR EDUCATORS ARE UNITED, AND SO IS OUR COMMUNITY. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA PUNIO. HELLO, GOOD EVENING BOARD AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CINDY PUNO AND I WORK FOR A.L.C. UH, THREE, ALMOST THREE DECADES. I WANT TO READ THIS ANONYMOUSLY, OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION. I WANT TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND I WORK HARD TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARD EXPECTED OF US, AND YET I SPEND LONG HOURS ON MY FEET WITH FEW BREAKS AND WORK IN CLASSROOM WITH LIMITED STAFFING AND UNEVEN USE OF SUBSTITUTE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SERVING MULTIPLE CHILDREN WITH IPES AND STRONG BEHAVIORS.

WHEN SUPPORT IS LACKING SAFETY AND QUALITY, SUFFER FOR EVERYONE. I INVITE YOU TO SEE THIS CONDITION IN OUR HEAD. START CLASSROOM FOR YOURSELF. I AM ASKING FOR SCCOA TO INVEST STUDENTS LIKE WE USED TO, BECAUSE VALUING CHILDREN MEANS VALUING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM. PLEASE BARGAIN FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHERYL JIMENEZ.

HI, I'M CHERYL JIMENEZ. I'M READING ON BEHALF OF MICHELLE MAESE, A PRESCHOOL TEACHER AT THE HOLLISTER SITE. AS AN EDUCATOR, MY COMMITMENT TO MY STUDENTS DRIVES MY DAILY EFFORTS, BUT I FEEL COMPELLED TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGING AND INHUMANE CONDITIONS THAT ARISE FROM THE ABSENCE OF SCHEDULED BREAKS DURING A WORKDAY. TEACHERS ARE OFTEN EXPECTED TO STAND AND WALK FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, UP TO EIGHT HOURS, WITHOUT ANY TIME ALLOTTED FOR REST OR NOURISHMENT. THE SITUATION NOT ONLY LEADS TO PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT, SUCH AS JOINT PAIN AND FATIGUE, BUT ALSO LEAVES US FEELING DIZZY AND DEHYDRATED.

CURRENTLY, MANY TEACHERS REMAIN FROM CONSUMING EVEN A SMALL SNACK OR HYDRATING THROUGHOUT THE MORNING FOR FEAR OF REPRIMAND. THIS MINDSET CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TEACHERS ARE SCARED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS, LEADING TO DECREASED ENERGY, CONCENTRATION AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.

AFTER NEARLY FIVE HOURS WITHOUT FOOD OR LACK OF WATER, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO EXPERIENCE STOMACH PAIN OR DIZZINESS. WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY. IT IS VITAL TO RECOGNIZE PRIORITIZING TEACHER WELL-BEING. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MINDY SHEPARD.

MINDY SHEPARD, ACE, BARGAINING CHAIR AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, SEC. SECOE HAS NOT BARGAINED IN GOOD FAITH. ONE YEAR AGO, WE STARTED NEGOTIATIONS WITH 14 OPEN ARTICLES. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WE ONLY TA'D FIVE ARTICLES THAT NEEDED SOME VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, AS SECOE REPEATEDLY CAME TO THE TABLE UNPREPARED AND HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE REMAINING OPEN ARTICLES.

ON THAT LAST DAY AT THE BARGAINING TABLE,

[00:55:02]

THEY TOOK A BREAK AND THEN MESSAGED ACE. TO SAY. NOT ONLY WOULD SCCOE NOT BE RETURNING TO THE TABLE, BUT THAT ACE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL TWO MONTHS FOR A RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLES.

AT THAT POINT, BARGAINING CAME TO A HALT AND MEDIATION BEGAN.

IN FEBRUARY, DURING MEDIATION, ACE GAVE SCCOE ANOTHER CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THE ARTICLES AND AGAIN CHOSE TO RESPOND TO ZERO OF THE OPEN ARTICLES. ALL OPEN ARTICLES ARE TO THIS DAY WITH SCCOE. ACE HAS BARGAINED IN GOOD FAITH AND WILL CONTINUE TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH. ACE IS DEMANDING A FAIR CONTRACT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE DUNGEON. OH, EXCUSE ME. AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM. OUR NEXT TEN SPEAKERS ARE MICHELLE DUNGEON, DANA JENSEN, CHRISTINE HEADLEY, GRACE PEREZ, CAROL KNORR, ROBERTA TYNA, CARMEN BARADA. KRISTEN DOE, MICHAEL FAUST, AND HEATHER LEE. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHELLE DUNGEON. OH, THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY. OUR FIRST SPEAKER, EXCUSE ME, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MICHELLE.

HI, I'M MICHELLE DUNGEON. I'M A SPECIALIST WORKING WITH BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN FOR 26 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY.

THIS IS MY SECOND CAREER. I LEFT THE TECH TO DO SOMETHING MORE MEANINGFUL. FAMILIES OF STUDENTS I SERVE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE POST-SECONDARY, TELL ME THAT THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT TIME OF THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION WAS THE COUNTY PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. BUT THE COUNTY HAS DECIMATED THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS. THE COUNTY HAS DECIMATED THE CONFIDENCE AND FAITH AND TRUST. THAT THE FAMILIES AND DISTRICTS HAVE WITH US. IT'S A SHAME THAT STUDENTS NO LONGER ARE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA JENSEN. I'M DANA JENSEN, AND I AM A RETIRED TEACHER. I TAUGHT FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY. STOP CLASSROOM CLOSURES. THE MISSION STATEMENT IS, SECOE IS A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY, SERVING EXEMPLARY SERVICES.

TEACHERS, STAFF TRY TO PROVIDE THIS DAILY. DOESN'T IT FALL ON ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? SO WHY CUT TEACHERS, PARAS, AND STAFF? ADDRESS THE STUDENT NEEDS IN AN APPROPRIATE SETTING.

WITH WELL, I'M TRAINED AND WITH SALARY COMPENSATION TO ATTRACT OTHER TEACHERS AND PARAS. THE DISTRICTS HAVE NO FUNCTIONAL ACADEMICS, AND FEW ADMINISTRATORS KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO KIDS AND PARENTS WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

ADDRESS STUDENT NEEDS.

PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS ARE COUNTING ON YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE HEBLEY. HELLO. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE WORRYING ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND THE FUTURE, INCLUDING ME. I HAVE ONLY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. WHAT IS YOUR TWO-YEAR PLAN FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION? DO YOU HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT? HOW ABOUT YOUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN? ARE THE CHOICES YOU'RE MAKING GIVING YOU THE RESULTS THAT YOU WANT? WHY CAN'T WE WORK TOGETHER? TO WHY DON'T WE HAVE SIGNED CONTRACTS, AND WHY CAN'T WE WORK TOGETHER TO DO THAT? THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GRACE PEREZ.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GRACE PANOSO PEREZ AND I'M A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

[01:00:01]

WE SHARE OUR WALLS WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT. WE'RE HERE AT ELC, AND IT STILL EXISTS. SAD, HEARTBREAKING, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR FULL INCLUSION. WE JUST WISH OUR STUDENTS TO BE MAINSTREAM AND GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AND LEARN WITH PEERS THEIR OWN AGE.

SITTING NEAR ADULT OFFICES IS NOT MAINSTREAMING, MY DEAR FOLKS. AND WE SPENT THREE YEARS FOR FULL INCLUSION. IT WAS A SUCCESS. WE WISH WE CAN HAVE IT BACK. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROL. CAROL, IS IT NOOR? ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK TO THAT PERSON, ROBERTA TAINA. GOOD EVENING, DR.

TOWSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS ROBERTA TAINA. I AM A HEAD START CLASSIFIED TEACHING EMPLOYEE. I'M HERE TO HEAR REGARDING ABOUT TWO THINGS. FIRST, AS A HEAD START EMPLOYEE, OUR JOB DEMANDS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXCEPTIONS SINCE WE SERVE YOUNG CHILDREN.

THREE YEARS OLD WHO NEEDS EXTRA SUPPORT. MOST OF THE TIME, WE HAVE BEEN SHORT OF STAFFING, WHICH LEADS TO HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS. AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE ASKING ABOUT OUR WHY. OUR SIX LEAVE HOURS HAS BEEN REDUCED.

SECOND, SINCE WE LIVE IN A HIGH COST LIVING AREA, PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP US TO COVER OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE NEXT. SPEAKER IS CARMEN BARADA. HI THERE. I'M A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, AND U.S.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS ARE NOT APPRECIATING THE THINGS THAT WE DO, AND HERE IT IS. I'M WORKING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EDUCATION, AND IT'S IMPORTANT. IF YOU CUT US OFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'RE OVER HERE TRYING TO SUPPORT YOUR EDUCATION. WE WORK HARD, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE US. YOU KNOW, TO HAVE OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD. AND I'M JUST SAYING RIGHT NOW, COME ON, I'LL SAY IT LIKE THIS. YES, WE CAN, AND WE CAN SPEAK UP FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE NOT APPRECIATED AND BEING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, WE ARE SOMEBODY. AND WE'RE, YEAH, YEAH. AND HERE IT IS. WE DESERVE A RAISE. WE DESERVE MEDI-CAL. WE DESERVE OUR PAY RAISE TO GO UP. AND, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS A TIME FOR US, TIME, COME ON YOU GUYS, WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND, WE NEED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR, FIGHT FOR EVERY NEXT SPEAKER.

IT'S KRISTEN DOE. GOOD EVENING.

I'M KRISTEN DOE, DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, AT OSTER, TEACHING PRESCHOOL. ONCE AGAIN, THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO CLOSE DHH CLASSROOMS AND INCREASE CLASS SIZES. WHICH PUTS OUR STUDENTS AT REAL RISK. OUR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING LEARNERS HAVE UNIQUE LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION NEEDS, AND LARGER, MIXED-NEEDS CLASSROOMS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS EFFECTIVELY. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THIS MODEL FAIL. WHEN A CLASS OF THIS SIZE WAS TRIED BEFORE, THE WORKLOAD BECAME UNMANAGEABLE, AND STUDENTS DID NOT GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

STATE GUIDELINES ARE CLEAR. CDE RECOMMENDS RATIOS OF 4 TO 8 STUDENTS PER TEACHER IN ELEMENTARY DHH PROGRAMS. DEPENDING ON AGE AND NEEDS. CSD FREMONT ADHERES TO THESE RATIOS. THE PROPOSAL TO PLACE 12 STUDENTS IN THE THIRD TO FIFTH GRADE CLASS IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THESE STANDARDS OR BEST PRACTICES.

INCREASING CLASS SIZES WITHOUT INCREASING... THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL FAUST. TWO MINUTES, CORRECT? SHOULD BE TWO MINUTES. YOU'RE USING AN INTERPRETER? OKAY, GREAT. IT'S TWO MINUTES. HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, EVERYONE. I LOVE OUR STUDENTS.

THEY KNOW MISTAKES HELP THEM GROW. THEY KNOW WE'RE THEIR FIERCEST ALLIES. THEY KNOW THEY'VE FOUND COMMUNITY.

[01:05:06]

BUT I'M REALLY SAD. I WANT TO ASK YOU A HARD QUESTION TODAY.

IF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS HAPPEN AT MY CAMPUS, HOW CAN WE PROTECT OUR STUDENTS? TODAY, WE HAVE NOTHING. I'M POWERLESS. I'M WEAK. I HAVE NO POWER AND NO WAY OF KNOWING. OUR UNION MEMBERS ARE HERE. THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO CHANGE THAT.

AND I BESEECH YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE LISTEN. PLEASE COME BACK TO YOUR SENSES. WORK WITH US.

WORK WITH THE UNION. DON'T TAKE AWAY MY COMMUNITY. DON'T TAKE AWAY MY INSPIRATION AND DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER LEE, OR LEAH. HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER LEE. I'M A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WITH THE COUNTY AND I'M READING THIS ON BEHALF OF ONE OF MY STUDENTS WHO'S NOT ABLE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO. I GO TO SIERRA MONTT MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M IN SIXTH GRADE, I'M IN MISS RUTH CLASS. I HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT BE BUDGET CUTS. AND I HOPE TEACHERS, AIDES, AND SPEECH THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS DON'T GET MOVED. AND HERE'S WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO MOVE THEM AROUND. FIRST, IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO KNOW SOMEBODY.

FOR EXAMPLE, AT FIRST I DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH MY AIDE, MS. MARIA. IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. NOW I DO GET ALONG WITH MS. MARIA VERY WELL. IF I GET A NEW AIDE OR OT, IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. THEY WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO DO STUFF LIKE WITH MY EYE, GAZE, AND THEY GET ALONG WITH THE KIDS IN THE CLASS. I DON'T WANT MY TEACHER TO MOVE EITHER. THEY COULD GET FIRED, AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. NOBODY WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN. IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THINGS DONE IF TEACHERS OR AIDES CHANGE. THINGS MAY FINISH SLOWLY. SINCERELY, ALEJANDRA.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROL SNOW. GOOD EVENING. YES, THE BOARD CAME TO MY CLASS. I'M A RETIRED TEACHER, BY THE WAY. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I'M BACK HERE AND I WOULDN'T HAVE RETIRED, BUT I HAD A HIP REPLACEMENT.

LONG STORY SHORT, THE BOARD CAME TO MY CLASSROOM A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE I RETIRED. THEY LOVED MY CLASSROOM. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED. THEY WERE SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF THINGS WE COULD DO WITH OUR STUDENTS. MULTIPLE DISABILITIES, BECAUSE I HAD A MULTIPLE CREDENTIAL. AND THEY HAVE AUTISM, MEDICALLY FRAGILE ISSUES. AND WE MANAGE OUR CHILDREN. WHEN THEY GO TO A REGULAR ED CLASS, TRUST ME, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE REGULAR ED TEACHERS. THEY CAN'T HANDLE THEM. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. THEY NEED TO BE IN OUR CLASSES. THEY'RE DESERVING, THE MOST DESERVING, KIND PEOPLE, AS ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE. IT'S A CALLING. OKAY, YOU DON'T GO INTO IT FOR MONEY. OUR NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM OR LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM. IBRAHIM BARRY, RAJUL PAREKH, JOSHUA CHANG, ANTHONY O'DONNELL, YVETTE SIMON, CHRISTINE FINSTROM, SARAH STEINBACH, CHRISTINA MOORE. GUSTAVO, TAMMY, PAT. AND TINA CHANG.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS IBRAHIM BARRY. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME

[01:10:02]

THERE WAS A PERSON, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL.

FROM A PERSON NAMED BERNADETTE, MOST RECENTLY ON FEBRUARY 22ND, AND IT MENTIONED THAT THE PAPERWORK WAS SIGNED BY HR. BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND I'VE BEEN WAITING AND I DON'T FEEL I'M VERY FRUSTRATED AND I FEEL VERY CONFUSED BECAUSE I DO NOT. MY CLASSMATES HAVE ALREADY HAD JOBS, BUT NOT MYSELF. I DON'T HAVE A JOB STILL, AND I'M FRUSTRATED, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM.

AND I REQUEST THAT MY MOM HAS ALSO NOT RECEIVED ANY FINANCIAL AID, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT FAIR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS. I WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT. I WANT TO HAVE A JOB. I WANT TO EARN MONEY. I WANT TO HAVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.

AND SO I PLEASE WANT YOU TO HEAR ABOUT... OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RAJUL PAREKH.

HELLO, I'M A SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPIST AT THE COUNTY'S DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM AT OSTER. BY CLOSING ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS, YOU WILL PUT OUR STUDENTS AT A DISADVANTAGE. MOREOVER, IN GISELLE TORRES, THAT CLASSROOM HAS ONE OF THE BEST NEW TEACHERS YOU WILL EVER GET.

IF MAINSTREAM CHILDREN HAVE ONE GRADE PER CLASS, WHY IS IT OKAY TO LUMP TOGETHER THREE OR FOUR GRADES IN SPECIAL ED? THE DHH WORLD HAS SUCH DIVERSITY. SOME STUDENTS HAVE NO PRIMARY LANGUAGE. SOME SPEAK, SOME SIGN. SOME HAVE DEAF PARENTS, OTHERS HEARING, OTHERS SPANISH SPEAKING. SOME HAVE TYPICAL COGNITION AND OTHERS DIAGNOSES LIKE AUTISM, ADD, OR VISION IMPAIRMENTS IN ADDITION. AS SUCH, THIS POPULATION NEEDS MORE CLASSES.

AND THE LESS SUPPORT THEY GET IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, THE MORE SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY THEY'LL NEED TO CATCH UP. THIS WILL THEN CREATE A MORE RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

SUPERINTENDENT TOSTIN AND THE COE BOARD, PLEASE USE YOUR POWER TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS TOWARDS OPTIMAL LEARNING. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSHUA CHANG. GOOD EVENING. I AM AN EDUCATIONAL AUDIOLOGIST AT OSTER. I BELIEVE I'VE MET MANY OF YOU BEFORE AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE FIRSTHAND SEEN OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM.

AND THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON STUDENTS. WELL, WHATEVER YOU HAVE SEEN, YOU MAY AS WELL JUST THROW OUT. WITH THE CLOSURE OF OUR CLASS, WE'LL BE FORCED TO HAVE A TK-2 CLASSROOM AND A 3-5 CLASSROOM. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE LANGUAGE-DEPRIVED AND CONSEQUENTLY, HAVE BEHAVIORS FROM THEIR INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND HAVING ADDITIONAL NEEDS. ON TOP OF IT.

IN THE PROPOSED SETTING, THAT MEANS TEACHING ACADEMICS TO 8-YEAR-OLDS WHILE TRYING TO GET A 4-YEAR-OLD TO COMPLY WITH THE SCHEDULE. CAN YOU IMAGINE TEACHING A CHILD THAT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND YOU? OR HAD ANY COMMUNICATION? IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF LIFE, WE CAN, AND WE SEE IT EVERY DAY. THAT IS A TASK THAT OUR WONDERFUL TEACHERS IN PRIMARY ARE TASKED WITH.

WE'LL BE RESTRICTING THEM ACADEMICALLY, PURELY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SUCH A DIVERSE CLASSROOM. I KNOW NONE OF YOU WANT THIS, AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT CUTTING OFF THE LEGS OF THE PROGRAM IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE WERE ALREADY AT THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF CLASSES. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANTHONY O'DONNELL. ANTHONY O'DONNELL. MAY I PLEASE HAVE TWO MINUTES ON THE CLOCK? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME AND LETTING ME SPEAK ABOUT MY COMMUNITY. THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WANT TO ADDRESS. I'VE WORKED WITH THIS HERE FOR 20 YEARS FOR THE COUNTY. IT USED

[01:15:02]

THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT CLASSES. IT WAS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. IT WAS THRIVING. AND NOW I DO WORK AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I SEE IT JUST DIMINISHING AND GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. AND I'M SUSPICIOUS. I'M LOOKING AT YOU.

I'M WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON.

WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO CLOSE OUT OUR COMMUNITY? LOOK AT US. WE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

DO YOU SEE US HERE? DO YOU SEE US? WE ARE REALLY EDUCATED PEOPLE THAT WORK AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. AND YOU IN THE COUNTY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND DEAF EDUCATION? WE WORK VERY HARD.

WE TAKE ON MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND YOU KEEP ON GIVING US MORE AND MORE AND MORE. EVERY YEAR YOU PUT MORE ON, AND WE'RE STILL HERE. AND YOU'RE ASKING US TO BE CLASSIFIED, TO EARN LESS MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION. BUT I'M SORRY, WE'RE HEARING. WE'RE VERY SMART. WE'RE NOT HEARING, BUT WE ARE VERY EDUCATED PEOPLE.

SO YOU ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR OUR STUDENTS. NOT EVERY PERSON IN EVERY POSITION HAS A FULL-TIME INTERPRETER.

ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, ANY CHALLENGE THAT HAPPENS ANYWHERE, PERHAPS THERE WOULD BE INTERPRETERS, MAYBE FOR, EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY, MAYBE AN INTERPRETER WILL SHOW UP FOR A SHORT TIME, AND THEY'LL SWITCH, AND THEY HAVE TO LEAVE, AND THEY DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE, AND THEY'LL TAKE OFF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. BUT IF THERE'S A CLASSROOM AND A PROGRAM AND THERE'S NO INTERPRETER THERE, THEN WHO'S GOING TO INTERACT WITH THEM? SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN, A CATASTROPHE. THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED. AND ACCESSIBILITY BETWEEN CLASSROOMS IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE'RE LUCKY THAT IF THERE'S AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR SOMETHING, THERE MIGHT BE ONE PERSON THAT'S HEARING. THAT WILL SAY, HEY, DON'T EAT THE CORN THERE, OR THE CAFETERIA IS CLOSED, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

BUT FOR TEACHERS, FOR ALL OF THE DEAF EDUCATORS AND STAFF PEOPLE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ACCESS TO INTERPRETATIONS. OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE HERE. WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY GOING.

SO PLEASE HEAR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YVETTE SIMON.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YVETTE SIMON, FORMER CO-CHAIR OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND A PROUD SEIU 521 MEMBER OF VTA. I COME BEFORE TO ASK THAT, TO STATE THAT I SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STAND WITH MY SCCOE. UNION SIBLINGS, POLITICAL LEADERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO BELIEVE UNION POWER IS POLITICAL POWER. SEIU AND ACE NEED CONTRACTS THAT MATCH THE RISING COST OF LIVING, PARTICULARLY WITH SCCOE'S $109 MILLION SURPLUS. I ADVOCATE FOR FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY.

IN NOVEMBER, THE BOARD DISCUSSED 14 FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETIES. ARE THOSE INVOLVED STILL HELD ACCOUNTABLE? ARE THEY EMPLOYED? WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE? AND ARE THOSE...

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH STEINBECK. .ABOUT? THE SHENANIGANS WITH THE BUDGET THAT ARE BEING PLAYED. LAST YEAR, AT THIS TIME, THEY MOVED A TOTAL OF $14.5 MILLION INTO BOOKS AND SUPPLIES AND $120 MILLION INTO SERVICES AND OTHERS FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT. I GUESS NOBODY EVER THOUGHT TO ASK WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING WITH $134 MILLION.

THAT WAS A SPECIAL PROJECT BECAUSE IT WASN'T USED. AND NOW, THIS YEAR, THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING.

NOW THEY'RE MOVING MORE MILLIONS INTO BOOKS AND SERVICES. AND SUPPLIES AND SERVICES AND OTHER. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAYING IS, FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU. FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME. I AM BESEECHING THE BOARD TO NOT ALLOW THEM TO FOOL YOU TWICE. WE CAN'T WAIT. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA MOORE. HELLO, I'M CHRISTINA MOORE, AND GUESS WHAT? I, TOO, AM ASKING ONCE AGAIN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES. USE OF FISCAL MECHANISMS TO REDIRECT GRANT FUNDING FOR PURPOSES UNRELATED TO THE GRANT'S ORIGINAL PURPOSE AND CONTRACT AWARDS BASED ON PERSONAL FAVORITISM VERSUS PUBLIC BENEFIT. I THINK I'M LIKE THE FIFTH PERSON ASKING ABOUT THIS TONIGHT. SHAMEFUL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SYSTEMATICALLY SHUTTING DOWN STUDENT PROGRAMS. WE WILL

[01:20:01]

EXPECTING THIS TONIGHT. YOU HAVE SEVERELY AND GRAVELY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UNDERESTIMATED OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GUSTAVO. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GUSTAVO. HOLA, SOY EL PADRE DE GABRIELA HERNANDEZ, ESTUDIANTE DE MARLAT. MI HIJA SUFRE...

DISPLASIA BRONCHIAL, PULMONAR, RETRASO GLOBALES, AUTISMO, NO ES VERBAL, TIENE DERRAME IZQUIERDO CRONICO QUE REQUIERE TUBO TORACICO, MULTIPLE ESQUISTES, DERECHOS EN LOS RIÑONES, HIPOTIROIDISMO, TIENE PROBLEMAS DE AUDICION, NECESITA LENTES, TIENE A ESTANCIA DE RUEDAS Y NECESITA ATENCIÓN TOTAL CON ACTIVIDADES DE LA VIDA DIARIA. ME PREOCUPA PROFUNDAMENTE QUE LA PROVEEDORA DE ATENCIÓN MEDICA ESPECIALIZADA DE MI HIJA YA NO PUEDA PROPORCIONAR SERVICIOS PARA ELLA, DEBIDO A LOS RECORTES PRESUPUESTARIOS Y LOS DESPIDOS.

I AM GABRIELA HERNANDEZ'S FATHER. SHE IS A STUDENT AT MARLAT. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERS FROM BRONCHODYSPLASIA IN THE LUNGS, GENERAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, AUTISM. SHE IS NON-VERBAL. SHE HAS A CHRONIC SPILLAGE ON ONE OF THE SIDES AND SHE REQUIRES A TUBE. SHE HAS MANY ISSUES WITH HER KIDNEYS, AND SHE HAS PROBLEMS WITH HER HEARING AS WELL. SHE NEEDS GLASSES, SHE SITS IN A WHEELCHAIR. SHE NEEDS TOTAL ATTENTION WITH HER ACTIVITIES FOR HER DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. I AM DEEPLY WORRIED THAT THE MEDICAL SPECIALIST WHO HELPS MY CHILD WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO GIVE SERVICES TO HER DUE TO THE BUDGET CUTS AND THE LAYOFFS. THE SERVICES THAT SHE PROVIDES TO MY DAUGHTER ARE NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL, BUT ALSO DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE SPENT ONE YEAR TRYING TO RECEIVE SERVICES, AND SINCE WE HAVE RECEIVED THEM, AND WE HAVE SEEN... A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMMY PAT. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS, DR. TOSTIN. MY NAME IS TAMMY PAZ. I AM A HEAD START FAMILY ADVOCATE WITHIN THE EARLY LEARNING SERVICES PROGRAM. DESPITE THE PROPOSED LAYOFFS AND PRESENT CHALLENGES THAT OUR PROGRAM IS FACING, OUR STAFF HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY.

JUGGLING MULTIPLE ROLES AND DOING EVERYTHING ASKED OF THEM TO SERVE FAMILIES AND MEET PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS. NOW, THE PROPOSED SOLUTION IS TO CUT THE VERY EMPLOYEES WHO DIRECTLY SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE ONES GENERATING ENROLLMENT AND SUPPORTING REVENUE. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER WHO YOU ARE LAYING OFF, THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE AS ADVOCATES DO FOR OUR PROGRAM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR AND WITH OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

EARLY LEARNING SERVICES. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS TINA CHANG. GOOD EVENING, TRUSTEES AND DR. TOSTIN. MY NAME IS TINA, AND THIS IS MY SON, EVAN, WHO ATTENDS OSTER.

I'M HERE AGAIN TO ASK ADMINISTRATORS TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND STOP CLOSING DHH CLASSROOMS. IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO HAVE A TK TO FIFTH GRADE AMONG JUST TWO CLASSES. OUR TEACHERS SIMPLY CANNOT TEACH.

TO SO MANY LEVELS IN ONE CLASSROOM. MANY DHH STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE PROGRAMS IN THE PAST YEARS FOR REASONS SUCH AS THE PROGRAM IS FULL WHILE NOT BEING SHOWN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW EXIST.

DECLINING ENROLLMENT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE MANY FAMILIES ARE TIRED OF BEING DENIED ACCESS TO SERVICES AND HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OR GONE TO DUE PROCESS OR HOMESCHOOL.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THOSE SERVICES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. IN THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR AUDIOLOGISTS, OUR INTERPRETERS, AND PLEASE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I WANTED TO LET THE BOARD PRESIDENT KNOW WE HAVE TWO COMMENTS FOR ITEM FIVE. THANK

[01:25:01]

[A. Bargaining Units' Reports]

SARAH CHODOKARO, SCIU CHAPTER PRESIDENT, REPRESENTING OVER 01,400 PERMANENT AND SUBSTITUTE CLASSIFIED STAFF, AND DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. I'VE WORKED HERE AT SCCOE FOR 20 YEARS. DURING THE FIRST PART OF MY CAREER HERE, WE WERE GROWING PROGRAMS, EVEN THOUGH COSTS OF HOUSING WERE SKYROCKETING HERE IN THE BAY AREA. AND WE WERE EVEN OPENING CLASSES MID-YEAR AS PRESCHOOL CLASSES WERE HOLDING 10 TO 12 STUDENTS. YET IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, DESPITE A CLEAR ENROLLMENT DECLINE AND CUTS TO CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED BARGAINING UNIT STAFF, MANAGEMENT POSITIONS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. OUTSIDE OF, EDUCATIONAL, SERVICES IS THE WORST, WITH AVERAGE MANAGEMENT MEMBERS SUPERVISING LESS THAN TWO PEOPLE, INCLUDING PROGRAMS WITH 12 LEADERSHIP AND ONE CLASSIFIED, AND MUCH OF THE WORK THAT COULD BE DONE BY BARGAINING UNIT MEMBERS.

ONE MANAGER COULD SUPERVISE MULTIPLE GRANT PROGRAMS, SPLITTING FUNDING AS THEY DO FOR CLASSIFIED STAFF. YET, UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES, STEPHANIE GOMEZ, THE OFFICE HAS MAINTAINED BALANCES AVERAGING OVER $100 MILLION PER YEAR.

UNDER GOMEZ, PARAEDUCATORS WERE LAID OFF DESPITE HAVING THAT MANY VACANCIES. UNDER GOMEZ, THE OFFICE ELIMINATED TAMPONS AND MENSTRUAL PADS FROM OUR RESTROOMS. UNDER GOMEZ, SICK DAYS WERE TAKEN FROM PARAEDUCATORS, A CLEAR VIOLATION OF CONTRACT LANGUAGE, A DECISION SHE DEFENDED IN RESPONSE TO OUR FORMAL GRIEVANCE.

UNDER GOMEZ. STAFF WHO WORK IN THIS BUILDING ARE NOT ALL ALLOWED TO USE THE GYM. THE E.L.C STAFF HAVE BEEN REQUESTING THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. UNDER GOMEZ, WE'RE INTENTIONALLY REDUCING SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS UNDER THE GUISE OF LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT, FOLLOWING A 2019 COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. IN FACT, OUR PROGRAMS ARE A CRITICAL COMPONENT ON THE CONTINUUM OF LEGALLY REQUIRED, LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

UNDER GOMEZ, CATASTROPHIC LEAVE, A SAFETY NET THAT ALLOWS ALL EMPLOYEES TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN TIME OF NEED, REGARDLESS OF POSITION, IS INEXPLICABLY BEING ELIMINATED. UNLESS THE BARGAINING UNITS NEGOTIATE THEIR OWN. UNDER GOMEZ, HER DEPARTMENT'S LEADERSHIP FAILS TO RESPOND TO ISSUES WHEN THE OFFICE IS WITHHOLDING TOO MUCH FROM OUR MEMBERS' PAYCHECKS.

UNDER GOMEZ, HER BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WHEN THEY TAKE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM OUR PAYCHECKS LATER, BUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT DOES. UNDER GOMEZ, FOR OVER THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER THE INACCESSIBLE EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEMS FOR OUR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS AND STAFF. UNDER GOMEZ, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND 14 AREAS OF FINANCIAL MALFEASANCE, WITH NO CLEAR PLAN TO REMEDY ANY OF THE POLICY FAILURES.

UNDER GOMEZ, A WALDEN WEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PLANNED IN 2021 STILL HAS NO PROGRAM OR PLAN FOR STUDENTS.

UNDER GOMEZ, THE HIGH ALLOCATIONS ARE MADE TO BOOKS AND SUPPLIES AND SERVICES AND OTHER, AND THEY NEVER COME TO FRUITION. UNDER GOMEZ, THE CLASSIFIED STAFF HAVE REDUCED THEIR HOURS WHILE THEIR SUPERVISOR OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS DO THEIR WORK. UNDER GOMEZ, THE OFFICE EARNS MORE REVENUE THAN ESTIMATED AND BUDGETED. EVEN LAST YEAR, WHEN SHE OVERESTIMATED REVENUE BY $33 MILLION AS LATE AS SECOND INTERIM, WE STILL EARNED MORE THAN $21.8 MILLION OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH OVER $114 MILLION. AND STILL, SHE RECOMMENDED LAYOFFS TO 25% OF OUR STAFF. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. DR. TOSTIN, DO YOU SUPPORT THIS VISION AND THESE ACTIONS? BECAUSE THEY'RE HAPPENING UNDER YOU. WE HEAR YOU REPEATING GOMEZ'S CATCHPHRASES, AND YOU CLAIM WE WILL NEVER SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON FINANCES. THE COMBINED ASK OF ACE AND SEIU IS LESS THAN 10% OF THE AVAILABLE EXTRA FUNDS.

WHEN CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED FRONTLINE STAFF ARE ELIMINATED, SO SHOULD THEIR SUPERVISORS.

YET UNDER GOMEZ, THE FUNDS FOR LEADERSHIP REMAIN. AS PRO-LABOR, PRO-STUDENT TRUSTEE CANDIDATES WHO CAME TO US FOR ENDORSEMENTS, DOES THIS ALIGN WITH YOUR VISION? IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH OURS. SCCUE MUST INVEST IN STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES NOW. WE CAN'T WAIT. DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND STAND AGAINST THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE DEVASTATING TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE DESIGNATED PRESIDENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST AND SOCIAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION, PSWA, FOR IT. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME, TITLE, AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT. I'M MEGAN FEENEY, AND I'M THE PSWA REP. PSWA CONTINUES TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE COE, PROVIDING AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND

[01:30:01]

BY ATTENDING ANOTHER CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD THIS LAST WEEK, WHICH ALLOWED OUR MEMBERS TO HEAR FROM FORMER SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MIGUEL CARDONA, AS WELL AS GO TO TRAININGS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING LOW-INCIDENCE ELIGIBILITIES THAT TEND TO HAVE LESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THIS, UM... ATTENDING THESE CONFERENCES ALLOWS US TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE AND BEST PRACTICES TO OUR STUDENTS. AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT IT CONTINUES, AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO. ADDITIONALLY, PSWA IS VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE AN EFFICIENT BARGAINING SESSION IN WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OUR REQUEST FOR EQUITY HEARD AND HONORED.

WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE COA TEAM SHOWED PSWA MEMBERS THAT THEY ARE VALUED.

AS PSWA MEMBERS, WE SEE THE HARD WORK, THAT, AND DEDICATION THAT OUR ACE AND SEIU COLLEAGUES DO EVERY DAY.

WE HOPE THAT OUR COLLEAGUES IN YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS WILL HAVE THEIR POSITIONS RESTORED SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE SERVING THE STUDENTS THEY HAVE ALREADY BUILT CRITICAL COUNSELING RELATIONSHIPS WITH.

FURTHER, WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT ACE AND SEIU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE UPCOMING BARGAINING SESSIONS AND WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THEIR CONTRACTS SHORTLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY EDUCATORS, ACE, FORWARD. PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT. RIJU KRISHNA, DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, PRESIDENT AND OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON, ACE. THANK YOU STUDENTS, SEIU, PSW, AND ACE STAFF, FAMILIES, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT. DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ONCE SAID, FOR YEARS, I HAVE HEARD THE WORD, WAIT.

THIS WAIT ALMOST HAS MEANT NEVER. TODAY, THAT SAME WAIT IS PLAYING OUT IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR CONTRACTS, OUR BUDGETS, AND IN PROVIDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. DR. TOSTIN, WE CAN'T WAIT.

AFTER ONE FULL YEAR OF NEGOTIATIONS AND EIGHT MONTHS WITHOUT A CONTRACT, WE ARE AT IMPASSE BECAUSE OF SECOE. THIS IS SURFACE BARGAINING. THIS IS NOT A GENUINE EFFORT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. INVEST TODAY'S DOLLARS IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS. NEGOTIATE WITH ACE IN GOOD FAITH. WE CAN'T WAIT. CPI FOR 2025 IS 2.7%. NO RECURRING HEALTH CARE, PLUS ZERO RAISES. THAT MEANS, EFFECTIVELY, AS OF TODAY, WE ARE 3.86% LESS THAN WHAT WE WERE MAKING LAST YEAR. AND NOW CLASSROOM CLOSURES. CLOSING CLASSROOMS PUTS OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AT RISK. A DEAF, HARD OF HEARING CLASSROOM WITH 12 STUDENTS WHO ALSO HAVE OTHER SUPPORT NEEDS, NOT ACCEPTABLE. MEDICALLY FRAGILE STUDENTS ARE BEING MOVED TO SETTINGS WHICH DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHANGING TABLE.

YOU ARE FROM SPECIAL ED. WHAT HAPPENED? OUR STUDENTS CAN'T WAIT. ALL MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, BUT NO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS THAT SUPERVISE THEM HAVE BEEN IMPACTED. WHY? THAT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. WHEN CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED FRONTLINE STAFF ARE ELIMINATED, UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ'S CALCULATIONS, HOW IS IT THAT WE STILL HAVE FUNDS FOR LEADERSHIP? THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. WE CAN'T WAIT. WE CAN'T WAIT. SO ON MARCH 3RD, COE SENT US A VIDEO WITH THE INTENT OF A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF COE FUNDING THAT ONLY SHARED PART OF THE STORY. WHAT THAT VIDEO DID NOT DISCLOSE... WAS THAT? WE BEGAN WITH A $109 MILLION CARRYOVER, AND THAT $64 MILLION WAS MOVED INTO BUDGET, MOVED INTO BUDGET THROUGH SERVICES AND OTHERS.

AND BOOKS AND SUPPLIES. LAST YEAR, DESCRIBED AS A ONE-TIME NEED, YET THE MONEY WAS NEVER SPENT.

THE SAME PATTERN AGAIN FOR 25-26, $58 MILLION MOVED.

HOW CAN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT STEPHANIE GOMEZ BE SO INACCURATE IN CALCULATIONS? OVER AND OVER, AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND YET... THAT IS THE INFORMATION, WHICH IS A DRIVING FACTOR FOR CLASSROOM CLOSURES, LAYOFFS, AND THE 0% ON-SALARY SCHEDULE OFFER. SAME STORY, DIFFERENT HERE. MOVE MONEY, CLAIM NO FUNDING, LAY OFF STAFF, LEAVE MILLIONS UNSPENT, CARRY OVER $109 MILLION, MOVE MONEY AGAIN, LAY OFF AGAIN, AND EXPECT US TO BELIEVE SCCOE HAS NO MONEY.

WE NEED ANSWERS BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT. ON NOVEMBER 19TH, THE BOARD DISCUSSED 14...

AREAS OF FINANCIAL WRONGDOING, MONEY WAS MISUSED. THESE FUNDS COULD HAVE PRESERVED STUDENT SERVICES. SO AFTER THREE MONTHS, DR. TOWSON LET'S ASK YOU AGAIN, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURING THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE? BECAUSE JUST PASSING BOARD POLICIES IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU ARE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING

[01:35:01]

TODAY, IBRAHIM LOSES ALMOST SIX MONTHS BECAUSE HIS PAPERWORK HASN'T BEEN PROCESSED. WHY? HE IS OUR STUDENT. HE CARES. COE CUTS ACE AND SEIE POSITIONS WHILE FUNDING NEW MANAGEMENT RULES. BUDGETS ARE MISMANAGED.

EVEN RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER TWO. HR POSITIONS BEING POSTED AS PART OF PERSONNEL COMMISSION. CLASSROOMS ARE CLOSING, BUDGETS ARE BEING MISMANAGED, EVERYTHING. THIS IS WRONG. WE ARE NOT IN THE 1920S. YOU CAME HERE WITH A SPECIAL BACKGROUND.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FIGURE IT OUT NOW. BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT.

WE CAN'T WAIT, WE CAN'T WAIT, WE CAN'T WAIT. MODERATOR, DID YOU SAY THERE WERE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS? MODERATOR, DID YOU SAY THERE WERE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS FOR THIS ITEM? YES, I DID.

THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THAT.

WE DO. OKAY. ONCE THE ROOM CLEARS, WE CAN START THAT.

OKAY, MODERATOR, CAN YOU START THE TWO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, THANK YOU. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SANDRA RIVERA AND OUR SECOND SPEAKER IS DEPAULEY PARKER. GOOD EVENING, I STAND BEFORE YOU IN SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTY EDUCATORS.

IN ALIGNMENT WITH ACES.

COMMITMENT TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH AND REACH A FAIR AGREEMENT THAT REFLECTS OUR ECONOMIC REALITIES. SCOE HAS $109 MILLION IN CARRYOVER.

THAT MATTERS. IT MEANS THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE STABILITY FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SPEND REVENUE EARNED NOW ON STUDENTS NOW. RIGHT NOW, SEEING LAYOFFS ON THE FRONTLINE, BARGAINING UNIT MEMBERS, EDUCATORS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS, WHILE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS CONTINUE TO BE ADDED. THAT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE. THREE OF YOU ARE OR WERE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.

YOU KNOW, THE FRUSTRATION OF SLEIGHT OF HAND NUMBERS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE. YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS WHEN TECHNICALITIES OVERSHADOW TRUST. YOU ALSO KNOW THE POWER YOU HOLD IN THIS MOMENT. YOU HAVE THE CONTROL TO WORK WITH YOUR EDUCATORS, NOT BECOME THE VERY SAME REASON. YOU HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD AGAINST IT IN YOUR OWN DISTRICTS, WITH YOUR BARGAINING UNITS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT DEFENDING HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.

WE ARE ASKING... THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DEPAULE. DEPAULEY GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE HERE.

[6. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS]

LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, THEN.

THE SPEAKER IS CLAUDIA SLANE.

GOOD EVENING BOARD. MY NAME IS CLAUDIA SLANE. I'M HERE TO HONOR MY MOTHER, DR.

BARBARA MALASPINA. MY MOM BEGAN HER CAREER AS A KINDERGARTEN

[01:40:02]

SHE ALSO TAUGHT AS A PROFESSOR AT GAVILAN COLLEGE AND SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE, HELPING STRENGTHEN PRESCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY. AFTER SHE PASSED, OUR FAMILY FOUND BINS OF BRAND NEW CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT SHE HAD CAREFULLY COLLECTED. DONATING THEM TO THE MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM FEELS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES DEEPLY IN SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO MAY FACE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS. GROWING UP, I WATCHED MY MOM POUR HER HEART INTO HER STUDENTS, BUT MY SISTER AND I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEVOTION AT HOME. SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION, MENTORING FUTURE EDUCATORS AND HELPING.

THIS CONCLUDES COMMENTS THANK YOU ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS A THROUGH H. I SO MOVE. MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT SPICER. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BERTA.

TRUSTEES, CAN YOU PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS? MAYBE WE LET HER. CAN WE LET HER FINISH?

[7. CONSENT INFORMATION ITEM (Information items provided for review that do not require presentation or action.)]

[A. Discussion and Approval of Candidate(s) for Region 20 CSBA Delegate Assembly]

THE BOARD MAY VOTE FOR UP TO THE NUMBER OF SEATS TO BE FILLED IN THE REGION, AS INDICATED ON THE BALLOT.

REGION 20 HAS FOUR SEATS TO BE FILLED. A VOTE FOR UP TO THE NUMBER OF SEATS UP FOR ELECTION MAY BE CAST, AND ONLY ONE VOTE FOR ANY ONE CANDIDATE MAY BE CAST. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE ARE FOUR SEATS UP FOR ELECTION, THE BOARD MAY VOTE FOR UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES. HOWEVER, THE BOARD MAY CAST NO MORE THAN ONE VOTE FOR ANY ONE CANDIDATE. THE BALLOT ALSO CONTAINS A PROVISION FOR WRITE-IN CANDIDATES. ALL RE-ELECTED. AND NEWLY ELECTED DELEGATES WILL SERVE TWO-YEAR TERMS, BEGINNING APRIL 1, 2026, AND EXTENDING THROUGH MARCH 31, 2028. THE CANDIDATES LISTED ON THE ATTACHED BALLOT ARE AS FOLLOWED. WILLIAM DEREK GRASTY, MOUNT PLEASANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ELIZABETH HALLIDAY, CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ISABEL JUBES FLAMERICK. UBEZ.

UBEZ. FLEMERICK, SUNNYVALE SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCUMBENT.

JODY MEERHEAD, SANTA CLARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCUMBENT. CAROL PRUSUNKA, CAMBRIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. JESSICA SPIZER, SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, INCUMBENT.

FOR THE RECORD, CAROL PRUSUNKA OF THE CAMBRIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IDENTIFIED AS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR THE REGION 20 CSBA DELEGATE ASSEMBLY. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING WILL BE AS FOLLOWED. I WILL NOW CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES. AS A REMINDER, BOARD MEMBERS MAY VOTE FOR UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES. WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE RESPOND YES IF YOU WISH TO CAST A VOTE FOR THAT CANDIDATE, OR PASS IF YOU DO NOT WISH

[01:45:01]

CHASTON IF YOU CAN, GO AHEAD AND START. CANDIDATE NUMBER ONE. WILLIAM DEREK GRASDIEN, TRUSTEE BERTA. YES.

PRESIDENT CHAN. PASS. TRUSTEE LAURIE. YES. TRUSTEE PACHECO.

YES. TRUSTEE ROCHA. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER. PASS.

TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNAN. I'M A YES FOR DEREK. I HAVE FOUR YESES AND TWO PASSES, ONE ABSTENTION. THE SECOND CANDIDATE, ELIZABETH HALLIDAY, TRUSTEE BERTA. YES.

PRESIDENT CHAN. YES. TRUSTEE LURIE. YES. I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE LURIE, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? I'LL PASS.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE PACHECO.

TRUSTEE ROCHA? VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES. TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNAN? FOR ELIZABETH, YES. I HAVE FIVE YESES, ONE PASS, AND ONE ABSTENTION. THE NEXT CANDIDATE? IS ISABEL HUVES-FLEMMERICH, TRUSTEE BERTA? YES. PRESIDENT CHAN? PASS. TRUSTEE LURIE? YES.

TRUSTEE PACHECO? TRUSTEE ROCHA? VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES. TRUSTEE SHIKIRSHNAN? YES. THE NEXT CANDIDATE IS CANDIDATE FOR JODY MUIRHEAD, TRUSTEE BERTA. YES. PRESIDENT CHAN. YES. TRUSTEE LAUDREY.

YES. TRUSTEE PACHECO. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES.

TRUSTEE SHIKIRSHNAN? NO.

TRUSTEE ROCHA? NO. CANDIDATE 05, THE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE, CAROL PRUSUNKA? NO. TRUSTEE BERTA? NO. PRESIDENT CHAN.

SORRY, I'M COUNTING HOW MANY I HAVE LEFT. YES. TRUSTEE LAURIE. YES. TRUSTEE PACHECO.

TRUSTEE ROCHA. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES. TRUSTEE SHIKRISHNAN? FOR JESSICA.

CAROL PREZUNKA? CANDIDATE 6, JESSICA SPICER, TRUSTEE BERTA? YES. PRESIDENT CHAN.

[01:50:02]

TRUSTEE PACHECO. TRUSTEE ROCHA. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER.

BECAUSE OF MY VOTES, I'M PASSING ON MYSELF.

TRUSTEE SHIKIRSHANAN. I'M GOING TO BE A PROUD I VOTE, DR.

TOSTIN. I WILL. GO BACK NOW THAT TRUSTEE ROACH IS HERE.

THE FIRST CANDIDATE WAS WILLIAM DEREK GRASTY. IF YOU'D GIVE ME A MOMENT JUST TO DOUBLE-CHECK MY MATH. THE CANDIDATES THAT I HAVE WITH THE HIGHEST VOTE ARE ELIZABETH HALLIDAY WITH SIX YES. THE CANDIDATES WHO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF YES VOTES ARE ELIZABETH HALLIDAY, WITH SIX YESES, ONE PASS. I HAVE ISABEL HUVES-FLAMERICK WITH SIX. YES, ONE PASS.

TRUSTEE SPICER WITH SIX YES AND ONE ABSTENTION. PASS. AND I HAVE CAROL FRUSUNKA AND JODY MUIRHEAD, BOTH WITH FOUR VOTES. SO WE HAVE A THREE-WAY TIE. I DIDN'T, I, JODY, I ONLY HAD A, JODY, I HAD A 2-5. OH, YOU'RE CORRECT. I'M SORRY. WHAT'S BETWEEN? CAROL AND DEREK. CAROL PERSUNKA.

CAROL PERSUNKA AND WILLIAM DEREK GRASSLEY. WELL, IF THERE'S A TIE FOR THE FOURTH HIGHEST VOTE TOTAL, AN ADDITIONAL ROLL CALL VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED AMONG THE TIED CANDIDATES ONLY.

SO THE FIRST CANDIDATE FOR THE TIE BREAK, WILLIAM DEREK GRASTY. TRUSTEE BERTA? YES. PRESIDENT CHAN? YES.

TRUSTEE LAUGHERTY? YES.

TRUSTEE PACHECO? YES. TRUSTEE ROCHA? YES. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES. TRUSTEE SHAKIRSHNAN? YES. YOU CAN'T VOTE YES FOR BOTH, SO WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL FOR CAROL. SO WE HAVE THAT, AND THEN IT SHOULD COME OUT 3-4, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

DR. DAWSON, COULD YOU DO THE VOTE FOR CAROL? THE AUDIENCE SEEMS TO THINK SO. CAROL PRUSENKO, RIDING CANDIDATE.

TRUSTEE BERTA. PRESIDENT CHAN. YES. TRUSTEE LAUDREY? SO DO I HAVE TO VOTE NO, BECAUSE I VOTED YES FOR...

[01:55:01]

[B. Superintendent Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Appointment]

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS 8B, THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION AD HOC COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT.

THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT TO ASSESS EFFECTIVENESS IN LEADING THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION TOWARD ESTABLISHED GOALS.

ACCORDING TO BOARD POLICY 2140, EVALUATION OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING AN EVALUATION PROCESS THAT INCLUDES CRITERIA, METHODS, AND A SCHEDULE FOR REVIEWING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PERFORMANCE. EACH YEAR, THE BOARD PRESIDENT APPOINTS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF NO MORE THAN THREE BOARD MEMBERS TO PROPOSE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA, METHODS, AND TIMELINE. THE FULL BOARD APPROVES THESE COMPONENTS IN OPEN SESSION. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROCESS? OR ANY QUESTIONS? IF I MAY, IN TERMS OF THE OBLIGATION OF TIME AND THE TIME FRAME THAT THESE FOLKS WOULD SERVE. OH, THE TIME FRAME? WELL, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE.

BY THE NEXT EVALUATION CYCLE, SO. BUT I THINK THE IN TERMS OF TIME OF DAY AND FREQUENCY OF MEETING AND THE MODE OF MEETING COULD BE ESTABLISHED BY THAT HOC. SO IT COULD BE ON ZOOM, ACCORDING TO YOUR GUYS SCHEDULES. THANK YOU AND REFRESH MY MEMORY.

WHEN THE EVALUATION AD HOC WOULD HAVE TO WRAP UP BY, IS IT BY NOVEMBER? LIKE OCTOBER? NOVEMBER IS TOWARD THE END OF THE PROCESS, BUT WE WOULD WANT THINGS ESTABLISHED BY THEN. SO, YEAH, OKAY? THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY VOLUNTEERS FOR THE AD HOC? UP TO THREE? YES, AND PRESIDENT CHAN IS ONE OF THEM. OKAY, SO, TRUSTEE ROCHA. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT MYSELF TO THE COMMITTEE. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M NOT. YOU. OR YOU. THAT'S FINE. JUST TRYING TO SUPPORT.

YEAH. OKAY. TRUSTEE BERTA.

OKAY. SO MYSELF, TRUSTEE BERTA, AND TRUSTEE ROCHA. WE CAN'T DO CAROL PREZANKA, WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE VOTE. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WANT TO, BUT WE CANNOT. OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY YES AND NO TO EACH PERSON ON THIS BOARD.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPOINT MYSELF, TRUSTEE ROCHA, AND... TRUSTEE BERTA TO THE SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION AD HOC COMMITTEE.

OKAY, MOVED BY TRUSTEE ROSHA, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO.

TRUSTEES, CAN YOU PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS? AND THAT MOTION

[C. Approval of the Budget Revisions for the month of January 2026]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 8C, APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. THIS ACTION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY SUPERINTENDENT STEPHANIE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES, AND LORI WINN,

[02:00:02]

BECAUSE OF A DECLINE IN ATTENDANCE, THAT MONEY WAS REFUNDED, AND THEN WE ALSO SAW A SLIGHT DIP IN OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR OUR LCFF FUNDING FOR OUR OFFICE. THAT CONCLUDES THE UPDATE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE RUCHA.

THANK YOU. I DID GO THROUGH THE ITEM, BUT I'M STILL TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL AND HEALTH INITIATIVE. IS THIS? THIS IS A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT, RIGHT? WHICH PAGE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? TRUSTEE RUCHA. I'M READING THROUGH THE MEMO, THE LAST BULLET. 605,000 ALLOCATED THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. AM I ON THE RIGHT ITEM HERE? OH, YEAH. I SEE IT NOW. OKAY, IT WAS ON THE AGENDA. YEAH, SO THIS WAS SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WE GOT FOR THE YOUTH HEALTH INITIATIVE BILLING CONSORTIUM. SO THIS IS FOR US TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO LDAS IN THE COUNTY. SO THIS IS THE STATEWIDE MULTI-PAYER FEE SCHEDULE. SO WE GOT THIS FUNDING TO HELP WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TO DEVELOP THAT. AND THEN WE HAVE THE GRANT THAT WE GOT WITH SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICE OF ED THAT WE GOT A YEAR OR TWO AGO TO HELP WITH THE BUILD-OUT OF THAT. SO WHEN YOU SAY WE GOT THE MONEY, WE JUST GOT IT? NO, IT'S MONEY THAT WE GOT ALLOCATED. DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YEAH. I'M SORRY, I HEARD YOU CHIME IN. YEAH.

THAT'S A 605. CORRECT. SO THAT ONE IS THE MULTIPLE MOUS THAT WE HAVE WITH LEAS. SO WE BUDGETED THE REVENUES BEYOND THE MOUS THAT WE SIGNED WITH THE LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. BUDGETED BEYOND THE MOUS? SO WE GOT THE ALLOCATION HERE, SO SACRAMENTO GOT THEIRS, WE GOT OURS, AND THEN THAT MONEY WAS JUST NOT FOR OUR OFFICE, SO WE HAD AN ALLOCATION FOR OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEN WE GOT ALLOCATIONS TO ENTER INTO MOUS.

WITH DISTRICTS THAT ARE ENTERING INTO THIS PAY BILLER SYSTEM.

SO THESE DOLLARS WERE RECEIVED MORE RECENTLY, NOT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS AN ADJUSTMENT, RIGHT? IT IS AN ADJUSTMENT, CORRECT. IF THIS WAS BAKED INTO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, IT WOULDN'T BE HERE. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. THE CHANGE NOW IS AS A RESULT OF THE DOLLARS JUST COMING IN OR A CHANGE IN THE OBLIGATION? I'LL ADD ON THE ACCOUNTING PIECE OF THAT. SO THESE MOUS THAT WE RECENTLY EXECUTED WITH THE LEAS, SO THAT'S WHY WHEN WE HAVE THE FULLY EXECUTED MOUS, WE START TO BUDGET IT IN THE SYSTEM. OKAY. SO IT'S PART OF THE MULTI-YEAR GRANT WHERE WE GET THE MONEY, WE BUDGET IT IN THE HOLDING, AND THEN WHEN WE ACTUALLY BUDGET THE FUNDING, THEN THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS. OKAY, THANK YOU. YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME. I HAVE A TRUSTEE SHOULD QUESTION. AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT FLAGGED THIS FOR ME, BUT THE 100K FOR BOARD LEGAL SERVICES, CAN WE... THIS MAY BE FOR DR.

TOSSMAN. CAN WE SHED LIGHT ON WHAT THAT IS? THAT WAS THIS BUDGET ADJUSTMENT, OR THE CREATION OF THIS BUDGET ITEM WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED, I BELIEVE, IN NOVEMBER.

REGARDING INDEPENDENT COUNSEL AND AN ASSUMPTION AROUND ONGOING OR ANTICIPATED LITIGATION RELATED TO THE BOARD. OKAY, SO IT'S NOT FOR OUR JOINT BOARD COUNSEL, IT'S FOR INDEPENDENT BOARD COUNSEL.

YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DR.

TOSSOM, I'M JUST GOING TO ADD. SO THE REASON WHY IT'S COMING HERE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 IS BECAUSE WE DO THE $176,000 EVERY YEAR FOR BOARD LEGAL FEES. SO WE BUDGETED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO DID $24,000 ON TOP OF THAT DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING HAS BEEN NEEDED, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ADDING THE ADDITIONAL $100,000. RIGHT. I REMEMBER, I THINK. LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE, WE HAD THE SAME CONVO, AND I GOT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT, AND I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE I'M AT ON THAT, AND SO I'LL PROBABLY BE ABSTAINING. IT JUST FEELS LIKE A LOT. OKAY, THANK YOU, DR. BOONE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. QUESTION FROM VICE

[02:05:02]

ALL RIGHT, SEEING? NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. 26TH MOVE BY. I JUST I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

UM, IT WAS MOVED BY PRESIDENT OR BY TRUSTEE PACHECO, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SECOND IT, WE COULD DO THAT. TRUSTEE LAURIE OKAY, THANK YOU. MOVED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LAURIE. TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD FORWARD, DOCS. AND THAT MOTION CARRIES WITH SIX YESES AND ONE

[A. First Reading of Revised Board Policy 5142 – Safety]

[B. Future Agenda Items]

OKAY. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM 9B, THEN FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, ITEMS MENTIONED HERE ARE SUGGESTIONS FOR POTENTIAL FOLLOW-UP UNDER OUR BOARD BYLAWS. THEY ARE NOT AGENDIZED FOR DISCUSSION, BUT PROVIDE TRUSTEES A SPACE TO IDENTIFY TOPICS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM CONSIDERATION. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS WITHIN THE BOARD'S JURISDICTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AT THIS TIME? TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNAN. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK DR.

TOSTIN AND JESSICA SIMPSON AND TIFFANY JONES. I ALWAYS JUST SAY, TIFFANY, TIFFANY JONES.

WE'RE REALLY MOVING FORWARD ON A LOT OF THE STUDENT VOICE WORK, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CONSENT INFORMATION ITEM AND EVEN THE STUDENT REPRESENTATION OF HONORING STUDENTS. AND I WANT TO... SEE IF WE CAN ADD ANOTHER ITEM, DR. TOSSIN.

BASED ON SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WALDEN WEST WAS BROUGHT UP, AND WE HAD SOME STAFF FROM THAT DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DID MENTION DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS HAPPENING, COULD HAPPEN. SO I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN DO A PUBLIC ITEM ON THIS TO GIVE ANY UPDATES.

THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE AND DISCUSSIONS. AND I'M OPEN TO EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT I KNOW THAT WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

TRUSTEE BERTA? YES, THANK YOU.

I ACTUALLY WANT TO ECHO TRUSTEE KRISHNAN'S COMMENTS AS WELL WITH GRATITUDE, AS WELL AS IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL PATHWAY TO GET MORE. INFORMATION ON WALDEN WEST TO HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT. AND I APPRECIATE THE ITEMS BEING ADDED BACK JUST SO IT COULD BE COMMUNICATED TRANSPARENTLY WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

IN TERMS OF ITEMS THAT ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD. I'M JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. SO WHEN A BOARD MEMBER MAKES A REQUEST FOR AN ITEM, I KNOW DR. CHAWSTON YOU EVALUATE IT WITH STAFF IN TERMS OF TIME, COMMITMENT AND CAPACITY, AND DOES THAT ALSO GO THROUGH WITH PRESIDENT CHAN AND VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? JUST TRYING TO, AND THEN DOES IT. IS IT IS THEIR BOARD INPUT AS WELL, OR IS IT JUST DETERMINED? I'M JUST

[02:10:01]

IT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S NOT FOR SURE MOVING FORWARD, BUT JUST UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS. SO THE PROCESS IS SPELLED OUT IN POLICY AS THESE ITEMS COME UP. WORK WITH STAFF TO SEE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM. AND THEN, ONCE WE'VE MADE THAT DETERMINATION, FOLLOWING UP WITH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT AROUND THE DISPOSITION OF THE ITEM, IF IT IS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, THEN WE LOOK AT, OKAY, WHEN DOES IT FALL WITHIN THE CALENDAR? AND IF WE'RE UNABLE TO ADDRESS THAT ITEM, THEN THAT'S COMMUNICATED.

OKAY. IN ADDITION, IF THERE'S ALSO DISCUSSION JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN THE THREE OF US IN OUR MEETINGS. THAT IF THERE'S ANOTHER AVENUE IN WHICH WE COULD PURSUE SOME OF THESE THINGS, THEN WE DO THAT WITH DISCUSSION WITH THAT TRUSTEE. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING WHERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, DR. TOSTIN WILL TELL US, LIKE, HEY, I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO X, Y, AND Z FOR X, Y, AND Z. REASON, YOU KNOW, ONE OF US WILL THEN HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THAT TRUSTEE.

ON IF THERE'S OTHER AVENUES IN WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT. SO THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A ONE PERSON JUST SAYING WE CAN'T DO THAT, IT'S NOT IN OUR JURISDICTION AND IT'S SHUT DOWN. BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF, WE DON'T WANT IT TO JUST BE SHUT DOWN JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT WAS PRESENTED WITHOUT.

YOU KNOW? WE WANT TO COLLABORATE IF THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN EXPAND, EVEN ON THAT IDEA AND GETTING TO THE GIST OF IT. BECAUSE WE DON'T EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IN THIS MEETING. SO IF THERE'S MORE COLLABORATION THAT CAN BE DONE, THEN WE WANT TO DO THAT TOO. I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. I THINK PART OF THE REASON WAS GIVEN THE TOPICS. I KNOW BOTH TRUSTEE SHRIKRISHNA'S ITEM AS WELL AS MY ITEM HAD STATED, YOU KNOW, UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME. AND I JUST THINK OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS, AS WELL AS IMPACTS OF IMMIGRATION-RELATED ISSUES ON OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THOSE ARE TWO TOPICS THAT I FEEL.

OUR BOARD AND BOARD MEMBERS CAN FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I DO BELIEVE THOSE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT THIS BOARD DOES, YOU KNOW, CARE ABOUT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND I WOULD EVEN GO AS FAR AS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WOULD PRIORITIZE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ALIGNMENT ALSO IN TERMS OF HOW THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ON WHAT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, WHAT'S A PRIORITY, WHAT'S NOT A PRIORITY.

ESPECIALLY ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF WHEN ITEMS ARE BROUGHT UP.

AND CERTAINLY RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, THAT THINGS COULD BE FOLLOWED UP OFFLINE.

IN OTHER CAPACITIES AS WELL, BUT JUST WANTED TO TO NAME THAT AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ELEVATE. I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE A POTENTIALLY FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, I GUESS. A REQUEST AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION 3515 POINT ONE. AND I KNOW I SENT YOU BOTH AN EMAIL A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TODAY.

AND IT'S ON THE USE OF SECURITY CAMERAS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCES AT SCC OE SITES AND SCHOOLS.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT POLICY. I THINK IT WAS LAST REVISED IN 2020. AND JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING STUDENTS AND STAFF TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING IN SOME OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AS WELL, SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS IN PLACE. AND JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AS WELL. I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO PUT THROUGH THE POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, TRUSTEES? TRUSTEE SHRIKRISHNAN? I JUST WANTED TO ASK DR. TOSTIN, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT, ABOUT WHY IT'S SHOWING TBD ON SOME OF THE ITEMS? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE ABOUT THAT? YES, I'LL LUMP TWO TOGETHER. THE INFORMATION RELATED TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS OR THE IMPACT OF THEM. IMMIGRATION BECAUSE WE DON'T, OR SCHOOLS DO NOT COLLECT THAT INFORMATION ON ANY FORMS, THERE'S NO DATA FOR US TO RUN. IT WOULD BE A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT, THERE'S SIMPLY LIMITED CAPACITY TO DO A QUALITATIVE PROCESS WHERE WE'RE REACHING OUT.

GETTING ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE, OR CONSISTENT WITH EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SO LIMITED CAPACITY AND LACKING DATA. WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE, LOOKED AT STATE ENTITIES TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO IS DEVELOPING INFORMATION RELATED TO THESE TOPICS IN THIS AREA, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. SO, LIMITED CAPACITY IN TERMS OF STAFF, AS WELL AS UNABLE TO ATTAIN ANY DATA BECAUSE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER.

BEYOND ANECDOTAL DATA. THE OTHER ITEM REGARDING ADDITIONAL STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATION IS

[02:15:03]

I NEED TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT CHAN AND VICE PRESIDENT SPICER AROUND APPROACH AND TIMELINES ON THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,

[A. Committee members may provide or report on recent committee activities.]

THANK YOU, TRUSTEES. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 10A, OUR BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ACTUALLY HEAR THREE COMMITTEE REPORTS THAT HAVE MET SINCE OUR LAST MEETING. THOSE COMMITTEES ARE OUR HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL, OUR JOINT LEGISLATIVE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND SCC SBA REPORT.

HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL.

VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YEAH, NOT MUCH TO ADD. BASICALLY, WHAT WE WENT OVER IN HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WENT OVER IN OUR FEBRUARY 4TH MEETING AS IT RELATED TO THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED.

SO I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY REVIEWED. I THINK SINCE THEN, WE DID HAVE ONE, IT WAS KIND OF A MEETING WHERE THEY JUST CALLED US TO VOTE ON SOME PERSONNEL.

THEY HAD PERSONNEL THAT THEY WERE HIRING. AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE APPROVED IT, AND WE DID, IN FACT, APPROVE IT. THERE IS A MEETING COMING UP ACTUALLY ON THIS COMING TUESDAY, BUT THEY DECIDED TO DO IT IN PERSON, AND I WILL BE AT THE CSBA BOARD GOVERNANCE IN SAN DIEGO. SO I WILL NOT BE AT THAT MEETING BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT IN PERSON. AND ANYWAY, IT'S ALL GOING WELL. THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO JLOC. I'M NOT SURE ACTUALLY WHO CHAIRS THAT COMMITTEE, SO... JESSE BERTA? ALL THOSE SINGERS GO UP FAST.

YEAH, THEY DID. JESSE BERTA, CAN YOU PRESENT THE REPORT? WE HAD A REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. WE WENT OVER THE APPROACH, AND I KNOW WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE RETREAT GOING OVER WHAT THOSE PRIORITY AREAS FOR JLAC WOULD BE. AND SO NOW THAT WE'VE HAD THE DISCUSSION AND INCORPORATED A COUPLE AREAS THAT WE WANTED HIGHLIGHTED, AT THAT POINT. ITEM WILL ALSO BE COMING BACK TO JLOC FOR APPROVAL. WE ALSO ADOPTED THE CALENDAR, SO THOSE DATES WE TRIED TO MIRROR THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND I BELIEVE IT'S FINALIZED.

OUR ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL, WHICH WILL BE APRIL 21ST, SO SAVE THE DATE ON THAT, AND YEAH, GOT A LOT OF UPDATES ON. PREVIEW OF LEGISLATION AND DIFFERENT TOPIC AREAS THAT WE'LL BE MONITORING.

SO REALLY GRATEFUL TO CAPITAL ADVISORS AND SCHOOL SERVICES FOR COMING DOWN AND GUIDING US THROUGH EVERYTHING HAPPENING.

AWESOME. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE BERTA. AND THEN, TRUSTEE LARI, COULD YOU PRESENT THE SCC SBA REPORT? YES, THANK YOU. SO I ATTENDED THE SCC SBA ZOOM MEETING ON STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH ON FEBRUARY 25TH.

TRUSTEE ANDRADE, FROM THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, SHARED HER PERSPECTIVE BOTH AS A PARENT AND AS A TRUSTEE NAVIGATING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. SHE DISCUSSED BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, INCLUDING THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, THE HIGH COST OF CARE AND THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK OF NAMI, WHICH PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT, AND CONNECTS THEM WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND AVAILABLE SERVICES. NAMI ALSO OPERATES A HELPLINE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SEEKING GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE. SHE EMPHASIZED OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF CONTINUING TO BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA THAT PERSISTS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND, SHE SAID, EVEN WITHIN OURSELVES, UNCONSCIOUSLY. AND, SECONDLY, I ALSO ATTENDED AN SCSBA ZOOM LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES ALONG WITH VICE PRESIDENT SPICER, FEATURING DR. RUDMAN, SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH. WHO PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS. DR.

RUDMAN DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SCHOOLS CAN PLAY IN IMPROVING STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES AND BY ADDRESSING UNDERLYING FACTORS THAT IMPACT WELL-BEING.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SETTING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC HEALTH COULD BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND SUPPORT IMPROVED LEARNING AND AND ATTENTION OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS. GROWING CONCERN AROUND DEVICE ADDICTION IS ALSO INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND ENGAGING PUBLIC HEALTH AS A PARTNER MAY HELP SCHOOLS MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THIS GROWING CONCERN. THANK YOU.

[A. The members of the Board may give reports on any activities related to their duties as members of the Santa Clara County Board of Education.]

IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BROWN

[02:20:02]

AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE NATIVE AMERICAN PEDAGOGY AND STUDIES.

ACROSS MORE OF OUR DISTRICTS.

AND SO VERY GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT GROWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE AWESOME STAFF AND TO DR. TOSTIN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART JUST THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TRUSTEE PACHECO.

TRUSTEE SHUKRISHVILI? YEAH, IN A SIMILAR VEIN, I GOT TO ATTEND AN EVENT IN RIGHT HERE, WE DID IT RIGHT HERE. NOT THIS SATURDAY, BUT THE SATURDAY BEFORE WITH THE NONPROFIT EMPOWER AND EXCEL. AND THEY HAD THEIR TREXEL STUDENT COMPETITION, WHERE THEY GAVE OUT SCHOLARSHIPS. AND SO I WAS ONE OF THE JUDGES. THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS, LIKE FOCUSED IN STEM, ART, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ALL TOGETHER. ALL OF THE STUDENTS DID A BIT OF EACH. THEN THERE WERE SOME TEARS. IT WAS WHEN THE AWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED, THERE WERE SOME TEARS. SO THAT WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL. AND I WILL SHOUT OUT ERIN MONGELO.

HOPEFULLY, I'M PRONOUNCING THAT, RIGHT. IT WAS FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY TEAM.

SHE SPENT THE FULL DAY HERE, AGAIN ON A SATURDAY.

BY THE WAY, TIFFANY WAS HERE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, THOUGH. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMMING GOING ON ON THE WEEKEND, SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON. THAT TEAM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY TEAM, HAS WORKED WITH THIS NONPROFIT AND PARACEL, BUT OTHERS TOO, FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING, WEEKDAY, WEEKENDS. AND SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING GREAT TO REFLECT ON. AND, IN PARTICULAR, PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. AND THAT IS JUST REALLY COOL. SO LET'S KEEP DOING THAT, DR. TOSTIN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNAN. TRUSTEE BERTA? YES, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK DR. TOSTIN AND DR.

LEE FOR THE VISITS TO HEAD START IN ALUM ROCK.

AND I KNOW VICE PRESIDENT SPICER JOINED AS WELL. IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS IN THE EASTSIDE IN PARTICULAR. ALSO ATTENDED A BLACK HISTORY MONTH CEREMONY AT THE SAN JOSE CITY HALL, AND IT WAS HOSTED BY THE NAACP. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE EDUCATIONAL LEADERS ALSO FEATURED IN THAT PROGRAM. I ATTENDED A GRADUATION AT OSBORNE WITH VICE PRESIDENT SPICER AND ATTENDED SEVERAL LUNAR, NEW YEAR AND RAMADAN IFTARS. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.

THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT SPICER. ALRIGHT, SO SHE MENTIONED THE TOURS. I ACTUALLY WENT TO CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, STATE OF THE DISTRICT, WHERE WE ACTUALLY GOT ON BUSES AND GOT TO SEE A COUPLE OF THEIR CAMPUSES. AND SAW OUR PRESENTATION AT THE END. I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE TARA COULDN'T GO, SO THEY CALLED ME. I MEAN, YOU'RE A BUSY PERSON, TOO.

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I GOT INVITED. I ATTENDED WITH THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION'S LAC, A MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN SAM LICCARDO'S STAFF, ASKING FOR HELP FOR ALL 31 OF OUR, OR 32 OF OUR DISTRICTS, INCLUDING OURSELVES. AND ALSO THANKING THEM FOR THEIR HELP ON HELPING US GET THE HEAD START GRANT. WHAT ELSE? I THINK IT'S ALL COVERED. THANK YOU. ALL

[A. The superintendent may give a report on any activities related to his duties.]

OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

DR. TOSTIN? YES. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS. QUICK ITEMS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. LAST WEEK, PARTICIPATED IN THE OIA GOVERNING BOARD MEETING, WHERE WE RECEIVED THE MID-YEAR LCAP UPDATE AND LEARNED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE PROGRAM. UM...

POSITIVES AS WELL AS AREAS OF CHALLENGE THAT THE TEAM WILL BE

[02:25:01]

ALSO HELD A SUPERINTENDENT'S COORDINATING CALL, WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERS FROM CAPITAL ADVISORS AND SCHOOL SERVICES. PROVIDE UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENTS TO TALK AMONGST THEMSELVES.

THE OFFICE HAS BEEN HOSTING THE MOCK TRIALS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM. WHO'S...

ORGANIZE THAT IF YOU WERE HERE IN AN EVENING WHEN THAT WAS TAKING PLACE. I FELT LIKE 200 KIDS ALL READY FOR MOCK TRIALS IN THEIR SUITS, AND I'M EXCITED TO ENGAGE IN THAT PROCESS. SOME OTHER AREAS, LAST WEEK, I WAS THE KEYNOTE FOR THE CARS PLUS. CARS PLUS IS THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF RESOURCE AND SPECIAL ED TEACHERS, AS WELL AS PARAPROFESSIONALS. OTHER THEME WAS RELATED TO FOCUSING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING STORIES, AND MY TALK CENTERED AROUND UPLIFTING STUDENT VOICE AND UNDERSTANDING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING TODAY ON OUR STUDENTS. ALSO HELD THE JOINT CHILD CARE COMMISSION WITH OUR CO-CHAIRS, AS WELL AS SUPERVISOR ARANIS AND SUPERVISOR ELLENBERG, WHERE WE REENGAGED AROUND SOME OF THE MANY INITIATIVES RELATED TO EARLY CHILD CARE INITIATIVES. AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR BOARD PRIORITY NUMBER ONE AND OUR INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO INVEST RESOURCES AND TIME IN THIS AREA. AS THE FOUNDATION OF K-12 EDUCATION. AND I WILL PAUSE MY COMMENTS THERE. LOTS OF OTHER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, AND OUR TEAMMATES HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET.

[13. CLOSED SESSION]

THANK YOU, TRUSTEES, AND THANK YOU, DR. TOSTIN, FOR YOUR REPORT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 13. THE BOARD IS NOW ABOUT TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION. CLOSED SESSION INVOLVES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. FOR FAMILIES AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING INTER-DISTRICT APPEALS THIS EVENING, HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT. WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, BOTH THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN AND THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE WILL ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION.

EACH PARTY WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR PERSPECTIVE TO THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. IF INTERPRETATION IS NEEDED, AN EXTRA FIVE MINUTES WILL BE PROVIDED.

AFTER BOTH SIDES SPEAK, EACH WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO RESPOND TO THE OTHER. BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THEIR FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE INFORMATION. WHEN THE HEARING ENDS, THE BOARD WILL DELIBERATE IN PRIVATE, AND ONCE A DECISION IS MADE, BOTH PARTIES WILL BE INVITED BACK TO HEAR THE FINAL DECISION.

ITEM 13C, INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFER ATTENDANCE APPEAL, FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT RESIDENCE DISTRICT, MOUNTAIN VIEW-LOS ALTOS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. DESIRED DISTRICT FREMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE MARCH 4TH AGENDA. THE HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD AT THIS TIME. THE ITEM WILL BE RESCHEDULED IF NEEDED.

SO THEN OUR CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS WILL INCLUDE THREE ITEMS. ITEM A, INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT, RESIDENT, DISTRICT, FREMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESIRED, MOUNTAIN VIEW, LOS ALTOS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ITEM B, INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT, RESIDENT, ALUM ROCK UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT DESIRED MORGAN HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SCHOOL DISTRICT AND D CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ANTICIPATED LITIGATION GOVERNMENT CODE 54956.9B1 CASE THE BOARD WILL NOW ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION. WE WILL RETURN IN APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND 30 MINUTES, SO, UH, APPROXIMATELY OR

[14. OPEN SESSION (Immediately Following Closed Session)]

THE TIME IS NOW 8 50 P.M. UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 13A INTERDISTRICT ATTENDANCE.

APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT RESIDENT DISTRICT, FREMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESIRE DISTRICT, MOUNTAIN VIEW, LOS ALTOS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE MOTION WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE SHUKRISHNAN, SECONDED BY VICE PRESIDENT SPICER, TO APPROVE THE APPEAL WITH SIX AYES AND ONE NO. UPON THE COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 13B, INTER-DISTRICT ATTENDANCE APPEAL FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT RESIDENT DISTRICT, ALUM ROCK UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESIRE DISTRICT, MORGAN HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE MOTION WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE SHIKRISHNAN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO, TO APPROVE THE APPEAL.

THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, WITH SIX AYES AND ONE NO.

THERE IS NO REPORTABLE ACTION FOR 13C AS THAT WAS REMOVED.

UPON COMPLETION OF AGENDA ITEM 13D, CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, ONE CASE. THERE ARE NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS. THE NEXT SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 18TH AT 5 P.M. I DO NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BERTA. TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN THE BOARD DOCS OR GIVE A VERBAL AYE. VERBAL AYE.

VERBAL AYE FROM ALL THE TRUSTEES. AYE.

AYE, FROM ALL THE TRUSTEES, INCLUDING MYSELF. AND THAT MOTION WILL CARRY UNANIMOUSLY.

[02:30:02]