New Public Comment Process Sparks Controversy
Terrorist Attacks Condemned
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Recognized
National Conflict Resolution Center Contract
Assistant Superintendent Tina Douglas Resigns
New Public Comment Process Sparks Controversy
The business of the board meeting was overshadowed by public reaction to changes in the way the board handles comments from the public during board meetings.
Prior to this meeting, the board heard public comments in three sections: comments related to items listed in the closed session of the agenda, comments related to items listed in the open session of the agenda, and comments for issues not on the agenda. Commenters could speak in any or all three sections. Prior to last week’s board meeting, the order of events was 1. comments taken on closed session items, 2. the board would go into closed session, 3. upon returning the board would take public comments for the open session items and then 4. The board would take comments on non-agendized topics. The board set a specific time to return from closed session (generally 6:00pm) so that the public could plan their evenings accordingly.
Board President Rimga Viskanta changed this process so that comments related to items not on the agenda would not be taken at the opening of the public portion of the board meeting, but instead be heard at the end of the meeting (along with a couple of other process changes).
Because the board also requires people sign-in to speak before the meeting starts at 6:00pm, this new procedure would require speakers to arrive before 6pm and then stay until the end of the meeting, which could be 8:00pm, 9:00pm, or any time. We have had meetings run past midnight.
Several people spoke against this change, describing the hardship this causes--for little apparent benefit. At one point during a public comment, heated discussion ensued about whether the comment was related to the agenda item. Board President Viskanta called for a short recess to calm the situation. When the meeting reconvened, she announced that, for this meeting, she would revert to the prior system and immediately take public comments for non-agendized topics rather than wait until the end of the meeting. In my opinion, moving non-agendized comments to the end of the meeting has no benefit to the Board or anyone else. We must stay for the entire meeting anyway, but moving these comments to the end can cause major inconvenience to the speaker.
Terrorist Attacks Condemned
Several members of the community and the Board, as well as the Superintendent, publicly condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. Here is the speech I read during my Trustee Report:
“I would like to begin by recognizing the horrifying terrorist attacks by Hamas on innocent civilians in Israel. To everyone who has friends and family in Israel, I would like to express my horror at what happened. It was completely barbaric, reprehensible, and just makes me sick. To be as clear as I possibly can--I stand with Israel, and the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.
I also want to be clear that our school District stands with Israel. It is the official policy of this District that we do not tolerate Antisemitism in any way, shape, or form, and that Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism.
I want to thank Dr. Staffieri for her leadership during this traumatic and sensitive time, and for ensuring that our students have all the support that we can possibly give them. Thank you, Dr. Staffieri.”
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Recognized
The Board recognized 84 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. This is a high academic honor that requires students finish in the top one-half of one percent on the PSAT test, and often leads to scholarships and improved college acceptance.
Based on my analysis, Canyon Crest Academy had more students named as semifinalists than any other public high school in the state of California (except for one). This is a fantastic achievement, and I congratulate all these high performing students. I would like our district to consider adopting a goal for each high school to increase the number of students taking the PSAT test year over year.
National Conflict Resolution Center
The Board approved a contract with the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) as part of an initiative that Superintendent Staffieri calls “One San Dieguito”. This program, which starts in January, will help students, staff, and others build a supportive and inclusive learning environment and improve district communication and culture. The NCRC is well-regarded, and by utilizing one professional organization across every campus, our efforts to make all students feel welcome will be comprehensive, unified, and coordinated. Parents, teachers, staff, and Board Members will also have the opportunity to participate.
Tina Douglas Resigns
Associate Superintendent of Business Services Tina Douglas tendered her resignation, effective after the upcoming November Board meeting. Tina did a great job as head of the District’s Business Services group and was effectively our Chief Financial Officer. She stepped up to lead the District as Interim Superintendent and did a great job. I will miss working with Tina and wish her the best. On a personal note, Tina and I had a wonderful working relationship, first based on our mutual fondness for data and financial analysis. When she transitioned into the interim superintendent role, I was impressed by her leadership abilities, dedication to the district, and her sense of empathy and caring for students. She can talk numbers, but she has a huge heart. And a love of good coffee.
The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting of the SDUHSD will take place on November 14, 2023 at San Dieguito Academy High School.