DEREK BAHMANOU: THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5 O'CLOCK.
[00:00:04]
ROLL CALL.ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS. THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD MAY LIMIT THE TIME FOR EACH SPEAKER TO THREE MINUTES, AND A TOTAL FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM TO 20 MINUTES.
ANY 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 COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC.
PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE FILL OUT A REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CARD, WHICH MAY BE PICKED UP FROM MARGARET MCDONALD, SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ANY PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARD SHOULD FIRST STATE THEIR NAME AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISTRICT.
[5. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA]
THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION.[7. CALL TO ORDER]
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.DEREK BAHMANOU: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY.
ALL: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[10. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ORDER AND CONTENT]
DEREK BAHMANOU: APPROVAL OF AGENDA, ORDER AND CONTENT.DEREK BAHMANOU: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING.
[11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING]
MEMBER: MOVED.DEREK BAHMANOU: ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
DEREK BAHMANOU: MOTION PASSES.
COMMUNICATION FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES.
[12. COMMUNICATIONS FROM STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES]
AND OUR FIRST REPRESENTATIVE IS LUCA ROSELLI.[APPLAUSE] LUCA ROSELLI: GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BAHMANOU, SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, EXECUTIVE, CABINET, AND AUDIENCE.
RECENTLY, WE HAVE HELD OUR FIRST EVER HIVE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON OUR CAMPUS.
WE HAD ABOUT 200 STUDENTS ATTEND BONITAS, ASB, AND CLASS COUNCIL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS LINDOR, WALNUTS, AND RAMONA'S ASB CLASSES.
WE HAD ABOUT 22 STUDENT LED WORKSHOPS.
PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND FOUR WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
LEARNING HELPFUL TOOLS AND TRICKS FROM OTHER STUDENTS IN OUR POSITION ALLOWED US TO EXPAND OUR IDEAS AND MAKE BONITA THE BEST PLACE IT CAN BE.
ALL THE SCHOOLS LOVED THIS EVENT, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED MEETING OTHER LIKE-MINDED STUDENTS.
WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING TO DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITH EVEN MORE SCHOOLS.
EVERY FALL SPORT WE HAVE HAS QUALIFIED FOR CIF PLAYOFFS.
WHILE SOME HAVE ALREADY LOST, OUR FOOTBALL TEAM FINISHED OFF THE SEASON WITH AN UNDEFEATED RECORD OF 10 AND 0.
THIS WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AS WE ARE HEADING INTO CIF DIVISION III PLAYOFFS.
THIS WEEK WE ARE ON THE ROAD AGAINST GREAT OAK IN TEMECULA ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
OUR GIRLS TENNIS TEAM HEADS INTO ROUND TWO OF CIF PLAYING TODAY AGAINST PENINSULA AT HOME.
OUR CROSS COUNTRY TEAM RUNS FRIDAY AT AYALA PARK.
NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE SIGNING DAY.
WE HAVE SEVEN STUDENTS WHO ARE COMMITTING TO PLAY SPORTS AT THE DIVISION I AND II UNIVERSITIES.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THEIR FAMILIES NEXT WEEK.
OUR THEATER PROGRAM IS PREPARING THEIR PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD NEXT WEEK AT THE BCA.
WE ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK THEY PUT INTO EVERY PLAY, AS IT TRULY SHOWS WHEN THEY TAKE THE STAGE.
IN NOVEMBER, WE ALWAYS HAVE TIME OF GIVING AT BONITA.
THIS YEAR WE ARE COLLECTING TOYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISTRICT'S STUFF THE BUSES CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR ANNUAL DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT.
AND EVEN THOUGH MY OWN TEAM HAS TAKEN A FEW HARD LOSSES, WE ARE STILL HAVING A GREAT TIME.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.
THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: NEXT, WE HAVE GLORIA HERNANDEZ CRISTOBAL.
[APPLAUSE] GLORIA HERNANDEZ CRISTOBAL: GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE, PRESIDENT BAHMANOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CABINET MEMBERS AND AUDIENCE.
ON OCTOBER 16, WE HELD OUR STUDENT OF THE MONTH RALLY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
OUR SCHOOLWIDE STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER WAS A THREE WAY TIE WITH SOPHIA CORDOVA RODRIGUEZ, GRACE CRUZ, AND OLIVIA RAMIREZ.
THESE STUDENTS PRESENTED A WINNING BUSINESS PROPOSAL, CLARITY CLOSET, FOR THEIR SHARK TANK PROJECTS FOR THEIR ECONOMICS CLASS.
OUR STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTH IS MISS CORTEZ.
WE HAVE OUR VERY FIRST GRADUATE OF THE YEAR IN DELANA FAGAN.
[00:05:03]
GRADUATE NUMBER ONE COMPLETED HER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ON OCTOBER 29.YESTERDAY WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ARMY VISIT CAMPUS TO REVIEW THE RESULTS OF THE ASVAB WITH OUR 18 STUDENTS WHO TOOK WHO TOOK IT BACK IN OCTOBER.
WE HAD A RECORD OF HIGH SCORES ON THE ASVAB THIS YEAR, AND ARE ALREADY PLANNING ANOTHER DAY TO ADMINISTER THE TEST IN THE SPRING.
IN OUR CLASSES, STUDENTS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRAWING UNIT WHERE THEY ARE USING DIFFERENT MATERIALS TO LEARN HOW TO CREATE VOLUME.
YEARBOOK AND JOURNALISM CLASS HAS CREATED ANOTHER EPISODE OF CBHS NEWS, SO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THEM OUT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL STUDENTS ARE EXPLORING THE 1950S AND THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE TEENAGERS PLAYED IN AMERICAN CULTURE.
ON OCTOBER 9, WE HELD AN ASSEMBLY CELEBRATING THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
WE DID SO BY WEARING PINK AND PARTICIPATING IN STAND UP TO CANCER.
STUDENTS AND STAFF FILLED OUT STAND UP TO CANCER PLACARDS RECOGNIZING PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES STRUGGLING CANCER.
THERE WAS A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS A TIME TO REFLECT AND HONOR THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING THE GREAT FIGHT.
FROM OCTOBER 23 THROUGH OCTOBER 29, OUR SCHOOL CELEBRATED RED RIBBON WEEK, HIGHLIGHTING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE.
EACH LUNCHTIME, ALL OF PERIOD THREE CLASSES COMPETED IN ACTIVITIES THAT REFLECTED A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ACTIVITIES PUSH COMPETITION AND THE FRUIT SCRAMBLE.
THE WINNING CLASS FOR THIS YEAR'S RED RIBBON WEEK WAS MR. GROSS'S CLASS.
THROUGHOUT RED RIBBON WEEK, BULLDOGS PAINTED PUMPKINS DURING LUNCH.
PICTURES OF SOME OF THE PUMPKINS ARE ON CHAPARRAL VISTA'S INSTAGRAM PAGE.
WE WANT TO THANK RACHELLE [INAUDIBLE] AND THE BONITA PTA FOR DONATING PUMPKINS.
SOUTHPAW BEGAN WITH A WINNING AGAINST SIERRA HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WILL PLAY OUR NEXT GAME IN TWO WEEKS AGAINST MOUNT OLIVE.
THE ANNUAL HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT HAS REACHED THE SEMIFINALS.
MR. WAYNE AND I ARE IN THE SEMIFINALS AND ARE HOPING TO GET THE WIN THIS YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO END BY THANKING MR. JIM ELLIOTT FOR HIS 19 YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND HELPING TO MAKE BONITA UNIFIED THE AMAZING DISTRICT IT IS.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: NEXT, WE HAVE BREONNA BENTIVEGNA.
[APPLAUSE] BREONNA BENTIVEGNA: GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT MR. WAYNE AND BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BREONNA BENTIVEGNA AND I'M ASB EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR CAMPUS THROUGH THE FOUR A'S, ACADEMICS, ARTS, ACTIVITIES, AND ATHLETICS.
STARTING WITH ACADEMICS, OUR FIRST QUARTER HAS OFFICIALLY CONCLUDED AND TEACHERS ARE MEETING WITH PARENTS TO DISCUSS STUDENT PROGRESS.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING OUR FIFTH PERIOD PROGRAM, WITH FRESHMEN RECEIVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THE MEDIA CENTER THROUGH STUDY HABITS, ORGANIZATION, AND STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
FOR ARTS, OUR DRAMA DEPARTMENT RECENTLY PRESENTED ITS EDGAR ALLEN POE SHOW AND IS PREPARING FOR NEWSIES.
BAND COMPETITIONS ARE BEGINNING SOON, AND OUR CHOIR RECENTLY HELD ITS ANNUAL FALL SHOW ALONGSIDE LONE HILL.
WE'RE ALSO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR SENIOR, LEANNE FLORES, WHO WAS SELECTED FOR THE ACDA NATIONAL JAZZ HONOR CHOIR.
LEANNE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST STUDENT IN BONITA UNIFIED HISTORY TO REACH THE NATIONAL HONOR CHOIR LEVEL, EARNING ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 SPOTS NATIONWIDE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE AUDITION.
SHE WILL REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL AND DISTRICT IN MINNEAPOLIS ON MARCH 10TH.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LEANNE ON HER HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT.
MOVING TO ACTIVITIES, HOMECOMING WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
FROM OUR PARADE AND RALLY TO THE DANCE, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER OUR CAMPUS WITH OVER 700 DANCE TICKETS SOLD.
WE ALSO CELEBRATED HALLOWEEN WITH OUR HALLOWEEN FOOTBALL GAME, BRINGING PLENTY OF COSTUMES AND HALLOWEEN SPIRIT TO THE STANDS.
FINALLY, FOR ATHLETICS, OUR FALL SPORTS ARE WRAPPING UP AND WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF OUR ATHLETES.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINISHED AS LEAGUE CHAMPS.
GIRLS TENNIS PLACED SECOND IN LEAGUE AND FACE
[00:10:01]
TROY HIGH SCHOOL IN CIF PLAYOFFS TODAY.BOYS WATER POLO FINISHED IN THIRD IN LEAGUE AND FELL SHORT OF A WIN AGAINST LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 3 IN THE SECOND ROUND OF CIF PLAYOFFS.
GIRLS GOLF TIED FOR THIRD PLACE IN LEAGUE AND CROSS COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN THEIR FINAL MEET EARLIER THIS MORNING AND ARE GETTING READY FOR CIF PLAYOFFS.
FOOTBALL HAS QUALIFIED FOR CIF PLAYOFFS AND WILL HOST PARAMOUNT HIGH SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, IN A DIVISION SEVEN PLAYOFF GAME HERE AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
AT OUR UPCOMING FALL RALLY, WE WILL ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR FALL SPORTS CAPTAINS AND CELEBRATE THEIR LEADERSHIP.
NONE OF THIS MOMENTUM HAPPENS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND SCHOOL BOARD.
TONIGHT, ON BEHALF OF THE SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO VICE PRESIDENT JIM ELLIOTT.
FOR 19 YEARS, ACROSS TWO DISTINGUISHED TERMS, MR. ELLIOTT HAS BEEN A STEADFAST CHAMPION FOR SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY OUR ARTS PROGRAM.
AS A PROUD PARENT OF USD GRADUATES, YOUR DEDICATION HAS BEEN DEEPLY PERSONAL AND YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT OUR CAMPUS FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU, MR. ELLIOTT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE TONIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: THAT'S VERY NICE.
IF YOU GUYS DO NEED TO STEP OUT, DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND.
ALTHOUGH THE ED FOUNDATION IS AMAZING, THEY HAVE MANY GRANTS.
[LAUGHING] RECOGNITION OF THE LAVERNE SAN DIMAS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
[13. FEATURED PRESENTATIONS]
TEACHER GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS.MEMBER: IT HAS BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE SINCE 1983 TO PARTNER WITH THE LAVERNE SAN DIMAS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.
I'M DELIGHTED TO WELCOME THEM AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS BY FORMALLY AWARDING THIS YEAR'S TEACHER MINI GRANTS TO DESERVING STAFF MEMBERS, FUNDING EXCITING NEW PROJECTS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.
I GOT TO SEE MANY OF THE APPLICATIONS AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY FANTASTIC THINGS IN THERE.
SO REPRESENTING THE ED FOUNDATION TONIGHT ARE MICHELLE RIDDELL, ANTHONY PORTER, SELENA GARCIA, AND VICKI MALISZEWSKI.
SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE, BOARD MEMBERS, AUDIENCE MEMBERS OF OUR BONITA UNIFIED STAFF, CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
LIKE WE SAID, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS-- THIS IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR.
WE HAD OVER 50 GRANT APPLICATIONS COME IN.
WE WERE ABLE TO FUND 31 OF THOSE TOTALING OVER $12,000 TO EACH OF THEM.
AND THESE ARE MINI GRANTS THAT ARE UP TO $500 A PIECE.
THEY SHOW THE CREATIVITY, THE CURIOSITY, THE DEDICATION AND INNOVATION THAT OUR TEACHERS PUT INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS EACH YEAR AND THE DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOL SITES.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO YOU THIS EVENING.
THE FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THIS COMES FROM DIRECT DONATIONS AND THE HARD WORK THAT WE PUT IN EACH YEAR AT OUR ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
SO WHEN THAT INVITATION COMES OUT IN APRIL, WE SURE HOPE THAT YOU WILL DONATE OR PARTICIPATE IN OUR TOURNAMENT.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR TEACHERS THAT ARE HERE.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME UP AND RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE, AND HIDDEN BEHIND IT IS A LOVELY CHECK THAT GOES TO YOU.
AND THEN I'D ASK THAT YOU STAY UP HERE TOWARDS THE FRONT SO THAT WE CAN GET A GROUP PICTURE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
SO WE'LL START WITH JEANNIE ALVAREZ FROM ALLEN AVENUE.
[APPLAUSE] AND I DO WANT TO MAKE A SMALL APOLOGY TO IN ADVANCE IN CASE I MASSACRE ANYBODY'S NAMES.
[APPLAUSE] EKSTRAND ELEMENTARY, ERIN ROWE.
[00:15:01]
[APPLAUSE] GLADSTONE ELEMENTARY, ASHLEY BUGARIN.[APPLAUSE] NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY GRACE MILLER.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHS] THEY'RE SLIPPERY.
FROM LAVERNE HEIGHTS, JEN CERECEREZ.
[APPLAUSE] FROM OAK MESA, HEATHER HOYNES.
[APPLAUSE] ROYNON ELEMENTARY, KERRI SPIVEY.
[APPLAUSE] FROM SHULL ELEMENTARY, CIARA RICHARDS.
[APPLAUSE] FROM LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE MICHELLE CRUZ.
[APPLAUSE] SPEAKER: IS THAT FOR, LIKE, A SECOND.
SPEAKER: SHORT PEOPLE IN THE FRONT.
[LAUGHS] MICHELLE RIDDELL: FROM CHAPARRAL VISTA, WE HAVE MIRIAM MARISCAL.
[APPLAUSE] SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE DIANE CHIAPPONE.
[APPLAUSE] AND FOR THOSE ON THE BOARD THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS EVENING, WE WILL BE DELIVERING THESE TO SCHOOL SITES.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.
WE'RE SO PROUD, AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
[APPLAUSE] MICHELLE RIDDELL: I LOVE BEING HERE, BUT MY THIGHS ARE BURNING.
[LAUGHING] AND THEN ANYONE WHO IS SITTING IN THE FIRST ROW IN THE MIDDLE OUT HERE, IF YOU CAN MOVE SIDE TO.
[LAUGHING] [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AND SMILE.
[00:21:01]
DEREK BAHMANOU: ALL RIGHT.SO THE NEXT THING WE HAVE ON THE DOCKET IS THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE DONATION EXPENDITURE PROPOSAL PRESENTATION.
TONIGHT I AM GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE SOME GENEROUS THANKS TO A WONDERFUL DONATION THAT WE RECEIVED.
THOUGH EARL AND ALANA SOUNHEIN NEVER HAD CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, THEIR HEARTS WERE ON THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE DESCRIBED TO ME AS A DOWN TO EARTH COUPLE WITH TRULY BEAUTIFUL HEARTS, AND THE SOUNHEIN'S BUILT A LIFE ROOTED IN QUIET SERVICE AND ABIDING CARE FOR OTHERS.
EARL DEDICATED HIS MANY YEARS IN A CAREER IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AND SPENT HIS PERSONAL TIME ON CIVIC FELLOWSHIP.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FREEMASONS, THE SCOTTISH RITES, AND THE SAN DIMAS SHRINERS.
AT HOME, HE WAS THE RESIDENT CHEF OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
AND I HEARD THAT EARL TOOK A SPECIAL DELIGHT IN FINDING A GREAT BARGAIN.
ALANA BEGAN HER PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY IN THE CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER, BEFORE EXTENDING HER COMPASSIONATE REACH IN HER WORK AS A SOCIAL WORKER.
TOGETHER, EARL AND ALANA FOUND IMMENSE HAPPINESS IN SIMPLE PLEASURES.
THEY LOVED TENDING TO THEIR GARDEN AND EMBARKING ON ADVENTURES AND TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD.
UPON RETURNING HOME, ONE OF THEIR GREAT JOYS WAS GATHERING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SHARE PHOTOS FROM THEIR TRAVELS.
THEIR GENEROSITY WAS NEVER RESERVED SOLELY FOR GRAND OCCASIONS.
IT WAS DEMONSTRATED DAILY THROUGH THOUGHTFUL GESTURES.
THROUGH AN EXTRAORDINARY GIFT OF IN THEIR TRUST, EARL AND ALANA SOUNHEIN HAVE BESTOWED A SIGNIFICANT GIFT TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING CLASSROOM SUPPLIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SONA BAGDASARIAN, A FRIEND OF THE TRUST, AND JAMIE GIBSON, TRUSTEE, FOR THEIR HELP AND COMMUNICATION WITH ME IN THIS PROCESS.
THE GOAL TONIGHT IS TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE FOR A TRANSFORMATIVE GIFT OF OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO BONITA UNIFIED EDUCATORS.
WE'RE HOPING TO HONOR THE TRUST'S MISSION TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHERS DIRECTLY AND RELIEVE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.
IF YOU KNOW A TEACHER, YOU KNOW THEY'RE ALWAYS BUYING THINGS WITH THEIR OWN MONEY.
AND REALLY, IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION OF OUR CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THESE FUNDS, STARTING WITH ALL PERMANENT EMPLOYEES, WITH TEACHER IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION.
THE DISTRIBUTION WILL BE CALCULATED ON A PER FTE, WHICH IS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WITH PRO-RATA AMOUNTS FOR SOME OF OUR PART TIME TEACHING STAFF, AND THE FUNDS WILL ARRIVE AT THE SCHOOL SITE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF TEACHER FTE.
EACH SCHOOL SITE WILL ESTABLISH A LOCAL COMMITTEE, ESTABLISHED OF TEACHERS TO OVERSEE THE EXPENDITURES AND GUIDE THE PROCESS UNIQUE FOR THAT SCHOOL.
GRADE LEVELS, DEPARTMENTS, OR TEACHER TEAMS CAN UNANIMOUSLY AGREE TO COMBINE THEIR FUNDS FOR SHARED PURCHASES.
THIS EMPOWERS SITES AND TEAMS TO ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE CLASSROOM
[00:25:03]
NEEDS.I'M HOPING TO MAKE THIS A SIMPLE PROCESS WITH A MULTIYEAR TIMELINE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL RUSHED TO SPEND THE MONEY.
SO TEACHERS WILL HAVE A MULTIYEAR OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN AND SPEND THEIR FUNDS THOROUGHLY.
AND THE PURCHASE THE PURCHASES WILL FOLLOW OUR NORMAL DISTRICT REQUISITION PROCESS AND PROCEDURES INITIATED BY THE SITE SECRETARIES, AND THEN FLOWING THROUGH OUR BUSINESS SERVICES AND PURCHASING DEPARTMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY DELIVERED TO THE CLASSROOMS. THIS ENSURES CLEAR ACCOUNTING AND ORDER TRACKING FROM START TO FINISH FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF THESE FUNDS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH JAMIE AND SONA TO HOPEFULLY EXPAND THE DIVISION FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HAVE THE MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR CLASSROOMS, AND WE'RE EXCLUDING THINGS LIKE ONGOING SUBSCRIPTIONS, TEACHER ONLY FURNITURE, OR ROUTINE SUPPLIES THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY PROVIDE TO CLASSROOMS. MOVING FORWARD, I'M WORKING WITH OUR SITE ADMINISTRATORS ON FIRMING UP THE TEACHER LISTS BY THEIR SITES, MAKING SURE WE HAVE EVERYBODY ACCOUNTED FOR.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO OUR EDITOR SERVICES TEAMS WITH SOME GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND GUIDANCE HELP ON THAT, AND A FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THIS TRANSFORMATIVE GIFT.
AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD REGARDING THE PROCESS? GREG PLATTO: YEAH.
YOU SAID IT'S WITH THE NAME TEACHER, SO WHAT WOULD THAT ENTAIL.
JUST THE TEACHER, LIKE IS THAT INCLUDE A SPEECH OR LANGUAGE TEACHER OR-- SUSAN OEHLER: SO WE USED THE-- ANYBODY THAT HAD TEACHER IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION.
SO SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS DO NOT HAVE TEACHER IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S FINAL.
I'M STILL WORKING WITH OUR SITE ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE, BUT I ALSO NEED TO STICK TO THOSE THAT HAVE A CLASSROOM.
GREG PLATTO: FOR THE REQUISITION BY DISTRICT, SO IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A TIME PROCESS.
I KNOW A LOT OF TEACHERS, THEY SPEND AT LEAST MY WIFE AS WELL SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY ON TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS.
SO HOW LONG, LIKE, IF I NEED THIS WORKSHEET FOR THIS, HOW LONG WOULD THAT REQUISITION TAKE? SUSAN OEHLER: SO SONIA'S GROUP IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT MOVING THINGS THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY.
OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY STARTED BUILDING A LITTLE CATALOG BY WHICH PEOPLE COULD SHOP FOR THINGS WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT WE USE REGULARLY.
AND SO HOPEFULLY, THAT'LL MAKE THINGS LAND REALLY QUICKLY IN TEACHERS CLASSROOMS. GREG PLATTO: I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE COMMUNICATION IF THOSE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE STILL PART OF THE TEACHERS UNION, LIKE THE COUNSELORS OR THE SPEECH LANGUAGE TEACHERS OR WHATNOT, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT WORK FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY SPEND THE SAME MONEY OUT OF POCKET AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A FULL CLASSROOM OF 24, BUT THEY HAVE THEIR ROOM WHERE THEY'RE WORKING WITH STUDENTS.
SUSAN OEHLER: YEAH, THEY SURE DO.
I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH A LOT OF KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT MIGHT NOT BE IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.
AND-- BRITTANY ALLISON: I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A LITTLE QUESTION, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE JIM MIGHT HAVE ALSO.
I WAS WONDERING-- I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN TAKING YOUR TIME TO FIGURE OUT THIS PROCESS, THERE'S SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE ESTATE AND RESPECTING AND HONORING WHATEVER THEIR WISHES WERE AND HOW THE FUNDS WERE UTILIZED, AND ALSO, IF TEACHERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS UP UNTIL THIS POINT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE IT LAID OUT TO WHERE AS SOON AS IT GETS TO THE SITE, TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE THE MAIN DECIDERS OF THE PARAMETERS.
I STARTED WITH MY EDITOR SERVICES TEAM, EXPANDED OUT TO PRINCIPALS, WORKED WITH THE BONITA UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION TO TELL THEM ABOUT THIS, TO GET THEIR INPUT ON THAT.
SO WE'VE HAD TEACHER INPUT ALONG THE WAY.
AND THEN I WANT TO THANK MR. GIBSON AND MISS BAGDASARIAN, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, BECAUSE THEY MET WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT OUR THINKING, THEIR THINKING.
THEY SHARED A LOT WITH ME ABOUT THE SOUNHEIN'S, WHICH WAS LOVELY TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THEY WERE.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM AS WE GO ALONG THE PROCESS.
I'VE PROVIDED THE PRELIMINARY CATALOG THAT OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT PROVIDED US AS WELL.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THEM AND WITH OUR SITE, OUR SITE FOLKS.
BRITTANY ALLISON: AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION WAS, I'M PERCEIVING THAT ALL OF THESE FUNDS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED ALL
[00:30:04]
AT ONCE, DISTRIBUTED TO THE SITES, AND THEN THEY HAVE A MULTI-YEAR TIMELINE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE HOW-- SUSAN OEHLER: EXACTLY.BRITTANY ALLISON: IS THEIR PARAMETERS ON HOW MULTIYEAR THAT CAN OR SHOULD BE.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE WAS DISCUSSION IN HOW WE CAN HONOR THE LEGACY THAT THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AND IN THE SPIRIT OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
ARE WE ENCOURAGING FOR THIS TO STRETCH OR ARE WE JUST DELIVERING IT IN BULK AND-- SUSAN OEHLER: I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE NEED.
SO IF IT TURNS INTO A MULTIYEAR FOR A GRADE LEVEL AND SMALLER THINGS, THAT'S GREAT.
IF IT'S USED UP QUICKLY BY A TEACHER OR GRADE LEVEL AND SOMETHING AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE, I THINK THAT'S GREAT AS WELL.
I THINK IT SHOULD REALLY BE DRIVEN BY EACH INDIVIDUAL AND CLASSROOMS NEED.
BRITTANY ALLISON: BUT THERE'S THAT FLEXIBILITY? SUSAN OEHLER: YES FOR SURE.
JIM ELLIOT: I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT.
AND I AGAIN SEE FOLKS FROM THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE HERE TONIGHT.
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SAY THANK YOU.
AND GRATITUDE IS PART OF GOOD MANNERS.
THIS IS BEYOND A GENEROUS GIFT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.
AND WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2003, I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND FOR FOLKS IN THE GALLERY TO SEE, I KEEP SAYING THE ESTATE, BUT THE SOUNHEIN'S, GIVE FROM THEIR HEART IS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.
AND FRANKLY, I WAS GLAD TO BE HERE AND BE A PART OF IT.
DEREK BAHMANOU: AND IN THAT VEIN, EARL WAS AN AMAZING GUY.
THIS IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL GIFT, AND I THINK THESE GIFTS ACTUALLY HELP OUR KIDS GET A BETTER EDUCATION.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK SONIA JAMIE, AND DAVID OEHLER FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS HAS HAPPENED.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
[14. REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEMS]
DEREK BAHMANOU: REQUEST TO SPEAK ON OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEM.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.
ANY 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. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE BOARD, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD CARD, WHICH MAY BE PICKED UP FROM MARGARET MCDONALD, SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ANY PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARD SHOULD FIRST STATE THEIR NAME AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE DISTRICT, AND THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE IS SONA BAGDASARIAN.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
I WAS TAKING A LOT OF DEEP BREATHS AS I WAS SITTING THERE SEEING THEIR PICTURE UP THERE.
I HAVE SOME AMAZING MEMORIES OF THEM.
AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THIS.
MEMBERS OF THE BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT, EDUCATORS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND GUESTS, MY NAME IS SONA, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE FIFTH CHECK FROM THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I JUST WANT TO JUST-- SINCE THE PRESENTATION WAS ABOUT HOW THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED, I THOUGHT I'D SHARE A STORY ABOUT EARL AND ALANA.
AND SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME FOR STORIES, I JUST THOUGHT I SHARED THIS ONE.
AS IT WAS SAID, THEY LIVED A VERY SIMPLE LIFE, INCREDIBLY GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME, RESOURCE, AND THEIR HEARTS.
EARL HAD A PARTICULAR AND VERY INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY.
HE WAS EXTREMELY SAVVY AND ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THE BEST QUALITY AT THE BEST PRICE.
HE WOULD COMPARE, CALCULATE, REVISIT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS UNTIL HE WAS SATISFIED HE FOUND THE BEST VALUE.
SO HE COULD SPEND HOURS FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLAR WAS SPENT CORRECTLY.
ALL HONESTY, WE ALL HAVE OUR HAPPY PLACE, AND I THINK THAT WAS EARL'S DOING THAT RESEARCH AND DOING THAT WAS HIS HAPPY PLACE, PLUS FISHING.
BUT WHAT I ADMIRED THE MOST, WHILE HE WAS CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY, HE WAS NEVER STINGY WITH IT WHEN IT CAME TO HELPING OTHERS.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPENDING MONEY AND MAKING A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT.
[00:35:02]
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE MET, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS STRESSED, THAT THE FUNDS FOR IT TO BE MEANINGFUL, WHICH I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED A COUPLE OF THE TEACHERS AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT THEIR GRANTS WERE ABOUT, AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH.SO I THINK THAT IT IS EXACTLY WHAT EARL AND ALANA HAD DONE THROUGH THEIR GENEROSITY TO BONITA UNIFIED AND THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RESOURCES.
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU GUYS ARE ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE ONE MORE CHECK, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL PROBABLY GO OVER TO $1.2 MILLION.
SO I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS CHECK FOR $243,000 AND SOME CHANGE.
AND LIKE I SAID, THERE WILL BE ONE MORE CHECK HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN WE CLOSE OUT THE LAST ACCOUNT.
[APPLAUSE] ANN HORSLEY: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I DIDN'T SPEAK EARLIER, BUT I DID AFTER THAT PRESENTATION.
I SPENT 17 YEARS AS A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HERE IN BONITA UNIFIED.
AND EVERY SUMMER I WOULD SIT DOWN WITH THAT NEEDS LIST FROM MY TEACHERS AND THEN KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I HAD COMING IN.
AND AT SHULL, WE DID SPEND DOWN TO-- WE COULD ONLY EVER CARRY OVER 10%.
AND IT JUST BROKE MY HEART, SOMETIMES, JUST WATCHING HOW MUCH MORE THAN EVEN WHAT WE HAD TO GIVE.
THEY USED ALL THAT FOR THEIR KIDS, AND THEN TEACHERS WOULD USE SO MUCH MORE-- WITH THEIR OWN MONEY, THE THINGS THAT THEY BROUGHT INTO THE CLASSROOM.
SO I KNOW THIS IS SO MEANINGFUL TO OUR TEACHERS AND TO OUR SITES AND TO OUR STUDENTS.
[15. CONSENT AGENDA]
DEREK BAHMANOU: CONSENT AGENDA.MATTERS LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD TO BE ROUTINE OR SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTED BY PRIOR OR ACCOMPANYING REFERENCE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION AS TO NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD SO REQUESTS, AN ITEM SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE SECTION AND PLACED IN THE REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEMS WILL BE APPROVED WITH ONE MOTION AND WILL NOT BE DEBATABLE AND WHICH REQUIRES UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR PASSAGE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? BRITTANY ALLISON: SO MOVED.
[16. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA]
DISCUSSION ACTION AGENDA.STUDENT DISCIPLINARY ACTION PURSUANT TO THE EDUCATION CODE 48945 A1 DASH B FOR STUDENT NUMBER 167705148 RECOMMENDATION THAT STUDENT NUMBER 167705148 BE EXPELLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2026/2027 SCHOOL YEAR WITH PLACEMENT IN A PROGRAM OUTSIDE THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? GREG PLATTO: MOVE.
DEREK BAHMANOU: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
[17. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT]
REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT.ANN HORSLEY: WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START? GREG PLATTO: ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST SAY THAT I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO WATCH, EVEN IN OUR CALIFORNIA RETURNS ON OUR ELECTION YESTERDAY, THAT WE HAD VERY HIGH TURNOUT, AND IT'S JUST SO NICE TO SEE COMMUNITIES OUT THERE AND BEING ENGAGED AND EVERYONE VOTING.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE CELINA GARCIA, WHO WILL BE JOINING US NEXT MONTH AS OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER.
SO WHY DON'T YOU RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE'LL GIVE YOU CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY LOSING JIM ELLIOTT.
AND I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING JIM ON NOVEMBER 19, 5:00 PM AT LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
PLEASE COME OUT TO OUR RECOGNITION.
YOU HAVE BEEN JUST A VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO BONITA UNIFIED, AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS HIM VERY, VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS NOVEMBER 19, 5:00 PM.
LOVE THE PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR STUDENTS TONIGHT.
I WAS SIDELINED A LITTLE BIT THIS MONTH WITH COVID, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE BACK, AND I WILL BE AT THAT SAN DIMAS FOOTBALL GAME ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
THEY DIDN'T MENTION TENNIS THOUGH.
AND I THINK WE HAVE BOTH SCHOOLS ARE IN TENNIS CIF SO THOSE ARE GOING ON AS WELL.
[00:40:01]
OUR SUPERINTENDENT LET US KNOW THAT LINDOR THIS LAST MONTH LOST ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS TO CANCER.AND I WAS VERY TOUCHED THAT BOTH BONITA HIGH SCHOOL AND SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOUND A WAY TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN LINDOR IN THEIR OWN WAYS AT GAMES, ET CETERA AND COLORS THAT THEY WORE, ET CETERA.
AND IT WAS JUST VERY TOUCHING THAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, CROSSING BORDERS OVER TO LINDOR THAT ALL OUR KIDS ARE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.
WE ALSO, THIS MONTH WE ARE LOSING OUR UNION PRESIDENT, TRACY PANG, NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON, BUT THEN SHE'S MOVING INTO ADMINISTRATION.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE TRACY, THAT'S WONDERFUL FOR US TO HAVE HER WITH ALL HER EXPERIENCE MOVING OVER TO RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND WE WELCOME KRISTINA VITALE, WHO WAS HER VICE PRESIDENT, AS THE PRESIDENT OF OUR TEACHERS UNION.
SHE WILL BE ANOTHER FANTASTIC PRESIDENT.
THE NEXT REALLY SIX WEEKS, ALL THE WAY UP TILL CHRISTMAS, I TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT IT'S DATE NIGHT ONCE A WEEK, SO WE CAN GET OVER THERE AND SEE ALL THOSE PERFORMANCES.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE STUDENTS FROM ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE REALLY WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES THAT THEY WILL HAVE.
I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE CIF AS WELL, BUT THE KIDS DID IT REALLY WELL.
A FLAG FOOTBALL FROM BONITA ALSO WENT TO CIF.
THANKS AGAIN, TO EARL AND THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE, IT'S JUST AMAZING.
WE COULD SAY IT OVER AND OVER, BUT IT'S STILL THAT IMPACT.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO PUT WORDS TO.
I HAD THE SAME THING WITH TRACY.
SHE'S GOING TO LEAD HER SCHOOL REALLY WELL.
EXCITED ABOUT KRISTINA JUMPING IN THERE AS WELL.
JIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU'RE LIKE THE HISTORIAN ON THE BOARD.
I SEE YOU AND LIKE, YEAH, THIS HAPPENED BACK THEN.
IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU LOOK AT HISTORY, YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES.
AND THEN YOU'VE BEEN THERE TO SAY, WE TRIED THIS BEFORE.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FROM YOU THAT LEADERSHIP.
WELCOME, CELINA I KNOW YOU RAN UNOPPOSED LIKE DEREK.
AND I WOULD HAVE RUN AGAINST YOU EITHER.
SO, I SEE NO REASON WHY ANYONE ELSE WOULD PUT IN YOUR-- YOU HAVE SOME TOUGH SHOES TO FILL.
I CAN SEE YOU'RE FILLING THEM WELL.
CONGRATS TO OUR LAVERNE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
I KNOW THE ONE WITH THAT'S A CLOSE ONE.
BUT THEN I KNOW THIS NAME, ALLISON.
AND THAT LOOKS LIKE A LANDSLIDE.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM IN THE CITY TO MAKE OUR CITY PARTNERSHIPS.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME THINGS GOING ON WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND I LOOK FORWARD FOR THAT INTERACTION.
MY BIGGEST WIN OF THE NIGHT FOR THE ELECTION WAS PROP THREE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW, PROP THREE EXTENDS FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PASS, WE'D BE IN SOME DIRE STRAITS.
SO WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, I'M A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST WEEK.
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE IN THIS DISTRICT WHO DO WHAT THEY DO.
A LOT OF IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES TO HAVE THESE KIDS IN SPECIAL ED BE SUCCESSFUL AND MEET THEIR GOALS.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL YOU DO OUT THERE.
ON SPECIAL ED, WE HAVE AN ART FESTIVAL THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
THE ART FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE AT ROYAL OAK IN COVINA.
WE HAVE KIDS FROM ALL THE UPPER CLASSES, MAKE ART PROJECTS AND PUT THEM ON THE WALL, AND SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS FROM ALL OVER COME TOGETHER, DO ART, THEY DO INTERACTIVE PLAY.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY YEAR.
VETERANS DAY IS COMING UP, SO THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL YOU'VE DONE WITH THAT AND WITH THANKSGIVING.
NOW, I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL OUR EDUCATORS.
IT'S ONLY NOVEMBER, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OUR STAFF OUT THERE.
THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE DO PROMOTE EQUITY AND EVERY STUDENT IS VALUED NO MATTER WHAT BACKGROUND LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, STATUS, EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANKS BRITTANY ALLISON: GOOD EVENING.
I WANTED TO FIRST SPEAK TO SOMETHING THAT I'VE RECEIVED SOME CALLS AND CONCERNS ABOUT.
RECENTLY, A VIDEO WAS SHARED THAT SHOWS A EMPLOYEE'S BEHAVIOR OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, AND IT WAS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'VE RECEIVED SOME CALLS AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS HATEFUL RHETORIC.
AND THIS HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, I AGREE.
TO BE CLEAR, PERSONAL MATTERS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED.
BUT I NEED TO EXPRESS THAT IT WOULD BE MY HOPE THAT EVERYONE AT BUSD, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WOULD MAINTAIN RESPECT AND A SPIRIT OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU COME FROM, NO MATTER.
[00:45:03]
I'M SEEING WHAT I SAW TROUBLES ME DEEPLY AND I NEED TO SHARE IN EXPRESSING THAT IT WASN'T OK.USUALLY, I USE THIS TIME TO SHARE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO CELEBRATE THE EXCELLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING AND ENCOURAGE FOR US TO STRIVE FOR MORE.
I NEEDED TO SPEAK ON THE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US TO STRIVE FOR MORE LOVE.
TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR NO MATTER WHAT THAT NEIGHBOR LOOKS LIKE, NO MATTER WHAT THAT NEIGHBOR BELIEVES.
I STILL DO WANT TO USE THIS TIME THOUGH, TO SHARE ABOUT THE EXCITING THINGS AND THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
REALLY SUCH A HUGE THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF LAVERNE SAN DIMAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND OF THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE.
WHAT YOU BOTH DISPLAYED HERE TONIGHT IS WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY GREAT.
IT REMINDS US WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON.
AND IT IS THESE KIDS, AND IT IS THE WORK THAT IS DONE IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WONDERFUL IMPACT THAT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO HERE.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO A REMINDER TO EXTEND THAT EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT TOUCHES THE CLASSROOM AND THE SITES AND WHAT'S DONE THERE.
THE COMMUNITY DONORS, THE VOLUNTEERS, THE SUPPORTERS, THE PTA, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMIN YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS SO VALUABLE, LIKE JIM ELLIOT'S CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN SO VALUABLE.
SO I WANT TO SHARE MY CONGRATS, YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR DISCERNMENT, YOUR SENSE OF HISTORY, IT WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.
AND I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU MAY NOT BE SITTING BESIDE ME, BUT YOU ARE STILL A PHONE CALL AWAY.
I WANT TO CONGRATS TO THE ATHLETES WHO HAVE FINISHED THEIR FALL SEASONS.
A BEST OF LUCK TO THOSE THAT ARE CONTINUING IN CIF.
AND ALSO CONGRATS TO THOSE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE UPCOMING SIGNING DAY.
SUCH EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU.
ALSO, LASTLY, I WANT TO ECHO THE BCA AND THE GOOD STUFF THAT IS HAPPENING THERE.
I WAS EXCITED FOR THE REMINDER TONIGHT ABOUT ROBIN HOOD, BECAUSE MY KIDS WILL NEVER FORGIVE ME IF I DON'T SEND THEM OR TAKE THEM TO WATCH THAT.
AND ALSO EARLIER THIS WEEK WAS A PARENT MEETING FOR SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL'S MUSICAL COMING UP, NEWSIES.
EVERY YEAR THEY OPEN UP TO TK THROUGH 12 BUSD STUDENTS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.
MY KIDS HAVE DONE IT SINCE MY FIFTH GRADER WAS A KINDERGARTENER AND IT IS SUCH A JOY.
IT'S SUCH A COOL WAY OF SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE REACH ACROSS CAMPUSES, WHEN WE REACH ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY THANK THE TEAM THAT OPENS UP THAT SPACE MISS [INAUDIBLE], MISS BRIGHTBILL, AND MISS VITALE.
I AM ALWAYS THRILLED TO WATCH MY KIDS PERFORM ON THE STAGE ALONGSIDE THEM.
SO I'M EXCITED THAT IS COMING UP.
AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
DEREK BAHMANOU: I'M GOING TO SKIP AHEAD OF JIM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO GET THE LAST WORD.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AND THEN YOU'RE SPECIAL.
IMPACT, I'VE WORKED WITH JIM AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR SOME TIME, AND I WAS READING HATEFUL SPEECH ON THE INTERNET.
IT WAS CAMPAIGN SEASON, SO PEOPLE HAD SO MUCH MONEY TO SLING.
AND I READ AN ARTICLE IN ONE OF THE MUDSLINGING IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CONTROVERSY HERE, AND I HOPE THERE NEVER WILL BE.
SO I READ OTHER PEOPLE'S STUFF.
AND WHAT SURPRISED ME, AND I DID SEND IT TO MATT BECAUSE IT JUST CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD IS WHILE THIS ONE POLITICIAN IS BEING BEATEN UP.
THE COMMENT WAS, WHY CANNOT THIS UNKNOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT BE MORE LIKE BUSD? AND THEN THEY HAD DATA, AND THE DATA WAS REALLY GOOD FOR BUSD.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, OUR TEST SCORES ARE AMAZING.
OUR KIDS GET ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.
WE HAVE GREAT ATHLETICS, GREAT ARTS.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT MAKE US A GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, BONITA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I KNOW IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
AND THERE WERE SOME DAYS WHEN THERE WAS MORE CONTROVERSY, MORE CONTENTION, AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE THERE THAT HELPED MAKE BUSD WHAT IT IS SITTING TO MY LEFT, AND THEY WORK TOGETHER AND THEY GOT A SYSTEM.
I'D LIKE TO THINK WE'RE STILL REACHING HIGHER HEIGHTS.
AND THIS IS CLEARLY A DESTINATION DISTRICT.
IF YOU ARE THE BENCHMARK THAT OTHER PEOPLE GET BEATEN UP BY, THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE YOU MUCH.
BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A DESTINATION DISTRICT.
SO JIM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE BOTH WHEN BUSD DEFINITELY NEEDED TO CREATE THIS NEW SYSTEM, BUT ALSO IN THIS BOARD WHILE WE REACHED
[00:50:02]
HIGHER HEIGHTS AND THE TEST SCORES HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL, OUR KIDS HAVE DONE WELL.BEING A NICE PERSON IS ALWAYS NICE.
BUT THAT LEGACY OF IMPACT, OF CHANGING A CULTURE THAT IMPACTS KIDS, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY VALUABLE AND A GIFT TO OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK TO A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM AND HE WAS VERY METICULOUS.
HE DID TALK TO ME ABOUT HIS WILL A FEW TIMES.
I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A SIZABLE.
SO HE TALKED LIKE, OH, THAT'S GREAT, TEACHER SUPPLIES.
I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD EXTRA ZEROS.
SO TO BE FAIR, I'M NOT SURE IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION IF I KNEW THAT.
BUT OUR COMMUNITY, BESIDES HAVING GREAT LEADERSHIP, GREAT STAFF, WE HIRE AMAZING PEOPLE.
THERE'S SO MANY GOOD THINGS HERE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
WE HAVE THE ED FOUNDATION, THE ROTARY, THERE'S SO MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THESE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.
AND AS A TEACHER, I CAN TELL WHEN YOU HAVE $10 TO HELP KIDS, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE $5,000 TO HELP KIDS, YOU CAN BUY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCES OUR KIDS HAVE.
AND WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HERE, LIKE, I'M GOING TO CALL ON VICKY.
SO THERE'S SO MANY UNKNOWN PEOPLE WHO PUT IN MANY, MANY YEARS.
ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE ON THE BOARD SOON, CELINA.
SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG.
SHE'S BEEN IN PTA PRESIDENT MORE TIMES THAN I PROBABLY HAVE, FINGERS, I'M GUESSING.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS DO.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THE IMPACT IS HUGE BECAUSE YOU LET OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF HAVE A BIG IMPACT.
ALSO, YOUR EVENTS ARE PRETTY NICE AS WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS DO.
I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE PEOPLE.
I THANK CELINA I THANK JIM, TRACY PANG DID A GREAT JOB.
KRISTINA VITALE IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB, AND SHE'S NOT JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON.
MY KIDS IN DRAMA, SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS FOR STUFF.
SO YOU THINK OUR STAFF IS JUST DOING THEIR JOB OR THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE UNION, BUT IF YOU GO TO BASEBALL, IF YOU GO TO DRAMA, IF YOU GO TO A MILLION OTHER THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE KRISTINA VITALE, BUT ALSO OTHER PEOPLE.
AND AT SOME POINT, YOU GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE, AND YOU ALSO WONDER ABOUT THEIR TIME MANAGEMENT OR IF THEY'VE EVER HEARD THE WORD NO.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS PRIVATELY.
YOU WOULD NEVER TELL THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID THEY WOULD SAY THE WORD NO.
BUT THEY DO SO MUCH TO IMPACT OUR KIDS.
AND I DO THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
JAMIE ELLIS WAS AN AMAZING PRINCIPAL.
HE'S GOING OFF TO MAKE MORE MONEY, SO DEFINITELY GET THAT.
AND FINALLY, I THINK IT WAS IN ONE OF THE CAMPAIGNS, I WAS GOING TO BRING UP EQUITY, ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT PEOPLE CAN SAY MEAN THINGS.
BOTH IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT ON ONLINE FORUMS, MUCH LIKE THAT POLITICAL THING I READ WHEN THEY WERE SAYING YOU GUYS SHOULD BE MORE LIKE BONITA, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT WE WOULD RESONATE WITH THE IDEA OF LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.
I THINK THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER IF WE DON'T PASS ON THAT VITRIOL, AND IF WE CAN BE OUR BETTER SELVES, I THINK WOULD MAKE A BETTER WORLD.
JIM ELLIOT: LET ME START BY SAYING THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
AND AGAIN, GOOD MANNERS DEMAND THAT GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS IS A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
IT'S OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE, FRANKLY, TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF, BUT I HAVE PREPARED A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SHARE TONIGHT.
TONIGHT IS MY VERY LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND I BEG YOUR INDULGENCE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES WHILE I REFLECT ON MY 19 YEARS AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR BONITA UNIFIED.
IN 2003, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, THE BOARDROOM WAS THE SIZE OF AN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM.
IT WAS BEFORE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, CLASS-SIZE REDUCTION, COMMON CORE, COMPUTER NETWORK CLASSROOMS, AND CURRICULUM.
BEFORE EACH STUDENT HAD A TABLET AND BEFORE NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES.
WE'VE GONE FROM TRADITIONAL HALF-DAY KINDERGARTEN TO ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, THEN PRE-K, AND NOW TK.
THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AT THAT TIME, WERE ELECTED TO SERVE AT LARGE, NOT BY AREA.
OUR CAMPUSES WERE OPEN AND HAD NO SOLAR PANELS.
OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD NO GYMNASIUMS. OUR HIGH SCHOOLS HAD HALF-SIZE GYMNASIUMS, AND THERE WAS NO BONITA CENTER FOR THE ARTS OR THE DISTRICT OFFICE WE ENJOY TODAY, ALL OF WHICH WAS PAID FOR BY A SUPERMAJORITY OF OUR DISTRICT'S TAXPAYERS,
[00:55:02]
WITH THE PROCEEDS OF MEASURE AB, A LEGACY OF INVESTMENT THAT WE SHOULD ALL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF.IN 2003, THOUGH THERE WERE THE SAME 13 SCHOOL SITES THE SMUDGE POT, 10,000 KIDS, THE PROUD CITIES OF LA VERNE AND SAN DIMAS.
AND ALTHOUGH OUR BUDGET WAS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT IT IS TODAY, A LOT OF DEDICATED TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE WORKING HARD TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR KIDS, JUST AS THEY ARE TODAY.
IN MY COMBINED TENURE WITH BONITA UNIFIED, I'VE WORKED WITH SEVEN SUPERINTENDENTS, 12 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND MANY EXTREMELY TALENTED TEACHERS, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF DEVELOPING WHAT WE CALL THE BONITA WAY, AND THE DISTINCT HONOR OF PERSONALLY GIVING EACH OF MY CHILDREN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.
I ATTENDED 57 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS AND COUNTLESS EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS, BOTH AS A DAD AND AS A BOARD MEMBER.
HOWEVER, SADLY, DURING MY TENURE, BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER HAS BECOME A LOT MORE POLITICIZED, AND IT'S MADE THE JOB MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IN STAYING FOCUSED ON THE CORE NONPARTISAN WORK OF SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND ADVANCING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
THE PRECIOUS RESPONSIBILITY OF KEEPING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PUBLIC FOR ALL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS NOW HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE, IN MY OPINION.
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES AND FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE'RE HERE TO SERVE KIDS, NOT NATIONAL, STATE, OR PERSONAL OR POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES OR AGENDAS.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE VALUES EMBEDDED IN THE DISTRICT'S EIGHT AREAS OF FOCUS CONTINUE TO BE USED BY THE BOARD AS THE GUIDE STAR FOR FUTURE PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING, REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST, LAST, AND ALWAYS.
IN CLOSING, I AM TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY AND TRUST AND OPPORTUNITY I HAVE HAD TO SERVE STUDENTS AND THE GREATER BONITA UNIFIED COMMUNITY AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND I WISH OUR DISTRICT AND MY SUCCESSOR BOARD MEMBER ELECT, CELINA GARCIA AND THIS BOARD TEAM OF SIX, ALL THE VERY BEST IN THE FUTURE.
[APPLAUSE] MATT WIEN: JIM, YOU'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RUN AS A BOARD MEMBER.
YOUR SERVICE IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
IN PREPARATION FOR NOVEMBER 19, I'VE ASKED MANY PEOPLE TO REFLECT ON JIM'S TIME AS A BOARD MEMBER, AND I WANT TO SAVE THE SPECIFICS FOR THAT NIGHT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS MUCH WARMTH AND GENUINE POSITIVE REGARD FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SPENT HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU DEEPLY.
MATT WIEN: I ALSO, BEFORE WE GO, I WANT TO THANK THE SOUNHEIN ESTATE AS WELL.
THE GIFT IS TRANSFORMATIVE AND IT IS DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE.
AND I WANT TO NOTE THAT AS PART OF CONSENT TONIGHT, WE DID APPROVE TWO INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS AT RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL.
FOR THE REST OF 26 27 MICHAEL VAUGHAN WILL BE INTERIM PRINCIPAL, AND AS MENTIONED, TRACY PANG WILL BE INTERIM ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
OUR TEAM LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OF THEM IN THEIR NEW ROLES.
AS MENTIONED WITH TRACY MOVING ON, WE DO HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT OF [INAUDIBLE] KRISTINA VITALE, AND OUR VICE PRESIDENT PAUL KIM IS SITTING RIGHT HERE.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OF THEM AND CONTINUING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT UNION.
[18. REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC]
DEREK BAHMANOU: REQUEST TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC.FIRST CARD WE HAVE IS JAZMIN CUEVAS.
JAZMIN CUEVAS: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE WITH SENATOR SUSAN RUBIO'S OFFICE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I WILL BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR BONITA UNIFIED.
I'M ALSO THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITIES OF LA VERNE AND SAN DIMAS.
AS YOU ALL MAY SENATOR RUBIO, SHE WAS A TEACHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS BEFORE BECOMING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
SO SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE A BIG PRIORITY FOR HER.
SO PLEASE SEE OUR OFFICE AS A RESOURCE AND REACH OUT TO US ANYTIME.
I KNOW MARGARET HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION, I'VE GOT MORE CARDS IF YOU NEED THEM, BUT PLEASE REACH OUT ANY TIME.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE BY SAYING, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MR. JIM ELLIOTT FOR YOUR 19 YEARS OF SERVICE TO BONITA UNIFIED AND OUR COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CITY.
[01:00:01]
PLEASE NOTE SENATOR RUBIO SENDS HER WARM REGARDS AND HER THANK YOU.ALSO, TO MR. ALLISON, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. ALLISON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. ALLISON ON THE LAVERNE CITY COUNCIL VERY SOON.
AND ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO CELINA GARCIA ON YOUR NEW BOARD SEAT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU VERY SOON.
I'M SURE WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
PLEASE REACH OUT ANYTIME IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING, SEE OUR OFFICE AS A RESOURCE.
WE'LL BE WORKING MORE OVERTIME.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF CABINET, AND COMMUNITY.
I'M THE YOUTH SERVICES DIRECTOR AT POMONA VALLEY PRIDE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR BONITA UNIFIED COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN.
POMONA VALLEY PRIDE'S SERVICE AREA INCLUDES SAN DIMAS, LA VERNE, AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
SO I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
I PROVIDED SOME FOLDERS DOWN AT THE END TO MARGARET.
SO ON THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR FOLDERS, THERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER, LAVENDER YOUTH ALLIANCE.
THAT PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY RUN IN POMONA UNIFIED AT ALL OF THE MIDDLES AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL OF ART AT ENTERPRISE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS LOS ANGELES COUNTY OF EDUCATION SCHOOL IPOLY HIGH SCHOOL.
LAVENDER YOUTH ALLIANCE IS A ONE ON ONE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM DURING SCHOOL HOURS THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS A SAFE SPACE TO WORK WITH THE MENTOR ON VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING COMING OUT, IDENTITY SUPPORT, ACADEMIC PLANNING, AND MORE.
THIS PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVICES OVER 150 STUDENTS IN THE POMONA VALLEY REGION, AND WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES AS WELL.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FOLDERS, THERE'S A FLYER FOR OUR CENTER'S OPEN HOUSE HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM.
WE'RE EXCITED TO INVITE YOU AND HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM, AND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WE OFFER.
BEHIND THIS FLYER IS OUR STUDENT NEWSLETTER, RADIANT VOICES.
THIS NEWSLETTER IS COMPLETELY DRAFTED AND COMPOSED BY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOLARS IN THE POMONA VALLEY.
THIS IS OUR THIRD ISSUE AND HAS SUBMISSIONS FROM STUDENTS IN CHINO HILLS, POMONA, DIAMOND BAR, AND CHINO.
STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT ART WRITTEN COLUMNS OR HELP EDIT AND FORMAT THE NEWSLETTER.
ANYONE IN MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL IS ABLE TO SUBMIT WORK, AND THEY CAN DO IT ANY TIME.
THERE'S NO OBLIGATION TO COME TO OUR CENTER TO PARTICIPATE.
THEY JUST SUBMIT IT THROUGH THE QR CODE.
WE THEN REDISTRIBUTE THE RADIANT VOICES ISSUES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES.
LASTLY, IN THE FOLDER, I INCLUDED A PROGRAM GUIDE WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OUR FREE THERAPY SERVICES.
YOU COULD JUST SCAN THE QR CODE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
OVERALL, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A RESOURCE TO THE BONITA UNIFIED COMMUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE CAN PARTNER IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING PARTICIPATING IN SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL'S WELLNESS DAY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN EACH FOLDER.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE CESAR S. LOPEZ.
I'M A RESIDENT AT IN CLAREMONT, AND I JUST WANT TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THE VIDEO.
I AM THE NEIGHBOR THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE TYPE OF HARASSMENT, AND RACISM FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, AND I WAS 10 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
AND IT WAS EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS SCARED TO COME OUT AND PLAY WITH MY BROTHERS DUE TO THE TYPE OF ACTIONS SHE WOULD DO TO US.
AND, I'M NOT HERE FOR ANY TYPE OF REVENGE.
I JUST REALLY HOPE SHE TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HER ACTIONS AS WELL, AS IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING BECAUSE SHE IS AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION KIDS AND YEAH, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: NEXT, WE HAVE PAULINE, I'M GOING TO MISPRONOUNCE-- HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME? PAULINE: BOURNE.
DEREK BAHMANOU: OH, WONDERFUL.
I CAME TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT, I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING BARBARA ALBANESE AND HER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I AM A RETIRED HUMAN RESOURCE ANALYST WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, AND I'M A FORMER COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER WITH THE CITY OF CLAREMONT.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY,
[01:05:01]
AND TREATING EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMENTS BARBARA MADE THAT WERE SHARED ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TIKTOK.
IN MY OPINION, THOSE COMMENTS WERE RACIST AND REFLECTED LEVEL OF PREJUDICE AND INTOLERANCE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
MY CONCERN IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MY CONCERN IS ABOUT HER POSITION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE SHE WORKS AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION CLERK SERVING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER NEEDS.
BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS A MEMBER OF THE NINE DISTRICT EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, SELPA, PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM OTHER PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE SELPA.
MANY OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE HISPANIC.
THAT RAISES A VERY QUESTION FOR ME.
HOW CAN PARENTS FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY, RESPECTFULLY, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, OR SOMEONE WHOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE RAISED SUCH SERIOUS CONCERNS? CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEIR PARENTS SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO QUESTION THEIR CHILD OR FAMILY IS BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR ETHNICITY AND BACKGROUND.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR PERSONAL OPINIONS AND BELIEFS.
HOWEVER, WHEN THOSE OPINIONS BECOME PUBLIC AND RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO INTERACT FAIRLY AND PROFESSIONALLY WITH FAMILIES THEY SERVE, I BELIEVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE NOTICE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, BRITTANY, FOR TAKING NOTICE.
I AM ASKING BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY.
REVIEW COMMENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND DETERMINE WHAT APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN.
THIS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROTECTING THE DIGNITY AND EQUAL TREATMENT OF EVERY CHILD FAMILY SERVED BY THIS DISTRICT.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: NEXT, WE HAVE LISA SNYDER.
LISA SNYDER: I'M A LITTLE TACKY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS YOUR BOARD.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WIDELY CIRCULATED PUBLIC VIDEO OF BARBARA ALBANESE OF LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL HARASSING HER CLAREMONT NEIGHBOR AND THE NEIGHBOR'S CHILDREN WITH RACIALLY CHARGED THREATS.
IN THE VIDEO SHE IS SEEN AND HEARD HARASSING HER NON-WHITE NEIGHBOR, THREATENING DEPORTATION, ASKING FOR A GREEN CARD, TELLING HER TO SPEAK ENGLISH WHEN SHE IS ALREADY SPEAKING PERFECT ENGLISH, TELLING HER SHE IS UNEDUCATED AND PROBABLY WORKS AT MCDONALD'S.
AND PERHAPS MOST EGREGIOUS, BARBARA SERVES ON THE HOA BOARD OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SINCE THE VIDEO WAS POSTED, THE REAL ESTATE AGENCY WHERE BARBARA MOONLIGHTS HAS SEVERED TIES WITH HER.
THIS ISN'T A ONE TIME EVENT, IT'S JUST THE ONE TIME IT WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO.
IT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HER CHARACTER.
BARBARA SHOULD NOT BE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
[APPLAUSE] DEREK BAHMANOU: AND WE HAVE DANIEL SANT.
DANIEL SANT: GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENTS, AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
I TEACH AP PHYSICS IN-BAND AT SAN DIEGO'S HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT TONIGHT I'M ACTUALLY SPEAKING AS A PARENT, BECAUSE NOW I HAVE A FIRST GRADER OVER AT SHULL.
AND BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WILL EVENTUALLY GO THROUGH SHULL, LONE HILL, AND THEN SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
I BELIEVE THAT CHARACTER COUNTS IN A BIG WAY, AND IT COUNTS EVEN MORE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SETTING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH CHILDREN MORE THAN IN OTHER POSITIONS.
AS MY CHILDREN MEET AND INTERACT WITH ADULTS IN SCHOOL, THOSE ADULTS SHOULD BE GOOD EXAMPLES.
THEY SHOULD BE PEOPLE CHILDREN CAN LOOK UP TO AND MODEL ON.
AND IF THAT BAR IS TOO HIGH, THEN I HOPE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST AGREE THAT CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE EXPOSED TO PEOPLE THAT INVOKE FEELINGS OF FEAR, OR PEOPLE WHO ARE OPENLY HOSTILE TO THEM, OR PEOPLE WHO BELITTLE THEM BY JUST BECAUSE OF SOMETHING LIKE SKIN COLOR, OR IF THEY SPEAK WITH AN ACCENT.
SO IT WAS THEREFORE APPALLING TO ME WHEN I SAW THE VIDEO WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON SD BUZZ, WHERE ONE OF MY COWORKERS SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME
[01:10:02]
SPEWING JUST VILE RACIST TRIPE AT A WOMAN.AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES LED TO THE VIDEO CLIP.
MISS ALBANESE REVEALED WHAT SHE THINKS OF OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
PHRASES GO HOME, GET A REAL EDUCATION, MIGRATE LEGALLY, YOU WON'T BE IN THAT HOUSE FOR LONG, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH, SPOKEN IN A CONDESCENDING OR EVEN A THREATENING TONE, MAKE HER OPINIONS QUITE CLEAR.
WE SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME IN THIS DISTRICT TALKING ABOUT CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE.
WE TALK ABOUT VALUING OUR STUDENTS.
AND I'M ASKING THE BOARD, IS THAT REALLY TRUE? DO WE HAVE THOSE VALUES OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING WE SAY? WELL, SECRETLY BEING UNWILLING TO TAKE THE STEPS THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE IT TRUE.
I DON'T EXPECT A VERBAL RESPONSE, BUT IF YOU JUST NODDED AT ME OR EVEN JUST AGREED IN YOUR HEAD, THEN I ASSERT THAT THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO IMMEDIATELY FIRE MISS ALBANESE.
THE ONLY OTHER CHOICE IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU JUST LIED TO YOURSELF ABOUT WHETHER YOU WHAT YOU BELIEVE OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD REALLY BE.
I DIDN'T MENTION BEFORE, BUT MY CHILDREN ARE HALF CHINESE.
MY WIFE'S PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS.
I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN SEEING THAT VERY PUBLIC VIDEO AND HAVING TO INTERACT WITH A PERSON THAT IS OPENLY RACIST.
I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN'S FRIENDS TO WONDER IF THAT EMPLOYEE MIGHT BE CALLING ICE TO TRY TO HAVE THEM REMOVED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY, JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR ACCENT.
THE VIDEO WAS RECORDED OFF SITE ON PERSONAL TIME, BUT IT WILL ABSOLUTELY AFFECT THE STUDENTS AND SCHOOL ON SITE BECAUSE EVERYONE WILL HAVE SEEN IT AND THEREFORE IT IS RELEVANT.
IF YOU BELIEVE THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE A PLACE FREE OF FEAR AND RACISM, THEN TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.
FAILING TO DO SO WILL TEACH OUR STUDENTS A WHOLE DIFFERENT LESSON.
DEREK BAHMANOU: DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COMMUNITY? PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION, BONITA UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, BONITA UNIFIED MANAGEMENT TEAM.
FUTURE MEETING DATES, THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD
[19. FUTURE MEETING DATES]
OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL BE ON DECEMBER 16, 2026.ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA? ADJOURNMENT.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 7:11.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.