Good Morning All,

I want to thank everyone who has signed the petition, helped plan the Rally and those that plan to attend. Last night the Board of Trustees met and while our concerns were read, the meeting was mostly about budget discussions. Some of the funding from Federal and State has time limitations and must be used for those very specific things by the end of this year 2020. I will use an example that was used during the meeting. Wi-Fi Hotspots for Distance Learning: The funds can be used to purchase and pay for the devices and plans but only until the end of Dec 2020. The devices the school will own but after Dec 2020 it is the school’s responsibility to continue to pay for these Wi-Fi plan charges. From the sounds of it, the carrier for the Wi-Fi will be Verizon. My question is: Is this funding being used to move us to distance learning? Is there a way to use these funds as required and still allow our children to attend school in person?

I was disappointed at the behavior I witnessed during the meeting from 2 of the Board Members. I was going to post this update last night, but I just could not bring myself to find the right words to express my feelings on what I witnessed. One thing they did mention that I fully agree with is that Parents need to be more communicative about their issues with the district. I am going to include an email at the bottom of this update and encourage parents to send an email. Please include your school, your frustration but most importantly, how do you think the district and Superintendent can better approach this situation. Please be polite but also thorough.

Ariana Serrano - aserrano@rbuesd.org

(If anyone has the superintendent’s email, Cliff, Please let me know and I’ll add it but myself and the other parents cannot find it.)

I suggest we also request a public comment period before deciding to start with distance learning. I found out 20 mins prior to last nights meeting that public comments would be read, and it only afforded us enough time to get in a handful of comments and concerns. This should have been weeks ago that we allowed the parents to voice their feelings. I feel that with the district saying, “Every Student, Every Day,” most parents did not feel they needed to address it as it was what most parents wanted. We have been here, and we have been concerned but we were pacified by the districts drive for “Every Student, Every Day.”

Lastly, I would like to address the Board Members and Superintendent publicly:

               I would greatly encourage each one of you to meet with us on Thursday, Aug 13th from 6 - 8 pm. There have been some amazing and, what I believe, attainable ideas from the parents of the district. Together, we can brainstorm with all the information provided and come up with a workable plan for our Teachers and our students. We have some amazing teachers in this district, and I have been blessed to have my children grow and learn so much since we entered this district. Not going back to school, from what I have seen, read and that has been communicated to me, is not only letting the students down but the teachers as well.

We understand there is a need for Distance Learning for those children with health issues and disabilities that might make in person teaching with the current requirements not possible but let’s consider following Antelopes lead. Give us 10 days to show you that in person lesson is where our children need to be. That is a completely reasonable idea. If the district moves to distance learning due to health concerns, then we will have to figure it out at that point regardless. However, if it is safe to go back, they should go back.

See you tomorrow night!