[00:00:01]
[A. Call to Order]
THE BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.UH, THIS IS MEETING 2 6 8 0 OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH.
THE TIME IS 5 0 5, UH, PM I'M JESSICA SPICER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I WILL PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING.
OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATES VIA TELECONFERENCE AND THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED AT 8:00 PM SHOULD OUR MEETING EXTEND BEYOND THAT TIME.
PRE PREFERENTIAL VOTING BY THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS AUTHORIZED BY EDUCATION CODE SECTION 1000 STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS MAY EXERCISE PREFERENTIAL VOTING RIGHTS BY STATING THEIR OPINION AND OR POSITION ON AN ACTION ITEM, WHICH WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES BEFORE THE S-E-C-B-O-E VOTES ON THE ITEM.
A LIVE STREAM OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE@HTTPSTINYURL.COM SLASH SEC BOARD MEETING ON THE WEBPAGE.
SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AND CHOOSE LIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE.
FOR SPANISH SUPPORT, CALL 1 6 6 9 9 0 0 6 8 3 3.
THE MEETING ID IS 7 2 7 3 3 4 8 1 0 POUND.
FOR VIETNAMESE SUPPORT, CALL 1 6 6 9 9 0 0 6 8 3 3.
THE MEETING ID IS 9 3 7 5 2 3 6 1 9 6 POUND BOARD LANGUAGE.
UH, LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IN A SL 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 A SL INTERPRETERS ARE AT THE FRONT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROOM AS WELL AS ON THE MONITORS.
PERSONS WANTING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO BY COMPLETING A SPEAKER COMMENT CARD AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
IN THE CASE OF EMERGE EMERGENCY OR THE NEED TO EVACUATE THE ROOM, PLEASE ALERT AND FOLLOW AN S-E-C-O-E STAFF MEMBER WHO IS IDENTIFIED WITH A YELLOW BADGE STUDENT
[B. Pledge of Allegiance]
BOARD MEMBER.ANDINO, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVITE YOU TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AND PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
PLEASE BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[C. Land Acknowledgement]
UH, CAN YOU PLEASE RECITE THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS WELL? THAT'LL TAKE THE TIME TO HONOR THE ANCESTRAL CARETAKERS OF THE LAND ON WHICH WE STAND.WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LON TERRITORY.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY IS THE HOMELAND OF THE MEMA LON PEOPLE.
TODAY, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE LAND.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND REMEMBER THAT WE ALL GATHER, LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK ON THE TRADITIONAL LENS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEWART STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ANDINO.
[D. Roll Call (Including Action on Absences if Necessary)]
I WILL NOW CONDUCT A ROLL CALL.I VICE PRESIDENT SPICE AM PRESENT.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
PURSUANT TO SB 7 0 7, PRESIDENT CH WILL BE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY THIS EVENING.
PRESIDENT CHAN, BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM, ARE THERE ANY ADULTS PRESENT IN THE ROOM WITH YOU THIS EVENING? AND IF SO, WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO YOU? THERE ARE NO ADULTS PRESENT IN MY ROOM.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, THE REQUIRED DISCLOSURE HAS BEEN MADE.
UM, TRUSTEE BERTA PRESENT, TRUSTEE LA PRESENT, TRUSTEE PACHECO PRESENT.
TRUSTEE ROCHA HERE AND TRUSTEE SHRI KRISHNAN IS ABSENT.
MAY I GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ABSENCE OF TRUSTEE SHRI KRISHNAN MOVED? UM, MAY I GET A SECOND? SECOND? ALRIGHT, SO MAY, UH, MOVED BY TRUSTEE PACHECO AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LAWRY.
UM, UH, PLEASE, TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.
TRUSTEE PACHECO WILL BE IN A VERBAL AYE
[00:05:01]
AND PASSES SIX ZERO.[E. Set the Agenda]
TO THE NEXT PART.NOW I WANNA ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT, UH, THE AGENDA.
UM, I'M GONNA MAKE SOME REQUEST A CHANGE IN THE AGENDA, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE STUDENT, UM, OF THE YEAR SHOWS UP, WE CAN, UM, EASILY SLOT THEM IN.
SO COULD WE GO TO, UH, MAKE THE AGENDA BE WE'VE DONE ONE, UH, DO THREE AND THEN SIX.
UM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE STUDENT BOARD, UH, STUDENT, UH, PERSON MAKES IT IN.
DOES THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE? YES.
UM, SO CAN I, UH, UH, GET A MOTION TO HAVE THE AGENDA AS I HAVE REQUESTED? SO MOVED.
I SECOND, UH, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCKS.
[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.]
SO, STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ANDINO, CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE YOUR REPORT WITH US? GOOD EVENING.GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, VICE SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
TOSON, SENIOR AND ESTEEM BOARD MEMBER.
I COME TO YOU TODAY, NOT JUST AS A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, BUT AS A CONCERNED STUDENT.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT LAYOFFS THAT WILL BE AFFECTING OUR SCHOOL SITES.
AMONG THOSE LAYOFFS ARE OUR COLLEGE, SOME TEACHERS AND OUR ACADEMIC COUNSELOR.
THESE ROLE HAVE PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL PART IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FACING SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS.
FIRST, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE COLLEGE LIAISON POSITION.
THE COLLEGE LIAISON MEMBER, JORGE AND DONISHA, HELPED ME IN MANY WAYS IN MY ACADEMIC JOURNEY.
ME SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE FACED A LOT OF OBSTACLES DUE TO MY UNDOCUMENTED STATUS.
JGE SAT WITH ME AND CALLED MY MOM AND WALKED HER THROUGH STEPS TO GET SPECIFIC TEXT INFORMATION FOR ME TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE.
WITH THE HELP OF THE COLLEGE LIAISONS, I GOT THE CHANCE TO ENROLL AND AM NOW TAKING COLLEGE IN COLLEGE CLASSES.
THEY HAVE HELPED ME AND OTHERS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION WHEN WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD.
I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR BOTH OF THEM.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT FUNDED BY THE CCOE, BUT THROUGH PROBATION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COE TO KEEP THESE JOBS.
TOSIN, WILL YOU LOOK FOR DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES SO WE CAN KEEP THESE POSITIONS? OUR ACADEMIC COUNSELOR ALSO RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT BEING LAID OFF.
THIS WILL NOT ONLY AFFECT ME, BUT ALL OF THE STUDENTS AT OSBORNE AND BLUE RIDGE WHO ARE IN THE SAME POSITION AS I AM, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCIL COUNSELOR MICHELLE, HAS HELPED, HELPED ME OVER OVERCOME PLENTY OF OBSTACLES, SUCH AS RE-ENGAGING ME BACK IN SCHOOL, HELPING ME CATCH UP ON CREDITS, GETTING ME CONNECTED TO THE COLLEGE LIAISONS.
AND THE BIGGEST ONE OF THEM ARE HELPING ME FIND PROGRAMS LIKE THE BEING A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.
AND I APPRECIATE FOR, I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE HER FOR HER HARD WORK AND SEEING THINGS IN ME THAT I DIDN'T SEE IN MYSELF.
THEREFORE, I WANT THE BOARD TO VALUE HER POSITION AND ALL OF THE OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.
WE ALWAYS LEARN A LOT FROM YOU.
UM, WE WILL, UH, WHILE, WHILE THE STUDENT IS HERE, WE WILL, 'CAUSE WE HAVE CHANGED THE AGENDA TO PUT SIX AHEAD.
AND IT'S, UM, SO LET ME FIND THAT HERE.
UH, BACK TO THE STUDENT, UH, RECOGNITION.
LET ME JUST FIND THAT HERE, HERE WE GO.
[6. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS]
UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE, OH, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS, UH, UM,[00:10:01]
A THROUGH I I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.OH, WE DO HAVE COMMENT CARDS FOR THIS ITEM.
I GUESS I, UH, DIDN'T, I'M WORKING QUICKLY OFF THE, UH, UH, SCRIPT AND DIDN'T SEE THAT PART, SO I'M SORRY.
SO, UH, LET'S, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO GET, UH, WE'LL HAVE SET THE TIMER FOR ONE MINUTE EACH AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THE COMMENTS.
SORRY Y'ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PATIENCE, UH, AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU'RE IN, IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, UH, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM TO PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT ON ITEM SIX.
THE NAMES ARE MOIRA WRIGHT SABAAN, RON LAUDER, MEGAN LYNCH, AND ROBERT MCDOWELL.
PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM, UH, LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
THOSE NAMES ARE MOIRA WRIGHT AKAN, RON LAUDER, MEGAN LYNCH, ROBERT MC MCDOWELL MC DARRELL APOLOGIES.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER, I THINK THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY OVER.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MAURA WRIGHT SABAAN.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENT.
HI, MY NAME IS MARIAH WRIGHT SALAN, ALSO KNOWN AS BLACK WIDOW.
I WANNA SPEAK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESOLUTION BEING CONSIDERED TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LITERACY, BUT I'M STRUGGLING TO RECONCILE THAT COMMITMENT WITH THE DECISION TO SHUT DOWN WALDEN WEST AND START AGAIN AFTER CONSTRUCTION WHEN WAL WALDEN WEST ALREADY DOES EXACTLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION CALLS FOR.
IT'S NOT THEORETICAL, IT'S NOT LONG.
IT'S A LONGSTANDING, IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EVERY YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM IS BUILT ON MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS OF COMBINED, COMBINED STAFF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND CARE.
THAT KIND OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE CANNOT SIMPLY BE PAUSED AND RESTARTED.
IF WE TRULY VALUE ENVAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING AND SUSTAINING THE PROGRAM THAT ALREADY DELIVERS IT, NOT DISMANTLING IT WITH THE HOPE OF REBUILDING.
I URGE YOU TO ALIGN THIS RESOLUTION WITH YOUR ACTIONS.
FIND THE FUNDS OR ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM THROUGH CONSTRUCTION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RON LAUDER.
THIS IS RON LAUDER, ALSO KNOWN AS SPIDER 28 YEAR VETERAN OF WALDEN WEST.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LITERACY.
PLEASE ALSO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR WALDEN WEST.
THE SCO E'S HIGHLY REGARDED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, CLIMATE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ARE HALLMARKS OF OUR MISSION, SERVING 5,000 STUDENTS ON AVERAGE EVERY YEAR.
THE PLAN CLOSURE OF WALDEN WEST DURING UPCOMING RENOVATION PULLS THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER THE S SEC COE'S MAIN SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
A VIABLE AL ALTERNATE SITE EXISTS TO CONTINUE PROGRAMMING.
WALDEN WEST IS NOT JUST A LOCATION, IT IS A DEDICATED STAFF WHO CAN RUN HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMMING NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LITERACY THAN BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION AS WELL AS APPROVING THE CONTINUATION OF WALDEN WEST PROGRAMMING? THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN LYNCH.
I AM THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GARDEN SPECIALIST AT WALDEN WEST, AND I AM REQUESTING, AND IN TERMS OF THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR YOU TO WORK WITH, UH, WALDEN WEST, WE ARE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SPECIALISTS, SO ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IS KIND OF OUR AREA.
WE RUN A PROGRAM THAT IS MAGIC AND IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
SO, JUST AS A RAISE OF HANDS, UH, WHO HAS BEEN TO WALDEN WEST OR KNOWS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TO WALDEN WEST, THAT IS SO MANY PEOPLE, AND I DARE SAY THAT IF, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE WATCHING THIS AND TUNING IN, THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR HAND RAISED AS WELL.
UH, OUR PROGRAM ADDRESSES SO MANY ELEMENTS OF, UH, A HOLISTIC EDUCATION, AND THAT IS WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY SHOULD BE, RIGHT? IT IS A PART OF ALL OF US.
IT'S THE ECOSYSTEM OF EDUCATION.
AND AT WALDEN WEST, WE SERVE ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS.
PLEASE KEEP OUR PROGRAM RUNNING IN THE TWO YEARS OF RENOVATION.
THE LAST SPEAKER IS ROBERT MCDONALD.
[00:15:01]
MY NAME IS ROB.I'M A PARK INTERPRETER EDUCATOR AND FORMER HEALTH TECHNICIAN AT WALDEN WEST, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO FACE THE THREAT OF LAYOFFS IN SPITE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I WORKED THERE SIX YEARS AGO, AND A HIGHLIGHT WAS WHEN A STUDENT TOLD ME THAT HE WANTED TO BECOME A NURSE BECAUSE HE LIKED THE WORK I WAS DOING.
I THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN BECAUSE THE HIGHEST SCOPE OF PRACTICE I EVER EARNED WAS AS A WILDERNESS, EMT.
AND HERE WAS A STUDENT TELLING ME, HAWK, SOMEDAY I'LL ACHIEVE MORE.
WHAT YOU'RE DECIDING ON IS WHETHER OR NOT TO TELL THAT STUDENT WHETHER YOU CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIS EDUCATION.
THE CULTURE HERE IS FOCUSED ON DATA CENTERS AND IT'S COUNTYWIDE.
WE HAVE AN ABSENTEE MAYOR WHO'S PUSHED FOR MORE DATA CENTERS THAT'LL LEAD UP WATER, AIR, AND NOT A SINGLE COUNTY LEADER HAS SPOKEN UP IN FAVOR OF OR AGAINST THIS.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE TELLING A STUDENT, WE DON'T CARE.
YOU MIGHT APPROVE OF THIS RESOLUTION, YOU'LL STILL DECIDE TO LAY OFF WALDEN WEST.
YOU'LL GO HOME, YOU'LL FALL ASLEEP, CONVINCED THAT THESE CONTRADICTIONS ARE THE BURDENS OF POWER, AND YOU BEAR THEM WELL.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR DEATH BED AND YOU DON'T HAVE A NURSE, YOU MIGHT HAVE TOLD THAT THIS CONCLUDES COMMENT.
I WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A THROUGH I, UH, TRUSTEE PACHECO MOVED.
CAN I GET A SECOND THANKING, UH, TRUSTEE ROCHA SECONDS, UH, TRUSTEE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS VICE PRESIDENT SPICER? YES.
I KNOW TYPICALLY WE DO ALLOW FOR, FOR COMMENTS, NOT ON, ON PULLING IT, BUT YES.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS.
UM, I KNOW I'M NOT PULLING ANY OF THE ITEMS IN PARTICULAR, AND I KNOW THAT OPPORTUNITIES PASS, BUT JUST GENERALLY ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, I KNOW TYPICALLY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUSTEES TO, TO MAKE QUE UH, COMMENTS ON THE GENERAL CONSENT.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE IF WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE THAT NOW.
UH, I, I, I, I REALIZE I'VE DONE THAT AT AT LEAST ONCE WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW TO PULL IT AT THE AGENDA, SO ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, JUST WONDERING AGAIN, UM, ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY AROUND, UH, THE DECISION.
AND DUNNO IF THERE'S ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE.
TOSSIN AROUND, UM, THE CONTINUITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, GIVEN WHAT I BELIEVE IS THIS BOARD'S COMMITMENT AS WELL AS YOUR COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I'VE HEARD ALL THE COMMENTS AND I WOULD STRESS, UM, WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES.
UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED IN TERMS OF OUR TIMELINE FROM PERMIT APPROVAL, UM, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE ARCHITECT, UM, OR THE CATALYST FOR THE DECISION THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE, UH, WITH THE PRELIMINARY NOTICES SO THAT WE, UM, WERE ABLE TO HIT THAT STATUTORY TIMELINE WHILE WE WERE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
UM, PART OF THE EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN, UH, CONFIRMATION BY MARCH 31ST OR AT MINIMUM AN UPDATE, UH, IN LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE SITES AND, UH, ALT ALTERNATIVES TO, UH, UH, THE CURRENT SITE.
UM, WE ARE UNSURE IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE PROGRAM IN PLACE WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE, UM, BECAUSE OF RESTRICTIONS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM AND SAFETY AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE GOING ON MAY TAKE, UM, CRITICAL SYSTEMS OFFLINE, UH, PLUMBING, ELECTRICITY, ET CETERA, UM, WHICH WOULD CREATE A CHALLENGE, UH, AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO OPERATE, UH, THE CAMP AT THE SAME TIME.
UH, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
UM, WE ARE RESPONDING TO INFORMATION THAT THE COUNTY OFFICE RECEIVED AROUND THE PERMITTING PROCESS, UM, AND THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT, UH, BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
UH, AND SO THE SURPRISE IS, UH, SHARED.
UM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
UM, AND WE'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE ACTUALLY VOTED IN BOARD DOCS.
UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PLEASE DO.
[A. Recognition of the SCCOE Student of the Year]
TO MOVE BACK NOW TO THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF WE HAVE A, UH, THIS EVENING TRUSTEE BIRDER WILL BE PRESENTING OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT OF, OF THE YEAR IS MU MOOCHING CHEN.I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TRUSTEE BERTA MOOCHING AND PRINCIPAL CATHERINE GREEN TO THE SIDE PODIUM.
TRUSTEE BERTA, WILL YOU DO THE HONORS? AFTER THE PRESENTATION BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN AT THE PODIUM FOR PHOTOS.
[00:20:03]
GOOD EVENING.EACH YEAR WE TAKE TIME TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE STUDENTS WHO EXCEL OFTEN OVERCOMING SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES TO REACH THEIR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC GOALS.
SPECIFICALLY, WE HONOR STUDENTS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, GOOD ATTENDANCE, CITIZENSHIP AND CHARACTER, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND PERSEVERANCE IN PURSUING THEIR STUDIES AND GOALS.
TONIGHT, WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR A STUDENT WHO EPITOMIZES ALL OF THESE EXCELLENT QUALITIES.
MOOCHING CHANG MOOCHING IS A FOURTH YEAR POST-SECONDARY STUDENT AT HESTER SCHOOL.
HE'S BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP AND GROWING CONFIDENCE.
MOOCHING TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO FIND JOBS AND TASKS TO COMPLETE AROUND HESTER CAMPUS AND IN HIS CLASSROOM.
FROM HELPING WITH LUNCH TRAYS TO PICKING UP PE EQUIPMENT, MOOCHING IS ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
HE'S GROWN IN HIS INDEPENDENCE.
MOOCHING DOESN'T RELY ON OTHER ADULTS FOR SUPPORT, SAID HESTER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CATHERINE GREEN.
HE KNOWS HIS ROUTINE AND DAILY TASKS AND STARTS THEM WITHOUT ANY REMINDERS FROM US.
AARON PAN SHARED THAT MOOCHING HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE JOB SKILLS DURING HIS TIME IN THE WORKABILITY PROGRAM.
MOOCHING HAS LEARNED JOB SKILLS WITH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS ROSIE'S PIZZA, RITE AID, AND LENS AND GARDENS.
HE ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE STUDENT RUN COFFEE SHOP AT HESTER, TAKING ORDERS AND DELIVERING CUPS OF COFFEE.
MOOCHING WILL GRADUATE THIS SPRING WITH THE STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AS PART OF HIS RECORD, HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE VISITING ADULT DAY PROGRAMS TO SEE WHAT HIS NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE.
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MOOCHING HE'LL RECEIVED A FRAME CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION SIGNED BY THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND AN IPAD TO HELP HIM CONTINUE THE PATH OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
MOOCHING HIS TEACHER, SHEI AND PRINCIPAL CATHERINE GREEN, ARE JOINING US THIS EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS.
I'M THE HESTER CLUSTER PRINCIPAL AND IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE MOOCHING CHEN MOOCHING JOINED US AT HESTER IN 10TH GRADE AT A TIME WHEN HE WAS FACING SOME CHALLENGES WITH TRANSITIONS AND COMPLETING NON-PREFERRED TASKS.
LIKE MANY STUDENTS, HIS JOURNEY HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY, BUT WHAT MAKES MOOCHING STAND OUT IS THE DETERMINATION AND GROWTH HE HAS SHOWN ALONG THE WAY.
OVER THE YEARS, HE'S MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS AND HE'S NOT ONLY DEVELOPED HIS ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS, BUT HE'S ALSO DEVELOPED HIS INDEPENDENCE SKILLS AND HE'S EQUALLY BECOME A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF ON CAMPUS.
WHETHER THROUGH HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKABILITY PROGRAM, ON AND OFF CAMPUS, HIS INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, HIS MUSICAL TALENTS OF PLAYING THE PIANO OR CARRYING HIMSELF, UM, EACH DAY, HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES RESPONSIBILITY, PERSEVERANCE, AND KINDNESS.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS DEDICATED TEAM AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME, HE HAS GROWN INTO A CONFIDENT AND CAPABLE YOUNG ADULT, AND HE IS NOW READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP OF ATTENDING AN ADULT DAY PROGRAM AND PARTICIPATING IN SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT.
AND WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR WHAT HIS FUTURE HOLDS.
MOOCHING, YOUR HARD WORK, RESILIENCE, AND GROWTH HAVE TRULY SET YOU APART, AND THIS RECOGNITION IS WELL DESERVED.
I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING MOOCHING TODAY.
MOOCHING NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL STUDENT, BUT ALSO SOMEONE WHO CONTRIBUTES SO POSITIVELY TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
MOOCHING CONSISTENTLY PUTS FORWARD HIS BEST EFFORT IN EVERYTHING HE DOES.
[00:25:01]
HE APPROACHES HIS WORK WITH FOCUS, DEDICATION, AND HIS STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK ALWAYS REFLECTS THAT.WHAT STANDS OUT MOST IS HIS MOTIVATION TO KEEP LEARNING AND IMPROVING.
HE STAYS ORGANIZED, MANAGES HIS RESPONSE RESPONSIBILITIES WELL, AND OFTEN TAKES INITIATIVE TO DO EVEN MORE ONCE HIS, UH, HIS WORK IS DONE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO HIS JOB AT HESTER, UM, HE WORKS AT ROSIE'S, GOT ROSIE'S, UH, PIZZA LEN AND GARDEN.
HE PLAYS PIANO TO THE RESIDENCE.
HE HAS EXCELLENT PIANO SKILLS, UM, AND HE WAS WORKING AT, UM, MULTIPLE OTHER SITES BEFORE.
I AM PROUD TO BE HIS, UH, TEACHER AND WISHING HIM BRIGHT FUTURE.
ALRIGHT, TRUSTEES, GO FOR A PICTURE.
WHAT DO YOU NEED? BETTER COMMUNICATION.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS OF PERSONS DESIRING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD]
ON TO ITEM FOUR A.THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS FOR COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT WITHIN THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION'S JURISDICTION, STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE BOARD FROM DISCUSSING OR ACTING ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD EXPECTS ALL PARTICIPANTS TO MAIN MAINTAIN RESPECT AND CIVILITY.
PUBLIC SPEAKING SPEAKER CARDS MUST BE SUBMITTED NOW AS NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTERS CAN BE ADDED.
ONCE PUBLIC COMMENTS BEGIN UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 7 0.95, 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 NOT RESULT IN REMOVAL AND MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING, CHEERING, SNAPPING, BOOING, OR SHOUTING TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR A COMMENT.
YOU MAY USE THE UNIVERSAL SIGN OF APPRECIATION BY WAVING YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR LIKE SO.
MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE DO.
WE, WE, WE ACTUALLY SAID THAT YOU ARE NOT TO BE YELLING DURING THIS TIME.
THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE WILL BE TAKING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT IT IS A TIME FOR US TO HAVE A BUSINESS MEETING OF THIS BOARD.
SO WE WILL, YOU WILL BE SPEAKING WHEN YOU ARE CALLED UP, BUT NO CLAPPING, NO BOWING, NO YELLING, NO SHOUTING THAT.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE TRY TO ALLOW US TO HAVE AN ORDERLY BOARD MEETING.
UM, OUR ACTUAL BOARD POLICY, BY THE WAY, STATES THAT IN NINE D 3 23, THAT WE ACTUALLY ONLY ALLOW FOR 20 MINUTES FOR ANY COMMENT.
WE DO ALLOW, UM, BY POLL OF THE BOARD THAT WE CAN CAN GO LONGER, BUT I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE WANT TO GO.
DO WE GO FOR 108 MINUTES? IT WILL BE MORE THAN 108 MINUTES BECAUSE OF THE TIME IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS.
SO I WOULD LIKE, UH, A DISCUSSION ON THAT.
SO IT'S A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER TO PUT A LIMIT ON ALL THE COMMENTS IN TOTAL.
YEAH, THE, UH, UH, UH, TIME, WHICH THEN WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF OF COMMENTS.
YEAH, I, RIGHT NOW MY GUT SAYS TO HEAR ALL 108, I TEND TO AGREE
[00:30:01]
WITH TRUSTEE PACHECO.I TEND TO AGREE WITH TRUSTEE PACHECO.
THESE FOLKS SPENT TIME TO COME DOWN HERE AND WE SHOULD HEAR THEM OUT.
UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND THOUGH WE LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN TERMS OF INSTEAD OF TWO MINUTES.
OH, ONE MINUTE WAS DEFINITELY ALREADY, YOU ALREADY ESTABLISHED ALREADY IN THE THANK YOU, IN THE, UH, THE PICTURE FOR SURE.
UM, AND I, YES, I THINK JUST BASED ON OUR, OUR RECENT PRACTICE AS WELL, WE'VE ALLOWED AS MANY COMMENTS AS HAVE COME FORWARD WITH LIMITING THE TIME TO BE ADJUSTED.
SO I'D, I'D APPRECIATE THAT BEING RECOGNIZED FOR TODAY'S MEETING AS WELL.
YEAH, AND I, I, I WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY SPEAKING TOO.
I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A BOARD POLICY AND WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY, WE DON'T BRING IT UP WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN SAY 20, UH, SPEAKERS.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, AS A CONSISTENT PRACTICE, TRIED, TRIED TO DO THIS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UH, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT MAY ACTUALLY BE SAYING THE SAME THING.
SO MAYBE SAY, I AGREE WITH A LAST SPEAKER, ET CETERA.
YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO USE EVERY ONE OF YOUR MINUTES.
I AM LITERALLY TAKING EVERY, I'M TAKING NOTES AS TO WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE SAYING.
UM, AND IF YOU SEE ME NOT TAKING NOTES, IT'S BECAUSE I, I HAVE, I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE AND IT'S KIND OF A CHECK MARK, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HEARING YOU AND WE, WE DO REALIZE THAT ALL OF YOU ARE SUPPORT GENERALLY SUPPORTING THAT CAUSE.
SO I WANT TO, UH, MODERATOR, CAN YOU, UM, GIVE US, UH, THE FIRST LIST OF SPEAKERS? YES.
UH, OUR, I WILL CALL THEM BY BATCHES OF 15 FOR THOSE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM IN THE CAFETERIA, WHO FILLED OUT A CARD TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME.
YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM AS YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.
FOR THOSE IN THE SAN JOSE ROOM, PLEASE LINE UP FOR COMMENT BEHIND THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
AS A REMINDER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME CAN BE AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THEIR COMMENT.
UNLESS LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS NEEDED BY AN S-C-C-O-E INTERPRETER OR AN A SL INTERPRETER, THE TIMER WILL BEGIN.
ONCE YOU START SPEAKING COMMENTS EXTENDING PAST THE TIME ALLOTTED WILL BE MUTED AFTER TIME EXPIRES, AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
OUR FIRST 15 ARE AMY BENNETT, TATIANA CEVI, CHRISTINA MOORE, JEFF MCCANN, KYLE MOORE, RAMON JIMENEZ, ORTEGA VCAA, MERCEDES HILL, ERIC OSA, STEPH PONE, JOHN KARPEN, APRIL GOODING, DANIEL WRIGHT, HEATHER CORPORAL, DREW DOTTIE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS AMY BENNETT.
I'M AMY, AND NEXT TO ME IS MY STUDENT, KAYA.
I'VE WORKED HERE FOR 21 YEARS AS A TEACHER.
I HAVE A TWO YEAR BREAK IN MY SERVICE WHERE I TAUGHT ELSEWHERE.
AT THE TIME, THE DISTRICT WAS TAKING BACK THEIR STUDENTS, AND I AM A TESTAMENT THAT DISTRICTS DO NOT SERVE THEIR COE STUDENTS AS WELL AS WE DO.
LAST WEEK, I WAS LAID OFF, KAYA JOINED MY CLASSROOM TWO YEARS AGO.
FOR THE FIRST YEAR, SHE BARELY MADE CONTACT WITH US IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT TOOK KAYA A YEAR TO ACCLIMATE TO HER NEW SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM.
KAYA WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING TO YOU.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KAYA IS ASKING FOR.
WHY DIDN'T YOU, I INVITE YOU TO COME TO OUR CLASSROOMS AND SEE THE POSITIVE IMPACTS WE ARE MAKING.
AND WE, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TATIANA NEVI.
MY NAME, MY NAME IS TIANA VIC.
I LIVE IN SAN JOSE, UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I HAVE TWO DISABLED CHILDREN.
SOPHIA WITH RANDOM JEAN GREEN, ONE GRIN ONE IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
[00:35:01]
NAME IS JOSEPH, WHO HAS AUTISM, WHO IS FIVE.MY KIDS ARE ALREADY UNHAPPY AND CLOSE SCHOOLS WILL MAKE THEM MORE UNHAPPY.
SOPHIA, UH, CANNOT BE IN A CROWDED CLASSROOM.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, SCHOOL AND CLASS CLOSURES WILL MAKE CLASSROOMS MORE CROWDED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA MOORE.
I DOES THE S-C-C-O-E CONSIDER PARENTS AS TRUE PARTNERS IN EDUCATION.
ARE PARENTS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE AS EQUAL STAKEHOLDERS IN PROGRAM DECISION MAKING? SADLY, THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE COUNTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATING AND CUTTING PROGRAMS WITHOUT PARENT AND COMMUNITY INPUT.
WHY NOT INFORM PARENTS? IT SEEMS LIKE THE COUNTY AND DISTRICTS ARE TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE TO HAVE MEANINGFUL INPUT REGARDING PROGRAM CHANGES THAT IMPACT STUDENT PLACEMENT AND SERVICES.
WHY DON'T YOU START WITH THE LCAP SURVEY? WHY DOES EVERY LEA HAVE AN LCAP REPORT POSTED ON OUR, BUT OUR PROGRAMS DO NOT.
WHY DON'T YOU PROVIDE A FULL REPORT ON THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS INSTEAD OF STARTING FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS AND OBVIOUS DIRECT RETALIATION FOR DOCUMENTED AND REPORTING FOR DOCUMENTED ADVOCACY AND REPORTING OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT AGAINST HERSELF AND OTHERS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFF MCCANN.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS DR.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MEETINGS WITH US NATIONAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS.
SCOE HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN SUPPORTING STUDENT WELLNESS.
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE WORK, BEEN PART OF THAT WORK BY PROVIDING DIRECT THERAPY AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO STUDENTS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
SCHOOL-BASED THERAPISTS PROVIDE SOMETHING OUTSIDE.
CONTRACTS OFTEN CANNOT CONTINUITY.
STUDENTS BUILD TRUST OVER TIME.
STAFF KNOW WHO TO CONSULT, AND THERAPISTS DEVELOP A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND ITS NEEDS.
WHEN EXPERIENCED SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE REPLACED WITH SHORT-TERM CONTRACTS OR ROTATING PROVIDERS, WE RISK HIGHER TURNOVER, FRAGMENTED SERVICES AND THE LOSS OF TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS.
STUDENTS DEPEND ON COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION SHOULD BE SETTING THE EXAMPLE OF FOR DISTRICTS BY DEMONSTRATING THAT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE A STABLE AND VALUED PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, STAFF, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY ARE ASSETS WORTH PRESERVING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KYLE MOORE.
MY MOTHER HAS WORKED FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN, AND I GREW UP SURROUNDED BY HER AND HER COLLEAGUES', ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
BELIEVE THAT I HAVE SEEN THEIR COMMITMENT FIRSTHAND.
THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP ON FIGHTING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES, AND WE CANNOT WAIT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RAMON JIMENEZ ORTEGA.
THE TRUSTEES AND ADMIN, ARE WE REALLY PRIORITIZING STUDENTS AND THEIR NEEDS? UH, WITH THE FIASCO THAT WAS MARYANNE AND THE PRIOR MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS, WHY ARE WE SPENDING MORE ON THE SALARY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NO TRANSPARENCY NOR ENGAGED IN GOOD FAITH CONVERSATIONS REGARDING OURS AND OUR STUDENT'S FUTURE? I AM A BUS RIDER, UH, FOR A STUDENT THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL BUS RIDE WITH.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLED THE THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF CONNECT WEST SINCE WHENEVER ANY CLASS NEEDS HELP, I AM THE FIRST PERSON THEY CALL.
AND WANNA END WITH HOW, HOW MANY OF US COULD BE FUNDED IF OUR SUPERINTENDENT SHOWED HE CARED FOR A STUDENT AND TOOK A PAY CUT.
MY BROTHER HAS SEVERE AUTISM AND IT'S NONVERBAL FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE, SCHOOL IS NOT JUST EDUCATION, IT'S STABILITY, SAFETY, AND DAILY LIFE.
HE NEEDED AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED FOR HIM WITH TRAINED STAFF AND THE STRUCTURE TO TRULY SUPPORT HIS NEEDS.
WHEN HE WAS PLACED IN A DISTRICT PROGRAM THAT WASN'T EQUIPPED FOR HIM, IT LED TO ONE OF THE HARDEST PERIODS OUR FAMILY HAS EVER EXPERIENCED.
HIS BEHAVIORS ESCALATED, HIS STABILITY DISAPPEARED, AND THE SYSTEM MEANT TO SUPPORT HIM.
COULD NOT MEET HIM WHERE HE WAS.
MY MOM IS ALSO A COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
I'VE SEEN THE CARE EXPERTISE AND STRUCTURE THESE CLASSROOMS PROVIDE AND HOW ESSENTIAL THEY ARE FOR STUDENTS LIKE MY BROTHER.
THESE CLASSROOMS AREN'T OPTIONAL.
CLOSING OR DEFUNDING COUNTY CLASSES DOES NOT ELIMINATE THIS NEED.
YOU ARE MAKING IT HARDER TO MEET IT.
I URGE YOU NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THESE PROGRAMS, BUT TO STRENGTHEN
[00:40:01]
THEM.THESE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS WHO RELY THEM CANNOT AFFORD ANYTHING LESS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MERCEDES HILL.
GOOD EVENING, MERCEDES HILL, HEAD START EMPLOYEE AND SEIU MEMBER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE ACTIONS OF S-E-C-O-E TO PLACE.
RISHI KRISHNA, THE PRESIDENT OF ACE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR QUOTING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING IN HER PROTECTED FREE SPEECH.
WAS HE NOT AN EDUCATOR AND THE CHAMPION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL? IS IT NOT THE PURPOSE OF UNIONS AND THEIR ELECTED LEADERS TO ENSURE A MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR THEIR WORKERS IN THOSE PROFOUNDLY INEQUITABLE CAPITALIST SYSTEM? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND HOW QUOTING HIM COULD BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST ANY ONE OF US WHEN ALL WE SEEK IS A MORE EQUITABLE STAKE IN OUR FUTURES AND OUR FAMILY'S FUTURES.
AS FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES OF THE S-E-C-O-E, WE ALL CARE DEEPLY FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.
DO WE? NOT TO QUOTE DR. KING WITH EVERY OUNCE OF RESPECT IN ME, I BELIEVE THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE REJU AND SARAH WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND FAIR ON BEHALF OF THE MANY WHO CANNOT.
SO THAT WE MAY LIVE, MAY ALL LIVE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC DELAROSA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC DELAROSA GUERRA.
I'M A FORMER S-E-C-O-E STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, AND I'M HERE GLADLY TO SAY THAT I STAND WITH, WITH OSBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.
I STARTED MY YEAR WITH THEM HAVING NO, NO IDEA WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS MY EDUCATION GOALS GONNA BE LIKE? AND I HAD NO, NO FUNDS OF WANTING TO DO MY EDUCATION, BUT I HAD STAFF, LOVELY STAFF AT OSBORNE HIGH SCHOOL WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS.
AND FOR THEM, I'M GLADLY TO SAY THAT I HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE AND THEY'RE THE REASON WHY I'M STILL HERE, GLADLY LIVING 'CAUSE OF MY PAST.
I HAD A ROUGH PAST, BUT THEY, THEY SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS.
AND I, I JUST DON'T, DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GETTING LAID OFF.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TR THEY HAVE TRUST WITH ME.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU GUYS ARE LAYING OFF THE STAFF THAT THAT KIDS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE TRUST IN THEM, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT YOU GUYS JUST LAY 'EM OFF OUT OF NOWHERE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I DON'T SUPPORT THAT AT ALL, AND I'LL SUPPORT THEM TILL TILL THE END.
I, I WANNA GRA I WANT TO GLADLY APPRECIATE ALL THE STAFF, UH, JORGE
THEY'RE THE REASONS WHY I, I'M STILL CONTINUING MY EDUCATION AND THEY'RE THE REASON WHY I WANT A BETTER, BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPH POONE.
I HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT BE BUDGET CUTS AND I HOPE TEACHERS EIGHTH AND SPEECH THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS DON'T GET MOVED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO 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 AID, MS. MARIA.
IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
NOW I HAVE TO GET ALONG WITH MS. MARIA VERY WELL.
IF I GET A NEW AID OR NEW OT, IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
THEY WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO DO STUFF LIKE WITH MY EYE GATES AND THEY GET ALONG WITH THE KIDS IN THE CLASS.
I HEARD THAT SOME OF THE AIDES ARE GETTING FIRED.
IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THINGS DONE.
IF TEACHERS AND A CHANGE, THINGS MAY FINISH SLOWLY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN, UH, SHARPEN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JOHN SHARPEN, ALSO KNOWN AS CROW.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST AT WALDEN WEST.
FOR THE PAST 75 YEARS, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED AS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR THE FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND BEYOND.
WE GET COUNTLESS THANK YOU LETTERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
ONE THAT PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES THE KIND OF TRANSFORMATION TEACHERS AND PARENTS SEE IN THEIR KIDS IS FROM A MOM WHO SHARED THAT HER SON HAD BEEN ANXIOUS ABOUT COMING TO CAMP SINCE THE SECOND GRADE.
BUT AFTER COMING HOME FROM CAMP, HE WAS A CHANGED KID, MORE CONFIDENT AND QUIETLY PROUD OF HIMSELF.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 5,000 KIDS ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR.
FOR SOME, THIS IS THEIR ONE CHANCE TO GET ANY HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, NOT TO MENTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIGHT BULB MOMENTS.
PAUSING OUR PROGRAM FOR 18 MONTHS
[00:45:01]
SHUTS DOWN THIS RITES OF PASSAGE FOR THOUSANDS OF KIDS.ONE OF OUR RECENT FEEDBACK FORMS ON, IN ONE OF OUR RECENT FEEDBACK FORMS, A CAMPER NAMED OTTER WROTE, IT'S LIKE A DREAM I WISH I COULD LIVE HERE.
PLEASE HELP US ENSURE THAT CAMPERS LIKE OTTER GET TO FOLLOW THE DREAMS WITH US BY FINDING A WAY TO KEEP CAMP OPEN DURING OUR MUCH NEEDED RENOVATIONS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS APRIL GOODING.
MY NATURE NAME IS STARLIGHT AND I'M A CURRENT WALDEN WEST STAFF MEMBER.
I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE WALDEN WEST PROGRAM, SHUTTING DOWN FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS SO THAT MUCH NEEDED RENOVATIONS CAN TAKE PLACE AT OUR SITE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 5,000 STUDENTS ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
PROJECTED OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD THAT IS NEAR 10,000 STUDENTS THAT WILL NOT GET A CHANCE TO ATTEND OUTDOOR SCHOOL THROUGH THE COE.
IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THAT THEY GO TO OTHER CAMPS DURING THIS TIME, BUT OTHER CAMPS SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT MANY EXTRA STUDENTS.
IT IS NOT A FEASIBLE SOLUTION.
THERE IS, HOWEVER, AN EASY OPTION THAT WOULD ALLOW WALDEN WEST TO CONTINUE PROGRAMMING FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND BEYOND.
I ASKED THE COE TO CONSIDER RENTING OUT VO WEST A SITE THAT WALDEN WEST HAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED OUT OF FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
VIA WEST HAS EXPRESSED THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY AND AVAILABILITY TO HOST US.
THIS WOULD CREATE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION.
IT WOULD NOT IMPACT PROGRAMMING FOR ROUGHLY 10,000 FAMILIES OVER TWO YEARS.
I HOPE THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THIS OPTION INSTEAD OF ENDING A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY FOR 75 YEARS.
BEFORE OUR NEXT FEW SPEAKERS GO, I AM GONNA CALL THE NEXT BATCH OF 15 SPEAKERS.
UH, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
MARK RO, DREW BOWIE, JACQUELINE SMITH, DELIA KLEIN, ROBERT STOHLBERG, MOIRA WRIGHT LAN, SUSAN SOLA, DR.
VERONICA RAMOS, MINDY SHEPHERD, ALEXANDER BATA, CARLOS BATA, NILE, FABIOLA, BATA, AARON LEON, DIPALI PARLI, AND ELLE TORRES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL WRIGHT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING AT WALDEN WEST FOR 26 YEARS.
WALDEN WEST SERVES ABOUT 5,000 KIDS EVERY YEAR.
AND IF WE SHUT DOWN, THE OTHER OUTDOOR SCHOOLS WON'T BE ABLE TO ABSORB THIS.
AND IF CHILDREN DON'T GROW UP KNOWING ABOUT NATURE AND APPRECIATING IT, THEY WON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, THEN THEY WON'T PROTECT IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T PROTECT IT, THEN WHO WILL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER AL ALL AT CAMP.
MOST PEOPLE CALL ME PHOENIX FEATHER.
PARTICIPANTS AT CAMP CAMPERS, COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, ALL WHO ATTEND WALDEN WEST, ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS AN INDIVIDUAL IN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LIFE EXPERIENCE.
ANYONE CAN DISCOVER A NEW LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR TIME.
WE OBSERVE NATURE BOTH ON AND OFF TRAIL, AND ARE ABLE TO WEAVE A WEB OF INTERDEPENDENT EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CANNOT FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE.
FOR 75 YEARS, HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS EACH WEEK HAVE LEARNED EVERY CHOICE THEY MAKE CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FOREST.
THEY RETURN HOME FEELING INSPIRED TO CONTINUE DISCOVERING THE WORLD AND WHAT IS WITHIN THEMSELVES.
CABIN LEADERS AND COUNSELORS RETURN YEARS LATER WITH THEIR OWN SETS OF GOALS.
HUMAN IMPACT GOES BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION AND THEY CAUSE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
PLEASE CONSIDER VIA WEST DURING CONSTRUCTION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DREW DOTY.
WALDEN WEST IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE RENOVATIONS.
HOWEVER, IT'S CRUCIAL TO STAY OPEN AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.
FOR OUR FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS, IT'S SHORTSIGHTED TO CLOSE THE CAMP AND DISREGARD THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE DISTRICTS AND THE FAMILIES THAT WE'VE CREATED.
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO MAKE US MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SPEAKING OF RELATIONSHIPS, THE TEACHERS ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR STUDENTS AT CAMP IN WAYS THAT THEY JUST CAN'T IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.
STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE IN AN INDOOR CLASSROOM SETTING OFTEN EXCEL IN THE OUTDOORS.
UM, TEACHERS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WILL OFTEN COORDINATE WITH OTH WITH EACH OTHER TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO MEET AT CAMP, UM, BEFORE THEY MAKE THE TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, PART FOR SETTING THE KIDS UP FOR SUCCESS.
AND IF I WAS A PARENT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE TO ME.
UM, PLEASE KEEP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ALIVE AT THE S-C-C-O-E.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK BUENO.
[00:50:01]
WITH THE COUNTY.I BELIEVE WE DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE LIGHT OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF MISMANAGED FUNDS.
OVER MY THREE YEARS WITH THE COUNTY, I'VE REPEATEDLY HEARD ABOUT UNCLEAR OR MISMANAGED FUNDS MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO RETAIN THE STAFF WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
EVERY DAY WE'RE ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY.
TOSIN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM MUST CLEARLY EXPLAIN WHERE THESE FUNDS ARE GOING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT, WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
THERE IS ALSO A DISCONNECT BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND PARIS.
WE'RE THE BACKBONE OF THE ORGANIZATION, YET WE'RE THE FIRST TO BE LAID OFF.
IT'S HARD TO GO TO WORK WHEN YOU FEAR LOSING YOUR JOB.
I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE LAID OFF DUE TO SENIORITY.
A SYSTEM THAT SEEMS USELESS AND PREHISTORIC.
WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING A PERFORMANCE BASED EVALUATION SYSTEM.
OR IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN GIVING OUR STUDENTS THE BEST CARE, WE ARE UNDERPAID, OVERLOOKED, AND THREATENED OR AND TREATED AS EXPENDABLE.
I'M A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS DREAMS OF GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.
I'M THE ONLY DESIGNATED SPANISH TRANSLATOR AT MY SITE AND I SUPPORT MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS. AND YET I WAS STILL LATE.
MY NAME IS ZOO BOWIE AND I'VE WANTED TO TEACH AT WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.
TODAY I'M PROUD THAT MY COWORKERS THERE, THE ONES WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, ARE STILL THE SAME PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED ME TO BE AN EDUCATOR OVER A DECADE AGO.
THIS TEAM HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR CLOSE TO THREE DECADES NOW AND THEY AND THEIR WORK ARE IRREPLACEABLE.
WALTON WEST HAS ESTABLISHED A LASTING LEGACY OF TRANSFORMING STUDENTS AROUND THE BAY AREA OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS INTO TEACHERS, SCIENTISTS, AND LEADERS.
AND TO CLOSE THE SITE AND START OVER WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW TEAM WILL IRREPARABLY CHANGE THE PROGRAM AND BREAK THE BONDS THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS OVER YEARS.
YOU CANNOT REPLACE THE DEDICATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND LOVE OF OUR TEAM.
IF COUNTY OFFICE MANAGEMENT IS COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION OF SERVING, INSPIRING, AND PROMOTING STUDENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SUCCESS, THEN WALTON WEST MUST REMAIN OPEN WITH THE STAFF THAT HAVE BUILT IT UP OVER THE YEARS.
WALTON WEST IS NOT SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE PLACE.
IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE PROGRAM WHAT IT IS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JACQUELINE SMITH.
I'M A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AT CASTLEMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE SINCE STARTING CAMP 28 YEARS AGO.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS A WITNESS TO THE PROFOUND GROWTH THAT WALDEN WEST SPARKS IN THE CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTY.
IT'S A POWERFUL THING TO WITNESS, UM, A STUDENT'S WORLD EXPAND IN REAL TIME.
OUR CLASSROOMS ARE GREAT FOR LEARNING, BUT WALDEN WEST IS TRULY WHERE OUR STUDENTS TRANSFORM.
THEY GAIN A VISIBLE SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND REALIZE THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF FAR MORE THAN THEY'VE EVER IMAGINED.
CAMP IS AN ESSENTIAL BRIDGE IN A WORLD WHERE STUDENTS ARE INCREASINGLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE OUTDOORS.
THEY FIND THEIR CONFIDENCE, THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR CONSCIENCE.
CAMP PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL TACTILE CONNECTION TO THE EARTH WHERE THEY'RE NOT JUST READING ABOUT THEIR ECOSYSTEMS, THEY'RE STANDING IN IT.
THEY ARE CULTIVATING A DESIRE TO PROTECT THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.
UM, WE CANNOT AFFORD A LAPSE IN THIS PROFOUNDLY UNIQUE PROGRAM AS IT IS QUITE SIMPLY THE BEST CLASSROOM THAT WE HAVE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DELIA KLEIN.
I'M A PARAEDUCATOR TRAINER, UM, IN THE SPED DEPARTMENT AND I STAND WITH MY FELLOW PARAEDUCATORS THAT ARE BEING LAID OFF.
LAST WEEK WAS HARD AND HEARTBREAKING.
WHILE WE ARE FACING FEDERAL CUTS TO EDUCATION AND THE HORRIBLE EFFECTS IT'S HAVING ON THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN, WE'LL MEET, WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FEAR AND SELF-PRESERVATION.
WILL WE BRACE OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS DISMANTLED AND DO NOTHING TO OPPOSE IT? I THINK THE PEOPLE MAKING THE CUTS WANT US TO GET DISTRACTED AND FIGHT EACH OTHER.
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I BET WE HAVE SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THIS VERY ROOM WHO CAN HELP US FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION.
CAN'T WE WORK TOGETHER TO PRESERVE OUR PROGRAMS, ENSURE A LIVING WAGE FOR TEACHERS AND PARAEDUCATORS, AND FIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE? THERE IS AN INDIGENOUS PHILOSOPHY CALLED THE SEVENTH GEN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBERT OLBERG.
I WENT BY BIG BROWN BAT FOR THE 20 YEARS THAT I WORKED AT WALDEN WEST.
IN ADDITION TO WORKING AT WALDEN WEST, I WAS ON THE BOARD OF OUR STATE ENVIRONMENTAL ED ORGANIZATION CALLED A EOE.
AND I GOT TO KNOW DOZENS AND DOZENS OF THE HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THERE IS NONE LIKE WALDEN WEST, UH, ON AVERAGE.
MOST OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE STAFF ARE THERE FOR ONE TO THREE YEARS.
I KNOW HAVING WORKED WITH MANY OF THE FOLKS HERE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT HALF OF OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN THERE 20 YEARS OR MORE.
TO THINK THAT THEY ARE BEING LAID OFF AND TO START FRESH AFTER THE 18 YEARS OF BUILDING RENOVATIONS
[00:55:01]
IS NOT AN OPTION OR SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION.I IMPLORE YOU TO FIND THAT ALTERNATE TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM THE BUDGETED, UH, RENOVATIONS TO RENT OUT A AN ALTERNATE SITE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MOIRA WRIGHT LAN.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE ACCU ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN SHARED ABOUT WALDEN WEST.
A PRESS RELEASE WAS, UH, SENT OUT YESTERDAY AND IT STATES THAT THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 6,000 STUDENTS.
WELL, THIS IS TECHNICALLY CORRECT.
IT'S VASTLY UNDERSTATING THE TRUE NUMBER OF WALDEN WEST.
TRUE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WALDEN WEST HAVE TECHNICALLY BEEN TO OR BEEN THROUGH.
UM, WALDEN WEST SERVES UP TO 6,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR, TOTALING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OVER ITS 75 YEAR HISTORY, NOT INCLUDING OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, WHICH AVERAGES 350 TEENS A YEAR.
THAT MATTERS WHEN SOMETHING AS FOUNDATIONAL AS THIS NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED IS MISSTATED.
IT MAKES IT HARD TO TRUST THAT THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE AND DUE DILIGENCE IS BEING APPLIED TO BIGGER DECISIONS.
TONIGHT I BROUGHT YOU SOMETHING.
IT'S CALLED MY PLACE IN NATURE.
IT'S A COLLECTION OF WRITING FROM PA FOR THE PAST DECADE.
A FEW THOUSAND ACCOUNTS OR FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM SELECTED FROM THOUSANDS.
THESE ARE VOICES BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS.
UM, THEY SHOW THE REAL IMPACT WHAT THIS GENERATION OR AND GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS WALDEN WEST HAS PROVEN, IMPACTFUL, AND IRREPLACEABLE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN SLOP.
HELLO BOARD AND AND SUPERINTENDENT HOSTIN.
MY NAME IS SUSAN SLOP AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DAILY FIRES THAT ARE COMING OUTTA THIS OFFICE.
WALDEN WEST CLOSURES SHUTTING DOWN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS RETALIATION AGAINST UNION LEADERS AND TEACHERS LIKE REJU, KRISHNA AND OTHERS WHO SPEAK OUT.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? NO ONE IS ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS? EXAMPLE, ONE WALTON WEST.
IF SOMEONE HAD ASKED WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS PLANNING AROUND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING COULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO RATHER THAN AT THE LAST MINUTE.
EXAMPLE NUMBER TWO, SPED CLASSROOM SHUTDOWNS.
IF SOMEONE HAD ASKED WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS, THERE WOULDN'T BE CLASSROOM CLOSURES.
ADMIN WOULD'VE LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS, INCLUDING NOT TURNING AWAY STUDENTS AND DISTRICTS WHO HAD APPLIED FOR COUNTY PROGRAMS. EXAMPLE NUMBER THREE, RETALIATION AGAINST UNION LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF.
IF SOMEONE HAD ASKED WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS, THERE WOULDN'T BE SYSTEMATIC RETALIATION AGAINST TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO SPEAK UP.
RETALIATION IS COSTLY, DESTROYS MORALE AND DOESN'T HELP THE STUDENTS.
IN CONCLUSION, THE ONLY PATH FORWARD IS TO PUT THE STUDENTS FIRST.
VERONICA RAMOS, AN EDUCATOR WITH THE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST OUR ACE PRESIDENT, I'M HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF HER TEAM.
BEING THE PRESIDENT OF ACE IS A THANKLESS ROLE THAT DEMANDS COUNTLESS HOURS OF UNPAID TIME TO FOSTER A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.
OUR PRESIDENT IS NOT ONLY DEDICATED, FAIR AND COMPASSIONATE, BUT SHE HAS ASSEMBLED A DIVERSE TEAM THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST LIKE THE BOARD IN FRONT OF ME, OUR TEAM IS A TAPESTRY OF BACKGROUNDS.
WE'RE BLACK, WE'RE FILIPINO, INDIAN, VIETNAMESE, GREEK, MEXICAN.
WE INCLUDE SINGLE PEOPLE, SINGLE PARENTS, MARRIED PEOPLE, AND THOSE FROM THE LGTQ COMMUNITY.
WE REPRESENT ALL AREAS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION, MIGRANT EDUCATION, AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION.
HER INTENTIONAL TEAM BUILDING REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, INCLUSION AND EQUALITY.
I'M EAGER FOR MEDIATION TOMORROW HOPING THE COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATION TEAM APPROACHES IT WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, PRIORITIZING WHAT'S BEST FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE CAN'T WAIT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MINDY SHEPHERD.
WE STAND WITH OUR ACE PRESIDENT.
RESCIND THE LAYOFFS, KEEP OUR CLASSROOMS OPEN.
I'M A SPEECH LANGUAGE SPECIALIST AT S-C-C-O-E, WORKING WITH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND POST-SECONDARY.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW CRITICAL LANGUAGE ACCESS IS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
MANY DHH STUDENTS ARE BEHIND IN READING AND WRITING.
NOT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LEARN, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GIVING GIVEN EARLY ACCESS TO LANGUAGE.
ESPECIALLY A SL THAT'S A SYSTEM ISSUE, NOT A STUDENT ISSUE.
OUR DHH PROGRAM PROVIDES THAT ACCESS, BUT LARGER CLASS SIZES AND FEWER CLASSROOMS MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET STUDENTS' NEEDS.
WE'VE ALL SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DHH STUDENTS ARE PUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT PROPER SUPPORT.
AND WE SHOULD NOT REPEAT THIS HISTORY.
PLEASE DO NOT CLOSE ANY OF OUR CLASSROOMS, INCLUDING OUR DHH CLASSROOMS. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE TIME, ATTENTION, AND QUALITY EDUCATION THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
AND AGAIN, WE STAND WITH OUR ACE PRESIDENT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDER BOTAS.
HELLO, THIS IS ALEXANDER BOTAS.
[01:00:01]
THIS, YOU GOT A LOT.THIS EVERY NOW, SO I'M GONNA CUT IT HERE.
WHENEVER IT AFFECTS ONE'S DIRECTLY, IT AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS BAT.
AND TRULY ONE MINUTE IS, IS NOT ENOUGH.
I AM HEARING EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING SAID TODAY AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ONLY GATEWAY THAT IS, UH, LOSING RESOURCES.
BUT I SEE THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN I HAD IMAGINED.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF ENGLISH, BUT THE THING THAT COMES THROUGH IS THAT IT'S ABOUT FUNDING, FUNDING THAT IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FOR THE SCHOOLS, FOR TEACHERS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE INFINITE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED, PRIMARILY FROM OUR CHILDREN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU ALL THAT.
YOU KEEP TELLING US THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO IMPROVE, BUT I SEE THEY'RE JUST GETTING WORSE.
ARE YOU DOING YOUR JOBS CORRECTLY? I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FABIO ABITA.
UM, WHAT HE SAID WAS A MARTIN LUTHER, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
IS HE GONNA GET SUSPENDED? IS THIS GONNA GET REMOVED? IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'M HERE STANDING FOR HIM.
I'M HERE STANDING FOR ALL THE TEACHERS THAT LOVE THESE KIDS.
YOU GUYS GOTTA DO AN UPGRADE ON, ON THE SYSTEM.
I FOUND A KID WHO GOT HIS, HIS FOOT SMASHED AND HIS BLEEDING.
AND GUESS WHAT? NOT THE PARAMEDICS.
NO INCIDENT REPORT WAS MADE, POLICE REPORT WASN'T MADE.
AND WHAT YOU GUYS DO GOT RID OF THAT TEACHER WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER.
AND YOU EXPECT US TO BE QUIET TO STAY DOWN.
COME AFTER ALEX BECAUSE HE'S HEAD OF QUOTE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
HAVE YOU SEEN THERE'S MORE KIDS LIKE ALEX COMING IN HERE SAYING WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY.
AND YOU GUYS ARE NOT LISTENING.
ONE LITTLE WORD THAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND YOU EXPECT US NOT TO GET MAD, NOT TO YELL.
'CAUSE IF WE TAKE ALL YOUR GUYS' MONEY, YOU'D BE THROWING A OUR NEXT SPEAKERS.
I'LL CALL THE NEXT BATCH OF 15.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, IF YOU'RE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAN JOSE ROOM IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.
IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE SAN JOSE ROOM, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND, UM, THE PODIUM LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
[01:05:01]
PAULAI'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER.
HE GOES TO RUTGERS SCHOOL IN
UM, HE, THERE WAS A REPORT, WELL, THERE WASN'T A REPORT.
WE TOOK PICTURES OF MY LITTLE BROTHER'S FOOT.
UH, A BOOKSHELF FELL ON, UH, HIS FOOT.
THERE WASN'T A REPORT, UH, GIVEN TO US.
AND NOT TOO LONG AGO, HE WAS LOCKED IN A CLOSET AND, UH, WAS NOTIFIED US A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT.
AND, UH, I TALKED TO THE PRINCIPAL.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE US A REPORT, A WRITTEN REPORT.
I SPOKE TO THE, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HE ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE US A REPORT.
HE JUST WANTED TO GIVE US DETAILS, BUT NOT THE ACTUAL WRITTEN REPORT.
UM, SO MY CONCERN IS HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING AND, UH, HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER KIDS FROM, UH, HIS SCHOOL AND HIS CLASSROOM? UM, THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DEPALI PERKER.
I'VE WORKED AT S-C-C-O-E FOR 15 YEARS.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND HELP BUILD OUR PROGRAM.
I'VE ALSO WITNESSED MOMENTS THAT TAUGHT US IMPORTANT LESSONS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR PROGRAM IS NOT STRUCTURED IN THE WAY THAT TRULY SUPPORTS OUR STUDENTS.
IN THE 20 22 23 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PLACED 13 STUDENTS IN ONE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM.
THE CLASS BECAME OVERCROWDED AND HAD TO BE SPLIT.
A TEMPORARY TEACHER WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN DEAF EDUCATION WAS HIRED AND NO QUALIFIED TEACHERS WAS FOUND FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
THIS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS.
THEIR ACCESS TO LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT WAS COMPROMISED.
AND FOR OUR STUDENTS, LANGUAGE ACCESS IS NOT OPTIONAL.
THAT EXPERIENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A TURNING POINT FOR US, WHICH IS WHY I'M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT PLANS OF THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR.
RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICE IN DEAF EDUCATION CONSISTENTLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALLER CLASS SIZES, DIRECT LANGUAGE ACCESS, AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.
THESE ARE NOT ENHANCE MIMIC SPEAKERS.
WE STAND WITH OUR ACE PRESIDENT.
CLOSING AND OVERCROWDING CLASSES FOR DHH LEARNERS DOESN'T JUST CREATE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES.
IT STRIPS AWAY THE VERY THING WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO LANGUAGE.
IT REQUIRES SPACE, ATTENTION, AND INTENTIONAL COMMUNICATION.
MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT ONLY DEAF, BUT HAVE ALSO ADDITIONAL NEEDS.
THIS IS NO LONGER JUST DEAF EDUCATION, IT'S DEAF EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO MEET THOSE COMPLEX NEEDS WHEN STUDENTS OF THREE TO FOUR GRADE BANDS ARE IN ONE CLASSROOM.
WHEN WE STRETCH PROGRAMS BEYOND CAPACITY, WE LIMIT WHO WE CAN SERVE.
THE DEAF COMMUNITY BECOMES UNDERSERVED, ENROLLMENT DECLINES, AND EVENTUALLY PROGRAMS DISAPPEAR.
SO WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR DEAF COMMUNITY? ARE WE CHOOSING NOT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY? ARE WE TURNING AWAY FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A FREE AND APPROPRIATE EDUCATION? WE MUST PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CLASS SIZES, NOT JUST FOR STAFF, NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON US.
WE STAND WITH OUR ACE PRESIDENT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS COURTNEY JANSEN.
MY NAME IS COURTNEY JANSSEN AND I'M A PARENT HERE TONIGHT OF TWO KIDS IN THE SUNNYVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, A THIRD GRADER AND A FIRST GRADER WHO ARE ALREADY EXCITED ABOUT SCIENCE CAMP AT WALDEN WEST.
THIS IS MY FIRST BOARD MEETING THAT I'VE COME TO GUYS, BUT I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY IS HANDLING THE CLOSURE OF WALDEN WEST.
THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY HAD MADE A PLAN FOR RENOVATIONS.
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION AND TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WHO USE WALDEN WEST EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING THOSE 5,000 STUDENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE RESERVATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
THE FACT THAT PARENTS AND SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS HAD TO FIND OUT BY WORD OF MOUTH THAT SCIENCE CAMP WILL NOT BE AROUND AS IT IS NEXT YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE TIME, IN THE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE LEFT.
THE COUNTY NEEDS TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION FOR WALDEN WEST, FOR THESE FAMILIES AND THESE SCHOOLS.
AND YOU NEED TO RETAIN ALL OF YOUR STAFF SO THAT THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT IS PART OF A CRITICAL PART OF WALDEN WEST DOES NOT DISAPPEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RON GRANDA.
HI, MY NAME IS RON GRANDA AND I AM PROBABLY THE SINGLE GREATEST RECIPIENT OF GREAT THINGS, UH, THROUGH MY EXPERIENCES WITH WALDEN WEST,
[01:10:01]
STARTING IN 1984 WHEN I WAS A COUNSELOR THERE TWICE 'CAUSE I LOVED IT SO MUCH.RAISED TWO KIDS WHO WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH SPACE AND MAPLE.
UM, AND WHEN I, WHEN I FOUND OUT THIS WAS HAPPENING, I, I, I COULDN'T GET HERE FAST ENOUGH.
UM, I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S HURDLES, BUT TO THINK THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT WHOLE PROGRAM OFF GRID WITH A GROUP OF ENVIRONMENTAL GENIUSES BEHIND US IS BEYOND ME.
I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I JUST, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE COUNTY TO DEAL WITH.
WE CAN FIND A SPOT, WE CAN FIND A WAY TO KEEP THE CONTINUITY BECAUSE THAT MULTIMILLION DOLLAR.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH STRINGER.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SCOE HAS HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SURPLUS FOR TWO YEARS YET? FOR TWO YEARS WE HAVE HAD LAYOFFS AND CLASS CLOSURES.
WE ALL FEEL THE ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY THAT COMES WITH WITH THESE DISRUPTIONS.
WE ALL HAVE SOMEONE AT, AT OUR SIDE WHO'S BEEN AFFECTED.
LAST SPRING WAS CHAOS LAYOFFS AND THEN REHIRING.
BUT THEN WHEN THE TEACHERS IN PARAS WERE REHIRED, THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO THEIR CLASSES.
THIS IS, THIS NEGATIVELY AFFECTS OUR STUDENTS.
SCOE CAN AFFORD TO MAKE THIS RIGHT.
WE ARE ASKING IN GOOD FAITH, FOR GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS.
OUR STU, OUR STUDENTS DESERVE CREDENTIALED, MOTIVATED AND CARING PROFESSIONALS THAT GOOD SALARIES AND BENEFITS ATTRACT.
WE DESERVE FAIR PAY AND BENEFITS.
MY NAME IS SKY AND MY MOM IS ONE OF YOUR TEACHERS.
I HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH SOME OF HER STUDENTS.
SOME OF MY MOM'S STUDENTS CANNOT STAND AND ALL OF THEM CANNOT SPEAK.
I ASKED MY MOM IF I COULD COME HERE AND STAND AND SPEAK FOR THEM.
SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT I SAID I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM SINCE SHE CALLS THEM HER KIDS TOO.
SO TECHNICALLY THEY'RE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
I WANT TO ASK TO PLEASE KEEP MY MOM AND HER FRIENDS.
PLEASE KEEP THE STUDENTS AND MY FRIENDS.
MY MOM IS SO PROUD TO BE THE TEACHERS OF THESE STUDENTS.
I AM PROUD OF HER AND EVERYONE THAT SERVES THESE STUDENTS, I HOPE YOU ARE PROUD OF THEM TOO.
ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM HERE WITH YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DANISHA STRATFORD.
MY NAME IS DANISHA STRATFORD AND I'M A COLLEGE LIAISON AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A STUDENT.
I'M A YOUNG PERSON AT SANTA CLARA JUVENILE HALL.
I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
FOR A LOT OF US IN HERE, THE PATH TO COLLEGE ISN'T CLEAR.
IT CAN FEEL OUT OF REACH OR EVEN IMPOSSIBLE, BUT OUR COLLEGE LIAISON CHANGES THAT.
THEY DON'T JUST GIVE US INFORMATION.
THEY TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND US, TO GUIDE US, AND TO REMIND US THAT OUR FUTURE CAN BE BIGGER THAN OUR CURRENT SITUATION.
THEY HELPED ME SEE OPPORTUNITIES I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED.
THEY SHOWED PATIENCE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND BELIEF.
WHEN IT'S EASY TO FEEL OVERLOOKED, CUTTING THIS POSITION WOULDN'T JUST REMOVE A ROLE, IT WILL TAKE AWAY A LIFELINE.
IT WILL TAKE AWAY SOMEONE WHO HELPS STUDENTS LIKE ME BELIEVE THAT WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THIS POSITION SO MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JORGE GI TARON ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WANNA START WITH THE QUESTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF SOMEONE HELPED YOU ACCESS COLLEGE.
MAYBE IT WAS A COUNSELOR, A PARENT, A SIBLING, OR A MENTOR.
NOW I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD BE WITHOUT THAT PERSON.
FOR MY STUDENTS, I AM THAT PERSON.
FOR MANY OF THEM, I'M THE FIRST PERSON WHO SHOWS THEM THAT COLLEGE IS EVEN POSSIBLE.
THAT THEIR FUTURE CAN BE BIGGER THAN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
EVERY DAY I SEE THEIR RESILIENCE, THEIR BRILLIANCE AND THEIR POTENTIAL.
MY STUDENTS MAKE ME PROUD, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOPE THEY HOLD ONTO EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.
[01:15:01]
ITS OWN, IT REQUIRES SUPPORT AND THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE LIAISONS PROVIDE.WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THIS PROGRAM, I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER BEHIND EVERY STUDENT IS SOMEONE WHO HELPED THEM BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD GET THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JONAH MARTINEZ.
I'M HERE BECAUSE MY PARTNER'S POSITION IS BEING ELIMINATED.
SO THIS IS FAR MORE THAN JUST ABOUT A JOB.
THIS IS A ROLE, ESSENTIALLY A LIFELINE OF ROLES, RIGHT AS A COLLEGE LIAISON, HE'S HELPED INCARCERATED YOUNG PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM WERE TOLD, WERE ALREADY TOLD WHAT THEIR LIVES WERE DECIDED AS, AND HE'S ESSENTIALLY TAKING REAL STEPS TO HELPING THEM EARN ASSOCIATE DEGREES AND CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION.
HE DIDN'T JUST GUIDE THEM THROUGH APPLICATIONS.
IN ADDITION, HE HELPED WRITE AND IMPLEMENT POLICY THAT MADE IT ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THAT'S A GENERATIONAL IMPACT RIGHT THERE.
ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN CUSTODY REDUCES RECIDIVISM BY UP TO 40% AND IT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES POST-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT.
THAT MEANS SAFER COMMUNITIES, LOWER LONG-TERM COSTS AND REAL SECOND CHANCES FOR ALL THE YOUTH.
BUT BEYOND THE NUMBERS ARE REAL HUMAN BEINGS.
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME SEE THEMSELVES AS STUDENTS AS AS INSTEAD OF PLEASE RECONSIDER.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LILA SALINAS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LILA SALINAS AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH CSO SAN JOSE AND THE SAN JOSE COALITION AGAINST TRUMP.
AND I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY TO CONDEMN THE ATTACKS ON OUR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND UNIONS.
I'M APPALLED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF SANTA CLARA.
THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE MOST OPPRESSIVE US IN THIS COUNTY, DISABLED, IMMIGRANT AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
WE DEMAND THE END OF THE REPRESSION AGAINST ACE PRESIDENT REJU KRISHNA, STOP CLASSROOM CLOSURES.
INVEST IN STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THEM.
STOP ELIMINATING MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL WELLNESS SPECIALIST POSITIONS.
PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING BUDGET DECISIONS, HIRING AND GOVERNANCE, AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH ACE TOWARD A FAIR CONTRACT.
I'M WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S A PART OF THE SAN JOSE MAYDAY COALITION AND WE MAKE SURE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR UNIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR UNION PRECEDENT READ YOU IS FACING POLITICAL REPRESSION.
WE DEMAND AN END TO THE POLITICAL REPRESSION BY THE SEO.
WE ALSO STAND, UH, IN SOLIDARITY WITH ACE AND SEIU.
THE CEO HAS ACE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
HOWEVER, THE COE HAS LEFT ALL CONTRACT ARTICLES OPEN AND REJECTED NEARLY EVERY PROPOSAL WITH ONLY A FEW MINOR AGREEMENTS REACHED AFTER EIGHT MONTHS OF BARGAINING.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE COE HAS PROPOSED 0% ON SCHEDULE RACES FOR FRONTLINE EDUCATORS.
THIS ISSUE IS NOT JUST ABOUT PAY, IT'S ABOUT SAFE AND STABLE CLASSROOM SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE STUDENTS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHEER CHILDREN PROGRAMS. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIA AMIN.
I'M A PROUD PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER IN SAN JOSE UNIFIED AND A MEMBER OF SAN JOSE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND CONCERN AND OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SCHOOL CLOSURES AND THE FIRING OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARAEDUCATORS.
DOING SO WOULD AMOUNT TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
AMONG THOSE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, THOSE WHO ARE LOW INCOME NEURODIVERGENT, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH SPECIFIC MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS AND WHO HAVE BEEN FORMALLY INCARCERATED.
ALUMNI ATTEST THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRAL TO THEIR SUCCESS.
ALL STUDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO ADJUST AN EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THAT EDUCATION IS CONSISTENCY, CONTINUITY WITH STAFF AND LEARNING CONDITIONS AND FULLY STAFFED SCHOOLS.
STAFF IN THESE PROGRAMS MUST HAVE SUSTAINABLE WORKING CONDITIONS AND THAT INCLUDES THEIR PAY AND THAT INCLUDES HAVING THE COLLEAGUES AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT THEY NEED TO CREATE A THRIVING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOAN SIMON.
I AM SPEAKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
THE EARLY LEARNING SERVICES HEAD START AND STATE PRESCHOOL DEPARTMENT IS LED BY CORRUPT LEADERSHIP.
[01:20:01]
THE EMPLOYEES AT EVERY SITE ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF SEVERE FEAR OF SPEAKING UP DUE TO RETALIATION, JOB LOSS, LOSING THEIR RETIREMENT OR HARASSMENT.THE TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT HAS CREATED MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES.
LEADERSHIP FRAMES, SITUATIONS AS IF THEY ARE HELPFUL YET PROVIDE NO SERVICES, SUPPORTS, OR THEY HIDE INFORMATION.
THERE IS A HUGE FAVORITISM JOB POSITION PROBLEM IN THE WORKPLACE.
FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ARE HIGHLY AFFECTED.
LEADERSHIP IS RESTRICTING TEACHERS FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THE IEP MEETINGS.
YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WELL AS THE SITE DIRECTORS.
MY NAME IS YADIRA RIOS AND I AM AN EARLY HEAD START HOME VISITOR AND I'M REPRESENTING ALSO MY TEAM.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR OUR EARLY CHILD EDUCATORS WHO ARE PART OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSED COMBINATION OF SALARY CUT BENEFIT REDUCTIONS AND LAYOFFS IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL DECISION.
IT IS A DISMANTLING OF OUR EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THESE DEVASTATING CATS AND INVESTING IN THE EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN'S OF THE NEW GENERATION WHO WILL MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONG.
BEFORE WE CALL THE NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS, WILL THE NEXT 15 PLEASE LINE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
RISA SAKA, RAY SAKA, HAN SAKA, ANN DOE, REJU, KRISHNA KAIN, DEBELLA, ARIA AMIN, PENELOPE KIRBY, ROCHELLE MITO.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHERYL JIMENEZ.
I'VE WORKED FOR THE COUNTY FOR 41 YEARS AND I JUST WANNA ECHO THE COMMENT THAT WAS JUST SAID ABOUT EARLY START.
UM, I LOVE, I LOVE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY ONE DEPARTMENT THAT CONCERNS ME AND I FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND BROUGHT UP TO LIGHT IN CA IN CASE NO ONE'S HERE TOLD YOU.
I'M THE PERSON THAT'S TELLING YOU.
UM, THE HEAD START DEPARTMENT IS CORRUPT.
IT RUNS RAMPANT WITH FAVORITISM, RETALIATION, HARASSMENT, AND OVERALL A VERY UNHAPPY DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THE EMPLOYEES ARE AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING DUE TO FEAR OF RETALIATION, BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
YOU CAN START LOOKING INTO IT YOURSELF AND FIND OUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UM, SINCE YOU REPRESENT THE COUNTY, I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AND IF YOU'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT LIKE THIS IN OUR ORGANIZATION, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.
BUT IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT, YOU MUST LOOK INTO WHAT IS GOING ON, PUT AN END TO THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND BEHAVIORS SO STAFF CAN FOCUS ON STUDENT NEEDS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIN DOE.
HI, I'M HERE AGAIN TO FIGHT FOR AND DEFEND OUR DHH PROGRAM.
FIVE PARAS HAVE BEEN LOST THROUGH LOST WITH THE PASSING OF A BELOVED PARA AND ANOTHER THAT'S PLANNING TO RETIRE.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN SEVEN THAT LEAVES SIX TO SUPPORT THREE CLASSROOMS OF THOSE THREE CLASSROOMS, FOUR STUDENTS REQUIRE ONE-TO-ONE SERVICES PER THEIR IEP THAT'S GONNA LEAVE TWO PARAS TO SUPPORT THREE CLASSROOMS. ONE OF THOSE CLASSES IS GONNA HAVE 12 STUDENTS.
I COME FROM CSD FREMONT WHERE I WORKED AND TAUGHT FOR 12 YEARS.
NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR MY STUDENTS LIKE I DO HERE AT CSD.
THERE ARE NUMBERS ON A PAGE, JUST A PART OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE GROUP.
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A GOOD LET ALONE GREAT PROGRAM IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN THEM.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA M IS IT PAULA? GOOD EVENING.
I WORK FOR SSLE AND I'M A TEACHER ED OPPORTUNITY YOUTH ACADEMY.
[01:25:01]
RUMORS THAT IT WAS INSINUATED THAT RI KRISHNA IS A RACIST, I FELT MOVED.AND SO THE NEED TO GET UP AND SPEAK, YOU MAY NOT UNDERMINE THE UNION.
EXUDE DISMISSIVE ATTITUDES BY WALKING AWAY FROM NEGOTIATIONS AND WHEN EXPOSED, THEN BLAME IT ON SOMEONE ELSE.
PERSONALLY, I'M ONE OF THE EDUCATORS WHO WOULD NOT BE HERE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE STRONG ADVOCACY AND THE NARROW PATH TO JUSTICE AND TRUTH THAT DRI DEMONSTRATES IN EACH AND EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE.
WHERE MAY WE ALL REFRAIN FROM THE UNDERHANDED STRATEGIES TO CAREFULLY CRAFT.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIRA NEN.
OH HI, MY NAME IS KIRA AND THIS IS MY SISTER KENDRA.
I'M A SECOND GRADER AT ORCHARD SCHOOL.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I FEEL REALLY SAD BECAUSE I WON'T GET TO SEE MY SPECIAL FRIENDS FROM THEIR COUNTY ANYMORE.
I'LL MISS SEEING THEM AT REESE'S HELPING THEM THROW BALLS IN PE.
THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE KIND AND GENTLE TO KIDS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WALK OR TALK KIND OF LIKE MY BROTHER AND SISTER.
I HOPE THE KIDS AT THEIR NEW SCHOOL WILL BE KIND TO THEM AND BE THEIR FRIENDS TOO.
I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER MY ORCHARD FRIENDS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO HER VOICE.
WHEN CHILDREN MUST STAND HERE AND EXPLAIN WHY THIS MATTERS, IT REMINDS US THAT THESE DECISIONS SHAPE REAL LIVES.
WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY AT THE PHP PARENT TOWN HALL, THAT OPENNESS BUILDS CONNECTION.
BUT TRUST IS BUILT THROUGH ACTIONS, NOT JUST WORDS.
WHEN COUNTY CLASSROOMS AT ORCHARD SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, IT SENDS A PAINFUL MESSAGE TO FAMILIES AND STAFF THAT INCLUSION AND THE WORK OF SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT PRIORITIES.
THIS EOA TEAM HAS SPENT YEARS BUILDING A TRUE SENSE OF BELONGING THERE AND THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY CAN NOT EASILY BE REPLACED.
AS AN EDUCATOR AND MOTHER WITH TWO ESE CHILDREN, I SEE BOTH THE BEAUTY OF INCLUSION AND THE PAIN WHEN SYSTEM PUSHED THEM TO THE MARGINS.
I TRY EVERY DAY TO LEAVE WITH ACTION, NOT JUST INTENTION.
SO I ASK YOU WHERE CHILDREN GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDES THEM OR ONE THAT MOVES THEM OUT OF SIGHT BECAUSE EVERY CHILD'S WATCHING THE CHOICES YOU MAKE INCLUDING YOUR OWN.
TOSSIN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I RECOGNIZE THAT MANY EDUCATORS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SPEAKING OPENLY AND I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE MIND TODAY WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, YET THERE ARE STILL UNRESOLVED FINANCIAL AND NON-MONETARY ITEMS THAT IMPACT OUR DAILY WORK AND OUR ABILITY TO SERVE STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY.
IN MY THREE AND A HALF DECADES OF TEACHING, I HAVE SEEN THAT STUDENT SUCCESS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO HOW EDUCATORS ARE SUPPORTED AND VALUED.
WHEN PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS IS LIMITED, IT AFFECTS BOTH TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS WE SERVE.
I URGE THE COUNTY TO DEMONSTRATE THE COMMITMENT BY MOVING FORWARD IN GOOD FAITH AND TAKING TIMELY MEANINGFUL ACTION TO SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS AND THE STUDENTS WHO RELY ON US.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE OLIVER, DR.
UM, THIS TIME I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION ON TONIGHT AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU CAN'T.
I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH A PROGRESSIVE GENETIC DISORDER.
YOU HAVE SPENT THE ENTIRE FIRST THREE YEARS OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO KEEP HIM HEALTHY AND WHEN HE TURNS THREE, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERS YOU TO THE COUNTY OFFICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MOST APPROPRIATE PROGRAM FOR YOUR CHILD.
HIS WHEELCHAIR, HIS FEEDING TUBES, HIS INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE DOES NOT DEFINE HIM.
[01:30:01]
HE SINGS.NOW YOU'RE GONNA TELL THIS PARENT THAT THEIR CLASS IS CLOSING AND THEIR CHILD IS GONNA COME TO THIS BUILDING TO GO TO PRESCHOOL.
SHE WAITED FOR TWO HOURS TO TRY AND TALK.
SO HER TEACHER IS GOING TO READ HER STATEMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RISA SAKA.
I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MARLO SCHOOL.
THE STAFF HERE DON'T JUST AC ACCOMMODATE HIS PHYSICAL NEEDS.
THEY DEEPLY UNDERSTAND HIM BECAUSE OF THEIR COMPASSIONATE CARE.
MY SON IS FULLY ENGAGED AND HAPPIER THAN EVER.
WE WATCH HIM GROW EVERY SINGLE DAY.
MARLA ALSO GIVES HIM INVALUABLE TIME WITH HIS GEN ED PEERS.
THIS INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT IS VITAL.
FURTHERMORE, MARLA OFFERS THE RARE GIFT OF STABILITY ALLOWING HIM TO STAY IN ONE FAMILIAR PLACE FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
REMOVING THIS ENVIRONMENT WOULD SHATTER HIS PROGRESS.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE'S FINALLY SUCCESSFUL.
I'M HERE TODAY NOT JUST AS A TAXPAYER BUT AS A FATHER.
MY SON ATTENDS MARLET AND FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE, THIS ISN'T JUST A BUILDING, IT IS A LIFELINE.
MY SON LIVES IN MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
HIS EDUCATION IST JUST ABOUT BOOKS.
IT'S ABOUT SPECIALIZED O PT, OT, AND A PHYSICAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE THAT MARLET PROVIDES.
THE SCHOOL IS UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE HIS MOBILITY AND MEDICAL NEEDS IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS HIM TO ACTUALLY LEARN RATHER THAN JUST SURVIVE AT THE SCHOOL DAY.
CLOSING MARLET WILL BE DEVASTATING.
WE ALREADY HAD TRAVEL 30 MINUTES ACROSS SAN JOSE TO GET HIM THERE.
FORCING US TO GO EVEN FARTHER AWAY ISN'T JUST A HEADACHE.
THAT TO COMMUTE IS A MASSIVE PHYSICAL STRAIN ON A CHILD WITH MD AND UNDERSTANDABLE BURDEN TO A FAMILY ABILITY TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A CONSISTENT EDUCATION.
LOW ENROLLMENT NUMBERS DON'T TELL A WHOLE STORY.
YOU CANNOT QUANTIFY THE VALUE OF THE SPECIALIZED CARE MY SON RECEIVES.
HERE I RAISE THE COMMISSION TO LOOK PAST THE SPREADSHEETS.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MY BROTHER'S NURSE.
MARLA IS MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL.
IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE WE FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND TRULY CARE FOR.
THE TEACHERS HERE CARE ABOUT OUR LEARNING, BUT THEY ALSO CARE ABOUT OUR HAPPINESS AND OUR FUTURE.
CLOSING MARLA WOULD TAKE AWAY A SAFE AND FAMILIAR HOME WHERE WE CAN GROW UP FROM PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IT WILL ALSO MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR US TO GET THE GOOD EDUCATION WE NEED AND DESERVE.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE OUR SCHOOL AWAY FROM US AND OUR FRIENDS.
HI, MY NAME IS ANN DOE AND I WANNA SEE IF YOU GUYS CAN ANSWER YES TO A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PUT A BATTERY IN A HEARING AID? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND A FEELING IN THE A A C DEVICE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT A, HOW TO PUT A STUDENT IN A WALKER? WHAT ABOUT A STANDARD? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THOSE THINGS? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SIGN THE WEATHER AND HOW TO INTERPRET THEIR ANSWERS? DO YOU CHANGE UP TO 10 STUDENTS EVERY DAY, FOUR TIMES A DAY? DO YOU KNOW WHAT A PROTOCOL FOR A SEIZURE IS? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GIVE DIASTAT OR AN EPI PEN? THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REJU KRISHNA.
I'M READING ON BEHALF OF JOSIAH D'ANGELO, A STUDENT IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION.
BEFORE MY LIAISON STEPPED IN, I DIDN'T THINK COLLEGE WAS POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE IN MY POSITION.
I HIT BARRIER AFTER BARRIER FIRST I SPENT MONTHS TRYING TO NAVIGATE FINANCIAL AID ON MY OWN, GETTING DENIED, GETTING LOST IN PAPERWORK AND I ALMOST GAVE UP.
THEN FINALLY I GOT INTO MY CLASSES.
MY PROFESSORS REQUIRED LOCKDOWN BROWSERS AND WEBCAMS FOR EXAMS. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT I'M INCARCERATED.
I TRIED TO TELL THEM I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT TECHNOLOGY HERE.
THEY THOUGHT I WAS MAKING EXCUSES.
MY LIAISONS ARE THE REASON I'M STILL STANDING HERE TODAY.
AS A COLLEGE STUDENT, THEY DIDN'T JUST HELP ME WITH PAPERWORK.
THEY CONTACTED MY PROFESSORS PERSONALLY TO VERIFY MY SITUATION AND FOUND ALTERNATIVE WAYS FOR ME TO COMPLETE MY WORK.
[01:35:01]
THEY FOUGHT FOR ME WHEN I HAD NO VOICE.I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD BE DOING COLLEGE, BUT WITH THEIR HELP, I'M NOT JUST SURVIVING IN HERE.
I AM PREPARING FOR MY FUTURE OUT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KARINE DEBELLA.
I'M KARE DEBELLA AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A STUDENT.
I HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED FOR SEVEN MONTHS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
NOT JUST A DEGREE, BUT A CHANCE AT A DIFFERENT LIFE.
WELL, BEING HERE, THAT DREAM HAS BECAME REAL, BECAME REAL.
WHEN I WAS ACCEPTED INTO COLLEGE CLASSES, IT GAVE ME HOPE, PURPOSE, AND A REASON TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.
EDUCATION ISN'T JUST IMPORTANT FOR ME.
IT'S A LIFE CHANGING FOR INCARCERATED YOUTH, IT HELPS US GROW, THINK DIFFERENTLY AND BELIEVE THAT OUR FUTURE CAN BE A, CAN BE BIGGER THAN OUR PAST.
THAT'S WHY THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THIS OPPORTUNITY IS SO DEVASTATING.
THIS PROGRAM IS MORE THAN A SCHOOL.
IT'S OUR MOTIVATION, OUR STABILITY, AND OUR PATH FORWARD.
WE JUST NEED THE SUPPORT AND THE CHANCE TO KEEP GOING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIA AMIN.
HI, I AM READING ON BEHALF OF EN RANGI.
TOSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS NICK AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COLLEGE LIAISONS PROGRAM.
I WAS INCARCERATED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY JUVENILE HALL FOR THREE YEARS AND RELEASED IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
BEFORE THAT, I WAS ON TRACK FOR COLLEGE, BUT EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN FROM ME.
WHEN I ENTERED THE SYSTEM, I FELT LIKE MY FUTURE WAS GONE.
THE COLLEGE PROGRAM GAVE ME THAT FUTURE BACK.
MY LIAISON MADE SURE I STAYED ON TRACK AND EDUCATION BECAME MY PURPOSE.
TODAY I'M ATTENDING UCLA CONDUCTING STEM CELL RESEARCH AT STANFORD AND WORKING TOWARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.
NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS NOT A RISK, IT'S AN INVESTMENT.
THERE IS NO REHABILITATION WITHOUT EDUCATION AND NO EDUCATION WITHOUT SUPPORT.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM YOUTH LIKE ME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PENELOPE KIRBY.
MY NAME IS PENELOPE KIRBY, OR BETTER KNOWN AS PURPLE CATERPILLAR AT CAMP.
WHILE WALDEN WEST IS A STAPLE IN THE BAY AREA, I AM HERE TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON BEHALF OF THE VOLUNTEERS AT WALDEN WEST.
THIS INCLUDES OUR SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS AND CABIN LEADERS.
I REACH OUT TO THE VOLUNTEERS ON MONDAY AND TODAY HAVE GOTTEN OVER A HUNDRED RESPONSES ON MY GOOGLE FORM.
I STARTED MY WALDEN WEST JOURNEY AT 12 AND VOLUNTEERED FROM 14 TO 18.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IF WALDEN WEST VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM DID NOT EXIST, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY OF THE A HUNDRED RESPONSES FROM OUR PAST AND PRESENT VOLUNTEERS 77%.
NOTE HOW WALDEN WEST HELPED THEM GROW AS A PERSON AND DEVELOP LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.
65% STATED THAT IT HELPED THEM DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND BECOME MORE EXTROVERTED.
42% STATED THAT WALDEN WEST IS THE REASON THEY GOT INTO COLLEGE AND IS THE REASON THEY ARE ON THE CAREER PATH THEY ARE ON RIGHT NOW.
WHETHER IT IS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OR POLITICS, VOLUNTEERS FIND THEIR NICHE AT WALDEN WEST.
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, I WILL BE CALLING THE NEXT 15.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM.
SARAH GIANNA CARRO, KATHY DURAN, HURON TU BARRY, CASEY CHALMERS, IHI BARRY, STEVE SAO, AIA HOGUE, SALLY DUPRE, CHRISTINE HEADLEY, SARAH STEINBECK, MICHELLE IAN, TARA GUERRERO, JAMEL THOMPSON, MICHELLE RIVERA GARZA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE MITRO.
UM, MY NAME'S ROCHELLE MITO AND I'M A EDUCATOR HERE AND I AM READING A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF JULIAN QUINTANA, AN S-P-H-C-S-E-I-U 5 21.
MEMBER AND DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, REJU KRISHNA WAS THERE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE TOP COUNTY OFFICE SUPPORTERS DURING CO WHO HELPED GET PARIS THROUGH THE TRANSITION AND TAUGHT US HOW TO VIRTUALLY CONNECT TO THE CLASSROOM SO THAT SCHOOL CAN CONTINUE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
[01:40:01]
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE CLASS, THE CLASSROOM WITH HER ABSENCE.IT'S SUCH IT WILL BE SUCH A DISSERVICE TO THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY STUDENTS AND STAFF.
MY NAME YVAN RIN, A PARA EDUCATOR.
I AM A DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I STAND WITH STUDENT AND WITH OUR PRESIDENT, REJU KRISNA, A LEADER OF INTEGRITY, COURAGE, AND HONESTY, WHO HAS CONSIST CONSISTENTLY STOOD UP, ADJUSTED EQUITY AND EVERY MEMBER ACROSS S-E-I-U-A-C-E AND MANAGEMENT I STAND WITH DO FIGHTING FOR FINANCE AND DIGNITY AND AGAINST RETALIATION, IT INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT.
FOUR MONTHS AGO, THIS BALL, THIS GIRL FOUGHT IN FIGHTING A A FINANCIAL WRONGDOING.
WE DO NOT NEED NAME, BUT WE DO DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT ACTION WILL TAKEN AND WHAT CONSEQUENCE FOR LAW AND I ASK HOW I INTERVENTION CONDUCT AN ACT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WAYNE MORGAN.
I'M SPEAKING FOR AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.
UM, I HAVE WORKED WITHIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT AND GROWTH INCARCERATED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCED THROUGH COLLEGE ACCESS.
MANY YOUTH PREVIOUSLY DID NOT KNOW THAT GOING TO COLLEGE, LET ALONE FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
AND TO SEE THEM FLOURISH AS THEY ARE CHALLENGED WITH COURSEWORK THAT ENCOURAGES CRITICAL THINKING AND TO CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES THEY HAVEN'T PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXPOSED TO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
TO WITNESS ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND DEDICATED STAFF TO HELP YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPLORE COLLEGE MAJORS, NAVIGATE ENROLLMENT AND GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEIR PLACE IS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY IS CRUCIAL TO LIFTING UP OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS FOR THEIR FUTURE.
AND TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, UM, WE, THE PARAS, TEACHERS, INTERPRETERS, EVERYBODY HERE.
WE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET.
WE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING POSITIVE IMPACTS AMONGST ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, UH, WITHIN THE STAFF AND THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH GIANNA CARRO.
SARAH JAN CARRO, SAU CHAPTER PRESIDENT.
READING FROM MY DAUGHTER RACHEL GIANNA CARRO, WELL HER SWIMMING'S PROBABLY ACTUALLY OVER NOW AND I MISSED IT.
MY NAME IS SERVAL AND I'M 16 YEARS OLD.
I WAS FIVE WHEN I FIRST WENT TO WALDEN WEST AND I GO EVERY SUMMER BECAUSE IT'S MY FAVORITE SUMMER ACTIVITY.
I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE NIGHT HIKE.
LAST SUMMER WAS MY FIRST SUMMER AS A COUNSELOR AND THEN I WAS A CABIN LEADER IN OCTOBER.
THE PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE WALDEN WEST SO GREAT.
YOU MEET LOTS OF FUN AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS.
CROW ALWAYS TEACHES LOTS OF FACTS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CRITTERS.
AT CAMP JELLYFISH HAS LOTS OF FUN GAMES SO THE CAMPERS DON'T EVEN REALIZE THEY'RE LEARNING.
HE TAUGHT ME THAT I VOTE WITH MY DOLLAR, SO I SHOULDN'T SPEND MY MONEY WHERE WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE OR BUSINESSES THAT SPEND THEIR MONEY ON CAUSES I DON'T SUPPORT.
ALPHA DOG AND PURPLE CATERPILLAR ARE FUN PEOPLE WHO MAKE LEARNING ENJOYABLE AND TEACH US HOW TO MAKE LEARNING MORE FUN FOR THE KIDS.
JAY CANARY, TIGER, CORAL AND SLOTH MAKE REALLY GOOD COFFEE CAKE AND BROWNIES.
THE STAFF AND COUNSELORS ALWAYS ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY NEW THINGS, ACCEPT US FOR WHO WE ARE AND CELEBRATE PROGRESS.
PLEASE KEEP THE WALDEN WEST SPIRIT ALIVE AND OPERATE CAMP AT ANOTHER LOCATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY DURAN HURON.
I'M A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A MOTHER OF TWO KIDS AT TU, A DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL THAT IS PART OF UM, ALLEN ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT AS A CON, AS NOT JUST AS A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY VALUES THE INTEGRITY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IN ALLEN ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT JUST A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE DECISIONS IS THE PATTERNS OF CHOICES THAT RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE DISTRICT HAS DEMONSTRATED A TROUBLING TREND OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT.
NOW WE'RE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE WE'RE LOSING SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND STUDENTS.
WE HAVE SCHOOLS MERGING, DOUBLING IN THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS, BUT NOW WE ARE CUTTING OUR STAFF IN HALF.
SPECIFICALLY THE ALAN TWO STAFF THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MERGING ARE GONE.
THE DECISION TO LET GO OF DEDICATED STAFF IS NOT A PERSONAL ISSUE.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTED AND THEY'RE PART OF OUR VILLAGE.
RATHER THAN WORKING ON SOLUTIONS, THEY'RE BUDGETING AND PLANNING TO PREPARE FOR DECLINING ENROLLMENT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, IS BARRY.
I'M IS BARRY AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF
[01:45:01]
MOTHER OF A DEAF SON HAS HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY.IN NAVIGATING MY SON'S EDUCATION, MY SON WAS AT RISK OF LOSING HIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION.
I FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WERE CLOSE TO LOSING HOPE.
VIJU, A WOMAN I HAVE NEVER MET, HEARD ABOUT MY SITUATION AND STEPPED IN IMMEDIATELY.
SHE SUPPORTED MY SON AND ME THROUGH SIX MONTHS, DIFFICULT SIX MONTH EDUCATIONAL HER TIME TO ENSURING THAT HIS THIS STABILITY DID NOT LIMIT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY.
REJU ADVOCATE FOR MY SON, MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN SON.
SHE COULD HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE AS MANY OTHERS WITH, WITH THE ABILITY TO HELP DEED, BUT INSTEAD SHE CHOSE TO STAND WITH US AND FIGHT ALONGSIDE US.
I HAVE NEVER ONCE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE OR OFFENDED BY WE JEWS REGARDING RACE BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH WITH HER CHARACTER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CASEY CHALMERS.
HI, MY NAME IS CASEY, OR AS A FOREMAN KNOWN AS WALDEN WEST LOBSTER.
THE SHIP THESIS IS A PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT EXPERIMENT THAT WONDERS IF AN OBJECT CAN STILL BE CONSIDERED THE SAME.
IF ALL THE COMPONENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER TIME, THAT COE SEEMS TO THINK THAT THIS EXPERIMENT CAN BE ANSWERED WITH A RESOUNDING YES AS THEY MOVE THEIR LAYOFF.
THE ENTIRE STAFF OF WALDEN WEST, THIS APPROACH IGNORES THAT, THAT THESE PROPOSED LAYOFFS ARE NOT DONE GRADUALLY, BUT ALL AT ONCE RESULT IN THE DEATH OF A BELOVED PROGRAM THAT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 75 YEARS.
WHEN THE PROGRAM REOPENS, IT MAY HAVE THE SAME NAME AND THE SAME ADDRESS, BUT WHATEVER ARISES WILL NOT BE WALDEN WEST, BUT A REPRODUCTION THAT HAS LOST ALL SEMBLANCE OF CONTINUITY AND TRADITION.
IF THESE LAYOFFS ARE ALLOWED, MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT THE WALDEN WEST PROGRAM WILL BE DEAD.
THE VICTIM OF SHORTSIGHTED MANAGEMENT THAT COULDN'T FIGURE, FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT DESPITE PLANS TO FIGURE IT OUT.
WHATEVER THE COST OF MAINTAINING THIS PROGRAM MIGHT BE, IT PALES IN COMPARISON THAT THE COST TO THIS COMMUNITY IF THE PROGRAM IS SENTENCED TO ITS UNTIMELY DEATH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS IBRAHEEM BARRY, HOW, HELLO, MY NAME IS IBRAHIM BERRY AND I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO SUPPORT REJU.
WHAT SHE HAD TOLD ME IS THAT REJU, WHAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS THAT REJU HAS STOOD FOR ME AND FOUGHT FOR MY EDUCATION.
SHE HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AND SHE HAS WORKED WITH ME AT WESTER SCHOOL.
REJU DID NOT KNOW MY SITUATION AT ALL AND SHE SUPPORTED ME FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT WAS DURING THAT TIME THAT I GOT THE RESOLUTION THAT I NEEDED AND THE HELP THAT I NEEDED SO THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND BETTER AND AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, SORRY.
SHE HAD, SHE HAD BEEN DEDICATED TO ME AND SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT ME AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT HAD DISADVANTAGES COMPARED TO OTHERS AND MY FAMILY AND I ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT REJU HAS DONE AND I WAS NEVER MADE TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF HER OR OFFENDED REGARDING MY RACE BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THAT KIND OF PERSON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVE SOY.
HI KNOW WELL ALL OF YOU ACTUALLY.
IT'S CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND THE PRIMARY CARE STAFFER FOR ACE.
UM, I GOT SPECIAL DISPENSATION FROM CTA HEADQUARTERS TO SPEAK TONIGHT 'CAUSE TYPICALLY STAFF DON'T SPEAK AT BOARD MEETINGS.
OUR EDUCATORS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.
THEY ARE HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO BRING DEEP EXPERTISE, PASSION, AND CARE INTO OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THEY SPECIALIZE IN MEETING DIVERSE STUDENT NEEDS, ADAPTING INSTRUCTION, AND BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.
LOSING EVEN ONE OF THEM IS NOT JUST A STAFFING CHANGE, IT'S A LOSS OF KNOWLEDGE, STABILITY AND STUDENT SUPPORT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED, PROPOSED LAYOFFS COMBINED WITH THE
[01:50:01]
DECISIONS THAT REFLECT POOR MANAGEMENT AND QUESTIONABLE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, UNDERMINES BOTH TRUST AND EFFECTIVENESS.WHEN RESOURCES ARE MISMANAGED, IT IS OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO PAY THE PRICE.
I AM ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED BY ATTEMPTS TO MALIGN OUR UNION PREP.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SALLY DUPREY.
YES, AND UM, I'M COMING UP ON ALMOST TWO YEARS OF RETIREMENT AS A SPECIAL ED TEACHER OF SEVERE DISABILITIES AFTER 39 YEARS, 35 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY AND, UM, SO MANY THINGS I WANNA SAY THAT I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY IN A MINUTE, BUT I WAS JUST IMPASSIONED TO COME HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE I SEE MY COLLEAGUES AND SO MANY PEOPLE AND BEING AFFECTED BY THESE CUTS AND LIKE WHAT SHE HAD JUST SAID ABOUT THE INTERCHANGEABILITY, IT'S SO HARD TO GET TO TRAIN YOUR STAFF AND HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK WITH YOUR STUDENTS AND THEN SEE THEM DISAPPEAR AND THEY ARE SO VALUABLE, SO VALUABLE PARAEDUCATORS YOU AND ALSO THE CLASSROOM CUTS.
I PUT TOO MUCH PASSION INTO THIS TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE HEADLEY.
I'M SURE YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN HOW AWESOME AND DEDICATED THESE PEOPLE ALL ARE.
I WORK WITH AMAZING PEOPLE AND I LOVE MY JOB.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE AT THE COUNTY.
I DON'T WANNA LOSE MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THEIR EFFORT AND EXPERTISE HELP OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES EVERY DAY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE NEGOTIATE WITH OUR UNION LEADERS IN GOOD FAITH.
IT'S POSSIBLE TO SIGN A CONTRACT.
YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH STEINBACH.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING HERE FOR 14 YEARS.
PRIOR TO BECOMING A TEACHER, I SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.
I WORKED FOR APPLE COMPUTER AND I WORKED FOR AT AND T FOR PART OF THAT TIME.
I MANAGED MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS.
IF I HAD EVER BEEN AS FAR OFF ON ANY OF MY BUDGETS AS WHAT SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTABLE HERE, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A JOB.
I WOULD NOT BE HERE AND I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T HAVE, UM, KEPT MY JOB FOR AS LONG AS I DID.
IT SEEMS THAT FOR SOME REASON EDUCATION DOESN'T NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE.
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PLAY A SHELL GAME OF HIDE THE MONEY AND THEN AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR JUST SAY, OOPS, WE ENDED UP WITH EXTRA MONEY, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE'LL USE IT AT SOME OTHER POINT.
LET'S STOP THE SHELL GAME AND START DOING BUDGETS THAT WOULD LAST.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE DUNGEON.
I HAD A STATEMENT THAT I WAS GONNA READ, BUT I FEEL LIKE I JUST NEED TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CLOSING ARE NOT JUST BUILDINGS, THEY'RE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE, STAFF AND STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ONE FAMILY.
UM, MOVING TO A NEW SITE IS NOT JUST AS EASY AS JUST GOING TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
THESE STUDENTS IN SPECIAL ED HAVE CHALLENGES OF MAKING FRIENDS AND WHEN THEY'VE GOT THESE BONDS AT AN EXISTING SITE AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE, IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO RECONNECT AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.
IT'S, IT'S BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY.
26 YEARS I'VE BEEN TEACHING, I'VE WORKED MOST I THINK ALL OF THAT WITH REJU.
SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAS INTEGRITY AMONG MANY OTHER STAFF THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THESE YEARS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM.
THE NEXT GROUP OF THANK YOU, THE NEXT GROUP OF 15, PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME TO LINE UP.
BOB PERLA, PATRICIA LEADER SANDY OSI.
ANGELA TAO, BEITA PRATO, THOMAS MCDONALD.
[01:55:03]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA GUERRERO.MY NAME IS TARA GUERRERO AND I'VE TAUGHT FOR 23 YEARS FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
I'M ALSO THE PAST PRESIDENT OF ACE.
THE RECENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT, REJU KRISHNA HAS COMPELLED ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
THIS TARGETED EFFORT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE OUR UNION LEADERS.
AND IT COMES DURING A BARGAINING CRISIS.
THAT TIMING IS NOT ACCIDENTAL.
SILENCING READS, YOU IS AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE EVERY MEMBER WHO IS STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT YOU CANNOT ERASE THE ISSUE, THE HEART OF THE DISPUTE.
THE COURT PROBLEM STILL REMAINS UNCHANGED.
THE COE IS NOT BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH.
YOU MAY HAVE HOPED THAT QUIETING ONE VOICE WOULD QUIET US ALL YOU WERE WRONG.
ACE IS STRONGER, MORE DETERMINED, AND MORE UNITED THAN EVER.
OUR MEMBERS STAND PROUDLY BEHIND REJU KRISHNA AND BEHIND EACH OTHER.
WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE THE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO SECURE FAIR TREATMENT AND A GOOD FAITH CONTRACT, EVEN IF THAT MEANS STRIKING.
I'M WITH THE ALT ED DEPARTMENT AND I'M READING THIS FOR, UM, DR.
JAMELE THOMPSON, A TEACHER OF 22 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY WHO'S CURRENTLY, UM, TEACHING POST-SECONDARY AT HESTER.
JAMAL THOMPSON AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF AFFECTED PARA EDUCATORS, SA TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES LAYING OFF 74 PARAS AND 11 SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION TEACHERS.
WHILE HIRING TWO NEW HR DIRECTORS SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES.
PARAEDUCATORS AND SIA TEACHERS ARE FRONTLINE STAFF WHO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENT LEARNING, SAFETY AND EQUITY, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST RESULTS NEEDS, SORRY.
THESE CUTS WILL INCREASE CLASS SIZES, REDUCE AN INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND WIDEN OPPORTUNITY GAPS.
WE ASK THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO PAUSE FURTHER LAYOFFS TRANSPARENTLY EXPLAIN THE FISCAL DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO PRIORITIZING ADMINISTRATIVE HIRES OVER CLASSROOM POSITIONS AND WORK WITH OUR OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE RIVERA GARZA.
I'M READING THIS FOR MICHELLE.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE GARZA RIVERA.
I AM THE PARENT OF A STUDENT AT GATEWAY IN GILROY.
I CANNOT BE WITH YOU IN PERSON TONIGHT BECAUSE I'M AT HOME CARING FOR MY MEDICALLY FRAGILE SON, THE VERY CHILD WHOSE EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS ARE BEING COMPROMISED BY RECENT COE ADMINISTRATION DECISIONS.
IN AUGUST OF 2023, THE COE MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE MEDICALLY FRAGILE CLASSROOM.
THIS WAS A CHOICE THAT RESULTED IN MY SON BEING DENIED THE SERVICES MANDATED IN HIS LEGALLY BINDING IEP.
NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT ESY HOURS ARE BEING REDUCED TO ONLY FOUR HOURS A DAY.
HOW WILL MY SON RECEIVE HIS REQUIRED SERVICE MINUTES IN A REDUCED SCHEDULE? FURTHERMORE, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT OF COM COMPENSATORY HOURS.
MY SON IS STILL OWED FROM PREVIOUS SERVICE FAILURES.
THEY ARE A DEBT TO THE COE THAT THE SET C OE OWES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLA HENRIQUE.
SECOND CALL FOR CARLA HENRIQUE.
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED BY ATTEMPTS TO MALIGN UNION PRESIDENT REJU KRISHNA THROUGH ANONYMOUS AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS, EFFORTS THAT APPEAR DESIGNED TO SILENCE HER AND INTIMIDATE THE TEACHERS THAT WORK FOR YOU.
WHEN ONE OF US GETS TARGETED, WE STAND TOGETHER BECAUSE WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S FAMOUS QUOTE.
THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE.
EMPHASIZES THAT WHILE PROGRESS TOWARD EQUALITY IS SLOW AND IT REQUIRES ACTIVE STRUGGLE, IT IS INEVITABLE.
AND I WILL REMIND YOU, IT IS THE JOB OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO LOOK FOR COMPROMISE.
IT IS THE JOB OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DEMAND THAT HE COME TO THE TABLE AND COMPROMISE.
AND IF YOU CANNOT DO IT, IT IS YOUR DUTY TO REPLACE HIM WITH SOMEBODY WHO WILL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICIA LEADER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS PATRICIA, LEADER.
PATRICIA LEADER AND I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN THE FIELD OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
[02:00:01]
AND BLINDNESS SINCE 1978.I AM A CREDENTIALED TEACHER OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND ORIENTATION MOBILITY SPECIALIST.
I'VE WORKED WITH COUNT IN THE COUNT IN THIS COUNTY SINCE 1982 AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS FOR UM, ORIENTATION, MOBILITY, AND VISION SERVICES.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT IEP TEAMS HAVE A RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
WE AT MY, MY NOW I'M, I RETIRED IN 2021, BUT I HAVE A, I'M CONTRACTING NOW WITH DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE VISION SERVICES AND WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT CAN'T BE SERVED BY THE COUNTY AND I'VE HAD TO SERVE THEM.
I NOW HAVE NINE STUDENTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SERVED.
I HAVE A, A LITTLE GIRL WHO TURNED FOUR AND SHE SHOULD BE IN THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PRESCHOOL, BUT THAT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND I'M NOW SERVING HER.
YOU SAW ONE OF MY STUDENTS EARLIER.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDY FAI.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE GETTING TIRED.
I'M SPEAKING TO SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT HAS BEEN SAID.
SO PLEASE, YEAH, I APPRECIATE DR.
I'M NOT QUOTING YOU VERBATIM 'CAUSE I WASN'T IN THE MEETING, BUT TELLING SCIU OR TELLING LEADERSHIP THAT HE TOLD S-C-C-O-E LEADERSHIP.
NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.
IF YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR TITLE TO SAY SOMETHING, THEN YOU'RE SAYING IT WRONG.
I DON'T THINK I'M QUOTING YOU VERBATIM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR LEADERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT WAS A STANDARD THAT YOU'RE HOLDING PEOPLE TO AND I WANT US TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.
I WANT THE BOARD TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT AND I WANT YOU TO HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT BECAUSE I AGREE WITH IT.
I WANT US TO GET BACK TO A BETTER PLACE.
THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES IN THE EYELID DEPARTMENT AND SO MANY, UM, SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT WHO'S BEING CUT AND WHO'S BEING LAID OFF IN THAT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY'RE BEING LAID OFF FOR RETALIATORY PURPOSE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JAKE EMMETT.
MY NAME IS JAKE EMMETT AND I'M A THIRD GRADE TEACHER IN SUNNYVALE.
I PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT FIFTH GRADE AND I'M A FORMER WALDEN WEST FIELD INSTRUCTOR.
I'M ADDING MY VOICE TO THOSE ASKING YOU TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SITE TO RUN WALDEN WEST OUTDOOR SCHOOL DURING THE TIME THAT RENOVATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.
FINDING IT A TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE SITE WILL ALLOW NEXT YEAR'S STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE ENGAGEMENT AND EXCITEMENT FOR LEARNING THAT SO MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR SOCIOECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS WHO MAY NEVER HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS.
I HOPE THAT MY OWN DAUGHTERS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL.
AN ALTERNATE, AN ALTERNATE SITE WILL ALSO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO RETAIN WALDEN WEST STAFF WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.
SO MUCH DEEP INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WOULD BE LOST IF THE PLAN FOR LAYOFFS CONTINUES UNCHANGED.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE LOCATION AND SERVICES SO THAT FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN SCIENCE CAMP DURING THIS RENOVATION PERIOD.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARI PAS BERLIN.
I'M A CTA BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M ALSO A FIRST AND SECOND GRADE TEACHER FOR THE OAK GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UH, I AM READING TODAY FOR CARLA ROSALES WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, WHO WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
UH, CARLA ROSALES IS A COUNTY OF ED VISION SPECIALIST.
THE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS ARE CREATING UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES, AND SUPPORT STAFF.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE STABILITY, CONTINUED CARE, AND ACCESS TO THE SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THAT OUR DEDICATED EDUCATORS PROVIDE EVERY DAY AS THEY HELP OUR CHILDREN GROW AND SUCCEED.
I URGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARD A TIMELY AND FAIR RESOLUTION THAT PRIORITIZES STUDENTS AND RESTORES STABILITY TO OUR PROGRAMS AND TEACHERS.
I HOPE YOU ALL CAN MAKE THE A GOOD DECISION TODAY AND REALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT IS HAPPENING.
THIS CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
IT DE SYMBOLIZES WHAT WE HAVE AND YOU AS A COUNTY BOARD WHO WE HAVE HELPED TO ENDORSE AND ELECT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA TAO.
I'M A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AT MAJESTIC WAY ELEMENTARY WITH BERRYESSA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE STAFF AND TEACHING TEAMS AT WALDEN WEST WHO ARE THE REASON WE CONTINUE TO CHOOSE THIS PROGRAM YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THEIR PASSION AND DEDICATION, DEDICATION, CREATE UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ANY EFFORTS AND FINDING TEMPORARY RELOCATION SO STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, LOSING LONGSTANDING STAFF
[02:05:01]
WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS.THEIR EXPERIENCE AND CARE HELP FAMILIES FEEL CONFIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SENDING THEIR CHILDREN AWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
MY STUDENTS ASK WHAT I, WHAT I WAS DOING AFTER SCHOOL TODAY AND I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE HERE, UH, TO SUPPORT THE TEA, THE TEACHERS AND THE TEAM HERE, AND THEY MADE SIGNS TO SUPPORT.
SO THAT CAN SHOW WE WANT, UH, FIFTH GRADES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE PRESERVE NOT ONLY THE PROGRAM, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT MEANINGFUL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BERNADO EVENING.
UH, MY NAME IS VANITA PARADO AND I'M READING ON BEHALF OF MADISON SILVA, FORMER COE GENERAL ED STUDENT.
I AM A FORMER STUDENT OF THE COUNTY'S PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FROM VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
I AM A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE AND UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT GRATEFUL TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE.
THE SUPPORT I RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY WAS ESSENTIAL TO MY SUCCESS.
THOSE SERVICES DIDN'T JUST HELP ME ACADEMICALLY.
THEY GAVE ME THE TOOLS, CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE I NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN A SENSE OF BELONGING.
BEING VISUALLY IMPAIRED MEANS WORKING TWO TO FIVE TIMES AS HARD AS MY SIDED PEERS.
THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US.
ROUGHLY 50% OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
CUTTING COUNTY PROGRAMS WILL BE THE TREATMENT TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS.
I URGE YOU TO PROTECT AND INVEST IN THE COUNTY PROGRAMS AND STAFF.
NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS MCDONALD.
MY NAME IS THOMAS MCDONALD AND I'M A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER FROM BERRY SA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AT MAJESTIC WAY PRIOR TO MAJESTIC, I TAUGHT AT LANE VIEW AND WE HAD AN UPPER GRADE MOD SEVERE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM EVERY YEAR.
WHEN IT BECAME TIME TO PLAN FOR WALDEN WEST, OUR MINDSET WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON HOW CAN WE MAKE SCIENCE CAMP ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
EVERY YEAR WE MADE A PLAN AS A GRADE LEVEL AND THEN WE SHARED OUR PLAN WITH THE WALDEN WEST STAFF.
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN NEED.
AND THIS HELPED ENSURE THAT THESE STUDENTS THRIVED WHILE THEY WERE AT CAMP.
THIS WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE WALTON WEST STAFF WERE WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP US MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.
PAUSING OPERATIONS OF WALDEN WEST JEOPARDIZES THE CHEMISTRY OF THEIR TEAM AND POSSIBLY THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM.
IN GENERAL, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO NOT DEPRIVE FUTURE STUDENTS OF THE WALDEN WEST EXPERIENCE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JASMINE POLITO.
SECOND CALL FOR JASMINE POLITO.
SO GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO A TEACHER OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR PARENTS, SHANNON SILVA.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE DUE TO FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, I'M A PARENT ADVOCATING FOR MY CHILD AND OTHER STUDENTS.
MY DAUGHTER IS LEGALLY BLIND AND HAS GONE SIX MONTHS WITHOUT VISION SERVICES.
THAT IS TWO THIRD OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WITHOUT THE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT SHE'S LEGALLY ENTITLED TO.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ABSOLUTELY DEPENDS ON TO ACCESS HER EDUCATION.
VISION SERVICES ARE NOT OPTIONAL, THEY'RE CRITICAL, AND WITHOUT THEM, MY STUDENT OR MY CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND.
THE SERVICE CUTS AND LACK OF RESPONSE FROM MANAGEMENT ARE ACTIVELY HARMING STUDENTS.
YOU ARE PUSHING A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY FURTHER TO THE MARGINS.
THAT IS NOT EQUITY, THAT IS NOT INCLUSION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STACEY SCHMIDT.
UM, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT S-C-C-O-E HAS NO PLAN TO ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY DISCOVER FINANCIAL MALFEASANCE.
LAST NOVEMBER, THE BOARD DISCUSSED 14 ERRORS OF FINANCIAL WRONGDOING, INCLUDING, OR SORRY, IDENTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION THAT TOOK PLACE UNDER SUPER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ'S OVERSIGHT.
THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW HOW THE ORGANIZATION'S PROCEDURES POTENTIALLY ALLOWED ONE EMPLOYEE TO MENT ALL FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS.
WERE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT? HOW HAVE THEY BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES WILL BE, WILL PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE? HOW MUCH MONEY DID THE OFFICE LEAVE TO LOSE DURING THESE ACTIONS? WE, THE PEOPLE BARGAINING
[02:10:01]
UNITS AND THE COMMUNITY NEED TRANSPARENCY AND THE COMMITMENT TO REMEDY THESE WRONGS.BEFORE THE, BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER GOES, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE LAST BATCH OF SPEAKERS.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE PODIUM, LOCATED AT THE CENTER OF THE ROOM.
KELLY GUEVARA, CHRISTINE HEATHLY, ELIZABETH WARD.
MARIA KIM, BOB PERLA, BIA RAMEN, BETSY RAIL, MEGAN SWEET, MCKAYLA AVIARA, MICHAEL FAUST, CARMEN ZARO, DARLENE NORMAN, ALEJANDRO GUERRERO, CHRISTINE CALO, MEGAN FINCHER, ELIZABETH KONZ, DARLENE NORMAN.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HAN NGUYEN HAN OR HAN NGU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLY GUEVARA.
READING ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL CORNHILL.
TO ME, IT SEEMS A BIT OBVIOUS HOW IMPORTANT OUR COLLEGE LIAISONS ARE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
OUR LIAISONS AREN'T JUST FOOT SOLDIERS WHO DELIVER MATERIAL AND MESSAGES.
THEY GUIDE, THEY PROVIDE AND SUPPORT IN WAYS THAT PROBATION OR YOU NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO DO.
THEY ARE IN THE FIELD DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND HELPING US YOUNG PEOPLE REALIZE THE VALUE IN PURSUING EDUCATIONAL EX EXCELLENCE.
WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK OR ARE NOT SURE IF WE BELONG, IT ISN'T YOU ALL UP THERE REASSURING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE MADE FOR IT? IT BLANK.
SURE ISN'T PROBATION DOING THAT EITHER.
IT'S THE VERY PEOPLE YOU ARE ABOUT TO LET GO.
SO WHILE YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE ON YOUR PEDESTAL MAKING DECISIONS FOR OUR YOUTH, NOT SEEING THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON THEM, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD KEPT, KEPT IN MIND THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST MAKING BUDGET CUTS, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THE VERY GUIDANCE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE HADLEY.
SECOND CALL FOR CHRISTINE HADLEY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH WARD.
HELLO, UM, I'M ELIZABETH WARD.
I'M A PARENT AND MY CHILDREN HAVE BENEFITED ENORMOUSLY FROM ATTENDING WALDEN WEST SUMMER CAMPS.
UH, SO I WAS JUST MADE TO HEAR THAT, UM, ALL THE STAFF HAVE BEEN GIVEN PRELIMINARY LAY NOTICES AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION.
I WENT TO THE S-C-C-O-E WEBSITE AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE A DEDICATED WEBPAGE WITH, UM, WHAT ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AND FAQS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE REALLY VALUED IS HAVING CONTINUITY OF STAFF.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF THE AMAZING OUTDOOR EDUCATORS AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DEMORALIZING THIS NOTICE HAS BEEN.
THE FINAL POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS HOW VALUABLE THIS PROGRAM IS, ESPECIALLY TODAY AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS VALLEY.
YOU CAN'T SMELL THE FOREST THROUGH A BOOK.
YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE BARK OF A TREE THROUGH AN APP AND YOU CAN'T.
KIM, CAN I TOUCH AGAIN? MY NAME IS MARIA KIM, A TEACHER OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
I WILL BEGIN BY SAYING WE TOGETHER AS ONE IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
WE WORK HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE SPEND OUR TIME AND DEVOTE OUR TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AS THEIR EDUCATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE ALSO NEED TO MEET OUR NEEDS AS WELL.
WE DESERVE TO HAVE OUR CONTRACT, WE DESERVE TO HAVE AND TO RETAIN OUR JOBS AND OUR HEALTH BENEFITS.
WE DESERVE TO HAVE OUR PAY RAISE AS EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.
IT IS TIME TO COME TO THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE.
[02:15:01]
THANK YOU.THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BOB PERLA, I THINK.
WE JUST HAVE SOME REPEAT CARDS.
MY NAME IS VIDIA RAMEN AND I'M THE MOM OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN OUR COUNTRY'S SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
UM, MY SON HAS BENEFITED IMMENSELY FROM HIS CLASS AND IS VERY TEACHING, VERY CARING TEACHER AND THERAPIST LIKE HE GETS OT SPEECH, ET CETERA, AND HAS MADE MAJOR STRIDES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I'M HEARING ABOUT BUDGET DEFICITS AND COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASS CLOSURES.
AND I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHY ARE THE MOST SENSITIVE STUDENTS, UH, IN OUR COUNTY BEING ASKED TO BEAR THE GREATEST BUR BURDEN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS? ARE THEY NOT OPTIONAL? THEY'RE REALLY CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN LIKE MY SON.
WHEN A CLASSROOM CLOSES OR A SPECIALIZED TEACHER IS LAID OFF, IT JUST DOESN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET.
IT ALSO DISRUPTS A CHILD'S LIFE AND THEIR PART TO LEARNING BECAUSE EVEN THE TEACHERS DO FEEL DISILLUSIONED AND DEMOTIVATED.
THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE REALLY SPENDING.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BETSY REAL? THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SURPRISED TO HEAR A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, HERE TODAY.
I'VE BEEN A PARENT SINCE THE NINETIES OF A CHILD THAT WAS SERVED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE'S EDUCATION AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY SINCE 2008 AS A PARAEDUCATOR.
UM, MY, MY, UM, MY ADDRESS, WHAT I WANNA ADDRESS TODAY IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH TOWARDS LIVABLE WAGES FOR THE PARAS ESPECIALLY THAT ARE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
I DON'T WANNA BE CHOOSING BETWEEN STAYING HOME AND FINDING A FOOD BANK WHERE I CAN GET FOOD TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY OR IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GAS MONEY TO GET TO WORK AND WHETHER I'M GONNA SUPPORT MY FAMILY OR IF I'M GONNA SUPPORT MY KIDS AT THE SCHOOL.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, MEGAN SWEET.
HI, MY NAME IS MEGAN AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A PARENT MANAL AL.
DEAR BOARD MEMBERS, I'M UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AS I AM THE SOLE CAREGIVER FOR MY DAUGHTER WITH INCREASED SEIZURES.
I AM SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE CLOSURES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND LAID OFF TEACHERS AND SPECIALISTS.
THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIALIZATION THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED ELSEWHERE.
OUR SPECIAL NEED CHILDREN NEED TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND DESERVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH.
CLOSING PROGRAMS IS A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK FOR THEIR EDUCATION AND WELLBEING.
I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE OUR CHILDREN AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER FOR PRO TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKAYLA AVIRA.
I'M A DEAF ASSISTANT TEACHER AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DEAF PROGRAM AND ACCESSIBILITY.
THERE ARE FOUR SUBS THAT WERE LAID OFF LAST YEAR OF THOSE PARAS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE COME RECENTLY, COME BACK TO WORK.
WHEN THE STAFF ARE GONE, THE LANGUAGE ACCESS IS DECREASED.
THEY HAVE, STUDENTS NEED COMMUNICATION, THEY NEED STRONG A SL.
THEY NEED COMMUNI TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH THE STUDENTS.
THESE LAYOFFS, SINCE THE LAYOFFS, THEY, THEY'RE TRYING TO BECOME PERMANENT.
I TRIED TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION HERE, BUT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE AN INTERPRETER.
THE A, THE ACCESSIBILITY ALSO MEANS PROVIDING INTERPRETERS.
[02:20:01]
WHAT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT? THE CLASSES ARE LARGER, THERE'S LESS ATTENTION, THERE'S LESS ACCESS.ACCESS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYTHING.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS TO BE ADDED.
WE NEED TO KEEP CLASS SIZES SMALL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL FAUST.
TEACHING IS MY LIFE'S CALLING.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH ONE OF US IS IN HERE FOR THE LOVE OF EDUCATION.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANNA MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE DISTRICTS AND THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.
I STILL SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
OUR PROGRAMS HAVE THE MOST TO OFFER IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH.
THEY'RE, I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE.
OUR PROGRAMS HAVE THE MOST TO OFFER IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH.
THEY'RE THE BEST, AND I'M NOTHING WITHOUT THEM.
WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT HERE, IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM SAN FRANCISCO OR DUBLIN, OR FROM THE TWIN RIVERS OR FROM NATOMAS.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THIS BOARD AND OUR LEADERSHIP ARE HERE FOR THE LOVE OF EDUCATION.
I DO NOT ENVY THEM, THOUGH, DESPITE THIS, I AM MYSTIFIED AT THE RECENT DECISIONS I RECENTLY LEARNED.
OUR LEADERSHIP DECIDED TO PUT PRE KINDERGARTNERS AND, AND SECOND GRADERS IN THE SAME CLASSROOM BEGINNING THIS AUGUST.
I'M NOT A BRILLIANT PERSON, BUT I WANT TO LEARN.
SHOW ME YOUR LOVE FOR EDUCATION.
SHOW ME THAT THIS MAKES SENSE, PLEASE.
I'M SPEAKING FOR A STUDENT, COOPER JOHNSON.
NEXT YEAR I'M SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCIENCE CAMP AT WALDEN WEST.
I'VE BEEN SO EXCITED TO GO WHEN THE FIFTH GRADERS AT MY SCHOOL COME BACK, THEY ARE SO HAPPY.
I DESERVE MY CHANCE TO GO TO WALDEN WEST.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DARLENE NORMAN.
SHE'S A DEAFBLIND SEVENTH GRADER AT DARTMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH BETH AND MICHAEL, AND A FORMER OSCAR ELEMENTARY STUDENT.
I'M ALSO A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR, AND A DEAFBLIND ADVOCATE.
YESTERDAY, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HELD A WEBINAR ON THE TOPIC OF EDUCATING DEAF HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS AND DEAF-BLIND.
AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE MAKING EDUCATIONAL DECISIONS TO VIEW THAT WEBINAR AND THE RESOURCES WHEN IT'S POSTED.
YOU ALSO NEED TO READ CALIFORNIA LAW ON THE BILL OF DEAF BILL OF RIGHTS FOR DEAF CHILDREN AND THE EXPANDED CORE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE STUDENTS.
THE STATISTICS BEHIND READING LEVELS FOR DEAF POPULATIONS ARE POOR WITH MANY DEAF ADULTS READING AT A THIRD GRADE.
READING LEVEL, DEAF EDUCATION REQUIRES SMALL CLASS SIZES OF FIVE TO EIGHT STUDENTS TO ENSURE ACCESS AND MEETING DEAF LEARNING NEEDS.
THE CLOSURE OF A CLASSROOM AT ELEMENTARY TO CREATE A TK TWO CLASS AND A THREE FIVE CLASS THAT HAVE HETEROGENEOUS STUDENT NEEDS AND LARGER CLASS SIZES DOES NOT MEET THEIR NEEDS.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE RIGOROUS EXPECTATIONS AND PROGRAMS FOR SUCCESS IN A CLASSROOM WITH THE VISUAL LANGUAGE OF A SL INSTRUCTION.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEJANDRO GUERRERA.
I KNOW I PROBABLY DON'T LOOK LIKE ALEJANDRO
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ACE AND OUR LEGALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS UNDER THE EERA.
WHEN EDUCATORS ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS SERVICES AND SAFE PROGRAMS THAT IS PROTECTED ACTIVITY, ACTIONS THAT INTERFERE OR SQUISH THAT ACTIVITY,
[02:25:01]
HARM STUDENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND EDUCATORS.I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR UNION PRESIDENT, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS WHO RELY ON STABLE SERVICES, EXPERIENCED STAFF, AND CONSISTENT PROGRAMS TO ACCESS THEIR EDUCATION.
WE ARE ASKING FOR GOOD FAITH BARGAINING, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPECT FOR EDUCATOR AND STUDENT AND COMMUNITY VOICES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE KLO.
I'M A LONGTIME PARENT ADVOCATE AND MEMBER OF THE SELPA COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, US PARENTS ARE HEARING ABOUT BUDGET, CLO UH, BUDGET, UH, ISSUES CAUSING CLASSROOM CLOSURES.
AND WE ASK, AS HAS BEEN ASKED BEFORE, WHY ARE THE MOST SENSITIVE STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY, THE ONES BEING ASKED TO SUFFER THE MOST? I AND OTHERS IN THIS ONE? MANY OTHERS IN THIS ROOM HAVE ASKED YOU TO STOP THE CLOSURES.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING.
WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME GREAT PARENTS HERE.
UH, WE PARENTS ARE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THIS SYSTEM.
IT'S FROM PARENTS THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE REQUESTING TO GET INTO COUNTY PROGRAMS AND ARE TOLD THERE'S NO ROOM.
BUT I HEAR FROM ADMINISTRATORS THAT THERE'S NO DEMAND FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO, HOW THOSE TWO THINGS CAN BOTH BE TRUE.
OKAY? UH, I ASK YOU THAT TO OUR PARENT, ADVOCACY SHOULD BE EMBRACED, NOT DISCOURAGED.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS.
I ASK YOU TO PRIORITIZE OUR STUDENTS.
I ASK YOU TO RESPECT AND NEGOTIATE WITH OUR TEACHERS.
I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO FAMILIES, TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS, AND PUT THE FUNDING WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN FINCHER.
MY NAME IS MEGAN FINCHER AND I'M A PARENT FROM SANTA CLARA.
I ALSO VOLUNTEER ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I AM URGING THE BOARD TO HALT CLASSROOM CLOSURES, EMBRACE PARENT ADVOCACY, AND PRIORITIZE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF DEEP CUTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHY THE MOST SENSITIVE STUDENTS AND SPECIALIZED TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS ARE THE FIRST TO SUFFER.
WE NEED A TRANSPARENT BREAKDOWN OF WHY MANAGEMENT COSTS REMAIN HIGH WHILE CLASSROOM SERVICES ARE TARGETED.
MY TWIN NIECES GRADUATED FROM THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM TWO YEARS AGO, ALONG WITH IBRAHIM WHO SPOKE EARLIER TONIGHT.
MY NIECES ARE NOW THRIVING IN COLLEGE AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AT RIT THANKS TO THEIR FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE DHH PROGRAM.
BUT WILL THIS BE POSSIBLE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS? WE ARE ALSO DEALING WITH BUDGET CUTS IN SANTA CLARA UNIFIED, BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD INVITED C COMMUNITY INPUT AND ACTUALLY REVERSE SOME OF THE CUTS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH KOONS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT DEAF CHILDREN.
I'VE TAUGHT FOR 25 YEARS HERE.
MOST OF THE TIME I WAS AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN FREMONT.
SO I EVEN TAUGHT MY COLLEAGUE OVER HERE, MICHAEL FAUST, WHO JUST GOT UP AND SPOKE.
SO LAST YEAR I JOINED AUSTRIA HERE IN DARTMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I WAS THRILLED TO MEET THESE GLEAMING CHILDREN WHO ARE BRILLIANT, AMAZING, SKILLED, THEY'RE REALLY READY TO LEARN AND VERY PASSIONATE.
AND ALSO, I WAS INCLUDED IN THE MAJORING COLLEAGUES OF MY TEAM AND MY COWORKERS AT OSTER IN THE CLUSTER PROGRAM WHO REALLY WANT THE BEST FOR ALL OF THE DEAF STUDENTS AND CHILDREN.
LAST YEAR, ONE CLASS CLOSED AND IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING.
AND NOW ANOTHER CLASS IS SLATED TO CLOSE AS WELL.
I KNOW, AND I'M SCARED THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET ALL THEIR NEEDS MET.
THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO, THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS.
OUR DEAF CHILDREN DESERVE MORE.
THEY NEED FULL LANGUAGE ACCESS.
THEY NEED SMALL CLASSROOMS. THEY NEED INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION AND AN EARLY COMMUNICATION.
AND IF YOU CLOSE THESE SCHOOLS, OUR PROGRAM WILL FAIL.
OUR DEAF STUDENTS WANT A FIGHTING CHANCE.
THEY WON'T WANNA HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THE PROGRAM AND THE CUTS THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE DO NOT CLOSE ANOTHER CLASSROOM IN OSCAR.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH AND TO GET AN AGREEMENT ON A CONTRACT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DEAF AND HARD HEARING STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM,
[02:30:01]
IT MIGHT BE A REPEAT.THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM FOUR.
WE DO HAVE A COMMENT FOR ITEM NINE A.
[A. Bargaining Units' Reports]
TO BARGAINING, UH, UNIT, UH, RE REPORTS.OUR NEXT IS, IS BARGAINING UNIT REPORTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM DISCUSSING OR ACTING ON NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS. A FIVE MINUTE TIMER WILL BE PRESENTED AND COMMENTS SHOULD NOT EXCEED FIVE MINUTES.
I INVITE THE SEIU PRESIDENT OR DESIGNEE TO COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE AND PRESENT YOUR COMMENTS.
SARAH GENARO, SAU CHAPTER PRESIDENT, REPRESENTING OVER 1400 PERMANENT AND SUBSTITUTE CLASSIFIED STAFF AND A DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WHAT'S AT STAKE RIGHT NOW IS NOT JUST SALARY AND BENEFITS.
WHAT'S AT STAKE IS THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
HERE AT S-E-C-O-E, WE'RE FIGHTING TO ENSURE THAT CRITICAL PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER AND HOMELESS YOUTH JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH AND STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE'RE FIGHTING TO ENSURE THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE, TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
YOU HEARD FROM JORGE DANISHA AND THEIR STUDENTS.
WHAT'S AT STAKE IS EARLY LEARNING SERVICES ALREADY FACING SERIOUS ATTACKS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR FAMILIES WELL BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
WE KNOW THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS SO CRITICAL TO ENSURING OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL, NOT JUST WHEN THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN, BUT FOR A LIFETIME.
WE NEED S-E-C-O-E TO INVEST IN OUTREACH AND FRONTLINE STAFF.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR PARENT POLICY COUNCIL AND OUR MEMBERS AS THEY SHARE HOW WE CANNOT KEEP DOING THE SAME THING AND EXPECT ENROLLMENT TO IMPROVE.
THEY'VE MADE SUGGESTIONS IGNORED BY LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WHAT'S AT STAKE IS THE FUTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
WHEN OUR PROGRAM, WHICH MAY BE THE FIRST TIME STUDENTS LEARN TO APPRECIATE NATURE, SPEND THE NIGHT AWAY FROM HOME OR EAT A PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH.
AS A COLLEAGUE TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK DUE TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ'S FAILURE TO PLAN AHEAD.
IRONICALLY, THIS PROGRAM MAY DISAPPEAR AS THE BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LITERACY.
WHAT'S AT STAKE ARE S SEC PRIORITIES CURRENTLY SLANTED TOWARDS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH MANAGEMENT TO CLASSIFIED STAFFING RATIOS UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT DEBBIE GARGIULO, FOR EXAMPLE, SHE'S LAYING OFF CLASSIFIED STAFF, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO PRODUCTIONS IN GRANT FUNDING.
IN THE MEANTIME, GRANT FUNDING IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, AND HER DIVISION BOASTS THAT THEY WILL CREATE AT LEAST FOUR NEW LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
HER DIVISION ALSO HAS THE MOST COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SUPERVISORS.
WHEN QUALITY STAFF ARE DRIVEN OUT, STUDENTS PAY THE PRICE.
TOSSIN PROMISED US BUDGET TRANSPARENCY.
THE UNIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AND OUR MEMBERS ARE BEING TOLD TO KEEP THE INFORMATION IN THE ROOM.
ONE GROUP'S LEADERS HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY 25% OF THEIR GRANTS ARE PAYING FOR DR.
GREGOR AND HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, PLUS ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR DIVISION LEADERSHIP ON TOP OF THEIR INDIRECT COSTS.
UNDER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES, STEPHANIE GOMEZ, WERE LAYING OFF STAFF.
DESPITE OVER $109 MILLION IN UNSPENT DOLLARS, WE'RE TAKING SICK DAYS AWAY FROM PARAEDUCATORS AND APPARENTLY ALLOWING 14 AREAS OF FINANCIAL MALFEASANCE REPORTED BY AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO GO UNCHECKED WITHOUT A DIRECTOR.
THE EARLY LEARNING SERVICES PROGRAM RUNS AMUCK, VIOLATING WORKERS' RIGHTS, TRAMPLING ON THEIR DIGNITY, AND PUNISHING PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR A BATHROOM BREAK.
THE STUDENTS ARE PAYING THE PRICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DOES.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW UNDER DR.
TOSIN S WATCH REFLECT YOUR VISION FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.
THE BAD LEADERSHIP PRACTICES FROM UNDER OUR PRIOR SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT IMPROVE SIMPLY BECAUSE DR.
TOSSIN SAID PROFESSIONALISM IS THE BARE MINIMUM.
WHEN THE ORGANIZATION PLACES A UNION PRESIDENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OVER PROTECTED UNION ACTIVITIES ON THE HEELS OF ONE OF OUR LARGEST COLLECTIVE ACTIONS, AS THEY'RE MOVING INTO A STRIKE ASSESSMENT VOTE, WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY.
I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ACE AND SCIU THAT BEGAN FOUR YEARS AGO WITH THEN PRESIDENT TARA GUERRERO AND OUR SAFETY CAMPAIGN.
AND IT'S CONTINUED WITH REJU KRISHNA.
TOGETHER WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR COWORKERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AN ATTACK ON REJU IS AN ATTACK ON US ALL 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.
S-C-C-U-E MUST INVEST IN STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES NOW DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
STAND AGAINST THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE DEVASTATING TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
CAN THE DESIGNEE OR PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION COME FORTH? MY NAME IS RAJU KRISHNA, DEFENDER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PRESIDENT AND OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON OF ACE.
[02:35:01]
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO'S HERE TODAY.IN SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AGAINST CLASSROOM CLOSURES AND THE LAYOFF OF OUR HIGHLY SKILLED UNEXPERIENCED EDUCATORS, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE EMPLOYEE WHO PASSED AWAY THE PRECEDING WEEK.
AND IT IS SAD THAT THEIR NAME APPEARED ON THE RIFF LIST THAT WAS PASSED OUT THE VERY NEXT WEEK.
I STAND HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF TRUTH.
LET'S CLARIFY WHAT'S AT STAKE.
OUR STUDENTS' FUTURE IS AT STAKE.
TONIGHT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONTRACTS, IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS.
WE HAVE ACE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR A YEAR NOW.
OUR CONTRACT EXPIRED ON JUNE 30TH.
IGNORES CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, REFUSES OUR PROPOSALS AND SAYS THIS IS TOO MUCH WORK FOR US.
COE HAS OFFERED 0% ON SALARY SCHEDULE, DESPITE 3% INFLATION.
AND FOR HEALTHCARE ONLY A TEMPORARY PARTIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS YEAR.
COE BEGAN YET AGAIN WITH $109 MILLION RESERVE PLUS A 15.6 MILLION REVENUE INCREASE IN THE SECOND INTERIM.
TODAY'S DOLLARS FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS NOT HELD FOR PERPETUITY, FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT WOULD CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN AGENDA ITEM FIVE B ON NOVEMBER 19.
ACE HAS REPEATEDLY REQUESTED SUPERINTENDENT TOSIN HOLD RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ACCOUNTABLE.
SHARE A PLAN TO PREVENT REPETITION, DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AS SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE ARE THE ONES GIVING THE INFORMATION THAT COE, SORRY, THE SKY IS FALLING.
AND LET'S LAY OFF PEOPLE THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
ACE PROPOSALS ARE NOT JUST FOR EDUCATORS, THEY ARE FOR STUDENTS.
ACE CALLS FOR STUDENT CENTERED DECISION MAKING.
DHH CLASSROOMS WITH 12 STUDENTS IN A DEAF PLUS AND A DEAF CLASSROOM.
OR CLOSING MORELO AND ORCHARD THAT DOES NOT REFLECT STUDENT NEEDS OR SUPPORTS.
ENSURE SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL BECAUSE JUST A MONTHLY, JUST A SAFETY MEETING TWICE A YEAR DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO US.
PROVIDE A SL INTERPRETERS ACCESSIBLE ALARMS AND SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR DHH CLASSROOMS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
PAGERS ARE NOT WORKING FOR US.
MAINTAIN INTERDEPARTMENTAL CONTRACTS TO PROTECT MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST POSITIONS.
THERAPISTS NEED TO BE THERAPISTS AND ACADEMIC COUNSELORS NEED TO STAY.
ACADEMIC COUNSELORS PREVENT LAYOFFS TO SUSTAIN COUNTY PROGRAMS FOR OUR HIGHEST NEED STUDENTS.
WE ARE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT CLASSROOMS AND THE EXPENSE OF NON-PUBLIC CLASSROOMS. PROVIDE CELL PHONE STIPENDS AS EDUCATORS.
CONSISTENTLY USE PERSONAL PHONES TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS WHO RESPOND BEST TO TEXT.
THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALSO IMPLEMENTING THE ALARM SYSTEM NOTIFICATION AND ENSURING SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IN THE DEAF HEART OF HEARING CLASSROOMS. PROTECTED TIME FOR ALL EDUCATORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS.
STRENGTHEN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR PROPOSALS IN OUR CONTRACT THAT S-C-C-O-E HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING IN BAD FAITH INCLUDE GOOD FAITH BARGAINING AS A PRACTICE COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION.
STRONG FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS.
EDUCATORS NEED AT LEAST A 15 MINUTE BREAK.
AS MANY WORK UP TO SIX HOURS WITHOUT FOOD, WATER.
THEY DO NOT DRINK WATER JUST BECAUSE THEY FEAR THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO GO AND PEE.
THAT 15 MINUTE BREAK IS ESSENTIAL.
MANY OF OUR PROPOSALS DON'T EVEN COST MONEY.
SUPPORT STUDENTS BY GIVING EDUCATORS ACCESS TO IEPS AND TRAINING AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AT LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE STUDENT IN THE NEW CLASSROOM.
ENSURE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE IN PLACE.
ENSURE TIMELY REIMBURSEMENTS AND STIPENDS, INCLUDING MILEAGE AND DEPARTMENTAL PAYMENT BECAUSE CURRENTLY SOME MEMBERS GO SIX MONTHS WITHOUT THAT PAYMENT.
WE WERE TOLD FOR HEAD START, YOU CANNOT GET MONTHLY STIPENDS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE CONTRACT.
WHEREAS WE GET MONTHLY SALARIES.
AGAIN, RULES SHOULD NOT BE BENT BASED ON CONVENIENCE.
UTILIZATION OF THE WORKLOAD TOOL THAT REFLECTS REAL STUDENT NEEDS ENSURES PROGRAM STABILITY THAT IS CRITICAL.
CREATE A CLEAR, TRANSPARENT AND FAIR DISCIPLINARY PROCESS TO PROTECT STAFF AND STUDENTS AND ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACE HAS WITNESSED RETALIATION, HARASSMENT AND WEAPONIZING OF SYSTEMS, BIASED INVESTIGATIONS AND CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENTS THAT ONLY ARE USED TO SHAME THE VICTIMS THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
CREATE EQUITABLE TRANSFER PROCESSES THAT ACCOUNT FOR WORKLOAD WORKLOADS AND INCLUDE PROPER NOTICES AND PROTECTION FOR STAFF.
WE SEE THROUGH THE DECEPTION AGENDA.
CONTRACTS WITH DISTRICTS ARE BEING CANCELED BECAUSE OF COE.
ACE ADVOCATES FOR PERMANENT STATUS OF ALL MEMBERS THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE LAW POSITIONS SUCH AS NURSES.
NURSES AND BEHAVIORISTS ARE NOT DISPENSABLE.
[02:40:01]
THANK YOU.THE, UH, PSYCHOLOGIST AND SOCIAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION.
IF THERE'S SOMEONE HERE, UH, CAN YOU COME AND PRESENT FAMILY EMERGENCY? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, WE DID CONSENT TO ITEMS, SO BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.
NORMAL ITEMS. UM, UH, THE NEXT AGENDA
[7. CONSENT INFORMATION ITEMS (Information items provided for review that do not require presentation or action.)]
ITEM IS CON CONSENT INFORMATION ITEMS. THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA FOR TRANSPARENCY.THERE'S NO PRESENTATION OR ACTION REQUIRED UNLESS THERE ARE COMMENTS.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA.
ITEMS, ANYTHING ON, UH, SEVEN? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM
[A. Request Approval to Submit the Non-Competitive Head Start/Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grant Application for FY 2026-27 and Selection Criteria]
EIGHT A.EIGHT A IS A REQUEST TO SUBMIT THE NON-COMPETITIVE HEAD START, EARLY, HEAD START, AND EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP GRANT APPLICATION FOR 26 27 AND SELECTION CRITERIA.
THIS ACTION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY DR.
MATT WAYNE, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, VICE PRESIDENT SPICER STAFF FOR NAVIGATING, UH, THEIR WAY TO THE ROOM.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
UH, WE ARE PLEASED TO BRING FORWARD OUR GRANT APPLICATION FOR OUR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. UH, IT'S REQUIRED THAT THE POLICY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF OUR GRANT APPLICATION.
UH, WHAT WE'RE SHARING TONIGHT, WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE POLICY COUNCIL AND WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THEY HAVE APPROVED, UH, THESE COMPONENTS.
AND SO TONIGHT WE'RE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR MANAGER OF PLANNING AND OPERATIONS TO SHARE KEY, UH, THE KEY COMPONENTS OF OUR GRANT APPLICATION.
UH, KRISTEN LEE, GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT SPICER AND THE BOARD, AND DR.
UM, WE COME HERE TODAY, UM, TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR SUBMITTING TWO GRANT APPLICATIONS, UM, WHICH ARE NON-COMPETITIVE CONTINUING GRANT GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. SO THE FIRST GRANT IS FOR THE HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START BASIC GRANT, WHICH IS MOVING FROM ITS FIRST YEAR TO ITS SECOND YEAR WITHIN THE FIVE YEAR GRANT CYCLE.
AND THE SECOND GRANT IS FOR THE EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS MOVING FROM ITS SECOND TO THIRD YEAR.
SO ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT, UM, WE DO SUBMIT WITHIN OUR CONTINUING GRANT APPLICATIONS IS OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SLIDE, THE FOUR AREAS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING OR WE PLAN TO FOCUS AND CONTINUE TO IS AROUND IMPROVING SYSTEMS AND ENROLLMENT, OPTIMIZING FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND RESOURCES, EXCEEDING PROGRAM STANDARDS, AND LASTLY, ACHIEVING POSITIVE SCHOOL READINESS OUTCOMES.
SO IN THESE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE OUR GOALS AND OUR OBJECTIVES, AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING SYSTEMS AND ENROLLMENTS, WE FACED MANY CHALLENGES THIS PAST YEAR, SUCH AS STAFFING DECISIONS IN THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM YEAR AND INCREASES TO TK ENROLLMENT.
DESPITE THAT, WE HAVE SHOWN GAINS IN ENROLLMENT EVERY MONTH AND HAVE NOW REACHED 92% IN OUR HEAD START PROGRAM AND WITHIN OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, WITHIN THE BASIC GRANT AND WITHIN THE CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP GRANT, WE'VE ACHIEVED FULL ENROLLMENT, WHICH ALLOWS US, AND WE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT, UM, LIFTED OUR DESIGNATION AS CHRONICALLY UNDER-ENROLLED FOR OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. WHEN IT COMES TO OPTIMIZING FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND RESOURCES, WE DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IS IMPORTANT AND PARAMOUNT.
AND SO CURRENTLY, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT IS REVIEWING THE BUDGET EVERY MONTH, UM, TWICE A MONTH ACTUALLY WITH OUR FISCAL TEAM TO BE ABLE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW WE'RE OPERATIONALIZING OUR PROGRAM WITH THE EXPENDITURES.
ALSO, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FISCAL TEAM AND A CONSULTANT TO, UM, UPDATE OUR COST ALLOCATION PLAN
[02:45:02]
TO GIVE FAMILIES A HEAD START AND OUR CHILDREN A HEAD START.UM, WE STRIVE NOT TO JUST MEET THE PROGRAM STANDARDS, BUT EXCEED THEM.
AND SO DURING THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS THE SPECIAL AUDIT AND AREAS OF NON-CON CONCERN AND WE'RE ABLE TO RESOLVE ALL OF THEM.
UM, IN ADDITION, WHAT WE DID WAS WE STRENGTHEN OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY SYSTEM BY, UM, REEXAMINING, UM, ALL OF OUR MONITORING SURROUNDING THIS AREA.
LASTLY, FOR US, OF COURSE, ACHIEVING POSITIVE SCHOOL READINESS OUTCOMES IS ESSENTIAL FOR A HEAD START PROGRAM.
UM, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE AND, UM, HAVE CHILDREN IMPROVE AND GAIN SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS AROUND DIFFERENT AREAS SUCH AS COGNITION, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
CURRENTLY, WE'VE COLLECTED OUR FALL AND WINTER, UM, DATA, AND THEN IN THE SPRING WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE FULL ANALYSIS ONCE THE SPRING, UM, REPORTING ENDS.
THE SECOND ELEMENT THAT WE DO PROVIDE IN THE GRANT APPLICATION IS THE PROGRAM DESIGN IN OUR HEAD START EARLY HEAD START BASIC, WHICH IS IN GREEN.
UM, WE ARE, WE DESIGNED THE PROGRAM TO FUND AND CONTINUE TO FUND 906 PRESCHOOL STUDENTS, UM, THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING AND 167, UM, THROUGH HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. AND OUR CENTER-BASED PROGRAM FOR OUR EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS IN BLUE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR FAMILIES AND, UM, 134 CHILDREN, UM, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND THROUGH OUR PARTNER SJB IN THEIR CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING.
AND I WANT TO, UH, CHIME IN HERE AS WE GET TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE, UM, YOU HEAR US, UH, THAT WE'RE APPLYING TO FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT.
SO, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, PRELIMINARY LAYOFFS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN EARLY EDUCATION.
AND SO I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S THE CASE.
SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO REACHING THIS TARGET OF 906.
UM, WE WILL BE SHARING AN UPDATED RECRUITMENT PLAN WITH YOU ALL, AND WE'RE WORKING HARD IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND PARTICULARLY THE SC TEAM AND OUR FAMILY ADVOCATES TO BRING IN OUR FAMILIES.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE ARE ONLY AT 826 STUDENTS AND WE'VE BEEN DESIGNATED AS CHRONICALLY UNDER-ENROLLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT FUND US AT THE 906 ENROLLMENT LEVEL, BUT WILL FUND US AT CURRENT ENROLLMENT.
AND BECAUSE WE WON'T FIND OUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S, UH, DECISION UNTIL AFTER WE NEED TO ISSUE PRELIMINARY LAYOFFS.
WE ISSUED PRELIMINARY LAYOFFS IN, UH, TO REFLECT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM.
WE DID NOT WANT TO REPEAT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND PUT THE PROGRAM IN JEOPARDY.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE DOING RECRUITMENT TO BRING IN 906, UH, STUDENTS, BUT THAT'S WHERE THERE MAY SEEM TO BE THIS DISCONNECT OF BRINGING FORWARD A, A DESIGN AND A BUDGET THAT SHOWS WE'RE SERVING 906 STUDENTS, BUT THEN ALSO HEARING, WELL WAIT, THERE'S STAFF THAT'S BEING, BEING, UH, POTENTIALLY LAID OFF.
UM, AND SO WE'RE AGAIN, GOING TO WORK HARD TO HAVE FULL ENROLLMENT.
AND AS POSITIONS AND FUNDING BECOME AVAILABLE, BRING BACK ANY STAFF WHO RECEIVE THOSE PRELIMINARY LAYOFF NOTICES, WHICH LEADS US THEN TO THE BUDGET.
SO WE ALSO DO REPORT OUR BUDGET FOR, UM, 26 27 TO THE OFFICE OF HEAD START REGARDING BOTH OF THE CONTRACT OR BOTH OF THE GRANTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, OUR LARGEST EXPENDITURE FOR 26 27 WILL CONTINUE TO BE PERSONNEL IN FRINGE BENEFITS.
AS, UM, MAJORITY OF OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNATED TO BE SERVED THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING.
THE TOTAL BUDGET REMAINS AS 33.5 MILLION FOR OUR EARLY HEADSTART CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP.
THE TOTAL BUDGET IS 4.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL BUDGET.
AND HERE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE IS UNDER CONTRACTUAL, AS MOST OF THE PROGRAM DESIGN AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE ARE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS OR THROUGH OUR, UM, PARTNER SJB.
SO THIS ONE'S A DIFFERENT ONE.
SO WE DID WANT TO ALSO REPORT TO YOU ARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE.
SO THE HEAD START ACT REQUIRES THAT WE DO EARN 20% OF THE TOTAL FEDERAL BUDGET.
AND SO THAT EQUALS ABOUT $8.39 MILLION WITHIN OUR HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START BASIC GRANT APPLICATION.
A LOT OF THIS IS IN THE FORM OF, UM, CASH CONTRIBUTIONS IN KIND AS WELL AS THROUGH VOLUNTEER FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
TYPICALLY, THIS COMES IN THE FORM OF OUR CSPP OR COUNTERPART STATE FUNDING, AS WELL AS THROUGH, UM, BELOW MARKET
[02:50:01]
FACILITY LEASES.SO IN TOTAL, FOR THE HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START BASIC GRANT, OUR NON-FEDERAL SHARE, UM, EQUALS 8.4 MILLION.
AND FOR OUR EHS CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP OR CCP, IT EQUALS 1.125 MILLION.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU ALL MAY HAVE BEEN
YOU, YOU MAY BE USED TO THIS SLIDE.
UM, THE LAST ELEMENT IS ALSO OUR SELECTION CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY POINTS, WHICH WE ANNUALLY PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNING BODY FOR APPROVAL.
IT'S, IT PERTAINS TO THE THIRD BOX WHERE AFTER A APPLICATION IS COMPLETED, OUR ENROLLMENT TEAM ASSESSES AND DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY OF A FAMILY BASED ON A SET CRITERIA.
AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO ALLOCATE POINTS SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE THE, THE CHILDREN WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS FIRST WITHIN A PROGRAM FOR 26 27.
THESE, THIS IS THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND THE POINTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
IT'S BASED ON OUR COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM OUR POLICY COUNCIL AND STAFF.
SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT WE INCREASED OUR FOSTER AND HOMELESSNESS CATEGORY, WE INCREASED THEM BY 15.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE INCREASED OUR TRANSITION.
SO CHILDREN WHO GO FROM OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM TO OUR HEAD START, WE INCREASED THAT.
AND LASTLY, WE ADDED A NEW CRITERIA, WHICH WAS RETURNING FAMILIES OR SIBLINGS OF CURRENTLY ENROLLED CHILDREN, UM, TO ALLOCATE 10 POINTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? UH, TRUSTEE BTA.
AND, AND I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBER THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, ENROLL VERSUS THE, THE CURRENT NUMBERS.
AND I GUESS THAT WAS PART OF JUST THE, THE CLARIFICATION IS IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN MOVING FORWARD AS WELL IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS TO INCLUDE WHAT OUR CURRENT OR, UM, OR EVEN JUST HISTORICAL, SO WE CAN SEE THE TRENDS IN TERMS OF, OF STUDENT DATA.
AND I KNOW WE, WE DO HAVE THEM TYPICALLY ON A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM, BUT JUST GIVEN THE, THE ONGOING, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST ATTENTION AND INTEREST ON THIS, I THINK ALSO IT'D BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND, UM, THE EFFORTS FOR, UH, RECRUITMENT AND, UM, REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR ENROLLMENT EFFORTS TOGETHER.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO BETTER, BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, IN THE FUTURE, WHAT THOSE EFFORTS LOOK LIKE.
WHAT IS THE COLLABORATION WITH, UH, POLICY COUNCIL AS WELL.
AND, UM, I CERTAINLY KNOW I'VE, I'VE NOTICED
BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME DATA POINTS AROUND THAT AS WELL TO REALLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT THOSE EFFORTS LOOK LIKE.
WE CAN SHARE THAT IN THE RECRUITMENT PLAN.
AND I WILL SAY WE HAD, UM, HAVE HAD SOME, UH, PRODUCTIVE AND CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE POLICY COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ABOUT TRYING TO MEET OUR TARGETS AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH IT, AND HOW MUCH FUNDED ENROLLMENT WE SHOULD ASK FOR.
SO I HAVE SOME DATA AND I PUT IT IN A CHART THAT THEY FOUND VERY HELPFUL.
SO WE'LL INCLUDE THIS IN OUR NEXT, UH, TIME.
WE PROVIDE AN UPDATE, BUT IN 20, SINCE 21, 22, UM, OUR ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN 858, 869, 939, 9 40, 826.
SO YOU SEE IT STAYED RELATIVELY IN THE SAME AREA, BUT IN AT THE SAME LEVEL.
BUT IN 21, 22, WE HAD A FUNDED ENROLLMENT OF 1,690.
UM, THAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WE COULD HAVE SERVED.
WE WERE AT, UH, PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID IN NO WAY, YOU KNOW, REACHING THAT, THAT TARGET.
AND SO FINDING THAT BALANCE BETWEEN WANTING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS MANY, UH, STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE AND ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, HIGH LIMIT VERSUS THE REALITY OF WHAT WE CAN SERVE, WHICH IF WE'RE NOT REACHING THAT LIMIT, PUTS THE FUNDING AT RISK, IS THE BALANCE WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, TO TAKE.
AND THEN, UH, YEAH, BUT, BUT WE HEAR FROM OUR PARENTS THERE IS NEED OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD A, AN UPDATED RECRUITMENT PLAN AND GONNA DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS TO BRING IN IN FAMILIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? UM, AND, UH, MY QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS ALREADY ANSWERED.
UH, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, AND IN ACTUALLY THE QUESTION SHE ASKED.
UM, SO MAY I GET AN MOTION TO, FOR THE APPROVAL TO SUBMIT THE NON-COMPETITIVE HEAD START, EARLIEST HEAD START IN EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP GRANT APPLICATION FOR 26 27 AND SELECTION CRITERIA.
I MOVED
[02:55:02]
UH, TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD DOCS.[B. Approval of the Budget Revisions for the month of February 2026]
ITEM EIGHT B.ACTION EIGHT B IS APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2026.
THIS ACT ACTION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY STEPHANIE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICE IN LAUREN NEN, DIRECTOR INTERNAL BUSINESSES BUSINESS SERVICES.
AH, MY MOUSE IS GONNA STOP WORKING SOON.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CHAN, DR.
UH, THIS EVENING WE'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON OUR FEBRUARY, 2026 BUDGET REVISIONS.
UH, WE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 428,000 IN RESTRICTED FUNDING TO SUPPORT A COUPLE OF KEY AREAS, WHICH INCLUDE FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT'S FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND ESA FUNDING TO HELP WITH SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT, PLANNING AND SUPPORT.
BOTH OF THESE AREAS ARE GRANTS.
UH, WE ARE ALSO ALLOCATING ABOUT 299,000 IN CARRYOVER FUNDING FROM THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING WELLNESS CENTERS AND GRANT RELATED ACTIVITIES.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WAS LIGHTER COMPARED TO OTHER MONTHS, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
TRUSTEES, ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET REVISIONS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2026? I MOVED, MOVED BY BERT, UH, TRUSTEE BERTA, AND SECOND IN BY TRUSTEE ROCHA.
UM, TRUSTEES, PLEASE VOTE IN BOARD.
[C. Request Approval of the Home to School Transportation Plan for Santa Clara County Office of Education]
ITEM SEVEN C.IT'S A REQUEST APPROVAL, UH, UH, FOR APPROVAL OF THE HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
THIS ACTION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY, OH, STEPHANIE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT BUSINESS SERVICES, AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE WITH LAUREN, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF IBS AND JAMES HOWARD, WHO IS OUR ASSISTANT, UH, PRINCIPAL FOR SPECIAL ED.
SO HE'LL BE PROVIDING SOME OF THE SPECIAL ED INFORMATION.
OKAY, SO I'M BRINGING HOME, UH, BRINGING FORWARD THIS EVENING OUR HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
UH, THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT UP DURING OUR 24 25 AUDIT.
WE HAD RECEIVED AN AUDIT FINDING AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WHEN THE EDUCATION CODE 3 9 8 0 0 0.1 WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE BUDGET ACT FOR 2223, WE WERE IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME TO NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS REIMBURSEMENT.
WE HELPED CONSULT ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS ON DEVELOPING THEIR PLANS.
WE SINCE LEARNED AT THE END OF JULY, 2025 THAT WE WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $13,000.
SO AT THAT MEETING, UM, I WANNA SAY IT WAS LAST MONTH, UH, WE HAD DEVELOPED THIS PLAN.
AND SO I'M BRINGING FORWARD THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PLAN, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE AREAS AND THE NEXT STEPS.
UH, SO PART OF OUR PLAN, UH, LEAS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ABOUT 60% OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION COSTS OR THEIR CURRENT LCFF ADD-ON OR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.
SO FOR US, WE, UM, HAVE OUR, OUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS, BUT THEY'RE SPECIFIC FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAM.
UH, THIS ALSO, THERE'S SOME MISALIGNMENT WITH HOW WE APPLY IT HERE AS WELL BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON TK, BUT ALSO GRADES ONE TO SIX.
UM, SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE WORKED WITH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, UM, PROGRAM TEAM TO IDENTIFY HOW WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JAMES TO, TO GIVE THAT OVERVIEW.
NOW, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE S-E-C-O-E DOES NOT OPERATE THE SAME WAY A SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES.
WE ARE NOT DOING TYPICAL TRANSPORTATION FROM HOME TO SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STUDENTS WHO CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE LICENSED CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE, LCI AND ATTEND A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION USUALLY THROUGH A CONTRACTED SERVICE DUE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.
OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DOES PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS WHO DO LIVE IN LCI AND ATTEND A COUNTY OFFICE OPERATED PROGRAM.
[03:00:01]
WHO THE DISTRICTS ARE THE LEA FOR, WE GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THE DISTRICTS.MEANING OUR SCOPE IS SERVICE IS A LOT MORE LIMITED TO WHAT IS TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES.
NOW, PART OF WHAT WE DO DO THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR IS WE DO HAVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS IN VARIOUS FORMATS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UH, WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS WHERE WE DO DISCUSS TRANSPORTATION RELATED ISSUES, TYPICALLY REVOLVING AROUND BEHAVIORS TO STUDENTS AS WELL AS WHEELCHAIR SAFETY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE DO MEET WITH OUR, UM, LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY PARTNERS, OUR DISTRICT PARTNERS, AND HAVE TRANSPORTATION MEETINGS WHERE ALL THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS COME AND MEET.
AND WE HAVE OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PRESENT AS WELL, WHERE WE DO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS ISSUES RELATED TO THE TRANSPORTATION OF OUR STUDENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE REGULAR COLLABORATION WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT, UM, GUIDELINES ARE BEING MET AND ANY IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS BEING MET.
FOR THE 24 25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDE TRA PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR 21 TOTAL STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THIS NUMBER IS A LOT LESS THAN WHAT A TYPICAL SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES FOR THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
SO OUR CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR 17 STUDENTS.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WE ARE TRANSPORTING FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, UM, WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH OUR DECLINING ENROLLMENT REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNTS THAT WE WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FOR 24 25.
AND THIS IS BASED ON OUR, AN AUDITED ACTUALS IS APPROXIMATELY $13,000.
SO WHEN WE CONSULTED WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR WITH THIS AUDIT FINDING, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO APPEAL TO THE STATE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE NOW AND THEY MAY ALLOW US TO KEEP THE 13,000.
SO I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY.
AND THEN OUR ESTIMATE FOR 25 26 AS OF THIS POINT IN TIME, IS ROUGHLY $146,950.
AND SO WE'LL SEE WHERE IT LANDS WHEN WE CLOSE OUR BOOKS FOR 25, 26.
AND SO TO BE ELIGIBLE TO TRY TO, TO KEEP THE 13,000 IN FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE 1 46 FOR BRINGING IN THIS PLAN TODAY FOR APPROVAL.
UM, THE CDE DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THEM, BUT THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS, BY APPROVING THIS PLAN, I WILL BE SUBMITTING IT AND APPEALING FOR THE 13,000.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO, UM, REQUIRED TO DO IS UPDATE THIS PLAN ANNUALLY EVERY YEAR.
SO, LIKE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THEY'RE GONNA IMPROVE AND INCREASE SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR SERVICES.
IT'LL BE BASED ON THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE DO NEED, NEED TO PROVIDE THROUGH OUR, OUR FEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL ED.
AND THEN THIS ALSO WILL FLUCTUATE.
I KNOW WHEN I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD DURING OUR, UM, AUDIT REPORT, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, BUT WE DO HAVE TO KEEP THIS PLAN IN PLACE REGARDLESS.
SO IF WE ARE ELIGIBLE, WE'D BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND KEEP THE FUNDING.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I LIKE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND US MONEY.
OKAY, ANY OTHER, UH, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? TRUSTEE BERTA, WILL THE VENDORS THAT ARE UTILIZED FOR TRANSPORTATION BE GO THROUGH THE RFP SYS, UH, PROCESS? UH, THEY RECENTLY DID GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS.
YOU, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN I, UH, GET A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE HOME? I'D LIKE MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION PLAN? YES.
CAN I GET A SECOND? UH, MOVED BY TRUSTEE LA AND SECOND BY TRUSTEE PACHECO.
SHE MAY BE AWAY FROM HER DESK SO WE CAN GO WITHOUT HER VOTE.
[03:05:01]
UM, WE ARE NOW[A. 2025-26 Second Interim Financial Report]
MOVING ON TO NINE A.SECOND INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT.
THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY STEPHANIE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT BUSINESS SERVICES, AND LAUREN WIND DIRECTOR INTERNAL BUSINESS SERVICES.
UM, WE WILL, WE WILL BE PROVIDING OUR COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICE FUND BUDGET 25 26.
UH, THIS UPDATE REFLECTS OUR FINANCIAL STATUS AS OF JANUARY 31ST, 2026.
UH, SO OUR BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING PROCESS IS A TWO YEAR CYCLE.
AND SO WHILE WE'RE UPDATING THE BUDGET FOR THE 25 20 SIXTH YEAR, AND THOSE ARE UPDATES MADE FROM JULY ONE THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, WE'RE ALSO, UM, DOING OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF SECOND INTERIM IS TO NOT ONLY UPDATE OUR BUDGET, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE OUR FISCAL SOLVENCY FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS 25 26, AND THE TWO OUTLYING FISCAL YEAR IS 26, 27 AND 27 28.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO LAUREN, YOU ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT GOMEZ.
AS AT THE SECOND INTERIM, TOTAL REVENUES ARE PROJECTED AT APPROXIMATELY 400, UM, $30.6 MILLION, REFLECTING AN INCREASE FROM THE FIRST INTERIM BY, UH, APPROXIMATELY 15.7 MILLION.
UH, THIS INCREASE PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY UPDATES TO RESTRICTED FUNDING SOURCES, WHICH ARE DESIGNATED FOR SPECIFIED PROGRAM PURPOSES.
UM, AND THOSE FUNDINGS ARE SUBJECT TO THE FUNDER REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE REDIRECTED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
SO AS SHOW IN THE CHARGE THE LARGEST INCREASES IN OTHER LOCAL REVENUES AND STATE REVENUE CATEGORIES.
UM, THESE CHANGES REFLECT UPDATED PROGRAM FUNDING, PARTICULARLY IN MULTI-YEAR GRANTS AND FEES FOR SERVICE PROGRAMS. SO THIS TABLE OVER HERE, UM, DEMONSTRATE KEY REVENUE INCREASES IN INCLUDE MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENTS OF $4.5 MILLION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE C-Y-B-H-I.
THIS IS THE, UH, BIG GRANTS, THE COUNTYWIDE GRANT, UH, OF APPROXIMATELY 5.9 MILLION.
UM, AND THIS IS THE, THE MAJOR C-Y-B-H-I FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE SACRAMENTO COE.
WE ALSO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND C-Y-B-H-I REGIONAL COE FUNDING.
ANOTHER EQUIPMENT WITH THE SACRAMENTO COE.
BUT THESE ARE FOR REGIONAL, UM, LEAD, COE, UM, C-Y-B-H-I, UH, WHICH IS, UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE S-E-C-O-E BUILDING CONSORTIUM IN RELATION TO THE C-Y-B-H-I PROVISIONS THAT, UM, TRUSTEE ROJA HAVE QUESTIONS IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
AND THESE REVENUES ARE RESTRICTED AND TIED TO SPECIFIED PURPOSES.
SO, UM, THIS TABLE IN THE CHART HERE, UM, SHOW APPROXIMATELY 49% OF S-C-C-O-E COUNTY SCHOOL SERVICE FUND REVENUES COME FROM FEES PAID BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, PRIMARILY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND OTHER LOCAL SPONSORED PROJECTS, UH, SUCH AS LOCAL GRANTS, MOUS, AND CONTRACTS.
ANOTHER 24% COME FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND, UM, UH, FOR THE Y 24% SUPPORTS COUNTY OPERATE OPERATED MANDATED SERVICES AND PART OF THE 24% OF COUNTY OPERATE MANDATED SERVICES.
WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ONLY 9% IS FROM THE LCFF ENTITLEMENT FOR COUNTY OPERATIONS.
UH, THESE HIGHLIGHTS ARE HEAVILY RELIANCE, UH, ON EXTERNAL PROGRAM FUNDING FOR ELECTIVE SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS.
AND YOU ALSO SEE 13% OF THE REVENUES, THOSE RETURN OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX TO THE STATE.
SO THIS PIE CHART HERE DEMONSTRATES THE TOTAL REVENUES CONSIST OF $385.3 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FOR CURRENT YEAR REVENUES AND 45.4 MILLION IN CARRY OVER REVENUES.
UH, TOGETHER THESE MAKE UP THE TOTAL AVAILABLE REVENUES OF 430.6 MILLION.
THE CARRY OVER REVENUES REPRESENT PRIOR YEAR, UH, UNEARNED FUNDS AND ARE ALLOWED TO BE CARRIED FORWARD BASED ON THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THESE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED AND MUST BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES AND CANNOT SUPPORT GENERAL UH, OPERATIONS.
SO WE ALSO PREPARE, UH, IN THE BOOKLET WE HAVE THE LIST OF CARRY OVER REVENUES FOR YOUR REFERENCE AS WELL.
SO THIS TABLE HERE DEMONSTRATE THE MAJOR CHANGES IN CARRY OVER REVENUES.
[03:10:01]
UH, NOT NOTABLE INCREASES IN CARRY OVER REVENUES INCLUDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS SCHOOL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCENTIVE PROGRAM, SBH, AND C-Y-B-H-I.UH, THESE CARRY OVER REVENUES WERE NOT BUDGETED AT THE FIRST INTERIM.
UH, THE INCREASES REFLECT TIMING OF PROGRAM EXPENDITURE AND FUNDING AVAILABLE ACROSS FISCAL YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUES, WE USING APPROXIMATELY $50.4 MILLION IN CARRY OVER FUNDING, WHICH REPRESENTS FUND BALANCE, SUPPORTING CURRENT EXPENDITURES.
THIS IS THE NECESSARY WHEN, UH, THIS IS NECESSARY WHEN EXPENDITURES EXCEED CURRENT YEAR OF REVENUES.
AND A SIGNIFICANT PORTION IS TIED TO THE RESTRICTED LOCAL AND STATE RESOURCES.
SO THIS TABLE HERE DEMONSTRATE THE MAJOR CHANGES IN CARRYOVER FUNDING.
THERE IS A REDUCTION IN UTILIZING CERTAIN UNRESTRICTED CARRYOVER FUNDING DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN COUNTY OPERATIONS.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, NEW CARRYOVER FUNDING WAS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS. THIS IS THE CREDENTIALING FEES PROGRAM THAT OFFERS MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BECOME EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS.
AND THIS, UH, PIE CHART, UM, NO, THIS IS, UM, THIS BAR CHART HERE DEMONSTRATE THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE GENERAL FUND CONTINUES SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS COURT SCHOOLS AND GU WEST.
UH, THE CONTRIBUTION REMAIN UNCHANGED FROM THE FIRST INTERIM, ENSURING OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENT SERVICE PROGRAMS. SO THESE TWO PIE CHARTS HERE DEMONSTRATE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES COMBINED, UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED, UM, RESOURCES FOR THE SECOND INTERIM.
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S CHANGED FROM THE FIRST INTERIM.
AND THE SECOND INTERIM, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE IS PROJECTED AS APPROXIMATELY $481.1 MILLION REFLECTED AN INCREASE FROM FIRST INTERIM BY 15.8 MILLION.
THE LARGEST COST CATEGORIES CONTINUE TO BE SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND OTHER OPERATING SERVICES.
SO, AS SHOWN IN THIS CHART, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SERVICES IN OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES, UH, THIS REFLECTS PROGRAM OR GRANT RELATED ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH THE CORRESPONDING, UH, RESTRICTED REVENUES THAT WE, UM, RECOGNIZE FOR THE SECOND INTERIM.
SO THE TABLE HERE, UM, DEMONSTRATE THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE SALARIES, EXPENDITURES.
UM, YOU SEE THE SALARY ADJUSTMENT REFLECT BOTH SAVINGS AND PROGRAMMATIC REALIGNMENT.
WE REALIZE SAVINGS FROM VACANCY AND POSITION REDUCTION IN THE COUNTY OPERATIONS, THAT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE DECREASE FROM THE FIRST INTERIM TO SECOND INTERIM FOR COUNTY OPERATIONS.
UH, WHILE SPECIAL ED PROGRAM AND GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS INCREASED BUDGET FOR SALARIES, THOSE FOUR PROGRAMMATIC REALIGNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE, UH, OVER TIME, EXTRA TIME VACATION PAYOUT OR SUBSTITUTE COSTS THAT, UM, WERE UNABLE TO BUDGET IT AT THE FIRST INTERIM.
SO THIS SLIDE DEMONSTRATE THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
THERE WERE, UM, MODUS DECREASED IN BOOKS AND SUPPLIES PRIMARILY DUE TO THE ADJUSTMENT IN THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR INTEGRATED DATA FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND, UM, THE CANCELLATION OF CONFERENCE WORKSHOP EVENTS THAT WE, UM, THEN, UM, WE REPRESEN PRESENTED IN THE LAST BUDGET REVISIONS RE REPORT, UH, THAT IN THE INCLUSION COLLABORATION PROGRAM.
AND THIS TABLE, UM, SHOW US THE MAJOR CHANGES IN SERVICES AND OPERATING EXPENSES.
UH, SO YOU SEE FLUCTUATION, UH, THE SERVICES AND OPERATING EXPENSES FLUCTUATED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM FIRST INTERIM AND SECOND INTERIM FOR THOSE, UM, RESTRICTED PROGRAMS. THE, UH, PARTLY IN THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAMS AND VARIOUS D-Y-B-H-V-H-I GRANTS.
AND THIS INCREASES LIE WITH THE PROGRAM AND GRANT RELATED ACTIVITIES.
AND, UM, AGAIN, IS TO, UH, ALIGN WITH THE RESTRICTED REVENUES THAT WE IDENTIFYING.
NEXT I'M HAND IT OVER TO STEPHANIE.
UH, SO THIS CHART AS OF SECOND INTERIM, IT JUST SHOWS THAT OUR TOTAL SALARIES IS ABOUT 150, 170.51 MILLION.
55% OF THAT, OR 93.54 IS SOLELY FUNDED BY FEES PAID BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
SO WE LIKE TO MONITOR THAT, UH, BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING OUR ENROLLMENT IN THESE PROGRAMS. UM, THE SECOND LARGEST IS OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS FOR MANDATED SERVICES AT 22%.
UH, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FLUCTUATES AS WE GET GRANTS THAT EXPIRE AND NEW GRANTS THAT COME INTO OUR AGENCY.
AND THEN OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH ACADEMY AND ALTERNATIVE ED ARE VERY,
[03:15:01]
UM, MINOR AT ABOUT 4%.UH, WE ALSO LIKE TO KEEP, KEEP TRACK OF OUR FTES BY PROGRAM.
SO, UM, FEES PAID BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS ABOUT 57.4% OR 817.73 FTES.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT COUNTY OPERATIONS IS SECOND, GRANTS IS THIRD, AND A DA IS STILL THE SMALLEST.
THIS IS ALSO CRITICAL AS WE'RE WATCHING OUR PATTERNS FOR SECOND INTERIM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE ALSO, WE'RE DOING OUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE OUTLINE TWO YEARS.
SO IT JUST HELPS US TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT OUR FEES ARE AT THE CURRENT TIME.
AND IF OUR FEES DO CONTINUE TO DROP OR OUR ENROLLMENT DROPS, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO, UM, KEEP OUR STAFFING LEVELS AT THAT SAME LEVEL.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT LOOK.
SO A LARGE, THE BULK OF OUR STAFFING IS PAID FOR FEES FOR PER SERVICE, SPECIAL ED BEING THE LARGEST.
AND THEN YOU HAVE OUR OTHER SERVICES WHERE WE HAVE MOUS OR REGIONAL SERVICES, UM, WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
AND THEN WALDEN WESS AND THEN TECHNOLOGY AHEAD.
LAUREN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LAUREN.
SO THIS FLOW CHART, UM, HELP US VISUALIZE HOW WE RECEIVE COLLECTIVE PROPERTY TAX THROUGH THE COUNTY CONTROLLER.
SO OF THE $250.6 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY TREASURER AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE S-E-C-O-E, ABOUT 62% IS PASSED THROUGH FUNDS TO SELPA FOR DISTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND WHAT REMAINDER SUPPORTS COUNTY OPERATIONS.
AND APPROXIMATELY AGAIN, $56.5 MILLION IS RETURNED TO THE STATE, UM, CONSISTENT WITH THE ACO REQUIREMENTS TO OFFSET THE SENECA COUNTY TRIAL COURT CLAUSE.
SO THE RETURN OF PROPERTY TAX TO THE STATE CONTINUES TO INCREASE OVER TIME, UH, REACHING AN ESTIMATED OF 56 POINT, UM, 5 MILLION IN 25 26.
THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ONGOING OBLIGATION AND ASK CONTINUE PRESSURE TO OUR BUDGET ALSO, ESPECIALLY AS OPERATING COST INCREASES, UH, OVER TIME.
SO THIS CHART OVER HERE DEMONSTRATE OUR MULTI-YEAR PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT SECA REMAINS FINANCIALLY, UM, SOLVENT, HOWEVER AVAILABLE BALANCES DECLINE OVER TIME, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEEDS FOR CONTINUED FISCAL DISCIPLINE OR AND FOR MAKING, UM, NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT.
AND AT UC, THE UNCI FUND BALANCE PROJECTED FOR 27 20, UM, 28, THOSE VERY SLIM AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL MONITORING.
SO THIS SLIDE SHOW THE INDIRECT COST RECOVERY, UH, PROJECTED FOR THREE YEARS.
UM, THE INDIRECT COST RECOVERY IS PROJECTED TO DECLINE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS BECAUSE THESE FUNDS HAVE OFFSET ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS DECLINE MIGHT LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WITHOUT RELYING MORE HEAVILY ON UNRESTRICTED RESOURCES.
ONE THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, I WANNA GO BACK TO SLIDE 24 REAL QUICKLY.
SO WHEN WE ARE, UM, CERTIFYING OUR BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE IS A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION, IT IS PRETTY MUCH FOCUSING ON THE FACT THAT WE CAN MEET OUR FISCAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND OUTLINE TWO YEARS.
AND ONE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS IS WE HAVE TO HAVE A POSITIVE UNASSIGNED BALANCE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE REALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT IN YEAR THREE IT'S FAIRLY LOW.
SO THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT, UH, BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS COST PRESSURES, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN UNDER CONSIDERATION BECAUSE WITH THE ADDITION OF A FOURTH YEAR, THAT WILL BE FULLY DEPLETED IF WE DON'T MAKE ANY CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE BUDGETING FOR SOME OF OUR COSTS THAT ARE MAYBE ELECTIVE OR NOT MANDATED COSTS.
SO I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, UM, AS WELL.
AND THEN THE OTHER PART TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE INDIRECT COST RECOVERY.
UM, SO WE HAVE OUR BASIC MANDATED SERVICES, THE 38 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO OUR, OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS WHEN WE GET GRANTS AND WE CHARGE INDIRECT COSTS THAT ALLOWS US TO ADD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THOSE GRANTS THROUGH ADMINISTRATION.
WHETHER, WHETHER IT BE HR, PAYROLL, PROCUREMENT.
WE'RE REALLY MONITORING THIS BECAUSE AS TIME PROGRESSES AND IF OUR GRANT REVENUE CONTINUES TO GO DOWN AND WE DON'T HAVE NEW GRANTS, WE WILL, WE WILL NOT HAVE INDIRECT COSTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GENERATE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN ADDING THIS THE PAST COUPLE, UM, CYCLES 'CAUSE WE JUST WANNA KEEP TRACK AND KEEP A PULSE ON THAT.
UH, THIS SLIDE WE'VE UPDATED SINCE FIRST INTERIM.
AND SO SINCE WE BEGAN RECEIVING A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ON THE $38 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVE FOR OUR MANDATED SERVICES OR OUR COUNTY OPERATIONS MONEY, WE'VE STARTED TO FACTOR IN OUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR COUNTYWIDE,
[03:20:01]
UM, REVENUE REDUCTION BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR PROJECTED COLA, WHICH WE ARE ANTICIPATING WILL CHANGE FOR 26 27 BASED ON WHAT'S ADOPTED IN THE JUNE BUDGET.BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE PROJECTING A COLA OF $855,000.
SO THE NET INCREASE THAT WE ARE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE FOR 25 26 IS 808,000.
BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHERE WE LAND FOR OUR ANNUAL A DA, WHICH WE DON'T TYPICALLY KNOW UNTIL THE END OF JUNE.
AND SO THAT MAY FLUCTUATE, BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, IF OUR A DA CONTINUES TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF COLA THAT WE DO OR ARE PROJECTING TO RECEIVE, WE'LL BE CUT IN HALF ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE THE A DA IS IS THE A DA REDUCTIONS ARE, ARE DECREASING MORE SIGNIFICANTLY THAN THE COALS THAT WE ARE PROJECTING TO RECEIVE.
AND THEN LASTLY, AS I MENTIONED, UH, WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE CERTIFICATION.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'RE ABLE TO MEET OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON REVENUE AND PARTNERSHIPS TO FIND OTHER STREAMS, UH, TO, TO BRING INTO OUR OFFICE.
BUT WE ARE FULLY AWARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS WE SEE DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLLMENT, NOT ONLY IN OUR OUR AGENCY BUT IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTY.
UM, AND ALSO JUST THE RISING OPERATIONAL COSTS IS PUTTING COST PRESSURES ON OUR BUDGETS.
UM, AND ALSO WE'RE JUST VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE STATE BUDGET WILL LOOK LIKE IN JUNE.
AND SO THAT WILL ALSO HAVE ANOTHER IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, MODERATOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL NOW CALL MICHELLE OLIVER.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE CENTER PODIUM.
PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND PRESENT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS IT ONE OR TWO MINUTES? IT'S ONE, IT'S ONE MINUTE.
BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS WE'VE HAD TONIGHT DIDN'T START YET.
UM, SO IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF TWO POSITIONS THAT GOT INCREASES OF OVER $10,000.
SO I JUST WANNA CIRCLE US BACK AND BRING THE ENERGY LEVEL DOWN FROM TONIGHT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME VIABLE SOLUTIONS THAT COULD SHOW THAT COE IS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT THESE INCREASES ARE GONNA BE JUST BLANKET APPROVED AS AN ACTION ITEM WITH THE VERBIAGE OF WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF OUR WORKFORCE.
SO WHY AREN'T WE DOING AN RETIREMENT INCENTIVE TO GET SOME OF OUR HIGHEST PAID TEACHERS THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO RETIRE, WHICH NOT ONLY SAVES THE COUNTY MONEY, BUT IT ALSO SAVES SOMEONE WITH LESS SENIORITY A JOB.
AND IF WE CAN GIVE A, YOU KNOW, A VEHICLE STIPEND TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, IF WE CAN PAY OFF DR.
DEJUAN, WE CAN'T FIND $5,000 TO INCENTIVIZE SOME PEOPLE TO RETIRE.
THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? DON? I MEAN, TRUSTEE ROCHA, THANK YOU.
AND FORGIVE ME IF IT'S CLEARLY OBVIOUS AND I'M JUST MISSING IT BECAUSE OF THE TIME, BUT, UH, ON SLIDES 14 AND 15, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER REFERENCES THAT OTHER OUTGO AND THEN I'VE GOT OTHER AT THE TAIL END OF THE BAR GRAPH ON 15 ON THE PRESENTATION OR THE POWER POWERPOINT? YES.
OTHER HERE IS REPRESENTS WHAT? SO THE OTHER ALGO REPRESENTS THE REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE UM, THE REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND THE LEAS THAT WE HAVE, THE MOU WITH THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECEIVE A BIG GRANT AND THOSE MAJORITIES PASS THROUGH FUND.
SO THE OTHER, OUR GOAL IS THE OBSTACLE THAT WE USE TO PASS THROUGH THESE FUND TO THE SMALL LEAS WITH WITHIN THOSE GRANTS.
AND, UH, ALSO WE, UH, IT'S PART OF THE INDIRECT COST THAT WE POST IN OTHER ALGO AS WELL.
WHY WOULD IT HAVE ITS OWN PIECE OF THE PIE HERE? JUST AS OTHER NOT, IT DOES NOT FALL WITHIN ANY OF THOSE OTHER SECTIONS.
SO THE OTHER ALGO, UH, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES THAT ARE IN THE SACS REQUIRED FORMS. SO IN THE LARGER PACKET, THE, THE 130 PAGE DOCUMENT, ALL OF THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES HAVE TO ROLL UP IN THIS MANNER.
SO IT'S TITLED OTHER ALGO I CAN FIND IN THE SLIDE IN THE, UM, REPORT THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
BUT WE'RE FOLLOWING THOSE SAME CATEGORIES.
'CAUSE WHEN WE SEND THIS TO THE STATE.
WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE, WE PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SACS REQUIRED FORMAT.
AND THERE WAS A PRETTY GOOD INCREASE IN FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND IN THIS SECTION.
[03:25:03]
WELL, IN THE PREVIOUS ONE IT WAS FROM ALMOST 5 MILLION TO 8 MILLION.IS THAT AN ADJUSTMENT? AM I NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT FROM THE OTHER OUTGO? FROM FIRST INTERIM TO SECOND INTERIM? MM-HMM
DO YOU WANNA LOOK AT THAT ONE? YEAH.
SO WE CAN LOOK IN THE BOOKLET ON THAT TO GET THE EXACT BREAKDOWN.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION TOP OF MY HEAD.
WELL WE HAVE THAT, THE HIGH LEVEL, LIKE SHE SAID, THERE WERE AGREEMENTS THAT WE WERE PROCESSING THROUGH SECOND INTERIM, BUT AS FAR AS THE BREAKDOWN, WE CAN LOOK IN THE BUDGET BOOK AND SEE WHERE IT'S REFERENCED.
AND THEN ON SLIDE 15 IS THAT'RE FINE.
ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES, UM, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE C-C-Y-B-H-I GRANT, WHICH IS THE PASS THROUGH GRANT.
AND SO IF WE RECEIVE MORE FUNDS, UM, AND OUR ROLE, THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE PASSED ON TO DISTRICTS, UM, AS PART OF THE BRIDGE GRANT.
AND SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WE RECEIVED THE GRANT, WE HAVE A ROLE, BUT THERE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE PASSED ON TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WE RECEIVE THEM.
AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SLIDES 14 AND 15, THERE IS NONE, JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT IT.
YEAH, WE WERE JUST TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE JUST THE COMPARATIVE OF JUST THE REVENUES AT THAT, WELL EXPEND, EXCUSE ME, THE EXPENDITURES APP BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND INTERIM.
AND THIS IS JUST SHOWING WHERE THERE WERE SOME FLUCTUATIONS.
SO WE LIKE TO SHOW IT IN THIS GRAPHIC JUST TO SHOW WHERE THERE WERE FLUCTUATIONS.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.
AND THEN, UM, I THINK THAT'S IT.
YOU DID REFERENCE SLIDE 24 ALREADY IN THE MULTI-YEAR PROJECTION, SO YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT WHEN YOU WENT BACK AND SPOKE TO IT.
ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS? CAN I ASK YOU TO GO BACK TO THIS, UH, A FEW SLIDES, UH, THAT HAS THE ONE MORE, UH, BACK ONE MORE.
I'M LOOKING FOR THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE PERCENTAGE AND HAS THE BREAKOUT WITH THE PIE CHART.
SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC, AS WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STAFFING AND, UH, PROGRAM CHALLENGES, UM, AND THE, THE REFRAIN FIND MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE, I JUST WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THAT 9% OR THE 24%, 9%.
THAT WOULD BE THE PRIMARY BUCKET WHERE WE'D BE TRYING TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. SO THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH GENERAL FUND RESOURCES TO COVER REVENUE LOSSES IN OTHER PROGRAMS. UM, IT BECOMES A CASE OF, OKAY, THIS IS THE CORE MANDATED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY OFFICE.
HOW DO WE REDUCE CAPACITY HERE, UM, TO FIX A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, UH, POTENTIALLY IN ANOTHER PROGRAM.
UH, AND SO JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT THE, THE, THE LIMITS OF THE, THE GENERAL FUND, UM, AND RECOGNIZE THAT AS THE FEE FOR SERVICES, UH, GO UP FOR OUR DISTRICTS, THAT PRESENTS CHALLENGES FOR, UH, THE DISTRICTS AS WELL.
UH, OF THAT NINE, 9%, I BELIEVE 10% ROUGHLY, OR $4 MILLION IS BEING INVESTED BACK INTO PROGRAMS. UM, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH IN THE GENERAL FUND AND WE CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM GRANTS TO COVER OTHER PROGRAMS. UH, AND SO ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, UH, POSITIONS, WHILE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS, OUR ROLE IN THOSE GRANTS MAY BE A CAPACITY BUILDER.
AND SO WE CAN'T SHIFT THOSE DOLLARS FOR DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES, UM, BECAUSE E EVERY DOLLAR'S REGULATED AND WE WOULD BE, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE ALLOWABLE EXPENSES FOR THAT GRANT OR THAT RESOURCE.
I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ON THE 9%.
WHAT IS THE 9% EQUAL TO IN A NUMBER LIKE, UH, DOLLARS? SORRY, THAT IS THE 38 MILLION I KEEP REFERENCING.
AND SO WHEN WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO REVIEW OUR, OUR PRESENTATION MATERIALS, IT WAS MISLEADING THAT 24% IS THE MONEY THAT WE RETAIN IN HOUSE.
SO WE WANTED TO REFINE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SAY, NO, IT'S ACTUALLY 9%.
THAT'S THE 38 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVE.
THE 13% IS THE RETURN ON LOCAL PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS THE 56 POINT CORRECT.
AND WE'VE TALKED IN OTHER MEETINGS WHERE THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND SO NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE THAT IS LARGER THAN THE AMOUNT WE ACTUALLY RETAIN TO OPERATE OUR, OUR MANDATED SERVICES.
ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS? YES, TRUSTEE.
JUST A LITTLE FOLLOW UP ON THE, THE EXPLANATION THAT YOU PROVIDED DR.
TOSIN, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY, AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE NOW, BUT
[03:30:01]
UH, AROUND SPECIFICALLY THE BREAKDOWN OF THE GRANT, THE YOUTH, UM, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS GRANT THAT YOU'RE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CAPACITY OF THE GRANT VERSUS, UM, POSITIONS.'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THAT AND WOULD HELP TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF, OF TRANSPARENCY IF WE HAVE THE GRANT AVAILABLE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SAY IF IT'S SPECIFIC TO NOT PROVIDING DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES, PROVIDING THAT CLARIFICATION, OR IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
I THINK THAT, UH, THAT LEVEL OF CLARIFICATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND I MET WITH, UH, SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT TEAM TODAY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP.
UM, SO THE TWO MINUTE VERSION IS, UM, WHEN WE RECEIVED THAT GRANT, A COMPONENT OF THE GRANT FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE WAS, UM, FOCUSED ON CAPACITY BUILDING.
UM, THERE WAS A COMPONENT OF THE, THE FUNDS THAT WERE, UH, INTENDED TO PASS THROUGH FOR DISTRICTS INITIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GRANT, THE CHOICE WAS MADE TO APPROACH, UH, THE DIRECT SERVICE PROVISION, UH, THROUGH A CONSORTIA WHERE THE COUNTY OFFICE HIRED, UH, THE CLINICIANS.
UH, AND THEY WERE, UH, EMPLOYED, UH, IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WELLNESS CENTERS.
AS TIME WENT ON AND, UH, THE DOLLARS BEGAN TO DWINDLE, UM, WE WERE REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WELLNESS CENTERS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A CORE, UM, SET OF DELIVERABLES THAT, UH, NEED TO BE ACHIEVED.
DISTRICTS ARE RECEIVING, UH, THE FUNDS TO, UH, STAFF THEIR LEARNING CENTER.
UM, AND THEY ELECTED TO GO AWAY FROM CONTRACTING WITH US FOR THE DIRECT PROVISION OF SERVICES.
AND SO THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE GRANT, UH, TO CONTINUE ON ARE PRIMARILY ADMINISTRATIVE.
UM, WHEREAS THE DOLLARS THAT, UM, WERE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FOR, UH, THE CLINICIANS AND FTE, UH, UM, ARE BEING, I BELIEVE, UH, DISTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY MAY EMPLOY THEMSELVES OR MAY CONTRACT FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THAT.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM, UH, SO NO APPROVAL.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
[B. Employee Compensation Increase Exceeds the EC 1302 (a) Limit]
TO, UM, INFORMATION ITEM NINE B, EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION INCREASE EX EXCEEDS THE EC 1302 A LIMIT.THIS INFORMATION ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED BY DR.
ROGER DEESE, BY DOC, BY ROGER DEI
IF I COULD ALSO, WHILE WE'RE GETTING SET UP HERE, UM, IF WE COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION AFTER THIS ITEM, UM, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF THE INNER DISTRICT TRANSFER APPEALS.
NO, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT.
WOULD WE BE COMING BACK TO DO THE, THE REST OF THE STUFF OR DO WE WANT TO MOVE THAT, THAT I WOULD LEAVE UP TO THE BOARD, BUT JUST IN THE INTEREST OF THE INNER DISTRICT TRANSFER APPEALS, UM, DOES THE BOARD HAVE AN INTEREST IN, UM, SCRAPING, UH, 10 11? UM, AND DR.
TOSIN, IF YOU, IF YOU WANT YOUR REPORT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT TOO.
I, I DO WE HAVE TO PUT A MOTION TO THAT.
UM, I MIGHT SUGGEST, UM, COMPLETE THIS ITEM AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO GO DIRECTLY INTO CLOSED SESSION.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT AND TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU UNDER THAT PARTICULAR EDUCATION CODE, THESE TWO EMPLOYEES WHO, UH, RECEIVED PROMOTIONS AND CREATED AN INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY ABOVE $10,000.
BOTH WERE PROMOTED FROM BARGAINING UNIT MEMBERS TO MANAGEMENT.
JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, PROMOTION MEANS THAT YOU WENT THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS AND WERE SELECTED FOR THE POSITIONS NOT, UM, DESIGNATED AND APPOINTED RIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU.
UM, BOTH THIS AGENDA ITEM AND NINE A ARE DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPROVAL OVER THEM.
UH, THANK YOU VICE PRESIDENT PFIZER.
[13. CLOSED SESSION]
LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UH, PROCEED TO CLOSE SESSION AT THIS TIME.I SECOND THAT, UH, TRUSTEE VOTE AND BOARD DOCS TO INTERRUPT.
BEBE SPEER, CAN I TAKE A VERBAL RULE CALL? ABSOLUTELY.
[03:35:01]
ROCHA? AYE.UH, TRUSTEE CHAN, UH, SHE CAN'T VOTE RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, WE HAVE A MAJORITY
[14. OPEN SESSION (Immediately Following Closed Session)]
RESUME OPEN SESSION.TIME IS NOW, UH, 10 39 UPON COMPLETION OF ITEM ITEM 13 A, BEAR WITH ME.
UM, UH, IN THE MATTER OF INTERDISTRICT APPEAL, UH, FILED ON BEHALF OF STUDENT, A MOTION WAS MADE BY, UH, TRUSTEE BERTA AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE ROCHA TO DENY THE APPEAL BASED ON FACTOR EIGHT, UM, WITH A VOTE OF FIVE A'S, UH, ZERO NOS AND, UH, TWO ABSENT.
AND ON, UM, 13 C, WE, UH, IN THE MATTER OF INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER APPEAL, UH, FILED ON BEHALF OF A STUDENT, UH, A MOTION WAS MADE BY TRUSTEE PACHECO AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LAWRY TO APPROVE THE APPEAL BASED ON FACTOR, UH, TWO THROUGH, UH, EIGHTH GRADE WITH A VOTE OF FIVE, UH, EYES, ZERO NOS, AND TWO ABSENT.
UM, AND THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION FOR, UH, UH, 13 D AND 13 B UH, DID NOT HAPPEN.
UM, MOTION IS THE NEXT SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
REGULAR MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1ST, 2026 AT 5:00 PM MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION.
AND A AYE AND VOX OR WHATEVER