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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Hawthorne. We found 11 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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District Proposes Adding ‘Gender Identity’ to Non-Discrimination Policy
The Board is considering a first reading of revised policy BP 5145.3. The new language adds ‘gender identity,’ ‘gender expression,’ ‘sex stereotypes,’ and ‘termination of pregnancy’ as protected classes, embedding controversial gender ideology into official district policy.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a First Reading of a policy that inserts gender ideology into the rules governing our schools. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘I oppose the proposed changes to BP 5145.3 in Item VI.a. Do not add controversial gender ideology to the district’s non-discrimination policy. Vote NO.’
💰 Impact: Your Parental Authority
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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New Policy Mandates ‘Gender Identity’ in Sex-Ed Classes
The proposed new policy BP 6142.1, based on the ‘California Healthy Youth Act,’ requires sex-ed instruction to be ‘inclusive of same-sex relationships’ and to ‘teach students about gender, gender expression, and gender identity.’ This replaces traditional health class with ideological instruction on gender theory.
Recommended Action Plan
URGENT ACTION: The Board is voting on Item VI.a, which includes new sex-ed policy BP 6142.1. This policy mandates teaching gender ideology. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Vote NO on the proposed BP 6142.1. Parents, not the school, should be the primary educators of their children on sensitive topics like sexuality and gender.’
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Innocence
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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District Approves $205k for On-Campus Mental Health Therapists
Item VI.o approves a $205,240 contract with Richstone Family Center to place 2.2 full-time therapists in schools. This creates a school-based mental health clinic, which can lead to students receiving therapy and counseling without parental presence or full consent.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND OVERSIGHT: The Board is voting to embed mental health therapists in our schools under Item VI.o. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘I oppose Item VI.o. What are the specific parental consent and notification protocols for the Richstone Family Center therapists? We do not consent to the district providing mental health services to our children without our direct involvement.’
💰 Impact: $205,240 (Grant Funded)
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Final Vote on Changes to Parent Notification Policy Without Public Text
The Board is holding a second and final vote on revised policy BP 5145.6, which governs how and when the district notifies parents. The text of the proposed changes has not been included in the public agenda packet, preventing parental review before the final vote.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE & DEMAND DELAY: The Board is set for a final vote on Item VI.b, changing the Parent Notification policy (BP 5145.6), but the text isn’t public. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Postpone the vote on Item VI.b (BP 5145.6). Parents have a right to review the full text of any changes to the Parent Notification policy before a final vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Transparency
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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Policy Update Allows AI and Third-Party Access to Student Data
The proposed revision to BP 5125 on student records explicitly allows the district to use ‘artificial intelligence’ and enter into contracts with third-party vendors for the ‘digital storage, management, and retrieval of student records.’ This opens the door to student data being shared and analyzed by outside companies without direct parental oversight.
Recommended Action Plan
PROTECT STUDENT DATA: The Board is considering policy BP 5125 under Item VI.a. Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘I oppose the changes to BP 5125. Who are these third-party vendors, and what are their data privacy policies? Do not approve this policy without ironclad protections for student data.’
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Privacy
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Implement Student Intervention & Tracking System
Consent Item V.w approves a contract with PowerSchool for training on its MTSS platform. Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a framework for tracking student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional data to assign interventions, creating a detailed surveillance profile on your child.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Pull Consent Item V.w for a separate vote. What specific student data will be tracked in the PowerSchool MTSS system, and what is the parental opt-out process for this data collection?’
💰 Impact: $3,840
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Key Policies on Curriculum and Graduation Up for Review Without Public Text
Item VI.a is a First Reading of major policy changes, but the text for BP 1312.2 (Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials) and BP 6146.1 (High School Graduation Requirements) was not included in the agenda packet. This prevents parents from reviewing critical changes before the Board discusses them.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: The Board is reviewing critical policies under Item VI.a, but the text for BP 1312.2 and BP 6146.1 is missing. Open the files attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see what is being changed and be prepared to speak.
💰 Impact: Lack of Parental Review
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District to Spend $34,750 on MacBooks and iPads
Consent Item V.x approves the purchase of $34,750 in Apple devices for a media arts program. The district has not provided evidence that this increase in screen time produces academic gains or what direct instruction time it will replace.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND EVIDENCE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Before voting on Consent Item V.x, please publish the independent, non-vendor-supplied evidence that these devices improve academic outcomes, and state how many minutes of daily screen time this program will add for students.’
💰 Impact: $34,750.65
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Expands Use of Student-Facing EdTech Software
Consent Items V.s and V.u approve agreements with Curriculum Associates and Lexia Learning, two major EdTech vendors. While the contracts are for training, they signal deeper integration of these digital learning platforms into the classroom, increasing student screen time.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND EVIDENCE: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Consent Items V.s and V.u, please provide the independent evidence showing these EdTech products produce academic gains superior to traditional instruction, and detail the expected daily screen time for students using them.’
💰 Impact: $7,611.11
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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District Spends $28,750 for ‘Positive Culture’ Training at Recess
Consent Item V.v is a $28,750 contract with Playworks to implement ‘strategies, games, and systems to develop and sustain a positive educational culture’ during recess. This is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) disguised as playground games, using recess time for behavioral programming instead of free play.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Consent Item V.v, recess should be for free play, not structured social engineering. What is the parental opt-out process for the Playworks program at Ramona Elementary?’
💰 Impact: $28,750
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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District Pays LACOE $5,000 for PBIS Staff Training
Consent Item V.y approves $5,000 for the LA County Office of Education to train staff in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS). PBIS is a school-wide system that focuses on managing student behavior through data collection and interventions, often tied to SEL goals.
Recommended Action Plan
MONITOR: Contact the Board (see the Official Agenda link for details): ‘Regarding Consent Item V.y, please ensure that any PBIS implementation respects parental authority over their child’s behavior and values. We will be monitoring this program closely.’
💰 Impact: $5,000
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