By Julie BUTCHER

Amidst hours of detailed reviewing of every expenditure of the school district, the Glendale Unified School District’s first meeting of the 2017-18 school year also included extensive, heartfelt recognition for the staff and volunteers who helped respond to last week’s La Tuna Fire. Numerous members of the public and district officials thanked front-line food service and facilities workers who opened Crescenta Valley High School as Glendale’s only evacuation center during the fire.

“Staff moved efficiently, on a moment’s notice, to welcome families in their time of need,” Dr. Winfred Roberson, District superintendent noted, “and we welcomed them with a smile. I can’t thank them – and all of our volunteers – enough.”

Board President Nayiri Nahabedian opened the meeting with a recommitment to the District’s “Safe Zone” policy, aimed at welcoming and protecting all of the District’s students, regardless of immigration status.

“I feel compelled to begin this meeting on this day that President Trump has announced his intent to end DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the immigration program adopted in 2012 that permits children of immigrants brought to this country as children to apply for certain protections] by restating in no uncertain terms GUSD’s commitment to making all of our schools places where all of our students feel welcome, where they can be without fear,” Board President Nahabedian said before beginning the public comment section of the agenda, following a lengthy closed session. “I quote a letter sent from the heads of 560 colleges and universities urging the President to allow these very productive children who contribute to our country and our schools to stay in the only country many of them have ever known. It is both a moral imperative and a question of national necessity and decency.”

A plethora of issues was raised during the first public comment opportunity of the new school year.

Ken Biermann spoke to introduce the idea of installing permanent field seating and lighting at Crescenta Valley High School. Biermann noted it was Dr. Thomas’ intent in 1968 but that “we’ve never completed the athletic fields.”

“Now is the time to achieve this dream,” the retired teacher, coach, and principal told the board. “The PTSA is on board and voted to support this effort at their meeting on Aug. 21. And, as a person who worked hard for the passage of Measure S, I’d say this would be a good use of those funds.”

Several elementary teachers and a representative of the teacher’s union spoke about problems teachers are having with the practice of mandatory yard duty.

Lincoln Elementary School kindergarten teacher Angelina Thomas addressed the board.

“On days when we have yard duty, we literally can’t go to the restroom. We have to call someone else who then has to disrupt his or her class. We consciously don’t drink water on those days. We’ve no time to collect ourselves or to respond to emails from parents. It is unconscionable and it can be easily resolved.”

Thomas invited board member Jennifer Freemon to shadow her on a day when she is required to do yard duty. “Come meet my students, see what I do.”

Other teachers made similar invitations to the board member responsible for their school. One described a situation on the yard in which a teacher needed help with a student who had left school grounds.

“What’s he supposed to do? Leave 32 kids standing there while he runs after the one who may be injured? Come see what we do. Please. Walk a day in my shoes,” invited La Crescenta Elementary second grade teacher Rosine Simikin.

Alicia Harris spoke on behalf of the union.

“As the GTA VP and organizing chair, I visit every school and I compile and analyze bargaining surveys. I teach high school, and it took me a second to understand how significant this issue is for our elementary teachers. Eliminating mandatory yard duty shows up as the highest or second priority across-the-board. One teacher asked me to read her story. It’s embarrassing to me to read about her urological difficulties, but this is doing permanent damage to our teachers and it needs to be solved.

“I echo the request of these teachers who have asked you to shadow them on days when they do yard duty. I invite the PTA and PTSA chairs as well. It’s important that parents understand what’s going on.”

She added, “This should have been resolved in the last round of bargaining, and it has been solved in most other districts. We call upon you to fully eliminate mandatory yard duty.”

Harris also commented on the board’s support for all of the District’s students, thanking the board for “saying what is in all of our hearts. I can tell it is in yours.”

Neda Farid-Farhoumand urged everyone to join the PTA or PTSA.

“We’re at 25 sites and it costs from $8 to $10 for the whole year,” Farhoumand encouraged. “If you don’t have time to volunteer, this is something everyone can do.”

The lengthy board meeting included a 26-slide presentation on back-to-school night activities across the District. The new District app (in the App store or on Google Play) has been downloaded 4,500 times. The math pilot is extended to the secondary levels. No instructional steps will be missed in the transition.

“Maybe you had a stellar fifth grade teacher last year who piloted the program and now you have an equally stellar sixth grade teacher this year,” Roberson explained. “The move to Envision 2.0 has considered that and students will get the full benefit of the entire curriculum.”

As part of its ongoing planning process, the district evaluates itself against accountability goals. Reporting on these metrics, the district is utilizing fully credentialed teachers who have “access to standards-aligned materials.” The District reports that as part of this effort it is focusing on improving chronic absenteeism. In a separate report, the District is piloting the use of tools such as peace circles and other “restorative justice” models. Participants in a recent conference reported on the possibilities of this positive approach aimed at helping students solve their own problems in a respectful and trusting environment.

As the meeting wrapped up, board member Shant Sahakian added thanks to the Red Cross and the Pasadena Humane Society for their help during the fire.

“I think it’s essential that we restate our commitment to the safe and equal access of all of our students, the way we have done with important matters such as speaking out about the Armenian Genocide,” he went on. “I resolve that we make equal access to education a promise and that we communicate our commitment to all of our families. I propose that we do this on an annual basis, so that one day it won’t need to be reaffirmed.”

  Julie BUTCHER