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00:00:00 In this section of the meeting, the board discusses the process for public comment during meetings and emphasizes the adherence to applicable laws and guidelines for the speakers. The board mentions the time limits for speakers and the procedures to follow for addressing agenda and non-agenda items. Then, Mr. Matt Funicello addresses the board regarding campus safety and expresses his concerns regarding structural safety and personnel safety, including the hiring of security or contracting with the sheriff’s department for the safety of the campuses. Additionally, he mentions the special education wrap, which was discussed in the previous meeting.
00:05:00 In this section, a member of the public speaks to the Saugus Union School District Board about his personal interest in increasing funding for special education and the rap program. He shares that he has a grant writer he’s spoken to and is trying to get federal and state grants for Saugus relating to special education and the rap program. He also brings up the importance of student advocacy and normalizing students with autism and special education. He expresses that he would love to work with the board on the plan and get funding for the staff who handle these students on a daily basis. The board generally doesn’t respond to public comment but directs staff to reach out to the member of the public to have a conversation about his concerns.
00:10:00 In this section, Jody Osborne, the library media specialist at Plum Canyon Elementary School, speaks on behalf of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and library media specialists. She congratulates the classified employees of the year and teacher tribute honorees for their hard work and dedication to the Saugus Union School District. Osborne thanks the district for allocating resources to purchase library books and increasing the hours of library staff to help organize and catalog the district’s curriculum and technology. She also highlights the challenges that library staff faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as providing online resources and maintaining COVID protocols, but credits the additional hours and duties granted to enrich their ability to provide services to students, teachers, and families. Lastly, Osborne wishes for more time to complete non-student tasks and acknowledges the need for shared librarians at some school sites.
00:15:00 In this section of the transcript, members of the Saugus Union School District board meeting express gratitude towards the specialists who have done an excellent job maintaining well-stocked libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss the importance of school safety, with teachers and staff participating in a comprehensive school safety plan training that covered drills like duck, cover, and hold, evacuations, and lockdowns. Additionally, administrators are already planning for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, collaborating with site councils to create school plans for student achievement in alignment with the district lcap. The administration is also delighted to announce that teachers will have an hour each week to participate in professional learning teams to enhance student support while being taught PE lessons.
00:20:00 In this section of the transcript, the Saugus Union School District Board discusses their approach to helping students master grade level standards, including the use of data and professional learning teams. They emphasize the importance of providing tier two and three interventions, as well as extensions for students who already know the standards. The board also thanks everyone involved in creating a professional learning community to support student achievement. Following this, the Child Development Program is discussed, including plans for professional development and a successful summer camp and extended day registration. Finally, the PTA President of West Creek Academy shares the school’s plan to support staff and teachers, provide educational opportunities, and host events for families to come together.
00:25:00 In this section of the board meeting, the Saugus Union School District discusses the various events and programs they have implemented to promote kindness and inclusivity in their school community. The PTA has brought back beloved events such as the Fall Festival, talent show, and Fun Run fundraiser, while also introducing new events like the Earth Day event and Global Night to celebrate the diverse cultures of their students. The PTA has also been supporting many awareness months identified by the District, and introducing lunchtime activities for learning disabilities Awareness Month where students can learn about different ways people learn. Though they have had to adjust to new protocols and workflows, the support and resources available to the PTA have made this a great year, and they are excited to continue bringing programs and events for the school community.
00:30:00 course of the past week the progress made in various schools and programs of the Saugus Union School District Board. In one visit, they were able to offer aid and resources to the Bridgeport and Tesoro schools regarding English language development. The board also attended Rio Vista staff meeting for further input and collaboration. The board has commended the CSEA and STA representative members and congratulated Kim Bensko for being the CSEA LA County representative for this year. They are excited to announce the Teacher of the Year soon but are sworn to secrecy till the end of the week. The board has been working towards better communication and safety for parents, students, and the community with the launch of their new website page and personalized parent square feeds. Lastly, the board is initiating listening sessions for further insight and engagement with parents and the community.
00:35:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the ongoing efforts of the school district to address bullying and unkindness on campus, despite the progress made through social-emotional learning programs and restorative circles. The speaker plans to hold listening sessions with students to gather more information on their experiences with bullying, and also plans to conduct parent workshops and a board presentation before the end of May to better understand the issue. The speaker emphasizes the importance of reacting to information gathered throughout the school year and not just fulfilling a predetermined plan. The board reports are brief with no significant updates during the spring break, but congratulations are given to the classified employees of the year and appreciation expressed for the insights shared by the library media specialist.
00:40:00 In this section of the Saugus Union School District Board meeting, the Board congratulated the classified employees of the year, discussed the upcoming LA County School Trustees Association interview, and announced that the next meeting will be attended via Zoom from Washington DC. The Board then moved onto the consent calendar and approved it as written. They also adopted a resolution declaring the week of May 8th as teacher appreciation week and conducted a first reading of revised non-discrimination policies and classified employee policies. The meeting ended with a motion to approve Saugus contracts.
00:45:00 In this section, the Saugus Union School District Board discusses the construction of a new two-story classroom building, track and field, upper playground equipment, flex classroom site work, and lower playground asphalt play chords at James Foster Elementary School in California. The Nazarian Group is working on the project, which is funded by the last building part of the Measure E Bond. The estimated completion time is February 2025, with multiple phases to accommodate Foster’s enrollment and ensure children have the largest area to play in. The board also conducts a public hearing for the proposed issuance of bonds by the Saugus Union School District and approves two resolutions related to the issuance of special tax revenue bonds and special tax refunding bonds.
00:50:00 In this section of the transcript, the Saugus Union School District Board Meeting addresses financing and bond issuance for special tax refunding. The board approves several documents and takes actions in connection with the issuance. They also conduct the first reading of board policies and administrative regulations in the zero series, including policies on vision, philosophy, equity, and comprehensive plans. One board member asks about the use of the term stakeholders versus community partners in the policies, and it is explained that stakeholders is currently used but may be updated in the future.
00:55:00 In this section of the board meeting, the board discusses updating several policies related to district and school websites, including the required elements on a website such as Title IX services and ADA compliance. The school webmasters will complete an audit to ensure compliance. Other policies discussed include political processes, educational foundation, and relations between private industry and schools. One policy on youth services is being deleted as it is redundant to other policies. The updates mainly involve moving paragraphs into numbered bullets and updating language to meet new standards.
01:00:00 In this section, the Saugus Union School District Board discusses the deletion of redundant policies, including exhibit 1100 and policy 1150, and updates to policies regarding media relations and communication with the public. They also discuss changing the date of their June 3rd meeting to June 5th at 6:30 pm and the options of moving or canceling their July 18th board meeting, ultimately deciding to move it to July 25th and cancel their August 1st meeting. They clarify that both May 20th and June 5th are the dates for the superintendent’s evaluation. The section ends with a motion to adjourn.
01:05:00 In this section of the meeting, the board quickly concludes their business with a unanimous vote to adjourn the meeting at a record time of 7:42pm. The members express pride in their efficiency and timely conclusion of the session.