01-08-15 PUBLIC HEARING

# SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING January 8, 2015

CALL TO ORDER OPEN SESSION The special meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President White at 6:02 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School located at 1220 Fourth Street, Simi Valley, 93065

## PRESENT Board Members: Dan White, Scott Blough, Debbie Sandland, and Bill Daniels (Rob Collins-Absent) Staff Members: Dr. Jason Peplinski, Superintendent Ron Todo, Assistant Superintendent Dan Houghton, Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman, Executive Director

## FLAG SALUTE The Flag Salute was led by Board President White.

Trustee White introduced Trustees Sandland, Blough and Daniels. He also introduced Kathy Roth, Director of Elementary, Ron Todo, Assistant Superintendent of Business & Facilities, and Dr. Jason Peplinski, Superintendent. He then turned the meeting over to Mr. Todo.

STAFF ## PRESENTATION Ron Todo greeted the audience and stated that this meeting has been called as part of the process of closing schools. The decision to close Abraham Lincoln Elementary will be brought forward to the Board of Education on January 13, 2015 at the Regular Board Meeting, located at City Hall. The process began in 2013 with the creation of the Consolidation Task Force. The public hearing is held to give the public the opportunity to provide their concerns and ideas regarding school closure and the repurposing of Abraham Lincoln Elementary. He introduced Kathy Roth, Director of Elementary Education.

Mr. Todo reviewed the presentation: • School Closure Decision Timeline • Deciding Which School to Close o Consider ALL factors not just declining enrollment • Factors Leasing to Decision to Recommend Closure of Abraham Lincoln o Declining Enrollment o Operational Costs • Issues that small schools encounter o Less flexibility in creating classes o Fewer staff to fulfill required duties o Smaller parent base for PTA and other parent involvement needs • Proposed repurposing of Abraham Lincoln Elementary o Move Monte Vista Independent Study to site and expand services o Utilize as a Community Resource Complex o Utilize field space for athletic program needs o Professional Development Center • School boundary Changes New Site for Students o North of Royal – Arroyo Elementary o South of Royal - Madera o Currently 80 students are School of Choice (33%)

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- What Next?

Board Decision - January 13,2015

Transition Activities (if closed)

## SUPERINTENDENT'S WELCOME

Dr. Peplinski welcomed everyone this evening and shared that he was a former principal of this school. He stated the Board President will open the Public Hearing and will explain the process of the meeting; Clerk Blough will call those individuals who turned in a blue card and each speaker will have four (4) minutes to speak, Ms. Roth will be timing each speaker. After the public meeting district staff will be available for questions.

## PUBLIC HEARING OPENED

The Public Hearing regarding the closure of Abraham Lincoln Elementary was opened by Trustee White at 6:15 p.m. He stated that this is a very important issue and thanked the audience for coming to participate in this meeting. He stated there will be a four minute limit on each speaker and the meeting is scheduled for 90 minutes.

Trustee Blough reported the following yellow and blue cards were received:

- Twenty (20) blue cards in opposition to closing the school

- Twenty-six (26) yellow cards in opposition to closing the school:

| Mereida Peralta | Cinthia Vigil | Jessica Arreola | | --- | --- | --- | | Evelin Oreintes | Pedro Garcia | Rosa Almanza | | Juana Perez | Melissa Arechiga | Yessenia Arechiga | | Gabriel Luna | Mary Luz Lara | Maria Vasquez | | Pada Magana | Soledad Lerma | Elvia Luna | | Maria Alonzo | Lourdes Gomes | Norma Almanza | | Rosario Zepeda | Laura Nunez | Nancy Velazquez | | Michel Lopez | Ana Gomez | Nancy Velazquez | | Alejandra Flores-Medina | Benjamin Lara Gonzales | | | Padres De Cesar Zepeda | | |

Padres De Cesar Zepeda

Trustee Blough called the speakers to the podium:

- Maria Vasquez, parent. She likes the programs that Lincoln provides; her daughter is provided extra help; teacher is very good. She is really sad that this school may close and is concerned about the students that have to walk to school. She asked what the district is going to do about transportation. Opposed to closing the school.

- Rod Cobos, local business member. He is in full support of the students, parents and school workers that will be affected by the school closure; no one wants to see any school close. He would like to see investment back in to the community, and urges the board to keep all schools open. He also would like to see the implementation of some kind of mechanism to use local hires, employ more veterans, and promote legitimate apprentice programs in this community.

- Todd Huber, neighbor. He thanked the board for listening to the concerns of the school community. He is a long-time resident and is worried that the school will close. He hopes the school does not close; if it is closed, he requested the district maintain the campus and buildings. He also requested to keep security lights on as activity is happening at night. He hopes the board has done all everything they could to keep schools open.

• Pablo Meza, student. He stated he will be going to 7th grade, but wants the school to stay open for new students. He is concerned about the students who will have to walk farther and about the availability of translators. He stated he is sad that the school is closing and asked the board to think about not closing the school.

• Dylan Meza, student. He stated he loves this school, teachers and students; they are like family. He comes to school to learn and loves the school.

• Brittany Smith, parent. In support of keeping Abraham Lincoln open. She has worked at the school as a Spanish aide is disappointed as a parent that the school is being considered for closure. She asked where all the money is; questioned the installation of solar systems; and is concerned about people losing their jobs. The staff really cares about the students and she hopes the school doesn’t close.

• Irma Guzman, parent. She is concerned about the safety and health of 100 plus students that will have to walk to and from school with a backpack and a lunch box. She asked if the district would be providing transportation; estimating there would be a need for about 4 buses. She stated the school provides reading and writing programs, coordinates programs for students’ needs; provides Title I services, technology, computer classes, camera projector, and Accelerated Reader. The school has excellent teachers that bring life to this school. She asked the board to please not close the school.

• Wendy Melgarejo, parent and life-long resident. She is concerned about the safety of students walking across busy streets and would like transportation to be provided. She stated a Title I school is a poor school, but not a bad school and the principal and teachers are wonderful at Lincoln. She is super proud her child attends the school.

• Marbella Corona, parent of four children. Her children are doing so well; when they came to Lincoln they spoke no English. The children are very sad that they will have to go to another school. She is also concerned that she has no transportation, and in case of an emergency it would be very hard to get her children. She asked the board not to close the school.

• Juan Alvila, parent. He stated that everyone knows that it is very hard for families to get transportation; families look to live near schools that are close to the home. If the neighborhood school closes, it affects all of us. This school provides great teachers and programs, making his children happy to attend school. School closure would affect the teachers as well and there is a need for transportation. He asked the board to not close the school.

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| Michael Brown, resident. He stated he has lived in this area for 48 years. He is concerned that the campus and buildings will be maintained. He also stated crossing Sinaloa and Royal are difficult and dangerous; as crossing guards are employed by the City, the district should be proactive from the start and request more crossing guards. He is opposed to the school closure. | | --- | | Michelle Wilson, parent and employee. Her child has been provided the best programs to fit her needs. Abraham Lincoln is their home school; the teachers and staff are a great team. She is concerned about transportation. She is opposed to closing the school and would like the board to look at dual purposing, create an elementary fine arts school, and/or reach out to the community for more ideas. | | Jackie Hardinger, parent. She stated she likes the School of Choice option in Simi Valley. Is concerned if a school closes it may impact student/teacher ratio and affect test scores. She likes smaller campuses and asked what the district will be doing for students during the transition? She stated she loves this school and hopes the board will not close the school. | | Agustin Villasenor, previous student and now a community liaison. He asked the board to please reconsider the rescinding of furlough days; as it appears paychecks are more important than keeping a school open. He stated teachers have representation, but the students have no representation. He asked the board to revisit the SEA contracted furlough days and keep the school open. | | Dr. Mario Rivera, an educator. He stated we serve our communities and we should serve our students. He is concerned that this community is poorer, and a lot of families don't have transportation. He asked the board to seek different options and find a solution for low income families and find a way to keep the school open. | | Isabelle Diaz, student. She is concerned if the board closes her school she will lose her teacher. | | Evelyn Orantes, parent. She has been very happy with Mrs. B and all the other teachers. Her daughter passed the GATE testing and was offered to move her to another school; she chose to keep her daughter at Lincoln. The Lincoln teachers are very easy to communicate with and are like family. Her children walk home and she is concerned about her children and the other children having to walk farther to another school. | | Nancy Vasquez, parent. She stated that everything is about money and we don't invest in education for children. She is a working parent and is concerned how her children will get to and from school. The teachers are amazing and her children are happy to go to school every day. Wants to know why we don't fight for the "little people", those who don't have a car. She is opposed to closing the school. |

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• Marcella Ortega, parent. Her child is very sad that the school is closing. She stated, we are a poor community and love Abraham Lincoln Elementary. She is opposed to closing the school because it is so good for the community and the students. She asked the board to work the budget to keep the school open.

• Brynn Crisp, Office Manager and PTA President. She thanked the board for taking the time to come and listen to the parents and students; we all love this school. She stated she feels the district has turned a blind eye to Abraham Lincoln Elementary over the past few years; the staff have asked for an extended day Kindergarten, to develop a fine arts program/magnate, to offer the TK/JK program without any approvals; Lincoln has never had a voice and the staff has worked so hard. She is excited and hopeful that our new board members and Superintendent, Dr. Jason Peplinski, will listen to staff at the school. She further stated that we are a diverse community and requested the board to unite with the Lincoln staff and parents to dual purpose the school making them successful.

## ADJOURN PUBLIC HEARING

Trustee White adjourned the public hearing at 7:09 p.m.

Trustee White addressed the audience; sharing that the process to determine if a school should be closed depends on many things and affects so many. He thanked everyone for coming and appreciated that the community shared their views, inviting everyone to the next School Board Meeting which will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at City Hall in the City Chambers. This is when the Board will hold their discussion on school closures; there is a range of issues and points that have been thought about and good points brought up this evening. He stated the board and staff will handle the issues as best as we/they can.

## MEETING ADJOURNED

# SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

# NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

## TO: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

The Assistant Superintendent of Business and Facilities gives written notice in accordance with Education Code 17387 that a public hearing will be held at Abraham Lincoln Elementary school site in regards to the recommendation to close and repurpose Abraham Lincoln Elementary by the 7-11 District Advisory Committee (7-11 DAC) and District staff.

DATE: Thursday, January 8, 2015

HOUR: 6:00 – 7:30 P.M.

PLACE: Abraham Lincoln Elementary 1220 Fourth Street Simi Valley, California 93065

Signed: Ron Todo Assistant Superintendent, Business & Facilities

The School District accommodates individuals with disabilities. Forty-eight hour advance notice is required to meet special needs for public meetings. Upon written request, materials in alternative formats will be provided. Please contact Business & Facilities at 805-306-4500, ext. 4012.