Chino Valley Unified Board of Education, February 15, 2024

President Sonja Shaw called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m. with Bridge, Cruz, Monroe, Na and Shaw present 1. The board authorized a fourth sale of Measure G construction bonds and a refinancing of older debt 234 on a night when public comment ran heavily to the stalled teachers' contract 5. Teachers rallied outside district headquarters beforehand, the Champion Newspapers reported 6.

🏗️ Measure G bonds and a refinancing

On a motion by Na, seconded by Monroe, the board adopted on a roll call, with Bridge, Cruz, Monroe, Na and Shaw voting yes, a resolution for the sale of General Obligation Bonds, Election of 2016, Series 2024D, of up to $143,500,133.25 3. The same mover, seconder and roll call adopted a resolution for up to $20,000,000 in 2024 refunding bonds, and the student representative voted yes on both 4.

The staff report said three earlier Measure G series totaled about $606.5 million of the $750,000,000 measure from the November 8, 2016 election, and that this series would include capital appreciation bonds, sold through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company 22. The refunding targeted Measure M bonds from the 2002 election, listed as the 2003, 2005 and 2006 series, for estimated present-value savings of $1,952,616, about 10.17% 7.

A results report on the April 18 agenda said the bonds sold on April 3, 2024: $100,003,104 of Series 2024D at a true borrowing cost of 4.49%, and a refinancing of $17,805,000 in Measure M Series 2014 bonds saving taxpayers $1,928,837.50 8. It names a different Measure M series than the February report.

👩‍🏫 Personnel actions

From closed session, the board appointed Renae McCain principal of Doris Dickson Elementary School, effective February 15, 2024, according to the minutes 1; the closed-session report on the recording gives February 16 9. It also authorized non-reelection notices to two certificated teachers identified by employee number 1.

On a motion by Cruz, seconded by Bridge, the board adopted a resolution releasing temporary certificated employees effective June 30, 2024; the minutes record Na voting no 4. The resolution releases all temporary certificated staff for 2024/2025 under Education Code 44954(b), and also non-reelects any temporary teacher who claims probationary status 10. On a motion by Na, seconded by Monroe, the board adopted a classified layoff notice 4 eliminating two posts, a Nutrition Eligibility Specialist and a Bilingual Typist Clerk I, for annual savings of $84,542 and $82,560 1010.

🗣️ Teachers and the contract

Steven Frazer, A.C.T. Organizing Chair, called for a fair settlement, said there had been almost no movement since April 2023, and spoke about vacancies and retaining educators 55. On the recording he said 21 vacancies remained and the district was non-reelecting teachers that night 11, expected at least 40 vacancies in the fall, and called the salary offer a "lowball offer" 11. He said union proposals for smaller special education classes, more IEP time and better pay for psychologists and counselors had come back "status quo" 1212.

Student representative Chloe Kubeldis thanked educators for continuing to support students 1, adding on the recording "despite the wages that they are being paid" 11.

The minutes list the non-agenda speakers by topic. Jacqueline Cortes, Valerie Vera-Mineer, Alexis, Naomi Minogue, Lee Kleppe, Karin Summerford, Oscar Avila, Sarah Palmer, Claudia Cruz, Dana Luad, Song Stitt, Maureen Bromley, Scott Carter and Allison Montoya spoke on A.C.T. negotiations; Brianna Celaya and Lauren Andruska-Heyan on recruiting and retaining speech-language pathologists; Manuk and ProtectKidsCA.com on protecting kids from harm; Darlene Berg on terms used by board members; and Robert Davis and Daniel Spellman on a VAPA grant 5. The minutes do not record what each person said, so the themes below come from the recording without names and are not in speaking order.

• Pay. At least one speaker said Chino Valley teachers earn $10,000 to $30,000 a year less than in nearby districts 13, the range the Champion Newspapers reported teachers had documented 6. A speaker asked why the district held almost $60 million in extra reserves, $74 million in a books-and-supplies account and $36 million in grant reserves 1313, against a district offer captioned as 5.25% 13. A speaker put the state COLA at 8.22% 14.
• Special education workload. Comments described elementary special day classes spanning three grade levels 15 with 150 minutes of prep a week 15, and a caseload of 30 students with five pending and $10 paid for the overage 14. A speaker counted over 20 vacancies "and it's only February" 14.

Danny Hernandez, CSEA President, thanked the board and superintendent for recognizing Donald Davis and Yicela (Gigi) Davila for their actions to save a student, and shared that Kathy Reed, a much-loved CSEA unit member, had unexpectedly died, with a memorial on February 24 at Woodcrest JHS 5. On the recording he said she died February 12 after 19 years with the district 16. CHAMP President Emily Lao expressed condolences and congratulated McCain 5.

The Champion Newspapers reported on February 24 that A.C.T. had declared an impasse. It quoted Shaw as saying the 2023/24 COLA was 8.22 percent while the district received 5.44 percent in new money, and that the union sought a 10.25 percent raise 6. The May 2 minutes record the board ratifying the A.C.T. reopener agreement, effective July 1, 2023 17; the Champion's year-end review reported an 8.22 percent raise for 2023/24 18.

📊 LCAP mid-year report

Dr. Hilda Flores presented the LCAP mid-year monitoring report 1. On the recording she described 67 actions and 22 metrics under four goals 19, year-end attendance of 93% and a 6.5% drop in chronic absenteeism 20, 71% of AP test takers scoring 3 or higher 21, a 97% graduation rate at Buena Vista High, and Boys Republic more than doubling its baseline to 51.5% 2222. From the dais, a board member read a letter from an outside education group saying the district had one of the biggest increases in English language arts results among large districts in the state 2323.

🎺 Recognition

President Shaw recognized Ayala High band director Mr. Trost and students as 2023 Bands of America Southern California Regional Champions and 2023 Marching Band Division 6A Champions, and for a 2024 Music for All Advocacy in Action Award 1. Trost said the orchestra would play Carnegie Hall the following month and the percussion section would defend its world championship title in Dayton, Ohio 2424.

💬 Board communications

Don Bridge congratulated Chino and Don Lugo high schools on the CIF basketball playoffs and Ashley Davis on her ACSA award, spoke about negotiations from his time on the A.C.T. side of the table, and asked to adjourn in memory of Kathy Reed 25. On the recording he urged both sides to keep talking 26 and said bargaining details are best kept at the table, because information that gets out in the community is easily confused 2626.

James Na commented on teachers' concerns from public comment, spoke about parental involvement, thanked "Protectourkids" for attending, said children need to be taught to respect teachers, and spoke about doing better to respect teachers 25. On the recording he said the district side should have done a better job of respecting teachers, not just during negotiation times but all the time 27.

Jon Monroe and Superintendent Enfield made no comments 25.

Andrew Cruz commended staff for the success of PLCs, spoke about negotiations and comparable districts, and spoke about open borders, the drug epidemic, homelessness, debt and digital currency. He described a complaint against him that could have led to jail time or a fine over what he said at a board meeting about his love for Jesus, spoke about the upcoming Run for Russ 5-K and shared a cake for the PLC success 25. On the recording he asked for class-size and caseload comparisons with other unified districts 28 and said the complaint was filed nine months earlier 29.

President Shaw shared thoughts about Sacramento from a friend, said it is incorrect to imply the board does not want to give teachers raises, said the sides need to get to the table and agree to something, thanked speakers, and spoke about standing firm to protect kids 25. The words she read described Sacramento's "political cartel" as having "financially drained families" 30. After a moment of silence for Kathy Reed, she adjourned at 8:10 p.m. 25

📋 Consent calendar and information items

On a motion by Na, seconded by Bridge, the board approved the consent items as amended 4, including:

• $124,876 to Sunset Electrical Contractors, the low bidder, to replace the Ayala High stadium sound system 3132;
• $167,262.05 to Knorr Systems for two Chino Hills High pool heaters, paid "under threat of potential litigation or disputed claim" after the county said the cost exceeded the bid limit 313333;
• a $70,188.14 football scoreboard change order, its funding amended from Measure G to Capital Facilities 53134;
• attendance credit for Hurricane Hilary on August 21, 2023, avoiding the loss of 11 ADA 435.

Scott Bradach, CPA, of Eide Bailly, LLP presented the 2022/2023 annual financial audit and the Measure G financial and performance audit, both received for information 313636. He called the annual audit clean, with unmodified opinions and no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies identified 3738, and said the Measure G sample covered about $32.8 million of roughly $83.7 million in building-fund spending, all for authorized bond projects 383838. The board also received calendars moving Chino Valley Learning Academy to the traditional 180-day calendar from 2024/2025 3639.