Okay, it's five p.m. and I'm calling the meeting to order.
Public comments on closed session topics.
Lynette?
I have two.
Alyssa Shay.
One more.
Okay, great.
Lynette, you're welcome.
Okay, thank you.
I am here on behalf of our CSEA chapter members
to ask you to meet us at the negotiations table
for the 10 articles we have sunshineed in our proposal
for our 26-29 successor agreement.
It has been relayed to us that the board believes
that we are in a re-opener year,
and therefore should be limited to two or three articles.
I am here to show you that, in fact, last year's contract
was only a one-year contract that expires June 30th of 2026.
We understand that there has been confusion over that,
as for some considerable time last year,
our contract was posted with the incorrect term years.
However, it was eventually updated last fall
after requests made by our chapter representation.
If you look at the CSA contract that is currently posted
on the WCSD Human Resources webpage,
will see the correct date of 2025-26. At four-year convenience, we have printed out that contract
showing the correct term date as well as copies of the email correspondence requesting that
the posted contract have the correct terms. I would like to just highlight some key statements
made in this correspondence that would easily clarify our point. September 8, 2025 from
James Eben Labor Relations Rep. Quote, CSEA noticed the following errors in the CBA that
that was posted and is demanding the requesting action to correct the posted CBA.
One, term of the CBA, the agreement signed by the party states the agreement is for 2526.
A, the CBA that was published on the website states that it is the agreement for 2527,
adding an additional year.
The agreement that was signed by the parties is for one year only, 2526.
C signed agreement that is in the provided binder, which I put on the table.
CSEA is demanding that the term of the posted CBA reflect the appropriate term that was
assigned and agreed to at the conclusion of negotiations,
July 1, 2025, to June 3, 2026," end quote.
September 19, 2025, from Superintendent Morgan
to Labor Relations Rep James Evans.
This response to your September 8, 2025 letter,
thank you for informing us that the CBA that was recently
posted on the district website is not
consistent with the current agreement between the parties.
This was entirely inappropriate, end quote.
There is more to this correspondence,
which you can, of course, read on your own time.
while it took several weeks for the correction to be made
it finally was.
However, clearly that delay has led to the confusion
we are currently facing now.
As we have tried to clarify things this evening
so that we can move forward in a timely manner
with the contract negotiations,
that include the articles our chapter members
have unanimously voted on.
One final note, we have always had an excellent relationship
both with the administration and the district office
and our fellow teachers.
However, one of the downfalls of this
is that for years we have agreed to do certain things
in practice that have never made it officially
into our contract.
Some of the articles we would like to open
deal with those practices.
And our goal is to have those become official
in our contract so that they're there
as we move on to new district leadership.
And then James Eben.
Hello, my name is James Eben and I have the privilege
of serving as the Labor Relations Representative
for CSEA and its Walnut Creek Chapter 202.
I'm here to encourage the board
to direct the District Negotiations Team
to meet with CSDA for contract negotiations.
Our team has been ready since we sunshine
our initial proposal at the board meeting on April 13th.
Our team spent days working on the proposal
and was unanimously approved by our chapter
during our April 9th chapter meeting.
The proposal that has been presented
represents not only the negotiations team's will,
but the will of the chapter itself.
As a labor rep, it is my responsibility
to enforce the language of the contract
between our parties and ensure that the rights
of our classified workers are not being violated.
I've regularly worked with Zetta and her role
at San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
While we've not always agreed on everything,
I do believe that she has seen me fight tirelessly
for classified workers there.
At the same time, I believe that she has also seen
that when presented with facts, I'm more than reasonable
and willing to work with the district.
I understand the district's current position
regarding past practices,
But in this particular case, it is not relevant.
Our parties reached an agreement last spring
to enter into a one-year contract, which
expires on June 30 of this year.
This was ratified by our chapter and approved
by the board in June 2025.
If the agreement was for multiple years,
then the past practice regarding the number of articles
would absolutely be relevant.
While the relationship between myself and the district
is oftentimes a tense one, I would
I would encourage you to take a look,
or I would encourage you all to take into consideration
the time and effort that the classified workers
of your own district have already invested in this process.
If you will not listen to me,
I encourage you to then listen to them.
We all knowingly entered the existing agreement.
And since it is expiring in less than 60 days,
I will reiterate that it is our right
to open any number of articles
and would encourage the board to direct the district team
to meet with us to discuss all open articles.
Anything less than that will be interpreted
as a refusal to bargain.
Thank you.
Okay, all right.
We'll recess to closed session at this time, then.
Thank you.
Okay, I'm calling the session to order.
We'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
OK, we'll call.
Is that a writer?
Here.
Amy Moss?
Here.
Heidi Hernandez?
Gatton?
Present.
And Winlay Johnson?
I hear.
5.3 report out from closed session.
We did not have anything to report from closed.
5.4, approval of agenda.
No changes to the agenda.
I move approval of the agenda as presented.
I'll second.
I have a motion and second to approve the agenda as presented.
All those in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
Mention, motion carries.
6.1, WCSD employee recognition, 2025-2026.
26. All right, good evening. So tonight we have the privilege of celebrating some
amazing staff members in our district. Our teachers and classified employees of
the year represent the best that Walnut Creek has to offer to our students. These
are the individuals that go above and beyond to build meaningful connections
with our students and who contribute in countless ways. This portion of the
evening is extremely meaningful because these employees were chosen by staff at
their own site for all the contributions that they've made for their staff. So
tonight we're going to welcome up each one of the principals or representatives
from the school and they're going to honor both a teacher and a classified
employee of the year. So we're going to start with one of vista so I can invite up Angela Grandlich.
This is honestly one of the best nights of the year. I think it's fun
for all of us principals and I know for you as well to celebrate the amazing
staff and amazing work that goes into keeping our district such a great
district and it's my honor tonight to share that Amanda Taylor our science
specialist at Buena Vista's employee of the year. Amanda has made an incredible
impact on our school community through her exceptional work in her science lab
where she creates engaging and fun opportunities for students to
explore complex curriculums. In the two years that she's been doing this work
she has developed a strong program that engages students in high interest topics.
Thanks to her, students are going, students love they love, going to the science lab,
and they are learning so much.
She has a calm, nurturing class management, she is organized and she is flexible and collaborative
colleague.
Teachers describe her as a dedicated professional who goes above and beyond, often creating
supplemental materials to enhance her lessons and making a personal effort to connect with
every student by learning every student's name.
She did that her first year, by the way.
We have over 550 students.
It's no small fee.
You can often find her coming out during recess
to visit with students and bringing some of her favorite
furry friends along for the ride.
Her leadership and dedication was especially evident
this year as she successfully coordinated
the school science fair.
And her collaborative spirit has been invaluable
supporting all students, including those
in our special day programs.
With her calm management style and passion for learning,
this staff member has truly saved BV science
and fostered a positive environment
where students love to learn.
Buena Vista Elementary is proud to share Amanda Taylor as our employee of the year.
I'm also very proud to introduce Jenny Pacific as Buena Vista's Teacher of the Year.
She is known for her holistic and deeply supportive approach to education.
She is celebrated as a mental health guru who works tirelessly to create a calm, welcoming
environment where the emotional well-being of every student is her top priority.
By integrating mindfulness and yoga into her practice,
she provides essential support for students
with diverse needs,
ensuring they feel seen and cared for as individuals.
Beyond her classroom,
she has served on our site wellness and equity committee
and provides strategies for staff wellness as well,
often leading with a mindful moment
at the beginning of every one of our staff meetings.
Jenny's instructional expertise is equally impactful,
particularly in reading and writing
where she thoughtfully designs rigorous,
differentiated lessons that challenge high achievers
providing a critical support for those working towards grade-level standards.
She is able to meet all of her students learning needs right where they are.
Her classroom is often used as an exemplar in best instructional practices
for other educators to come and observe. A dedicated collaborator, she
also serves as a vital resource for her peers, offering a supportive space to
bounce ideas and improve school-wide practices. She takes many leadership
roles she has taken many leadership roles throughout our staff serving in various capacities
besides being on diversity equity inclusion and wellness she's served on school site council
PTA and on our instructional leadership team through this unwavering commitment to both
academic excellence and the whole child is clear why we are honoring jenny pacific as our teacher
of the year this year now i'd like to introduce amanda minnick from indian valley so indian valley
actually had a tie for employee of the year. So we're gonna be honoring two of
those. So I want to recognize both of them this year. The first one goes to
someone who is often the first person to arrive at Indian Valley each morning.
While most of us are just starting our day, she's already there, frequently
beating our 7 a.m. arrivals, ready to serve our community with a positive,
reliable, and resilient spirit. When you look at the words her colleagues use to
describe her, a clear picture of dedicated professional emerges. She is
She is often flying solo and yet never complains.
She is hardworking, dependable, and flexible,
but most importantly, she is compassionate.
As one peer noted, she consistently cares
for every student in our school, ensuring
that everything is organized and clean,
and that the students are served healthy meals
in an environment where they feel welcomed.
She is someone who doesn't just do her job,
she gives 110% to the people around her.
She is kind and helpful, always looking out for others
and offering help and food to those who need it.
Her presence on campus is a gift,
and as one colleague simply put it,
Ivy is lucky to have her.
So please join me in congratulating
one of our Employee of the Year
for her tireless work at Fit for Kindness
and her unwavering dedication to our students,
Chef Veronica.
Yay!
Our next Employee of the Year
actually made it to the county level
and went to represent Walnut Creek School District
at the county, and we were able to celebrate her last week,
which was a really, really neat celebration and honor
to have her celebrated.
So it is an honor to celebrate her again tonight as well,
in front of more of her peers that actually know her.
So while her primary role is centered
around instructional support, her impact
resonates far beyond the classroom,
defined by a versatile brilliance that strengthens
every corner of our district.
And she also has been at several schools
in several positions throughout her tenure here.
So she possesses a rare ability to wear many hats
with equal grace and expertise.
Whether she is stepping in to provide mentorship
to other staff or jumping in wherever she is needed,
her can-do spirit is infectious.
She doesn't just fill gaps, she innovates,
bringing a unique perspective to problem solving
that has streamlined our daily operations
and enhanced the student experience.
Fun fact, while most people want gifts on their birthday,
not Miss Diana, she actually goes around and hands out
little Hershey hugs to everybody.
She is a selfless human who puts others' needs before her own.
Beyond her assigned duties, Miss Diana
has become a mentor to her peers and a steady hand
in times of transition.
She recently returned to school and completed
all of her requirements to become a substitute teacher.
Her passion for education is undoubted.
She is a true Swiss Army knife of excellence
and her dedication to going above and beyond in every capacity
makes her irreplaceable asset to our team.
Second fun fact, you will never see her
without a smile on her face.
Literally, no matter what comes her way,
she handles it with grace and compassion.
WCSD's employee of the year, Ms. Diana Ms. Smith.
Whoo!
For our teacher of the year,
it is a great pleasure to introduce her as...
She is an educator who embodies
the heart and soul of Indian Valley.
When you look at her impact on our campus,
several themes emerge.
Intentionality, relentless dedication,
and a profound, quiet leadership.
As her colleagues have noted,
she is a gentle human who has a passion for her craft.
She doesn't just teach, she connects.
Whether it's through her ease in building relationships
with our families or the way that she meets students
socially, emotionally, and academically,
she ensures that every child feels seen and valued
exactly where they are.
One colleague captured it perfectly,
saying she is a quiet instructional leader
who supports teachers and students alike,
always striving to make instruction
the best fit for every individual.
Her work in literacy has been transformative.
Those who collaborate with her
see that she gives 110% every day,
noting the tangible difference
in the students she supports.
Her groups are not just effective,
they're a place of joy.
One teacher shared that my students love going to see her
because of how fun and helpful her groups are.
She is one of the most hardworking,
kind and dedicated teachers many of us have ever met.
Please join me in celebrating our teacher
truly wants and works for every student to succeed and in Valley's Teacher of
the Year, Miss Lauren Glover. I'd like to hand it over to Miss Mony from Morgan and Marlin.
Nice to outstanding employees at Merwood Elementary. Our first is Roberto
Rodriguez. He's not here tonight, he is at his second job tonight and so he wanted
be to share that he's super overwhelmed and just loves
Merwood so much and he's so proud.
So it's a joy that I get to recognize
someone who nourishes both the bodies and the spirits
of our students every single day.
Our staff of the year, Roberto Rodriguez.
Roberto joined the Merwood family five years ago,
bringing with him an incredible 41 years of experience
in food services.
He told me he started at 15 working in restaurants,
And he just loves it.
And he's like, I wouldn't ask him anything else.
While his resume includes the title of executive chef
at Merwood, he is known as Chef Robert.
To Chef Robert, cooking isn't just a job.
It is a passion.
He treats every meal as an opportunity
to care for a child.
Whether he's fulfilling a special request
or ensuring every tray is served with a smile,
he works with a level of pride and purpose
that is truly infectious.
As many of our families know, there's
one particular day that stands out on the Merwood calendar.
And when you see our students extra energized or running
towards the cafeteria, you know it's a muffin morning.
Chef Robert's famous breakfast muffins
have become a beloved tradition, a small but mighty
symbol of the care he pours into our school.
When we asked Chef Robert what he loves about his role,
he stated, I love working with food
and I love working with the students and staff.
We are working together to create a nurturing environment,
and each day I get to work in a beautiful kitchen.
There isn't one thing I don't like about working at Burwood.
His colleagues describe him as patient and kind
and a deeply valued teammate.
He is the definition of a quiet hero
and someone who works behind the scenes
to make sure our children are ready to learn and feel loved.
Chef Robert, thank you for making
of Merwood, a more delicious place to be.
It's a true honor to stand here tonight and be able to celebrate our Teacher of the Year
who embodies the heart and soul of Merwood Elementary.
Our Teacher of the Year is Kendall Thornton.
Ms. T, as she is affectionately known at school, has been a special day class teacher for five
years.
four of those wonderful years dedicated to the Muirwood family. She works with our
youngest learners from kindergarten through second grade creating a
sanctuary where nurturing isn't just a word it is a daily practice. What makes
Kendall truly extraordinary is her intentionality. She doesn't just teach,
she builds bridges of trust with her students and their families. Her classroom
is a safe harbor where every child regardless of their challenges feels
empowered to meet their goals and confident enough to be exactly who they are.
When we asked Kendall what she loves most about her work, she stated,
My favorite part of teaching is watching students grow into their big, unique personalities.
I love finding ways to celebrate those interests in our classrooms, creating a face where students
feel safe, encouraged, and proud to be themselves, and is a very special part of this job.
Her colleagues describe her as patient, very, very.
She's collaborative, and she is an advocate for her students.
But beyond these titles, she's a source of constant positivity.
Whether she's navigating a difficult moment,
or partnering with parents, Kendall
meets every single situation with professional grace,
deep compassion, and always a smile.
Kendall, thank you for making Marwood
a place where every student feels seen and celebrated.
We're so proud to recognize you as our teacher of the year.
All right, guys.
I'll have a little rest there.
I am proud to introduce my colleague from Park Me.
Am I thirsty?
OK.
Thank you.
Danny, come on up.
Bring the girls if you want.
No?
She's a pretty girl.
No?
All right.
Good evening, Superintendent Morgan, members of the board,
and Wall Street community.
Teaching science is something that many people think
would be easy, fun, and relaxed when we watch shows
like Bill Nye the Science Guy.
For those of you that remember Bill Nye.
Well, while we do incorporate some amazing labs
that fully engage the students,
we also need to follow the next generation
of science standards, which we know can be a little rough.
While exploring phenomena can be fun,
many times it's a lot of reading,
it's understanding patterns,
and a whole bunch of vocabulary.
So who can possibly make photosynthesis
a fun, hands-on experience for seven different grade levels,
all while keeping their sanity.
Not me, but I'm Miss Sandy O'Brien King.
She makes science fun, said one of her students.
It's the best part of my week, said another.
We have never had such a hands-on, caring science
specialist since I have been here,
said one of her colleagues.
She's the brightest part of my part-meet experience,
aside from you, Mr. Burstee, said another.
I did add that last part to the question, but they didn't say anything about me.
Sandy began her tenure at Harkney as a parent.
Coincidentally, I thought she was one of my former students, which was a little awkward for both of us.
One of my students in the car line. She wasn't.
She began volunteering and quickly became a go-getter on campus.
When the science position opened up, I immediately knew that this job was for her and I approached her.
for her, and I approached her.
This seemed, it was right up her alley,
right up her wheelhouse, after she planned the amazing
wonkathon, or the walkathon.
Plus, she's married to a high school science teacher,
so I figured I can't hurt.
As she started the park, me and experienced her science lab
was being moved due to construction, so that was fun.
Between learning the ropes and creating curriculum,
she had to sort through years and years
and years of experiments that were saved and forgot about.
Boxes of rocks and sand.
animals, both dead and alive, and some things that probably
should have been thrown out back in 1975.
But for whatever reason, OK.
You remember those.
That was fun.
And coincidentally, we threw a lot of stuff out and said,
oh, wait, maybe we should have saved that.
She did it with a smile and turned
what was a clutter mess of a science lab
into an image from Pottery Barn Magazine.
True story.
She worked tirelessly to turn out science curriculum
into something that was not only educational but fun for the kids.
She does not use a cookie cutter program.
She does not want to use a cookie-coater program
and do the bare minimum.
Despite teaching 21 different classes,
she makes each experience unique for the students.
Her day doesn't start with how am I going to get through it all,
but how can I make an impact on each student's experience
today?
She truly wants kids to love science.
Her work does not stop in the classroom.
Last year, she helped students during her own time
after school, help them clean and plant the garden.
She started a science test cram session
for the California Science Test.
And despite not signing up for it,
she's been helping out after school with the robotics club.
So to say, I laugh because I know what it takes.
But she does it because she's awesome.
To say she's just a science specialist
is an understatement.
She is a special person who teaches science.
Oh.
Hi.
Hi.
Thank you.
Congratulations, Sandy.
You deserve this award 10 times over.
We're so lucky to have you all.
We got her two daughters and husband are in the crowd tonight, so thank you guys for coming.
Alright, Ms. Brittany, where are you at?
Hey, we're coming up.
Please save your applause so I'm up to the speed.
Alright, and it said that a school leader is only as good as their best teacher.
I made that up.
I don't know if it's actually true, but it sounds good.
A few years ago, Park B has blessed
with an academic coach that would help me change
the culture, the belief around data, intervention,
tier one instruction, professional learning
communities, and make every child feel special.
It can be, if I can sum up how great Brittany is,
I would say she's out of this world amazing.
I probably could use it, like, you know, chat you could be.
But I thought you could use it.
All right, so I love Ms. Perrette because she is nice,
said one student.
She has helped me learn to read, said another.
She has supported me in so many ways,
it is unbelievable what I've learned from her,"
said a veteran teacher.
She's just wonderful, said another teacher,
and Ms. Ferrett understands how to help me learn
and I feel smart.
I often say if I had 21 teachers like Brittany,
we would have the best scores
and the most confident students in the state.
Her approach with students is simple,
every student learns differently,
but once you figure out how to learn, they're unstoppable.
She has a how can I help attitude
that's infectious amongst everyone she works with.
She's constantly supporting teachers in any way needed.
One minute she might be modeling a writing lesson
in fourth grade, then switch gears
and work with kindergartners on letter sounds.
And then in between that,
she's printing and laminating vocabulary words
for a second grade word wall.
You know someone is trusted and respected
throughout the school community,
when teachers who have taught for 20 plus years
ask her to do a coaching cycle.
The trust she's built among our teachers is remarkable.
When she speaks and instructs, students and teachers listen.
They value what she has to say,
And that speaks to her ability to form relationships
and build trust.
I think the best thing about Brittany
is her ability to see the good in everyone in every situation.
She has such a positive, fun outlook on life,
and it just makes everyone happy.
Many times, I find myself complaining about something,
believe it or not.
And while she listens, she will find a way to flip it
and turn it into a positive.
Unlike it's tough, many of us get upset
and pray for the weekend.
She smiles through it and makes a collage of stuff
to look forward to in the future.
Her work just doesn't stop at Park Mead as she also supports the teachers and staff at point of vista.
Please save your responses till after the speech.
Despite my repeated attempts to get her to say that she likes Park Mead more.
Which we know is true, but that's all right.
She stays true and says each site has its own unique qualities and both sites and principles are wonderful.
So, she's, we'll see.
Her hard work, dedication, and love for teaching is something that inspires everyone around her,
so much so that she was nominated for the Teacher of the Year for the Walnut Creek School District.
Hey, y'all can clap to that.
It is a recognition that is long overdue. Brittany, we love you. We are so thankful that you get to
make our schools a better place. Congratulations. You deserve this award more than anyone I know,
and I can't wait to celebrate with you again in June when you win it for the county. Let's go!
and now I'm going to introduce Tyson Benter from ice cream everybody here to celebrate our teachers
and staff here in walnut creek school district
you know we have very wonderful staff it's ice cream but you know I didn't vote for our staff
members of the year so it really doesn't matter what I had to say what I think because they were
chosen by their peers. So what I have here I'm going to share what their peers said about them
when they were nominated for this honor. So I'll start with Miss Ashley Choi, who's our art
specialist. Ashley gives her all to everything she does for the kids. She's very creative and
offers multiple projects for every grade level. The students are lucky to have a teacher so devoted.
Ashley's amazing. She leads with kindness and thoughtfulness. She allows for creativity and appreciates students' uniqueness.
She always has a positive attitude and collaborates scenes.
Ashley is always
joyful and kind to students and staff.
She adapts to students' needs and makes all students feel welcome and important.
She's an amazing art teacher, and we are so lucky to have her for our kids.
Ashley is a caring and skilled teacher. She's so patient with the kids and encouraging.
She plans thoughtful, intentional lessons and gives clear instruction
so students can feel successful with their skills or when trying new projects in our class.
She keeps the class space calm and creative for everyone. She is amazing.
She shows students that everyone is an artist and that mistakes are valued. She's amazing.
We have Ms. McKenzie Tovani, first grade teacher.
Again, wonderful, completely deserving of this honor.
But again, I didn't vote.
So I'm going to share what her peers said about her.
She's an amazing teacher and works so hard for her students.
She also gives support as our NTSS coordinator,
is always willing to meet or answer
a question about strategies and support,
and keeps track of it all.
She always brightens my day and makes
me feel like a valued staff member. She is always quick to step up and jump into
help in any way while also managing her own challenges in the classroom. She has
such an incredible passion for education and project-based learning. She's an
awesome team player who wears many hats here at Tice. Our students are so lucky
to have her. Not only is she an incredible first grade teacher, she does an amazing
job with Sunshine Committee and keeping all of the staff connected. She goes above
and beyond and deserves this recognition. She for sure makes Tice a better place for
me. McKenzie is supportive, helpful, and contributes to the Tice Creek community in
so many different ways. I'm impressed with how much she can do in the same 24 hours that
I have.
Next, I'm going to introduce Mr. Jason Law from Walnut Creek Intermediate.
I'd like to just take a moment to recognize our WCI classified employee of the year Anastasia
Seaway, who could not be here this evening due to a family event.
In a very short amount of time, Anastasia has made a profound impact on our community
for attention to detail, for leadership in the office, and supporting so many has just
really transformed just the feeling in our office every day.
So unfortunately, she can't be here, but at the same time,
I wanted to recognize her publicly.
So I'm trying something a little bit different this year.
I'd please like to introduce Holly Hughes, one
of our dedicated science teachers, who
will be introducing the WCI Teacher of the Year.
It's a pleasure to honor her colleague, who truly stands out
of her commitment to her students, her passion
for science, and positive impact she
makes on our school community.
It's my honor to invite Holly to share a few words
about tonight's honoring Kristi Clark.
P-E-R for Kristi.
Question, what makes Kristi Clark the teacher of the year?
Kristi Clark is teacher of the year
because she is a gifted and dedicated educator
who makes WCI a better place for students,
parents, and teachers.
The first piece of evidence
is Kristi's support of her students.
Kristi provides thoughtful and engaging lessons
to support student learning both about science
and academic skills, adding labs and other hands-on activities
to our curriculum.
She continues to refine and improve curriculum every year,
reviewing the previous year's plan, data, and outcomes,
constantly looking for ways to improve student outcomes.
Kristie's invention of the famous sun, surface, air,
stands in this own example of the impactful and fun
innovation sheet is added to promote student learning.
Christy's consistency, high standards,
and focus on students creates a classroom
where students feel safe enough to try new and hard things.
This evidence matters because it shows how much time
and attention Christy puts in to make the student's experience
not only educational, but fun.
The next piece of evidence is Christy's communication
with parents.
Christy keeps parents up to date with what
is happening in her classroom through unit emails
to parents, daily Google classroom posts,
and thoughtful responses to parent emails and questions.
This evidence matters because it shows how Kristi works
with parents to support student learning and growth.
The final piece of evidence is the energy, support,
and kindness Kristi brings to working with teachers
and staff at WCI.
Kristi is an amazing department lead
who keeps us focused on student learning goals,
who jumps in to help with planning, setting up labs,
and who is always there when we need to vent,
who is organized and reliable.
She always asks for input
and listens thoughtfully to all ideas.
She even provides snacks.
Christi is part of the ILT team
and helps provide a consistent
and welcoming environment for everyone on campus.
This evidence is important
because it shows that Christi is an amazing coworker
who shows quality leadership
and is someone who is supportive and innovative.
In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming,
and Kristie Clark is an amazing teacher, coworker, and friend.
Her supportive students is obvious based
on her dedication to their learning,
her thoughtful planning, and execution of curricula.
She keeps communication lines open with families
and is responsive to questions and concerns.
Working with Kristie is rewarding and fun.
She brings a smile on difficult days
and helps create a WCI where all can flourish.
Thank you so much.
It's my honor to finally introduce Amy Roman, the principal at Walnut Heights.
Good evening.
It is a pleasure to recognize our staff and to hear from Walnut Heights tonight.
So first, Corinne Hisomodo, who is our employee of the year, she's our attendance clerk and
also our campus supervisor.
She's also a parent in our community, but you might not always recognize her.
You get her calls, you hear her voice, you get parent square chats,
inquiring about your child, will they be at school today, are they feeling better?
Now that they're here, do they need a lunch?
Whether she is diligently following up on attendance or supporting students working
through an issue together or not feeling well, her end brings a rare balance of a
calming nature and a wonderful sense of humor.
She often points me in the direction of a student or
a family to check in with when they need support.
But if you are a student, you know a different side
of Miss Corinne.
In the cafe, she braves the daily lunchroom rush
with an infectious, high-energy spirit.
As we work together to learn and adapt to our new cafe seating
and students going everywhere, Corinne
had ideas to help make it all work.
Every day, she prepares trivia that runs in the background,
entertaining students who maybe prefer to eat on their own,
or prefer a challenge and have something to think about.
And sometimes the whole room gasps
as the answer is revealed.
During the Olympics, there were daily medal count updates
and questions that you needed to see the sports before to answer.
And on a lucky day, you might even
hear her beautiful singing voice lifting everyone's spirits,
keeping it light, and sending the kids off to recess happy.
On the playground, kids are kindly
reminded to treat each other with respect
and to heat the rules of four-square.
Corinne, we appreciate the difference you make
at Walnut Heights every single day.
Congratulations.
And our other recognition is a milestone
that was 33 years in the making,
although there have been other celebrations along the way,
and starting really this week, a lot more to come.
We aren't just honoring a colleague today.
We are celebrating Walnut Heights Teacher of the Year,
Alan Segal.
Alan has proven that a great teacher
is, at their heart, a master storyteller.
Alan doesn't just teach the curriculum,
he breathes life into it.
From walking through California to walking
through the Gold Rush and Rancho Days hands-on curriculum,
we've all seen the seagull flyers effect.
Students who walk into your room indifferent to reading,
only to leave completely hooked on books
and hungry for the next chapter.
As our legendary read-a-thon champion,
He's our trophy after trophy.
He's turned literacy and supporting our Education
Foundation into community action where kids take part, sell
lemonade, and contribute to our shared cause.
Beyond the classroom, there's not enough time
to list all the things that Alan has done.
But he is known for working his magic supporting
teachers with technology.
No question too dumb.
Getting song lyrics and running the technology
for many, many talent shows, running student council
meetings and writing creative, meaningful song lyrics
to celebrate the many colleagues who
have retired over the years.
Alan, we appreciate your unique talents
and the good you have done for so many students.
We appreciate your service and are thrilled to honor you
as Walnut Heights Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations on this work.
And last but not least, I'd like to introduce my colleague
from the district office, Pam Davis.
We're going to hope that our live stream continues because Carmela
has to remove herself from it in order to come up here.
Good.
See how talented she could do from here.
Thank you all for being here tonight.
It is my distinct honor.
Get closer to me, come on.
Our district office Classified Employee of the Year
award to the cornerstone of our technology department.
Though she is a member of our small but mighty IT team,
her impact on the Wellness Creek School District
have been far-reaching.
Her journey with us began in the food services department
at Tice Creek, where her work ethic and aptitude
were immediately apparent.
Recognizing her immense potential,
the IT team swooped her up, I was part of that in the interview
process, to become a technician supporting school site
technology.
And this fall, she applied and was
promoted to the network analyst for the district.
In her roles and bringing all of her experience,
she has since become an indispensable asset
to our district-wide operations team.
She is widely recognized by her colleagues
as the gold standard of service.
She is consistently solution-oriented, helpful, responsive,
and deeply respectful in every interaction.
Beyond simply getting the job done,
she excels at the human side of the interaction,
at the human side of technology, excuse me,
ensuring follow-through and clear communication
that put staff at ease.
Her colleagues describe her as always
willing to help conscientious, adaptable, reliable, funny,
and my favorite, a ray of light.
Driven by the commitment to continue to grow,
she constantly seeks out professional learning
to sharpen her personal and professional skills
while simultaneously analyzing our systems
to find paths of improvement.
regardless of the task or the complexity of it,
or the deadlines, which are quick when
you have teachers in a classroom of students
where technology goes down, or even
if she stopped 200 times as she walks across campus,
because we know IT people are the most popular people
on campus.
She always is there to greet everyone
with her contagious smile that brightens both the district
office and all of our school sites.
So please join me in celebrating Carmela Papa.
And I will turn it over to Maria Morgan to present our, no?
Two more.
Okay, two more.
I'm just going to.
So I have the honor of recognizing one more person
who was recognized by their colleagues
and that is Lynette Harada.
This honor is both well deserved and deeply meaningful.
In addition to the exceptional support she provides
to meet personally and to our governing board.
Lynette is truly the glue that holds
the district office together.
She is the person everyone turns to.
She's always available to answer questions,
anticipate needs, offer guidance, and lend a helping hand.
Lynette approaches every interaction
with professionalism, grace, and a calm and caring demeanor,
especially when navigating sensitive or delicate situations.
She has a unique ability to listen thoughtfully,
respond with empathy,
and ensure that everyone feels respected and supported.
Her steady presence, positive spirit, and warm smile
create a welcoming environment for all of us.
Lynette's reliability and commitment
to others set her apart.
She goes above and beyond in ways both seen and unseen,
consistently putting people first.
This recognition reflects the impact she had on all of us.
Congratulations, Lynette.
And thank you for everything that you do for me personally
and for our whole district office team
and the district at large.
Thank you.
I have one more award this evening
that I would like to share with you.
And that is for Ms. Jamberg-Gensky.
Where is she?
Come on up, Jam.
Jamberg-Gensky was nominated by her colleagues
as Access Administrator of the Year,
and I'm honored to recognize Jan
for this extraordinary accomplishment.
Jan Brzezinski is truly deserving of this recognition
of Access District Office Curriculum
and Instruction Administrator of the Year.
She is widely respected for her deep and expansive knowledge
of curriculum and instruction,
consistently bringing both expertise and insight
to her work.
Jan embodies the very essence of a lifelong learner.
She approaches each day with curiosity, a desire to grow,
and a genuine passion for education.
What sets her apart is her commitment
to working alongside our teachers and staff.
She's present, she's engaged, and always ready to support,
collaborate, and elevate instructional practice.
Jan goes far beyond the basics.
She thoughtfully prepares, anticipates needs,
and ensures that every decision is grounded
in what's best for our students.
Her work consistently reflects a student-centered mindset
paired with a compassionate and caring approach.
One colleague described Jan as a leader
who keeps students at the heart of every decision
and fosters a culture where others are motivated
to become the best version of themselves.
Above all, Jan leads with joy.
Her positive spirit, dedication, and commitment to excellence
make her an exceptional leader and a true superstar
in every sentence of the word.
So tonight we honor Jamerton.
We do want to take one more minute
on this night of celebrations and recognition.
Because I want to also recognize our own Setta Riker, who
also received an AXA Administrator of the Year award
in her own district down the way in San Ramon Valley Unified,
for those of you who don't know.
Setta is a director in a neighboring district
and has done extraordinary efforts,
not only as a member of our governing board,
but also as a parent and as a community member
here in the Walnut Creek School District.
And so Zeta, you are an exceptional leader,
and we are proud of the work that you
do across multiple districts to support thousands of students
each year.
So we also need to recognize you.
I don't have her plaque.
They do in San Ramon.
But, I just could not let tonight go without us recognizing our own set of Riker as administrative peers.
And that concludes our recognition of our employees this evening.
We have, I've said this I think hundreds of times since I have been in this district,
our Child Nutrition Department is absolutely amazing and have made treats for us for this evening.
And so where is Rebecca and her team back there?
We'll recess for a brief reception here and then we'll reconvene for the rest of the meeting.
Returning to the business portion of the meeting, item A is the calendar.
I'll second.
I'll second. I have a motion and a second to approve all items. All those in favor?
Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item 9. Public comments. This is an opportunity for members of the
public to address the governing board on matters within the jurisdiction of the
board, both agenda and non-agenda items. Persons wishing to address the board of
trustees should fill out and submit a public comment part available at the
sign-in table prior to the start of the meeting. If your comment pertains to a
specific agenda item please be sure to reference the agenda item number.
Comments will be restricted up to three minutes per speaker and 20 minutes per
agenda item. Public comments to the board will be made in person pursuant to the
Brown Act, no discussion or action related to public comments will take
place. Any public comments? Yes. Our first one is Amy Mangione and I apologize if I say what's wrong.
Sorry, just before you start, we'll do three minutes for each public comment and I'll
just stop you if you go over.
I see there's a lot of people.
Good evening.
This is my last year at WCSD, with one child currently
a junior and another one going to be a freshman.
I've been part of this district for 12 years.
During that time, I've seen a deep sense of care
from the board, the district staff, administrators,
and teachers, an incredible base of authors.
Thank you for everything, especially
during the difficult time during and right after COVID.
I wanted to share a few observations I've
seen over the past decade.
The first fundraising.
The shift from individual school PTAs,
which started in my first one or two years,
to more funding being through the WCEF
has been largely successful.
And the results have been amazing.
That said, I think we should continue moving away
from individual school gala's and focus
on one large gala done by the leaderships
of the different PTAs to make it a success,
kind of like how high it goes.
Is that the way to say that learned that organization?
I worked in nonprofit for the past 20 years.
That's my profession, so you get a lot more efficiencies
after this that way, and I think you'll
get to the better dollar goal that way as well.
Secondly, PTA is sustainability.
The cost of living there continues to rise,
and more families have dual incomes
and need to work full time with long hours and less flexibility.
As a result, PTA and WCF leadership
seem to be becoming harder to sustain
while expectations remain for the same or even increased
number of programs and fundraising.
I encourage us to have discussions about this
and figure out how to make it so that we don't burn out
the volunteers we have in the leadership.
This is happening everywhere in the nonprofit world
that I'm in and at all PTAs.
A couple of things to take in mind when we look at this.
Recognize and support PTA leaderships in meaningful ways.
Use technology advances, either funded through UCSD, WCSD, WCEF,
or even the PTA budgets to reduce the time and burden
of volunteering, even if it costs a little money,
like Pennywise Calcours Cafe?
Elevate volunteer recognition at board meetings, for example.
And by the way, I can send this to the board,
because I have, like, three minutes.
OK.
You don't have to write.
Elevate volunteer recognition at board meetings, for example.
I'm showing my age.
I turned 50 this year.
OK.
I would personally suggest calling things
volunteer appreciation rather than Founders' Day.
That's what's done in the nonprofit world,
and it makes more sense, and I think it'll help create more
excitement.
Consider making select meetings or recognition events
available via Zoom.
I think one cool thing about COVID
was that we were doing everything by Zoom,
and we had a lot more participation.
And by that participation, you're
going to get more people may be interested in volunteering
at one day or a small chair role.
I think we really should consider,
and I listen to this stuff online,
but we can't comment.
We tend to public comment.
I just don't have time to come here.
And I'm leaving right now to Los Lomas after this
It was a 730 meeting.
But have maybe once a quarter of your meetings on Zoom.
Allow people to do comic comic.
I think you're going to see an opening.
And I know during COVID there was a lot of negatives with that.
Thank you.
I'll let you know the rest.
Thank you so much, everyone.
Can I tie?
So I have three points to make.
First is about honesty.
The second about winning and losing.
And the third about heroes.
My first great son at Ties Creek came to me and said,
Daddy, is it true that Tyson Spector is
and that's my favorite principle of all time.
He's only had two.
I said, yeah, I'm afraid so.
He asked why.
And I said, I really don't know.
I'm not sure.
And then he asked, does he not like us?
And I thought and responded, no, Tyson loves us.
And then it occurred to me, he really does love us.
He loves the community.
He loves the students, teachers, the parents.
And that love is evident in every parent square message he has ever sent.
It's evident when he's out in the yard picking up trash.
Every one of the countless conversations he's had with parents, with students.
Then why would he leave?
Back to my son's question.
decided I will not deceive my son. I don't I believe good parents should not
do that. I believe parents have a responsibility to be honest and I will
continue to be and I'd like to find some honesty around this because I feel that
there is exception I'm not alone in that. Winning and losing there are countless
stories in professional sports where great players were traded to other teams
teams only to lead that team to a championship.
If Tyson Vector leaves, we are losing a champion.
And another district is getting a wonderful gift.
And I believe Tyson Creek and
the Walnut Creek School District is losing if that happens.
And then finally heroes, heroes are fallible.
Heroes make bad judgment calls.
The real heroes know that it's never too late to change their position and
be the right thing and be a hero.
We parents are asking the superintendent and board to do something heroic to help Tyson
Fector remain as our principal.
We need your partnership but we feel like there has been advocacy created, adversity.
We need you to be a hero.
Thank you.
My district is not working to retain our principal, Mr. As a point of comparison, a previous
principal in the Indian Valley at Indian Valley remained with the Walnut Creek School District
for two years, despite being a fourth grad. After their first year there, half of the
staff left. And in 2023, a staff member successfully sued the principal for wrongful termination.
Instead of being dismissed, that individual was promoted to the head of special education
for the Walnut Creek School District.
This raises serious questions about the district's
administrative priorities and decision making.
In contrast, our school community has started a petition
to keep Mr. Fekler and in just a few days,
we have generated 250 signatures from our 330 families.
So that's a 75% rate of parents.
The Teist Creek community deserves transparency
and direct answers regarding Mr. Fecter's status.
Rather than scripted responses,
we look forward to a meaningful explanation.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I sent an email earlier today to all of you.
I'm not sure if you had a chance to see it yet.
I have a copy for each of you in case you didn't.
But I will read you what I wrote.
This is respectfully for you, my elected officials,
on the Walnut Creek School Board.
I'm ready on behalf of myself, my kids,
and the Tice Creek community to formally express
my strong concern regarding the board's attempts
or lack thereof that have been made
to retain Principal Tyson Vector.
Your lack of action to retain him
has caused significant distress
among students, parents, and staff,
many of whom have directly benefited
from Tyson Vector's leadership and dedication
to our school community.
Under Principal Vector's guidance,
our school has seen meaningful progress
in such areas such as academic achievement,
student support, and community engagement.
He has fostered an environment that prioritizes
both educational excellence and student well-being,
something that is not easily replaced or replicated.
He checks all the boxes we asked for last year
and it is incredibly disappointing
that you have done nothing, it seems,
to try to retain him.
This decision to accept Principal Vector's
re-certificated the resignation this evening appears to have been made without adequate
transparency regarding the reasons for his departure. The lack of clarity is
deeply concerning to our community with the utmost respect as a mother speaking to board members some
of who are also parents including one within our own school community Sarah. I must be clear if
this decision moves forward our community will no longer trust or have confidence in your leadership
with respect as elections approach this year, decisions of this nature will not be forgotten
when our community votes unless something drastic happens immediately. We're left questioning why
a principal who has made our children feel safe, valued, and engaged in learning, who has demonstrated
effective leadership for both students and staff, set clear expectations, and provided meaningful
pathways for success is not valued enough by you to try and keep them. As stakeholders in this school,
we deserve a clear and honest explanation of the circumstances surrounding this as well as
a meaningful opportunity to share our perspectives. We strongly urge you to reconsider this action
and retain principal effector in his role effective immediately. Retaining a leader who has
demonstrated commitment, integrity, and effectiveness should be a priority for maintaining
stability and trust within our district. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
First, I want to say thank you to everyone who showed up.
My name is Marika Taylor.
I sit as the president currently at Tice Creek, PTA.
I also sit on the board of WCEF.
I have been an avid parent on the campus for nine years.
I have a child that will be going and crossing the bridge
over to high school, where I should be at a meeting
right now at that high school.
but I'm here because I care so deeply about this school.
It comes with much regret because we
had an amazing principal because I started
with the original principal, and she was amazing.
She sold us on it.
I was a fortunate parent that my first child was actually
accepted into both Powell's and Tice.
I picked Tice selfishly because I had three kids on the way
and it was going to drop off the buttons.
Luckily, I fell in love with Tice, and it's been amazing.
Saying that, we also have a second incredible principle.
I think at the end, it just got burnt out, and that's OK.
It's six years, or six to seven years is a long time.
I just said six, seven.
Sorry.
I'm so sorry.
And so moving on, I don't want to see another principal leave,
especially in a one-year attainment.
That's just not OK.
I've looked up his past careers.
It was 13 years in Dublin.
It was seven years in the San Francisco Unified School
District.
So why would a principal come here for one year?
And I haven't seen anything.
I feel particularly close to the staff, to the students,
to our parent, population, and community,
I haven't seen anything.
So I stand for you today as someone who's well known
on the campus, who knows, have you been to the campus?
Have you seen him?
Have you seen the wrongs?
Have you seen anything that Mr. Vector has provided
to our students, to his faculty, or to our parents?
Last year, the district demonstrated
that it can run an effective and a wonderful hiring process.
The selection of Tyson showed a clear alignment with what the community values which is project
based learning, special day education experience and a strong middle school leadership with
a elementary which he lacked but he has strived and just made amazing.
This wasn't luck it's a reflection on the process that did work.
So my question is what assurance do we have that you can provide to us the same level
of the rigor element of the stakeholders input into being applied in the current principal
search if we really are losing Mr. Fechter. Because from this parent perspective, sorry,
good evening. For those of you I don't know or I haven't met in person, my name is Laurel
Dobbins. I'm a Tice Creek parent with a first grader and a sixth grader. My husband and
I grew up in Danville and Lafayette respectively and we chose Walnut Creek and in particular
the Walnut Creek School District when we purchased our home in this community almost 14 years
ago.
Our older son was fortunate to be chosen in the lottery, excuse me, for Tice Creek as
a kindergartner.
He and Principal Scott actually started at Tice Creek together, and that was really special
for my son.
That was also COVID year.
My kindergartner got forced into a room on a screen the last third of that year, but
but he still felt that bond to Mr. Scott.
We started at Tice together.
His younger brother attended TK at Park Mead
and then joined his older brother at Tice
last year as a kindergartner.
Our family was devastated and blindsided
by the announcement that Principal Fechter
in his first year at Tice Creek doing an incredible job
was leaving us in June.
As you all know, Tice Creek is an incredible school
with a very intentional community of families and educators.
We want to be there.
We chose to be there.
And so did the educators on our campus, the staff,
and we believe our principal.
How magical is it in Walnut Creek School District
to have a K-8 project-based learning school?
It's amazing.
You know how many people in other districts are like, wow,
how lucky are you guys?
And we are.
And we're heartbroken because we care.
And we know that each one of you cares as well.
You care about the kids in our district,
whether you still have a child in our district
or they've moved on to Los Lomas or high school.
You care about our incredible school campuses
and the amazing things that go on each and every day
with the people who show up for our children
in all the ways we want them to.
And we hope they will.
And we watch our children thrive
under that care and attention.
When I walked on campus a couple days after Mr. Vector told us
he would be leaving for personal reasons,
the tension on campus was palpable.
And it struck me that the last and only time
I had felt that on that campus in almost seven years
of being a parent there was a year ago
when we heard that Damien Scott was leaving.
Our kids are feeling the stress right now,
along with us as the adults.
They are asking the same hard questions that we are asking,
but we don't have answers for them.
Please help us to hold someone,
whoever it is accountable.
Thank you for the transparency
and how decisions are made in this district.
Many parents here are asking a fundamental question.
Who is actually holding whom accountable in this district?
The board is elected to provide independent oversight
of the superintendent and administration,
not simply receive direction from it.
Yet too often it feels like decisions are made and then presented, rather than fully
examined on behalf of the community you represent.
You were elected to represent families, to be the voice between the community and the
district.
Right now, that connection feels broken.
Nearly 250 parents signed a petition asking you to seriously consider retaining our principle.
That is not a small response.
It is a unified signal from this community.
It reflects deep concern and strong confidence in a school leader many of us trust.
We are not asking for special treatment.
We are asking to be heard.
From our perspective, there has been no response that reflects the weight of that petition.
No clear acknowledgement, no explanation of what was done in response, and no indication
that this level of community concern meaningfully influenced the process.
We understand personnel matters are confidential, and we respect that.
But confidentiality does not prevent communication.
It does not prevent you from telling us whether any effort was made to retain him, or what
process occurred.
Right now, the silence is what is most concerning, because when there's no information, people
fill in the gaps, and that creates mistrust.
We also questioned whether community input
was ever meaningfully sought.
Were families or staff asked for feedback?
Were there efforts to understand school climate
before this decision was made?
From our perspective, there was no visible engagement
with the people most affected.
These decisions have real consequences.
Families want stability.
We want strong school reputations
and teachers who feel supported and stay.
It is difficult to reconcile those goals
with leadership instability at the school level.
When parents feel unheard, they do not disengage,
they show up.
And we are here because we expect
our elected representatives to respond to community input
with seriousness and respect.
We are asking for basic accountability,
acknowledgement that our concerns were received
and clarity on what, if anything, was done in response
to a petition representing hundreds of families.
We will continue to show up,
continue to ask questions and continue to hold this board accountable.
We're not going on away until we get answers.
Thank you.
I'm a parent at two daughters at Walnut Heights Elementary School.
Thank you all for your service and dedication to our community.
I feel it's past time I share my perspective as a parent in this district for the past
four school years and my message is simple, it's time to break up with Ed Tech.
I have felt this way since my kindergartner was given the tablet but I put that aside
to trust the educational experts.
I won't ignore my instincts any longer.
The data we have now is alarming,
and our children are paying the price.
The safety and privacy concerns alone
should be enough to withdraw tablets and Chromebooks
from elementary classrooms.
Using AI in schools means kids will never
learn the basics that you and I did.
Critical thinking, reasoning, reading comprehension, writing,
coping, emotional regulation, relationship building.
I mean the list goes on.
Digital devices are not making our children smarter.
They are ripping away critical thinking,
creating behavioral and attention issues, declining
test scores, and making things harder
for teachers who are already asked
to do so much with so little.
You are unleashing AI on our students
with no federal regulation.
That is extremely frightening to me,
especially as a mother of daughters.
Technology promised to close the achievement gaps,
But it has not.
Our teachers have been saying this for years,
but administrators have not been listening.
So I'm asking the board to take immediate action.
Number one, restrict devices significantly
and move most tablets and Chromebooks
from elementary school.
Two, pause AI adoption until appropriate legislation
and oversight exist because they do not right now.
Three, always provide an opt-out option for tech
at every grade level.
EdTech has widened the gaps for trying to close.
The benefits do not outweigh the risks.
I have recently learned that WCSD is proposing
to plant 27 trees at Walnut Heights.
Pivoting, thank you.
But only four are California natives.
When Walnut Heights backs up to the Walnut Creek open space,
the other 23 planned are Chinese pistach and Frontier Elms,
trees foreign to this continent.
This comes after the district already removed
than 10 trees including Coast Live Oaks with no community input or transparency
until the question was asked remotely by me at the PTA meeting in March. I
couldn't attend. These improvements are funded by Measure J. Our tax dollars and
the community deserves better. Native trees and plants require less water, less
maintenance, and support the wildlife that is rapidly disappearing. Native
plants also require no pesticides, which by the way should be eliminated entirely
by this board district even their non-toxic need to develop in children. Honey bee hive
losses exceeded 60% last year that in decline. Butterfly populations are down
20% in two decades. Planting native trees and plants directly address all these issues.
Emily Moffett and the Malona Hade parents thank you for the opportunity to speak. I want to start by
saying that I have enormous respect for the work this board does and I'm grateful
that when I raised a concern this weekend I heard that quickly including a
a personal call from Superintendent Morgan today.
Tonight, I want to talk about a practice
I'd like to see change.
The Brown Act is California's open meetings law.
Its entire purpose is to prevent secret decision making
and ensure that the public can observe and participate
in local government deliberation.
Not just attend, actually participate.
Thank you all for being here tonight.
It was great to see you.
After reviewing the past year of board meeting agendas,
yes, the whole year, I've noticed that personnel appointments
consistently omit the name of the recommended candidate.
Tonight's item 13.1 is one example,
but it's not an isolated one.
It appears to be a standard practice.
This matters because public comment happens before the vote.
If community members don't know who is being appointed
to a leadership position until they walk in the door,
we have no meaningful opportunity to weigh in.
We can only watch a decision unfold.
That may meet the legal minimum,
but it doesn't meet the spirit of a law designed specifically
to keep the public informed and engaged.
I'm not asking the board to do anything dramatic.
I'm asking for a simple change.
Include the recommended candidate's name
and a brief bio in agenda items
for open session appointments.
That's it, one sentence.
It would bring this district's practice
in line with the transparency
the Brown Act was built to protect.
Superintendent Morgan told me today
that she agrees the spirit of the Brown Act is transparency.
I'm asking the board to make that agreement visible
in your practice.
Thank you.
Kathryn Chiu.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Kathryn Chiu.
This is my first board meeting.
I'm very excited to be here.
I'm here to return the agenda to the subject of Tice Creek's
president, Mr. Tice of Principal Harvey, Mr. Tyson Vector.
So I don't think I can make as eloquent a point
as many of the speakers have made today.
And I know that the board received so many emails
and messaging from this communication
with outlying airplanes.
I instead will use my time to just speak
to some of my direct experience and how
profoundly today's forum has shaped that.
We are relatively new, my family,
to the Walnut Creek community.
We moved here a little over a year and a half ago.
My kindergartner is the first child in our family
to attend this district.
When we moved out here, like others have said,
I was attracted by the balance of values
and educational curriculum expressed in the Walnut Creek
curriculum, as well as testimony from many people who
are affiliated with our family and in this environment.
And I'm astounded to see the turnout today.
And I think it really speaks to how this community has
power to come together.
I know that everyone in this room
is here because we share values and love for this community
and our children.
And so I have to hope, optimistically,
that with what you've heard today,
you can channel this into positive action.
Our only power here is electing you to office
and maintaining a district board that will then
appoint and hold others accountable to their choices.
I think a scene that I've heard from the many topics expressed
today has been a lack of transparency.
So that's what I want to emphasize
with my remaining time.
I think there is immense power in us coming together
and collaborating to create one of the strongest districts
that I'm proud to be a part of.
And I'm hoping that you can demonstrate
just how this power can be truly realized
through responding to our concerns,
our fears, our frustrations,
and just demonstrating accountability and transparency.
Because there may well be very good reasons
that we are not privy to
and may not be able to fully understand.
But just the mere fact that we're here,
we're all part of this community,
think warrants recognition and engagement. My name is Sethi, my life and I, Netta, are parents of
two kids at Tice Creek School and I'm speaking on behalf of many families about the concern
we share with the sudden departure of principal Tyson Fekler. Look, we know you can't share
personal information but I think what we're looking for is if this was a district-departed
decision, what was the criteria that you used to make that decision? Because that's
really what I think we're looking to understand so that going forward if you
can't bring Tyson back and you bring someone else back, we have a better
understanding of how you make your decisions and how we can support those
decisions. So that's really my biggest ask. I think we all deserve it. We just
want our kids to be happy and we want to continue to have this loving supported
community but we need your support we need your help and so transparency
that's all we're looking for and just a clear understanding of the criteria that
you're using for your decision. Thanks.
Good evening superintendent and
prospective member of the board and parents who showed up to support our
principal at Tyson vector. I didn't want to speak but then I came out here and
and saw how people are emotional
and they want to support their principal,
I decided to say a few words, thank you for the time.
Tyson Victor have been with us for almost a year.
And in this year, we have seen such improvement
in communication, culture in this school,
and students' energy and willingness
to participate in all aspects of education at the school.
And you've heard a lot from the parents as well.
I have a question for you.
A student who's been supported, a principal who's
been supported by his students, their parents, their staff,
what performance criteria have you
used in order to mix these issues in such a short year?
And lastly, leaders are very hard to come by.
so please save our school leader, Mr. Victor.
Thank you.
Yes.
Yes.
No, I think I was on that one, sorry.
I knew it.
I knew it.
I knew it.
Part of the school year, so we have teachers right now
that are engaging with students
on our standard of testing,
which is obviously everybody's putting their best foot
forward there.
We've got our retirement social coming up on Thursday,
which is an awesome opportunity for us
celebrate all of our teachers who are retiring and all the other staff as well that are
Retiring at the end of the school year. So if you're you're available, you know Thursday at the Ellis Lodge, we'll be celebrating those retirees
And then I just want to take a second, you know, this night's a very special night
WCTA is very proud of all of our teachers on our campuses and we couldn't be more proud of people who were
Acknowledged tonight as their teacher of the year
But also I think our classified staff colleagues, I've said it many times, I've said it again tonight to a couple of people but our schools couldn't function in the way that they did if it didn't take a enormous effort from everybody on our campuses, whether that's the custodial staff, the maintenance staff, the food services, and then, you know, the paraprofessionals, teachers, administrators.
It's a gigantic effort from everybody.
So it is nice to have a night where we recognize those people who
are doing outstanding work on our campuses, in addition
to the people who aren't recognized as well.
So that was really nice.
So that's it from me.
Thanks for wearing a tie screen.
1.2 CSEA, Chapter 202.
Good evening, governing board members.
and then Mary Morgan, Minette, everybody else in the room.
I am here to give the report from CSEA.
Hopefully, we negotiated with the district
the effects of the layout for the position of speech
and language apologist assistant as well as
the creation of the position of health care attendant
that's going into next year.
At this moment, I would like to take the opportunity
to reiterate our interest in negotiating
our country with the district.
as stated before by our negotiating member,
we firmly believe that we are within our rights
to negotiate the articles we've chosen.
You have been presented with the document
that support our position.
So instead of restating the argument,
I'd like to assure you that although the contract timelines
of our union and the teacher's union
might not align going forward,
that does not and will not change our mission and our goals.
The classified unit remains committed to put forward the best effort to support our students,
teachers, parents, and the community at large through our services from child and nutrition,
clerical, custodial, maintenance, and student support services.
Our unwavering commitment is to continue making this district the great district that
and should continue to be through the hard work and the partnership of our bargaining units,
the district, the governing board, and the committee.
What we are asking for is what we believe is fair to go into a future with many changes on solid ground for our membership.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our Classifieds of the Year.
They represent the very best of our entire unit.
Special recognition to Diana Smith,
who will be represented at the county level.
We stand strong behind her.
Same acknowledgment of recognition
goes to the teachers of the year.
They, as well, represent the very best of our teaching ranks.
Special support, even for Brittany and for Ed,
who will be representing at the county level.
We also stand strong behind her.
Together, these individuals have proof
for the greatest of the one-up in school.
Thank you.
I just want to take a few minutes to share some upcoming events first.
You know, May is a busy month as we kind of land the plane, as we say, for this school year.
So tomorrow night, join us at WCI for the Spring Sing.
As you've already heard, the seventh is our retirement social.
Next Monday is WCEF's Golf 4 Tournament.
And the 13th is Music on the Green.
And I'll just end my report this evening by sharing.
And we have a resolution that comes before you
in a few minutes.
This week, we launched today, Staff Appreciation Week.
And tonight, we had the opportunity
to recognize, I think, 17 extraordinary educators
in our district.
And what I would share is there are hundreds more
who are walking right alongside them each and every day.
And so it is really a privilege to serve this district
and to walk alongside the amazing staff members
that we have here in the Walnut Creek School District.
And so to all of them who I go by listening
happy staff appreciation to just an extraordinary group
of individuals, so that's my report for tonight.
Item 12.1, 2026, it's done this school year, Michael.
Hi, good evening everyone, nice to see you.
I am pleased to be here tonight to briefly share with you
some information about the upcoming and extended school
year program at the special education department
and district.
This has been a fast and successful year,
but we're going to continue that success
on through the summer with our ESY program.
So tonight, I'm just going to share a brief presentation
with you to review what the program's going to look
We have extended school year from June 8th to July 6th.
We have two dates that are holidays, Juneteenth on June 19th and then also of course July
3rd for the 4th of July.
We have a couple of locations this year where we're going to have extended school year.
this Indian Valley where we will have our preschool and our TK program and then also
case grade which will have our first grade program and also second group
bed and then also the middle school program as well. The next thing too about
these locations for our programs is we're using our existing facilities so
we'll have familiar spots for our kids and our staff to be able to have access to
materials, supplies, curriculum, all the great things that have happened in those rooms.
Thank you.
As of right now, we've got 37 students who will be joining us for extended school year.
We have a number of students in our district who are eligible for extended school year.
And what we do is we reach out to them in early spring to see who, even though they're eligible,
We want to make sure if they're coming or not so we know for them and for us that we
can plan for them.
So right now we have 37 students who will be attending.
We have 21 staff who are going to be supporting our program this summer, 4 teachers, 10 parent
educators, and then we have a number of itinerant staff and service providers as well that I'll
share a little bit more about in a second.
The great thing about the staff is that 99 percent of our staff are from Walnut Creek
schools.
So there are folks who know our kids, know our district, know our programs, and so that
connection is really important, obviously, for the staff and the students, but mostly
for the students to be able to be comfortable and know who it is that they're working with
so we can have the best experience here.
Even the folks that we have hired for extended school years
were not inefficient now.
I hope some days will be very fantastic.
Work that time.
Thanks.
Our related services, similar to the regular school year,
are students who receive related services,
like adaptive PE, or communication and support,
behavior support, or nurses, or occupational therapists,
physical therapists, and speech and language therapists.
All those fun things.
So those are all embedded within our ESY program.
And so those services will continue
for our students over the course of the summer.
Our day runs between 8.30 and 11.30.
So this isn't an exact schedule, but it's just
kind of a sample of an example of what you might see.
There's a lot of time for play, there's time for exploration,
there's time for individual and choice work.
There's also work on things that the students are
working on for their goals.
Because that's one thing that we're
wanting to make sure of is over the summer,
if there are students who potentially
could regress to a significant degree over the summer,
we'll extend a break, that they're able to,
so we don't have that happen, and they can recruit quickly
once school starts again in the office.
So again, E30 to 1130, it's our schedule.
Current communication, so I mentioned
that we had reached out to our parents and families
about who is wanting to participate this year
for those who are eligible.
We have done that, and we've also arranged for transportation.
It's already set and ready to go for all
of our kiddos and our families.
And our staff will be supporting communication as well,
with daily communication from the school to the parents
regarding the students as well.
over the course of those three to four weeks.
So, we've done a lot of planning,
but it's gonna go by quick.
It's a little bit of a different page
because the school year is
wrong break for everybody else.
And this is a half day program,
so it's kind of a nice phase for summer,
but it's also a great way for kids
to continue their education
and their instructional experience to us.
If you have any questions, be happy to answer.
If not, I'll just say we're really looking
For the most part because we there are some points where
If kids are going to miss a day or two or a few days,
that's not a huge deal.
But if they're going to miss an extended time, a week or two,
or things like that, that makes it a little hard
to start to stop the liquids.
And everyone gets transportation?
They do.
They are, yeah, we've got transportation set up
very good.
Amazing.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Yeah.
I was wondering, is there any child care
available in the afternoons?
This summer, there is ELOP.
Yeah, I was in a terrific place.
Yeah, so that will be running at the sites through June so almost in the exact time period.
Tonight I'm here to ask you for your approval of an appointment of Nock Nguyen for the position of Assistant Director of Ed Services.
Ms. Nguyen brings over 25 years of experience in education with a clear track record of instructional excellence and improving student outcomes.
She served in various leadership roles, both at a school site and also at district levels.
She also has experience leading strategic efforts to strengthen instructional programs,
build educated capacity, and support meaningful gains in student achievement.
She holds a master's degree in education in administrative services credential, a bachelor's
in child development, and has extensive training in both instructional coaching, leadership
of development, and she has the tools
equipped to support both teachers and administrators
in delivering high-quality instruction.
So for these reasons, I'm asking for you
to appoint Noav Noen as our new Assistant Director
of Educational Services.
Excited to bring forward a great candidate.
So maybe you should come stand up here so they can see you.
move approval of the appointment of not going as the assistant director of
educational services I have a motion and a second to approve the appointment of
not assistant director of educational services all those in favor
motion carries. Congratulations. Thank you.
Hi, everybody. I'm here to do a little Measure J. Proposal here for Walnut Heights this summer will be installing
electrical vehicle charging stations back on February 10th, 2026. Green Star West
request proposals for electrical vehicle charging stations for the project.
March 31st, 2026, the proposal was received from Lane Valente Industries, Inc.
in the amount of $44,427.36 for the Walnut Heights EV charging stations that will be added.
Madam seeking board's approval to contract with Lane Valente Industries, Inc. for these charging stations.
Exciting, will these be the first charging stations
on our campuses?
No, we have charging stations right now.
Park me in Buena Vista.
And then all sites through Measure J
will have them based on state code and amount of parking
currently in place.
That does leave us with WCI without them,
because WCI's renovation was done prior to the code
being in place in 2020.
But we are hopeful that Measure J dollars
that we will have at the end of the project
How will the EV charging work for people who park in the spaces?
Yeah when they park and then we use ChargePoint which is a company that gets revenue from
them.
Certain percentage give them back to schools but it's part of the state code for public
schools to have them doing any renovations to parking lot.
the drivers have to pay for that. And will the spaces be open to non EV cars?
Like I know that parking can get pretty tight. Rule followers! Rule followers will not
park in them, but you know I can't speak to if someone was parked there. But they'll be labeled.
But the district won't be actively enforcing that, I would assume.
We have other needs on our campuses.
Yeah, I would be if there was a consistent issue or someone who didn't have electrical
electrical charging or EV was parking on the charging spot, and we had gas powered cars
there, we would kindly ask those people.
Steve, how new is the code?
The code.
The state code.
Is it relatively new?
Well, said it was not in place in 2020, so the exact year I'm not sure.
by about these projects that was you know it was stated that we had put a certain amount per number
I move approval of the source well contract with laying Valenti Industries Inc for EV supply
equipment and related services and budget amount of $44,427.30 with funding to come from Measure J.
I'll second. I have a motion and a second to approve source well contract with laying Valenti
industry for EV supply equipment and related services in the budgeted amount
of forty four thousand four hundred twenty seven dollars and thirty cents to
come from measure J all those in favor I opposed abstention motion carries
thank you 13.3 resolution 25-26-20
employee recognition month. So I bring forward this resolution for the board to consider declaring
May as employee recognition month. Again just a huge thank you to an incredible staff that we have
here but I will read a little bit of it because I think that there's a portion of May 1st it
designates different days that we also celebrate in our district May 1st at the day of the principle
May 1st as the school superhero day, May 6th as school nurse day if you know nurse Kathy
she's absolutely amazing. So May 6th this school nurse day, May 13th day of the teacher and May
17th through 23rd is our classified school employee week and being Walnut Creek you know
that we always do things our way and so we pick one week which is this week to celebrate everyone
And so that's why we call this week Staff Appreciation Week.
And while we call out each of these different groups
who provide support to our staff in those designated weeks,
this week is considered Staff Appreciation Week here
in the Walnut Creek School District.
And our PTAs and our principals and everyone
are celebrating teachers and support staff
across the district this week.
So shout out to all of them.
Resolution 2526-20 declares me as employee recognition.
All new approval of Resolution 2526-20 declaring May.
I'll second.
I have a motion and a second to approve Resolution 25-26-20
recognizing May as employee appreciation month.
All those in favor?
Aye.
Opposed?
Abstention.
Motion carries.
13.4 resolution 25-26-21 mental health awareness month.
So this resolution brings forward your awareness
that May is also mental health awareness month.
I will just say that I think we continue
to act as a model across our county for a really
extraordinary wellness program.
I'm going to give a shout out to Cory Cohen and Renee Nickerson
and all of our wellness parents in our schools
who really just do an extraordinary job of supporting
our staff and our students and our families
with resources to ensure that mental health is
a priority across the district.
And so just want to also call out in the resolution
of the 2016 is more good days together,
encouraging all of us to reflect
on what a good day looks like
for both ourselves and for our communities.
And so not gonna read you the whole resolution,
but just really proud of the work that we do here
to support our students and our staff in our community
and recognizing they as mental health leaders.
Move approval of resolution 25-26-21,
recognizing and supporting May 2026
as mental health awareness movement.
I'll second.
Okay, I have a motion and a second
to approve resolution 25-26-21,
recognizing and supporting May 2026
as mental health awareness month.
All those in favor?
All right.
Opposed?
Abstention, motion carries.
13.5 amended board of education meeting dates for 2025-2026.
You'll see posted in the agenda that we have the original
or current governing board meeting schedule
for the 2026 year.
And I'm asking board to amend that governing board meeting
date from June 1st to June 8th this year.
And so, I'll bring forward this item for approval
to consider amending the Board of Education meetings
from June 1st to June 8th for the 2025-26 school year.
I'll move the approval of a motion and a second
to approve amended governing board meeting calendar
for the 2025-2026 school year as presented.
All those in favor?
All right.
Opposed?
Abstention?
Motion carries.
Item 14, reports from governing board members.
I'm Amy Monn.
I did have a call with three on Friday first to go participate in negotiations as an observer
on November 15th and I might have another negotiation day that I was at, but I don't
think I wrote it down so I'll come back to and not read it.
future agenda items anything to be 16 pertinent dates might be a change in the
time of the interviews on the 15th of May that's something I think it's gonna
get moved up to 1030 starting at 1030 okay and we are going to adjourn to
closed session. So it is 8.08 and we'll end here. Thank you.