[24:52] Speaker 1: Please note, Pursuant to the California Brown act, public comment at this special meeting is limited to items listed on the posted agenda. Members of the public will be given an opportunity to address the Board after each item is presented and prior to board consideration. For items on which the board may take action, the public is welcome to provide comments to the board. Remarks are limited to three minutes per speaker unless extended or reduced by vote of the Board. A maximum of 30 minutes per subject unless extended by the board is allocated for public comment. In accordance with Brown act open meeting requirements. The Board may not discuss or take action on any item not appearing on the agenda. Board members are also not prohibited are also prohibited from responding to or commenting on non agenda items raised during public comment. However, the Board may provide direction to the superintendent following a public comment as appropriate. Flag salute Trustee Brown, will you please lead us in the flag salute?
[26:04] Speaker 2: I pledge allegiance to the flag
[26:09] Speaker 3: and
[26:09] Speaker 2: to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all.
[26:20] Speaker 1: Trustee Hernandez, will you please read the land acknowledgement.
[26:24] Speaker 4: Antioch Unified School District acknowledges that we gather on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Bay Miwok people. As guests, we humbly extend our gratitude to the Bay Miwok elders and community. We recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland and we affirm their sovereign rights as first peoples. As the original stewards of this land, the Bamenewauk understand the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of maintaining harmony with nature. Likewise, Antioch Unified School District commits to teaching our school community how to be responsible stewards of this land.
[26:58] Speaker 1: Thank you. Board Governance norms The board will review the norms established during a prior board governance workshop as documented in the board governance handbook. Approval of the agenda so for tonight's agenda, August 25, 2026 Special Board of Education meeting. Are there questions from the board? Do I have a motion to approve tonight's agenda?
[27:39] Speaker 2: I move approval.
[27:40] Speaker 1: Do I have a second?
[27:43] Speaker 5: I'll second.
[27:44] Speaker 1: We have a first and second. All in favor say II Any opposed Motion passes Announcements of closed session. The board meeting in closed session. The board is meeting in closed session to discuss three closed session items. A Public employee evaluation, Superintendent, Government Code 54957. B Public Employee Discipline Dismissal Release, Government Code 54957 and Public Employee appointment, Acting and or interim Superintendent Government Code 54957. Are there any members of the public who wish to address the board regarding the closed session items? Okay, we have one car speaker card. All right. For 3A. Dr. Kimberly Payton from the East County NAACP.
[28:43] Speaker 6: Good evening.
[28:45] Speaker 7: I stand before you today with the
[28:47] Speaker 8: simple message, put children first.
[28:49] Speaker 7: Put equity first. Put their future first.
[28:52] Speaker 8: For far too long, students in this district have suffered educational setbacks and and
[28:57] Speaker 7: unacceptable levels of progress.
[28:59] Speaker 8: From 1998 through 2024, the promise of quality education has not been realized for too many of our children. And the numbers are especially alarming with African American students performing and passing assessment at only 8% of African American students. 8% is not just a statistic. Those that are children, those that are families, those are children with dreams and futures that just ask to be realized.
[29:31] Speaker 7: They ask for you to take a
[29:32] Speaker 8: risk on them and give them an education. We also know that many students need inclusion services, meaningful support to succeed. And the district has faced several civil rights and discrimination lawsuits while trying to deliver those services. These circumstances demand accountability, urgency and action. Not more delay. Now at a critical moment, we finally have a superintendent who appears to be committed to recognizing the true value of education and to be delivering quality, equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for every child. And now she may be terminated. We must ask ourselves, why would we turn away from progress when children need it most? The East County NAACP is asking you to make a choice and take a chance. Choose children over politics. Choose equity over excuses. Choose inclusion over exclusion. Choose progress over continued failure. Our students deserve an education that prepares them to succeed, not a system that accepts persistent gaps from the normal. We cannot ask another generation of African American students to wait. We cannot tell families to be patient while their children fall further behind. Today, I urge you to put children first.
[30:54] Speaker 7: Put equity first.
[30:56] Speaker 8: Give the students of this district opportunity, support, resources and leadership that they need to succeed. Their future cannot wait. Stand with our children. Stand for equity. Stand for educational excellence. And do not support the continued failure and non progress of African American students.
[31:14] Speaker 6: Thank you.
[31:21] Speaker 1: Are there any more public comments? No. Okay, so we are going to now adjourn to. We'll go to our closed session at 7:53pm
[31:35] Speaker 2: It.
[132:09] Speaker 1: 9:35pm Maya, can you establish a quorum?
[132:14] Speaker 5: Yes. Trustee Brown?
[132:16] Speaker 6: Here.
[132:16] Speaker 5: Trustee Hernandez?
[132:17] Speaker 1: Here.
[132:18] Speaker 5: Trustee Rocha.
[132:19] Speaker 2: Here.
[132:19] Speaker 5: Vice President Kobosmith. Here. President Dr. Lathan.
[132:22] Speaker 1: Here. The board took action in closed session by a vote of three days and two nosies to finalize Superintendent Williams evaluation. With notice of the evaluation to be issued to Dr. Williams by trustee Cobo Smith on behalf of the board. Trustee Brown, Coble Smith and Trustee Rocha voted yes. Trustees Hernandez and Lathan voted no. Item 2. The board took action in closed session by a vote of 4 yays and 1. No to play. Superintendent Williams on administrative leave, effective. Sorry. Effective August 25, 2026, until further notice, with notice to this of the administrative leave to be issued by Dr. Williams by trustee Coble Smith on behalf of the board. Trustees Brown, Coble Smith, Hernandez and Rocha voted yes. Trustee Lathan voted no. Item 3. The board took action in closed session by a unanimous vote of all trustees present to appoint Deus as Acting Superintendent, effective August 26 through August 30, 2026, and Jose Banda as Interim Superintendent, effective August 31, 2026, through and until his services are no longer needed. Employment contracts for the acting superintendent and interim superintendent will be discussed for approval at the next regular board meeting. Item 5. Future meetings. There are regular board meetings scheduled for September 9th and 23rd, 2026. We will prepare for adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? Do I have a second?
[134:16] Speaker 2: Second.
[134:17] Speaker 1: We have a first and second. All in favor say aye.
[134:20] Speaker 5: Aye.
[134:21] Speaker 1: Meeting is adjourned at 9:38pm
[134:26] Speaker 2: first time
[134:26] Speaker 3: we've been this way.
[134:27] Speaker 9: Later.
[134:28] Speaker 10: No, not really. Here,
[134:50] Speaker 9: Sam.