DRAFT

Palo Alto Unified School District

Board of Education

Regular Meeting

October 27, 2023

 

This Board of Education meeting was held in person and was also broadcasted on local cable television and YouTube.

 

Call to Order

Members of the Board of Education of Palo Alto Unified School District met in open session at the District Office, Board Room, 25 Churchill Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306 and through a virtual meeting. DiBrienza, President, called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m.

 

Members:

Dr. Jennifer DiBrienza, President

Jesse Ladomirak, Vice President

Todd Collins, Board Member (absent)

Shounak Dharap, Board Member

Shana Segal, Board Member

Staff:

Dr. Donald B. Austin, Superintendent of Schools

 

Approval of Agenda Order (00:31:40)

 

MOTION NO. 1: It was moved by Dharap, seconded by Ladomirak, to approve the agenda order. The motion carried 4-0, with Collins absent.

 

ACTION: Denouncing Hate Resolutions: Resolution No. 2023-24.06 Resolution Condemning Attacks by Hamas and Strongly Denouncing Antisemitism, and Resolution No. 2023-24.07 Resolution Strongly Denouncing Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Anti-Middle Eastern North Africa (MENA) Hate (00:31:51)

It is recommended the Board: 1) Waive the two-meeting rule, 2) Consider passing Resolution No. 2023-24.06, and 3) Consider passing Resolution No. 2023-24.07.

 

DiBrienza and Segal provided background to this item.

 

Public Comments:

Ori spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Uzma spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Salwa spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Ali spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Zack Bodner spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Sebastian spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Lori Meyers spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Linor Levar spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Gali Nirpaz spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Adi spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Michelle Higgins spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Liz Cohen spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Susan S. spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Sarah B. spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Jason P. spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Sara Woodham spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Itay Dodon spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Elena spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Nadir Ali spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Haideh Tabrizi spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Sarith spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Soumaya Ali spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Fariha Hilaly spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Guy Horowitz spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Azadeh spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Ahmed spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

Karthi Gottipati spoke about the Denouncing Hate Resolutions.

 

The Board discussed this item.

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1: It was moved by DiBrienza, seconded by Segal, to amend both resolutions to include the phrase: Whereas the PAUSD deeply mourns the deaths of thousands of innocent Palestinian and Israeli children and people; and

 

MOTION NO. 2: It was moved by Dharap, seconded by Segal, to waive the two-meeting rule for the first resolution. The motion carried 4-0, with Collins absent.

 

MOTION NO. 3: It was moved by Dharap, seconded by Ladomirak, to approve Resolution No. 2023-24.06 as amended. The motion carried 4-0, with Collins absent.

 

MOTION NO. 4: It was moved by Dharap, seconded by Segal, to waive the two-meeting rule for the second resolution. The motion carried 4-0, with Collins absent.

 

MOTION NO. 5: It was moved by Dharap, seconded by Segal, to approve Resolution No. 2023-24.07 as amended. The motion carried 4-0, with Collins absent.

 

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:33 a.m.