Chino Valley Unified Board of Education: March 21, 2024

The teachers' contract dispute and a sign shown at the previous meeting filled this evening. Forty people addressed the board on items not on the agenda 1, and Bridge, Na, Monroe and Shaw all spoke about the signs in their closing communications 23. The board approved the second interim financial report with a positive certification and the consent calendar 45.

About the record. The signed minutes in the archive are a four-page scan holding only the odd-numbered pages of a seven-page document. Each scanned page matches the corresponding page of this meeting's draft minutes, which the district printed in the April 18, 2024 agenda packet, pages 7 to 13 6. The board approved those minutes on April 18 with no amendment recorded 7. This page uses that copy for the missing pages.

🏫 Opening business

President Shaw reconvened the meeting in open session at 6:00 p.m. with Bridge, Cruz, Monroe, Na and Shaw present 8. Out of closed session, the board accepted a resignation agreement and release with a classified employee, who resigned effective March 15, 2024 69.

Dr. Shelley Adams, superintendent of the Baldy View Regional Occupational Program, presented its career technical education programs 6. She said the program serves "more than 1,400 Chino Valley Unified students each year" 10. President Shaw recognized two California Association of Directors of Activities award recipients: Celia Collins, who received the Area E Service Award, and Valerie Vera-Mineer, who received the Warren Schull Middle School Award 6.

Dr. Grace Park, associate superintendent, reported that the district had met its desired outcome for State Priority 7, students' access to a broad course of study 6.

Student representative Chloe Kubeldis thanked educators and said students are grateful and stand with them 6. In the recording she thanked teachers "despite the minimal pay that you were forced to endure" 11.

🤝 The unions at the microphone

Steven Frazer, A.C.T. organizing chair, spoke about A.C.T. wages and neighboring districts, said the union does not want to strike, and said its members are united and demand respect 8. In the recording he said the union had "constantly pointed out the disparity between act wages and neighboring districts" 12.

Danny Hernandez, CSEA president, shared a personal experience with the Baldy View ROP program and reported on classified members attending a paraprofessional conference. He said A.C.T. and CSEA want their contracts completed, spoke about the state's budget shortfalls and inflation, and said unions are like families 8. In the recording he said the unions want "a fair proposal to bring to our membership" 12. He recalled that his own position was scheduled to be laid off in 2003 13 and was scheduled to be cut again during the Great Recession 1313. "Unions are much like families," he said 13.

Emily Lao, CHAMP president, celebrated the elementary school choirs and wished everyone a happy spring break 8.

The teachers' union had declared an impasse in February, seeking, according to Shaw, a 10.25% salary increase; Shaw said a declining-enrollment district does not receive the full cost-of-living adjustment 14. Hundreds of educators rallied outside the March 7 meeting 15.

🗣️ Forty speakers from the audience

The minutes list these speakers on items not on the agenda: Tony Montanez, Amanda Sweiger, Kelsey Roberson, Darlene Berg, Mike Cargile, Edgar Alvarez, Art Gomez, Maria Carrillo, Marison DiPaolo, Oscar Avila, Misty S., Kristal, Shaun S., Richard W., Monique Baca-Gears, Edgar, Katherine Gardner, Avery, Kelly Lockman, Meg Garrison, Daniel Mora, Sara Omari, Bobby Omari, Becky Campos, Lisa Greathouse, Debi Woolery, Kara D'Amato, Dave Obrand, Eric Shamp, Jeremiah Park, Elvia, Lisa Witte, Christy Vicuna, Ashlee Peters, Lonna Rojas, Kristin McConnell, Jim C., Valentina Juarez, Jacqueline Cortes and Sandra Noon. The minutes give each a subject, and record the last ten simply as speaking in support of teachers 1.

The minutes record no positions, so these themes come from the recording, without names and not in speaking order:

• Pay and staffing. At least one speaker spoke of the need to "attract experienced professionals to fill the many vacancies" 16, and another said "this is the first time in my career that I cannot afford health care for my family" 17.
• The sign at the last meeting. At least one speaker objected that the board had "allowed a sign to be held up that said groomers with an arrow" pointed at speakers 18. Another called the previous meeting "disastrous under this board's leadership" 19.
• Support for the board. The minutes record two speakers in support of board members protecting children 1.

💰 The action item: second interim report

The board approved the 2023/2024 Second Interim Financial Report and authorized the president and superintendent to sign a positive certification of financial condition. Na moved the item and Monroe seconded it 45. No member commented before the vote 5. The staff memo said the report, built on actual data as of January 31, 2024, reflects a balanced budget for 2023/24 through 2025/26 20.

✅ Consent calendar

No member pulled an item 5. The consent items were approved on a motion by Na, seconded by Cruz 45. They included:

• Revisions to Board Policy 6146.1 (High School Graduation Requirements) and Board Policy 6146.4 (Differential Graduation and Competency Standards for Students with Disabilities) 1. Staff memos tied both to SB 114 and SB 141 2122. The revised 6146.4 says a student with a disability "that entered the ninth grade in the 2022/2023 school year and later may be exempted" from district requirements beyond the statewide courses 23. The revised 6146.1 makes exempted students eligible for any graduation ceremony 24.
• Two student expulsion cases 45.
• Secondary school photography and yearbook services from five vendors: Shutterfly Lifetouch, Varsity Yearbook, Jostens, School Portraits by Adams Photography and Walsworth Publishing 2255.
• A resolution allowing the district to buy Verizon Wireless service plans through another agency's existing contract, known as a piggyback contract 126.
• A subcontractor substitution on the Chino High aquatic center HVAC package, at no additional cost according to staff 127.
• Personnel items, "as amended" 25.

🪧 Board communications

Don Bridge reported on school and community events, spoke about the signs at the last meeting, and said the board is there for student achievement, safe schools and school climate 2. In the recording he said of the sign, "I thought it was asinine" 28, and that it targeted "every single teacher and staff person" in the district 28.

James Na spoke about the district's mission and said signs are becoming personal. He asked the students who spoke to stand for applause and encouraged Shaw to continue serving students 2. In the recording he said, "no more signs disrespecting our teachers" 29.

Jon Monroe congratulated the recognized teachers and thanked Danny Hernandez for being respectful in expressing his frustration. He said the signs are a disruption and spoke about similarities between police work and education 3. In the recording he said he had once "inquired if we could ban signs from The Boardroom" and was told it could not be done for legal reasons 30.

Andrew Cruz said he feels negotiations are close to finished and that Danny did a great job, and spoke about furloughs rather than layoffs. He also shared a warning message from Meta 3. In the recording he said "the last thing I want are layoffs" 31. He read a report that people who searched for Shaw's name on Meta's platforms were warned their search "might be associated with a child's sexual abuse" 3232. On March 19 the Liberty Justice Center had written to Meta for Shaw, demanding an explanation; it said Meta had removed the message 33.

Superintendent Enfield made no comments 3.

President Sonja Shaw spoke about change, about the signs, which she called distracting, and about her own behavior as a parent at board meetings. She also spoke about teacher unions and wanting to give fair wages, and read from the book "Standing up to Goliath" 3. In the recording she said she had asked before whether all signs could be removed 34. She said "we wanted to give a fair wage we're almost there" 35, and "I didn't come here to make friends I came here to make change" 35. She described the book as "about a teacher who stood up to the union" 36. She adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m. 337.

📅 What came next

On May 2, 2024, the board ratified tentative agreements with A.C.T. and CSEA, both effective July 1, 2023 38. The Champion later reported the teachers' raise as 8.22% for the 2023/24 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2023 39.

An independent, community-maintained summary of public records, not affiliated with Chino Valley Unified School District. Names and actions come from the minutes; quotations come from the recording's captions.