13.3. Recognition of the Perseverance Scholarship Recipients - Presented by the La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation

[16.1.2. Approve the Employment Contracts for the Assistant Superintendents of Business Services, Educational Services, and Human Resources Development Commencing July 1,2021 through June 30,2024]

THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS OF BUSINESS SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, COMMENCING JULY 1, 2021 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024.

[01:00:04]

>> AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST GOT PASSED A SECOND AGO WAS THE SALARY INCREASES FOR CERTIFICATED CLASSIFIED, AND MANAGEMENT AND WE'RE LEGAL ABLE TO DO THAT ON A CONSENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SALARY, IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A DISCUSSION SECTION.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH MATT, KEVIN AND SUSAN LOVE WHAT THEY DO, THEY WANT TO GET PAID.

SO THAT THEY GET THE SAME INCREASES THAT EVERYONE ELSE WOULD RECEIVE.

THEN ALSO THAT WE WOULD EXTEND THEIR CONTRACTS OUT BECAUSE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS ARE ON A CONTRACT BASED, THAT WE WOULD EXTEND THEIR CONTRACT OUT FOR THE THREE-YEAR TERM, WHICH WOULD EXTEND IT OUT TO 2024.

BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE THING AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT AND JUST THE ABILITY AND THE SKILL TO COLLABORATIVELY WORK.

IT'S A TIRELESS JOB, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T BE MORE PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE BOTH MATT, KEVIN AND SUSAN.

WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, IN LARGE PART IS BECAUSE OF THE TEAMS THAT THEY LEAD, SO I'M SUPER APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL THREE OF YOU. THANK YOU.

>> WE NEED A VOTE TO ACCEPT.

>> ANY OPPOSED? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. REPORTS FOR MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.

[17. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT]

DEREK, YOU'RE FIRST THIS EVENING.

>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE A LOT OF CONGRATULATIONS TO SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WINNING THEIR LEAGUE.

COACH JACKSON 300 WIN, MS. CASMIDA GIVING A HAND AWARD.

ALSO QUICK PLUG, ROYNON IS HAVING ELEMENTARY FUN RUN AND SOMEONE WHO WAS NICE ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO DONATE MY MONEY AND AN OPEN OFFER.

IF YOU HAVE A RUN AND YOU SEND ME AN EMAIL AND YOU ARE SUPPORTING A SCHOOL, I WILL PROBABLY SAY YES.

I AM AN EASY YES ON A RUN IF YOU EMAIL ME.

LET'S SEE. LAST MONTH WE HAD TEACHER APPRECIATION.

LAST MONTH WAS ALSO NATIONAL NURSES WEEK.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER WEEK, AND NEXT WEEK WILL BE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE WEEK.

FOR ALL THESE PROFESSIONALS WHO'VE DONE SO MUCH TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE, WHO'VE BEEN DEDICATED AND REALLY JUST DONE A LOT OF WORK IN A CHALLENGING TIME, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S DONE SO MUCH FOR US.

I'M A TEACHER BY VOCATION AND THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS I ENJOY ABOUT MY CAREER.

I ENJOY THAT AHA MOMENT WHEN A STUDENT GOES FROM NOT KNOWING SOMETHING TO KNOWING SOMETHING.

I ENJOY TO SEE WORK ETHICS AND PARADIGM SHIFTS WHEN KIDS DECIDE TO REALLY PUT FORTH THE EFFORT AND TAKE WORK SERIOUSLY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO, AND I THINK AS A BOARD MEMBER, I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS AS WELL, IS WHEN YOU SEE YOUR FORMER STUDENTS ACHIEVE SOMETHING AMAZING.

WHETHER THEY WILL GO INTO MED SCHOOL, WHETHER THEY START THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND BECOME A PLUMBER, THESE THINGS WHEN I ACTUALLY GET TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEM, ARE VERY, VERY JUST INSPIRING BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD A PART IN THEIR SUCCESS.

THEY EARNED IT, BUT I'VE HELPED THEM IN THAT ENDEAVOR.

WE HAD SOME AMAZING PEOPLE WHO'VE REALLY DONATED A LOT OF TIME TO REPRESENT THEIR SCHOOL.

THE THREE STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I AM SURE JUST LOOKING AT HOW GOOD OF A JOB THEY HAVE DONE, THEY CARRIED THEMSELVES VERY WELL, THEY COMMUNICATED CLEARLY.

THEY REALLY DID A GOOD JOB IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF COMMUNICATION AND I'M SURE THAT I'LL BE SEEING THEM SOMEWHERE DOING SOMETHING AMAZING.

I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> GOOD EVENING. I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT I AM NOT A POLITICIAN.

ABOVE ALL, I'M A MOM AND AN ADVOCATE.

I STRUGGLE EVERY DAY BEING A PART OF THIS SYSTEM THAT HAS TO FOLLOW A HEALTH ORDER THAT GOVERNS OUR CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO BREATHE AND BODY BY REMOVING PARENTAL CHOICE AND MANDATING FACE MASKS.

ALTHOUGH OUR BOARD CANNOT TAKE ACTION ON THIS MANDATE TONIGHT, I REFUSE TO STAY QUIET.

I MAY NOT SAY IT EXACTLY HOW EVERYONE WOULD LIKE, BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THIS.

THE REASON I CONTINUE TO SPEAK ABOUT THEM IS BECAUSE I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS TAKING ACTION BY CONTACTING OUR LOCAL POLITICIANS, VOICING THEIR CONCERNS AND INQUIRING ABOUT WHERE THEY STAND SO THAT OUR FUTURE VOTES CAN ALIGN.

WE HIDE BEHIND COUNTY AND STATE REQUIREMENTS TO EXCUSE OUR LACK OF ACTION AND TO MAKE OURSELVES FEEL BETTER.

BUT I FOR ONE DO NOT FEEL OKAY.

WE ARE 14 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC.

[01:05:03]

WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND NEED TO ADAPT TO THE FACTS THAT WE NOW KNOW.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO STAY SILENT.

WE ALL NEED TO BE SPEAKING OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I HEARD TODAY THAT GAVIN NEWSOM SAID THE MASK MANDATE WILL END JUNE 15TH.

IT WAS A LITTLE VAGUE FOR ME.

THIS EVENING, I'LL BE CALLING FOR AN ACTION ITEM TO BE ADDED TO THE JUNE 16TH MEETING TO REMOVE THE MASK MANDATE PLACED ON TK THROUGH 12, GIVING THE PARENTS BACK THE CONTROL OVER THE HEALTH OF THEIR CHILD AND CHILDREN.

THIS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IS NOT CURRENTLY WITH OUR CITIES ELECTED OFFICIALS, BOARD OF EDUCATION, OR TEACHERS.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER TO DO WHAT IS BEST AND SUPPORT UNMASKING OUR CHILDREN.

THIS QUOTE BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAYS IT BEST.

"HISTORY WILL HAVE TO RECORD THAT THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF THIS PERIOD OF SOCIAL TRANSITION WAS NOT THE STRIDENT CLAMOR OF THE BAD PEOPLE, BUT THE APPALLING SILENCE OF THE GOOD PEOPLE." I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, BEING LEADERS FOR THEIR SCHOOLS, AND FOR MAKING THE MOST OUT OF THEIR CHALLENGING YEAR.

YOU'VE GROWN A LOT, LEARNED A LOT, MISSED OUT ON A LOT, MADE THE MOST OF IT, AND DID IT LIKE NO OTHER CLASS BEFORE YOU.

SOME HAVE A STORY, BUT YOU CLASS OF 2021 HAVE MADE HISTORY.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE AMAZING STAFF AND TEACHERS AND EVERYONE THAT WAS HERE TONIGHT RECEIVING AWARDS.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR THE THREE OF YOU TO APPROVE THE INCREASE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE THIS WHOLE YEAR AS GOOD AS IT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN.

[LAUGHTER] YOUR ABILITY TO BE FLUID AND COMPROMISING AND CHANGE ON A MINUTE'S NOTICE, IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU.

>> FALLING IN LINE WITH THE THEME OF THE NIGHT, SO MUCH VARIOUS APPRECIATION, I WANT TO GET IN ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW WE ASKED A LOT OF OUR STAFF THIS YEAR, WE SHUT DOWN ALL AT ONCE AND WE'RE OPENING CAUTIOUSLY.

WE ACTUALLY EVEN MOVED FROM DISTANCE LEARNING TO HYBRID FROM TWO DAYS A WEEK TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK, CHANGING YOUR METHODS AND SCHEDULES A LOT.

I KNOW THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH OUR KIDS TO GIVE THEM THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.

MY KIDS ARE SO EXCITED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

THEIR GRADES ARE COMING UP, THEY'RE DOING MORE WORK, AND THEIR HAPPINESS IS SHOWING MORE AND MORE.

THEY GET TO KNOW THEIR TEACHERS, THEY FINALLY GET TO SEE FRIENDS MORE THAN JUST A BOX.

BUT THE THING THAT MY SON LOVES MOST OF ALL AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HIS TEACHERS OR SEEING HIS FRIENDS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE LUNCH.

[LAUGHTER] SERIOUSLY.

YESTERDAY, I GUESS THEY SERVED CHEESE PILLOWS, WHICH HAS BEEN NOW HIS FAVORITE FOOD EVER.

I THOUGHT THAT I WAS A GOOD COOK, HE'S PICKY ABOUT HIS SUSHI RESTAURANTS AND HIS CUTS OF STEAK, BUT CHEESE PILLOWS ON TUESDAY WINS THE GAMBIT FOR THAT.

MY SON IS HAPPY TO BE BACK AND HE'S LOOKING FOR NEXT MONTH WHEN THAT'S ON THE MENU AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ELSE, THE CLASSIFIED STAFF, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT WON THE AWARD, BUT THE OTHER HUNDREDS OUT THERE, YOU DO MAKE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DISTRICT STRONG, JUST LIKE THE HEAD FOUNDATION SAID.

THE ADVENTS, BOTH AT SITES AND AT THE DISTRICTS, WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE IS THAT YOU GUYS LEAD STAFF IN A VERY POSITIVE COLLABORATION MODEL, AND CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT.

HAPPY APPRECIATIONS TO THE NURSES.

I KNOW THIS YEAR HAS BEEN INTENSE FOR ALL THE NURSES OUT THERE, AND TEACHERS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.

ALL YOUR WORK REALLY DOES SHOW, AND WE SEE WITH THE US NEWS BOTH BONITA AND SAN DIMAS GOT NATIONALLY RANKED, CHA VISTA IS A MODEL SCHOOL, SAN DIMAS HIGH GOT A SIX-YEAR [INAUDIBLE] ACCREDITATION, AND THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF A SIX-YEAR.

MOSTLY, WE GET FOUR.

THE HONDA AWARD. THANKS ALSO TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE REALLY STUCK WITH IT.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN MOST HARD ON YOU AND [LAUGHTER] YOUR PERSEVERANCE SHOWS.

BUT WE'VE SEEN A LOT JUST WITH THE STUDENTS THAT WERE HERE TONIGHT.

DESTINY FROM CHAPARRAL, YOU GOT YOUR WHOLE PLAN LAID OUT, STUDENTS LIKE YOU AND YOUR STAFF, NO QUESTION WHY YOU GUYS ARE A MODEL SCHOOL.

[INAUDIBLE] WELCOME, MEGAN, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING JORDAN YOU'RE ON YOUTUBE WITH YOUR WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS, CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL, AND FOR LAUREN, YOU'RE REALLY RUNNING THINGS AT SAN DIMAS IS HIGH, NOT JUST ON THE TRACK LITERALLY, BUT ALSO FIGURATIVELY WITH ALL YOUR OFFICES, GOOD LUCK IN ALABAMA, THANK YOU GUYS.

>> I LIKE TO ECHO EVERYONE'S THANKS WITHOUT REPEATING THEM ALL.

[LAUGHTER] WE SIT UP HERE VOTE AND LISTEN TO PRESENTATIONS BUT YOU'RE THE ONES THAT RUN THE DISTRICT.

[01:10:05]

WE DON'T REALLY RUN THE DISTRICT.

WE KNOW IT, WE'D LIKE TO THINK WE DO BUT WE DON'T.

[BACKGROUND] BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR, I GET TO REALLY TALK ABOUT SPORTS [LAUGHTER].

WE GOT TEAMS RANKED IN CIF, WE GOT TEAMS RANKED LOCALLY, WE GOT TEAMS PLAYING TONIGHT IN CIF AND IT'S BEEN A LONG WAY FOR THESE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK OUT THERE AND COMPETE.

REALISTICALLY, THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THEM STAY IN SCHOOL FOR, IT'S THE SPORTS.

THAT'S WHAT DRIVES THEM TO KEEP THEIR GRADES UP BECAUSE THEY CAN'T COMPETE IF THEY DON'T KEEP THEIR GRADES UP.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE BACK, IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR.

ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE COACH GARY JACKSON.

HE'S A GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL COACH TO SAN DIMAS, IT IS 300 TO WIN THE OTHER NIGHT.

IN ADDITION TO COACHING THE GIRLS' BASKETBALL, HE ALSO IS THE HEAD TRACK COACH FOR SPRINTS.

I'VE KNOWN GARY SINCE ABOUT 2004 WHEN MY KIDS STARTED AT SAN DIMAS, AND HE'S A GREAT COACH BUT HE'S A BETTER PERSON.

IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO GARY FOR A LITTLE BIT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD THESE ON ANYMORE AND YOU CAN JUST SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO HIM.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR BARGAINING UNITS FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO REOPEN FOUR DAYS A WEEK AS EASY AS COULD BE.

THEY HAD NO UNREASONABLE DEMANDS, EVERYTHING THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WAS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS IN GETTING BACK, AND THAT'S HUGE BECAUSE IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, YOU KNOW A LOT OF PLACES, THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY TRUE.

OUR EMPLOYEES' BIGGEST CONCERN WAS GETTING THE SCHOOLS OPEN SAFELY FOR THE KIDS.

YOU HEARD MENTIONED TONIGHT, PROMS, BOTH COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE HAVING THEIR PROMS THIS YEAR WHICH I THINK A MONTH AGO, THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN-PERSON GRADUATIONS AND PROMOTIONS WHICH IS REALLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT AND THOSE WHO WILL EXPERIENCE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT'LL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, BUT THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR IS GETTING THERE FOR THAT.

SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AND BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE REALLY NICE THINGS ABOUT BEING ON THE BOARD IS HEARING AND SEEING ALL THE RECOGNITIONS AND ALL THE GREAT, WONDERFUL THINGS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING.

IT JUST REALLY REFLECTS ON WHAT A REALLY WONDERFUL AND SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY WE HAVE HERE AT BONITA UNIFIED.

IT'S REALLY A GIFT TO BE HEARING SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS HERE AT THIS MEETING BECAUSE SOMETIMES DURING THE WEEK WE HEAR THINGS THAT AREN'T THAT WONDERFUL.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO GET THIS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND TO BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL THING WE CALL BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I'M JUST GOING TO COMMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IN THE PAST, SEVERAL OF US ON THE BOARD PROBABLY SPEND TOO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT FACEBOOK, BUT A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS AND THE GROUPS USE FACEBOOK TO COMMUNICATE AND WE WOULD UPON OCCASION LIKE IT OR LEAVE A COMMENT OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL COMMUNICATIONS TOOL.

ONE OF THE STATE LAWS THAT REGULATE HOW SCHOOL BOARDS FUNCTION IS CALLED THE BROWN ACT AND IN THE BROWN ACT, THREE OR MORE BOARD MEMBERS ARE FORBIDDEN FROM DISCUSSING ANY SCHOOL BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF A REGULAR CALLED AGENDA IS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND SO EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE FOLKS IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THIS AT THE STATE-LEVEL SAID THAT A BOARD MEMBER LIKING SOMEONE'S COMMENT, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER JUST LIKING AND FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER, COULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.

IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE'VE ALL, I THINK PRETTY MUCH QUIT COMMENTING, SO PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AND VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE GREAT COMMENTS AND WONDERFUL THINGS THAT'S AGAIN, ANOTHER GOOD PLACE TO PASS ALL THE GOOD NEWS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT, BUT WE'RE NOT COMMENTING, NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T APPRECIATE IT AND WE DON'T LIKE TO, AND WE DON'T WANT TO, IT'S JUST IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE DON'T WANT TO RUN ANY RISK OF VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR THIS EVENING, CARL.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK ALL OF YOU SAID IT BEST.

THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING GOING JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE COMMENTS.

GOING BACK TO FOUR DAYS AFTER A MONTH OF GOING TO TWO DAYS,

[01:15:01]

AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T STEERING.

SCHOOL DISTRICT ISN'T A SPEED BOAT.

IT DEFINITELY IS A TANKER, IT TAKES A WHILE TO TURN THAT SHIP AND WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO BACK TO FOUR DAYS, I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT WAS A BIG ASK OF ME TO WORK WITH THE STAFF ON THIS, KNOWING THAT THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TRANSITION, BUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, BECAUSE EACH STEP THAT WE TAKE, IT'S ONE STEP CLOSER TOWARDS LIFE THAT WE KNEW PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AND EQUALLY IT IS IMPORTANT, IT'S ONE STEP CLOSER IN THE HEALING PROCESS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US, WE ALWAYS KNEW, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FALL THAT THE REOPENING WOULD BE A LOT HARDER THAN SHUTTING DOWN, AND WE ALSO KNOW WELCOMING BACK ALL OUR STUDENTS NEXT YEAR FULL TIME, BACK TO LIFE BEFORE WE KNEW THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO THERE TOO, WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU, OVER THE NEXT COMING MONTHS, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN SOME OF THE UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS, BUT I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT IT'S ON OUR FOREFRONT AND THAT OUR TARGET IS CLEAR, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US BUT NEXT YEAR, WE WILL EVEN BE STRONGER THAN THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 18,

[18. REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC]

REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, ANY PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK MAY BE GRANTED UP TO THREE MINUTES, PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CARD WHICH MAY BE PICKED UP FROM MCDONALD SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, ANY PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARD SHOULD FIRST STATE THEIR NAME, ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISTRICT AND ADDRESS, AND THIS EVENING WE WILL BE USING A TIMER THAT WILL BE VISIBLE ON BOTH SCREENS, AND AT THE END OF THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF.

FIRST UP WE HAVE HOLLY JONES.

[BACKGROUND]

>> HOLLY, BEFORE YOU BEGIN, WHAT'S YOUR DOG'S NAME?

>> HAILEY.

>> HAILEY, IT'S AWESOME.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS HOLLY JONES AND I ATTENDED THE NAVY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT K THROUGH NINTH GRADE, GLADSTONE ELEMENTARY, LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND FRESHMAN YEAR AT SANTA YNEZ HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AND ALL THE BULLYING I ENDURED.

WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH K THROUGH FIVE.

I WAS IN A GROUP THAT WAS LITERALLY CALLED "MEAN GIRLS".

IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THE MOVIE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, IT WAS MEAN GIRLS.

THEN ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, I WAS ALL READY BEING BULLIED ABOUT MY HAIR BY A, [NOISE] NAME IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT THAT ENDURED TILL FOURTH GRADE WITHOUT ANYONE DOING ANYTHING.

ALTHOUGH ALL THE COMMENTS WERE VERY SMALL, THEY BUILDED UP TO MAJOR PANIC ATTACKS AND OTHERS I WILL TALK ABOUT.

THEN IN SIX THROUGH EIGHTH, I GOT AN IC DUMPED ON MY HEAD AT SANTA YNEZ FOOTBALL GAME.

I HAD RACKET BALLS THROWN AT MY BACK WHILE RUNNING MILES AND I WAS EVEN CALLED AN EVIL STEPSISTER BECAUSE I DYED MY HAIR RED.

ON THE NIGHT OF EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION, I HAD SO MUCH TRAUMA THAT I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS AND NOTES TO ALL MY FAMILY MEMBERS AND I'D PLANNED TO TAKE MY LIFE THAT NIGHT.

THAT'S HOW MUCH TRAUMA JUST FROM 6-8TH GRADE I HAD THAT I DIDN'T THINK I WAS WORTH ANYTHING.

THEN I TRIED TO GO TO FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT DID NOT GO WELL.

I DIDN'T EVEN ATTEND TWO MONTHS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE'LL START WITH COACH CHIPONY.

I WAS SELF-HARMING VERY HEAVILY AND I WAS ON THE FRESH TEAM OF VOLLEYBALL AND WE WERE DOING A DRILL AND SHE COULD CLEARLY SEE ALL THE CUTS ON MY ARMS AND SAID NOTHING.

SHE LOOKED AT THEM AND KEPT GOING.

THEN MISS ATKINS [LAUGHTER] SAID, "IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO COME TO SCHOOL, WE CAN JUST SEND A POLICE OFFICER TO YOUR HOUSE AND DRAG YOU OUT OF BED." I DIDN'T NOT, NOT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, I WAS TERRIFIED OF SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFE PLACE, IT WAS NOT SAFE.

[01:20:02]

I HAVE PTSD NOW WHEN IT GETS HOT, I HATE HOT, I USED TO LOVE IT.

WHENEVER I DRIVE PAST SANTA YNEZ, I HAVE A PANIC ATTACK AND I DRIVE PAST SANTA YNEZ HIGH SCHOOL AND LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL EVERY DAY TO GET TO MY NEW SCHOOL.

PEOPLE OF MY AGE, WHEN I WALK NEAR THEM, I HAVE A PANIC ATTACK AND LARGE GROUPS.

I HAVE ENDURED SO MUCH NOW AND I HAVE A SERVICE DOG BECAUSE I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS EVERY NIGHT AND HAVE SO MUCH TRAUMA AND I THINK YOU GUYS COULD DO A LOT BETTER AND TAKE FROM MY STORY.

THANK YOU. [NOISE]

>> STACY SEVERSON.

>> HELLO, I'M STACY SEVERSON, I AM LA VERNE RESIDENT.

MY CHILDREN GO TO RAMONA JUNIOR HIGH AND LA VERNE HEIGHTS, SORRY, BUT SHE'S AMAZING.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING, HONEY, BECAUSE THESE KIDS DON'T GET TO TALK. MINE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I THINK TOO OFTEN RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR A BATTLE TO FIGHT, IF IT'S NOT ONE THING, IT'S ANOTHER.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I'M INNOCENT IN ALL OF THIS, BUT IT'S WHAT HAS BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY.

A MONTH AGO, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO USE MY VOICE AND SPEAK ON CONCERNS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT REGARDING ATTENDING SCHOOL FULL TIME AND EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION.

I WAS ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED AND FELT MUTED AS A PARENT AND HONESTLY AS A PERSON UNTIL THEN.

THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WAS UNREAL.

I'VE RECEIVED COUNTLESS TEXT MESSAGES AND CALLS THANKING ME FOR SPEAKING UP FOR THOSE THAT FELT IT WAS USELESS.

IN A WORLD FULL OF NEGATIVITY, I CAME HERE TO HUMBLY SAY THANK YOU.

SPECIFICALLY TO SUPERINTENDENT CARL COLES.

CARL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL HEARD AND MAKING ME FEEL LIKE A PARTNER FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THOUGH I'M SURE MY THREE-MINUTE RAMP OF THINGS YOU WERE ALL READY CONSIDERING WAS NOT LIFE-ALTERING.

I DO FEEL THAT YOU WERE GENUINE IN YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH ME.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING? YES. DO I FEEL LIKE IT IS IN YOUR PERSONAL POWER TO CHANGE THEM IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS? NO. I WANT TO ENSURE I TAUGHT MY KIDS THAT WHEN YOU FIGHT FOR SOMETHING AND YOU GET IT, YOU'RE GRATEFUL.

AT THIS POINT, I AM GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE THREE WEEKS OF WATCHING MY CHILDREN BE HAPPY AGAIN, WATCHING THEM JUMP OUT OF BED TO GET TO SCHOOL EARLY, HAVING THEM BE EXCITED TO COME HOME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR DAY AND ACTUALLY HAVING MY TWO PREVIOUSLY INSEPARABLE CHILDREN START TO MISS EACH OTHER AGAIN.

I'M TRYING TO TAKE THE WINDS WHILE CHOOSING MY BATTLES ON THE THINGS I FEEL YOU AND I CAN IMPACT.

I WILL SAY I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PROTESTS HAPPENING NEXT WEEK ABOUT UNMASKING THE KIDS AND I JUST ASK THAT IF LA COUNTY MAKES THAT CHANGE, THAT WE FOLLOW SUIT SWIFTLY.

NOW, FOR MY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

THANK YOU FOR GETTING MY CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR HOSTING A PROMOTION FOR OUR EIGHTH GRADE CLASS BECAUSE THEY'VE EARNED IT.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING A MOM USE HER VOICE AND ACTUALLY TAKE ACTIONS ON THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A NORMAL, MASKLESS YEAR NEXT YEAR, AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN AUGUST. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 19, FUTURE MEETING DATES.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON. THANK YOU, STACY, FOR YOUR COMMENTS TOO.

HOLLY, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND THE COURAGE TO DO THAT.

I'VE JUST BEEN SITTING HERE THINKING, WOULD YOU MEET WITH ME AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOUR PARENTS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN, TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES, WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET BETTER AT IT.

I'D LOVE TO DO THAT. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO THAT?

>> YES.

>> OKAY, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. WE WILL SET THAT UP.

>> YOU'RE SO BRAVE.

>> THANK YOU.

NUMBER 19 FUTURE MEETING DATES.

[19.1. The Next Regular Board of Education Meeting Dates]

THE NEXT SPECIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL BE ON JUNE 1, 2021.

THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL BE ON JUNE 16, 2021.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS?

[20. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS]

>> I WANT TO ADD AN ACTION ITEM ON JUNE 16TH TO REMOVE THE MASK MANDATE DISTRICT WIDE.

>> I THINK THERE'S NO MANDATE FROM THE DISTRICT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST FALLING THE HEALTH ORDERS.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON HERE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO LIFT BECAUSE THERE'S NO, ON OUR END OF IT, IT'S REALLY AN ORDER THAT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW FROM THE STATE IN THE COUNTY.

THAT'S JUST MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE GROUP BECAUSE OTHERWISE, AN ACTION ITEM OF THAT NATURE WOULD BE GOING AGAINST A VIOLATION OF THE CALIFORNIA LAW AT THIS TIME AND THEN THE COUNTY PROTOCOLS.

>> HOW CAN WE WORD IT SO THAT IT WOULD BE AN ACTION ITEM THAT WE COULD.

[01:25:08]

>> MY RECOMMENDATION, WE WAIT TILL THE JUNE 15TH DATE AND SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR IF THEY'RE JUST GOING TO LIFT IT ALTOGETHER.

WHAT'S BEING INDICATED RIGHT NOW IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUST LIFTING IT.

THERE WON'T BE A MANDATE ANYMORE ON OUR END, IF THEY SAY, "HEY, EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO HAVE AN ACTION ITEM FOR IT." THEN YOU'D WANT TO TAKE IT FORWARD.

THE ONLY OTHER ACTION ITEM AT THAT POINT, IF THEY LIFT IT WOULD BE FOR OUR BOARD TO TAKE ACTION TO, REMEMBER, BOARD CAN BE MORE RESTRICTIVE.

UNLESS THERE'S AN ACTION ITEM TO PUT A MASK ON, THERE WOULDN'T BE WANT TO TAKE ONE OFF AT THIS TIME.

>> IT WOULD HAPPEN ANYWAY IF WE DON'T BUILD ON IT.

>> MY CONCERN IS THAT HE LIFTS.

I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE 15TH AND THEN I'LL.

>> THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING TO LIFT.

IF THEY TAKE THE MASK MANDATE AWAY AND LET'S JUST HYPOTHETICALLY SAY AS BOARD YOU SAY NO, WE WANT TO KEEP IT.

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A MANDATE TO TAKE IT AWAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO ACTION ITEM BEING PROPOSED TO DO EITHER ONE.

I THINK WE JUST GOT TO WAIT FOR THE GOVERNOR AND IF HE LIFTS IT, THEN IT'S NO LONGER OUR MANDATE.

IT'S NOT A MANDATE BY THE DISTRICT AT THIS TIME.

>> OKAY. STORY OF MY LIFE.

>> SURE.

>> I OWN HIM.

>> WE'RE GOOD. WE WILL ADJOURN AT 6:26.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Bonita USD, CA

May 12, 2021 Regular Board Meeting

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