4-1-1 On The October 17, 2023 IUSD Board of Education Meeting

The Agenda for the October 17, 2023 IUSD Board of Education meeting can be found here. The video replay of the meeting can be found here.

***Note: I was not present in person for this meeting. My 4-1-1 assessment below is based on watching the live stream, watching the replay and reviewing the meeting transcript.***

For the first time, since I have been closely following the IUSD Board of Education meetings over the past 3 years, there were 0 items of business for discussion on the agenda. Lasting one hour and ten minutes, this is one of the shortest Board meetings I have seen. All 5 Board Members and all 5 Student Board members were present. Although the agenda for the meeting was routine & standard, the majority of the meeting time was spent on public comments. Mr. Walker’s Superintendent report was the most brief I’ve heard with only 2 items shared: IPSF Turn Irvine Orange on October 19 & IUSD College Career & Life Readiness Fair the week of October 23. Student Board member reports were very brief as were the individual board member reports.

When the meeting was called to order and Board President Lauren Brooks provided read outs from closed session, it was shared that 2 student discipline cases were discussed. It’s unclear what the outcome of that discussion was as it wasn’t stated in Ms. Brooks’ read out. The Superintendent’s goals and objectives for 2022/23 were also discussed during closed session. The meeting recorder Raianna Chavez reminded Ms. Brooks that a vote was needed on the 2 student discipline cases before moving on to public comments. The Board voted unanimously to support the IUSD staff’s recommendations on the two student discipline cases.

There were a total of 8 public comments shared during general public comments and 3 public comments shared on consent calendar agenda item 18c. Appointment of Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Officers. This is the most public comments there have been in while. 5 of the public comments were in relation to IUSD community reaction and response to the Hamas attacks on Israel. A recap of each of the public comments is included below.

Mr. Michael Scott (formerly the Executive Director of Irvine International Academy Mandarin Immersion Charter school) shared public comments about the successful academic model implemented at Irvine International Academy which elevated it to one of the top performing schools in CA according to its standardized test results. He attributed IIA’s success to one  to  one  classrooms which result in higher  level  of  thinking  in evaluating, comparing,  contrasting and synthesizing information. He noted the model and approach  results in a student body of  critical  thinkers and creative  problem  solvers. He thanked IUSD staff and administration for their professionalism and expertise during IIA’s inaugural year. He shared that, although no longer at Irvine International Academy, he is offering his services to any schools that would be interested in adopting his proposed model for their GATE programs.

Roy, an Israeli and IUSD father addressed the podium next. He shared concern about the safety and well being of his children in the IUSD school system. He provided specific examples to support his concern and indicated that school principals seemed to be ignoring the concerns he had brought to them. He concluded his public comments by asking the Board how they are planning to  ensure the  well  being  of  all  of  our  students, regardless  of  their  nationality or  background  and how they will keep  IUSD schools  safe as  a  place  to  study  and  thrive.

Ron, an IUSD father followed Roy’s comments. Ron shared that he comes from a family lineage of holocaust survivors. He posed the same questions to IUSD Board about student safety and well being as Roy had.

Sharon, IUSD mom, followed Ron. She also expressed concern about student safety sharing examples of specific incidents her elementary aged son had been subjected to on campus because of his religious beliefs. She noted that the teachers are not adequately equipped to manage these situations. She took her concerns to the school administration and was waiting for their follow up and follow through at the time she shared her public comments.

Tali (not sure of spelling) the mom of an IUSD graduate approached the podium next to share public comments. She shared that she is Israeli and her husband is from Iran. She knows what it’s like to be persecuted and forced to seek refuge outside her home country. She has a good friend from Iraq who is Muslim. Together they would like to offer their services via speaking engagements at IUSD schools which will bring forward a message of unity. She concluded her comments by requesting that IUSD contact her.

IUSD mom Erin approached the podium next. Erin previously shared public comments recommending IUSD adopt and American flag policy during the October 3 Board meeting. Erin read her proposed American flag policy modeled after one that was recently approved by the Temecula Valley school board. She reiterated her concerns shared at the October 3 Board meeting about LGBTQ flags in classrooms and common areas on campus not being representative of all students. She reminded the Board that a  single  unified  flag  represents our  commitment  to  a  shared identity  as  Americans, and  promotes  inclusivity  among  students  from diverse  backgrounds  and  unites  us all. She requested that the flag policy be added as an agenda item to the next board meeting agenda. She concluded her comments by stating that a flag policy would ensure that  every  child, regardless  of  their  background, can  learn  and  grow  in  an  environment free  from  unnecessary  distractions.

Student Board Member Gabriel Mutsvangwa was next to share public comments. Mr. Mutsvangwa’s comments were in response to Erin’s and were a rebuttal to her comments shared during the October 3 IUSD Board meeting. He shared that he serves on the district’s Ethnic Studies Committee and is speaking on behalf of the student body. He raised concern that displaying the American Flag only and the policy that had been proposed by Erin was “Un American” and not what the Board should stand for. He emphasized that when the LGBTQ pride flag is on display, students  and staff  are  more  receptive and  empathetic  to  those of  all backgrounds  and have  implemented a  more  inclusive curriculum  in  classes. He declared himself (although not part of the LGBTQ community) to be a black  scholar  in a  greatly  underrepresented  community who feels  for  groups  who  may  not  have opportunities  like  this  to share  their  own  opinions. The LGBTQ Pride flag gives his peers a sense of hope and the comfort to be themselves. He drew comparison between the LGBTQ Pride flag, the Gadsden Flag & the Confederate flag. He concluded his comments by stating that freedom  of  speech  and religious  practice  protected  by the  First  Amendment  should  allow our  students  and  staff  to fly  the  flags  that  best  represent  them.

Debbie Kamm was the last to approach the podium for general public comments. Ms. Kamm shared public comments at the October 3 and September 12th Board meetings. Her public comments were a follow up to the agenda item she requested and commented on at the September 12th meeting about using an in house legal counsel for special education cases as opposed to contracting the work out to a external law firms that may charge upwards of $1,300/ hour without Board oversight or approval. Ms. Kamm shared that she had spoken to the head of legal counsel for the West End SELPA who has implemented an in house legal counsel model. As a result of implementing the in house model, West End SELPA has experienced greater efficiency, higher transparency and reduced costs. They were able to save over $400,00 in one year alone by making the switch. In addition- their model has shifted from dispute resolution towards dispute prevention- something Ms. Kamm stated IUSD should consider. Ms. Kamm concluded her comments by raising concern about the lack of transparency by IUSD Board and administration surrounding who approves the special education litigation. Other Districts are very transparent about this and include it on board agendas. She stated that transparency alone can save money on special education.

Student Board member reports and Board Member read outs followed general public comments. Although Board members are not allowed to directly address public comments shared, Mr. Bokota and Ms. Brooks made the following statements pertaining to the attack on Israel and student safety during their read outs:

“We  teach  a  lot  about diversity  and  inclusion here  and  about tolerance, and  hopefully  we  teach  about  humanity. We've  spoken  before,  in the  wake  of  George  Floyd's  murder, about  issues  affecting African  American  students. We've  spoken  about  hatred towards  the  Asian  American  community, particularly  during  Covid  and  at  other  times. Now  in  wake  of the  terrorist  attack  on  Israel, I  do  want  to  mention  anti  semitism- I  think  it's  important  to  name  that  hate anti semitism. The  people  who  spoke  here  today, again  I'm  not  responding  to  them, were  far  more  eloquent  than I.  There  have  been people  walking  with  Nazi flags  near  our  schools. There  have  been  Swastikas  painted  on lockers  in  the  community  nearby. I  was  in  contact  today  with an Irvine  Rabbi  who  told  me  that  as  of this  morning  he  had  had five  calls  about  anti semitic  incidents  in  Irvine  schools. It's  only  Tuesday  morning, which  means  this  all happened  in  one  day  on Monday. Some  of  these  we  know  about and  often  we  don't  know  about  them. Someone's  comfort in  confiding  with  a  rabbi  or other  clergyman  or  a  woman  may  be greater  than their  comfort in  confiding  with  the  school. But  most  importantly, we  do  need  to  know  about  this. Our  most  important  job  is  to  keep our  children  safe  and  to  make  them  feel  safe, which  are  two  related but  somewhat  different  concepts. There  are  plans  in  place  that  are actual  safety  plans  that have  been  vetted  with  IPD, with  other  agencies, Homeland  Security,  FBI  and  others. So  we  do  have  plans  in  place  and  you can  see  what  some  of  those  plans  are. That  is  not  a  substitute for  awareness  and  for  our  being  told. What  happens  if  you tell  a  teacher  or  a  principal, which  is  the  first  person or  first  people  whom  you should  tell  and  you're not  getting  an  answer  that  you  want- please  raise  that  to  the  district  office. It  is  important  that we know  about  it  and  that  we do something  about  that. I  accept  that  with many  things  related  to  to  hate  or  tolerance, there  are  things  that  we  can  do better  and  need to  do  better. And  we  constantly  look at  ways  that  we  can  improve. How  we  teach  about  hate, or hopefully  not  hating, and  how  we  respond  to  incidents  of  hate  to ensure  that  our  students  are safe and  feel  safe. Right  now,  we've had  a  rise  in  anti  semitic  events. These  have  been  on  the  rise actually  for  several  years, but  have  been  kind  of  acute  here. Unfortunately,  anti semitism, as  it  becomes  more  common becomes  more  insidious rather than acute  short term  incidents of  discrimination. So  it  is  incumbent  upon  all  of us  to  fight  that  and  other  forms  of  hate. Other  forms  of  hate that  any  parents  or  students are exposed  to could  be Islamophobic  conduct  or  speech. We  absolutely  need  to  know about that  so  that  we  can  combat  that, respond  to  that  and  make  our  students  feel  safe. I'm hoping  there will  come  a  time when  we  won't  have  to  talk  about  this. To  the  extent  we  do, please  let  us  know. Know  that  the  school  views its  most  important  function as  keeping  your  children  safe. - Paul Bokota

“We  reject  and  prioritize our  community  safety  first in  IUSD. We  do  not  tolerate  anti  semitism, Islamophobia,  or  any  kind  of  hate. Every  IUSD  and  Irvine  community member deserves  to  feel  safe  and  welcomed. We  will  make  every  effort to  make  sure  that  happens. It's  something  our  community  has  to do  and  we  can't  turn  away  from  it.”- Lauren Brooks

The approval of consent agenda items followed Board read outs. Three members from the Community Advisory Committee Executive Board shared public comments on 18 (c).Appointment of Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Officers. Sandra Albers introduced herself as the newly elected Secretary and stated one  of her primary  goals  is to  work  with  the  district  to  implement the  research  backed  practices for  the  full  inclusion  of  our  students  with disabilities  in  the  general education  classroom while  still effectively  meeting their  academic  needs. Newly elected Vice Chair Heena Shah shared her appreciation for the opportunity to serve as Vice Chair. She stated she aspires to do her very best in advocating for  all  of the parents who have kids  that  need that  special  help  and  support. She will advocate for IUSD to provide  a  community  where the kids  know  that  they  can  be  accepted just  as  they  are. Robin Cowin (CAC member and former Chair and Vice Chair) followed Ms. Shah in sharing comments. Ms. Cowin shared CAC highlights and made an appeal to the Board that CAC membership be allowed to vote in the CAC Leadership as opposed to IUSD Board appointing CAC Leadership.

Upon conclusion of Ms. Cowin’s comments, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Community Advisory Committee Officers. The meeting was adjourned after the vote.