[00:00:01]
>> IN ACCORDANCE WITH AB 2449 BOARD MEMBER,
[2. CALL TO ORDER]
JIM ELLIOT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US VIA ZOOM THIS EVENING DUE TO THE WORK COMMITMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PRISONS, A STATE AGENCY.MR. ELLIOT WILL PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM THROUGH CLOSED SESSION ONLY AND WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN OPEN SESSION.
>> THANK YOU, GLENN. I'M CONFIRMING TO EVERYONE IN A GALLERY THAT NO ONE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IS PRESENT IN THIS ROOM.
>> AS REQUIRED, THE BOARD MUST APPROVE THE REQUEST.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND?
>> WE WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, DEREK?
>> REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS, PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS, THE BOARD MAY LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM TO 20 MINUTES.
THE PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM MAY BE GRANTED UP TO THREE MINUTES AT THE TIME THE ITEM APPEARS ON THE AGENDA.
IN THE CASE OF NON-AGENDA ITEMS, COMMENTS MAY BE MADE UNDER REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CARD WHICH MAY BE PICKED UP FROM MACDONALD, SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THE PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARDS SHOULD FIRST STATE THEIR NAME AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISTRICT.
AS MR. ELLIOT IS JOINING US VIA ZOOM THROUGH CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH AB 2449, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC NOT IN ATTENDANCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS ONLY MAY NOW DO SO VIA THE ZOOM LINK ON THE SCREEN.
PLEASE LOG IN NOW, WAIT FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR TO LET YOU IN.
WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LOG IN.
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS FOR CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
WE'LL TAKE A TWO-MINUTE RECESS.
[5. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA]
CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 4:37.[7. CALL TO ORDER]
WE WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT 6:04 AND BOARD MEMBER JIM ELLIOT IS NO LONGER AN ATTENDANCE VIA ZOOM, SO THE LINK IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.[8. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION]
>> IN CLOSED SESSION, THE BOARD TOOK ACTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYMENT OF ANNE NEAL AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.
THE MOTION WAS MADE BY CHRISTIANE HORSEY WITH THE SECOND BY GREG PALATTO, AND THE ROLL CALL VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEIL HAS WORKED HERE IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE 2007.
SHE'S BEEN PRINCIPLE OF REMOTE A MIDDLE SCHOOL, MOST CURRENTLY SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION.
WELL, HERE IN THOSE YEARS, SHE'S BEEN A PIVOTAL FORCE IN HELPING TO CREATE OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM, WHICH RANKS IN THE TOP 10% OF ALL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM CAL POLY POMONA AND HER MASTER'S DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING AND WELCOMING ANNE TO THIS NEW POSITION. [APPLAUSE]
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EXECUTIVE CABINET FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MATT, I KNOW THAT I HAVE VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING IN BONITA UNIFIED FOR 17 YEARS.
I GET TO SPEND 10 OF THOSE YEARS AS PRINCIPLED RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE I HAD THE HONOR OF BUILDING A COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A CERTIFICATED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF WITH WHOM I LEARNED AND GREW.
THERE I WORKED WITH SOME OF THE FINEST TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED STAFF, AND TO THIS DAY I CONSIDER THEM THE VERY BEST OF THE BEST.
FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, I'VE SERVED ON THE ED SERVICES TEAM AND I'M THANKFUL TO THE ENTIRE ED SERVICES GROUP WHO TAUGHT ME SO MUCH.
OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING IN THIS ROLE, I ENJOYED WORKING WITH ALL THE SECONDARY ADMINISTRATORS AND MANY OF THE MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ENGAGED IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS WITH ME TO BETTER THEIR CRAFT AND IMPROVED LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I MOVE INTO THIS NEW POSITION HOPING TO CONTINUE THE TRAJECTORY OF EXCELLENCE AND TO CONTINUE TO FURTHER THE DISTRICT GOALS OF EQUITY MASTERY AND FOCUS ON RESULTS.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THANKS TO MY HUSBAND CHRIS, WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE AND GIVEN ME THE MANY PEARLS OF WISDOM OF A COACH, AND MY PARENTS WHO ARE MY BIGGEST FANS.
HI TO MY DAUGHTER WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE WATCHING VIA LIVE STREAM.
IF SHE GOT A BETTER OFFER, SHE'S PROBABLY NOT.
[LAUGHTER] A HUGE THANKS TO THE WORK FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE IN SUPPORT TONIGHT.
[00:05:01]
YOU'RE THE VERY BEST.THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. [APPLAUSE]
>> SHE GETS TO COME UP, SIT UP FRONT.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WE'RE GOING TO RESORT TO SOMETHING WE USED TO DO YEARS AGO AND ASK SOMEONE TO LEAD IT FOR US.
MRS. NEIL, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
[10. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER AND CONTENT]
ORDER, AND CONTENT.>> APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS.
[11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING]
ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 1ST, 2023 REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.>> POST ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 15TH, 2023 SPECIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.
>> OPPOSED? UNDER COMMUNICATIONS
[12. COMMUNICATIONS FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES]
FROM OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AND WE'LL START WITH GRISHAM.>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AND AUDIENCE.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE COME TO UPDATE YOU ON MY AMAZING SCHOOL, BUT I ASSURE YOU WE HAVEN'T STOPPED MOVING.
WE HAD OUR CDS, BOARDWALK DANCE, WHICH WAS AN ABSOLUTE HIT WITH THE STUDENTS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN I BELIEVE FOUR YEARS, WE NOT ONLY MET OUR TICKET GOALS FOR THE STANCE BUT FAR EXCEEDED THEM.
WE ALSO HAD OUR EIGHTH-GRADE RALLY FOR THE RAMONA EIGHTH GRADERS AND GOT TO SHOWCASE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS ON CAMPUS AND AN ACTION-PACKED RALLY FOR THEM TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.
OUR BASEBALL TEAM IS IN SEASON AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE RANKED 10TH IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 11-IN-FOUR RECORD.
OUR SOFTBALL TEAM HAS AN IMPRESSIVE SEVEN IN TWO RECORD, AND WE ARE TRYING TO REPEAT THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP RUN FROM LAST YEAR.
OUR JUNIORS RECENTLY TOOK THE SAT THIS PAST MONTH AND OUR APEX FRESHMEN HAD THEIR BAP NIGHT WHERE THEY SHOWCASED THEIR QUARTER THREE PROJECTS, WHICH WERE ROLLERCOASTERS THAT THEY FULLY 100% DESIGNED THEMSELVES.
FROM THE STORYLINE TO ALL THE MECHANICS AROUND THEM.
OUR CULINARY PROGRAM COMPETED IN THE PRO START COMPETITION IN PLACED FOURTH IN THE STATE.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED THEIR FOOD, THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN FIRST.
OUR DISTRICT COMPETITION TEAM WON FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE COMPETITION AT KNOTS BERRY FARM, AND HAVE QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS, WHICH HAPPEN LATER IN MAY.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BONITA'S THEATER OR MUSICAL, LEGALLY BLONDE IS GOING TO BE AT THE BCA ON THE 27TH, 28TH, AND 29TH, AND TICKETS ARE SELLING OUT FAST.
I BELIEVE THE 27TH IS ALREADY SOLD OUT.
OUR DRUM LINE PROGRAM IS NOW THE FIRST PROGRAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO BE BACK-TO-BACK SCPA FINALISTS.
THIS YEAR WE ENTER THE TOYOTA ARENA IN ONTARIO THIS SATURDAY AT SEVENTH PLACE OUT OF 53 SCHOOLS.
FINALLY, WE HAD ELECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR'S ASB.
LAST YEAR, I WAS IN ONE OF THE TIGHTEST COMPETITIONS BY WINNING ONLY 0.3%.
THIS YEAR, THE POSITION WENT UNOPPOSED.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT THE SCHOOL YEAR COMING TO A CLOSE, BONITA HAS NO INTENTIONS OF SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TRULY MEMORABLE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING. SUPERINTENDENT, WAYNE, PRESENT IN CRIME AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CABINET MEMBERS AND AUDIENCE.
CELEBRATIONS, AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS.
CONGRATULATION TO MRS. SCOFIELD, OUR PHENOMENAL REGISTRAR ON SELECTION AS DISTRICT CLASSIFIED STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR.
MRS. SCOFIELD WAS RECOGNIZED AT OUR THIRD QUARTER RENAISSANCE ASSEMBLY AS A SITE LEVEL CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AND WAS LATER SELECTED AS OUR DISTRICT-WIDE CLASSIFIED STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR.
WE LOVE MRS. SCOFIELD AND WILL MISS HER AS SHE'S RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AT OUR ASSEMBLY, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE MR. CASEY AS OUR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE OF
[00:10:05]
THE YEAR AND MR. MATSUMOTO AS OUR CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.ACADEMICS, COLLEGE, AND CAREER PREPARATION.
ELEVEN MORE SENIORS WILL PRESENT THEIR SENIOR PROJECTS ON APRIL 25TH.
THIS WILL BRING A TOTAL TO 50 SENIOR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE YEAR.
SENIORS COMPLETED THEIR SHARK TANK PROJECTS PRESENTATION ON MARCH 29TH IN ECONOMICS.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR AND UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS AND REWARDS THAT COME WITH OWNING AND OPERATING A BUSINESS.
THEY COLLABORATED WITH THEIR PEERS TO CONSTRUCT A SALES PITCH THAT REQUIRES THEM TO LET THEIR INVESTORS KNOW WHAT THEIR PRODUCT IS, WHY IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY, WHO THEIR INTENDED AUDIENCE WOULD BE, AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MARKET TO THAT AUDIENCE.
WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO MRS. BONDMAN FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND MEMBERS OF ROTARY WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO SIT ON OUR PANEL OF SHARKS.
CONGRATS TO OUR WINNERS, VALERIE, CAPTAIN, AIDEN QUINTANA AND AIDEN SKALSY MORRISON.
CAST TESTING BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH TESTING IN ELA AND SCIENCE.
MATH TESTING WILL FOLLOW NEXT WEEK.
ART. THIS CREDIT ART WE ARE WORKING ON ESSAYS AS PART OF WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM.
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WRITE ONE ESSAY PER SEMESTER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON ARTISTS RESEARCH PAPERS.
ACTIVITIES. TRADITIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK PRIOR TO SPRING BREAK, SELECTED STUDENTS COMPETE FOR THE TITLE PICK OF THE LITTER.
STUDENTS ARE VOTED ON STAFF TO COMPETE IN SCHOOL SPIRIT AND PROBLEM-SOLVING LUNCHTIME ACTIVITIES IN TEAMS OF TWO.
EVENTS INCLUDE BALLOON STOMP, DODGE BALL, THROWING RINGS AROUND YOUR PARTNERS UNICORN HORN, AND FINALLY AN EASTER EGG HUNT.
THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S PICK OF THE LITTER WERE SEBASTIAN KIRIO AND HIS PARTNER, ME, I NEVER LOSE [LAUGHTER] ON MARCH 30TH, 14 STUDENTS INTENDED THE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP, THE DISNEY WAY AT DISNEYLAND.
STUDENTS LEARN ALL ABOUT THE TREATS AND CORE VALUES OF A SUCCESSFUL LEADER.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP, OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, LEARNING HOW TO BE AN ASSERTIVE AND FAIR LEADER, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION.
WE SEND STUDENTS TO THIS EVENT EACH YEAR TO BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TO BE PREPARED TO BE A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE LEADERS ON CAMPUS NEXT YEAR.
NEXT WEEK WILL BE TIE DYING T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS AT LUNCH.
ON FRIDAY, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING TIE-DAY FRIDAY WEARING OUR RECENTLY TIE DYED CREATIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING FOOD FEST 23.
EACH DAY OF THAT WEEK, MEMBERS OF OUR CULINARY CLASSES WILL BE COMPETING TO QUALIFY FOR THE FINAL CHOP COMPETITION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE THAT FRIDAY.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY OF THAT WEEK, WE ARE HOLDING OUR ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FOOD DAY.
SPORTS. AFTER SEVERAL POSTPONEMENT, WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO PLAY A LEAGUE SOFTBALL GAME.
THIS WEEK WE PLAYED A GREAT GAME AND WON AGAINST MA OLIVE.
WE HAVE A STRONG TEAM THIS YEAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT GAME ON APRIL 17TH AGAINST SIERRA HIGH SCHOOL AT MARTIAN PARK.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR SINGLE ELIMINATION CORN WHOLE TOURNAMENT.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 14 TEAMS REMAINING.
WE HAVE EIGHT EARLY GRADUATES THIS YEAR AND THE REST OF US ARE WORKING HARD TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GRADUATION ON JUNE 6TH.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE, BOARD MEMBERS AND ATTENDING AUDIENCE AND STAFF.
OUR 4A'S AT SANTA YNEZ HIGH SCHOOL HAD BEEN EXCELLING.
FOR OUR ACADEMICS, THE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A 2023 CIF SOUTHERN SECTION FOR TEAM ACADEMIC CHAMPIONS.
THEY HAD THE HIGHEST GRADE POINT AVERAGE IN THE CIF SOUTHERN SECTION FOR ALL TENNIS PROGRAMS. ALL OF OUR OTHER SPORTS RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTIONS.
THE STUDENT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION STUDENTS RECENTLY COMPLETED AN INTENSIVE UNIT ON CYBERSECURITY, WHICH CULMINATES IN A CAPTURE-THE-FLAG COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY.
CINDY TIEN, AND CRYSTAL LEE FINISHED TOP 8% WORLDWIDE.
WE ALSO HAD SIX OTHER OF OUR STUDENTS THAT FINISHED 10%.
NEXT WEEK WE START OUR STATE TESTING.
MR. HANGER HAS CHALLENGED THE STUDENTS AND STAFF TO CREATE A SHORT 10-15 SECOND VIDEO MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO DO WELL IN THE STATE TESTS AND GIVE SOME TEST-TAKING TIPS ALONG THE WAY.
FOR ATHLETICS OUR VALID VISTA 5, ARE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ATHLETIC SUCCESS.
OUR VALID VISTA 5 ARE ALLISON MCGILL IN BASKETBALL, HALEY O'NEILL IN CHEER, TROY MEJIA IN FOOTBALL, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL.
RYAN ZERBERLIN, SOCCER AND AARON PARKER IN BASKETBALL.
OUR MALE ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WAS FORD CRATE IN SWIM AND FEMALE MELISSA RAUCH IN CHEER AND STUN.
FOR OUR ACTIVITIES, EVEN WITH CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS, 1,250 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A SUCCESSFUL FIRE DRILL ON MARCH 8TH, WHERE WE USED ALTERNATE ROUTES TO SAFETY AND RAPIDLY GET TO THE BLACK TOP.
CORONARY, WON THE STATE POSTDOC COMPETITION, AND HE WILL BE RINGING THE BELL ON APRIL 28TH,
[00:15:01]
RIGHT BEFORE THEY TAKE THEIR TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL POST STAR COMPETITION.THE SANDEMA'S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM ALSO COMPETED IN THE AACI HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MEDICINE COMPETITION AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE.
THEY PLAY 17TH IN CALIFORNIA AND ARE GETTING READY FOR THE NATIONALS IN MAY.
ONTO OUR ARTS. JOHN IS PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL THE MUSICAL THIS WEEK IN THE BCA.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING RIGHT AFTER THIS.
THE MUSICAL HAS MANY STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OUR BAND, CHOIR AND DRUMLINE PROGRAMS ALL COMPETED RECENTLY, WINNING SOME HUGE AWARDS FOR OUR SCHOOL.
>> ONTO OUR FEATURED PRESENTATION,
[13. FEATURED PRESENTATIONS]
OUR RECOGNITION OF THE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR.>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CRYMAN, BOARD OF EDUCATION, SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE, EXECUTIVE CABINET, WELCOME, ANNE, AND MEMBERS OF OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.
TONIGHT WE ARE HONORING OUR 2022, '23 EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH HONORING OUR SCHOOL CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
MIDDLE-SCHOOL IS A TRANSFORMATIVE TIME FOR STUDENTS.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS EXPERIENCE MANY PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL CHANGES DURING THIS TIME.
IT IS A CRUCIAL POINT IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE.
THE WORK THAT OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR DOES EVERY DAY EXEMPLIFIES THIS STATEMENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING CARRIE COOPER, MATH TEACHER AT LONE HILL AS A CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR [APPLAUSE] CARRIE, IT IS AN OFTEN IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR JUST THREE YEARS WINS THIS AWARD.
HOWEVER, YOU QUICKLY MADE AN ENORMOUS AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON LONE HILL STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
WITH STUDENTS, YOU ARE ALWAYS WANTING TO DO MORE TO BETTER EVERY CHILD.
WITH STAFF, YOU DEMONSTRATE A LEADER MINDSET AND THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE.
FAMILIES CAN EASILY SEE IT YOUR HEART FOR THEIR CHILDREN BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AND FOR THE DISTRICT YOU ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT THROUGH YOUR WORK ON NEGOTIATIONS AND WITH THE BONITA UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
YOU ARE A MODEL FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHERS COMING TO BONITA UNIFIED.
CONGRATULATIONS CARRIE, ON BEING A BONITA UNIFIED CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR [APPLAUSE] CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES ARE THE EVERYDAY HEROES WHO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS UP AND RUNNING.
THEIR EFFORTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN CREATING A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE WHOLE CHILD.
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE KATHY SCOFIELD, REGISTRAR AT SHA VISTA [APPLAUSE] AS THE DISTRICT'S CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] KATHY HAS SERVED OUR DISTRICT AND ITS STUDENTS FOR 30 YEARS AND FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AT SHA VISTA.
BETTER ROLE AT THE SCHOOL IS MUCH, MUCH MORE.
EACH DAY SHE COMES TO WORK TO DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED SO EVERY STUDENT, EVERY PARENT, AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT IS APPARENT THAT YOU COME TO WORK EACH DAY TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE MAKING SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE BETTER.
WHETHER IT'D BE LEADING A CELEBRATORY OFFICE STANDS FOR A GRADUATE, PLANNING A SCHOOL-WIDE EVENT, PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OTHERS WITH AIRES OR ASSISTING A PARENT YOU PROVIDE THE SERVICE WITH A SERVANT'S HEART AND POSITIVE APPROACH.
COLLEAGUES SAY THAT YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND THAT LEAVES A SMILE ON THE FACE OF OTHERS.
YOUR PASSION FOR HELPING OTHERS COMES THROUGH CONSTANTLY AND FOREVER.
CONGRATULATIONS KATHY ON BEING BONITA UNIFIED CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR IS OUR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
[00:20:04]
THE PRIMARY ROLE OF A PRINCIPLE IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WILL MOTIVATE TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED STAFF TO STRIVE FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE.OUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR DEMONSTRATES THIS ROLE EVERY DAY AMONGST ALMOST A DOZEN NOMINEES FOR THIS AWARD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MRS. LESLIE SANDOVAL, WHO HAS BEEN SELECTED AS OUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] LESLIE HAS BEEN WITH BONITA UNIFIED SINCE 2001 AS A TEACHER, ASB ADVISOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND NOW AS THE PRINCIPAL AT GRACE MILLER ELEMENTARY.
LESLIE, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS SHINED THIS YEAR BY MAKING IT A PRIORITY TO SERVE OUR DISTRICT STUDENTS WITH THE MOST NEEDS AND GETTING THOSE STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
YOU TIRELESSLY BRAINSTORM, PLAN, AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I MADE UP THIS TERM, YOU ARE A SOLUTIONIZER.
ALWAYS HAVING A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO SOLVE THE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS THAT MAY PREVENT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO LEARN.
A STAFF MEMBER IS QUOTED AS SAYING, I BELIEVE A SCHOOL IS ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR PRINCIPAL AND THE TEAM THEY HELP TO BUILD.
GRACE MILLER IS AN AMAZING SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES A HAPPY, SAFE, AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF THE LEADER.
CONGRATULATIONS LESLIE, I'M BEING BONITA UNIFIED MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] WE WILL GET TO CELEBRATE AGAIN WITH ALL OF OUR SITE AND DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR ON MARCH 25TH AT MOUNTAIN MEADOWS.
THANK YOU AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR.
>> OUR NEXT FEATURE PRESENTATION IS RECOGNITION OF DR. STEVEN TAKAMATSU AND HIS STAFF.
>> IN BONITA, WE GREATLY VALUE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.
TONIGHT WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT AND VALUED PARTNERS.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DR. STEVEN TAKAMATSU AND HIS STAFF TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE] SO TONIGHT WE HAVE WITH US DR. TAKAMATSU, JUDY SHOW, ASHLEY RAWLINGS, MADALINE VARELLA, AND STEPHANIE ZAVALA.
THEIR OFFICE IN LA VERNE FOCUSES ON FAMILY DENTISTRY AND HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BY THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
IN 2007, DR. TAKAMATSU AND HIS TEAM BEGAN VISITING OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE FREE DENTAL SCREENINGS TO OUR KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS, THE TEAM HAS SERVED NEARLY 10,000 KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.
HE AND HIS STAFF PERFORM ROUTINE DENTAL SCREENINGS, PROVIDE EDUCATION AND BRING IT GOODY BAGS TO STUDENTS, BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE.
THEY'RE FRIENDLY MANNER AND EASE HELP ALLEVIATE THE FEAR THAT SOME STUDENTS HAVE IN VISITING THE DENTIST.
DR. TAKAMATSU AND THE STAFF ARE TREASURED PARTNERS IN BONITA AND WE APPRECIATE THE DESIRE AND WILLINGNESS OF THIS TEAM TO STAY CONNECTED AND GIVE BACK TO DELIVER OUR COMMUNITY.
SO FOR THIS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENTS YOU WITH THE DISTRICTS HIGHEST HONOR, OUR PURPOSE AWARDS SIGNIFYING GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN UNIFIED.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
[00:25:09]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT, IT'S A GREAT HONOR.
I OPEN UP MY PRACTICE IN I ACTUALLY, I BOUGHT THE PRACTICE IN LA VERNE IN 2006 AND THEN 2007, RODE AROUND IN CALIFORNIA STATE PASSED A LAW, AN UNFUNDED LAW THAT ALL ENTERING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE TO BE AT LEAST EXAMINER SCREEN FOR DENTAL PROCEDURES.
SO I THOUGHT, I'LL JUST CALL UP THE LOCAL SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS BY MY OFFICE.
THIS IS CLUSTER ONE IS LA VERNE HEIGHTS AND IT'S LIKE, NO, I JUST CALL THEM UP AND ASK THEM IF THEY WANT MY HELP.
THEN DISTRICT NURSE CAUSES UP AND SHE GOES WHY DON'T YOU DO ALL EIGHT SCHOOLS THAT BONITA UNIFIED.
I'M LIKE, WHOA, THEY HAVE MANY SCHOOLS IN BONITA, I HAD NO IDEA.
SO MY WIFE WAS HANDLING EVERYTHING AND SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT'S A LOT, BUT NOW LET'S GO DO IT, GIVE IT A TRY, DO IT ONE TIME AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
EVER SINCE THEN 2017 AND THAT'S BEEN GREAT.
NOT GOING TO HIT HOME. THAT'S JUST THE SCREEN.
IT'S NOT EXAM, SO IT'S A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT TO INTRODUCE LOT OF KIDS HAVEN'T SEEN A DENTIST AT KINDERGARTEN AGE.
SO IT'S A GREAT TIME TO COME IN, AND WE HAVE SMILEY FACES, LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID, AND WE KEEP IT LIVELY AND WE KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE BUSY FIRST OF ALL, SO WE DON'T TAKE UP ALL THAT TIME, WE'RE QUICK.
IT'S IN AND OUT, EITHER YOU HAVE SOMETHING OR YOU DON'T, AND THEN WE WRITE IT DOWN.
I KNOW THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS ARE LIKE THEY'RE ON THEY HAVE LESS SCHEDULE AND THEY'RE SET AND IT'S LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT MUCH TIME.
THEY'RE ALWAYS IMPRESSED THAT WE'RE IN AND OUT AND WAS LIKE, WE KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY.
YEAH, IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN, IS THIS PLAYTIME HALF THE TIME THEY'RE LEARNING LIKE NONSTOP THERE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE'RE LAUGHING, GET THE GOODY BAG SO EVERYBODY'S SMILEY AND THEN ADD THE FRIENDS.
ANYBODY WHO'S SCARED, ALL THEIR KINDERGARTEN FRIENDS ARE THERE FOR THEM AND THEY COME IN AS LIKE, IT WASN'T THAT BAD, IT WAS GREAT, AND SOME OF THEM ARE HAPPY AND JUMPING.
SO IT'S A GREAT ENVIRONMENT, IT GOES BOTH ENDS.
WE HELP THE CALIFORNIA STATE LAW GET THROUGH FOR BEING UNIFIED, BUT IT'S ALL THE KIDS, FIRST-TIME.
WE'RE NOT THE BAD DENTIST GUYS.
SO IT WORKS OUT REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE DISTRICT NURSE CHRISTIE FOR HELPING US OUT.
SHE'S LEADING US THROUGH ALL THE SCHOOLS, KEEPING IT REALLY ORGANIZED TOO.
SO WE'RE IN AND OUT AND IT MAKES EVERYTHING FASTER.
AND OF COURSE, MY LOVELY WIFE, SHE'S MY OFFICE MANAGER BECAUSE I WORK ALL THE TIME STUDIO OVER THERE AND THEN THE REST OF MY STAFF, I DRAG THEM IN, BUT WE'RE ALL HAPPY AND WE'D GET IT OUT OF THE OFFICE.
SO IT GOES BOTH WAYS, THE IN AND OUTS OF THE DENTAL OFFICE.
BUT IN THE THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN. THANKS FOR TAKING YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS, THE BOARD MAY LIMIT THE TOTAL TIME FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM TO 20 MINUTES.
THE PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM MAY BE GRANTED UP TO THREE MINUTES AT THE TIME THE ITEM APPEARS ON THE AGENDA.
IN THE CASE OF NON-AGENDA ITEMS, COMMENTS MAYBE BEING UNDER REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
FAILURE TO ADDRESSING THE BOARD, FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CARD WHICH MAY BE PICKED UP FROM MARGARET MCDONALD'S SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ANY PERSON ADDITION TO BOARD SHOULD FIRST STATE THEIR NAME AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE NO CARDS. CONSENT AGENDA.
[15. CONSENT AGENDA]
MATTERS LISTENER TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD TO BE ROUTINE OR SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTED BY PRIOR OR ACCOMPANYING REFERENCE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION AS TO NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD SO REQUESTS, AN ITEM SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THIS SECTION IN PLACED IN THE REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEMS WILL BE APPROVED WITH ONE MOTION WHICH IS NOT DEBATABLE AND REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR PASSAGE, WE HAVE A MOTION.
>> OPPOSED? UNDER OUR ACTION AGENDA,
[16. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA]
FIRST IS STUDENT DISCIPLINARY ACTION.SOON DISCIPLINARY ACTION THE PURSUANT TO ED CODE 48900 A1 FOR STUDENT 130303722, DISCIPLINARY ACTION PURSUANT TO ED CODE 48900 A1 RECOMMENDATION THAT STUDENT 130303722 BE EXPELLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2022 2023 SCHOOL YEAR, PLUS THE FIRST SEMESTER OF THE 2023, 24 SCHOOL YEAR WITH PLACEMENT IN THE PROGRAM OUTSIDE THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[00:30:01]
>> OPPOSED? REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
[17. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT]
DEREK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?>> I WOULD LOVE TO. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONGRATULATIONS AND YOU'RE OVER HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIT ACTUALLY, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DO AMAZING JOB, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS NEW CHAPTER.
ALSO, SHE'S NOT HERE, SO I'LL SAVE THAT, WE HAD SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S RETIRING AND I'LL WAIT TILL THE END.
I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK GOOD GOVERNANCE IS AND I THINK SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR THAT VERY POINT.
I THINK GOOD GOVERNANCE IS HAVING AN INSTITUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, NOT SOME GROUPS, BUT ALL GROUPS.
WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS HERE, AMAZING SCHOOLS.
WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE LOOKING FOR A HOME AND I'VE SHARED THIS A LOT OF TIMES, THERE WAS A CRITERIA, I HAD A RUBRIC.
WHEN I LOOKED FOR MY WIFE, I HAD A RUBRIC.
IT WAS EXTENSIVE AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I DID A GOOD JOB.
WHEN WE LOOK FOR A COMMUNITY, I HAD A RUBRIC, IT WAS EXTENSIVE.
I THINK I ALSO DID A GOOD JOB.
WE FOUND AN AREA IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT I THINK REALLY MATCHED US, BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
FIRST, MY WIFE AND I WANTED OUR KIDS TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION.
WE WANTED THEM TO BE ABLE TO READ, WRITE, DO MATH WELL, WE WANTED THEM TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSITIVE EXPERIENCES.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT BONITA UNIFIED TEST SCORES AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE INSTRUCTION, IF YOU GO INTO THE CLASSROOM, IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS ON THE WALL, IF YOU GO INTO THE AFTER-SCHOOL DAYCARE, IF YOU GO AND ACTUALLY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, THIS IS A WORLD-CLASS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OTHER COMMUNITIES WITH LIKE POPULATIONS WITH LIKE PROPERTY VALUES AREN'T DOING AS WELL AS WE ARE.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, ARE OUR KIDS GETTING A GOOD, SOLID EDUCATION, I THINK BONITA UNIFIED DEFINITELY MEETS THAT MARK.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I THOUGHT SO.
BEING ON THE BOARD, BEING ABLE TO SEE THESE THINGS, HAVING MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HERE, YOU HEAR A LOT AND I AM MORE CONVINCED NOW THAN I WAS WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE.
ANOTHER ONE THAT I WAS LOOKING AT IS, ARE MY KIDS GOING TO BE SAFE? THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE FIGHTS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER VARIABLES ARE THERE.
ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT MY KIDS ARE VERY SAFE, OUR KIDS ARE VERY SAFE IN THESE SCHOOLS, FROM THE VARIETY OF RESOURCES I'LL SKIP SO I DO NOT TAKE A LONG TIME.
ANOTHER ONE IS, ARE THERE SUPPORTS, RESOURCES, ACTIVITIES THAT ARE POSITIVE THAT THEY CAN BE INVOLVED IN? AGAIN, I SAW A FLYER AND I'M NOT MENTIONING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THEY WERE ADVERTISING, WE HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL.
THEN I'VE BEEN TO OUR PERFORMANCES HERE, WE DON'T CALL THEM A PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL, BUT WE COULD, THEY'RE THAT GOOD.
IF YOU GO TO THE CONCERTS, IF YOU GO TO THE PEOPLE PLAYING INSTRUMENTS, THERE'S SOME REALLY HIGHLY TALENTED INSTRUCTORS GETTING THE BEST OUT OF OUR KIDS.
MY KID LIKES TO VOLUNTEER FOR EVERYTHING, SO THAT'S GREAT.
ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS A CONCERN, THIS I DON'T THINK THE DISTRICT REALLY HAS CONTROL OVER IT, WE JUST GOT LUCKY, ARE THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOOD PEOPLE MY KIDS GET TO BE AROUND? BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GREAT INSTITUTION, GREAT STAFF, GREAT INSTRUCTION, BUT TERRIBLE KIDS THAT ARE AROUND YOUR KIDS, THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST.
I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH ALL THE FRIENDS AND ALL THE PEOPLE BOTH MY SON AND DAUGHTER HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW.
QUITE HONESTLY, THEIR FRIENDS, PARENTS, ARE BECOMING OUR FRIENDS NOW TOO,, SO IT'S JUST NICE HOW GOOD KIDS END UP HAVING GREAT PARENTS TOO, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A COMMUNITY ELEMENT TO IT.
ONE THAT WAS PROBABLY CONCERNING AND IT'S NOT A KNOCK ON BONITA, WAS AN ISSUE OF VALUES.
I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AT CHURCH AND STUFF, WHERE WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WE WANT TO PUT OUR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL.
IF YOU NEED TO ONLY BE AROUND LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE, I DO GET THAT.
IF I THOUGHT THAT THERE COULDN'T BE A GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR MY KIDS, OR MY VALUES WOULDN'T BE RESPECTED, I WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY PUT THEM IN PRIVATE.
I THINK BENEATH HIS GREAT, I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A LINE IN THE SAND WHERE MY KIDS COME FIRST AND I WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY PAID THE MONEY TO HAVE THEM GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND I THINK ANY PARENT, YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHATEVER THEORY YOU HAVE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR KID, OR YOUR KIDS, YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR KIDS.
IT'S COMPLICATED TOO BECAUSE MY VALUES ARE NOT THE ONLY VALUES THAT EXIST,
[00:35:05]
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT VALUES.I'M VERY OKAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THEIR VALUES AS LONG AS THEY DON'T FORCE THEM ON ME AND THAT'S WHERE THE LINE IS FOR ME.
I'M LIKE, YOU CAN BE YOU, YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU DO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE FORCED, OR BE EXPOSED TO THE THING THAT YOU REQUIRE ME TO BE FORCED TO IF IT GOES AGAINST MY VALUES.
I GUESS IN THAT SENSE, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE AND THIS IS AN ARGUMENT I HAD, CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM OR HUMANISTIC NATIONALISM, THERE SHOULDN'T BE A FORCING OF OPINIONS ONTO OTHERS.
WHEN I'M LOOKING AT BONITA UNIFIED, OBVIOUSLY YOU NEVER GET YOUR WAY 100 PERCENT ON ANYTHING, BUT I'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY THAT EVERY SINGLE DISCOURSE COMMUNITY, EVERY SINGLE GROUP, ISN'T JUST DISMISSED AS CRAZIES, ISN'T JUST DISMISSED OUT OF HAND.
I THINK THERE'S A REAL RESPECT WITH THE STAFF HERE OF WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW ACTUALLY GET SOME SAY IN AGENCY ON WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO.
I THINK THAT'S A STRENGTH, I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE QUITE HONESTLY.
I WAS AT A DINNER PARTY AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS WERE LIKE, A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT THAT'S DOING QUITE WELL WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES, THEY'RE LIKE, MY GRAND-KIDS GO TO, I THINK IT WAS SHULL AND THIS OTHER SCHOOL.
THEY'RE LIKE, I LOVE THE FACT THAT SAN DIMAS DOESN'T HAVE ALL THIS EXTRA STUFF.
WHAT THEY MEAN BY EXTRA STUFF IS STUFF THAT'S NOT RELATED TO ACADEMICS. I WAS LIKE, THAT'S GREAT.
I HAD ANOTHER COWORKER AND MY COWORKER RANDOMLY CAME UP WITH ME, GREAT TEACHER, SHE'S LIKE, I SEE YOUR DISTRICT WAS IN THE NEWS.
I'M LIKE THAT'S NEVER A GOOD CONVERSATION STARTER.
SHE'S LIKE, WHAT IS YOUR SECRET? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING TO HELP KIDS READ SO WELL AT THIRD GRADE? I THOUGHT OF YOU ACTUALLY.
WELL, YOU SHOULD TALK TO CHRIS AN, SHE'S THE ONE WHO DESIGNED THE PROGRAM.
BUT THE POINT IS, I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO COMMUNICATE ALL THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE AND REGARDLESS OF WHO'S COMMUNICATING, I DO THINK THAT THIS PROCESS IS AUTHENTIC AND THAT THERE'S AN ACTUAL DESIRE TO WANT TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY HAVE AGENCY AND WHERE WHAT THEIR KIDS GO THROUGH.
I'M NOT JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I'M ON THE BOARD, I'M A PARENT.
I'M TRUSTING PEOPLE WITH MY KIDS.
MY POINT REALLY IS, I REALLY BELIEVE THE PEOPLE HERE ARE TRUSTWORTHY, THE STAFF HERE ARE TRUSTWORTHY FOR OUR KIDS.
NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT, SOMETIMES I'M LIKE WHY WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I HAVE OPINIONS.
BUT IN GENERAL, THE OVERARCHING LOOK AT THINGS, IT'S A PRETTY AMAZING DISTRICT AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A BETTER ONE.
FINAL NOTE, I DID PUT MY KIDS IN PRE-SCHOOL IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND I REMEMBER BEING REALLY UPSET ONE TIME, I DIDN'T COMPLAIN.
BUT MY DAUGHTER CAME HOME CRYING BECAUSE SHE WORE CROCS TO SCHOOL AND SOME GIRL, WHO'S A WONDERFUL GIRL BY THE WAY, I DIDN'T KNOW HER FAMILY, WENT UP AND SAID, OH, YOU'RE WEARING THOSE SHOES, WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS.
I'M LIKE, REALLY, I'M PAYING ALL THIS MONEY SO MY DAUGHTER CAN GET BULLIED ABOUT HER SHOES IN PRE-SCHOOL.
I WAS A LITTLE IRRITATED BY THAT.
MY POINT REALLY IS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER A PERFECT SCHOOL.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER A PERFECT DISTRICT AND I DO THINK BONITA IS WORKING ON BETTER AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT AUTHENTICALLY WITH EVERY GROUP.
I HOPE I DIDN'T GET AHEAD OF ANYTHING, BUT I ACTUALLY AM A BIG FAN OF THIS DISTRICT AND I JUST WANTED TO REALLY SHARE THAT AND THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO PIGGY BACK ON THAT AND JUST SAY, DEREK, THAT WAS REALLY HEARTFELT AND I THINK YOU EXPRESSED WITH A LOT OF US FEEL. THANK YOU.
I KNOW I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN IN TWO OTHER DISTRICTS AND I COULD DO ANYTHING IT WOULD BE TO BRING THEM TO BONITA UNIFIED.
THAT'S FOR SURE. GOOD EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE BACK FROM SPRING BREAK.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE SOME SUN FOR THAT WEEK AND I HOPE WE CAN HAVE IT BACK SOON.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE HER MOVE UP TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AND I'M SO CONFIDENT SHE'LL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
THIS MONTH AMONGST A NUMBER OF EVENTS, I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE BONITA DANCE SHOW WITH THE DISTRICT DANCERS THAT GRISHAM TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE AWARD-WINNING.
I BROUGHT ALONG SOME FAMILY AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF DANCERS AND ALL THEIR TALENT.
AGAIN, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE ARTS THAT HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A TYPICAL DISTRICT WITH MAYBE JUST SONG LEADERS AND CHEERLEADERS AND NOT SUCH A GIGANTIC OTHER GROUP THAT'S DOING DANCE.
IT WAS REALLY NICE. TODAY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY AT SAN DIMAS CITY HALL.
ELEVEN TOP STUDENTS FROM MR. BELTRONES AP AND HONORS GOVERNMENT CLASSES FROM SAN DIMAS ATTENDED.
BEYOND LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE VARIED DEPARTMENTS IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT THEY WERE ALSO GIVEN A SCENARIO OF ADDING
[00:40:01]
HOUSING UNITS TO A PARK TO EXPAND HOUSING WITHIN OUR CITY AND IT WAS NOT REAL IT WAS AN IMAGINARY THING.ALL OF THEM CREATED THEIR IDEA OF WHAT WOULD BE PERFECT PLAN AND THEN THEY PRESENTED IT TO ALL THE CITY PEOPLE AND SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR DISTRICT.
THEY JUST DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
THESE STUDENTS WERE SO POISED AND DID GREAT PRESENTATIONS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS AND I HOPE WE'LL CONTINUE.
THIS MONTH WE START TESTING STUDENTS ON THE STATE TEST.
I WISH EVERYBODY GOOD LUCK BUT ALSO SEE THAT TESTING IS A WAY TO EVALUATE ALL THE TEACHING AND LEARNING THAT'S GOING ON HERE IN BONITA.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS GIVEN SOME ASSESSMENTS COURSE TO LOOK AT THAT SHOW US THE STUDENT PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME REALLY GOOD GROWTH.
I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE TEACHERS AND THE CLASSIFIED PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW AND PREPARING OUR BONITA STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
ANNE, CONGRATS SO WELCOME UP HERE, HOPE YOU GET YOUR NAME PLATE SOON SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
BUT YOU REALLY HAVE ALREADY MADE A NAME FOR YOURSELF SO WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
DEFINITELY GOT SOME SHOES TO FILL.
BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL.
FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS MONTH IS OUR FIRST WEEK, IS HAPPY PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK.
WE HAVE TEACHERS, WE HAVE STAFF, BUT REALLY THE PARENTS WHO JUST GIVE THEMSELVES ON THEIR OWN OR GRANDPARENTS OR JUST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS, THAT'S A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
WE DO IT OUT OF YOUR OWN ACCORD AND YOU'VE HAD TO PAY FOR LIFE-SCAN.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR US.
NEXT WEEK IS ADMIN PROFESSIONALS WEEK.
THANK YOU ALL TOO FOR YOUR VISION AND LEADERSHIP TO HELP OUR KIDS SUCCEED THE WAY THEY DO.
A LITTLE BIT IN SPORTS OUR STUDENT REPS TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT WE ARE DOING IN SPORTS.
I KNOW THAT HIGH-SCHOOLS GET A LOT OF RECOGNITION.
I HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER AND I HAD TO CUT HIS CHECKMATE SHORT TODAY, RAMONA AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TO COME OVER HERE.
LAST I SAW FROM THERE RAMONA WON THE FIRST FOUR RACES SO WE'RE KICKING BACK.
BUT JUST TO SHOW THAT WE TALKED BEFORE WITH THE ARTS HAVE WE INVEST EARLY WE HAVE THE LA VERNE ELEMENTARY TRACK MEET THIS WEEKEND.
EVERYTHING WE DO WE TRY TO INVEST IN OUR KIDS EARLY SO WE HAVE THESE GREAT STUDENTS AND GREAT ATHLETES, GREAT PERFORMING ARTS, JUST STUDENTS WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
THOSE RESULTS LIKE THE 80-70 SCORE WE'RE SHOOTING TO WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS.
WE WILL SEE THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW INVESTING EARLY PRODUCES RESULTS.
BUT WITH THAT, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ARTS AGAIN.
WE HAD OUR PTA REFLECTIONS WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF SUBMISSIONS FROM ELEMENTARY, GO UP TO DISTRICT LEVEL.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CALENDAR, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE JUST SAY MOVE SECOND AND IT ALL PASSES AND IT'S TWO PAGES THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE.
ONE-THIRD OF OUR ED SERVICES POINTS ARE ALL ABOUT BRINGING ART INTO THE SCHOOL ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY FOR ALL DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE.
WE RECOGNIZE HOW GREAT WE ARE ACADEMICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY.
BUT THE ARTS, ESPECIALLY OUR PERFORMING ARTS AND VISUAL ART IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO REALLY WELL.
FINALLY, AGAIN, LIKE DEREK SAID, SAFETY IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY ONE THAT WE DO HAVE CONCERNS.
WE CAN ALWAYS SAY EVERYTHING THAT FOR PRIVACY SAKE, BUT MY KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AND THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS THEM BEING SAFE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL.
BY THE WAY, DEREK, I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTER GOT A LITTLE BULLYING FOR WEARING CROCS.
I HAVE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS CROCS AT ALL YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WEAR.
WHITE CROCS ESPECIALLY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
[BACKGROUND] THAT'S THE STARTER KIT.
>> I LIKE TO START AND WELCOME ANNE.
I SEE BIG SHOES TO FILL IT'S PROBABLY EASIER TO GET INTO HIS THAN FOR HIS FEET TRY TO GET INTO YOURS.
TO EACH THEIR OWN. I LIKE TO START OUT BY MENTIONING THE PROSTART AND BOTH OUR PROSTART PROGRAMS DID EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
SAN DIMAS IS LOOKING GOING TO NATIONALS AND IT AMAZES ME WE HAVE KIDS COOKING LIKE THIS BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY AS FAR FROM A FOODIE AS YOU COULD GET.
BACON IS THE MAIN FOOD GROUP AND IT'S AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD PYRAMID AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT WE KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
SECOND, I'D LIKE TO MENTION OUR BASEBALL TEAMS. BOTH OF THEM ARE DOING EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
THEY BOTH PLAYED IN SOME MAJOR TOURNAMENTS THESE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND DID VERY WELL.
THE ABUNDANCE THAT CLAIM THEY KNOW, SAY BOTH OF THEM ALONG WITH JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER TEAMS HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING DIVISION 1 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DIVISION 1 IS THE TOP DIVISION FOR SPORTS.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION 1 IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOP THREE OR FOUR IN THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU GET THE BIG SCHOOLS IN TEXAS AND IN FLORIDA.
TO EVEN BE MENTIONED AS A COMPETITOR IN THAT DIVISION IS OUTSTANDING.
[00:45:03]
I DID GO TO SHAPES OPEN HOUSE THAT I LEFT BEFORE MATT BOLD HIS SECOND GAME WITH HIS 177.BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST FUN OPEN HOUSE YOU CAN GET BECAUSE THE STAFF IS THERE, SOME PARENTS ARE THERE, BUT THE KIDS ALL SHOW UP AND THEY'RE BOWLING.
IN MOST OPEN HOUSES YOU WALK AROUND AND YOU LOOK AT THE ARTWORK ON THE WALL, YOU TALK TO THE TEACHERS OR YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT.
THE LEVEL OF FUN AND ENERGY IN THERE IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, GO.
YOU CAN SHOW UP IN BOWL AND GET INVOLVED, IT'S JUST FUN AND THE KIDS SOME OF THEM I DON'T THINK HAVE EVER SEEN A BOWLING BALL BEFORE BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME.
I'D LIKE TO FINISH WITH SOMETHING THAT TIES WITH EVERYTHING.
WE TALK ABOUT SPORTS, WE TALK ABOUT ACADEMICS, WE TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT THE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM BEING RECOGNIZED TOP OF THE CIF.
WE CALL THEM SCHOLAR ATHLETES.
NOT ATHLETE SCHOLARS, SCHOLAR ATHLETES.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER DEMONSTRATION OF THAT THAN A TEAM DOING THAT WELL.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. GREG DID MENTION TWO RESOLUTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME TALKING ABOUT ALL FOUR RESOLUTIONS THAT WE PASSED AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.
THE FIRST RECOGNIZED AS MAY 1ST THROUGH MAY 5TH AS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.
AS WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT HERE THE DISTRICT RATES IN THE TOP 10% OF ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA, AND OUR TEACHERS DESERVE A LARGE SHARE OF THAT RECOGNITION AND CREDIT FOR THAT HONOR.
THE TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT CONTINUALLY STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND THEY WORK TO MAKE STUDENT ACHIEVE THEIR PRIMARY GOAL AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE TEACHING STAFF.
A SECOND RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS.
AS I JUST MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SUCCESS AND THAT SUCCESS AND THE EXCELLENCE OF THE DISTRICT RELIES HEAVILY UPON THE WORK OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE, THE SECRETARIES, AND THE CLERICAL STAFF IN OUR DISTRICT.
THESE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND ARE VITAL TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS IN BONITA UNIFIED.
THE THIRD RESOLUTION THAT WAS FOR APRIL 17TH THROUGH 21ST, GREG MENTIONED IT, PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUNTEER WEEK.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS A CHOICE.
MANY INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE MADE THAT CHOICE TO SERVE, I JUST WANT TO GENUINELY THANK THE VOLUNTEERS, THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TAKE FOR GRANTED.
IN THE LAST ONE, DESIGNATES MAY 10TH AS NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY.
WE ENTRUST OUR SCHOOL NURSES AND OUR SCHOOL HEALTH CLERKS WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH GUIDANCE, AND DEVELOP AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF GOOD HEALTH PRACTICES.
OUR HEALTH TEAM SERVES AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION FOR THE DISTRICT AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AS WELL.
WE CELEBRATE THOSE FOUR GROUPS, AND I THANK THE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DISTRICT WHO WORK EACH DAY TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION.
>> I REQUEST TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS,
[18. REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC]
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, AND WE'LL START WITH THE COMMUNITY.>> JUST THE DESCRIPTION FIRST.
>> WE'VE GOT THEM GROUPED BY SUBJECT.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF CARDS I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO TRY TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THE THREE MINUTES.
I'LL APOLOGIZE NOW TO EVERYONE IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE AND I HAVE THREE KIDS ATTENDING SCHOOL HERE IN THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
RECENTLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BUSD LIBRARIES OFFER GENDER-AFFIRMING READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD.
IF WE'RE A MORAL SOCIETY, WE WOULD STOP ALLOWING CHILDREN TO BELIEVE THE LIE THAT THEY WERE BORN IN THE WRONG BODY.
EVEN THE PHRASE SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH IS INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST.
IT IS A BASIC BIOLOGICAL REALITY THAT IS DETERMINED BY THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS WE'RE BORN WITH AND DEVELOP AS WE GET OLDER, INCLUDING CHROMOSOMES, GENITALIA, BONE STRUCTURE, BODY SHAPE, VOICE, PITCH, BODY HAIR, ETC.
THE FACT THAT THIS IS BEING DEBATED IS MORE THAN A LITTLE DISHEARTENING.
I KNOW IT MUST BE HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO ACCEPT THEIR BODIES, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN TO HEAR THIS.
SPEAKING FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IT DOESN'T EXACTLY FEEL GOOD TO BE THE ONE TO HAVE TO SAY IT EITHER.
LOVE DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL GOOD, BUT LOVE IS WHAT YOU DO DESPITE HOW YOU FEEL.
LOVE IS FIGHTING TO BRING TRUTH AND HOPE TO SOMEONE, EVEN IF THEY NEVER SEE THE VALUE OF THE SACRIFICES THAT ONE MAKES TO GET LOVE TO THEM.
PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST RADICAL IDEOLOGIES HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, FIRED, HARASSED, AND EVEN THREATENED.
SO BEFORE I DECIDED TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, I HAD TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE FACT THAT I WILL BE FALSELY ACCUSED OF PREJUDICE, HATE, BIGOTRY, TRANS-PHOBIA,
[00:50:02]
RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM, AND ETC.EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT STANDING HERE TODAY TO SPREAD ANY OF THOSE THINGS, NOR AM I HERE TO BULLY YOU OR ANYONE IN THE ROOM INTO AGREEING WITH MY POLITICAL OR BIBLICAL BELIEFS.
I AM SIMPLY HERE TO AFFIRM THE TRUTH AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME.
NOT MY TRUTH, NOT YOUR TRUTH, THE TRUTH.
WE DON'T ALLOW MINORS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS BECAUSE WE, AS ADULTS, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHILDREN DO NOT POSSESS THE EMOTIONAL OR COGNITIVE MATURITY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT CAN AFFECT THEIR GROWTH.
WHY DOES THE DECISION TO TRANSITION GET A PASS? CHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS BUT OUR CULTURE DIMINISHES THEIR WORTH AND IGNORES THEIR INNOCENCE BY INSISTING THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHIELDED.
THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION STATES FOR STUDENTS IN OUR CARE AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE WILL CREATE A SAFE, CHALLENGING, AND COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL SHAPE CHARACTER, NURTURE INTELLECT, AND BUILD SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD.
BUT HOW CAN EMBRACING AN IDEOLOGY THAT AIMS TO ERASE THE TRUTH OF FEMALE AND MALE BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES DISMISS PARENTS' CONCERNS, ENCOURAGES MINORS SUFFERING FROM BODY DYSMORPHIA TO CHEMICALLY CASTRATE OR SURGICALLY MUTILATE THEIR HEALTHY BODIES? PUSHES TO NORMALIZE AND DESENSITIZE OUR YOUTH TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
SOMETIMES PEDOPHILIA, DRUG USE, AND SEXUAL ACTS, AND DOESN'T MATTER IF WHAT IS PORTRAYED OR PROMOTED AS HETEROSEXUAL OR HOMOSEXUAL.
HOW COULD AN IDEOLOGY SUCH AS THIS CONTRIBUTE TO BUSD'S MISSION IN NURTURING INTELLECT AND CREATING A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN? BUSD HAS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, BUT LEADING ALL COMPREHENSIVE DISTRICTS IN THE REGION ON ACADEMICS, ACTIVITIES, ATHLETICS, AND THE ARTS WILL MEAN NOTHING TO ME AS A PARENT, IF I CANNOT TRUST THE BUSD WILL LEAD AND PROTECTING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF MY CHILDREN AGAINST THE POLLUTION OF RADICAL IDEOLOGIES INFECTING OUR SCHOOLS, AS WELL.
I KNOW DEALING WITH THIS ISN'T EASY, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN AND I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP ALL OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT LA VERNE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE INFORMED PARENTS OF BUSD, AND LET ME START BY SAYING, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF BOOK BANNING.
I KNOW THAT MIGHT BE SHOCKING TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF PARENTAL CHOICE.
SO WHEN THERE ARE CERTAIN BOOKS IN LIBRARIES OR DIGITAL LIBRARIES THAT I FEEL MIGHT HAVE CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN IT, I WANT PARENTS TO HAVE THAT CHOICE IF THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
WHEN A MOVIE IS SHOWN IN ANY ONE OF MY CHILD'S CLASSROOMS, A PERMISSION SLIP COMES HOME AND WE ARE ASKED TO GIVE PERMISSION IF OUR CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE IN WATCHING THAT MOVIE.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE TODAY TO THE BOARD AND TO THE DISTRICT, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN FLAG BOOKS THAT ARE IN OUR LIBRARIES OR IN OUR DIGITAL LIBRARIES, SO THAT IF A CHILD WANTS TO CHECK OUT A BOOK THAT MIGHT BE DEEMED QUESTIONABLE, EITHER WITH SOME OF THESE TOPICS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, SOMETHING GOES HOME TO THE PARENT THAT SAYS YOUR CHILD WOULD LIKE TO CHECK OUT THIS BOOK, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS? THAT WAY, ME AS A PARENT, I HAVE A CHOICE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH SOME SUBJECT MATTER FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THEN THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S THEIR CHOICE. BUT AS A PARENT, I WOULD LIKE TO BE TOLD IF MY CHILD IS CHECKING OUT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE EXPLICIT IN NATURE, THAT MIGHT HAVE CERTAIN SUBJECT MATTER THAT I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO BE EXPOSED TO YET.
LIKE I SAID, BOTH MY KIDS ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO SOME OF THESE TOPICS JUST MIGHT BE TOO MATURE FOR THEM.
IF THE DISTRICT CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND MAYBE DOING A FLAGGING SYSTEM ONLINE, ALSO INSIDE THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> HI THERE. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
I DON'T HAVE NOTES. I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART LIKE DEREK EARLIER.
I TOO AS A PARENT OF TWO KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAVE CONCERNS FOR THE BOOKS THAT ARE IN OUR LIBRARY.
THESE LIBRARIES ARE OPEN TO OUR STUDENTS AND THE CONTENT OF THESE BOOKS IS INTRUSIVE TO THEIR MIND AND THEIR HEARTS.
[00:55:01]
THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE.AS SOMEONE NOW, IN MY 40S, I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHEN I WAS EXPOSED TO A BOOK OF NUDITY, OF LANGUAGE.
I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE I WAS, WHO I WAS WITH AND I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THOSE IMAGES WERE.
THESE ARE THE IMAGES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM.
WE DON'T NEED THESE IMPRINTS ON THEIR BRAINS.
IF YOU GO INTO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A LOT OF THESE KIDS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THE PORNOGRAPHY AREA AND HAVE DABBLED INTO THAT AND HAVE NOT COME OUT OF THAT FOR MANY YEARS.
THERE'S MANY TESTIMONIES OF KIDS THAT TURNED INTO ADULTS THAT STRUGGLE WITH THAT.
THE DESENSITIZING OF THE HUMAN, OF THE PERSON, OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY ARE IN BECAUSE OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL.
MANY OF YOU SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF KIDS.
THAT'S WHY PARENTS ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE IT IS THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS, THEIR EDUCATION, NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE AN IMPRINT ON THEIR HEADS, ON THEIR BRAINS, ON THEIR HEARTS.
SO I URGE YOU, I CHARGE YOU THE BOARD SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REALLY CONSIDER THE BOOKS THAT ARE IN THESE LIBRARIES FOR REMOVAL.
A PURGE GETS DONE IN THAT LIBRARY TO SEE WHICH CONTENT IS NOT EDUCATIONAL.
I THINK WE'RE OLD ENOUGH HERE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND WHAT CROSSES THE LINE WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME EDUCATION THAT ALL OF YOU WERE DEALING WITH, OR I WAS DEALING WITH WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DANIEL CRUZ AND I'M ONE OF THE LEADERS OF INFORMED PARENTS OF BUSD.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF INFORMED PARENTS OF BUSD.
FIRST OF ALL, TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT MR. WAYNE FOR REMOVING THE BOOKS, THE BLUEST EYE AND BEYOND MAGENTA.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, ANOTHER TEAM LEADER HAD DISCOVERED SEVERAL INAPPROPRIATE AND DOWNRIGHT DISGUSTING BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE BUSD SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
ANOTHER TEAM LEADERS SET UP OUR APPOINTMENT AND MEETING WITH MR. WAYNE CONCERNING THESE BOOKS.
WHEN THAT DAY HAD ARRIVED FOR OUR MEETING, MR. WAYNE INFORMED US IMMEDIATELY THAT HE AGREED THAT THESE BOOKS WERE COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE AND HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM BUSD LIBRARIES, AND FOR THIS, AGAIN, SIR, WE THANK YOU.
MR. WAYNE SAID THAT HE'S STILL NEEDED TO REVIEW THE OTHER BOOKS THAT WE HAD BROUGHT UP TO HIS ATTENTION, AND ALSO INFORMED US OF THE FORMAL WAY TO REQUEST BOOK REMOVALS.
HE INFORMED US THAT ONCE A REQUEST HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, IT WILL BE REVIEWED BY A COMMITTEE.
HE INFORMED US THAT IF THE DECISION DOESN'T GO THE WAY THAT WE WANT, IT CAN BE APPEALED AND THEN THE DECISION WOULD FALL ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THAT IF THESE BOOKS, I AM JAZZ, JACK NOT JACKIE, AND IF I WAS YOUR GIRL, SHOULD MAKE IT PASS THESE COMMITTEES THAT YOU AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY US, THE PEOPLE, PROTECT THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN AND KEEP THESE DISGUSTING LITERATURE OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS.
>> GOOD EVENING. AT OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, I HAVE LISTENED TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN READ EXTREMELY SEXUALLY GRAPHIC PASSAGES FROM BOOKS FOUND THAT THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
SO THE EVENING THAT I READ THE PASSAGE FROM THE BLUEST EYE AND DISCOVERED THIS BOOK WAS AVAILABLE HERE AT OUR BUSD LIBRARIES, I THOUGHT, HOW COULD THIS BE? HOW LONG HAS THIS BOOK BEEN AVAILABLE? I THOUGHT WE WERE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
I THOUGHT OUR DISTRICT WOULD BE IMMUNE FROM THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT.
THIS BOOK GRAPHICALLY DISCUSSES SEXUAL TOPICS, PROSTITUTION, INCEST, RAPE, PORNOGRAPHY, MOLESTATION, PEDOPHILIA, MASTURBATION, BESTIALITY, SODOMY.
IN OUR CULTURE TODAY, OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TARGETED.
THIS IS A BATTLE HAPPENING, AND IF WE COWARDLY STEP BACK AND BE SILENT, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY HANDING OFF OUR CHILDREN TO BATTLE THIS ALONE.
I DO WANT TO THANK OUR SUPERINTENDENT FOR TAKING ACTION AND REMOVING
[01:00:04]
THE BOOK AND BEYOND MAGENTA AS WELL FROM OUR LIBRARIES.BUT I DO WONDER HOW MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WERE EXPOSED TO THE IMAGES PORTRAYED IN THESE BOOKS, NOW IMPRINTED WITHIN THEM, GRUESOME IMAGES AGAINST CHILDREN THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE.
PARENTS LIVING HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE MUST HAVE OUR EYES OPEN.
NO LONGER CAN WE HAVE WILLING IGNORANCE.
WE ARE WITNESSING AN ASSAULT ON OUR CHILDREN AND MANY ARE SUFFERING AND CONFUSED.
SEXUALIZING CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE TOLERATED.
THERE SHOULD BE A LAW TO STOP THE SEXUALIZATION OF CHILDREN.
BUT INSTEAD, IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS THE LAW.
YOU'LL SEE IT'S ALL CONNECTED THROUGH THE MANDATE OF COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION, WHICH GOES FAR BEYOND SEX ED, AND JUST LIKE THESE BOOKS, TODAY'S COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED IS A DANGEROUS ASSAULT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN.
COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION NORMALIZES CHILD SEX AND DESENSITIZES CHILDREN TO SEXUAL THINGS.
BUT I'M HOPEFUL THE DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO RESTORE TRUST AND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, KEEPING PARENTS INFORMED ON ALL ISSUES CONCERNING THEIR CHILDREN AND REMOVING THE REMAINING BOOKS IN MY VIEW.
I DO APPRECIATE THE ACTION THE DISTRICT IS NOW TAKING REGARDING INAPPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN BUSD.
I DO APPRECIATE MR. WAYNE'S WILLINGNESS TO PROMOTE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS, WHICH GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF MOST OF OUR POLITICIANS IN SACRAMENTO WHO ARE NOW REMOVING AND ERODING PARENTAL RIGHTS.
PLEASE BE INFORMED AND EDUCATED ON THE VOTING RECORD OF OUR LOCAL ASSEMBLY MEN, CHRIS HOLDEN AND SENATOR RUBIO.
AS PARENTS, OUR GOAL IS PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE PARENTS FROM THAT EQUATION.
I HAVE TWO KIDS IN OUR DISTRICT.
MY DAUGHTER GOES TO GRACE MILLER AND MY SON TO RAMONA, AND WE REALLY DO HAVE REALLY GREAT SCHOOLS HERE.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIBRARY CONTENT AS WELL, THOUGH.
I, MYSELF DURING THE PANDEMIC, ONE OF THE TEACHERS READ ALOUD SOMETHING THAT I OVERHEARD THAT I FELT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND THAT WAS MY FIRST WAKE-UP CALL TO THIS ISSUE.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR CONTROL AS A DISTRICT BUT OTHER THINGS THE STATE PUSHES IN OUR WAY, AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU GUYS ALL DO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO.
I LOVE HAZEL'S IDEA OF HAVING SOME KIND OF A FLAGGING SYSTEM.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN COMPLETE CENSORSHIP, BUT IF SOMETHING'S QUESTIONABLE, PARENTS SHOULD BE INVOLVED.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE A VOLUNTEER TO BE PART OF A COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWS CONTENT.
I KNOW THERE'S MANY PARENTS HERE THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE WILLING TO DONATE TIME TO OUR LIBRARIES TO SEE WHERE THE QUESTIONABLE ITEMS ARE.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS NEED HELP WITH, I CAN IMAGINE YOU COULD READ EVERY BOOK THAT'S IN OUR LIBRARY, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD COORDINATE AS PARENTS TO SUPPORT YOU AS A DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL SO THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE DECIDING WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO OUR KIDS.
A SECOND THING, WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ACTIVE SHOOTER OR THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AT RAMONA RECENTLY, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A THREAT THAT WAS NOT ACTIONABLE THREAT.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M ON SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL FOR RAMONA AND I GOT A LOT OF PARENTS REACHING OUT AFTER THE FACT, AND I BROUGHT THIS TO THE PRINCIPAL'S ATTENTION ALREADY.
THE FACT THAT PARENTS WEREN'T NOTIFIED UNTIL SO LATE IN THE DAY WAS VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR PARENTS.
THEY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED A HEADS-UP MUCH, MUCH SOONER.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE PRINCIPAL, SOME OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING ON THE DISTRICT TO APPROVE THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS SENT OUT TO THE PARENTS.
SO WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN DO ON YOUR END TO SPEED UP THAT PROCESS SO THAT PARENTS ARE INTO THE LOOP QUICKER, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL FOR OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY SAFE, THAT THEIR EMOTIONAL HEARTS AND THEIR MINDS AND SOULS, WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL.
SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU, THERE'S A LOT OF US HERE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE INFORMED PARENTS OF THE BUSD.
D IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION, WE'RE ON INSTAGRAM. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
WE'LL POINT OUT THINGS THAT ARE COMING ON THE PIPELINE,
[01:05:01]
WE'LL POINT OUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN DO TO CALL AND STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION ON BEHALF OF PARENTS AND BEHALF OF OUR KIDS.SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK THAT UP ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING ONLINE AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> SHIFTING TOPICS HERE, WE'RE MOVING TO SCHOOL SAFETY AND ANDY TUBA.
>> HELLO. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HERE FOR OUR KIDS AND THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING.
ABOUT 24 HOURS AGO IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY MY STUDENT, THAT IS AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THERE WAS A THREAT THAT WAS MADE FROM ONE STUDENT TO ANOTHER THAT WAS ALARMING AND VERY CONCERNING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT BASICALLY, IT THREATENED THE LIFE OF THE STUDENT THAT WAS BEING THREATENED.
I'M QUOTING THAT "THEY WILL EAT THEIR CORPSE." THIS IS WHAT THE THREAT WAS.
I ALMOST DIDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST, BUT IT'S TRUE.
I'M JUST BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEND THE STUDENT BACK TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY ALONG WITH THE STUDENT THAT WAS THREATENED AND MY STUDENT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL NOR DO I FOR GOOD A REASON.
I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE RIGHTS THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING THAT WHEN YOU THREATEN A PERSON LIKE THAT, THEIR LIFE, YOU SACRIFICE SOME RIGHTS.
THAT'S WHERE I COME FROM AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL WITH THIS SITUATION.
I DON T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS.
I'M NOT REALLY ASKING ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
THIS IS JUST AWARENESS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND I SEE WHAT THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS ALL ABOUT.
HE'S A TICKING TIME BOMB, I WILL JUST SAY THAT.
I WOULD REALLY LOOK INTO THIS.
I HAVE SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER GOING TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY OR FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR FOR THAT MATTER BECAUSE WE ARE NOW SEEING AN ALARMING RATE OF THINGS GOING HOPELESSLY WRONG.
IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT ALL IN ALL.
I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND SHE'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE 4TH GRADE.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY ALL IN ALL.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BLOW UP AND BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US AND I KNOW IT'S ALL SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO AVOID.
IF I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL AND I DIDN'T SEE WHAT I'VE ALREADY SEEN, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MAYBE WAITED OR SEEN WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, BUT AFTER SEEING WHAT I SAW, I CAN'T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT, SO I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TRY THE LAST NAME.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, PARENTS.
THANK YOU SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR BEING HERE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC THAT THE LAST GENTLEMAN SPOKE ABOUT.
I WAS VERY PLEASED WHEN I ENTERED THE CHAMBERS TO HEAR THE OVERWHELMING COMMENTS ABOUT STUDENTS' SAFETY AND SCHOOL SAFETY.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A SHARED GOAL THAT WE ALL HAVE HERE TODAY.
AS NOTED, THE STATEMENTS WERE VERY DISTURBING.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND ALSO, ESSENTIALLY THE VICTIM'S FAMILY.
WE'VE SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT OFFLINE AND THEY ASKED ME TO SPEAK.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS OBVIOUSLY OUTLANDISH.
THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE, THEY'VE CLEARLY BEEN POSTED APPARENTLY IN WRITING, BUT SOME THINGS TO ADD TO IT.
APPARENTLY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOTED TO THE FAMILY THAT THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT REMOVING THE STUDENT BASED ON DISCRIMINATION. I'M NOT SURE.
IT SEEMS KIND OF AN OUTLANDISH STATEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE A PROTECTION OF THE STUDENT MAKING THESE STATEMENTS BASED ON DISCRIMINATION CONCERNS, SO I'D LOVE TO FIND OUT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS A CONCERNED PARENT.
THE OTHER THING, I THINK I REALIZED AND THE OTHER PARENTS REALIZED THAT THERE'S A DUTY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO BOTH PARTIES.
[01:10:03]
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO GET THE STUDENT THAT MADE THE COMMENTS THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, BUT ALSO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN SAFETY.PHYSICAL SAFETY AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL SAFETY.
THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS MADE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY AS WAS NOTED, THE STUDENT COMING BACK, ALL THE STUDENTS COMING BACK, MAYBE SOME RESHUFFLING OF STUDENT SCHEDULES.
BUT THAT ESSENTIALLY THESE TWO STUDENTS WOULD STILL BE IN ONE CLASS TOGETHER.
I'D JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S LITERALLY IF WE WENT DOWN THE DEFINITION, THAT WOULD BE INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS TO THE STUDENT.
ALSO WOULD BE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO'S A GOVERNMENT ACTOR.
I THINK THESE ARE VERY CONCERNING ISSUES AND I THINK THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO TAKE A PAUSE AND REALLY LOOK AT THIS AND REALLY BALANCE THE EQUITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AS NOTED, IT'S NOT ONLY IMPACTING THESE TWO STUDENTS BUT ALSO THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER STUDENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED.
I THINK THERE'S CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE ESSENTIALLY, THAT THIS IS AN OVERRIDING SAFETY CONCERN.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER OBVIOUSLY FOR THIS SORT OF THING.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE DISTRICT TAKE PAUSE AND REALLY LOOK AT THIS AND LOOK AT THE DUTIES THAT THEY DO OWE TO THE VICTIM OF THESE STATEMENTS ALSO.
IMAGINE IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD THAT THESE STATEMENTS WERE DIRECTED AT AND FURTHERMORE IF YOUR CHILD WAS POTENTIALLY ASKED TO BE IN THE SAME CLASSROOM AS THIS INDIVIDUAL LATER.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE AND THAT THEY WILL ESSENTIALLY BE THREADING THE NEEDLE ON THIS ONE, TRYING TO WEIGH THE EQUITIES BETWEEN THE TWO STUDENTS, BUT I WOULD JUST REQUEST THAT THE DISTRICT PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY IMPERATIVES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW I'M RUNNING OUT, SO I'LL MAKE IT SHORT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. OBVIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE SAME TOPIC.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DECIDE ON WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
MY DAUGHTER IS NOT GOING TO SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL UNTIL THAT STUDENT IS REMOVED.
THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS ACCESS TO WEAPONS.
HE LITERALLY HAS THE QUOTE ON HIS INSTAGRAM PAGE THAT SAYS, "WALTHER P99 IS THE BEST HANDGUN, AND BY THE WAY, A NINE MILLIMETER DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY KILL YOU BUT IT WILL PINCH YOU FOR SOME TIME." WHY IS THIS STUDENT ANYWHERE NEAR THAT HIGH SCHOOL CONSIDERING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY? THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.
HE SHOULD NOT EVER BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND IN THIS DISTRICT AGAIN.
WHAT HIS PARENT OR PARENTS HAVE TO DO IS THEIR ISSUE.
THIS IS A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO GO OFF.
I'M ABSOLUTELY APPALLED THAT MR. NANCE AND MR. SPARKS THOUGHT "IT'S OKAY FOR THIS KID TO COME BACK ON MONDAY, WE'LL SEARCH HIM." HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SEARCH HIM IF HE GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND PULLS A WEAPON OUT OF HIS BAG AND STARTS SHOOTING? WHAT GOOD WILL THAT DO? MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH TWO LOCKDOWNS AT LONE HILL.
I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM REMEMBER THAT.
CONSIDERING THIS KID, IT'S ALSO VERY CONCERNING THAT KIDS AND PARENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT WEREN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS OTHER RECENT EVENT I'M HEARING.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY MIND-BLOWING, THAT THIS KID IS ALLOWED BACK ON MONDAY.
I'M NOT YELLING AT ANY OF YOU DIRECTLY, I DON T KNOW EACH OF YOUR OPINIONS OR TAKES ON THIS TOPIC, IT'S FRESH.
I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO MEASURE MY RESPONSE BECAUSE THE INFORMATION MAY NOT BE COMPLETE COMING FROM ONE STUDENT.
INFORMATION IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE, BUT WHEN I SEE WHAT I'M SEEING NOW, THIS KID DOES NOT BELONG THERE EVER AGAIN.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED, EVEN IF HE IS REMOVED, WHAT IS THE SHORT-TERM SECURITY POLICY FOR THIS CAMPUS FOR THE REST OF THIS SEMESTER AND ALL OF NEXT YEAR? WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE COME BACK LATER BECAUSE THEY'RE DISGRUNTLED.
IT'S A HEADACHE TO PAY FOR IT, BUT WHAT ARE THE PROTECTIONS WHEN A SCHOOL IS CONFRONTED WITH SOMEONE LIKE THIS FOR LONG-TERM PROTECTION? I'M SURE I HAVE OTHER COMMENTS I COULD THINK OF,
[01:15:01]
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT I'M SURE ARE JUST READY TO HAVE THEIR TIME.>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER CASTINE.
I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FOR EIGHT YEARS AND I'M A MOTHER TO FOUR CHILDREN, TWO OF WHICH ARE ENROLLED AT BONITA.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS TWO CONCERNS AND COMING FROM A PLACE OF SOLUTIONS, I'M HOPING THAT WILL HELP.
THE FIRST IS THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, AS YOU KNOW, THE MOST RECENT SCHOOL SHOOTING AND NASHVILLE CALLS ATTENTION TO SOME GLARING PROBLEMS. THE ASSAILANT WROTE THAT WHILE THERE WERE TWO TARGETS IN MIND, THE ULTIMATE CHOICE WAS MADE TO ATTACK THE SCHOOL THAT WAS MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SEVERAL OF OUR CAMPUSES AND ESPECIALLY OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING OUR OWN PERSONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAS VERY OPEN ACCESS.
THERE ARE NO LOCKED GATES ON THE MAIN ENTRY.
THE PRIMARY CLASSROOMS THAT CONSIST WITHIN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMPUS, THERE ARE TEN IN TOTAL THAT COMPRISE A CIRCLE, AND ONE OF EACH OF THE FOUR STRUCTURAL WALLS ARE GLASS.
SHOULDN'T ASSAILANT COME ONTO CAMPUS, THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS ARE SITTING DUCKS.
AS A FORMER TEACHER, I WOULD FEEL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT SETTING DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN.
THERE ARE STRUCTURES AVAILABLE CALLED RAPID ACCESS SAFE ROOMS, AND THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED AND AS QUICKLY AS 10 SECONDS BY TEACHERS AND THEY PROVIDE IMMEDIATE BULLETPROOF PROTECTION.
THERE ARE ALSO PRE-BUILT STRUCTURES THAT CAN REMAIN INTACT IN THE CLASSROOM ONCE CONSTRUCTED.
I'M ON THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL AT OUR SCHOOL, AND THE CURRENT SAFETY PLAN FOR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS TO SHELTER IN PLACE UNTIL OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE THE STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS, AND TO REMOVE THEM TO THE NEAREST GATE WHICH WOULD PUT THEM OUTSIDE.
SHOULD THIS EVER HAPPEN, THE KIDS AND THE TEACHERS WOULD AGAIN BE COMPLETELY EXPOSED, AGAIN, SOMEBODY WITH A WEAPON, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF COMICAL AND THE DARKEST SENSE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS A SUGGESTION TO REMOVE THE STUDENTS.
WITH THE ADDITION OF MORE CLASSES ON CAMPUS WITH A TK LITTLES, THAT'S A DEEP CONCERN.
YOU HAVE STATED TIME AND AGAIN THAT BUS D HAS TIRELESSLY DEDICATED LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUNDING TO SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, MENTAL HEALTH, BUT I ASKED YOU IF WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE RESOURCES INTO THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.
I REQUESTED THIS BE RE-EVALUATED AND A LEVEL OF PRIORITIES, AS WELL AS TO INQUIRE AND TO THE COMMUNITY, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS PRESENT AT MINIMUM TO PATROL OR TO JUST BE PRESENT ON CAMPUS TO HELP MITIGATE POTENTIAL DENDRITE DANGEROUS TO OUR CAMPUS AND TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THE MARCH 12TH MEETING THAT YOU HAD THERE WAS THE PROSPECT OF A BOND BEING DISCUSSED.
I REALIZED THIS AS IF ITS INFANCY, IT MIGHT NOT EVEN COME TO FRUITION, BUT I DO REQUEST IF IT DOES, THAT IN THIS INQUIRY PROCESS THAT THERE IS AN ESTIMATE FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED ARCHITECT FOR A SHELTER IN PLACE UNITS, SECURITY CAMERAS AND LOCKING SAFETY GUARD ENTRIES FOR EVERY CAMPUS.
I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS THE MOST INTENSE NEED THAT MOST PARENTS, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY ALL PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF YOUR WALK IN LIFE, POLITICALLY, PERSONALLY, WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO AND CONTRIBUTE TO, THIS IS A REALITY THAT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE'RE FACING AND IT'S BEST THAT WE FACE IT TOGETHER, SO I ASKED FOR THAT CONSIDERATION IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE THE BEST AND SO MANY REGARDS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CALLS FOR OUR IMMEDIATE RECONSIDERATION.
>> HI. I'M SO EXCITED WITH ALL THESE PARENTS HERE, THIS IS JUST AMAZING.
I CAME HERE TONIGHT AS A LEARNER.
I JUST MOVED BACK INTO THE LA VERNE AREA, HAVING GROWN UP HERE AND MANY FRIENDS THAT I GREW UP WHERE THEY'RE ENCOURAGING ME TO MOVE BACK.
MY DAD WAS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT AND THEN WENT TO SAN DIEGO TO OVERSEE AS A SUPERINTENDENT A LARGER DISTRICT OF 25 SCHOOLS, AND THEN CAME BACK HERE AGAIN AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, SO WE JUST HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR LA VERNE FOR THIS DISTRICT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE OFTEN SAID WAS A SCHOOLS ARE AS GOOD AS THE PARENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE ALL THESE PARENTS THAT ARE HERE, AND ESPECIALLY IN LOOKING AT THE, THE BILL THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED OF AB 13, 14, WHERE PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH STUDENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY ISSUE.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THAT THERE BE THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION IN THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BE ESTABLISHED WITH TEACHERS AND PARENTS,
[01:20:03]
WHICH AS I SAID, I'M NEW, SO I AM JUST VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I'M SEEING ALREADY WITH A LOT OF THE PARENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED HERE, AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT ISSUE AND ENGAGE WITH PARENTS WHEN STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES THAT COME UP, WHETHER THEY'RE EDUCATIONAL, MORAL, SOCIAL, WHATEVER THEY ARE BECAUSE I THINK IT RETURNING, DELIVER AND I'VE SEEN SO MANY PARENTS, VENDORS, NEIGHBORS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO JUST BE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE IN LA VERNE.I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND SHE WENT KNOCKING ON DOORS IN ONTARIO TO GET CLIENTS, AND FINALLY FOUND ONE PERSON, AND SHE SAID, DO YOU WANT TO BUY OR DO YOU WANT TO SELL, AND THEY SAID IF YOU CAN GET ME INTO LA VERNE WE'LL MOVE, AND SHE DID.
AND SO THERE'S A REAL SWEET SPIRIT HERE AND PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.
AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO YOU AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT MATHEW WIEN, NEW ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT ANNE NEAL CONGRATULATIONS, BY THE WAY.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MARGARET MCDONALD, BAR PRESIDENT GLENN CREIMAN, VICE PRESIDENT GREG PALATTO, BOARD CLERK CHRIS ANN HORSLEY, HOPEFULLY I PRONOUNCED THAT CORRECTLY, BOARD MEMBER DEREK BAHMANOU, BOARD MEMBER, JIM ELLIOT, MR. KEVIN LEE, STATE BOARD REPRESENTATIVES, PRISON, EXACTLY, NATALIE BOLANOS AND JAIDEN MIRANDA.
MY NAME IS TREMALE RATCLIFFE AND I AM A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ORGANIZATION CALLED JUST US 4 YOUTH, GRAY LOCAL RESTORATIVE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN POMONA, CALIFORNIA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST US 4 YOUTH.
JUST US 4 YOUTH IS A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MENTORS AND SERVES, I PROMISE YOUTH AND THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AS THE SCHOLARS, PEOPLE, AND LEADERS.
JUST US 4 YOUTH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HOLISTIC AND RESTORATIVE APPROACH TO IMPROVE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND MENTAL CHALLENGES.
JUST US 4 YOUTH IS BASED OUT OF POMONA AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY BRANCHES SERVICES OUT TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUMMER AND NEXT SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMMING FOR YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO END OFF BY ASKING WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH, TO LEAVE MY CONTACT FISHING WITH, TO PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW MEETING ABOUT OUR PROGRAMMING AND REALLY, I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW AND SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF WORK THAT WE DO AROUND THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.
I DO ALSO WANT TO END OFF AS WELL BY STATING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING POMONA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAN GABRIEL, AS USING UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE JUST FINISHED UP A CONTRACT IN APPLE VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRANCH ARE SERVICES OUT TO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
[NOISE] PTA, THE UNIFY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
CSA, BUMPED. FUTURE MEETING DATES.
[19. FUTURE MEETING DATES]
OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL BE MAY 3, 2023.ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 07:26.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.