I wonder we're good. Rose. Okay. Good evening everybody. It is Thursday, December 18th. It is 6:35 p.m. Apologies for the delays, but we will now get started with the Citywide Council on Special Education's calendar meeting for December.
Um, first interpretation, could you please introduce yourselves and your service and then put the information in the chat box for people who need your service? Thank you. interpretation announcement has been completed. Thank you. And Mandarin,
please. Thank you. Mandarin interpreter has finished the announcement. >> Thank you so much. Interpretation Rose. On to roll call, please. Oh, army. >> Hello. Oh, that would be me too. So,
roll call me. Francesca here. Dr. SA's online. >> I'm here. >> Also, Joanne >> not here. >> President Heather excused. Mark >> here.
>> Dr. Melissa, >> she is Oh, >> excuse Ying Angs. I'm sorry if I butchered that. Maggie >> here. >> Suzanne
Suzanne Wang Benjamin Jinga Dingha >> here. >> Okay. Kim. No. >> And our student Johan. >> Jonah. >> Here.
>> He's here, right? All right, great. Great. >> And we are at quorum. Excellent. Thank you everybody. So, got some good news. We have added a member. So, we have a student member who is present tonight. Jonah, would you like to introduce yourself and welcome to CCSC as our
student member for this year? >> Hi everybody. I'm Jonah. I am senior at Towns and Harris. Uh I've had for a good while now. I've had it since fifth grade. Um, I'm happy to be here
>> to have you here, Jonah. Thank you. Really appreciate you spending the time and and and advocating for all of our students. Thank you. >> Okay, so we are honored to have the Office of Pupil Transportation here tonight. We have a a few members of
their staff, but it's a huge staff that oversees the largest bus fleet in the US. Much bigger than the MTA, serving, what was it? 145 give or take thousand kids. >> 150,000. >> My apologies, Glenn. Thank you. 150,000
plus kids, 9,000 routes. It's It's an insane undertaking. And yet we've got people working at 4:00 a.m. We got people working at midnight taking care of all of our students and trying to get them to school best they can and home best they can and honored to have
them and appreciate them coming tonight. So thank you everybody. It's on to you. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Suzanne Sanchez uh chief of special education and very happy to be here with all of you tonight uh in
person and uh those of you on Zoom. As Mark said, we are thrilled to have Deputy Chancellor Kevin Moran uh and his team Glenn and Melissa here. And Lena will be joining us shortly um to talk you through uh what they think and what
we believe to be are some positive steps and enhancements in uh transportation via busing for students in New York City public schools. uh and certainly recognize that it's been a a challenging fall uh around this and and really strong feelings and beliefs around the
contract and just cannot thank all of you for your advocacy uh support for students who use uh busing and transportation to get to and from school. Very quick uh two quick announcements from me. First want to
highlight that January 14th at 700 p.m. uh we will have a beyond access series for families. This is a parents guide to early intervention and preschool services. Uh we will be sharing the link
in the chat. Uh and hope that as many of you as possible will join on that date. Also want to share that our related services weekend academy is up and running for students who are not receiving their related services in
public or charter school. And if if you believe your child should be receiving services at the weekend sites, please email special education schools.nyc.gov. And we will also be offering assist of technology training to students in
non-public and public school. Maggie uh whose IEP recommends assist of technology and that will be starting in the middle of January. I don't want to take any more time. I want to turn this over to Deputy Chancellor Moran and his team who we very much appreciate being
here with us tonight. >> All right. So, I'm gonna talk a while, so forgive my awkward. All right. Awesome. Thank all right. So, I'd like to thank everyone first and foremost um for your
advocacy in this space uh within your school communities um with the children that you support. Um it means the world to us to come to meetings like this and experience the family's experience in a different way. It's easy to sit at a
cubicle um or or you know in a school, but to see and hear more deliberately it's important and it it's it's foundational to our work in terms of how we make the system better and more responsive. I would say we're at a pivotable moment right now. And pivotal
in the way that yes, we're we're extending our our contracts on a a shorter term than accustomed to on a three-year contract, but it gives us time to go through and reflect on all the areas of improvement for families. Um just recently uh yesterday the
controller released uh his audit of the school bus service and much like uh previous audits uh we agreed with many of the recommendations and we are thankful to the controllers's office for one taking interest into in this and two doing such a thorough job and providing
us a clear road map and places where we can improve um and work we're endeavored to do and and have un you know to to put underway uh some years ago as One example we looked at one of the initial takeaways was, you know, there's 150,000 busing complaints in a school year and
violations and such. And that's a big number. Um, and when you scale our system, if you're running essentially 8,000 routes or 8,500 routes in the morning and running 8,500 routes in the afternoon and you're rinse and repeating
180 school days out of the year, you're looking at 3 million trips. and 150,000 is it's a lot, but 5% um of our total fleet would be receiving violations per annual basis. And that's
not we want to be no violations. We want to make sure we're on time, we're deliberate in the service we provide, um and we're we're customer focused and so we're focused on that. But that's just one example of the audit we were very supportive of. Certainly the broad brush strokes of transparency, accountability,
engagement, these are all things we're we're locked in on and work we've endeavored to do. Um in 2018, uh my first direct experience with the atlarge system of people transportation, we experienced nearly 150,000 complaints
into our call center in the month of September. And in the year of 23 24, it it was nearly 150,000. So one month we were experiencing, you know, serious breakdowns, serious failure, serious
customer service issues and and very fortunate in the couple years that followed that. Um Glenn agreed to to run the organization for us. So we're forever in his debt, his leadership, uh his grace in this space and many others being available to make sure we're
hearing from our constituents >> and following up and correct. So, so what I'd say is on uh we're going to advance on to the first slide. Most important thing that I'll say tonight is what we've been hearing and
and it's important because we're listening um and we're course correcting and we're holding accountable and we're putting things together that maybe um we could have done a better job on. So, first thing I want to talk about is is route efficiency. parents, schools, administrators, all
looking for shorter, more predictable service. And so, the first time ever, we're rolling out our routing optimization this September, this fall, and we've done a lot of predictive analysis around it. It's been a lot of
fun. Um, but the goal here ultimately is to shorten the sequence uh from home to school. um and do a great partnership with our with our partners in the special education office about how we do that, but also about how we can do it on on our numbers. Um we've learned a lot
of exciting things, comfort and safety. I would say more more often than not, we hear about hot school buses and how do we still have buses without and so that's something we're looking to remedy. I can be honest with you, it can be remedied. Um it's not a lot to get an
amendment to a contract. Um it's not a lot for us to put together a chancellor's regulation and require much like 802 when we require GPS. So there's things we're we're focused on that staff training. We added in the contract extension another day of training. How to deescalate, how to support students in vulnerable environments. So we're
there making sure that that's in the contract and we're doing what we need to do. Transparency and accountability is our biggest work stream yet. The number one thing we needed is reliable data. And I I've spoken to advocates families across the city and talked about what it meant to be self-reported data and how
do we have actual data. For the first time ever, we're now using heartbeat data to see when a bus arrives at said location and when it leaves. We took that one step further. U we just started ridership tracking. students now in our
pilot can badge onto the bus much like an omniard tap at an MTA uh terminal or on a bus. So students can now when they've done it and I've been monitoring one of our schools that's been doing it and seeing a student get on at 7:09 and getting off at 7:58 with this mark time
at 8:00 students on time. That feels real good. That feels right. That transparency is necessary across the system. So wrership tracking is something we're working on. It's a small uh program, but it's something we're really excited about. Um, and when we get to the place, um, it'll be
systemwide, and it is not mandatory. It is an experience we want to encourage. Um, and there's work to do there, but there's something I want to kind of come back to later. Um, we we often hear about the public reporting and the local laws. Much of what we've done is
underpinned by local law 32, 33, and 34. uh coming out of the 2018 council, we had a series of uh of opportunities to look at improvements and and we have done that and that basically informed our our GPS bid all the requirements and that's how we shaped our current New
York City school bus app. So what we want to do is now get accountable dashboards out there to the place where you could all see vendor performance in real time. On time arrivals, staffing concerns or safety concerns, where our safety scorecards, um customer service
complaints, those are the things we want to uh focus on and putting together with partners like yourself about what are the items we measure, what are the things that we find most important that we want to hold vendors accountable to. um expanded access. We certainly hear often we need nighttime service across
the city. We need summer rising nighttime service. We need Saturdays and Sundays and holidays and such. And so it's something we're endeavoring to do. We're trying to figure out the best way to do it. Certainly, we can't use the same staff across the the board. these these are drivers and attendants that
arrive at 5:30, 6 in the morning and are running through four or five o'clock and then an evening sequence would be problematic, but but not something we can't uh do. We're not ruling it out, but we're looking at creative ways of of solutioning there. Um, a lot we talk about um for for service recoveries on
weekends. Can we do other things, but now we have some solutions around Omni and Ride Share. Can we provision those for students on weekends and nights and work together on that? and our team is looking at how we do that in part to encourage travel training um and
independent travel throughout the city. So, uh currently, as you all know, and we've heard this loud and clear and Glenn and I have heard, why can't I have the Omni and my yellow bus? And I think it's very important we stop and we we re-evaluate the why and think about how can we um and that's important because
if we could say, all right, for a six month or a term, you will get both. any ideas to do some travel training and and experience the system or if there are expanded opportunities you want to get um involved with that they're there for you. Um the other thing was the community engagement how we make sure
you're locked in with our bus vendors and how we hear from you and you provide feedback. It's best vehicle for us um express but but the exchange directly from vendor to to uh parent has to be there. The one thing we've heard more recently, the more we encourage the New
York City School bus app, the more I think folks want to rely on it. And so rather than a contact us or a push notification or a link for the Eureka chatbot or the phone phone number for that matter for the call center is can't I just do an interactive been my feedback in the app. So we're talking to the developers. That's that's something
we really want to do. >> Did we lose the the the script? >> Oh yeah. Um, one thing I want to talk about, um, as we get the slides back together is the community engagement. Uh, one of the
provisions in the extending contract was, uh, uh, the requirement for our bus vendors to have, uh, two town hall meetings a year with our with our families and and advocates. Um, we started having meetings internally on what that would look like. And not only
that, today was our first meeting where we pulled advocates in as well and said, "Give us some ideas of how this will best work for our families." And that first meeting went very well. Um, we're we're scheduling a series of meetings. Um, and I think that uh that this is
something that I would like to be driven on the family um and and the advocate level because they're the ones that's going to benefit from that interaction. And and I just want to be there to make sure that they that they actually heard
and responded to and in a safe space in a safe environment when everyone feels respected and and and there and no no idea is suppressed. So I I I'm really encouraged by how this is starting. Um I'm I'm probably going to try to expand
that to have more people give their ideas and so we can get this off the ground running because when things start well, it's easy to continue. When we have problems early, then people lose interest and we cannot lose interest in this. This is an opportunity that in we talk about the 40-year contracts and all
this, but this is a I haven't been here for 40 years, by the way. I may look like it, but I haven't been in for 40 years, but um it's just the fact to have a forum for our families actually to engage with our bus companies and and and I want to make sure that that gets off the ground and it's very successful.
>> Yeah. And we appreciate uh Glenn's advocacy in that space because uh changing the culture uh where companies were more family facing was was a lot and and Glenn really held uh the vendors accountable and at the end of the day they understood and agreed. Um what I
also like to talk about is we talked about accountability. Currently, we have the call center data posted. So, you could see it now and we're going to monitor that. As you think of items you would like to see that are one of the things we're actually going to do is the the driver login subscription. It was boosted up to
94% the other day. Um Glenn and I share the same goal. It is 100%. And the more we have the drivers logged in, the greater visibility from families, the greater accountability at the school level, um and for us to better understand the system. So some of the things if we go to the next slide and by
the way to everybody um at home watching we have provided this uh prior to you can all get a copy of this and uh if there's a smaller group out there we're at a school level or a district level you'd like us to come out uh be more than happy to uh when we look at what's
new in transportation um one of the things we heard about on the reimbursement side is families were laying out monies and not being reimbured so we completely changed that process and certainly with some of our ACS providers ers really turned it around and uh 360 did a great job making
sure they're getting um reimbursed in a timely fashion. We streamlined the the processes for students temporary housing under and foster under 801. We we are actively engaged with ACS now currently to see how we meet families in their space quicker. Same thing with DHS about
how we can provide service faster um in the event uh we don't have a bus route available uh rather than just provisioning ride share with us. other other vehicles that we could be using. Um, in that way we talk a little bit more about our analy u analytics and reporting. That's a lot of fun stuff.
That's where our future is about how we get uh greater efficiency, shorter routes uh kids to school uh school on time and and do better job looping. And certainly the omniards that's that's been transformational about how schools can order directly as they need. They
used to be bulk uh shipped out of OPT at Vernon Boulevard. This is a streamlined process making sure the Omni card gets out to our schools as they need them. The New York City schools account is, as you know, foundational to the visibility. So, we just encourage folks to log in. Um, it does provide all of
these items, the vendor name, the contact information, uh, the drop off time and the local coordinator. Um, schools do have the ability to look at every school bus um, attached or affiliated with their school. So I was speaking with a principal recently after
a town hall with the chancellor and had said look I'm spending 25% of my time on school busing and that's a lot and and indeed it was across the sites. Uh the principal was responsible for 101 different school buses. So um this console um that you'll you'll see later
is more about how we have visibility from a desktop and not necessarily have to manage so many different issues. But the school bus app has a lot of the FAQs here. Um, we're looking to add more and more features based upon things you provide us. So, um, bus arrival on the app is probably the one we get most. So,
you want to know, it's going to be there in five minutes. So, there's push notifications. Um, the FAQs and the chatbot are there and resources that are that are really helpful lately. Um, and we're excited to share um, they're available um, on the website as well.
The login piece, I mentioned we got to 94%. When I started as as a a self-contained classroom teacher, uh in the in the 90s, uh school buses came with with a index card and a and a pencil. Um it was trip card and and it
would initial you'd have to sign it. No, no, sign my trip card. I was here and I was waiting for for my students and and that's how it was. Um and and we're for and and we're thankful to the council of 2018 um because they really did force the issue of automation and and using
the GPS and so so now uh the drivers it took Glenn and I um a bit to make sure they were logging on um developing emails. It was there was so many advantage advantages to having the the the drivers logging in on a daily but it
took so long. Was it you know was it charged? Did I drop it? Was it broken? And things like that. So to to have the installs at 13,000 all these um you know devices deployed and and we repair them as they break um these are not really
really expensive units but they're they're meant to move between vehicles. Um the previous uh GPS program was was um hardwired to the vehicle and it didn't allow for the flexibility we needed across our bus fleet. Uh we're servicing 3,000 schools and programs. Um
and sometimes we got to be flexible on how we maneuver through the system. Um the app uh the performance, these are pretty good numbers. Uh we had 850,000 login in September. That's a 48% uh growth since the fall 24 um and a 45%
growth from the spring of 25. Um 10,000 new users this fall. Um we're not branding as much as we could do. Uh, and we're going to do more of that through our socials and our local outreach with with advocacy groups and principles and and CEC's and such. Um, we've already
had since January 24 u over 3 million loginins. So, it's working. Um, and it's encouraging because the more parent conversation happens at the curb, the better the driver knows and the driver likes the accountability as well. We talk to drivers and say, I know where I
know where I got to be. It's annunciated turn byturn directional coming up with our new routing system. So even if they had a sub route and there was a as they call a shape driver or substitute driver, they'll be having turnbyturn uh annunciate it uh route directions. Um yeah, and we have a pretty good app
rating so far. These are the things in the overview that that I don't think a lot of people know about. You know, the route managers out there, uh the real-time GPS which we have centrally which schools have and families see their own uh child. um how we enter information into the student management
system and how we have our reporting dashboards. I want to pause there real quick just to say this is for student tracking, the student experience, student routing. Um we also have a second uh or a redundant GPS system on our every one of our school buses. And
this is going to help inform our safety scorecard. So we use a program called Geotab. It's through our broader apparatus with Dcast manages the city fleet. It's on every school bus. We've endeavored to do many school safety uh programs uh school bus safety programs
with DAS and DOT and Vision Zero. So, we use a lot of what we generate from that system. We know when a battery is going to die. We know when an oil change is needed. We know when a bus is turning too fast or breaking too hard or accelerating. We know all the vehicle
diagnostics. And um in very rare instances where we do experience a vehicle collision, um we have a vehicle re accident recreation. So we know exactly where the strike hit, at what speed, traveling. And so I I say that to assure you that we just don't rely
solely on this. We have a duplicate um GPS that does more vehicle diagnostics uh than student tracking. You'll see here the the bus driver module. That's the one that I think is exciting for us. The turn byturn, the route. Um the wrership tracking is this code that
we're using now. So students in support with their uh teachers, their paras, their attendant are badging on and and badging off. I think it's it's really exciting and I think families out there across the city and at home um if you're interested and you want to get involved um we're all available here. Um
certainly it's the parent app that that is uh the number one thing we're looking at. Um the wrership tracking, this is the pilot. I just kind of went over it real quick who has access to it. Um, it will I've been watching it. So, it shows the route sequence. When somebody badges on, it says onboarded. And if if a
student doesn't badge on, it also um uh holds an account accounting of the route, so to speak. Um, or if a student bad doesn't badge off, um, we als we always check for sleeping children, but this will be another check-in balance to make sure if somebody logged on, um, they need to log off. Um, so this is the
pilot. This is a small pilot. Um right now we're we think we're ready um to move pretty quickly on this as the systems are pressure tested. Um we can we can expand and as schools would want to get engaged with the process and say look this is important to me makes my
morning routine easier um uh or or dismissal for that matter. So it was just a bit of a who's who's in the pilot now uh very small so it's not going to be expansive to to everyone at home. This is probably the thing people expected from us. We we had gone to
panel for educational policy a few times >> and uh we had a contract that we had renewed a few times. That was that was an older software quite frankly. We were the we were the one vendor if you will to them that that kept their 1.0 version open so to speak. Um and so we we're in
a good place now where the routing is ready to cut over for this fall and we've done some some data work. Um this is exciting because we use real-time data. You could see here how our routes are spread out. But when we finish our our now this is not
the algorithm is not like artificial intelligence. It's it's a it's a sequencing event essentially location to location series of students and and it it produces the route. um very similar to routing around uh the country and around the country, I mean around the
world. Um we use VIA right now. Um and they they have an algorithm that's proprietary and uh it's similar to their ride share is kind of where they started and kind of almost like an Uber or Lift where it sequences the route for you. But as we did this pressure test, it showed it was going to produce a 12%
reduction in travel time. um increase our arrivals by 18% getting there on time and having fewer violations uh for early arrivals, which is a thing. Um you know, and I think sometimes people um forget that sometimes we arrive too early, we pick up too early. You know,
you're there half hour, staff isn't there yet, you know, cafeteria staff isn't register breakfast, that kind of thing. So, this is going to help us sharpen up how we do things. So, this was this was probably one of the better parts of of the pressure test is that we see a 75% reduction overall on
violations. Um, and it's it's significantly changing things uh for us on on the time spent. What is not here um but is one something we know Glenn and I know they did a predictive analysis around how many routes can we save across uh our system and we're
running as you know we're around 8,500. We believe through efficiency we can kind of close the gap anywhere between five to 10% potentially nearly like 800 routes in our best case scenario. We've suffered a driver shortage for some years now. Uh hovering around 300 I
think is the latest we've been looking at Glenn. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. And then this would give us the ability to cover said shortage and with excess. And so by excess we can Glenn can unbuckle routes, shorten routes or uh shorten stops which is you know a lot
of what we do especially when we're working with with students with additional needs on travel. You know if we're stopping on an eight route sequence 3 minutes at each stop that's 24 minutes that's real time. Um and so we're trying to figure out like look if if it's a longer run should six stops be
or four. Um and we'll have flexibility we believe going into next year. So, in October when we're back together and Glenn and I are going over the numbers, I hope we can say to you, look, we've reduced as thought complaints. We've we've increased on time arrival. Um,
we're not there too early in in in the way that we have been. Um, and just finding greater efficiencies, improving the experience so kids enjoy. And certainly, we're going to focus on climate control and the training and the things I mentioned. But I think if we if we fully use our our suite of uh data
sets available to us to do the analytics, I think between the ridership tracking, between the routing optimization, parents using the app, um and our drivers who are amazing, and I want to I want to say that because you know, at nights like tonight, I'll get off a call with with our agency partners
and we'll talk about the weather in the morning and we had it more recently like how do you get ready for for Monday when it when it snows Saturday into Sunday and then the bus yards have to be cleared, you know, and if I don't know if he has to shovel their sidewalk or whatever, but we got to shovel sidewalks for 10,000 buses and, you know, it's a
lot of work. So, our drivers are there um and our companies are there and they respond each and every day for our kids and families. And so, we we offer additional training for that. And whether it be gluccogen training or deescalation training or you name the the opportunity, we'll partner with our our partners here in in the special
education office, make sure the training is targeted and responsive uh to your needs. So, just know that we do have our support hub on the website. We do have our our Eureka chatbot, which is, you know, not too personal, but it gets down to the core questions and answers, the simple ones. Um, we we remain pretty
good with our our call center. Um, that's the data we post now. Um, so you can go to the website. I will drop that. I can't do it now. I'll drop it in the chat or Mark or or Maggie, I'll send it to you. Um, and then I want to really think about our scorecard. how we imagine improving transportation through
data analytics and the final being uh vendor performance. So, how do we make sure that on a any given day and I think this was highlighted um in the in the controllers's report as well around collection of liquidated damages and that's unique. Um the the analysis used
there um to say that $43 million was not collected wasn't fully representative of the process uh on any given year we collect in liquidated damages for said violations around5 to 7 million. Um there's a lot that's adjudicated um
before you before a violation is given. There was a there was an accident proven violation but there was an accident. You're not you're not getting a liquidated damage for that. There was a weather event and flooding and then we couldn't get that. So there's a lot that goes into driver didn't log into the app well as a new driver didn't have the
password because we didn't onboard you know or whatever the issue. So I just wanted to say that because um we do and will remain uh committed to holding accountable through liquidated damages. Um but those are some of the and I also will link Mark and Maggie the um our
response to the controllers's report. Again, I want to thank the controller for a thoughtful um you know and and deliberate assessment. I thought it was real good. I think there's things that we're working on that we're happy about and there's things that we know we can do better. Um and so with that, I'm sure
you have questions. I know I know we're kind of time bound, so I left enough time I hope to to open it up. Yeah. So, I want to first open it up to our members for any questions that you
may have. If Yeah, I have my own, but I would like to open it up and then so we could open it to the public. Please, uh, one minute. >> Oh, Jonah, please go first if you have a question. >> I didn't really have a question. I just
wanted to make a statement. I've um I said that I think that this new app is very important. I feel like um the act of being able to track your child is incredibly important to parents and I feel like that this would be very
beneficial as well as like you said keeping the drivers accountable because I know many students who have been left at the bus stop uh many times just without a way to get to school. appreciate that. >> Any any members of the council that
would like to go ahead and ask the team anything? I just want to say I like everything that you guys are doing for the children on the bus. Um I have tons of kids, but they don't ride the bus, but their friends do. And it's just nice to know that you guys are listening to the
families because that's something that a lot of the families don't feel like they're being heard. And I like that you're thinking about the town hall and all all that other stuff. And I'm just wondering will we be able to meet again after like maybe next year when you get
like new numbers and new updates so we can compare and just like talk about other ways that's exciting for the busers. >> Yeah, we'd love to be back um February, March. um important for us to talk about what we're doing with the route routing
optimization when we're cutting over how we've expanded the writership tracking how our drivers are logging in how our data shows up. So we're telling the story on real data. Um and it's it's something now that it's foundational. We didn't have this data set to tell you
when a bus got to the curb and when it didn't and when a student got on when it didn't. So I think it's a it's a new level of accountability that was so desperately needed and it's refreshing quite frankly for us too cuz cuz Glenn can have very candid conversations that this is not debatable. We saw when the bus rolled up so we're looking forward
to that and >> I just want to say that um I did enjoy uh this engagement um um being held accountable is part of what we have to do and I invite this all the time. I had a conversation a little earlier with one of your members and I was saying that uh
you know never feel shy to call me and and let me know what's going on or or send emails uh from your from the families. So um doing that is uh uh reaching out to us and and us engaging with you is is something that I look forward to. So definitely we will be
back to do this again. Thank you. >> Hi Kevin. >> Hi. Hi. Um, so Lyn, so I have a question. Um, the app you just mentioned about, so uh, is it the app that mandatory the driver has to turn it on or it just optional for them?
>> No, they're required to log in every day through their route sequence with their own ID. So they have to go with their user ID and they log in. We were at 94% just the other day. So yes, every, you know, all 8,500 have to, they have to log in to be visible to the families who
get the New York City school bus app from the app store and they download it. If the driver doesn't log in, their route or their sequence won't appear. So they won't know the location or things of that nature and certainly wouldn't be able to do ridership tracking. So they're kind of like mutually reinforcing.
So you mean every school bus driver they have to turn on the app and every parent that download the app from just you mentioned that they will see the real time location of their kid or the school bus. >> Yeah. >> So the first have to log in. >> That's right. And that's one of the So
Glenn and I spent um I don't know how many months trying to um make sure the feedback we were getting from advocates and families were captured into our contract extensions. So it was about the most I think tension was around that
making sure we got that as a login. There's other things we wanted around training and participation in MW spending and there was other things we were pushing into the contract but foundational to what we needed was reliable data. >> So do you have any data or monitor that
see uh how what percentage all the bus driver lock into this app? >> Every day% >> every day. Oh 94 right. It was 94. Yeah. Yeah. >> Sorry Ron. Sorry. Uh just once again members we're we have I don't know maybe 15 minutes or so
>> you have like 30 minutes left. >> Okay. So >> really good. You >> we still have to be we still have to be mindful of the public. So please members one minute um for questions. Follow-ups would be after if we have time. So sorry guys. Go ahead. Irene.
>> Hi this is Irene. Um I want to thank you for the great presentation. I want to bring up that it is so important uh for the communication and the followup and thank you for um giving me this data uh regarding the calling center. Um I do
have families always struggle about uh following up with the case and uh accident incident and I just want to find out usually what will be the standard time that the case could be follow up or could be resolved.
>> Turn it around. Is there a turnaround time from the call center complaint? >> 24 to 48 is >> yes. Yeah, it's supposed to be 24 to 48 hours is the turnaround. Um so we're working on that immediately. Um sometimes we miss that mark, but we're
we're getting um we're working with Naro, our call center, to get the information to us more quickly and um and and that we're we're efing to make sure that we we have fidelity to that 24 to 48 hours. Hi. Yes, of course. We enjoyed the presentation. Thank you so much. And
thank you for the slides, by the way. >> Um I just wanted to I know we spoke last week, but um one of the things that would be wonderful is if the New York City school bus app would be up to par at a point where parents could place the
complaints directly or concerns within the app as opposed to calling the call center, OPT. um so that way things could be um remedied maybe a little bit quicker cuz typically the tickets tend to open. Now there's an emailing system
where people are being emailed but then the cases tend to close very quickly without real true investigation and that type of um resolve to resolve um certain concerns. And the other thing is if um
we can also report um glitches or bugs or the app being down or possibly the driver forgetting to log in or log on in order for parents to track that bus. Um you know and I I mentioned before like
my husband he likes the call of duty and so anytime there's a problem with the gaming system they email they can send information and it gets corrected quite quickly. So that would be something that would be wonderful in future and possibly even the app like I know you'd
mentioned it running more on real time kind of like similar to an angel sense where you're really having an idea of the arrival time because the matron communication and the driver communication might not always be consistent and sometimes non-existent
sorry um so that's another concern as sometimes they do not want to share a contact number. >> Yes. >> And that can be um very concerning for parents to deal with and the twominut wait time or the one minute wait time not always easy for the special needs
community. So >> I agree um in that order uh wait times was something we're looking at flexibility, patience um meeting students and families where they are. Um, I know people stress on on time arrival. Uh, but I think when you're working in in an environment where the
the services are so desperately needed at schools that waiting a minute or two is not appropriate. And so we're trying to do on time arrival and the balance of making sure students and families get supports they need. Um I have already mentioned to the program as I mentioned it to Joel about bringing the the
notification series. Um number one to have a unified call center because I think there's uh admittedly slippage between calling a bus company and calling OPT. There's not a unified call system and then not having a link to the app is the other. So, if there's a way
for us to bundle a unified call center that hovers around the app that is with the company and with our OBT center, that's something we're trying to to script backwards and certainly the the ability to hit glitches and bugs and like no lock and that kind of thing. Yeah, definitely that would be inclusive.
>> Thank you. Any other members online or here that would like to ask a question? Okay. All right. So, so if it's okay, now we're going to turn to um the public questions. So, um Lupe,
please go ahead. Anybody else? Just raise your virtual hand or please let us know in the chat or you know, unmute. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Lupe Hernandez, she her a pronouns and I am here on behalf of the New York City
public advocates office as an education and opportunity community organizer. I want to thank OPT and everyone um for all of your efforts and engagement. It has definitely been a big improvement for many of the busing advocates in this space. Thank you for the presentation.
And one question I had in regards to the audit and and our GPS tracking system is if uh OPT or DOE plans to recoup any of the I think it was $43 million in
penalties that um companies had faced to not turning on the GPS system um when they were required to do so. and if there is a pathway for us to be able to recoup those funds and maybe use them to
um retrofit our buses for climate control, dual climate control. I mean, there's many things that we could possibly use that um those funds for, but just wondering if that is something that you guys are thinking about. >> Yeah. And I and I will also say that I
know that even in my own personal experience as a parent who uses the app, there were times that it showed offline on my end and then when I looked at the bus drivers app on their end, it was working, you know, like it showed them online. So, not sure if that discrepancy
has anything to do with why the penalties were not recouped. >> Yeah, thank you. Great question, Lupe. uh we do endeavor to recoup every infraction, every warranted violation. I had mentioned earlier some of these are are adjudicated uh through a almost a
hearing process where facts and evidence are brought to our office and we reconcile that on a rolling basis. There's also periods of time when we started um the VIA program while we were generating violations for September and October um we weren't issuing liquidated
damages because it was the beginning of the program. And so there were examples of that and through contract negotiations and things we would try to recoup every um every uh liquidated damage issued but know that there are instances in which those were not I'm not saying they were waved but if we
asked the vendors to start something new that there was a transition period a training period a technical ramp up period and so a lot of what is referenced in the report could be attributed to September and October when we weren't holding that violation to the same standard as we do now. So, um, but
definitely going to hear you loud and clear. I I think the controller was clear. Uh, we'll come back to this group and others with just a clearer accounting for you of what that uh process looks like and what would be recouped on a liquidated damage side.
And I and I had mentioned earlier, we're we're averaging every year inwards around recouping 7 to8 million a year in liquidated damages. Thank you so much. Um, any other members of the public that would like to ask uh
any other questions? Please unmute. Please um raise your virtual hand, put it in the chat. There there were some questions in the chat. Um I don't know if you want to unmute uh pissed. Uh
there was the EpiPen. Um, question. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to find it. Sorry. >> So, the question from one of the the uh
audience was, "Is there EpiPen training and seizure training for bus drivers or monitors?" >> So, we do have a standard first aid, a CPR training, and we have rand uh trainings throughout the year. uh EpiPen
administration. I so that is often covered through a paraprofessional. Um my son Jack uh still carries his EpiPen. Uh he's severely allergic. So I I do know that that is top of mind for families. Uh Glenn, I don't know if we have a precise EpiPen training.
>> I want to get that exact permission back to the school. What's happening there, but we do have training like u Kevin mentioned, but it has some nurse training. So I will get that to you. I'm sorry.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. >> That's what I did. Sorry. >> Repeat that. Did I just >> Yes, Chris. >> Oh, okay. Uh, yes. I I want to get the precise uh training methods surrounding a ben and some of the other things to
you. I want to make sure that I'm not misquing exactly what it is. Uh, but like Kevin said, it is a nurse training uh and also part of the state training. So, I'm going to get that to you exactly how that's uh uh administered. >> Thank you, Glenn. So, city council and
special education last month passed a resolution on busing with 25 suggestions and points that we had. Um you've covered a lot of them tonight. Thank you. There's a lot of good movement which is encouraging. Some of the things you did talk about, you know, the after
school, the summer, the weekend. What do you need from the community to move forward on those three points specifically? >> Yeah, I think um this is long overdue. Um thinking about a different um evening
contract is is something that would probably be the most appropriate um in that um taxing our drivers to continue to work on through the evening. Um didn't work previously. Um there was a project that was previously called um Project Reed. uh it came out under uh
Chancellor Rudy Crew. Um and it was solely focused on uh reading recovery and and and you know phonics and things to make sure students were were raising their um literacy levels. Um and so uh that morphed over time and uh wasn't um
really managed well over time and it got it got to a place was very hard to staff um and wasn't predictable. Um was there a six o'clock end time, a 7:00 end time? And so we tried that with our existing contractors and just found it wasn't that um easy to do. So I would think a
new contract structure for nights and weekends. Um not to say we can't do it with a a new contract. One of the things I think we all have have looked at is what would that take and we we thank you for your efforts and any rebid scenario
would take EPS in Albany and those that have have joined in the efforts. uh we thank you. Um and that would allow us to rebid and create a more ondemand and responsive um contract model that would allow for
variations on the daily to account for students and family schedule. So I would think um not necessarily an amendment now to change that potentially on Saturdays. We believe that might be some some more um practical ways to advance Saturday. Evening seems a bit of a
challenge. Um but we do think that that may be other agencies um that host after school um and certainly uh one of the things Glenn and I talk about is our partners at ECS um and how we we provide uh contract options for our families in
that space um and DHS and students in temporary housing how we provide real-time options in that space at the moment of of homelessness. And so for us it's it's about um other options not necessarily relying on our current contract structure to try to accommodate that. So, I think foundational to your
question would be a rebid scenario that would allow for a more expansive and and and responsive RFP through uh EPS in Albany would allow us to rebid and set some of these expectations um that would be accommodated through a contract.
>> You know, last couple things. um data you talked about, are you going to be giving some type of pulse data like I mean right now you have on NYC open data you have the self-reported data that lets you know if there was an incident, what it was and
the approximate time. Are we going to get to a point where you can have some type of pulse data which still protects students privacy so it can't be second by second like a taxi does but if it's every 3 minutes, every 5 minutes, it just pings where the bus is at or whatever. So we can get family facing
data showing that and then showing the badge on and badge off not the kid but on a route how many badge on and offs and was the bus on time or not. >> Yeah, we're exploring uh ways to uh determine what's what real time data
that we could uh we can post. Um uh earlier Kevin mentioned that we have the call center data on and we are looking for to do some more transparency. Um so um uh just another uh I guess to be transparent about OPT we've been working on trying to get uh enough uh data
analysts uh on board is a is a difficult position to to fill um but I believe that um pretty soon we will have the kind of staff that we need so we can have some real time legitimate uh data that we all can be confident in. So, yes. So, we're we're looking to uh many
ways to put uh additional real-time data on that is a tool that our families can use. And >> while we're still waiting for the weekend, the afternoon, the summer, how do we get Omniards to all the kids? How do we get the ride share info in
everyone's Nixa account that's on the bus so they can at least band-aid for now? What do you need us as a community to do to get those two things to happen? I mean
turn this over to um Parker Moore uh executive director of writership support. So the good thing about um the um Omni cards is that they're 365 7 days uh week and so that was an expansion that we partnered with the MTA last
year. It's been going great allowing up to four taps per day. a lot of uh students and families really appreciate that. So that it's able to do a lot of work, study or outside activities that they didn't have access to before. Um given that this operation is now 12
month, um it has allowed us to not um have to worry about you know spring versus summer versus fall like it's continual and those cards are active from September 1st say of this year 2025 all the way until August 31st 2026. So
those kids have those cards in hand. Obviously, um if if if students need replacements, we're able to provide those to the schools um in a timely fashion once they notify our office. So we we replenish those. We also send a bunch of extra cards in the summer um as well because there are new students who
may be enrolling at different sites whose eligibility may change. So um we've been very effective. We have uh little to no escalations around that in considering previous years when it was the metrocard model. Challenge with that though is our kids are not eligible.
>> If you've got a bus, you can't get an Omni card. >> Yeah. >> Kids are discriminated against today because they cannot use it on the weekends 365 days. >> This this >> use it for after school if they've got a work site or if they have a sport. >> They are paying out of their own pocket
if they can. >> Yeah, you're right. Um where one of the things I mentioned earlier is we're trying to figure out a travel training mechanism by which you can hold both for six months and we evaluate or if there's a program to include. Um, Mark, for us that that's more of a financial and a policy decision. I don't think there's a
restraint. I think it's a matter of if we're able to allocate funding. Um, because the the the program we do operate under um to Lenica's point is is we have an MOU at the MTA and it's it's dollar bound and it's terms and
requirements and it's it's anou. It's what it is. It's the rules of engagement. Um, simply adding more cards wouldn't work. um minus uh the bottom line funding to match it. So, it's something we looked at. We have a decision memo we're in draft on um and seeing um with our partners in the
special education office about how we expand options and and what are those spaces that we could do quickly. >> And I I'll just add to that as well. Um there's also a two-trip omniar for special programs. So, schools can apply for those on behalf of their students and families. And so, that doesn't have
any uh great distance eligibilities. is for the nights. It's for the weekends. It's for the things that families may want to have access to. It's a special program exception. The information is on our info hub. So, schools can feel free to uh fill out an online form, request those, and we'll ship those to the families who may not be eligible who
want to participate in these extracurricular activities. >> And if we're looking for money, the PEP just table DOE tabled contracts yesterday. So, if we need some money, there's money available as of today, thankfully for the the chancellor and
and office tableabling, but we can certainly spend the money on the kids and not on companies. All right. And any last questions, comments from council?
>> Stephanie, go ahead, please. Stephanie, you're up. Stephanie Bonia. >> Hello. >> Hi. Good evening. Um my question is what about seizure training? Because bus paras or matrons have no training on
this and there's been um sometimes incidents where they've been riding on the bus and sometimes incidents like this happens. So I think most important on some of the the more in-depth training we have to
partner with our office of school health and our special education team to see uh what are the inservice inday supports for our students uh with any of the concerns you mentioned and what are those trainings uh we did add as I mentioned earlier that training day and
so if if epiPen training for an example which which is not administered by drivers in attendance um and Uh I mentioned they have AED and CPR, but this is something we would we would take away um on training opportunities um for our staff. And so uh Suzanne, we'll
follow up on this. Is a good takeaway for us to follow up on those specific uh seizure uh trainings um if we can incorporate them um as well. >> And are you open to working with agencies that are able to certify um staff?
>> That seems logical. um if they're certified and uh yeah, let me get back to you if you have I hope everyone has my email myself um but I'm at karan2schools.nyc.gov and if you wanted to text uh in the group uh I'm at 9177557339.
Um if you have suggestions, recommendations, I'm pretty much plugged in um all the time. Um, and so anything you have, if there's a a vendor, like you said, that's certified to do this work and we need to get there. Um, we have 52 different vendors that we could uh could point you to and say if if this
is something that's required, uh, that might be helpful. >> No problem. >> Um, just as Kevin mentioned earlier that the FP training is not required with our our uh, bus attendance, but there is with the first aid training uh, there is
a seizure recognition um, training that they do have. Um, so I will u try to see how how full wholesome that is and then get that to everyone. But there is a seizure recognition training attendance. >> No problem. And I'll reach out as well, Mr. Mor. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Any other questions, Maggie? >> Thank you. Thank you to the public for for staying on and asking all those pertinent questions in the chat. Um and
and here um so my my question that I put in the chat as you know Kevin um AI powered superhubs I want to know more about that and how the data is going to be used and how
that will impact the staff currently you know doing that work. All right. So, um this is top of mind. Um it was uh something that was uh talked a lot about at the panel. Uh I think for us it's uh we have an obligation to come back with our data
privacy team with our AI um leadership team uh and our DIIT partners to give you a more thorough um Q&A or background of what the program is and what it isn't. I think Glenn and I are um admittedly not the AI experts in the
agency. So, um I hate not to I hate to end on a question I didn't answer. Um but I promise to come back. I would say this um more globally. Um these evenings are nice. Um it's always good to come into a Zoom room and but I think Glenn's
doors and our door is wide open. Please, if you want, visit, see the staff, talk with the staff. um used to do walkthroughs at bus depots with panel members or council members and meet dispatchers and meet mechanics and see people in the in the space and learn uh
quickly about what the service is and isn't. So I wouldn't end I don't want to end on saying I don't have the AI answer for you right this moment. So if you could give me another question. I I understand I understand that because
we are not AI experts ourselves. Therefore, admittedly because of that reason, I think we as a council, as um OPT team, DOE, the works, we have an
obligation to find those answers prior to utilizing those systems, those um curriculums, you name it. Why? Because student data is involved and personal
identifying information is involved of minors of students. We have to follow FURPA. We we have to follow the laws on the books and unfortunately right now what you know we've seen uh
these some some companies are not following the law. >> Yeah. >> Period. So it is our duty and our job to make sure to hold these companies accountable with our uh sensitive data that is our student
data. There's been so many breaches as you know Kevin uh you know I've I've we've spoken in length at at the panel for educational policy about that. Um, but also there's a concern with with with staffing and and with the workforce
and and something that is not talked about, right? So, we're talking about drivers, we're talking about matron, and we're talking about those that staff the the support hub and and and those those centers. What is happening with that? Um, but but that's, you know, that's
food for thought. I also wanted to highlight some of the points in the resolution. Um so the the um providing of monthly public reports on
bus uh service performance, assignment delays, um on-time uh arrival data, staffing shortages, etc. That there there are some things in the resolution that we passed and we really worked hard on this this council that
are doable right now. So, we want to bring it back. These are these are solutions. These are not complaints. The we are here to work with you on that. We have that EP um um uh bill uh that is
still stuck in committee. That's why we're here. That's why community members are here to go and advocate for that. Um because that's where a lot of problems stem from. Um and you already you guys already have my questions. Um I did ask
um during the briefing about you know how will the routing optimization impact double triple routes um and that that are servicing multiple school sites within the same burrow how that data is going to be used. you reassured me, but
I would like to to see that. Um I would like to get confirmations on how that company just the oversight >> Yeah. >> of that information and just how how you guys are making sure that these companies are abiding by that.
>> Yeah, definitely. I think for for that we'll have a separate meeting um and we'll have uh via who is the one who has done all the the testing and the requirements um and confidentiality agreements and and that have been vetted by our legal team and vetted by our IT
team. So that is something we can absolutely do with you. I just a reminder that that our that our routing is not AI, it's an algorithm. Um the chatbot um you question like how the Q&As's how is it's a good question. I want to I want to follow up with our team. Um but definitely that would be
something that I've asked our programmers about if we could sit together like this with the company in particular and sit with our programmers and say look you know what are the things that you're focused on? What are the protections that you provide and ultimately we know the the things that we provide as as vendors and
contractors. So um we can assure you we're taking that matter very seriously and and safeguarding students information. >> Thank you. We have two questions that popped up quickly. So question is during the summer when I log into the bus app I see the bus driver's location shows
Bronx. However, we live in Queen. Why is this happening Glenn? And I assume it's the bus yards that happens to be for that route in the Bronx. >> Uh yeah, but if the if the location of the bus is showing in a different burrow than it is, then then we might be talking about some uh technical issue. I
I I think that if we can just uh get the specifics to us that I'll be able to uh delve into it a little bit more. Um the bus should be shown exactly its location. Um I I don't see why that that might have to be some type of technical um mishap that we should be
investigating. So >> or a multi burrow route. It could be traveling off route and you know we'd have to see it um to tell you exactly what happened. The other one is um is via pets
certified. >> Are they? >> So pets is like a a personnel clearance roster system that some parts of the agency use. >> They're not our employee. Um so they're not with kids and they're not, you know, they don't go through pets clearance.
there's different set of requirements for the clear uh vendors to to engage with our data. >> Great. Thank you. >> I would say um I can't not take a a question and get a good answer, but we our drivers and attendants were not in
pets in 2019 and we refing all 16,000 and that actually is also we're linked to DMV lens. So anytime a driver or tendant is linked to anything across uh the state and beyond that we have a fingerprint that goes and we get an
automatic notification. So the PET system is phenomenal but it's traditionally used for our contracted inline staff that are working with kids directly. >> Suzanne, >> thank you and thank you for that question. Lupe.
Um, and uh really really grateful uh deputy chancel uh we're really glad that that you were here. I personally learned some things tonight that I did not know. So, and I'm hoping other people did too. Um, and I really would be remiss if I did not call
out that while this work and moving, busing, routing, customer service, transparency, and engagement is incredibly important and valuable to our families. Um, this is also one of the reasons why New York
City public schools and certainly uh Dial under Deputy Chancellor Christina FOD that we are so focused on building and expanding highquality programs close to home so our students can go to school in the communities in which they live uh
with their siblings, neighbors, cousins uh and that they forgo an hour and change bus ride because locally where they live the program that that student needs exists. And um uh this council uh
much appreciated often asks, "What can I do? What do you need? What can we do?" And um your continued advocacy certainly as we welcome a new administration um around the need for more highquality programs close to home for our students
is key. Uh and um I do not believe that we will be coming together before the holiday uh and the new year. So uh from uh the division of inclusive accessible learning and I'll say for my colleagues uh in deputy chen Moran's team as well
uh we wish you all a safe a restful uh holiday spent with people that you like to be around and people that like to be around you. Uh and we are genuinely looking forward and need to hit the ground running January 26 and we will
see you all then. Uh Mark and Maggie, thank you so much for setting this up tonight. >> And thank you OPT. Thank you, Office of Special Education. Really appreciate your partnership and uh helping us push forward to help our students. Appreciate
it. Would you be willing to like go on PA meetings and just speak with the parents because a lot of our parents you know they're busing and they have questions but you know a PA president can't answer that or
the principal cannot. So are you open to that? >> Yeah we go meeting. Yeah. No, we are our teams uh we have transportation leaison at schools and burough transportation coordinators and we have our central staff and us it's a it would be delight people seeing the service hearing the
service in real time. >> You know has that communications team also that definitely love to join this >> making it an efficient town hall so to speak I think it's in the contract anyways. Yeah. So that would be uh wonderful because there's endless
questions >> twice a year. >> Okay. Okay. I definitely will share the >> Thank you to the team. Good night. Happy holidays. You guys knocked it out of the park. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> I probably turn the microphone. >> We're going to take a five minute break.
So five minute break. So we'll be back at 750. >> Yes. Sending it back. >> 750. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. Rose, can we start? >> Okay. My apologies everybody for that
delay. Um, we had a couple issues to talk about. I apologize. Um, do we have a motion to go into executive session? My question is how will you go in executive session and I am online?
>> We will get a breakout room. We'll have to have a breakout room Dr. Sai set up so we can include you. >> I just have one more question. If y'all had things to talk about, how could you have a conversation with our other members? >> We Dr. K, we have a legal issue we need to deal with.
>> Okay. So I we have a legal issue we're trying to deal with with face and so we have face representative here. Um so we need to go to executive session to get a a
understanding from face. >> No, we need you for this to stay because we need to get the the breakout room set up for >> So >> we need a mo. Is there a motion to go into executive session? >> I second. Well, we need a first. We need
a motion. All right, we have a motion from Susie. We have a second. Okay. Um, Rose, do we need to do a roll call for executive session? >> Yes or no? >> We need roll call for to go into
executive session. >> Yeah. >> French here. Um, Dr. Sonia >> Sai >> Sai. Dr. Sai, >> I'm here. No. Do are you yes or no or abstain on ex going into executive
session? >> You were asking Rose if we need to do a order. I didn't hear what Rose said. Th >> This is a motion to go into executive session. >> Okay. So, what are we doing now? I didn't hear what else was happening. I didn't It wasn't clear.
So the roll call is there was a motion to go into executive session and now we're we're voting on if we're going into executive session or not. It's a legal issue. So we will not be able to discuss it if we're in public. >> I understand. So it's rollain roll call
vote. Is that what's happening now? >> Yes, it's a roll call vote to go into executive session. >> Okay. Is it a yes, no, or abstain? Dr. Kenton, >> I said yes. I never said it. Confusing the out of >> the microphone's a little hard to hear
in here. I apologize. >> Y'all just doing too much. >> Mark, >> yes. >> Ying, >> yes. >> Maggie, >> yes. >> Susan,
>> yes. Jinga. >> Yes. >> Jonah, >> not a member of the >> Jonah is left the meeting. He left the meeting. >> Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We have to clear the >> It's all right.
>> Sorry. The the people that are online. >> So, there'll be a moment before we can talk. I apologize everybody. Well, we need interpretation out of here. They're in here currently. Mandarin, Spanish. >> Yes, I'm here.
>> Is that you, Gia? >> Okay. Yes. Yes, please. Yes. >> Kim has to be put. >> Interpretation. Teams. Uh, we're going to dismiss you because there's no one on the lines. >> All right, sounds good. Thank you. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Happy holiday.
>> Happy holidays, everybody. Yep. Thank you. >> And um also uh Rose, I think Kim also um what >> Kim's off now. I'm >> just making sure for what we have joined
Spanish interpreters still on. Interpreters offs Dr. Can you're there. Okay, great. Thank you. Rose has the recording stopped. >> All right, good evening everybody. Deepest apologies for the delay. Thank
you for for sticking around. Um we are now back in the calendar session for citywide council special education. We are now on agenda item six which is a CCSE district 75 opening which we have. We have a candidate here. Um so Mr.
Diaz, welcome. So >> hey, how are you? >> Thank you. >> So we want to start with giving you we've got everyone's gotten your your applicant um one pager we'll call it. Um, but we want to give you a couple
minutes to just introduce yourselves and let us know why you want to be on CCSC and tell us who you are. >> Thank you, Mark. Thank you. >> Well, my name is retired Army Sergeant Lewis Diaz the third. I'm retired of the
United States Army. I'm also a child welfare specialist of the administration of children services and also I'm a local 371 union member. So, and I am honored to take this seat and for the
city advis council of special education. I'm here first and foremost as a parent of a child with special needs like many families in the city. My journey through special education has not been easy. I have experienced firsthand
confusing, isolating, and at times overwhelming this system can be for families who are simply trying to secure appropriate services, dignity, and respect for their children. I want to be very clear and
transparent about why I chose to step into this realm. Bullying, exclusion, and retaliation directed at both my family and others plays a major role in driving me to take the seat. My son was physically abused
in in the school system and had advocated me and my wife. No parent advocating for their child should ever feel silenced, targeted, or made to feel unwelcome for speaking up. Unfortunately, those
experienced unreal for too many families across the city. Rather than allowing those experienced discourage me, I chose to turn them into purpose. I'm here to ensure that all families, regardless of burrow, background, or level of advocacy
experience, have a voice at the table. I'm committed to advocacy for transparency, accountability, and equitable access to services for every child receiving special education service in New York City. I got all the resources in children's services and
also as a veteran also. This seat is not about titles or recognition. No, it's about standing up for families who are afraid to speak, families who are tired of being ignored, and families who deserve better. I intend to work
collaboratively for everyone respectfully and relentless to make sure the concerns of parents are read are heard and acted upon and thank you for the opportunity to serve here. Thank you, >> Mr. Diaz. Now open it up to questions.
Questions from council members, please go ahead. Um, can you give an example of where you whether it's your own personal example or another parent at school where you like spoke out for them because they felt like they couldn't be heard or just like an example? Yeah.
>> Um, one example, a parent um had had a problem with the IEP. She was basically um seeing a lot of things that wasn't right that it was changed without her decision and basically I was like listen you know let
me be there for you contact me as soon as possible I'm there at the next next like for the next meeting we had that meeting and basically to find out you know reconvene the meeting and basically find out why is these changes happen and
thankfully that with the all the resources is, you know, probably a New York State complaints, you know, helping her out. Got back the resources of the IEP for her child. >> Additional questions.
>> Yes. Hello, Mr. Diaz. How are you? >> How are you? >> Thank you. Yes, of course. I just actually because I I um I'm aware I know that you've had to um you mentioned something about like retaliation having
to speak out and I know it's been public that you've had to make uh comments about the your son's school principal and such. Um, do you have any um any uh
regrets or anything about things that you've had to say publicly about the school or the principal? >> Not once. Because to tell you the truth, all principles and administration to act accordingly to help parents,
staff and and families all together should be one. I have family in the in the department of education. My mom is a retired par. So it's it's weird, you know, how that situation happened. You
know, sometimes you got to the honest truth and and accountability. If you don't do it, who's going to hold them accountable? You know, you could make go to the superintendent. You can make complaints to to the pep in which you can see me
speaking is recorded, you know, and that's why I want parents to understand something's not right. Hey, listen. Hey, we're here to work together. This is a community. This is everybody here. You know, we want to make the school better.
If that's not happening, there's a problem. Um going to your you know your your profile um you mentioned that you um are committed to
ensuring that all children um have access to safe, supportive and highquality learning environments. Now based on your experience, how would you bring that approach to this council and yeah and and and just
just give examples of how you would do it? >> Oh, definitely. Like we just recently have you know um deputy ch uh deputy chancellor or um Kevin Moran, right? Yeah. Or opt and buildings.
>> Yeah. Well, cameras in cameras in the and the school buses, cameras in the CA classrooms make accountability show like, hey, this is what's happening in the classroom to make the parents feel at ease and also
protection for the staff. You know, I know is against that, but this what happened in with the NYPD. They didn't want to use the cameras, but guess what? It showed a lot of stuff that basically for them and you know and for the also
for the public what's going on because we need accountability. >> Other questions Irene >> I have one Irene go and then Dr. Canton you'll be next. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
So um while you are um advocate while you are doing advocacy for the family and provide support to the parent I'm so sure that there will be a lot of challenges or comfort um in the process I would like to know how will you handle
or face those challenges or comfort to uh make it like to be able to support the families or the parents. Well, um to basically to to help them out with the advocacy and everything. It's basically just showing up either by
phone, email, being there like, hey, make arrangements. Hey, this is the paperwork. This is what we got to do. Show them the process, you know, who are your leaders, you know, to help you out because we're all trying to help that child, you know, to to grow up because
in the end, you know, time, you know, is undefeated. you know, we were trying to be do the best thing for them, you know, and get the best care, you know, and to look out for them. So, and that's why I I want that for, you know, for any
parent. If they need help, hey, call me, email me, let me know. I'm there. I'll give you so much information how I do with my veteran brothers and sisters. Hey, I give them everything like, "Hey, this is what we have, you know, to help
support your child. anything you need, any resources, I'm 247 and that's one thing I me and my wife are very big advocates you know because in this you know for me to be better is my wife you know hi Michelle um
and you know we have to grow to help our children go grow you know >> thank you um I can tell that you have been putting a lot of effort to help and support the family but I am concerned about how will you facing um the against
conflicts or uh those challenges conflict. Yes, >> depending what conflicts depending well it's it's you know for with people you know we have we in New York City so
we have everybody has different you know different things you know different places different who who we are cultures and we got to learn from each you know, and we got to sit down, you know, to have that conversation cuz if we don't have that conversation, then
how are we, you know, you know, the that that the conflict, you know, it's going to is going to keep on going. And if you just want to speak about it, you need to talk, hear about it, you know, just
learn from each other. That's what I'm looking at. And it it could be different conflicts of different things, you know, but you still have to learn from each other and speak because if you don't speak, how how you going to have
anything done, you know? >> Dr. Kenton. >> Um, hi Mr. Diaz. Is that am I correct? Is that what you said your name was? My >> Sergeant Diaz. >> Okay. Um, good evening Mr. Diaz. So I heard you speak a lot about advocacy,
advocating for your child, advocating for issues. Clearly there's some controversies around how you have advocated in the past. Um that was also mentioned. My question to you is what is your understanding of your role as a
member of the citywide council for special education? Advocacy is something that we all do, but there's a distinct purpose and role that we serve on this council. Um, and while we do a lot of individual work at the micro level with
families, there's a lot of macro work that we have to do as a team and as a council. So, what is your understanding of the citywide council for special ed? And how do you think you're going to fit into that? >> Well, to fit in, you know, being a
special educ education parent, you know, you have to, you know, still put in the work. You got to go to go to schools, find out if everything's all right. Make sure, you know, everything is account, you know,
everything's working right, everything's okay. you know, if if any issues brought up with between the city and also um with the schools to make sure that everything's working all together
because if not, you know, everybody's is doing advocacy individually, but in the end, you know, special education council is basically in which I'm trying to learn, you know, is basically here to to help out the city and the parents, you
know, here. There's a lot of questions. >> Okay. So, I I have a question. I I agree with you in some aspects, but we're one of the things I do want to make clear is that we as a council are not here to police New York City Department of
Education because that's what it sound like you were stating like we were supposed to go into schools. We as a council don't necessarily go into schools. We work on policy issues. We do different things. So the the first thing I would say is and I say it to any person who wants to be a part of this
council is understanding your role as a member and our role as a member is to work not only with parents but we work as a bridge with the New York City Department of Education to help make our schools better through policy through um
conversation dialogue where there's individual needs. We can be of support to those parents but that's not the job of our council. So, with that being said, I want to ask you in being a member on this council for D75 children,
um, with all the issues that we see in D75 schools and the variations of issues, um, depending on what D75 school you attend, what experience do you have outside of just being a parent who has advocated for your kid or an
understanding of those variations that kids may have? Um, and how do you plan to bring some of those resources that you spoke about earlier to this council to better help us support those families in D75 schools as well as children with
other variations? And when I say variations, I mean a disability, but I don't use that language. So, if you hear me say variation, I'm talking about a child with a a special need or a disability. I just I don't use that kind of language. But how are you planning to
do that outside of just your advocacy stuff that you've been doing um in terms of helping people find and get their individual needs met? Well, in in a in children services, there's a lot of resources that I could
get info, you know, that not even some of the public could get, you know, and I could get interesting things that basically shows like, hey, guess what? This is what, you know, to help this council, you know, like, hey, maybe this
parent needs this. Maybe we could talk about getting grants or certain things, you know, you know, with with the city to work with each other. You know, those are the in info that I could have, you know, for, you know, for this council.
And that's why I believe I could share, you know, Dr., you know, it's it's again, I'm not here for titles. I'm here to work, you know, and I'm here always, you know, working. I came down here for a reason and I put
that application for a reason. You know, it's to work to help the council and help each other and help New York City and the families. >> Thank you, Mark. I don't have anything else. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?
Okay. All right. At this point, is there a motion to vote? Oh, sorry. I apologize. Okay. Okay. Do we have a motion to vote on a candidate? >> I I make a motion that we vote on the
D75 candidate, Mr. Diaz. >> I second the motion. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I opposed. >> Supposed to be an individual. >> See, oh, is it a roll call? I'm sorry.
My apologies. Rose is going around. Sorry. Thank you, Dr. Kton. Okay. >> Yes, >> we we are voting for the D75 candidate. >> We are voting to have a vote, not on a candidate. Voting to have a vote.
>> Yeah, it's a voice vote now. And now we're So, we've had the voice vote. We had enough yeses. So, now Rose will do the roll call for the candidates. >> Franchesca. >> Yes.
Dr. Abstain. >> Joanne. >> Mark. >> Yes. >> Ron. >> Uh, Spain. >> Maggie. >> Yes.
>> Susie. Okay, you can come back. Irene, >> I'm staying. >> Joan and back to Susie. Yeah, for me it's uh it's a no. There are no
majority vote. Sergeant Diaz, really appreciate you applying. Unfortunately, we have three yeses. One, two, three, four abstains and one no. So, we don't have a majority. Um, but thank you for your service. Thank you for your participation serving our community.
Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Good night. All right. We are now at public comment part of the agenda. Public comment. Any public comment? Remma, please. >> Hi, good evening everybody. Um, just got
out of President's Council. Um, so I usually never ever ever make your meeting, but um I'm glad that I made the tail end of it. Um, just want to say how surprised I am with the level of intensity that the questions were for the candidate. Um, I didn't see this
level of intensity with the elections and the town halls that got you all elected. And I have seen Sergeant Diaz in many spaces advocating for District 75 students that are actively being harmed in different places um with valid
concerns and reports and findings um attached. And so I'm a bit disappointed that you were all elected on a lot less than what you did to this poor man. Um, I also want to say that it's it's very noble to share a story where a student
has, you know, your story and and that as advocates, you didn't hear that. And maybe you should check with the District 75 community, the rest of it, before you make a determination um, you know, based on on on what it
sounds like reputation, based on the questions. Um, but I'm I'm sure an investigation will be done into that. Um, but I just want to ex express my disappointment because none of you were questioned in that way in in your forums. Um, and and so I hope that you
know going forward that um we are able to use some of the questions that you presented in this space in your forums to elect you next time. Thank you. >> Any other public comment? All right. There's no other public
comment. Then is there a motion to adjourn the calendar meeting? >> Mark, I have a question. >> Go ahead, Dr. Ken. >> So I I just want to say for the record and I wanted to just be on record. My
questions and asking was to get a better understanding of who the candidate is. On this council, we have always asked a lot of questions and we've always asked some intense questions and some not. For me, I don't
know the candidate. So, my questioning, I don't know about anyone else, was regarding trying to understand who he was and how he would fit in what we do. And as a council member, I have a right to ask those questions. So, I understand why some people in the public may feel
uncomfortable. I want to be clear. My abstension was because I don't have enough information and I'm choosing to give an answer for my comment on why I abstained because I didn't have enough information and I chose to use my vote in a more wiser way. So unfortunately I
didn't say no and I think Mr. Diaz made a lot of great points, but for me as a council member, there was other information I needed and it didn't it didn't show up for me and so I chose to abstain. So I'm just making my choice. No one else has to do that, but I want
to be clear on why I chose to do what I did. >> Okay. Thank you, Stephanie. You have your hands raised. Please go ahead. >> Um, yes. Hi. Um, as public guest as
well, I am very saddened of the vote for tonight. I am special educa. I'm CCD75 council for district 75 and
I known the work that Mr. Diaz has done and all the platforms that he has been in. So, I am sorry that some of you all don't know him or know the work that he's done and needed your questions more thoroughly answered um in order for your
vote to be a difference. Um, but I thank you for giving him the space to be heard and to be able to apply. Um, that way he could be able to succeed in other platforms with us as parent leaders.
And I have one question. Um, is there a are applicants able to reapply if a vacancy is not fulfilled? >> Absolutely. And anybody who is eligible
can apply and and in this case eligibility means a student in D7 a family parent or guardian with a student in district 75 is eligible to run. So yeah, absolutely. Anyone can apply a can any
anybody >> I hear I hear you more on saying the apply, but I wanted to know specifically if a p if a candidate is able to reapply if a >> absolutely yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Is there a timeline on that?
>> Rose will be sending out the candidate application again this week. >> No, I meant if there's a time >> in terms we will have He can apply as soon as Rose sends the the note out or if he wants he or anyone
else wants to go to the face website right now, they can go. >> Okay. >> There is no limit and we will accept applications when we have applications that are vetted through FACE and we will bring it forth with to the council.
>> Thank you Maggie and then Reema. No. Uh, sorry. Just can I >> can I No, Remma, please go ahead. >> Go ahead. Sorry. >> I just wanted to ask if it was okay for us to send you the the district
vacancies that we have so that we can work together to try to fill the D75 vacancies cuz you have like citywide on your mailing list too. like I only have D75 and sometimes we have parents that we don't have an email for in D75 but they are on your mailing list cuz they
might have a sibling that has an IEP and they're just good here. So if we can just share that cuz I think we're up to 10 right now. We have three in Manhattan, three in the Bronx, three in Brooklyn, and three in Queens. Thanks. >> So that's three in Manhattan, three in
the Bronx, three in Brooklyn. >> I'm lying. It's 2233. It's district 3, district 5, district 7, district 9, and then I don't remember Brooklyn. I I'll get the flyer, but those are the ones I like cuz we just talked about it
in our meeting. I think it's 25, 26, and 27 in Queens. I know it's 32 in Brooklyn. I think it's 14 and 15, but I'll double check. I think I feel good about 14 and it is. It's 14 and 15 cuz it's it it's Camille and Taj's old CC's. Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you, Reema. I appreciate that and appreciate you sharing that that info with us. All right, Joanne. >> Um, good evening everyone. Um, I have been with C CEC for some time
before I came to Citywide and it was just something some questions that was asked of him that he did not answer. I'm not sure if he was nervous
or not, but when Dr. And I asked them, does he understand the role he's stepping into? That's where I got puzzled at. I wasn't questioning his advocacy or anything.
It's just that in my last district for the last two years or so, we had some CEC members that was overwhelmed. They didn't know what they was getting into. and it was a
lot and this role and what he might been stepping into and being a D75 rep might not have been a little even though he's a sergeant in the army the I want to make sure I'm saying the right
military um but I wanted to make sure he understood what he was going to be signing up for in the army. Yes, a retired sergeant in the army. Um, and sometimes
some of the members who actually got elected for certain roles, they did not know what they was getting theirelves signed up for. And some of them did not last a good six months. Some of them
didn't even last 60 days. So, that was my only thing. And that's why I hesitate and that's why I asked Rose to come back to me and that was one of the reasons why I abstained because that was my that
was really my thing because I want to always want to make sure that a candidate that's coming into one of these roles especially with CEC CCSE citywide or anything or D75 citywide they understand what these
roles entail and sometimes these roles can be 24/7. And these roles are 365 days in the year when you sign up for two years and you don't get the summer off. And sometimes these parents don't
realize that once they sign up because we had some parents thought they got the summer off and we had to saym we had business meetings in July and August and they didn't even know that and they had a family family trips planned and they
didn't know. So that was one of the things. So I just wanted that to be known and go on wreck it and hopefully that gave you a little clarity remma for my vote and some of some of the thinking of some of the members.
>> I wouldn't mind saying something. Um, I think it's important. I know that when I it it seems odd, I guess, to have to feel the need to explain a vote when we're voting um publicly and there's um
complete transparency and everyone is making their own decision. I don't think that's something that should necessarily be questioned, but I will tell you because now that it has been mentioned, the process we went
through um as parents signing up for position and being candidates and going through candidate nights. I know that our time was limited to one minute, 60 seconds, 90 seconds. Sometimes you
have two minutes at most to speak. And here I would say that with the CCSE, we've actually provided our candidates a longer period of time to be able to process the questions, answer the
questions without feeling rushed, giving people time to be able to express themselves clearly. So I don't believe that there was anything that was done unfairly when people are given that time where when running for an election um
for the CCSE position time was limited. So um I I would still commend the council for being gracious with time knowing the amount of information we have on our calendar meeting agenda and
our business meeting agenda. So I I do commend the council. >> Thanks Mark. Thanks council. Um where to begin? Okay. So first um I want to speak on uh my vote.
Um I think that it you know everybody has their own vote. I do think that in the past, if you can see the recordings, they're on our website. We have asked similar questions
particularly about how a candidate deals with conflict. The question that Dr. Sai uh asked about do you know what the role is? Um and also just you know how what what would you bring to the table for the council?
So we have asked those questions in the past. You know, maybe the the wording might have been a little bit different there. There were for full transparency additional questions. We um and I guess the the the different
formatting was was um because we had one candidate and we had a little bit more time um for questions and answers. Um, in the past we've we've had uh candidates multiple candidates in one
round and so we've had to do you know we've had to limit the amount of time. I do think that this council may have lost an opportunity because I did see the passion in the candidate. I did see the
profile of the candidate. I did see things the qualities that we are looking for in this uh in that position especially when it comes to district 75. Being a district 75 parent, let's let's just be 100% clear about this. It's not
easy, okay? You don't even have to go that far. You could just look at the the the composition and the parents that are in the CCD75 right now and all of the the the D district 75 representatives from from
one to to 32 districts and you're going to ask them, hey, um how is it, you know, how's how's the the system working for you or how what's your your child's experience or or what's your experience?
erience as a parent leader, as a parent advocate, as just a simple parent and you will hear from them the passion and the frustration at times. And so we have a district, we had a an opportunity here
of a district 75 parent that is passionate, that is experienced, and I believe that we may have lost an opportunity. Um, this is my vote and my opinion only. I voted yes. For those
reasons, I would ask respectfully that the council consider all of that and just consider the fact that um maybe yes, you know, if if if
somebody, you know, doesn't have is not able to answer the exact way that we would have hoped, but but just look at the whole context. I mean, look at the profile. Look at the experience. Look at And this is not just for him. This is
just an example, but just just for the next candidate, like look at the entirety of the person and and and weigh it all. And I know you all did that tonight and that's why you you you had some concerns and you had some questions and you had
some but honestly you know it again being a district 75 parent is not easy and that needs to be included in your decision- making because we have had this vacancy for how long
Mark do you know? 12 days, >> 120 days or more. And yes, he was the only one, but he was the only one that was ve that that that was vetted and that was passed, you know,
and through through through FA through phase um that was cleared through phase. And so, you know, we've been sending over and over the the um the the the vacancy for district 75 parent. It's not easy to get
applicants. Thank you, Reema, for what you said about, you know, bringing we we we do need that. Um we were trying to get clarity on the process, you know, so so um of how it goes, but yes, any any please any and all candidates for this
position. We desperately need it. Go ahead, Francesca. >> I just want to say something to the ladies that were on there after the vote happened that it was just really nice for you to speak out for Lewis and just to let us know like how he has been
helpful and all that and it just it just was really really nice to hear that. >> All right, I'll I'll unless there anyone else who wants to speak. I mean, we're still in public comment. I mean, I think we voted down a a good qualified quality
candidate tonight. I think Sergeant Diaz would have brought a lot to the table and given us a a a unique D75 perspective that is very important. You know, we we need a candidate who's passionate. We need a a candidate who is
willing to speak up for those that can't speak. We need a candidate is willing to advocate for individuals and yet ultimately our role to advocate for policy. And I think that was a candidate and is he is a person who has done that. He's
demonstrated it for ages at Pep meetings and other meetings where the chancellor is at. I think he would have been um a a very good addition to this group. That being said, the council voted how they voted. We will move forward. >> Question. I can't raise my hand, so just
tell me when I can speak. I I want >> Dr. Canton, you're on. Can you mute yourself? >> Yeah, I'm just telling you I can't raise my hand from my phone, but I would like >> Okay. As soon as I'm done, I I'll I'll get you. >> Thank you. >> Um you know, Rose will send out a
application um to our mailing list this week. So, we'll start that process. We'll have it mailed out every every week. Um, and when we get to the council meeting, we'll see the next council meeting in January. We'll see if there are any vetted and approved candidates
um that are brought forth with because we do desperately need another member of D75 to be able to advocate for our families and to give us that word and that voice that's missing for so many and to advocate on what policies the DOE
needs to change. We have a interim D75 superintendent um Dr. McCoy is amazing and you know we we certainly want to be able to support her and all the schools and students every way we can but we
definitely need to get a member on board who is willing to fight for what's right for our students. All right, Dr. Kenton, you had something. >> Um I have a question. Uh, is there a way um I know Robert Rou order can a motion
be made to um bring back the candidate because some people abstained which didn't give a yes or no vote. Um so they kind of just took themselves out. Also there are members who are absent.
Um, so is there a way that we can um possibly bring this candidate back because everyone, some of us couldn't physically be there for other issues or was excused. Um, and so there may have
been other members who may have wanted to be a part of the vote since we're in such a desperate need for a candidate and there not many candidates coming up. Is there a way that we can vote again? I know that in Robert Roua order they do allow you to revote on things but I'm
just asking I don't know if face is there um we can still put the thing out for other candidates but since we still have to um and so many of us abstained is there a possibility that we can re
vote again if it's next month or or another time or can you find that out >> can we can certainly vote next month are you asking to vote again tonight. It would be a new motion, but I need to double check if we're allowed to do that
with a new motion. We don't have >> January. >> Yeah. If if any anybody applies in January and they are vetted in time, they will be brought forth.
But >> so we c we have already voted. So we cannot bring back in January unless a candidate applies or reapplies. If Sergeant Diaz wishes to apply again
when Rose puts it out or he goes on the line tonight, absolutely. if he passes through face, which presumably he would because he already did, then yes, he would be up for for vote at the next meeting, um just like any other candidate that's accepted from face
would be brought forth with. So, yeah, it's I mean it's a vacancy as of right now. And so, anyone who applies who's vetted and approved by FACE and would be would be there. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. All right. U we have a motion to adjourn the calendar meeting. >> We have we have a motion. Is there a second? >> Motion a second. >> Okay. Second. All in favor?
Opposed? Abstain. Okay. We are done with the calendar meeting. Um do we need a break or you want to move right to the business meeting? All right. Um call the business meeting to order. Um Ro, we need to do I'm sorry. Um roll
call, please. One more time for roll call. >> Francesca >> here. >> Dr. >> here. Ben >> here. >> Mark
>> present. >> Here. >> Maggie Sanchez >> here. >> Susie Wong Benjamin >> present. Irene >> here. Um,
all right. So, first thing is CCHS update. I'm not sure if she's still on. I do not see her on. So, we'll go to face update, which is also um so now we're on the committee reports.
Um, annual report. Heather is and Melissa are both out so probably don't have that. U Ron, do you want to talk about the busing and transportation? You've got a survey going on right now. >> Uh yeah, but Heather is not here today. So, uh we are not going to talk about
the survey. We are ongoing. >> Wait, is the survey closed or is it still open? >> It's still open. >> Okay. All right. So, and I know Rose sent out an email with the uh survey. When is the date it's going to close? Are we leaving it open for a little bit longer? Should we have Rose sent out
another another sweep of of that to to the community or are we ready to close it? >> I didn't hear anything that He had Heather or I mentioned about the the the time frame of the vault, but we just want to get uh as much as a respond from
the parents build. Now we just um we just push out the the sur for about a week. So uh we still try to spreading widely and to reach out to different group of parent that they notice such survey uh in place and try to get the
response as much as we can. >> Okay. Thank you Ron. All right. Communications committee >> Joanne do you want to talk about the district? No you. Okay. Okay. I'll start and then you go.
Um so yes. So, uh, Joan and I are co-chairs of the communications the the outreach and communications committee and so we um have been working on um internal and external communications um and we have worked really hard to make
sure that they run smoothly. So, um the the website, again, I mentioned the website. The website is up and running. Um there we still have some fixes and glitches. Um but we the recording should be there. Um the photos, the members and
all that. So, we will keep updating the website. Um and then we are also uh I'll pass it on to Joanne so she can speak to um the rest of of it. Go ahead, Jo. Hi everyone. So, we
did a little bridge off um from the community communication and we started um a subcommittee where we're doing a
virtual talk town hall where we are reaching out to the district leaders um for the district of the IEP members and the D75 members of the CEC. We're
our goal is to reach out to them to see exactly how can CC be assistance to them. Um see what's going on. What can we do to be
supportive to them? What's what's going on in the district that they need assistance with? Um, are the parents having issues with busing? If so, let's connect them with the busing committee. Um, is it something else that they need
assistance with? IEP, let's get them in contact with a parent member or so on and so forth. We want to see what we are able to do. If it's something that CCSE can't do inhouse, we will connect them to whoever we need to connect them to.
if it's someone in DAO or whatever group or if it's something we need to do internal and bring them back the answer that they need. So we would like to we want to have a monthly talk with the representatives and see how we can best
beneficial and benefit them because at the end of the day CCSE is here to help the districts and the other CC's with anything could be from policies to a whole list of other things but this is
what we are here for citywide and this is just not for just the 32 districts. This is also for parochial charter everyone. And this is what we are here for. I propose to the council. Um not sure if you had gotten a chance to read
the email, but it is not mandatory. It is volunteer that we can adopt um a district attend virtual or in person
CC meeting. um get to know them. Let's hear what they what's going on. Um let's see what we could do to help them so that they could put a face with a name so when they do come to the meeting, they feel comfortable enough to talk to
us for them so we could be able to help them. I'm in the process of putting together a list with the different CEC meetings and I'm going to get it together and um if you're interested
once I have it together I will have the different CEC's meetings so you can look at them and see and you see what works for you virtual or in person. The only thing I'm asking
is yes, it's okay to pick the one you you feel comfortable with, the one you know. Um, yes, we like we like the idea of having Yes, that one that you're real real comfortable with, but let's also pick one that we may not be comfortable
with because that may be the one that no one comes to the meeting that's no one look you know reach out to them and you know and they're not getting that real attraction. So, so we want everybody to feel welcome but we could always discuss
that down the line. So please feel feel welcome to CC me, reach out to me on the email and we can discuss it and we can take it from there. So you can know we could you could do one or two whatever you feel comfortable with but if we could all take one two whatever you feel
comfortable with you know but we could talk about it. Okay so that's that's my proposal but at the end of the day please do not feel pressured. it is volunteer but this is just something that we could start with and I feel that we can start bridging
the gap and just start doing the work that way and um this will also be a great segway also because the other day we did have a meeting with DA um and we
did talk a little bit about um I just went blank for a second I'm sorry the transition from early intervention into preschool and it is a lot going on but we are working on some things. So we want to open the lines of
communication with preschools and let them know that they are have some things in place. They are looking to hire more speech therapists. They are looking to hire more other workers to help in that
area. They actually have I think January 9th or something they have a hiring affair with speech and something else they're looking to hire. Um if y'all didn't see the hiring post I can share with you guys and maybe I can share it
on your social media or if y know a posting or whatever. But um they are I think Suzanne Sanchez if I'm not mistaken she will be doing conducting the hiring. Um but they have a lot of
things in place that they are looking to do and a couple things they are looking to have take place for early um preschool. And also, if you have any families that said that they're having
problems with the IEP process with the crossover, if the family signed the waiver, early intervention can release the records to the CPS team and the parents
can also give a copy of the records to them as well. And we could discuss that more in details, but I know we're running a little behind on time, but I just wanted to bring that also to the table. And this is something also we can
work on with this communication team as well. >> Thank you. Um, next up is health and wellness. Susie, >> yes. Our health and wellness committee that is forming and will launch in 2026.
Oh my goodness, just to say that year is something. So, we're preparing for something great to offer um many of our families, many parents uh that are definitely going through a lot of stress. Some people are facing holiday
blues and of course, as Joanne would say, burnout. So there are so many things that need to come into play for parents that need to have some self-care. Um mental health and wellness
is a serious issue and this is very much a lonely journey but it is by choice. So what we want to do is we want to be able to offer a great program to get our parents physically moving and also
something to offer to the children. So they get little brain breaks and little movements to help um progress with their skills and um and all of that is very important in order to really um reach some of those goals. And when a parent
is distressed, a child feels that energy too. And even if that child is not speaking, they're nonverbal, that uh impacts them greatly. So if we can kind of take care of everyone on a whole and
taking care of our bodies uh physically, nutrition wise. So, we're going to be bringing in um a few people onto the committee and helping us. And I'm very proud to be working along with Joanne. She uh she's just uh a fireball and
that's what we could all use to help uh improve our um our metabolism. So, I thank you. and we're going to um I'm going to be putting together some information about dealing with burnout
um as a parent with um special needs and just as a parent in general. You don't even have to be a special needs parent, just being a parent period dealing with burnout. >> Okay, thank you. Um next up and last is
the legislative committee. So, few things with the legislative committee. Um, we have our next meeting on Monday, January 5th at 700 p.m. There's a whole bunch on the plate for that. We're going
to have looks like six resolutions that we will review. Um, at that point, legislative committee may bringing some or all or more forward to the January um CCSC calendar meeting. So, just a heads up, there may be a lot of resolutions at
the January meeting. Um, right now there's six or seven that are they're going to be brought to that meeting at least. Um, they deal with budget at state level, city level. They deal with state law changes that we need. They
deal with uh dyslexia programs and other reading um difficulties. Um um it deals with autism programs. We got AI in there. We've got the professional status change that's in federal law that is going to really hurt our students
with disabilities as you know it's it's no longer a professional degree to be a special education teacher or a teacher or a aologist a PTO speech. it's no longer professional degree and that will impact the number of people who can't afford to
go into that role and that's going to be devastating to our community. Um so we we've got those out there and we'll see what else bubbles up between now and then. The other thing is the state legislature finally put out the calendar
for the 2026 legislative year. As a result, we want to pin down the date for the um legislative breakfast um because we wanted to wait till we knew when our state members would be available um and not stuck in session.
Um so, and we also don't have the calendar yet for city council, but we're going to have to move forward. It's only across the park, so they can come over pretty easily. Um but uh we'll also be working on the date, location, and we're going to need a budget to do it. So,
we're going to try to work up the budget so we can uh beg and plead from all of you to to readjust our budget at the January meeting. Um, so that's where we're at with the legislative committee. All right. Next up is CO.
Go ahead, Maggie. So, I uh Joanne, sorry, I forgot um about the our meeting conflict. Uh again, so sorry for everyone um out there. We had a scheduling conflict yesterday and we were scheduled our
committee was scheduled to meet had to cancel um at at the last minute. Um so in order to to avoid that um we actually are conf our our meetings are conflicting with PEP and you know like um we're yeah PEP is is is critical and
important and so um we're going to we're going to move the dates uh on the communications committee meetings. Yep. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Next up we have the co-president's report. Maggie,
you want to go first? you want me to go? >> Well, I have a long list. Um, but I um yeah, I'm I can definitely uh add the list and just compile it and and and
send that out. Um, so first, uh, Mark and I have we we usually, um, as co-presidents have monthly meetings with the chancellor, um, and we also have monthly meetings with the special education office. Um and I've attended
uh as well um the AI forum um so that's AI edtech um talking about um things having to do with um AI and within classrooms and the risks and the you
know the the the good and the bad but mostly the concerns that um that that that are that yeah parents students and teachers and students have around uh generative AI and the works. Um so we I
also um attended an education budget teaching. Now these uh these items that I'm mentioning um uh a lot of them are on our website and we have sent that out shed that out before
to to council members um and and just the public. Um so again the education budget teaching um and we als there's there was also the disability rights education and defense fund. I
will add those links to the website about that. Uh that's uh DRDF. They're a good resource. Um look into them. Again I'm going to add that in the chat. Um but they do they did the
webinar regarding um IP meetings, emails and assessment reports. Um so yeah that's that's what we what we have and um yeah uh that we're we're in the in
the communications committee. They're trying to find a way to kind of streamline that a little bit for council members, like have a better process for sharing all that those meetings out. Thank you. >> So, >> you said you was in a chess
meeting this uh month. So, did they give you anything you bringing back to the table for us? It's basically report that info. >> Yep. So
basically what was discussed was that they um the chancellor is being considered right for for to stay. But we don't know what the new administration is going to do. So we're going to have to wait until
January. Um we we asked the council for questions. We didn't receive any. So I asked about um AI. There was a lot of questions and
from from others around AI specifically only because of the data privacy and student privacy and just safeguarding the student data. Um so we the responses around that were not at least to my
thinking was were not satisfactory. Um but we are still advocating and we're still asking those those pertinent questions. Um D210 was also mentioned
and that is a tricky one. Um, as you know, yesterday at the PEP, uh, the version the the updated version of D210 was, uh, passed. So, yeah. But now, this is where it's going to get
a little tricky. Now, so the chancellor's me meeting when this went in front of the PEP yesterday. So, This information is kind of is
this information is this information is coming to us after the P. Like if this information could have been given to us pre, it could have helped us prepare for
the prep meeting if we wanted to go to the PEP or write something cuz face and different has sent out information if we have questions or wanted to say anything
in regards to the D 210 and questions to it. So if information was given to you guys about it that wasn't shared prior
to the pep voting on it. I have to double check, but from what I remember, and I'm going to look at my email, but I think that the um CCM CC info
um sent out something around D210. If not, I'll triple check. But I mean, there have been communications that have been sent out through that way. I do understand that. I I understand what you're saying that it
has to be more streamlined and I think that's something that we have to get better at and we will. Um and I and um the the issue is that for I just have to be truly honest
like Mark and I we're just we we're swamped a lot of the time and that's not anyone's fault or anything. We're in this position. We are accountable. Also, the the the PEP meetings are public. Uh,
you know, the they the the PEP goes and and everything is on the website. They have all the resolutions, all the contracts, everything there to remind you guys. The PEP is coming up. I don't I mean I can
>> set the up share the information that was given at the meeting you was at regarding the chancellor gave you about the re-regs and explaining the purpose
why it's changing or this or whatever it is that wasn't shared with us the information that was given to you guys and then the PEP came up yesterday and now you >> the D210 and the chancellor's meeting
were completely separate. That was not part of the chancellor and I'm sorry that I wasn't clear. I'm sorry that it got misconstrued. I mentioned the meet the monthly meeting with the chancellor and I mentioned the D210 was brought up at another meeting. Um I think that
you know we we with D210 it comes down to legalities because we can't really at that moment we couldn't really discuss much. So the chancellor was not part of the discussions with D210. >> Well you couldn't discuss much.
>> There is there was a laws lawsuit. >> Yeah that we all filed. That's no hidden secret. >> Yeah. and the litigants were part of that meeting so we couldn't really discuss much on >> there was but there was nothing in there >> he knows that
>> so okay >> go ahead John >> this is the issue y'all said at last meeting Mark is going to meetings and not telling us nothing now y'all going to meetings and it's getting confusing
so y'all supposed to be giving co- presidents is report, but it's not it's not reports. You're just telling us the meetings y'all going to, but it's like you're not telling us what's being told at the meetings. It's like we have to pull the pull it out of you guys, but
now you're telling us you couldn't share the information. There's no hidden secret that it's a lawsuit. Everyone knows within the city of New York, it's a lawsuit. The pep even said it last night. It was a lawsuit. Other people
knows it's a lawsuit. That's not the hidden secret. >> There was no there was nothing secret in the in the chancellor's meeting. So here here's my question. What would you like? I can provide a transcript. >> But I I I will I but you but you're
asking about timing. So >> as a as a council, we should not have to ask these questions. >> I have a question again, but I'll wait. I haven't had a chance to to give my part of the co-president's report. So
maybe that'll help clear things up. So Maggie got to do hers and then there was an interruption before I was able to give mine. If you want me to give mine, that may clear things up. If not, that's fine. But >> but Joanne, the question you had is you said there was a timing issue about we
need to give you the information before PEP, which means we need to give the information and that's fine before this meeting. So, I need help from the council on what you would like. Is it a transcript? Is it a a executive summary?
I I you know what what would you like and when would you like it? I'm just trying. >> Okay. If y'all know it's a meeting coming up and this information is going to be discussed at the P, that's something y'all have to let us know cuz we don't know the meeting y'all going
to. Y'all the only ones that know the valuable information >> and when it's going to be we didn't know y'all's going to go to a D210 meeting. We didn't have that. >> What I ain't going to D210 meeting. I'm not aware of a D210 meeting. There was a
question during the chancellor's Q&A about D210, but it was nothing special, nothing interesting from from it's nothing that we hadn't heard before. Basically there was a person who asked why are we changing D210.
So because ultimately the person who was questioning the chancellor why are we changing D210 wanted D210 to be enforced as is. And as you aware D210 up to yesterday had not been enforced
since the lawsuit. And the person who asked the question to the chancellor was concerned that we're going to change the ruling which happened last night or the the D210 which happened last night at PEP. But the person was concerned and voiced their opinion to the chancellor and
that's basically what there was with that question. Um there was nothing secret or or special about the question. and it's been voiced by many advocates and the chancellor's response was basically there it's because of a legal issue which is the jud federal judge's
ruling that says freedom of speech was infringed upon by the department of education and the chancellor that was effectively the Q and the A from that there were probably five or six questions that were asked about AI um
and a lot of that was because Well, I assume a lot of it spurred from the prior PEP meeting in November when the PEP turned down the four contracts on AI and there was a lot of questions about who are the companies, right? Who are
the providers? What is it being used for? What is happening with student data privacy? So, who are the companies? The chancellor said she is surveying schools. She was supposed to have the data by mid December. We're obviously past mid December at this point or on
the later half of December. So she is late. Um what is it being used for? And that answer was effectively it's being used studentf facing but primarily right now it is more for teacher benefit.
That got into a question about privacy and students information being used i.e. using an IEP, uploading it to generate a new IEP, right? And
the gist was that's not happening from the chancellor that they're not uploading IEPs to the system. That being said, if you read the news, there's been stories in Chalkbeat and other places where
around the country there are teachers that are uploading IEPs, the right IEPs. So maybe it's not happening city, maybe it is, but that's that was certainly feedback to the chancellor. And then it was just playing the data privacy as well. And then the last question I
recall on AI had to do with the I'll call it the cognitive ability. I can't remember the exact phrasing, but that it was basically that when students use AI, their cognitive skills decline. Um, and you know, and the chancellor
acknowledged that and said effectively, we've still got to teach them to use AI, how to use AI, because when they leave our schools, they're going to have to use AI. And it she's right. I mean, the reality is the moment they graduate in June as a
senior, they're going to be exposed to a world in the world there is AI and quite a few of the jobs that they're going to be going into require AI usage. Um, there were couple issues for the chancellor. The
chancellor was late to the meeting because something came up and she had to cut off. Um, and so I had a question I was not able to ask which is about fair student funding. So I put it in the chat. They said they would get back to
us on fair student funding. And the reason I put fair student funding is because as you all know the fair student funding working group had recommended in their initial report that there should be additional weights for students with
disabilities and chancellor banks decided he did not want to fund additional money for students with disabilities. So we have this breakage problem and the breakage is ultimately the money doesn't work. And so that's
and with that we have other issues that happen with fair student funding because of that but the breakage is is one of the major challenges. Um so that was the question I put in the chat box and I was told that they were going to get back that was the chancellor's meeting. Um
you know there was nothing but you know I'll get back to the point of how should we disseminate this to the council. I have no problem sending a transcript. I have no problem sending an executive summary. I I would prefer not to honestly have to write up every
question, write every answer. I just better just do the the transcript at that point. But what what would be beneficial and helpful and appropriate from a council? >> Mark, I have my hand raised. So I >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> I want to comment to that when you when you get to me.
>> Okay. I see the hands working. Um so but before if I can if I can just finish up for for mine. Um the other thing that that happened is the ECC
um contacted Maggie and myself um regarding the succession of the chancellor. So this the challenge that we've had over the years and we've all experienced it being in the city is when you have a new mayor, a new mayor brings in a new
chancellor happens usually January 1. There is a lot of disruption in the school year when that happens. And the re part of the challenge with the the disruption is school budgets start up in I'll call it December when a new chancellor comes and all of a
sudden you got to redo all the budgeting you're doing for the new school year because you know mind you the new school year starts July 1 and so the budgeting is already going when there's a big change and that causes a lot of disruptions and the call from the ECC which Maggie and I signed on as individuals
was that we asked that the chancellor stay on until June 30th. While that's happening, have an open and public forum to discuss the new who the new chancellor should be, what what we need
in a new chancellor and to be public and not behind closed doors. the mayor elect has been very clear that he does not believe in mayoral control. And so we we felt this was a way to make sure that he lives up to his word and lets the public
have input in who the next chancellor should be. Let the public have input in what's important for our students and not just have a closed door poof there's a new mayor choice. But we wanted to make sure to, you know, first the continuity till the end of the school
year and then have an open and you know I don't me personally I don't care if the chancellor is on July 1st or if there's another candidate if there's another candidate's better than the chancellor I want the other candidate's better but if the current can the current chancellor is better I want I want her but you know an open forum is
what I was looking for. I think it's in the best interest of our schools or our students to have it open and have the community input. And I think it's important that we have continuity for this school year so we just don't have the chaos and disruption which has happened in years past when we've had
new chancellor start on January 1. So Maggie and I both signed on. Um we were asked to keep it quiet as soon as we were allowed to. We did share um that with you all. Um, and you know, I I wish we were able to talk beforehand, but we
were told, you know, you're doing it as individuals. It's not as CCSE members, it's as individuals. And they asked for our confidence that we would keep it quiet until they released the information. And so I just wanted to give you that. That was the other thing that happened this
month. So that is all I have. Dr. Kanton, you had your hand raised. Go ahead. >> Yes, I did. Um so just a suggestion I also got information about that request from ECC as a member of ECC. So um I did
hear about that too. Um one of the things that I propose as as leaders of this council um I heard Maggie say earlier that a lot of times you and Mark are very swamped.
Um the purpose of a council is to delegate. If there are additional meetings and things that are happening, um the only way members on the council are going to get enough experience to to understand what this council does and
it's a lot that we have to do at times. I think learning to share some of those meetings. You can send other council members as representation for you as the presidents if you can't go to certain meetings. You don't have to go to every meeting. Um it is now we have
practically a full council. Uh I think it's important to utilize individuals if they're interested in being of assistance, but whoever goes to whatever meetings that pertains to this council should share that information. And if it's pertinent information that you
think could help us, you know, a summary email, that's my suggestion. Just saying, you know, I went to this meeting, this is what happened. If you didn't hear about it, just want to make you aware. I'm going to give it in my report at a later time. Um, no one wants to have, you know, we all have private lives. We all have jobs and other things
we have to do. This is a volunteer position. So, it's unrealistic to put that kind of pressure, I think, on either one of you. But it can appear as though um a lot of the things that are happening are being held and that's the way it was presented at the previous
meeting that one or two persons are going to everything and we don't know what's happening as a council. Um but I just think in terms of transparency and also to build continuity and teamwork among this council um and restore some trust in each other. I think it's
important that if you have a lot of things to do, finding members to delegate, um if people are interested in being a part, um I often have stood I am I have stood on the fringes for my own personal reasons. Um but as a member of
this council, I don't have an issue of helping out when I'm asked. Um I will not volunteer for a lot of things because I've been doing this a long time and I just really um see my role on the council a bit different from other people's. But I think a suggestion to this council, the leaders of this
council, is it does it can appear as though when you give your report, you're just telling me where you went, but you didn't tell me what happened when you went there. So maybe sharing a little more about the details like you just did is very helpful. And coming up with any suggestions like after you've left that
meeting, what was what do you suggest we do as a council to better support whatever the initiative was or wasn't? Um, some of the members here are new. they've never sat on a council. They don't know what they should be a part of or not. Um but as senior people or people with institutional knowledge, I
think it's important as leaders that we um give people an opportunity to rise to that seat that they sit in for this citywide because it is a lot of work. But more importantly that um we as leaders um give access um because I do
at times feel like we are we can be we can be perceived and experienced very clickish. Um if you're not in the group, if you're not a part of what's happening, you don't get the information. Um but I know each of you and I know that
that's never the intent. So I think we have to do better as a council, me included and and stepping up, but the opportunities have to be presented. We also are very much aware that face chooses who they want to interact with and that's strategically
done and has been that way for years. People who are more vocal, people who are going to hold them accountable, they tend to sway away from. And so I just want us to be mindful as a council that we don't want to get caught up in that that we're here to serve our families. Yes, we're here to be partners with
them, but the at the center of the work is always the children we are here to advocate for. So my suggestion maybe is writing up a summary or share it in real time. You send all these emails out. Send an email out about that information before the meeting so that we can just come and feel like we're not um hearing
things for the first time. that might be helpful and bring more transparency. That's just my suggestion. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. All right. >> I want to I had my hand up, too. Um I want to um just again apologize for that
confusion earlier. Um there was a D210 meeting that uh presidents uh attended. Um, and I yeah, I I don't think I think that was one that that Mark wasn't able to attend. I attended and there was little
to no discussion at that meeting because of the legalities of it of the lawsuit and the litigants that were there in the room. Um, so it was basically just the cons the voicing the concern around that. I did not ask a question. And I
did not uh you know uh speak at the meeting. Um I just listened and it was a very brief meeting. Um there was not a lot to talk about. But then separately um in the monthly meetings with the
chancellor. So to backtrack again the the D210 meeting was not the chancellor was not there. Um, and in the monthly meetings with the chancellor, the D210 subject did come up by by members that
that were there. Um, and so I personally struggle with putting all of that together. You can call it an executive functioning struggle. But I myself,
you know, when when you're asking me to put something on a summary, I was working um in within the communications committee meeting last meeting uh to try to find a way to
streamline it, make it more accessible, make it more easier, not just for everybody because we you you all have um uh to give the member reports as well, but but also for me. So that's
you know I'm holding myself accountable on my own struggles and how to do that in real time when I have backtoback meetings and when I'm a single parent dealing with a teenager and I'm all by
myself. So that's on me. I'm just being completely transparent here. It's something that I do need to get better at. And that is why we at the communications committee with Joanne, we
were trying to work on that. How to uh make internal communications and external communications more fluent. having to utilize the website, having to use our our um our council email, having to use ourselves to for example for the
annual report just as a clear example how how to streamline that process better for all of us. So last the last term we didn't submit a we didn't have an annual report. we were
violating law, the law basically. And this term, what we wanted to do, Heather's idea actually was to make the process much easier. So we didn't have to go and and
and do the whole thing at once, but actually do it monthto-month with the topics that and the issues that have been brought up here in this space. And that is part of communications and that's part of the outreach. What have we been hearing from the other
districts? So when I signed up for this position, when I ran as as a slate, I expressed that I will hold myself accountable and I aim to be transparent with the council. I'm not about gatekeeping. I am
not about having, you know, side conversations or like you said, Dr. Sai clicks. That's not me. I personally don't like that. And I want to be able to loop in the council as much as I can
because it's not just us, both of us. It's the entire council. I do want to highlight one thing though. If you guys are asking us to loop you in, please give us your feedback. Please
send in your questions. because we have been trying and we have sent questions. We have actually asked you to send us your questions and we have not received any and so we have special education
office OPT asking us where are your questions and so we end up just having to submit our own questions every time you ask questions. Sometimes we may not have questions
>> but the response back would be helpful. Like we asked is there anything for us to ask the chancellor. We didn't get any emails back. We asked is there anything for this meeting? Did not get any feedback back. It goes both ways. We need we need flow from council members.
We need flow from each member. And you know Joanne, you put a you put a you mentioned before, right? You put an email out and you didn't get any feedback, >> right? you you called you called it out. It's it's the same thing. We got we all as council members have got to be a
little more engaged than we are or just a quick yes no be great. >> I'm trying to figure out this council because let me give you a good example. Rose put out an email yesterday and the
day before. I emailed Rose back and said, "Okay, I'm going to see you there in person." Rose said, "No, I only put that email out for anyone who was logging on with their computer." I was like, I was just letting you know I'm going to be there
in person. So, it's like I didn't know if I was not supposed to answer her or not. I just said I was just answering. So, I said, "You know what? I'm not going to answer because I didn't have nothing to say. So, that's why I didn't answer." Didn't I go say that to you? I
would just you just to say out of respect, >> I'm going to be there in person. So, >> so now that I know you just want me to say, "No, I have no question." I will email you back to let you know. I read that email and said, "No, I have no question." I have no problem doing that.
But I'm just saying I just don't know when to answer, when not to answer. You know, >> I think that's that's the good part of this discussion, right? It's it's how do we engage with each other in a productive way where we're where we're all being helpful and not a hindrance
and we're all communicating a way that's beneficial to all and move forward. And I I I've heard a lot tonight and I appreciate it and got plenty of notes and uh I will do better and appreciate your all all your help. >> Just as a reminder folks, we do have a
drive. We do have a shared drive. we need to use it. Now, there is a trick to it. Um, Heather was gracious enough to do some tutorial videos that that we will be sharing out and around how to
move around it, how to maneuver it because we also within the communications uh and outreach committee have to keep in mind that the our website legally has to have the minutes, has to have the recordings, has to be updated.
And if we don't, we're kind of we're violating uh the law. So that's where the share drive comes in because the share drive you it's it's more it's it's yeah it's easier. You go
in, you put in your document or or whatever else and you upload it. So, but that's again that's something that communications and al and rose, you know, we're working on on how to how to do that better because I myself don't
really know much about the drive, how to upload it, how to how to do all of that. Um, I had trouble with the upload of the videos because we do also have a YouTube channel ourselves, our council. So, we
are uploading the videos there too for the public to see. So, you know, but we do need all hands on deck and I hear you about um delegating the meetings to members and
also just yeah, like you said, just sharing, but how do you streamline that? Because what I wanted to do, my idea was and how Heather had the the the idea of doing the annual report was having a form within the cuz we could do this by
email and just having that like putting up putting up a shared doc and within the shared drive and just being able to um have input that way so we're not getting like thousands of emails back
and forth. There has to be a better way and and a more accessible way that we could do it and that we could uh you know um for all of us to have access. But the share drive is there for everyone to use. But but we just we just
need your feedback and input and just to to participate a little bit more like with that like with with the work and and just with the questions. Just let us know your questions. We want the special education office. We want the chancellor
to to hear your questions. I'm sure you have. I'm sure you have questions. >> Do we have any member reports? I'm sorry. We we'll get info out and share drive to everybody. >> All right. Um any member reports? I'm sorry. Susie,
>> did we do a review of the meeting minutes already? >> I have. >> Oh, you know what? We missed that. >> No. So, we we'll we'll do we'll finish up member reports and we'll go back to approval of minutes. Thank you, Susie. I totally missed that. My bad. Thank you.
>> I have a member report. >> Go ahead, Dr. Ken. >> Um I on the 23rd of December will participate in a focus group with the chancellor around early childhood education um from the perspective of
communitybased programs. Um, and she was looking for feedback on just how the the community based programs like the one I run work, how how is the relationship with with department of ed with some of the changes that they made and things that are happening. So, it's kind
of a forum which was sele I was selected through daycare council to be a part. Um, I don't have a problem sharing information as you all know. know I'm very passionate about special ed services and the lack of continuity for children in early child care programs
across the city that are funded by DOE. Um so a part of my conversation will really be talking about how can the state and DOE work better with community based organizations to get the services in the building versus allowing kids to
just have an IEP with no services until they get to a public school. Um, and so if there are any other ideas or things people would like me to speak about, um, you're welcome to email me. It is not until the 23rd of December. Um, but that is coming up. Um, I'm working on a
national project with National Action Network around the banning of books in our schools. Um, while here in New York City, we do have a robust uh, culturally responsive curriculum, there are other states that don't. And so I've been
speaking with leaders um around the country that are a part of chapters at NE just talking about better ways they can advocate to actually bring a culturally responsive curriculum to their public schools. Um particularly um
states along the east coast that are in the south. Um, and so that's some of the work that I've been doing um around that and around the dismantling of special education at the federal level, which is affecting a lot of um public school
programs in other states where families are trying to advocate for services or the lack thereof because state funding doesn't always provide as much as we get here in New York City. Um, and so that's my report. Um, any questions you are
welcome to ask me or email me. >> Thank you. Any other member reports? Okay. Um, then let's move back to approval of minutes. Thank you, Susie. All right. Um, the main meeting minutes were presented by Rose. Was there any
issues that you saw with the meeting minutes? Any adjustments, amendments? Susie, is there something? >> All right. If there so if there are no adjustments to mean minutes then they are accepted and approved as presented. Thank you.
All right we will skip back to actually we're going to go to number 11 right now which is new business the vote to reimburse the AA bros. Can you grab a mic? So, as you know, we did not have an
approved budget for months and months and months. Um, as such, Rose had to front money on her own. And Rose, please don't do that again. Let us know. Well, I hate you spending your own personal money. But, uh, Rose spent her own personal
money to cover things such as the website to actually make sure we'd have a website, which we're required to have up up because the DOE wasn't paying for it. um and some other expenses. And so we need to well the call if we have a motion would be to reimburse Rose for
the expenses she incurred covering while the DOE failed to have a budget out there. Yeah. >> Down there. >> I just anymore.
Well, it's just all three of us. All right. So we're all right. So it's four it's basically 500 bucks. Okay. So it's $493 and change. Um so is there a motion to reimburse Rose for the cost she incurred to
support our council? >> I make a motion. >> Okay. We got two motions which I'll call as a motion and a second. >> All right. Rose, do we need to go through a roll call vote to reimburse you the $493 and change?
Yeah. Do we need to do a roll call vote or just an updown? Okay. All in favor of reimbursing Rose for the amount listed $493 and change. >> I >> All opposed. All abstain. All right.
Rose, unanimous. There you go. Don't mess Don't mess with Rose. No, but thank you, Rose. In all sincerity, Rose, thank you for fronting us and and helping us on this and everything else you do, but appreciate you doing this. I
apologize that you had to do this. Um, but we don't want that to happen again. So, we'll work with DOE. >> There's a possibility that it would be one more for the GoDaddy because we don't it takes two months for them to
process the PE card. >> So, that won't happen. And we won't receive that until January. Okay. >> Not January, early February. So it be one more. >> What amount? How much?
>> Okay. >> Sorry, Rose, but thank you. Um, all right. So, we are good there. We'll go back quickly to the upcoming meeting topics. Um, we sent out the upcoming meetings for January, February, and
March and all the other topics that the council had prior given that the DOE is working on trying to schedule as they can find people and and work. But January and February and March are lined up for speakers. Um, again, we'll need your feedback on questions, comments that you have for each of those
meetings. if you could please send it to us um and we'll get it to Office of Special Education for them to farm out to whoever. But the next meeting coming up is going to be um bringing back the um intergovernmental affairs team. Um we
have a new incoming administration starting in 2 weeks less than. And so at that point, we'll have enough information on where that team is going, if it's a new chancellor, if it's a current chancellor continuing, what the initiative is, what the focus is. And
it'll be a good time to talk to them because there's two other things going on. We got the state budget. The governor will be giving her executive budget right around that day, and the new mayor is required to give his preliminary budget right around that
day. And so we're going to have, you know, the three things happening all at once. It'll be a really good time to have intergovernmental affairs to talk about city issues, state issues, and the direction of the new administration. So it's it's the timing
I think is phenomenal. So I just want to give you a heads up that'll be upcoming. So if you've got questions for intergovernmental affairs, please please please get them to us. Um and then we'll we'll pass them on to to that team so they've got a little prep on what they need to prep for. All right. Um, I don't see anything else
on the agenda. Is there anything else or is there anything else for tonight or do we have a motion to adjourn? >> Um, the member reimbursements and the budget. So, Rose, we're good on the member reimbursements, right?
Yeah. >> Yes. Everything was submitted. The SGTO he already approved everything. So people should be receiving their checks maybe next week or the week after taking consideration the holiday next week. >> And the budget
>> well >> budget budget >> you tell me what you want to be done. >> Budget's approved right now that we have a budget in the system. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We just will have to move money next month. >> So we will that means that we will have Yeah. Food next month. >> Food next month. Yes. And
>> we can move money January, February, March. There is a cut off in March where we cannot move money after a certain date in March. >> So, >> so you need to let me know what you have planned so we can if we have to move money, we'll move money.
>> Yeah. But there's a dead deadline date in March where after that you can't move money. So, we got to we got to figure out what we need to spend and where. No. >> Tama, do you have an update? >> Say no.
>> Okay. >> No, no updates from face. Um, all right. So the the budget bro so so just just so you guys are aware we had uh glitches with the budget internally because of the some some internal issues with the
the system itself and Rose was working very hard to to um you know solve that. Um we had to escalate and just see how that was going to be resolved. it got it was resolved, but um we've had issues uh
with with that in the past with the SGO. We didn't have one. Now we have one and hopefully the process will be much smoother now. We do have if I if I remember correctly, Rose, we do have extra because there's because of the
vacancies that we've we've had, right? Or no? Yes, we will have some money to move around >> and and so we do have the legislative breakfast to consider. Uh we do also I I
I know um I have to send the schedule out and see what works for for folks. The retreat hopefully um we can do a retreat um and and yeah, so thank you so much everyone for staying so late. Is
>> there a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjurnn. >> All right, we have three motions to adjurnn and that's two seconds as well, so we're good. All right, thank you everybody. Everyone who's still online, thank you Lupe. Thank you Margaret.
Have a wonderful