OKAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FERNDALE [1. CONVENE] [00:00:10] SCHOOL BOARD TO ORDER AND GET THINGS STARTED. [2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA] THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ADOPTING THE AGENDA. AND SO IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION TO DO SUCH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN. OKAY, SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OKAY. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SO. THERE WAS SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO ASK TO MOVE. SO. ON THE SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA? OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT. ACTUALLY, NEVER MIND. IT IS AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION. SO THANK YOU. OKAY, SO, UM, SO THEN THE AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED. AND THE FIRST ITEM, THEN 3.01 IS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. [3. Executive Session] AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES TO DISCUSS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK OUT AND CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS. SO WE WILL ADJOURN TO THE RECESS TO THE OTHER ROOM. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. SO AGAIN, FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE JUST JOINING US, WE THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD. [4. MATTERS RESERVED FOR BOARD ACTION] WE ARE BASICALLY TONIGHT WITH THIS SPECIAL MEETING. WE ARE INTERVIEWING AND SELECTING OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SO WITH THAT, I WILL INVITE GABBY AND CAIN TO PLEASE STEP UP TO THE HOT SEATS. DON'T FEEL INTIMIDATED. WE'RE REALLY NOT THAT SCARY. SO SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT AND TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU. WE'LL START WITH ONE OF YOU FOR ONE QUESTION. WE'LL ALTERNATE BACK AND FORTH. SO ONE PERSON IS POISED TO FIRST HAVE TO THINK ON THEIR FEET. WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THEN WE WILL AGAIN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE WE'LL DISCUSS YOUR QUALIFICATION AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK OUT HERE AND MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE. SO WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU GUYS AT THIS POINT? THAT MAKES SENSE. OKAY. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START THE PROCESS WITH THE FIRST QUESTION AND I WILL DIRECT IT AT GABBY. AND SO PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. HI, I'M GABRIELLE LINTON. I GO BY GABBY HOUSE. SINCE I WAS IN PRESCHOOL. I'VE WANTED TO BE A TEACHER SINCE I WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE BECAUSE MY FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON SHAPING WHO I WAS AND WHO I WANT TO BE BECAUSE IT WAS A REALLY STABLE PLACE IN MY LIFE AND MY MOM HAD CANCER. WE WERE REMISSION. BUT I'VE BEEN PLAYING VOLLEYBALL IN LIKE FERNDALE PROGRAM SINCE I WAS IN FIFTH GRADE. I'M IN DECA FOR FERNDALE. I AM THE JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT, JUST ELECTED FOR NEXT YEAR AND CURRENT SOPHOMORE CLASS TREASURER. AND I REALLY LIKE TO READ. I HAVE A DOG NAMED PEPPER AND A LITTLE BROTHER. MY NAME IS CADE JONES. I'M CURRENTLY A SOPHOMORE HERE AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN IN THE FERNDALE SCHOOL SYSTEM SINCE KINDERGARTEN HERE AT ORANGE AND I HAVE ON THE HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AS I ALREADY KNOW, ALL OF YOU WHO WENT TO I'VE AS WELL, WHO WORKED THERE. I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT NUMEROUS LEADERS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, STARTING AS THE HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESIDENT IN EIGHTH GRADE, LIKE DURING COVID. THAT WAS A VERY INTERESTING YEAR, GETTING ELECTED AND REALLY WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES THERE GAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE AND REALLY GLAD THAT I WAS ELECTED TO THAT POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN 2021, I WAS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE UPCOMING 2025 CLASS AND I ALSO WORKED WITH ASB DURING THEM. AND NEXT YEAR I WILL BE ALSO WORKING IN DECA AS THE CURRENT ROLE PLAY DIRECTOR AND HELPING NEW MEMBERS ORGANIZE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. BOTH THE INGATHERING FUND UNDER THE YOUTH COUNCIL, YOUTH CIVIC COUNCIL, WORKING WITH MAYOR KIRK HANSON TOGETHER AS WELL, BOTH IN DECA AS WELL. I REALLY LIKE PLANES. I REALLY LIKE GEOGRAPHY. I LIKE MODERN POLITICS. I AM REALLY A BIG NERD. I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THE POTENTIAL FUTURE LEADERSHIP POSITION HERE AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. AND I LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. [00:05:03] THANK YOU. UM, FOR GABBY, I GUESS. IN WHAT, SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OR COMMUNITY? EXCUSE ME. WE'RE ACTUALLY START WITH KANE. OH, OKAY. SORRY. OKAY. IN WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED? I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, AS I SAID BEFORE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. AS VERIZON SCHOOL PRESIDENT AND FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE. IN HIGH SCHOOL, I JOINED TENNIS THIS YEAR AND WE DIDN'T REALLY MAKE IT TO ANY STATE PLAYOFFS, BUT WE DID REALLY WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM VERY WELL. WE MADE A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS PLAYING THAT. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE GOT TO GO THERE. SO WE PLAYED A LOT ACROSS THE PUGET SOUND. WE PLAYED OAK HARBOR, A SCOTCH COUNTY ACROSS WHATCOM, AND WE DID THAT FROM SEPTEMBER UP UNTIL REALLY THE END OF OCTOBER. AS I ALSO STATED BEFORE, DECA NEXT YEAR WILL BE MY THIRD YEAR IN DECA. ME, I HAVE QUALIFIED TWO TIMES FOR STATE COMPETITIONS DOWN IN BELLEVUE. ALSO MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT WAY. AND NEXT YEAR I WILL BE DOING THE SWIM HOPEFULLY AS WELL AS GOLF MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WORK. I PLAYED A LOT OF FOOTBALL, DIFFERENT PRIVATE LEAGUE AS WELL WITH BASKETBALL. AGAIN, AS I SAID, EIGHTH GRADE PRESIDENT. AND REALLY IT WAS DIFFICULT WORKING IN COVID, REALLY ORGANIZING, KIND OF CHANGING MY LIFE. IT WAS A BIG, BIG CHANGE FOR ALL OF US. BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GLAD BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO REALLY CHANGE A LOT ABOUT MYSELF, AND I THINK I'VE ENDED UP AS A BETTER PERSON SINCE THERE. SO THE EAGLE RIDGE, I'VE REALLY BEEN INTO HORGOS, GEOGRAPHY, POLITICS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF A NERDY GUY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF SCHOOL, DIFFERENT A LOT OF SCHOOL THINGS. BUT AS I NOTICED THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, I'VE BEEN GETTING INVOLVED IN MORE AND MORE THINGS. AND AND THANKFULLY THAT'S BEEN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED AND BEEN GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT CLUBS AND STUFF. SO I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HOPEFUL THAT FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL I'VE MOVED TO GET INTO MORE POSITIONS AND CHANGE MY LIFE. UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE KINDERGARTEN. I PLAYED BASKETBALL AT THE FERNDALE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. UM, I PLAYED T-BALL AND LIKE SOFTBALL SPORTS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE THIRD GRADE WITH THE FERNDALE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. AND THEN IN FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE, I STARTED FERNDALE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB VOLLEYBALL. FROM THERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SEVENTH GRADE AND EIGHTH GRADE, I PLAYED BOTH, UM, UM, VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL. UM, FRESHMAN YEAR I PLAYED, UM, FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM, BUT IT INTERFERED A LOT WITH DOING CLUB VOLLEYBALL, WHICH I WAS ENCOURAGED TO DO AFTER PLAYING IN THE FERNDALE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM FRESHMAN YEAR AS WELL. AND SO I MADE IT THROUGH BOTH SEASONS, HAD A SUCCESSFUL SEASONS. IT WAS REALLY FUN, BUT I DECIDED TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OFF MY PLATE AND DID NOT CONTINUE VOLLEYBALL. I MEAN, NOT VOLLEYBALL. I DID NOT CONTINUE WITH BASKETBALL THIS YEAR. SO THIS YEAR I JUST DID FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL. I WAS ON JV UNDER COACH JAMIE O'BRIEN AND I DID CLUB VOLLEYBALL. OUR LAST TOURNAMENT WAS THIS WEEKEND WITH SEABA AND VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY. AS FOR OTHER LIKE EXTRACURRICULARS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY SPORTS RELATED, IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I DID BAND. I PLAYED THE TRUMPET SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. THAT WAS REALLY FUN. I WAS REALLY SAD. THE MARCHING SEASON WAS CANCELED AND THE EIGHTH GRADE BECAUSE I WAS SEVENTH GRADE ACTUALLY, WE WERE GOING TO LEARN MARCH AND THEN COVID HIT, BUT THAT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE. I REALLY ENJOYED LIKE THE MUSICAL ASPECT OF IT. AND THEN AS FOR LIKE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT, GOVERNMENT THINGS, I WAS ENCOURAGED FRESHMAN YEAR TO RUN FOR SOPHOMORE YEAR. HE DID DID RUN FOR THAT ONE AND GOT A SOPHOMORE CLASS TREASURER. THIS YEAR I RUN, I RAN IN ONE JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT FOR NEXT YEAR AND I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT MEANS I GET TO PLAN PROM AND I JUST LOVE BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. I JOINED DECA THIS YEAR BECAUSE MS, I TOOK INTRO INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AS AN ELECTIVE LAST YEAR AND MR. REALLY KIND OF SPARKED A PASSION IN THE SUBJECT FOR ME. AND I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS AND THE ADVISOR FANTASTIC. AND LIKE KATIE SAID, WE'RE ON YOUTH CIVIC COUNCIL AND I'M KIND OF STUFF THE MEETINGS ARE OVER THE SUMMER BECAUSE DISCUSSING CITY ISSUES WAS NICE, BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK I'M UP NEXT. SORRY. SO, KING, THIS QUESTION'S FOR YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE TWO OF THE TOP CHALLENGES FACING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY? [00:10:01] WE'LL START WITH GABBY. WE STARTED WITH KING ON THE LAST. OH, THAT'S OKAY. MY SINCERE APOLOGIES. ALL GOOD. OKAY. WHAT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPEAT THAT? YES, PLEASE. OKAY, SO. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE TWO OF THE TOP CHALLENGES FACING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY? I THINK ONE OF THEM IS INVOLVEMENT FROM ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR IN ASB ELECTIONS, OUR STUDENTS, ONLY 33% VOTED. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT SPIRIT IN THE DISTRICT ISN'T AS HIGH, LIKE THE COMMUNITY ISN'T AS INVOLVED AND LIKE COMMUNITY LIKE, I GUESS SUPPORTIVE IN THAT WAY. AND YOU FEEL LIKE BOLSTERING THOSE SPIRITS AND BOLSTERING THAT INVOLVEMENT AND JUST THE KIND OF FAMILY FEELING AND EXCITEMENT TO BE PART OF FERNDALE, TO BE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, TO BE PART OF THIS DISTRICT, WHETHER IT BE SCHOOL OR JUST LIKE CITYWIDE. UM. SORRY, THINKING ON MY FEET IS INTERESTING SOMETIMES. THE SECOND ISSUE THAT I THINK FERNDALE FACES SOMETIMES IS THE COMPLETELY ADHERING TO THE MOTTO OF YOU BELONG, WHICH I REALLY THINK IS A GREAT THING FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE PERSONALLY WHO HAVE STRUGGLED WITH BIGOTRY IN THEIR LIVES AND WHO HAVE FACED KIND OF FEELING LIKE AN OUTSIDER IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A REALLY TYPICAL THING, A STRUGGLE FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH. AND PART OF THE REASON I WANTED TO RUN FOR THIS POSITION IS BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THEM A VOICE ON THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO HELP ELEVATE THOSE STORIES, THOSE VOICES, SO THAT WE CAN GROW AND WE CAN CHANGE AND WE CAN BE A STRONGER LINK TOGETHER. FERNDALE THANK YOU. THERE'S A THING THAT MY TENNIS COACH ALWAYS TOLD US DURING THE SEASON, AND THAT WAS IT'S A MATTER OF PRIDE. THAT'S A BIG SLOGAN HERE AT FERNDALE. AND THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO BRING UP IS PRIDE. WHEN I TALK WITH MY FRIENDS AND OTHER STUDENTS HERE AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT I NOTICE PEOPLE WHAT PEOPLE SAY IS THEY'RE NOT PRIDEFUL. THEY'RE NOT PROUD OF FERNDALE. THEY THINK THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF STIGMA FROM OTHER SCHOOLS. THEY ARE JUST NOT PROUD THAT THEY ARE FROM HERE. THEY OFTEN THINK THAT LIKE YOU'RE BORING OR THAT THERE'S NO REALLY GOOD EXCUSE ME, THERE'S NO REALLY GOOD IDEAS OR REASONS TO JOIN ANY SCHOOL CLUBS OR ANY SPORTS. THEY'RE NOT PRIDEFUL OF LIVING HERE. THAT'S ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT FERNDALE SHOULD REALLY WORK ON. WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE OUR PEOPLE BE PROUD OF OUR FROM HERE. THEY SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED. THEY SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN REALLY WORKING IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS. THEY SHOULD BE WANTING TO GET OUT AND MEET NEW PEOPLE AND REALLY INFLUENCE OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'VE NOTICED A LOT FROM TALKING TO FRIENDS AND STUFF, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE ACTUALLY SHOULD CHANGE. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE HEARING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS GABBY SAID EARLIER, THAT EVERYONE DOES SHOULD FIND OUT, REALLY FEEL PART OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ONE THING I TALK WITH ROOMS IS THEY ARE OFTEN DEALING WITH FAMILY ISSUES OR THEY OFTEN DRUG RELATED HAVE TO DEAL WITH DRUG ISSUES. A LOT PEOPLE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE DIGGING INTO THE DRUGS, WHETHER THAT BE MARIJUANA, VAPING OR ANY OTHER KIND OF SUBSTANCE. WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MORE INVOLVED WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS MORE. WE SHOULD HAVE TEACHERS THAT SHOULD STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING WITH THEIR TEACHERS. WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO FEEL SAFE AND NOT EVERYONE DOES. AND THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE ON OUR PART. AND AS A STUDENT SCHOOL MEMBER, I'VE BEEN IN THOSE POSITIONS BEFORE. I'VE BEEN EVERYONE'S I'VE BEEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES BEFORE. AND THIS HURTS. HEARING YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS REALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE THINGS. FERNDALE SHOULD HAVE BETTER AND MORE RESOURCEFUL ACTION IN THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO BE PRIDEFUL IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WE CAN TAKE WITH FERNDALE, AND I'M PERSONALLY VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE HERE. I THINK WITH NEW REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP THAT WE CAN GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE. AND I THINK THAT TAKES THE RIGHT PERSON TO DO THAT. AND I BELIEVE THAT I AM THAT RIGHT PERSON. THANK YOU. START WITH KING. OKAY. SO IF YOU WERE SELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD? WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IS, AS I STATED EARLIER, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL MORE PRIDEFUL. WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL PROUD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEY'RE FROM. FERNDALE THAT, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO FERNDALE AND I'M PROUD OF THAT. HOPEFULLY WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IS MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL MORE SAFE HERE OR I GUESS MORE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL ALSO. SO HOPEFULLY IF WE WANT TO KIND OF MAKE THAT INTO STATISTICS, WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET INCREASED GRADUATION RATES HERE. WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE INVOLVED, GET DIFFERENT RATES OF ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS AND SPORTS HIRING, MAKE SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE APPLYING THINGS, MAKE SURE THAT [00:15:03] PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAVE. YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE [INAUDIBLE] AFTER SCHOOL EVENT AT THE END OF MAY. AND ONE GOOD SIGN THAT I'VE SEEN IS A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP FROM LAST YEAR. THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD METRIC TO SEEING WHAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN. AND ALONG WITH THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS WISE, IT IS GETTING PEOPLE MORE ACTIVE. I THINK ACTIVITY LEADS TO SUCCESS. AND IF YOU'RE ACTIVE IN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AFTER SCHOOL, THAT GETS YOU BETTER LINES OF SUCCESS DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER THAT'S LEADERSHIP THROUGH DECA, WHETHER THAT'S ACTIVITY IN SPORTS OR WHETHER THAT'S POSSIBLY HEALTH AND SPORTS AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY IN GENERAL IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TO BE MORE ACTIVE AND THAT WE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE REALLY HAVE MORE PURPOSE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU. MY GOAL FOR IF I WERE CHOSEN WOULD BE TO BOLSTER FEELINGS OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN LIKE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND BOARD DISCUSSIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS I FEEL LIKE BELONGING AND YOU BELONG SLOGAN WHOLLY BELONG MOTTO AND LIKE WAY OF LIVING FOR THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I FELT LIKE I DO NOT BELONG THERE. AND IT IS A HORRIBLE FEELING. IT'S AN UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING. IT'S VERY OTHERING AND YOU FEEL SO ALONE. AND I DO NOT WANT TO FERNDALE TO BE LIKE THAT. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO EXPERIENCE THOSE FEELINGS. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE FEELINGS, WHO HAVE HELPED OTHERS, WHO HAVE FELT ALONE AND FERNDALE AS A COMMUNITY. WE'RE A CITY. WE'RE DISTRICT. WE ARE A FAMILY. THIS IS YOU BELONG IS A FANTASTIC SLOGAN. I REALLY APPLAUD YOU GUYS FOR MAKING THAT FERNDALE MOTTO, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, ONE OF MY GOALS IS GOING TO BE TO INCREASE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING. AND PART OF THE WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE THROUGH INVOLVEMENT. I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A VOICE. I WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COME TO STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND GIVE INPUT FOR WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ABOUT. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS AS BOARD MEMBERS, TO SPEAK TO THEIR TEACHER, TO SPEAK THEIR THEIR PARENTS, TO SPEAK TO THEIR FRIENDS WITHOUT FEAR OF NOT BEING ACCEPTED FOR THEIR IDEALS, FOR THEIR BELIEFS, FOR WHO THEY ARE. AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT THEM AND THE COMMUNITY CAN GROW TOGETHER FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR FERNDALE, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE MORE PEOPLE IN THOSE CHAIRS FOR COMMUNITY INPUT OR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I JUST THINK THAT UPPING INVOLVEMENT IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT BASED ACTIVITIES WOULD BE FANTASTIC AND WOULD INCREASE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING. THANK YOU. MY BAD. NO WORRIES. SO WE'RE BACK. CORRECT. SORRY, I'M NOT MAKING I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS DIFFICULT. YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT. THANK YOU. SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU, GABBY, IS WHAT SHOULD OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BE DOING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF? UM, I FOR ONE HAVE NOTICED, AND I SPOKE OUT ABOUT THIS AT THE STUDENT INPUT AT THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING LIKE A WEEK AGO. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPRECIATED THE SAFETY MEASURES IN THE NEW SCHOOL, BUT WITH THE LIKE, SLIDING BARRIERS THAT CLOSED WHEN WE'RE HAVING LIKE A LOCKDOWN DRILL, THE FIRE ESCAPES ON THE STAIRWAYS. THE FACT THAT AS SOON AS CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE, YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FRONT END. I FEEL LIKE THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO MUCH SAFER KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE NATION WITH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND OTHER TRAGEDIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT HAPPEN AT FERNDALE DUE TO THE SAFETY MEASURES DUE TO THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING POLICY. THE FEELING THAT HEY, YOU CAN COME TO A LOT OF FERNDALE YOU CAN COME TO A LOT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AT FERNDALE. EVERY SINGLE PERSON I KNOW, EVERY FRIEND THAT I HAVE HAS AT LEAST ONE STAFF MEMBER THAT THEY FEEL CLOSE ENOUGH TO, THAT THEY COULD COME TO THEM WITH WORRIES OR CONCERNS. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS HUGE, THAT AS A DISTRICT WE FOSTER THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THAT SENSE OF SAFETY, THAT SENSE OF TRUST, BECAUSE IF YOU TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND HELP YOU GROW AS A PERSON AND YOU CAN COME TO THEM WITH YOUR ISSUES AND IT'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH MORE EASILY ADDRESSED THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, IF STUDENTS JUST TELL OTHER STUDENTS, HEY, I HEARD SOMEBODY IS COMING TO SCHOOL WITH A FIREARM BECAUSE THAT HAS HAPPENED AND IT RESULTED IN A MASS PANIC. [00:20:03] PEOPLE WERE SCARED. PEOPLE WERE CRYING BECAUSE SOMEBODY CHOSE NOT TO GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT TO TELL ANOTHER STUDENT EITHER SOMEONE WAS COMING TO SCHOOL WITH A GUN. AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT THE BEING ABLE TO CONFIDE IN AND TRUST THE SUPPORT OF THE ADULTS WORKING IN THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT GOAL TO SHOOT FOR AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE FAIRLY WELL IN. IT WOULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF GROWTH. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE NEW SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC AND THE SCHOOL IS REALLY NICE. I ACTUALLY REALLY AGREE WITH JAZZIE SAID THE LAST PART AND IT'S REALLY WITH RUMORS. PEOPLE WILL SPREAD THE RUMORS A LOT ABOUT SAFETY, WHETHER THEY HEARD ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO TACKLE A SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE OR WILL BRING A GUN OR A KNIFE. RUMORS CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF DISTRUST. DISTRUST LEADS TO PEOPLE OFTEN SKIPPING SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH THAT. IT ALSO COMES WITH INFORMATION. AND I DO BELIEVE AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE NEED BETTER INFORMATION, OTHER MEASURES WE SHOULD BE LETTING GO OF THAT BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENS. I WAS TALKING TO MY MOM EARLIER AND SHE WAS SAYING THAT SHE DOESN'T FEEL VERY WELL CONNECTED, MAINLY FOR EMAILS. AND FROM WHAT I CHECK WHEN I CHECK MY EMAILS, I GET LIKE A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OR SAYING THAT WE HAD AN INCIDENT HAPPEN AT SCHOOL. PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE NOT BEING AS SAFE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT WE NEED MORE DIRECT MEASURES, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA EMAILS AS WELL CALLS OR EVEN POSSIBLY TALKING WITH PARENTS DIRECTLY AT THE MS. INFORMATION IS KEY HERE, AND I THINK THAT IF WE WANT TO CREATE MORE SAFETY OR A SENSE OF SAFETY, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WELL CONNECTED AND WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO REALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WITH THAT, I ALSO THANK AGAIN WITH GABBY THAT WE OUTLINED THE SAFETY MEASURES AT THE SCHOOL AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE WEIGHTED DOORS. WE HAVE MORE PLACES TO EXIT, WHICH IS A GREAT OPTION HERE. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE NOW HAVE THAT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH TALKING ABOUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK TO A PARENT OR A TEACHER, THEY SHOULDN'T FEEL AS IF THEY ARE A SNITCH. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT REPORTING POSSIBLE INCIDENTS THAT COULD SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY KEY WHEN ENSURING STUDENTS SAFETY. PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL SAFE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLY HARMED OR HARASSED OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE, EVEN IF IT IS JUST A JOKE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE CONNECTED AND PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ACTUAL THEIR OWN SENSE OF DUTY KEEPING BOTH THEMSELVES AND OTHER STUDENTS SAFE. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY GLAD THAT WE BROUGHT THAT UP. THANK YOU. SEEING NONE. YOU GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT. THAT'S GOOD. HOW CAN A SCHOOL ADDRESS THE LEARNING NEEDS OF STUDENTS FROM OTHER CULTURES AND OTHER LANGUAGES WITHOUT ADDRESSING OTHER NEEDS OF NEW STUDENTS? I'VE NOTICED THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM UKRAINE WHO LIVE RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT, AS WELL AS A LOT OF NEW STUDENTS FROM GUATEMALA AS WELL. WHEN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF NEW STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES, I THINK THAT FERNDALE HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD PACE LATELY. LATELY, I THINK THIS YEAR WE HAD OUR FIRST CULTURE NIGHT, WHICH WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWCASING CULTURES FEELS LIKE THEY WERE WELCOMED OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE EVENTS LIKE THAT. PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEIR OWN CULTURE AND BE PROUD THAT THEY ARE PART OF THIS NEW COMMUNITY, THAT WE ARE OUR OWN MELTING POT AS A COUNTRY. WE ARE OUR OWN MELTING POT AND FERNDALE SHOULD BE THE EXACT SAME WAY. PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE. WITH THAT, I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE OTHER SHOWCASES AND EQUAL TIMES. WE'VE HAD BEEN HAVING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WATCH MORE VIDEOS OF LEARNING ABOUT NEW CULTURES, WHETHER THAT YOU'RE SIKH, WHETHER YOU'RE PART OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, WHETHER YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SEXUALITY, GETTING PEOPLE TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND HOW PEOPLE MIGHT LIVE THEIR OWN LIVES GIVES YOU THE POSSIBILITY TO REALLY THINK THAT, HEY, THAT OTHER GUY, YOU KNOW, WHO'S IN A DIFFERENT RELIGION. I CAN SEE HOW HE LOOKED AT THE WORLD NOW. I GET HOW HE THINKS AND I GET HOW HE MIGHT SEE HOW THEY WORK. AND THAT REALLY GIVES A GOOD TEAMWORK KIND OF IDEA OF HOW WE WORK AT THE SCHOOL. IF I GET TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK AND HOW THEIR CULTURE REALLY AFFECTS THEM, THAT GIVES ME THE POSSIBILITY TO REALLY RELATE TO THEM A LOT MORE. AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET FRIENDSHIPS. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD START. AND IF WE START REALLY INCORPORATING MORE EVENTS LIKE THAT, OUR COMMUNITY WILL EVEN BE MORE PROSPEROUS. AND AS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT AMERICA COULD REALLY BE LIKE FOR THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. WHILE I AGREE WITH KATIE WHOLEHEARTEDLY ON THE ABOUT HOW INFORMATION BEING PUT OUT OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT HOW THOSE CULTURES ARE DIFFERENT AND HOW THOSE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT AND HOW BEING DIFFERENT IS OKAY IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND I BELIEVE THAT MULTICULTURAL NIGHT IS FANTASTIC AND I LOVED IT. I BELIEVE THAT ON ALL LEVELS, CONNECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. [00:25:01] MY MOM WAS FOR A LONG TIME. SHE WAS A PARAEDUCATOR AT CENTRAL ELEMENTARY AND ONE OF HER SPECIALIST'S SPECIALTIES, I GUESS, WAS THE SUPPORT AND LIKE WORKING WITH KIDS WHO WERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WORKING, LIKE WITH THAT GROUP OF KIDS, WAS THE CONNECTION SHE HAD WITH THEM, THE CONNECTION SHE MADE WITH THEM. THEY LEARNED SO MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY WERE. THEY CAME TO HER EXCITED TO TELL HER THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM. THEY CAME TO HER WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. SHE WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM THROUGH, YES, THEIR LESSON PLANS, BUT ALSO THAT SUPPORT THAT SHE GAVE THEM. AND I FEEL LIKE THE CONNECTION TRANSCENDS THE BOUNDARIES OF LIKE, OH, YOU'RE NOT LIKE ME, YOU'RE DIFFERENT. YES, YOU CAN LEARN ALL YOU WANT ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT CULTURES. AND IT HAS A HUGELY IMPORTANT THING LIKE LEARNING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S DIFFERENCES BECAUSE, WELL, IF YOU'RE NOT EDUCATED ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENCES, YOU MAY MAKE ASSUMPTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS CAN BE HARMFUL. BUT I FEEL LIKE CONNECTION, IT OVERRIDES ALL OF THAT. IF YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT LIKE, OH, YOU'RE NOT LIKE ME. WE HAVE THIS DIFFERENT THING YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, HEY, YOU'RE MY FRIEND BECAUSE YOU'VE SUPPORTED ME AND WE LIKE THESE THINGS AND I'VE SUPPORTED YOU AND WE DO THINGS TOGETHER. WE'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS PART OF WHAT MADE MULTICULTURAL LIKE SUCH A HUGE HIT. IT WASN'T JUST, OH YEAH, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER BECAUSE, HEY, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER IN A WAY THAT'S FUN, IN A WAY THAT IS COMMUNITY BUILDING. I AM SHOWING YOU MY CULTURE, YOU ARE SHOWING ME YOURS AND WE ARE DOING IT TOGETHER. AND I THINK JUST BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IS THE CONNECTION BIT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. I'VE GOT THE NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU, YEMI. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICTS CAN ENCOURAGE INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVEN'T ALWAYS FELT COMPLETELY WELCOMED OR AND INCLUDED BY OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY? I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS THAT YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF THE EVENTS AND A LOT OF THE INPUT SESSIONS HELD BY LIKE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT CATER TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INVOLVED. A LOT OF THE LIKE BIG EVENTS THAT ARE PUT ON BY THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ARE ATTENDED BY THE PEOPLE IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, NOT THE KIDS WHO ARE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CROWD OF ASSEMBLIES WHO DON'T FIND THIS KIND OF THING ENGAGING. I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE, WE NEED TO OUTREACH IN WAYS THAT WORK FOR THEM. SOME PEOPLE LIKE CAME SAYING LIKE HIS MOM WOULD FEEL MORE SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY IF SHE WERE GIVEN MORE INFORMATIVE EMAILS. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE ALWAYS HAVING THE LOUD, ENERGETIC CROWD LIKE CROWD RUN EVENTS IS THE WAY TO MAKE THEM FEEL SUPPORTED. THEY'D FEEL BETTER IN LIKE A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION OR A SMALLER COMMUNITY EVENT THAT HAD MAYBE AN INTEREST THAT WASN'T SPORTS. AND SO I FEEL LIKE JUST THE OUTREACH TO THINGS THAT INTEREST THEM IN WAYS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR THEIR MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S JUST THE KIND OF THING WHERE, YEAH, YOU'RE DIFFERENT, BUT INSTEAD OF EXPECTING YOU TO CONFORM TO WHAT WORKS FOR MOST OF US, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES FOR US, FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE ENJOY THE SAME THINGS OR WORK THE SAME WAY WHEN COMMUNICATING. AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES, THEN SOCIETY WOULD FALL APART. EVERYONE HAS THEIR STRENGTHS, EVERYONE HAS THEIR WEAKNESSES. AND WHEN YOU MEET EACH OTHER IN THE MIDDLE, THAT'S HOW YOU FORM A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, I THINK YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION AGAIN. SORRY, IT WAS WARMER. THANK YOU. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICT CAN ENCOURAGE INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVEN'T ALWAYS FELT COMPLETELY WELCOMED AND INCLUDED BY OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY? WELL, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS WITH THIS. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE CULTURALIZED WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CULTURES. ANOTHER BARRIER TO THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY A LANGUAGE BARRIER. WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME AND IT COULD BE INCREASING BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH AS WELL AS POSSIBLY UKRAINIAN AND OTHER DIALECTS AND OTHER LANGUAGES AS WELL IN OUR EMAILS OR POSSIBLY WHEN CONNECTING TO OTHER FAMILIES. THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE WITH CONNECTING WITH NEW PEOPLE. IF YOU'RE NEW TO OUR COMMUNITY, YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN CONNECTING WITH OTHER FAMILIES. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL WELL VALUED AND CONNECTED SO WE CAN ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THEIR OWN KIDS AND THEMSELVES DURING DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT I THINK IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE WITH THAT. IT ALSO GIVES YOU A BIGGER EXCUSE ME, IT GIVES US A VERY BIG OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LOT OF FAMILIES IN AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TRADITIONALLY IMMIGRATED TO TOWN. SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPTION WITH THAT. IT'S ALSO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S KIND OF A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AS WELL AS HAVING SAID IF YOU FEEL SOME COMMUNITY, IF YOU'RE WELL CONNECTED WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN THEIR SPORT THAT THEY'RE PLAYING. [00:30:03] IF WE GET DIFFERENT STUDENTS IN THEIR OWN CLUBS TO REALLY ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO PLAY THEIR SPORT OR JOIN THEIR CLUB, IT KIND OF SPREADS OUT A LOT. YOU KNOW, IF I WANT TO JOIN MY FRIENDS WHO ARE IN LIKE TENNIS, I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO. THAT'S HOW I ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY STARTED. I HAD FRIENDS WHO WANTED ME TO PLAY TENNIS. I JOINED TENNIS AND IT WAS PROBABLY LIKE THE BEST WAY I'VE PLAYED IN A WHILE. DECA ALWAYS STARTED OFF WELL. I'M ALWAYS JOINING, ENCOURAGING MY FRIENDS TO JOIN. I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A FEW OF MY FRIENDS TO JOIN, LIKE JACKSON JACKSON, AND WE'VE GOTTEN MORE PEOPLE TO REALLY JOIN US. AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST THAT KIND OF SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE REALLY PROUDFUL OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY WANT THEIR FRIENDS TO ENJOY HIGH SCHOOL LIFE. SO KIND OF GO OVER THAT. IT'S ENCOURAGING THOSE, YOU KNOW, WHO DIDN'T REALLY JOIN IN, LIKE IF THEY MEANT LIKE IF I HAVE A FRIEND WHO I KNOW WOULD ENJOY IT, IT'S TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THEM. AND IF IT'S FAMILIES, WE SHOULD REALLY INCREASE OUR INFORMATION OUTPUT AND THAT CAN BE THINGS WITH LANGUAGE BARRIERS, WITH WORKING WITH THAT AS WELL AS JUST REALLY WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES. THANK YOU. OH, I'VE GOT THE NEXT QUESTION TO ASK TO YOU. LET'S SEE. GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU TOOK INITIATIVE IN A SITUATION AND TELL US WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT. OH, GOSH, THAT'S A LOT OF OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. I GUESS A GOOD, GOOD PLACE TO GO OFF OF THAT WOULD BE WITH ACTUALLY ERICKSON THE THING IN DECA. WITH DECA, WE HAD TO REALLY TAKE THE INITIATIVE WHEN REALLY PRACTICING. SO MY FIRST YEAR OF FRESHMAN YEAR, I HAD NO IDEA AND I WAS REALLY READY TO REALLY GO INTO IT, BUT I WAS NERVOUS. AND ONE THING THAT OUR TEACHER JUST TOLD ME IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT WITH THAT. I HAVE TWO OF THEM THERE THAT IF I IF I WANT TO PRACTICE AND I WANT TO BE GOOD. I HAVE TO GO TO MEETINGS AND I HAVE TO REALLY START GETTING OUT THERE AND BE MORE CONFIDENT IN PEOPLE, TALK TO MORE PEOPLE. SO I GUESS AT A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE IT WAS A KIND OF BREAKING OUT PARTY AND I THINK IT WAS A [INAUDIBLE] I CHOSE TO BE, I NEED TO BE MORE CONFIDENT AND I NEED MORE WORK GOING. AND I STARTED DOING THAT SORT OF MORE MEETINGS AND REALLY BRANCH OUT, REALLY REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE AND REALLY MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND JOIN MORE STUFF. THAT WAS THE POINT OF TIME WHERE I THINK IT REALLY DID CHANGE MY LIFE. I CHOSE TO BE A MORE LOVING PERSON AND REALLY MORE WELCOMING OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN MY LIFE. AND I GUESS THAT'S NOT A HUGE FOOTBALL GAME MOMENT OR A REALLY BIG, LIKE REALLY IMPORTANT HIGH SCHOOL KIND OF MOMENT. BUT I THINK THAT'S A REALLY BIG STEP I PERSONALLY TOOK IN MY LIFE, WHICH HAS PERMANENTLY CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER, AND I'M REALLY GLAD I DID. THANK YOU. A TIME WHEN I TOOK INITIATIVE WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR SOPHOMORE CLASS TREASURER LAST YEAR AS A FRESHMAN. I NOTICED THAT THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO GET INVOLVED WITH MY COMMUNITY. SO I MADE UP MY MIND THEN AND THERE. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD RACE. I'M GOING TO FIGHT THIS RACE WITH ALL THAT I HAVE. AND I CAMPAIGNED AND I WON. AND THAT DECISION TO GET INVOLVED IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP HAS BROUGHT ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY. BEING INVOLVED AS SOPHOMORE CLASS TREASURER, IT HAD IT GOT ME INVOLVED IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS. IT WAS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE YOUTH CIVIC COUNCIL. IT WAS HOW I CONNECTED WITH JAZZIE AND KWABNA WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD INTEREST ME IS HOW I GOT MYSELF HERE. IT'S ALSO HOW I'VE MADE SO MANY CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE PUT ON LIKE EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. LIKE I KNOW WE TOOK INITIATIVE AS AN ASC THIS YEAR EARLIER TO DO SHOCKTOBER AND DO A SOCK DRIVE FOR THE WINTER AND WE PULLED IN SOME DONATIONS FROM THAT AND IT WAS GOOD AND TOOK INITIATIVE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR CLASS THAT WILL PROBABLY GO TOWARDS CLASS EVENTS NEXT YEAR. SO YEAH, I THINK THAT RUNNING FOR SOPHOMORE CLASS STRUCTURE JUMPSTARTED ME INTO INVOLVEMENT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT I FEEL ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO WHO I AM TODAY. THANK YOU. DADDY, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD AS YOU PREPARED FOR THE INTERVIEW PROCESS? I LEARNED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS A LOT OF INPUT FROM PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LIKE DIRECTLY MEMBERS OF IT. ORIGINALLY, I HAD KIND OF HEARD THAT LIKE, OH, THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKES ALL THE DECISIONS, AND I KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BUNCH OF REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE SITTING IN A STUFFY ROOM AT A TABLE WITH NO CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, JUST MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THINGS SHOULD GO. AND AS I GOT MORE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND DID MORE RESEARCH ON IT, I FOUND OUT THAT, HEY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN COME IN AND YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP AND DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND SIGN UP AND PRESENT YOUR ISSUES TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT KIND OF LIKE IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THAT INITIATIVE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, IT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SCHOOL BOARD. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO LIKE FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST LIKE FLOATING HEADS IN A ROOM MAKING DECISIONS. [00:35:08] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAD SOME OF A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH GABBY THERE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST KIND OF A STUFFY BOARD ROOM WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE REALLY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT AS I DID REACH OUT, I FIGURED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE I MET WITH AND I'VE TALKED BEFORE ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THE MEETING. ORIGINALLY, I TALKED WITH CORBIN ONLINE. HE SAID THAT I SHOULD BE HE ENCOURAGED ME TO RUN FOR THE STUDENT BOARD, AND I GUESS THAT WAS A BIG STEP TOO. BUT ORIGINALLY WHAT REALLY GOT ME INTERESTED WAS SEEING REALLY SEEING THIS PASSION, THIS FACTOR HERE AND SEEING WHAT JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAD, KNOWING THAT WHAT POSSIBILITIES COULD BE MADE WITH BEING A STUDENT, A STUDENT REP ON BOARD. SEEING WHAT POSSIBLE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND WHAT WE CAN CHANGE AND WHAT EXACTLY HOW WE CAN DO IT. THAT INSPIRED ME TO REALLY MAKE A PRETTY GOOD APPLICATION LETTER AS WELL AS REALLY GOING FOR IT. SEEING WHAT? SEEING THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN REALLY HAPPEN THAT INSPIRED ME THE MOST TO REALLY GO OUT FOR THIS AND SEEING WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, HOW CAN WE CHANGE IT IN WHAT WE CAN POSSIBLY CHANGE REMOTELY? LIKE LOOKING LIKE BY THE END TIME 2025. SO JUST FROM A SEEING NONE, IT REALLY ENCOURAGED ME THAT, YES, I WANT TO WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY. YES, I AM PROUD OF MY COMMUNITY AND YES, I AM COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DEDICATED TO WORKING FOR THIS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH. I'M GLAD THAT YOU FOUND OUT THAT WE'RE NOT STUFFY. AND COME JULY AND AUGUST AND CANADA WILL STOP HERE. NOT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE. JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO AIR CONDITIONING, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE. SO LAST QUESTION IS YOU GUYS HAVE DONE GREAT. SO ANY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE HAVEN'T ASKED YOU OR YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AS WE CONSIDER YOUR CANDIDACY? SURE. I WANT TO KNOW EVERY MEMORY THAT I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN CHANGING HOW OUR COMMITTEES WORK SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EVEN BEFORE THAT. I'VE HAD FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT WHO'VE BEEN A REALLY BIG INSPIRATION FOR ME, AND SEEING THE THINGS THAT THEY CHANGE ON THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL HAS BEEN HUGELY INSPIRING. FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ONWARDS, I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY, BOTH FOR SCHOOLS AND FERNDALE AS A WHOLE, TO MAKE OUR CULTURE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN. AND FOR AS A PRESIDENT AT HORIZON, I LEARNED THAT IT CAN BE REALLY HARD TO REALLY BELIEVE THE SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC. THAT WAS A REALLY TOUGH. I'VE HAD TO REALLY GO THROUGH THE ABOUT THE. DECISION TO GO THROUGH THAT. I'VE LEARNED THAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT I AM DEDICATED FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND I AM REALLY EXCITED TO REALLY START CHANGING FOR THE BETTER AND REALLY BUILD OUT THE STEPS TO BECOMING A BETTER INFLUENCE ON THE COMMUNITY, TO REALLY WORK FOR A BETTER PLACE AND REALLY MAKE FERNDALE A SHINING CITY ON THE HILL. I'M ABSOLUTELY OPTIMISTIC THAT WITH ANY GOOD REPRESENTATIVE OF FERNDALE AND OF STUDENTS, WE COULD REALLY CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE BETTER, WHETHER THAT'S WORKING FOR STUDENT INTERESTS, WHETHER THE STUDENTS ARE WORKING OUT FOR OWN FOOD AND CLOTHING, OR WHETHER IT'S SAVE A SCHOOL. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN ACCURATELY AND PRECISELY MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REPRESENTED. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT I'M GOOD FOR THE A GOOD CANDIDATE HERE AND A REALLY GOOD CHOICE FOR THE FUTURE. FERNDALE I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO WORK BOTH BOTH WITH ALL OF YOU AND STUDENTS. I'M ABSOLUTELY OPTIMISTIC OF OUR FUTURE HERE. AND I LOVE ALL OF YOU FOR HEARING BOTH OF US OUT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, GABBY, SAME QUESTION. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL US IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO KNOW THAT WILL SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDACY? SO I JUST FOR ME, IT'S THE LITTLE CONNECTIONS. I KNOW I'VE SAID THIS LIKE A MILLION TIMES ALREADY SO FAR, BUT I WAS IMPACTED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, SUPER POSITIVELY BY CONNECTIONS I MADE WITH PEOPLE IN THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND SINCE I WAS LIKE SEVEN, IT HAS BEEN MY MAIN GOAL IN LIFE TO MAKE THOSE LITTLE CONNECTIONS, TO MAKE THOSE LITTLE CHANGES THAT CAN NOT ONLY HELP US GROW AS A COMMUNITY, BUT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES. WHETHER WE IMPACT ONE PERSON, FIVE PEOPLE, 100 ANY SMALL CHANGE THAT WOULD AFFECT SOMEONE'S LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY IS IMPORTANT TO ME. AND THROUGH MY YEARS IN LIFE HERE, MY YEARS WORKING IN LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATING IN TEAM SPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I'VE GROWN AS A PERSON AND I'VE LEARNED THAT HARD WORK IS WHAT IT TAKES AND I AM WILLING TO PUT IN THAT WORK. I REALLY VALUE THE CLEAR COMMUNICATION NECESSARY. I CAN ORGANIZE, I CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. AND EVEN IF I AM NOT CHOSEN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. I APPRECIATE THIS CHANCE FOR GROWTH AND THIS CHANCE TO BE FURTHER INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE I JUST I REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN [00:40:07] CONNECTION AND I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AGAIN TO DISCUSS THE QUALIFICATIONS OF OUR [5. EXECUTIVE SESSION] APPLICANTS AND THEN WE WILL COME OUT AND MAKE A DECISION. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL RECESS TO THE OTHER ROOM FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU. [6. MATTERS RESERVED FOR BOARD ACTION] WE'RE BACK INTO SESSION NOW. I JUST WANT TO AT THE START OF THINGS, THANK BOTH OF OUR CANDIDATES GABBY AND CAIN, WHO DID NOT MAKE OUR LIVES EASY. WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS AND GOOD ANSWERS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO AT THIS POINT, THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AND OR A MOTION REGARDING OUR CANDIDATES. THIS WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION. I MEAN, YOU BOTH JUST BRING IT. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOARD, WE OPERATE AS A WHOLE. SO WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE SITTING AT THE TABLE AND WHAT SKILLS ARE STILL NEEDED, YOU KNOW, WHAT PERSPECTIVES ARE NEEDED. AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE GABRIELLE TO APPOINT GABRIELLE LINTON . SORRY. SO, OKAY, SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED THAT WE APPOINT GABBY AS OUR NEW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD. LET ME SAY, AT THIS POINT, TYPICALLY, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION OF OUR LAST MEETING AND OUR MOTION OR OUR CHANGE TO OUR POLICY IN REGARDS TO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AND ADVISORY VOTE, THIS WOULD BE THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD GET AN ADVISORY VOTE. AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THE CAVANAUGH OR JAZZIE ON THE SPOT SINCE THEY WEREN'T HERE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW PROCESS. WE'LL JUST PUT THE BOARD ON THE SPOT. AND SO AT THIS POINT WE WILL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE US. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING GABBY AS OUR NEW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ALL OPPOSED. NAY. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, GABBY. YOU ARE ON YOUR AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, KANE. I KNOW THAT DR. DOMINGUEZ IS WANTING YOU TO SERVE ON HER STUDENT COUNCIL AND REPRESENTED THAT THE STUDENTS IN THAT WAY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT, THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA FOR OUR SPECIAL MEETING. SO I'M GOING TO DECLARE THAT MEETING ADJOURNED. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND THEN WE WILL START OUR REGULAR MAY BUSINESS MEETING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.