Director Vasquez? Director Lauter? Present. Director Williams? Present, sir. Director Hutchinson? Present. Director Berry? Director Thompson? Vice president Bachelor? About, here. Okay. And president Brohard. Here. Former president. Thank you. And mister Satchak, can we mister Hollis, can we, do a translation check, please? For tonight's meeting, we have three languages available. They are Cantonese, Arabic, and Spanish. We also have a Closed Caption feature available on Zoom that you can use by clicking the Closed Caption feature on your Zoom taskbar.
With that, we will move on to Announcements of Live Interpretation. I will lower all attendees' hands on Zoom. Please only raise your hand if you need the language being announced. At this time, it will be Cantonese. And I will ask mister Yuan if he can come up on mute and give the translation announcement for Cantonese. Thank you, mister Yuan. Checking attendees to see if there's any hands raised with Cantonese interpretation. I got you. Seeing no hands, we will not start with Cantonese interpretation at this time. Moving forward to Arabic. I will lower all attendees' hands on Zoom. Please only raise your hand if you need Arabic interpretation at this time.
One moment. I will lower all attendees hands on Zoom. Please only raise your hand if you need Arabic interpretation as the announcement is being made, and I will ask miss Saleh if she can come off mute and give the interpretation announcement for Arabic. Thank you, miss Solei. Checking the attendees to see if there's any hands raised for Arabic interpretation. Seeing no hands, we will now start with Arabic Please only raise your hand if you need the language that's being announced at this time, which is Spanish. And I will ask miss Vargas if she can come up and mute and give the interpretation announcement for Spanish. Of course.
Spanish. Thank you. The Spanish announcement is done. Thank you, miss Vargas. Checking attendees to see if there's any hands raised with Spanish interpretation. Seeing hands raised, we will have Spanish interpretation. That concludes our interpretation announcement for this time, and I will pass it back to mister Rick Straw. We do have interpretation computers, and we will get them set up for you. On tonight's agenda, we have only one item, which is unfinished business,
and that is 20 five-thirteen 81, repeal Board of Education, directing alternative budget adjustments fiscal years twenty twenty five-twenty seven, introduced by directors Mike Hutchinson and Clifford Thompson. Is there a motion to adopt this solution? If there isn't one, you don't have a it's not on the floor. I'll I'll make a motion to consider the resolution. Second. Director Hutchinson? Well, if you're gonna call my name, you you know, student director Simmons sent me a message, statement that he asked me to read at the meeting. So hopefully, this is a a good time to do that now.
Seeing no objection. So again, this is the statement from student director Simmons that he asked me to read that he sent me earlier today. I'm unable to attend today's meeting. I'm deeply apologetic to my community but this meeting was just too short of notice especially for such an important topic. Furthermore, I was not emailed or told about this meeting and still have not been contacted from anyone besides Director Hutchinson who I thank for following his promise and stepping up on communication and transparency even if it's just as simple as reminding me about a meeting. Not us.
And so again, that was a statement from Student Director Simmons. And so again, that was a statement from Student Director Simmons, because, like Director Berry and like Director Thompson and like I said at the meeting last week, we all couldn't make this meeting. Thompson, we're the two co authors of the resolution. And so in last week's this week, Monday morning, a little more than forty eight hours before this meeting was scheduled,
I received notice from board staff informing me that there would be this meeting. The board myself, Director Thompson and Director Berry said we could not be here this week. Thank you. I would like to move to amend the motion. Is there a second? What's your proposed amendment? Yeah. The proposed amendment. Usually, there is a statement of what the proposed amendment is before you acquire a seconder. Today, I had a really productive and clarifying conversation with Lisa Grant Dawson, our CBO, regarding the alternative budget resolution, where we both agreed that we wanted a budget that centered students and student achievement.
We talked about some ways to get there, and this is what this amendment attempts to do tonight as proposed. I want to be absolutely clear that it was not my intent to ever cut after school programs. These programs are vital to our students and families, and the recent cuts have made it difficult for our after school vendors to plan staffing and enrollment. But in my discussion with Ms. Brand Dawson, I saw a clear opportunity for collaboration among staff, the Board, labor, and community as we begin developing the 2026 budget twenty twenty six-twenty twenty seven budget. And that's why I'm proposing tonight that we postpone the implementation of the caps on
services and contracts until the 2026 school year. This delay will allow us to incorporate findings from the outstanding Outsourcing Task Force and staff, which we plan to discuss in open Board meetings starting in August. And I believe that, working together, we can create a budget that really does put students truly at the center. I'd like to second, although I'm wondering if it's possible to see the resolution language on the screen perhaps? Yes. It'd be nice if we saw what amendment we were referring to. I can share screens for your amendment.
That would be great. Thanks. So this is a proposed amendment to the Board of Education I'm sorry, Resolution Number 20 four-twenty five-two 43, repealing Resolution Number 20 four-twenty five-eighty four, directing alternative budget adjustments for fiscal for, school year twenty four-twenty five, '20 five-twenty '6, and twenty six-twenty seven. In testimonial? Just working on the technicalities. Okay. We're working on this, so hopefully, that will be on the screen in a minute. Point of clarification. I don't see how this is amending the original resolution. This sure looks like a whole entirely different resolution.
Is amending your resolution. I'll go ahead and read it. Whereas Resolution 2,420 five-eighty four directing alternative budget adjustments for twenty twenty five-twenty seven, the Board was clear about keeping budget cuts away from students and school sites when it used the phrase, necessary services directly impacting school sites. Whereas, the recent implementation recommendation of Resolution 20 four-twenty five-eighty four from the district staff would have been harmful to student services and stability at our schools and did not allow clear intent of the resolution.
Whereas it is clear, the Board of Education must provide OUSD staff further clarification, Section 2,420 five-eighty four also states that the priority to be placed on legally mandated services and necessary services to school sites. After school programming is a necessary program service to our students and families. Whereas, staff prepared a fiscal impact analysis, which was attached to Resolution 2,420 five-eighty four, which is incorporated herein by reference. Therefore, be it resolved that Resolution Number 2,420 five-eighty
four, enactment number 20 five-six hundred, March 20 20 one, 20 20 one, 20 20 one. The implementation of the cap on total expenditures on services and contracts shall begin in twenty twenty six-twenty twenty seven fiscal year, incorporating the recommendations of the Outsourcing Task Force and in consultation with staff during the budget development process to determine the capped amount. In addition, the cuts of $500,000 dollars 0 from travel conferences and memberships shall begin in twenty twenty six-twenty seven school year and shall exclude any travel,
conferences and memberships not directly related to students. Restoration of site based services. School site cuts referenced in the 05/19/2025 memo to principals, specifically those affecting after school programs, field trips, and other site based services, shall be reversed effective immediately in alignment with the original intent of Resolution 02/2004 to keep cuts away from students and school sites. For future budget decisions with input from the Board required before any additional expenditures or
budget cuts are implemented and or communicated with site leaders. The Chief Business Officer is expected to report any financial constraints or other expenditures to the board before implementing such changes. I'll second that. So that's not the amendment that we got handed out and that's sitting in in front of us. This reads totally differently. Correct? So this is a new one that just dropped out of the blue. Okay. And and we we weren't gonna tell anyone that this is not the amendment that was even listed on the agenda, that this is different. And, you know,
this is, wow. Okay. Madam madam president Yeah. This this this is an amendment of the pending motion, which strips the language in order as an amendment to his motion. And you can strip the entire language. You can now have a debate about it if you wish. No. So just and the clarification is that strips the original language from the repeal resolution that was introduced last week. And they're substituting something that isn't even the same as what we got handed as we walked in.
So just so everyone's clear, that's what's happening. I'm going to take Board I'm going to take actually public comments first. And we have thirty minutes. We can extend that if we agree to, but that's two minutes. Yes, President Brujahard. We have total of 43 speakers and six are students. Let's take the students first, please. The first six students six students are Diana Voto, Jalen Aguilar, Laser Cabrera, Angie Gutierrez, David Martinez, and Christina Tavor. Those are the six student speakers. They're gonna have two minutes each. Hello. My name is Diana,
and I am currently a student at Fremont High School representing Oakland Kids First. I am in an after school program called Real Hard. Passing the policy to cut funds is going to affect thousands of kids who consider after school their safe place. Not only will kids be affected, but also their parents too, who also rely on after school for their children to be watched as they are working to provide. As somebody who has been in after school since elementary school, it has been providing me with a safe environment with a community I know that cares about my well-being and learn useful skills that help me in the long term and help other students as well.
As a school board, you all should be representing student needs as some of them happen to be voting for you and rely on you to represent their needs as youth. Why does the school board take away something that thousands of kids benefit from? We demand that you reverse the resolution that cut after school and make thousands of kids lose an environment they consider a second home. 16 and 17 year old Oakland youth have the power to vote you in, but they also have the power to vote you out as well. Hello. High school where I participate in Oakland Kids' Hearts and Knights interpreters. And the program has benefited me because I get to have a safe place,
and I also get to do something after after school instead of just being home. I have also gained many relationships relationships throughout being in these programs, and they have kept me a lot of peers and relationships throughout these programs, and they have kept me motivated in high high school. Without them, it will not be the same. You must protect the federal funding that is set aside for after school programs. Without these after school programs, me and my younger siblings will not have a place to go to,
which will affect me and many others. Other families will also have the same issue and won't have and won't have any body else to rely on. I will also not be able to learn new skills that I need in the future and will need. You must reverse the resolution twenty five zero four nine two and restore full funding to after school programs in OUSD so that the thousand of children who rely on after school funding can continue to have a safe place and environment to go
to. Where all community where all as a community can thrive. Hello. My name is Andrea Gutierrez. So figure out how to do your job and which is to protect and serve students all across OUSD. The main task of your job this evening is to rescind budget cuts for after school programs. When cutting our after school funds, you are restricting education. Without programs like this, we wouldn't know what actually is going on in the world. And without this, I wouldn't be able to speak in public like I am doing right now and I did last week. Building relationships with staff and peers that I met through after school programs.
The programs have helped me develop leadership skills that I am using in my own leadership class at Fremont High. Students that depend on after school programs might not have a decent me after school or a safe safe space to be where they can be their authentic authentic selves. Be accountable of our needs as and roll you out. Thank you. Hello. My name is Zazir. And I remember days when I couldn't go home after school because you're closer. Thank you. I remember days when I couldn't go home after school because my parents couldn't pick me up. They were busy working, and so I decided to play sports.
I met people who truly cared about me, whether it was coaches or the staff. Everyone seemed to care about the kids' well-being. I also made long lasting friendships. None of this would have been possible without after school program. A positive contribution to many kids' and parents' lives. Hello. My name is David, and I attend Madison Park High School. And I feel like after school more time for school if they have no time at school to do work. After school is also an environment where students can stay out to spend time or even look into programs that can benefit benefit you later on in life and can use time to even improve in sports.
Or students can get picked up even after school ends. After school, it's a safe environment for students to stay at and pass time freely. It will be unjustible to end after school. My name is Abby, and I'm a high school senior, representing Youth Beat. As of now, I am nervous talking to you, but, the supervisor who looks over us gave me talks about I shouldn't be anxious, and that shows how supportive and amazing these adults are for supporting the youth and to not be scared.
During this time, I was able to be able to have a support system out there more and be also be able to be outgoing. I was able to find support system through the adults, the mentors, and friends I had made along the way, which I always had trouble making. It gave me experience that is also beyond high school, but also real life skills and problems there are today. It gave me a safe space and a community that I can also call call home. It was able to it was able to let me speak my mind and also express my passion, which I had trouble finding myself through.
I was I hope that these after school programs are able to commute create a safe community and more as and these are one of the high school, programs I able to have fun in. Thank you for listening. Hello. My name is Angel, and I'm a senior. As I go to UFV, this is my second year going. You speak about not, harming the students or the parents, but you are what's doing this. Cutting these budget cuts is costing kids losing opportunities to go to these programs where they wouldn't cost because it would cost too much money to go.
As I've been to many programs, but I also go for free or less cost. Like, it's very helpful because they let kids not be out in the streets. It's letting them have a safe place to be at as they wait or learn more skills than they would never have with that with the money in the way. Thank you. Hi. My name is Brenda, and I'm a high school senior that is representing Youth Beat as well. Sorry. I'm I'm really nervous. My time at Youth Beat has affected me in the best way possible. It gave me the opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone and talk to
people be and talk to people because I was always really scared to talk to people and make friends. And it has also helped me improve my imagination and creativity, without being judged. And since this is my first and last year here, I would really love for it to keep going because it personally has affected me in a really positive way, and I would really want it to keep affecting other kids in a positive way. Madam President, can we just restate what's the status of the motion at the moment?
The main motion here was to, which was proposed by, Director Hutchinson, which was seconded by two of his colleagues here, was to fully repeal the prior alternative budget resolution that passed March 26. The amendment that and so that was that was the main motion. The amendment proposed by president Brohard and vice president Bachelor We can Yeah. Your amendment your amendment is an order because instead of it being a proposed full repeal, it is a partial repeal.
So you would change things as you outlined and the rest of the previously alternative budget resolution remains in place. So it's a partial. So that's why the amendment is in order. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Riggstra. Can we have the next excuse me. Can we have the next speaker's place? Point of order. There was no point of order. No. I'm sorry. You can't tell me no. This is time of order. There was no determination made on the amendment. I didn't hear a vote on it and I didn't hear anyone declare it friendly or not. And so when somebody says point of order,
what's not appropriate is just to say no and continue talking. So can we have that clarification, please? Hold on. Go ahead, Mr. Reykstra. You are taking comment on the proposed, item as proposed for an amendment. Right. So it's an order for you to take the comment. Once all the comments are done, you will vote on the the board may vote on the proposed amendment. Right. If the proposed amendment passes, then it modifies the main motion. You would then subsequently take, that becomes the new main motion,
and you would then subsequently take a vote on that. Right. So everything is proceeding in order, as it should be. Thank you for your Mario Capitelli, Sagis Graham, Mike Blakenship, Oliver Brennan, and Sheila Haines. Hi, everybody. My name is Sejes, and I work with Youth Beat. And I thank you for your time. We serve 400 students on average every year and partner with amazing organizations like ABC, Safe Passages, Girls Inc, BACR, Oakland Kids First,
and also notably Oakland Unified Expanded Learning. It's the end of the year and I'm hearing a lot of feedback from students and from, teachers and after school care providers, their coordinators, as well as families. And I just wanna leave you with some of the tidbits that I'm getting. Our teaching artist who teaches animation at Burkhalter in Bella Vista today told me that her students told her that they learned how to communicate, and they learned how to collaborate, and they learned how to get along. Right? And they did this through animation.
We have been conducting interviews with our senior parents. Some of these seniors have been with us for four plus years, and they've been telling us that this is life changing programming. We last night welcomed over 200 community members for our end of year showcase, and there were five students from Castlemont who had their photography framed. And these students were beaming. The impact of after school programming is invaluable. It's, something that cannot go away. It serves multiple purposes, and, it creates community.
It creates opportunity for empowerment, youth development, and critical twenty first century skills through the arts often or through debate or whatever it might be. It really whether the amendment happens in 2627, I urge you don't cut after school funding ever, at all. Thank you. Hi. My name is Graham Cutting. It's on me. And my peers. Sorry. I'm a little short. I because this has been a good factor as a community and a safe place for me. I've learned community skills,
learning skills, organizing, and many more. If you cut this program, you are not hurting me, but you're also hurting my peers and the future kids of Oakland, especially the kids who need food and after school, a safe place to be after school, and to learn learning skills. If you cut this program, you are reasoning with the kids of Oakland, especially for those who wanna be better and do better. And, also, because of Oakland Kids vote, I am now allowed to vote for you guys. So if you guys do go on this, I will be able to not vote on you and to pull you out.
That's all. Sheila. Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? Yes. We can hear you. Was taken from music. Speaking of budget and programs, there just has to be a priority for students in special education. But, again, music and arts education is a way to keep all students in joyful and safe places. And for students like my son, it provides ongoing multithairapeutic value to his everyday life and not only with consistency, but helping him to hopefully gain other skills. He needs help. He was already traumatized by the district's actions,
and I'm his only music teacher. I also serve on the black suspensions committee. And I feel like as a black mother, the board should be listening to the experiences of us parents and value what we say works best for our children. Daily practicing is really helping my son to focus every day while providing confidence with the motivation for him to do better. So I'm asking you to please prioritize funding for music in the after school program. I hope that's actually what our resolution would help the children and not continue to let these funds roll over and use it for other purposes.
But also to the point about not costing any money, I have been asking for the last decade for the district to provide a loving environment. Again, that doesn't cost any money. So I just hope that you guys can provide that daily reinforcement of love and respect that our children need because you guys are obligated to keep them safe and give them the consistency that these funding programs provide for. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker. Next five speakers are Alvega Lopez, Josefina Alvarado, Annabel Martinez,
Marta Barragan, and Chen Sun. And can we have the translation, please? Hi. Can you hear me? Okay. So yes, good afternoon. My name is Alfreda Lopez, and I am a mother. And I am also an instructor in an after school program at East Oakland Pride. These programs are not some of the students. These are safe spaces for some of our students. They receive tutoring in social skills and arts, in other special tutoring. And so this also keeps them away from danger and from unsupervised spaces.
So the effects are not only for our students. They are also for us as adults. So we depend on these programs so that we are able to work with a peace of mind knowing that our students are in a place of protective and where they are also productive. These programs make a difference for a lot of students, especially for students that are underserved. So these are not only impacts in education, but also impacts inequality. We students depend in these spaces.
And especially, some of these students would not be in spaces like this because they cannot afford it. So instead of cutting funds for these spaces, we need to invest in spaces such as this. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Josefina Alvarado Vena, and I'm the CEO of Safe Passages. I'm also a proud graduate of OUSD. I was a latchkey kid growing up in OUSD. My mom had to leave her kids at home alone because there were no after school programs. Now Oakland has come such a long way and in part because of all of
the work and the partnership of the lead agencies that serve kids every single day of the school year and every day of summer programming. Not only are we serving children, we're also leveraging millions of dollars in city, state, federal, and philanthropic sources. These dollars cannot be accessed directly by the school district. They can only be brought by the lead agency partners, and we've been doing it every single year. Currently, just in terms of leveraging from the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, we are leveraging $3,300,000
for OUSD high schools. That's almost $6,000,000 each year that are coming through the lead agencies for Oakland children. Help us help you ensure that every single child in OUSD has access to quality after school programs when they need it. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Chan Son. I am a parent of a student that's enrolled in Safe Passage. I want to speak to you tonight not just as a parent, but as someone who sees how deeply our children rely on the afterschool program for safety, for stability, and for their emotional well-being. I understand that difficult decisions have to be made,
especially when resources are tight. But cutting the after school program affects so much more than scheduling or budgets. It directly impacts the lives of working families and more importantly, the daily experience of our kids. Many of us work long hours simply to afford to live here in the Bay Area. After school care isn't just convenient, it's essential. It gives parents a peace of mind to do our jobs knowing our children are safe, supervised, and cared for in an instructor environment. But beyond that, and the most important, is our children love this program. They feel connected to their peers, their learning in a relaxed setting, they're supported by caring adults who know them,
they laugh, they play, and they often don't want to leave when it's time to go home. That says a lot about the kind of space that's been created, a place where they feel safe, seen, and happy. Without it, many of our kids will go home to empty houses or worse, even end up in unsafe or unstimulating environments. They'll lose a space where they grow emotionally and socially, not just academically. Please, I ask you to reconsider this decision, our children's safety and emotional justice. How you doing? My name is Aribal Martinez, and I'm here as a parent. I have two kids at, East Oakland, Pride. And just concerned about cutting the after school program.
I mean, it's so important. We rely on the program. Our my kids, I can see I don't have a speech. I'm not a great spokesperson, but I can tell you that that we we need that program. We need I see the improvement of my child, how they've improved their life. They they're more active. They're in a safe environment. And for us to find out that now we have to be concerned where we're gonna keep our kids and where are they gonna be. It's just something that, we asking as a family, please do not cut the funds. I mean, we rely on them.
I mean, I'm grateful if you guys fund it. That's true. That's cool. Hello. I can hear you. Good afternoon. I am very nervous right now, but I just wanted to let you know I have four children. Two of them are older now, but two of them remain still in the after school program at East Oakland Pride. My oldest ones are now in high school. So I am a working mother, and I don't have anyone that can care for my children. And I don't have the money to pay for someone to care for my children.
So who's going to help me? It is easy for you to say something like this because you may have the means to pay for programs like this. But, please try walking on my shoes. I don't have the money. I am a low income mother, and these cuts will affect us a lot. You know, two of my little ones, every afternoon come home with little gifts, with little things that they've done during this program. I won't be able to do that with them. I don't have the time to do that with them. So these are these are things that people that work with them help them do.
So and it's not only my children. Think about the other kids in the school as well. So yes, this has all the things that I want to say. Please, I hope you change your mind and don't cut the funds for this program. Thank you. Next five speakers. Can we call the speakers who are also online? I believe they're Yes. We have Oliver Brennan. And that is the only registered speaker that's online. And President Brochart, we have a lot of empty seats now, and I know there's people downstairs who should have been allowed to come in the first place. Can we make sure that we fill in the seats so people can participate?
Director Bachelor is taking care of that on the radio. Thanks. Next speakers? Oliver Brennan, looks like Dan Huang and Jermani Beniamen. Albert Brennan, if you could unmute yourself to speak. I was muted. Can you hear me now? Yes, we can hear you. Okay. So I'm an OUSD parent of two. So my key point here is on process. It's May 21 and we're here because when the board had gone through its detailed and careful budgetary process throughout the school year, resulting in a plan to deal with a $95,000,000 budget, where three present members of the Board are sitting on the Budget and Finance Committee
since January, '2 more the prior year. Can we get back to the normal process, please? Can we stick to the process? And if board members wish to cut contracts based on ad hoc committee findings or other reasons, they should bring the resolution now with this last minute change to the amendment and not the document attached to the agenda. But is this enough to reinstate all services cut by the alternative budget adjustment? Are we still creating an fee? Now I think you are rolling back the prior cap. And how much are we saving now with this alternative budget process? Is it on top of the savings and attachment fee? Is it separate? Is anything else required to reinstate the funds for aftercare?
Will we need another special meeting? Please, we have processes for a reason. Work within those and bring your proposals in a timely fashion earlier in the budget in the actual budgetary process. Thank you for hearing me. Next speakers. Thank you. Well, it's, so evident that you don't know how to work together and, that's why we actually have an after school program to teach students how to edit and, do not postpone it and buy some time for next year. I'm speaking today as a service provider who has worked in Oakland's after school program for multiple years, not as a consultant,
but as someone who builds trust with the families, instructors, coordinators and helps hold schools together. I want to address two of you directly today. Board Member Rachel Latta, you stood in front of families and after school instructors at Chabot and and told them that you would support rescinding this resolution that you voted for. That gave people hope. Board member Jennifer, during the last board meeting, you said that you tried your best not to cry while listening to what's happening to after school programs, and your intentions was not to hurt these programs since your kids were part of it.
Well, I need you to understand something. While you try not to cry, we break the news to parents that they might lose care for their children. While you say I will support, nothing has changed yet, and here we are again. Sites are already losing staff, losing slots, and losing the community trust that we spent years building. Kids do not need tears. They need action. Families do not need promises. They need protection. This is not a budget mistake. This is a leadership failure. Again, this is not a budget mistake. This is a leadership failure. The vote to cap contracts without assessing the consequences is already harming over 18,000
students and their families. And that's the most that's not the most heartbreaking part. We've seen this before. We've seen policies passed without community engagement and without equity at the center. This time, you can fix this. Today, you have the chance to make it right. You have the chance to prove that your words mean something, rescind this resolution, restore the funding, and stop balancing your budget on the backs of the very students who depend on us to show up when others don't. Because when we at Safe Passages are showing up, when our partners are showing up, and we are still showing up, but the question is,
will you? Thank you. Mother of two, Denevia Lampley. I'm actually here today. I didn't know what to expect. I just know that when I go sign my children up, the director of the program is looking at me and saying, Dee, they're cutting the funding for my program. They're cutting the program they're cutting the funding for my program. She said it yesterday. She said, There's a meeting tomorrow, Dee. They're cutting the money for my program. This is the director of the program that was there three years ago when I left an unsafe situation and was able to do so and have care for my children because if they had gone home at that time,
they wouldn't have been safe at home. And I had to leave that situation. And I wouldn't have been able to leave that situation if I didn't have after school care. So, I don't want to make this about me, I just want to be some as a member of the community. Someone who's going to pick my kids up and signing them out and the woman who's always said, Dee, I got you. No problem. You're good. Thankfully, there was food here. I didn't know there was food here. And I'm I'm I'm asking you guys, please don't do that. That's wrong. That's wrong. Food prices are going up. Rent prices are going up. Why would you cut after school care? People can't stay home now.
People can't quit their jobs now. Why? Why would that why is that even something that's being brought up? It didn't make sense to me. But I couldn't go home and not do something. I don't speak in public. But I couldn't I couldn't go looked at me and said, Dee, there's a meeting tomorrow. They're cutting the funding for my program. I don't know what I'm gonna do. Thank you. For the East Bay Agency for Children, the assistant director of after school services. Excuse me. I'm here tonight to express I'm reading. I don't typically read my speeches, but I needed to take a deep breath because I'm very passionate about this.
I'm here tonight to express my strong concerns about what will happen to our children, our families, and the staff in after school, if after school contracts are not approved by the June 11 board meeting. Without approval in June, we won't be able to start before and after school programs when school begins on August 11. Right now, across Oakland, lead agencies are enrolling thousands of students for fall programming. We're securing our returning staff, and we're hiring new staff so that we can ensure that all of our children
are safe and cared for. We can't do this and all the other things that that and while we are asking the board to take swift action, we also need the action to be well planned and effective. We don't have any time for any mistakes, miscommunications to be made. And on behalf of the kids and families that depend on all of us, we are asking you all to please work together. I wish, president Brouhard was here so that we can all work together, to rescind this order. I also wanna add, this makes me emotional every time I think about it.
Three of the provides this pipeline that continues into teachers in in within the district. So I really hope that we all consider and see how this village comes full circle. Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Carter Usher, and my mom name is miss Benjamin. I'm here today to speak on the programs and how this Budget. Bookcase? I can read it. Good good evening, everyone. This is my son, Carter Usher. He does attend, after school program. I also have two other students that attend after school program.
This budget cut will impact students and their families. As a parent, of three students attending the after school program, this is very critical to all families attending, not just mine. And with these cuts, it takes away the improvements that have been made with students that need support with academics, safety and well-being, and also social emotional development activities. I believe that if these funds are cut, it will cause parents to have to move students from OUSD, which will cause even more stress and potential hardship on students and parents that will,
that will cause even more safety concerns in our community. So please do not cut these funds. Next five speakers are Kimiko Wuey, Azar, Albertani, Jonathan Beladares, Tiffany McDermott, and Jeff Abercrombie. Those are the next five speakers. Good evening, everyone. My name is Kamiko Wooley. I am a native of Bay Area. I'm a vocal artist and actively involved in Oakland's thriving music scene. My roots run deep in this community. And I've dedicated over twenty five years to youth development as an educator and administrator
in Oakland schools. I was brought into the Expanded Learning Office as a consultant, which is now seen as a bad word, I guess. But my job is to help build the arts enrichment initiative from the ground up. Our programs have increased by three times the amount of partnerships that we started off with. We have reached 42 schools in this district, serving all grade levels with year long arts enrichment such as dance, podcasting, drumline, jazz band, youth choir, muraling, apprenticeship programs, and opportunities for youth to be in safe environments where they're getting artistic education.
And all of this at no cost to families. I'm very proud of the work that we are doing in collaboration with a community that I love deeply. With secured funding and well established partnerships and a strong team ready to scale up our efforts, we're poised to expand access to joyful, high quality arts education for our students. I urge each of you to intact inevitably without any doubt that this would ever come into question again. And I also implore you to reach out to the community members who are impacted
by these decisions primarily before making sweeping decisions that bring everyone into an uproar of confusion and insecurity. This is the last thing that Oakland needs right now, is for the people who are putting in the work to feel disregarded. All the work that we are putting in, to pour in love and resources into the children that we love and are invested in creating a vibrant Oakland arts renaissance that is youth centered. And I would love the opportunity to continue my work for years to come.
Thank you. Good evening. I'm Tiffany. I'm sure you guys know me, throughout the district for of my kids in after school. One of them is fed. He is allowed this year, because of after school, to be able to do sports, do things he normally could do. He just played volleyball, basketball, things he couldn't do without our program. But guess what? As a BACR employee, I work as an assistant coordinator at Madison Park Academy. I work with the SPED kids every day. I watch SPED kids that came there. They were wowed and all off the chain. These kids are welcome.
They feel included. They are loved. They are getting food. They are getting friends. They are making they're getting to do all kind of activities that they would normally not get to do. I am proud to be not just a parent that supports, but also as a community member and a person that works with these kids. After school is important on so many levels for so many reasons. We serve all kind of kids that are struggling. We hear things that staff you guys don't hear. Parents don't hear. I hear stuff from other people's kids that I don't even hear from my own kids. So I know how important we are as a community.
I know how important after school is to the kids that come, that we serve every day, that they're looking for a snack. They're just looking for a friendly face, a hug, somebody that shows them that we care. Don't cut our funding. We need it. Not just on the job, but for those of us as parents at work. Like I I said, I'm on both sides. I work, but I also have four kids in it. I need the program for myself to provide for my family, but I also need it for my kids that need it as well to socialize, and they're safe. That is the biggest thing for everyone here. I can speak for everybody in here. Safety in numbers,
being at a program. I don't care if it's BACR, safe passages, when you don't see them. Don't cut us. We need it. Hello, everyone. My name is Jonathan. I am the director of the E. B. C. Afterschool Program at Garfield Elementary. So, I just wanna say that in the achievements of the year, we're mobilizing parents and letting them know, like, hey, we might not be here in the future. And I just we had an event that was supposed to take place last Wednesday. It was our our last event of the year with the families. And we had to postpone it because we were mobilizing families to come here and to have their voices heard.
And, we had it yesterday and, again, instead of having it end in a celebration, I had to make an announcement. Please support us tomorrow. It's a very important meeting that we have. And it's just, it's, again, it's just very disappointing that we have all this going. I've been working for fifteen years in after school program, and most of it has been at Garfield Elementary. And, just as someone mentioned earlier, the work that we do, it carries on for years. At Garfield, we have a pipeline. Students go to Roosevelt. There is Ubacy at Roosevelt. From there, they go to Ojai. And all these Ubacy programs are helping these students benefit and grow into young individuals.
When they're in Oakland High, they have the opportunity with the funding to come and work as interns back in our program. I currently have former students of mine that are part of my line staff, and it's all thanks to, again, that pipeline and them being able to have the opportunity to come back and give back. And even further, some of them are even thinking about being teachers in Oakland. And all this is just through the love that we're giving them, through the education and the support that we're giving them. And it's just again, it's disappointing to see and that even it being a thought,
that all this can be cut and not be in the future. So we're just really asking for everything to be rescinded and make sure that we do have our funding for, now and for the future without causing fear into all these families. Thank you. Hi. My name is Azar, and I'm an alumni of Sequoia and its after school program. Born and raised in Oakland, I know firsthand the challenges and dangers that come with growing up in this city. Growing up, my mom raised four kids alone in a small studio apartment working tirelessly to program. It's a safe haven. It provides a nurturing environment environment where kids can learn, grow, and thrive away from the dangers and uncertainty uncertainties of the of the streets.
As someone who's experienced the city's challenges personally, I understand the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment for our kids. By keeping our students engaged and active, we're not only supporting their academic success, but also helping the helping to keep them safe and out of harm's way. If you take this program away, it's like saying you don't care about the kids in Oakland. You'll be perpetuating the same stereotypes that people often hold about our community, that long list of systematic failures that have already held us back for far too long. And let me tell you, these kids, they deserve so much more than what we already give them.
They're worth more than any amount of money can provide. They are the few that pass, and cutting this program will be a slap in the face. I strongly believe it's essential to continue supporting our students and families, and I urge you to prioritize the well-being and success of our kids. Thank you. Hi, I'm Jeff Abercrombie. I'm a parent of a young daughter entering OUSD at Laurel Elementary. And we chose to send her to Laurel at OUSD to be invested in our community and our city and filled Oakland. Personal impacted store resources tied to outcomes. Studies from the Academic Institute of Research, the Harvard Family Research Project,
and corroborated by many other academic studies show after school programs benefit our kids. Two years in an after school program improved math scores by 20 percentile points. It increases attendance. It reduces behavioral suspensions and expulsions, and it closes the achievement gap between low and high income families. Cutting after school programs is a disproportionate hit to the families that we need to be supporting the most right now. This comes with a caveat. It's a caveat that these after school programs are quality programs,
so you can't cheap out on this investment. You must continue to have these be an enriching experience. Funding should not be reduced now in 2026 with haphazard amendments slid in after the fact because of public backlash. You can push it under a rug and out of sight. Hope we quiet down. Instead, I urge to adopt the repeal. Come back with a framework with actual planning. Don't tie our kids' future to this sloppy proposal, which was adopted and contained a bunch of unintended consequences, and accept that it was poorly drawn up in the first place.
Don't try to save face with thrown together last ditch efforts with a similar level of forethought. Thank you. Thank you. Can you hear me? Do we have translation? Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Yes. We can hear you. Okay. Her name is Dan Huang, and a a child well, three the parent of three kids is Laurel. And the parents need the the parents need the after school program and the children need the need the after school program as well to make friends, to make the to develop their interest among the peers and also
in learning. And and this program improved their performance and grades and learned more and they they tell them how to communicate with parents so they could they could learn how to communicate with parents in Chinese. Without the after school program, they they don't have anything to do after school, and they have lack of lack of activities to make children they affect affect them emotionally. They they lack of focus. They could spend a lot of time playing video games at home and got nothing to do.
And they video. And I have to I cannot work because because I work two jobs. And if there's after school program, I can pick them up after school. But if there's no after school program, I cannot work, and I have to pick them up early and especially on a minimum day. There's no other job who will hire me, if I have to, you know, take off and pick up the kids and everything. We need the program. Kids needs a program. The the kids need the program to learn, to engage,
to learn more outside what they learn in school. Thank you. Hello. My name is Kat, and I am after school provider. But more importantly, I am a member of this community. It's concerning to witness how much inner conflict exists among the board and more importantly, solutions. It is evident that there are board members who are not concerned about how their their actions are impacting students in the community as instead, here you are hiding in a room instead of facing your community directly. The evasion of accountability is glaringly obvious, and shifting the blame onto others within the district only shows that these members are
not only incompetent in doing their jobs, but that they have no accountability to the community. Pushing these cuts back or amending the language so that after pro after school programs are protected is not enough. Any kind of cuts to the district will affect thousands of individuals, students, and their parents alike. While prisons continue to be built in direct correlation to how many students are a reading level below third grade, it is dire that we continue to fund schools in all aspects, not cut their funds. As several people in attendance have reminded you, the same communities who you are taking services away from are the same ones who
can make sure to vote you out and strip you of the power that you are currently abusing. Thank you. I think we're over the time. I want to have a motion to, extend the time by forty five minutes. Mad President, by consensus, you can do that. You can extend the time. This is a special meeting. Okay. We'll extend the time for forty five minutes. Okay. The next five registered speakers are: Tumani Benjamin David Kakashiba Pindeke Niemmer, Maya and Tony. Good evening, board members. My name is David Kakishiba. I work at the East Base and Youth Center,
and we are a long stand multiple schools largely in the Chinatown, Eastlake and San Antonio neighborhood districts. I had different comments. Just so I and I believe everybody else here are not aware about what sounds like the strip substitute language, to Director Hutchinson's motion. We don't have copies of it so it's hard for us to analyze it and to comment. So I would just say at the outset, I ask you to either vote to not approve,
the substitute strip language or to table this, for a time certain either recess this meeting for a time certain, next Wednesday, And to take up the matter with the amendment being published and that everybody, the public can look at it and analyze it. Having said that, my original comments are as I heard the amendment, it sounds like essentially that Resolution 2,425,084
is fundamentally intact. And last week, hundreds of people asked for rescinding and repealing this resolution. I wanted to suggest that there might be the first thing is I just want to affirm that I believe that the overarching goal of the Board when you pass that resolution on March 26 is to identify expenditures to be reduced from the unrestricted general fund to essentially achieve fiscal solvency. Because we all know that a year ago,
twelve months ago, you adopted a budget that is $78,000,000 in the whole. And over a three year period is close to $250,000,000 in the whole. State takeover is not only possible, it is probable. And so given those conditions that you took the initiative to figure out additional and alternative ways to cut back on unrestricted spending ongoing spending.
And that is a goal that everybody supports. Part I of your resolution puts a $125,000,000 cap on all services and contracts for a three year period, dollars 125,000,000 each year for three years. Now looking at that budget that you adopted a year ago, the adopted budget has a total of $155,000,000 budgeted for services and contracts of which $101,000,000 The year prior,
your actuals actually in other words, this year is 24% lower than the year prior. However, it's in your unrestricted fund where there was a significant increase in spending in Services and Contracts and a dramatic drop in That I that I think is not informed by data and looking at your budget data. How you are going to save money and prevent us from being interstate takeover is
by reducing expenses in unrestricted funds. The way to do that is to target anything that you want to do around services and contracts is looking at that funding source. Not in you will by implementing reductions in the restricted area, you will jeopardize ongoing revenues to this district from state, federal, and from voter approved tax measures, two of them two of the three of which are part resolution. What that will do would be immediately,
what do you call it, revoke or to reverse the budget reductions for contracted services that were allocated to schools and to departments. And secondly, it will provide you an additional few months on services and contracts that I think there are that between the Board, the senior leadership team of the District and community partners and I will personally work with
the Board to make a smart policy on this area because I believe that the Board's intent is the right one and we don't have a whole lot of time to waste. And so thank you very much. I appreciate the extensive time. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is Tony Luong Wisserff, executive director of YouthTogether. I know you was the parent of a middle school student at Edna Brewer. I know you was the alum of Cleveland, Jefferson Now Global, Allendale Brett Hart,
and Skyline in 02/2002. And then I came back to Skyline in 02/2007 to work as how my career started. And I don't even You Together has been a partner at Skyline since 1996. As a lead agency since 02/2009, we have gone over and beyond to provide after school for 900 students annually. Although our contractual obligations are only for ten months, We work for twelve. Instead of fifteen hours a week, we work Monday through Friday from 07:30 to six p.
M. Daily. We are there before students are on campus. We are last on campus after students leave. Our partnerships with Peralta Colleges, community based organizations, and teachers have built high quality programs for youth and families because we believe that every students thrive. But our efforts of what did we do wrong? What did after school do wrong? Are we wrong for investing into our youth and families of OUSD? Maybe hiring homegrown OUSD alumnis? Maybe helping our youth and families succeed and graduate, maybe helping the school pass their WASC accreditation,
maybe cocreating cost team or college access team, designing and implementing the school based health center on-site. What is my reason to lay off our staff? And not to mention, we have not seen a cost of living adjustments since the inception of afterschool. So what's the reason for the cuts or the proposed cuts? Let's do the right thing for the babies. Let's put aside our political differences. Let's work together, involve community into your process, get clear with your fiscal analysis, and let's walk into a future where our students
tense. After school, we like to take breaths. It's just a way to calm us down. So if you could take a deep breath in and then let it shake it off. Okay. Hey, everyone. My name is Pentanken Nimer. I'm affectionately known as miss Pete to my community, and I run the after school program at Prescott Elementary over in West Oakland. You might have seen that name a couple times on the list too. I'm not gonna go there. As you know, we are a small yet mighty community of hardworking families just trying to do their best for their babies. And the reality for most of my parents in that community is that if there
is nowhere for their babies to go after the bell, then they're more likely not to go to school, which we all know, attendance equals money. So that's how we help too. After school has always been and will continue to be no matter what the resources are for our families, and we will be a huge helpmate to our school communities in connecting with families and getting the butts in the seats because that's what we do in after school. We at BACR have been planning families who are looking to hear from us, but we're waiting.
We're waiting for right there. If not if not, many are already exploring other options, some of which fall outside this district. For many families, there is no other choice that they have. We are fully prepared and committed in supporting after school, and we as we have for over twenty years. This coming school year and beyond, we trust that you will continue to work in this partnership on behalf of students and families by protecting expanded learning funding. And then look, mistakes were made. If we're modeling for our kids, we teach our kids,
take accountability for what happened, we apologize for what happened, we agree to disagree, and we move forward. And I'm hoping that us as adults, we set that tone for our kids. We all want the same thing. Thank you. Hi. My name is Maya Whitaker. I am the executive director for the Bay Area Urban Debate League. So we've been with OUSD partners since 02/2008. I'm actually a part of their first cohort out of Skyline. So I'm part of that investment in after school dollars. I'm now that executive. Y'all know the housing crisis as well as paying for after school services is not
an option for many of the families that choose to keep their babies in OUSD because those that have the dollars choose to put it elsewhere. So it's super important that you listen to the people, although it might hurt and we have to make some important decisions. I think it's unclear to the people you serve why these cuts are being made, who is going to be the operational person moving forward. Two years of hard work working with the AEI has helped us develop all kinds of debate teams across the Bay Area with funding insured. Debate is not a cheap activity, and our students step up to the plate like myself every time are running.
What what's happening? So as a student and now the leader of this program, I, like many of other many of the other programs, hire OUSD graduates. My program director is a Oakland Tech graduate who went to Cal Berkeley and now came back home to serve, so we all make sure students know how to articulate themselves like myself and others. It is disheartening again that you are thinking about cutting after school programs where they pick up in the day that the school just can't beat, that the school has no way to come up with a plan on how to better serve these students, let alone the teachers we hire are community members that still have to live here.
I can't tell you how many of the debate coaches come to me and say, you stop me from being able to go get a job at Ghazali's to make my ends meet. Who's watching her babies while she does this? So, again, as a parent now in OUSD who has benefited from these resources of pouring into, who continues to fight for our students day in and day out, I'm not here to threaten your jobs, but I'm here to let you know your eyes and everyone is watching and listening to the decisions you make. And unless you come up with some valid reasons and get to explain what's happening and what's next, there's going to be hell to pay.
Hello again. How you guys doing? Alright. My I'm also a OUSD alumni. I went to Markham Elementary, Frick Middle School, graduated from Fremont High School, proud Tiger. I also attended Cal State University of East Bay and graduated with three degrees. So I am a prime example of what after school program looks like following it all with all the way through. I'm here today not just as a parent, but also as a voice for so many families who rely on the opportunities provided by our Oakland Public Schools, especially the free sports program. These programs are essential for the community.
The cost of living in Oakland continues to rise. Families like mine simply cannot afford to put our children into, into for profit sports leagues without a flag football or even pick up a golf club. Thanks to these programs, she has not only learned the fundamentals of different sports, she gained confidence, mentorships, and a supportive space to play and grow with her peers. Like, have you seen the smiles on these kids' faces when they leave program? My daughter's so excited and we can't even do. That joy, that spark, it all matters. These babies matter.
Without these programs, my daughter and so many others are at risk of losing more than just playtime. We risk losing a generation to the streets, to the statistics, to a future without guidance and healthy outlets. These children are the most vulnerable, so we must protect them by any means. This is a cry for help. It is not what happened in the past. It's not what happened at that board meeting March 12, whatever date that was. It's about what we do in the future to protect these babies. Our children future depends on you. Please do not eliminate these vital programs. Do not take away the chance for our children to grow,
to be safe, and to thrive. And I had a quick question. If you guys can please just revisit the amendment and just explain what the amendment was, a lot of families downstairs didn't get a chance to hear what the explain it. So if you guys can please reexplain that, it'll be great. Thank you. Next five speakers are Grace Keefe, Nick Abando, Jody Loons, Mercedes Castillo. Just the mic down. Just super quickly before you go, president Brohard, community members I've I've been told community members wanna stay downstairs until their names are
called. So, if folks want to come up, we have 15 seats. But if you would like to stay downstairs, you can do so. And then your names will be called, and you can come back up. Hello. My name is Grace, and I'm 10 years old and have been going to aftercare since TK. My brother used to so much, and I've learned so much. Aftercare has encouraged me to play sports and make more friends and to push more in academics and day in school. Some people think of the staff as teachers, but I think of them as friends and family. And Aftercare and Evac have been so helpful to me and my parents. If you take away Aftercare,
that is like taking away all my friends. So thank you so much Aftercare and Evac. You teach me so much, and I'll be so upset if anyone took away after school. Thank you. I have two sons. My youngest is a first grader at Laurel Elementary and I rely on the after school program to continue my work day, which starts early in the morning. And, I take a break to take him to school and then I rely on the after school care to get me to the end of the day. My oldest son is a 20 year old employed by Safe Passages after the after school instructor. I'm really keyed about the loss of jobs that this would mean for Oakland.
This is a huge, education adjacent education field. And all this loss would mean something. This has been Amir's, you know, first major employment after high school. And, I've seen him just be mentored by this program. The on the job training he's received has been amazing and has led him to, want to continue his career in after school education, possibly in education, still figuring his way out through things. But I really encourage, OUSD to keep all the after school programs going.
I can't imagine the huge hole this would create for the future of education programming in Oakland if we even had a loss for a year of, of all of these programs. Thanks. Good evening. My name is Nick Obondo, and I'm speaking on behalf of Living Jazz where I manage our school education programs. I truly believe that after school education is essential for our children. I say this not only as a creative worker, worker, but more importantly as a father of an 11 and a 13 year old and who have found their voice in the USD expanded learning team.
And we share the same belief. After school arts programming that we offer isn't just about music and dance. It connects students to the rich cultural legacy of Oakland. What makes, our program and programs like ours especially powerful is the teaching artists. They are culture bearers who are leaders in their fields and mirrors of the communities our students come from. They bring lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep care into the classroom. That authenticity matters. It helps students see themselves, their heritage, and their value reflected in what they're learning.
Cutting funding sends the message that creativity, identity, and expression are optional, but for our kids, they're vital. These programs keep students engaged and inspired. My ask is that you take time to continue to listen to the community and hear the huge impact these after school programs have, and I urge you to protect this essential funding for our students. Next five speakers are Regalyn Grant, Ben Tapscott, Michael Jenkins, Jessica Luedy, and Michael Gomez. My name is Ronnell Malone the second,
and I just wanna tell y'all, it's unfortunate that I come back from college. I've been doing study abroad for three months in Costa Rica, and to hear that y'all cutting after school programs and things for these kids that will actually help them benefiting benefiting life. And I'm saying that because, those three months, if it wasn't for my after school program, shout to CDC, former student of Sequoia Elementary School. And if it wasn't for them, shout to miss, miss Estelle too. She helped me build that confidence in me to even apply myself and to move forward in life and to see the benefits in life that in this environment I
ain't gonna lie to as a child, I didn't see I didn't even think it was possible for me to go to college, be a first gen student in a environment where a lot of people don't look like me. And for me to get that experience through after school that a lot of kids if y'all do cut that cut this program, a lot of kids are not gonna be able to experience that and have that confidence. Because I'll be honest, I was I feel like after school raised me, more than my own parents could. Because due to her having, MS, multiple sclerosis, she wasn't able to be there for me as possible as she could. But, that school teachers was able to support me and guide me as a young man
that, unfortunately, I just didn't have the opportunity to. But lessons to my at the school, lessons to the teachers I had, they was able to guide me and show me a new path. And so, honestly, unfortunate because if we're still putting a lot of money into the police departments, that makes no sense, honestly. I don't know why we're putting so much into the police when if y'all cut these programs, those same kids will be programs. So I really hope that y'all keep it in second guessing. Thank Hello. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Azriel Aquino Lagora, the value of after school programs in OUSD.
I know firsthand what it means to have an OUSD school experience. It truly shapes your character as you mold into the person you become because your environment and your influences. This is the very reason why after school programs hold so much value. After school programs are a support beam to growing slash learning resilient youth of this city as programs such as eBAC provide positive action to your children. After school programs are more than just providing supervision while parents are busy during school hours, but are a safety net and a network community that will help each other,
that will help each other, provide for each other, and give back. I am 21 years old, and my occupation is a after school instructor at Sequoia Elementary. After school as well through all of my attending years. Now examine my position, my doctorine, and consider the importance and the positive impact that after school programs have in this city. And that should be all the reason and to keep after school is funded and heavily prioritized. Thank you. Alright. Good evening. Thank you for having all of us here. Thank you for having me here. My name is Michael Jenkins.
I am the after school coordinator at CCPA. I wanna speak directly to the numbers because OUSD's proposed 80% cut to after school would eliminate services to thousands of students within OUSD. At CCPA alone, this would dismantle a program that serves over three fifty eight students in after school. This is something that our students rely on, whether it's for academic support, enrichment, mentorship, or simply just safety. According to California After School Network, every single dot in terms of cost around remedial, education,
public assistance, along with juvenile justice. In addition, after school programs increase attendance, improve academic outcomes, reduce behavioral incidents. In OUSD where students face systemic, barriers success, after school is not an extra. However, it is a proven intervention. These programs support working families, keep the youth safe, especially during peak hours for crime, that happens on our streets, but also building critical social and emotional skills. The proposed cuts do not reflect a budget solution.
Present our district. We need you. We need you to step up and make the right decision that you know. I know what's in you because even with this, our school believes that you will make the right decision that our students have and thrive on. We urge all of you, especially you, miss Patrick, who I'm here to talk to for CCPA, we need you. You can do this. Where do I begin? Start off like this. Newly single father as of last year November. Former president of the Parent Teacher Organization up at Fruitvale Elementary School for about five
years consecutive. So I have a fair amount of experience with what OUSD does. If you take away an after school program, you will see some things happen in the next ten to twenty years that you will not like. You may not be around to see it. You may not be in Oakland to experience it, but the people of Oakland will experience it. These children need the after school program. Not only am I a single father, I'm a horseman. I take care of people's dogs. I do landscaping. And not only that, but I'm currently taking going back to school to become a teacher.
I work because of what I have experienced in OUSD and the charter school system. Now, as of the last year and a half because what I've experienced in OUSD the charter school system is flourishing. And it's gonna flourish even further with situations like this. The children that I teach is kindergarten through eighth. I experience a lot of things. These children tell me that the after school program saved them in so many different ways. Some of them can't even deal with their day school teachers, but when they see the after school teachers their hearts are lightened
in so many different ways. Some of these students parents when they come to pick up their children they're saying to us, the after school staff members, What do you guys do to our children? They don't wanna leave the after school. They wanna stay there with you guys. What are you teaching them? They're improving in so many different ways. This is the charter school system. I'm experiencing the same thing with this in the public school system with Ms. Koka over at Frufel Elementary School. As the President of the PTO over there, the after school program has supported me on so many different levels when it comes
to fundraising and so many different things. They've created flyers. They've helped me come out and host events on so many different levels. If you get rid of an After School Program or sports associated with it, you guys will understand what it means for our children to have nothing after school, and you will understand what it means to have no seats filled with these children. They will take it out on us. Please do not cut the program. If anything let's make adjustments. But no cutting. Adjustments only. No cutting. Kids,
if this is the best you can do, you need to resign. I can't believe that you're even talking about taking something away from kids, backroom deals and all that. Last time I checked, we had eight executive directors making a 6 figure income in children. Backroom deals. All this other little stuff going on, approve something and turn around and change it. This board is a mess, and you need to clean it up because you're hurting children. And it doesn't make sense to sit here and talk about this.
You're telling me you can't fund this program? Then you need to quit and stop drawing things to our children that hurt them. Parents over and over again talking up there in the backroom, little backroom deals and all that stuff. We need the attorney general to come down and investigate Oakland Public Schools and find out what's really going on down here. We're coming out of state service ship. And here we are talking about a program that hurts children? You need to quit. You should be ashamed of your discussion,
hurting our children when you can find other sources of money to take care of this program. I'm I'm so upset at you. I'm sorry that I even look at you sometimes. You're making a mess. So why don't you just resign and let new people come in if you can't do it? Next five speakers are James Delgado, Azia Quino, John Jones the third, Christine Chan, and numero Kane. Man, I don't know if y'all heard this before, but I was told by the elders in the community that babies are the best part.
They are the understanding. And I actually come from, after school program myself. After school program actually made me the person I am today, actually molded me and molded my life in a lot of different ways. I actually, didn't go to school. I actually used to cut school and come back directly just for the after school program because it taught me a lot more, about myself. It gave me a lot of knowledge itself, who I am as a person, on this world, what type of value I have. It actually taught me more than the actual OUSD system, did for myself. And it actually molded me to who I am today,
the same after school program that kinda helped me keep, you know, my feet off the street and more into the books and more into, becoming a man. I actually work for that program now, and I actually run that program. I'm able to be here now and speak, to the people about that. Because of, after school programs, it actually taught me how to become a father. It actually gave me father figures that actually showed me what it was to be a man and raise, your children the right way. And as a proud father of, two beautiful children that attend OUSD. After school program for them is also very detrimental for them to it teaches a
lot of different things that the OUSD system might not teach. It gives them experience. It gives them, a different way of life. And I also wanna thank everybody that's here, all the families that actually take the time out of their day. They, you know, to stop making meals for their kids, stop attending to their babies just to be here and advocate for the young people in our community. So just wanna let y'all know don't cut the funding, man. The babies are the best part. Without them, we wouldn't be where we are right now. Good evening. My name is John Jones the third. I'm a single father of a fourth grader who attends Garfield. He's also enrolled in the E.
B. C. Program. I urge you all to please vote for the resolution that's proposed by Directors Hutchinson and Thompson. I'm not here to speak at you. I already want to speak at you. I already want to speak at the Commission's Task Force. It's not easy to have people yelling at you. It's not easy having people being upset. But I wanna encourage you all because part of leadership, what I've learned, I have over a decade of experience doing that, is it takes courage. Real leadership takes courage. It takes courage to do the right thing. It's easy to deflect. It's easy to kick it down the road. But I wanna urge you all to listen to this community.
The people are speaking. And for those of you who see me, I'm also a member of the CBOC. I bring my son with me because I don't have a choice. We need these. I am a board member of NOAB, the Neighborhood Opportunities and Accountability Board. That serves juveniles as a as a diversion program for juveniles between the ages of and one indicator, how they end up in our program, it's failures within the school district. And I'm a keep it all the way real as someone that's formerly incarcerated. When I was downstairs, seeing the community gather, sequester like, just isolate like that, The last time I seen an environment like that was in prison in the gym
when they had us in bump beds. To see you all sequester up here, I was afraid to walk in here. The last place I was in like that was a Board. When we talk about the school to prison pipeline, we gotta be very clear that that is a result of a number of actions that take place. So I'm urging you, as we say, measure twice, cut once. This is an opportunity for I know. I listened to you, board president. I look. As a leader, you wanted to speak. I said people let us speak. Sometimes we might not be aware of things, but I'm saying let this be an opportunity for you to revisit it, to make sure we don't keep making these mistakes because we are all counting on
you all. And I say one last thing in particular. I love this town and I fight for us. It is hard to be out here when people are saying our city is broken. I have to deal with people who say our leadership sucks. I'm saying, no. That's not the case. It's tough. We all gotta pull up our bootstraps and try to figure out a way to work together. But I need y'all to really pay attention and read these tea leaves because there are a lot of people who wanna destroy everything that's Oakland. So please do the right thing, and thank you for your leadership. Good evening, everyone. My name is Christina Chan, and I actually, am a director at Destiny Art Center. And I'm actually not here for me today,
though, even though these cuts do directly affect me and my organization. I'm actually here to speak out for the teaching artists I work with, the oh, sorry. On the phone. The after school coordinators and staff who've dedicated their lives to the same schools year after year, and most importantly, the youth who would be robbed of supportive relationships with adults to keep them safe, encourage their education, and empower them in pursuing their dreams if these cuts are are made. Walking into that room downstairs tonight was really like walking into a family reunion. I've been in this role for ten years, but that's actually considered a newbie in this game.
The people down there, as you've heard tonight and the entire Oakland community can attest to, have worked in these programs for decades, and they are very, very dedicated. They don't do this because they are rolling in money or because they the work is easy. They do this because they love your kids. They love the youth of Oakland, and they support the youth of Oakland. They are often the longest relationship these youth will have as they go through their school career. Students take comfort in knowing that their after school coordinator coordinators and teaching artists and after school staff will be there year after year to love them and care for
them when they come back to school each year. Long term relationships these are long term relationships that our students need. Oakland, unfortunately, there are too many students who have experienced loss, transition, and relationships that are cut too short. Long term relationships with adults who can who kids can trust is the number one indicator of student success, happiness, and community contribution later in life. So these programs are important to encourage all of that. Also, violence prevention is not a new term here in Oakland. So it's surprising this resolution seems to be forgetting that these engaging after school programs
are vital for violence prevention to continue to be prevented. And lastly, cutting after school programs, and enrichments affects most the most marginalized marginalized, hardest working families in our community. And it takes opportunities like art and other enrichments that can spark students' passion and joy away from young people who are already at the most disadvantage. Please don't cut this funding. Thank you. How you guys doing? Wow. My name is Nimrod Kane. Fourth generation here in Oakland. You know, free, Sherman Elizabeth Sherman Elementary School, Brett Hartman. I was,
you know, I was everywhere in OUSD a little bit, at least in East Oakland. But, man, life coach now with Safe Passages. Right? Man, after school program. Right? 02/2010 was not on the track to graduate. Did not care. Right? After school program at Fremont High School by Safe Passages, you know, got got me back in there, of course, to graduate. Man, this is this is a tough one because, like, you know, being from Oakland, we all know, we all know what it's like. You know, programs, the streets, a couple of people touched on it. You know, one of the biggest things that we do, people who care,
people who care about young people, people who care about the town, in the summers, we we get stressed out. We we get a little sad. Right? Because there's no school. Right? You know? We're like, man, what what are the kids gonna do? And that's when we get a lot of violence. Right? A lot of issues, a lot of incarceration. So, you know, if that's the case with the summer, you know, think about the after school. That's three six five. Right? It's kinda it's wild. It's really wild. Like I said, life coaching program, we're working with young people with some pipeline. A lot of people, a lot of programs talked about it. You know, we get a job with the programs that we worked in. They train us up. We learn about all the deliverables, all the things that make good human beings.
That's that's kinda what what we're not gonna have, you know, in our city, a place that fosters this, that makes good human beings. Right? I'm talking about civic engagement. Matter of fact, when I was a teenager, Safe Passages had me up at, city hall, and we were supporting Mike Hutchinson. So things like this don't happen. So right now, I'm like, I'm kinda at a loss for words. It's kinda sick. It's kinda sick. Man, my daughter is at is gonna be at Manzanita Sea. It's people's people's kick like, come on, y'all. That's that's all I gotta say, really. Last six speakers. Jonas Jonas Monk, Don Powell, Dupree, Paulina,
Emilio Mena, Martha Pena, and Ashley. Good evening, all. My name is Jonas Mach. I'm the CEO of Bay Area Community Resources, BACR. I'll I'll keep it simple. I know just a few things here. I know that, you don't need to be convinced us about it. So you you believe it. I also know that you wouldn't be doing this work that you do, if you didn't have the kids and the families of Oakland at at your heart. And so I applaud you for that. I thank you for it. Things like tonight are not easy for anybody, especially for you all. So I know that. And we also know that the original resolution was poorly crafted and it was unintended.
So I think for us, the feeling is we have a simple ask and that that ask is to set aside the political differences, set aside the personal differences, whatever they are. This is just a moment to look forward, to repeal, as David Kakashiba said, either repeal Section one, repeal the whole thing, whatever resolution it takes. But there are a bunch of people throughout the city of Oakland, throughout the county, downstairs right now. It's a request from the heart. It's from my heart. It's from the heart of the community. We're really trying to get to work.
There are a bunch of us in this room, in this community. We understand that something went wrong. We're actually very Good evening, board. My name is Martha Pena. I am the Expanded Learning Coordinator for Oakland Unified School District. It's our office that oversees all 84 programs across 78 schools. We have programs at TK, at Keiser element Keiser to talk about the impact because we can see it, we can hear it, we can feel it in the community members in this room. I'm here to talk about the boring stuff,
which is the pro operations. These programs, we rely on our community partners, on our partners within our district, ranging from custodial nutrition services, the SPED office, our safety team. All of these contracts and partnerships are in limbo right now because they don't know how we're gonna move forward next year when on the first day of school, when we are required by the state to have fully functioned after school programs. We're in a state of chaos right now. And I know it wasn't intended. And I know that that wasn't the impact that the board was hoping for.
But unfortunately, this is where we are now. And so I am begging from the voices of our people, of our students, of our families, to after school programs. Before COVID, it was close to eight, nine thousand. We have hardly any wait list. We have programs going from 83 kids to now 250 to 300 students serving every day at no cost to our family. In addition, we've expanded our services, our partnership with the SPED office. So we now have over 20% of our students are SPED students. And they are welcomed and loved in our programs.
So, please reconsider the decisions to cut funding to after school program. And if you have any questions, I'm always available. Thank you. Hello everybody and good afternoon. My name is Emilio Mena. And, for the last five years, I've been working as a after school program instructor. I go to work, to create a safe engaging place for our students in our program and the families that we provide services to. And every day I see the positive impact that after school has not only on the children but the community as a whole. After school programs in Oakland serve thousands of disenfranchised youth, and at risk youth.
Your decision is cut. Funding for after school program is egregious and negligent, for all the youth attending OUSD and, the families that rely on after school programs. After school is not an extracurricular. It is necessary for the children that we serve and, the communities as a whole. After school helps not only to, increase academic success for our students but saves lives and shapes futures. It's quite honestly really disappointing and, and quite disgusting that we would even consider cutting 50 to 80% of after school funding. And and to leave the to leave our partners,
communities, and our kids holding the ball. Nothing will be gained by cutting 50 to 80% of, of after school funding. The community is watching you guys move this if this is not overturned. Thank you. Hi. Good evening. My name is Zeprice, and I just wanna start by saying, to me, it's very sad to have to be to come up here and, stand in line like everybody and talk about our lives and how After School Programs have benefited us in the past. This should not be happening at all. I wanna start off why I'm a I'm a single mom of five kids. And after school programs I was a teen parent,
first of all, and after school program was was what saved me from gang life. I was a gang member when I was a young teenager, since I came to this country. And, after school program was what helped me be able to be where I'm at today. I'm originally from San Francisco, but I, yeah, I have five kids. I I was an OUSD employee. My after school program taught me about teaching. I wanted to to teach kids not to be where I was because I didn't have the love at that time from my family, and I only had it from the after school program, employees. So, from seeing the love that they gave me, I became an OUSD OUSD employee,
ECE teacher for Centro Infante de la Raza. I did it for eight years. I also was a family navigator helping families out here in Oakland, Deep East and in San Antonio District downtown. And I'm also now a vice president, for the PTO in Garfield. I I'm a voting member for the school site council, and I'm also a graduate from, Cal State East Bay now, thank God, in criminal justice with a minor ethnic studies, so I'm focusing on Latinx. And my reasoning is because I wanna also help youth, like, they helped me, not be in gangs and not be in the system. And if it wasn't for the after school I'm not here to represent myself.
I'm here to represent, my kids. My five kids, I have unfortunately, right now, two of them are home waiting for me for me to cook for them. And I have one that's laying on that on that seat sleeping who has an eight. My daughter's standing next to me and my other son who's tired, and this is the second time we're here. And we're sick and tired of having to be in these meetings where we shouldn't have to speak up about it. The after school program for us is almost everything. That's how I was able to make it through school because I have somewhere I someone who I can depend on to take care of my kids, which we shouldn't see it like that because they're not the take,
you know, take, the people who take care of our kids like that. But that's what they have become. I see that that the after school program, I call in teachers, counselors, therapists, friends, family, everything that they are from early morning to late evenings. They help with, field trips and other programs in our schools. Also, they the basketball team. My kids are in basketball. They play, basketball. My son went from Garfield, Montero Middle School, and now he's at Oakland High, my oldest. And they love the sport life. And I've done AAU, and as a single mom, I would say super expensive to even have him in AAU.
And because my son is able to play AAU this year because of his after school program teachers, that has helped him be able to sponsor him for a scholarship. I think that, you know, we have to really check and see how can we help our students not take it away. And I just have one quote that I, that that I got. It says, Education is the foundation of a brighter future and cutting after school programs undermines the effort of parents who are striving to give their children the opportunities they deserve. Budget cuts shouldn't dim the light of learning. They should be they should be fueled. And I hope you guys are able to,
you know, get this together for real. Thank you. Hi, everyone. My name is Ashley Chaim, and I'm a junior at Oakland Tech. Throughout my six years of elementary school, I experienced constant racism, bullying, and discrimination. From the ages of five to 11, the administration of at Lincoln Elementary stood by as me and my black peers were repeatedly ridiculed for the color of our skin. Teachers and staff turned a blind eye to our pain, and we were left to navigate it alone in the after school program, Abaci. Abaci became my safe space. It was the one place that I felt seen, supported, and valued. After school, I wasn't just an educator trying to survive the day.
I was a student who had mentors, friends, and a space to grow. Sorry. I found joy, healing, and empowerment in that program, things I wasn't getting during school hours. So when I hear that 50 over 50% of after school program funding is being threatened to be is threatened to be cut, I don't just see this as a budget decision. I see a lifeline being taken away from students who need it most. I see kids going home to empty houses or worse with nowhere safe to go at all. I see students like me losing the one place where they are protected, nurtured, and reminded of their worth. After school programs aren't optional.
They are essential for working families, for underserved students, for a city's future. Cutting funding for after school programs and other student programs doesn't just impact enrollment numbers. Dozens of students and former students who are living proof of that. So today so today, I'm asking you not to just listen, but to act. Protect these programs. Protect these students. So I'm not just asking. I'm begging that you protect what matters. Restore the funding and invest in our students not just from eight to three, but beyond the bell when it counts the most. Because every child deserves to be safe, every child deserves to be seen, and every child deserves to be supported,
especially when the system has failed them everywhere else. Most of you on this board know who I am. You've asked me for input, listened to my concerns, expressed your concerns to me, or congratulated me on my leadership. I even personally voted for someone on this board right now as one of the very first youth voters in the state of California. So I hope you truly hear me and all the other speakers you've heard from today when we say that these programs are too dire to lose. Please don't cut this funding. Thank you. Don Powell. Is Don Powell here? If not, president Bruhart, all the speakers registered speaker has been called.
I will now take board comments. I'll start with Director Williams. Yes. So, I really hear the community, and the the concern that, this, narrative of cuts was going to affect school sites. I really want all the families to know, the students who participate in the program, community leaders as well that have been, holding the program and doing the work, the unsung heroes who, have been able to help young folks navigate, themselves and matriculate up,
through high school and come back and work for the program. I just want to really put it out there to everybody. You know, I really am sorry that that has, really hit you that hard. I think it was nothing that was intentional at all. It was not intentional to cut any after school services. As as a teacher myself, I value after school services. I I think that the intention was really to address the budget, and see how we could bring a community schools model approach to the budget.
And so it was one in which the alternative, provided an opportunity to have for the community. And so now that I'm getting a lot of the reverberation and the pushback, I just wanna be clear. There wasn't any time or any intention to cut, any after school program. 50%, eighty %, 10%, or 5%. That was not actually the into discussing our budget.
As a board, we faced a number of, huge decisions in January, to cut over $100,000,000 deficit. And so that in itself actually was really painful because a lot of our working class, employees, our classifieds, were really harmed. A lot of our substitutes, a lot of our staff was harmed in those cuts. And out of that conversation, out of the conversation really came a way of saying, how else do we look at our budget? What are,
what else can we do to create a community, school engagement that would put our families, our labor, our employees, our students at the table to have a conversation of how we move it forward? And I think that that's not a very, popular notion, but community schools actually works. Bringing our families, our parents, bringing our staff to the table to talk about what the budget and the impacts are, it really works. And that was the intention all the way through.
It wasn't to, disregard the work that was going on. I support the work that's going on at every school at after at an after school program. So I just wanna say to the community, thank you for holding us accountable. Thank you for, expressing, the impacts that would be that would that you would experience into the conversation to help our, budget out in a way that will support the community at large. So I just want to thank everyone for coming out. And, I'm always open to come to any particular program and come talk to you and
visit and really continue to build our work as a community to have a voice at every decision at every table. Just want you to know that we do have an ad hoc committee that will be doing this work as well. So please come join us so we can actually talk about. Director Latta? Yeah. I, I so as the, seconder of the I have I have board comments, but I actually wonder if we can put the, proposed amendment up. I have, you know, when I had a kind of a conversation with general counsel that I think,
you know, I think helps get to some of the goals that we all have. I'll just say for my part that, you know, as an OUSD parent and now a board member, I show up to every meeting with one focus, our students. And not politics, not optics, just kids and what they need to thrive. And when things get loud and messy and personal and they often do, sure they can believe in. Cutting after school programs hurts kids, and we need to fix that. That's why, I support amending,
the resolution and doing what it takes to restore these vital programs. Thousands of kids and families rely on aftercare, mine included, and they're integral to our community. And real leadership, as many community members have stated, is collaborative even when it's hard. It means disagreeing with respect and keeping kids at the center of everything that we do. And I appreciate the parents, the after school providers, and all the staff members who are working together to find a solution. And I, you know, didn't sign up for this, seat to, participate in,
theater. And so I signed up to advocate for our students. And that's where I'm remaining focused and why I think we should pass this amended resolution tonight to minimize harm to the kids. So I think, Janine, I don't, I'd like to if you have if you're in I'm sorry. Yes. I just wanted to make sure, to director Latta, that we're procedurally correct, with the other item on the floor. You are you, second. And so I think if this is a friendly amendment, you can ask if this is a friendly amendment to be taken up or the first Oh,
I'd like to offer a friendly amendment to the amendment. Well, if the if if the if the parties who have moved in second and the amendment agree to your language as friendly. If not, it will have to be subject to a vote. Well, I guess I that's why I was wondering if maybe we could put it up or or share it just so that people could see the, change. Applying in the spirit of what the community has asked for, just removing the cap on contracts and services. So it's, you know, it's the same idea of the amendment. But again,
I think, I One moment. There is something blocking. There it is. Okay. Thank you. Point of order. We were in board process of how we're doing this. So the amendment could be introduced at any time. But I'm waiting for my board comments on what was there before. And I heard two directors comment on it, and I was politely waiting for my turn. Point of clarification, Mr. Raikstra. Can she introduce the Friendly Amendment at this time? People can introduce an amendment at any point in time that is entitled to make comments on whatever is pending before the board.
So I'm gonna ask another clarifying question. Would it be should I go back to to director Hutchinson's comments and then come back to the friendly amendment? Well, the question is whether or not you're going to accept whatever director proposing as being friendly. If it's not, then we we we we continue. Go ahead, director Alotta. Would you like me to read the proposed amendment? Okay. So for the, after the therefore be it resolved that, it says, section on services and contracts shall be repealed. And then there are a couple of other clarifications under Section four.
It's just to remove the travel conferences and memberships and move that to 20 at school year twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven. And finally, I think, again, in consultation with general counsel, my I would like to change this language. As read here, before any additional expenditures or budget cuts are implemented and or communicated with site leaders, the superintendent or designee is expected to report any financial constraints or over expenditures to the board before implementing such changes.
And that is just I I think I just wanna clarify that I I think they're friendly because I the board has wanted to do in terms of clarifying next year for our contracts while also ensuring that we're within our board role of directing the superintendent or a designee rather than other staff. Can I just ask you to repeat the one on the, services and contracts? Yes. So it's, it just removes bullet point one and just says that it, repeals, within the alternative budget resolution,
the cap on total expenditures on services and contracts. So so section one, directing a cap on total expenditures on services and contracts shall be repealed. And that was, again, I think in line with community requests and, and again with advice from general counsel. That's a friendly amendment. The language of the Brohard and Bachelor amendment because they have accepted your wording as being friendly. So we still have only one amendment, the original motion that director Hutchinson made, and you will have to now dispose of the amendment,
to see whether or not it's gonna become part of the main motion. Or if it fails, then director Hutchinson's motion is immediately on the floor. Well, a resolution is a fancy motion. Yeah. But it was moved by two others. I I know you didn't, but but but you own the author show. This is one of those times I'm really not sure whether I should hysterically laugh or, explode into tears of anger and frustration. It's wild that two months ago when the board did this exact thing that you all haven't learned your lesson.
That you're gonna show up and introduce amendments and wordsmith it here on the spot. So no matter how many times you say advised by General Counsel, general counsel did not advise that amendment. Just like none of these things were vetted by general counsel or by the chief business officer. So let's just be really clear about that. Now, I'm just really upset. You know, I'm a latchkey kid. I spent twenty years running after school programs until the two schools I ran them at were closed in 2012. '1 thing I can't stand is when my community is being lied to.
So let's just recap what's happened over the last few weeks or two months. On March 26, the board by a four to three vote approved a resolution coauthored by President Brohart and Vice President Batchelor that set spending caps. If you watch the video of the meeting, General Counsel and Chief Business Officer advised against that vote, but that this would produce cuts to our school sites and our after school programs and providers. Then me, Director Thompson, and Director Berry last week introduced a repeal of this resolution to fix the mess.
And last week when we introduced that, we told the Board President there was one day when the three of us couldn't make a meeting. That was today. The Board President, two days before this meeting, scheduled it knowing that it was the one time where three of us couldn't show up. And then they have the gall to agendize the resolution that me and Director Thompson introduced, knowing that we weren't going to be here. So they could introduce a substitute resolution at the last minute. Now the thing about my resolution to repeal was I actually did have it vetted
by general counsel and the chief business officer. And that was going to be the first step, the necessary first step to change the money that's been frozen because only $8,000,000 of it is after school programs. There's a whole 21 that's been frozen as well. And to listen to the directors tonight, they didn't say anything about how to fix that because they don't know how. What they brought tonight, they did not send to the chief business officer to get vetted. Chief business officer isn't even here. Neither is the superintendent. And the thing about the resolution that I introduced last week,
the repeal language, repealing their original resolution and the spending caps is the necessary first step in order to lift the that first step. But see, this is also the same board that has forced out our superintendent and chief business officer. But thankfully, I have a relationship with her and with staff. And we have a solution. But now, instead of going forward with the first step with the repeal resolution, they've come with other craziness that we don't even have a copy of. It wasn't vetted. And let's be very clear, there's no fiscal impact analysis.
So how can you pass that with the board bylaws? And man, this is the same exact thing they did in March that created this problem. Last minute, wordsmithing, non vetted resolutions. And you're doing the same exact thing now. You think the community is gonna buy this? You think this is gonna relieve what's happening next year with our budgets? So my job is going to be to continue what I've been doing, telling the truth to the community and highlighting the fact that given another opportunity, this Board has not been truthful to the community, had people show up here for hours, and the one solution we did have to this,
you threw out to substitute your own language for instead. This is sad. This is depressing. I apologize to the community, but I also need the community's help. It should be clear to everyone that this board is incapable of doing its job and taking care of our community. And so as a democratically elected school board, if people fail, if the community loses confidence, then the only right thing to do is resign and take responsibility. And if people won't do that willingly, then I encourage the community to join me in making that happen.
Thank you. Thank you, director Hutchinson. Our first budget adjustments, the alternative budget adjustments, was we did meet with the CBO. We had disagreements over it. I appreciate Lisa Grant Dawson's time that she spent helping us, think about how to do this in a better way. But these were discussed with senior staff. I think, like Director Lotta said, everything we do is putting center it's putting our students first as you thought they would, that you need to make changes to make them work in the way that we
want them to. I think that everybody here wants to put students first, wants a budget that I believe that we also have to learn from our mistakes. And sometimes when we make them, we have to face the community and make those changes to fix them, which is what this Board is trying to do. I appreciate Director Latta's friendly amendments. I think that, again, as we come back and we do the work on budget of our budget adjustment work in the fall, as we come back, our senior leadership staff.
Director Hutchinson is right. We are democratically elected, and a number of people spoke to that tonight, and that is the process of democracy. I would never call any of my other colleagues liars. I may disagree and they may disagree with me, but I would never call them liars. The words that David Kakashiba was talking about, I think that we can go back and fix this. I think that there are a number of ways to do that, and I think that he suggested a couple of those. And sometimes you have to repeal something and come back and do it again better
with community involvement, with board involvement, with involvement in communication with senior leadership. You know, as a teacher, I always taught my students you can't be afraid of mistakes. And sometimes you make them, And you have to face the people that are affected by those mistakes. And you work together to correct them. But if any of us sitting here wouldn't be parents, because as parents we know every day we can make mistakes. We wouldn't be directors of programs. We wouldn't be sitting on the board. And I think, again, to fix those mistakes and fix and come up with a budget that puts students
first is our most important job. And I'm reminded this afternoon with my discussion with Ms. Grant Dawson that to really sit down and talk and work this through. And I think that, you know, again, I appreciate her support in a budget that puts students first. Where we measure our student achievement, where we raise our A to G graduations, where we increase our literacy. And as a district, we all work together to do that. And sometimes we're better at it, and sometimes we need to be better. So,
again, in some of my reflection of this is communication with both the Board, senior leadership, and the community to bring the budget that best serves our students and those who work directly with them. Thank you. Oops. Go ahead, miss Dawson. Good evening. Oh, I didn't put my o u s d. Now I'm in. Good evening, president Brohart, to the governing board, and to all of our community constituent that are present this evening. Do wanna add since, my name not only has been in both of you,
our work and communication with, president, gov blah blah blah, board member Hutchinson about his amended resolution. We were preparing for, amendments for the March 28 meeting. And then, you know, this, meeting was scheduled. I'm sorry. Miss Grant Dawson made May 28, I think you March. I this is the fatigue. So let me just get to that part. The fatigue that we are engaging in with this activity since it occurred is reaching a cresting point. And even in the midst of that fatigue,
what I wanna caution the board on, who again, we did have a conversation, president Brochart. However, the language that is in this resolution as amended does not reflect it as we discussed. So first, the number of components of what the staff did and that what the staff was not clear about, as it relates to a resolution, a resolution is is what are the actions after that. If it makes the board feel better or the majority of the board who is saying that you have language in here that, again,
I don't think you intend. But if you don't want this repeat cycle, we would have conferred, and I would have been able to see this prior to thirty minutes before the meeting. We didn't confer about the draft before. And I'm saying this to say it is a repeat. So director Latta, I said they were gonna do, and, obviously, what director Hutchinson's original language, also said. We also had some recommendation about the language, and how we can work through this. But, again, this got accelerated. The language that was even adjusted,
director Lotta, we've only known each other since January. You don't know me or the process enough to know that what happened in a moment that was created by this resolution, we are very professional, ma'am. We do communicate with school sites. And for this resolution to include something that says that whether it's me or anyone else in this role needs to check with the board, we have less board meetings than we do days to complete this work. That's another area of lack of knowledge, nor did we confer about that.
But if that's what you need in order for this resolution to be potent for you to say we did something and, you know, we told the staff, I I I hope it helps you rest better. Because I am adult enough and professional enough to take responsibility not only for what I do, but for what you do. Because at the end of the day, it is me and my team who are all members of this community that have to correct this, that have to pause work, resume work, and adjust work so that we can get this budget and our LCAP adopted on
time. That is what I'm helping you to understand what is in that 5,000 object range, which in one moment, people will collapse to consultants, and in another moment, right, it is services and other. All of those things, we are a school district. They all point to student support. The restricted programs, as has been said, are all about student scope. So we're not clear what it is that you think or how much do you think that's in here that can be shifted or adjusted, but we should have had the opportunity to talk to that. That is what president Broja and I talked to that,
that we can show you and work through the analysis so that you can come up with a resolution that meets your needs. No one ever said that this can't be done. It's still harmful. The fact that the language tonight still said it and invoked it still would have placed you in the same scenario. What the rectalata has on the floor has repealed it, but overarching, you haven't said, what is the end game? What are you trying to achieve? Neither resolution ever said that. President Brothard and I talked about that too. What are you seeking to achieve with this?
Because we're doing a whole lot of infighting, not even really knowing what is it that you're trying to achieve at the end of the day. And so because I am that professional and because I am that respectful for everyone, and, again, as I've shared with you before, my mother explicitly told me as a child, don't ever embarrass me. I'm gonna point out where you're gonna make me to be, which I'm not, and my reputation precedes that. You are getting ready to vote on something that says that in addition to the cuts of 500 k from travel conferences and membership,
that was not your language. So what would have happened is you would have adopted this, felt good about what you did on repealing the 5,000, one section of it, and then come back and said, we never said to cut 500,000 from travel. But in this resolution, you did because you're rushing and you're pushing versus getting it right. That's not something I'm doing to you or anyone else is doing to you. But you are placing yourselves in those situations where, again, we're having these tense moments that are unnecessary. We all want you to succeed.
But that this is not the way to do it. It's never the what, as I said. It is the way. Please know that if you adopt this resolution, it still will have problems. And president Breaux Hart, our conversation and what you posed to me had differences. I know this resolution, it has several but president Brohard, I'm publicly stating that I understand your intention, but you're not the only author. So with that being said, I do wanna point those things out to the board in light of this, and thank you so much for the time. Thank you, miss Grant Dawson. Are there any other board comments?
I think I have my the thing that I will, I think, just go back to is that and you don't I think I appreciate the feedback. I think I'm the amendment that I made is really in the spirit of listening to what was said by the community, you know, for the last couple of weeks and trying to find a way for us to work together to repeal the cap on contracts. And I do think that I hear, your point, miss Grant Dawson, that this feels like it's moving too fast.
I also think that additional delays, are not in the best interest of the community. And so it's true that while we were here, I did reach out to general counsel to say, I think we should try to repeal Section one if that is how we can move forward. And so I think that in this that was the I am I think if you, Ms. Grant Dawson, have other and perhaps what what everyone is saying is that we should tape I mean,
I heard community members say we should table this. I I again, I would just say I don't I'm curious what my board colleagues would recommend. I think we can table it given that we at least all know that we, you know, want to repeal part of it, is part of our goal here. Yes. If we're not going around, true. So, I appreciate Ms. Grant Dawson's comments before the meeting and discussed with her compared to what we just got here at the last minute. This idea that out of concern for the community we need to do this now
is just disingenuous. We heard from Ms. Grant Dawson that the resolution I had originally introduced could help get us there. So if people really wanted to find a solution, everyone's got my phone number. Everyone knows how to get in touch with me. I have been the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, and this is my third year now, and I've worked closely with miss Grant Dawson to first introduce that resolution. And so it's amazing to me that even after that, what I hear people up here saying is I think, I think. There's no fiscal impact analysis to this.
You've been told directly that this won't bring back anything. And you know what? You amended the one resolution that actually could have done that. Because y'all think you know better. Y'all think you know better than miss Grant Dawson too. I appreciate her words, but just so the community knows, she's still biting her tongue. And the fact that the board that drove out our superintendent and chief business officer at the June are now trying to invoke their names like they work with them or expecting them to write in and save you now from yourselves. You know, we could have actually shown up today,
quickly approved the resolution that myself and Director Thompson introduced last week, and then we would have been teed up for next week, on May 28 to approve the second part and we could have had a fix. But instead the board president wanted to have a special meeting when she thought I wasn't gonna be here and provided a whole different alternative resolution in writing. But then when we get here, we get a different one where we don't even have copies of this to even know what we're discussing. And then Director Latta wants to add her amendment on top of that. This is not the way we've ever done business here.
And if if anything passes the board by law, which requires a fiscal impact analysis, is in effect. There's a reason why the trustee first stayed this resolution. And everyone has tried to step in and tell these four directors, don't do this. This isn't the way we do things. The dollars don't add up. It's probably not even legal, some of these things, because we're going to be sued by these folks that we have contracts with. We've had contracts with for decades. And what I heard tonight, I mean, somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, I didn't hear anyone up here say anything about a solution. Talking about community schools models.
Like that has anything to do with what we're talking about now. To say I think I know better. I've been here for five months. I must be the expert on everything. You know, at a certain point, y'all, the responsible thing to do is you stand up and you apologize to the community because you were wrong. I've been sharing the videos of the last two months where you all have been saying these things over and over. And bottom line, intent doesn't matter. Outcomes are what matter. So it doesn't really matter if you think you meant to do this or not. You have shown again to the community that elected you that you don't know how
or you're not willing to correct the mess that you created. I don't normally respond to these things, but I have, received numerous texts from you calling for me to resign. Thank you. Again no. I'm not playing. I think, I just wanna say again that, people are looking to see how we resolve our differences and how we come to agreement on changing this, this budget adjustment. I think that, discussion of ideas is always appropriate and I think there are times when there are disagreements and that's okay. We can come to I just want to say that,
again, That's all I wanna say. I would like to make a motion to tape I'm sorry. Oh, I just I believe that miss Grant Dawson has her hand up again. Thank you so much, president, Brochart. Really quickly, just do I want I'll also wanna say publicly that based on the timeline that we are in, whatever the board decides that they're going to do, making the adjustments to the budget would be very similar to what we've done when, for instance, we've had other major changes, whether it's, in the last several years, we've had negotiations, agreements that settled in May,
or close to it. We are, like, five weeks away or less, really, from having to complete, the budget in addition to we have a third interim. And so to make these changes, it's it's really not a flick of the wrist. We would have to and I wanna say this. The board can repeal. So thank you again, you know, director Latta. You're reasserting the repeal and the amendment, but that change would happen after July 1 at this point. It doesn't mean that the action wouldn't be able to go forward. So as it relates to people saying,
okay. The contract and other things that they need to do, all of that begins July 1, though you can put in we're we're putting in requisitions now for '25, '20 '6. So just on some technical pieces, the July 1. So, therefore, there would be an update, and, director Williams has seen that, whether it's the the state director, Hutchinson has seen that, the state governor's budget that changes, or other circumstances where we come back, either board meeting August or September with those modifications. So that too is being consistent with the practices, that we've implemented,
to make sure that we have those consistencies. So so do wanna just add that piece, for knowledge base that the let's hurry up and do it still means there's still processes for us to get there, but the action's taken, and then we can take that forward. So director Latta, I hope that helps as you're, you know, thinking about timelines and process. Thank you, miss Grantosnick. Is there any other comment? I'd like to call the vote, please. Okay. This is the roll call on the amendment, which incorporates the frontliners. So you have one amendment for voting on. If this amendment passes,
fails, the amendment fails, then you're back to the main motion, as originally made by, as originally made on director Hutchinson's motion. K. Before we vote, let me ask, president, before we vote, I wanna get clarity from Lisa Grant Dawson. She said your amendment is acceptable. You can ask, miss Grant Dawson, is that amendment acceptable? Or I'm sorry. Which amendment? Director Williams. I you mentioned a conversation you and president Breaux Hart had, and you
had some conversation about, that it was, submissions, and I'm not sure which one this applies to to July 1. Is it the one that Rachel pulled, or is that the one that, director Brohart had actually substituted? So, actually, with the conversation, thank you for that question, was about the actual repeal of the so there were four sections. So four statements and then a fifth, and then therefore be resolved. So the first one was the 125, million dollar cap.
So what we talked about was repealing that if it's repealed. So it was conditional conversation. If we repeal this and then say, back to president Broharts and our conversation, that we would proceed in the twenty five, twenty six year with, right, that study, that analysis, and coming back to the board with that information about, let's unpack the five thousands, what is it that we're seeking to achieve, and then you work through that, would that, one, require a fiscal analysis, and two, you know, how would that be able to work? And the answer was yes because you're repealing
the number one item, which was the, $125,000,000 cap. So that was the scope of the the conversation. And then, you know, there were some wordsmithing pieces about if we don't use the word cap. Right? So, again, I'm seeing her in our dialogue trying to work through, you know, how do we amend this? So that's what we discussed. It is a bit it's different than what is on the current document, and and that's why, you know, I wanted to say that,
you know, I'm recognizing that there may be several people working on this. I don't know if that was the intent. Right now, it's in the 2627 fiscal year, which the original document talked about it, but it had the dollar amount. So I think that intent of not putting the dollar amount was there. And then it says, incorporating the recommendations of the outsourcing task force and in consultation with staff through the budget development process to determine the capped amount. So that's telling me that there's still an intention to invoke a cap. I did also share president Burghard had some,
concerns about, again, some other parts of the language, but, you know, we were getting ready to start the meeting. And so I told her, you know, we'll see how everything goes. One of those areas in that implementation timeline is it's pulling in the task force, which it did before. The original resolution did not connect, like, the task force in the way this is, where even the word recommendations that the task force essentially with concerns about that as it relates to, you know, where that responsibility lies with staff and that staff extends beyond me,
and the task force. But that was another area that, as I mentioned, there were a few areas that I had some concerns about, and we we have not had the opportunity to to work through that. So I hope that answers your question. It was the repeal language. This language is still invoking a cap, but it's basically invoking a will determine the cap for the twenty six, twenty seven year. And what I specifically said is a cap is not, the strategic way based on what president Brohart was seeking to achieve in order to
implement, as it relates to reductions to contracts. I also just wanna say, we do not disagree that we don't need to look at, you know, these areas. And and, actually, this is in the the the staff's recommendation for, restructuring that we, adopted last year. So in the development of twenty four, twenty five year, that these were tasks that we would be working on. That work does reside, with the staff and with our constituents. And so we've also already affirmed that. So we're not disagreeing with that. It's not, again, the what.
It is the way. So I hope that helps, director Williams with what we spoke about, and what area one area very specifically, that looks different. Madam president, may I clarify for you? So, just I added back to the screen, if it can be projected, the amendment that is on the floor, and it does not, kick the cap to 26, 20 20 seven based on, director Latta's amendment. It is a repeal. The previous miss Grant Dawson may have seen the previous, so I just wanted to, make sure that was clear.
Well, so this one sorry. This was the one in the proposed amendment. So, again, this is another reason. Right? We're talking about which version. The version that I have, I I don't know what is, in the room. But what was so perhaps I don't have the if can you bring that back up again? Just because this language that I have here is different. President Brehart, if you can help clarify which version, like, the one you shared versus the one that we're the one that was posted. Yes. So That was the this was the original language. So this see below?
The Stricken is what was introduced by president Brohard, the friendly amendment kicks the travel and conference cut to 2627. That was, incorporated in the amendment from president Brohard. The friendly amendment by director Latta includes, the superintendent or designee as the, designated person to perform this task as that is the district's the suit the board's direct report.
And it specifies that this is with regard to cuts related to this resolution. Any other guidance would have to be through board policy. So that those are the changes, per this amendment. So to help with, director Williams, let's go back. So I think on the screen, if we can slide back up, the part that probably was below is the not so the red part was showing, but the black strikeout is the most recent. It was the one from this amendment from tonight. Yes. And now both of them are gone? Correct. And so when I was looking at the screen before, the black wasn't showing up. It struck out.
That's what I was referencing, that the language was different. Okay. And this wasn't showing on the screen because it was cutting it off. That's all. President Pearlhart, are you ready to for the emotion on the amendment? President Breaux Hart, I believe because of the language issue that we've been having around this resolution at the moment, and the lateness of the evening, and to make sure that this information is shared with the public in a way that they can, digest and provide feedback. I'd like to move motion to move this item to the board meeting on the twenty eighth for further discussion. Second. Okay. Can we call the roll call? I don't know if there's conflicts.
Oh, I'm sorry. I can see your hand. Alright. Let me just check the time now. So 09:25. We were supposed to start at 06:00. Started thirty minutes late because nothing was set up and nobody knew what to do. So we've now gone around in circles for three hours, seen two or three different amendments introduced, argue about language, and now folks say, Oh, yeah. Maybe this isn't a good idea for tonight. We are in such trouble, as a school district. The fact that there's this lack of seriousness where people think, you know, our $29,000,000 was frozen by this board,
by their resolution. And the serious responsibility is I mean, shocking is not even strong enough. I thought I'd seen everything on the school board before. I mean, we've seen a lot of different kinds of directors up in here before. But this kind of stuff and if people listen to the comments and then go compare them to the comments last week, or the comments two weeks before that or the comments two weeks before that. Now I didn't call anyone a liar. But I know there's some, lack of truth in many statements. And let's not lose the fact that tonight was scheduled on two days notice Director
Hutchinson, Director Berry, and Director Thompson can't go to that we know the student directors won't be at. And let's just say that we're doing this in the name of engaging the community even though the community got worse going around in circles, acting like you've been working on this for weeks when Ms. Grant Dawson said you were speaking to her thirty minutes before the meeting. And this is where we are now, where not only did you not present a solution because you don't understand how this works and you don't even know how, but you took my solution off the table and in the end wasted the community's
three hours tonight. So this puts on them and the fact that this is the lack of respect you have for them, where at this point, you just say never mind. The community is watching. We won't accept it. At least you look at me when I'm speaking. The other ones don't even bother to do that. But see, there's a thing. I'm the only one up on this board who's actually from here. That's why half the people reference my name. I know how our city gets down. I know what we accept and what we don't. And you can keep muttering under your breath all you want. You've been like that since the minute you first got here.
It's fine. This is about town business y'all. If we don't do something, we don't have after school programs in August. We don't have a superintendent. We need to wait and do this after July 1. She's not gonna be here anymore because the board forced her out. So who do you think is even gonna do that work? You can make all the faces you want. That's why these people aren't here. And you know what? I'm done biting my tongue. Staff is not gonna make up stories for you. And I can't wait to share what miss Grant Dawson said tonight. Because in her own professional way, she let it be known that she is tired of dealing with school board directors
who disrespect her and think that they can just wordsmith it here at the last minute. Unfortunately, this takes actual work, experience, and knowledge, and more than any of that, a real connection to the community. Please, everyone, March or May 28 next week, we need to have a thousand people in that room downstairs. And if they don't vote for the plan that we have in place, then we need to make sure they resign before they leave. Thank you. General Counsel. You have a motion to postpone, the pending motion until next meeting. I'd like to make a comment about that motion.
I do have to remind the board that you have statutory deadlines that are very swiftly approaching, and you have a fiduciary duty to meet those deadlines, and you have been here for several hours talking about this resolution, and the community has a request. And if that is your desire to move forward with that, then I just would like to understand what is it that would cause you to
spend the time here Shh. I'm talking. Spend the time here to do this. Please just please just be clear that you are bumping against statutory requirements. And so I just want to say that. And I also want to say, as a reminder to everyone here, do not continue to talk about personnel matters on the dais. I've reminded folks of that time and time again. This is a reflection of your governance, trying to guide you to the extent that we can. And you do have business to take this matter. And if that's what you'd like to do,
hear more from the community, I understand that. But I'm just asking that you understand why you're moving the item after calling a special meeting, bringing KDOL here, who are represented employees. Stopping the LCAP meeting. I'm just ask asking what is the reason for that. You need to make a decision. I mean, Mason, we're gonna go ahead and vote on the Are you, continuing? No. We're gonna vote on the the amendment. On on the motion to postpone to the I guess that's the first one, how the motion to postpone. Well, yeah. Well, let's take the precedent because somebody just somebody made it.
So you gotta vote up or down whether or not to postpone any further consideration. Let's call the question on that. Okay. On whether or not to postpone, the pending motion, which includes the amendment, to, the twenty eighth of of May. So, student directors are absent. Direct the latter? No. Director Hutchinson? Abstain. Director Berry is absent. Director Thompson is absent. Vice president Bauschner? Yes. And president Breauxhall? No. Motion to postpone is not adopted. Now you are back on the floor with the proposed amendment to the main motion.
Are you ready for the question? Yes. Call the question, please. Okay. On the question to adopt amendment director Latta? Yes. Director Williams? No. Director Berry is absent. Director Thompson is absent. Vice President Bachelor? Abstain. President Bojar? Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't want you to say. Okay. The amendment is not a good And and I was a no vote. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't call you? I thought okay. Alright. Sorry. You you you okay. Alright. Gotcha. So it was Latta, yes. It was Brohard, yes. And then it was, no on Williams and no on Hutchinson.
And the rest of the board is absent. So the amendment is not agreed to, which means that director Hutchinson's original motion written motion, moved by others is now on the floor. A vote is required. Can we have can we have both board comments, please, before are we That's up to your leadership. We'll take one round of board of comments. So I, I think the thing I'd like to share is that I, again, ultimately believe that we need to do what's best for kids. I have a strong objection to the whereas clauses because I feel like they further
the division within the board and within the community, and that is my concern about the resolution as written. It is also true that and so I would just ask that the goal is to repeal particularly Section one. I don't believe that that is wordsmithing. I believe that that's again, I think it's I accept that this looks messy, but my goal with this is to deal with the chaos that's happening in the district tonight because I agree another week.
And again, I my kids are in aftercare. I'm a parent in this district. I hear the community. And so I think we should have a decision tonight. And I think I will also just name that through my under the reason why I'm here tonight is not because there was a plan to exclude anybody, but again, to try to find a way to a solution that I think we all agree to. Even if people disagree about how we're gonna get there. And that delaying an additional week till May 28 was not worth it.
And that so I think we are here, and I think we should find a way through this. Thank you. I guess, I agree. I would if those whereas is naming us in there were removed, could I offer that as a friendly amendment? There are three We have a proposal that does not name any board at least we drafted. We don't have that. Does not name any board member. But the whereas clauses are otherwise factual based on the board's record. And it's on the screen now,
which does not name you, our director, fashion. In this repeal. I mean, the other matter is repeal. It doesn't name any any party. This is just for your consideration. I'm not trying to tell you how to do it. But if that's the objection that you have, to considering, repealing, the principal resolution, then that may be a solution. But, as the author, director Hutchinson may or may not agree to that. But it's also a substitute amendment. So just to clarify, is this a motion that's was it rewritten? Was it No. And I'm just asking a clarifying question. Okay.
No. So the names remain rewritten except except we excluded the references to President Brothard and President, Vice President Bachelet. That's the only thing that's different. I would motion to include that as an amendment to the resolution and that would be the only way that I would vote for it. Is there a second? Well, we were, and I was waiting to call it back. That Director Brohard just talked about. So is there a second to that amendment? Second. Thank you. Director Atkinson. Alright. So we're finally at this now. Three and a half hours, and you wanna finally address the resolution that I introduced last week.
And if anyone had any requests for language changes, then again, the appropriate thing would have been to reach out and have a conversation. Now the requirement for whereas clauses is that they're factual. So what we're hearing from my colleagues on the board is their egos don't like the whereas clauses that I wrote. Because in my whereas clauses, I wrote exactly what happened through the history of that resolution. That president Brohart and director LOTA forced it on the agenda of the March 6 budget and finance committee meeting.
Because I didn't put it on as the chair because it hadn't been vetted by financial or by legal. They forced it on the agenda. I also had in the whereas clauses the meeting on March 26 when a vote occurred against staff advice. And that's how we wound up with this. So to hear directors saying, Oh, I just don't like it because my name's mentioned. And to call restating a voting record, a personal attack, that's, you know, I knew this minute would get here eventually tonight because after three and a half hours and not one other school board director up here with me has any idea
how to fix their mess, Now it's back to Oh, yeah. Maybe we can do Mike's resolution. But I just don't like how we spoke about me in it. You really think the community who's been watching this is on a buy this? You know, as we learned it from Beverly Hills Cop. You know, this is another banana in the tailpipe. It ain't even that clever either. And again, the reason they scheduled the meeting for today, the reason why President Brohar did, is because I publicly said I wasn't available to be here. I pictured her this weekend scrambling to get this set.
I disrespect miss Grant Dawson. I hear disrespectful comments towards the general counsel. My two other colleagues on the board aren't here because of the disrespect in the scheduling. But now, looky looky, now you wanna talk about our resolution. Well, it's a good thing that this resolution on its own doesn't solve the problem either. And I've been working with staff to have a vetted plan for reimplementing these dollars that should be available soon. But there's no way that we can do this with this current board as it is. And I knew that was gonna be made clear tonight.
I knew the board president was gonna take the opportunity to schedule this meeting on this day. Even after sweat. You can't take my work from me. You can't replace me. And the community is watching. Okay. I believe that the community is watching and I believe that they would like us to set this aside. I'm going this is not about excuse me. I have the floor. I have not ever seen a resolution with so many names in it, but that's okay. And I think that, again, looking at our community, I don't have an ego invested in this. I am willing to vote in favor of this,
to support it, to get our school students back, our staff back, and our after school. And again, you know, sometimes you just have to admit that you have to do things differently and the things you didn't you thought were good, were well intentioned, were many things that we've talked about tonight didn't work out. So, again, if my name is in this thing, please know that they have a place to go to in the fall. I look forward to continuing to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to continue to
continue to continue to Thanks. Can we call the question. Actually, can we scroll down so that we can read it, please? I that's that's not the resolution that's that's up for discussion, though. It it should be the original one. Amendment that I created for this. So, yes, it is. It's it's a minute. It's word for word. I wrote it. So I know that it it it excludes their name and everything you had in So so now we're back to discussing an amendment because people wanna take their so I'm just I'm just re because there's been a lot of conversation here.
So that is the proposed amendment then to the original resolution. So that's not what we're okay. That's where you that's where you were vice president, and that's the only change in it of director Hutchinson's, proposal. Director Latta? Yes. Okay. Director Williams? Yes. Okay. Director Hutchinson? No. Alright. Vice president Bachelor? Yes. President Grohard? Yes. Okay. The amendment is adopted. Now we have to go to the main motion that, will adopt what you just amended. Thank you. So on the, main motion as adopted Well,
I have I have board comment then on this vote. I'm present. I'm going to call the question. No. I'm allowed to have board comment. You're not allowed to do that by parliamentary procedures. I'm required to be allowed board comment before we vote. Yes, I'm ruling on that question. I want to close debate on the issue. We didn't open debate and this has been standing here. We took it down from the amendment. Now we're back to the original resolution and there is board comment before that with this amendment. I mean, just board comment.
So now on top of everything else, now you want to amend my resolution and now we can't have Board I believe that people have heard your comments about those of us sitting on the Board. I believe that these people are in here right now to hear us vote on a motion to restore money for after school programs. And that's why I'm moving ahead. So thankfully, thankfully, parliamentary procedures aren't based on what you believe. And let's just be very clear that the resolution now that you're back to voting on is the resolution I submitted and we shouldn't have even gone through this show
tonight. So I'm allowed board comment before this final vote. Okay. You will have one three minute comment to talk about the four of us on this board. I don't need to talk about you. You're doing a good job of that on your own. So we went through a four hour dance because I guess some people were offended their names were in the original resolution that I wrote. But the problem is, y'all, we can't be fooled by this. Like, we just sat through three hours and we heard the stories about how they've been reaching out to people. Now we're back to the original resolution that I submitted last week.
What are we doing? What are these people doing? And for them to bounce around like this, ping pong back and forth as we're discussing this, they show they have no idea what's going on. They didn't know they were cutting programs in the first place. And they sure don't know how to put it back together again. I knew this was going to happen tonight because of course the only option to fix these programs, step one is what I introduced, step two is still to come. There's not five different ways to solve this. And unfortunately, we have a board majority like we've never seen here before.
I'm disgusted that it's caused this trauma to everyone. I'm deeply, deeply disappointed that we got no relief from the problem here today. And I just need everyone to know that there is a plan to take care of this. But unfortunately, this board has been preventing that plan to take care of it, just like this board are the ones who did this to us in the first place. This was not a part of our normal budget process. This is something they decided to do on top of it. That's why they developed a hard cap of $125,000,000
even though we were projected to spend $152,000,000 in that category. They knew by what they were doing there wouldn't be room for after school programs under that cap. And that's exactly what happened. I've shared around the documents where we were all notified. Lisa Grant Dawson has shared the email where she had to remind President Brohard that she had been told about this. And like at a certain point, I don't really care about the personal disrespect that they all throw my way. Because I know that the community is watching and understands what that really is.
So again, we just spent four hours going around in circles and now we're back to the resolution I created, except they wanted to take their names off of it because they're still not willing to take responsibility for what they're doing to us. I am counting on the community to hold them accountable. I'm telling you all, if the war doesn't change before June 30, we will be taking over on July 1. We will have no superintendent, no chief. Your time, hopefully, is quickly going to be up as well. Thank you. And I'd like to call vote, please. Yes. On the on the motion director Williams,
are you participating? On the motion to adopt, the repeal of, the, alternative resolution. Director Latta? Yes. Director Williams? Yes, sir. Okay. Director, director Hutchinson? Abstain. And president, vice president bachelor? Yes. And president Verhaer? Yes. Motion's adopted. We're adjourned. They don't know even what the next step is. I