September 19, 2024 Board of Education Meeting

Overview

President Shaw called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. with Bridge, Cruz, Na and Shaw present; Mr. Monroe arrived at 4:50 p.m. The board went into closed session on one case of existing litigation, student discipline, the appointment of a Director, Human Resources, and public employee discipline/dismissal/release, and reconvened at 6:00 p.m. with all five members present. 1 The reported closed-session action was the appointment of Dr. Vanessa Acuna as Director, Human Resources, effective date to be determined; the minutes record Monroe as absent during that vote. 1 James Na led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1 The transcript on file begins as the staff report ends, so that report is known only from the minutes. 2

Staff Report and Representatives

Dr. Grace Park, Deputy Superintendent, and Dr. Tracy Freed, Assistant Superintendent, CIIS, reported on the Common Core standards, district Essential Standards assessment results in English language arts and math, and progress-monitoring timelines, tiers and intervention. 1

Student representative Gabriella Segoviano previewed the Milk Can game between Don Lugo and Chino high schools and noted homecoming dances at Chino Hills and Ayala. Steven Frazer, A.C.T. President, reported on a special-education task force gathering and said the union is committed to working with the district to implement new board policies effectively and equitably. Emily Lao, CHAMP President, described a PLC coalition of site teams focused on mastering essential standards. 1 Its first session, she said, studied an article on Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile. 3

Public Comment

The minutes list nine people who addressed the board on items not on the agenda: Glory Ciccarelli, Kristi Hirst, Sara Palmer, Curtis Burton, Natalie Cooney, Eric Shamp, Jackie Cortes, Misty S and Debi Woolery. 1 The minutes do not record what each said; the recording has nine requests to speak. 4 The topics below come from the recording, unattributed and grouped by theme rather than speaking order.

• Classroom conditions and workload. One speaker cited classrooms without adequate air conditioning and history books printed in the 1990s 5, special-education aides in class only three and a half hours a day 5, and IEP and specialist reports that have grown from about three pages to 15 to 30. 6
• Substitute teachers. A speaker said 12 substitute teachers on one campus did not know what to do during a lockdown because they had not been trained 7, and asked for training that includes active-shooter preparedness and CPR certification. 7
• Community Schools. A speaker criticized the board's resolution against a state grant program that could have funded before- and after-school programs, expanded learning time and staffing 8, the Community Schools partnership program. 8 The board had adopted a resolution opposing the Community Schools Initiative and declaring non-participation on September 5. 9
• Safe-space posters. Three days earlier, the Ayala High student newspaper had reported that administrators were asking teachers to remove rainbow "safe space" posters under the district's flag rules. 10 One speaker read from a student account of that removal: "they're trying to make it as if we don't exist." 11 Another argued that such signs are unnecessary: "I don't need a sign to tell me that." 5
• Union support. A speaker described the union's support during a leave 12 and in securing workplace accommodations on her return 8, and objected to the board president's statements that the union does not support members' working conditions. 8
• Race-based bullying. A speaker said some campus staff have used a racial slur in class and told students who report race-based bullying to ignore it; the account is the speaker's own. 13

Action Items

Sufficiency of Instructional Materials. President Shaw opened and closed the public hearing at 6:44 p.m. with no speakers. On a motion by Cruz, seconded by Monroe, the board adopted Resolution 2024/2025-21. 14

CSEA bargaining proposal. The board held the public hearing on the initial proposal from the California School Employees Association and its Chino Chapter 102; it opened and closed at 6:46 p.m. with no speakers. 14 The proposal seeks a wage increase, Juneteenth and an added floating holiday, and bilingual and education stipends. 15

Week of the School Administrator. Amanda Swager addressed the board on this item; the minutes do not record what she said. On a motion by Na, seconded by Monroe, the board adopted Resolution 2024/2025-22. 14

Consent Calendar

On a motion by Cruz, seconded by Na, the board approved the consent items "as amended," although the minutes list no changes or deletions. 14 The calendar included the warrant register, fundraising items, donations, and payment for legal services to Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo 16, which the staff memo puts at $82.50. 17 It also covered three student expulsion cases, school trips for Newman ES and Don Lugo HS, the Master Plan for Multilingual Programs 2024/2025, a Red Ribbon Week proclamation, the purchase order register, and contractor agreements. 16 The Don Lugo High kitchen-equipment rebid went to Kitcor Corporation 16, the low bidder of three at $368,123. 18 Personnel items, a new Visual and Performing Arts Specialist job description, and a revision of Board Bylaw 9270, Conflict of Interest, were approved as well. 16 The bylaw revision reflects SB 1439. 19

Information Items

No Deception policy (BP 0100.1). The draft requires that the district and its employees "shall at all times be truthful and honest and not misrepresent, either directly or by omission," to parents and guardians any information affecting their child's education and well-being. 20 The item memo, from President Sonja Shaw, notes the policy was first presented on September 5 and returned for a second reading as amended. 20 Changes since the first reading quote Education Code 51101 on parents' rights, state that, for purposes of three named confidentiality statutes, including parents is appropriate unless the law specifically prohibits it, preserve mandated-reporter duties, and strike the phrase "even if not directly requested by the parent or guardian." 20

According to the minutes, Kristi Hirst, Natalie Cooney and Madison Kaylor addressed the board on the item, and President Shaw cleared the boardroom at 7:10 p.m. because of speaker and audience disruption, resuming the open session at 7:19 p.m. 16 On the recording, speakers were told from the dais that comments on an information item must address the policy's specific language. 21 The transcript resumes with the 7:19 p.m. reconvening. 22

After the recess, an explanation from the dais said input on an information item should point to specific language, such as asking that bolded or struck passages be changed 23, and that full discussion belongs to when the item returns as an action item. 23 Bridge later thanked Dr. Enfield for "the explanation related to information items." 24 The board received the policy for information. 16 It had been received for information at first reading on September 5 25 and was approved as an action item on October 17, 2024. 26

Other information items. The board also received the Teaching Assignment Monitoring Outcomes addendum and a revision of BP and AR 6158, Independent Study. 16 The 2022-23 data show 92.3% of the district's teaching full-time equivalents as clear, against 85.9% countywide and 85.1% statewide. 27 The independent-study revision follows Senate Bill 153, which repealed the three-day minimum and redefined long-term independent study as 16 days or more, up from 15. 27

Board Communications

• Don Bridge thanked Dr. Enfield for the explanation on information items, highlighted a September 24 suicide-prevention forum, an October 3 budget study session and the October 8 college fair, and mentioned the Boys Republic ceremony and two upcoming football games. 24
• James Na spoke about events in Georgia, campus safety and how students feel about it, and thanked the district for its active-shooter programs and SROs; he also mentioned the Rhodes Scholars night, an American Legion Post 299 student-leadership event, and site principals' work. 24
• Jonathan Monroe made no comments. 24
• Andrew Cruz recognized teacher Scott Rosen at the Rhodes Scholars night, agreed with active-shooter training for substitute teachers, spoke about upcoming CAASPP results, and recognized SRO Jacob Serrano. 24 On the recording he asked when the 2023-24 scores would come out 28 and was told they would be publicly released October 15. 29
• Superintendent Enfield announced the September 24 suicide-prevention training with free Spanish translation and child care, the October 8 college fair, and Biomedical Science and Technology Academy information for eighth graders on three dates at Chino High. 24
• President Shaw spoke about the Boys Republic ceremony, transparency with parents, the Rhodes Scholar ceremony and volunteering as a flag football timer, and said she will continue to "take the slings and arrows" so the district can educate and partner with parents. 24

Outside Coverage

A September 28 Redlands Daily Facts report said the No Deception policy had its second discussion at this meeting, which it called tense at times. It reported critics' view of the policy as a workaround to a September court ruling against parts of the district's parent-notification policy, and quoted Superintendent Enfield's later email on the information-item rule. 30 The Ayala High student newspaper also covered the meeting's No Deception discussion. 31

Adjournment

President Shaw adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m. 24