West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education - Regular Meeting

Call to order at 5:01 p.m. Auditorich. The board is about to go into close session, but before we do, we are here to listen to any public comment on close session items. Individuals wishing to speak on close session items listed, if you are here in the auditorium and you haven't done so already, please submit a WCCUSD public comment card which you can find on the entryway table or if you are participating via Zooms, individuals will need to raise their hand in the Zoom app. If you are accessing the meeting by phone, press star 9. The time allowed to each speaker is 2 minutes. The total time allowed is 1 hour. Speaking time should not be transferred from one person to another. There is no substitution of speakers. We alternate between a Zoom comment and an in-person comment. The public comment period is a safe space where diverse viewpoints may be expressed civily without interruption or intimidation. Please listen attentively to the speaker's comment and respect their time as if it were your own. Be open to another point of view if one is offered. Due to the brown neck, board members cannot discuss items that

are not on the agenda and do not usually respond to items presented in public comment. The items listed for the items listed on the close session agenda tonight are liability claims to conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, three, conference with labor negotiives, four, public employee discipline dismissal release or complaint. Is there any public comment? We have no public comment.

Seeing with no public comment, we are now journeying to close session at 50:03 p.m. and we will return to open session at 6:30. Thank you. Good evening and welcome to the open session of the March 11th regularly scheduled board meeting for the West Contraosta Unified School District. I am calling open session to order at 6:54. In a few minutes, we will begin public comment on agenda items. Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me members of the public are invited to speak to the board on any matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the West Contraosta Unified School District but is not on the agenda. We welcome and value public input. Please prepare now for public comment. If you are here in the auditorium and would like to make public comments, please fill out a submit a WCCUSD public comment card. You can find them on the table in the entry hallway. If you are participating via Zoom, please raise your hand in the Zoom app and prior to the beginning of this item on the agenda. If you are participating by phone, press star 9. After your comment card has been turned in, the cards are placed in order received and we will call on speakers one at a time, alternating between a public comment here in Dejon and one on Zoom. Public comments generally last for

one hour. The time allowed to each speaker is 2 minutes. We value all public comment and respect everyone's time. So, please step away from the microphone when your time has ended so that others have the opportunity to speak. If comments continue after the president's request to conclude, the board would adjourn for a two-minute break. In the meantime, we are moving on to the rest of our opening procedures. Item B2, the pledge of allegiance. If you are willing and able to rise, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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, with liberty and justice for all. Item B3, land and labor and body acknowledgement. We recognize that we are presently on the lands of the Cheno, Magwakma, Karkin, Aloney peoples and acknowledge them as the first inhabitants of the land we currently occupy. Labor and body acknowledgement. I acknowledge that the burden of environmental exploitation and systematic injustice falls upon the labor of black and brown bodies in the building of this country and its institutions. I remember that black and brown bodies were born and died working this land against the will for generations. I also acknowledge the continued contribution of the labor of survivors over the centuries to today of all immigrant labor, including voluntary, involuntary, forced, and undocumented peoples in the building of what we refer to as the United States. Arthur Dr. Rochelle Rogers Art. Item four, West Country Unified School District Board anti-racism statement. The governing board is committed to the work of anti-racism, the conscience and active effort to identify, challenge, and correct racial inequities in the system and institutions within our schools and community. Racism, explicit or implicit, stands in the direct

conflict to the fundamental principles of district education. To carry district education into the future, we recognize that we must continuously renew and reflect on the roots of racism and develop new ideas to meet the times. Unjust ideas and policies and the racial inequity they produce have shaped us, our schools, and our society. The board strives to uncover unconscious biases and practice anti-racism as individuals and as a as board members. We challenge ourselves to persist through the discoveries necessary for growth and learning to deepen and to deepen our listening and to exam and the examination of racism and oppression and to develop a strong understanding of how our personal experience and feelings fit into the larger picture of continual oppression. Each member of our governing board individually and collectively is responsible for creating and nurturing an anti-racist learning environment where each student staff member and community partner is respected and valued member of the district community. The governing board is uniquely positioned and it is our responsibility to identify and dismantle racist ideas and inequitable policies in ourselves and across the district. Therefore, we commit to anti-racist policies, programs, and practices for our children's education and well-being while we build strong and inclusive school communities. The board commits to holding each board member accountable towards these goals and moving the work of anti-racism forward. We also commit to holding West Contracasta Unified School District staff, students, and community to living these standards of anti-racism in our schools. Board approved March 20th, 2024. Um, now can we get a roll call? Superintendent Carter.

Yes. Student trustee Hung, present. Student trustee Whitten. Good evening. Present. Trusty Reckler. Good evening. I'm present. Trusty Smith FS. Good evening everyone. Present. Trusty Hernandez. Good evening. Present trustee Gonzalez Hoy. Good evening. President and board president. We'll now move on to report ratification of close session. Superintendent Conan, is there any report outs from close session?

Thank you. Regarding agenda item A21, the board voted unanimously to reject claim number 668507 related to an an alleged personal injury. And I will move on to public comment. Members of the public are invited to speak to the board on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the West Contracasta Unified School District, but not on tonight's agenda. Public comment will last approximately 1 hour. The time allowed it to each speaker is 2 minutes. Should additional speakers remain at the conclusion of one hour, public comment may be extended. The time allowed per speaker after the hour is generally 1 minute. Individuals wishing to speak, please submit a WCCUSD public comment card or if participating via Zoom, individuals will need to raise their hand on the Zoom app. Prior to the beginning of the item on the agenda, if you are calling in by phone, press star 9. Speaking time should not be transferred from one person to another and there is no substitution of speakers. Speakers can also make public a again for the discussion and action items on the agenda after presentations. The public will have 10 minutes per item and one minute per speaker. The same protocol recited above apply. The public comment period is a safe space where diverse viewpoints may be expressed in a civil matter without interruption or intimidation. Please listen attentively to each speaker's comment and respect their time at the podium as if we were your own. Be open to different viewpoints if one is offered. Due to the Brown Act, the board members cannot discuss items that are not on the agenda and do not usually respond to items presented in public comment. Is there any public comment?

Our first public comment is Kim Chimberlin. Good evening. I'm Kimberly Chamberlain local 21 SSA chapter president. I would like to start with as we start spring um we're finding usually it's a time of refresh and renew. This year it's not so much. Most of the people that I have talked to that are losing their positions and those that are moving on or who could move on have stated they're here for the kids. So, Maria, Nancy, Casey, Shimanica, Myra, Courtney, Rochelle, Brandon, Elizabeth, Iliano, Charles, Christina, Margarita, Jorge, Tenise, Amanda, Tara, Megan, Tashaka, and Helica, Daniel, Mary, Terry, Edgar, Tasha, Steven, Jerica, Joseph, Victor, Virginia, Jack, Juan, Brandon, Tanya, Lance, Rosio, James, Isa, Elizabeth, Demi, Derek, Alexander, Lauren, Felisa, Zenida, Natalia, Cheryl, Jasmine, Naen, Tracy, Elaine, Carolyn, Shoa, Railene, Sarah, Jennifer, Janine, Alma, Justine, Sergio, Dylan, Jose, Antonio, Randall, Veronica, Maria, Brent, Jaz, Jazelle, Amanda, Kira, Sophie, IA, Denise, Renee,

Alexandra, Suzanne, Joshua, Michael, Lynn, Isabelle, and Helica, James, Jose, Cedric, Christy, Elsa, Jana, Mercedes, Bernardet, Vicki, Elizabeth, Christina, Sabrina, Roxanna, Jenny, Melissa, Elma, Lori, Christina, Verie, Leticia, Yasmin, Lesie, Shannon, Thomas, Veronica, Robert, Cornell, Michael, Mac, Ferris, Jerome and Robert, Sherry, May, Wendy, Sylvia, Sarah, Micheline, Trinity, and Helica, Stephanie, Kimberly, Julie, Marie. Next public comment is Kim Darus Argentini. Please unmute yourself.

Thank you. Can you hear me? Yes.

Okay. Thank you. I'm coming on tonight to speak about elementary music. As schools and PTA scrambled to find a way to fund music at the site level, it's clear it's not feasible for them to take this on so quickly and without a clear indication if the board has entirely stopped funding elementary music as a district and if BAPA funds are allowed to be used or not. I believe we need central funding for equity and efficiency. Perhaps there's a way to pull VAPA funds from sites that are willing to contribute centrally to accomplish the feat, but if not, I implore the district to cut in other areas and fund the elementary music until we can establish a way to fund it at the site level in the future. It seems like we might need a person to coordinate the efforts, even if it's a teacher on special assignment. I believe funding elementary music is especially important in a year we plan to ask for a parcel tax. We'll need community support to pass attacks and music is an activity families value. I know the unions have offered to come and try to brainstorm as where we could cut and I'm hoping if this hasn't happened yet, we could still do it in the future as the deficit appears to be structural and ongoing. I'd also like to speak about teacher allocations in Hercules. Our schools and classes are full and for us to not leave any room for incoming TK and kindergarten students is a mistake. Historically, many of our youngest students registered between April and September. Families will come and rather than accept being displaced a city or two away, they will simply leave the district or opt to not have their children come as TK and kindergarten are not grades that are required. So, I thank you for listening and thank you for your time. Our next public comment is John Maldonado.

Hello board. My name is Gian Maldonado and I'm a junior at Kennedy High School. Um, I've given public comments before and I've shouted at you before, but in reality, yelling at you won't do anything. Discussions and conversations will. During the last school board meeting, the board reconsidered two cuts to CTA positions, saving them, which I would like to thank you for. But it doesn't end there. There are still many positions with unsecured full-time positions for the next year. I believe I believe it is time we all take a different approach. I am the junior treasurer and ASB leadership junior class representative and on behalf of the student body government, we invite you all to our fiesta Friday community event celebrating Latinx culture, history, and diversity. It's happening this Friday from 1:50 to 3:18. We most humbly ask board trustees, district staff, and community members to all join us. It's open to all. Look at this as a bridge between Kennedy and the community, the district and Kennedy. This is a chance for all to see Kennedy from the inside. Not the Kennedy on paper, but the Kennedy that has built me, shaped me, the Kennedy that educates me, and empowers me every day. Once more, this is a community event. So, take off your blazer and put on some sneakers and enjoy from fundraisers, live music, and games. It is vital we showcase to the community and the district what we have to offer so we can keep offering it and being able to offer more. We want to work with you. Kennedy students and staff have done their part in creating a welcoming and uplifting community. It's time all the moving parts of the district see and put in the effort to just to protect Kennedy and help build a better Kennedy because the students more than anyone want a better Kennedy. Please. Thank you board and please consider attending. Thank you.

Next public comment is Crystal Banigan. Please unmute yourself. Hi, can you hear me? Hello. Yes.

Awesome. Thank you. Uh, evening board and community members that are in the room. Um, my name is Crystal Banigan and I have three kids in this district actually, one in elementary, one in middle, and one in high school. Um, go Eagles. We're graduating this year. But I um am on Zoom tonight because I wanted to um just raise some concerns once again um about the state of our um black students and um just kind of I mean, you know, I told you I would be backing. So, I'm going to constantly be reminding you um how you are failing these students as a district, not as a board, as a district. Um you know, black students are suspended um at a rate of over 12%, which is more than double the district average that's still going on today. Um, you know, millions of dollars are allocated specifically for unduplicated pupils and only 9% of our black students are meeting math standards. 9%. ELA is 19. I just want to remind you that that's less than two students for every 10. And so, you know, nearly half, 48.5% of black students in our district are chronically absent. It's not because they have things to do. It's because they don't feel safe at school. So, in my last couple of seconds, I just wanted to um say that I appreciate those of you who are helping our students, trying to help our students um in the midst of helping our students. Um and

for those of you who are not, I'll see you later. Thank you. Next public comment is Jackie Aendano. Good afternoon. My name is Jackie Aendaniel. I'm a WCCUSD alumni and a fifth year ethnic studies teacher at Kennedy. Thank you trustees Anyana and Smith Fos for attending Kennedy's Black History Joy event organized by our BSU and leadership students. I also want to thank Superintendent Cotton for coming to Kennedy to meet with our principal, Miss McGee. I want to clarify a couple of points from the previous school board meeting. Ethnic studies at Kennedy is being eliminated as a result of the drastic drop in FTE at Kennedy for the upcoming year. Currently, we have 35 FTE at Kennedy. On the other hand, the current projection for the upcoming year is only 24.2 2 FTE including the point4 FTE towards welding and construction that you all voted to save at the last board meeting which ironically uh we have received communication that the point4 FTE that the board saved is exclusively for afterchool global elective purposes and will not directly influence Kennedy's bell schedule. We really need um clarification on that. Back to my previous point, Kennedy is projected to experience a cut of 11 FTE, a cut of 30% of our staff. Without additional FTE, we cannot uphold our current programs. Seagler mentioned that Kennedy has Chico studies in the preliminary schedule for the upcoming year. And I want to emphasize that while I absolutely support the teaching of Chicanx studies, it does not replace ethnic studies course, especially as it does not center African-American students, Central American students, Asian-American students, etc. Without

additional FTE, there is no stability in ethnic studies, Spanish for Spanish speakers, journalism, ITA pathway, leadership, etc. While I love that we're hearing from the school board members and administrators that we need to revitalize Kennedy, we cannot build Kennedy while our programs are being dismantled. Rebranding would be a and revital or rebanding sorry would be a false promise and a false dream. uh please support us um so we could retain our students, retain our teachers, and retain all our programs to build Kennedy. Thank you. Our next public comment is Sarah Kley. Please unmute yourself.

Hello. I'm calling about elementary music program in our district. I know that the teacher who teaches in the music program in our city of Hercules, I'm my name is Sarah Kley. I'm a teacher at Hannah Ranch. I teach second grade and our teacher has been teaching 225 elementary music students for the um three elementary schools which is 56% of all fourth and fifth graders in Hercules public schools. So there's definitely a large number of students who are benefiting from elementary music and I feel sure that that is the case in the other schools as well. I am here tonight to urge you to please save elementary music. When I was a teacher in San Francisco, I was a special educator and one of my students really struggled with academics and he always hung his head low. And then one day there was a talent show at the school and he brought a bucket and a pair of drumsticks and he played the drums and it was incredible. And he walked like a rooster after that. He always held his head high. It was transformative for that child. And everyone looked at him differently because we could all see that he had such a gift. And no one knew it, but he shined and he showed it to us. Elementary music allows children to show their gifts and to learn what gifts they have and then to grow them in high school and middle school. Without the elementary music program, the other programs at middle school and high school will not flourish. I urge you to find the money and save the elementary school program because I know it is transformative and especially to children with special needs and we love

those kids and we want them to thrive. Thank you. Next public comment is Kumi Yanagihar. Uh good evening. My name is Kumana Gihara. I'm a fifth year science teacher at Kennedy. Uh first of all, thank you so much trustees Gonzalez Oi Ernnandez and Enyana for uh voting to save the 0.4 FTE uh for the Kennedy CT classes at the last board meeting. Um however, we're now hearing that this FTE might not actually be for Kennedy students, which is really concerning. Um, and we're actually hearing that they're for 9th period global electives, which are classes that serve students at Kennedy physically, but you know, they they will serve other students from other high schools. Uh, that wasn't our understanding at the board meeting, and there wasn't any mention of 9th period or global electives at all then. So, we would just like some clarification, and I sent y'all an email yesterday. Uh, so I await your response. And secondly, Kennedy deserves better. We've said it before, we'll say it forever. Due to these austerity measures, we're projected to bleed so many teachers again who actually want to be here. And we're constantly projected for lower enrollment than the number of kids we actually get on the first day of school. Um, and I also heard that there's about a 200 student discrepancy between the number of eighth graders in the Kennedy uh feeder middle schools and the number of projected 9th graders for next year. So, where are those kids going? Um, so because of these lowered uh projections, we're losing valuable electives like ethnic studies, Spanish for Spanish speakers, journalism, and several AP classes and possibly welding in construction. Um, and we know electives are classes that students get to actually elect and are often what makes school the most like enjoyable for the kids. So, why are we taking them away? Instead of making cuts literally in the classroom or spending $30,000 to pay

contractors to find a new CBO or whatever, the district should be focused on attracting and retaining these students uh to keep Kennedy's enrollment where it should be, which means more FT allocation and uh more, you know, money. Yay, that's good, right? Um and so it's just really uh a disgrace that we're dis disrespecting teachers who've been here for years with partial FTE. Uh you all work for a school district, not a bank. So please rethink your priorities. Thank you. Communist Sky Nelson, please unmute yourself. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes.

Thank you, board. Uh, and I want to give a shout out to student trusty Whitten. I saw you host the MC at the dance competition in um, not competition show in uh, Panol Valley. Thank you so much. You did a great job. and uh trustee Calvin Hung uh student that I've taught before. Very proud of him for winning the grand prize in the science fair locally heading on to the Southern California state finals. So, good job you guys. Um I want to share some data. I I love the suggestion from the board in the past that we're educators and I I want to educate on what I've learned about the finances. um Betty Reed Saskin school uh when we voted to close it or merge it, I did some looking up of the numbers that we've uh calculated on the I need students there and they they cover in 2024 they they had 33 uh the highest need students paid for by by their programs at Saskin. That's more than all the charter schools in the district put together. And if you include all the charter schools supported by the county, it's about equal. We spent $957 million on those programs in that year. And we we're closing the school in order to save 900,000. Um so this is just u not something that can directly influence how we run our budget, but to understand that this this is the standard operating procedure doesn't make sense. the numbers don't really add up in in actual cost savings and and fairness and justice and I know we all we all want to make it more equal and I think making sure that all the schools carry their fair weight uh of the costs and of services is important. Um, we just went to Sacramento last week and showed data on Oakland, Santa Rosa, um, our district, um, S San Diego, and how our our budgets jumped in 2020 and didn't come back down because of the contractors that we've

hired. So, it's a systemic problem, and it's not just our district. Next public comment is Naelli Hernandez. Good evening. My name is Naella Hernandez and I am a teacher at Kennedy High School. First, I would like to thank President Enana and board member Jamea Smith Holtz for attending our joy event on February 27th. On behalf of our amazing Kennedy student government, I will also like to thank board member Jamila Holtz for taking the time to meet with her students and hear their voices. I am here tonight because I am deeply concerned about the future of our Kennedy community. We often hear conversations about increasing enrollment at Kennedy. But the question I have is what concrete supports is managing putting in place to make that possible. I have been at Kennedy for four years now and during that time teachers have constantly been asked to do more with less. Despite the dedication of our staff and the incredible work happening on campus, our students continue to face difficult choices. Many feel pressure to leave their designated school in order to access courses and programs that should be available to them where they currently are. Our students deserve stability. They deserve access to strong programs and opportunities that reflect their identities, interests, and futures. This includes courses like Spanish or Spanish, Spanish for Spanish speakers, ethnic studies, and ITA pathways to mention a few programs. This programs help students see themselves in their education and develop their voices. Our students also deserve a full-time leadership teacher so that leadership courses and student activities can continue to thrive next year. Most importantly, Kennedy students deserve the same level of investment, opportunity, and belief, excuse and believe students at every other high school in this district. Supporting Kennedy means supporting the teachers

who show up every day for our amazing students. And it means making intentional decisions to strengthen strengthen our campus rather than allowing uncertainty to continue. I urge the board and district leadership to prioritize real sustainable solutions that will support Kennedy High School, retain and keep talented the talented educators that we have. Thank you.

Next public comment is Pedro Agradano. Please unmute yourself. Good evening boards. I I'm here talking to you as a community member and that's a family member of the students. I am disappointed in the board member. The fact that you got you had students speaking to you. You had side conversations ignoring what the students were saying. But this board always says they're all about the students. showing them their respect by not paying attention in the last board meeting of what they were saying and their concerns. You even have two board member the student board members there. A great resource. They can tell you if cutting programs is going to increase enrollment or decrease it. You you claim that you need uh more enrollment, but yet you're cutting more programs at each state. High has been there. every board member. I'm proud of them of their students and the teachers for showing up every single time. You you're cutting community services of the workers. How are you going to get the parents the information? You claim that you want involvement in there, but yet you're cutting the people that most parents and most community go to. Then I would like to ask you one question. Which one of you is going to be carrying the heavy glass since you're deciding to cut a glazier? It's a twoerson job. How How is one person going to do that work safely? Just going to be schools with broken glass, schools with broken doors, boarded up stuff. That's not the image that we want to show our students. Hope not the image that my taxes should

be paying. Thank you. Next public comment is Ashabot.

Uh hello everybody. Uh I also would like to invite you to come to Kennedy. It's going to be a lot of fun and I think if you're going to chop off our toes, you should really come dance with us while we still got our toes on. Um, that being said, I would like to talk a little bit about the Super Bowl. This would have worked a lot better last time, Leslie, but you weren't here, so I wanted to save it for you. Everybody enjoyed the Bad Bunny show? Yeah. Did you feel the layers of communication that was happening through that art? Could you see him waving a flag that wasn't the dark blue Puerto Rican flag? Did anyone look up what that meant? If you didn't, that's your fault. If you didn't have to, maybe you had a cool class like ethnic studies and you already understood that that was a symbol of liberation, right? If you want to honor the arts and get our students involved in positive resistance, you need to fund things for students to learn how to do positive resistance. We are at a school that is cutting people of color, bilingual people. We have a teacher. I'm so excited. One of our teachers in the English department isn't white. And guess what? We're cutting his job. That is disgusting. How many of you had white teachers all of your educational experience? I know I did. And that's ridiculous. We don't live in a world with all white teachers. We aren't going to fix this world by keeping 400 years of genocide and enslavement happening in the classroom. As a white, not trying to do it, but I'm going to be blind to stuff. Okay? So, it is our job to look to people that want to teach liberation, celebrate heritage

language, and fight for our students with beautiful classes. Giving people part-time jobs is a slap in the face or a chopped off pinky toe. Thank you. Next public comment is Cindy Ortagon. Please unmute yourself.

Good evening. My name is Cindy Orteon and I am the proud mother of three children who attend Vista Academy, commonly known as Vista High School. It is with tears in my eyes that I come to these meetings again asking you to keep our school funded. As a mother and as a taxpayer, I feel deeply hurt and frankly appalled that the district has decided to eliminate kindergarten through third grade, leaving families like mine in limbo about where our children will attend school next year. BC Academy is not just another program. PID is a learning model that works for many families. Our children learn from home which means the district saves resources. There are no classrooms to maintain, no lights running all day and minimal operational expenses. Yet despite this, the district that is clear, the program that is clearly working is the one being cut. My children have thrived in this environment. Visa has given them the freedom to study at home while still receiving quality education. They are excelling and many other families can say the same. I have also never seen any one of you guys come to our in-person nature walks or community events where you can see the incredible work our teachers do to keep these children uh learning and socializing. I've never seen a board member visit our classes or even take the time to fully understand the school you are taking complete grade levels away from because of these decisions. I know personally of four families that have already left the district and this started when they took away the kindergarten classes. Let me be clear, these were not programs or extracurricular activities that were removed. These are complete classes for our youngest students. So, I have to ask, what message does this send to the families like ours who depend on the school? When programs that are clearly working for students are the ones being cut, parents start asking serious questions about the district's priorities and how this budget is being managed. My children are not a line item in a budget. They are the reason this

district exists. Visa Academy is not just a program. It's our children's future. Please say Vista Academy and bring back our K through2. Next public comment is Christina Werta.

Hello, Christina Werta. Um, I didn't plan anything for today because the last two times I've been here, you've cut my time to a minute, so I figured I'd just wing it. I've learned from Abbott in many ways. Um, I'm also trying to learn from Gian who is one of our wonderful juniors and start by inviting you all to Fiesta Friday this Friday. It is an amazing event that Miss Aendano, when she was the leadership teacher, uh, took on and now Miss Hernandez, who's our current leadership teacher, continues with these wonderful traditions that our students look forward to every year. But there's some sadness also, unfortunately. You heard already that there is a plan to cut Kennedy's current staffing positions by about 10 12 teachers. I mean honestly it would be even more because a lot of my colleagues sitting here right now who have been coming to the last three schoolboard meetings have been offered a6 position. How do you expect them to actually stay at Kennedy at a6 position? How can we expect anybody to give back to the community as much as we already do when we are not even offering people full-time jobs? The reality is that even though it hurts me to admit this, they're going to have to go somewhere else where they actually have a full-time position. And once again, after 13 years at Kennedy, I'm going to start the school year with a vacancy in my department and a vacancy in many other departments. I have been at Kennedy 13 years. I have seen teachers come and go for many, many reasons. These teachers want to say, they want to be a part of Kennedy. Our students want them in their classrooms. We need your

support. Look at the numbers. Something is not right when you have this many people coming to you meeting after meeting. Next public comment is Aaron Kalentine. Please unmute yourself. Good evening. Can everyone hear me? Yes.

Oh, community, especially Kennedy community uh board, student trustees. It's delightful uh to talk to you all again. I also am here for a third time. My name is Aaron Kalentine. I mean way more than a third time, but my third time in a row. Um, I worked my first eight years in education at Kennedy High School. I am here to talk about them tonight. I was driven almost completely out of education by working eight years at Kennedy High School. I have been 12 more years in the district because I love teaching and I love frankly everything about it and I love our students. So, I am going to need to talk to you tonight about our anti-racism statement. I need to you to listen to what said and to what all of the kids at Kennedy are saying. board. Why are so many Kennedy kids here? And where are the kids from the other schools if these are equitable cuts? What's happening here? Um, I really need you to think about why are some people giving themselves raises before they knew what was going to happen with our apparently devastated budget. While we are cutting things like ethnic studies, like music for all of our children, we are gutting education right now when it is our job to make sure that we are protecting the funds of our community and our students. And I really need everybody to listen to what Kennedy is saying right now. 11 teachers is too many. You cannot say that you are investing a place when you are cutting the teachers who inspire children, who make them want to come to school. We have attendance issues at the other schools. I know this because I work at a safety net school. When you cut the programs that students love, when you cut what inspires them, what challenges them, what teaches them about themselves and real history, you are taking something vital away from everyone. I need us to really ask district leadership to consider the

equity impacts of what they are doing. We do not have enough community input and you can tell because Kennedy keeps on showing up.

Next is Mity Perez Carl.

Hello, my name is Mity Perezo. I am here to discuss your oversight as a board. I am second generation WCC alum, an advocate for students for 15 years, and a ninth year CTE teacher at Kennedy. How can you let programs like ethnic studies, ITA, journalism, Spanish for Spanish speakers be cut from our course list? These are programs that were brilliantly devised by the educators that come from similar backgrounds of our students. Miss Avidano was raised here in Richmond and made ethnic studies a curriculum that really centers students lived experiences. Miss Werta has worked at Kennedy for over a decade like she just said that created Spanish for Spanish speakers from scratch leading to the highest AP Spanish passing rate for both Miss Blanco and Miss Huerta's classes. I have created an ITA curriculum passing 500 students, giving them college credit and a journalism class that creates multimedia newspaper, the Daily Eagle, with dual enrollment credit. And you're offering me a point six. These are programs that students really connect with. You should be prioritizing our classes, not ping them off. Do better. Again, do better. public comment is on Bader.

There we go. Uh, good evening board. This is Ian Bader, uh, longtime Kennedy teacher, current Kennedy librarian. I'd like to take this opportunity uh to lift up our very own Mr. Carpenter, a Kennedy teacher who was just nominated as Contraosta County Teacher of the Year. Our second nomination, by the way, I'd also like to shout out the many college students who graduated from Kennedy last year and are grinding it out at community colleges, UC's, and CSUs up and down the state. and even a few who managed to go out of state, including H.B.CU. I'd like to remind you that in my time here at Kennedy, we have had not one but two Gates Millennium Scholarship recipients. Additionally, I'd like to congratulate our two students who won awards at the county science fair last week. Likewise, I'd like to highlight the many trophies that our concert band has won over the last few years, some of them taller than a few of our ninth graders. All these accomplishments have come at a time when Kennedy's budget has been reduced over and over and over and our student opportunities restricted, restricted, restricted. Imagine, please, what Kennedy would look like if we actually had real support that levels the playing field with all the other schools in this district and gives our students increased opportunities instead of reduced opportunities. And by the way, I find it hilarious that with the new building, Kennedy is finally getting windows and the district is cutting out glazur. Thank you.

Next public comment, Patricia Blanco. Um, good evening. My name is Patricia Blanco. I'm here to ask for your support to keep ethnic studies, leadership, journalism parway programs in our institutions. Our students deserve to have electives, not a not a school full of vacancies. I also want to mention some important facts to keep Spanish for Spanish speakers program in Kennedy. WASK did not only present a directive to start the program in 2015, but um other teams have chosen it as a highlight at Kennedy. Uh there are currently 90 students enrolled in the program. 60 students in Spanish for Spanish speakers one and 13 Spanish for Spanish speakers two. When Kennedy had a six period schedule in 2019 and 2020 Spanish for Spanish speakers was keeping as an elective. Um Miss Werta and I are still waiting to meet and discuss a Spanish for Spanish speakers program in Kennedy High. We could provide district staff with information to demonstrate the need for a Spanish speakers program. Please, you are investing millions of dollars in a new building. That building is going to be empty. No electives, no students. Dr. Grig good, I meet you. You support me since the very first time I'm here. Please try to hear us. Support us. Uh we here to work for Kennedy. I always said Kennedy is like Sona for me because it's a great institution. We're great students. And I will very appreciate too that you pay attention to my words, not just ignoring me like every time we here. Thank you very much for your attention.

Next public comment is Jeffrey Bean. Please unmute yourself.

Hello, Jeffrey Bean here. I teach uh fourth grade and fifth grade at Shannon Elementary in Pol. And I wanted to take a moment to thank the school district for the new cafeteria we have at Shannon. Uh Shannon's new cafeteria opened a couple months ago and it is a beautiful building. Uh contrary to the rest of the clan which is very very old and built in the 50s and 60s, this new cafeteria is is wonderful. It's spacious, has a lot of room. I run an after school juggling club where we learn to throw and catch things after school on Thursday afternoons in the new cafeteria. We were in my room prior to that which had not a lot of space for throwing things. But the new cafeteria is beautiful, has high ceilings, plenty of room. I usually have about 12 to 15 students each day who come and work on juggling and learning to work with each other and collaborate. A lot of fun. And I know that I speak here a lot about things that WCSUSD does poorly, but this is one thing they've done right. having a new cafeteria for Shannon and thank you for that. Have a good night.

Next public comment is Mel Pierce.

Hi everyone, my name is Mel Pierce. I'm a project assistant in the science department. My role is the coordinator of the Richmond Outdoors Coalition. I'm also a proud parent at Nestrom and Vista. Before stepping into this role in 2023, I taught at Verdie for 10 years where I started taking students to the snow seven years ago. The mission of the Richmond Outdoors Coalition is to connect Richmond youth and families with nature through frequent, meaningful, and connected experiences. Last year at Verie, Nestrom, Dejon, and Richmond High School, we engaged 1,414 participants who had five program experiences per participant, averaging 34 program hours per participant. We're excited to continue and expand our work thanks to the support of our funders and the district. I'm here tonight to ask the district to join the ROC in signing and supporting AB 2158, the Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act of 2026. This would substantially increase funding and support for outdoor education. We all know many of our students are struggling academically, emotionally, and physically. We also know that there is ample research and evidence that spending time outdoors is extremely beneficial. This California state bill is not only supported by educators, but also by pediatricians and epidemiologists. The hope is to get the California statute to embrace these ideas and implement a three-year pilot for these ideas to be broadcast across the education system and to have educational leaders picking up on these ideas that we know matter for students overall well-being. AB 2158 has bipartisan support. It's sponsored by 10 Strands and the founding CEO Karen Cow. My ask

is for WCCCUSD to sign a letter of support for this bill to be brought to the state legislature. We will next public comment is Christian Vel. Please unmute yourself. Good afternoon. My name is Christian Vil. Uh I'm speaking here as the uh social studies chair at Kennedy High School. Um, as I have mentioned before, I um currently not on campus, but uh learning to my surprise that that not only one, not two, but three members of my department are getting impacted by these cuts. Uh um incredibly lessening our effect to support our students. And what is most concerning is that all of these three colleagues are Latina women, right? And so, uh, Pakawara and Women's History Month, right, we are conducting these types of actions against, uh, Latina educators. So, I'll keep it brief. Once again, please, um, look at Kennedy. Look at the wonderful students that we have here supporting our um, uh, our teachers and our programs. Uh, thank you to the board members who have continuously engaged with the Kennedy community and protected our FTE. Uh but uh we are getting concerned because the end of the year is coming up and these things haven't been resolved and we do not want to be in a place where we are fighting for educators over the summer. And so again, protect Latina educators, protect women educators, uh and please support Kennedy. Thank you.

Next public comment is Marie Ana. Thank you to the leadership that met with me at STEG. We had a roundt discussion and a walkthrough of the campus. Now everything is in the process of being resolved. Painting the yard, stools for the sinks, fixing the railing, shade for the backyard, and an updated safety plan. The stage family is look looking forward to the coming resources. Thank you to sped for providing the transportation handbook. My colleagues commented they are grateful to have guidance in using the service. We have shared the document with our families. Thank you. Thank you for providing a phone line to the speech clerk. Her voicemail needs to be set up and then she's ready to go. I am so happy to see things are moving along in the district. You know, I've been coming to quite a few meetings. This is my 13th speech. I have always come here advocating for the students and the safety of everybody on these campuses. And you know, special ed is my love. Having two kids, Malik and Lydia, who have been coming through this program since Cameron. Malik's doing good in first grade. Lydia is now getting resources at Siege. Thank you. I pray that funding is found for the SPE scout. Without her, where would us sped parents be? She's an advocate, dedicated, talented, with a wealth of knowledge. Her advice is always on point. What a blessing to all. And I strongly encourage you to keep her jaw, please. Every year she helps organize the You Make the Difference Awards, workshops, and numerous educational events. I hope one day cameras and GPS will be added to the sped buses. Lastly, I want to give praise to the security team at these meetings. A couple weeks

ago, it was dark, cold, and drizzly out there. I was parked way back there by the parking lot. They always checked in and they walked me and my kids to the car, made sure I buckled both my kids in and I got in. The comment is Joyce Lupac. There we go. I'm a parent uh in the district and I just want to say my daughter goes to Vista and that place is a miracle. Um she is is special needs student. She tried to go to Koramatsu that lasted six weeks and then she was home in bed every day and didn't come out for like months. Then she tried to fast forward, she tried to go to um summit, we thought, you know, charter school and they tried their best. Six weeks and she was back in her room. When we found Vista, it was like a miracle. She attends now. She um her love through all of this has been soccer. And she got herself to go try out at El Crito High and is the varsity goalie this year. They made it to semifinals. And I'm not trying to brag on her, but like too often sped kids are just seen as fed kids that label that not all the other pieces of them, right? And so she just wanted to be in school and she can't tolerate other schools and Vista knows that about these kids and can help them do what they can like what they really are good at and find those things and it's so important. So, I know everything is hard right now, but anything you can

do to keep that program going um and whole, it's it's just a miracle. So, thank you.

Our last public comment is Joan Hadeshi.

What? Hello. I am Joan Hadeshi and I have had the privilege of being an elementary music teacher in the Hercules area for the last nine years. I am at three different elementary schools and um since I've been there for nine years now, all of the current seniors at Hercules High School were my students in fourth and fourth or fifth grade. And hello there, ladies and gentlemen. I do something. I

Okay. All right. Um, so and the drum majors for the last two years were started playing instruments under my guidance back when they were fourth and fifth graders. And I know there is a lot of data out there supporting the arts, music, how it helps children grow, etc., etc. I don't have those data points right now. So, I just wanted to speak about my experiences that I've had to date in teaching these wonderful kids music. Um, the school psychiatrist at one of my schools reminded me of how I provided a safe space in my music classroom for a special needs kid. Um, he would probably not have managed to get through fifth grade had it not been for his being able to come to my room and hide from the rest of his class when things got too rough for him. Uh, I was privileged to be able to do that for him. I see many kids every day. Um, one of my students just recently said that he hates school, but music is the only thing that keeps him coming. I really would like the opportunity to keep serving these kids. Continue serving these kids. Thank you for listening.

Let the teachers teach. That concludes public comment. Thank you to everyone who gave public comment tonight. Um, we'll move on to standard reports. Do we have any standard reports for tonight?

Yes, we do. We have UTR and DLI. Princess Gortiz, please unmute yourself. Princess Gortiz can't hear you, Mr. Ortiz. Can we move on to the next report and come back to that one? Gortiz, can you please unmute song. Well, let's move forward um on to agenda

review and adoption. Does the board have anything that they would like to address on the agenda tonight? Um, we will be pulling item C16 for tonight off the agenda completely. Do we have any other items? Trusty,

I'll wait until consent. There's two items from consent that I want to pull. Anyone else? Yeah. So, we will proceed u with the agenda as published. Uh removing agenda item C16 from the consent calendar. Moving on to Oh, sorry. U Smith FS. Do we know when C16's coming back? Do we have a time? We don't know right now when it will be coming back. I'm complete.

Okay. We'll now move on to item 10, approval of minutes for February 25th for 2026. Do we have Any any changes to the minutes? No. Seeing none, minutes will be approved unanimously. Uh moving on to item 11, resolution number 2526-62. In recognition of Women's History Month, March 2026, and I think that's uh Miss Forest's item. Yes. Good evening, board, superintendent, staff, and community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that March is designated as Women's History Month and that the West Contraosta Unified School District honors the contributions that women have made throughout history and commit to support efforts to improve education and opportunities for girls and women. So, do we

So, do we have any um board comments on this item? Um, Trusty Smith folds. I think as a board there are some things that we need to look at that are specific to uh women, girls and those that identify. One would be the dress code because we know that the dress code um disport disproportionately affects girls. Uh the other would be when we talk about period poverty, administration poverty and about how we are making how we're making hygiene products accessible to our students. I think we also can include other things about when we talk about passing periods because we know that passing periods there are more girls that get caught not good getting to class on time in the passing period because of the hygiene that they have to do once a month. I'm complete.

Thank you. So do we so shall anybody move this item? I'll move resolution number 2526-62 in recognition of Women's History Month, March 2026. Reckler will second. So moved by Trusty Smith Fo, second by Reckler. Um Trusty Hung, yes. Trusty Winn, yes. Trusty Reckler. Reckler, yes. Trusty Smith Folds. Smith folds. Yes. Trusty Gonzalez Hoy. Yes. and trusty Hernandez. Yes.

And Trusty Anyas, a yes. So resolution number 25266-62 has passed. Um, now we're moving on to item C, consent items. Does any board member wish to pull any items from the consent for discussion later in the evening? Uh, Trusty Hernandez. Um I would like to pull C9 uh the camera access control system 5-year renewal and C10 the power edge server to uh for the security cameras. So do we have any more items? No. So, we will be removing items C9 and C10 off the consent items. Um, and we'll accept the rest of the consent items.

Sorry. Oh, President. Uh, did you just say C10? Is C9 and C10? I said C9 and C10. Sorry, I didn't hear you. And now we'll move on to uh superintendent communication.

Thank you. I can't see. Can it start at the beginning? Excellent. Thank you. Uh, next slide. Um, getting started. First, I want to acknowledge that this is March 4th and March 6th. Uh, we celebrate our maintenance worker appreciation day and our employee appreciation day, honoring the dedication and hard work of staff across our district. We are grateful for their commitment, their skill, and their care. Thank you for doing all the things that you do every single day uh for the students of West Contraosta Unified School District. Next slide. I just wanted to lift up um that recognizing the needs of our our district and working with community partners is key. I know that we do work with a number of partners including um uh we have our schools and neighborhood action team uh coming up that's a whole host of community partners but we also had an opportunity to connect with one of our partners our West Contraosta transportation commission um I attended the uh commission meeting uh about a week ago um to appeal to and build partnership with some of the agencies that support transportation for our students, particularly around our middle school merger. And so, we're excited to continue our work with Westcat, um myself, as well as uh members of our cabinet are working closely with um transportation agencies to ensure that students are able to have safe travel to

and from school uh as we merge our middle schools. Next slide. I want to say congratulations and can we all just give a round of applause. so excited and they'll be joining us at some point this year. Congratulations to Benjamin Carpenter at Kennedy High School and Carolyn Low at uh Kensington Elementary School. Both teachers have been recognized by the county um for their outstanding work um as teacher of the year and will be uh participating in kind of the competition across the county um to determine who will be uh considered the county's teacher of the year. But they are uh winners and stars in our eyes and we really appreciate all of the work they do for our students here in West Contraosta. Next slide. Yes. So, okay. But we're not responding to the board and I want to model for our student trustees. We don't we don't specifically respond to public comment. Um, moving forward, um, had an opportunity to attend the NAACP Contraosta College, uh, African-American staff association, uh, award and recognition banquet. I received an award actually for community leadership, and I appreciated um, both the NAACP, Contraosta College, as well as being supported by board members who were there and and in support. I appreciate um board member Smith BS uh board member uh Hernandez and and board president um uh Inana, I was going to say your first name, board president um for your support. So just really appreciate that. That was a wonderful

opportunity and really a celebration I think of all of us and all of our good work that we're doing on behalf of our students. Next slide. And another way that we are a able to celebrate um our staff who lifts up our students every single day, the you make a difference awards ceremony was held um uh this past Friday here at Djon Middle School. Um we did have a number of our our board trustees uh trustee Inana and Trustee Smith Fos were both present for that awards assembly as well. Uh it was MCED by our county supervisor John Joya and just a a moment to really show the true partnership between family and school and what those relationships really mean. Um just excellent job and thank you to Dr. Fleman and your team for hosting such a heartfelt event. Thank you. Um just yesterday I just want to lift up that we held our principles professional learning community. We do this every month. Every month we come together. But I tell you this was a a really really exciting time. Thank you to cabinet um for being there and your leadership. Thank you specifically to um uh Katherine Aosttopher Prescus for kind of helping to pull all these pieces together and make it all make sense. It was a great event um where we were able to talk about both retention of staff through staff wellness and well-being and paying attention to what we're doing to support our our staff and that is through a a um a philanthropic uh gift for the work of educators thriving. We also were able to hear and get some training and real real positive thinking around supporting

African-American family engagement. We looked at our TFI data, our attendance data, our academic data, and had time for our principles to really engage in deep discussions and build questions around what they are doing to serve their specific communities with that information. So, very um impactful day with our principles. Next slide. I also want to lift up um this is the 27th year of Chevron's Black Employee Network Network, Black History Month awareness celebration and they honored four of our students um with scholarships and so very proud of those young leaders. Uh Journey Dodson won first place from Deanna Dansza High School. Men Chin second place from Hercules High School. Janz Takala Baptist Babista, sorry, from Middle College High School uh won a third place award. And Corine Mackey from Penol Valley High School won a fourth place award. But very proud of those students and glad to be able to be in that space with our trustees in support. Um but really many community uh leaders were part of that conversation and and part of that celebration. So excellent job. Next slide. As we continue to lift up our students and lift up our schools. Next slide. Um I was able to attend I didn't do a full board uh report to the board last uh meeting. So this is almost a month of things that have been going on. Uh West Contra Unifi West Contraosta Unified School District Science Fair awards ceremony was held at Deansza High School. Yes, thank you for the hand clap because we actually Next slide have our first place winner here on the Deis student trustee Calvin Hung. Excellent job. Um Calvin Hung, he is a

10th grader right now at Elserto High School. He won first place in the engineering category for designing and programming a robotic hexopod that he 3D printed at our fab lab. So Calvin was also awarded the top award for the entire event for the county. So he goes on to um celebration both at the state level but also the international science fair um that will be held in Phoenix. But we're really excited for you. Very proud of you. Uh, student trustee hung, excellent job. Excellent work. Uh, in other news of things that are going on around our district with our students, I was able to catch a a quick selfie with uh um our director Franco. in the background actually were students from Richmond High School that were playing in the semi-finals against G High School. We did not win that game, but we played really hard. It was an excellent showing of of our community. So, really proud of our uh our soccer players at Richmond High School and across our district. Also, a star is born. Um Daniel Lacy, he's a student at King Elementary School. I had a chance to see him um in his student performance during a Black History Month program at King Elementary School, but he also um was highlighted in a Berkeley Rep um play. So, he is very proud that he is a working actor at this point. um but was lifted up and and was featured there and staff um and students came out to support him from King Elementary School and to celebrate his successes. So we s we celebrate both in school and outside of school. We want our kids to thrive and do well wherever there are and

pursue their dreams. Uh we want to lift up also Elserto High School band takes first place. um the Elsa High School band jazz ensemble workshop and quintet for their their outstanding performances at the 2026 Campana Jazz Festival. Next slide. We also want to lift up the Hercules High Titan tribute. I love this as this was described to me. These are highlighting students, not the students who are always winning awards that are always out front, but the one ones who are quietly holding those tighten expectations and and being a model for those for their their other students. And so, just want to lift that up. I think that was a a beautiful celebration and I see that uh our uh student trustee Whitten was present for that event and so very proud of him as well. Excellent job. Next slide, please. We have um Coronado's elementary STEM night uh was held on February 27th. Handson activities uh as well as the Fab Lab staff were were there running stations that is learning uh the application of learning which is very important for student growth um and exposure to lots of different fields of study. Next slide please. Want to lift up Richmond High School. They attended the family career and community leaders of America. Uh and they actually they won in this leadership conference. So just very proud of them, proud of the work that they're doing. Um and appreciate the staff that continues to support our students. Um also lifting up Greenwood Academy attended Cal's women's basketball game which is always super fun. you see the Cal Cal Band in the background, but very proud of those students and glad that they had an opportunity. Again, exposure

matters. Seeing what's happening in our um in higher education and understanding what your goals are, what what the possibilities are, I think are important to hold for our students. Um and so just glad that we had that opportunity with those students. Next slide, please. We also had a number of Black History Month programs that were happening across the district. This is just a a capturing a few. Um, but as Black History Month closed in February, just want to lift that up. There was more than a month uh concert at Deansza High School. This was a um u partnership with Schoolyard Rap that came out and held both a high energy, educational, inspirational um performance for our students. It's just a lot of fun. School should be a place of joyful learning. Next slide. Valley View also hosted a Black History Month career day. Uh we had an ATF agent, an attorney, an AC transit supervisor, an Amtrak conductor, uh senior project manager, uh gaming industry project manager, and me. It was a lot of fun. Um but had a chance to again that exposure matters and letting folks see the the possibilities um at a a different setting. We talked about how we as African-American leaders are not just we're not an exception to the rule. We are an example for all all young people to be able to follow. Next slide. There were other Black History Month celebrations I was able to attend as well at Coronal Coronado Elementary School and Dejon Middle School. But I want to lift up that happened across the district. I couldn't be at every single place in space. Many of our board members attended these events as well. But we just appreciate everyone who lifted this up and and continued this important work um both

exposure and understanding and growth for all of our students. Next slide. And there's a few more uh events that happen. And so for your awareness, just want to lift up that we will be hosting a spring break hub. April 7th through the 10th is the time for um our spring break um so that there is no lapse in learning, no break in learning and to provide students a both a safe and educational and inspirational place for them to be. Uh Nstrom is hosting uh freedom school. Michelle Obama will be hosting um a spring break camp through the YMCA of the East Bay and Riverside Elementary School will also be hosting Headwater Science Institute. So, it's priority enrollment, but if that is something that families are interested in, um that information and applications will be available for on the expanded learning web page for folks to be able to apply for these programs. Finally, I just want to lift up I know it's March. I know it's March, but we're almost there. Graduations are coming. So, just want to lift up that our graduation schedule um is out and ready. Um it will be posted on our website very soon. And then also that's inclusive of our black graduation that's coming up on Thursday, May 28th. I want to remind next slide and next slide. Sorry. I want to remind everyone the importance of reading every single day. It doesn't matter what you read, just read. It builds your confidence in reading. It builds your uh comprehension, your vocabulary, and your critical thinking skills. You can read anything from a novel to a newspaper if they still exist. Um, but read, that's what we want our students to do. Next slide. Also wanted to lift up that the contract committee meeting is returning. So,

we're going to get started on March 20th and we'll be going through April and into May. This is an opportunity for the public to review all of our district contracts. And we've heard a lot of conversation about what's happening with contracts. This is something that we hosted about two years or so ago, but revisiting um and we'll be revisiting myself um as well as our board trustees will be joining that conversation, but open it will be open to the public. um our acting um chief business official Jeff Carter will be joining the conversation as well. So, we're looking forward to this work and really having a transparent process. Remember, there are a number of ways for you to get involved. Um dates and times of events that are happening. Some are local, so definitely check in with your school principal. Um but we encourage folks to get involved and stay involved. Are there any questions? Trusty Gonzalez.

Thank you. Thank you for the report. Um through the chair, I had a question actually for Trusty Hong. Uh I was wondering if you could share with us what inspired him to design the robotic uh hexopod.

Yeah. So it all started when during the last year's science fair when my science teacher who actually spoke here with earlier with a public comment uh two weeks before the deadline he encouraged me I should just take a shot at it take a shot at the science fair. So I had to just come up with any idea. So, you know, I remember a long time ago as like as a a much younger child, I had ideas of like a cool spider robot and I just took that ball. I at that time I didn't really have any engineering skills, but I just I I since it was a very short deadline, I just attached myself to that deadline and then started looking for resources to learn any way I could. And so after that at that for so for the first last year science fair I got second place in engineering for the county science fair and then I ended up dedicating all that time in between the previous year science fair and this one on that on furthering the project.

That's amazing. Thank you. Um, Superintendent Con and President uh, Inana, if he's willing, I would love if he could actually do a presentation to the board and the public in the future. Um, if he would be willing to do that, I will definitely invite him to. I think that would be awesome. Let's we'll we'll plan it when that would be the best time for you, Trustee, Student Trustee Hung. But is that something you may be open to? Sure. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And it's to celebrate you just to be fair. Uh and your accomplishment. Thank you so much both. Any further questions? Well, seeing none, thank you for that communication, superintendent. Um we'll now move on to item E action items. So, moving on to work for work workforce housing support letter. Um, do we have a presentation on that? Um, trusty regular. Thank you. So, thank you for agendaizing this. Um, I was contacted by Greg Francis from California School Boards Association Workforce Housing and he asked for an authorized representative from the district to sign on behalf of the district a form supporting representative Garand's efforts to include legislation affirming support for a pool of funds that could be used for employee workforce housing predevelopment fees. This board passed a resolution very similar for um Representative Eric Green, Assembly member uh back in September of 2024. And this is very similar um Representative Eric Greens did not go through, but here's another shot. This would form a pool of funds that district could apply to could apply for and it would help them to offset their pre-development costs if they decide to go into uh employee workforce housing. And uh it was last quoted that those fees were like around 200,000 maybe with the tariffs and inflation it's more but I would say probably 200 or 300,000 is the cost um to do the pre-development all the pre-architecture stuff before you actually get going. So the request was

for somebody I mean I would assume probably the superintendent or the president or both could sign on behalf of the district and give a thumbs up that we support it and that's all I know.

So do we have any board questions? Um do we have public comment on this item? Karen Gerald, please unmute yourself. Hi, my name is Karen Gerald and I'm a teacher at the transition program. That's a special ed program for 18 to 22 year olds. Um we work with students that have highly specific educational, social, medical and or communication needs. We teach functional life skills uh including job skills. We have uh 12 teachers with a case load of 10 to one because the students have educational needs that cannot be met with uh lower than um large order. We are now on agenda item. We're on an action item um on workforce housing. So, public comment has to be directed to that specific item. Do you have a comment on workforce housing?

No, I don't. I'm so sorry. All right. Well, thank you very much. Do we have any further comments?

Yes. Salon Harrison, please unmute yourself. Yes. I just wanted to say I think um we should support this so that we can um attract more teachers to our district. There's a teacher shortage and you know it's expensive to live in the Bay Area. So I think this would be a step in the right direction with recruiting and retaining teachers. I'm complete. That concludes public comment. So, so do I have a motion on this item?

Yeah, I'll go ahead and move the workforce housing support letter to have the superintendent and president sign on district's behalf. I'll second. So, we have a motion on the table by regular, second by Gonzalez Hoy. Vote now for um Trusty Hung. Yes. Trusty Winn. Yes. Trusty Reckler. Reckler. Yes. Trustee Gonzalez Hoy. Yes. Trusty Ernnandez. Yes.

And Trustee Smith fold absent. Um and Jana say yes. So motion passes. Moving on to item E2. Approve second inter 2025 2026 school year. And this is uh Mr. Carter's item.

Good evening. Thank you, President Anyana. Uh, good evening, Superintendent Cotton, board trustees, and community. My name is Jeff Carter, acting associate superintendent of business services. And tonight, I'm going to present the second interim financial report. Uh, next slide. Uh, second interim for 2020 2526. Uh, we're looking at the fiscal reporting period ending as of January 31st, 2026. uh in the budget cycle. Uh the last update we gave was that first interim in in December of 2025. Since then, we've had the January governor's budget proposal. Tonight for uh second interim and uh we're going to give an update on the district financials as where we are as of January 31st. We're going to review the latest projected revenue and expenditures and uh the adjustments made to the multi-year projections uh to inform expenditure budgets and assumptions uh that we will provide to the California Department of Education and the Contracasta County of uh education. Next slide. Uh second interim process uh we are comparing our changes from uh of revenue and expenditures from the first interim to the second interim. So, we're looking at uh data from October to January 31st, 2026. Uh we're reviewing all the financial resources and departmental budgets to ensure that we can meet our financial obligations through the end of this fiscal year, June 30th, 2026. We're going to examine the adjustments to annual revenues and expenses and amend our 2526 budget and multi-year projections to match our uh expected need uh based on changes since first interim. Next slide. So changes since first interim. Uh it's been a busy uh couple last couple months. Uh there are a lot of changes in second interim this this year. Uh we've approved a tenative agreement for salary and benefit increases. Uh there is a 25 to 2025 to 2028 fiscal solveny plan that was passed uh including fund 17 reserves

being exhausted, fund 71 transfers being removed, uh positions, materials and contract reductions in 2627 and 2728. Uh as well we also have a decrease to enrollment and average daily attendance projections and uh based on the governor's budget proposal in January a decrease to the cost of living adjustment or COLA uh in 2627 and 2728 down to 2.41% and 3.06%. Uh these are all changes that have happened since first interim and all of these adjustments will be included in the in the financials presented tonight. Next slide. Uh here we're going to look at our LCFF revenue changes comparing first interim in that left column to uh the second interim column in the middle. Uh we've got uh ADA decreasing by about 935. Uh that's due to the work stoppage and our uh average daily attendance decreasing uh in the months of December and January. Uh it's looking to rebound a little bit. Uh but this is going to significantly impact our uh revenue projections over the next three years. Uh due to that a average daily attendance being a three-year average uh 2526 funded ADA that's decreasing slightly. Uh there was a slight adjustment to our uh P2 our P number P1 numbers. Uh COLA cost of living adjustment is staying the same and unduplicated percentages staying the same since first interim. you'll see a sight slight decrease in our base and supplemental and concentration uh but an increase in our transitional kindergarten. That's just kind of a shift of our revenues from base to transitional kindergarten due to the add-on for TK uh and our strong TK growth uh that we've been seeing. Next slide. Unrestricted revenue changes. So here we're looking at first interum to second interim changes in revenue. You can see our LCFF revenue sources increasing by

about $37,000. Uh that's that net uh figure from the last slide from TK going up. Uh our other state uh revenue is staying the same as well as fed federal, but that's not unrestricted. And then our other local revenue going up by about 100,000 is due to uh a change in our interest estimations uh based on our cash flow. Uh so a slight change in unrestricted revenue for second interim. Next slide. Our restricted revenue changes again LCFF revenue sources uh is is none for restricted. Those are all unrestricted dollars. Our federal revenue is increasing by about $3 million. Our other state revenue increasing by about $2 million and our other local revenue increasing by about $500,000. Uh the federal revenue increase is due to uh an increase in expenditures in title one and title 4 as well as additional special ed revenue. Uh those are all federal resources. And then our other state revenue increases in restricted grant funding due to uh literacy coaches and reading specialist grant received since the first interim and adjusting that revenue budget. And then our other local has increased due to uh interest and local donations received since first interim uh by about 500,000. So those are our changes on the restricted revenue side. Next slide. Here we're looking at the combined revenue changes. So this is the combination of unrestricted and restricted. Uh in total our revenue is increasing by about 5.7 million uh in both on both unrestricted and and restricted. Uh these changes can be attributed to revenue allocated or received since the first interim reporting. Next slide. uh the unrestricted expenditure changes. So here we're looking at uh first interim uh salaries, benefits, materials and supplies and contracts as well as uh indirect and transfers. So uh I'll go through these quickly. You can see

certificated salaries going up by about 7.9 million. That's due to the raise that was given and the retro the that was effective 71205. So due to the contract negotiations, we're seeing an increase in salaries for certificated and classified members. And then when we look at benefits, you would expect those to also go up since we gave a 10% increase in healthcare uh as well as rates increasing as of uh January 1st, 2026. However, uh in the fiscal solveny plan, we reduced the transfer to fund 71 for our OPED contribution, those other postemployment benefits. Uh and as a net comparison, uh we're actually decreasing our employee benefits by $3.9 million. Um but again that's a net uh decrease. Um the transfer from fund 71 in unrestricted was about $9 million decrease to be able to uh afford and offset some of those increased expenditures we're seeing from the tenative agreement. Uh books and supplies uh those are uh slightly increasing. Um there were some materials and supplies purchased for the work stoppage. Uh services and other operating expenditures. uh a slight reduction uh this is due to freezing conferences uh slight reduction in consultants software and contracts since first interim uh we're basically holding steady there in the 5000s and then um indirect costs are increasing slightly by 200,000 that's due to the increased expenditures on the restricted side which we'll get into on the next slide and then in inter fund transfers uh this is that fund 17 transfer so from first interim we had projected it to be about $13.7 million And at second interim, we're projecting it to be about $19.4 million. Uh that increase is to offset some of the raises that you're seeing and increases uh since first interim. Next slide. Uh the restricted expenditure changes.

Again, we're comparing first interim to second interim here. Uh there was also uh an increase in salaries uh due to the tenative agreement on the restricted side. We have staff on both unrestricted and restricted that are receiving those raises. Uh employee benefits also uh got an increase in healthcare which was also offset by the reduction in fund 71 transfer. Uh the net there is decreasing by $4 million. Uh that was that's how we're affording uh a lot of the uh increases. Uh the books and supplies are increasing by about 900,000. Uh this is due to new grants adding supplies. So we have the literacy coaches, Cali reads, CIG and some facilities use budgets increasing since first interim on the restricted side. Uh services and other operating expenditures uh those are incre these are decreasing by about $1.1 million again reducing conferences, consultants and contracts since the first interim. Uh capital outlay uh changing to uh equipment purchased over $5,000. other outgo adjustments to the partial tax transfer to the charter schools and then our indirect costs. You can see those increasing in tandem with the increase that we saw on the unrestricted side. And again, this is due to uh some grants spending more which increases our indirect that we receive on the on the unrestricted side. Uh next slide. Here we're looking at the combined expenditure changes. So, we're looking at the same uh slides just combined unrestricted and restricted as a net total of where we're at. So, increasing salaries uh in certificate and classified by about uh 13.5 $14 million and decreasing benefits by about $8 million due to the fund 71 transfer. Uh next slide. Uh so, next we're going to start talking about the multi-year projection uh for 2526. That's year 1. That's the current

year we're in. Uh we also must look at year 2 and year 3 which is 26 27 and 2728 in our multi-year projection. Uh considerations that we must take into account uh salary and benefit contractual increases, step and column salary increases, fiscal solveny plan reductions that were approved, declining enrollment and and cost of living adjustment trends. Uh current expenditures assigned to expiring funds that must come back into the un unrestricted side. Fund 17 and fund 71. Usage and balances. Uh restricted funds usage and balances. Projected attrition and vacancy savings. Rising costs for health care, property insurance, utilities, transportation, and special education as well as our partial tax uh potentially expiring in 2728 if it is not renewed. Uh and and the implications of of that. Uh so all of this is is built into our multi-year projection so we can get our best estimation of where we will be in the next uh 2 years uh after 2526. Next slide. So here we're looking at that uh unrestricted side general fund multi-year projection. You can see our uh revenues for 2526 at 358.7 million, 2627 at 359, and 2728 at 362 million. Since the first interim, this is actually a decline by about $13 million due to updated enrollment, average daily attendance, and COLA projections. So, we actually saw a pretty significant decrease in revenue over the next three years. uh as well as then looking at our expenditures and contributions. This is where you're seeing a decrease uh to expenditures due to uh the fiscal solveny reductions and then the operating sur uh surplus or our operating deficit. So you can see in year 1 2526 we have an operating deficit

of just about $19 million and that's where we're using the fund 17 transfer of about $19.4 $4 million to offset that operating deficit and cover our required 3% reserve. In year 2, 2627, we have about a $10.5 million deficit, uh higher expenditures than revenues being brought in. And that's where we're using the remaining funds of fund 17, about $10 million to offset that operating deficit. And then in year three, uh you can see in the highlighted yellow line uh row, we do not have any additional fund 17 reserves. and our operating deficit at the time will be about $9.3 million. Uh once we get to that end of that third year, 2728, you can see in the bottom right corner of this chart, the unassigned unappropriated amount is our negative $8.6 million that we are projecting to have uh at the end of this 3 years. Again, this is not including uh new dollars or revenue for 2627 that the governor proposed in January. Those dollars are still being legislated. Those plans are still not approved and we uh are not projecting on them just yet. Um but at the current moment with no new revenue uh we would end the year the third year at aboutgative8.6 million which uh will certify us as qualified but we'll get there in in the future slide. Next slide please. Uh here we're looking at the combined general fund multi-year projection. So this is the unrestricted and restricted combined uh fund 01 multi-year projection. You can see our total revenues uh decreasing over the next couple years. Our expenditures decreasing as well due to due to the fiscal solveny plan and uh restricted resources expiring. And then the same fund 17 transfers. Uh the only difference you'll see on this chart is the restricted row. You can see our fund balance for restricted dollars is decreasing from about 76 million to 46 million over the next couple years and

that's due to receiving one-time restricted dollars that we are spending or expiring over those over that time frame. So we would expect to see the fund balance on the restricted side decrease. Uh the overall ending uh fund balance is the same uh 8.6 million when you combine the unrestricted and restricted uh operating deficits and ending fund balance. Next slide. Here we'll talk about the fund 17 projected remaining balance. So in 2526 we started the year with 27.9 million in fund 17. Uh with the contributions of $19.3 million in 2526 we're looking at an ending balance of 10 $10.0 million at the end of this school year. In 2627, we're projecting uh to use those remaining $10 million and we'll make a contribution of about $10 million in 2627. And then in 2728, those funds will be completely exhausted and brought down to $0 uh with no more one-time dollars remaining in fund 17. Next slide. Uh the multi-year projection outlook for 2526, we can meet the 3% required reserve in the general fund with a 19.4 $4 million contribution from fund 17 and no $15 million transfer to fund 71 for those uh postretirement uh benefits in 2627. We can meet the 3% required reserve in the general fund with fiscal reductions, a $10 million contribution from fund 17 and no $15 million transfer from fund 71. And in 2728 we may not meet that 3% required reserve under current projections. uh we are including the fiscal solveny reductions. We have no contribution from fund 17 in that year and we would continue not transferring $15 million to fund 71 uh due to uh not including the additional

revenue in these projections. Uh there is a chance we could still make our our 3% required reserve in 2728. So that is why it's a may not meet our goal. Next slide. And due to that we have to uh certify each interim as positive, qualified or negative. Uh if it's positive that means we can meet all of our obligations over the next 3 years. If it's qualified uh we can meet our financial obligations uh in one uh in two of the next three years or not meet it in one of the next three years. And then negative would mean we would not be able to meet our obligations in the current or next fiscal year. So due to us being able to make our financial obligations in year 1 and year two and potentially may not meet it in year three, we are certifying second interim as qualified for 2526. Next slide. And that is the presentation for second interim. Thank you. If there's any questions,

right, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Carter. Um, do we have any board questions? U Trusty Regler,

thank you and thank you for the presentation. I do have a couple of things. I'd like to start with unrestricted 4,000 and 5,000 books and supplies and services and operating expenses for the budget that we adopted and the 45day revise. Uh, uh, books and uh, books and supplies came in at 5.3 million projection and services and operating expenses came in at 43.2 2 million what you thought you would spend. Now you are at 4.8 million and 36.2 million which is an a most excellent drop. But I'm wondering can you hold to those new projections?

Yeah. So again this is just comparing first interim to second interim. What you're what you're referring to is comparing adopted budget to second interim. uh the adopted budget to first interim actually shifted a lot of those expenditures to the restricted side uh due to a onetime dollar grant that we receive for uh school uh SSPD grant for professional development. Um we are moving a lot of those expenditures to the restricted side this year for onetime dollars that that happened at first interim. So the comparison from first interim to second interim is is a much uh smaller drop. Uh that is the estimation currently under known factors that we are projecting to end the year at at those levels for 2526. Uh as long as no unexpected uh changes happen between now and the end of the year, yes, we think we can hit that.

Okay. Thank you. Um how are you incorporating the governor's budget or um what are what are the numbers based on looking out into the multi-year projection? What kind of an eye are you keeping on the governor's budget? And when do you think you'd have a better idea? I'm assuming we're going to have a third interim. So, I'm really asking, do you think it would be reflected in a third interim? Uh, we will have a third interim. Uh, if we certify as qualified at any point in first or second interim, we must do a third interim. Uh, we will be back for that. Uh, I do not anticipate those dollars being considered in third interim. uh third interim data is as of April 30th and uh the governor's budget proposal in January is uh just a proposal. So there's still being legislated of what those dollars and uh agreements will actually final uh finalize and look like for the state budget. Um the governor will release a May revise in the middle of May uh which is after our third interim. Um and at that point there will be a lot more that is known that if he's increasing or keeping what he proposed the January increase that will solidify a little bit more of what to expect for the following year. Um but it's still not locked in. So, the governor's budget uh May revision in May uh will give us a better indication of of where the state budget and revenues are at and where those new dollars will be assigned in the following year, but it's still not guaranteed until uh the June budget adoption through the state. Um we will take county guidance and state guidance on um how certain those new revenues will be. uh we go to uh multiple workshops uh and get uh advice

from multiple uh different departments at at the state level of uh what revenues to include in those budgets and and those projections. Um if if if anything is uncertain uh we would not include it at the adopted budget or estimated actuals in June. Um we would actually bring it back at a 45day revise after the budget is adopted, which is what we did in 2526. Um there was a lot of unknown revenue in 2526 onetime dollars that were new and uh were not guaranteed and the county advice was not to include them in our uh adopted budget at 2526. So once the budget was adopted in June 2025 and it was certain we were getting those dollars uh we brought it back as a 45day revise in August to put those into our projections. A similar thing could happen in 2627 uh for new dollars that may not be guaranteed or that we're getting in the advice that uh is still being legislated by uh the leg legislative analyst office or the state uh trailer bills that were not guaranteed. So, uh it really depends on what they are and and what certainty level we have in the county has in us receiving those funds. So, if we get direction that um it's pretty certain we'll get those funds, we will include them at the adopted budget. Um and and at that point, we'll we'll be very clear what is included and what is not based on what our certainty levels are. Um but for second interim before the May revise and for third interim it is very unlikely we would be able to to uh rely on those because what you don't want to happen is put new revenue into your budget uh balance it and then have those dollars not come true. Um so you you'd be setting yourself up for failure uh in the current year or in the 26 27 year if you start balancing your budget with uh uncertain revenue. Um, so we will include that at the time that we are given the advice by the county that we

should. Thank you. And then finally, this is the second qualified budget in a row. What does that mean for oversight from the county or other people who might be interested in our fiscal um

uh Yeah. So since we're including um the fiscal solveny plan in the second interim we and we can make our 3% required reserve this year and next year based on our projections um there's no additional oversight at the time. Uh the county you know they're they're keeping an eye on us at all times based on our uh interims. Um but no additional uh guidance will come from two qualifies other than them requiring us to do a third interum. Okay. Thank you very much. Do we have any further questions from the board? Um, Trusty Witted.

Um, what interim did the strike fall under? Is that first or second? Uh, the strike was early December. First interim data is as of October 31st and we presented it in December uh at the board meeting in December. So uh the strike data and uh enrollment attendance and cola is all included in second interim. So we we have not updated anything until at this point for uh those projections.

Okay. Um and then can you kind of explain the change from first interim to second interum? I'm I'm like trying to like calculate the change but I'm not getting it but I also don't know how it's calculated. So how is the ADA calculated from the first interum to the second interim? Uh sure. Um we take uh attendance in the uh seabeds and cowpads report that is certified by uh January which is what we include in the second interim. So um at first interim we're doing projections based on trends uh based on our enrollment projections and at second interim we actually have uh data from the first half of the school year to know where we're at and where we're trending uh which is why we're decreasing our average daily attendance projection due to uh the loss of ADA from the strike. Okay, I think I got it. Thank you.

Do we have And so see no further questions. Um do we have any public comment on Oh, Trusty Smith Falls. I'm sorry.

Um can we go back to slide 13? So this slide looks different than the slide that we're used to because there was in 2526 we were like 34 million and now we're 19. Is that because of fund 71 not being shown on here?

Uh it's it's due to multiple factors. So it's due to um decreasing our revenue from the enrollment average daily attendance and COLA trends that are all down. It's due to including the fiscal solveny plan which includes uh 60 million in reductions for 2627 and 14 million in reductions for 2728. within that 60 million for 2627. Reducing those expenditures include uh not transferring funds from fund 71 uh to fund 71 and not transferring funds from fund 17 uh as well as the uh uh reductions from positions in our expenditures uh as well. So yes, it's it's uh massively different from first interim due to all of those changes uh being incorporated into this projection now. So, but if I add if I take the year 2526

independently and then I take the year 2627 independently and then 2728. If I add 15 million to each of those, it gets us the numbers that we had before. Is that accurate? Roundabout.

Uh yeah, simplified for the most part. Yes. Uh of the 15 million from fund 71, 13 million of it is unrestricted and 2 million is restricted. So you you you would be adding 13 million to this slide since it's specifically the unrestricted MYP. Uh but yes, you if you do not include the fund 71 transfer, uh the operating surplus would be or the operating deficit would be about $13 million more in each individual year. Okay. So when we talked about fund 71, we talked about the the the most that can be taken out is 13. You can't go past 13. Is that accurate from unrestricted? Yes.

Okay. And then that's we're taking that out over three years. So at the end of that when we get to that end of third year which is 2728, right? And then we're rounding the corner on 2829. What do we do? It's year four. So can you tell me in if you're kind of projecting out, right? If you're projecting out and all things hold steady, what does year four look like?

Uh year four currently under current projections looks like about -25 million and that's again with no additional revenue. Um and we also did not get 2829 approved in the fiscal solveny plan to do the fund 71 transfer again. Um based on the fund balance in fund 71 at about 62 million right now, we could sustain 4 years of uh trans not transferring to fund 71, but uh that would have to be in a future fiscal solveny plan. Um we we could maintain this for year four. Um but without new revenues and without increasing our ADA uh we have a a large deficit looming in year 4 in 2829 which would uh begin to show at estimated actuals when we bring the proposed budget for 2627.

Okay. And then I have a question about when we talk about not contributing to fund 71, what we're saying is we have this money that we typically put some of it over there into fund 71 to take care of future retirees medical stuff and the retirees that we have now. We're not doing that. We're not contributing back to that fund like we usually do over the next three years. at some point isn't that going to catch up with us because that money is not being replaced over the next three years. So you have 15 15 and 15 45 or conservatively 13 13 which is uh 10 20 30 39 um 369 39 at what point does that catch up with us?

Yeah. Uh exactly 71 are one-time dollars. we we are if we don't transfer and contribute to fund 71, those dollars are being spent down. Uh that would catch up to us in year four when when we would be expected to exhaust fund 71 completely and you would have to build in 15 million or 13 million on the unrestricted side of new expenditures back into the budget. Uh which would either look like uh additional revenue or decreasing expenditures. So, additional reductions to be able to fit uh the fund 71 transfer back into the budget once we are no longer able to rely on the fund balance of fund 71 that are onetime dollars. And I have a question. Thank you so much for that. And then I have a question about what is business services? What's the plan with business services and including the district to not let things come back in? Cuz once you cut these are these these jobs aren't coming back, right? Once we cut them because we have to make the 42 million, we can't bring them back. Is that accurate?

Uh that's that's correct. They're they are not self-generating any new revenue in Fund71 other than what we would elect to transfer to it. We would still have the obligation to pay those retirees uh dollars uh in from fund 71 if we are not able to keep contributing. What you would really want to do is slowly build back up to that 15 million over the next four years and build it back into the budget slowly uh as new revenues come or as expenditures uh fall out. You would want to build back up to that 15 million slowly. You don't want to get to year four and immediately have to make 15 million more in in reductions just to fit the fund 71 transfer back into your budget all at once. you you re you really should slowly feed back up to 15 million over the next four years to to really stop your reliance on fund 71 onetime dollars

the next four years starting now. Yeah. If there's any leftover extra money at the end of this year, you you you could elect to transfer it to fund 71. Uh that's unlikely with our negative $19 million deficit in the current year and needing to rely on fund 71 uh or fund 17. Um but yeah, you would want to start building that back in into the 2627 budget if if possible. Okay. And it's unlikely because of where we are sitting with our deficit now. It's it's unlikely with uh the known expenditures we have for the remaind remainder of the year that we cannot remove at this point. Yeah.

Okay. My final question is you know what? I'll save that question for comments. I'll turn into a comment. I'm complete. Thank you. Huh? Trusty Gonzalez. Thank you, President. Uh Mr. Carter, thank you so much for the presentation. Um I have a question about the proposed budget uh from the governor. Um if if it was to be if it was come if it was if it comes real in the summer, uh do you remember how much of the proposed budget would be allocated to our district? Like what would be the total amount? I know it's a combination of onetime money and uh ongoing funds, but

it's it's a combination of unrestricted and restricted onetime dollars. Um the projected amount for the SSPD grant was around 11 million. Um the community schools money is somewhere between 2 and 3 million. Those are both restricted dollars. Uh the special ed dollars was about 1.5 million in ongoing base uh increasing the base funding for special ed. Uh and then onetime learning recovery dollars of potentially about $3 million. Uh so on the restricted side may maybe 15 to $18 million. Thank you. And then the governor has been for the last four years manipulating Prop 98 where he pushes some of our the money that we're entitled to to the future um and gives to us in one time money. Uh this year has been the largest manipulation of $5.6 billion. If that was to be given to us next year or the following if we follow his pattern, do you know how much of that money we would be getting?

Uh really rough estimates maybe around 20ish million. Okay. If if he pays it all back,

but he won't be the governor. So it would be a new governor's decision at that point. and um they don't have an obligation on a timeline or to pay back interest on those dollars. Uh they could pay that back over a h 100red years or one year. Uh in the current budget proposal last year from from 2425 that he held back about 1.9 billion. He's looking at re repaying that whole 1.9 billion in the 2627 budget. That was in his governor's budget proposal. Um, but we won't know uh for a while what the outcome of that 5.6 billion is unless something changes that may revise. And then over the last five years between the governor's proposal to when legislation does the negotiation with his office and with each other, have we seen a decrease on what we're supposed to be getting from what he proposes in January to what is the ultimate outcome in the summer? There there have been instances where the May revise is less in certain areas than at governor's budget proposal. Um but there is there is also a trend that uh a lot of that holds holds steady. Um so it really depends on the grant. For example, learning recovery uh they did pull that back. Uh they they pulled a large amount of that back at the May revise. Um but for the most part it may revise holds similar to uh the governor's budget proposal. Um but it but it depends on new new programs versus existing programs versus ongoing programs versus unrestricted and restricted. I think just to to weigh in on that, I think also what we may see in

May differs by allowable uses, either expanding or contracting, how those funds can be used, um adding on additional programs, additional kind of interests from different legislators. So there it it may look similar in terms of dollars, but how those dollars can be spent often there's a a shift or a change um from the governor's budget until after the negotiations with legislators and and our interest groups and all of them looks different in terms of the implementation of those those dollars.

Yeah. So, there's a lot of trailer bill language that comes in after the fact um for a lot of the specifics of how to apply for it, how much you're going to get. Is it based on enrollment? Is it based on ADA? Is it based on your spending from 5 years ago? There's a lot of factors that are unknown in how it will be allocated to school districts until the trailer bill language comes out later. Now, in January, part of the caution from the governor's office uh as of why doing one-time funds was because the LAO office said, "Oh, the economy might not look that great in 2 years or 3 years, but a week ago, the LA office said actually it looks much better." Um, would you be able to give us any detail on what the LA's meant like mentioned in that report about a week ago? uh they're they're believing that the 2526 state budget revenue is healthier than originally projected at the beginning of the of the 2526 school year. Um they are still projecting 26 27 27 28 to come in at deficits. Uh and a large unknown factor of that is the AI bubble and the stock market since a lot of school districts revenue and funding comes from uh capital gains and property taxes. Um so it's just the uncertainty right now I think in the future years. Um but the current year is is where they're saying uh the state's budget is healthier than expected.

Okay. Thank you. Um, Trusty Hung.

Oh, so I have a question regarding something stated earlier where it was mentioned how even with the current fiscal solveny plan, we will again be in another deficit by year four. So um when at that time we'll have to enact another fiscal solveny plan. So what I'm well my question is how do you plan on now because yeah because it can be predicted that after the next fiscal solveny plan at a certain amount of time we will again have to go into another deficit and then again have to enact yet another fiscal solveny plan. So you can you yes you can continue gutting program uh programs and cutting positions but then there's a there is a point in time where you have cut till the barebone and so what other initiatives have you have you envisioned undertaking so that we will be able to not be locked into a cycle of constant of annual or by annual or just at certain times just cuts over and over again.

Uh uh so being in a declining enrollment district and our ADA declining from previous years, you know, we used to average around 96 97% ADA. Recently, we've been averaging around high 91%s. Um with the strike, we're looking at high 80%. So in a declining enrollment district, you're going to constantly be looking at deficits in the future years. when you're projecting less enrollment, you're projecting less revenue year-over-year. And we have to hold steady the current known salaries as of today. So, in a declining enrollment, and this is statewide, this is a statewide issue that that the state is is looking deeply at um of how to maintain school districts funding in a in a declining enrollment state. Um it it's that's just the nature of the future of an MYP. When you're in a declining enrollment state and you have rising salaries, step increases, negotiations on the horizon, um you're you're you're always going to be looking at that. If if we were increasing or growing enrollment or ADA, it it wouldn't look like that. And that's that's just we've been in a declining enrollment for over 10 years now. Um, so it's just uh it's just a con constant of balancing the budget, decreasing expenditures to match the decreasing revenue that we're projecting.

There's other ways that we can um I think it's important to hold that and understand that we are in a declining enrollment um really state um but we also um have ways to improve our revenue. We need to look at those options as well. And so att attendance um attendance recovery um and attendance campaigns encouraging families really breaking down barriers that uh make it difficult for children to come to school. Really understanding that and we're doing that right now with a number of our community partners as well. Um really holistically looking at students and families and what their needs are. That's one way. Another is reclaiming our students. And so really understanding why students are not choosing to come to West Contracasta. We have a number of students of 4,000 students who are attending local charter schools. And so encouraging those folks to really come and and rethink and families to rethink um charters going to charters versus coming to their local public school. Um and encouraging folks to do that. And so really making our programs as attractive as we can. But it is a challenge when we are in a deficit and it is a challenge when we have to make cuts and we're in a situation right now where there is no other option for us to stay fiscally solvent. So it is a it's a a push and pull. It's a a challenge constantly to hold and understand that we are at a deficit but also continue to be hopeful, continue to be strategic about how do we build up our numbers as well. Thank you,

Trusty Whitten. Okay, so from what I'm hearing, we're going to be in a deficit after year three going into year four. At any point, will we ever make even the smallest dent in the deficit that we have or will it only continue growing?

Uh, that will really depend on our average daily attendance trends. um if if those go up potentially we we could balance that out. Um but every two years, every 3 years, you know, we're negotiating a new contract. So it really depends on on where those new expenditures land in 2 to 3 years from now as well. Um with declining enrollment, you're just going to constantly be fighting balancing that budget of in growing expenditures while losing revenue. And so, um, it really depends on the state budget. Uh, if they if they change how they fund school districts, uh, that could change the the model that that we're projecting on. Um, but but there's just a lot of unknowns in looking 3, four years out from now, uh, to be able to really give a solid answer on what year 4 will look like from today. Um, if over the next year we get 20 plus million, year four is going to look a lot different. Um, it it all depends on what happens over the next 2 to 3 years of what year 4's uh eventuality looks like.

Okay. So, if I understand correctly, we're kind of waiting on not waiting but scoping out ADA, sorry, for future years to kind of see what we're bringing in and then re-evaluating once we have a better site. Yeah, we're always constantly trying to improve ADA and we're always reevaluating at every interim what two years out will look like. So, the state requires us to always do a multi-year projection two years out at every interim. So four times a year we're we're updating those projections and estimations based on what the known factors are and what new information we've received since the last interim.

Okay. And then to increase ADA, for example, we could do things like uh support our programs more, build up our programs, and basically make people want to come and join our district. Making people want to come and join our district uh on the daily basis would improve our ADA. uh attendance recovery, Saturday school. Um there there's many ways to improve uh getting average daily attendance back up. Okay. Thank you. Trusty Smith votes.

When we talk about ADA, it's a three-year average, right? So the ADA hit that we're going to take is going to show up when the shift because there's going to be a shift because it's three-year average. When is that going to show up? Is that in the 2627 or 2728?

Yeah, that'll be in the 2627 and that's built in to these figures on the multi-year projection. Um, it's a threeear it's either your current year, your prior year, or your three-year average, whatever is highest. Historically, we've been using a three-year average because uh the LA the two years prior have always been higher, right? You're in a declining enrollment. Um due to the declining uh enrollment and ADA from the strike, it is potentially uh that it'll it is potential that we will see a a drastic shift in that in that decrease in revenue in 2627. Uh but that's built into these projections uh getting a lower ADA three-year average.

And is it an estimate built in or is it the actual number built in? Uh it's an estimate. uh we we only have data through month six so far. Uh we we constantly update that, but based on the trends, we think we'll end the year uh lower than we expected at first inter. Okay. And then I have a question about the parcel taxes. Okay. The it's up in 2728. Uh yeah, June 30th, 2027. It's projected to expire June 30th, 2027. If that goes away, what is what does that encapsulate? That that tax or that parcel tax encapsulates what?

Uh we get about $10 million in revenue from the parcel tax each year. About 20% of that is sent to the charter since they have students in our in our parcels. Um, and the $8 million in revenue net and expenditures that we spend out of that partial tax would need to be uh if if the partial tax is not renewed, uh those $8 million in expenditures would need to be uh reduced. But those 8 million cover things like uh yeah, so in the parcel tax currently we have um library services, counselor services, athletics, and security.

Okay. And so if it's not renewed in June 2027, we will then have to either find 8 million to cover the things that you just said, the programmings that you just said and the people and the services that you just said or those are gone. Yes. Uh a new fiscal sol if if it does not pass or renew, uh we would need to bring a new fiscal solveny plan in order to reduce those expenditures or increase revenue some other way. Okay. I'm complete for now. Thank you. Okay, see no further questions. Um, let's Do we have any public comment on this item?

Yes, we do.

Joanna, please unmute yourself. Hey, good evening trustees. I am Joanna Gertian with Healthy Contraosta. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you.

Okay. Um, and I'm speaking tonight because we are concerned about the cuts you've recently made to balance your budget. You recently cut the community engagement positions and I just want to inform you all in case you didn't already know all the work that this department holds. Community schools, CSD, scouts, DLCAPS, advising the MCAT, AC, MDAC, ASAT, and ELOP. They also ensure compliance for SSC, specifically the L E Elax and the Apex. It's unrealistic to think that one to two people will be able to handle all this work on top of whatever it is they're already responsible for. We understand cuts need to happen, but are you weighing the impacts of these cuts? Are they based on data, feelings, or simply math? Sure, you may save yourself a few million dollars or so, but how much more will making cuts to pivotal programs, positions, and departments cost you in the long run? Families keep leaving public schools and the school district year after year because you make it harder with every cut you make for families to see the value of keeping their students in this district. Bill, please unmute yourself. Hello. Can you hear me?

Yes.

Thank you. Uh my name is Bill. I'm a teacher and resident of San Pablo. Um a lot of what's being spoken to tonight regarding a regarding um fiscal resp u these multi-year projections. Um there's no there's hasn't been discussion of the district um showing it for propositions such as Prop 5 which could potentially bring in significant revenue for the district. Um investing in schools. You want to increase ADA, you want to cut arts, you want to increase ADA, but you are willing to eliminate music. Cutting these isn't going to increase your ADA. You're going to decrease your ADA. You continue this over and over again because worried about fiscal takeover. Stop it. Next public comment. Princess Gortiz, please unmute yourself.

Can you hear me now? Yes.

All right. So, I hope that I'm a optimistic person and so I really hopeful that the responsible and student centered board members can see behind the smok and mirrors that are presented behind today's superintendent recommendations as a qualified second interim report. This is after you've already merged Betty Reed Sask and old middle schools, made K8 displacements, and have already approved everything that the superintendent has recommended for you all to be able to have a positive certification. This continues the austerative narrative that continues to destabilize our school communities. Such as the Kennedy teacher said earlier, there is no reason why we continue to be making these austerity narratives and these fourthyear projections which are based on unrealistic revenue. You went down a rabbit hole that doesn't actually exist. So, it is irresponsible for you to be sitting here and claiming that the entire district is going bankrupt when you know it's not true. Our last public comment is Nate Nick Cresensi. Please unmute yourself.

Nick Cresensi, please unmute yourself.

Good evening, board and staff. Um you guys are this budget is a budget of austerity. The fact of the matter is I believe you are doing what you have to do. It it it's a reality. I grew up and was in the district when the district went bankrupt the first time. The problem I see currently is the board needs to ensure the district is giving the opportunities for people to voice their concerns and participate. The last two budget meetings that were on the district's calendar, the district financial austerity meeting did not happen. There was no notification of it being cancelled or changed. The district local control funding meeting which was to happen earlier this week also didn't happen. It just disappeared from the district's calendar. It was there and it disappeared. The board needs to ensure that these meetings are happening and stay public and the public is informed.

That concludes public comment. So, do we have a motion to move this item? I'll go ahead and I don't know if I want to approve it. I'll accept it. Right. I didn't I didn't go every line. I didn't go over every line item in your math. Um the second interim for 25 26 school year. I'll second. So, it was moved by regular second by Gonzalez Hoy. Um, Trusty Hung, yes. Trusty Winn, yes. Trusty Wler. Reckler. Yes.

Trusty Smith votes. I'm sorry, President. Is this to approve or to accept? What was the motion? To accept. Accepted. Smith folds. Yes. Trusty Gonzalotoy. Yes. Trustee Hernandez. Yes.

And trustee's a yes. Motion passes. Do we have any final comments from the board? Okay. Trusty um Smith FS. I think that what we're finding is that the physical solveny plan that we currently have and the ones that we are going to have are going to greatly impact the students because it has to because we are making cuts and we cannot get to the physical solveny plan without making cuts. That's something that we know to be true. We're going to have to cut this year, next year, year four that's going to be here sooner than we know it. we're going to have to continue to cut until we make plans and stick with them to pay ourselves back. Fund 17, fund 71 and and when we make these cuts, it can't come back. So, the state of the district is going to change. It is already changing. This is an ongoing problem that we will have to solve, unfortunately, on the back of students experience. I hope we can provide highquality programs and pay for what was promised for. I'm not sure that we can do both. We also have negotiations that open up in two years. That's a fact. That's when we will have to make a lot a lot of decisions that are going to impact the district once again at a level that can be damaging to our students. This is where we are. This is where we are because we made promises without a plan to pay for them. I'm complete.

Trusty Gonzalez.

Thank you, President. Um, thank you staff for the presentation and all the work behind the scenes. Um, one thing that I would like for us to do, if the board is willing, I would like for us to um, approve a letter kind of like what we did today where we advocate for the 5.6 billion in manipulation of N Prop 98 to be given to school districts. I saw Oakland and San Francisco both have resolutions in that manner uh in their next board meeting. Um I think that joining other districts that are struggling monetarily, which is really all large urban school districts right now in California, um and pushing our governor and pushing our legislators to give us the money that is rightfully our students and ours uh is important. So if if the board is willing, I would love for us to author a resolution in that way and for us to advocate for that. Um and then I would also um love to see just a little bit more information in the future. I know the president is thinking about um doing a study session about revenue enhancement strategies including how to increase it ADA uh and you know priorities that we could do for the next two years. Uh there are some districts that are have some very strong campaign campaigns uh at their schools to increase attendance uh including competitions. Um I recently saw Napa does a competition between schools to increase ADA and they've been really successful. Um but I think that it requires collaboration with our unions as well and for our staff to be fully involved in those in those um priorities and campaigns. Right. So, I would love for us to engage in some of that um so that we can see an increase. And with

that, I would also love for us to advocate for the change of ADA to enrollment. Um because if we got uh funded by enrollment and not ADA, we would be in a much better place. And there's legit reasons why our students are sometimes missing school uh that rich districts don't experience uh yet they are getting much more money than we are, right? So, um I think sending a few of us to speak to our legislators uh in the next few months and speaking to CSVA about the importance of doing that would be important because I haven't seen much work from CSVA uh around that and I think it's essential for us but not for every district, right? So, um I think that that's a couple things that we could partner as a full board uh to bring in more revenue um uh and think of solutions. Um that's it. Thank you so much,

Trusty Reckler.

Thank you. I wasn't going to say anything, but now that Trusty Gonzalez, Clerk Gonzalez, I spoke, want to follow up on a couple of things. I caught a piece of a lunch and learn today from CSBA. They've prepared or are preparing a resolution that they're going to send out to boards. So, I'll follow up with our pacer and make sure that we get that so we could take a look at that. Um they were also very against enrollmentbased funding. Um just so that you know and they had a big long explanation about why they were not in favor of that doesn't stop us you know but um and then I think trustee Hernandez and I are meeting with uh um Assembly Member Eric and Assembly Member Wix next week specifically about the Prop 98 guarantee. So, we're going to do some of it, but I'll I'll I if that comes in, I'll send it in. Um and I did send in a resolution at least for um the renewal of the prop. I forget what it was, 55. Yeah. So, maybe we want to put our supporting on that, too. And the petitions are out now. So, if people see the people with the petitions collecting signatures to get them on the ballot, sign it. And that's it. Thank you. Can I ask um may I speak? Yes. Thank you. Um you you sparked a lot. Um Trusty Gonzalez Hoy, I wanted um I know that we are doing some work around attendance campaign right now on a smaller scales pilots across our district and we're seeing some really good numbers and so looking to expand that. I don't know summer in like a minute or two if you have any of the data that that you could share really quickly.

Yeah. Um a new toolkit just hit my inbox today. So the team has been hard at work. Um and I'll be sharing that with the superintendent so we can get it out. Lots of messaging, lots of focus on first faces, how sick is too sick. Um these and probably what you're seeing in Napa is uh work from the raise network which we are also a part of. So, it's a statewide coalition. The six focal schools that have joined with us are enjoying the work, really drilling down on absence codes, getting really granular with the data. We know that in the months that we have not had largecale disruptions, those schools have made significant gains. So, in month three, we saw like 6% gains at some of the focal schools. Um, and this last month we had a a small gain as a system, but our focal schools once again were making these larger two to three% gains. And so I share your urgency. Um, and I know that what we're doing is working when we get outside of the whirlwind. Um, we need to systematize um, and we need to communicate widely. Well, thank you everyone. Um, thank you. Oh, um, sorry, Trusty Whitten. Oh, Trusty H.

Yeah. So, listening to all of these comments and specifically the motion made by Trustee Gonzalez Hoy about really being proactive and trying to optimize how much funding we can receive. And I know we can I know that we can all foresee the we we all know that even after this fiscal solveny plan and all these cuts we we might go into we might and at this rate there's a more than likely chance of going down into spiral of cut of needing cuts and detrimental things. So what I'm trying to say is I will I urge for the for in the future when the next when the need for next uh fiscal solveny plan comes and after uh Devon and I's terms end and the new student trustees are here and if not only that just whenever be proactive not only when there's not not only when there is a need to make cuts That's not only when there's a need, not only when we are in a deficit to try and find ways to get funding to be proactive constantly because despite the fact that we do need to make we will need to make uh cuts to programs or in order to preserve in order to get out of deficits. The solution overall to growing the district with increased participation will be through programs event one day when we are able to muster up enough funding to hold to regain sort of the former gory where programs are what attract students in. In fact, I

specifically I only chose to go to Cormatzo and Elserto instead of a charter school because I was in the elementary band pro program because of the quality of the band programs I heard were at Corso and Elserto. It was because of these extra programs that I actually chose to go to these public schools instead of a charter. Trusty W.

Um, I'm kind of worried for how we move forward only because if we're trying to focus on ADA and like Trusty Hung said, we're just going to keep cutting programs and cutting programs, which I think will not give us the outcome that we're looking for. Once our terms are up here, we don't know who else is going to come in. We a part of this and of our job at least in my eyes is to voice students what they need, what they desire, and you know what they need to get. I don't really know if we're really going to give it to them during our deficit time cuz it seems like we're only making the hole bigger. So, I'm kind of nervous to see what what this will look like. But then again, I trust numbers. Numbers can't lie. So I hope that we can build up the programs that we have so we can see and then you know once the new student trustes come in they can continue the work that we're doing and even when my term is up specifically my work with this district doesn't stop at this desk right here. It's going to continue going further. So, I definitely plan on being involved more in a lot of these different sessions so I can help those the way that some of these programs of extracurriculars have helped me. Thanks. Last comment, I just want to also lift up our parcel tax that we will be bringing to the conversation um at our next board meeting and looking forward to engaging in um that discussion. Without the parcel tax after 2027, we're looking at a possible $10 million ongoing addition to our deficit. With the parcel tax, we can continue to grow our programs and and hold to those things that we um value, including uh

music, including um counseling, including um athletics. So, all the library services, all of those things that make school very unique places um would be dependent on what happens with our parcel tax coming up in in the fall. But we plan to do a presentation to the board next month, uh, next meeting.

All right. Well, thank you and thank you for the hard work. Um, I think my last comment is really taken into consideration on how we include our students um, with these attendance campaign, you know, how do we get them involved? I think peer-to-peer, you know, wording sometimes holds more ground than, you know, sometimes us just rolling out these campaigns

and saying this is what we're doing. But I think the more input that we have, especially around our students and having them hold each other accountable to like when is it okay to not show up, like having them motivate each other on why we should be showing up. So, I think getting our students involved and figuring out how we can also um utilize some of the programs. I remember at at the elementary school, something that really worked for us was like the walking school bus, getting, you know, parents involved and getting them excited about the walking school bus, right? Um, so how do we bring back some of those things where, you know, we are supporting our community schools into ensuring that our kids are coming to school because the parents aren't feeling the weight of I can't take them in, you know, myself today. Um, so that's my last comment and I appreciate everyone for your hard work tonight. Um so now we'll move on to um item E3 resolution number 2526-63 transfer from fund from fund 17 to pay current year liability and I think that's Mr. Carter's item as well.

Yes, thank you. Uh based on the recently accepted uh budget for second interim 2526 uh it recognizes that the district has a structural deficit meaning the current year revenues are less than the budgeted current year expenditures. Uh the district balances that 2526 budget by utilizing district held reserves. The structural deficit in 2526 requires a draw upon monies held in fund 17 equal to $19.4 million. Uh in order to address that district uh the ongoing structural deficit uh the board has approved a fiscal solveny plan. That plan identifies the need for reductions in current year budget and through the forecasted period of 2728. Uh staff re requests or recommends uh the board approve a resolution 2526-63 to utilize fund 17 to address the current year structural deficit. Uh this gives the district the authorization to make the transfer from fund 17 to fund 01. Okay. So we have any board questions on this item? Seeing none, do we have any public comment?

Yes, we have one. Francisco Ortiz, please unmute yourself. Thank you very much. Can you hear me? Yes.

Great. Uh, so this is another example of the smoke and mirrors tricks and how numbers can lie. Trusty Whitten. So, as you all know, the district approved a transfer from fund 17 as well as a fund from fund 71. Uh, Trusty Smith vults, we cannot pay back fund 17. Um, and so because you omitted fund 71 transfers in this resolution, you can ask for a qualified budget. This is how you cook the numbers. We are incredibly disillusioned by the public campaign to blame educators and classified staff for the strike. It's not a work stoppage. It was a strike that every single cabinet member and superintendent benefited from without objection with an 8% salary increase and total benefits that went straight to them for the fight that UTR and teenur brought. So this was a strike that you could have avoided that you did not. So don't blame us. That concludes public comment.

Okay. Now, do we have a motion? President, I move that we approve resolution number 2526-63. Reckler will second. Do we have a motion by Gonzalez Hoy to approve resolution number 2526-63, second by Trusty Reckler. Um, Trusty Han, yes. Trusty Whitten, yes. Trusty Reckler, Reckler, yes. Trusty Smith Folds. Smith FS. Yes. Trusty Gonzalez Hoy. Yes. Trusty Ernnandez. Yes.

And Trusty Anana is a yes. Um, do we have any comments from the board, Trusty Smith Folds? I

think that we have to be clear that according to what we just saw in year three, the fund 17 will be at zero. If we do not have a plan to put money back in reserves, required reserves, we are not meeting our fiscal obligation, which is to have money in a 3% reserve. That's what I'm understanding. It's a question comment, but I'm looking at our I'm looking at you, Jeff. That is correct, right? uh th those multi-year projections include meeting the 3% reserve. The fund $17 are above and beyond the 3%.

So the fund 17 is above and beyond the 3% that we have to have in reserves, but we have to have that in reserves because if we need it, it's there. Uh yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Uh Trusty Whitten. Um, since we are moving forward, is there a way that we can kind of plan to really wrap around our students and somewhat try tore increase the ADA from our standpoints along with the school sites to kind of build like a support system, I guess, is kind of what I'm trying to think about. It's not a question yet. It's more of a comment. And I'm just thinking out loud, but trying to see if we can increase ADA that way because I mean the numbers are there. If we don't have it, we don't have it. If we can't give it, we shouldn't tell people that we can. So I think it what I'm saying is there has to be some sort of plan in place moving forward where we can wrap around what we do have and support who we have while they're here. Thank you for that comment slash brainstorm. Um so seeing no further um comments from the board, we'll now move on to item E4 retirement initiative for employees impacted by reduction in force the UTROU and that is Miss Civia Greenwood's item.

Good evening. Good evening board. Um, we bring in this recommendation for theou um to address the school merger between Betty Reed Saskin Middle School and Penol Middle School and the K8s uh to extend um the retirement uh benefit um that we extended from uh February 1st up until March 9th for those educators who are interested in this um incentive. And do we have any board questions on this item? Seeing none, do we have any public comment on this item? Yes, we have one or two.

Francisco Ortiz, please unmute yourself. While I UTR does not advocate for the retirement of any uh of our retirees because of the mergers, we are um in approval of your recommendation of thisou because it actually outlines the process of how folks who are impacted by the superintendent uh fiscal solveny plan merger for the two middle schools and the K8 displacements that outlines how folks will be able to um serve our students best within the district. Um I am very very concerned about the fiscal um possibilities in in this resolution or what's been outlined here as another example of the uh austerity narrative. There's no way that the impacted folks even if every single one of them were to resign were to equal over to 200 or $300,000. So um this is more about the process and um making sure that we connect with HR tomorrow to um ensure that all the educators have a uh placement for next year and support our students.

Please unmute yourself.

Thank you. Uh, could you hear me? Yes.

Good evening, trustees and board. I'm not sure why my hand has been lowered all night for public comment. Um, I'm here to say that my hardest day as a teacher was telling my students that their school was merging. And no, it wasn't because we had to talk about it, but it was because I had to convince my students that their lives were valued when they were asking me why they weren't because of a system that was failing them. I urge you to accept thisou not necessarily because of the financial impact isn't important to our um budget but because it will show a force of your position and where you stand with our educators. If you are wondering how to enhance ADA, the first step is showing uh our kids that they are valued and showing our educators that they are valued so that we can continue doing the work that we love to do. Thank you.

That concludes the public comment. So, do we have a motion by the president? I move that we approve theou with uh United Teachers of Richmond. I second. Rick will second. Okay. So, we have a motion on the floor by Gonzalez Hoy, seconded by Whitten. Oh, by Hung. I didn't see. I'm sorry. I didn't. Um, seconded by Hung. Um, roll call Hung. Trusty Hun. Yes.

Trusty Wen. Yes. Trusty regular. Reckler. Yes. Trusty Smith Folds. Smith FS. Yes. Trusty Gonzalez Hoy. Yes. Trusty Hernandez. Yes. And trustee say yes. Motion approved. Um, now we'll move to Okay. Do we have any board comments on this item? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on to item five, 2025 6 CSBA delegate assembly election and that is um Superintendent Con's item.

Yes. The California School Boards Association has issued its ballot for candidates for the California Delegate Assembly sub region 7A which is Contraosta County. Um, these delegates would serve a two-year term beginning April 1st, 2026 through March 31st, 2028. Uh, the ballot provides for the board to vote for three candidates, and there are three candidates on the ballot. So, I would like to leave this to the board to make a determination on how they would like to um take action. Do we have any board questions on this? See no questions. Do we have a public comment on this item?

No public comment. Um, do we have a motion? Um, before I make the motion, if it's okay with you, I'll just share with the rest of the board that um I know the three candidates um and um I think that they'd be great they'd be great advocates. So, if it's okay with all of you, I'll make a motion that we vote for all three. Reckler will second. So, we have a motion by Gonzalez Hoy um to approve for all three. Um second by Reckler. Moving on to Trusty Hung. Yes. Trusty Winn. Yes. Trusty Reckler. Reckler. Yes. Trusty Gonzalez Hoy.

Yes. Trusty Hernandez. Yes. Trusty and Yana say yes with Smith Folds absent. And now we'll move on to item C9. We'll move on to item C9. Um, genetic camera access control system 5-year renewal. And can I ask our CTO Lori Wong Robert Roberts, can you speak to this item, please?

Absolutely. Uh, good evening board. If it's okay with you, I'd like to talk about both items at the same time. Could I do that? Because they do go hand in hand. Basically, one of them is software. Um, it Genitech is what we use to manage our security cameras, all of them. This is a 5-year contract. We'd be paying for the 5 years up front. we needed to get a 5-year contract because then that locked in the price. Uh, as for the hardware piece of it, it's actually those are the it's a server that holds on to 30 days for each site worth of footage and we need to get a new server and new discs um so that we can keep up with the demand.

Are there any questions? Trusty Hernandez,

I have questions. Um, because they do go hand in hand. Um, can you I know that some of our cameras and some of our schools are not working. I'm specifically talking about Helms Middle School that has 175 cameras, but only 15 of those cameras are operational. So, us renewing and purchasing these two contracts, right? Is this going to help us? Can you please confirm if this is going to be accurate and are these cameras going to go back to being functional? Um because it is a very safety concern. I know um there was certain schools listed and Helms was part of it. I just want to be sure that with these upgrades and renewals and systems uh all our cameras will be working because it is concerning that out of 175 camera 175 cameras at one school only 15 of them are functional. Sorry I said too much in one.

Understood. Um the contracts are really to support the cameras. These are actually not for the cameras themselves. That is actually something that we are discussing. Um we do know that we have some upgrades that we need to do with the cameras themselves but this is actually the support part of the system. Now in terms of where Helms was listed that has to do with the storage space within the server. So the new server I don't know if you're able. So for the first contract the Genitech control system um is does that cover maintenance and monitoring or is just the renewal of

that's just a renewal of the software that we use to manage all of that. So so not actual hardware. It's software. So who maintains the actual hardware? The actual hardware. We're actually working on that together. That's a a group of us actually. It's um it's Michael Booker and um Jeff Carter, Summer and I. Okay. We're working on a plan for that.

Superintendent can we ask staff if they can provide me like an update of like when it comes to Helm specifically about I'm concerned that you know we have all these cameras but they're not being functional and I just need to know is it From my what I'm understanding is not a system soft hard soft software. It's more of the hard hardware portion of hardware. Yeah. The cameras themselves itself. If we can get a status of I can share that with the board and we can bring that as a discussion item uh in the future. Thank you. Those are all my questions. Thank you.

Um Trusty Hug. Yeah. My question regarding the the cameras themselves, it's it's a very short question just about the hardware. You said the issue was with hardware. What specifically about the hardware makes those uh cameras invalid invalid or just not able to operate?

So, some of those cameras have actually aged out. Um and they and I'm not sure. I'd have to look at the list again about in terms of damage. I don't know if how they've been damaged or um which ones have been damaged, but um also some of them are old. So in the example of Helm's school, you're saying that out of 175 cameras, 160 of them either age too long or are physically damaged. I actually have not looked at the spreadsheet recently for Helms to see the numbers or just in general.

Trusty um Hung, I can we will pull that information and data for you. We don't have that information tonight, but we will definitely pull that and prepare a presentation for the board to update. Do we have any further questions? Okay, I have a question specifically to the leadership um Greenwood Academy campus. So, you guys have leadership on there. I know that they're on a different camera system or am I confused with the software development? Um, and why are they on this list?

They're on the list because they uh share a a campus with Greenwood. So, they are part of this. Yes. So, so they are still working under our network because I was under the understanding that they're on our network or I believe that that one is separate but it's all part of the the update here. Okay. So, I think that was my question. Um, do we have any public comment on this item? No public comment. Okay. Do we have a motion? I'll move that we approve items C9 and C10. I'll second.

So, we have a motion on the table by Gonzalez Hoy, second by Trusty Hernandez. Um, Trusty Hung. Yes. Trusty Whitten. Yes. Trusty Reckler. Reckler. Yes. Trusty Smith FS. Smith FS. Yes. Trusty Gonzalez Hoy. Yes. Um, Trusty Hernandez. Yes.

And Trusty Jiannis, a yes. Motion passes. Um, now we'll move on to item G. Um, this comments from the board um and future agenda items. We are 10 minutes away. So, could we limit our comments to the board to a minute? Um, do we have any comments from our board tonight? No. No. Okay. Seeing um none, we'll move on. Oh, okay. Sorry. Okay. Trusty Smith BS. Would you like me to wait for the clock?

No, you go ahead. Go ahead. You're the only I'm the only one.

You're the only comment. Thank you everyone for the opportunity to share board comments. I think that it is very important that we have every month a report on our treasury because that is the way that we are monitoring the health of our budget. So I would love to have as future agenda items that monthly we get reports about the health of our treasury, how much we have in treasury. I also think that we need to continue to be a board that is educated. So having having um information brought back to the board that's also shared with other members of the community like our principles. Our principles had amazing principles meeting where they got to deep dive into some data around our student experience. Our all student congress had the same opportunity to deep dive into that data. I would love to have presentations brought back to the board so we can have that same opportunity to have a summary and then deep dive into that data ourselves and talk about our tier one support because I believe that the only way that we are going to survive as a district and I'll just take two more seconds. The only way we're going to survive as a district because of the physical the physical uh crisis that we are in is if we all make decisions together that are going to be student centered and the best for our students and their future in this district. I am complete.

Thank you. Any further comments? Trusty regular. I'm sorry. If I could just add on to this. I don't think it's as much as what's in the treasury, but the statement of cash flows by month of how the funds are going out. So, as this data is brought back or how you decide, I think the statement of cash flows is an important part of that. Thank you. I think it should be probably just Okay, we'll move on.

Okay, we'll move now on to item H, the next schedule board of education meeting. The next um regular board of education is scheduled for March 25th, 2026 at Levana Dejan Middle School and we will adjourn tonight's regular board meeting at 9:54 p.m. Thank you everyone for joining us and we'll see you next month. We'll see you this later this month.