[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6353259,"mediaKeyId","2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173","parentId",2221487,"title","OCDE introduces Dr. Sandra Lee as new associate superintendent of educational services","audioSeconds",36,"startMs",2817000,"endMs",2853000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173&start=2817&end=2853","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173/thumbnail_2817000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353259/California/OCDE-introduces-Dr-Sandra-Lee-as-new-associate-superintendent-of-educational-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353259-2890db9936cbbfa7e0a9baa2046242d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142840&Signature=hHp4tuRqxkMlpjT7eT5Us48WNLVcgbuYaLEz5OVF9h~FJd4Vz5qUmt9k1j-01ZERtSPE7LaS34cjEFemgTFwXjk~VWHOnCaO96XAe3Dzh5HPmU~wG-P7mqrkSvIifxNrJEPSAZMMil-6Cv1L5Tg1nggmllrZ0NK8by0jG259MofNMjRDjvt8jagoSqbw~1V73Z3OaFJ64pqZ86072wbx9U63tFmIsGM8BkOxk6W1Bkmp3RHEgjd9Q4c7vV8e4zKUcYRJ7CQ-roOnhNQarfsMYDxC4fytuDkKep5mJXTtTlixA673wWsmqhOwv3oFImOsqg~IrrVLFw7HQVkvtHTa1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Orange County Department of Education","date","2025-02-04T14:44:53Z","article","At the Feb. 3 meeting the Orange County Department of Education introduced Dr. Sandra Lee as the agency’s new associate superintendent of Educational Services.

\"It is my pleasure to introduce doctor Sandra Lee as OCD's new associate superintendent of educational services,\" a presenter said, reading a biographical summary that said Dr. Lee has a 19‑year career spanning roles as a teacher, literacy coach, principal, district administrator, consultant and professor and has led curriculum and professional-learning initiatives.

Staff told the board that Dr. Lee was recommended for the position following a comprehensive search process that included district partners and staff participation; the presenter said the recommendation was unanimous and enthusiastic. Dr. Lee received a welcome from the board and was introduced to the audience; no formal vote was required to introduce the hire during the meeting.

The announcement was part of the meeting's introductions and preceded the evening's closed-session report and other agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Orange County, CA Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Board members introduced Dr. Sandra Lee as the Orange County Department of Education’s new associate superintendent of educational services; staff noted she was recommended after an extensive search and her background spans teaching, literacy coaching, principalship and district administration.","taxTitle","Orange County Department of Education, School Districts, California","taxId",73559,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353264,"Public commenter questions sharp rise in OCDE legal fees and travel budgets",384,4771000,5155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173&start=4771&end=5155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173/thumbnail_4771000.jpg","/articles/6353264/California/Public-commenter-questions-sharp-rise-in-OCDE-legal-fees-and-travel-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353264-b64b3ae009a74dcebfb044e2531b2212/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142840&Signature=Zx7cxPjMLxicLRPP0HPlQdyC6DPcN6dEjRp9oCw7gmGxcMDC9ppA-krpdTLoCvLEIUduiiOgrl2phIRO2KabSKVLa8HuUUsV8lTsXdTbwey7xQUpNk2tHWP~lZHfm1SjfDsUB4VlTATTCguInl-Sseu7HyJuXcpGrio~EhUYkfPRDevvdDdPg2sxVb9fMEQBzQK90ikvGZdiW0JASrJBLj2kZmwPOgAFk0uPogRrSjoPQxQqq3yAj9CMkHcI2PRTWvwH~EtZ7CSGK~URZV~Ahi1hmzc8Z73RaDSwE86Fppep7kvWdTkH7xrficNSmhwPNPf4LmLBGWoNmyFJsbODYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A member of the public raised concerns about a sharp increase in legal fees for the Orange County Department of Education during public comment at the Feb. 3 meeting.

\"Did you know that legal expenses for the board and superintendent have dramatically increased in the last 6 years?\" Steven Smith told the board, citing a legal-fees report in the district's budget book. He said the first five fiscal years listed combined legal fees of $51,600 for the superintendent and the board, while the next six years showed substantially larger figures. Smith said the report listed legal fees of $2,492,800 for the superintendent and $5,344,800 for the board in the later period and questioned what drove the increase.

Smith told the board the current year's budgeted legal amounts showed about $225,000 for the superintendent and $600,000 for the board for a total of $825,000. He urged the board to \"drop the lawsuits and corresponding get out of the litigation business, and devote more time to improving education in Orange County,\" and suggested that the district use its in‑house legal staff — which he said includes five attorneys, a paralegal and two legal secretaries — and specifically referenced \"the new general counsel\" Greg Rowland by name.

The speaker framed his remarks as recommendations and did not present documentary evidence beyond referencing the budget book's legal-fees page; no board response or action was taken during public comment. The board proceeded to other agenda items after the public-comments period.","During public comment, a resident reviewing OCDE budget documents said legal fees increased dramatically over recent years and urged the board to reduce litigation and to use in‑house counsel; the speaker cited a budget-book legal-fees report and suggested reducing the current year estimate.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353269,"Board approves up to $20,000 social-media campaign to promote educational options",2904,3186000,6090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173&start=3186&end=6090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173/thumbnail_3186000.jpg","/articles/6353269/California/Board-approves-up-to-20000-social-media-campaign-to-promote-educational-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353269-ef4b955bc378a5e921f9e8a1d8003057/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142840&Signature=UYDIcEPa-AOKi6hVmsjpT1OgEbytddtHGPF4MT-8Vc4qT3f~gG1A9Io9bNt2kzu7w8QdtLyXaVh3kTtRoo2lxAW3sVOIDcOVb-w0L4Zbns1c2J1WAd498NnVJfqEhUvZdealK1WYiIuSI~p6~jeWpWASCCfnHTE2WGZOO7~h0JMzqpgyS~cIzVAJNvzV~ltOA2vFjr5HN-oWMfXHXh3sJ0Uiu9uX287iSbQFw4SQ4qO6OdB6d70XqoqIaKCF1OPQl9uGKLNkj7TOGN17LjstBPsgqg5TOGTMJtWSomsHcW6yieH~HMM65JJ4ly2M89c1UgfVoWXMzPtEJ-ZNzijrAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orange County Board of Education voted Feb. 3 to authorize a social-media campaign, not to exceed $20,000, to promote educational options available to Orange County parents.

\"I'm asking for approval of the $20,000 budget,\" Trustee Valdez said, describing the campaign as a targeted Facebook and Instagram outreach intended to reach up to 500,000 parents with four to five exposures per person.

Staff described a proposed initial allocation of about $12,000 for agency fees and targeted advertising, with the ability to scale up to $20,000 depending on metrics. Turnkey Marketing would create ads with comments disabled; the campaign would include carousel or looped video content linking to the board’s website, where information on transfers, charter schools and vocational programs would be available. Staff said translated content would be accessible through automated translation consistent with user language settings.

The motion was moved by Trustee Valdez and seconded (second not specifically named on the record). The board voted unanimously, recorded as 5–0 in favor. Trustees present at the roll call earlier in the meeting were Valdez, Shaw, Barkey, Williams and Sparks.

Staff said the campaign would track reach, frequency and click-through rates and provide reports to the board. No additional appropriation or budget amendment was recorded at the meeting; staff said the request was within the board’s current budget provisions for communications and outreach.","Trustee Valdez's proposal to fund a targeted Facebook/Instagram campaign to inform Orange County parents about school-choice options passed unanimously 5–0; staff said the initial run would cost about $12,000 with a not-to-exceed cap of $20,000 and would direct clicks to OCDE’s board website.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353273,"OCDE details emergency operations, training and support after Southern California fires; plans full-scale EOC drill",1395,7535000,8930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173&start=7535&end=8930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173/thumbnail_7535000.jpg","/articles/6353273/California/OCDE-details-emergency-operations-training-and-support-after-Southern-California-fires-plans-full-scale-EOC-drill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353273-fc8cf58568ae9cc8c60a19b9711f8c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142840&Signature=QWyYk9RZsOIV2Yfed0b3inllHN5gFXdCR3SS2y6Lu3xjh6lDnIxNMnsKPqS-NpSjAtQQmjdsAEcFdkMOdQYJRbVvrEdl64I0DH8x1yump9r1eVyTlmuUhIrHMOd0W0Ul-zlgsjesAkSjA6nrWGWwJZcv7BRiFWr9E3-E0fwXmIXFEXFAF90JVzgk3SUOZ4GL9DXcswEYyHfuJljRoGRU7c0HGWP9DODuV9Fe9ePHzrkzaIAuQ3by3C2NdZib410Zxx7fiVqjIxGLqFOi3gBX4mip-FjNGnJaAiCj7qXBo7CDKrc8ajU6kbvYxKB9bHWYfuD0ei8exrGNYQwfSXu36w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Orange County Department of Education staff on Feb. 3 briefed the board on countywide school safety work, their response to recent Southern California fires and planned updates to the department’s emergency operations and training programs.

\"When we talk about internal safety, Mr. Giordano and his team oversee that,\" Dennis Cole (presenting on behalf of OCDE) said, describing separate internal and external safety teams that coordinate with districts and county agencies.

Staff described two safety spheres: internal measures that protect OCDE buildings, staff and programs, and external supports that coordinate preparedness and emergency response across the county’s 28 school districts and charter schools. OCDE staff said they monitor weather, air quality and red-flag conditions, maintain contact lists and communications channels with districts and county emergency agencies, and deploy counseling teams when neighboring counties are affected. Officials said eight OCDE staff were deployed to Los Angeles-area schools to provide counseling following the fires.

OCDE’s internal activities include maintaining an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) last updated in July 2021, regular training for staff (CPR, first aid, FEMA recovery, active shooter, hazardous materials, satellite-phone use, Narcan/EpiPen and other courses), and a mobile command center for field response. Staff said the EOP and roles for EOC designees are being reviewed by an outside consultant; planned next steps include a full equipment inventory, identifying additional training needs, and conducting a full-scale EOC drill to test capabilities.

Trustees raised follow-up questions about vegetation management at sites, the feasibility and cost of assigning school-resource officers (SROs) to campuses, and the condition of the mobile command post. OCDE staff said facilities staff and landscaping contractors regularly manage site vegetation and that mobile-command equipment needs maintenance; staff said they will inventory and update equipment as part of the planned review. On SROs, staff said the district is researching options that could include shared SROs across multiple sites and noted the need for city or county partnership and contracts.

OCDE staff also described business-continuity measures, including redundant servers hosted out of state to ensure payroll and other district systems remain available in a major incident. The board asked staff to return with details on SRO options and related costs for future discussion.

No formal board action was taken at the Feb. 3 meeting; staff said they will proceed with the EOP review, equipment inventory and scheduling a full-scale drill.","OCDE staff described internal and external safety programs, their role helping LA-area districts after recent fires, ongoing counseling deployments and plans to update the department Emergency Operations Plan, inventory emergency equipment and conduct a full-scale emergency operations center drill.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353279,"Orange County Department of Education outlines timeline to pilot Ethnic Studies course, seeks board and public feedback",833,6167000,7000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173&start=6167&end=7000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221487-a13af16b4e473f7fa2663b1085cc5173/thumbnail_6167000.jpg","/articles/6353279/California/Orange-County-Department-of-Education-outlines-timeline-to-pilot-Ethnic-Studies-course-seeks-board-and-public-feedback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353279-7cc7bd3964e6c4a6cd1514b61f4f4fbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142840&Signature=MTNwOl3Bxl88IC537oTKemS-YQHSeCd-5mKPphwBbnxvyv491ckKHjALOmPGLv74WVibllfxlDnRe7JSZP-7n0R087BufP5r8k2QXd-KNvY0kLRu8AA6C1WuTn9VEh2YEDSGxSIOBZ8Jvl-4at7Fgj7zyEqTPqDsvbiajCdLROsrbzJC8KIJI0zuOuauKbgDPInyszayQVytBe72xDmRAbW3HObxHe6oqXXNbnrXawxokYS5IUnGNwEnOwDfZMVcaw6qb0QW3RpD6a9Ma2P2J3ykzgXwUsWJgYJM70h9PeUUC-zSh1Ac~a87u11S6U2S~AWkZWqz4vBjin4l2WcTgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Orange County Department of Education staff on Feb. 3 presented a draft Ethnic Studies course and a schedule for board and public review, saying the course would be piloted in the 2025–26 school year and submitted for UC a–g approval.

\"Our mission is to develop an Ethnic Studies curriculum that celebrates cultural connections, cultivates empathy, and maintains a balanced and unifying approach or perspective,\" Jonathan Swanson, director of Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment, told the board during the presentation.

The course would be a standalone, five-credit, thematic course for ninth through 12th grade. Staff said the course is being designed to meet the requirements of AB 101 and to be available for certification on the UC Doorways platform so other districts and schools can adopt it. Trish Walsh, administrator of Humanities, said the writing team intends the course to be A–G eligible as a G (elective) and flexible enough to accommodate students entering Access at different grade levels.

Staff described a multi-step process: board review of an initial draft in February via small workshop settings, editing through March, a public review period planned for April, and final revisions with the goal of board approval in May or June depending on the amount of public feedback. If approved, the district plans teacher training and a summer rollout to support the pilot in fall 2025.

Community participants who attended the public feedback sessions praised the process. Alana Marovich, who identified herself as part of Orange County's Jewish community and a participant in the feedback sessions, described the writing process as inclusive and praised organizing materials thematically rather than by single-group units so students would \"see themselves in the room\" and also gain windows into others' histories and experiences.

Staff said materials will be shared with board members in workshop settings (limited to two board members per session when necessary) and a plan for public feedback will be brought back at the April meeting. Jonathan Swanson said the writing team will make edits based on board and public input before returning for approval.

Board members asked procedural and implementation questions, including how the course would appear on transcripts and how districts outside Orange County could access it online. Superintendent Bean and staff explained that, after local approval, the course would be submitted to UC Doorways for a–g review and that staff plan to place finalized materials into the district's Canvas learning-management system so other districts or schools could import materials into their own systems. Staff clarified that access to the materials (hosting on Canvas or UC Doorways) is distinct from awarding course credit, which would require the receiving district or school to accept the course for local credit.

The board did not take formal action on the course during the meeting; staff were directed to schedule review workshops and to return with a plan for public feedback in April.

Board members and staff said the writing team — composed of Access teachers and invited community reviewers — will continue revisions and teacher-preparation work ahead of the planned pilot.","OCDE staff presented a draft Ethnic Studies course for 9–12 students, described a public feedback process and a timeline aimed at piloting the course in 2025–26 and submitting it to UC Doorways for a-g certification; board members were invited to workshop sessions before a planned public review in April and final approval in May or June.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

OCDE introduces Dr. Sandra Lee as new associate superintendent of educational services

Public commenter questions sharp rise in OCDE legal fees and travel budgets

Board approves up to $20,000 social-media campaign to promote educational options

OCDE details emergency operations, training and support after Southern California fires; plans full-scale EOC drill

Orange County Department of Education outlines timeline to pilot Ethnic Studies course, seeks board and public feedback