[1. CALL TO ORDER]

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ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[INAUDIBLE] AGENDA ORDERING CONTENT.

[4. APPROVAL OF ORDER AND CONTENT]

AYE. OPPOSED.

[5. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS]

THE PERSON WISHING TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS WERE NOTIFIED TO SUBMIT AN EMAIL TO ADELLA DROLL, SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO SUPERINTENDENT.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC PERTAINING TO ITEMS LISTED ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA WILL BE READ ALOUD DURING THIS TIME.

COMMENTS RECEIVED IN CLOSED SESSION.

[INAUDIBLE] FIRST COMMENT. MY NAME IS SHARIE DONAHUE.THE LAST 25 YEARS.

I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR BEGINNING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH ONLINE CLASSES RATHER THAN IN PERSON. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT RETURN TO CAMPUS UNTIL OUR COUNTY REPORTS NO NEW CASES OF COVID FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

WHILE THERE'S NOTHING I WANT MORE THAN TO SEE MY STUDENTS IN PERSON AGAIN, IT IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANY CHILD, HIS OR HER FAMILY AND MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO RESUME IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION THIS FALL.

THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE UNVEILING RECKLESS HALF BAKED SCHOOL REOPENING PLANS THAT WOULD PUT MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR FAMILIES, MY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND MYSELF IN EXTREME DANGER.

EVEN IN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE FAR BETTER CONTROLLED THE PANDEMIC THEY HAVE HAD TO CLOSE SCHOOLS SOON AFTER REOPENING.

AND NOW NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT OLDER CHILDREN TRANSMIT COVID 19, JUST AS EASILY AS ADULTS DO. AS A TEACHER, I KNOW HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT WILL BE TO IMPLEMENT STRICT PHYSICAL DISTANCING MASK ENFORCEMENT, CONSTANT SANITATION AND HYBRID LEARNING ON EVERY CAMPUS.

EVEN IF THESE MEASURES WERE MAGICALLY FUNDED AND IMPLEMENTED BY AUGUST, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THESE MEASURES WOULD KEEP US SAFE.

WHEN DR. FAUCI WARNED THAT THE U.S.

MAY SOON SEE 100,000 NEW COVID CASES PER DAY.

I CAN NOT IMAGINE TEACHING IN A SITUATION WHERE I SPEND MORE TIME BEING THE PPE POLICE THAN ACTUALLY TEACHING AND FEARING FOR MY SAFETY RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON MY STUDENTS AND THEIR NEEDS. USUALLY DURING THE SUMMER, I CAN ENJOY SOME WELL-DESERVED REST.

BUT THIS SUMMER I AM SO STRESSED I CANNOT SLEEP.

MY HUSBAND IS A CANCER SURVIVOR AND HAS HAD SERIOUS LUNG SURGERY.

I WOULD NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF IF I INFECTED HIM WITH THE VIRUS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE WOULD SURVIVE. I DON'T WANT MY STEPCHILDREN TO BE FATHERLESS.

I AM UP AT NIGHT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I COULD KEEP HIM SAFE WHILE I'M RISKING MY HEALTH AND HIS AT SCHOOL.

I CAN NOT AFFORD TO QUIT MY JOB, NOR DO I WANT TO, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW I COULD KEEP MYSELF FROM GETTING THE VIRUS.

CONSIDERING I USUALLY HAVE OVER 180 STUDENTS, NO WINDOWS THAT OPEN ONE DOOR POOR VENTILATION AND NO RUNNING WATER.

PLEASE CONSIDER ALLOWING US TO BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR ONLINE AND TRANSITION SLOWLY TO IN-PERSON LEARNING WHEN IT'S TRULY SAFE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

SHARIE DONAHUE SPANISH TEACHER.

SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL. NEXT COMMENT IS FROM LESLIE LEMING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LESLIE LEMING AND I'M A TEACHER AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM WRITING OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT REOPENING OUR SCHOOLS WITHIN BONITA FOR THE FALL SEMESTER. ANY DECISION TO REOPEN IN ANY CAPACITY SHOULD BE BASED SOLELY ON THE SCIENCE REGARDING THE SPREAD OF COVID 19 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SAFETY OF ALL THE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND OUR SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT WORK WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO COVID.

WITHIN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, OF WHICH BONITA UNIFIED IS PART OF.

THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO COMMUNITY SPREAD.

AND IT WOULD BE A DANGER TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO RETURN TO THE FALL SCHOOL YEAR IN ANY FACE-TO-FACE FORMAT, BE IT AS A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR OR A HYBRID MODEL.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN IN A MANNER THAT KEEPS ALL STAKEHOLDERS SAFE. MY CLASSES AVERAGE OVER 30 KIDS AND OTHER TEACHERS HAVE OVER 35.

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ADDITIONALLY, KEEPING KIDS SEPARATED DURING PASSING PERIODS AND MONITORING STUDENT USE OF RESTROOMS WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

BRINGING KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS IS NOT REALISTIC.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM.

KIDS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONGREGATE IN GROUPS AS FRIENDS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, AND MOST LIKELY, SPORTS AND PERFORMING ARTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THEIR ACTIVITIES.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER GETS SICK? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A STUDENT GETS SICK? I ASK BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN.

DO WE SHUT DOWN? IS IT WORTH IT TO RISK THE LIVELIHOOD AND LIVES OF OUR STAFF, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS? OUR CLASSROOMS SHOULD NOT BE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS AND ALL OUR LIVES SHOULD BE VALUED EQUALLY.

AN APPROPRIATE SAYING GOING AROUND RECENTLY IS THAT YOU CAN REBUILD AN ECONOMY BUT CANNOT BRING BACK THOSE THAT MAY DIE.

WHICH STUDENT MIGHT THAT BE? WHICH TEACHER MIGHT THAT BE? THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT I WOULD WANT BUT TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM PHYSICALLY WITH MY STUDENTS. TEACHING IS MY LIFE BLOOD.

THE INTERACTIONS AND BONDS WE FORM WITH OUR STUDENTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF TEACHING. HOWEVER, WE MUST DO THIS REMOTELY FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

FOR EVEN ONE LOST STUDENT OR TEACHER IS ONE TOO MANY.

DURING A LEADERSHIP MEETING, OUR SUPERINTENDENT STATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT ALL OF THIS IS JUST TEMPORARY. THAT'S TRUE.

SO FOR THE FALL SEMESTER, WE MUST GO BACK REMOTELY ONLY AND VIEW IT AS TEMPORARY BECAUSE IT WILL EVENTUALLY GO BACK TO NORMAL.

CURRENTLY, WE SHOULD BE PLACING ALL OUR FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BEST ONLINE LEARNING, TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE WE CAN PROVIDE.

WE SHOULD NOT RUSH INTO REOPENING FACE TO FACE FOR ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL REASONS.

WE MUST DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

THANK YOU, LESLIE LEMING.

SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU, MATT.

THIS IS FROM KAYLEE LIERMAN TO THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD.

I BEGAN MY CAREER AT BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HAVE BEEN A PROUD [INAUDIBLE] AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THE CONNECTIONS I HAVE MADE WITH BOTH MY COWORKERS AND MY STUDENTS HAVE MADE BEING AWAY FROM THEM DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

I MISS MY STUDENTS DAILY, AND THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO SEE ANOTHER YEAR GO BY WITH AN EMPTY CAMPUS BREAKS MY HEART.

I GOT INTO EDUCATION TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS AND I UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT THAT CAN BE THROUGH A COMPUTER SCREEN.

HOWEVER, CURRENTLY THE RISKS OUTWEIGH THE REWARDS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE TEACHERS SHOULD RETURN TO CAMPUS FOR IN CLASS INSTRUCTION IN THE FALL.

AS A MOTHER OF AN INFANT WITH ANOTHER CHILD ON THE WAY, I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY FAMILY IS BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WITH CASES SPIKING INDOOR AREAS AND BUSINESSES CLOSING AND DEATH TOLLS RISING.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE OPENING OF CLASSROOMS CAN BE VALIDATED.

THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW WE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY RETURN TO IN CLASS INSTRUCTION IN THE FALL.

IF A STUDENT OR SOMEONE I AM IN CONTACT WITH TEST POSITIVE, WILL I NEED TO QUARANTINE? IF SO, DO I LOSE 14 SICK DAYS? HOW WILL IMMUNE COMPROMISED TEACHERS OR STUDENTS BE AFFECTED? HOW WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING WORK IN CLASSROOMS WITH MORE THAN 10 TO 15 STUDENTS? IF A TEACHER'S CHILD NEEDS TO QUARANTINE, WILL THE EDUCATOR PARENT BE REQUIRED TO USE THEIR OWN SICK DAYS? OUR BUDGET PROVIDES FOR THE MINIMUM OF OUR CLASSROOM NECESSITIES.

WHERE WILL THE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL PPE COME FROM? WILL THE STATE ATTENDANCE LAWS BE CHANGED SO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AREN'T COMPELLED TO COME TO SCHOOL SICK? WILL TEACHERS NEED TO SIGN A WAIVER TO WORK JUST TO NAME A FEW? I DO NOT FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH TIME, NOR DO WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO EVEN BEGIN ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS IF ONE OPTION POSES ANY HEALTH RISKS AT ALL TO STUDENTS AND STAFF. WHY ARE WE STILL CONSIDERING THAT OPTION.

WITH ALL OF THIS BEING SAID I IMPLORE YOU TO CONSIDER DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE 2020 FALL SEMESTER. I HAVE FAITH THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.

AFTER ALL, WE MUST REMEMBER THE SCHOOL ISN'T CLOSING.

THE BUILDINGS ARE. THANK YOU, KYLIE LIERMAN, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TWO AP LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM ADVISOR AT SAN DIMAS.

THIS IS FROM RUTH LAVONNE.

SUPERINTENDENT COLES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER, A COACH AND A SAN DIMAS COMMUNITY RESIDENT FOR OVER 16 YEARS.

SINCE MY JOURNEY BEGAN AT SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE SUPPORT, LOVE AND AFFECTION OF MY ADMINISTRATION, MY PEERS, MY STUDENTS AND THE WONDERFUL PARENTS OF

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OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE MOST PRECIOUS INSTITUTIONS OFFERING THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT EVERY CHILD NEEDS TO SUCCEED.

HOWEVER, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AND THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC WILL ALTER HOW EDUCATION IS TAUGHT IN OUR CLASSROOMS FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE ON CAMPUS LIKE THEY COULD BEFORE MARCH 13TH.

THERE WILL LIKELY BE NO CONTACT SPORTS FOR A WHILE AND NO COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED IN THE PACKED STANDS OF THE SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM TO WATCH THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

THERE CAN'T BE NO SHARING OF CLASSROOM MATERIALS, NO COMFORTING A CHILD CRYING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, NO TYING OF A CHILD'S SHOES ON THE PLAYGROUND, NO SHARING OF LAB EQUIPMENT OR ART SUPPLIES, AND NO EATING TOGETHER IN CROWDS AT THE LUNCH TABLES.

AS AN EDUCATOR, EVEN IN A HYBRID SETTING, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO WALK AROUND AND SIT ON A STOOL NEXT TO A GROUP OF STRUGGLING STUDENTS AND RETEACH THEM SINCE THIS WOULD BREAK SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.

I WOULD NEED TO TEACH WITH A MASK AND A SHIELD CONDUCT LAB DEMONSTRATIONS INSTEAD OF STUDENT INQUIRY LABS SCHEDULE TUTORING WITH STUDENTS SO THERE ARE NO MORE THAN NINE STUDENTS ARE IN A ROOM AT A TIME.

I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO MEET IN MY ROOM DURING LUNCH TO STUDY WORK ON STEM RELATED PROJECTS.

BUILD A SOLAR BOAT OR PLAN THE JUNIOR PROM WITH THE CLASS OFFICERS.

ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT I ENGAGE WITHIN WOULD BE STRICTLY LIMITED, WHICH WOULD CONSEQUENTLY DISENGAGE THE STUDENTS FROM THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF IN-PERSON LEARNING.

ALTHOUGH DIGITAL LEARNING MAY NOT BE THE PREFERRED MODEL FOR MOST, IT IS THE SAFEST OPTION GIVEN THE RECENT SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES, ESPECIALLY HERE IN L.A.

COUNTY.

WE HAVE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE AUTO IMMUNE DISORDERS, ASTHMA, PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, ETC..

AS A TEACHER, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF I WILL NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PPE TO KEEP MYSELF SAFE. CONSIDERING OUR ALLOCATION FROM THE CARES ACT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THE FACE COVERINGS, GLOVES, SHIELDS, WASHING STATIONS AND HAND SANITIZER STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL NEED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

TO BE FRANK, MY CHEM LAB RUNS OUT OF PAPER TOWELS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND I PROVIDE MY OWN SOAP SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES.

AS A PARENT, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY OWN FAMILY.

ALTHOUGH CORONA VIRUS FATALITY STATISTICS ARE .02 PERCENT IN CHILDREN UNDER 18.

THE NUMBER WOULD AMOUNT TO 200 OF BONITAS APPROXIMATELY 10000 STUDENTS.

I CAN'T HELP BUT ASK MYSELF, WILL MY SON WITH ASTHMA BE ONE OF THE 200? IS IT TRULY SAFE FOR ME TO RETURN TO AN ENCLOSED CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT? EVEN IN A HYBRID SETTING WHERE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS INTERACT WITH NUMEROUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS DURING THE DAY, WHICH MAY IN TURN CAUSE ME TO CONTRACT THE VIRUS AND INADVERTENTLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN SON'S DEATH? AS A PARENT, I WONDER IF MY CHILDREN WILL OBEY ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.

AND IF THEY DON'T? WILL THEY BEAR THE BRUNT OF THEIR LAPSE IN JUDGMENT.

AS WE HAVE WITNESSED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THE VIRUS SPREADS READILY WITHIN ENCLOSED SPACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PROLONGED CONTACT WITH OTHERS.

I AM A DEDICATED EDUCATOR.

I SHOW UP TO SCHOOL BY 7:00 A.M..

I WORK THROUGH LUNCH. I RUN VARIOUS CLUBS ON CAMPUS AND I OFTEN DO NOT LEAVE FOR HOME UNTIL WELL AFTER FOUR THIRTY IN THE AFTERNOON.

I LOVE MY CAREER IN EDUCATION AND I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE THE BEST I POSSIBLY CAN WITHIN MY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE.

I'M ASKING YOU TO ENGAGE IN DIGITAL LEARNING AS THE SCHOOL YEAR OPENS FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR BONITA FAMILIES.

AS EDUCATORS, WE CAN ALL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND PROVIDE A RICH AND RIGOROUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM. A LOSS OF JUST ONE LIFE IS ONE LOST TOO MANY.

RUTH LAVONNE. SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS MESSAGE, IS MR. GREG PALATO, PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN IN BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TOPIC START OF 20-21 SCHOOL YEAR.

BONITA HAS A BIG DECISION TO COME UP WITH THAT WILL IMPACT ALL STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. WHAT WILL THE START OF SCHOOL LOOK LIKE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS? WILL WE RISK IT AND FOLLOW SUIT LIKE FLORIDA AND ORANGE COUNTY, CLOSE OUR EYES TO A PANDEMIC IN WHICH CALIFORNIA IS HURTING AND HAVE SCHOOL BUSINESS AS USUAL? WILL WE REALIZE THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS BEING SPREAD MUCH MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.

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CALL IT HYBRID AND DO A LITTLE DAMAGE ON BOTH ENDS.

WITH ALL THE PLACES THAT OPEN UP AND HAVE TO SHUT DOWN QUICKLY, IT IS HARD TO SEE THAT IS IN THE HEALTH INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I JUST SAW A CAMP CLOSED DOWN WHERE 80 SOMETHING KIDS GOT AFFECTED.

I REALLY AM HAVING TROUBLE SEEING HOW RE-OPENING THESE CURRENT DAYS IS SAFE WITH THE RESEARCH STATING THAT THIS ILLNESS IS AIRBORNE AND HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

I HAVE TWO OF MY OWN KIDS, ONE ELEMENTARY AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO HAVE BEEN HOME LEARNING FOR MONTHS. THEY REALLY DO NEED TO RETURN BACK TO SCHOOL TO SEE THEIR TEACHERS, AND THEIR FRIENDS IN PERSON AND TO LEARN FROM THEIR TEACHER AND NOT FROM A SCREEN.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

ME AND MY WIFE ARE TEACHERS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO OUR JOBS AT HOME WHILE THEY WERE ALSO TRYING TO LEARN AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME HOUSE.

BUT WHAT MY KIDS AND OUR KIDS NEED EVEN MORE IS TO STAY PHYSICALLY HEALTHY AND DO THEIR PART TO KEEP OTHERS HEALTHY.

LEARNING CAN BE RECOUPED.

LIVES CANNOT. HOW MUCH ARE WE WILLING TO RISK? WHILE NOT BEING AT SCHOOL COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF INADVERTENTLY INFECTING EACH OTHER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AND OR CAUSING ILLNESS AND OR DEATH IS INFINITELY WORSE.

WE ARE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SO FAR HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT TRUE TEST PLANS OF AN IN-PERSON REOPENING.

WHAT A ROOM WOULD LOOK LIKE.

HOW SPACED OUT LONG LINES OF STUDENTS TO GET INTO CLASSROOMS WITH DISTANCING WOULD ACTUALLY WORK. HOW TO HAVE OUR YOUNGER KIDS BE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN A CERTAIN SPOT FOR OVER AN HOUR. HOW PARENTS WOULD DROP OFF STUDENTS AND PICK UP STUDENTS WHO TYPICALLY CONGREGATE TOGETHER.

HOW GETTING A SUBSTITUTE WOULD WORK.

HOW MANY OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN ACTUALLY TESTED INSTEAD OF A PLAN IN THEORY.

BEING AT HOME WITH FULL DISTANCE LEARNING IS WHAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW WOULD KEEP US SAFEST.

THE REST ARE EITHER ALL GUESSES OR OPINIONS.

NOW WHAT I CALL OUR END OF THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR IS NOT DISTANCE LEARNING, BUT RATHER CRISIS LEARNING. EDUCATORS HAD TO CHANGE WHOLE KNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATING OVER A WEEKEND DISTANCE LEARNING CAN OCCUR, BUT A PLAN NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE NEED THE DECISION MADE TO START THE PLANNING. IF WE DO GO BACK IN PERSON, I BELIEVE IN YOUR HEAD, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD LIKELY BE TEMPORARY AS WE'D LIKELY FOLLOW SUIT FROM ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES WE HAVE CLOSED QUICKLY AFTER REOPENING AMONG ARISING CASES.

THE HYBRID MODEL ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS COMBINING THE WORST OF BOTH MODELS AS THERE IS CONTACT FROM ALL STUDENTS CONTINUALLY TO RISK ILLNESS AS WELL AS NOT THE FULL EDUCATIONAL QUALITY. WHILE IN THE PAST, CHILDREN SEEM TO NOT BE HIT AS HARD.

WE ARE NOW SEEING MORE CONCERNING CASES WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE.

WE ALSO KNOW THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR TEACHERS IS NEAR THE HIGH RISK GROUP.

WHILE THE ARGUMENT THAT DEATH RATES ARE LOW SEEM TO COME UP, I DON'T BELIEVE A VIEW OF [INAUDIBLE] ON DEATH OCCURRING SHOULD BE THE STANDARD OF CARE.

AS WE SEE MANY THAT MAY RECOVER ONLY TO HAVE LONG TERM HEALTH IMPACTS.

THE DEATH RATES MAY BE LOW, YET OUR HOSPITALS ARE GETTING CLOSER TO CAPACITY AND ONCE HIT, THESE RATES ARE LIKELY TO RISE.

WE HAD A MILLION CASES IN THE UNITED STATES WITHIN 100 DAYS AND THE SECOND MILLION WITHIN LESS THAN 50 MORE DAYS.

AND RECENTLY, JULY 8TH, WE HAD THREE MILLION IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND ARE ON PACE TO HAVE OUR FOURTH MILLION BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.

I ENCOURAGE US TO TAKE THE LEAD.

FOLLOW SUIT OF MORE DISTRICTS DAILY AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE TO FULL DISTANCE LEARNING IN THE FALL UNTIL WE SEE REAL PROGRESS WITH THE ACTUAL NATURAL PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE IN.

WITH THE U.S. BEING THE HIGHEST COUNTRY OF CASES AND CALIFORNIA BEING NUMBER TWO IN CASES IN THIS COUNTRY, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RISK OUR HEALTH FOR THE ECONOMY OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON. WE SHOULD TAKE THE ADVICE ON THIS FROM OUR DOCTORS AND NURSES THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES AND NOTE THE REAL IMPACT, NOT THE SUBJECTIVE INFORMATION AND OPINIONS OF POLITICIANS OR OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

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MY NAME IS GERRAD PUGH.

I AM THE SECONDARY TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT.

PLEASE INCLUDE MY COMMENTS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.

TO THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD.

I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE LONG, BUT WHAT AN EXPERIENCE IT'S BEEN.

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO TEACH FOR THIS DISTRICT.

I LOVE BONITA UNIFIED.

I LOVE MY ADMIN.

I LOVE MY STUDENTS. I GENERALLY FEEL NO ONE WANTS TO RETURN MORE THAN I DO.

BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE AS WE HAVE INCREDIBLE TEACHERS.

I MISS MY STUDENTS EVERYDAY AND CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE SING TOGETHER IN PERSON AGAIN WHEN IT IS SAFE. GOVERNOR NEWSOM JUST IMPOSED NEW RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

THE RED FLAG IN THIS ROLLBACK IS THE END TO INDOOR ACTIVITIES.

SCHOOL IS AN INDOOR ACTIVITY.

HOW CAN WE KEEP ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS SAFE WHEN THE COST TO DO SO ARE STAGGERING? WHO IS PAYING FOR THE PPE, THE TECHNOLOGY, THE ADDITIONAL STAFF REQUIRED TO KEEP KIDS FROM CONGREGATING DURING PASSING PERIODS AND CROWDING IN THE BATHROOMS? OUR SAFETY NEEDS ARE TOO GREAT AND OUR BUDGET IS TOO SMALL.

WHILE THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT MAKE THIS SITUATION CHALLENGING, NONE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIVES OF OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS.

THOSE SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY.

I FEEL EVEN MORE THAN WE NEED TO DECIDE TO MOVE ONLINE ONLY INSTRUCTION NOW, EVEN TODAY, IS ALREADY TOO LATE.

TEACHERS NEED TIME TO PLAN AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO HELP MAKE OUR ONLINE INSTRUCTION MORE BENEFICIAL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE WI-FI CONNECTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY. THOSE ARE HUGE TASKS AND ONLY TIME DEDICATED TO PREPARATION WILL MAKE THEM EASIER. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020.

I KNOW TOO WELL IT IS NOT IDEAL AND WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO TEACH IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES AGAIN.

BUT THE RISK WE ARE TAKING BY REOPENING IS NOT WORTH IT.

KNOWING THAT SOME CHILDREN WOULD GET IT AND KNOWING THAT THEY COULD DIE EVEN IF ONLY ONE CHILD IS ENOUGH FOR ME.

I AM A TEACHER TO SHARE THE JOY OF MAKING MUSIC WITH MY STUDENTS.

I DID NOT BECOME A TEACHER TO DEFEND THE VALUE OF MY LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF TEACHING.

THANK YOU, GERRAD PUGH.

OK. NEXT, WE HAVE FROM [INAUDIBLE].

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

THERE IS MUCH TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING A DECISION AS GREAT AS THE ONE BEFORE YOU REGARDING REOPENING SCHOOLS IN THE FALL OF 2020.

I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS A PARENT AND EDUCATOR IN BONITA UNIFIED.

WHILE IT PAINS ME TO SAY THIS, I BELIEVE THAT BUSD WILL MAKE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISION BY ELECTING TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS REMOTELY IN THE FALL OF 2020.

I TOO MISS THE BUSTLING HALLWAYS OF LONE HILL MIDDLE AND THE HIGH FIVES OF STUDENTS PASSING BY. I LONG FOR THE SOUND OF CHILDREN ON THE PLAYGROUND AS I PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM GLADSTONE AND THE EXCITEMENT IN HER EYES AS SHE RELAYED EVERYTHING SHE LEARNED FROM HER SPECTACULAR TEACHERS THAT DAY.

HOWEVER, YOU AND I KNOW THAT WHILE THESE ARE IMPORTANT, THEY DO NOT COMPARE TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN.

ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS BECAME ILL WITH AN UNKNOWN VIRUS THAT LATER RESULTED IN PNEUMONIA BACK IN FEBRUARY BEFORE COVID TESTING WAS AVAILABLE.

I CANNOT DESCRIBE TO YOU IN WORDS THE TORTURE THAT HER LITTLE BODY ENDURED AND THE HELPLESSNESS OF A MOTHER WHO COULD NOT HELP HER CHILD AS SHE FOUGHT FOR HER LIFE.

I WOULD NEVER WISH THIS EXPERIENCE ON AN ENEMY, LET ALONE MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AND BONITA UNIFIED.

FAMILY'S TRUST US TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE.

THIS IS AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND ONE THAT WE CAN NOT TAKE LIGHTLY.

WE KNOW THAT UNDER CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT STUDENTS WILL BE SAFE FROM COVID AT SCHOOL.

FAMILIES ARE LOOKING TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP.

NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION YOU TAKE, SOME WILL BE DISPLEASED.

BUT YOUR DECISION TODAY IS NOT PERMANENT.

JUST BECAUSE WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR REMOTELY DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE TO END IT THIS WAY.

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WILL BE SAFER LEARNING FROM HOME.

WE HAVE HAD ALL SUMMER TO PREPARE FOR A DIGITAL OPENING AND ARE MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED THAN WE WERE IN MARCH.

TO OUR BUSD FAMILIES I WANT TO SAY.

PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE REMOTE LEARNING BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SPRING.

THAT WAS A REACTIVE MEASURE IN THE FACE OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

WE ARE NOW PROACTIVE AND EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION YOU HAVE GROWN TO APPRECIATE OF YOUR STAFF AT BUSD.

IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT YOU CAN NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING YOU KEPT FROM HAPPENING BY TAKING THE HARD ROAD.

YOU MUST HAVE FAITH THAT YOUR DECISION WAS MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A REMOTE LEARNING MODEL FOR BUSD STUDENTS AND STAFF IN THE FALL OF 2020.

[00:25:02]

SAMAR [INAUDIBLE].

NEXT, WE HAVE FROM ANDREA ROSSELLI.

MY NAME IS ANDREA ROSSELLI AND I'M A PARENT OF THREE KIDS IN THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AND UNCERTAINTY OF COVID 19.

BUT OUR KIDS HAVE ENDURED ENOUGH ISOLATION.

THE LAST FOUR MONTHS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SUDDEN CHANGES TO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE. THEY NEED TO BE AROUND THEIR PEERS, TEACHERS AND HAVE SOME NORMALCY.

EDUCATION IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, AND NEITHER IS DISTANCE LEARNING.

TWO OF MY CHILDREN STRUGGLED WITH DISTANCE LEARNING WHEN SCHOOL CLOSED DOWN.

I FEAR THAT THEY WILL FALL BEHIND WITH CONTINUOUS DISTANCE LEARNING.

I BELIEVE PARENTS SHOULD BE GIVEN OPTIONS.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT READY TO SEND THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DISTANCE LEARNING AND THOSE WHO THRIVE IN A CLASSROOM BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CAMPUS.

MY KIDS WANT THEIR PREFERENCE KNOWN.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO STAY HOME AND ARE READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

THANK YOU. ANDREA ROSSELLI.

THANK YOU. THIS IS FROM ASHLEY WATSON.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY AND I'M A PARENT OF A MIDDLE SCHOOLER AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLER. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA NUMBER 12 REQUEST TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE BEEN IN RSP MY ENTIRE LIFE AND STRUGGLED TO DO MY OWN ACADEMICS.

HAVING TWO CHILDREN STRUGGLE AND THAT I CANNOT HELP AS A SINGLE MOTHER NEED THE CURRICULA OF A CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO SPEND THE TIME AND TEACH MY CHILDREN CORRECTLY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH LIFE STRUGGLING AS I DO.

PRIOR TO COVID 19 HITTING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, MY CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING AS IT WAS A STRESS, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY THAT MY CHILDREN HAVE GONE THROUGH TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO DO ONLINE LEARNING AND BEING AWAY FROM THE SOCIALIZATION.

AND FOR ME TO LEARN ON TOP OF IT, TO TRY TO TEACH THEM, BECOMES A SCREAMING AND YELLING MATCH ALL NIGHT LONG.

THIS WAS ALREADY A STRUGGLE PRIOR, WITH THE HELP OF THE SCHOOL, WE WERE ABLE TO GET MY CHILDREN EXTRA HELP AND WE NOW HAVE LOST THAT AND DON'T GET ANYTHING FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. BUT I THOUGHT WITH A PUBLIC RIGHT TO FREE EDUCATION.

EUROPEAN SCHOOLS HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL WITH NO PROBLEM OR MAJOR OUTBREAKS.

ORANGE COUNTY HAS NOW GONE AND VOTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOLS AND ARE GOING BACK FULL TIME.

MY PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE, WHO IS ALSO WITHIN THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, ARE VOTING FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL SOCIALIZING AND HAVING AN EDUCATIONAL DAY THAT PARENTS LIKE ME CANNOT DO, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT MY CHILDREN HAVE TO BE HOME AND BABYSIT EACH OTHER WHILE I'M AT WORK STRUGGLING TO PAY MY MORTGAGE AS I HAVE LOST HOURS AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP THEM.

I WAS ALSO IN THE SYSTEM WHEN I WAS A KID AND I KNOW A LOT OF CHILDREN ESCAPED TO BE AT SCHOOL JUST TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR HOME LIFE.

WE NEED OUR EDUCATION AND EDUCATORS BACK.

PARENTS NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT FOR THE TEACHERS AS WELL, AND FORCE UPON WHATEVER EXTRA WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GO BACK. WHETHER IT'S THE FACE MASK OR THE FACE SHIELD.

OUR CHILDREN NEED EDUCATION AND THEY NEED HANDS ON EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY FOCUS IS TO SEND OUR CHILDREN BACK FULL TIME AND EMPLOY OUR EDUCATORS.

THIS IS FROM MATTHEW LYONS.

AS PARENTS, MY WIFE AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE START OF THE 20-21 SCHOOL YEAR.

MY SON JUST COMPLETED SUMMER SCHOOL AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS A COMPLETELY DISTANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

LAURIE BRANDLER LED THE CLASS AND INSTRUCTION MASTERFULLY.

WITH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF MUST BE OUR PARAMOUNT CONCERN AS A COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME WE BELIEVE YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE THIS CLEARLY WITH THE CONTINUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING. AND I AM EVEN MORE CONFIDENT AFTER EVAN'S SUMMER SCHOOL EXPERIENCE THAT OUR TEACHERS AND THE BONITA UNIFIED TEAM IS UP TO THE TASK TO DELIVER A MOST EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE WITH DISTANCE LEARNING.

PLEASE THINK MRS. BANDLER AGAIN FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL TEACHING AND DELICIOUS RECIPES.

WE ALL ENJOYED AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SAFETY FIRST IN BONITA UNIFIED BY YOUR SUPPORT.

AND AYE VOTE FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 20, 21, 22.

THIS IS FROM JUSTIN NASCH.

DEAR DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS.

MY DAUGHTER WILL BE ENTERING FIRST GRADE AT SHULL ELEMENTARY IN THE FALL.

AT THE END OF HER KINDERGARTEN YEAR, DISTANCE LEARNING WAS NOT A GOOD TOOL FOR HER.

SHE WAS FRUSTRATED AND FOUND IT HARD TO FOCUS DURING CLASS ZOOM MEETINGS WHILE SHE WOULD

[00:30:02]

MY NIECES ALSO FOUND DISTANCE LEARNING DIFFICULT.

I BELIEVE THAT FOR SOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, DISTANCE LEARNING MIGHT WORK OR BE PREFERENTIAL BASED ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL OR HEALTH RELATED REASONS.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT SHOULD REMAIN JUST THAT AN OPTION.

CHILDREN NEED SOCIALIZATION, AND I BELIEVE THAT FREQUENT HANDWASHING PLUS HAND SANITIZER USE PRIOR TO ENTERING AND LEAVING THE CLASS WILL HELP KEEP THINGS CLEAN.

ADDITIONALLY, RELAXING THE EXCUSED ABSENCE POLICY TO ALLOW FOR CHILDREN TO STAY IN HOME IF THEY HAVE A FEVER, COUGH, SORE THROAT, ETC.

CONSISTENT WITH THE CDC GUIDELINES WOULD ALSO HELP.

LASTLY, I AM A 911 PARAMEDIC AND WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES.

COVID 19 HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT ALL AGES, BUT THE MOST AT RISK ARE ELDERLY AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED. WE ALL WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE, BUT I THINK THAT AT SCHOOL, LEARNING IN A PHYSICAL CLASSROOM IS THE BEST AND SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM.

THANK YOU, JUSTIN NASCH.

I'LL READ ONE MORE. THIS IS FROM ROBIN TAYLOR.

DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD.

MY NAME IS ROBIN TAYLOR AND I'M A TEACHER IN BONITA UNIFIED.

I AM WRITING TO YOU TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ABOUT RETURNING TO CAMPUS EITHER AS A HYBRID OR TRADITIONAL MODEL NEXT MONTH.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IN LIGHT OF RECENT INCREASES IN LOCAL CASES OF COVID 19, AN OVERWHELMING LOCAL HOSPITALS INCLUDING POMONA AND [INAUDIBLE] HEALTH, FOOTHILL PRESBYTERIAN AND SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY RESUMING ON CAMPUS LEARNING IS IN ANY FORMAT WOULD BE UNSAFE FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF MEMBERS AND ALL FAMILIES. I AM CONCERNED AS A PARENT AS WELL.

I HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO HAS A TYPE ONE DIABETIC, ALTHOUGH HER ENDOCRINOLOGIST HAS SAID THAT THIS VIRUS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE HER MORE SUSCEPTIBLE.

IT DOES, AS ANY ILLNESS DOES, CAUSE HER BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS TO INCREASE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO BRING DOWN WITH INSULIN WHEN SHE'S FIGHTING A PATHOGEN.

THIS PUTS HER AT RISK OF DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS AND HAVING TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR WORSE.

BEING A SINGLE PARENT, I AM UNABLE TO TAKE FFCRA FOR TWELVE WEEKS DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS.

AS A TEACHER GOING BACK FACE TO FACE, EVEN IN A HYBRID MODEL, PUTS MY FAMILY AT RISK.

PLEASE PUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL WHO COULD BE POSSIBLY EXPOSED AND HARMED BY THIS VIRUS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR DECISION MAKING.

I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE CONSIDER BEGINNING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH AN EFFECTIVE AND ROBUST DISTANCE LEARNING MODEL AND TO CONSIDER A HYBRID MODEL ONCE IT IS DEEMED SAFE TO RETURN TO FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION BY HAVING NO NEW CASES OF COVID 19, IN THE COUNTY FOR A 14 DAY PERIOD.

ONCE THIS VIRUS IS DECLARED ELIMINATED, THEN THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF TRADITIONAL ON CAMPUS LEARNING CAN RESUME.

AT THIS PRESENT TIME, I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO RETURN TO CAMPUS WITH FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ROBIN TAYLOR.

THIS MESSAGE IS FROM SYLVIA LYONS.

DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I AM WRITING TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 11-1 AND THE CONTINUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE START OF THE 20-21 SCHOOL YEAR.

MY CHILD NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE IN SCHOOL WITH THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHE LEARNS MUCH BETTER IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WITH THE PERSONAL ATTENTION SHE GETS FROM TEACHERS, STAFF AND SMALL GROUP PULLOUT SESSIONS.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN HELPED SO MUCH FROM HER MEETING WITH MR. SUE, HER THERAPIST AND SOME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

CHILDREN THESE DAYS, AND ESPECIALLY NOW, HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH SCREEN TIME WITHOUT SPENDING SEVERAL HOURS A DAY DOING SCHOOL WORK ON A COMPUTER.

WORKING SINGLE PARENTS LIKE ME CANNOT BE ASKED TO JUGGLE WORK AND MONITOR HOURS OF DISTANCE LEARNING FOR A CHILD WHO GETS DISTRACTED EASILY AT HOME.

PLEASE CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THESE KIDS AND OPEN THE SCHOOLS THEY LOVE TO BE AT. RESPECTFULLY, SYLVIA LYONS, PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AT LA VERNE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

FROM NIKKI [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY. HELLO, SCHOOL BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION YOU ARE TAKING IN WORKING ON THE BEST OPTIONS FOR OUR KIDS IN THE FALL.

I HAVE THREE KIDS IN OUR DISTRICT AND PICKED IT FOR THEM DUE TO THE EXCELLENT SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS. THAT SAID, I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHAT TYPE OF ONLINE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION YOU WILL

[00:35:01]

WILL YOU PARTNER WITH AN ONLINE ACCREDITED ACADEMY WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF ONLINE EDUCATION? WILL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE ONLINE EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PAID WITH BY SCHOOL FUNDS.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WILL YOU ALLOW STUDENTS TO CO ENROLL AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES IF CLASS OFFERINGS ARE LIMITED AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS? AS FOR SAFETY, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO DEAL WITH OUTBREAKS IN THE SCHOOL CLASSROOM, ETC SHOULD THEY ATTEND IN-PERSON CLASSES? WILL THE SCHOOLS REQUIRE MASKS? HOW WILL THIS AFFECT SPORTS? WHAT WILL THE SCHOOLS DO IF THEY OPEN IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION FULL TIME OR HYBRID AND THINGS GET WORSE DURING WINTER WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THE COLD FLU SEASON? THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY QUESTIONS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD AND APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHT AND EFFORT PUT INTO MAKING THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS FOR OUR KIDS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS WITH THE INFORMATION AND FUNDING YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME.

SINCERELY, NIKKI [INAUDIBLE].

FROM MARISSA LITTLE HELLO BUSD BOARD.

I'M A MOM OF FOUR KIDS.

ONE OF MY KIDS IS ABOUT TO GO INTO TK AT ALLEN AND ANOTHER IS A STUDENT AT RAMONA.

OUR DAUGHTER, WHO IS AT RAMONA, HAS DOWN SYNDROME AND HAS BEEN FULLY INCLUDED IN HER EDUCATION WITH THE SAME CURRICULUM AS ANY OTHER TYPICAL STUDENT IN HER GRADE SINCE SHE WAS THREE AND STARTED AT BUSD.

SHE HAS FLOURISHED THANKS TO THE AMAZING TEACHERS AND STAFF ON HER TEAM.

WHEN SHE STARTED AT RAMONA HER IEP TEAM DECIDED A ONE ON ONE AID WOULD HELP HER CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND SHE HAS EXCELLED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, EARNING A'S AND B'S WITH A [INAUDIBLE] CURRICULUM . AS IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE HEADED INTO MORE DISTANCE LEARNING THIS FALL.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.

OUR DAUGHTER DID EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING THE STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE AND INVOLVED.

HOWEVER. ESY IS A REVIEW AND THE FALL WILL ONCE AGAIN BE BRINGING NEW CONCEPTS AND IDEAS INTO THE AT HOME CLASSROOM.

MY CONCERNS ARE THAT WITHOUT HER AID TO ASSIST IN KEEPING UP WITH HER GOALS AND HER TEACHERS ONLY SEEING HER IN PERSON FOR PART OF THE TIME, IF AT ALL.

OUR DAUGHTER'S LEARNING WILL SUFFER.

DURING THE SPRING DISTANCE LEARNING SHE DID ALL THE WORK ASSIGNED, BUT SOCIALLY, COGNITIVELY AND EMOTIONALLY, SHE HAS GONE BACKWARDS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SITUATION WHERE SHE CAN STILL WORK WITH HER AID DURING THE LEARNING TIME, WHETHER IT IS IN SCHOOL OR DISTANCE LEARNING.

MY OTHER CONCERN IS FOR OUTSIDE THERAPY'S.

MANY STUDENTS.

I'M SORRY. MANY STUDENTS RECEIVE OUTSIDE THERAPIES, AS DOES OUR DAUGHTER.

TRYING TO DO THESE THERAPIES REMOTELY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AT ALL.

HER SPEECH HAS SUFFERED GREATLY AS HAS HER CONFIDENCE.

I AM WONDERING HOW FEASIBLE IT WOULD BE TO CONTINUE WITH THE THERAPY SERVICE IN PERSON ON OFF SCHOOL DAY SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM TIME BEING THAT CLASSROOM TIME WILL ALREADY BE IN A MINIMUM.

IF AT ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

RESPECTFULLY, MARISSA LITTLE.

NEXT FROM PARENT NANIA PULLEY.

I HAVE A FRESHMAN GOING INTO BONITA HIGH SCHOOL.

IF STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CAMPUS, I WILL BE PULLING MY SON OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND SENDING HIM TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

I HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED AND CONTRACTED THREE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ARE OPENING THEIR CAMPUSES. STUDENTS DO NOT LEARN AND RETAIN WHILE SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER SCREEN.

SCHOOLS PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, STRUCTURE, ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE, FOCUS AND SOCIALIZATION. MARCH THROUGH JUNE WAS A WASTE OF TIME FOR ALL.

I DO NOT WANT MY SON TO BE A STATISTIC STRUGGLING WITH ACADEMIC DECLINE.

HOW WILL CHILDREN BE EDUCATED IF PARENTS WORK FULL TIME AND NOT ABLE TO SUPERVISE OR SUPPORT ONLINE OR HYBRID LEARNING? I'VE READ SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, MOST RECENTLY FROM THE NETHERLANDS THAT SHOW FEWER THAN 10 PERCENT OF CHILDREN WERE THE PRIMARY SPREADER OF THE CORONA VIRUS.

THIS STATISTIC IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE COMMON FLU.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT CLOSING SCHOOLS WILL CONTROL TRANSMISSION AND CHILDREN RARELY GET SEVERELY ILL FROM THIS VIRUS.

MITIGATING THE SPREAD IS A PRIORITY, BUT IT'S VITAL THAT STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS.

THANK YOU NANIA PULLEY.

NEXT FROM JEREMY KETTERLING.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO HAVE TAUGHT AND COACHED IN THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

I ALSO AM A CURRENT RESIDENT OF SAN DIMAS AND MY THREE CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL IN BUSD.

THE SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

[00:40:04]

DEATH RATE OF COVID 19 PATIENTS AGES ZERO TO 18 IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND L.A. COUNTY. ZERO PERCENT, AS YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK OF THE CORONA VIRUS, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. THESE PEOPLE ARE JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENT STAFF REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE ALSO THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO PROTECT AND SHELTER FROM THIS DISEASE.

AND SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHOICE TO ATTEND SCHOOL VIRTUALLY OR IN THE CASE OF AN EMPLOYEE, WORK FROM HOME. PROTECT THE VULNERABLE.

AT THE SAME ALLOW THE CHILDREN AND OTHER STAFF WHO ARE NOT AT RISK GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

AS THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT I WANT MY KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE FALL. ALTHOUGH THE TEACHERS WILL DO THEIR BEST TO PROVIDE QUALITY ONLINE EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS. IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS THE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE.

I DO NOT WANT MY KIDS TO MISS OUT ON THE IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND THE SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES GOING TO SCHOOL OFFERS.

EVIDENCE SHOWS KIDS NEED SCHOOL FOR THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATING AND KEEPING KIDS HOME FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME COULD BE DEVASTATING. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS RECOMMENDS OPENING SCHOOLS IN A SAFE WAY BECAUSE, QUOTE, KEEPING CHILDREN AT HOME ISOLATES THEM AND INCREASES THE RISK OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE.

THERE ARE ALSO OTHER MANY INHERENT RISKS THAT KIDS FACE WHILE BEING FORCED TO STAY HOME.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET OUR STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE AUGUST OF 2020.

PLEASE PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JEREMY KETTERLING.

NEXT, STEVE AND JON GONZALEZ.

WE WOULD LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REOPEN.

KIDS NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AT SCHOOL TO LEARN.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR UPCOMING KINDERGARTEN.

BOTH WORKING PARENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO BE AT HOME TO MONITOR THEIR LEARNING DURING THE DAYTIME. WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ARE RISK, BUT THERE ARE RISKS FOR EVERYTHING.

LET'S GET BACK TO NORMAL WITH PRECAUTIONARY IMPLEMENTATION.

THE PUBLIC DAYCARES ARE OPEN.

WHY NOT SCHOOL? OUR CHILDREN NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL ON CAMPUS.

THANK YOU, STEVE AND JON GONZALEZ.

THIS IS FROM ANGELICA MILLER.

MY NAME IS ANGIE MILLER. I'M A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WILL KEEP THIS E-MAIL BRIEF AS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STATE MY OPINION ON THE MATTER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STUDENTS BROUGHT BACK TO SCHOOL IN AUGUST, IF POSSIBLE.

AS A PARENT, I FEEL MY DAUGHTER RETURNING TO SCHOOL WOULD BE BEST FOR HER EDUCATION AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. I DO NOT FEEL I AM PUTTING MY DAUGHTER AT RISK GOING BACK TO SCHOOL WITH SAFETY GUIDELINES IN PLACE.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE STUDENTS WEARING FACE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE IN THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU, ANGIE MILLER.

NEXT, WE HAVE HEIDI AND JEFF BIRD.

WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE BEST PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND TEACHERS TO TEACH UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IS IN THE CLASSROOM.

HOWEVER, UNLESS THE SAFETY OF EVERY STUDENT AND TEACHER IS GUARANTEED, ONLINE EDUCATION IS THE ONLY CONSCIONABLE WAY TO DELIVER EDUCATION TO OUR STUDENTS.

HYBRID MODELS NOT ONLY CREATE HIGH RISK FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, BUT THEY ARE INEFFICIENT AND CREATE CONFUSION AND LOGISTICAL CONFLICTS THAT OUTWEIGH THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS WILL GO ON FOR, SO THE SAFEST, MOST LOGICAL COURSE OF ACTION IS TO GO COMPLETELY ONLINE.

PROVIDE OUR TEACHERS WITH THE PROPER TRAINING TO SET OUR STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS AND TAKE A LOOK AT RESTRUCTURING OUR EXPECTATIONS AND BENCHMARKS TO MEET REASONABLE, ACHIEVABLE GOALS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SCHOOLS SHOULD ONLY BE OPEN WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAY AT HOME ORDERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED AND EVERYONE'S HEALTH IS GUARANTEED.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, HEIDI AND JEFF BIRD BUSDA MUSIC TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

NEXT UP FROM NINA SHAW.

DUE TO THE SPIKE IN CORONA CASES IN CALIFORNIA WE FEEL IN ORDER TO ADAPT AND IN CLASS OR HYBRID MODEL, OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE EQUIPPED FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY, INCLUDING CLEANING BETWEEN CLASSES, PPE KIOSKS, HAND SANITIZERS, MASKS, TEMPERATURE CHECKS FOR ALL, ET CETERA. ENSURING SAFETY OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND TEACHERS PER CDC GUIDELINES.

IF NOT, WE WOULD BE FOR A FULL DISTANCE MODEL UNTIL SAFE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR ALL.

OUR DAUGHTER AND NIECE TOOK SUMMER CLASSES THROUGH BONITA HIGH SCHOOL AND LOVED THE INTERACTIVE ZOOM CLASSES, CANVAS PLATFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF ALL TEACHERS ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS IN CLASS INSTRUCTION, SUCH AS ACCOUNTABILITY ON ZOOM STUDENTS SHOWING THEIR FACES, NOT BLACKING OUT THEIR SCREEN INTERACTIVE QUESTION ANSWER AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE FEEL THERE WILL BE LESS LEARNING LOST AND IT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS, BOTH

[00:45:02]

WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL ON HOW INSTRUCTION WAS TAUGHT THIS SUMMER, SPECIFICALLY MR. [INAUDIBLE] MR. MARCOS AND MS. BAUMANN. THANK YOU, NINA [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, MR. WIEN. THIS IS FROM PATRICIA SWEETMAN.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PATRICIA SWEETMAN AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, AND THE PARENT OF FOUR CHILDREN WHO WENT THROUGH THE BUSD EDUCATION SYSTEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT REGARDING COVID 19 AND THE REOPENING OF OUR SCHOOLS FOR ON-SITE ATTENDANCE DURING THIS UPCOMING 20-20 FALL SEMESTER.

SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY ACADEMICS, IT ALSO TEACHES OUR CHILDREN IMPORTANT SOCIALIZATION SKILLS, GROUP DYNAMICS, PEER SUPPORT AND PRESSURES, GOOD AND BAD, ROUTINE AND INDEPENDENCE. MAXIMIZING THE LEARNING OF THESE AND MORE NOT MEASURABLE BUT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS CANNOT BE DONE THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING.

AS PROGRESSIVE AS OUR TECHNOLOGY IS, WITHOUT ONSITE FACE TO FACE SCHOOLING, WE ARE DEPRIVING OUR CHILDREN OF THE BEST EDUCATION WHICH WE CAN OFFER THEM IN A COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN WHO ARE LACKING IN THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY.

IN LIGHT OF THE SCIENCE WHICH HAS BEEN PRESENTED REGARDING COVID 19 AND CHILDREN AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PEDIATRICS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REOPEN SCHOOL SITES IN THE FALL FOR ATTENDANCE FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND IN ADDITION, PROVIDE ONLINE ACADEMICS FOR THOSE CHILDREN AT RISK OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AT RISK. BUT LET PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NOT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUSD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HIGH STANDARDS STUDENT FOCUSED ORGANIZATION.

DON'T CHANGE THAT NOW, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S NOT OUR FIVE TO 18 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE AT RISK WITH THE CURRENT VIRUS.

MAKE TEACHER ADMINISTRATIVE MODIFICATIONS AS NEEDED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN THE PRIMARY IN EDUCATION. THANK YOU, PATRICIA SWEETMAN.

THIS IS FROM LEE WANG, HONORABLE BOARD OF BUSD AND SUPERINTENDENT, AS TWO IEP CHILDREN, PARENTS IN BUSD STAYING HOME TOO LONG CAUSE MENTAL PROBLEMS GOT WORSE.

I HOPE THE SCHOOL WILL BE OPEN WITH SAFE GUIDANCE, LEE WANG, BONITA PARENT.

THIS IS FROM SAMANTHA DAVIES.

ACTUALLY, IT'S FROM ALEXIS DAVIES.

HI, MY NAME IS ALEXIS DAVIES AND I ATTEND SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL.

I WILL BE GOING INTO MY JUNIOR YEAR AND I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED.

I UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO MAKE COUNTLESS SACRIFICES AND HAVE HAD TO ADAPT OUR WAYS OF LIFE TO BENEFIT THE LIVES OF OTHERS. BUT I AM HERE TO SAY EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN SLACK ON.

I OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT WANT TO PUT ANYONE'S SAFETY AT RISK, INCLUDING MY OWN, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER MY GENERATION WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE. SUICIDE RATES ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY DUE TO THE ECONOMIC RECESSION, JOB LOSS, ANXIETY AND ISOLATION.

IN AUSTRALIA, THE DEATH RATE FROM SUICIDES WAS HIGHER THAN THE DEATHS FROM COVID 19.

AT ONE POINT IN TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW OF TWO KIDS FROM OUR DISTRICT WHO HAVE OVERDOSED DURING THIS PAST MONTH, AND THEIR DEATHS AFFECT US DEEPLY.

I MISS MY FRIENDS, WHICH I KNOW IS A SIMPLE THING, BUT I MISS BEING ABLE TO MAKE JOKES IN THE QUAD AND DURING GROUP PROJECTS TOGETHER.

BUT MOST OF ALL, I MISS MY SPORT.

I AM AN ATHLETE AND THAT IS A LARGE PART OF MY IDENTITY.

CHEER IS MY SAFE PLACE THAT I COULD RUN TO WHEN THINGS WERE HARD.

AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

AS EASY AS IT IS FOR ME TO SIT BEHIND A SCREEN AND TYPE MY HEART AWAY COMPLAINING TO YOU, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO BECAUSE COMPLAINING ABOUT A PROBLEM NEVER GETS ANYTHING DONE. I HAVE HOPE AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION COLLECTIVELY THAT BENEFITS BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

I KNOW THAT HYBRID LEARNING WAS A THOUGHT THAT WAS PLACED BEFORE THE DISTRICT, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL IDEA FOR STUDENTS TO BOTH GET A GLIMPSE OF NORMALCY IN THE CLASSROOM AND HAVING PART TIME ONLINE.

I WILL BE TAKING FOUR AP CLASSES THIS YEAR AND I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO LEARN AT MY FULL CAPACITY WITHOUT BEING IN THE CLASSROOM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

GOING THROUGH ONLINE LEARNING AT THE END OF THIS PAST SEMESTER WAS FAIRLY CHALLENGING COMMUNICATION WISE WITH MY TEACHERS.

AND IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO CLARIFY WHAT I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PHYSICALLY SHOW THEM. IF THE HEALTH CONCERN IS TRULY SO GREAT AND TEACHERS AREN'T WILLING TO COME BACK. I UNDERSTAND.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE CAN USE TO BETTER AN ONLINE ATMOSPHERE.

[00:50:02]

WE WANT TO COME UP WITH IDEAS AND BE INNOVATIVE TO HELP THE DISTRICT BE CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO NEW MEASURES FOR FURTHERING OUR EDUCATION.

SO GIVE US THE CHANCE FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD AND RECOGNIZED.

AND I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO START A STUDENT COVID 19 RESPONSE TEAM WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT COULD MEET ON ZOOM AND HELP DISCUSS HOW WE NOW MOVE FORWARD.

I HAVE HOPE AND I KNOW THAT LIFE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE LIKE THIS, BUT FOR THE TIME BEING WE MUST ENCOURAGE ADAPTION, ADAPTATION WHILE STILL PROTECTING BOTH OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND GOD BLESS. ALEXIS DAVIES.

THIS IS FROM NICOLE JANSEN.

MY DAUGHTER WILL BE IN KINDERGARTEN AND I FULLY SUPPORT VIRTUAL LEARNING.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD HER TK TEACHER DID AMAZING THINGS WITH THE KIDS.

GRANTED THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I WILL NOT BE SENDING MY CHILD BACK BASED ON THE DATA IN L.A.

COUNTY. SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE DATA IS FAKE.

AND I AM ASKING BONITA NOT GET IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICS AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS, STAFF, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.

NICOLE JANSEN. THIS IS FROM STACEY SEVERINSEN, MOTHER OF FOURTH GRADER LA VERNE HEIGHTS.

AN EIGHTH GRADER, RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL.

TO THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL DIFFERING OPINIONS, BUT I FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO BE HEARD IN REGARDS TO OPENING OF SCHOOLS ON BEHALF OF WORKING PARENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

I'M A FULL TIME MOM.

I WORK AS A GENERAL MANAGER FOR A MAJOR RETAIL CORPORATION.

MY HUSBAND IS SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESS OWNER WHO ALSO WORKS FULL TIME.

WHEN THE INITIAL COVID SHUTDOWN HAPPENED, I WAS ALSO WORKING FROM HOME AND ATTEMPTING TO MANAGE A CAREER SHUTDOWN, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUATION OF THE NEW FORM OF EDUCATION FOR MY CHILDREN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M NOT A TEACHER.

I DO NOT HAVE THE TRAINING OR ABILITY TO FACILITATE TEACHING MY CHILDREN.

I CAN TEACH THEM HOW TO BE KIND, HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTION, HOW TO LOVE AND CARE FOR OTHERS. BUT TO BE HONEST, MATH AS WELL AS MOST OTHER SUBJECTS ARE FAR FROM MY FORTE.

AS WE APPROACH THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, IT APPEARS THE COVID CASES ARE RISING.

YET DEATHS ARE NOT.

AND STILL NO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS.

AS FAR AS THE TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED, THEY HAVE CHOSEN A CAREER IN A CHILD EDUCATION.

I AM SURE THEY, AS I HAVE MY FAMILY AND OTHERS, OBTAIN UNCOUNTABLE ILLNESSES AND FLUS FROM BEING IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

COVID IS NOT THE FLU.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. HOWEVER, I AM SURE ALL OF THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC PLACES, GROCERY STORES, MALLS, FAMILY GATHERINGS, TARGET, WAL-MART, ETC.

IF THEY ARE HIGH RISK, THEY SHOULD NOT RETURN TO WORK.

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO MEDICAL PROOF THAT CHILDREN CARRYING THE VIRUS AND TRANSMIT TO AND TRANSMIT TO OTHERS.

I WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND COME IN CONTACT WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE A DAY.

I KEEP MY DISTANCE, WASH MY HANDS AND FOLLOW SIMPLE GUIDELINES.

AS I WOULD ASSUME MOST TEACHERS ARE WILLING TO DO ALL OF THAT ASIDE.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

WORKING PARENTS ARE BEING FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN ALONE WITH FAMILY OR HIRING CHILD CARE FOR UPWARDS OF 40 HOURS A DAY A WEEK.

I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE CHILDREN.

DO YOU EVER GO ON A DATE NIGHT OR THINK.

SURE. I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY A SITTER 100 JUST TO GO TO DINNER AND A MOVIE WITH MY WIFE. IMAGINE HAVING TO GO TO WORK AND SPEND HALF OF YOUR SALARY ON SOMEONE ELSE.

SIT TO SIT WITH YOUR CHILD.

MY CHILDREN HAVEN'T BEEN AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO DAYS OTHER THAN ATTEMPTED GETAWAYS AND THAT THEY HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT.

NO INTERACTION WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR OTHER CHILDREN IN GENERAL.

IN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO DAYS MY KIDS ARE NINE AND 13.

MY SON, 13, IS HIGH FUNCTIONING ASPERGERS.

HE FINALLY FOUND A GROUP OF FRIENDS AFTER YEARS OF PLAYING ALONE IN SCHOOL, AND NOW HE'S BACK TO BEING ALONE, PLAYING ON ELECTRONICS AND TIM ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN THOSE FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THE SHUTDOWN.

MY DAUGHTER IS NINE.

SHE IS OUTGOING AND EXTROVERT AND IS STRUGGLING WITH BEING BOUND TO THE HOUSE.

[00:55:04]

SCHOOL IS THE BALANCE THAT ALL OF US HAD.

IT IS ROUTINE.

IT IS A SOCIAL INTERACTION.

IT IS MEETING FRIENDS.

IT IS SHOWING OFF TO YOUR PARENTS.

PROJECTS MADE, GRADES AND AWARDS EARNED.

IT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING, NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER THE AGE CULTURE BACKGROUND.

IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF HOW OUR KIDS LEARN AND GROW.

IT IS PIVOTAL TO THEIR WELL-BEING AND THEIR MENTAL STABILITY.

NOT TO MENTION ONLINE LEARNING WAS NOT EXECUTED WELL AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LATER LEVEL.

I AM EVEN TO THE POINT OF ENROLLING MY CHILD IN PRIVATE SCHOOL JUST TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. HOWEVER, THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS WE ATTEND ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, AND I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN JUST SEND THEM BACK THERE.

BUT I CAN'T RISK THEM FALLING BEHIND ANY FURTHER.

I KNOW THAT IF TEACHERS RETURN OR IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL BE PAID.

EITHER WAY, I AM IN A SIMILAR POSITION WITH ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES MAKING MORE MONEY.

SITTING AT HOME ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK.

AS SOMEONE WITH EXTREMELY HIGH WORK ETHIC, IT IS HARD.

IT IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW THAT THE REAL REASON NO ONE IS COMING BACK TO WORK IS BECAUSE OF KOVIN. ALL OF US ARE OUT THERE WORKING FOR ALL OF YOU.

IT'S A IT'S A JOB SELECTION.

NURSES AND DOCTORS DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO WORK.

POLICE OFFICERS DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO WORK.

NONE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY OUR BILLS GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO WORK.

NOT SURE HOW THE EDUCATORS OF OUR FUTURE SHOULD GET A DIFFERENT OPTION THAN THE REST OF US. THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ON THE ON THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN WILL NOT ONLY IMPACT THEM, BUT IMPACT US.

IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO US AS ADULTS, BUT REMEMBER HOW LONG A SCHOOL YEAR WAS AS A CHILD.

PLEASE PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES.

THEY WILL NEVER FORGET THIS.

THEY WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.

THEY WILL NOT FOREVER BE CHANGED BY THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

PLEASE CONSIDER THAT WHEN DECIDING ON THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT'S THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[6. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA]

[8. CALL TO ORDER]

[10. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEMS]

WISHING TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM.

WE'RE NOTIFIED TO SUBMIT AN E-MAIL TO ADELLA DROLL, SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC PERTAINING TO THE ITEM LISTED ON THE OPEN SESSION AGENDA WILL BE READ ALOUD DURING THIS TIME.

WE HAVE COMMENTS.

YES, WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM JACKSON SILLINESS.

I WILL READ. GREETINGS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I AM JACKSON. THE SILLINESS OF LAVERNE, CALIFORNIA, PHONING THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 2000 18 AND STUDENT AT SHITTERS COLLEGE.

I AM SPEAKING OUT TO YOU TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION.

I DO NOT AGREE WITH HAVING OUR STUDENTS DO ONLINE LEARNING AT HOME.

WE NEED TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS TO LEARN AND GROW BECAUSE THEY NEED THAT SOCIAL ASPECT OF EDUCATION, ENGAGING WITH TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES, TALKING TO FRIENDS AND DOING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CHOIR DRAMA, MUSIC, SPORTS AND SO MUCH MORE.

I HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER WHO IS ABOUT TO GO INTO SEVENTH GRADE AT RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HE DOESN'T LIKE LEARNING AT HOME.

HE HAS A HARD TIME CONCENTRATING.

HE NEEDS TO BE IN A CLASSROOM TO FOCUS ON HIS WORK.

ALSO, IF YOU PASS THIS RESOLUTION, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO GET SERVICES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR CLASSES.

AS A FORMER STUDENT OF THIS DISTRICT WITH AUTISM, I HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM STAFF THAT HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY BY BEING ON CAMPUS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAYS CHILDREN, IN QUOTES, MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO BECOME INFECTED AND TO SPREAD INFECTION, UNQUOTE, BECAUSE THAT GROUP IS LESS LIKELY TO SHOW SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS.

IT SHOULD BE FINE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GO BACK ON CAMPUS, BUT IF NOT, PARENTS ARE GOING TO TAKE THEIR KIDS SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE ARE OPEN 100 PERCENT AND READY TO GO.

PLUS, IF LEARNING STAYS ONLINE, THE DISTRICT WILL LOSE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE DISTRICT'S.

[01:00:03]

I AM ASKING EVERYONE ON THE BOARD TO VOTE NO ON THE RESOLUTION.

SINCERELY, JACKSON SILLINESS.

OK. THAT WAS OUR ONLY COMMENT.

[11. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA: RESOLUTION CALENDAR 1. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-02 Affirming Superintendent Authorization To Take Any and All Necessary Action To Prepare and Respond Effectively To The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) And Continuation Of Distance Learning For The Start Of The 2020-2021 School Year]

COVID 19, AND CONTINUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE START OF THE TWENTY TWENTY, TWENTY TWENTY ONE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HAVE EVER BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON MARCH 13TH.

WE WERE ORDERED TO SHUT CAMPUSES FOR TWO WEEKS.

WE THOUGHT WE'D JUST BE ON AN EXTENDED SPRING BREAK.

HOWEVER, WE COOK QUICKLY, WERE ORDERED TO KEEP OUR CAMPUSES CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THROUGH THAT TIME, WE QUICKLY MOBILIZED DISTANT LEARNING.

WE'VE SERVED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MEALS PER DAY.

WE HELD VIRTUAL GRADUATIONS JUST TO NAME A FEW.

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TO REINVENT AND ADJUST AND PIVOT TO A NEW NORMAL. WELL, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS.

DO WE OPEN SCHOOL FOLLOWING THE L.A.

HEALTH ORDERS PROTOCOLS, OR DO WE START WITH FULL DISTANT LEARNING? AFTER REVIEWING THE HEALTH PROTOCOLS, THAT MEANS OUR STUDENTS WOULD STILL BE DISTANT LEARNING, MORE THAN LIKELY THREE TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK AS WE CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE.

FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION, PERHAPS ONE DAY PLANNING FOR A SCHOOL YEAR.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT TAKES MONTHS AND MONTHS.

EVEN IF WE WERE TO OPEN SCHOOL, ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS TO COME ONE TO TWO DAYS A WEEK AND THEN BEING FORCED TO SHUT DOWN AND BACK ON A DISTANT LEARNING.

THAT WOULD BE WORSE THAN HAVING TO START ON A DISTANT, DISTANT LEARNING MODEL.

OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS, THEY DESERVE CONSISTENCY AND NOTHING IN THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN CONSISTENT. AS WE EVER REVIEWED THE HEALTH PROTOCOLS AND THE GROWING TRENDS OF THIS PANDEMIC, I AM RECOMMENDING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT WE START WITH A FULL DISTANCE LEARNING MODEL. AND WHEN WE CAN'T OPEN OUR SCHOOLS WITH SOME CERTAINTY THAT WHEN WE'RE OPEN, WE CAN STAY OPEN.

WE WILL DO SO. CONTAINED IN THAT RESOLUTION IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MARCH 13 20-20 BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHERE IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED, AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PREPARE AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE NOVEL CORONA VIRUS COVID 19.

AND CONTAINED IN THIS NEW RESOLUTION IS AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

BUT IT ALSO DETERMINES THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT CONTINUE TO CONSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY CONDITION.

IT REAFFIRMS THE AUTHORIZATION GRANTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OR HIS DESIGNEE TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT ALL DISTRICT SITES AS SET FORTH IN THE RESOLUTION. IT ALSO DIRECTS THAT SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES OF THE VERNITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL CONTINUE TO REMAIN CLOSED TO COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES CONTINUED AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DIRECTS, THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN ONLINE WITH DISTANT LEARNING, WITH IN-PERSON LEARNING, BEGINNING AS SOON AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ALLOW.

WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT I BRING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE THIS SO AT THAT.

I THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF SAFE.

ALLOW A CONTINUITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM AND ALLOW US THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS TO PLAN AND MAKE OUR DISTANT LEARNING PROGRAM ONE OF THE VERY BEST.

MANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ACTUALLY CLARIFIED THEIR RESOLUTION, AND I THINK THAT CLARIFICATION HAS BEEN MISSED IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS.

THEY SAID AND THIS IS THEIR MOST RECENT CLARIFICATION.

RETURNING TO SCHOOLS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH, DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.

WE MUST PURSUE REOPENING IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE FOR ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF.

THEY HAVE WALKED BACK THEIR FORMER RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE OF THE SPIKE KOVIK CASES.

[01:05:06]

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE LISTENED TO A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO E-MAILED IN WITH THEIR CONCERNS ON ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

AND AS GLENN HAD MENTIONED, THIS IS PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST DECISION THAT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS HAD TO MAKE IN THE TIMES THAT THE UNITE LIST HAVE BEEN ON IT AND AND CERTAINLY EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU KNOW, THIS THIS WHOLE CORBOULD THING, WE SEE IT IN THE NEWS.

IT ALL SEEMS KIND OF DISTANT AND THEORETICAL UNTIL IT HITS SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE'S SON, ADAM IS A TEACHER AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN ONTARIO, ONE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND HE AND HIS WIFE HAD BEEN BABYSITTING THEIR NIECE WHILE HIS BROTHER IN LAW WAS TAKING SOME INDUSTRIAL CLASSES ON ABOUT THE TWENTY NINTH OF JUNE.

THE LITTLE GIRL, WHILE SHE WAS AT ADAM'S HOUSE, CAME UP WITH A 104 DEGREE FEVER.

AND OF COURSE, SHE HAD THE KOVEN.

THE NEXT DAY, THE SCHOOL INFORMED THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE BROTHER OR THE SON IN LAW.

I'M SORRY, BROTHER IN LAW, WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE NIECE THAT SOMEONE IN THE SCHOOL HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR CAUVIN.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT TEST AND THE RESULTS CAME TOO LATE TO PREVENT THE NIECE FROM GETTING IT CAME TOO LATE TO PREVENT MY FRIEND'S SON AND HIS WIFE FROM GETTING IT.

AND IT CAME TOO LATE TO PREVENT BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS FROM GETTING IT.

SO FROM THAT THAT ONE EXPOSURE TO A SINGLE YOUNG CHILD, SIX PEOPLE ADDITIONALLY GOT IT.

AND IN BETWEEN THE TIME THEY FOUND OUT THEY HAD IT, WHO KNOWS HOW THEY MAY HAVE SPREAD IT. SO THIS IS HOW THIS COVERED SPREADS.

IT ISN'T ON A ONE TO ONE RATIO.

IT'S ON AN EXPONENTIAL RATIO.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE OVERREACTING.

I'M CERTAINLY STILL SENSITIVE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT NEED TO WORK AND AND WORRY ABOUT DAYCARE AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT THE THE THE THE THE CHANCES OF THIS COVERED THING EXPLODING EVEN HIGHER AND FASTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW IS IS ANYBODY'S GUESS.

I CAN I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY TOMORROW.

SO I THINK IN LOOKING AT AH AH AH, OUR FIRST LINE IN OUR EIGHT AREAS OF FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE EDUCATIONAL YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN IS IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND RIGHT BEHIND THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE SAFETY OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF AND THE FAMILIES AT HOME. SO I JUST IT GRIEVES ME THAT THAT STUDENTS WILL BE MISSING OUT ON THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE FOR A WHILE.

THIS IS NOT PERMANENT, WE HOPE, AND IT GRIEVES ME THAT THE TEACHERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION IN IN THE WAY THAT THEY'VE PRACTICED AND DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITH THE WAY THEY'VE DREAMED OF DOING IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

IT CERTAINLY IS NOT IDEAL, BUT WE'RE STILL IN A CRISIS.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT CRISIS IS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF THAT ALL PUT A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT AND RESEARCH INTO HOW BEST TO TO GO FORWARD ON THIS.

AND ON THAT, THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, US ACCOMMODATIONS, DIFFERENT FARMING IS GOING TO LOOK VERY DIFFERENT IN THE FALL THAN IT DID LAST YEAR.

SO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS, I GET IT.

I HAVE SMALL KIDS AS WELL.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL BE MUCH BETTER.

AND I DON'T THINK THE DECISIONS, THE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.

I ACTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, AS I SAT HERE LISTENING TO THE IT'S FROM OUR COMMUNITY, PARENTS, TEACHERS, STAFFS, EMTS, OUR STAFF AND SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ON ALL SIDES.

I AM OVERWHELMED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE SITTING HERE TO USE MY VOICE IN HOPES

[01:10:03]

I DON'T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.

RESEARCHED FACTS, LISTENED WITH OPEN YEARS AND AN OPEN HEART.

PUT MYSELF IN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS, DOUBTED EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD.

ASKED MORE QUESTIONS AND I FELT MORE NAIVE, VULNERABLE AND JUDGED.

BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS.

I WEAR MANY DIFFERENT HATS.

PARENT HEALTH ADVOCATE FOR MY SON WITH A CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT.

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE FOR MY CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN.

THIS COMMUNITY. AND AN AD ADVOCATE FOR OUR AMAZING, BRILLIANT TEACHERS.

SUPPORTER OF ALL OF OUR ADMIN AND STAFF AND OVERALL LOVER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL THAT IT OFFERS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE VOTE TO CONTINUE.

DISTANT LEARNING AND FALL ARE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, ADMIN AND STAFF DESERVE BETTER. AND ALTHOUGH THIS SEEMS CHALLENGING AND THIS 18 PAGE DOCUMENT HAS PUT MORE CHALLENGES THAN WE CAN EVEN IMAGINE.

I AM SO CONFIDENT IN OUR TEAM THAT I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FLEXIBILITY AND GRACE AND SAFETY AND SAFELY.

OKAY. AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. MAYBE A MONTH AGO, I WAS HOPEFUL THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. BUT AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE THE DATA IS LEADING US IN A DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW FOR SAFETY REASONS TO GO ALONG AND GO WITH THE DISTANT LEARNING IN ORDER TO FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT WE WANT.

BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE END ALL AS THINGS EASE UP SOME.

I FULLY LOOK FORWARD TO US REVISITING IT AND MOVE AHEAD WITH CHANGING THINGS AND OPENING THINGS UP AS IT GETS.

IT'S LITTLE SAFER, BUT AT THIS POINT, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR OUR COMMUNITY. WELL, IT KIND OF REFERRED TO THIS BEING A TOUGH DECISION FOR US.

THE WHOLE CORONAVIRUS ISSUE HAS BEEN, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, WEAPON WEAPONIZED ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM BY BOTH ENDS AND BY EVERYONE INVOLVED.

AND THE INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT, THE FACTS, THE SCIENCE AND EVERYTHING FOR EVERY EXPERT THAT ONE SIDE HAS.

THE OTHER SIDE HAS SOMEBODY THAT DISPUTES THEIR FACTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I'M NOT SURE WE EVER GET ACCURATE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE TRUE ISSUES ARE GOING ON WITH THIS AND HOW IT'S GOING TO PROCEED.

I DO HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING OUR STAFF ACROSS THE BOARD, ALL ELEVEN HUNDRED OF THEM BACK IN HARM'S WAY. THEY SIGNED UP TO BE EDUCATORS OR OR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN, WHETHER THEY BE THE TEACHERS, CUSTODIANS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THEY DIDN'T SIGN UP TO BE IN OUR MILITARY OR POLICE OR FIREMEN OR WHEN YOU GO TO WORK, YOU MAY NOT COME HOME THE NEXT DAY, BUT YOU ACCEPT THAT AS PART OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION.

THEY SIGNED UP TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN COMFORTABLY PUT THEM BACK IN HEARING FROM THE COMMENTS, THE PARENTS OVERWHELMINGLY OF THE COMMENTS WE HAD WANTED THEIR STUDENTS BACK BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE TEACHERS OVERWHELMINGLY DID NOT FEEL SAFE COMING BACK.

SO THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO WEIGH THE WANTS OF OUR PARENTS AND WHAT THEY THINK ARE BEST FOR THEIR KIDS. THE WANTS OF OUR STAFF AND WHAT THEY THINK ARE BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND THE KIDS. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY TOUGH DECISION ON HOW ANY VOTE AND I CAN SEE THERE'VE BEEN VOTES IN THE PAST WHERE IF SOMEBODY IS VOTED AGAINST IT, I'VE SAID, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? THIS ONE, I DON'T KNOW.

IT MAY BE UP TO THE TIME OF WHEN WE CALL IT WHERE I MAKE MY DECISION, HOW I VOTE.

BUT I SEE BOTH SIDES VERY CAREFULLY.

AND JUST I WANT TO STRESS AGAIN WHAT CHUCK DID.

THIS IS NOT THE END. THIS IS STARTING AT DISTANCE LEARNING.

AND AS SOON AS IT'S SAFE AND POSSIBLE TO MOVE, WE'RE GOING, WHETHER IT'S INCREMENTALLY OR ALL AT ONCE. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

WE'RE NOT ABOUT STAYING AT HOME AND BUT PEOPLE JUST SIT AND DO THEIR THING ON TV.

[01:15:06]

SO THE SOONER WE GET BACK, THE BETTER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

AS LONG AS THE HEALTH CRISIS IS SOMEWHAT CONTROLLED.

SO DO WE HAVE EMOTION SO MUCH? SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR.

I, I, I SUPPOSED I HAVE A FOUR ONE VOTE.

REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS WE HAVE NO COMMUNICATIONS FROM THAT'S NEXT TO A

[13. FUTURE MEETING DATES: 1. The Next Regular Board of Education Meeting Date]

AND CAN BE VIEWED LIVE ON THE INTERNET.

ANYTHING FOR FUTURE AGENDAS.

WE ARE ADJOURNED AT TWELVE FIFTY FIVE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.