Chino Valley Unified Board of Education, August 21, 2025

President Sonja Shaw called the meeting to order at 4:50 p.m. with John Cervantes, Andrew Cruz, James Na and Shaw present; Superintendent Norm Enfield is listed as absent 1. The board had four members because Jonathan Monroe's resignation took effect August 15, 2025 2. Closed session ran from 4:50 to 5:22 p.m. 1, open session began at 6:00 p.m. 1, and Shaw adjourned at 7:03 p.m. 3.

What the board decided

• AB 495. The board adopted Resolution 2025/2026-12, Opposing Assembly Bill 495 to Defend Parental Rights in Education, on a motion by James Na, seconded by John Cervantes. The minutes record that the student representative voted yes 4.
• Instructional materials. Shaw opened the hearing on Resolution 2025/2026-11 at 6:47 p.m. No one spoke, the hearing closed the same minute, and the board adopted the resolution, Na moving and Cervantes seconding 4. Cal Aero Preserve Academy K-6 and Legacy Academy K-6 run year-round and began instruction July 7, so they get their own Education Code 60119 hearing 5.
• Consent calendar, approved "as amended" on a Na motion with a Cervantes second 4, although the minutes list no changes or deletions 4. It awarded the fresh-produce RFP to Gold Star Foods 6, at $755,889.50 to the Cafeteria Fund by the staff report 7, and appointed Rogelio Pelayo and Pastor Valdez to the Measure G Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee 6. It approved legal bills from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo and Margaret A. Chidester & Associates 6; the staff report's $239,195.69 total also counts two invoices from Tao Rossini, APC, a firm the recommendation does not name 8. Personnel items and a rejected claim were also on it 6.
• Closed session. With Cervantes, Cruz, Na and Shaw recorded as voting yes, the board approved a settlement in Office of Administrative Hearings Case No. 2025044724, authorized an appeal of a ruling on an anti-SLAPP motion in Case No. CIVRS2501133, ratified a stipulated agreement with AGV Consulting, and appointed Allison Ankele as Coordinator of Secondary Curriculum, David Suh as assistant principal at Cattle ES and Glenmeade ES, and Christina Ide as assistant principal at Hidden Trails ES and Cortez ES 1. The agenda prints the OAH case number as 2025040724 and lists the AGV matter as the district's suit against AGV Consulting, doing business as Burlingham Sports 9.

The AB 495 resolution

The item came from Board President Sonja Shaw: the agenda memo says she requested it on August 6, 2025 and submitted it under Board Bylaw 9322 10. The resolution says AB 495 would let non-parent adults, "including 'mentors,' distant relatives, or friends," gain authority over a child's education, healthcare and legal decisions without the parent's consent, argues that emergency contact cards already cover the need, and objects that the bill requires no background checks 10. It calls on the Legislature and the Governor to reject the bill 5. Shaw had brought earlier resolutions supporting AB 1314 in April 2023 11 and opposing AB 1955 in July 2024 12.

The minutes record who moved and seconded, not who said what in discussion, so these remarks carry no names. Remarks from the dais called the bill "a predator's dream bill" 13, noted that caregiver affidavits already exist and need not be signed by a parent 14, asked why such adults would not face a teacher's screening: credentials, the CBEST, interviews 14, and spoke of erring on the side of caution to make schools and children safer 15. Parents already name emergency contacts at enrollment, it was argued 13. One remark from the dais: "if 495 passes, good luck to the state because I can say this board probably will not agree with following it" 15.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 495 on October 12, 2025; his office said changes to a parent's legal custody or guardianship still require a court decision 16. The November 20, 2025 agenda listed a follow-up from Shaw, Resolution 2025/2026-22, proposing district safeguards against unauthorized student release 17.

Public comment

The minutes list five speakers: Glory Ciccarelli, Kelly Schlegel, Kristi Hirst, Lisa G and Paul Griffin 4. On the recording, six requests to speak were reported 18. Names come only from the minutes, which do not say who said what, so the remarks below are unattributed and grouped by theme, not in speaking order.

• AB 495. One speaker said the resolution misread a bill meant to help families plan care for their children in a crisis such as deportation or illness, by letting trusted non-relatives sign a caregiver's authorization affidavit 19, and asked why the board would not simply require background checks 19.
• The opt-out policies. One speaker argued the revised policies stretch Mahmoud v. Taylor to student speech 20 and asked who would supervise opted-out students 20.
• The school resource officer case. In July 2025 a Chino police officer who had worked as a school resource officer in the district was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child 21. One speaker asked what the district had done since to prevent a repeat, and whether affected families had been offered meetings or counseling 22; the speaker also made accusations against the board president, which are unverified. At the July 17 meeting, John Cervantes had addressed the investigation in board communications 23.
• Racism. One speaker made unverified accusations that district leaders ignore racism and race-based bullying, and asked why an eighth-grade class at Legacy Academy was shown a PragerU video, "Why I Love America" 24.
• A parenting resource. One speaker introduced a new resource center for mothers facing a crisis pregnancy or struggling with parenting, a block from Don Lugo High School 24.

Information items

Eight items were received for information, with no vote 6. In item 7 of AR 6144, Controversial Issues, the revision strikes "by a source outside of the schools" and instead requires that discussion not violate state or federal law, for example: "pursuant to Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), instruction inclusive of LGBTQ+ content shall require prior parental notification," with an opt-out for sincerely held religious beliefs 25. The district's published AR 6144 carries that wording with a revision date of August 21, 2025 26. BP 6161.11, Supplementary Instructional Materials, gets parallel language 27 and returned for approval on the September 18, 2025 agenda 28. Shaw had put Mahmoud on the July 17 agenda as a discussion item 29, and in July the California School Boards Association advised districts to review BP 6144 30.

Two items trace to a PERB administrative law judge's proposed decision, received June 19, 2025, on charges brought by the Associated Chino Teachers. For BP/AR 5010, it ordered the district to rescind only a rule requiring certificated staff to notify parents of altercations within three days; the district filed exceptions 31, and the revision lets sites follow their PBIS behavior matrices instead 32. For AR 6115, it found the district violated labor law with its June 2023 flag amendments; the district appealed and is revising the regulation so classroom displays relate to course content 33. Also received: a new AR 5131.2 on bullying, reflecting AB 2291 34, and the deletion of BP 3311.2 35.

Recognitions and reports

Shaw presented the Don Lugo HS Future Farmers of America team with certificates as state champions at the 2025 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Light Horse Judging Competition 1; on the recording the team is headed to the 98th National FFA Convention 36. She presented Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church a plaque for a $20,000.00 donation to the HOPE Center and high school Christian clubs 1. Phoenix Kim gave his first report as student board representative 1. Steven Frazer, A.C.T. president, urged the board to avoid politicizing classrooms 4, and Annette Hatch, CHAMP president, reported a strong start under the theme "Thrive" 4.

Board communications

Much of it was farewells to Monroe. James Na thanked him for his service as a coach and board member, wished him well in Utah, and recognized Shaw's leadership 35. Andrew Cruz thanked Monroe for his kindness during a personal health journey, including recovery from open-heart surgery in March 35. John Cervantes praised Don Lugo's FFA program 35 and recalled a friendship with Monroe that began at the Chino Police Department 35. The Champion reported that Monroe had moved to Utah and that the seat would be filled by appointment 37.

Deputy Superintendent Grace Park, speaking for the superintendent, cited more than 25,000 students and the district's designation as a Model Professional Learning Community District 35. Shaw urged Monroe to stay involved in local government in Utah and thanked CSEA members 35 and cafeteria staff 3. As a representative on the Baldy View ROP Commission, she pressed for awareness of career pathways that need no four-year degree 3. She encouraged the community to judge leaders by their actions rather than rumors, and closed by reaffirming her beliefs and values 3; on the recording, the last words before adjournment are "Boys are boys, girls are girls, God made them beautiful the way they are" 38.

Independent community archive, not affiliated with the Chino Valley Unified School District. Names, motions and votes come from the adopted minutes; the recording is used for what was said, never for who said it.