--------- Well, good late afternoon, and we are so thrilled to have McGaugh in the house, and it's just bursting at the seams from energy and human beings. So, I will go ahead and call our meeting to order at 4PM. And miss D'Angelo, would you like to do a roll call? Absolutely. Missus Patersoni? Here. Missus Davidson? Here. Missus Hill? Here. Mister Forhan? Here. Mister Bragman? Here. Amazing. I would also like to have, a motion to accept an agenda. I move. Second. Wonderful. All of those in favor?
Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. Well, now the see, that's just a little bit of business you guys have to go through. So, now we're really excited to introduce, Andrea. Would you like to get us started? Thank you so much, president Hill. Well, we're so fortunate to have the McGaw community here with us tonight, and I'd like to invite to the podium principal Wendy Wood to start the evening. And if you could invite your students up for the pledge of allegiance and introduce your choir, that would be wonderful. Please join me in welcoming fifth grade sea lion leader, Louis Samari, who will lead
us in the pledge of allegiance and a patriotic song. Good evening. Would you please stand for the pledge of allegiance? Put your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please help me welcome Maga's choir under directions of miss Cruz, our amazing music teacher.
Our sea lion chorus will now sing Stars and Stripes Forever. So excited. Brian. Brian. Brian. You raised your daughter, Brian, in that t shirt. I don't. Good. Oh, sorry. Good evening. Miss Miss Cruz? An extraordinary job, and, you I just wanna say to missus Cruz, what an extraordinary job, and and you give our children the gift of music and that is something
that will last with them forever. Thank you so much for your time. Mrs. Wood, we'll hand it back over to you. Well, thank you. Good evening, board president, esteemed members of the board, superintendent Doctor. Pulver, executive cabinet, community members, and our Sea Lion community. Thank you so much for being here tonight. I'd like to introduce two other sea lion leaders that are gonna be joining me up here tonight highlighting Maga, Trey Barr and Lexi Dropkin. Good evening, board president, missus Hill, board members, superintendent doctor Pulver, executive cabinet, and community
members. My name is Trey Barr. Yep. And I am Lexi Dropkin, and we are honored and excited to be here tonight to highlight McGaugh Elementary. I'd like to just start out by saying thank you. Mister Larson and I are absolutely honored to be here tonight highlighting, showcasing, and celebrating McGaugh Elementary School. We feel truly blessed to lead such a special school like McGaugh. We're thankful every day. I'm extremely grateful for mister Larson, his partnership on this presentation, and that I'm able to lead alongside him. Thank you, mister Larson.
All right, to kick things off, we're gonna start with all the things McGaw has to celebrate. Every day is a celebration at McGaw, our school by the sea. We work as a partnership. The McGaw staff is committed to developing the academic, artistic, social emotional, and physical well-being of all children. We believe that all children can learn at elevated levels when there are high expectations, rigorous standards, and caring, involved teachers. Every day, we celebrate raw behavior where sea lions earn raw bucks for exhibiting responsibility,
awareness of others in our surroundings, and honorable in our thoughts and words. Every week, one sea lion from each grade level that has been awarded a raw book is drawn out of a hat. They receive a book from the book vending machine, a free sick card at lunch, and they are featured in the weekly episode of the sea lion splash video. So far this year, the Maga staff has given out over 1,100 to our sea lions. Rah Maga. Every year, Maga puts a large focus on our school goals. Our goals this year are on evidence based collaboration, social emotional learning, and ruler implementation.
McGaw is in their third year of incorporating morning meetings, which is a structured routine aimed at building a positive classroom community, fostering social emotional learning, and setting a positive tone for the day. In addition, this year, we're implementing RULER school wide. This is a social emotional intelligence developed at Yale University. RULER aims to help people of all ages develop five emotional intelligence skills, recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating their emotions. By practicing emotional intelligence or I'm sorry.
By prioritizing emotional intelligence through RULER, we're creating a safe school climate where students can develop self efficacy and continue and confidence needed to thrive as learners. In looking at our goal of evidence based collaboration, CAST results are one of the many data points that we use to guide instruction at Magal. While we recognize that a single assessment does not define our students or our school, we also know that our sea lions are capable of even more. In my fourth year as principal, over the years we have seen our data increase
by a few points and decrease by a few points. Our focus now is really understanding the why behind these trends and identifying how we can consistently and ensure strong outcomes for all students. A large part of this work is thoughtfully analyzing our district math growth to target instruction, provide timely student support, and monitor progress throughout the year. Because MAP growth is aligned to state standards, it also helps us predict student performance
on CAASPP, allowing us to adjust instruction early well before the state test occurs. At the beginning of the year, our staff used grade level data days, fall planning, and PLC release days to analyze the results, refine our scope and sequence, and strengthen instructional practices, and identify targeted intervention opportunities. Now at our mid year point, we're entering into our second data day and PLC release days to examine that student growth from the beginning of the year and compare
it to last year's CAASPP data to inform predictability for this year's assessment. While second grade doesn't participate in state assessment, our students do take the district MAPS growth assessment, which is a meaningful practice opportunity in preparation for their first state test experience next year. And our second grade teachers are also participating in our grade level days and PLC days to analyze their results, refine their instruction, and strengthen their scope and sequence.
I'd like to thank Ed Services and the board for prioritizing and supporting these grade level data days which allow our teachers to collaboratively dive deep into data and continually strengthen the instruction for all students. As we dive deeper into our data, it's also important to celebrate the hard work of our students and our staff. So we are proud to see that both Maga's math and reading growth art IT scores, their RIT scores, are consistently above the national average, which affirms that we're moving
in the right direction. We will continue to use these multiple measures, including CAASPP and MAPS, but also some of our new assessments of EZ CBM and QPS to thoughtfully refine our instructional practices, monitor that student progress, and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of our individual learners. First instruction and high achievement are at the forefront of our mission and vision at Maga. Our teachers are committed to HMH, the district ELA adoption, by incorporating structured literacy and
foundational skills, Signature practices of depth and complexity icons and CGI math are also weaved in throughout our day. Whole class instruction is where our first instruction begins and students then move into partner work, small group instruction, and individual one on one instruction based on our assessments, district benchmarks, and anecdotal notes. If you walk into a Maga classroom, you would see highly engaged students, you would hear academically rich conversations, and you would feel a love for learning.
The surf lab offers systematic structured reading intervention programs in grades k through three. We also have a robust during the day push in intervention for reading and math for grades three through five students, and kindergarten offers after school intervention through a kinder club. All of this supported by ed services through year one through five PD, two district staff development days, and our amazing district TOSAs who do push in coaching opportunities where teachers have the amazing opportunity to learn district sign sorry, signature practices, learn the science
of reading, mathematical instructional strategies, and so much more. Maga is an inclusive campus where we celebrate all sea lions. Our fifth grade sea lion leadership leads our daily morning announcements, act as a sea lion's blast spirit team, media center assistants, office assistants, and equipment managers. We also celebrate our military community at Magaw, with 90 military families in attendance. Magaw is also an anchor for life school, which is a peer to peer club to connect youth while building change and resiliency skills. It provides opportunities for peers to learn leadership skills, build character, improve self esteem, and
integrate into their community. In addition, we celebrate through month of the military challenge in April and a veteran's day celebration in November. Our Our PTA works with us to celebrate healthy habits through Red Ribbon Week, partnered with OC Fire and Seal Beach PD. Our board, district, and staff support and encourage social emotional growth. A huge thank you to the district and the board of education for the additional days a week for individual site wellness counselors and school psychologists. Another huge shout out goes out to LAFE for their donation of added wellness counselor
interns. Throughout the support of LAFE, McGaugh PTA, McGaugh has a beautiful wellness space where students come every day during recess and lunch. McGaugh's wellness counselor, missus Herron, and her interns hold social skill groups and individual counseling sessions throughout the day. McGaw is also lucky to partner with our military liaison who supports by providing military counseling on campus five days a week. Miss Annette currently services approximately a 100 students, and together, we hold events like Start
with Hello. Through the arts, Maga students are connected The amazing missus Samari leads our STEM lab where TK through fifth grade students are able to participate in hands on experiences directly aligned to grade level standards as and curriculum as well as digital citizenship. All sea lions in t k through fifth grade attend weekly music lessons where miss Cruz teaches reading music notes, movement, singing, and playing various musical instruments. Through prop twenty eight funds, we also offer free after school upper grade violin classes.
In addition, all students, t k through fifth grade, attend art weekly with Miss Anya. Each year, Miss Anya works with the pageant team to solidify an artist that will be highlighted in the classroom, and their artistic techniques will be practiced in the art lab. The artist is then featured in our annual pageant of the arts, led by Maga's two three teacher, Miss Anaceto, with the support of many other Maga teachers. This year is Maga's forty third pageant of the arts, will be held on March, where we will feature the artist Chagall.
We encourage you to come out and see the magic with your own eyes. We actively engage our parents and our community in our efforts to make McGaw an exceptional place for all students to learn. McGaw wouldn't be the same without two amazing incredible parent groups, our PTA and Project Seek. Throughout the year, our parents work tirelessly to help fundraise for our sea lion community, and they work hand in hand to make dreams come true for our sea lions. Our PTA held its annual carnival in October, and we have our annual jog a thon coming up here in a couple of weeks.
These fundraisers support field trips, assemblies, our wellness space, iPads, intervention, structural play structures on our playground, and come walk in my shoes, and so many more. Maga's International Culture Club known as our ICC is a branch of our mill our PTA. They host monthly cultural celebrations, and this year the ICC hosted a winter holiday festival where students visited various booths and were emerged in many December holidays, such as Bodhi
Day, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, and many more. Project SEEK works year round to fundraise for our STEM lab media center and the art art program at Maga. The annual seek event will be held March 27 at Old Ranch, and the theme of this year's event is Miami Vice. We look forward to a beautiful evening fundraising, celebrating, and supporting the arts at Maga. LAFE is also a huge partnership with Maga. They consistently donate to support our wellness space.
They provide grant opportunities and support our STEM lab. We are lucky to have LAFE partner with us and oversee partially fund oversee the art program at McGaw. McGaw has also been very fortunate to implement several enhancements across campus. So beach pony baseball installed new screens along their storage area. A new climbing structure is in the process. We're getting there. It's being installed thanks to the generous donation of PTA. We're so excited. Maga is excited to have new privacy screens around our pool, and we have seal
or sea lion logos upcoming on those screens. Mood meters have been painted across campus to support ruler, and through a donation from our mayor of Seal Beach, we now have magnetic mood meters in every campus. Thank you to LAFE for the generous grant for a new communication board on campus. This supports our students who are nonverbal or minimally verbal, making the playground inclusive and accessible. We deeply appreciate the site improvements completed this year, which continue to enrich the McGaw
experience for all students. A commitment to education is a commitment to the whole child and celebrating raw behaviors. Maggaw sea lions bring on the spirit by celebrating many spirit days and family nights. Maggaw wait. Many of our Seal Beach community members walk and bike to school, but we love coming together as a whole community and partnered with Seal Beach PD and OC Fire for Walk and Bike to School Day. This year, we partnered with Seal Beach PD on a safety seal program where four times a year, officers teach PE lessons focused on helmet and bicycle safety, internet safety,
teamwork, and leadership. In addition, every day a c line is awarded the a for a day where we celebrate excelling in one or all of the four a's, academics, athletics, activities, and attendance. Plus, we give A four day swag and a front of the line lunch pass. While we applaud and recognize citizenship and academic achievement, we are also taking the time to celebrate character or raw behavior. Sea lion assemblies are celebrated five times a year, where students are awarded for academic academics, character development, and the arts. At Maga, we work to uphold regular consistent communication with our families.
We work to keep our families informed through our parents Square. Also partner with PTA, we have a weekly McGaw connect that goes out every Sunday. Included in that is our sea lion splash that mister Larson produces with our sea lion leaders each week, and don't forget to check us out at McGaw sea lions on Instagram. Our sea lion splash video put together by mister Larson each week highlights upcoming events, playground rules, reminders, and kindness initiatives. It is played in the classrooms on Monday morning.
Please enjoy this special episode of the sea lion splash. And now it's time for the sea lion splash. Welcome to Magatte Elementary School. The School by the Sea. This is a place where we celebrate academic success, kindness, and collaboration. -We know that by working hard today, we can have a brighter future. -Our goal is to be a world class school. -And you are an important part of our vision. Magosity Lions show up on time and accept the challenge to learn new things. We strive to be our very best each and every day.
Hey, I'm A for the day. That's right. Our scholars get to take risks and be celebrated for triumph. It's a place where you can make a huge impact no matter how long you've been a student here. We are so excited to have you along for the journey. Macau. And there you have it, Macau. Now remember, listen to your teachers, follow instructions from your parents, take a risk, and I'll see you on campus. Bye. Thank you to the board of education district executive cabinet, our student speakers. Great job. Thank you, Sea Lion Choir.
You are beautiful. You're absolutely amazing. Our classified staff, our certificated staff, our office team, our custodial staff. Thank you, Sea Lion community, and thank you for being here tonight, and thank you for all of your support. You too are absolutely wonderful. You told us all the great stuff. So, Trey, here's your superstar medal. Everybody will be envious tomorrow, McGaugh, because you have the honor of wearing this. Mister Bradwin, would you like to make a comment? Absolutely. I think many of you out there know that McGaw holds a special place in
the hearts of quite a few of us up here. We all have connections to it. I just wanted to share and it's actually funny. I'm gonna talk about my visit to McGaw later on after you all are done having cookies and stuff like that. But, two really big observations. In December, we were able to visit TK in kindergarten class and saw the school in general. But the way in which you all are preparing students for the elementary years and beyond is just unmatched. It's really special to see the social emotional skills, the way students are learning how to write and hold pencils and do things as five year olds in TK, is
setting up for success. And on the other end of that, you have two parents of sixth graders here. And one thing I've shared with people is I've talked about having a student now at McAuliffe who came through Magal. I have not talked to a parent yet who hasn't said their student wasn't ready for sixth grade having the experience they had in Magal. And so I think that's such a testament to the teachers that are here, leadership that you all are providing. And so I I cannot say thank you enough for that as a parent and as a board member. Every every parent would be lucky to have their kid go to Maga. You talk about test scores and the way we're reflecting on data. I know that's always top of mind for you all, but also just a special
place. The culture when you walk on that campus is different. Every one of our campuses is different, but I know for me, it was the right place for our family. It's the right place for so many of our families out there. And I appreciate everything you do to create the culture that you have for our sea lions and, and keep it going. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, mister Bragman. Missus Courtney Hunter? Yes. Thank you. And and I'd like to echo what, mister Bragman said. Maga is such a special place to me and my family. You know? We spent over a decade there. I I really appreciate the leadership that you've brought, missus Wood, and and all the
teachers and the staff that I see in the audience. It really feels like home to me when I saw you guys. It's it's unbelievable that I'm I'm not sitting out there with you. I it's it's a hard feeling to kind of have your kiddos grow up and and move through the district. But when I see you, it really warms my heart and the growth that that school has experienced. I really appreciate the emphasis that you have made on academics and I love the fact that you guys are, customizing and meeting students where they, they they have needs
and gaps. I think that that's really critical. And I really appreciated that you spent the time, missus Wood, and walked us through all the work that's being done. But I also really appreciate the culture of Maga. I think that what our kids take away is the, emphasis on kindness, on exclusive inclusivity, on on the, you know, with programs like the international culture club, like the military family celebrations. I think those are some really great life lessons that Magog teaches our kids.
And I know I, for one, am very appreciative of that. So thank you. Missus Davidson. Well, I love it whenever I can come on the McGaugh campus. So there there's such a wealth of experience and knowledge and creativity. The staff, Wendy, Rick, you you're an awesome team, and you care about every single inch of that campus. I go in the classrooms, and I see teachers who have such heart for what's going on and had such an ability to lead and to create. So I loved it when you said the, you collaboratively collaboratively dive deeply into data.
I mean, we talk about data isn't always so fascinating, but when you come together as a team and you really look at what it means in terms of what our students are learning and you together figure out where the needs and strengths are, that's so powerful. But I also wanna speak to the kids. When we walked in the room, there was so much energy. Miss Hill talked about it. I mean, your joy, your spirit that you got up here and you sang with such heart. And then I was really impressed. Your teachers must absolutely love you because you all, even when missus Wood was talking
about the data and the numbers, you are leaning in and looking at it like you are really taking it in. So I know that you are a student body that's full of interest, engagement, power, and love. And I love walking on your campus, so say hi to us when we're there. Okay? Thank you so much, missus Wood. Thank you. Mister Foreman? Yes. I just wait every Sunday at 04:00 for the sea lion splash and big compliments to mister Larson because I end watching it and think about all the smiles from
you guys there and then the messages that are conveyed about gratitude, kindness, and all the things we're trying to instill upon our children. So thank you for the sea lion splash. You know, I just wanna say Trey and Lexi that you are amazing and you have overcome one of the things that people say is the greatest fear in life, which is public speaking in front of all these people that you don't even really get what we do or why we're here. But you did an amazing job and I really do appreciate, everything that you did
throughout. And, Mrs. Wood and Mr. Larson, a former superintendent of ours had a quote and that it said, love is not low does not mean low expectations. And when you talk about high expectations, you do it with incredible amount of love and support for every one of your students. And I think that's a real magic of the culture that is McGaw. And that also goes to all the community and the parents and the supporters and
the staff. And so we're just really appreciative that you guys make that effort to make just an incredibly loving, culture that has high expectations and great support for all of our students. So mister doctor Polvern? Oh, of course. I have to be able to talk about this amazing, campus and culture and community of of Magath. Thank you, missus Wood, mister Larson. Exceptional leadership that that, you have. But really, you emulate what it means to be a a servant, and a and
a servant leadership. And, you know, Maga has such a special culture. It's such a vibrant culture. Every time you were thinking, I think we I echo the sentiments that we heard. It's it's a culture where our staff run to students. I even saw former staff members coming up here and kids were already coming up and and hugging her. Our teachers and our staff just really, embrace our students and our and that connection that they have with with with them, is, continues to open open doors. And and we know a lot of research talks about how important it is for
for kids to have at least one caring, compassionate adult that they can come to. And Maga has an an army of them, which is so amazing in addition with the with the parents and the families. But to even here, again, what I think is so special about Mogaa is it's the only school within the community of Seal Beach. So we heard what the mayor was donating, magnetic, ruler boards, I think, for for for classrooms and and just the way that the police Seal Beach Police Department is, really woven into the fabric of that community is exceptional.
Loved the focus that you guys had on really taking a look at the, diving into your data, and I was really impressed with the the growth, the RIT score growth from the first, benchmark to the second. I think that has to really, go to our teachers who are working and diving in deeply, in into that as well. And sometimes I think maybe, by the way, great job to our students, Trey and Lexi. You guys were wonderful and our choir. Yes, we can clap for them. But I think sometimes we forget too some of the trailblazing efforts and things that
McGaugh has had, not only on their community, but on the district community. And so when you were it came to mind when you when you were talking about a for the day. And when I think about a for the day, that really was we we take it for granted because now we see a for the day at every single one of our campuses, but it originated at McGraw. It that was, a a a an a just a brainchild of a former principal there and it just has now been woven throughout our our district. And I think the same thing with the International Culture Club and I think Maga
really was the trailblazers of that as well and and recognizing, the multicultural, aspects and different themes and and recognizing cultures of different events. And now, man, all of our campuses, do iterations of that as well. I I attribute come walk in my shoes, but I'm not sure if that's correct, to Maga as well. So many different ways, of course, their pageant are the masters as well. Nobody else has has that though. So that hasn't permeated into, all the others, but it's certainly deeply rooted into the fabric of Maga. So Maga is such an exceptional place to be a kid, to thrive, and to
learn, and to grow. And then we are so fortunate because it has such amazing adults who are there each and every single day to help our students rise to success. So thank you all of the McGraw community for what you do on behalf of our students. It's truly exceptional. Missus Wood, I'll turn it back over to you. Thank you. We would now like to honor Magaz, hero of the heart. Come on up, Jeanette Andress. There's so much to say, so I'm gonna go through as quick as I can. But tonight, it's truly an honor to recognize Jeanette, this year's hero of the heart.
Someone who embodies the very heart of McGaw Elementary. Jeanette is a member of our school community whose impact reaches far beyond any single role or title. Her years of service, her leadership, and heartfelt involvement have helped strengthen the foundation of McGaw Elementary School. She has been supporting McGaw for nearly a decade. She joined our McGaw family in 2016 when her oldest son Theo joined the CDC program. Then her daughter Ayla came to Magan in 2018. And from the very beginning, Jeanette didn't just show up, she leaned in and she
gave her whole heart to our school. Over the years, Jeanette has served in countless leadership roles within our PTA. She was first vice president for membership, recording secretary, executive vice president twice. But what truly sets her apart isn't the titles that she holds, it's the way that she brings passion, purpose, and possibilities to everything she does. She's helped build and launch our PTA website. She's created and oversaw our PTA Instagram account, found creative ways to connect families, and to celebrate the incredible work happening on our campus.
She has represented Maga through our school site council, district advisory committees, PTA district council, and many initiatives like McGaw Connect. She's helped lead family nights, led an ICC country, and so many more. And beyond all of this, she has a gift for storytelling. As a long time journalist and the cofounder of Spotlight Schools, a publication she launched co launched in 2021 which elevates the stories and impact of public education, she understands the power of telling stories that matter.
At Maga, she has used these same skills to shine a light on our special programs, our people, and the moments that make our school such a magical place and helping others feel welcome every day. Jeanette says being a part of Maga has been a gift to her. But tonight we wanna say that you've been a gift to us. On behalf of our staff, our families, and the entire Maga community, it's my pleasure to present you as hero of the heart. So we have a couple of things for you. Are we waiting? Okay. Papa, you're first. Just go on my phone list.
School district. And then also this is our hero of the heart plaque with your name on it. We'll have it back for some time. So if you wanna say a few words, I'll turn it over to you. I'll try to be brief. Thank you, miss Wood, for those kind words. I'm emotional. I am not used to being up here. I'm usually over there listening and reporting on what's happening up here. So this is not, my comfort zone up here. I just wanna say that I am humbled by this honor and so grateful to be here in a room filled and surrounded by caring people that I've been lucky
enough to make memories with at Maga over all these years. I mean, just looking around is just everyone. It's so makes me choke up. But I remember my first back to school night at Maga. I was a kinder parent walking from the portables to the front of the office, which is about half a mile, I think, about. And I crossed paths with principal Ronnie Ellis, who was our principal then. And she smiled and I said, hi. And she said, what do you do? And I said, well, I'm a writer. And she shot back, well, I can use you.
And, she instantly made me feel like I could contribute to this special place. And over the years, so many more people have extended me that same opportunity. Many of you are here tonight. And, I just wanna say one thing I've learned is that Maga and schools like it are magical places. They have the ability to connect people, make them feel cared for in ways that few places really do. And people come together, we collaborate, people can share their talents and their time working
together for a common goal. And I'm just lucky I've been able to be a part of that. And I am realizing we all are that it's a very polarizing time. People are it there are divisions, but the Maga administration, staff, parents, volunteers, and you kids, honestly. You guys give me so much hope. Just being around you is such a mood boost. So I wanna miss that. I wanna thank my husband, Kevin, who's over there. And my kids. You can stand up, Kevin.
Yeah. My kids Theo and Isla, which miss Wood talked about. My sister Becca is here. That's Theo and Isla. Well, everybody stand up. My sister Rebecca, Becca, next to my daughter and my mom, Julie, thank you so much for your support. I wanna especially thank my mom who, she's always led by example and taught me the importance of being a helper. She always told me, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. And I hope I've solved more problems than caused, and Maga.
I think so. I just think closing I wanna say I've loved my time here at Maga and it has brought me immeasurable joy and so much value. And any success I've been able to celebrate has absolutely always been a team effort. I've never done anything by myself, like everything is a team effort. And it just makes it more wonderful, I think, that that's that's the case. I am honored to be this year's hero of the heart, but I assure you being a part of the Maga community is a reward in itself. And I'm gonna end on two words that will forever warm my heart, Ramagah.
Okay. I'll start on this side, missus Partizani. Yes. So congratulations to my dear friend, Jeanette. I have to say there's absolutely no one, more deserving of this honor than you. And, I have to say that, you know, having Jeanette on your team, makes you a success. And I've learned that because I have had her on any team that I've ever led, at Maga in my time there. And, I know that, you know, you've just always come in with a can do
attitude and, you know, such innovative. You know, we take it for granted that now we have a PTA website. But that was not the case five, six years ago. And we had such disparate forms of communications going out of parents when we were asking them to, do things as part of the McGaugh community. And you were the one who came and said, hey, I don't know anything about website design, but I think we can put this stuff online. And and you did it. And look at the legacy that you're leaving with everything that you've done at Maga. I am honored to know you.
I'm so proud to call you my dear friend. Thank you. Thank you, Janette. Mrs. Davidson. So, Jeanette, I've gotten to know you more from the aspect initially of the journalism, and you talked about difficult times. And I think one of the most important things in the most most important to democracy is integrity in journalism. And every time you've, you you've talked with me, you've asked me questions, I felt my feet being gently held to the fire as you look for truth and as
you held me in this role accountable for the decisions that I make and the views that I express. And I think we all feel that way. But in this community, you have become such a powerful voice for education. And it's desperately important that we find more people like you. So I hope maybe in your family and in this group that that because of all the ways you've touched McGaw, you will also leave an impact on them for journalism and writing with truth. So thank you. I look forward to going to Sacramento with you, and I will follow you in
fighting the good fight. So thank you, Jeanette. Thank you. Thank you so much. Mister Becky? I think what the the one of the big thank yous, Jeanette, you're amazing. You already know that. You're awesome. Your family makes such sacrifices for you to be able to serve the way you do. And so I wanna thank Kevin. I looked over him and and the pride in his face. I I saw some emotion back there. Sorry to call you out. But you are you give so much to the school. You give so much to to your work. And, I I mean, hear of the heart for McGaugh, but I honestly say hear of the heart for public education. You you represent schools and the work we all do as board members, as parents,
as a former teacher in such a positive light. And you you give so selflessly to to schools and education. So we we could not be more thankful. And and truly, it is a thank you to a family that allows you to be here until 10:00 during some board meetings, watching us, sharing with us. I hope someone writes about you today. You should be in Spotlight Schools. But you you really are. We we are so lucky. I hope that you continue to to serve in whatever school Isla ends up at, you know, next year, because we are also lucky to have your leadership. And and it is a legacy. I I think everyone out here in the community knows that you set a bar
so high, and it's something that people continue to to strive to achieve. And we will continue to serve at McGaw and leave a legacy for that. So thank you for being the care of the heart for for McGaw and, again, for for education in general. You exemplify Ra McGaugh. Good job. Thank you. Jeanette, you and I had an opportunity, to meet during a very trying time in this district, and we had a lot of conversations. And, I can tell you that I had complete confidence in that you respected me
as a professional and when I did, and we could have open conversations. And I never felt that, that would be used against me or the district or anything, but you spoke truth. And you made all of us feel very comfortable and you really helped many put out a lot of information during times when there was not, a true lens on what was happening And I will forever be grateful to you for that and this
district will be ever grateful to you for that. And so it's a very well deserved award, but I'm glad you're not going anywhere anytime real soon. So thank you for that. And Doctor. Polvor? Yes. You know, I always say that the hallmark of this district are the people and, a cornerstone or a bedrock of that are really our exceptional parents. And you just epitomize that. One of the things that I often say is the best gift that we can give one another is the gift of our time. And you have you have given so generously and so freely.
You're you're a super mom. I mean, mothers out there in this in this world, are amazing because how much you give to not just your students, but to all kids at Maga on top of work and and, so many other commitments is is such a blessing and it really makes us better. Thank you for your for your heart, for your service, for your compassion, for wanting to make things great, for all kids. And you continue to advocate for public education in a myriad of roles through your, through PTA. And I'm not even gonna talk about your work profession because really this is something
about honoring your volunteer, spirit. And you're such an exceptional model for for your own kids, but so for for so many here, and how you can continue to do that. So thank you for giving so freely to us. We've been the beneficiaries of it. And I I hope, as you said, it comes back to you in return as well. So thank you for all that you've done and and we'll continue to do. You know, it's really special. Our schools only get to recognize one individual each year as their hero of the heart. So it really says a lot about the kind of character and and the kind of generosity of spirit that you give each and every day.
So thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Doctor Reeves Wright. Alright, kids. We're almost done. Good evening, everyone. Madam president, school board, McGaugh community. I'm Ryan Wiese Wright, proud assistant superintendent of HR. And a couple times a year, we get to celebrate our outstanding employees that we have. And so before we talk about her, let's bring her up. Los Alam classified employee of the year, Carrie Polon. So as everyone is surely aware, miss Pallone is the school office coordinator at McGaw
Elementary, keeping all things running on time. And we're gonna let miss, Wood talk a little bit more about that. Carrie has been in the district for ten years. She's been at McGaw for the last five. She's also served at Hopkinson and at McAuliffe, and in all of her roles, she's just been outstanding. A true representation of what it means to be a classified employee of the year. We have almost 500 classified employees, in Los Al Unified, and we recognize three a year. And so this is a huge honor and a huge recognition and nobody really is more deserving than you, miss Palone. So I'm gonna invite miss Wood up to say a few words.
Before I begin, I don't have this in here, but since I sent out that she was nominated and being honored as classified employee of the year, every parent that has walked through our door, I can hear from my office. Congratulations, you are so well deserved. The kids are coming in and saying, Miss Palone, congratulations. Everyone sees. You're amazing. It is with great pride and excitement that I announce Carrie Palone, our amazing office coordinator being named Los Alamitos classified employee of the year.
She truly serves as the heart and backbone of this school community. Her dedication, professionalism, and care for others make an immeasurable impact on our campus in every single way. She arrives early every morning. She stays well after 04:00. She ensures that our school is prepared for the next day and that every student is picked up after every program. Long before that first bell rings and long after our students go home, she works quietly and consistently to keep everything move running smoothly.
Would you all agree? She ensures that the needs of every single person on our campus are met. Whether it's supporting a student, supporting staff, or families, she approaches every situation, every situation with a smile. You will never ever not see her smiling. She has compassion and a strong sense of responsibility, but what when a challenge arises, Carrie's already working on the solution before any of us even know it's happening. Our entire school community relies on her.
She steps in whenever needed. She supports our student safety. She assists with campus supervision. She maintains district auditorium schedule. She coordinates custodial needs. She fills in his SSA on our lunches when we're short and so many more things. But just as important as what Carrie does is how she does it. She brings calm to the chaos, order to the complexity, and kindness to every single interaction. She is a trusted problem solver and a steady presence who makes our school a better place simply by being here.
Thank you, Carrie, for your countless hours, your unwavering commitment, and your dedication to our students and our staff at McGaw. Alright. Thank you. Carrie, thank you for what you do every day. Thank you for what you do for our students and our families and our parents. And I know that there are times that, kids or parents walk in there, and they may have something that they don't know how to deal with and they need help and guidance. I know that you do that with a loving heart, and and and a joyful
heart, and that's really in calm as I've heard, and that's so important in those moments. And, you are the first face that people see when they come to Maga, and, that makes us all very proud. And so congratulations. We have a beautiful, plaque for you that that you can put in your office so everybody can know. Oh my gosh. That's right there. Oh, thank you very much. So congratulations. And then papa's gonna come, so I'm gonna hold Okay. Thank you. So that it can make it a little easier for yourself. Thank you.
K. Now you're all wondering why Carrie's not getting her gold medal from the board of education because Yeah. Very solid. Miss Partizani delivered it to your recognition at staff. Mhmm. But now on YouTube, the board of education felt we should do even more than that. And I'm hoping that Nick in Oklahoma is watching because part of that is her son, and he's away at college. So you get the you're the best trophy. Yeah.
I think it'll go nicely right next to this office. Right? And we've had blended nicely. It says to Carrie Pallone, Los Alamitos Unified School District, classified employee of the year. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Alright. Well, good evening, everyone. I've gotta say, I am truly honored and deeply grateful to stand for you tonight as a recipient of the classified employee of the year. This recognition means more than I can put into words. It is hard because I like being behind the scenes and now I'm in the
front but that's that's great. I'm so humbled. First, I would like to thank our board of education for this recognition and your continued commitment to our students and schools. Thank you as well to our superintendent Doctor. Polver and the executive cabinet for your leadership, vision, and support of the work we do every day. Being a part of MAGA is incredibly special. We've shared so many wonderful moments and have also experienced some heartache. But through it all, we've come together as a family, and that's amazing. Miss Wood and mister Larson, I would like to thank you for your trust and
support. Your confidence means everything to me, and I truly couldn't ask for a better team to work with. I once had a professor tell me, if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life again. Coming to Maga everyday feels I'm sorry. Coming to Maga everyday doesn't feel like work. It feels like spending the day with family and friends, and I'm so lucky to have that. I would like to like to also give a special thank you to my husband of twenty years, Chris, sitting with with me tonight. I have two boys. One's a junior at the high school, and he has lacrosse practice.
And if anybody knows me, we don't miss practice. And so, and my, son is at college at the University of North Texas. But I know that they are proud of me and of course they're in my heart. Thank you all to the students, the Sea Lion community, our Sea Lion staff. Thank you so much for making every day wonderful. I am truly thank you from the bottom of my heart this incredible honor, and it really means the world to me. Thank you again for this recognition. I love you all. Thank you. I wanted to say a few words, but she looked so nervous.
I thought I'll let her speak first. Let her get that out of the way. But but Carrie, you really are what everyone said. You're just exceptional and and you do such amazing work with, such common poise. The the very unflappable, I think. And I think and if if you've ever worked at a school or been at the elementary school office, there's a lot of chaos that can come in and out of the morning and and things. But you but your presence can really set the tone and you set that for Maga where people just feel joyful, they feel welcome.
We heard about being the face, of the of the school often. But it's really also putting people at ease. Whether, whether it it is for our our parents, for our student maybe who who who comes in late or for a staff member who has needs to get something ordered or the sub didn't show up, you just have such a calming presence that then just deescalates all of us, as well. So thank you for for all that you do. Thank you for not going to work every day, it sounds like. I think you said it. It it feels like it's, it's it's like just being my family, but trust me
it it is work. She works, incredibly hard, and we are so fortunate because of that. And and so I just wanna say thank you for your exceptional leadership. It was very fun to be able to recognize you and surprise you at, Maga early in the morning, and have your family there, as well. I think I mentioned it when I was talking about Jeanette, but talk about, mothers who just make such a a force, in this world for good, and that's one of our themes this year and I think you really just, emulate that. You're such a force for good, not only for us but for your kids and
you set such an incredible, example. So, thank you for your service. From the Board of Education, we also have a certificate and as our Class year, our personnel commission who oversee, our classified service also have a certificate of recognition for you. But really, we just wanna say congratulations and we hope Orange County recognizes what an exceptional employer you are. She's moving on to the county level. So let's hope because, there's no one better than you. Aw. Thank you very much for that. Thank you. Oh, and we do have a, from the California State of California Senate, from Tony
Strickland's office, a certificate of recognition as well for you as our Los Alamos Unified School District 2,026 classified employee of the year. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, darling. Oh, thank you. Board, would anybody like to say anything? Just congratulations, Carrie, and thank you for being the heart and the brains in the office. I think it's the most terrifying job of all because you are the center of everything, and you do it with such grace and love. So thank you very much. And just, one last thing.
I know you don't you're not used to all the accolades, the public accolades, and I know this is probably more painful, but I have to say the words that, you know, have been used to describe you, unflappable, you know, committed, reliable. And and I think for the you know, what really rings true is that you are the face of Magal as families come in, their first impression, and how lucky we are that you fill that seat. Thank you. Mister Bradman? Yeah. Miss Colon, I as a former principal recognizing how important having a good office coordinator
is, you are a superstar. I you I hope mister Larson and miss Wood understand. I not that I didn't have great office coordinators, but, man, do I wish you were around when I was a principal. You're amazing. And and, again, as a parent, even when you get those bad calls, hey. They're not feeling well. Like, you present in a way it's like, oh, it's okay. They're good. They're good till I get there because they're with miss Palone. Right? So, like, it's fine. I'll take my time. She can handle it for a little bit. So thank you for be for being a rock on that campus for for the students, the staff, the community, and beyond, Really, even even to be honest, like, when
you talk about the police, if there's an emergency, I know that they they have a contact in you that they can trust and is gonna be safe and calm and be able to communicate with them in a great way. Thank you. Amazing. So what a a joyful celebration, from Maga. Thank you for coming and, spending the time with us and sharing with us, your amazing culture. So oh, I think the children know. So, we will, take a recess at this point in time. We, miss Peddar, we got our picture of the choir.
Choir. The and if your parents say so that it's okay to have dessert before dinner, there's cookies out front. So, you can be excused. And then I think we want, everybody that was honored and staff, to stay for some just really quick pictures. So we'll take pictures. We'll start off with Maga staff. If any Maga staff, please come on up. Then we'll take our students, and then we'll take our hero of the heart, and then our employee of the year. 06:00. Alright. Part: 2
Hello, and thank you, and welcome to the business part of our meeting, our 06:00 part of our meeting, and we're excited. I'm going to focus. It'll only take one moment. So we are came out of closed session, and, we made no decisions but did have discussion about, labor negotiations and discipline. And, we will now go into our pledge of allegiance, and I've asked, mister Schmidt
if he would mind leading us. Thank you very much, sir. We will now have an executive summary of our workshop, which was exceptionally joyful. And missus Reid. Thank you so much, president Davidson. We were really fortunate earlier this evening to be joined by McGaw Elementary School, the sea by the school, and really, kicked off our night with a patriotic song by the sea lion chorus. Missus Wood was joined by two student speakers who really highlighted their experience as sea lion, and missus Wood was actually gave us a great presentation, really sharing with us
this year her school's emphasis on ruler implementation as well as data collaboration and analysis. And then we were graced. We're learning so much about messaging that Andres who many people might not know all of the wonderful things that she does. And she's the hero of the heart this year at McGaw Elementary School. And then doctor Reese Wright joined us at the podium as we honored Carrie Pallone, one of our classified employees of the year. Thank you very much, missus Reed. It was exceptionally, joyful. So, thank you. And for the public who may not know, we should end during the school year,
a lot of our meetings will begin at, four or 04:30, where we'll we'll do a school report. Each one of our schools comes and presents to the board all the amazing things that are happening on their campus. So we will now move into our reports, recognitions, and introductions. And I believe we're gonna start with our amazing student speakers. So, Ms Schmidt, Bren. Thank you. Good evening, madam president, superintendent Pulver, executive cabinet, members of the Los Alamitos community.
My name is Brent Schmidt, and I am honored to serve as your student representative to the Board of Education from Los Alamitos High School. Here is my report. Activities. La Salle's Next Top Griffin competition was a standout student life event that highlighted the creativity, confidence, and school spirit of Los Alamitos High School. The school wide showcase provided students with a platform to express themselves through talent, personality, and presentation, while celebrating what it truly means to be a Gryphon. There were 10 seniors who participated, but only one could bring home the crown. We spent hours both in and out of school to prepare for the competition.
Participants demonstrated not only courage in stepping outside their comfort zones, but also a strong sense of pride in representing our campus. The enthusiasm from the audience and support shown by peers created an atmosphere that was both uplifting and unifying. We had five ASB students from other Orange County high schools come in and judge the competition. The categories of the competition included an opening dance, music videos, promo videos, and personal talents. Scores were added up, and we were all so happy for Aaron Myers to take home the title of next top Griffin.
Academics. Mister Weatherman had the opportunity to take his fire tech class to visit the Fullerton Airport where they toured both the Mercy Air medical helicopter station and the fire station helicopter unit. At Mercy Air, they learned about the daily life of the flight crew, including where they sleep and spend their downtime while on duty. Students also had the chance to speak directly with the flight pilot and flight medic, who explained their roles and walked them through the equipment used during medical missions. They were able to view the helicopter up close, and students were invited to step inside and take photos.
The helicopter they saw was a newer model and incorporated advanced technology, including iPads, in place of many traditional controls. They then visited the fire station side, where personnel shared their experiences and responsibilities before introducing us to their helicopters, known as Firehawks. These helicopters are significantly larger than the Mercy aircraft and are used in firefighting efforts, including during the Palis Palisades fires, I believe. The Firehawks can carry up to 1,000 gallons of water and are also equipped with
and are also equipped with essential medical supplies such as medications and emergency equipment. They were given the opportunity to sit inside the helicopter, making the experience both educational and memorable. Athletics. The Los Alamitos High School varsity boys soccer team has continued to show steady progress and consistency throughout the season. The team recently completed a perfect week of play, beginning with a four and o win over Pacifica, followed by a hard fought two and one victory over Corona Del Mar. On Friday night, the team celebrated senior night with an amazing six to zero win,
controlling the match from the opening kickoff, and recognizing the contributions of its senior players. Under the leadership of head coach Donovan Martinez, the team has emphasized discipline, accountability, and improvement, which has been reflected in their recent performances. The Griffins are currently competing in league play, and you can catch them at home on January 21 at 6PM as they face Edison High School. Arts. The Los Alamitos High School String and Chamber Orchestra's annual performance of The Nutcracker was a remarkable showcase of student dedication, artistry, and collaboration.
Through weeks of preparation and performance, students brought this classical this classic work to life with precision and passion, demonstrating both technical skill and a deep commitment to excellence. In the show, they also have performances from dance and drama, which added to the already beautiful experience. The concert highlighted the strength of our music programs and the power impact of the arts on student growth and student and school culture. The Nutcracker served not only as an impressive artistic achievement, but also as a meaningful reminder of how the performing arts unite students, families, and the broader community.
Student life. I'm excited to share that the Los Alamitos High School hosted its first ever be unified with Special Olympics bocce ball tournament. Missus Weber, along with the special education department, organized an event that celebrated inclusion, teamwork, and school wide community. Students from the life skills program and the best buddies club participated in the tournament, demonstrating enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and perseverance, while peers, staff, and volunteers provided encouragement and support throughout the event. The tournament highlighted the collaboration and dedication among students and staff in creating a welcoming
and positive experience for all participants. We look forward to hosting additional unified games and inclusive programs later this school year as we continue to expand opportunities for connection and participation. Student spotlight. To close out my report, I would like to highlight an exceptional Griffin, Dane Hoffman. Dane began his journey in this district as a Hopkinson husky, then became a McAuliffe eagle, and is now a proud senior at Los Alamitos High School. He is highly involved on campus and maintains a rigorous academic and extracurricular schedule, including AP Computer Science, AP Calculus AB, ROP EMT, and serving as an assistant studio manager
for the school's film program. He's also a member of the track and field team competing in shot put and discus. While still exploring college options, Dame plans to pursue studies in medicine and computer science with aspirations to attend Harvard or Johns Hopkins University, while participating in ROTC. His favorite part about being a Griffin is the school's emphasis on strength, success, and compassion, as well as his commitment to inclusion and embracing individuality. Outside of school, Dane is a member of the Long Beach Search and Rescue Fire Station seventeen, a baseball coach at Hartwell Cal Ripken in Long Beach and is exploring
future involvement in civil air patrol. His interest also includes scuba diving, learning guitar, filmmaking, bodybuilding and powerlifting, spending time with friends and family, and working toward his private pilot's license. Dane's kindness, leadership, and dedication make him an outstanding role model, and I am proud to feature him in this month's student spotlight. With that, I would like to open the floor to any questions or comments from the board. Thank you all for joining me in today's student board report. Thank you, Bren. Does the board have any questions for Bren? No. Amazing job. Thank you. Thank you for bringing the life of the high school, to us.
We really do appreciate it. And I I also do appreciate when you do the spotlight how you do talk about the students' journey even before they got to the high school. So you do a great job, Bren. Thank you so much, and I hope you had a great holiday season. I did. Thank you. No problem. We will now move on to doctor Pulver's superintendent's report. Thank you, madam president. And, you know, Brent, I learn something new every day. I think I did not. I've always wondered how the next top Griffin, was, voted on and that you guys use outside, ASB students from another campus to make sure there's no bias, in that,
which I just think is brilliant because so it's not a popularity contest. It's people who don't know know them, and it really is just off of their talent. So I'm I did not know that. That that's pretty cool. So tonight I have a few things I'd like to kind of just highlight and update our our our community, things going on. One, just to some upcoming events, but I would be remiss to say if I didn't acknowledge on Monday night, we partnered ed services, human resources, student services, and myself. We were really excited to welcome our middle school, family or our fifth grade families
who are coming up into middle school. We had a middle school information night at the Performing Arts Center, from six to 07:30, and it was just packed. We had a Mrs. Reed was able to give a presentation of really what what developmentally changes, when you're going into middle school and all the developmental changes that are going on. In addition with the programs that we offer, the math pathways, the honors pathway, the, college prep pathways, etcetera. And so there's just a great opportunity for our families to learn a little bit more about our middle school programs and, and hear more from from all of us.
And, coming up on Thursday of this week, for those who are interested in learning more about transitional kindergarten, If you have a four year old who will turn four, on or before 09/01/2026, they can enroll in, universal transitional kindergarten. So, we do have an information night for parents this Thursday, January 15 at the high school performing arts center from five to six. We'll do some enrollment, for both transitional kindergarten and kindergarten for families maybe in district
or out of the district who want to learn about how to enroll. And then we'll do our kinder presentation, because kinder and UTK are very different programs. And so this year, we're really differentiating that. And so the kinder program will be at 7PM, that eve same evening as well this Thursday. So for families who are interested, we've been communicating out. We wanted to make sure we shared that. I'm also really excited about something that our high school principal, miss Christiana Krauss, who's really been collaborating and partnering with our two middle school principals, mister Cordemarch and mister
Castillo, something new this year. This is really the brain idea of, the high school about creating a Griffin STEAM experience. And so on Saturday, January 24, the high school, many of their all of their elective and their STEM and their robotic teachers and dance and computer science and choir, ceramics, band, engineering, I I I'm sure I'll miss some of them, drama. They're all coming on a Saturday and performing these workshops available to our seventh and
eighth grade students. And so, it's completely free. We do ask families to register. But just so that we can plan for it. WE WILL PROVIDE LUNCH SO WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH FOOD SERVICES. AND SO FOOD SERVICES, WE'LL BE PROVIDING LUNCH FOR THAT. AND LAIF, SHOUTOUT TO LAIF, WHO IS ALSO SPONSORED BY PROVIDING SUPPLIES. SO THEY'VE SPONSORED BY $1,800.18 50, I think, to help us with some of the supplies, to pull this off for our family. So if you are a seventh or an eighth grader, we really encourage you to attend on Saturday. And I think we might even find a way that if you attend the four
hours, you might have a way to make up an absence for funding as well, which is why we're serving lunch. But they'll have three unique tracks. They're going to rotate through three different high impact STEAM workshops led by staff. And they'll get to pick which three they want to, sign up for. They're gonna learn a little bit about the Griffin advantage to get a front row seat, of the advanced programs and the creative pathways available to Griffin's. And then it'll be an all access path because the event's completely free, and we're just fueling our, their innovation, along with with lunch.
So we, encourage you if you're interested in attending. Again, this is the first time we're offering that, so I'm really excited about that. And then we're gonna piggyback upon that, as you'll see down below kind of highlighted in yellow, but really I'll highlight it on the next slide, is our all district art show. And so, through prop 28, as you know, we have, art programs throughout both our elementary, middle, and and our high school. And so we're gonna have a gallery reception kind of at the as the culmination of of the, steam experience, at the high school.
Same day, January 24 from twelve to two. So it'll really just be a full day at Los Alamitos High School. It's free for all ages. It's interactive art stations. You'll be able to see the students, artwork. Each school will be able to have their their kids work, up on display. We'll have light refreshments. And then you'll also be able to tour, the high school art studio. So all of our school, students, work, well, not all student work, but we will have a representation of student art, from all of our schools on display there. So we encourage our families to attend.
Just another way for you to get to come and get connected and to showcase are the amazing talents of our students. And, you know, we're about the four A's. Arts are one of the A's that we talk about. And so, we're looking forward. So thank you to Ed Services and to our arts, staff at all levels to providing this. So as you know, we have an all district choral. We have an all district band, event, and this is our all district art event, which is kind of really cool. And so we're excited to to be able to launch that, and we'll be advertising that as well. And then I wanted to share an update to families, that I'll be I will,
be sending an email out to all of our families tomorrow to give them more detailed information, but I wanted to highlight it this evening as well at our board meeting. I did share with it, I believe at our November PTA meeting, PTA council, that we were really looking at perhaps making some changes to summer school programs at the elementary and middle school level starting this summer. And so I'm here to kind of really confirm that we will be making those changes. We will no longer be offering a summer school our traditional summer school program at
the elementary and middle school. And in large part, it's because the last several years, we've continued to recognize and recommend families and students to be enrolled in summer school, and they just aren't attending. And so we've got to find other ways to find supports for those students. And so we've decided to reinvest those dollars in providing more intervention and supports during the school year, maybe before or after school, maybe some more intervention teachers. You heard at our December meeting, missus Reed, our deputy superintendent, talk about the sixth
grade academy that we're just, launching, in a couple weeks. I think it's in a week from now, give or take, at Oak and McAuliffe. The funding from summer school dollars will be reinvested in things like that. And so we're excited to be able to provide other opportunities, but not gonna be able to provide, our summer school. And a large part is because within the last three years, give or take, the state also implemented a program called expanded learning opportunities program, ELO P. And so that has competed where we provide a nine hour day for families that
qualify, at the elementary level, for enrichment and and academic supports, not only during the summer, but actually throughout the year. And so our ELO P program is throughout the year, and then we do a a six week program five to six week program in the summer as as well. So what we will be doing is we will continue, to have our high school credit recovery. Sometimes it's just known as high school summer school depending upon which words people use. So we'll still have that at grades nine through 12. We'll continue to offer extended school year for families and students that qualify.
Those are typically students who their individualized education plan specifically calls for the additional supports throughout extended school year. And And so that is from preschool all the way up to adult transition. We'll continue to offer that. We'll continue to offer our expanded learning opportunities program, for our elementary students. And then of course, what's been bursting at the seams as we've seen our summer school enrollment go down, even though we've been offering it more to families, but they just aren't taking advantage of it. We've actually seen camp fun in the sun, which is our extended day care, kind of burst at the seam. So if you're a parent who wants to be able to have your child in
camp fun in the sun, I would encourage you register early because the spots fill up. And then the other wonderful thing is we have this beautiful partnership that LAFE has has has, done, which is the Summer Enrichment Institute. And it's, that has also last summer, LAFE had the most classes and the most number of students enrolled ever. So it's kind of interesting. And while we're seeing a decline of families, opportunity, for summer school, they are and it's because with with Lafe, you can choose to do a two hour class, maybe for only two weeks as opposed to a four week commitment, four or five hours
a day, etcetera. And so I think our families are very busy over the summer, and so we're trying to, be innovative and try to respond to the needs that we have. And so we're not looking at it as a budget savings, but really how to reinvest those dollars more intentionally to provide, the academic intervention support, during the school year. And so I did share that message out with all of our staff today because some of our staff do look forward to, an opportunity to work additional hours in the summer, so we wanted to give them opportunity. LAFE, always extends an opportunity for our employees to be hired for, LAFE classes.
In fact, typically, the LAFE classes that are taught by our own teachers are the ones that fill up the most. And then we also talked with Laith early on about, should a family need, scholarships, to attend, the summer in Richmond, particularly if summer school isn't available to them now. And And LAFE has committed. They've always provided scholarships, and they are more than willing to provide more scholarships to make sure that the families want to be able to attend, the summer enrichment institute. But if economic means is a barrier that they will have other ways to make
sure that they have access to our enrichment program. So really proud to be able to partner with LAFE, and for their ongoing ways to kind of provide these opportunities for for all families. And with that, that concludes my report for this evening. A lot of things are happening in the district. Thank you very much, doctor Pulver. Really appreciate that explanation of those things, and I'm sure our community does as well. So we're gonna go into our board member communication at this time, and I will start with mister Forham, our VP. Thank you. I have a bunch of shout outs.
The first to the food service director and her staff are seeking a grant to bring a farmer's market for kids to taste organic veggies and fruits. The Rossmore Knights will taste with a goal of 80% of them trying something new that's organic, fruit, or veggie. And then speaking of food services, a shout out to Oak Cafeteria Manager, Vince Kao, who takes the time to talk to the kids when a new item is served. Like the recent lunch item, Woodles.
Well, Woodles is more commonly known as chicken rama. And then, shout out to Ryan, Weise Wright, Evelyn Garcia, and Nicole for organizing our enrollment marketing plan for this school year. They've got all kinds of great ideas to get our keep our enrollment up. And to Nicole for all the work she does in creating those videos for TK, k. Did you do one for middle school? No? Yeah. Maybe. Okay. So I know that's fun for parents. Not I don't know that's fun, but to have a visual when they learn all
about these great programs. And then I wanna take a minute as a member of the board of the youth center of Los Los Alamitos for their close support of all that we are about. STEM, college essay, writing support for kids, specific academic tutoring, classes on public speaking skills, anatomy, and STEM, and they're all taught by Los Isle students to the kids in our community. They even had a class on three d printers and what three d printers can
do. Andrew already spoke about the Griffin STEM Saturday and the district art fair. And then I thought it was great. All teachers I know talk about New Year's resolutions. And I what caught my eye was the McAuliffe eagles and staff created a resolution display where they shared one word, the kids and the staff, that they had chosen as a resolution. But to see some of the words like kindness, commitment, resilience, and maturity coming out of middle school kids, pretty good. And then I shout out to the Los Al staff for adding scene adding to
senior of the month and week, athlete athlete of the month, and we have a new artist of the week. And so far, we have celebrated student, Aaron for choir, Morgan for ceramics, Sofia for digital art, and this week, Audrey Romo for film. And we've all seen Erin perform, and how great to see Sofia's three d art. I watched her take what was in her brain, put it on an iPad, and use this pen thing that they now have for iPads to create her work.
And then I got to see the incredible cookie jar that Morgan made out of a clump of clay. It was unbelievable. And Audrey's work, I'm sure we've all seen on film through, through the film class at our Los Alamos. But I wanted to say something on a personal note that I think reflects all of what we believe in and what our staff believes in is buy student buy in to the importance of showing growth on their benchmarks. Yesterday, on my usual Uber pop up pickup at Oak, my two grandsons, Shane and
Liam, got in the car, each having an envelope with their December benchmark results. And rather than immediately get on their phone, they were very excited to share their results with me. First, I made sure it was Shane and Liam, because I thought, what's going on here? Then they proceeded to tell me how they have improved since benchmark number one, as well as their results compared to others. It was great to hear that their pride and their confidence as they shared.
This was a very proud papa moment. And thank you to the hard work of our Oak staff, and I know all the teachers throughout the district. And then lastly, I try to end with the kids that really make a difference. In December, as Bryn shared, the best betty club assisted with the bocce ball. Well, we also had an event just recently where senior Tamlin Yoshida organized the girls and boys basketball players, for for she called it for building bridges through basketball event
and making sure that all the life skills kids had a chance to participate in basketball. And that's my report. Well done. I learned so much from you. Thank you very much. Mister Bragman. Before I get into my report, I I giggled almost, I think, hopefully, not out loud. I had the exact same experience with my daughter yesterday who I as we're picking up in McAuliffe, every student's walking down the street with their envelope in hand. And she gets in the car and starts telling me about her Ritz score and how she grew and how she set a new goal in mister Michaelson's class. It was very sweet and very cute and really moving as an educator and as
a board member and as someone part of this community. So thank you so much for for sharing it. The the training is working and our kids are buying into it, which is really cool, like, to see them doing that and to and to to have that. She could explain those scores better than than a lot of people, so I appreciate that. I'm gonna shift to something before I go into my board member report just because I think we talk a lot about, Losal being a family, and we lost a young graduate from our Losal family over the winter break. And so, if people weren't aware, a young student who was attending Santa Clara, Marcus Casanova, passed away while hiking Mount Baldy.
And he's a student who was a leader in our outdoor club. He was someone who when you talk to I've seen so many students talk about the experience of getting to know this young man. He led sailing classes for students that didn't have the opportunity to get outside. So thought we just take a moment of silence just to in honor, recognition of him and also just to lead with, his family has started a GoFundMe account to provide those types of experiences for other students and other kids. So if you're interested in that, you can find on Instagram on GoFundMe. I'm sure there's plenty of of links to it. Also, the family's been really good about sharing, in the news about safety and how
to be smart about when you go outdoors and do the adventures. It's not saying you shouldn't do adventures, but be smart when you're doing them. Be be safe. Be prepared. So if we take just a moment of silence, I think that would just be Thank you. So let's keep, Marcus's family and everyone who he has touched in your hearts, because I know that that's this is a community that's grieving still. And I think I don't wanna say this. I think there's a celebration of life happening next Monday. So Saturday. Saturday. Fourth is the same. And so we can again, we can we can make sure we can share out that information if you're if you're curious. So reach out to me, and I can get it to you.
Shifting, I know I I apologize for shifting back to the to the business. I I mentioned this during our our earlier workshop, but I, two days before break, got to visit McGough Elementary School along with, just recently, former president Marlys Davidson and our superintendent, Polvor, to visit McGaugh. It was really wonderful experience to be on that campus again, as a former parent there. But really just to see the type of learning that was going on, I didn't get to spend as much time as I usually do on a campus, but spent a lot of time in the lower grades and to CTK in kindergarten and to
see the way that those students are being developed in in cultivating their learning, their passion for learning, their ways of interacting with each other and with their teachers, the way they're again, I said this earlier, you know, how to hold a pencil, how to write, how to use their iPads and create letters and and manipulate different tools. And and it was actually really cool to see as as, parents are gonna be attending that TKK sessions on Thursday really was the difference of going into a TK class in the kindergarten class. They are very, very different. And so I think to have an understanding of why they're different and the types of learning that we're providing to those young students is really powerful.
So I I would encourage anyone that's looking at your student being that age to attend those sessions. And if you have need more information, reach out. We can provide information on that. But huge shout to McGaugh for for continuing to really push right up until break, which I know is hard, and and it truly wasn't a show for us. It was happening. I mean, you could see the students super engaged, and it was really fun to see. So I love I love getting to be on that campus again. And then separately, I know every board member has been invited to do this, but I also appreciated, a week or so before break having the opportunity to meet with the Los Alamitos Education Association's rep council.
The teachers union in the district has invited each board member to come and speak, and they've asked us questions and want us to share and engage. And I really appreciated the open dialogue to have with our our LEA leaders, and these are representatives of each campus. And so to sit in a room and be able to have a open dialogue, I I you know, we were provided with some questions, but, really, it turned into just a conversation. And I think it really shows the type of partnership that we have as a district with our teachers, really being solutions oriented. This was not a a, an interrogation. This was about how can we work to make our district better from our teachers,
from our school board, from our leaders, from our community. And so, I I just wanna really shout out LEA for for taking that time to actually invite us and for us to have that opportunity. It's something that lots of districts, don't have that relationship with their teachers' unions. And so for us to have that with them and to have that leadership, have open dialogue and open conversations is something as a as a former teacher, I so appreciate. And as a board member now, to hear every stakeholder and have their voice heard, I think is important. And I came away from that meeting with great questions that I still don't have answers to, great answers to questions that I was asking. And so I'm I just continue to to hope that conversation happens.
I know other board members will be having that those conversations in the future, but, appreciate LEA making that invite and and the work they're doing to to get our schools to the best place possible for our students in our community. So with that, I will hand it back off to president Hill. Thank you very much, mister Bragman, and thank you for that moment of silence. Missus Davidson. So first off, welcome back and happy New Year. And at our last rotary meeting, so doctor Polvor and I are on rotary, we talked about the difference between grateful and being being grateful and being appreciative.
And grateful is something that is more internal. It's how you feel. It's how you see things. It's your perception of the world. And appreciation is the expression of that gratitude. So I just wanted so that was my one of my two New Year's resolutions. The other one, I already blew. So this one, I just wanna say that I'm truly grateful to be on this board and work with the district, fellow board members, cabinet, and every every director, administrator, individual, and staff member, and to live in a community that cares so much about our children.
Time and again, I I am able to witness the impact of parents and community members interacting, you know, donating, supporting, and showing love to our students. That's what makes this community an anomaly. And for that, I am truly appreciative. I too, wanted to mention we lost a teacher. She's not a currently a teacher, but a woman I worked with. She passed away during break. And I just wanna say thank you, Nancy Rider. She was she taught for thirty five years in our community. I taught with her my first years at McAuliffe, and she was in eight she
was my eighth grade team member in language arts and history, and she was an incredible person. She had so much dignity and grace, but she also had the feistiest sense of humor. And she was so much fun to work with, and I learned so much from her. And after thirty five years, and then she actually got twenty five years of retirement. So she lived a long life, and I just want her to know that I'm so grateful for the impact she had on me and the thousands of students who were fortunate to be in her class. But tonight, I wanted to focus on just on two areas.
This morning, Chris and I got to go to the fire science class. He went to award one of his famous gold medals for the on behalf of the board. And I went as, a board member but also a member of the board of, trustees for North Orange County ROP. Ryan Weatherman, the the instructor for the fire science EMT program, Fire technology was awarded the, North Orange County ROP teacher of the year award. And it is he he's so incredibly well deserved because he, ROP partners with us
and and partners with all the schools. But the thing is is that North Orange County ROP covers Anaheim School District, Placentia Yorba Linda, the North North Orange County, Community College District, the Department of Education, and, Fullerton, and I believe I'm even missing one other school district, which one? Brea Brea. And so all of those districts have many ROP programs on their campuses. And for Ryan to be selected is a real tribute to him, and he's incredibly
exceptional. ROP helps us and and provides funds and equipment, and so we literally have, an ambulance inside the classroom that is it is it's a fully, it's it's an could be an ambulance that if you gave it wheels and backed it out, it could go save somebody. I mean, it's it's it's phenomenal piece of equipment. There are only two there are only two in Orange County at high schools, ours and and La Habra. But he, does so much. It's what you do with the equipment. You we can train people. We can provide equipment and curriculum, but it's the heart and the mind of the
instructor that truly makes it all come together. And Ryan's so good that recently, Cara Vienna, who's one of our high school, assistant principals, went through a training with him where he trained administrators and staff members on emergency techniques in case something were to happen. And a few days later at a choir performance, one of the girls cut her foot during during the performance, and Kara was administering for administering first aid. And a nurse came up and said, can I help? And then said, oh, no. You're a doctor. You must are you are you a doctor?
Because you sure know what you're doing. And she said, well, I didn't until three days ago. So so thank you, Ryan Weatherman. But this this award, he so richly deserves, and I'm just incredibly proud of the fact that it's a strong ROP program in our community that the kids absolutely love. We walked into the classroom. They were fully engaged. The room was packed. Cell phones were in their pockets. Nobody was distracted. They were they were into what he was sharing. So congratulations to Ryan and thank you for making us so proud. I was going to share in terms of other ROP and CTE opportunities that are
flourishing, growing and flourishing on our campuses and opportunities for our community to learn about ROP and CTE. You shared about the the STEM program for for the eighth, seventh, and eighth graders. I also, on a broader scale, if you wanna mark your calendar ahead to February, the twelfth annual Orange County Pathway Showcase will be held at Orange County Fairgrounds on February 25 from four to 6PM. It's fabulous. It's a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, industry leaders, and we would love community leaders
to get involved because you will help us build our programs, to experience the collaboration, the collaboration of driving that's driving education and workplace innovation throughout the county. You'll see student projects, examples of career pathways, and real world learning that will help you better understand, what these programs can do to build a powerful future for each and every one of our students. It's an evening you won't wanna miss. And then finally, my husband and I were able to travel with, the jazz one and two bands to New Orleans this past weekend.
They attended the gen conference, which is jazz education network, conference. It was one of the most wonderful experiences. We travel a lot, and this, this will be a trip we will never forget largely because of our kids, but also because New Orleans is a lot of fun. But they, they made us proud. We we went, we were there for two full days where different activities happen. And what what Jen does is they bring professional musicians and directors from around the world. On the first night, we went to Snug to a snug harbor jazz club, and
the room was filled with musicians from France, from all over who were there to hear other jazz players, but they were all there because they had come this weekend to work with our kids. And it was the most phenomenal experience to see what they do. It would at the first evaluation session of jazz one, that's that's our, most advanced band. I can't even tell you how exciting it was to hear them, to see them, to what to to acknowledge their energy, but the there were two evaluators.
Now these are professionals. The first one came up afterwards and said, I have to tell you, in thirty years of doing this, of working with high school and college, jazz bands, this is one of the best I have ever ever seen. Then the second one came up and said, you know this isn't normal. Do you know this isn't normal? And then the, one of the leaders came in because they were talking so long and they needed us to get out for the next group to come in. My husband heard him say, this jazz band is is is doing its own clinic
here. They're teaching us. But the but what they built it around was the highest of praise for Justin Padilla and his program, calling him an extraordinary director that's known across the nation. So I think there's so much to be proud of. Then we went to jazz two evaluation. Now these are the younger ones, but they were they were equally professional and dedicated. Jazz one has a little bit more confidence in their their movements or like if you know Justin Padilla, his body is music. He moves music. He is total music, and he has imparted that joy into his musicians.
And you could see that coming out in jazz to the younger group. But they were so outstanding that that their evaluator came up and said, are you sure you're only mostly 16? So and a lot of that a lot of that comes from, a community that supports the arts. And I can't tell you how meaningful it is for those kids. A a group from Kansas City came in to watch our our group. Justin turned around and and in the midst of this evaluation and said, who are
you? Where are you from? Let's exchange numbers or let's exchange addresses. We'd love to come and visit you in Kansas City, and now we're gonna play some count basically for you from from Kansas City. And so they there was just such an incredible amount of joy. These kids made friends that they'll have for a lifetime. They were honored by musicians who come from Paris and have played the sax like you've never heard, telling them you've got talent. You've got to work at it. You're just go for it. There were colleges from across The United States there to meet the kids and offer
scholarships. So I hope forever and ever we can this community can continue to support these kinds of programs and opportunities for our children because it it makes all the difference in the world. And I I encourage everybody to go to any anytime you have an opportunity to go hear our our band, it's it's like listening to professionals and the professionals said that. So thank you. Thank you, missus Davidson. And I'm so thrilled that you had that opportunity and bring bring back the report. Thank you very much.
Missus Parasani? Okay. Thank you. Well, happy New Year everyone. As some of you may know, for many families with seniors, our family included, December through March are especially meaningful months as students make decisions about life after graduation. And soon that college and career wall is going to come up and at the high school showcasing the next steps that our seniors have chosen. So I just wanted to take a minute and really acknowledge all the hard work that our seniors have put in into you know making those types of really, hard
decisions about what they want to do after, after high school and wish them all, the best of luck and hope that each of them lands at a place where they will continue to grow and thrive. For me personally, there are three key focus areas that I wanted to highlight tonight. First, I've been spending a lot of time looking at and analyzing college acceptance data and working with our leadership to ensure that our students are best represented. Secondly, I'm excited to see the new business entrepreneurship pathway is underway with plans for
launch in 2000 I mean in the fall of this year. And third, I'm really eager to work with the artificial intelligence task force and support our teachers and students with clear guidance and tools on how to use AI, effectively, ethically, and responsibly. And lastly, kind of to take a page out of, mister Forhand's book, I'd want to recognize an exceptional journalist on the Griffin Gazette. Her name is Elizabeth Martin. She wrote an article highlighting the best buddies club and Special Olympics in LaSalle and
was awarded best of snow. And for those of you who may not be familiar with that award, it's a prestigious national recognition of student journalism and her work will be shared as a front page story on all high school and college campuses nationwide. This is very cool. So this is a proud moment, not just for Elizabeth, not just for Griffin Gazette, but for all of us as our district as it really embodies the values that we stand by. And then looking into the rest of this year, I look forward to continuing the
support and highlights of student success stories throughout the year. And with that, I'll turn it back over to you. Thank you very much, missus Parasani. I just wanna say that we, during the holiday season, one of the traditions that we have here at the district office is that many of our classified staff, are working as, many of our sites and other things are, are out. And so we have started we've had this tradition for maybe ten years.
Yeah. Where we bring in, the t k burger truck, and it comes in. And it's just an opportunity for everybody to gather and to have their lunch. And, I just appreciated having that time with a lot of our staff, and I had the pleasure of sitting next to our president of our CEA, our classified, unions, and, Andy, and we had a great conversation. It was just in a very relaxed atmosphere and gave everybody just that little bit
of feeling that they were you know, it was a little little bit of a down downtime and and just really special to say, thank you to them. I also wanted to thank, Nicole and Focus Studios for the amazing video that you sent out for the holiday season. It was so joyful and so well done. And I know that parents and students, just love watching those things and they love when they get to see their their students faces.
And it was very joyful and production. And I think they have a great role model in you as well. So I also am really grateful to Mrs. Padilla who gave us a wonderful walk through at LAE.
I did we had to stop short because we were having they were having an an earthquake drill or some drill. I don't remember what it was, but I I thought that was, that, what was it? Yeah. Yeah. I think it was, it was something like we would use when we do a a lockdown of sorts. Lockdown. Yes. For a violent intruder, but for You know, just nice to see that, those things take precedent, and they get done, in our campus with our students because it's about keeping them safe. And, I just wanted to say that one of the, I think all of these
things really embody, one of our core values and that's care. And care is exceptionally important, to what we do as a district, because without that we can't have, we can't have the advanced learning and the other things that we strive for. So we have to care for our employees. We have to care for our students and our community. And, I'm just very appreciative of that. And it's off to a fresh new year and that's always, exciting and always great
opportunities, for our students as they get ready for the spring semester. So with that, we will move on to public comments. Do we have any cards, miss Tangilo? We do not. Then we will move on to information and presentations. And, doctor Reese Wright. That's okay. I spoke faster than you thought I was going to, didn't I? You did. Thank you, madam president. Yes. Tonight, we have, our quarterly report on Williams uniform complaint procedures for the previous quarter, October 1 through December 31, and we're pleased that there's nothing to report.
Always good to hear. Thank you so much. We'll now move on to consent items, and I believe that we have pulls of g and h. And so that I would be looking for a motion for consent items a through f and I through n. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Passes five zero. I would now look for a motion for item g, which is the rat ratification
of an agreement with Superior Tree Care for shrub and vine trimming services at Los Alamitos High School. So moved. Any discussion? Mhmm. Yes. Thank you. So I had asked for this item to be pulled, and it's really related to the item, after it, item h. And it's really it's around, beautification of our campus and that really extends itself to, you know, even the driveway path. And, I wanted to give doctor Pulver a chance to kinda talk about that.
This came, you know, I and I'll let you speak to it, but I'm for me personally, a few families had reached out to me and said, you know, we love the, and we're so proud of our campus, but this drive that comes through just seems to not really represent, everything that we, you know, really, value. And is there any plans to kinda help, bring it up to, up to standard of of what LaSalle is known for? So I'll let Doctor.
Pulver kind of speak to that. Thank you, Mrs. Partizani. Yes. That's that is something you and I talked about earlier in the year. And we said let's let the STEM building excuse me, the gymnasium construction get done because we knew a lot of other, mess could occur. So hats off to our facilities, and procurement. So over winter break, that's why it's a ratification because it was done while, students were gone and staff were gone. Just under $13,000 we were able to kind of clear out all the overgrowth, along as you're driving through the, the long driveway to get into the student parking lot
where all the homes border and all those trees and bushes come over, as well as it extends all the way into the backside of that parking lot where all the homes are along that perimeter. So they, cleared out all of the overgrowth, there. And then in the next item, we'll talk talk about, they're gonna do the fencing that's as you're driving up the driveway on the left side, and then we have plans to put up some wind screens that are more that have some of our,
griffin decorations or some of our newer newer logos as well. And then, as you drive up, where we did the the brush and you see some of those boulders in the plants, the problem is irrigation's not great there, and there's so many weeds that happen over over time. So we're looking at really we explored three options to replace, and we haven't done, made a final decision yet. But along that little little little long but narrow strip, of either putting down, mulch that becomes glued. So it's kind of like this permanent looking mulch that's probably more rubberized, turf, which
is probably where I lean a little bit more. They'll keep the borders, boulders, and the and the signs that come up, or concrete. But the concrete just seems like, it would be not very attractive over time. I think turf will probably be the most attractive long term solution. So we're we're gonna unpack that as well. Thank you so much, doctor Pulver. So I will, have a vote on sorry. Yeah. 10 g. All those in favor?
Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. And then I need a motion for approval of agreement with La Habra Fence Company. Any further discussion or we got the explanation for that one? We did. Just a shout out to our district and our facilities, that, you know, we are so open to community feedback, and we try to act on it as quickly as we can with the funding that we have available to us. Great. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. We are now moving on to item 11, which is action items.
And, missus Reed, it's it's your show for a while. Perfect. I'll just go ahead and start with action item 11 a, approval of supplemental materials. Tonight, we're bringing forward standards plus high impact standards for math and ELA. It's a supplemental resource to support students and practice of high priority standards in those two areas. We're bringing that item forward. K eight and it has been on, display with education services. Thank you. Oh, perfect. So b, b will be also high impact standards.
Standards plus pass the task, which is a supplemental support for teachers to help walk students through how to complete and prepare for taking a performance task through the smarter balance. And then c will be LAHS history in the future, bringing forward compilation seven through nine. So we previously had items one through six come forward. And now we have items seven through nine, how to make filthy water drinkable, which is a TED talk. What is biodiversity? An article from the American Museum of Natural History, as well as living on $1
by Chris Temple, which is a documentary all to support our history of the future class at Los Moos High School. All of these items have been on display with education services since last board meeting and are coming forward tonight for approval. Thank you very much. So I would look for a motion to approve action items 11 a, b, and c. So moved. Any discussion on any of the items? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. We'll now move on to action item d. Thank you, missus Hill.
Action d is our annual submission of the con app or the consolidated application for categorical aid program for the 2526 school year. This is the winner release, and this is used by the California Department of Ed to distribute funds from various state and federal programs to county offices and local school districts here in California. So annually, we submit an application to document our participation in these programs and provide assurances that the district will comply with legal requirements for each program. So this is no cost to the district and allows us to submit submit the winner release of the con app.
Thank you for that explanation. Do I have a motion? So moved. A second? I'll second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. Thank you. And then we move on to action item 11 e. Thank you, president, Hill. Item 11 e is learning Meaning Genie. We'd like to pilot that for our UTK classrooms, January 19 through April 24. We're currently using this online platform within our preschool, program and wanting to expand that into our TK program. It allows, teachers to document and report student progress, leaning, learning genie, ensures consistent state
aligned documentation of student progress while promoting positive strength based communication with families. So now that we have TK using a developmental report card, this allows teachers much like our CDC classrooms to document samples and artifacts within the classroom to show that development on a learning continuum for those preschool, TK learning foundations. And so this aligns with the expectations that the California Department of Ed has for early learning as well as our UTK assessment practices. So we'd like to bring this forward as a pilot for the spring.
Great. Do I have a motion? So moved. A second. Any questions or comments? I think it's it's really fabulous that, you know, I think sometimes our expectations of what, UTK is is, you know, children sitting on a mat and reading and doing play things. And so I'm really appreciative that our focus on education starts from that very beginning, and even, even that benchmarking.
So thank you for that. All of those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. We're now gonna move on to the acceptance of a bid and approval of agreement with Keystone Builders, and that's item 11 f. And, doctor Pulver. Thank you, madam president. Yes. This is acceptance of bid 252601, approval with Keystone Builders for the restroom renovation project at Los Alamitos High school. We've really been phasing in all of our K-eight schools were modernized through much of our bond, and so we've been phasing in trying to redo all of our high school. So, we've done all the classrooms, we've done many of the roofs, as you know.
We've done the STEM Building. We did the STEM Building, I should say, and the new gymnasium. So the last phase of the bulk of that, was now updating the restrooms throughout the Los Alamitos High School campus. And so the restrooms, this project will include making the restrooms have similar fixtures that you see, in the new STEM Building and the new gymnasium building. And so we will begin construction, kind of phasing that construction project, within the next, few weeks. And then it'll culminate hopefully by the end of the 2026.
And it should touch every restroom on campus, except there's a few areas. So the STEM Building, obviously, because we just built the STEM Building. The new gymnasium, because we just did a ribbon cutting on the gym, gymnasium. The performing arts center has the restrooms in there because we, as you heard at our December, we are that's the, the next project we're doing at Los Alamos High School, and we're still waiting to see, is is it viable to destroy that and build something new or completely renovate that?
So that will be those restrooms for the PAC will be in the PAC project. The portable restroom that's outside of our old gymnasium, it's not including that. We will take that to DSA for a separate we do plan to move that now that we have restrooms right with the new gym and move that over closer over kinda near the weight room and the tennis courts, But we have to go through a different process for that. So that won't be done. And then the restrooms, that are staff restrooms that are within the kitchen facility, really.
It's what we call it Room 500. That won't be done. That will be done through the kitchen project. But what I'm also really excited to share is we're also gonna be and this is where our I think the first construction will start is building, a single use restroom in, in behind the classroom of our life skills, classroom. Classroom. And so when you you know, we we moved our life skills classes, over more to the center of the campus. And when we did re renovated those rooms, we plumbed for some of it and had some ideas that this would be a great idea.
Because some of those students need opportunities to, have a a lift in their restroom. They need supports or sometimes you need to have change your clothes. And so having a single use restroom rather than a a full run, so it'll be built right within in the backside of the room where the the aid and or the students can go right into there. So we're gonna build building a new restroom, for our students, in our life skills program as well, and that's a part of this overall project. And I'm pleased to say it's a little bit under budget from what we had, what we budgeted, for this entire project.
You know, you budget for a project two years prior, give or take. And so, the project is coming in a little bit less than what we budgeted. We had about 4, million accounted for it, and it's gonna come just under that all said and done. Thank you for that, doctor Polbert. Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? I'll second. Great. Any discussion? I do wanna say that I really appreciate, once again, always thinking about every student in our district and taking, really good care of them and what is best and
easiest for them. So thank you. Anyone else? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. Miss who? I think that might need to be a roll call. Is that one? That is not a resolution. Okay. No. It's good. A roll call. Yeah. Oh, I apologize. But thank you Yeah. For Keith for trying to keep me in line. No. That's me. But now yeah. But now you now you brought that to my attention, so I can't mess up the next one. Action item 11 g, and that's the adoption of the Los Alamitos Unified School District resolution authorized signatures.
And, doctor Pulver. Sorry. I didn't turn the mic on. This is the annual resolution that updates and confirms the designated district personnel. And as you know, with the December meeting is the organizational meeting where we have, a new president and vice president, so who are authorized to sign official district documents on behalf of the governing board. And so this item brought forward each year to reflect the changes in board officer roles, including the board president. Thank you. So do I have a motion? So moved. And a second? Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Roll call.
A roll call. There you go. That's me. Thank you. Missus Patterson. Aye. Missus Davidson. Aye. Missus Hill. Aye. Mister Forhan. Aye. Mister Bragman. Aye. 50. I'll still put my 50 on there. Okay. We're moving on to 11 h, which is the adoption of resolution for board trustees of Los Alamitos Unified School District, authorizing election under the public contract code section two two zero three zero. Doctor Pulver? Yes. Thank you. And really, shout out to, Alvia Schnur and our facilities team.
This is actually, new for us, and so this is why it's really helpful to continue to be connected to other, groups that we we learned about, something called Kupka is really the abbreviation of that. And what it allows us to do is to allows the district can use a more streamlined process streamlined process for qualifying smaller public work projects, which helps us complete routine repairs and facility upgrades more efficiently while still maintaining competitive bid pricing, requiring contractor licensing and public transparency.
Because for some of these smaller projects, they kind of like in the CMAS process, they get approved more at the state level first. So you're getting competitive pricing. And so, this is a resolution to allow the board of trustees, to be able to enter into and be a part of the cup take advantage of cup That's amazing. Thank you. Do I have a motion for eleven h? So moved. I need a second. Second. Okay. Thank you. It is now a roll call. Thank you. Harasani. Aye. Miss Missus Hill. Aye. Mister Forhan. Aye. Mister Bradman.
Aye. Five zero. Thank you. The next one is adoption of a resolution, related to something similar. Same item or similar item. Yes. So one, the first resolution is kind of a two part res item for us to become a part of this was first, the one you just approved was really allowing the district to opt in into the uniform public construction cost accounting act. And then the second one, which you have in front of you now, is the approval of the district's informal bidding procedures under the CUPCA program.
And so these procedures, allow us again to solicit quotes and award qualifying small public awards projects, through the CUPCA process. And it allows us to streamline, projects getting done hopefully a little bit faster and still competitive. Thank you. Which, our district, I will say, seems to do very well. So 11 I. Do I have a motion? Second. I have a motion and second. It's a roll call. Missus Potasani? Aye. Missus Davidson? Aye. Missus Hill? Aye. Mister Forhan? Aye. Mister Bragman? Aye. Wonderful. Okay.
We're now moving on to November, which is the acknowledgment of a claim dated, September 3. Doctor Pulver? Yes. Thank you. So this is, you may be used to it when someone, wishes to submit a claim as if they're wanting to, potentially begin a lawsuit with the district. This item is formally acknowledged in receipt of the claim, submitted, dated, and received 09/03/2025. And at this point, the recommendation is to reject a claim in accordance with government code section ninety one point one five and nine forty five.
It's a standard procedure action requiring the district and our legal timelines to allow the matter to proceed through the appropriate claims process. Thank you very much. Do I have an approval for 11 j? Motion. And a second? Great. Move the second. This is not a roll call. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Zero. Okay. We are now moving on to approval of warrants, and I need a motion, please. A second? Second. Great. Discussion?
I did want to and, doctor Pulver, I was not being rude. I was trying to look for the, the weak I mean, the answers to, our questions on the agenda. So, just so the public understands, our warrants are the bills that, the district pays. And so you can see, if you looked at this, it's over $2,390,000. And, so we look through their, like, type of probably 5.5,
and we look at every one of those warrants. And so one of the warrants that really popped out to me was one related to seed because it was $13,000 for seed. So I asked a question. What are we gonna do with $13,000 with the seed? And so, I was given an answer in the weekend review, in our questions, that came back. And I do believe that about 3,000 of it is going to the high school and the rest of it is going to the middle school campuses. Is that correct?
Yeah. Yeah. That is correct from my recollection as well. So some of it was for the baseball field. See what we're meaning is grass. Grass. Yes. You you know, and then the oak, field was is the next field that we're on cycles of rehabilitation. So the McCullough Field was done earlier. And so it's just all this to keep the grass, to take pride in our facilities. Our facilities are also utilized, obviously, the baseball field, by our our student athletes. But our fields by this community, it's also part of their, many ways part of their, an extension of the parks and rec.
Absolutely. And I did want to highlight that because I, there are often questions from the public about what we do and how do we maintain them and so on and so forth and damage. And so I just wanna say that $13,000 worth of seed is going to be put into our fields. And Edwin, thank you so much to your department for keeping on top of that. And I know that there was a bit of a worry because it there was a great great deal of the rain that came through, but it sounds like everything was fine. So, that was just something I wanted to highlight, and warrant.
So that was my discussion. So I will now unless anybody else has any comments, I will look for a motion. I already have a motion and a second. So all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. Thank you. Now we look for the acceptance of donations and, our very generous community. And this doesn't even represent all of the donations that come in from our community, but these are ones that come directly in to the district. And we're just, very grateful for, all of the support that our community, gives us.
And so, right now, we're for this last period, it was $117,000 and total year to date is a half $1,000,000. And so, thank you. So I would look for a motion to accept the donations. Thank you. And a second. Moved and seconded. Any other discussion? Thank you. Thank you. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes by zero. We are now gonna move on to the approval of rates for substitute positions and classified services.
And doctor Reese Wright. Thank you, madam president. Yes. Tonight, we're bringing forward a new substitute classification, to support clerical needs, for confidential employees. And so the recommendation is on that sheet. Thank you. Do I have a motion? So moved. Great. All those in favor? Aye. Oh, no. Any discussion? Was there any discussion? I'm sorry. Thanks for doing Yeah. Thank you very much. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. We are now going to look at taking the classified personnel report, the certificated personnel
report, and the administrative personnel report, all as one item. And doctor Rees Rees. Thank you. Yes. The three personnel reports reflect the changes since our last meeting. We recommend approval as submitted. Thank you. Do I have a motion? So moved. A second. Great. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Passes five zero. Thank you very much. We are now going to move back into closed session, related to, labor negotiations, and discipline, both employee and student.
Thank you. Thank you, everybody.