Item 9.1 was approved unanimously a short time ago. As for the board members …
Sara Cazares: She praised Peyton Elementary’s science night for seventh- and eighth-graders. She said Fremont is making very good progress. I’m very concerned about the budget situation and the fact we’re having to weigh possible reductions in staffing. I’m very, very concerned with the impact on counselors and elementary school teachers and the impact that has on achievement. We really can’t take any more and expect our schools to reduce achievement.” She said counselors are overwhelmed.
Steve Smith: ”It’s never easy but I do believe the staff has done what they need to do.” He asked staff “to bring these people back as quickly as possible.” He said he enjoyed visiting Stagg’s MESA program and attending a performance at Kohl.
Sal Ramirez had no comment.
Kathy Garcia said she met with police Chief Jim West on school safety. She praised recent Department of Justice programs at the comprehensive high schools. She said kids talked about “teacher attitude.” She said she’s not sure what exactly that meant but wants to know. She praised the APANTLI program at Nightingale. She said she visited St. Mary’s Dining Room and heard music and the homeless had started a band “and were absolutely super.” She said the Franklin IB crab feed was crab-a-licious.
Colleen Kennan: no comment.
David Varela: He attended a dinner honoring proficient and advanced Wilson Elementary students. On the layoffs: “We are at a point where it’s getting harder and harder to do the work we need to do in the district. It’s going to take a team effort until the state gets its budget act together.”
Gloria Allen said she is going to increase her visits to schools. She said she has been “very, very busy.” She attended a conference for three days in Sacramento. She said on April 13 she will go to the Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference at UC Davis. She went to the NAACP Youth Summit recently, which she said was a positive event.
