Okay, it looks like we've got everybody on. That's uh we're expecting maybe I don't know if a couple others are joining or not. Um so we will go ahead and call our special board meeting to order. It is July 27th, 2026.
I'm sorry, Miss Downing, were you ready? I didn't even ask. >> Yes, I'm good to go. >> Okay, thank you. We'll call our meeting to order. It's 11:08 uh 10:08 a.m. I'm sorry, on July 27th, 2026.
We'll call our special board meeting to order. Welcome. Good to see you all. Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Board colleagues, Dr. Stubblefields, any of our guests and staff present. Um good to see you. Thanks for joining today. So, as we do at every board meeting, we'll read our board norms and protocols. We
agreed to respect differences of opinions in making decisions for the district, to follow best practices in managing the superintendent and the management of the board itself, to stay on task when conducting business for the district, including while at board meetings. To never surprise the superintendent or each other when conducting official business of the
district. To read these norms at the beginning of each board meeting and at board workshops as a reminder of how to conduct our meetings, and to continually selfch check to determine if we're following our norms when conducting district business. Again, welcome. Good to see you all. With that, Miss Downing, can I have a roll call?
>> Wanda Brownley Page. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes. >> I have a point of order, please. >> Uh, can we do the roll call first? >> No. >> I
Okay. Um, what is your point of order, Mr. Gohane? I think you're trying to speak. You're muted there. >> We got to make sure there's a quorum. >> Yep. >> Roll call. >> Okay.
>> Wanda Brownley Page. >> Wanda Brownley Page. Present. >> Yolanda Clark. >> Randy Lopez. >> Randy Lopez present. >> Robert Milin Jr. Pamela Pin Hicks.
>> Pamela Pen Hicks present. Joyce Strickland Eaggan >> Joyce Strickland Eaggan present >> and Dr. Win >> Dr. Win present. >> Okay, >> Mr. Gohane, is this uh where she can do a point of order, I guess, or do we need
to approve the agenda first? >> No, you can do point of order. >> Okay, Dr. Wyn, >> thank you. Um Mr. Lopez, let me first say that one. Can you hear me clearly? >> I can.
>> Okay. Thank you. What your health foundation and the village initiative do are very worthy, very worthy uh projects for our community. However,
because of the $50,000 grant, previously $25,000 grant to village initiative from your organization of which you are president CEO establishes a conflict of interest.
You did not neither of you all disclosed, recused or abstain in the election of office. Therefore, my point of order is that you are not
able to presside at this meeting. >> Uh Dr. Wyn, this is a little surprising that you would bring this up. It's first time really hearing about this from maybe the first time you're hearing it. I did visit we we visited with Dr.
Stubblefield via message to explain and alert the fact that the conflict of interest was is substantial and that violation
clearly was >> what is the Can I ask what is the the conflict of interest that you're stating is present because I don't >> you and Mrs. Clark $50,000 and previous grants that your white dot health
foundation has granted. As I said, very worthy projects, very worthy, important to our community. But the substantial conflict of interest, the the the financial relationship you all have should have been disclosed.
You should have recused. Both of you should have recused and both of you should have abstained from the election of officers. Dr. >> Dr. Win the foundation's grant is to the village initiative. >> Excuse me. Let me finish. >> Yolanda's violated
>> our conflict of interest. Our policy that we have been talking about for the last six weeks at least and that our board handbook also says that if a member has reason to believe or expect a direct monetary gain or
suffer a direct monetary loss or gain benefit for family or another personal or professional interest, the member should remove him herself from any engagement in discussion or decision making. We have been talking about conflict of interest. We've been talking
about it. It's very clear. All you all had to do was disclose, recuse, abstain. You didn't neither. Dr. Stfield knows we came in on Thursday with the same concern.
If she did not disclose it to you, that that is what perhaps happened. But you know during this time that is what should have occurred. >> So I'm curious why you didn't come and ask or speak with me directly Dr. W
instead of surprising me with this on a board meeting call that's uh supposed to be to approve an HR agenda one question. >> Exactly. >> Second >> uh second and um I don't believe that there's a conflict of interest. My understanding of conflict of interest
the way that it's written out is if if this were to have gone to uh if the foundation and please don't say it's my foundation. I do not own the foundation. I am an employee of the foundation. There is a 15 member board who I um report to at the foundation. Um so so it
is not my foundation. I just want to make sure that's clear for everyone um that I am an employee of the foundation. Um, and then second, I would just say that the grant to the village initiative was exactly that, a grant to the village
initiative that is a 501c3 in good standing. And while Miss Clark may have family who were either employed um with the village, she herself is not a trustee, is not an officer, is not an employee, is not uh does not have any financial
gain of from the grant. Uh, so I don't I don't understand how you're saying there's a conflict of interest there. The way the statute is is or the way the way it's defined. Um, and I would ask Mr. Gohane if he could weigh in here because I don't believe that there is a
conflict of interest benefiting Miss Clark or anyone on the board for that matter. Um, and I'm I'm I'm just a little disappointed that you would bring this up publicly now instead of coming and talking to me directly about this.
>> Dr. Stelfield or Mr. Gohane, I would Mr. Gohane, I would ask if you have uh if you'd be able to weigh in here on on the definition of conflict of interest and whether this actually constitutes a conflict or not. >> If I'm understanding correctly, that you're suggesting there's a conflict of
interest in terms of voting for the officers. Is that what the suggestion is? >> That is the suggestion, Mr. Gohane. And because you are familiar with conflict of interest, I believe you also uh teach
classes on conflict of interest in in your professional position. Is that correct? >> I don't know if I teach classes on it. We I certainly have given seminar presentations, >> seminars. Yeah. They >> I the the problem you got here is I
don't think that you have a conflict of interest that's going to foreclose a vote on an officer election. um based upon what I'm understanding at least at this point, the only conflict of interest um statute, it's not even a conflict of
interest statute, it's an ethics statute that exists out there that talks about um voting and um well, you got two statutes I guess that that is one. You've got the statute that says that um and that's just the general powers of
the board of education that says any member announces a conflict of interest um with regard to an issue, the member may leave the meeting until the voting on the issue is concluded and the member who abstains from voting thereby shall not be count as having voted. And we've
talked about that statute. My general understanding of that is that the member has to decide and declare the conflict him or herself. It's not necessarily something that um somebody else could vote or decide that there's a conflict of interest for other than
through a judicial proceeding that would be initiated either by AG or the district attorney or somebody along those lines. >> That is correct. >> The statute >> Excuse me, Mr. Do. It does and excuse me, I'll let you finish. I'm sorry.
you're you're fine. And if certainly if you got questions or comments, I I'll happily entertain them as we're going if that's easier for for everybody here. Um, but if I'm understanding, and I think some of this is coming from, the only thing I've seen on this really is
the um, one of the documents that uh, Miss Lynch submitted to the school district and I was provided a copy of, she makes reference to some of the statutes that relate to um, governmental ethics which start at 754301A
and then I think they continue on through 754306 maybe a little bit longer than that, I'm not sure. And those statutes relate primarily to the disclosure requirements of substantial interest with the state. Uh either at the time somebody is
appointed, time somebody is elected, um or that if substantially there's substantial changes between the election disclosures or not, which is all part of like the campaign finance issue. Um but that speaks to talking about voting
where there's a sub substantial interest uh for the individual or the individual's spouse only. Um that also speaks only to um disclosure of the interest. It does not foreclose or prevent a vote by the individual who has the interest. Again that has to be
decided by the individual. Um and then finally you have the vote is on contracts uh relating to the situation which I don't think would include voting on things such as uh
officer elections that occur at a board meeting or things of that nature. So, you know, the the issue here is there would have to be a substantial financial interest that would benefit uh the individual involved and the the
statute carves out 501c3s in it as well. Uh you still have to disclose a 501c3 conflict, but it does not constitute a substantial interest under the statute for the conflict of interest provisions. So, I don't think there's a conflict of
interest here. Um, I'm happy to take a deeper dive into it with the specific um, information that we have or to seek an opinion from the um, ethics commission which I it's not really called the ethics commission. I forget what it's called, but we could see
>> public disclosure. >> Yeah, we can see opinion there. >> Um, >> yes, >> it's called public disclosure. >> Public disclosure commission. Yes. So, but I don't I don't see this as
being a u a conflict of interest in terms of the vote. Otherwise, you'd have a situation where um you'd have individuals who are elected officials by the members of the public whose um votes on certain items
that are not directly related to um things such as uh contracts where they might receive a financial benefit directly. uh those votes would be lost and those members of the public that voted for those individuals would have a lack of
representation on those issues. So I I think that there's not a conflict here. >> Thank you, Mr. Gohane. >> Dr. Stfield, you wanted to say something before I reply. Oh, I was just going to say um I did share um just generally
that there was a request the the request that was made and what my response was but I did not I mean I didn't know like I didn't share and it's going to be brought up Monday because I didn't know where it landed. So I just wanted to be
clear about I made um um well Mr. Lopez, he was say my interpretation is he wasn't aware that it was going to come up today. I I shared that there was a request um in
that my recommendation was to um discuss it Monday, August 3rd when there was in-person meeting and and and because I have no true um authority over the situation, I just said that was my
recommendation and left it at that. And to your response, I wrote back that no, I would bring it up today. So if you did not get that response, >> I did get that response. I just left it
where it was because I honestly just don't want I didn't at that point everybody was aware of the different perspectives and what you all decide to do collectively as a board. I
don't want to be placed in the middle of going back and forth. So everybody like everybody was aware of where um it landed and then if it were brought up today, it it is brought up today, but I
wasn't um certain if it would be because I didn't know like collectively where you all were. So I just wanted to be clear. I did convey the message um but I you know And I want to make it clear
that I made my position very clear to you that no, I was bringing it up to date. Now I can read that response very easily for the record so that you will not um I said um
my response is no. We must address this on Monday. Secondly, there's some other conversation and that uh so on Monday I will abide by the law armies and address the board president. So my position was
very clear to you. So let >> Right. And Dr. when I all I'm saying is your position was clear to me but as the superintendent who reports to all seven of you I just left it there because you
all can communicate with one another and you also um so I just removed myself because I did not want to go and then say to Mr. Lopez. Well, she's going to
bring it up Monday because at that point I was just like if at any point somebody can bring something up and you all have your communication channels around these sorts of topics or um it's just that and
I also try to um reach out to Miss Paige but we were not able to connect and so I just left it at that knowing that we will be here Monday. So, I just wanted to clarify what where I left it at knowing that we
would be here today. >> I'm just trying to just make it clear that as a board that that is >> um that those are you all like how you all choose to handle this and move forward. I >> I am a neutral party in this and I just
want to remain that especially around this topic. >> Yeah. And I did not >> sorry >> excuse me. >> I was just clarifying that Dr. Stubblefield did share but no one I was saying Dr. Wyn you or no other board
member >> had brought this up to me. So I was unaware that this was actually going to come up today and I as a special meeting with the set agenda already um and not all board members here. I was a little disappointed that no board member
actually advised me or told me again going back to our norms uh of not surprising one another. No one spoke to me or mentioned to me that you were going to bring this up uh today. So that's what I was saying and >> Dr.
that that there was a question on this but again no one else had brought this forward to me and that's what I was saying Dr. is I was I'm a little disappointed that that you or whoever um thinks this is a conflict didn't approach me prior to this morning to
bring this forward. Um and here we are uh supposed to have a quick HR approval today. Um and >> uh Mr. Lopez, this is Miss Paige. Now you said you were surprised. I was surprised in the meeting when Miss Clark
got up three times and left and I remember when you did the same thing and we keep saying hey come on the people in the community are saying what's going on and all they had you and her had to say
which never was said people just get up and leave and we need to be clear cuz Mr. Gohan is saying that that's not it. We're reading state things. There should be a disclosure. Nobody's saying you're doing anything
wrong. But to be transparent for the community. So I I've been surprised twice. And in my mind, I'm keep saying what is going on? Why is it so difficult to say my organization say this or that. I'm
going to recuse myself and move out. and come back after any vote is taken. >> So I can't >> a lot of surprising around here because we are not clear on this issue and it is vital and we keep saying we're transparent. We want people to trust us.
It's too much going on. And again I say I don't have a problem with the organization. They do help our community but we all need to know. So we've been surprised. You're surprised. We're surprised. What a surprise. So, I can't speak for Miss Clark, and unfortunately,
she's not here uh to discuss why she got up and left, and I don't know that she necessarily has to disclose. When she did get up the f the first time, she did disclose that she could not vote because there was a conflict. Um, >> she didn't say to the whole body.
>> She shared it with the clerk. >> She shared it with the clerk and then the clerk shared it with me. Miss Downing shared it with me. And I in that moment said we needed to find a second person, a second board member to make a second on the motion because Yolanda,
Miss Clark, had made the second in that moment for um items F through V or whatever it was. Um and then we had to find a second person and I said she has a conflict. I said that out loud. >> Never said or maybe we all need to go
back and play that tape cuz I kept saying is she sick? I know. I asked Miss Downey, and I'm not trying to throw her in there cuz I didn't understand what was going on. People, it was not verbalized where everybody could hear it.
That never came out. So again, we're surprised see somebody get up and leave three times. You did it. She did it. We got to get clear on this. And this is urgent. Mr. Gohane. Um I don't believe you are
correct in saying that the uh if there's a perceived conflict of interest that the person does not have to and and again you can clarify what you're saying but the the conflict of interest
you you know I have been on this board a long time and I have had this concern numerous times. We have off camera off Mike talked about it. You don't have to
comment on that but our own policy we have been clarifying that the board member must shall declare a conflict of interest. Now for you to I'm
talking about disappointment. I'm disappointed that you um involved, which is okay. You know, we're not talking about a financial contract. We're talking about a financial relationship. We're not talking about
filing substantial statements of substantial interest. Um so we all know the law. You know it professionally long time. Again, you give seminars on this, so there's
nuances that you know that we don't. However, when you have a school board, when you have members who have relationships, financial relationships,
when you have family members involved and our own board handbook, perhaps not board policy, however, then we know state law comes into effect when if there is an absence in board policy. But
taken together, a perceived conflict of interest holds some weight. Now, whether or not you declare it does not, and yes, um yeah, we we received complaints
from Mrs. Lynch, but you know, I've been talking about conflict with lynchers a long time, and I think Mr. Lopez, you know, as well, we've had conversations maybe not on this because uh this is
this is a newer idea or as you said, ideiation, whatever that's supposed to mean, but nevertheless, conflict of interest is perceived as a conflict of interest. You all did not disclose in in respect to the community,
in respect to the board. you should have in my opinion. But that's all I have to say. So, thank you. >> Okay. Well, um, thank you for sharing that. My understanding that it it is not a conflict of interest. There is no
substantial conflict of interest here. Um, but this is a problem that there is not clarity on that. I know what Mr. Gohane said, but that's messy. We keep telling the community that we want to be transparent
and we need to be transparent. You said she came to you. We didn't know. And we keep saying no surprise. Well, that was a surprise. And I'm going keep saying that cuz it needs to be clear. It is not clear.
And I don't think we should just leave it on that note. It needs to be clear. We need to have a meeting on it. We need to go to KSAP or whoever to make sure we know. And if we DON'T HAVE A POLICY, then we need to establish one because
it's too much drama. I it is too much drama. >> So um I I'm not sure um so my recommendation what I um suggested um
given the sense of urgency that was expressed by um a few board members. My suggestion was to add it to the August 3rd meeting for discussion if you did not want to wait to your next regular
schedule meeting or if you were going to try to schedule a separate meeting to discuss it and and either you all can reach directly out to KSV. I don't have an issue with sharing with um them to see if they can
also provide perspective. Greg has said that I think for um today if I need to do anything or if I just need to remain neutral I'm happy with doing that. I think we just need to know direction and what you all's next steps
are and then um regarding this um and then if we can approve the um HR report that will be just helpful for us to know like next steps and if I need to do something I have no problem doing it in regards to reaching out given the
information or concerns to KSB or Miss Paige if you plan to reach out to them I can do whatever I'm directed to do regarding this >> suggest that Mr. Gohane if you wouldn't mind reaching out to KSB and getting
uh an opinion based on what's been expressed today from uh from the multiple sides and views on this. Um see if you can get a little bit of clarity from KSB and share what you shared with the board today. Um, and then I would
also I would agree August 3rd is fine with me if we want to add that to the budget conversation. That will at least allow for all board members to be present. Um, as far as I understand, all board members will be at that meeting. Um, so that would be my suggestion is to
have this conversation if we want to continue this conversation on August 3rd. Um, and have that gives Mr. Gohan some time to go to KSB or some other entity that he might think could be helpful for for clarity on this
and bring that information back um to the full board. Hearing no objections to that. Um Mr. Go ahead. >> I will also go to public uh disclo disclosure commission and ask for an opinion. >> I'm sorry. What was that? Dr. I didn't hear you.
>> Said I I had that written down Dr. Win as an option. So I'll do that as well. >> What did he say? >> I said I will do that as well. I had that written down as an option. >> Thank you. >> Do you want to put that into a formal
motion? We can't take action on it today because it's not part of the notice for the special meeting, but I think we've got directives. So, I don't think we need to. >> I mean, we'll we'll move forward and do it. I just don't think you can do a motion on it.
>> You can do a motion if it's unanimous. Can't you? >> There's not the full board's not here. >> It says full board does not say unanimous of those in >> attendance. The no you'd have to it have to have waiver by you'd have to have waiver of the notice of the meeting to
add a topic and it have to be the waiver by all the board members not just the ones present. >> Then I sure hope we don't do this in the future when there's not all board members present. Thank you. >> Yep. I mean you'd have to have written
consent by the other board members or some something to show the way the meeting [snorts] that I I'm think I've been very consistent on the special meeting issue. I I hear the voices the background saying that this
is inconsistent. >> Yes, I it was my voice saying we have uh wavered a lot of rules. We have also uh when it was to the liking of certain folks um added items on the agenda at a
special meeting because it's unanimous of those there. But >> I I don't think that's true, Dr. W. I think that it's only been if we had everybody present and I think I think it's only been if we've had a waiver across the board. Now, you could add a topic to the not a topic, you could add
like an executive session if you wanted to to an HR meeting like this one was noticed for because that wouldn't change the topic that was noticed up. But if you're adding an additional topic, which this is, you would have to at least have three board members asked for the topic
and you would have to have a um notice of 48 hours or waiver by all of the board members, not just those present because otherwise board members could miss a meeting that they didn't have a topic that they was noticed in advance that they didn't know about. >> And that is correct. And thank you very
much. Thank you very much for that clarification because we do need to know the rules. Thank you. Yeah, I agree. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Gohane. Uh, so we'll follow up with those entities and bring information back. Um, with that,
um, we've done the roll call. Is there a motion to approve today's special agenda? or someone. >> No. >> Huh? It was >> could the clerk repeat what you all just
decided the role that either Dr. Stubblefill or will will not do and the action do Mr. Gohan will go will or will not do be before the August 3rd meeting and what will occur at the August 3rd
meeting. >> I I don't know if there was a definitive direction. I mean I definitive direction. I what I understand that I'm doing is getting an opinion from KB and an opinion from the >> Could you Could you speak up please? >> Yeah. I said what I understood I was
doing Can you guys hear me? Okay. Yes. >> Okay. What I understood I was doing was getting an opinion from KSB and an opinion from the govern uh whatever the governing uh government ethics
commission was. I'm calling the wrong thing. Um on whether a conflict of interest exists in this situation and um that's what I understand I was doing.
And because Mr. Gohane was doing it, I took that as there's nothing for me to do directly. >> Yeah. And that'll be added to August 3rd board meeting. >> Thank you.
>> Is that reflected in the minutes? >> Yes, ma'am. Well, I guess I guess it can be, but it can't be reflected as a as a directive or as a >> as a motion by the board.
>> Again, again, you've got a special you got a special meeting notice here that's on a specific topic. I mean, I know we've had a discussion of this under the context of a point of order, and you know, I think we're committing to do certain things that the board's asking us to do.
Um, I guess you could put that down as anformational item in the minutes. Um, but it's technically outside the scope of the special meeting. >> Thank you. At least we'll know how it is recorded.
>> Thank you. >> I'll ask again. Is there a motion to approve today's special agenda? I move that we accept the agenda for today. This is Joyce. >> Thank you, Mr. Glen Eaggan. Is there a second to approve today's special
agenda? Would anyone like to second the motion to approve the special agenda today? I I don't know what will happen with this um agenda, but I do just want to note um all of the individuals on the HR
report um we bring back new teachers this Thursday and um all staff this Monday and this was really um the purpose of it was to um support our
buildings so that they can onboard all of their staff um without causing any additional delays because um unless an HR if the HR report is on August 3rd
that meeting is not until 5:00. So unless we made some exception, all of those individuals on there, um I guess couldn't start with their colleagues. Um
>> it's okay, Dr. Stubblefield. I will second Miss Strickland Egan's motion to approve today's special agenda. Thank you. Any questions or comments on the agenda? Hearing none. Is there uh Miss Downing?
Roll call, please. >> Wanda Brownley Page. >> Wanda Brownley Page. Yes. >> Randy Lopez. >> Randy Lopez. Yes. >> Pamela Pen Hicks.
>> Pamela Penhicks. Yes. >> Joyce Strickland Eaggan. >> Joyce Strickland Eaggan. Yes. >> And Dr. Wyn. >> Dr. W. Yes. Fantastic. Thank you everyone. Uh all right, we'll jump to item two, consent agenda. Is there a
motion to approve the consent agenda as presented today? >> Yeah. I move that we accept the consent agenda for today. >> Thank you, Miss Strickland. Is there a second? I'll be happy to second so we can get
these folks on the HR report approved today hopefully so that they can start working. I will second. Any questions or discussion? Hearing none. Miss Downing. >> Wanda Brownley Page. >> Wanda Brownley Page. Yes.
Randy Lopez. >> Randy Lopez. Absolutely. Yes. Welcome aboard. >> Pamela Pin Hicks. >> Pamela Pin Hicks. Yes. >> Joyce Lynn Strickland Eaggan. >> Joyce Strickland Eaggan. Yes. >> And Dr. Win.
>> Dr. Win. Yes. >> Thank you, board. Motion carries. All right. That is the end of our of our agenda items today. With that, don't forget we do have a special meeting on Wednesday as well. That should be on your calendar. Um, welcome to all our
newly hired. And then we will get information for Monday, August 3rd agenda. That is an in-person meeting at central office. Um, I forget the time. I think it's 3 3 PM start um at central office in person. So, we will see you all there with um some additional
information. With that, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone. Have a fantastic day. >> Have a good day.