May 16, 2024: A Resolution on Death Row Transfers to the Chino Prison, Higher Developer Fees, and the Annual Military Salute

An independent community summary of the Chino Valley Unified School District's public records. It is not an official district document.

The board met at Woodcrest Junior High School in Ontario 1. It opened at 4:20 p.m. with Bridge, Cruz, Na and Shaw present; Monroe arrived at 4:45 p.m. After closed session it reconvened at 6:00 p.m. with all five members present 2, and it adjourned at 7:15 p.m. 3. The evening's presentation was the Military Salute 2. The student representative missed each action vote 4 5.

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⚖️ Death row transfers: Resolution 2023/2024-59

The board adopted Resolution 2023/2024-59, "to support the safety of Chino, Ontario, and Chino Hills residents regarding the Condemned Inmate Transfer Program at the California Institute for Men." Na moved it and Bridge seconded 4.

Where it came from. President Sonja Shaw's memo says she requested it at the May 2, 2024 meeting 6. The May 2 minutes record Shaw, in her board communications, speaking about the district making a resolution on the prisoners, because the Chino prison is a level two prison and is not equipped to hold condemned prisoners 7 7.

What it says. The memo ties the transfers to Proposition 66, approved by voters in 2016. It cites a 2008 Inspector General report that the prison would need $28 million a year just to stay in its "poor" condition 6. The resolution states that CIM has housed death row inmates since February 2024 and points to an escape from Facility D in January 2018 6. It urges Governor Newsom to move the condemned inmates elsewhere until CIM makes repairs 8.

The district's documents call the prison the "California Institute for Men"; its actual name is the California Institution for Men 9. The memo's paragraphs on Proposition 66 and the 2008 report closely match the wording of the City of Chino's own page on the transfers 10.

At the meeting. The minutes record that Amanda Swager addressed the board on this item. They do not record what she said, and they record no board discussion before the vote 4. Because she was the only speaker on the item, this page does not summarize her remarks from the recording.

Outside the room. On May 7, city leaders and law enforcement officials held a news conference at Chino City Hall. They called on the state to remove the 39 condemned inmates transferred to the prison so far, the San Bernardino Sun reported. A corrections department spokesman said in a written statement that transferred prisoners would be held in "close custody" for at least five years 9. The City of Chino's page on the issue carries no date. It says Chino and Chino Hills sent Governor Newsom a petition with more than 3,600 signatures seeking the removal of 46 inmates 10.

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🏗️ Developer fees go up

President Shaw opened a public hearing on Level 1 developer fees at 6:54 p.m. No one spoke, and it closed that minute. The board then adopted Resolution 2023/2024-55, with Shaw moving and Bridge seconding 5.

According to the staff memo, the State Allocation Board raised the caps on January 24, 2024. The residential cap went up $0.38 to $5.17 per square foot, and the commercial/industrial cap went up $0.06 to $0.84. A fee justification study by consultant Koppel & Gruber Public Finance supports the increase, and the new fees start 60 days after adoption, on July 16, 2024 11. The district's developer-fee page confirms the July 16 start. It also shows the next increase, to $5.38 and $0.87, taking effect May 18, 2026 12.

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🌬️ An air-quality grant and more HVAC work

The board adopted Resolution 2023/2024-58, approving the AB-841 California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) and its grant agreement. Na moved and Bridge seconded 5. According to the memo, PacificWest Energy Solutions applied on the district's behalf at no fee and expects awards of up to $6,000,000. The program funds ventilation work, carbon dioxide monitors and plumbing fixtures, with work due within two years 13.

On consent, the board approved an amendment to its Phase 4 energy services agreement with PacificWest 14. The memo says Phase 4 identified twelve more HVAC units to replace through CalSHAPE 15. It charges $466,421.00 to CalSHAPE grant funds and the General Fund 15.

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👥 Personnel

• Classified substitutes get a raise effective July 1, 2024; Na moved and Bridge seconded 5. Their pay now matches Step A of the CSEA schedule, following the May 2 CSEA agreement and its 7.16% raise 16.
• The annual Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators for 2024/2025 was approved; Na moved and Cruz seconded 5. Without it on file with the state credentialing commission before July 1, emergency permits are rejected 17.
• Closed session ran from 4:20 to 5:43 p.m. 2. The board reported two actions. One was an immediate unpaid suspension and 30-day dismissal notice for certificated employee No. 7311. The other accepted a resignation agreement with classified employee No. 28146, effective June 1, 2024. The minutes record Bridge, Cruz, Monroe, Na and Shaw voting yes on each 2.
• Personnel items were approved on consent as amended 14. The personnel report lists the retirement of Brenda Walker, A.C.T. President, effective July 1, 2024 18.

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🎖️ The Military Salute and employee representatives

President Shaw and the board honored students enlisting in the military. The Pledge was led by the Chino Young Marines, printed in the minutes as "Chino Yount Marines" 2. A recess ran from 6:17 to 6:21 p.m., and student representative Chloe Kubeldis was away at her Grad Night 2.

Brenda Walker, A.C.T. President, thanked Kubeldis and announced the union's scholarship and member awards. The member awards went to Counselor of the Year Tisha Clay, Nurse of the Year Kattia Gironas, Speech Pathologist of the Year Julia Lanham, Psychologist of the Year Amanda Martin, Elementary Teacher of the Year Gina Solis and Secondary Teacher of the Year Christina Riley. She introduced Special Services Director Debi Woolery and President-elect Steven Frazer, and she reflected on her 25 years as a teacher, special education coordinator and A.C.T. president 4.

Danny Hernandez, CSEA President, acknowledged Walker's retirement. He announced what the minutes print as CSCW Week, May 19 through 25, and provided coasters for board members 4. Emily Lao, CHAMP President, called the Military Salute one of her favorite meetings, spoke about veterans in her family and read from Theodore Roosevelt 4.

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🗣️ Public comment

The minutes list three speakers on non-agenda items: Eric Shamp on board governance, Jacqueline Cortes on what the minutes call "Mrs. Shaw's culture wars," and Sarah Palmer on special education (SPED) language 4. The minutes give only these subjects. Because each subject is distinct, summarizing the recorded remarks would tie content to names the minutes do not, so this page does not.

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📋 Consent calendar

Na moved and Monroe seconded the consent calendar 5. It approved the May 2 minutes, the warrant register, fundraising and donations, and a revision of Board Policy 5030, Student Wellness 5. The memo says the update meets federal requirements under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 19. The revised policy opens by recognizing "the link between student health and learning" 20. The calendar also approved four student expulsion cases and school trips 5.

The board rejected all bids on three projects and authorized staff to rebid each: no-climb fencing at Dickey Elementary, asphalt safety repairs at Liberty, Litel and Walnut elementaries and Chino Hills High, and Fun Club installations 14. The asphalt and Fun Club memos give the same reason: the trade-journal advertising required by Public Contract Code 22032 had not been properly completed 21 22. The dairy contract went to Hollandia 14, with a listed cost of $920,744.99 to the cafeteria fund 22. It also received the county's Williams Findings report for schools in the bottom three deciles 14.

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💬 Board communications

• Don Bridge congratulated Walker and the A.C.T. award winners. He also congratulated Chino Hills High baseball on its semifinal win over Chino High 23.
• James Na thanked the enlisting students and the Woodcrest band, and he thanked Sonja Shaw and Andrew Cruz for wearing patriotic shirts. He asked the district to provide a safe learning environment for all students 23.
• Jonathan Monroe thanked the band, the Young Marines and Kubeldis. He also congratulated A.C.T. scholarship winner Olivia Martinez 23.
• Andrew Cruz spoke on the "man in the arena," told seniors to "bring Teddy along to your college dorm," and urged them to be more like Johnny Appleseed 23. On the recording, within those Johnny Appleseed remarks, he told seniors "our rights come from God not from AI nor humans" 24 24.
• Superintendent Norm Enfield thanked Kubeldis and wished the enlisting seniors a safe career 3.
• President Sonja Shaw praised students choosing "something bold and courageous," cited Isaiah 41:10, and thanked Hernandez for the coasters 3.

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📄 About this record

The nine-page minutes carry signature lines for President Sonja Shaw and Clerk Andrew Cruz 3. The call-to-order line dates the meeting "Thursday, May 2, 2024," though the header and every other reference to the meeting date say May 16 2. The minutes file the death row resolution under Curriculum, Instruction, Innovation, and Support, while the agenda lists it under Administration 4 1.