Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Good morning. Welcome. The time is now 10:05 a.m. on June 17th,
2026. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education including closed session items. Let's take roll. Ms. Newbell. >> Present. >> Dr. Rivas.
Mr. Melvoin. >> Here. >> Ms. Crieger. >> Here. >> Ms. Gonez. Ms. Ortiz Franklin. Board President Schmerelson. >> Present. >> Okay, that's four. We have quorum. Uh the order of operations today will be will take public comment on the items
that the board will be discussing in closed session. And then we will have superintendent recognitions of some very special folks who are leaving the district. So, the purpose and authority of today's closed session under tab one are student discipline matters pursuant to
government code section 48918. Uh tab two, personnel under government code section 54957. Uh public employee discipline dismissal and release and under public employment are general superintendent of schools, chief of schools and regional superintendent. And also there is the
superintendent's evaluation. Under tab three, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.9. There are two cases and under pending litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.9D1,
Gabriella Charter Schools v. California Department of Education and LAUSD et al. Green Dot Public Schools v. LAUSD et al. And under tab four, conference with labor negotiators pursuant to government code section 54957.
dot six, the negotiators Dr. Murphy and the employee organizations are Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, Teamsters 2010. California School Employees Association, Los Angeles County Building and Construction Trades Council. Los Angeles School Police Association, Los Angeles School Police Management
Association. Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 99, Teamsters, United Teachers Los Angeles and district represented and contract management personnel. And for unrepresented employees, Ms. Navera Reed is a negotiator and under
there is the general superintendent of schools. Chief of schools and regional superintendent. All right, now we take public comment on the items that I have just read through for you all. Under tab one, student discipline matters, we have one speaker.
Christina James speaking remotely. Let me see if Ms. James is with us online. Tab one, not here yet. So we'll go to tab two. Speakers on tab two. Go to tab three, conference with legal counsel, Mr. David Tokofsky, are you
here? May be calling in. There he is, Mr. Tokofsky on tab three. Please press star six to unmute yourself, Mr. Tokofsky, and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. >> Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak in an open public session of
the Board of Education. Uh under the spirit of our republic and our democracy. Uh the two items of the lawsuits, uh I'm not sure exactly what they are, but the the story is that um the staff may of LA Unified may have misread the new
law 1505 and allowed both the Gabriella and Green Dot uh to be rejected by the Board of Ed after the dead statutory deadline. Uh This is a um uh
understandable but bad mistake. Uh both of those schools add up to 2,000 kids, which adds up to about $70 million if if they were part of a plan to bring back in the district. Now, they're both county uh schools approved by the County Board of Education. Um
Somebody ought to be promoted for that mistake, but let me also say that you need the county letters, board members. These are not attorney-client privilege letters. As a board member for 12 years, I used to get the county letter. Mr. Smelson no doubt no doubt as president
has those letters. You should see exactly what what they are saying and how they will respond in the next two weeks to your fiscal stabilization plan. Number two, um uh while you can count things in there that are hypothetical, um on the expense side, you you do not
have a list of the items that could mean revenue. Congratulations on doing the fund 17 or OPEB, which is sort of the fund 17 on steroids. But, the 3.9 billion, which represents 280 million, will be coming to you within the next uh within the next first
year of your 3 years. Additionally, in your second year, you will have a new Congress. That new Congress will pass legislation for money in special added. We lobby for it. And in the third year, of course, we'll have a new president. Additionally, the California Teachers Association AB 121 is to fix the the
third-year problem. I mentioned before Santa Monica uh has begun the citizens parcel tax. You should be looking for revenue in your third year for such a thing on the presidential election. And finally, as you think about things in the three-year plan, you should
>> All right. The next speakers are just on the public comment. So, we have 20 speakers on general public comment, which are any matters related to district business. I'll call on the folks who listed themselves as speaking in person first. And then I'll call on those listed as speaking remotely. So,
the first speaker is Penelope Valdez. And then after Ms. Valdez is Curti Barua Nual, and then Kate Valdez. Come on up. You'll have 2 minutes to speak once you begin. >> Good morning, school board members.
I am a librarian coming out during my uh summer day to meet you all and have this democratic process experience. I teach uh I'm a teacher librarian at LeConte Middle School, which is under Ms. Gregors jurisdiction. And I come
here to champion reading Decathlon, which is a reading program that is uh promoted and sustained by my colleagues from different middle schools and high schools. And I'm also here to champion my students and their peers who are in the program and their parents who
support them. The Reading Decathlon has served 48 schools. We have a little problem. >> [laughter] >> And 650 students overall. There were 39 middle schools and nine high schools who joined this recent
school year. Student participants have read a combined total of 56 fiction books containing 16,800 pages. On behalf of about 96 teacher librarians and teacher co-coaches, we would like to
thank you for your support. There were 402 middle school students and 147 high school students who participated, benefited in the different Reading Decathlon programs throughout the
district. Participating students' neurodiversity range from highly gifted and talented to ELL to special needs. Students are encouraged to join the Reading Decathlon in every year beginning of the sixth grade.
In the middle school division, we are proud to note that there are 41 three-year participants recognized with a special medal this year. This means these students started with us since we received funding from the district to run this program.
>> Thank you for your time, Kirti. >> Hi board members. My name is Kirti Padanwal. I'm the librarian at Clinton Middle School. So, I'm here to ask you to continue giving us $250,000 every year to fund Reading Decathlon. It is a small amount of money that allows
librarians to continue spreading book joy throughout the district and strengthen students literacy skills and SEL skills to be better prepared to create and lead the world that we want to live in tomorrow. So, during my three years as a librarian
and coach for Reading Decathlon, we've seen a 150% increase in the amount of students participating. We've increased, and I'm just talking about middle schools, from nine schools to 24 schools and from 67
students to 194 students. Each of these numbers represents a child who is voluntarily reading up to 15 books. We have so much fun. We get together, we talk about the characters, we talk about, you know,
what we are learning through the stories and who we're meeting. So, cutting funding for Reading Decathlon means decreasing the number of schools and kids that can participate. For me, I'm Our job is creating lifelong
readers who develop more compassion and empathy and critical thinking skills to create a kinder world. Our book list has 15 diverse books on it every year. They're different. They're inclusive of all of our communities. And
in a world that's full of hate, a Reading Decathlon gives me hope that we can inspire students to read and use books to be their mirrors, their windows, and their sliding doors. And we know, we've all been talking about FSP, that you need to balance the
budget. I'm asking you to stop doing that on the backs of black and brown children from working-class communities. It's a lot of emotional labor for us to come here um and make sure that we're asking you
for funds for things we already have. I'm also the mom of a black and Asian student. I know you protected B SEP yesterday. We need you to do that for Sennie Fund. >> Thank you for your time. The next speaker is
Kate Valdez. Come on up. You have 2 minutes to speak. Once you begin. >> Good morning. Good morning. Miss Kate Valdez wasn't able to be here. My name is Miss Lopez. I have been I'm a history teacher and I'm a co-coach for Reading of the
Calendar for 3 years. Today I would like to explain how participants in Reading of the Calendar promotes community involvement and helps building a strong connection between people. First of all, the value of reading. Reading is one of the most important value skills we can
develop. It explains the knowledge, improves critical thinking, exposes us to different perspectives and explain experiences throughout books. We learn about culture, challenges, and ideas that we might never encounter in a daily life.
This understanding helps us become more informed and empathetic about members of our society. I'm not an English teacher, but I know how fiction experts are read in the classrooms. This program actually encourages in students to read from cover to cover. Reading the Calendar
actually takes the benefits a little bit farther to read along, sharing experiences with classmates, teams, and then encouraging community members also to be part of it. Reading also encourages social issues. Reading
helps us better understand the importance of social issues. Many books explore the topics such as inequality, discrimination, poverty, mental health, environment challenges, preserving heritage, self-advocacy. By reading and discussing these issues, participants become more aware of about
the problems affecting the society and often it inspires them to make a positive differences. And lastly, and most importantly, most importantly, reading the catalog creates a sense of community bringing together people with the common goal to
encourage teamwork, competition rather than competition. Um we encourage members of community, parents get involved, students get involved, vendors as well are part of our community and that it gives us a sense of community. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you for your time. The next speaker is Norma Espinosa. And then after Ms. Espinosa is Anna Valdez. And then Rebecca Ramirez. >> Good morning board members. My name is Norma Espinosa and I'm a parent from Clinton Middle School. My daughter's
name is Rebecca Ramirez. When Rebecca was in first grade, COVID hit and everyone started with online classes. It was very hard for my daughter to concentrate and communicate well being in online classes. During that time, Rebecca fell behind. Reading was her weakness and she was always
hiding away from books. It was not looking good for her. She was struggling throughout her elementary years. Rebecca's elementary is a ETK through sixth grade school. When she was in sixth grade, her teacher left without any explanation. Sixth grade was even
harder for her since her class had a different substitute teacher every day. When the students were back from winter break, it looked like they finally had a permanent teacher. But once again, she was still not interested in reading. Rebecca culminated from elementary and entered Clinton Middle School.
I enrolled her far away from all of her friends. She was new to middle school. The first thing she did was enter the library where she met Ms. Barronwell. Ms. Barronwell introduced Rebecca to books and mentioned a program called Reading Decathlon. At first, Rebecca was not
interested in joining, but I mentioned it would be a great idea for her to join the program. It could help her out It could help her out reclassifying, I said. She went ahead and said yes. It was the best decision she could have done. At the end of seventh grade, she came with home with the amazing news that she
had reclassified. I was very happy that the Reading Decathlon helped my daughter out with her confidence. I believe Reading Decathlon is a program where students have the opportunity to be competitive in literacy. So, please continue with the funding for this program. Thank
you. >> Thank you for your time. Okay, the next speaker is Anna Valdez. Anna? Come on up. You have 2 minutes to speak once you begin, and then Rebecca Ramirez. >> Do I start now? >> Yes. >> Okay. Hello, my name is Sophia Martinez.
Anna Valdez wasn't able to come today. And I attended Reading Decathlon for all three years, and it has I have really benefited from it. Um I had started a habit of reading books, which I didn't which I used to be
addicted to my tablet until uh my brother introduced me to this program, and I started reading books pretty much every day, and I fell in love with it. Another thing that happened to me is that I met a really nice person, and I became friends with
her. And another thing that I benefited from this is that I wasn't glued to a screen as many other kids my age were. If Reading Decathlon continues, then perhaps in the future many kids my age won't be glued to a screen as they are
now. I really benefited from benefited from this, and I really hope other kids my age in the future can benefit from this as well. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your time. All right, the next speaker is Rebecca
Ramirez. Rebecca, are you here? >> Good morning bear board members. My name is Rebecca Ramirez. I am attending Clinton Middle School. I'm currently moving on to eighth grade during the school year 2025-2026. I was invited to join the Reading
Decathlon team by my school librarian, Ms. Berwell. At first, I felt nervous because before I joined the Reading Decathlon, I wasn't great at public speaking or communicating with students. But over those next months, I slowly
learned to stop being so shy. I started speaking more confidently in front of my team and other people. This program taught me that I can overcome my fears and I am able to take on new challenges.
At the end of my seventh grade year, I found out that I officially reclassified. The second I got the news, I knew it was all thanks to the Reading Decathlon. It really helped me improve my
communication skills, writing skills, and especially my reading skills. Again, thank you Ms. Berwell by introducing me into this program and my family who always believed in me when I was struggling. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you for your time. All right, Veronica Medina. Veronica, come on up. You have 2 minutes to speak once you begin. >> Good morning to the esteemed members of the board. My name is Veronica Medina. I'm the teacher librarian at Dodson Middle School and a proud Reading Decathlon coach.
Dodson has participated in the Reading Decathlon program the last 2 years. In our first year, 12 students participated. This year, 17 students participated. 10 of those 17 were returning participants, and five of those 10 were seventh graders looking
forward to participating a third time for their final year in middle school. Reading Decathlon generates a joy and love of reading that is contagious and palpable. Cutting the program would not only hurt our current students, but would prevent future students from experiencing the same joy and excitement
for reading, while seriously wounding the the district's progress in literacy and academic excellence. LAUSD strategic plan clearly states a commitment to academic excellence through high-quality instruction and enriched enriching educational
experiences. But don't just take my word for it. Let me share some comments from our students. Reading Decathlon has been really fun for me the past 2 years. A lot of the books we read were really enjoyable and taught me about new things in the world.
Reading Decathlon also allowed me to make new friends. Being in the Reading Decathlon the past 2 years has strengthened me as a reader, grown my critical thinking, and exposed me to a variety of books that I might not have read. These are the words of my students on my team.
My colleague has spoken about how the program has expanded over the years. Funding has allowed the program to flourish in schools across the district from all regions of Los Angeles. At a time when literacy remains a critical educational priority, reducing
or limiting support for the Reading Decathlon program would eliminate a proven opportunity for students to grow academically and personally. We ask that you find a way to fund this program so that it may continue to foster a love of learning in our school communities. Thank you.
>> Thank you for your time. Uh Trisna Gozali. Come on up. You have 2 minutes to be punctual begin and after Ms. Gozali is Liz Velasquez and then Zaina Samara. >> Hi, good morning to members of the esteemed board. My name is Trisna
Gozali. I'm the mother of Gabriel Gozali. She is currently a going to be an eighth grader at Dodson Middle School. I'm here to talk about the Decathlon program. My daughter has loved reading so much ever since she is on this team that she stopped looking on
her laptop because during the COVID time she is encouraged to use the laptop for classes, for reading. Now, I ask her, "Do you want to read books on your Kindle or actual book?" She's like, "I want to read an actual book. No more Kindle." And this really takes them away
from that using Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, all these things that can really create bad thinking and you know, not helping with the school. So, I really would like for the board to
continue funding this program for her, for future future students of this school district because you would like to retain all these good students instead of having them move away to different district, right? So, it's very very important to please continue to fund
this program and not stopping it. In addition to the Decathlon, I would like to speak on another two things today. My daughter is also on the dual language program actually, Mandarin dual language program, which is the only program down in the South South District. Now, just
to let you all know, South District has Redondo Beach Unified competing. They are opening They have opened a new Mandarin program for 2026-2027. So, a lot of good students are being poached away. I have a a young child that is going to be in TK next year.
If LAUSD is not keeping this program, I am going to enroll my son to a different school district that continues with this program. I believe in studying more than one language is very beneficial to their brain development and really helps them to be a good student and a good leader
in the future that can help our district, our nation compete with other nations globally. So, please continue with this dual language program as well along with the decathlon in the South District. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. The next speaker is Liz Velasquez. Liz, come on up.
There should be a stool. I think there's a stool uh miss if you want >> Well, we have a stool for her. Uh Liz is not able to come here, so she represent the high school division. So, my student here will read the text from high school student. >> Outstanding. Thank you.
>> My name is Emily Luna and I'm a student at King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science. Today, I stand before you as a representative of a ver- variety of of the Reading Decathlon to
for for this program that has positively impacted countless students, librarians, schools across LAUSD to express our strong um opposition to the proposed budget cuts affecting its future.
Versity Reading Decathlon is not simply an extra-curric- curricular activity. It is an academic competition that uh challenges students to read multiple books, analyze ideas across different texts, and engage in meaningful discussions that push our thinking far
beyond the classroom. It builds essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, collaboration, leadership, and communication skills that directly shape our academic [snorts] success and future opportunities.
As students of King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science, we do not only participate in this program. We represent our school. Through academic competitions against other schools, we demonstrate discipline, dedication,
and excellence. We carry our school's name with pride and provide that students are capable of achieving at high academic levels when given the opportunity. My experience in this program over the past 2 years began with me being shy and
unsure of my voice. Through Varsity Reading Decathlon program, I was challenged to step forward, speak up, and engage deeply with literature. Competing through reading and analyzing books that genuinely fascinated me allowed me to fully become engaged over
time. I grew significantly in confidence. This program strengthened my ability to think critically, express my ideas clearly, and believe in my academic potential. >> Is there much left? Do you want to
finish reading it? >> Um yeah. In addition to helping students grow academically, this program creates opportunities that many students may not otherwise have. It encourages us to challenge ourselves, work together toward a goal, and develop leadership
skills that extend beyond the competition. It also allows students from different schools and grades to level come through together through a shared passion for reading and learning. Reducing funding would not simply affect the competition. It would limit
opportunities for students, reduce access to available academic experiences, and weaken a program that has positively impacted so how young people and adults, too. Programs that promote literacy, leadership, and academic
achievement should not strengthened, not reduced should not be strengthened and not reduced. We respectfully respectfully but firm urge that district board to reconsider these budget cuts and fully
preserve funding for Reading Decathlon. >> Thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it. All right, next speaker is Zaina Samara. Zaina S. Come on up. You have 2 minutes to speak. >> Um I just wanted to say that the other speaker isn't here, so I will be uh
filling in. >> Okay. >> Good morning. My name is Bella Rocha. I attend Southgate Middle School and I'm in the sixth grade. I'm here to discuss the importance of the Reading Decathlon extracurricular club and why I believe it should continue to be funded. I initially joined the Reading Decathlon
club because it combines two things I love, the thrill of competition and the joys of reading. When I read a new book for the first time, it feels like an escape from reality. I enjoy putting myself in the main character's perspective and imagining their world. I joined my school's Reading Decathlon club this
year for the first time. The requirement to join this club was to read eight books out of 15 books. I read all 15. After reading the 15 books, I felt inspired and motivated. I attended our first competition along with five other members. My team members
and I put in months of hard work and dedication, and as a result, we won first place. Being a part of this club not only gave me the opportunity to meet new people and work as a team, but it also allowed me to fully immerse myself in reading and help me bring out my literacy skills.
It has helped me improve my confidence and made me feel like I belong. I hope you can put yourself in my perspective and see how important the Reading Decathlon club is to me and how it has changed me for the better. I also hope that other students will continue to have the opportunity to join clubs that
make them feel like they belong. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your time. All right, Rosa, are you here? Rosa? Okay, great. Thank you. Uh Tencha Maria Chavez? All right.
Uh Bella Rocha? Oh, okay. I'm easily confused as you as you can tell. Debbie Rocha? >> Good morning, board members. My name is Debbie Rocha and I am the parent of Bella Rocha and she is an LAUSD student. Um
Francis Bacon once said, "Reading maketh a full man." Those four words capture why I am here this morning. Reading is more uh than an academic skill. It is a foundation of learning, critical thinking, and lifelong success. I would like to speak about the importance of the Reading Decathlon and
why preserving it makes uh it matters for our students. The broken window theory teaches that small signals matter because they influence behavior and expectations. In schools, the opposite is also true. Positive signals and recognition
encourage positive behaviors. Students notice what schools choose to celebrate and that influence what they value. The Reading Decathlon promotes reading more books, critical thinking, teamwork, academic achievement, and a love of learning.
Research so shows that students who are motivated to read tend to have stronger literacy skills and better academic outcomes. Not every student excels in sports or the arts. The Reading Decathlon provides an opportunity for students who shine academically.
Eliminating the Reading Decathlon may seem like a small change, but small changes have long-term effects on school culture. Removing programs that celebrate reading may send the message that academic achievement is less important. The Reading Decathlon helps build a
culture where literacy efforts and learning are valued. I respect respectfully ask the board to preserve the Reading Decathlon and continue supporting programs that encourage reading excellence. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you for your time. The next
speaker is in person and that is Ms. Diana Guillen. Ms. Guillen's going to speak in Spanish so if you'd like to hear what she's saying in English, please put your hands up and we will get you translation headsets. We'll pass those out. While Ms. Guillen makes her way up to
our folks that came out to advocate on behalf of the Reading Decathlon, as someone who spent the better part of my adolescence with my head stuck in a book, you have my commitment that we will find the funding for you for next year. >> [applause] >> Okay, listos. Gracias.
>> Good morning, members of the board. My name is Diana Guillen and I have four children that were in the unified and yesterday we witnessed how the UTLA president
mandated that the OPEB trust, she told her how to use it and she Listen, and you were in agreement to put in risk that untouchable fund to [gasps] make good on promises for employee benefits
through a program called Visa Visa which has only been the like the piñata that only only the programs that come here benefit from because at the end of the day what we're seeing here is that you're using it for parties,
for to put LGBTQ programs in the schools that don't let the parents know, and you're violating parents rights. And another one of the things that these programs come here to intimidate parents. Yesterday, they expressed hate towards me, and you
didn't say anything. That's why parents do not come here. That's why they're not engaged because they're intimidated, and you have created this environment that these groups come and can talk in such a manner, and that intimidate us as parents. I do represent parents
for many years I have been here advocating because I see all the dirty dealings that happened here. And it is and it a shame that you continue to act in this way. And the only thing that you have shown is not wanting to really engage parents. You're not improving our
students academically. Our students in 11th grade have 76% in math one grade level, and 51 is three grade levels behind. And is that what has improved VCEP? I would like for VCEP to be used for academic, and not to be doing
parties, and then taking their agenda political agendas because that's the only thing that VCEP does is to play for the uh partners so the association because they say you're here just like Ms. Gonis. Ms. Gonis doesn't have anyone
African immigrant in her community, but >> Thank you for your time. All right. Now, we've got folks who are calling in to speak. Isabel Aguirre, I see you're online. Please press star six. Oh, Isabel's not here. All right. Are you in here in person, Ms. Aguirre? Nope.
All right. Concerned parent, I see you are on the line. Please press star six to unmute yourself. You have 2 minutes to speak when you begin. Concerned parent. >> Concerned parent, can you please press start? There you are. Thank you so much. I see you there. Maybe just press star six one There you are. Don't push it
again. >> Good morning, board members. So, yesterday um you approved the fiscal stabilization plan. Board members, do you understand the purpose of the fiscal stabilization plan? Because it's pretty
self-explanatory. The purpose of this is to stabilize the budget. Now, I disagree with some of the decisions that you made yesterday around the the budget and how you're going to fund some of these positions and continue to fund it.
But, the purpose the The point is not just getting more money so you can just keep spending it. The point is to learn how to budget our money. And it's our money because it's as taxpayers, we have a say in how the budget should be spent.
Now, a lot of times this is ignored because a lot of times many of organ- many organizations which claim to be parent-led have um know how to work the system so they know how to organize, they know how to come to the board
meeting, sign up, and and pretty much take over so you're only getting a one side of what the community is asking. You only hear what your what you want to hear. Not You're not using your uh
your seat to hear all different perspectives. Now, I want to point out to mental health. There's a lot of push for mental health. Board members, do you know what the purp- how the criteria that's used to provide mental health services to students
because I have a child with an IEP and even with the IEP, you still have to uh there there's an eligibility criteria. So, how are all students able to access mental health services in your schools?
Can you explain what the criteria is? So, when we're looking at programs and how we're going to fund them, we need to look at the need and what is being asked for because you cannot focus all of your budget decisions on a small
group of people when you have 500,000 students that you represent. Even those that you don't agree with their So, please look into what you're doing. Look into
everybody's opinion, not just the ones you want. >> All right, the next speaker is Maria Luisa Palma. I see you're with us, Ms. Palma, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Maria Luisa Palma.
>> My name is Maria Luisa Palma and for the record, I want to say today that the incident that happened yesterday at the June 16th, 2026 board meeting, Mr. uh Gottschalks and as the board chair, when you allowed members of the public to
disrupt my public comments on the fiscal stabilization plan, you aided and abetted the threatening, violent, and hate activity towards me and others. Just because I was speaking on an opposing viewpoint to the majority of the people in the room. You allowed
discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying by not stopping the proceedings, by not removing the offenders from the auditorium. You refused to enforce the rules of the quorum, which are in your board rules. You violated my and others constitutional rights to free speech and
redress of grievances when you routinely for years allowed disruptive audience behaviors such as yelling, booing, stomping. You've created an environment that chills free speech. This is what you do routinely. You've created an unsafe space for democratic
discourse, for opposing viewpoints. You, LAUSD, are complicit, and any reasonable person must conclude that LAUSD intends to deliberately create this chilling environment for free speech. How can parents ever feel secure
in expressing their own true viewpoints? They cannot. There is no free speech at LAUSD, and you are all helping This is deliberate. All of you board members, board chair, Mr. Schmerelson, you created this environment. Mr. McQueen
works for you. You should have stepped up and stopped that proceeding yesterday. You allowed them to stomp all over us, to yell obscenities at us, and they threatened us personally. So, we hold you responsible for this lack of of of observing our constitutional free
speech rights. >> Thank you for your time. Next speaker is Maria Daisy Ortiz. I see you're with us remotely, Ms. Ortiz. Uh Ms. Ortiz is going to speak in Spanish, so if you'd like to hear what she's saying in English, please put your hands up and we'll get you a translation headset if you do not already have one.
>> Good morning everybody. Can you Yes. Good morning everyone. My name is Maria Daisy Ortiz, and yesterday, well, the advisory uh district level advisory committee had told said that they don't have
information, there's no interpretation, and many other things, discrimination. What will you do? Will you correct this or will you continue with this new year doing the same practices? Now, also, when you make cuts,
why don't you specify and break down what programs will be most affected? EL CAP was approved. The stabilization plan was approved, but you don't care that our children are being taken away programs that are so critical for academic achievement
because you are not here for the children. Your actions are louder than your words saying that you are here for children. Please take off that mask because you have no shame. And I know that you also Did you also
receive a salary cut? Did Did you receive everybody a salary cut? Here, you are not here advocating for quality education, academic excellence. Do you have that as a goal? And do you think graduating students with a D is academic
excellence? Graduating children that read at the eighth grade level for high school from high school? That is not academic excellence. When you cut make cuts, it is not according to the actions that you have in your plan. So, truly,
you want to live a lie. You need to stop that. We uh taxpayers need academic excellence, but with actions behind them. And actions that help for parents to be the voice and also monitoring of your programs. Thank you and have a nice
day. >> Good time. All right, the next speaker is Alex Martinez. Alex Martinez, I see you're on the line. Please press star six to unmute yourself. And you'll have 2 minutes to speak once you begin. Alex Martinez. >> Hi. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, sir. Please go ahead. >> Hi, just so you know, I am going to be speaking in Spanish. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Please go ahead. >> Okay, perfect. Buenos dias. Uh >> Good morning to all parents, to everyone present on this beautiful morning. I
just want to give information in case you didn't know. Uh yesterday uh during yesterday's meeting the they proposed a stabilization plan and they wanted to cut $10 million
stabilization front plan of Los Angeles. This means that your children and our children, because I have two children that are possibly want them to be part of LAUSD. And this would mean that our children would be more exposed. They would have
less safety inside and around the schools. Uh during the the cut that happened in 2020, the funds removed from a certain department, they were given to different organizations and they were recruiting
members uh gang members that had been in prison and now they are placed inside the schools and around the schools. So that they can supposedly protect our children. And [snorts] I believe that not just as parent as a parent, but a
member of this society, it is very important to have an officer around the schools, in the schools, to protect our children. And we have seen during all these months and this year, there many incidents that have happened at the
schools and around the schools. Not just with fights, but we are talking about guns that are found inside, outside the schools. And I believe that it is very important that you as parents should know that the district is deciding to do
this. Remove security and protection from your children. And I just wanted to let everyone know and I hope you have a wonderful day and I hope that that we can support the schools, uh LAUSD schools. Thank you. Have a great day.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your time. That concludes general public comment. We have one person who returned for tab one. That is uh Christina James. I see you're on the line with us, Ms. James. Please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin for tab one, Christina
James. >> Yes, hi. Can you hear me? >> We sure can. Please go ahead. >> Okay. Yes, all right. I I somehow missed you guys earlier when you called my name. Um Okay. Hi. Um I'm calling today in regards to um
I'm running I'm basically calling to advocate for an to advocate for an adjustment to the current recess and lunch schedules for our for our children. Kindergarten through sixth grade or the fifth grade I don't know what elementary uh when it ends. At any event, I'm
basically calling many studies and first-hand observations highlight the importance of adequate and structured playtime and breaks during school. Extending both recess and lunch periods, I believe will provide students with the necessary time to recharge physically,
mentally, and socially. Um I also believe that longer recess periods would benefit younger students especially those from K to third as they need opportunities to build social-emotional skills, a healthy exercise habits, and releasing that energy to stay focused in their classrooms.
As you know, the No Child Left Behind Act has not really been relevant or hasn't really done good, right? In the '90s, we probably had more outdoor time than we do now. I think it's definitely essential for the younger kids to have more outdoor time. So, I'm I just want
to advocate and throw that out there for somebody to somehow implement this idea to improvise and revisit those schedules. And I mean that's that's what I was calling today. So, hopefully, you know, I would
be grateful for the opportunity for somebody to actually take this into consideration and you know, for about for the students' wellness and also, you know, their their capabilities for being outdoors, especially those young children. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your time. And now Isabel
Aguirre is here. So, for general public comment, Isabel Aguirre, please press star six to unmute yourself and you'll have two minutes to speak once you begin. Isabel Aguirre. >> See, buenos dias. >> Buenos dias. >> Buenos dias, mi nombre es >> Good morning, my name is Isabel Aguirre.
And yesterday, it was a very long meeting we had and it was a meeting that as parents, we were listening to it. It makes us think and it scares us that you as members of board members are taking
such fast decisions, Mr. Nick and superintendent that's in place now. They clearly said that they were against the amendments that were being made and you still didn't care and everything that you wanted to happen happened. And I ask myself, how much longer are we
going to take when you find out that you made a mistake and it'll same thing will happen like I ready and the phones and you allow things and you create this chaos, then you come and you put a band-aid on things and you say, well, we we we we we made a mistake. Well, you
are against charters, but you are the ones who are sending our children to that school because as parents, we are tired that the unions have more to say than us parents. We are the ones who are bringing the clients to you. You need to listen. You need to pay
attention. You need a financing class maybe so that you can help us understand and for you to understand to make better and informed decisions so that in the future doesn't hurt us. So please think about this and I hope that next year,
next upcoming year, we have better results to communicate with the board members. Thank you. >> And that does complete all public comment. >> Thank you, Mr. McLain. Good morning again, everyone. Good morning, board members, of course. Today, it is my pleasure to lead a
recognition both of retirements and members of our executive leadership team whose service to LA Unified merits special recognition as they leave the district. Three of these leaders are concluding distinguished careers through retirement. Dr. Frances Bias, Marisela
Santos Robles, and Lourdes Valentine. >> Yes, indeed. >> [applause] >> We will also recognize Dr. Carle Estrada and Jaime Torrens, members of our executive leadership team whose contributions have helped shape the direction and success of the district in
recent years. Before I begin, I'd like to do sort of a quick run of show of the plan for today's recognitions. First, I will offer brief remarks. Following those remarks, I will invite members of the board to share any comments they wish to make. Our honorees
will then have an opportunity to offer brief remarks, after which we will conclude with the presentation of proclamations and photographs. Before recognizing our five honorees, I would like to acknowledge a special group of retiring employees who will be honored at this afternoon's district
retirement reception. Representing both our certificated and classified workforce, these individuals are the retiring employees with the greatest years of service within their respective bargaining units. Collectively, they represent more than
360 years of service to LA Unified. Two of the retirees we are about to recognize individually, Maricela Sanchez Robles and Lourdes Valentine, are also among those being honored this afternoon
for having the greatest years of service within their respective bargaining units. Their careers span classrooms, school sites, administrative offices, facilities, operations, public safety, and student support services.
While their roles may differ, they share a common commitment to serving students, supporting colleagues, and strengthening our schools and communities. On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire LA Unified family, I'd like to recognize the following retirees.
And so again, these are the certificated retirees with the greatest years of service by bargaining unit. From UTLA, we recognize and honor Annette Morales, 44 years of service. Uh in her latest position, she was the
Mmoloki instructional coach at Sally Ride Elementary School. From AALA, we recognize Anahit Sinanian for 38 years of service. In her last position, she served as a school support administrator, litigation
coordinator. And among our district represented staff, again, we recognize Maricela Sanchez Robles for 32 years of service, most recently as executive director in the Division of Instruction. Let's give all of those folks a big
round of applause. >> [applause] >> Now, moving on to our classified retirees with the greatest years of service. From LASPA, we have Wayne Wilson with 49 years of service,
most recently as a school safety officer with our school police department. From Teamsters Local 572, we have Manuel Harmon with 43 years of service, most recently as a plant manager three for
Westchester High School. For CSEA Chapter 500, we have Twiggy Bustos with 42 years of service, most recently as an office technician at Santana Arts Academy.
For AALA Teamsters Local 2010, we have Pauline Garson with 37 years of service, most recently as an environmental health manager with the Environmental Health and Safety Branch. For SEIU Local 99,
we honor Lucila Villarreal for 37 years of service, most recently as a special education assistant at Jordan High School. From the LAOC Building and Construction Trades Council, we recognize Rob Roberto Tambalo for 21
years of service, most recently as a heating and air conditioning fitter with a Facility Services Division in Project Unit North. And lastly, from our district represented employees, we recognize Lourdes May Valentine for
20 years of service as a senior advisor in communications. Let's give all of those retirees a big hand. >> [applause] >> I will now turn to our special recognitions of five leaders whose service to LA Unified has had a profound impact on our district. Again, I'll
begin with some brief remarks for each retiree or individual being recognized. I'll then invite the board if they have any comments that they would like to make, and then I'll invite the person being recognized to come up and make brief remarks if they so choose. At the end of honoring all five folks, we will
then come together for pictures and additional recognition. Okay? All right. So, I will begin uh with recognizing a friend. And that is It is my pleasure to recognize Dr. Frances Baez. >> Let's start with a hand.
>> [applause] [applause] >> Frances Frances and I kind of made our bones together, as the expression goes. So, uh this one is is very special to me. Uh for more than three decades, Frances has dedicated her career to LA Unified,
serving as a teacher, AP, principal, local district superintendent, and ultimately chief academic officer. She is also a proud graduate of LA Unified schools. Throughout her career, Frances has championed instructional excellence and student opportunity. Her leadership
contributed to improved outcomes in language arts, mathematics, graduation rates, while helping shape innovative programs that expanded learning opportunities for students across the district. Equally important has been her commitment to developing future leaders.
Whether mentoring aspiring administrators, advancing opportunities for women in leadership, advocating for English learners, taking early morning calls from acting superintendents, Frances has consistently invested in people and worked to ensure that all
students had access to meaningful opportunities for success. Frances, thank you for your remarkable service, your passion for education, and your enduring commitment to LA Unified. >> [applause] >> I would now like to invite any board
member who would like to uh weigh in before Dr. Biase makes remarks. >> Besides all those wonderful things and true statements that uh Superintendent Shay made, Francis was also president as I was president of the Association of California School Administrators and she
did lots and lots and lots to promote administrators in LAUSD to succeed. So, thank you so much, Francis. >> Thank you, Board President. >> I'll just go next to say thank thank you, Francis. I was always um very excited when you came into this
building because I'd heard your lore had kind of permeated the district, but I never worked with your region. Although, even though we didn't have any schools, your leadership in com- transition to the Co-Star model and some of the innovative things did bring me out a few times and I was thrilled to work with you. Thank
you uh for so graciously always answering our our many inquiries about things like screen time and cell phone policy and tutoring and and all that. You spent many hours before this board and handled yourself incredibly capably. Um I was also in addition to getting to know you professionally, I know Dr. Rivas and I
had a lot of fun on on a It was a work trip, but we had our fun as well uh a couple years ago. Um uh and very uh was was very sad to hear about your retirement. I'll say this to all of our honorees, you know, I think one thing uh that our incredibly capable LA
Unified personnel are usually bad at is retiring. So, I hope that goes for you as well um and you find your way back here in some capacity, uh but just grateful for years of service and uh it's no surprise that I think this district's greatest great gains um were when you were our chief academic
officer. So, thank you. >> Uh, Dr. Baez doesn't know this, but I actually met her many, many years ago when she and Mr. Huerta came to present that concept of COSA's. When Buetner was, I think it was Buetner, who was our superintendent. I
was there representing uh, UTLA, and you presented these diagrams that showed the COSA, and I was like, that was the first time I ever met you. Um, but I've been, uh, very glad and happy to have worked with you and collaborated with you on the curriculum
and instruction committee. I want to echo that you've been very receptive and welcoming to new ideas, and supported our team, and supported, you know, our our committee in guiding us and, um, letting us know all the things that are
available for our educators and our students. And, just very grateful and very happy for you retiring, because this is great. I think, I hope you get to have fun, and I hope you get to relax. And, yes, you're always welcome to come back. Thank you. Thank you very
much, board member. >> Well, Dr. Baez, you know, um, whenever when we received your email about your retirement, you know, I responded, I was in shock. Beca- And I say that because we've, um, we first uh, crossed paths, um, when you
were at Region East, and, uh, and then after that you were the Region East, you know, superintendent, and then chief academic officer. So, for that, you know, you are an example of a Latina striving for more. A Latina that wants to give back to her community,
and your passion, and your knowledge, and your fierceness just really has, you know, shined through everything that you've done. And I know that that passion and that you love for for for education, for public education, for
research, and all of that is is going to go on further. And I know that soon I'll be seeing you, hopefully. I don't know. I envision you as Professor Bias. So, we'll see you. You never know. But, I know that you will continue to to rise
high and endeavor um and be a an example a role model for for all Latinas, particularly doctorates doctor doctors. So, thank you for all of your work, your dedication, your sweat, your tears, everything that you went through. It
wasn't in vain. It was to serve our students and to make sure that this district um is that district you envisioned to be part of. So, thank you, Dr. Bias. >> Uh Dr. Bias, um
thank you. I want to say thank you for your service. Thank you for your ability to connect. I think every opportunity that you've had, you've made an made it a point to connect. And I want to say
personally thank you for just uplifting and making sure that I was doing good in what I'm here to do by providing whatever information I needed, whatever resources I needed
to make my joy, my work a joy. I want to also say um to Nick's point that um we we we do around here not retire well. I know. I'm around many of those. But, to know that we will I will call
upon you often to to help support this district. And it is always great to see the legacy of LAUSD stand before us and to continue to help our students and families be at their best. And I think you
continue to make our district shine in that way. And so, I want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Very grateful for the service you have done for this district, and the families are grateful as well. So, thank you so much.
>> Uh ditto. I got to I was searching for something I had written about you a couple years ago. You've seen it, but um the themes remain true, which is that you are a champion for equity, and you have a compassionate heart. And that is the legacy that you are leaving behind in LA Unified. And I do hope you leave it behind because the other thing I said
and when I wrote about you was that you rise to every challenge that you face, and I hope you rise to the challenge of relaxing and rejuvenating and enjoying retirement. Um your legacy will absolutely live on. So, thank you for your service, Dr. Bites. >> Thank you very much. Um so, it's both an honor and a
privilege to stand before you today to be recognized for my career in LAUSD. Um LAUSD teaches us to see possibility in challenges, and with every challenge I fought hard to provide students what they deserved. From the moment I stepped into the classroom where there were no
books, materials, or a piece of chalk, must less must less established standards because that was before standards were actually established in the country, I developed a path for our students to achieve and taught students to read, and we classified many students from English learners to mainstream English.
During my early years, I was thrown into the world of politics making sense out of Prop 187 prohibiting undocumented immigrants from accessing public education, non-emergency health care, and social services. This was a shocking law, but I was determined to teach my students regardless of their status.
Proposition 227 required public schools to teach limited English proficient students primary and primarily in English restricting bilingual education. I went from a bilingual educator to teaching solely in English overnight. Despite this, I helped our families and students
navigate the uncertainties. With every new law and emergency in LAUSD, I stepped in to support students and families. I quickly found that the families mirrored my family, and I was honored to support them and serve them. I'm blessed to have been educated by
LAUSD, hired by LAUSD, and have the belief of LAUSD in my role as chief academic officer. In my 31 years, I've met parents, school employees, teachers, and administrators who've gone above and beyond the call and I will carry their
stories in my heart forever. In my 7 years as principal, I had the honor of looking into the eyes of every student to discuss their progress and hear their future goals during my one-on-one meetings with them. These are the most unforgettable moments for me.
As the landscape of public education in LAUSD changes, I have recommendations for this board. Focus on the strategic plan so that employees have a focus. Prevent additional initiatives to avoid overworking your employees.
The central office employees carry your initiative. If you want to reduce central office staffing, then please be mindful about the many initiatives that are introduced. I ask for your continued respect of central office employees. They support
teachers. For example, they enter teachers payroll when they attend professional development. They prepare employees to operate summer school. They operate hubs for students to complete their college applications or to prepare for enrollment. They're out there right now. I can go on and on. Central office
support is also student support. Keep promoting Keep promoting innovation. Innovation comes when there is a challenge such as diminishing resources. Allow time for innovation. We have very creative employees, parents, and students, and they will impress you.
Continue having faith in our schools. It's an honor to have led as the chief academic officer. I love every member of the division of instruction who has worked tirelessly for students. I thank my deputy superintendent of instruction for her support and to my superintendents for their leadership
during the most challenging times. The region superintendents and cabinet have been great teammates. The improvements in student achievement have been due to a collective effort of every member of this organization. I will continue cheering on this great district and you can count on me to advocate for the
resources for students that students deserve. I will care for my aging mother, but I will also step into uh something that I'm passionate about is advocating for public education and ensuring that it continues and it thrives. Thank you for this acknowledgement and I
will forever uh carry you in my hearts. Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> Thank you again, Dr. Bias. I would now like to recognize Maricela Sanchez Robles. Over the course of 32 years with LA Unified, Maricela has served in numerous
leadership roles beginning as a bilingual classroom teacher and ultimately serving as executive director within the division of instruction. Throughout her career, she has been a champion for multilingual learners, instructional excellence, and educational equity.
She helped lead the implementation of English language development standards, built partnerships that strengthened instructional practice, and supported principals and schools in improving outcomes for students. Most recently, Maricela has provided exceptional leadership in elementary instruction,
helping guide initiatives in arts education, instructional technology, and community schools, while bringing clarity, collaboration, and purpose to complex work. Maricela, thank you for your decades of service and for the lasting impact you
have made on students, educators, and school communities throughout LA Unified. >> Yeah. >> I'd like to go ahead and open it up to board members. >> Well, I have to say, Maricela, you're one of the behind-the-scenes people because this is the first time I really,
really met you uh face to face. You're one of these people who work behind the scenes who gets all the work done, and I know that Frances is very grateful to what you have done for us, and I thank you so much. I'm a secondary person, and I know that you're we're focusing on elementary, but we all have bilingual
kids, and I thank you for that instructional materials that you gave us and constructed. Appreciate it very much. Thank you. Thank you. >> Nick? >> Uh sure, I'll just uh we haven't worked too closely together, but I I um
we heard it with the DLI presentation yesterday, but one of the things I'm most proud of in my tenure on this board is our expansion of dual language programs, and really leaning into bilingual, trilingual um learning as a strength, as an asset of the district for for too long in this state. Legally and beyond, it was seen
as a deficit, and I know that's that you've been really instrumental in in that, and so your legacy will continue, and I know you have this board's commitment to kind of in your honor and Dr. Buys's honor to continue our work around multicultural, multilingual education, and really leaning into those dual language
programs throughout the district. So, thanks for being a true trailblazer on that. >> Thank you. >> Carla, go ahead. >> Yes, I met you, I think at the art fest last year. And so I want to appreciate you for guiding that work through the
arts education office. And then I saw you again at the community schools event, which I did not know that you were also leading that work. So like Scott says, you do you've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and running a lot of initiatives and I want to appreciate that work. And again, like
I said to Dr. Rice, I'm really happy for you that you're in this place where you are retiring hiring and I hope and wish for you a wonderful time with your loved ones. And of course, if you want to come back and and offer your your services,
I'm sure we'd be glad to have you again. So have fun during retirement. >> Six months and one day, then you can come back. Okay, who else would like to speak? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Anybody else? >> Oh, sure. I mean, I'm with Scott, six months is always what I say. You know,
you got six months and then you get to come back. Uh, but I always want to say thank you for your service. Thank you for always helping us. And I appreciate, you know, being able to be in a district where people really love what they do. And when they get an opportunity to be able to say, I'm going to retire, but
make us all jealous. But we do say thank you for your service and again, thank you for being able to to make our work better here in the district. And so six months and one day. >> [laughter] >> And I'll just say it's a good reminder
for us to invite the team to step into the spotlight. This is your moment for the spotlight, but we know behind the scenes you've been also leading so much of the bright work. So thank you for your leadership and your legacy too will live on here. Thank you. >> Thank you. Well, I do hope to retire and I hope it will be uh
cuz I think I'm 35 years, but so hopefully it does happen. But I stand here today because of the extraordinary teachers, office and classified staff, administrators and colleagues I've had the privilege of working with throughout my career at each of the schools and
district departments I have worked at. Each of them have played a role in my journey through their support, encouragement, honesty, and friendship. Whether it be a phone call, a hug, their brilliance, troubleshooting a concern, sharing words words of wisdom, critical
feedback, or simply being there. They navigated They helped me navigate challenges, celebrate successes, grow as a leader, and with that I felt valued and seen in every step of the way. I'm equally grateful to the students and
families who entrusted me with a small part of their educational journey. Whether in my classroom as a teacher or in the schools I served as an assistant principal or principal. They inspired me with their stories of resilience, challenged me to be better,
and reminded me daily of the purpose of this work. Their stories and mine became intertwined. Together we learned, we strengthened our community, overcame obstacles, and celebrated countless accomplishments. Every experience helped shape me as an
educator and leader. As I retire, I am especially mindful of the sacrifices that made this journey possible. I am a proud daughter of immigrant parents, Jose and Maria Elena, who left Yahualica, Jalisco, Mexico in search of
greater opportunities. Their courage, faith, hard work, and unconditional love laid the foundation for everything I have achieved. Along with my brothers, Jose and Luis, they instilled in me a strong work ethic, a deep sense of
identity, and a moral compass that has guided both my life and career, for which I will be forever grateful. To my husband Gabriel and my children, now adult children, Isaac and Jackie, thank you for being my greatest source of strength and purpose. You shared this
profession with me the early mornings, late nights, school events, and countless hours devoted to serving students and families. The best personal and professional decision I've ever made was actually enrolling my own daughter at my own school. And I actually am a district
parent as well. As I leave this profession, I smile knowing that I'm passing my baton to my son, who is a new teacher, and looking forward to the new year and volunteering in his classroom. My 35 years in this district have been defined by service, purpose, and servant
leadership. Like you all said, my job was ensuring our Riverside Dr. Baez look good. I wasn't loud. I did the work. I did it exceptionally well, and I ensured others took the credit for it.
All the initiatives, all the projects, can speak for themselves. And as you look at elementary instruction, you're able to see the work that's happening in the schools. So with that, my 35 years in this district have been defined by all that,
by service, purpose, and the extraordinary people who have worked and walked alongside me. Thank you all for being part of this journey filled with meaning, growth, impact, and joy. So thank you for this honor. Thank you.
>> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> Prant Sanchez, just wanted to thank you for um reminding us how important central office people are. It's not a battle between the schools and central office. We're all working together for the same uh reason. And Ms. Sanchez
Robles, you taught me a lesson, too. I'm I'm to push another button besides 24 because I know all my schools so well, but I don't know all the floors in this building and I think you gave me an opportunity to start visiting people. So, don't get scared if I come visit you. I just want to see who you are and
I thank you for pointing that out to me. Thank you. >> Indeed, thank you Scott and thank you again Ms. Sanchez Robles for your 35 years of service. Thank you for that. Now, our our final retiree before we recognize a couple of other folks that
are leaving the district, uh I would like to recognize Lourdes Valentine. >> [applause] >> For 20 years, Lourdes has served the district in leadership roles across procurement services, business services, and communications, helping strengthen how the district connects with students,
families, employees, and the broader community. Throughout her career, she has led innovative communications and marketing initiatives, including supporting the district's rebranding efforts, advancing digital communication strategies, and enhancing the ways in which our schools
and communities access information and resources. Her work has consistently reflected a commitment to public service, transparency, and meaningful engagement. Whether leading award-winning projects, producing major district events, or helping tell the stories of our students
and schools, Lourdes has elevated the district's ability to communicate and connect. Uh again, I will throw in a a personal note. Uh I've been at a number of press conferences, fires, natural disasters, all kinds of not so fun stuff, and no matter how charged the
moment was, as long as I could look out there and see Lourdes with that very calm smile, I knew we were going to be okay. Lourdes, thank you for your dedication, creativity, and service to LA Unified. We are grateful for your many contributions and wish you the very
best in your retirement. I now like to turn it over to the board. >> Let me just say something Lourdes before we go to my other board members. You know, if you had to look up the word pleasant in the dictionary, her picture would be there for pleasant. And this is
a person who I have never seen frowning or I don't know what she feels inside, but she's always pleasant to everybody and I think that's so great. And Lourdes, I remember I spoke to you about advertising the district by putting these posters on our trucks, the trucks
that go to the different schools and advertising programs and schools and you listen and you did it. And I'm just so proud and thankful for all you have done, helped our office so much with communications when we were stuck and you're just you're just terrific. So, I want to thank you so much. Thank you.
Board members? >> Thank you. >> Sure. Thank you for your years of service and and like my colleagues have said, just always being a reassuring presence in those tough often tough environments. I it's um I was I was thinking about it when the superintendent was speaking that it
really is like you helped us with literal fires. I mean, not just metaphorical, but in that my instance in board district four, literal fires. And uh um was able to handle I think the winds and like the the marketing well, but also in
those areas of challenge um help us navigate tough environments and I will say that I think you deserve credit. Every time the district and the board looks good, I think you know, I'd like to give you credit and every time we look bad, I'll blame the superintendent. So, um but Lourdes, thank you for um all that you've done for
individual board offices and for the district as a whole and congrats. >> Thank you. >> Well, I I'm really really saddened to see you go. Um the reason for that is because yes, you were always so you know, you always had a smile on your
face. You were always kind and I know when I first stepped into this role, like my first press conference, you were there, reassuring, you know, just helping me feel reassured, very attentive. And you know, there were
times, you know, that your kindness reached out and and would give me a hug. She's like, "Give me a hug." And I was, you know, that was you know, you're just someone who offers hugs. I mean, that was beautiful. And you always seem very cool, calm, and collected, no matter what was going on.
And that is someone who, for me, shows, not only are you in control, but you bring just positive energy into the space. And I always felt that every time I saw you. And when I would see you, I was I would always smile. I was like, "Oh, there's Lourdes." So, you always,
every time I would see you, I always have just a loving feeling towards you. And just want to wish you, I didn't know about your other roles in this district, but thank you so much for everything that your work and your dedication to this district. And and I wish you all the best in your next phase of your
life. You know, I know it's they say retirement, but you know, hopefully you have a lot of things to do to keep you very busy in in the next chapter of your life. So, thank you. Thank you so much, Lourdes. Hope to see you again soon. >> Carla? >> Well, here I thought I was the only one
who was getting those smiles in the elevator. I was felt so special. But it's true. You know, we're often in the elevator. I always assume people don't know me or don't remember me. And somehow you always made that connection and it just reminds me of, you know, our educators, right? And how people feel
when they go to school, our students feel when they go to school. If you just smile, you just all of a sudden your stress level goes down. And you always do that. And I really did feel very special. And I thought I was the only one. But I'm so happy for you. I was a little bummed when I heard you were the one retiring
because of that. When I run into you, you're such a positive presence. But much gratitude for all the work that you've done also behind the scenes and I have seen you at the press conferences, but I did not know all the wonderful things that you've been doing for our district. So much gratitude and and of
course wishing you the best, lots of fun. Hopefully you get to travel and you get to do wonderful things in your retirement and enjoy your loved ones. So thank you. >> I always get to tell reporters, thank you for telling our story when really I
should be thanking you for telling our story. You've really lifted up the hearts of our community and um helped to put out the good news. So thank you so much for doing that, Lourdes. You're definitely leaving a hole, but also great big shoes that I know the team will fill to continue telling our LAUSD story. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you. I mean, even when I came in today, I was like, she's smiling. You make me smile, so I just want to say appreciate um just making us look well. I mean, communications is a big issue. I think
when I started in this role, it's like, our communication is one of the top priorities. And the fact that you are making sure that our district narrative of the good and positive things that go out from our district is always highlighted and when we come into the
space as as elected officials into that room where it can be intimidating and uncomfortable, um it is always welcoming to see you and to give to give a hug and I know it works for you as the theory says, you know, 14 hugs a day
um definitely keeps your spirit up and I appreciate you doing that for us and definitely smiling when it is uncomfortable and making sure that we feel comforted in those spaces. So, thank you and enjoy retirement. Again,
jealous, but uh enjoy the enjoy it. Um make sure that um retirement is done as well as you've done the work that you've done. So, congratulations. >> Lord, it's your turn. >> Okay.
Wow. Thank you so much for this honor. Superintendent Chat. Board President Smelson and board members, esteemed board members, thank you so much. I am so grateful to Los Angeles Unified
because I have been given the opportunity to do what I love to do, which is making connections, telling stories, and elevating the great things that are happening in this school district every day.
I'm not alone in this journey and I am very grateful that I'm just going to name some instances that when I have called, you answered even when you're vacationing on Maui. You know who you are, Coop.
Or when we needed more support for the Superintendent address, you were there. When I called midnight or at 4:30 a.m., you were there and I'm so grateful to the team and each time my colleagues stepped in and up.
And it was so amazing. So, if I may, I'd like to ask our team, the Division of Communications, Engagement, and Collaboration to stand. And this includes our KLCS team behind the cameras.
We are the storytellers, event planners, translators, and the connectors to our students, their families, our colleagues, and community partners. By recognizing
me, you shine a light on them and the work that they do. So, thank you for that. I am proud to be a part of this team that includes my colleagues from prior years. Thank you for the opportunity to serve for the last 20 years. While I will not miss
the drive, the 100 mile drive every day, I will miss the people, some of whom have be whom have become lifetime friends. The moments and everything in between that make LAUSD so special.
And finally, I do want to thank my family and my husband for always standing by my side through this wild and amazing ride. Thanks again for this honor, and one last thing, keep smiling. I learned it from my mama, and it really does help. I
appreciate you all. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you again, Lourdes. Before recognizing our final two honorees, I want to acknowledge that while Frances Matias and Lourdes are concluding distinguished careers through retirement, our next two recognitions
honor members of the district's executive leadership team whose service and contributions warrant special recognition as they conclude their tenure with LA Unified. Although their paths forward differ, all five individuals share a common commitment to public education and to
the success of the students that we serve. Next, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Jaime Jim Torrance. For the past 4 years, Jim has served as senior advisor to the superintendent, providing thoughtful counsel, strategic insight, and trusted leadership during a
period of significant opportunity and challenge for our district. Drawing on decades of experience in educational facilities, operations, and public service, Jim helped advance key district initiatives, strengthen operational effectiveness, and support informed decision-making at the highest
levels of the organization. His steady leadership, practical wisdom, and commitment to public education have made him a valued colleague and trusted adviser. I want to particularly recognize his work in eco-sustainability with our office of environmental health
and safety. He and I had a chance to partner on some key initiatives around transportation. And again, the the words I just shared are exactly indicative of what Jim brings to the table. Wisdom, the ability to collaborate, the ability to
be open to others' ideas, and to find a path forward that meets the need of the moment. Jim, as you begin your next endeavor, thank you for your service to LA Unified and for the many contributions you have made to support our students and school communities. Thank you. >> [applause]
>> So, Mr. Torrence, I consider you the quiet man. Deep thinker, deep thinker, but the quiet man who gets things done behind the scenes and and all these important things that have happened in the district, I always see your name
at the bottom of the list of one of the consultants on this these projects, and I thank you very much for your hard work and great thinking. Thank you, James. >> Um yes, Jim, I think the minute you got here, Superintendent Carvalo had basically
assigned you to all my key priorities that needed fixing from facilities to underutilized assets to leasing to the AI stuff. And so, while you are kind of a a behind-the-scenes thinker, and I think some folks are like, "Who's Jim?" Uh, we knew you well because I dragged you to
tour every facility basically in the district. Um, some which are now the sites of our housing initiatives that are out. Um, and so, you know, I hope you will come back for that ribbon cutting in just a few short years. Um, but thank you for tackling kind of the really challenging uh, things where there's a lot of
opportunity for growth in this district, whether it's those revenue opportunities or uh, time and efficiency and cost on facilities projects. It's not always the um, the sexiest things, uh, but it's things that, uh, you and I, I think, jointly found very important, and I appreciated your perspective. I always
joke about kind of LA Unified exceptionalism, and I think you were helpful to say, uh, that, you know, oh, there is there is another way to do this. Um, or we can look at some, uh, whether it's things that you did in Miami or or kind of connecting with the Council of Great City Schools and other
districts. So, thank you for bringing that perspective, and uh, I know a lot of the things that this board will be undertaking, like housing, who leasing resolution, AI and screen time policy, kind of will have your fingerprints all over. So, thank you, and enjoy uh, retirement.
>> Yes, thanks. >> Well, I I say the same, quiet, but I did get to hear you speak quite a bit when we're in the closed session. So, I was like, he's quiet out here, but when we're in there, you have some to share, and I'm grateful to have, you know, had
the interaction, and the fact that you have worked with our Eco Sustainability team, which those are the things that are somewhat invisible, so to speak, but they produce so much for us in the long run. And so, I appreciate your work in that department because that is an area
moving forward in our future, we'll continue to see the benefits of it. And so, appreciate your work on that, and appreciate for for whatever reason whenever I'm in the hallway I'm bumping into Jim in the hallway. So, I don't know if we time it at just that moment, but I just want to say thank you for
your service to this district and thank you for making sure that our future is bright with the work that you have done. Thank you. >> Yes, ditto. Thank you for as was mentioned about the Eco Sustainability Office. You came when the
office was first created and you really you know gave your attention and focus and working alongside Christos to make sure you know that that office really took off on on on a strong on a strong start and that the greening efforts and climate
resilience and everything you were so knowledgeable. Like yeah, I mean when you would speak you were you know you knew what you were talking about and we knew that um you you know placing you you placed in charge of those departments and offices
were because you had the expertise and the knowledge. So, I thank you for what you've done the work that you've done here in LAUSD and wish you all the best and um what what whatever phase or thing is next for you. Thanks. >> Yeah, thank you Jim. Appreciate you
always being available. Like as soon as my office needed your support with OEHS, you were on it, responsive, making sure that we understood the issue and what we were doing. So, really appreciate your
support in that and then also of course supporting our Eco Sustainability Office. I know that from Christos that he's very appreciative of your work and when I hear that from folks expressing that about their supervisors
that gives me insight into your work. So, thank you so much and wish you the best. >> I just want to I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Jim was also in many ways the point person for the recovery in the Palisades and getting the schools relocated within
a week and really helping with Pali High our independent but conversion charter that's also the neighborhood school for the Palisades and and on our property both in this the Sears building that was converted in record time and then back to their campus which they
were able to repopulate in January. So Jim that was whenever we had a hurdle or there was going to be a delay that was affecting community that had been through so much I would call you and you fixed it without fail every time and so it is it is not an understatement to say the
reason that those kids were so supported and back where they needed to be so quickly was thanks to your leadership on that. So thank you. >> Well, thank you all for the kind words. Really compared to some of the other staff that's being recognized today. I'm relatively short timer here at LAUSD but
I really have enjoyed my time here. The opportunity to help contribute to the success of of this district of the last four years. And it was mentioned here eco sustainability obviously I was one of the the the kind of the crown jewel and what we were trying to accomplish in
bringing all these board resolutions over the past two decades and bring them to fruition and under one you know established leader and in Crystal's and the team at eco sustainability office thank you for for helping me as well. The other office
reporting directly to me environmental health and safety is Carlos Torres and the team there really in particular after the fires played a tremendous role in getting our schools reopened and and getting basically the those facilities ready to
to be reoccupied by students. And on on a number of other areas that I've had the opportunity to work in, it's it's been a pleasure working with you board members uh directly with superintendent and uh I was very grateful when superintendent Carvalho uh uh
came out and I was able to come with him and and try and help. I mean, we're coming out of COVID, there were a lot of things that still needed to be uh launched. Uh, and I think we, you know, made significant strides and put some things in place that uh over the next few years will help with things such as
the the reducing the uh expenditures on general fund with eco-sustainability, some of our initiatives on on with uh environmental health and safety. And to the executive team and senior management, thank you for uh accepting me immediately. Uh, I
know it's as an outsider coming into a massive organization like this, uh I feel very grateful to everybody that uh uh you know, not not only uh collaborated, but really became friends. So, I really am grateful for that. I'm as uh was said
ready to move on to uh next phase of my life with my family and I thank my wife and my family for their support throughout everything, moving out here uh and the time that we've been here. So, again, thank you all very much. >> [applause]
>> Our last recognition is Dr. Karla Estrada. Over the course of her distinguished career from special education teacher to deputy superintendent of of Dr. Estrada has led with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment
to students. I want to mark, I do consider Dr. Estrada a fellow lifer who just took a brief sort of break from LAUSD before coming back. Under her leadership, LA Unified achieved some of the strongest academic outcomes in district history.
Yet, her greatest legacy extends beyond any single measure of performance. It can be found in the leaders she developed, the educators she inspired, and the students whose lives were positively impacted by her work. One of Dr. Estrada's favorite reminders
was, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring your own chair." Throughout her career, she not only brought her own chair, she also created space for others. She opened doors, elevated voices, and encouraged countless individuals to
pursue opportunities they may not have otherwise imagined possible. Carla, as you transition to your next professional chapter, I'd like to thank you for your partnership, your leadership, and most importantly,
your steadfast dedication to the students and families of LA Unified. It is no overstatement to say your impact will be felt for generations to come. Thank you, Carla. >> [applause]
>> No! That was I think that was a lot of people's reactions when we heard the news. Um of course, we're always happy when people get to make good life choices for themselves, but we're very sad. When you came back to the district, I I know it felt like homecoming for you, but I think it felt like homecoming
for the district as well, and we felt your joy and your passion, but also your very, very strong leadership for kids. Um you are one one favorite success stories of LA Unified from being a student here working all the way through up the district and so
again your legacy will live on so many as so many others have but I'm just deeply and powerfully and I am so grateful to have gotten to known you in this space so thank you Carla. >> Well, I was really bummed when I heard that you were leaving because
um you know, not only are you just a super cool human being because you really are but also you are you're very smart and you you have great leadership skills that bring people in like I always feel that leaders are
those who build other leaders and you're that and you're also humble but also very um empowered and strong and so you're a great role model I want to say that and I really really value the times that we
met with Karen I saw how you brought Karen in to the conversation and that to me showed the kind of leader that you are and your you know, your openness you're willing to have conversations
whether we agreed or disagreed but you were open to the conversation open to the ideas and again those are the leaders that I really value because you know, that's how innovation happens and so I'm bummed I really am I am
hopeful for you know, what your next step is I look forward to you coming back again and and you know, I'm I am excited for you but I am personally I am going to miss you and I hope that you continue doing
great work wherever you go. Thank you. >> Thank you Carla. I think you or Christina Stokes got the most calls from me than anyone else in this building, whether it be facilities or instruction. I mean, what's more important, facilities or instruction? And I'll
throw in Carlos Torres, too, for mold. I'll throw him in, too. I mean, yeah. Anyway, I really appreciate your work. I really appreciate your answering all of my calls and then getting back to me on everything to do with instruction, and
especially when you would talk to me what it was like being a student at LAUSD and all the struggles that you had as a young kid. You know what our kids are facing in school, and I really appreciate that point of view that you have, that helping all kids, and
especially the kids who are struggling. And I thank you so much, Karla. >> I don't approve of this retirement and will not will not be commenting. Um I I remember years ago I was in Boston, and I think for a conference, and I I
met then Superintendent Tommy Chang. I think in an Irish pub, and I was asking him about the success, and he was like, "Oh, it was all it's all this woman, Karla Estrada." And that was the first time I heard your name. And so, when we brought you out here, it felt like such a coup, and and it really was.
And I I understand why you led and were such an engine of change in Boston and here, as well, and led on so many initiatives. Even initiatives you didn't necessarily want to go. And I I think when Dr. Bias was talking about central office initiatives, I feel like she kind of had me in mind. And Francis, I hear you I hear you
there, and I I own it. But but your team you and your team being able to anticipate where this board might go, I think most recently with the screen time resolution, and even kind of before the votes were cast, understanding where the district needed to go to meet the needs of kids and families, but also
again leading and building a coalition with such with such grace. Uh it's been incredible to work with you. Um, and I think like my colleagues have been saying about your story, I'm always reminded as we have shared a graduation stage a few times including, I think, a week ago tonight at Taft. Um,
seeing how your story resonates with our students, uh, is uh, incredibly compelling. And so, I'm I'm very bummed. Um, I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off. I hope you are also racked with guilt at leaving us in our hour of need. Um, but uh, appreciate you and
don't be a stranger. >> Well, for myself, you know, I'm in denial. I'm in denial that you're leaving. Um, you know, when I heard you were leaving, I was really sad. And every time I saw you, I couldn't bring myself to say,
you know, to say something because it is. And um, I admire you so much. Um, you were always there. When I said, "Hey, this is happening." you were always ready to to troubleshoot and to, you know, work it out, you know.
It's just been a pleasure and you're a person that I truly do admire. Um, as board members mentioned, you know, we got to know you in this short time. But in this short time, I really got to know your heart. And that, you know, you see yourself reflected in
their students. Uh, from special ed, from our students in continuation high schools, and every every part of our community. And um, I just, you know, I wish you the best. I wish you could still be working on the great things for this district,
but I know that, you know, wherever you go, you're going to shine and you're going to do wonderful things for the students, for our communities, for our city. You know, um, the sky's the limit for you. And um, so
my admiration for you is high. And um, and I hope we can stay connected in one way or so. But thank you. But at your long trajectory here in the district, but also in this capacity that um as deputy superintendent and thank you.
And um we're going to miss you. >> I know I should have went first. >> [snorts] >> Um oh, wow. Leadership. Um you have had the capacity to
to just translate that into others around you. Um to to be empathetic, to listen. I really appreciate that you listen. No matter what time of day, um I I've gotten calls back
at 10, 11, didn't matter, and I appreciate that. Um you put this district, these students first. You put each and every person that you
that you wanted you elevated them. And your story, um as mentioned here so many times, I often think about it when I think about this district, the legacy of this district, just the fact that there's so many different
pieces. LAUSD is such an amazing space and place. And I'm so treasured that you were able to be here, to be a part of this journey, to be a part of my journey. Um I'll just thank you for your short comments of inspiration and
dedication to even making sure that I'm successful. Um I appreciate you. Just I know when I got the email, I was like, this is not real. Like, I got to call to verify. Need to fact check this. >> [laughter]
>> Is this real? Is this genuine? But I know that you will continue to work for education, no matter where you are. Um you will uplift wherever you are, the people that are around you will make them better. You will make any space that you go in better than you left it.
And I appreciate that about you. I appreciate you being honest and not afraid to to agree to disagree. And I thank you for that, for modeling that. And I do wish you the best. I will hope that we can continue to be in
connection. Um thank you for your service to this district. Appreciate you. And appreciate what you will continue to do in the world of education. Thank you. >> Well, thank you, Mr. Tate, for this honor and recognition. It means a lot to me.
Um of course, I need to say thank you and congratulate Dr. Bias and Monticello on their retirement. They truly have been bold, unstoppable as Dr. Bias always reminds us to be. And I thank you for all you have done for the children
of this district. Uh you model exactly what people are describing is is exactly your leadership in front of the scenes or behind the scenes. I think all leadership is something that is centered about doing what you care the most about. And that should be our children.
So, thank you. Um to the board, um thank you for the honor to serve the children and the families of Los Angeles. Uh as a continuation school graduate >> [snorts] >> of Einstein High School, uh as a
daughter of immigrants, uh and as a leader with over 25 years in LA Unified, I have sat in different roles that have prepared me to be able to be confident enough to leave to go to Boston. I had never left LA. Uh but I felt like LA
Unified prepared me with skill sets that allowed me to be courageous in other places to work for the state, whatever it was. LA Unified created that foundation that I knew I could do it. And so thank you for welcoming me back home to my home district when I did come back. You know,
our results from academic gains to the Dream It Achieve It has been because the board has set a vision, has set clarity of what matters most, and then we have amazing talent that exists in the school district who has
said, "We are ready to step up and do what's necessary to deliver for our kids." >> [snorts] >> Uh the work that we do it at the core has to be a couple things. And for me, first it starts with courage. Um I know that our children and families
expect to get it right. They expect us to get this right, and I take that very seriously. And so thank you for honoring and recognizing when there were moments that we need to be courageous, but it always came from a place of knowing that we are an LAUSD family, and we should do that together.
Uh the second piece in leading it's also humility. I know our kids are so different and unique in so many ways. There is no way one person knows the answers. We have to take the collective ideas, the inspiration from so many in order to
truly deliver for our kids. And I am so glad that I've worked with central office, region leaders, principals, and families, and students who have said, "We want this." And being able to listen carefully to that request has truly been what's been motivating
me. And then lastly, I just want to say that ultimately in the work, it's always leading with love. Uh bell hooks talks about, you know, love is a choice. Love is an action, not just a feeling. And love reminds us of the
accountability and responsibility we have to those that we say we love. And so I want to thank you all for letting me do what I love most, and that's serving my community. So thank you so very much. I appreciate this recognition. Thank you. >> [applause]
>> Thank you, Mr. So now, to conclude our recognition, I would like to ask our five honorees to join us at the podium, and of course our esteemed board members for pictures and some additional recognitions. Thank you, folks. >> What's what's the order?
>> And in front of me, she also >> wants my picture. >> [laughter] >> I know. >> I knew you were talking about me. >> [laughter] >> That's finger. >> Yeah, it's going to be great. I love it. I can't wait. >> Uh
Yeah, the retired >> Nice. >> And we'll put this over here. >> Who's first? >> Yeah. Don't drop that on your foot. >> I know. >> [laughter] >> Of course. >> Do you need help? >> There you go. >> There you go. There she goes. All right.
>> I'm going to put you here. >> Hold that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> No, no, no. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. >> Yes. >> You're good. >> Here you go. >> I'm bringing it out.
I'll hold that. >> [applause] [laughter] [applause] >> Thanks. >> Thanks. No vibration. >> [applause] >> All right, the time is 11:59. Please keep taking photos. Please take your uh but uh there we will be recessing into
closed session. Uh the time is now 11:59. The board is going to recess into closed session. Thank you. >> Mhm. >> So, we have a >> It's 5 minutes left. >> They've been a cre- accrediting. Welcome back. The time is now 3:48 p.m.
on June 17th, 2026. I have Ms. Newbell, Board President Schmarlson, Ms. Ganas, and Ms. Ortiz-Franklin for a quorum of four. Um I'm going to and uh Mr. Maltwine is here, too, now. Uh let us report out under tab one, student student discipline. The Board of Education approved the expulsion of
students in case numbers 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, and 75. With the recommended dispositions, the vote
was seven eyes. The Board of Education approved the expulsion of student in case number 73. With the recommended dispositions, the vote was six eyes and one no. Board President Schmelson. The Board of Education denied the enrollment of student in case number 22. With the recommended dispositions,
uh the vote was seven eyes. Uh the Board of Education approved the conditional enrollment of the students in case numbers 20, 21, and 23. With the recommended dispositions, the vote was seven eyes. Under tab two, personnel, public employment, the Board of Education
appointed Andre Spicer to the position of Chief of Schools with a term beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending July July 30, 2027. Terms and conditions will be available upon the finalization of the agreement. The vote was seven eyes. The Board of Education appointed
Robert Whitman to the position of Regional Superintendent with a term beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. Terms and conditions will be available upon the finalization of the agreement. The vote was seven eyes. That's all I have to report out. Are there any objections to adjournment?
The time is 3:49 p.m. Thanks, all.