Public commenters press board on immigrant‑student supports; trustee moves to agendize reinstatement of DHS 'protected areas' policy

Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Bryan Marcus presented an overview of immigrant student supports, anti‑discrimination efforts and suicide‑prevention resources designed to maintain a safe learning environment across the district.

During the item the Board heard from 11 public commenters, including Katrina Young, Ronette Youmans, Johanna Buxton and others, who urged measures to protect immigrant students and to clarify district procedures and supports. The public comments covered requests for resource information, concerns about campus safety and calls for clear staff guidance.

Trustee Rimga Viskanta moved to agendize an item for the Board to consider a formal statement or resolution calling on DHS to reinstate a previously used "protected areas" policy; Trustee Jane Lea Smith seconded the motion. The meeting record notes the motion was made and seconded but does not record a vote or final outcome for that specific agendize motion in the open meeting minutes.

Later in the meeting Trustee Rimga Viskanta moved — and Trustee Jane Lea Smith seconded — a related motion asking the district to ensure compliance with California Education Code section 51101 by maintaining its existing policies including BP 5020 and AR 5020; that motion carried on a recorded unanimous vote. The record shows the Board requested that, if staff determines procedural updates are needed to implement those policies, staff bring recommendations to the Board for consideration at the next meeting.

The transcript records the names of public commenters and the general subjects of their remarks but does not include verbatim quotes tied to individual speakers for this item. The agendize motion regarding the DHS policy is shown as made and seconded; the public record from this meeting does not specify whether the Board formally placed that item on a future agenda.