July 15, 2025 • 46 mins
This hour I host the Board of Trustees President Olivia Flores from Pajaro Valley USD. A big vote looms this week and I wanted to give her a platform to speak about the SRO program at risk of closing for the district high schools. The community has weighed in and hugely supports the extra security measure and collaboration of law enforcement and mental health professionals on campus. It's interesting to hear the inner workings of a school district agendas and also I appreciate anyone who has gotten off the couch to represent her community in elected capacity. Many thanks to Olivia Flores for taking her time to join me today.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
The California Mama Bears have been forced out of hibernation.
Fierce guardians of our future, Mama Bear's fight for parents' rights,
Emily and God given freedoms everywhere. You're listening to Mama
Bears Radio with your host, The New Normal, Kristen Hurley.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio, our number two here
on a lovely Monday afternoon. Well, we just treated ourselves
to an hour of me babbling about all my stuff.
But this hour I'm going to welcome my guest, Olivia Flores.
She's the president of the board of the Papa val Unified,
the school district board of Trustees.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And let me bring or on here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Olivia, thank you so much for taking your time today
to join us on air.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Thank you so much for asking.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, we I believe you've been on the show a
couple of years ago and we've stayed in touch over
the years. This is Is this your fourth year on
the school board or is it your third?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
No, this I'm now in my second halfway through I'm sorry,
so halfway through my third year. My term is up
December of next year.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Okay, you know the months and years? Who can keep track? Anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
But it turns out for though for this year though,
you were voted in as president of the board, and
so that's a brave new world on your end, being
having this is your first term.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Just in general, yes, well yes, Erry.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Learning curve.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
But you know, I've just been glad to get to
support you and keep in touch over the years. Though
my kids haven't been in the public district, we live
in the district, we do go to school, and then
we used to be in the in schools in the
district when they were much younger and all that, and
you know, Watsonville and Aptos is home for me and
(02:14):
my family. I do like to keep an interest in
what goes on and obviously you know the kind of
the focus of this radio show and my just in
general is improving education for our next generation, uplifting our kids,
supporting families, you know, being on the side of let's
do the best job.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We can for our next generation. Coming up.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So there's a meeting this week, which is why I
invited you on a board meeting, and there's a couple
of agenda items that I thought would be good for
you just to get a chance to address. So without
further ado here in particular the School Resource Officer agenda item.
(02:58):
I don't know specifically what it is for this particular meeting.
The s RO program has been on and off and
sort of a controversial topic over the years. Do you
want to just talk a little bit about what that
program even is? What is the s R program?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yes, So, before I was on the board, right right
when kids are about to come back on campus after
you know, the COVID, the board had voted to remove
school resource officers from all campuses, and you know, and
(03:35):
that made sense when we didn't have children on campus.
But now that we you know, once we were bringing
children back, it really should have been looked at again.
But it wasn't. And then we all, you know know
what happened, and so the community came out and really
spoke up and said, you know, we they really made
(03:56):
it clear what they want and what they made there
was that they want to have school resource officers on
our three main high schools and so but there was sums,
there was some opposition and a way to kind of
make it just a really well rounded program is we
(04:20):
pair a school resource officer with a mental health clinician
and they work together and really as partners to provide
you know, a better service to our students and to
the community as a whole, you know, on our campuses.
And so it is a little it is costly, but
(04:40):
you know, our children are worth it. Their safety is
you know, should be one of our biggest concerns. And
so that when that was voted in, I think it
probably three years ago now, it was voted in on
the basis that it would be you know, re looked
at their every year and revoted on every single year.
(05:04):
And so this last last year, when we had voted
to continue with the program, we you know, we did
have some concerned parents that would come and weren't happy
with having you know, a uniformed officer on campus. But
(05:26):
the majority of our parents are in favor of it,
and we back on our June eleventh board meeting, we
were presented with the findings of a survey that went
out to the three schools and it went out to parents, students,
and staff and in all three categories it was about
(05:50):
and I wish I had this in front of me
right now, but I don't. I should have. I believe
it was about seventy five percent in favor across the
board of keeping the SRO mental health clinician pairing at
all three campuses. And just since I've been on the board,
I've seen this model in practice. And I've spoken to
(06:16):
you know, the high schoolers that I know, you know,
having two sons in high school and you know, and
they're circle of friends. I ask around, like, what do
you guys think? How do you guys feel? And I
asked the parents and and the teachers that I know,
and everyone that I talks to are all in agreement
that they do feel safer seeing seeing you know, an
(06:37):
officer on campus. Some of them were saying, you know,
they never interacted with them, but just the presence alone
was comforting. But really, you know, the survey that went out,
it speaks volumes. It tells us exactly what the community wants.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Right and as you're a seven seven member board, is
that correct? And so you know, as as a non
partisan position, all of these things I've had to learn
bootstrap style over the last number of years, getting involved
in you know, sort of civic responsibility and civic awareness
and all that. And you know, my understanding for the
(07:18):
board of trustees of any school district is.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Well, your community, you are the.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Community watchdogs, so to speak, community representatives sort of safeguarding
with community wants in the public education for the kids. Right,
So it's not just a runaway government entity that no
one has any say, and it really is supposed to
be a reflection of local values and local people and
(07:44):
the local sort of objectives for educating kids in the area.
So it is really great to know that you guys
have some tangible data that says, well, this is what
the community has to say about this program. And then
you know, as representatives, this should be you know, a
program that we prioritize and having you know, what's interesting
(08:10):
and maybe we can talk a little bit about what
are some of the objections from coming from the other side,
Like what are reasons why someone wouldn't want this in place?
And I feel like maybe we have a chance to
answer some of those objections and look at it in
different kind of a different perspective. So do you do
(08:31):
you have a few comments or a few thoughts with
what other people say why they wouldn't want this program
in place in our high schools?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Uh? Yes, So we have you know, a handful of
community members that that you know have been pretty vocal
about their objection to having officers on campus, and one
of their some of what they say is that they
tend to target people of color more often, and that
(09:04):
it is, you know, perpetuating a prison to a school
to prison tipeline and and I'm just repeating what I've heard,
and those those were the two, you know, biggest ones.
I know. So last year when we did the survey,
(09:25):
we heard a lot of concerns that the survey was
was you know, bias or or to suggestive it was
all the questions had the s ROH and the mental
health clinician together. So they were saying, well, of course
people are voting that they wanted because you you know,
if they say no to the s ro OH, they're
say no to the mental health clinician as well. So
(09:47):
our superintendent listened. And this year when the survey went out,
it was a lot clearer. It was it separated the
two and so you know, I don't feel like they're
all Everything of what they said was was listened to
and addressed, and the survey still produced I I actually
(10:10):
believe even more in favor of maintaining the program than
last year's survey. We heard concerns that maybe people didn't
see the survey, but it was it was sent out.
I believe everyone had a week two to you know,
(10:30):
participate in it if they wanted. I, as a parent,
I know I was you know, encouraged I think three
times through email, through parent Square, parent View to build
it out if I hadn't already. And I asked my
funds if they saw it, and they said yes they had,
and I said, have you build it out? And they
(10:52):
said no. And I said, well, if you want to say,
if you want your voice to be heard, then you
know it's important to participate in those surveys. And so
I actually, I know for sure one son did participate.
I don't know about the other. I try to you know,
I'm not going to pressure them. I let them make
(11:12):
their choices. So but yes, I think I did ask
both my sons, you know, how they felt, and they
said that, yeah, they did like seeing the sheriff there
and they felt more comfortable just knowing his presence was there.
And but you know, any of the objections that we hear,
(11:35):
we do take them very seriously, and and we do
try to make sure that we are you know, really
trying to prevent what what you know, if they are
being if people of color are being targeted more, then
we're going to address that. We one of our surveys,
which we didn't do it this last year, but we
(11:55):
had anyone who steps in, any student who comes to
see an SRO or has to interact with SRO, all
that data is kept and even afterwards a survey is
you know, asked of the student and the parents like
how did it go, what did you feel? You know,
what can we do better? So all of that is,
(12:16):
you know, just we're just want to the student is
our main priority, and their safety is our main priority
in all of this. So as long as you know
they are being treated respectfully and being treated you know, fairly,
then I feel, you know, we're doing what needs to
(12:37):
be done to keep our campus is safe.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, and I really am glad that you guys are
addressing the you know, conflicting perspectives as they come. And
I do appreciate that you've given the public ample opportunity
to state their opinions and their experiences with the SROs
and all that. And I think we do have to
(13:01):
go take a break in just a second, Olivia, but
just to address one of those points, I remember.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And this must not have been this.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Year surgery, sorry survey, but a prior year. And I
remember being at a board meeting where some of the
results were read out loud.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And the sentiment that the kids enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
There was a piece of it where there was some
feedback where the students said that they enjoyed the relationship
with the officers on campus, they got to know them
as like kind of in a friendly way.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
And I think the.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Overall gist of that was, well, we're actually breaking down
some barriers right of like maybe someone in uniform is
intimidating on some level, but giving the students an opportunity
to interact with them. Having the officer be a part
of the school day to day activities, participate in you
(13:59):
know what's going on at lunch, develop you know, a
friendly rapport with students really does give everybody an opportunity
to catch a different perspective on that if that's something
they maybe have been told or impressed upon them that
police are you know, someone in Infrontoh, it's something to
(14:19):
be afraid of, or we don't like that.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I just think it gives the kids an opportunity to
dispel that notion, So that was something that stood out
for me.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yes, and at Watsonville High School, so we had an
FRO that was very well liked. All of the students
were they were on a first name basis with him
and they would even come to he has he had
a spot on campus where they can come and hang out.
And it definitely did encourage that. It did break down
(14:51):
barrier and encourage that relationship. And all of our SROs
need to go through special training with working with, you know,
our students, and so it's someone who's been hired on
by the agency and then we then add you know,
additional training and then they also work with the mental
health clinician. So it definitely is geared more towards, you know,
(15:17):
encouraging the good relationships with our students.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Yeah, it's like a kind of a specialty for law
enforcement to specialize in collaborating with the schools and the
education and the students. All right, well hang on, Olivia,
if you don't mind through the break here, we'll take
a break, we'll come back me. We'll talk a little
bit about budgetary stuff for the district or whatever else
we want to address. But again, I thank you for
(15:41):
your time. Everyone, if you're just tuning in, I'm speaking
with Olivia Flores. She's the president of the Papro Valley
Unified School District Board of Trustees. This is Mama Bear's Radio.
I'm going to take my break. I'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Mama Bears Radio. We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio. Kristen Hurley here, Safe
and Effective Radio. I'm going to get right back to
my guest this hour, Olivia Flores. She's joining me from
the Papa Valley and Fied School District. She's the board president. Olivia,
we were talking about the School Resource Officer program, the
(16:34):
s r O program, and so why why is this
coming up? So, as you mentioned earlier, there's a vote
to renew the program, and that's coming up on the
agenda for the board meeting this Wednesday. Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (16:49):
That is correct. We will be voting. It's two separate contracts.
The first contract is with Watsonville PD, Papa Valley High
School and Watsonville Football under PVUS the sorry Watsonville Police
Department jurisdiction. And then Aptass High School would be a
contract with through the Sheriff's office.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Okay, and so I actually didn't know that. That is
good to know. That's like even more localized. I feel like,
you know that you have law law officers that are
invested in the community, like and it's a fairly small town,
you know, likely that they they know someone at the
schools or whatever, and they they're community members themselves invested in,
(17:33):
you know, keeping our students in the safe, invest in
the environment possible on campus. So you know, I I
know that every school district all over the place, everybody's
facing some budget crunching this this year around. I mean,
do you have is you mentioned this program? Of course
(17:54):
is an extra cost on the district. How does this
work in budget wise this year for PV.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
So it's for our budget that we voted on. It
was already kind of assumed that we would vote with it.
When they're forecasting out, they kind of assumed that there's
going to be no changes. So back in June when
we approved the budget, it was considering that we would approve,
(18:23):
so we've it's already been budgeted, but it does it
is funds that come out of our general funds. So
it is a cost and that is some of the
on some of the constituents who are against this, you know,
are saying, you know, we're we're in a budget budget
crisis right now, and do we really want to be
spending on this. So that's when, you know, we do
(18:44):
ask the community to voice, you know, make their voices heard.
Is this something we should prioritize knowing what the cost
would be and we I know our superintendent did meet
with what VPD and with the Sheriff's department to see
if they were able to help share in some of
(19:05):
the costs. And we will hear about that on Wednesday
and hope that they're, yes, they are, there's there's some
movement being made.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
So yeah, well again it's like, well, where what are
the priorities for the district And you know, the safe
and safety and security on campus is definitely I think
in the community would agree with me, a priority for
everybody to work together to get that funded and not
(19:38):
let that be you know, a hang up or a
determent to Again, what the community has you know, sort
of resounding Lisa that.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
They want, Well, what else is going on?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
We have a few more minutes left in this the segment.
What else is going on in the paper district that
is up for discussion this upcoming meeting.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Well, this meeting is pretty small because it's the middle
of summer, so we have a lot of our staff
are out and just you know, we don't have a
whole lot going on. We're discussing some measure M some
measure M things, so thank you to the community members
who voted for measure M. We do have some money
(20:22):
to spend to help our campuses out, and we like
to try to get a lot of that construction work
done over the summer when you know, the students aren't there,
and so they do try to rush a few things,
you know, early on in the summer to try to
get those done before. So we're going to be voting
on some of those items. Mostly I know Aptos High
(20:47):
I think we'd love to see that painted. Some other
campuses need some painting. And then you know, of course
we have the the stuff that needs to get done
like HVAC roofs, and you know it's not so not
so exciting, but definitely needs to be done. So we
have that going on right now, not too exciting, but
(21:08):
some exciting things our district does have going on is
some new opportunities for students for example, we have mar
Vista went from uh uh you know, elementary school to
now a t K eight with the steam focus, which
is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Oh I did hear about that?
Speaker 4 (21:29):
That's right, Yes, So our superintendent came in with some
great ideas to try to boost enrollment because part of
our you know, budget problems right now is because of
declining enrollment. And so she came in with some great
ideas to see what we can do to boost enrollment.
(21:50):
And her first, you know, first thing she really rolled
out was our attendance campaign, which really improved our attendance.
It was sorry about that. So that was great, a
huge success, and we hope to continue that. But also,
you know, when the scary you know, thought of possibly
(22:11):
having the close campuses comes up or anything, like before
we even go to that, you know, she has this
great idea that like, why don't we just try to
see what's going on around us and what are people want? Team?
And yeah, so mar Visa is now a TEA. Well
it's gonna be a t K and I don't believe
they haven't eighth grade yet. They're gonna they're gonna bring
(22:32):
it in one year at it. So this year they'll
have a seventh grade, and then the following year year
they will bring in the eighth grade, and then from
there on out. And then we also have at Papo
Valley High School, we have what's called early College so
freshman I believe we already maxed out. We have a
(22:53):
waiting list, but I believe next year we'll be able
to take on a larger number of freshmen. But pretty
much those students who choose that early college route will
be able to graduate with their high school diploma and
an associates degree at the same time. So that's that's
that is very cool and it's not offered anywhere else
(23:16):
in our county. So and that was our superintendent came
in with with those ideas as well, and so some
really really exciting exciting things for p b USD. We
also have PV Elevate, which is our almost like a
homeschooling virtual academy, you know, hybrid type of a school.
(23:40):
So anyone who needs who's looking for like an alternative
to uh uh a school where your student would go
you know, Monday through Friday all day if they tend
to do better at home, but with the support of
you know, your local school PV Elevate is a amazing
(24:01):
opportunity for for those parents. And I've been talking to
a lot of parents about it and they didn't know
that it was a thing. So I'm like, okay, well
we need to you know, get get the word out. Yes,
these were just things that were thought of to help
our declining enrollment because for some reason, p BUSD is
(24:23):
declining at a large at a faster rate than some
of our our other schools in the county, but Santa
Cruz County as a whole is losing a little larger
on a larger scale than our surrounding counties. But unfortunately,
this isn't a problem that only we are seeing. It's
across California with and it's just a combination of people
(24:46):
moving and declining birth rates and other factors come into play.
But we are dropping, you know, between four hundred and
six hundred over the last you know, few years, So
we have to you know, make adjustments when when that's happening.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Sign of the times, Yeah, it is, it's exactly. You
have to continue to offer something that's gonna benefit the
students or you know, at least give a reason for
people to stay. I'm actually just blown away about the
program at PEV High.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
I think that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
That's a lot of reason why people leave a traditional
school and go to independent education so they can ship
away at the college credits. If you have a motivated
student kind of a thing, it really does streamline your
education years and makes you feel like you're getting a
lot more bang for your buck. So that is super intriguing. Well,
(25:46):
I'm super grateful for your time. We're going to go
to break here and I'll let you go, Olivia. But
what in closing, what's the best way for people to
stay involved and stay in communication in with the school board.
How can the community best support PAPERO district and in
the school board.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
What's your advice for everybody?
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I would encourage parents to walk for our board meetings
if they aren't able to make it, you know, live
in person. It's streamed on YouTube and you can watch
because it's it's good to know what's going on throughout
our district. And when you do have concerns or questions
or comments, you can email the trustees and with any
(26:33):
of you know your concerns or comments. So that's always
a good way. But really it's really helpful to just
stay informed with with your site specific site as well
with where where your students are get involved as much
as you can be a participating parent. You know, it's
really does help us help your students and does wonders
(26:55):
for their educational journey. But yes, I I just love
when I hear from parents, especially, you know, not just
the concerns, but also you know, if there's something great
going on, we love to hear that as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I am really glad for your service on the board.
I know it takes a lot of your time in
addition to work and family and whatever. And I am
glad when people step out of their comfort zones and
take a position somewhere in the community again under the
umbrella of participating in civic life and government and all
of that. You know, we have to self govern. And
(27:37):
being aware and staying informed and then participating when you can,
I think is super important. So Olivia, thank you for
your time today.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Again.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
The meeting is on the sixteenth Wednesday evening. Everybody can
find it on the Paro District website the times and details. Olivia,
thanks for joining Mama Bear's Radio.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
No problem, thank you, all right, talk to me here, all.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right, everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I am gonna go to a break here, and when
I come back, maybe we will debrief just a minute
or two about that. I'm grateful for Olivia's time on
air here, and we will break some of that down
and then get back to a couple other things I
had in the stack for today. Okay, this is Mama
Bear's Radio, Kristin Hurley here.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
Mama Bear's Radio. We'll be right back La bas on
(28:54):
the Strange MoMA.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
But to mother. Yeah, motion, welcome.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Back to Mama Bear's Radio, Safe and Effective Radio.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
This is Kristin Hurley here.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
We are careening towards the top of the hour here,
and then of course it is School's Out Drivetime show
for the next two hours, so more of me, but
at least I have some friends with me for School's
Out Drivetime on Schoolhouse Radio. For the moment, though, I
wanted to get to a couple more things that I
(29:34):
had piled up here on the desk.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I have a bit of.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
A printer addiction full confession, I like actual paper in hand.
I do try to copy some of the articles that
I want to talk about to my digital notes in
front of me on the computer, But darn it if
I don't want to pick up a piece of paper
and look at that instead, Just like I never had
a kindle, I couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
I can't do it. I want to book.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I'm going to bend the pages and bus with my
fingers on the paper. Anyways, Okay, well back to In fact,
let me circle back and address just a few things
about the Pahou District vote on the school Resource Officer program.
It had, you know, kind of come to my attention.
(30:24):
There was a little bit of a back and forth
this year with the readoption of the contract for that.
It's my understanding, and I think Olivia said that it
is a yearly thing that needs to get redone. It's
not something that they vote, the board votes on for
a three year agreement or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
It comes up yearly.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
And I feel strongly about this, and I feel strongly
about everything that's going on in the schools in our county, PV,
particularly right close to home. I still have plenty of
people down there in that community that I'm close with,
kids in the schools and whatnot. Even though I'm like
an old I can't say granny yet, but I'm getting
(31:05):
there everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's very exciting. But you know now that I'm a.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Fully, fully devoid of school age children.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
Getting used to that, but doesn't mean.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
It doesn't you know, behoove me or my civic responsibility
isn't to pay attention to what's going on in the schools.
And that's that's everyone's call, be it grandma, grandpa, someone
who doesn't have kids, you live in the community. It's
in everyone's best interest to keep our thumb on the
on the pulse of what happens in our schools, in
(31:40):
school districts, and that that's our future everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
As I was saying, so, I.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Do strongly believe in the SRO program in everyone's fantasy
life of a back to perfect world where everything was
like pink and blue and shiny and easy.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
If that ever existed.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Maybe that's just mythology at this point, but in everyone's
fantasy land of like, well, back in the good old days,
we didn't need law officers on campus. Well, guess what,
it's the twenty twenties and things are nuts, and I
for one appreciate the studying presence of those officers on campus.
(32:22):
And again, I was at a PB school board meaning
when the company that did the surveying was reading the results,
and again, I think this was last year, it wasn't
this most recent one.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
And it really did.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Strike me that the at least right because she says
there's parent responses, there's student responses, and there's faculty responses
to these surveys.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
And the opportunity for kids.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
To develop a relationship with the law enforcement on campus,
I think breaks down barriers and dispels myths, gives the
kids an opportunity to see that these are real people.
It's another it's another adult in control of things, looking
out for their best interests, that kind of thing. And
so I think that's all positives given the time, the
(33:11):
sign of the times we're in. So anyways, I'm glad
for Olivia's time to come on and just talk about it.
If this is of interest to you and you want
to support the lend your voice to support this program again.
You can email the board members. You can tune in
to their board meetings, not just this Wednesday night, but
in general. The schedules posted on their website. It is
(33:34):
easy to tune in. It's easy enough to show up
and just you know, put your voice in the mix.
Or at least your eyeballs on what's going on. And
if that's not your district, find another district where you
live and just go. It's super instructive, super instructive. And
this could be city council meeting, this could be board
(33:56):
of supervisors for the county. At any level, go and
check it out and let your minds be blown.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
That's all I have to say.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
And get you know, participate in your country, use it
or lose it. Okay, there's some Mama Bear preaching right there.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
I do speaking of education. Now.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I feel like such a contrarian. And it is true that,
like on one side of my mouth I say something,
on the other side, something else comes out. That's a
contradictory statement. But it is also true that many things
can be true all at once, that if you look
at something from a different perspective or try something different
(34:40):
on for size. So I feel like the world's biggest
dork when I'm you know, I'm making fun of college
or talking about the impracticalities of college or the stupid
cost of college and all the ways that college is.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Failing us these days. And who am I mis hypocrite?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
But I have two kids in college now two thirds
of two thirds of my kids, and so.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Laugh at me all you want.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I laugh at myself as I say the jury is
still out. Maybe that's just kind of my my cop
out way of shrugging it off. But you know, I
am to a certain extent participating in the system in.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
A judicious way. In my opinion.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
It's not a knee jerk yay go to college kind
of a thing. You know, our approach was at least
thought out and but with you know, the kids really
clear on the purposes for going and their intentions and
the big why, and considered in light of other life
(35:43):
options and life choices and the life and opportunities at
this time and whatever. Not to get too deep into that,
but you know, I'm at least trying to approach a
college subject in our household with eyes wide open at
the same time time to read an article about like
(36:04):
what's the point?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Let me take my last break here and then I'll
get into it if I don't just babble my way
to the top of the hour.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Here.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
This is a California Globe article how California colleges mislead students,
and I think probably the big takeaways. Don't get the loans.
Go and pay cash if you if you can, if
you have to. But I think it's the loans that
really stick it to you. Okay, before I get myself
(36:34):
into deep here, I'm gonna take my break.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
This is Mama Bear's Radio. Kristen Hurly here, I'll be
right back.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
Mama Bear's Radio. We'll be right back.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Gazing that of the wind, Devin. Unless she just gets
um and then jam, she'll be by that thirty doesn't reazors.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
Kristin Hurley here, safe and effective REDEO for the next
ten minutes, nine minutes and ticking.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
The coin toss landed on Californy Call Misleading Students article
as opposed to the other option for you guys, which
was the suppression of vaccine induced infant debts SIDS by
public health agencies across the world. You could have gotten
that one, but you're getting colleges. Maybe the SIDS one
(38:17):
is for another day. Very strongly put on my heart
again for us to come clean with ourselves about what
we're putting in our bodies and our baby's bodies.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
One mama's opinion here.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Okay, but quick quick, this is out of the California Globe.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Jim Andrews.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Thomas Jefferson wrote of the University of Virginia, quote, the
object of this institution is to form the statesmen, legislators,
and judges on whom public prosperity and individual happiness are
so much to depend.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Very valiant, Thank you, Thomas Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The assumption that California's colleges and universities solely serve the
public interest is naive Today. Colleges see themselves, says the
California Globe, as private enterprises seeking to maize maximize revenue
while minimizing expenses. It creates a perverse incentive to offer
programs that are cheap to run and easy to finish
with little economic value. Students in society bear the cost
(39:20):
wasted time, lost opportunities to gain valuable skills, a lifetime
of debt, an erosion of trust, and institutions that should
be engines of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Amen to that.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
This is a hurly sidebar real quick and in funny
and light of what Olivia Flores said earlier this hour
PV High, I forget the exact name of the program,
she said. But the ability to go complete your high
school diploma and your associate's degree all in run fall.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Swoop on a high school campus.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Obviously, you can do that if you're an alternative education
or independent studies kind of a thing. But to have
that program at a sitting high school is kind of cool.
Wasting a lot less time of your precious, valuable young
adult time at the colleges. Okay, I'm gonna get back
to the article here. California Globe says schools ENTI students
by promising aspirational jobs for programs with open enrollment and
(40:14):
few academic prerequisites.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
At CSU Monae Bay, for example, this article calls out
our local.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
CSUNB the KINESIOLOGYBS is one of the school's top programs.
While the university's website lists seventeen different possible careers. According
to Career one stop dot gov and the Bureau of
Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook hanbook, the most common outcome with
this degree is fitness trainer, which, oddly enough, the school
(40:43):
doesn't mention. There is no mechanism that compels CSU Moana
Abay or any Californy institution for that matter to disclose
the most likely career outcome for its students so they
don't have to actually be real with you. Instead, colleges
often tout their program as pathways to senior roles that
require advanced education in years of experience, leaving students to
(41:05):
discover the gap between marketing and reality only after they graduate.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
The harm is real.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Students often take on debt based on unlikely job prospects,
only to find themselves in low paying roles that don't
justify their investment. According to the US Department of Education's
College scorecard, super curly sidebar here, I just saw that
the Supreme Court has allowed the Department of Education to
(41:32):
continue to be dismantled, so this may change. But five
years after graduation, CSU Monterey based kinesiology BS majors have
median earnings and debt of fifty nine thousand, two hundred
forty seven dollars and thirteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars, respectively,
(41:53):
so their earnings is basically sixty K and a debt
of almost fifteen K. By contrast, according to the US
Bureau of Labor Statistics, many California workers with only a
high school diploma and about a decade of experience earn
fifty two thousand to fifty six thousand annually. This equates
(42:15):
to about twenty five dollars to twenty seven dollars an hour.
It feels like retail supervision and delivery driving without even
taking on the student debt.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
So you do the math on that.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
The recently enacted Higher Education Reform Act of twenty twenty
five requires the US Department of Education to terminate federal
student loan eligibility for programs where most graduates earn less
than the median high school graduate in their state.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
I guess it's a recent recently enacted Act twenty twenty five.
At CSU Monterey Bay, more than half of its baccalaureate
degree awards are in the low economic value programs like kinesiology, psychology,
and liberal studies that will struggle to meet this very
low standard.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
However, these programs may squeeze by.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Nevertheless, Californy education leaders have a moral and professional obligation
to provide education programs that improve economic outcomes for their graduates, or,
failing that, to at least honestly inform students what they
are getting into California can go further by requiring colleges
to report employment outcomes that reflect the job the jobs
(43:33):
graduates actually obtain. Woosie Daisy, So true, though, Okay, what
were we just saying last hour about the Federal Trade
Commission and selling people a bill of goods about oh, say,
mutilating minors.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
Medical malpractice?
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Can anyone say, how is it that we're like, oh, college, Oh,
I'm going to give my last, you know, my first
and last baby and my last dying breath to pay
for this, and what are the returns? And I'm the
first one to be like, this is not worth it.
(44:18):
In fact, you know, I used to say to my kids,
because they went to private high school. I used to say, kids,
this is your college education, like this, this is the
money you're on your own after this, not one hundred percent,
uh the.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
Way that chips fell.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
But at any rate, you know, I think at least
it's like a sober, measured choice to decide to be
selective a with a college campus you may go to
and on many levels, not just dollar signs, but given
that you know you've decided, on whatever levels that it
is in the critical path to a career objective or
(44:56):
you know, a personal objective on whatever level that you're
gonna utilize that program.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
It's going to.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Deliver you the goods and services that you expect as
a paying customer. Fine, but that is striking. I'm sure
that not. You know, it's not limited to the cs
U n B kinesiology department where you know you're you
think you're all high and mighty and you're coming out
and here's your here's your income, and here's your debt.
And that income sounds pretty lucky on some levels, sixty
(45:26):
k out of the out of the box. But at
any rate, such is the strange, strange world we live in,
and good luck go to us. All right, Well, this
is the end of Mam Mama Bears Radio for today.
Here for this week, I realized I didn't post last
week's shows, So you guys are gonna get four new
episodes uploaded to podcast on Spotify or wherever you get
(45:50):
your podcasts. If you have missed the shows for the
last couple of weeks, you can always check that out.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
I will be back in five.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Minutes for Schools drivetime show here on this station, and
then I will be back with my Mama Bears claws
out next Monday from two to four.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
All right, everybody claws out. I'll see in a bit.
This is a long
Speaker 4 (46:21):
You're listening to km y Selva Beach, home of Schoolhouse Radio.
The California Mama Bears have been forced out of hibernation.
Fierce guardians of our future, Mama Bear's fight for parents' rights,
Emily and God given freedoms everywhere. You're listening to Mama
Bears Radio with your host, The New Normal, Kristen Hurley.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio, our number two here
on a lovely Monday afternoon. Well, we just treated ourselves
to an hour of me babbling about all my stuff.
But this hour I'm going to welcome my guest, Olivia Flores.
She's the president of the board of the Papa val Unified,
the school district board of Trustees.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And let me bring or on here.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Olivia, thank you so much for taking your time today
to join us on air.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Thank you so much for asking.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, we I believe you've been on the show a
couple of years ago and we've stayed in touch over
the years. This is Is this your fourth year on
the school board or is it your third?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
No, this I'm now in my second halfway through I'm sorry,
so halfway through my third year. My term is up
December of next year.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Okay, you know the months and years? Who can keep track? Anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
But it turns out for though for this year though,
you were voted in as president of the board, and
so that's a brave new world on your end, being
having this is your first term.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Just in general, yes, well yes, Erry.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Learning curve.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
But you know, I've just been glad to get to
support you and keep in touch over the years. Though
my kids haven't been in the public district, we live
in the district, we do go to school, and then
we used to be in the in schools in the
district when they were much younger and all that, and
you know, Watsonville and Aptos is home for me and
(02:14):
my family. I do like to keep an interest in
what goes on and obviously you know the kind of
the focus of this radio show and my just in
general is improving education for our next generation, uplifting our kids,
supporting families, you know, being on the side of let's
do the best job.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We can for our next generation. Coming up.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So there's a meeting this week, which is why I
invited you on a board meeting, and there's a couple
of agenda items that I thought would be good for
you just to get a chance to address. So without
further ado here in particular the School Resource Officer agenda item.
(02:58):
I don't know specifically what it is for this particular meeting.
The s RO program has been on and off and
sort of a controversial topic over the years. Do you
want to just talk a little bit about what that
program even is? What is the s R program?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yes, So, before I was on the board, right right
when kids are about to come back on campus after
you know, the COVID, the board had voted to remove
school resource officers from all campuses, and you know, and
(03:35):
that made sense when we didn't have children on campus.
But now that we you know, once we were bringing
children back, it really should have been looked at again.
But it wasn't. And then we all, you know know
what happened, and so the community came out and really
spoke up and said, you know, we they really made
(03:56):
it clear what they want and what they made there
was that they want to have school resource officers on
our three main high schools and so but there was sums,
there was some opposition and a way to kind of
make it just a really well rounded program is we
(04:20):
pair a school resource officer with a mental health clinician
and they work together and really as partners to provide
you know, a better service to our students and to
the community as a whole, you know, on our campuses.
And so it is a little it is costly, but
(04:40):
you know, our children are worth it. Their safety is
you know, should be one of our biggest concerns. And
so that when that was voted in, I think it
probably three years ago now, it was voted in on
the basis that it would be you know, re looked
at their every year and revoted on every single year.
(05:04):
And so this last last year, when we had voted
to continue with the program, we you know, we did
have some concerned parents that would come and weren't happy
with having you know, a uniformed officer on campus. But
(05:26):
the majority of our parents are in favor of it,
and we back on our June eleventh board meeting, we
were presented with the findings of a survey that went
out to the three schools and it went out to parents, students,
and staff and in all three categories it was about
(05:50):
and I wish I had this in front of me
right now, but I don't. I should have. I believe
it was about seventy five percent in favor across the
board of keeping the SRO mental health clinician pairing at
all three campuses. And just since I've been on the board,
I've seen this model in practice. And I've spoken to
(06:16):
you know, the high schoolers that I know, you know,
having two sons in high school and you know, and
they're circle of friends. I ask around, like, what do
you guys think? How do you guys feel? And I
asked the parents and and the teachers that I know,
and everyone that I talks to are all in agreement
that they do feel safer seeing seeing you know, an
(06:37):
officer on campus. Some of them were saying, you know,
they never interacted with them, but just the presence alone
was comforting. But really, you know, the survey that went out,
it speaks volumes. It tells us exactly what the community wants.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Right and as you're a seven seven member board, is
that correct? And so you know, as as a non
partisan position, all of these things I've had to learn
bootstrap style over the last number of years, getting involved
in you know, sort of civic responsibility and civic awareness
and all that. And you know, my understanding for the
(07:18):
board of trustees of any school district is.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Well, your community, you are the.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Community watchdogs, so to speak, community representatives sort of safeguarding
with community wants in the public education for the kids. Right,
So it's not just a runaway government entity that no
one has any say, and it really is supposed to
be a reflection of local values and local people and
(07:44):
the local sort of objectives for educating kids in the area.
So it is really great to know that you guys
have some tangible data that says, well, this is what
the community has to say about this program. And then
you know, as representatives, this should be you know, a
program that we prioritize and having you know, what's interesting
(08:10):
and maybe we can talk a little bit about what
are some of the objections from coming from the other side,
Like what are reasons why someone wouldn't want this in place?
And I feel like maybe we have a chance to
answer some of those objections and look at it in
different kind of a different perspective. So do you do
(08:31):
you have a few comments or a few thoughts with
what other people say why they wouldn't want this program
in place in our high schools?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Uh? Yes, So we have you know, a handful of
community members that that you know have been pretty vocal
about their objection to having officers on campus, and one
of their some of what they say is that they
tend to target people of color more often, and that
(09:04):
it is, you know, perpetuating a prison to a school
to prison tipeline and and I'm just repeating what I've heard,
and those those were the two, you know, biggest ones.
I know. So last year when we did the survey,
(09:25):
we heard a lot of concerns that the survey was
was you know, bias or or to suggestive it was
all the questions had the s ROH and the mental
health clinician together. So they were saying, well, of course
people are voting that they wanted because you you know,
if they say no to the s ro OH, they're
say no to the mental health clinician as well. So
(09:47):
our superintendent listened. And this year when the survey went out,
it was a lot clearer. It was it separated the
two and so you know, I don't feel like they're
all Everything of what they said was was listened to
and addressed, and the survey still produced I I actually
(10:10):
believe even more in favor of maintaining the program than
last year's survey. We heard concerns that maybe people didn't
see the survey, but it was it was sent out.
I believe everyone had a week two to you know,
(10:30):
participate in it if they wanted. I, as a parent,
I know I was you know, encouraged I think three
times through email, through parent Square, parent View to build
it out if I hadn't already. And I asked my
funds if they saw it, and they said yes they had,
and I said, have you build it out? And they
(10:52):
said no. And I said, well, if you want to say,
if you want your voice to be heard, then you
know it's important to participate in those surveys. And so
I actually, I know for sure one son did participate.
I don't know about the other. I try to you know,
I'm not going to pressure them. I let them make
(11:12):
their choices. So but yes, I think I did ask
both my sons, you know, how they felt, and they
said that, yeah, they did like seeing the sheriff there
and they felt more comfortable just knowing his presence was there.
And but you know, any of the objections that we hear,
(11:35):
we do take them very seriously, and and we do
try to make sure that we are you know, really
trying to prevent what what you know, if they are
being if people of color are being targeted more, then
we're going to address that. We one of our surveys,
which we didn't do it this last year, but we
(11:55):
had anyone who steps in, any student who comes to
see an SRO or has to interact with SRO, all
that data is kept and even afterwards a survey is
you know, asked of the student and the parents like
how did it go, what did you feel? You know,
what can we do better? So all of that is,
(12:16):
you know, just we're just want to the student is
our main priority, and their safety is our main priority
in all of this. So as long as you know
they are being treated respectfully and being treated you know, fairly,
then I feel, you know, we're doing what needs to
(12:37):
be done to keep our campus is safe.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, and I really am glad that you guys are
addressing the you know, conflicting perspectives as they come. And
I do appreciate that you've given the public ample opportunity
to state their opinions and their experiences with the SROs
and all that. And I think we do have to
(13:01):
go take a break in just a second, Olivia, but
just to address one of those points, I remember.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And this must not have been this.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Year surgery, sorry survey, but a prior year. And I
remember being at a board meeting where some of the
results were read out loud.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And the sentiment that the kids enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
There was a piece of it where there was some
feedback where the students said that they enjoyed the relationship
with the officers on campus, they got to know them
as like kind of in a friendly way.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
And I think the.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Overall gist of that was, well, we're actually breaking down
some barriers right of like maybe someone in uniform is
intimidating on some level, but giving the students an opportunity
to interact with them. Having the officer be a part
of the school day to day activities, participate in you
(13:59):
know what's going on at lunch, develop you know, a
friendly rapport with students really does give everybody an opportunity
to catch a different perspective on that if that's something
they maybe have been told or impressed upon them that
police are you know, someone in Infrontoh, it's something to
(14:19):
be afraid of, or we don't like that.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I just think it gives the kids an opportunity to
dispel that notion, So that was something that stood out
for me.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yes, and at Watsonville High School, so we had an
FRO that was very well liked. All of the students
were they were on a first name basis with him
and they would even come to he has he had
a spot on campus where they can come and hang out.
And it definitely did encourage that. It did break down
(14:51):
barrier and encourage that relationship. And all of our SROs
need to go through special training with working with, you know,
our students, and so it's someone who's been hired on
by the agency and then we then add you know,
additional training and then they also work with the mental
health clinician. So it definitely is geared more towards, you know,
(15:17):
encouraging the good relationships with our students.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Yeah, it's like a kind of a specialty for law
enforcement to specialize in collaborating with the schools and the
education and the students. All right, well hang on, Olivia,
if you don't mind through the break here, we'll take
a break, we'll come back me. We'll talk a little
bit about budgetary stuff for the district or whatever else
we want to address. But again, I thank you for
(15:41):
your time. Everyone, if you're just tuning in, I'm speaking
with Olivia Flores. She's the president of the Papro Valley
Unified School District Board of Trustees. This is Mama Bear's Radio.
I'm going to take my break. I'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Mama Bears Radio. We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio. Kristen Hurley here, Safe
and Effective Radio. I'm going to get right back to
my guest this hour, Olivia Flores. She's joining me from
the Papa Valley and Fied School District. She's the board president. Olivia,
we were talking about the School Resource Officer program, the
(16:34):
s r O program, and so why why is this
coming up? So, as you mentioned earlier, there's a vote
to renew the program, and that's coming up on the
agenda for the board meeting this Wednesday. Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (16:49):
That is correct. We will be voting. It's two separate contracts.
The first contract is with Watsonville PD, Papa Valley High
School and Watsonville Football under PVUS the sorry Watsonville Police
Department jurisdiction. And then Aptass High School would be a
contract with through the Sheriff's office.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Okay, and so I actually didn't know that. That is
good to know. That's like even more localized. I feel like,
you know that you have law law officers that are
invested in the community, like and it's a fairly small town,
you know, likely that they they know someone at the
schools or whatever, and they they're community members themselves invested in,
(17:33):
you know, keeping our students in the safe, invest in
the environment possible on campus. So you know, I I
know that every school district all over the place, everybody's
facing some budget crunching this this year around. I mean,
do you have is you mentioned this program? Of course
(17:54):
is an extra cost on the district. How does this
work in budget wise this year for PV.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
So it's for our budget that we voted on. It
was already kind of assumed that we would vote with it.
When they're forecasting out, they kind of assumed that there's
going to be no changes. So back in June when
we approved the budget, it was considering that we would approve,
(18:23):
so we've it's already been budgeted, but it does it
is funds that come out of our general funds. So
it is a cost and that is some of the
on some of the constituents who are against this, you know,
are saying, you know, we're we're in a budget budget
crisis right now, and do we really want to be
spending on this. So that's when, you know, we do
(18:44):
ask the community to voice, you know, make their voices heard.
Is this something we should prioritize knowing what the cost
would be and we I know our superintendent did meet
with what VPD and with the Sheriff's department to see
if they were able to help share in some of
(19:05):
the costs. And we will hear about that on Wednesday
and hope that they're, yes, they are, there's there's some
movement being made.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
So yeah, well again it's like, well, where what are
the priorities for the district And you know, the safe
and safety and security on campus is definitely I think
in the community would agree with me, a priority for
everybody to work together to get that funded and not
(19:38):
let that be you know, a hang up or a
determent to Again, what the community has you know, sort
of resounding Lisa that.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
They want, Well, what else is going on?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
We have a few more minutes left in this the segment.
What else is going on in the paper district that
is up for discussion this upcoming meeting.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Well, this meeting is pretty small because it's the middle
of summer, so we have a lot of our staff
are out and just you know, we don't have a
whole lot going on. We're discussing some measure M some
measure M things, so thank you to the community members
who voted for measure M. We do have some money
(20:22):
to spend to help our campuses out, and we like
to try to get a lot of that construction work
done over the summer when you know, the students aren't there,
and so they do try to rush a few things,
you know, early on in the summer to try to
get those done before. So we're going to be voting
on some of those items. Mostly I know Aptos High
(20:47):
I think we'd love to see that painted. Some other
campuses need some painting. And then you know, of course
we have the the stuff that needs to get done
like HVAC roofs, and you know it's not so not
so exciting, but definitely needs to be done. So we
have that going on right now, not too exciting, but
(21:08):
some exciting things our district does have going on is
some new opportunities for students for example, we have mar
Vista went from uh uh you know, elementary school to
now a t K eight with the steam focus, which
is really exciting.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Oh I did hear about that?
Speaker 4 (21:29):
That's right, Yes, So our superintendent came in with some
great ideas to try to boost enrollment because part of
our you know, budget problems right now is because of
declining enrollment. And so she came in with some great
ideas to see what we can do to boost enrollment.
(21:50):
And her first, you know, first thing she really rolled
out was our attendance campaign, which really improved our attendance.
It was sorry about that. So that was great, a
huge success, and we hope to continue that. But also,
you know, when the scary you know, thought of possibly
(22:11):
having the close campuses comes up or anything, like before
we even go to that, you know, she has this
great idea that like, why don't we just try to
see what's going on around us and what are people want? Team?
And yeah, so mar Visa is now a TEA. Well
it's gonna be a t K and I don't believe
they haven't eighth grade yet. They're gonna they're gonna bring
(22:32):
it in one year at it. So this year they'll
have a seventh grade, and then the following year year
they will bring in the eighth grade, and then from
there on out. And then we also have at Papo
Valley High School, we have what's called early College so
freshman I believe we already maxed out. We have a
(22:53):
waiting list, but I believe next year we'll be able
to take on a larger number of freshmen. But pretty
much those students who choose that early college route will
be able to graduate with their high school diploma and
an associates degree at the same time. So that's that's
that is very cool and it's not offered anywhere else
(23:16):
in our county. So and that was our superintendent came
in with with those ideas as well, and so some
really really exciting exciting things for p b USD. We
also have PV Elevate, which is our almost like a
homeschooling virtual academy, you know, hybrid type of a school.
(23:40):
So anyone who needs who's looking for like an alternative
to uh uh a school where your student would go
you know, Monday through Friday all day if they tend
to do better at home, but with the support of
you know, your local school PV Elevate is a amazing
(24:01):
opportunity for for those parents. And I've been talking to
a lot of parents about it and they didn't know
that it was a thing. So I'm like, okay, well
we need to you know, get get the word out. Yes,
these were just things that were thought of to help
our declining enrollment because for some reason, p BUSD is
(24:23):
declining at a large at a faster rate than some
of our our other schools in the county, but Santa
Cruz County as a whole is losing a little larger
on a larger scale than our surrounding counties. But unfortunately,
this isn't a problem that only we are seeing. It's
across California with and it's just a combination of people
(24:46):
moving and declining birth rates and other factors come into play.
But we are dropping, you know, between four hundred and
six hundred over the last you know, few years, So
we have to you know, make adjustments when when that's happening.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Sign of the times, Yeah, it is, it's exactly. You
have to continue to offer something that's gonna benefit the
students or you know, at least give a reason for
people to stay. I'm actually just blown away about the
program at PEV High.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
I think that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
That's a lot of reason why people leave a traditional
school and go to independent education so they can ship
away at the college credits. If you have a motivated
student kind of a thing, it really does streamline your
education years and makes you feel like you're getting a
lot more bang for your buck. So that is super intriguing. Well,
(25:46):
I'm super grateful for your time. We're going to go
to break here and I'll let you go, Olivia. But
what in closing, what's the best way for people to
stay involved and stay in communication in with the school board.
How can the community best support PAPERO district and in
the school board.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
What's your advice for everybody?
Speaker 4 (26:09):
I would encourage parents to walk for our board meetings
if they aren't able to make it, you know, live
in person. It's streamed on YouTube and you can watch
because it's it's good to know what's going on throughout
our district. And when you do have concerns or questions
or comments, you can email the trustees and with any
(26:33):
of you know your concerns or comments. So that's always
a good way. But really it's really helpful to just
stay informed with with your site specific site as well
with where where your students are get involved as much
as you can be a participating parent. You know, it's
really does help us help your students and does wonders
(26:55):
for their educational journey. But yes, I I just love
when I hear from parents, especially, you know, not just
the concerns, but also you know, if there's something great
going on, we love to hear that as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I am really glad for your service on the board.
I know it takes a lot of your time in
addition to work and family and whatever. And I am
glad when people step out of their comfort zones and
take a position somewhere in the community again under the
umbrella of participating in civic life and government and all
of that. You know, we have to self govern. And
(27:37):
being aware and staying informed and then participating when you can,
I think is super important. So Olivia, thank you for
your time today.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Again.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
The meeting is on the sixteenth Wednesday evening. Everybody can
find it on the Paro District website the times and details. Olivia,
thanks for joining Mama Bear's Radio.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
No problem, thank you, all right, talk to me here, all.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right, everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I am gonna go to a break here, and when
I come back, maybe we will debrief just a minute
or two about that. I'm grateful for Olivia's time on
air here, and we will break some of that down
and then get back to a couple other things I
had in the stack for today. Okay, this is Mama
Bear's Radio, Kristin Hurley here.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
Mama Bear's Radio. We'll be right back La bas on
(28:54):
the Strange MoMA.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
But to mother. Yeah, motion, welcome.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Back to Mama Bear's Radio, Safe and Effective Radio.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
This is Kristin Hurley here.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
We are careening towards the top of the hour here,
and then of course it is School's Out Drivetime show
for the next two hours, so more of me, but
at least I have some friends with me for School's
Out Drivetime on Schoolhouse Radio. For the moment, though, I
wanted to get to a couple more things that I
(29:34):
had piled up here on the desk.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I have a bit of.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
A printer addiction full confession, I like actual paper in hand.
I do try to copy some of the articles that
I want to talk about to my digital notes in
front of me on the computer, But darn it if
I don't want to pick up a piece of paper
and look at that instead, Just like I never had
a kindle, I couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
I can't do it. I want to book.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
I'm going to bend the pages and bus with my
fingers on the paper. Anyways, Okay, well back to In fact,
let me circle back and address just a few things
about the Pahou District vote on the school Resource Officer program.
It had, you know, kind of come to my attention.
(30:24):
There was a little bit of a back and forth
this year with the readoption of the contract for that.
It's my understanding, and I think Olivia said that it
is a yearly thing that needs to get redone. It's
not something that they vote, the board votes on for
a three year agreement or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
It comes up yearly.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
And I feel strongly about this, and I feel strongly
about everything that's going on in the schools in our county, PV,
particularly right close to home. I still have plenty of
people down there in that community that I'm close with,
kids in the schools and whatnot. Even though I'm like
an old I can't say granny yet, but I'm getting
(31:05):
there everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's very exciting. But you know now that I'm a.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Fully, fully devoid of school age children.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
Getting used to that, but doesn't mean.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
It doesn't you know, behoove me or my civic responsibility
isn't to pay attention to what's going on in the schools.
And that's that's everyone's call, be it grandma, grandpa, someone
who doesn't have kids, you live in the community. It's
in everyone's best interest to keep our thumb on the
on the pulse of what happens in our schools, in
(31:40):
school districts, and that that's our future everybody.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
As I was saying, so, I.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Do strongly believe in the SRO program in everyone's fantasy
life of a back to perfect world where everything was
like pink and blue and shiny and easy.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
If that ever existed.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Maybe that's just mythology at this point, but in everyone's
fantasy land of like, well, back in the good old days,
we didn't need law officers on campus. Well, guess what,
it's the twenty twenties and things are nuts, and I
for one appreciate the studying presence of those officers on campus.
(32:22):
And again, I was at a PB school board meaning
when the company that did the surveying was reading the results,
and again, I think this was last year, it wasn't
this most recent one.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
And it really did.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Strike me that the at least right because she says
there's parent responses, there's student responses, and there's faculty responses
to these surveys.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
And the opportunity for kids.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
To develop a relationship with the law enforcement on campus,
I think breaks down barriers and dispels myths, gives the
kids an opportunity to see that these are real people.
It's another it's another adult in control of things, looking
out for their best interests, that kind of thing. And
so I think that's all positives given the time, the
(33:11):
sign of the times we're in. So anyways, I'm glad
for Olivia's time to come on and just talk about it.
If this is of interest to you and you want
to support the lend your voice to support this program again.
You can email the board members. You can tune in
to their board meetings, not just this Wednesday night, but
in general. The schedules posted on their website. It is
(33:34):
easy to tune in. It's easy enough to show up
and just you know, put your voice in the mix.
Or at least your eyeballs on what's going on. And
if that's not your district, find another district where you
live and just go. It's super instructive, super instructive. And
this could be city council meeting, this could be board
(33:56):
of supervisors for the county. At any level, go and
check it out and let your minds be blown.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
That's all I have to say.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
And get you know, participate in your country, use it
or lose it. Okay, there's some Mama Bear preaching right there.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
I do speaking of education. Now.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I feel like such a contrarian. And it is true that,
like on one side of my mouth I say something,
on the other side, something else comes out. That's a
contradictory statement. But it is also true that many things
can be true all at once, that if you look
at something from a different perspective or try something different
(34:40):
on for size. So I feel like the world's biggest
dork when I'm you know, I'm making fun of college
or talking about the impracticalities of college or the stupid
cost of college and all the ways that college is.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Failing us these days. And who am I mis hypocrite?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
But I have two kids in college now two thirds
of two thirds of my kids, and so.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Laugh at me all you want.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I laugh at myself as I say the jury is
still out. Maybe that's just kind of my my cop
out way of shrugging it off. But you know, I
am to a certain extent participating in the system in.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
A judicious way. In my opinion.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
It's not a knee jerk yay go to college kind
of a thing. You know, our approach was at least
thought out and but with you know, the kids really
clear on the purposes for going and their intentions and
the big why, and considered in light of other life
(35:43):
options and life choices and the life and opportunities at
this time and whatever. Not to get too deep into that,
but you know, I'm at least trying to approach a
college subject in our household with eyes wide open at
the same time time to read an article about like
(36:04):
what's the point?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Let me take my last break here and then I'll
get into it if I don't just babble my way
to the top of the hour.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Here.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
This is a California Globe article how California colleges mislead students,
and I think probably the big takeaways. Don't get the loans.
Go and pay cash if you if you can, if
you have to. But I think it's the loans that
really stick it to you. Okay, before I get myself
(36:34):
into deep here, I'm gonna take my break.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
This is Mama Bear's Radio. Kristen Hurly here, I'll be
right back.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
Mama Bear's Radio. We'll be right back.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Gazing that of the wind, Devin. Unless she just gets
um and then jam, she'll be by that thirty doesn't reazors.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Welcome back to Mama Bear's Radio.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
Kristin Hurley here, safe and effective REDEO for the next
ten minutes, nine minutes and ticking.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
The coin toss landed on Californy Call Misleading Students article
as opposed to the other option for you guys, which
was the suppression of vaccine induced infant debts SIDS by
public health agencies across the world. You could have gotten
that one, but you're getting colleges. Maybe the SIDS one
(38:17):
is for another day. Very strongly put on my heart
again for us to come clean with ourselves about what
we're putting in our bodies and our baby's bodies.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
One mama's opinion here.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Okay, but quick quick, this is out of the California Globe.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Jim Andrews.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Thomas Jefferson wrote of the University of Virginia, quote, the
object of this institution is to form the statesmen, legislators,
and judges on whom public prosperity and individual happiness are
so much to depend.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Very valiant, Thank you, Thomas Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The assumption that California's colleges and universities solely serve the
public interest is naive Today. Colleges see themselves, says the
California Globe, as private enterprises seeking to maize maximize revenue
while minimizing expenses. It creates a perverse incentive to offer
programs that are cheap to run and easy to finish
with little economic value. Students in society bear the cost
(39:20):
wasted time, lost opportunities to gain valuable skills, a lifetime
of debt, an erosion of trust, and institutions that should
be engines of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Amen to that.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
This is a hurly sidebar real quick and in funny
and light of what Olivia Flores said earlier this hour
PV High, I forget the exact name of the program,
she said. But the ability to go complete your high
school diploma and your associate's degree all in run fall.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Swoop on a high school campus.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Obviously, you can do that if you're an alternative education
or independent studies kind of a thing. But to have
that program at a sitting high school is kind of cool.
Wasting a lot less time of your precious, valuable young
adult time at the colleges. Okay, I'm gonna get back
to the article here. California Globe says schools ENTI students
by promising aspirational jobs for programs with open enrollment and
(40:14):
few academic prerequisites.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
At CSU Monae Bay, for example, this article calls out
our local.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
CSUNB the KINESIOLOGYBS is one of the school's top programs.
While the university's website lists seventeen different possible careers. According
to Career one stop dot gov and the Bureau of
Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook hanbook, the most common outcome with
this degree is fitness trainer, which, oddly enough, the school
(40:43):
doesn't mention. There is no mechanism that compels CSU Moana
Abay or any Californy institution for that matter to disclose
the most likely career outcome for its students so they
don't have to actually be real with you. Instead, colleges
often tout their program as pathways to senior roles that
require advanced education in years of experience, leaving students to
(41:05):
discover the gap between marketing and reality only after they graduate.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
The harm is real.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Students often take on debt based on unlikely job prospects,
only to find themselves in low paying roles that don't
justify their investment. According to the US Department of Education's
College scorecard, super curly sidebar here, I just saw that
the Supreme Court has allowed the Department of Education to
(41:32):
continue to be dismantled, so this may change. But five
years after graduation, CSU Monterey based kinesiology BS majors have
median earnings and debt of fifty nine thousand, two hundred
forty seven dollars and thirteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars, respectively,
(41:53):
so their earnings is basically sixty K and a debt
of almost fifteen K. By contrast, according to the US
Bureau of Labor Statistics, many California workers with only a
high school diploma and about a decade of experience earn
fifty two thousand to fifty six thousand annually. This equates
(42:15):
to about twenty five dollars to twenty seven dollars an hour.
It feels like retail supervision and delivery driving without even
taking on the student debt.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
So you do the math on that.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
The recently enacted Higher Education Reform Act of twenty twenty
five requires the US Department of Education to terminate federal
student loan eligibility for programs where most graduates earn less
than the median high school graduate in their state.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
I guess it's a recent recently enacted Act twenty twenty five.
At CSU Monterey Bay, more than half of its baccalaureate
degree awards are in the low economic value programs like kinesiology, psychology,
and liberal studies that will struggle to meet this very
low standard.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
However, these programs may squeeze by.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
Nevertheless, Californy education leaders have a moral and professional obligation
to provide education programs that improve economic outcomes for their graduates, or,
failing that, to at least honestly inform students what they
are getting into California can go further by requiring colleges
to report employment outcomes that reflect the job the jobs
(43:33):
graduates actually obtain. Woosie Daisy, So true, though, Okay, what
were we just saying last hour about the Federal Trade
Commission and selling people a bill of goods about oh, say,
mutilating minors.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
Medical malpractice?
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Can anyone say, how is it that we're like, oh, college, Oh,
I'm going to give my last, you know, my first
and last baby and my last dying breath to pay
for this, and what are the returns? And I'm the
first one to be like, this is not worth it.
(44:18):
In fact, you know, I used to say to my kids,
because they went to private high school. I used to say, kids,
this is your college education, like this, this is the
money you're on your own after this, not one hundred percent,
uh the.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
Way that chips fell.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
But at any rate, you know, I think at least
it's like a sober, measured choice to decide to be
selective a with a college campus you may go to
and on many levels, not just dollar signs, but given
that you know you've decided, on whatever levels that it
is in the critical path to a career objective or
(44:56):
you know, a personal objective on whatever level that you're
gonna utilize that program.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
It's going to.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Deliver you the goods and services that you expect as
a paying customer. Fine, but that is striking. I'm sure
that not. You know, it's not limited to the cs
U n B kinesiology department where you know you're you
think you're all high and mighty and you're coming out
and here's your here's your income, and here's your debt.
And that income sounds pretty lucky on some levels, sixty
(45:26):
k out of the out of the box. But at
any rate, such is the strange, strange world we live in,
and good luck go to us. All right, Well, this
is the end of Mam Mama Bears Radio for today.
Here for this week, I realized I didn't post last
week's shows, So you guys are gonna get four new
episodes uploaded to podcast on Spotify or wherever you get
(45:50):
your podcasts. If you have missed the shows for the
last couple of weeks, you can always check that out.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
I will be back in five.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Minutes for Schools drivetime show here on this station, and
then I will be back with my Mama Bears claws
out next Monday from two to four.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
All right, everybody claws out. I'll see in a bit.
This is a long
Speaker 4 (46:21):
You're listening to km y Selva Beach, home of Schoolhouse Radio.
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