this is now my 11th year at buena vista horace mann. in those 11 years, i was the p.t.a. president for two years and p.t.a. president cochair for two years. i estimate in the 10.5 years that my family has been at buena vista horace mann, i've volunteered over 3,000 hours while working a full-time job and volunteering for other organizations. in short, i work a lot, and i sleep very little. i'm providing this info only to put context in how shocked i was last year when the bvhm was announced, and making the announcement to open the bvhm to all sfusd students without seeking any community input. i'm asking the board before rushing to a decision that makes our entire school community that a true effort for community engagement be made. i'm very proud of the contributions that i've made to the school system so far. [applause] >> president cook: let's see...do you have any items? >> vice president sanchez: no. >> president cook: any items removed for first reading by the board? seeing none, any items severed by the board or superintendent for discussion or vote tonight? commiss

one at soda and one at buena vista-horace mann. i just want to urge the board to take their time, to pause, to not replace these funds, not to defund this program. i have been a teaching artist in -- as well for the last two decades here, working at rooftop and many other schools. i know i don't have to stand here and tell you how important the arts are. i have seen is -- it first hard, working with kids in juvenile haul, working at some of our less advantaged schools, and i'm worried that there is no plan in place if we defund this program. there's nothing that i've seen, nothing clear, and the kids that are going to be hurt the most are the kids that are going to be left advantaged, kids -- children who are black and brown for the most part and going to these schools and don't have the access to arts and music that other kids might have. so i am urging this board to pause, and i have many colleagues. i'm standing here in solidarity with them that work at vapa as teaching artists, and i just want to stand in support of them and th