To navigate to a specific part of the video, simply click on the timestamp links below. Each timestamp corresponds to a different section of the video, allowing you to jump to the parts that interest you the most easily.
00:00:00 In this section, the board president reports on the closed session action items, including the approval of a settlement agreement for a case with the California office of administrative hearings. The district will reimburse parents for up to 25 hours of one-to-one academic tutoring, 20 hours of one-to-one speech and language services, independent educational evaluations, and after-school participation in one 16-week program. The district will also pay attorney fees. The board then establishes the Quorum, ratifies the student expulsion report, leads the Pledge of Allegiance, approves the agenda and minutes, and moves onto recognizing two athletic groups.
00:05:00 In this section, the William S Hart School Board Meeting on April 19, 2023, honors the 2023 Hart varsity girls soccer team, who won two titles – the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Champions and the CIF Southern California Divisional II Regional Champions. The team had an exceptional defense, allowing only 13 goals in their 19-2-5 campaign, including 17 shutouts. The board congratulates the team and head coach Brett Croft for their historic and remarkable season. The team members present were individually recognized and honored.
00:10:00 In this section of the video, a member of the William S Hart School Board congratulates the Valencia boys basketball team for winning the Southern Section Division Four Double A Championship and the California Division State or Fort Division Four State Championship. The team had a remarkable season, winning 27 games after only winning five the previous year, and culminated in a remarkable win over Half Moon Bay in the Golden One Arena to capture the state crown. Head Coach Bill Bedgood talks briefly about the coaching experience of this team and recognizes each of the players on the team.
00:15:00 In this section of the William S Hart School Board Meeting on April 19, 2023, the board takes a moment to recognize the outstanding athletic achievements of Valencia High School’s basketball and soccer teams. Following this, the board moves onto its One Hart Award, which sees individuals recognized for modeling the values of kindness, community, courage and creativity. This week’s recipient for the community category is Amy Daniels, who has worked in various roles in education in the area for over a decade and is noted for her exceptional care and support of students.
00:20:00 In this section, board member Linda Story reports on attending various events including the honoring of classified workers, Castaic High School’s open house, and Rio Norte’s open house. She also highlights the importance of classified employees in schools and the benefit of sharing ideas and solutions with other schools in the area through the SCV trustee association. Additionally, she mentions the awarding of over $2.5 million in incentives and accepting donations for Castaic High School. Story emphasizes the contributions of district supporters and urges viewers to review the full list in the consent calendar.
00:25:00 In this section, members of the William S Hart school board reported on recent events, including scholarship winners, recognition of students at the STN Convention, and One Hart awards for outstanding students and coaches. The district will also be hosting several upcoming events including a wine on the roof event, Community Conversations, and the Teacher Tribute to celebrate their hardworking educators.
00:30:00 In this section of the transcript, there are various speakers thanking and acknowledging individuals who have contributed to the district and its schools. There is also a reminder to not forget what happened during the Holocaust and the importance of remembering. Additionally, the student board member provides updates on the school events happening, including prom season, Powder Puff game, and a focus on diversity and inclusivity. There are also discussions on addressing hate speech and the upcoming community conversations event.
00:35:00 In this section, two employee association leaders from William S. Hart District express their gratitude towards the classified staff and the board members for attending the classified recognition, respectively. They also discuss the upcoming negotiation and planning issues with the duality of a strong finish to this school year and planning for the next school year. One high school math teacher from Hart High School also shares his experience of teaching over 2,000 students and expressing his appreciation for the respectful, polite, and interesting students and the warm, welcoming and helpful colleagues and staff on campus.
00:40:00 In this section, two teachers at William S Hart School Board Meeting share their experiences working at Hart High School. Greg, who has been teaching for over two decades, speaks highly of his colleagues who are former Hart students, and Catherine Smith, a science teacher at the school, praises her fellow educators’ innovative approaches to teaching, including the use of AI technology and implementing a school-wide cell phone policy. Additionally, Catherine reports that the number of students signing up for challenging AP courses at the school is increasing. Finally, the Principal of the school, Jason do Tremont, presents four focus areas from the school’s strategic plan with his administrative team.
00:45:00 In this section of the transcript from the William S Hart School Board meeting, two outstanding teachers discuss the inner workings of Hart High School’s academic policies and programs. Ms. Wilson presents data gathered from a course syllabi audit, which revealed inconsistencies in grading and syllabi structure across various departments. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration among staff to ensure alignment and suggests running another audit in 2023-24. Ms. Hernandez highlights the efforts made by Hart High School to provide multi-tiered academic support to all students, including Library Nights, teacher office hours, the Student Support Specialist, the Pride Center, the Wellness Center, and a Social Worker, all aimed at providing extra academic, attendance, or counseling support as needed.
00:50:00 In this section of the transcript from the William S Hart School Board Meeting, Mr. Gutierrez discusses the district’s effective use of technology to promote student engagement and support learning, emphasizing the importance of one-to-one technology and access to various platforms such as Google Classroom and Naviance. He also mentions the district’s use of common formative assessments, which are designed to ensure that all students are receiving the same instruction and progressing through the curriculum appropriately. All of these efforts are part of the district’s comprehensive strategic plan and are aimed at enhancing classroom instruction and student achievement.
00:55:00 In this section of the video, the principal of William S Hart School highlights the strategic plan the school has developed with the aim of aligning its objectives with the expenditure of Title One dollars. The highest priority area for expenditure was the English Learners population, which makes sense since the school has a high EL population. The school’s LCAP funding is also used to support these learners with the help of the district’s support. The school’s funding aligned with the focus of student learning and instruction, as well as its classroom goals and student achievements. The Education Foundation’s emphasis is on STEAM, with particular emphasis on students’ well-being, including wellness centers to support mental well-being across the district. The foundation’s role is to work with teachers, administrators, and directors to ensure equitable access to the tools and resources needed for student success without providing the money directly.
01:00:00 In this section of the William S Hart School Board Meeting, the Education Foundation is thanked for their support in student programming, and the public comments section begins with parents giving thanks to the district and questioning board member Messina’s behavior and inclusivity towards all students. One parent speaks out against the abhorrent behavior allowed in the meeting room, calling for the board to set an example and follow the rules for speakers and the audience. Another parent acknowledges that voters are responsible for the decisions made by the board and expresses concern about child trafficking and abuse.
01:05:00 In this section, multiple speakers at the William S. Hart School Board Meeting express concerns about the quality of education their children receive. One speaker expresses their concern about teachers who have been found guilty of inappropriate conduct with children but allowed to continue teaching in another district. Another speaker disagrees with the sex education being taught in schools, which promotes the idea of more than two genders, and believes that parents should have the right to decide what values and beliefs their children are exposed to. Another speaker comments that social workers are not therapists and emphasizes the importance of parent involvement in public education. Overall, speakers call for school board members to prioritize their children’s education, provide them with the tools they need to succeed, and ensure that schools are safe learning environments.
01:10:00 In this section of the video, two speakers address different concerns within the school system. One speaker discusses the issues of racism within the school board and accuses some members of perpetuating systemic inequalities. Another speaker voices concerns about inappropriate material found in a book called “Genderqueer” in the Castaic High School library and calls for its removal. The final speaker discusses the overuse of cell phones by students, citing statistics and advocating for a ban on non-academic use of phones in schools.
01:15:00 In this section, a speaker addresses the issue of students’ addiction to their devices, stating that the use of cell phones for entertainment purposes has led to a loss of focus and poor academic performance. The speaker suggests that students should be allowed to keep their cell phones but should switch them off and place them in their backpacks during school hours, only being allowed to use them if prompted by a teacher for academic reasons or with permission for personal reasons. Another speaker praises the work of the school guidance counselors, highlighting their professionalism, collaboration as a team, and their focus on academic, career, and social emotional needs of students to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks. The school board discusses policies regarding the selection of library books and the complaint process, with an update and separate policies being suggested.
01:20:00 In this section, the school board discusses the complaint process for textbooks and library books, which is currently being reviewed and updated. The process involves an initial complaint going to the site principal, who then convenes a committee to review the book and determine its appropriateness for the curriculum and age level. If there is an appeal, it goes to a district committee and then to the superintendent. The board also discusses updates to the strategic plan’s Focus area 5, which includes initiatives for communication and collaboration, such as translation support and family engagement. A speaker suggests including advocacy with elected representatives and mentions a bill for minors’ consent that parents should have a say in. The board provides a brief overview of their progress on the seven initiatives under Focus area five.
01:25:00 In this section of the William S Hart School Board Meeting, the board discusses their progress on strategic communication and outreach initiatives. They have been working on creating a strategic communication plan to efficiently share information with families and engage their diverse community through efforts such as surveys, social media presence, a website refresh, and a new communication platform called Parent Square. Their outreach and marketing initiatives aim to promote their district programs and celebrate district accomplishments through campaigns such as “Did you know?” and “One Hart Awards”, marketing materials like a district brochure, and promotional videos. Overall, the board is committed to sharing all the good news happening in the Hart District through various channels.
01:30:00 In this section, the speaker highlights the efforts made by the William S Hart School District to recruit more teachers and staff. They talk about the job fairs they organize for both teaching and classified positions and even showcase a promotional video on the HR department page. Moving on, the speaker then discusses the board’s focus on improving translation support to cater to the diverse student body and families in the community. They mention how the district is actively reviewing existing documents to update them to key languages and transitioning to Parent Square to allow teachers to communicate in multiple languages. Finally, the speaker talks about their efforts to improve two-way communication and collaboration with the community, including adding a student communications council.
01:35:00 In this section of the school board meeting, the superintendent discussed various initiatives to improve communication and collaboration with different groups. One initiative involved quarterly meetings with representatives from classified and certificated groups to share updates and gather feedback. The district also held community forums to discuss topics such as school safety and culture and climate, with the intention of getting input from the community to improve plans. Another initiative involved collaborating with local districts and COC to support families and plan for effective transitions. The district also participated in events such as a superintendent safety symposium, an active shooter training, and a teacher recruitment fair, which was a resounding success. These initiatives demonstrate the district’s commitment to communication, collaboration, and community involvement.
01:40:00 In this section of the video, the William S Hart School Board discusses the importance of engagement in the school community and highlights their use of Parent Square to encourage it. The technology allows parents to choose their own language and communication preferences, including receiving messages once a day in a daily digest. Parent Square unifies communication and offers different ways of sending messages, such as private chats, alerts, and posts. Teachers and administrators have access to the platform and can send messages to specific groups or grade levels, while admins can assign different roles with restricted access. Statistics are also gathered to measure engagement and usage, making communication more effortless and engaging for everyone involved.
01:45:00 In this section, the William S. Hart School Board discusses the new communication tool, Parent Square, and its implementation. The board members are excited about the features that Parent Square has to offer and they are in the process of training staff to ensure a smooth transition come the fall. They also touch on their educational advocacy work and their collaborations with elected representatives in California, such as working on proposals for safety and funding for school sites as well as pandemic-related education. The Board responds positively to the report and asks about accessibility measures to ensure all families can use Parent Square. Overall, the report is well received and deemed informative.
01:50:00 In this section of the William S Hart School Board Meeting, held in April 2023, board members expressed their gratitude for the communication work done by Debbie, who created the website and brochures. They also discussed the family engagement plan and proposed ideas such as board member town halls, family nights at different high schools, and the use of Parent Square to coordinate communication across different district schools. The board also reviewed the bargaining proposals for CSEA Chapter 349 and HDTA and discussed the Williams report, which indicated no complaints for the past quarter. Finally, they moved onto the action items, where Diane Zimmerman and Cindy discussed National Library Week.
01:55:00 In this section, concerned parents and community members voiced their protests at a William S Hart School Board Meeting regarding inappropriate materials in school libraries. They questioned the inclusion of books such as “Gender Queer” and other books with explicit content, sex acts, pictures, and dialogue in school libraries, calling them “horrific” and “unacceptable” for children of any age. They urged the board members to take responsibility and remove these books, while also recognizing the vital role that librarians play in transforming the lives of students and the community for National Library Week. Some even suggested retired grandparents, vets, police officers, firemen, and high school students as better options for reading to children.
02:00:00 In this section of the transcript, the board discusses the partnership with Henry Mayo hospital to provide full-time athletic trainers at each of the district’s seven high schools. The trainers help prevent injury and optimize students’ overall health and quality of life. The district also implemented over 20 injury prevention programs. The board then introduces the Sport Gate concussion software app, which allows for baseline concussion testing on an unlimited amount of student athletes and aids in the decision to return to play. The app also sends reports directly to parents and grants access to student athlete profiles.
02:05:00 In this section of the William S Hart School Board Meeting, the board discusses two agreements. The first agreement is for the Athletic Training Outreach Program with Henry Mayo Hospital and the William S Hart School District, which aims to improve the well-being of student athletes who have suffered a concussion. The second agreement is for Educational Consulting Services with Vital Educational Leadership Consulting, which will address issues of bias and racism in the school district. The board requests Dr. Michelle Bowers to provide guidance and support to the district with regards to facilitating community discussions and improving cultural competency. The total cost of the consulting agreement will not exceed $8,600.
02:10:00 In this section, the William S Hart Union High School District announces the approval of a Consulting agreement and the acceptance of a Career Technical Education Incentive Grant. The Grant amount of almost 2.7 million dollars will be used to provide students with Hands-On lab and Studio experience using industry-standard equipment and college-aligned curriculum. The board also approves the annual update to the lcap federal addendum. Finally, the section covers the final adoption of textbooks and instructional materials.
02:15:00 In this section, a parent speaks in support of a history book for high school students, citing its user-friendly format and valuable content. The School Board member then introduces three history textbooks, for seventh-grade world history, eighth-grade US history, and high school world history, which underwent a thorough selection process and align with state standards. The materials offer hybrid, hard-bound, and digital formats with ample support for English learners. The committees piloted the materials, agreed to move forward with adoption, and parents discussed the materials. The implementation and training process will begin if the board approves the materials.
02:20:00 In this section, the school board discusses the approval of various textbooks and site-based decisions made by the staff at different schools. The National Geographic textbooks for history are praised for their quality and lack of controversial content. The board members vote to adopt the recommended textbooks. Also discussed are the results of site-based decision votes for changes in school schedules at Hart High School, La Mesa Junior High School, Valencia High School, and West Ranch High School. The board members vote to approve all four site-based decisions, although one member questions the reduction in instructional minutes at Hart High School.
02:25:00 In this section of the meeting, the school board discusses the schedule for brunch at William S Hart High School. While they plan to move back to a one-brunch schedule due to decreased enrollment, some are concerned about the decrease in instructional minutes if the length of periods are shortened. However, the board notes that the minutes still meet the requirements and agrees to answer any outstanding questions at a later meeting. They also approve a proposal for the gymnasium floor replacement at Castaic High School and a fee proposal from Fonder Solari for construction management services at Hart High School’s Varsity Softball project.
02:30:00 In this section of the transcript, the William S Hart School Board approves a fee proposal for a fire alarm replacement project and a new contract for Superintendent Mr. Coleman, following a positive evaluation. The board also discusses updated information regarding a schedule change at Hart High School and will revisit the topic at a later meeting. All items are approved and Mr. Coleman is congratulated on his continued leadership.
02:35:00 In this section of the school board meeting, the board discusses prepaying a lease revenue bond that was taken out in 2018 to complete construction projects in the district. The district had an income and revenue shortfall at the time, causing them to take out the bond in the first place. However, the district has now reached a point where they can prepay the bond, saving millions of dollars in the long run. The board approves the prepayment resolution and moves on to an agenda item to act as the legislative body of cfd number 23-1. The board conducts the second reading of ordinance number lb22-23-1, which was posted on the district’s website for public inspection prior to its proposed adoption.
02:40:00 In this section, the William S Hart School Board is discussing the adoption of ordinance number lb 22-23-1, which authorizes the levy of a special tax within Community facilities District 2023-1. They give a brief explanation of what a Community facilities District is and how it allows developers to pay for infrastructure costs associated with new developments in the community. They also move on to the consent calendar where two speakers, Cindy and Diane, address the issue of biased and misleading information in the AP History book “Stories by a Nation”. Cindy argues that the book distorts the truth by presenting a biased view of history, while Diane raises concerns about the cultural landscape and the need for factual and unbiased history education in schools.
02:45:00 In this section, a school board meeting is held to discuss upcoming tasks for the school. The meeting covers topics ranging from student curriculum to future agenda items. One member speaks on human geography, discussing how valuable it is to understand the history of skin pigmentation and the distribution of skin color across the world. Another member questions the addition of a new book about the 2020 presidential election before it has been properly concluded. Items for future consideration include reviewing the rules for public speakers, block scheduling, and their outcomes for schools in the district.
02:50:00 In this section, a board member announces their intention to resign from the William S Hart Union High School board effective May 2nd, 2023. The board expresses their appreciation for the member’s contribution to the district, and a press release will be issued to announce the resignation. The meeting is adjourned in memory of the Holocaust victims and in honor of the resigning member’s service. The board then calls to order a meeting for the William S Hart Joint School financing Authority. A member of the audience addresses the board, expressing concerns about fiscal issues.
02:55:00 In this section of the video, a member of the public asks the board about the process of paying off the district’s debt and if the board can provide information on why it took so long to pay it off. The board responds by stating that they have authorized the prepayment of the lease revenue bonds, and this process will take approximately 90 days to complete. The board also notes that they are acting in a fiduciary responsible manner and appreciate the support to save as much money as possible. The board then approves the resolution, and the meeting is adjourned.