SVUSD School Board Trustee Candidate Forum SUBMIT A QUESTION Trustee Area 5 Candidates Edgar Montes Candidate Questionnaire Candidate Statement Kris Spowart Candidate Questionnaire Candidate Statement We kindly ask all forum attendees to abide & respect these rules: There will be no substitutes or stand-ins for the candidates No campaign banners, signs, literature, handouts, buttons, tee shirts, or other campaign paraphernalia will be allowed in the debate hall until after the forum has concluded The audience will be asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate Candidates will be introduced by full name. Thereafter, "Mr." and "Ms." will be used. The candidates will remain seated at all times during the debate The candidates will not use props, but may bring notes and use a note pad and pens for taking notes during the debate Time limits on responses will be strictly observed. A timekeeper will hold cards, visible to the speaker, indicating how much time remains. When the "stop card" is shown, the speaker must end his/her speech within 10 seconds. The moderator will have the responsibility for enforcing time limits. The moderator also will have the authority to interrupt the proceedings to enforce the ground rules and format that were agreed to by the candidates. The moderator will read the questions The moderator may restate the question The candidates will not interrupt one another No flash cameras and no motor-driven cameras will be used during the debate other than those authorized by the sponsors Candidates are invited to remain after the conclusion of the forum to speak with audience members Candidates will be asked to have their cell phones turned off & not on their person

Saddleback Valley PTA Council serves the schools in Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Our council represents 25 units and falls within the Fourth District PTA, California State PTA and National PTA.   Welcome! Saddleback Valley PTA Council serves the schools in Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Our council represents 24 units and falls within the Fourth District PTA, California State PTA and National PTA. Upcoming Events Latest News SVPTA Training Slides President & EVP Secretary Treasurer Parliamentarian Membership PTA at its heart is an advocacy organization. With ADVOCACY at the forefront of our organization, we have put together a list of resources supporting the importance of parent involvement in schools, as well as contact information to assist you in advocating for your child through local representatives, state representatives & various agencies. Read More Contact

SVPTA Units

SVPTA Forms Financial Payment Authorization Form Unit Remittance Form (to submit membership dues) Workers Comp Online Form Fiduciary Agreement Financial Calendar - coming soon Running Your PTA Conflict/Whistleb lower Form Conflict of Interest Policy PTA Event Participation Waiver PTA Photo Release Historian Report Parliamentarian Bylaws Review - 4 Key Steps Bylaws Summary e-Bylaws Worksheet Instructions for Completing Bylaws e-Bylaws How To Election Script Spring 2025 Training Slides President & EVP Secretary Treasurer Parliamentarian Membership

On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. Help Us Support San Joaquin Elementary Students! On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. SVPTA is raising funds to help provide a special end-of-year celebration for San Joaquin students and to purchase t-shirts from their new schools for all 220 students. These efforts will help ease their transition and give them a sense of community as they begin this next chapter. Please consider donating to show your support for these students during this time of change. Every contribution makes a difference!

Distance Learning Read Aloud & Listening Story Time from Space Storyline Online (Stories read by Famous Actors) [PK-5th] Common Sense Media, The 25 Best Podcasts for Kids [All Ages] E-books & Online Reading Internet Archive (Open Library) Starfall [PK-3rd] Teach Your Monster to Read (requires parent login) [PK-1st] Wonderopolis [All ages] Scholastic Learn at Home [All Ages] Writing Read-Write-Think - Parent After School Resources [K-12] Story Bird (requires parent login) Story Jumper (requires parent login) Math You Cubed Math Tasks [K-12] Robert Kaplinsky Math Lessons [K-12] 3-Act Math Lessons [K-7] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Brain Teasers [6-12] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Interactive Math Games [PK-12] Open Middle Math Problems [K-12] Science California Academy of Science Webcams (all ages) Exploratorium - Read, watch, experiment (All ages) Monterey Bay Aquarium Webcams (all ages) Mystery Science (K-5) PBS Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science (9th-12th) PBS NOVA Wonders (6th-12th) San Diego Zoo Webcams (all ages) History/Social Science PBS Learning - News Depth [4th-7th] PBS Kids - Let’s Go Luna- Travel the World [K-2] PBS Kids - World Cultures [PK-5th] PBS - Above the Noise [6th-12th] PBS Learning - Crash Course - Science and History/Social Science [9th-12th] Visual/Performing Arts Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems Sketchbook Melody Prompts (9th-12th) PBS Art School (6th-12th) PBS Spark - Short videos of artists (Various ages) PBS Sound Field - Videos on all types of music (6th-12th) PBS Classical MPR Class Notes (1st-6th) English Language Development Biblioteca Virtual Infantil BrainPop en Español Colorín Colorado CommonLit Duolingo Khan en Español Nasa Ciencias en Español Newsela en Español Tween Tribune Español Take a Virtual Field Trip Museums with Virtual Tours Virtual Museum Tours 20 Virtual Field Trips to Take With Your Kids 33 National Park Tours You Can Take From the Comfort of Your Home San Diego Zoo Yellowstone National Park tour Planet Mars 360-degree tour Monterey Bay Aquarium live animal cameras Atlanta Zoo panda cam Houston Zoo webcams Georgia Aquarium beluga whale cam Farm Tours from FarmFood360 Experience Polar Bears on the Tundra Great Wall of China Boston Children’s Museum Virtual Tour Google Museum Collections 30 Virtual Field Trips 10 Tips for Parents Set up a daily family routine, including healthy eating and sleeping habits Provide a place and time at home for homework Check on assignments, homework and projects Talk each day with your child about his/her activities Promote literacy by reading to your child and by reading yourself Limit and monitor TV watching, gaming, social media and computer time Express high expectations and standards for your child’s learning Attend parent-teacher conferences, Open House and Back-To-School events Participate in decisions that affect your child’s education Tap into community resources with visits to a library, museum, zoo or theater and encourage participation in after-school clubs, sports and art activities

SVPTA Event Photos 2019-20 Presidents & Principals Breakfast

FAQS FINANCIAL *. INSURANCE * GENERAL * PROGRAMS & EVENTS Financial Financial Can we use Venmo or Zelle to accept payments? No. These types of apps are peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms which aren’t developed to serve groups, especially nonprofits like PTAs. A P2P platform’s primary role is exactly that — transactions between two individuals for personal means, like paying a friend back for dinner. Great for individuals, but not for PTAs. Can we use a debit card to pay bills? No, you can't use a debit card to pay bills, but you can use online payment systems. All expenses must be accounted for and reported in the monthly treasurer’s reports. An Authorization for Payment Via EFT/ACH/Bank Bill Pay Services form signed by two authorized check signers must be completed for all Electronic Funds Transfer/Bank Bill Pay Service A re we allowed to buy gifts with P TA money? PT A funds should not be used to purchase personal gifts, equipment for staff lounges and lunchrooms or for furnishings for principals’ offices. Personal gifts include gift cards and gifts for baby showers, Secretary’s Day, bereavements, weddings, or birthdays. If the membership determines that such items are necessary, the individual members can make personal donations to purchase the designated items. These donations should not be commingled with PTA funds. insurance Insurance Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. Will there be an online waivers/digital signing options for Parents through CAPTA? Or AIM? At this time, no, but stay tuned for more info. general General Who do I contact when questions come up? When asked questions you don’t know the answer, please bring them to the SVPTA President , & they will make sure to get the answers for you. SVPTA will also continue to help communicate information to the community. Please make sure & share our posts/messaging. Can PTA create resource lists for parents & distribute them (ex/babysitters, tutors, etc)? Neither the PTA or school sites should be collecting and/or recommending these kind of resources. This becomes an endorsement/promotion of such businesses, which neither SVUSD or PTA should be doing for many reasons, liability being one of them. There are current resources that are provided through SVUSD, including TLC & the community services group/catalog. Those resources can be shared. Regarding resources, parents can always start their own FB group. However, it should be separate from your PTA Facebook group/platforms. Can our PTA buy gift cards for our school staff members or volunteers? No. Giving a gift card is the same as giving someone cash. In addition, giving a volunteer cash or a cash equivalent like a gift card on behalf of the organization may cause them to be considered an employee or an independent contractor by government agencies. And the IRS considers cash gifts (including gift cards) as reportable income on the recipient’s tax filings. For these reasons, our policies and procedures expressly forbid giving gift cards purchased with PTA funds: “PTA funds cannot be used to purchase personal gifts for staff or volunteers, such as gift cards.” Can PTA get the word out about GoFundMe or Meal Trains for members in the community? Yes, the PTA may get the word out about any and all benefits/fundraisers being held for individuals or families in need or about local charities who are assisting those in need, regardless of who is organizing them. The PTA may also help with a fundraiser by advertising it and encouraging volunteers, but it cannot be an official PTA activity, and all money collected must go to the organization holding the fundraiser. Checks cannot be made out to PTA, and no deposits may be made to the PTA account on behalf of another organization or family in need. Programs & Events How do we get programs and events approved? Check out our step by step guide - https://www.svpta.org/presidents I have questions, who can I contact? Please contact our Programs Liaison . programs

Funding SVUSD Budget TBD Prop 28 Monies TBD One-Time Funding TBD Grants TBD

COVID-19 Info Links SVUSD SVUSD Return to School Flow Chart SVUSD Mask Guidance 2021-2022 SVUSD Reopening Plan COVID Dashboards OCHCA OCHCA Orders & Recommendations CDPH CDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine CDPH Guidance for Schools K-12 CAPTA CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for PTA Leaders CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for Parents, Families & Educators Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 FAQS Can PTA hold in-person activities? We CAN hold PTA events off campus or on campus after school hours (ex/outreach program/art club/etc), but limited on number of people that can attend (an RSVP system to confirm the number attending is highly recommended & you must work closely with your principal to ensure numbers meet SVUSD guidelines/protocols). Please work closely with your site administrator/principal on planning any events. Can we have PTA Programs on campus (art, STEAM lab, etc.)? We ARE allowed to have PROGRAMS on campus. However, the process for approval has changed. You must have site admin/principal approval first, then have it submitted to the district & reviewed by the SVUSD school board & approved in their meeting. This means things will take longer to get started. However, the purpose behind this is to keep our students safe. The board will be reviewing & ensuring that these outside programs are following the same SAFETY protocols as SVUSD. Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. Do PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours? Kids permitted? Yes, PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours if you want them to be held on campus. Outside of school hours, we CAN be on campus which is exciting. There cannot be children present at the meeting, however we PTAs can hire school site personnel during the meeting time to provide childcare in a separate room. They will adhere to all COVID protocols & safety measures for the children. One great takeaway from the past year, is that ZOOM is a great way to reach all families. Perhaps a good compromise is to have any late afternoon/evening meetings in person, while offering daytime meetings via ZOOM. I do think in person meetings have many benefits & it is important to have that connection in person at least some of the time. Will PTA volunteers be allowed on campus if approved by school administration? It is true that Visitors & Volunteers will be limited for the safety of our students. This does not mean there won’t be opportunities or needs throughout the year. Please work closely with your site administrator/principals to support these needs, while adhering to all safety protocols. Will PTA be permitted to make copies on campus? YES, volunteers can come on campus to make copies. Please have your volunteer make an appointment with the front office via email, prior to coming on campus. All Volunteers must wear masks at all times on campus. Events involving food? Does food have to be individually packaged? Can it be more buffet style? Ideally yes, food being individually packaged is preferred. However, if someone is masked/gloved & individually serving food, this is acceptable. Again, all must be approved by your site administrator/principal. During COVID-19 PTA can still... Spread positivity Advocate for our kids on many levels Keep parents informed as information gets shared with us. Please ask your school friends to join our SVPTA FB page https://www.facebook.com/SaddlebackValleyPTACouncil/ and Instagram @svptacouncil Ask parents to become PTA members & be a part of something BIGGER!!! Joining PTA gives you a voice, it connects you to resources for distance learning, mental health resources, it advocates important issues including Art, Special Education, Equity in Education & so much more!!! If your school needs a simple way for families to join virtually, use TOTEM which is CAPTA’s electronic membership platform.

Arts Advocacy Studies show arts education not only decreases feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation but also positively impacts all-around academic performance . As students struggle through incredible loss this year, the arts are not a luxury, they are a tool for recovery . California's Education code promises visual art, music, dance, theater and media arts classes to each K-12 student. "Section 51220" California Education Code 2020 Students with an arts education are 5 times more likely to stay in school, 3 times more likely to get a bachelor’s degree, and 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. "Arts and Achievement in at Risk Youth..." NEA 2012 Especially important during this time of trauma and upheaval, students need to develop self-management and self-discipline, interpersonal and relationship skills, and self-expression. Numerous studies show the arts support the development of all of these essential skills. "The Connection Between Art, Healing..." APHA 2010 share-your-story Send a letter to our district and/or board of education in support of art education either from your family or in collaboration with your PTA or organization. Here is a template to draw from but remember to always add your own story to make it more personal and persuasive. Share your SVUSD art story and inspire others! We’d love to connect and hear your story. Fill out the submission form . Join CreateCA and support California’s movement for arts education at www.createca.org Check out your local community theatres, county arts commissions, and museums for more events near you... California Department of Education: www.cde.ca.gov California Arts Council: www.arts.ca.gov List of California art museums: www.caea-arteducation.org/california-art-museums List of California museums:www.seecalifornia.com/museums/directory.html SF Arts: www.sfarts.org Arts Advocacy Chair Karen R. arts@svpta.org

Training Videos CAPTA Virtual Summer Leadership Academy President Videos: Part 1 & Part 2 Handouts: Part 1 & Part 2 Secretary Video Handout Treasurer Videos: Part 1 , Part 2 , & Part 3 Handouts: Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 Parliamentarian Basics Video Handout Links for Parliamentarian Q & A PTA Super References Sheet Audits Video Handout Membership Basics Video Handout Legislation & Advocacy Video Handout 4th District Training Videos President Secretary General Financial Parliamentarian Auditor Membership Membresia (Spanish Membership) Reflections