Board ratifies three-year teacher contract, approves amended Allegiance STEAM facilities agreement and swears in a new student member

Meeting: Regular meeting of the Chino Valley Unified Board of Education, May 15, 2025, District Board Room, 13461 Ramona Avenue, Chino 1
Present: President Sonja Shaw, John Cervantes, Andrew Cruz, Jon Monroe and James Na; Superintendent Norm Enfield 2

Opening and closed session

President Shaw called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. with Cervantes, Cruz, Na and Shaw present; Monroe arrived at 4:17 p.m. 2. Closed session ran from 4:10 to 5:40 p.m. on litigation, student matters, A.C.T. and CSEA negotiations, personnel and principal appointments 2. Reporting out, the board appointed Joanne King as principal of Cattle Elementary and Katherine Jeanal as principal of Oak Ridge Elementary, both effective July 1, 2025 2.

Military Salute

The open session began with the district's Military Salute. The Woodcrest Junior High band played a medley of patriotic songs, and the Chino Young Marines presented the colors, with Unit Commander Steve Coute leading the Pledge of Allegiance 2. Students who had enlisted in the armed forces were each recognized with a certificate and a small American flag 2. President Shaw then called a recess from 6:23 to 6:34 p.m. 2.

Student representative's farewell

Gabriella Segoviano, the 2024/2025 student board representative, gave a farewell address. She thanked the board and superintendent, said the role had shown her how the district makes decisions, and thanked district nurses and cafeteria staff 2. "One year ago, I was given the opportunity and the privilege to begin my journey as a 2024 to 2025 schoolboard student representative," she said, as captioned 3. President Shaw presented her with a commemorative plaque and flowers 2.

Employee representatives

Steven Frazer, A.C.T. president, recognized educators honored at the California Day of the Teacher event and long-serving retirees, and A.C.T. secretary Sarah Palmer announced the senior scholarship recipients 4.

Danny Hernandez, CSEA president, marked California School Employees Appreciation Week and congratulated A.C.T. on its tentative agreement. He then raised concerns about Allegiance STEAM Academy's effect on the Alternative Education Center: property damage, clerical staff trapped by students, assaults on certificated staff and administrators, and elementary students added to a site that had mainly served older students. He asked the board to hear from AEC staff before approving the Allegiance agreement and suggested a campus security guard or gate monitor 4. "This is not to say that we don't agree or don't want allegiance there," he said, as captioned, calling it a matter of "the protection of all students and staff" 5 6.

Eric Dahlstrom of CHAMP thanked the enlistees and wished them well 4.

Action items

Student board member. On a motion by James Na, seconded by Jon Monroe, the board approved Phoenix Kim of Chino Hills High as the 2025/2026 Student Member of the Board, and he took the oath of office 7. The student seat rotates each school year 8. As read from the dais, Kim had served as his class president for three years and was elected ASB president for his senior year 9 9.

Allegiance STEAM Academy facilities agreement. On a motion by Monroe, seconded by Cruz, the board approved the amended Facilities Memorandum of Understanding with Allegiance STEAM Academy, Thrive, for 2025/2026 7. The staff report describes it as the district's Proposition 39 facilities agreement for the charter's use of the former El Rancho Elementary site, with the district charging an oversight fee of 3% of the charter's revenue plus monthly utility costs over a five-year term 8.

A.C.T. teachers' contract. President Shaw opened the public hearing at 7:33 p.m.; Amanda Swager addressed the board, and the hearing closed at 7:36 p.m. The minutes do not record what she said 7. On a motion by Cervantes, seconded by Monroe, the board ratified the tentative agreement with the Associated Chino Teachers for a successor contract effective July 1, 2025 7. The district and union had reached the tentative agreement on April 24, 2025 10. The packet's public-disclosure form covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, and puts the current-year cost change at $4,365,737 11. Salary schedules rise by 2.25% or by the funded state cost-of-living adjustment, whichever is greater 12.

CSEA reopener hearings. The board held two public hearings, one on CSEA Chino Chapter 102's initial reopener proposal and one on the district's. Neither drew a speaker 13. The district's proposal concerns wages and benefits 14.

Consent calendar

On a motion by Na, seconded by Monroe, the board approved the consent items as amended 13. Among them:

• Payment for legal services to Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, and two J-13A attendance-relief requests, one for the Southern California wildfires and one for Southern California Edison power shutoffs 13.
• Twelve student readmission cases and three expulsion cases 15.
• A revised Board Policy 6159.1 on special education procedural safeguards and complaints 15. As revised, it says special education compliance complaints are handled under the notice of procedural safeguards 16.
• Revised policies on uniform complaint procedures (BP 1312.3) and nondiscrimination in employment (BP 4030), and a learning site agreement with Cal State San Bernardino 15 17.
• The Don Lugo High new gym lobby bid, awarded to 15 contractors, and the Don Lugo painting project, awarded to Tony Painting 15.
• A piggyback contract resolution, change orders and notices of completion, personnel items, and the rejection of claims 15.

Information items

The board received the Amira reading-difficulties screener for grades K-2, published by Amira Learning in English and Spanish 15. It also received a course revision for Integrated Mathematics 3 Honors/Precalculus, multi-track year-round calendars through 2028/2029, and the county's Williams quarterly report 18. The Boys Republic and Adult School calendars were yellow-sheeted and received as amended 7 18.

Public comment

The minutes list 29 people who addressed the board, Sonja Shaw among them, and do not record what any of them said 4. The topics below come from the recording and are grouped by theme, not in speaking order. Names are not attached because only the minutes can pair a name with a comment.

• Ayala water polo. Students and parents spoke in support of Ayala's water polo head coach, who had resigned in February, and of bringing him back 19 19 19. Letter passages read aloud by several speakers blamed the school's principal for the vacancy. These are speakers' claims, not findings 19 20. Press reports later said coach Kevin Hammond had been encouraged to resign to protect the team's CIF playoff spot. They also covered a May 23 rally at Ayala and the athletic director's decision to step down 21 22. One speaker defended the principal 23.
• Zero-period classes. Students asked the district to lift what they described as a cap of five zero-period classes at Ayala. One said, as captioned, that more than 110 students were waitlisted for 30 seats in one AP class 24 25. From the dais, a member answered that a state law on high school start times bars adding zero periods that were not grandfathered in, and said the superintendent would look into it 26.
• Special education. Parents described unmet services and unanswered emails. One said her son, a nonverbal wheelchair user, had been burned by his one-on-one aide, who still worked with him. That is the speaker's account 27 25 25.
• The board president's conduct. At least one speaker accused President Shaw of harassing the mother of a transgender student over Mother's Day weekend; that speaker also said a lack of translators leaves part of the community ignored 20. That is an unverified speaker claim. Twelve days later, CBS News Los Angeles reported that the athlete's mother had clashed with critics, including Shaw, at a recent track meet 28.
• Other topics. Speakers urged more attention to students headed for trades and the workforce 27 29. A speaker for a local swim club said, as captioned, that it had paid "over $400,000 in pool fees" and still lacked lanes 29. One speaker said one minute was not enough time to comment 29.

Board communications

• John Cervantes spoke about graduation season and Chino High's scholarship night, thanked the enlistees, military members and first responders, and wished everyone a meaningful Memorial Day 18.
• James Na asked staff to follow up on a parent's special education concern, to look at other districts' AP class practices and to look into water polo at Ayala. He also thanked retiring Chino High music teacher and band director Doug Bowden 18.
• Andrew Cruz asked Superintendent Enfield to follow up on concerns at Allegiance STEAM Academy and encouraged Gabriella to run for public office, possibly the school board. He also backed career technical and trade pathways 18.
• Jon Monroe congratulated graduates, thanked Gabriella for representing Don Lugo High and all district students, and welcomed Phoenix Kim. He recognized his daughter and her K9 partner in the Air Force and his nephew in the Army 18.
• Superintendent Enfield thanked Gabriella, welcomed Kim and congratulated graduating seniors 30.
• President Shaw thanked Gabriella, welcomed Kim, and described a high school teacher's call praising her daughter as reflecting the district's leadership. She also recognized district security, teachers and counselors 30.

The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m. 31.

Independent community archive; not affiliated with Chino Valley Unified School District. For the official record, see the adopted minutes and agenda.