Centinela Union Valley High School District Minutes Regular Board Meeting August 08, 2017, 5:00 PM 14901 S
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Centinela Union Valley High School District Minutes Regular Board Meeting August 08, 2017, 5:00 PM 14901 S. Inglewood Avenue, Lawndale, CA Closed Session at 5:00pm; Open Session follows at approximately 5:45pm Attendance Taken at 5:11 PM: Present: Mrs. Rocio Pizano Ms. Gloria Ramos Mr. Hugo Rojas Ms. Marisela Ruiz Mr. Daniel Urrutia 1. CALL TO ORDER Minutes: Board president Gloria Ramos called the meeting to order at 5:11pm. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Minutes: President Ramos led the flag salute. 3. ROLL CALL Minutes: All board members were present at this meeting. 4. AGENDA Minutes: The agenda for the meeting was approved on a motion by Mr. Urrutia, seconded by Ms. Ruiz; a vote of 5-0. Motion Passed: Passed with a motion by Mr. Daniel Urrutia and a second by Ms. Marisela Ruiz. Yes Mrs. Rocio Pizano Yes Ms. Gloria Ramos Yes Mr. Hugo Rojas Yes Ms. Marisela Ruiz Yes Mr. Daniel Urrutia 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS Rationale: Opportunity for the public to address items listed on the Closed Session agenda. Minutes: The public did not have any comments. President Ramos acknowledged the presence of a community member who she invited to the meeting. August 8, 2017 Board Minutes Page 2 6. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION Rationale: CLOSED SESSION in accordance with Government Code Section 54957 regarding: Minutes: The board recessed to Closed Session at 5:12pm. 6.A. PUPIL PERSONNEL 6.A.1. EXPULSION Hearing - Education Code Section 48918(c) 6.A.1.1. Recommendation for Expulsion, Student #37902 6.A.1.2. Recommendation for Expulsion, Student #40835 6.B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR - Pursuant to Government Code Section 3549.1 6.C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) and 54956.9(e)(1): One (1) Matter 6.D. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) and 54956.9(e)(3): Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC584920 Belco vs. CVUHSD, Swinerton 7. RECONVENE TO PUBLIC SESSION Minutes: The Board reconvened to Open Session at 6:32pm. The board has made a recommendation for expulsion for 40835. Ms. Ramos stated that they have an alternate expulsion and recommended that after the meeting, the terms will be disclosed. The vote was 5-0. Before Adjournment, the Board returned to Closed Session to discuss Student #37902. Ms. Ramos moved from the Board to accept recommendation for student re-admit for Student #37902, seconded by Ms. Pizano. Ms. Ramos reiterated and moved to put the item on the agenda from the floor, seconded by Ms. Pizano, by a vote of 5-0. The Board then went back to closed session at 7:13pm to clear this item. The Board reconvened at 7:15pm. President Ramos reported that the Board unanimously voted to NOT accept Student #37902 and to deny the reinstatement and extend the terms of the expulsion for another semester, in order for the student to fully comply with the rehabilitation plan. The student may then again request to be reinstated in December of 2017. 8. PRESENTATION 8.A. Introduction of Two New Associate Principals: Dr. Alma Castro, Hawthorne High School; Angelica Mejia, Lawndale High School Minutes: Superintendent Dr. Gregory O'Brien introduced the two new associate principals to share a few words so the public can have some idea of who they are and their vision as they are working at the school sites. Dr. Alma Castro shared her background, experience and motivation for teaching and learning and encouraging opportunities for students. She has a supportive family and a former English language learner and one of the children of an immigrant family. She looks forward to bringing to the district her experiences and her connections with families; she is passionate in creating parent opportunities, not only to come and visit the schools and to take leadership positions in the school. She is also eager to begin work with the English Language learner population of which statistically, data shows that it is one of the most vulnerable groups of students who are failing in high numbers. Education Trust West published some data that indicated that only 9% of our English language learners are making it to graduation in meeting the A-G requirements. She looks forward to continuing this work and collaborating with teachers to be able to support teachers in the classroom as instructional leaders and providing opportunities for students who are oftentimes, those opportunities are not given in the homes or their communities. August 8, 2017 Board Minutes Page 3 Angelica Mejia, Lawndale HS associate principal, has worked for many years at Hawthorne HS and, most recently, as intervention specialist, and now chosen as associate principal at Lawndale HS. Ms. Mejia is very excited to transition to her new role at Lawndale HS. She said it would give her an opportunity to grow as a professional. She has been at the same school for 13 years, and now that she is in the new site, she has a fresh start, fresh perspective, bringing some of the things that really worked at Hawthorne. One thing she loved working in the district is the opportunity given to grow as an individual, because the district provides some professional learning opportunities and there's a large support and mentorships that she was really able to grow and embrace this community and learned to love it. She has achieved a great passion for working here, it comes out when she's around students and they know she's there to support them. She is glad to make sure that they have a well-rounded high school experience and when they walk away from CV schools, that there is somebody there they can count on and that we did the best to give them the best education. Mr. Urrutia congratulated the new associate principals, stating that he is an alumnus of Lawndale HS and he is fairly new to the Board, this year being his second year. It is nice to see faces and hearing their background. He is excited to hear an update in a couple of months and see how things are going. Ms. Ruiz welcomed the new associate principals and was excited to have them on the team and wished them a very successful school year. (Ms. Ramos remarked that board member Ruiz is not only a local realtor from Lawndale but also an alumni from Hawthorne HS, and also part of the Rotary.) Ms. Pizano welcomed Dr. Castro and Ms. Mejia, and said that she has been with the Board for ten years, the longest member, and an alumnus from Hawthorne. She loved to hear their background and she's glad that they have that opportunity and that they care about the students and glad that they are now part of the family. Mr. Rojas congratulated Dr. Alma Castro and Angelica Mejia. He said that he can relate with Dr. Castro's vision and appreciates her work and leadership. He looks forward to continuing to see her work and visit her in the future. He said he is a product of Leuzinger HS and has been engaged working for youth and giving back at a number of levels in the past, and presently here. Mr. Rojas has known Ms. Mejia for quite some years beginning with the Criminal Justice Academy, and followed with the Sheriff's Academy and reached out to her and they were able to raise money for the Key Club. He appreciated her leadership and kids admire and respect her, which is the key to what we do. He thanked both of them for the things that they do. Ms. Ramos congratulated and welcomed both of them. She shared her background being in the district for 18 years as classified employee and proud to be a CSEA member and her last position was as a librarian. She commented that her grandfather was also a school board member until his death in 1965; she has a special passion for each one of the schools, her mother, uncle and grandmother were graduates from Leuzinger, and her grandmother was in the first graduating class. Ms. Ramos is a Hawthorne alumni and she was glad that she had to leave the district and that she has to stay in the district in a different capacity. She commented that we're all about family and our diversity is great and wide, and since they are already in the district, they already know all the different cultures, so that would be a wonderful addition, but also the people the district employs have deep backgrounds and specialties. She thanked them for introducing themselves and welcomed them to the Centinela Valley, the CV way! 9. ITEMS FROM CSEA, CHAPTER 47 - JOSE LEMOS, PRESIDENT Minutes: CSEA president Jose Lemos is happy to be back and remarked that he looks forward for the new school year and asked if their department can do anything for the students, the school board, to make the place better. With the negotiations, they will bring up a little issue that they are concerned about, told them to have faith in him and will try to work things out in the department. 10. ITEMS FROM CVSTA/CTA - DR. TEMISHA BRAME, PRESIDENT Minutes: Dr. Temisha Brame was not in attendance at this meeting. 11. COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD Minutes: Board members Daniel Urrutia, board member Marisela Ruiz, and board clerk Rocio Pizano did not make any comments. Board vice president Hugo Rojas welcomed Brina Valenzuela, a community member, to the board meeting.