Fullerton School District December 16 Meeting

The December 16 FSD Board meeting began with two new trustees, James Cho (District 2), and Vanesa Estrella (District 5) confirmed by their families and welcomed to the FSD Board. The board voted for Trustee Beverly Berryman as board president, Trustee Ruthi Hanchett as vice president, and Trustee Aruni Thakkur as clerk.

Digital Education Update

Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and Instructional Support, Jeremy Davis updated progress on FSD Board goal 5.4 “promote digital citizenship, … media literacy and online safety both in and out of school to ensure students use technology in safe and productive ways.”
Davis provided a review for the new board members and expressed gratitude for designating this goal, so the administration has a clear directive to support students and their families in areas of technology and internet use.

FSD uses “Common Sense Media,” “Second Step,” with in-house created content to educate students, staff, and parents about digital citizenship and safe practices while utilizing technology including AI platforms.

The district increased cybersecurity with the 2-step verification for all staff completed and additional firewalls in place for all Google Docs.
In the spring, the district plans to upload additional parent technology use education videos in English, Korean, and Spanish, which cover monitoring of student technology use at home and on private devices. They are experimenting with a new AI app translating involved video transcriptions and then utilizing Korean and Spanish translators to proofread the generated material. It is faster and allows for greater in-depth content.

The district conducted surveys to students and staff concerning new personal device policies and digital safety. Students are negatively resigned to the cell phone ban, “I hate this, but I get it.” 70% of staff surveys say the policy improved overall school culture. 94% of students know not to share information or pictures online, but only 54% know that once uploaded, they lose permanent control over images or posts. 88% of students have a trusted adult to go to with media issues and 80% of the students surveyed knew how to report cyberbullying.

The district offers the “Say Something” anonymous reporting system connecting students to a live person when they report a bullying incident and is adapting social media safety lessons. The district has plans for a new escape room adventure at the Hunt Library for older students who use the digital information they learn from these lessons to get out of the puzzle room.

The district is testing upgraded “Safe Share” access programs for grades TK-3 on Seesaw and on Google Docs for older grades. Teachers can share YouTube videos with a new link that removes all comments and ads associated with the video. Parents and teachers still need to watch upper-grade students accessing YouTube to research the associated ads and comments. Parents can watch tutorials on the district website to activate additional controls for personal devices.

The district is exploring a parent feature allowing easier access to a student’s browsing history. The district can currently access any school device’s browsing history for 90 days, even if the history is erased by the student. There are also a few purchasable programs that alert parents on their own devices when certain subjects and words show up on their children’s devices.

The district provides safety information discussions concerning parent control of student technology use including translations in Korean and Spanish. Interested parents need to contact a school’s principal or PTA to schedule a session.

The district continues upgrading and testing new educational and safety features in connection with technology and media use at school and home. FSD teachers use technology to accelerate and enhance learning. Students are educated to responsibly use AI and other technology at all grade levels and the district provides support for parents reaching out for help.

Personal Safety Lessons

Deputy Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr Chad Hammett reported that FSD is incorporating “No Go” age-appropriate, student-based lessons on interactions between adults and youth. The program reviews “go” and “no go” activities including welcome versus unwelcome surprises, keeping secrets, and what behavior children should expect from adults in person and through technology.

First Interim Report

Dr. Rob Coghlan, assistant superintendent of business services, explained the first interim report compares the adopted budget from July 1 to the actual district spending ending October 31. FSD 2024-25 revenue increased from $146.6 million to $147.7 million due to lottery and interest revenue.

Expenditures went down $1.3 million from July’s proposed $148.28 million to $146.98 million due to health benefit savings.
Currently, the district’s healthy reserve of $26.2 million places FSD in a positive position to pay ongoing bills even with ongoing concerns of declining enrollment, rising healthcare costs, state deficits, and federal government responses to inflation.

The board approved the first interim report 5-0.

The board approved the new social studies curriculum, “Studies Weekly” 5-0.

Estrella was excited to vote for a social studies curriculum that presents multiple points of view embedded in the main historical narrative.

The next regularly scheduled FSD board meeting is at 6 pm on January 14.