Chino Valley Unified Board of Education — June 28, 2018

A student-supervision controversy involving Don Lugo High School's freshman football program dominated public comment at what was also the district's longtime superintendent's final meeting after 22 years of service. Roughly a dozen speakers, split into two camps, used the full public-comment period before the board worked through a lighter agenda: a resolution ordering the fall board election, adoption of next year's budget and accountability plan, a restructuring of the district's executive ranks, and an extended, emotional send-off for its retiring chief and seven other retiring staff.

No official minutes are on file for this meeting. This recap is built from the transcript alone, so — consistent with this archive's naming policy for minutes-less meetings — no speech, comment, or stance below is attributed to a named individual, including public commenters, board members, and staff.

🏈 A divided public comment on Don Lugo

The controversy had already surfaced at the board's meeting two weeks earlier 1. By late June it had drawn local news coverage and split the Don Lugo community into competing camps that filled the board room.

Several parents defended the school's handling of the matter. One, describing herself as a longtime program volunteer, said she had raised her own concerns two years earlier about team fundraising and a coach's treatment of players, and had gone through "proper channels" to do so 2 — a contrast, she said, to an elected official she believed had gone around the principal and superintendent 3. She also disputed that players had gone unsupervised, saying she personally observed the team's normal class period from nearby 4. Another parent said she believed the school's administration had handled the matter correctly and that the school, the police department, and an outside investigator had each done their part; she characterized some of the involved families as pursuing what she called a "money grab" 56. A parent whose son was interviewed as part of the investigation said she had been notified in advance, that her son was offered counseling, and that she felt comfortable with how the matter was handled 78. One parent read a letter on behalf of another mother who could not attend; the letter said the son "was not and let me repeat not again a victim of bullying" and that "the other boys involved are very good friends with my son" 9.

Other parents pressed for more accountability. One said her son had witnessed conduct she described as far more serious than the district had acknowledged, over several days, in an unsupervised classroom of as many as 50-plus students 1011, and asked why no one had said "someone needs to be reprimanded for the lack of common sense of leaving children" alone that way 12; she said only two board members had responded to the emails she sent seeking help 13. Another speaker asked directly why no criminal charges had been filed, noting that a district-sponsored student workshop earlier that year had described similar conduct involving minors as potentially prosecutable 1415. A third speaker focused less on assigning blame than on the toll on the boys on all sides, urging the board to make clear to the students identified as responsible, the students affected, and any witnesses that it was "behind them," and noting that those found responsible had already been expelled 1617.

One board member used board comments at the close of the meeting to respond directly to the evening's criticism, saying, "I asked questions and wanted answers as is expected of any of us," and that they had wanted parents notified, not only a limited group 18. The member said their concern throughout had been the unsupervised classroom itself, not any judgment of the students involved 1920.

Two unrelated matters also came up during public comment: one parent asked the board to reconsider a first-grade placement for her incoming son, citing state education-code provisions on kindergarten completion 2122; another recalled a 2014 incident in which her child was burned at school and said only one board member had pushed for accountability at the time 23.

💼 Budget, an election order, and a reshuffled executive team

The board adopted Resolution 2017-2018-86, ordering the district's regular election for the governing-board seats whose terms expire in December, without discussion 24. It also adopted the 2018-2019 Local Control and Accountability Plan and the 2018-2019 budget for all funds 2526.

The bigger discussion came over a revision to the certificated and classified management salary schedule that eliminated an assistant superintendent of business services position and created two new associate superintendent positions in its place. One board member questioned whether the change actually produced savings, since the district was replacing a deputy superintendent earning $178,556 with two positions at that same top salary 27. Staff explained that the first-year savings — roughly $14,000 — came from filling the vacated deputy position at a lower starting step, combined with the eliminated assistant-superintendent position, with no guarantee of continued savings in later years 28.

The board then approved four-year contracts, running through June 30, 2022, for four incoming senior administrators 29: an associate superintendent of business services at $178,556 plus benefits 3031; an assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, innovation and support at $165,087 32; an associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction, innovation and support, also at $178,556 plus a doctoral-degree stipend 33; and an assistant superintendent of facilities, planning and operations at $171,688 3435. One board member asked whether the resulting salary schedule was competitive with neighboring districts; staff said it was roughly at the average 36. Separately, in closed session, the board appointed a new coordinator of access, equity and assessment, effective July 1 37.

On the consent calendar, the board separated the Chino Hills High School General Boosters from that evening's other fundraising approvals at one member's request 38 and granted the group a 60-day provisional approval, with staff directed to address unspecified concerns before the club returns for final approval on September 6 39. A separate personnel item drew a question about a school secretary's reassignment, which staff said had been addressed in closed session; it passed 40. A second personnel item passed 41. Elsewhere, one board member asked staff to explore creating a dedicated parent-and-family-engagement coordinator position in place of the district's current teacher-on-assignment model; staff said the idea had been discussed internally and could come forward as a future recommendation 42. Another board member asked that board policy be updated to fold CIF's own code of conduct for coaches into the athletics conduct policy the board had approved earlier in the meeting 43.

🎓 A 22-year tenure closes

The meeting doubled as a retirement send-off. Seven staff members were recognized for a combined 179 years of service to the district, including an outgoing high-school principal retiring after 19 years; a 34-year teacher at Buena Vista High School; an 18-year math teacher at Chino High School; a 15-year PE teacher at Chino Hills High School; a 35-year bilingual instructional staff member; a 24-year administrative secretary; and a 34-year technology programmer/analyst 444546.

The evening's largest tribute was for the retiring superintendent, closing out 22 years with the district — the last nine as superintendent — effective June 30, with a successor taking over July 1. The meeting closed with an extended round of thanks and personal reflections between the board, cabinet staff, and the retiring superintendent, followed by a standing ovation, before adjourning at 8:29 p.m. 4748

This is an independent, community-maintained summary of public records and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chino Valley Unified School District. No official minutes are on file for this meeting, so — per this archive's editorial policy — no statement, comment, or position above is attributed to a named individual.