Documenter: Ben Irizarry

The Scene

The meeting started at 5:05 PM by Trustee Ruben Mendoza. Trustee Mendoza indicated that Israel Cortes had been sworn in as a Board Member for Area 6 of the Madera Unified School District. Following the announcement, members of the public were given the opportunity to make a public comment on the items that would be discussed in the Closed Session of the meeting. Instructions were provided for community members on how to make public comments for Closed Session items. There weren’t any public comments by community members at this time. The meeting was adjourned and the School Board members transitioned to a closed session to discuss Closed Session items  A-E. 

The public meeting started at 6:42 PM and there were about 64 community members in attendance. Before the meeting began, there was a slideshow presentation that described how the Madera USD board meetings were managed, the zoom settings for individuals not familiar with zoom, and directions on how to make a public comment during the board meeting,  all of this information was posted in English and Spanish. Additionally, an interpreter was made available via chat and instructed individuals on how to make use of those services. 

Board Meeting Agenda 

  1. Pupil Personnel Matters

    1. Student Hearings/Expulsions (Ed. Code 35146, 48900. 48918)

  2. Personnel

    1. Public Employee Appointment/Employment – Staff List (Gov Code Section 54957)

    2. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release/Reeassignment/Resignation (Gov Code Section 54957, 54957.1) 

  3. Conference with Labor Negotiator

    1. District Representative: Kent Albertson; Employee Organizations: MUTA, CSEA (Gov Code 54597.1)

  4. Conference with Legal Counsel

    1. Anticipated Litigation; Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov Code Section 54596.9(b): 1 Case

  5. Adjournment of Closed Session

Notes

Trustee Mendoza started the meeting by explaining protocols for public comments.

  • Superintendent Lile began the meeting by review the vision statement and the mission statement. “That is our business in this meeting”

  • G. Diebert calls the role of the Board Members

  • Board members led the Pledge of Allegiance 

  • Invocation: Pastor Sanchez started the meeting with a prayer in Spanish

  • Closed Session reportable actions: None available

  • Adoption of Agenda

    • No items to remove from the agenda

    • Trustees have no items to remove from the agenda

    • Trustee Salazar motions to approve the agenda, Trustee Fernandes seconds the motion.

  • Annual board organization: The certification of appointment of the following board members: Israel Cortes Area 6, Ruben Mendoza area 3, and Ray Seibert Area 1 as governing board members for Madera Unified School District

    • Trustee Fernandes approves, Fleak seconds the motion

    • 8 Yes, 0 No’s

  • Board Recognitions: 

    • Exiting Trustee: J. Gordon Kennedy honored with a Service award

    • Trustee Kennedy: “Honor and Privilege to serve on the board” (14:12)

    • President Mendoza is also honored for serving as Board President with a plack 

  • Administration of Oath of Office of newly elected trustee

    • Trustee Mendoza, Cortes, and Seibert all take an oath of office by raising their right hand and repeating the oath administered by Superintendent Lile. 

    • Trustee Cortes given the time to introduce himself to the public: (22:00) 

    • Trustee Mendoza (22:56)

    • Trustee Seibert (23:30)

      • Nominate and elect a board president (Dec 15th, 2020-Dec 14th, 2021)

      • Ruben Mendoza nominated by Trustee Fleak and the second motion by Trustee Seibert

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mcintrye Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Trustee Mendoza to serve as president until Dec 14th, 2021

      • Nomination for clerk of the Board

      • Trustee Sierbrt nominated Trustee Fleak,

        •  Trustee Fernandez seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fernandez Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Trustee Fleak to serve as clerk of the board until Dec 14th, 2021

      • Superintendent Lile to serve as secretary of the board

        • Salazar elects Lile to serve as secretary, Fernandes seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Authorization for signatures on board approved Docs

      • Seibert moves to approve, Salazar seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Approval for 2021 Regular and Closed Session Meetings of the Board 

        • Seibert questions two meetings in July 2021

        • (34:00) Superintendent Lile, President Mendoza, and Secretary Diebert explain the need for having two meetings in the summertime due to the volume of summertime business and the district hiring. 

        • President Mendoza discussed being flexible and addressing the issue at a later time

        • Mcintyre favors having two meetings in July because the board does a lot of business at that time.

      • Seibert moves to approve, Mcyinyre seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Review and approve Trustee Area and School Sites

        • Mcintyre moves to approve, Salazar seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Review and Approve Board Advisory Committee Guidelines 

        • Fleak moves to approve, Seibert seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

      • Review and approval of the appointment of Trustees to the 2021 Board Advisory Committees

        • Wellness Committee Vacancy

          • Fernandes

        • District Athletic Advisory VACANCY 

          • FLEAK

        • VAPA Advisory Committee

          • Fernandes

        • Fernandes moves for approval, Seibert seconds the motion

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

        • Madera School Board Association

      • Review and Approve nomination and the election of representatives to the 2021 elected and appointed committees out-of-district 

        • Madera School Board Association

          • Trustee Cortes assigned 

        • Fernandes moves for approval, Mcintyre seconds

        • Cortes Yes

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre Yes

        • Salazar Yes

        • Seibert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

  • Student Representative: Elizabeth Carmona presents on Alternative Ed Schools at MUSD

  • Student Board Member: Jeremiah Goodman

    • Discusses student voice meetings

    • The 1st meeting discussed the pros/cons of Madera South H.S., the group agreed that teachers make sure that students meet their full potential, and teachers motivate their students. The biggest topic of discussion is the Wednesday system, students don’t have to attend classes but have to turn in Asynchronous work by 2 PM. Students agreed that much of the work is “busy work.” Students don’t feel like they are retaining information, they are simply completing the work for credit and attendance purposes. Students discussed working on projects that are away from the computer. Simplify the Wednesday schedule to make the school day less stressful and more meaningful. (Nov 2nd, 2020)

    • 2nd meeting: Discussed the clubs on campus should make videos about how the hate-motivated behaviors would be addressed. The meeting went beyond the time limit due to the deep discussion of topics. Update with simple language and create videos. (Dec 12th, 2020)

    • CSVA conference and had the opportunity to meet with other student board representatives and learned about the staff and student mental health issues that individuals are dealing with. The idea is to send a google form and create a list of motivational quotes, songs, poems, and then create an automated system where students and teachers would receive an email first thing in the morning so that they start off the day with a positive message. 

  • Madera Minute: Student/Staff Recognition

    • Lile’s speaks to the leadership exemplified by the student representatives like Trustee Goodman (1:16:00)

  • Public Hearing for visitors who wish to speak on a subject, not on the Board agenda

    • No comments are made

    • One comment submitted in writing

  • Information and reports

    • FFA Informational Update to the Board

    • K. McKenna and two student representatives give a year in review to the board

Agenda Approval: Consent Items 13 A-E

  • Motion to approve consent agenda Fernandes, Salazar seconds the motion to approve consent agenda

  • Cortes Yes

  • Mcintyre Yes

  • Fernandes Yes

  • Salazar yes

  • Seibert Yes

  • Goodman Yes

  • Fleak Yes

  • Mendoza Yes

Old Business

  • Approval of Esports (2:00:00-2:27:00)

    • Supplemental and Concentration fund that comes from LCFF, One-time purchase for equipment, $1,500 per school per year

      • Using Supplemental/Contrentation funds is to provide additional support and services for students, esports increases services for students.

      • Mcintyre is not convinced it is a program that needs to be put in place now, will be worthy at some time in the future, “not appropriate at this time”

      • Seibert: agrees with Mcintyre, esports should come out of general funds

      • A.D. Bitters, the upkeep and maintenance are pretty minimal for the reward, the funds to start this and maintain it is minimal with the reward and benefit that occurs. Provides kids with numerous opportunities and connects kids with schools that are not connected in any other way. 40% of students are not connected through extracurricular activities, encompassing all kids, all kids can participate. These are all things that are extremely vital to closing the gap in academic achievement.

      • Salazar: Students are already spending a lot of time from behind the screen, students need to get out from behind the screen. Need a different type of social engagement. 

      • AD talked about using covid funds because there are no athletics due to the pandemic, executive cabinet 

      • Liles: I am not a voter, the vast majority of students aren’t into anything besides esports, the inclusion of students and think more broadly and make them want to come to school. This is one of those programs. There is substantial support and interest from the community. We understand the conversation about funding… 

      • Fernandes: I think it’s a great program, only question I have is the coaching stipends, how are those tiers determined? 

      • Albertson: This is a negotiable item with A.D. Bitter and determines the proper placement of the coaching stipend

      • Fleak: I think there are a lot of positives, wasn’t quite sure about it at first, and attend esports presentation: inclusion, getting kids to school, brings kids together, and really positive, a lot of young people are into doing this, and colleges have teams, becoming a really big thing across the US and the world. Helps students and kids can get together and work with people they wouldn’t have worked with before

      • Mendoza: By doing esports why not put it to work and get the benefits, if there are going to be on their phones 

      • Seibert: I wouldn’t mind if the funding came from covid funds

      • Fleak moves to approve the request for Esports, Siebert seconds the motion

        • Cortes No

        • Fernandes Yes

        • Mcintyre No

        • Salazar Yes

        • Siebert Yes

        • Goodman Yes

        • Fleak Yes

        • Mendoza Yes

        • 6 Yes, 2 No

Request approval for new courses

  • Salazar moves to approve, Fleak seconds the motion

    • Cortes Yes

    • Fernandes Yes

    • Mcintyre Yes

    • Salazar YEs

    • Siebart Yes

    • Goodman Yes

    • Fleak Yes

    • Mendoza Yes

Summary

  • Three new board members were sworn into the Madera USD Board of Trustees including Ruben Mendza, Ray Seibert, and Israel Cortes.

  • Student Board Member Jeremiah Goodman provided board members with some feedback from students from meetings held on Nov. 2nd, 2020 and Dec. 12th, 2020. Some of the feedback included the volume of work being assigned, the need for videos to dispense school initiatives, and the reminder to consider student/staff mental health. 

  • The most debated agenda item from the meeting was the approval for Esports. Although the majority of board members, the superintendent, and the athletic director felt that students would benefit from esports, two board members disagreed and did not see value in the approval of esports at Madera USD. In the end, the item was voted on and approved with 6 yes votes, and 2 no votes. 

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