All right. I would like to welcome everyone to the special meeting of the, Oakland School Board on March 25 tonight in closed session. Oh, call to order. Oh, I'm sorry. Can we have a roll call to the status quo? Right. Sounds great. On the roll call to establish quorum, student directors are absent. Director Lauter? Present. Director Williams? Present. Director Hutchinson? Present. Director Berry? Present. Director Thompson? Present. Vice President Bachelor? Here. President Brothard? Here. Quorum present. Thank you. Point of clarification,
President Brothard. Beyond the fact that just announced to everyone it would be thirty minutes. Now that it is set up, can we please do the open session items first while we're down here in the sense of efficiency, and then end the meeting in the closed session part? Which is what I asked before, and I was told couldn't do it cause we were waiting for thirty minutes. I I didn't clearly hear the request, but madam president, this is a special meeting of the board. The procedures are essentially the same as a regular meeting. You should announce what's going to be considered in closed session. And then if the Board chooses,
it should go to closed session, come back, report out, and then take up any public items. Thank you. Or if the Board chooses, we could do the open session part first while we're down here and end with the closed session. Also, the board will have to come back and report out for closed session, so it's gonna have to come back no matter which way you may arrange the agenda. We are gonna do the closed session first. Under closed session for tonight, we are doing item D1, legal matters, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Bay Area Technology School v. Oakland Unified School District.
Are there any public comments on this item? Yes. We have Fazal Abala and Ben Tabasco. Both appear not to be present, madam president. Thank you. And with that, we will convene to a closed session, and we should be back within we don't have Tom posted on there. We should be back within about fifteen minutes. Okay. Matt. Welcome to the special meeting, late night meeting of the Oakland School Board. Mister Raikstra, can we have a roll call to establish quorum, please? Yes. On the on the reconvening to establish the quorum, student directors are absent.
Director Lauter? Present. Director Williams? Present. Director Hutchinson? Director Berry? Director Thompson? Present. Vice president, Bachelor? Here. And Director Berry? Present. Okay. Thank you. And and President Pearlhart? Here. A quorum present. Okay. I have to report out on closed items. The Board discussed Item D1-twenty five-seven 91, conference with legal counsel. The Board discussed this matter. The next item on the agenda it's item H1, California multiple awards schedules,
CMAS design and purchase agreement, Musco Sports Lighting LLC Skyline High School lighting replacement project. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved. Second. Are there any board is there any public comments? Yes. We have Asolo Lobala and Ben Tabscott and Misty Cross. Director Bachelor moved in. Director Latta seconded it. Those speakers are not are not present. Are there any board comments on this? Yeah. I'm excited about this project because this is, again, an investment that we're making, not only in our school facilities, but also in the places where student athletes really get to shine.
And they don't get to shine if there aren't light systems where we can see them doing their brilliant work. And so, this is exciting to be able to make this type of investment. We will also be, this will also be part of, like, the renaming process that we're doing of the field and a couple of other processes. So I'm excited that, like, we're making this type of investment in time to be able to, accomplish all of those different things that we wanna do at the Skyline field. Doctor Thompson? Has this been has the money been encumbered as of yet, or is it due to be encumbered?
Because it looks like it's gonna cost not to exceed $507,793.04 And so I wanna know if it's been encumbered already, or if we don't have the funds to do I I don't know. I believe Preston's online. And could you possibly answer this question? He's not online. Well, he was supposed to be online. And is there super It's noted in the agenda that this is the and I assume it's true, is to be paid for through Measure Y. That means there's a budget.
There there is a budget for it. For Measure Y. Yes. Mhmm. Alright. Thank you. Can we have a roll call on the vote, please? Yes. On the motion to adopt, h dot dash one, the CMASS, award with Musco Sporting Lighting. Director Lauter? Yes. Student board members are absent. Director Williams? Yes, sir. Director Hutchinson is absent. Director Berry? Yes. Director Thompson? Yes. Vice president Bachelet? Yes. And President Brothard? Yes. Motion is adopted. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is H2, 20 six-one, Amendment Number one,
Services Agreement, Hazard Young, Attea and Associates, Fiscal Advisory Team Services, this is from the superintendent of schools. Are there public is there public comment on this? Well, we need a motion and a second first, and this is an amendment. I just think you said agreement. I misread it. It is an amendment. Is there a motion to adopt? Board members, I would like to make a comment. I do think it's, really important for us to consider this amendment this evening for you to consider the amendment this evening. I've been working very closely with HYA. As you know,
one of the major, recommendations I made to you was that we get outside experts to assist us in our process of fiscal stabilization. As a part of doing their work with us, I've identified many different areas that we need to focus on as we complete the, budget development and as we continue our journey through the closure of the budget to pass a, a budget in June. There are relationships that have already been developed with the county office,
which will be critical to the approval of several items, our AB 1,200 for the OEA agreement as well as, our ongoing demonstration and reporting that we need to do between now and the vote that we have we have to have on a budget in June. I think the continuance of their contract will be absolutely critical for us to accomplish that goal. So it's my strong recommendation that we, amend the current agreement. This is not maximizing it to this level,
but this would be the I mean, it would be the max amount, but I don't I'm not sure that we will be utilizing the total amount. But I would like your, consideration of this. It has been extremely helpful to have the support so far. And this was part of our the adoption of scenario three was to have outside experts, which I know, has had an impact on our bond. Folks have contacted us and said that they had confidence to move the bond forward based on the fact that we had outside experts.
This has also been, a plus in working with some of the funders that we're working with regularly, because there has been some history of major questions about our finances. So having the outside experts not only has assisted with, evaluating our own team and working with our team, but it has also positioned us, in some of these major areas that are critical going forward, the bond and the confidence of current funders of many of our, grants and special programs that we now have and that we hope to continue.
I would like to make a motion to bring this back on the twenty second. I think I'm the second, sorry. Second? I think, again, I don't I have appreciated Doctor. Frutos' and Ms. Kirk Carter. I think they've really uncovered a number of things. I think they've brought a clarity to the Board. I do have a couple of questions about it though. And for me, the biggest thing, and we've talked about this, has got to be a plan to communicate what we're doing. I feel like by not having a communications plan and how as a board we can roll this
out as well in a unified way, there has been a lot of confusion in the community. And I feel that I'm just going to speak as a Board Director. It's been very hard for me to answer those questions even though I do have faith in I mean, I think, again, what they've brought forward, what they've uncovered. But I think we need to really before the twenty second and consider this, really develop a narrative that we can all stand by as we go out into the community. And just I think more clarity around I know,
as an example, there's been a lot of confusion about the $61,000,000 and the $101,000,000 So I think, again, a simple narrative and a way that we can communicate that, I think, would be is essential for me. I also think we need to have some way and I realize this is a little trickier, but some way of also talking about some of the things that we have uncovered. And I understand that, that's as far as previous people who have worked on the budgets,
it's not like you want to perchate at them. But I think that, again, having a deeper sense or more common sense of what changes they see, what kinds of again, where the budget sits with that. I also think I assume that AB1840 is still covering this. I think there also has to be a way and I know that HYA is working with the CFO for that to be more apparent to our community that because I think the other thing that comes out,
at least in my conversations, is, oh, who's in charge? And I think, again, you know, more of a presence and a working together, a more public sense of that, that relationship between Brian Wind and NHYA. Are there other board comments? Director Berry? Yeah. I think the who's in charge question is the what I wanted to bring up in regards to this contract, and I know we spoke about it briefly. But I think important and I don't know if it's possible to accomplish between now
and the twenty second, but a preview of a plan to fill the CBO role and to address any of the financial or operational responsibilities, that that role is responsible for, I think, is helpful to have before we continue to pour resources into a team. I think they're providing you other support than, you know, a CBO is, but we know we don't have one. And I think that's, you know, a vision for that strategy,
I think, is important to pair with something like this. Jelada? I'll just, make one comment, which is that I had anticipated that we would extend HYA's contract, but through budget development, so the June. So I do think having some additional clarity about, the one, I think and and I would just echo some of the other comments, but I think that was that for me is the other delta is what is changed, and I think that means some communication. That means that instead of extending their contract through budget development for twenty six,
twenty seven, that we're actually talking about some additional work around restructuring the fiscal department and and other things that are mentioned. So that would be my request for the twenty second. Any other Board comments? On the motion to postpone this matter, consideration of this matter until you public comment? Is there any? For public speaker, we have Carol Delton. Thank you for calling on me. I had to reset my mic. Is it working now? Yes. We can hear you. Wonderful. Thank you so much for calling on me. You know, there's a reason that I think that OUSD has 200%,
on a per student basis of contracting out than other districts. And looking at this contract, and I call it sloppy and unrestrained, like director Latta, I would have no problem with, HYA being contracted through the end of the year assuming that they have a a specific work plan, assuming that they report to the CFO and superintendent, assuming that they account for the work they've already done and that they drastically improve their public communication.
That is key for me if they were to be considered to work further. As far as the CBO goes, there has long been a plan to end the CBO role. That that started approximately two years ago. And in a district where you have, chief of systems and services who does much of what a CBO does, in other districts, you you I don't think you can afford to have another layer. So I don't think you can afford both a CFO and a CBO and a
and a chief of systems. So I think the key is for OUSD to define what needs to be done and who needs to do it. This district is always hiring another person. This district is always thinking that because there's work to be done, there has to be a separate role to do it, and that's partly what got this district, into this kind of financial situation. So I hope I can see some of the good that HYA has done in their recommendations. I certainly can understand the need for them to finish the year.
And as for beyond that, I'd like to see some improvement, in how they communicate with the public and with the board before that is considered. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other public comments? No, president. That include public speakers. Alright. Mister Raikstra, can we have a roll motion to, adopt, the adopt the roll call to adopt the motion to postpone considerate further consideration of this contract until the April 22 meeting. Director Latta? Yes. Director Williams? Yes. Director Hutchinson is absent. Student board members are absent.
Director Berry? Yes. Director Thompson? Yes. Vice president Vazquez? Yes. President Brothard? Yes. Motion's adopted. Postponed until April 22. And with that oh. I'm sorry. President Brujahard, just before we leave this evening, I would like to, request, that we close the meeting, in memory of two pea special people. The first one I would like to mention is miss Pearl Esther McLennan, who was a, volunteer. She just made a 100 years old last year. She worked, in her retirement for many, many years at Kaiser Elementary School and did almost everything.
She just had her services last her services were last Friday, and almost all of the former staff of Kaiser were there. It was this really a significant person who made a difference to generations of students. The second person I'd like to acknowledge the services are gonna be for, doctor Cornus Enix. He was a surgeon on duty, the at Highland Hospital the evening that doctor Foster was assassinated and was also the person that, saved the life of our deputy superintendent at the time,
Bob Blackburn. His services, he was a cardiologist. His services are gonna be held this Friday. So I'd like to close, the meeting and request that we do so in their memory. These are people who committed so much to our community, to our schools, our students, our staff. And, I always wanna acknowledge people who've been servant leaders. So if you would, I would like you to consider that. Thank you. I think that's a good way to honor, people who have meant so much to our district.
And with that, the meeting is adjourned.