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WELCOME TO OUR MARCH 27TH BOARD MEETING.
[1. REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 PM]
WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA HERE.WE'RE GOING TO GET GOING RIGHT AWAY WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF YOU PLEASE RISE UP, IF YOU'RE ABLE, AND TRACEY MALONE WILL LEAD US.
>> THANK YOU, TRACEY. NEXT IS OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
THAT'LL BE READ BY CONNIE HENNESSEY.
>> HI, THANK YOU. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF CAMAS IS LOCATED ON THE ANCESTRAL AND TERRITORIAL LANDS OF THE CHINOOK AND COWLITZ PEOPLE, AND THAT THE CHINOOK ARE STILL FIGHTING TO BE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED ON THEIR OWN LAND.
>> THANK YOU, CONNIE. MOVING ON, ITEM 2A ON OUR AGENDA UNDER SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE HAVE THE LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL JAZZ BAND HERE.
YES. [APPLAUSE] LIBERTY'S BAND AND THEIR DIRECTOR,
[2. SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENT AND STAFF]
MR. GREG HENION'S HERE TOO IN RECOGNITION OF MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOL'S MONTH.CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR THIRD PLACE FINISH AT CLARK COLLEGE, BY THE WAY.
[APPLAUSE] MR. HENION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.
OTHERWISE, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR A COUPLE MORE TUNES FROM YOU.
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] [MUSIC]
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[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER]>> LIBERTY MIDDLE-SCHOOL JAZZ BAND AND MR. HENRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO CLEAR SOME THINGS OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE SOME OF THE MUSIC STANDS OUT.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS STANDING IN THE BACK WHO MIGHT WANT A CHAIR, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP AND GRAB ONE OF THOSE.
WE'LL TAKE JUST LIKE A TWO-MINUTE BREAK OR SO AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK [BACKGROUND]
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AS A BAND DIRECTOR MYSELF, WELL DONE ON THE SET CHANGE AND THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS THAT HELPED WITH THAT TOO.
[APPLAUSE] MOVING RIGHT ALONG HERE, WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN TO ITEM 2B ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OUR ROTARY SOPHOMORE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, DR. ANSELM.
>> THANKS, COREY. I APPRECIATE THAT.
TO KEEP IN LINE WITH CELEBRATING OUR KIDS TONIGHT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE MR. MASON VANCLEAVE.
I THINK MASON IS HERE IN THE BACK.
IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW MASON VANCLEAVE, [APPLAUSE] MASON HAS HAD A BIG WEEK MORE THAN JUST THIS.
HE WAS A BIG PART OF THE ANESTHESIA PLAY IN ALL THE BACKSTAGE WORK AND THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WORKS.
MASON AND HIS PARENTS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO MEET AT ROTARY LAST WEEK.
EACH MONTH, AS YOU KNOW, ROTARY SELECTS ONE SOPHOMORE, AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1,000 SOPHOMORES OUT OF OUR FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
HUGE HONOR FOR MASON TO RECEIVE THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THAT BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HEARS ABOUT ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
MASON, SO PROUD OF YOU, CONGRATULATIONS, IT'S GREAT GETTING TO MEET YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
CAN EVERYBODY RECOGNIZE MASON, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE] MASON, COME ON UP TO THE MIC IF YOU DON'T MIND REALLY QUICKLY, I'LL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHAT THAT AWARD MEANT TO YOU AND ANYTHING YOU JUST WANT TO SHARE.
>> SURE. WINNING THIS AWARD WAS NICE.
IT WAS NICE TO JUST GET RECOGNIZED AND WELL, JUST ITSELF IS WORTH IT.
THANK YOU FOR SELECTING ME FOR THIS AWARD.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, MASON. [APPLAUSE] ONE OF THE ADJECTIVES THAT STOOD OUT ABOUT MASON DURING THAT MEETING WAS KINDNESS.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU, MASON.
I THINK YOUR MOM IS HERE, YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HERE.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT RIGHT IT THERE.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 2C ON THE AGENDA ARE NEW NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
>> THIS IS HUGE. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS A NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT HOLDS VERY DEAR.
I WOULD LIKE, IF POSSIBLE, ALL OF OUR NEWLY NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO STAND IF YOU'RE HERE AND BE RECOGNIZED.
COME ON DOWN. IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE KNOW ON THIS, THIS IS EXTREMELY RIGOROUS PROCESS.
SOMETHING I THINK OUR BOARD PRESIDENT HAS GONE THROUGH HIMSELF AND JUST AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I JUST WANT TO ASK JUST QUICKLY.
GO TO THE MIC IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND JUST REALLY QUICKLY IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT IT MEANT TO YOU.
>> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LENGTHIER THAN I THOUGHT.
IT TOOK ME A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT I'M A LIFELONG LEARNER.
I WANT TO DO THE BEST FOR MY KIDS.
I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCIENCE AND THE ART OF TEACHING AND SEE HOW I CAN IMPROVE.
THEN WITH COVID, I WAS ABLE TO DO A LOT OF STEADYING, HAD A LITTLE TIME ON MY HANDS, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO NAIL IT AFTER THAT.
>> WOULD YOU MIND LETTING US KNOW YOUR NAME AND WHAT AREAS YOU ARE CERTIFIED IN?
>> I'M [INAUDIBLE] QUEST AND I AM A MIDDLE CHILDHOOD.
>> YOU CAN ALL AT LEAST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
YEAH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> I'M GINA HINES, SPECIAL EDUCATION.
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I REALLY ENJOYED ACTUALLY JUST WORKING WITH MY STUDENTS.THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PART I TEACH HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THEM.
THAT WAS THE BEST PROCESS OR THE BEST PART OF IT WAS GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK AND GOING AND IMPROVING JUST HONESTLY THE WAY I TEACH IN GETTING EVERYTHING IN ORDER AND AGAIN, INCLUDING THEM IN THE PROCESS.
THAT WAS THE BEST GROWTH FOR ME.
>> I'M CHARLES HINDS. I'M A SPECIAL HEAD TEACHER AT LIBERTY; I TEACH THE LIFE SKILLS CLASS THERE.
IT WAS A REALLY INVIGORATING PROCESS, I BELIEVE MY 10TH YEAR IN.
WASHINGTON WERE BLESSED THAT THEY SUPPORT NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS HERE.
THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES WITH A COHORT PROGRAM WITH CHERYL WHO'S HERE SOMEWHERE.
OUR COHORT LEADER IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. SHERIFF CONNOR, THANK YOU.
SHE LED MY COHORT ALONG WITH CAROLYN MUNOZ, WHO DID A FANTASTIC JOB, SUPPORTED US THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IT WAS LIKE A REINVIGORATION AFTER 10 YEARS AND REFLECTING ON THE THINGS WE AS TEACHERS DO WITHOUT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT BEING INTENTIONAL.
THEN IT WAS AN ALL DAY TEST THAT I HAD TO STUDY A BUNCH OF THINGS I HAVEN'T STUDIED SINCE FUTURE PROGRAMS. BUT IT WAS A RIGOROUS PROCESS. I HAD TO HAVE IT DONE.
>> CHARLES, GAYLE SAID YOU HAVE A SPECIAL STORY ABOUT GOING THROUGH THIS WITH GINA.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MY WIFE BEAT ME BY ONE POINT.
>> I'M DIANA ROSS. I'M A RESOURCE TEACHER AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL. CAN I PUT IT A LITTLE LOWER.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S GREAT TO JOIN THIS GROUP.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T DO IT SOONER.
IT WAS A LOT OF TEARS, I THINK, JUST TO REDO EVERYTHING.
BUT DOING IT DURING COVID, I THINK, WAS AN EXTRA SPECIAL TREAT THAT CHARLES AND I GOT TO DO TOGETHER BECAUSE WE HAD TO LOOK DEEPER INTO HOW WE TAUGHT AND HOW WE CONNECTED TO THE KIDS, AND I THOUGHT THAT PROCESS WAS REALLY DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO RECORD.
YOU GOT TO TURN ON YOUR CAMERA, FIGHT THAT BATTLE.
BUT YES, IT WAS DEFINITELY AN HONOR TO GO THROUGH IT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. CHARLES MENTIONED IT TOO, BUT THE COHORT LEADERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT DO NATIONAL BOARD ARE ABSOLUTELY FIRST-RATE.
I KNOW THAT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT CAMAS REALLY LEADS THE WAY IN THAT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT AS WELL.
[APPLAUSE] ITEM 3A ON OUR AGENDA IS THE MILL TOWN PRIDE AWARD. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
[3. MILL TOWN PRIDE AWARD(S)]
>> THANKS, COREY. EACH MONTH, AS YOU KNOW, WE HONOR A STAFF MEMBER OR MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE MILL TOWN PROUD AWARD RECEIVED A NOMINATION THIS MONTH FROM GARY MOLLER, OUR PRINCIPAL AT LIBERTY.
I WAS RIGHT ON BOARD WITH HIS SENTIMENTS, AS YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO COVID AND POST-COVID.
BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY DURING OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, OUR NUTRITION SERVICE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY IN CAMAS WORKED SO HARD, NEVER EVER WENT HOME.
THEY WERE PROVIDING FOOD FOR OUR KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
GARY, I'LL PASS IT OFF TO YOU TO HELP ME AWARD THESE FINE PEOPLE.
>> FIRST, CAN I HAVE ROBIN, DARCY'S, [INAUDIBLE] AND SHERRI COME UP TO THE FRONT SO I'M NOT ALL BY MYSELF.
[APPLAUSE] I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE THIS AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I'VE WRITTEN SOME NOTES AND I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO FOLLOW, AND USUALLY, THERE'S THREE PEOPLE HERE, AND THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.
[LAUGHTER] MIGHT NOT HAVE NOMINATED YOU.
THESE LADIES MAKE UP THE NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM AT LIBERTY, AND UNLESS YOU WORK IN A SCHOOL, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS TEAM.
THE THINGS I MENTIONED ARE GOING TO SEEM SMALL POSSIBLY, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, IT REALLY CREATES AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
I'M JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS AND IT'S NOT EVEN GOING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT FOOD QUALITY.
THEY MAKE FOOD FRESH THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THEY DON'T START IT AT SEVEN AND THEN JUST STICK IT ON THE WARMER WHEN SIXTH-GRADE LUNCH OR EIGHTH-GRADE LUNCH IS FINISHING THEIR ALREADY COOKING FOOD FOR THE NEXT LUNCH.
YOU GO INTO ONE OF OUR REFRIGERATORS, THERE AT LIBERTY AND IT'S JUST PACKED FULL OF FRESH FOOD EVERYWHERE.
CUSTOMER RECIPES. THE RECIPES THAT NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TWEAKING, A LITTLE BIT OF A HOME STYLE, I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S SAY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE, I GOT YOUR BACK.
[LAUGHTER] MY MOM IS A GREAT COOK AND ALMOST EVERYTHING SERVED AT LIBERTY CAN BE
[00:20:04]
MISTAKEN FOR A HOME-COOKED MEAL BY ANY OF OUR MOTHERS IF THAT STILL HAPPENS AT HOME [APPLAUSE].DR. ANGELA MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC AND THAT ACTUALLY WAS A PROBLEM FOR US BECAUSE WHEN DARCY CAME IN ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH LAST YEAR, WE WERE STILL ON 15-MINUTE LUNCHES, SO THE KIDS CAME IN FOR 15 MINUTES, DO THEIR THING, AND OUT FOR THE NEXT LUNCH, WE HAD TO KEEP IT GOING, AND WE NOTICED WHEN DARCY CAME ALONG THE LINES JUST KEPT GETTING LONGER AND LONGER, AND SO THAT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING ALL THE KIDS THROUGH THERE GETTING THEIR FOOD.
BUT THE REASON THAT IS IS BECAUSE THE FOOD JUST WENT UP AMAZING AND IN QUALITY.
BUT LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS THAT KIDS WOULD COME UP TO ME SAY THIS IS DELICIOUS TODAY, AND I WAS LIKE, DON'T TELL ME, GO TELL THEM.
THEY ACTIVELY SEARCH OUT FEEDBACK AND EXPERIMENT WITH NEW ITEMS AND SEE IF THE KIDS LIKE THEM.
FOR FOOD VARIETY, THE OFFERINGS ARE HEALTHY, TASTY.
IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES, IF YOU HAVE SOME FOOD PROBLEM, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
WHETHER IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF PERSONAL TASTE OR BECAUSE OF A MEDICAL REASON.
EARLY IN THE YEAR, THEY STARTED CATERING TO STAFF.
STAFF CAN PUT IN AN ORDER FOR A SALAD OR A SANDWICH MADE CUSTOM.
AGAIN, NOT A HUGE DEAL, IT'S A SANDWICH OR A SALAD BUT, CONSIDERING THEY'RE SERVING 700 STUDENTS FOR THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO ALSO BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE THAT IN IS PRETTY AMAZING.
THEN COMMUNICATION, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION DARCY AND HER COMMUNICATION WITH ME AND THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
THIS IS REALLY WHAT TIES EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
OFTENTIMES THE KITCHEN AND THE SCHOOL, THEY FEEL LIKE SEPARATE ENTITIES, BUT EVER SINCE DARCY'S COME TO LIBERTY, SHE'S CLOSED THAT GAP, AND WE WORK WITH EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THE KIDS.
ON HOLIDAYS, YOU'LL HAVE US PUT LITTLE HIDE LITTLE THINGS UNDER THE TABLES AND THEN WHOEVER FINDS THE THING GETS A LITTLE TREAT.
JUST STUFF THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO, BUT THEY DO IT ANYWAY.
THE THING I HAVEN'T MENTIONED, OF COURSE, IS STUDENTS, AND I SAVED STUDENTS FOR LAST BECAUSE EVERYTHING I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IS WHAT THEY DO, BUT THE WHY IS THE REASON THAT ALL OF THESE TRULY GREAT THINGS HAPPEN, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY TRULY CARE ABOUT THE KIDS AND IT'S EVIDENCED WITH ALL THEY DO, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, BAMINI GETS TO STAMP THEIR TIME CARDS.
THANK YOU BAMINI FOR JUMPING IN ON THAT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, I JUST MOVED HERE, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR WORKING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH THE KIDS.
THEY ALL SAY THANK YOU WHEN WE SERVE THE FOOD.
THEY SOMETIMES WILL TELL US AT THE END OF THE LUNCH, I JUST LOVE THAT IT WAS SO DELICIOUS, SO KUDOS TO ALL THE PARENTS, BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE ALL REALLY POLITE AND REALLY KIND.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS OUR STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT,
[4. STUDENT/COMMITTEE REPORTS]
SO IF I HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE COME ON UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND LET US KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.>> I'M EVAN GASH AND I'M A NINTH-GRADER AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I'M AMELIA SANCHEZ AND I'M AN 11TH GRADER AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I'M VINCENT LI AND I'M ALSO AN 11TH GRADER AT CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I AM PART OF THE EQUITY GROUP AND RECENTLY WE DELIVERED THE LESSONS TO THE FIFTH GRADERS AT WOODBURN.
IT WAS A VIDEO LESSON ABOUT LABELS AND HOW THEY AFFECT PEOPLE.
WE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION WITH THE FIFTH GRADERS,
[00:25:03]
AND WE DELIVERED IT TO FIVE FIFTH-GRADE CLASSES.WE GAVE THEM POSITIVE LABELS ABOUT BEING LOVED IN THE FORM OF STICKERS.
>> LAST WEDNESDAY OUR UNITY COMMITTEE HOSTED A LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HERE AT ZAC.
WE HOSTED 49 STUDENT LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MOSTLY ARE ONLY OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
THIS SESSION INCLUDED BREAKOUT ROOMS IN WHICH WE ENGAGED IN SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EXERCISES ALONGSIDE ASB PRESENTATIONS IN WHICH EACH SCHOOL SHARED ONE THING ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WAS A SPEECH FROM OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, NAN HENRIKSEN, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HOPE TO RECREATE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
>> LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST IS OUR STUDENT VOICES GROUP WHO IS FINALIZING THEIR SURVEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE TO ALL OUR SCC MEMBERS, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF APRIL.
>> IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> JUST A COMMENT, I WAS ABLE TO POP IN FOR SOME OF THAT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE LAST WEDNESDAY AND IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MY OWN ACTUALLY.
LOTS OF INTERACTION, GREAT CONVERSATIONS.
ANYTIME YOU GET TO HEAR NAN HENRIKSEN IS FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT AND FOR YOUR WORK TRYING TO UNIFY THE DIFFERENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. WE CERTAINLY DID OUR BEST.
>> THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR TOO, KEEP IT GOING. [APPLAUSE] ITEM 5 ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD COMMUNICATION,
[5. BOARD COMMUNICATION]
JUST A CHANCE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SHARE ANYTHING.>> WE REPRESENTED AT THE 17TH DISTRICT TOWN HALL LAST SATURDAY. WAS IT LAST SATURDAY? ALREADY, BOY, TIME FLIES.
REPRESENTATIVE PAUL HARRIS, REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WATERS, AND OUR SENATOR LYNDA WILSON WERE THERE, GIVING US A BRIEF RECAPS OF WHAT SESSION HAS BEEN LIKE.
I JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS AND ADVOCATES, AND CAMERA STAFF, AND [INAUDIBLE] STAFF THAT MADE AN APPEARANCE AND SHARED OUR CONCERNS FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET.
I KNOW THAT THE SENATE BUDGET HAS ALREADY COME OUT AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HEADED TOWARDS THE HOUSE, AND WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM FROM THE DISTRICT ABOUT WHERE THERE ARE HOLES FOR OUR PRIORITIES.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO THAT AND REPRESENTED AND SHOWED THEIR ADVOCACY FOR THAT.
>> SUPER QUICK. WE HAD A CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE MEETING RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING, AND WE HAVEN'T MET IN A WHILE, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, AND SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR DISTRICT TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AND THINGS GOING ON IN EACH ONE.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO GET BACK TOGETHER AND GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT, TIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CITY, AND I THINK STILL THERE, STILL GOING STRONG, SO GOOD THINGS TO COME.
>> THAT MOVES US DOWN TO ITEM 6, PUBLIC COMMENT.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
I DID HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS THAT SIGNED IN TO SPEAK HERE.I WILL DO MY BEST TO READ SOME HANDWRITING AND PRONOUNCE SOME LAST NAMES, BUT I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.
FIRST ARE OUR STANDARD GROUND RULES AROUND PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE BOARD VALUES PUBLIC INPUT.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD IS TO ACTIVELY LISTEN AND REFLECT ON PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE BOARD MAY ONLY DISCUSS AND ACT UPON ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE WRITTEN AGENDA.
FOR THAT REASON, BOARD MEMBERS CANNOT RESPOND TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT CAN ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO FOLLOW UP ON ISSUES RAISED DURING PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC INPUT EMPHASIZE THE RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS.
BOISTEROUS CONDUCT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED AT ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NOR WILL ANY HARASSING OR THREATENING REMARKS BE TOLERATED.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE AS A PERSONNEL MATTER.
THE BOARD REQUESTS THAT ANYONE WHO HAS SUBMITTED WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS REFRAIN FROM READING THOSE COMMENTS DURING THIS PORTION OF OUR MEETING TO GIVE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS.
WE DID HAVE SEVERAL WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA.
[00:30:02]
FOR THE RECORD, I BELIEVE WE HAVE 11 AND A 12TH ONE WAS ADDED IN THERE.EACH PERSON PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES.
ONCE CALLED UPON, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, FACE THE BOARD, AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
THE BELL WILL RING AT THREE MINUTES TO REMIND YOU THAT TIME IS UP.
WE ALLOT 30 MINUTES FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE MEDIA.
IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE GOT 12 SPEAKERS HERE, SO IT'LL BE A LITTLE LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, BUT I THINK AS LONG AS EVERYBODY STAYS ON THEIR TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO ALLOW EVERYBODY HERE.
WE JUST ASK THAT YOU KEEP TO THOSE THREE MINUTES, AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SPEAKING ON A SIMILAR TOPIC, FEEL FREE TO JUST DENOTE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS CHERYL, AND I CAN'T READ YOUR LAST NAME, I'M SORRY.
I THINK IT STARTS WITH THE K. IS THAT CHERYL KRONER?
>> I'M SORRY. CHERYL, [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD.
SEE, I'M OFF TO A GREAT START.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHERYL KRONER, AND I AM ONE OF YOUR TEACHERS AT ODYSSEY AND DISCOVERY.
I STARTED AT ODYSSEY WHEN ODYSSEY OPENED, AND THEN I ROLLED UP WITH DISCOVERY BECAUSE I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR OUR PROGRAM.
THEY ASKED FOR A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL STYLE AND SETTING AND WE'RE DELIVERING THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
AS YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS AND YOU CONTEMPLATE CHOICES, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT DISCOVERY OPENED IN 2018 WITH OUR FIRST-CLASS OF NINTH GRADERS, AND IN 2019, OUR NINTH GRADERS GOT SHUT DOWN BY COVID.
WE WERE A YEAR-AND-A-HALF OLD AND WE WERE SHUT DOWN.
OUR TEACHERS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CREATE PBL ONLINE, WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WAS VERY DIFFICULT.
HOWEVER, THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB.
WITH THAT IN MIND, DISCOVERY HAS ONLY HAD TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS TO BE A NORMAL, "SCHOOL," AND WE'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
OUR FIRST TINY GRADUATING CLASS HAD OUR STUDENTS BEING ACCEPTED INTO OVER 63 CHOICE SCHOOLS.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT THOSE THAT WENT INTO APPRENTICESHIPS AND DIRECTLY INTO JOBS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. REMOVING TEACHERS THAT HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY CHOSEN FOR OUR PROGRAM AND CAUSING OTHER TEACHERS TO BE DROPPED INTO OUR PROGRAM WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT SETBACK TO OUR PROGRAM.
COMBINING OUR PROGRAM WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM, INCLUDING SHARING STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION WOULD COMPLETELY DERAIL WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY OUR TAXPAYERS TO DELIVER.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENT, AND EVEN IN OUR STATE, WE ARE DELIVERING SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF OUR SISTER SCHOOLS, HAYES FREEDOM AND CAMAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY, IS THEIR AMAZING FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING, AND THEY ARE BEING INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL AT THAT.
DISCOVERY, WE'RE A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING.
IT FOCUSES ON GROUP WORK, COLLABORATION, INTEGRATED CURRICULUM, AND WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM WHILE HOLDING INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PARTS OF THE PROJECT.
COMBINING CCA WITH DISCOVERY IS DIVISIVE, AND IT WOULD NOT BE BENEFICIAL TO EITHER PROGRAM.
CAMAS SCHOOL BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT ANZALONE, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS BURKE AND [INAUDIBLE], PLEASE REMEMBER THAT AFTER CONTEMPLATING THE PROGRAMS AT CHS HAYES FREEDOM AND DISCOVERY, THE PUBLIC TAXPAYERS ASKED FOR OUR PROGRAM.
PLEASE HONOR THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO THEM.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LEAH STEPPER.
I AM ONE OF THE FIRST GRADUATING STUDENTS FROM DISCOVERY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF IT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I KNOW OUR SCHOOL IS SMALL AND IT'S NEW, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT NEEDS TO BE FIRST AFFECTED BY BUDGET CUTS AND MASSIVE CHANGES.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IS MEANT TO BE AN IN-PERSON LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CONNECT WITH OUR TEACHERS AND PEERS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE HAVE AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT AND BURNT-OUT TEACHERS.
WERE SMALL, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T DESERVE EVERY TEACHER WE HAVE.
WE HAVE A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT IF IT WILL CHANGE, IT WILL RUIN WHAT DISCOVERY IS.
THE SCHOOL MEANS A LOT TO ME AND SO MANY OTHER STUDENTS.
IT'S BECAUSE IT IS A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT KIDS FEEL SAFE IN AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN LEARN FROM IT.
A LOT OF KIDS HAVE COME TO THE SCHOOL TO LEARN, SO DON'T TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM.
THEY CAME HERE FROM A PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR THEM.
ALSO TO HAVE ONE PRINCIPAL RUN AN ONLINE SCHOOL AND AN IN-PERSON SCHOOL WOULDN'T WORK.
I'M SORRY, BUT [LAUGHTER] THAT IS A LOT OF WORK FOR ONE PERSON TO DO.
[00:35:01]
I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE SOMEONE TRYING TO RUN THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE ONLINE SCHOOL GRADES.AS A PERSON THAT WENT TO ODYSSEY DISCOVERY, I'M TELLING YOU DON'T CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE MADE.
WE'VE WORKED A LOT AND REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT WHAT IT IS NOW AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE RUINED.
THIS SCHOOL IS GROWING WITH THE GENERATION, AND HONESTLY WE NEED A SCHOOL WHERE KIDS FEEL SAFE AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
THIS SCHOOL MEANS A LOT TO ME.
FROM BEING THE FIRST CLASS TO GO THROUGH IT, I'M TELLING YOU, ONLINE WILL RUIN WHAT WE'VE MADE.
>> HELLO. I'M JACK HARDING AND I'M A JUNIOR AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH THE TRADITIONAL SENSITIVE SCHOOLS.
I'M DYSLEXIC AND STRUGGLE WITH READING AND WRITING.
ODYSSEY DISCOVERY HAS ALLOWED ME TO GROW AS A STUDENT AND AS A PERSON.
IT HAS GIVEN ME THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS MYSELF AND HELP WITH ISSUES THE SAME.
I'VE BEEN IN THE PL PROGRAM FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I BECAME EXTREMELY PASSIONATE FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE SCHOOL. IT'S A BIG FAMILY.
I'VE WORKED ON PROJECTS THAT MATTER, PROJECTS THAT HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING FROM THE POWER FIT, WHICH HELPED WIN OUR SCHOOL $50,000 TO SPEAKING BEFORE THE CAMAS CITY COUNCIL WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE.
NONE OF THIS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT ODYSSEY DISCOVERY OR PTO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE BUDGET CUTS WILL NOT BE REMOVING OUR SCHOOL, BUT EVEN GETTING RID OF ONE, TWO WILL MAKE A BIG IMPACT AND WILL GET MASSIVELY HARDER FOR OUR SCHOOL TO SUPPORT PRIORITY LEARNING, WHICH WAS WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.
>> NEXT UP IS [INAUDIBLE] GONZALEZ.
>> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] GONZALEZ.
I AM A SOPHOMORE AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL AND I WANTED TO, AS JACK HARDING JUST DID, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DISCOVERY IN THE FACE OF THE IMPENDING REDUCTION IN FORCE PROCEDURE.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HARD.
FIFTY IS A FLAT COLD NUMBER AND IT IS A NUMBER THAT WILL AFFECT 50 PEOPLE, JUST LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
JUST LIKE YOU UP THERE, JUST LIKE THE TEACHERS WE HONORED, AND JUST LIKE THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AS PART OF OUR SCHOOL.
AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE AN INSTITUTION, THAT WERE MEANT TO SUPPORT A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THAT SOMETIMES SACRIFICES AND CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE TO KEEP IT STABLE.
WITH THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THAT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS A PLACE AND THAT MERGING IT WITH CCA OR TAKING OUR STAFF WILL DEFINITELY HARM IT.
I WANT TO TELL A LITTLE BIT OF AN ANECDOTE.
I'M THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE FIRST NEWSPAPER DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS HAD IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE BUILT OUR PAPER FROM THE GROUND UP AND I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN A MESSY EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST.
BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT LATELY WHEN I WALK AND I SEE PEOPLE, I SEE MY FELLOW STUDENTS ENGAGING WITH THE PAPER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT DISCOVERY, JUST LIKE OUR NEWSPAPER, IS THAT BUT ON A BIGGER SCALE.
I THINK THAT IF YOU WALK THROUGH OUR HALLS AND YOU SEE HOW OUR TEACHERS CONNECT WITH OUR STUDENTS, SOME OF WHOM JOBS COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROCEDURE.
I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT DISCOVERY HAS A MAGIC TO IT, THAT WE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE CAN REALLY BRING SOMETHING IF YOU LET US FLOURISH.
AND DON'T DO THINGS LIKE MERGES WITH CAMAS CONNECT ACADEMY.
I ALSO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE PART OF AN INSTITUTION.
AGAIN, WE CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE.
BUT DISCOVERY IS AN OPPORTUNITY, OUR EXPERIMENTAL NATURE AND OUR MODERN NATURE.
THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO TRY TO IMPROVE IT FOR THE CAMAS KIDS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF OTHER PLACES ARE DOING AND THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE.
THINK OF THE PRESS. DISNEY, YES, DISNEY TRIED TO DO AN EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL LIKE OURS AND THEIRS FAILED WITHIN THREE YEARS.
DISCOVERY DID IT BETTER THAN DISNEY.
CAMAS DID IT BETTER THAN DISNEY.
[APPLAUSE] NOW THAT'S A HEADLINE.
[APPLAUSE] AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S A HEADLINE BECAUSE I'M THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF A NEWSPAPER.
BY SHOWING WHAT WE DO TO THE PRESS AND ALMOST USING MY SCHOOL AS A TOOL TO EXPAND THE REACH OF CAMAS AND MAKE US MORE POPULAR FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING WHERE TO ENROLL, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SOLIDIFY OUR PLACE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WITH THAT SAID, IF YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE MERGE US WITH CCA OR CUT ANY OF THE AMAZING STAFF WE'VE SUPPLIED OURSELF WITH,
[00:40:02]
THAT MAGIC, THAT SPECIAL UNIQUE QUALITY THAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL WHAT IT IS, WILL BE DIMMED AT THE VERY LEAST.>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MICHAEL SANCHEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MICHAEL SANCHEZ AND IT'S A DISTINCT PLEASURE TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE CAMAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER STAFF OUR NEARLY 500 MEMBERS TEACH, CARE FOR, AND SERVE OUR CHILDREN EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE RECOGNIZE HOW DIFFICULT THESE UPCOMING DECISIONS REGARDING BUDGETING MUST BE AND WHERE SEEMINGLY NO ONE WILL BE HAPPY WITH WHATEVER YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE.
MY JOB TONIGHT IS TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW THESE LOOMING CUTS ARE GOING TO BE PAINFUL, BUT WHAT WE DON'T HEAR IS HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION IS ALREADY SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED.
WE'RE SEEING THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF UNDERSTAFFING AND COVID LOCKDOWN AFFECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS, AND THIS HURTS EVERYONE IN THE CLASSROOM.
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IS HOW CATASTROPHIC IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE DISTRICT TOOK AWAY PARAEDUCATOR SUPPORT FOR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS. OUR YOUNGEST SCHOLARS NEED MORE SUPPORT THAN EVER IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.
AND THERE'S MORE WE CAN BE DOING.
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTIONS TO INCOMING FRESHMEN INSTEAD OF WATCHING THEM GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
AND THE DISTRICT DOES ITSELF A DISSERVICE BY NOT HAVING A ROBUST MARKETING PLAN GEARED TOWARD INCOMING FRESHMEN.
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IS HOW THE DISTRICT HAS OVER BUDGETED $6.4 MILLION OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS ON M SOCK.
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IS HOW THE DISTRICT HAS SPENT 3.1 PERCENT LESS THAN BUDGETED ON INSTRUCTION OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION THAT WASN'T USED TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN.
THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT CAN OVER-BUDGET ON M SOCK INCOME IN UNDER BUDGET ON INSTRUCTION CONSISTENTLY WHILE MAINTAINING A LARGE FUND BALANCE RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS IN OUR MINDS AS TO HOW NECESSARY THESE UPCOMING CUTS REALLY ARE.
SURELY THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY.
WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED PATTERNS? CAN WE EXPECT A REPEAT OF THIS TREND? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AS WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE RIFF STAFF AND THEN HAVE TO CALL THEM BACK BECAUSE THINGS AREN'T AS DIRE AS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED? WHO IS CALLED TO ACCOUNT? CEA HAS GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW HARMFUL THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE.
THE IMPRESSION THAT COMMUNITY WALKS AWAY WITH FROM BUDGET PRESENTATIONS IS THAT WE'RE OVERSTAFFED WITH PLENTY OF FAT SO TO SPEAK.
BUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM PAINTS QUITE A DIFFERENT PICTURE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CEA MEMBERSHIP AND ALL OUR STUDENTS, I AM URGING THIS BODY TO RECONSIDER ANY AND ALL CUTS THAT WOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT THE CLASSROOM.
>> NEXT IS COLEEN [INAUDIBLE] .
>> THANK YOU. SHORT PERSON HERE.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND TO OUR LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND. I APPRECIATE THAT.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE NEED AT LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE OTHER SCHOOLS AROUND US, OUR DEAN OF STUDENTS.
OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR TASKS WITH MANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TAKING AWAY ONE, WILL MAKE THE TWO REMAINING EVEN MORE OVERWORKED.
THERE ARE MANY STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO NEED HER GUIDANCE AND HER EXPERTISE.
WE NEED MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA.
WE NEED THREE FULL-TIME COUNSELORS, PLUS OUR SOCIAL WORKER, PLUS ANOTHER SOCIAL WORKER.
WE NEED OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL.
KIDS WITH TRAUMA NEED MORE TIME TO CONNECT, MORE TIME TO LEARN, NOT LESS.
WE NEED PROGRAMS TO FILL THE GAPS OF LEARNING EXPERIENCE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
I CAN SPEAK HOW HARD I WORKED AND HOW HARD MY CO-TEACHERS WORKED TO GIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS.
KIDS WHO ARE BEHIND NEED MORE TIME TO CONNECT WITH THE MATERIAL, NOT THAT.
FINALLY, PLEASE RECOGNIZE HAYES IS NOT A PROGRAM, BUT A SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT IS VERY NEEDED, A SCHOOL THAT HAS THE HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE.
ALSO, WHEN YOU CREATE A PROGRAM OR A SCHOOL FUND IT,
[00:45:01]
NOT JUST FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS, BUT FUND IT FOR ITS LONGEVITY.>> NEXT UP, I JUST HAVE A FIRST INITIAL E. IS IT SHOUT?
>> I DO THIS. HELLO. MY NAME IS E. CHAUDHRY AND I'M A SENIOR AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL.
ON OUR CAMPUS, WE ARE GROWING VERY CONCERNED WITH THE CHANGES THAT THE DISTRICT IS PLANNING TO MAKE DUE TO UPCOMING BUDGET CUTS.
MAINLY, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MERGING DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL WITH CAMAS CONNECT ACADEMY, AS WELL AS CHANGES IN STAFF DOING DUE TO MERGING, REPLACING, AND POSSIBLY CUTTING OUR TEACHERS.
TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS ALIKE INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE MERGE THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN OUR SCHOOL PROGRAM AND CCA, CAMAS CONNECT ACADEMY.
CCA IS A K-5 PROGRAM THAT CONSISTS OF LIVE ZOOM CLASSES EVERY DAY FROM 8:00 -11:30 AM.
IT ALSO SPENDS THE AFTERNOONS OF DAYS BY HAVING ONE-ON-ONE CHECK-INS WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
OUR CONCERN IS THAT BY MERGING OMS, DHS, AND CCA, WE WILL END UP OVERLOADING OUR STAFF.
ONE PRINCIPLE IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO COVER ALL THREE PROGRAMS NO MATTER HOW COMPETENT THEY ARE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE MERGING OF TWO IN-PERSON SCHOOLS AND ONE VIRTUAL SCHOOL WILL HAPPEN.
WOULD TEACHERS HAVE TO WORK AT BOTH SCHOOLS AT ONCE? WOULD THESE TEACHERS HAVE STEADIER CONSISTENT JOBS AT THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY CURRENTLY WORK AT? ADDITIONALLY, HAVING THE PROGRAMS MERGED WOULD CREATE AN ISSUE WITH TEACHERS WHO COULD BE SWITCHED WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS STUCK AT A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING CAMPUS WHILE NOT BELIEVING IN OUR MESSAGE AND PLACED WITH STUDENTS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH.
WHILE BOTH OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY'RE ALSO VERY DIFFERENT.
BY MERGING THEM, STUDENTS WILL ONLY REALLY HAVE ONE OPTION FOR NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING, TRIMMING DOWN THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
IF WE HAVE TEACHERS MOVE TO OUR SCHOOL WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THE MESSAGE OF PBL, DHS WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF OUR PROGRAM.
OUR SCHOOL TEACHES US IMPORTANT COLLABORATIVE SKILLS AND ENCOURAGES LEARNING BY DOING.
OUR LEARNING MODEL IS ALSO KNOWN FOR BENEFITING NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS.
IF OUR SCHOOL DOES NOT RETAIN THE PBL MESSAGE, A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFITS FROM THEIR EDUCATION HERE THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE.
THE MOVING OF TEACHERS MAY SOUND HYPOTHETICAL, BUT AS WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS AT DHS, IF OUR PROGRAMS COMBINED WE'RE BOUND TO HAVE TEACHERS BROUGHT HERE FROM CCA.
THIS WILL BRING UP RISKS THAT WE PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL ARE SMART TO TAKE.
NOT ONLY IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK OF OUR PRINCIPAL TO MANAGE THREE SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S ALSO TOO MUCH TO ASK OF OUR TEACHERS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS AT OUR SCHOOL, AND OUR LEARNING MODEL IS BOUND TO CHANGE IN WAYS THAT WE AREN'T READY FOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE]
MY NAME IS MAYA GREER AND I'M A JUNIOR AT DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL.
TO ENSURE THAT I'M NOT MISREPRESENTING THE BOARD'S POSITION, I'D LIKE TO QUOTE FROM A STATEMENT MADE BY DR. JOHN ANZALONE RECENTLY "THE BOARD IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SHOW STAFFING AMONG OUR SMALLER CHOICE HIGH-SCHOOLS, CAMAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY, DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAYES FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL." SHOWING STAFFING WOULD BE EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS. TEACHERS AT DISCOVERY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE PROJECT BASED LEARNING STRUCTURAL, AND WANT TO TEACH IN AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM.
SHOWING THEM BETWEEN SCHOOLS OR BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL TEACHERS WHO MAY NOT BE AS FULLY ON BOARD WITH OUR PROJECT-BASED MODEL WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARMFUL TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO CULTIVATE A PROGRAM THAT WE VALUE AND NEED AS STUDENTS.
WE ALREADY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS AT OUR PROGRAM.
CLASSES ARE STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING POINTS.
MY ADVANCED GRAPHIC DESIGN CLASS IS ACTUALLY COMBINED WITH THE PYTHON CLASS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME WITH TEACHERS ON OUR SCHEDULE TO MAINTAIN THEM INDEPENDENTLY.
MOST CLASSES ARE FULL AS WELL.
ONE OUT CLASS HAS 30 STUDENTS IN IT.
YOU CAN'T TAKE MORE AWAY FROM US, PLEASE.
ENROLLMENT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GO UP.
WE ALREADY HAVE TEACHERS SPLIT ACROSS TWO GRADES, OR ELA TEACHERS AND MATH TEACHERS OFTEN TEACH 9TH AND 10TH AND 11TH AND 12TH.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE MORE ROOM TO STRETCH.
[00:50:04]
OUR PROPOSED ONE SOLUTION WE'D LIKE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IS POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT HOW THEY CURRENTLY ALLOCATE BUDGET TO THE EMERGENCY FUND.THE STATE RECOMMENDS 4% AND THAT IS WHAT MANY OTHER DISTRICTS ALLOCATE.
CAMAS CURRENTLY ALLOCATES 8% AND ALREADY HAS A RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE SOME IN THE BUDGET.
WE THINK THAT THIS BOARD COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT REDUCING THIS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IF WE ARE TRULY STRETCHED TOO THIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION, WHERE I SEE NEXT. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANGEL HARP.
>> TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TYRE BRYANT, A SENIOR AT DHS, WHO IS UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY, BUT REGARDLESS, BELIEVES THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
HERE IS THE MASSAGE, "I'VE WATCHED THIS SCHOOL GROW AND CHANGE SINCE I'VE BEEN A FRESHMEN.
IT'S NECESSARY FOR THIS SCHOOL IN ORDER FOR IT TO FLOURISH, TO NOT DISMISS STAFF, BUT TO KEEP AND EXPAND UPON THEM.
THE STUDENTS PRESENT TODAY ARE NOT ONLY EVIDENCED THAT WE ARE NOT THE MINORITY IN OUR FEELINGS WITH THE BUDGET CHANGES, BUT EVIDENCED THAT THIS PROGRAM WORKS.
THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THIS DISTRICT.
IF THE PROGRAM IS HURT AND THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TODAY, STUDENTS AND THE ENTIRETY OF THE CAMAS COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER.
TEACHERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR TOWN AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE TO SHOW YOU THEY'RE INDISPENSABLE PLACE IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE HOPE YOUR DECISION WILL BE BASED ON WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS".
>> NEXT, SEE, I THINK IT'S A BILL BENNETT, IS THAT RIGHT? THANKS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BILL BENNETT. THANK YOU.
I DO PLAY SPORTS, SO IT ALL WORKS OUT.
ME BEING ABLE FROM DISCOVERY TO TRANSFER OVER TO CAMAS.
BUT I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT JUST ON WHAT THIS SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT ME AND ALL OF US AS PEOPLE.
IF YOU TAKE A SCHOOL LIKE CAMAS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SAME SHOW UP.
IT'S LIKE, YEAH, THE FEW KIDS ARE WHO ARE GOOD PRESENTERS COME UP HERE AND PRESENT TO YOU.
BUT THIS IS LIKE OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL.
[LAUGHTER] THERE'S MANY OF US IN, BUT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO PRESENT, HOW TO COME UP HERE.
I WENT A LITTLE WHILE BACK TO, A PAGE PROGRAM UP IN OLYMPIA WHERE THEY TAUGHT US HOW TO MAKE BILLS, HOW THE GOVERNMENTS RUN.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S LIKE US PRESENTING IN FRONT OF YOU.
THIS SCHOOL IS CREATING ALL OF THESE STUDENTS TO GO AND PRESENT.
WE CAN COME AND PRESENT TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
INSTEAD OF HAVING, JUST THE BEST PRESENTERS FROM SOMEWHERE LIKE CAMAS.
THIS IS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, EVERY SINGLE PERSON, OR ALMOST EVERY PERSON IN OUR SCHOOL IS BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THEN WE CAN ALL GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND THEN MAKE CHANGES.
>> NEXT IS EMORY IS IT PULLEY?
>> HOW DO YOU MAKE IT GO DOWN? [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
I'M THE JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT DHS.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE ALL AWARE AND HERE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET.
IF YOU WERE TO TRY AND COMBINE THE PROGRAM OF CCA AND DHS, IT WOULD CAUSE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OUR STAFF WORK AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE US THE BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS ABOUT DISCOVERY IS SHOWING AND HELPING PEOPLE GO INTO OUR BRAND NEW WORLD ABOUT COLLABORATION AND HAVING THE SKILLS TO COLLABORATE AND BE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND EVEN DEAL WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T WANT TO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
THE SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR MODERN DAY, AS IT'S MAKING STUDENTS MORE READY FOR THE MODERN DAY.
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR MANY REPRESENTATIONS IS WE HAVE OPEN CLASSROOMS AND MULTIPLE THINGS THAT OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T OFFER.
IT WILL PROMOTE OUR PEOPLE TO COME TO CAMAS DUE TO
[00:55:01]
OUR GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME BETTER FOR THE UPCOMING FUTURE AND COLLABORATION AND OTHER PLACES.>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY AND LISTEN WHILE WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OR ARE WELCOME TO LEAVE AT ANYTIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[8. CONSENT AGENDA]
YOU SAW THE ITEMS ADDED.UNLESS THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> IT WAS MOVED BY TRACEY, SECONDED BY ERICA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[9. REPORTS]
WE HAVE OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT FROM DR. ANZALONE.>> THANK YOU, COREY. FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE CAMAS COMMUNITY.
SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM EACH OF OUR STAFF OR PARENTS, OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS.
IT WOULD BE STRANGE FOR US NOT TO HAVE THIS PASSION.
I LOVE THIS ATTENTION AND THIS CAMARADERIE AMONGST OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AS YOU KNOW, AND NOT BEING TAKEN LIGHTLY AT ALL.
OUTSTANDING JOB TO OUR STUDENTS.
YES. [APPLAUSE] THERE'S NEVER A RIGHT DECISION IN ANY OF THIS.
A LOT OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS GO INTO THESE DECISIONS.
WE WILL TAKE EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT.
I THINK TONIGHT'S COMMENTS ARE AGAIN GOING TO BE TAKEN TO HEART.
WITH THAT SAID, JUST GO INTO THE REPORT COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WANTED TO AS ALWAYS KEEP THE BOARD UPDATED AS TO, OUR ENROLLMENT FIRST OF ALL.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ENROLLMENT DURING THIS PROCESS.
THOUGH MOST OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE HIT SOME, I WOULD SAY INSTABILITY AND NOW IS STABILIZING ENROLLMENT WISE.
WE'RE SEEING THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO TRICKLE UP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN FTE IS 6,981 WITH A PLUS SEVEN FOR THIS MONTH, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.
SECONDARY STUDENTS, THERE ARE 3,993 AND ELEMENTARY 2,988.
AGAIN, ENROLLMENT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU CAN SEE OUR HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY BREAK DOWN.
OUR LARGEST INCREASE OVER THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN TO CCA, WHICH IS AT ONE-TWELFTH, THAT'S A PLUS FIVE IN STUDENTS.
THAT GOES ACROSS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY AS WELL.
SO AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO SOME BUDGET DECISIONS, WE ARE TARGETING A $6,000,000 BUDGET REDUCTION.
THIS NUMBER WILL HELP US STABILIZE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
WE KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR THIS WILL BE PROBABLY OUR MOST DIFFICULT YEAR OF THE NEXT FEW.
BUT IN HOPES THAT BY MAKING SOME REDUCTIONS WILL BE IN A BETTER PLACE IN THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY IN PERPETUITY.
OUR STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND OUR THOUGHT EXCHANGE WERE COMPLETED ON MARCH 20TH.
IN JUST A MOMENT I'LL SHARE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT SOME OF THE THEMES THAT CAME FROM OUR THOUGHT EXCHANGE.
WE HAD OUR MOST RECENT PRINCIPAL COUNCIL WHERE MYSELF AND SOME STAFF MEMBERS MEET WITH OUR PRINCIPALS AND HAVE SOME REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATIONS, SOME GREAT INPUT, GREAT FEEDBACK, AND THAT THE LAST ONE HAPPENED ON MARCH 21ST.
TONIGHT, AS YOU KNOW, WE WILL PRESENT THE ROOF RESOLUTION OR OUR MODIFIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO THE BOARD AND IF APPROVED, WE WILL BEGIN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH REDUCED STAFF AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.
THIS IS REALLY WHERE SOME OF THOSE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS CONVERSATIONS BEGIN TONIGHT, HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF EARS AND A LOT OF EYES ON WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.
AGAIN, THERE WON'T BE A LOT OF SLEEP HAPPENING, AT LEAST BY ME TONIGHT.
AS WE GET INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS TOMORROW.
[01:00:01]
ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WILL HAPPEN BEGINNING ON 28 TOMORROW AND HOPEFULLY CONCLUDE BY FRIDAY.WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
THESE ARE VERY INTRICATE CONVERSATIONS, VERY HEARTFELT CONVERSATIONS THAT COULD TRICKLE PAST SPRING BREAK.
BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT DEPENDING ON HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS PEOPLE BEING IN TOWN, PEOPLE BEING PRESENT ON THEIR CAMPUSES, AND THEIR OFFICES.
THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE'LL BEGIN ON APRIL 10TH.
ONCE THE DUST SETTLES, WE COME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK, WE'LL BEGIN TO SOLIDIFY, CREATE, AND DEVELOP OUR BUDGET.
WITH THOSE REDUCTIONS IN MIND.
WILL THEN COME TO THE BOARD FOR IN MAY AND/OR JUNE BUDGET WORKSHOP TO START DISCUSSING THAT WITH A POTENTIAL BUDGET ADOPTION IN AUGUST.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS FROM THE BOARD ON THAT NEXT FEW DAYS AND WEEKS? I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR THOUGHT EXCHANGE RESULTS.
WE DO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE TOP THOUGHTS THAT CAME OUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
TEACHERS AND ANYONE WHO IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY FOR OUR SPENDING AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE THE CASE.
SOME OF THE DISCUSSION, SOME OF THE THOUGHTS AROUND THE MERGING, THE UNIFICATION, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP AND WHICH IS WHY A LOT OF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT, THOSE STRICTLY COME UP IN ORDER TO PROTECT AS MANY POSITIONS AS POSSIBLE AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT'S NEVER ABOUT CLOSING OR RUINING OR SOME OF THESE OTHER TERMS THAT CAME OUT, THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP OUR AMAZING STAFF IN PLACE AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT EASY.
BUT THESE ARE STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE USED.
STAFF WORKING DIRECTLY WITH KIDS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED WHEN LOOKING AT STAFFING CUTS.
ABSOLUTELY, AND GOOD CLASSROOM SIZE.
WE HEARD TONIGHT, I THINK THERE WAS A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT MENTIONED HOW VALUABLE OUR SMALLER CLASS SIZES ARE, SO THAT'LL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
STAFF COMMITMENT TO STUDENT WELL-BEING, OF COURSE.
NOT JUST THE ACADEMIC PIECE OF ALL OF THIS, BUT OUR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, OUR EQUITY, AND SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES OF EDUCATING A CHILD, YOUNG ADULTS COME INTO PLAY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY WITH CLASS SIZES, OUR COMMUNITY SPOKE VERY OPENLY ABOUT MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS OF SMALL CLASS SIZES ARE ENOUGH HELP IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES.
OUR SMALL CLASS SIZES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, YOU TALKED ABOUT OUR DIFFERENT HIGH-SCHOOL OPTIONS AND HOW CRITICAL THOSE ARE TO KEEP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE, EVEN IF THEY END UP LOOKING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND CLASS SIZES MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS AGAIN, WE'RE HEARING THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
MENTAL HEALTH. OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS MENTIONED TONIGHT.
IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND THAT WILL NOT BE SACRIFICED.
POST-PANDEMIC TRANSITION AND SOCIAL MEDIA GREATLY AFFECT OUR STUDENT'S MENTAL HEALTH, AND COUNSELORS CANNOT BE REDUCED AND WE ARE HEARING THAT LOUD AND CLEAR.
OUR PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND SERVE STUDENT NEEDS SUCH AS READING SPECIALISTS, PEREZ, SEL SUPPORTS, COUNSELORS, HEALTH SERVICES, ALL ARE HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH OUR STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT TRANSITIONAL PHASE.
THESE SYSTEMS MUST BE SUPPORTED WITH SMALLER STUDENT-TO-STAFF RATIOS TO HELP READY OUR STUDENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC AROUND THE BUDGET REDUCTION CONVERSATION.
OBVIOUSLY, MIDDLE SCHOOL IS SUCH A TRANSITIONAL TIME FOR STUDENTS, A VERY DELICATE TIME FOR KIDS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY POSITIVE OR SAVE POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH PARTS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
KEEP TEAMS OF CONCERNED TEACHERS TOGETHER TO PLAN TOGETHER, HELP THEIR STUDENTS, AND NOT GO TO A JUNIOR HIGH MODEL.
THIS WILL INCLUDE COMMON PLANNING TIME AND SMALLER TEAMS THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY AT THIS CRITICAL STAGE OF LIFE.
CONTINUE HAVING TEACHING TEAMS, STUDENT COHORTS, AND BLOCK CLASSES IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND RETAIN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MODEL TO HELP PREVENT THE PEAK IN BULLYING, SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND OTHER RISKS THAT DRASTICALLY PEAK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. PBL, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY BEING REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.
MOVING OMS INTO THE DISCOVERY EDUCATION BUILDING CAME UP AS A FREQUENT THEME.
PBL COULD BE A 6TH-12TH GRADE PROGRAM AND WOULD ALLOW FOR THE SALE AND RENTAL OF A SHARP BUILDING AND INCREASE THE CLASS SIZES AT PBL.
NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S BEING HIGHLY CONSIDERED, BUT IT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
CAMAS HAS FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS TO ASSUME THAT ALL OF THEM WILL THRIVE IN ONE HIGH SCHOOL FOLLOWING ONE TEACHING MODEL.
COMBINING PBL SCHOOLS, WE MUST FILL DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL WITH ENROLLED STUDENTS,
[01:05:05]
COMBINE ODYSSEY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH DISCOVERY AND ELIMINATE ONE ADMINISTRATOR AND COMBINE ODYSSEY, DISCOVERY, AND CCA PUT THEM ALL INTO ONE BUILDING, MAKES THE MOST SENSE WITH THE LEAST IMPACT ON STUDENTS, SO OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS WHAT MAKES THESE DECISIONS VERY HARD.FOR EVERY TIME WE HEAR ONE SIDE, WE HEAR THE OTHER, WHICH IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, WHICH IS VERY APPRECIATED.
THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT SIDES TO THE CLASS SIZE DISCUSSION AND THE COMMONALITIES IN THE MIDDLE SPOKE TO QUALITY EDUCATION THAT TEACHING OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
WE NEED TO PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THAT WAS VERY HIGHLY RATED THOUGHT IN THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE AND IN TOUGH TIMES INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND [INAUDIBLE] ARE NICE TO HAVE RATHER THAN A NEED TO HAVE.
THIS PREVENTS CUTS AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL.
EQUITY. EQUITY WAS A STRONG THEME IN OUR THOUGHT EXCHANGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE TWO SIDES, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
I VALUE THE DIVERSE COLLECTIONS OFFERED FROM OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND APPRECIATE THE LIBRARY PROGRAMMING.
SIDE B WAS TO ELIMINATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TO DO AWAY WITH EQUITY IN SCHOOLS AND FOCUS ON EQUALITY.
WHAT WAS THE COMMONALITY WAS THAT STAFF WORKING DIRECTLY WITH KIDS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED WHEN LOOKING AT STAFFING CUTS.
ALL STAFF CLASSIFIED AND CERTIFICATED ARE CARING AND EXTREMELY INVESTED.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THEM.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE IN THESE THOUGHTS.
STAFF CUTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
ONE SIDE OF THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE FOCUSED ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND CLASS SIZES THAT KEEP COMING UP, AS WELL AS PRIORITIZING TEACHERS AND MAINTAINING CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS BY FREEZING PAY RAISES FOR ONE YEAR FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE STATED THAT A ROOT CAUSE APPEARS TO BE DECLINING ENROLLMENT.
YOU CAN ONLY CUT SO MUCH COST.
WHAT IS A CITY DOING TO ADD MORE SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING INTO THAT POINT, WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CITY.
WE UNDERSTAND THE COST OF HOUSING AND CAMAS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US AS YOUNG FAMILIES ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF OUR CITY.
MORE SPENDING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN LESS.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES PROVIDE AN ENHANCED LEARNING EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND CAN BENEFIT SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH HEAVILY.
WITH THAT SAID, ANY THOUGHTS, COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE?
>> NO, JUST THAT I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT RECAP THAT THOSE THOUGHT EXCHANGES ARE AN IMPORTANT WAY THAT WE CAN GET THE PULSE OF OUR COMMUNITY A LITTLE MORE SO.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE HAD DECENT TURNOUT FOR IT.
I HOPE THAT WHEN FOLKS SEE THOUGHT EXCHANGES COME ACROSS, THEY CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THOSE BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY A WAY THAT WE CAN GET SOME AUTHENTIC FEEDBACK THERE.
>> THANK YOU, COREY. A BIG CONCERN OF OURS WAS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THOUGHTS WERE NOT ONLY LOOKED AT BUT HIGHLY CONSIDERED AND SO I DO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOUGHT EXCHANGES ARE NOT AN OPTICS, IT'S NOT JUST A RHETORIC, IT'S VERY HIGHLY CONSIDERED.
WONDERFUL CONSIDERATIONS ON THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, I'LL MOVE FORWARD AND DO SOME CELEBRATIONS.
I WAS ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH OUR INCREDIBLE PARA EDUCATORS LAST WEEK.
SPECIFICALLY A CAMAS HIGH SCHOOL AND AMY WORDS CLASS.
OBVIOUSLY VERY CHALLENGING TIME FOR OUR STAFF AND LOSING ONE OF OUR TEACHERS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS GROUP OF PARAS, HAS COME THROUGH FOR OUR KIDS.
THEY DO AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE WITH THEM AND WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING, NOT JUST IN LOSING A COLLEAGUE, BUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO WITH KIDS EVERY DAY.
ALSO WANT TO SEND A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH SCOTT THOMPSON.
AS YOU KNOW, AN INCREDIBLE SEASON WITH THE GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM, AND SCOTT WAS CHOSEN AS COACH OF THE YEAR FOR OUR REGION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTT. FOR OUR STATE, I'M SORRY. YES, THANKS, COREY.
AGAIN, I KNOW COREY ALLUDED TO THIS A LITTLE EARLIER, BUT THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN OUR STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE LED BY MANY OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, KATIE [INAUDIBLE] , SEAN ROUSE, OTHERS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS, COREY.
TO SEE STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AND NOT JUST CREATE, BUT ALSO LEAD AND CULTIVATE THAT LEARNING DURING A COURSE OF A SCHOOL DAY WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO WATCH AND A TIP OF MY HAT TO OUR STUDENTS.
[01:10:04]
THIS WAS THE FLYER THAT THEY PLACED OUT AND AROUND CAMAS.AGAIN, THEY LEAD BREAKOUT ROOMS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED FORMER MAYOR NAN HENDRIX INTO TO SPEAK.
JUST AGAIN OUR AMAZING KIDS, EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I'M OUT AND ABOUT AND ABLE TO BE AROUND THESE KIDS IS JUST ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN CAMAS.
BLESS YOU. WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR THIRD GRADERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT RECEIVED A DICTIONARY.
HOW MANY OF YOU WERE HERE IN THIRD GRADE AND RECEIVED A DICTIONARY? ANYBODY? AWESOME. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR DICTIONARY? MIGHT BE HALF OF A BOOK NOW.
THESE STUDENTS WERE UNBELIEVABLY JUST IMPRESSED BY WHAT WAS IN THE BOOK.
MANY OF THEM HAVE NEVER REALLY HAD A HARD COPY OF A DICTIONARY BEFORE.
THEY'VE HAD DICTIONARY.COM PRETTY MUCH SINCE BIRTH.
THANK YOU TO OUR ROTARY AND THAT GIFT, AND I HAVE SOME THIRD GRADERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE THAT COME OVER TO VISIT MY KIDS AND THEY HAVE THEIR DICTIONARY WITH THEM, SO PRETTY COOL [LAUGHTER].
THESE ARE STUDENTS FROM HAYES.
THEY WERE WORKING ON ROBOTS AND JUST SO PROUD OF THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IN THEIR CLASSES.
IT HAD, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE COUNT WAS, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT WAS SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS THAT HEADED UP TO UPSTATE TO PARTICIPATE IN DECA AND I'M NOT SURE, I'VE QUITE BEEN THAT IMPRESSED IN A LONG TIME.
THAT THE PASSION, THE ENTHUSIASM THAT THE KIDS HAD AND I BELIEVE THEY WON OVER 33 AWARDS AND I MAY HAVE MISSED COUNT AT SOME POINT.
THEN AGAIN, A PICTURE OF BOTH OUR BOYS AND OUR GIRL'S BASKETBALL TEAMS WHO REPRESENTED US IN STATE.
SIXTH PLACE AND SECOND PLACE, RESPECTIVELY.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A SOMBER FEELING RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT TOGETHER WE'RE GOING GET THROUGH THIS.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MANY BRIGHT DAYS AHEAD OF US.
WITH THAT SAID COREY, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU.
>> THANKS, JOHN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR JOHN? THAT MOVES US DOWN TO 9B, OUR MONTHLY BUDGET REPORT, AND JASEN MCEATHRON.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO GIVE A BUDGET STATUS REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY BUT BEFORE I JUMP INTO THAT I WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF UPDATES FROM BUSINESS SERVICES.
WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR ANNUAL STATE AUDIT, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT AS A CLEAN AUDIT SO THEY LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR FEDERAL GRANTS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PROGRAMS AROUND THE DISTRICT SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S WORK AROUND THE DISTRICT MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS RIGHT.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. WELL, JUST RECENTLY AFTER ACTUALLY THIS PRESENTATION HIT THE SENATE RELEASE THEIR BUDGET AND THEN I THINK THE HOUSE WAS TO RELEASE THOSE TODAY, BUT I'M NOT SURE I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE NOT DONE THAT YET.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND REGIONALIZATION AND EXPERIENCE FACTOR SO SOME CONCERNING NEWS THERE AROUND REGIONALIZATION, POTENTIALLY WE WOULD LOSE THREE PERCENT.
NOW IF TALLY THAT WITH WHAT WE LOST ALREADY, THAT'S A LOSS OF SIX PERCENT IN FOUR YEARS SO THAT'S A PRETTY HEAVY HIT.
IT IS SLIGHTLY OFFSET, I'D SAY WITHIN ONE YEAR IF YOU LOOKED AT IT JUST IN A ONE-YEAR WINDOW, BY THE INCREASE IN EXPERIENCE FACTOR OF FOUR PERCENT BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT'S ONLY ONE SEGMENT OF THE FUNDING FORMULA WHEREAS THE REGIONALIZATION LOSS WAS ACROSS THE ENTIRE FUNDING FORMULA SO IT'S MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S SOME ENERGY TO I THINK, PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHAT THESE IMPACTS MIGHT MEAN.
WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STATE, SOME FOLKS INCREASE AND SOME DECREASE AND MANY STAY THE SAME.
IN THE CLARK COUNTY REGION, FOR THE MOST PART,
[01:15:02]
EVERYONE'S REGIONALIZATION WOULD STAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME EXCEPT FOR OURS WOULD DECLINE.I THINK MAYBE GREEN MOUNTAIN MIGHT GO UP IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE SMALLEST DISTRICT I WANT TO SAY IN CLARK COUNTY.
HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE FACTOR, THAT WE WOULD GET AN ADDITIONAL FOUR PERCENT, THERE ARE TWO OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WOULD RECEIVE THAT, THAT WOULD BE EVERGREEN AND BATTLEGROUND.
AGAIN, THIS IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS RIGHT NOW THE SESSION IS SCHEDULED TO END APRIL 23RD AND SO WE'VE GOT A FEW WEEKS AHEAD OF US HERE THAT WILL BE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHERE THIS GOES.
RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING FAIRLY IMPACTFUL TO CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT TOUGH BECAUSE YOU THINK OF THE LEA THAT WE LOST THE LEVEE EQUALIZATION DOLLARS OF $2 MILLION THAT WE USED TO RECEIVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT'S NOW DOWN TO ZERO, SO TOUGH IMPACTS.
BUT WORTHY OF PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING UP NORTH.
THERE STILL REMAINS SOME GOOD ENERGY AROUND THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE DEDICATING TOWARDS SPECIAL ED DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO FILLING THE GAP.
[NOISE] AS A REMINDER, OVER A BIENNIAL BUDGET SHORTFALL IS ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF THEY WERE TO FILL THE GAP, THEY WOULD NEED A HALF A BILLION, 500 MILLION TO FILL THAT GAP IN JUST ONE YEAR.
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST VERY SMALL NUMBERS IN RELATION TO THE ONE BILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG.
WHEN YOU TAKE THAT, OUR PORTION OF SPECIAL ED IS OUT OF ALL THE 295 DISTRICTS IN THE STATE TENDS TO BE FAIRLY SMALL.
WE'LL BE THANKFUL IF WE RECEIVE SOME HELP IN SPECIAL ED THAT MENTIONED BEFORE $0.25-0.30 OF EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE TO FUND LOCALLY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
ANY HELP AS MUCH IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I WISH I HAD A LITTLE BIT BETTER NEWS.
YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY BECAUSE I'M FEELING INCREDIBLY DEFLATED RIGHT NOW.
>> I AM TOO. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY TALK ABOUT.
PROBABLY DO THIS OFFLINE, WHAT OUR NEXT MOVES ARE WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE, I KNOW PAUL HARRIS WE MET WITH THEM LAST SATURDAY, SAID, CALL ME NEXT WEEK WHEN THE BUDGETS COME OUT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
I DON'T FEEL VERY TAKEN CARE OF AND SO WE NEED TO GET BACK ON THE PHONE WITH HIM.
ALSO, THE SPECIAL ED DOLLARS, HOW ARE THOSE ALLOCATED? IT WOULD LITERALLY BE BASED ON OUR PERCENTAGE OF SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.
UNFORTUNATE THAT OR DO WE KNOW HOW-
>> EVERY DOLLAR AMOUNTS WILL BE ALLOCATED?
>> IF I RECALL, IN THE SENTENCE BUDGET, THEY CHANGED ABOUT THREE, MAYBE FOUR DIFFERENT FACTORS IN THE FORMULA.
>> AS WITH EVERY [OVERLAPPING] BARS, THERE'S RISK FACTORS.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO FIND OUT WHY THEY MAKE THESE CHANGES, WHY THEY DECIDED CAMAS DOESN'T NEED THAT MONEY ANYMORE, THE REGIONALIZATION?
>> IT LOOKS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REBASE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE BASICALLY TRYING TO MAKE US ON PAR WITH EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY.
IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WHEN MCCLEARY FIRST WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2018, WE WERE THE ONLY ONE AT 12 PERCENT REGIONALIZATION.
WHAT THIS DOES IS PULL US DOWN TO SIX PERCENT WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN THE COUNTY.
BUT WE DO GET A FOUR PERCENT INCREASE FOR OUR EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATED STAFF ONLY.
>> I THOUGHT EVERGREEN WAS STILL SEEING HIGHER THAN CANVAS IN THEIR REGIONALIZATION.
>> THAT'S THE THING, IS THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS AT SIX PERCENT BUT NOW WITH THE REFORMULATED EXPERIENCE FACTOR, THEY'RE GETTING A FOUR PERCENT INCREASE, SO THEY ARE GOING TO COME OUT NET POSITIVE ON THIS.
IT LOOKS LIKE AT BEST AT A WASH, WHAT WE HAD THIS YEAR AND AT WORST, MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
THAT'S AFTER A REGIONALIZATION TICKING DOWN ONE PERCENT A YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN BE TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT WE GET INTO OUR DISTRICT THE LEGISLATORS ARE DECIDING THESE TYPES OF FACTORS.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO DIG INTO THIS, CALL OUR LEGISLATORS AND SAY,
[01:20:03]
TELL THEM THE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE FUNDING IMPACTS THE CHANGES OR POTENTIAL CHANGES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND YOUR EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY AS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.THEY'VE GOT TO HEAR THESE STORIES WE'RE TELLING THEM BUT THE MORE THE MERRIER, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT'S DRIVING THESE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO BE MAKING.
>> THAT 80 PERCENT OF OUR FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE IS STATE FUNDING.
THIS IS THE BALL GAME HERE, FOLKS. YEAH.
>> I DO HAVE TO SAY AT THE TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY, IT WAS JUST IMPRESSIVE THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS THAT WERE THERE AND STAFF THAT WAS THERE FROM WOODBURN.
WE SHOW UP AND THEY'RE PASSING OUT STICKERS THAT SAY FULLY FUND OUR EDUCATION THEY'RE GIVEN STICKERS TO EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT WAS PUT A BIG IMPRESSION ON THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE THERE THAT DAY.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.
>> ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THAT EDUCATION IS NOT NECESSARILY A PRIORITY FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.
>> IT WAS GREAT, WE THANK THEM FOR THAT.
>> GOING ON TO FEBRUARY, IN GENERAL, IT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH AS WE HAVE FORECASTS SO FAR, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE ON TRACK IN OUR GENERAL FUND.
OUR ANNUAL DEFICIT IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE WERE LAST LAST MONTH.
THE OTHER FUND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE, AND WE'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO SEE I WAS, WE'D BEEN WAITING FOR THESE BUSES SINCE AUGUST OF 2021 I WAS, OH, WE GOT ONE THAT'S GREAT.
THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WE HAVE FOUR MORE ON ORDER THAT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED AND IT'S COMING UP ON TWO YEARS.
WE'RE SEEING THOSE IMPACTS CERTAINLY OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WITH OUR BUSES.
THE OTHER ISSUE WITH THAT IS WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ORDER AHEAD BUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THIS LAST ORDER FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE RECENT QUOTES ARE WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY PAY $140,000 FOR IS NOW OVER 200,000.
I JUST HAD TO HIT PAUSE WE DIDN'T JUST SUSPENDED ANY NEW ORDERS HOPING THAT SOME COSTS COME LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN AND IF THEY DON'T, I'M WAS JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD RESPOND TO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR INCREASE IN OUR CAPITAL COSTS FOR NEW BUSES.
THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN MUCH MOVEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE ORDER A NEW ROUND OF BUSES, THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE PATH BECAUSE QUICKLY WE WOULD RUN OUT OF MONEY IF WE HAD TO BUY $200,000 BUSES EVERY YEAR.
BUT I'M HOPING TO INCORPORATE THAT IN THIS 23/24 BUDGET PROCESS.
THAT'S GOOD. WE'RE HAPPY TO RECEIVE THAT.
>> JASON. I THINK ONE OTHER THING, JUST TO POINT OUT THAT IN TERMS OF ALL THE BUDGET CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING NOW, A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GENERAL FUND.
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE FUND IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ACCOUNT THAT WE CAN'T BE MIXING MONEY WITHIN OUR BONDS CAPITAL.
WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT BUDGET REDUCTIONS AS GENERAL FUND AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS FIVE MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, AS WELL AS THE LOSS OF ONETIME FUNDING.
THE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE FUND IS ALSO IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S A SEPARATE FUND THAT WE USE TO REPLACE OUR BUSES WITH.
THE REMAINING FUNDS ON THE BOTTOM DEBT SERVICE, OBVIOUSLY AS THE PAYER BONDS OFF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT'S WHERE ARE OUR TECH LEVY AND CAPITAL LEVY ACTIVITY GOES THROUGH AND THEN ASB THAT'S THE KIDS MONEY.
FOLLOWING THIS ARE JUST A BREAKOUT OF THE DIFFERENT COMPOSITION OF OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
I'M NOT SEEING THE LABELS DIDN'T POP OVER ON THIS. I APOLOGIZE.
FOR SOME REASON THE LABELS DIDN'T COME OVER, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, AT LEAST ON THE FOLLOWING TABLES, IT BREAKS OUT LOCAL TAX VERSUS LOCAL NON-TAX.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE OUR LOCAL RECEIPTS.
AS COREY MENTIONED, THE VAST MAJORITY BEING STATE, GENERAL PURPOSE AND STATE SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDING AND THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT, USUALLY AROUND 3-4 PERCENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET VERSUS PROJECTED FOR FEBRUARY,
[01:25:01]
ALL OF THESE ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO ALIGNMENT, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THAT.OF COURSE, WE SHOULD EXCEEDED OUR PROJECTIONS A LITTLE BIT.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, AGAIN, PRETTY CLOSE.
THERE ARE WITHIN A HALF PERCENT OVERALL.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE HOW THINGS TREND THE REST OF THE YEAR.
I THINK ABOUT WE'RE A LITTLE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH OUR FISCAL YEAR, SO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WAYS TO GO.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
THAT MOVES US DOWN TO OUR LAST THREE ITEMS OF BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT.
[10. QUALITY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES]
THE FIRST UNDER QUALITY FACILITIES AND RESOURCES IS BOARD RESOLUTION 22-04 OUR MODIFIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.I AM GOING TO JUST FOR THE RECORD, GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE THIS IS THE REDUCTION IN FORCE RESOLUTION THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR WITH WHAT WE'RE APPROVING HERE IS REALLY JUST A DOLLAR FIGURE.
IT'S NOT ANY SPECIFIC PROGRAM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BOARD RESOLUTION 22-04, WHEREAS THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 117, FACES FINANCIAL ISSUES DUE TO INFLATION, INCREASED STAFFING COST REDUCTIONS AND ENROLLMENT AND THE STATE FUNDING MODEL.
WHEREAS ALL GENERAL FUND CASH RESERVES AND CONTINGENCY FUNDS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR USE BY THE BOARD.
WHEREAS THE DISTRICT FORM, THE SUPERINTENDENT BUDGET COMMITTEE SOUGHT INPUT AND CONFERRED BOTH COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY WITH CAMAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, CAMAS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL OFFICE PROFESSIONALS, BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS, UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
WHEREAS THE DISTRICT WILL IDENTIFY ALL PERSONS WITHIN THE C-E-A-P-S-E, CEAPSE BUILDING ADMINISTRATION AND UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES WHO WILLINGLY WILL AGREE TO A REDUCTION IN FORCE THROUGH RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES OF ABSENCES, OR RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS UNLESS CORRECTED, BUDGET AND CASH-FLOW ANALYSIS BY THE DISTRICT ANTICIPATES A BUDGET DEFICIT OF APPROXIMATELY $7.4 MILLION FOR THE 2023, '24 SCHOOL YEAR, WHEREAS THE DISTRICT HAS DETERMINED THAT UNRESERVED, UNASSIGNED CASH RESERVE OF APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION SHOULD BE BUDGETED FOR THE 23, 24 SCHOOL YEAR.
WHEREAS THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A MODIFIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 117 AS FOLLOWS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DIRECTED TO IMPLEMENT A MODIFIED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DIRECTED TO PREPARE A 2023, 2024 OPERATING BUDGET THAT REDUCES EXPENDITURES NEARLY TO THE LEVEL OF REASONABLY ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND REASONABLY AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE SUBJECT TO UNRESERVED, UNASSIGNED CASH RESERVE LIMITATIONS NOTED ABOVE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS DIRECTED TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS MAYBE REQUIRED BY LAW TO NOTIFY CERTIFICATED, CLASSIFIED, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES WILL BE AFFECTED BY REDUCTIONS IN POSITIONS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE SUCH OTHER PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AS ARE NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I DO JUST WANT TO SAY JUST IN TALKING WITH DR.
[INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE BEFORE THE MEETING THAT THOSE WORDS APPROXIMATELY IN THE RESOLUTION WERE ADDED IN THERE SO THAT AS WE KEEP MONITORING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND WHATNOT.
THAT DOES GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO GO BACK AND BE ABLE TO TWEAK THINGS IN THERE.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
>> I DO THIS WITH A HEAVY HEART, BUT I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE BOARD RESOLUTION 22-04 AS READ.
>> IT WAS MOVED BY CONNIE, SECONDED BY ERICA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
[01:30:04]
ITEM B ON OUR AGENDA IS BOARD RESOLUTION 22-05.APPROVAL OF PARTICIPATING IN VAPING LITIGATION.
AGAIN, LIKE I DID WITH THE PREVIOUS ONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THIS ONE IN ITS ENTIRETY AS WELL.
WHEREAS NICOTINE ADDICTION, MISUSE AND MISINFORMATION IS A GROWING ISSUE AMONG STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION.
WHEREAS THE RISE IN NICOTINE RELATED ISSUES IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE OVERT MARKETING OF AND READY ACCESS TO VAPING PRODUCTS AMONG OUR STUDENTS.
WHEREAS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS HAD TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF ADDRESSING STUDENTS USE OF VAPING PRODUCTS.
WHEREAS JEWEL LABS INCORPORATED IS THE LARGEST VAPING COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE LEADER IN MARKETING SUCH PRODUCTS TO OUR STUDENTS.
WHEREAS THERE IS CURRENT LITIGATION TAKING PLACE TO SEEKING TO HOLD JEWEL LABS INCORPORATE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE, THE MASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
WHEREAS THE MASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST JEWEL LABS INCORPORATED SEEKS TO RECOVER DAMAGES ON BEHALF OF SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE VAPING EPIDEMIC.
WHEREAS THE LAW FIRMS STEVENS, CLAY PS, AND FRANTZ LAW GROUP APLC, HAVE ENTERED INTO CO-COUNSEL AGREEMENT TO FACILITATE WASHINGTON SCHOOLS JOINING THE MASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
WHEREAS STEVENS CLAY LAW FIRM HAS OFFERED TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN JOINING THE MASS ACTION LAW SUIT ON A PRO BONO BASIS.
WHEREAS THE FRANTZ LAW GROUP HAS OFFERED TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN JOINING THE MASS ACTION LAWSUIT PURSUANT TO A CONTINGENCY FEE ARRANGEMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR NO FEES, COSTS, OR EXPENSES UNLESS THERE IS A RECOVERY IN THE LAWSUIT, AND WHEREAS A NOMINAL AMOUNT OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL TIME IS ANTICIPATED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
NOW THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE CAMAS SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES AND ENTERS INTO THE REPRESENTATION ARRANGEMENT WITH THESE LAW FIRMS, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO JOIN THE MASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
WE HAD INFORMALLY APPROVE THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
THIS IS OUR FORMAL ACTION TO ENTER INTO THIS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CAMAS SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATION IN THE WASHINGTON STATE VAPING LITIGATION?
>> MOVED BY ERICA, SIGNALED BY TRACEY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
FINAL ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE EVENING IS THE LAPTOP REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
THIS IS A FOUR-YEAR LEASE FOR LAPTOPS THAT'LL REPLACE SOME EXISTING EQUIPMENT THAT HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE AND IT'S FUNDED BY THE TECHNOLOGY LEVY FOR THE VOTER APPROVED TECHNOLOGY READY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE FOUR-YEAR LEASE FOR LAPTOPS THAT WILL REPLACE EXISTING EQUIPMENT, THAT'S REACHING THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
THE TOTAL OF THE LEASE PAYMENT IS $1,411,736.21 AND GLEAN SALES TAX AND THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE WILL COINCIDE WITH THE COLLECTION OF TECHNOLOGY LEVY FUNDS.
>> IT WAS MOVED BY ERICA, SECONDED BY BAMINI.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR REGULAR MEETING.
WE ARE GOING TO REASSESS IN INTO A CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS NEGOTIATIONS.
[12. Closed Meeting - Negotiations - RCW 42.30.110 (d) - Approximately 30 minutes]
WE ANTICIPATE BEING IN THERE ABOUT 30 MINUTES.NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AFTER THE CLOSED MEETING.
I WILL BE BACK AT LET'S JUST SAY 7:05 TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING.
WE ARE STILL IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN I SAID.
AGAIN, WE WILL BE BACK TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:00 AND NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
WE ARE FINISHED WITH OUR CLOSED SESSION A LITTLE EARLY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN OUR MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.