Chino Valley Unified Board of Education, September 18, 2025

President Sonja Shaw called the meeting to order with John Cervantes, Andrew Cruz, James Na and Shaw present and Shaun Smith absent 1. Smith had been chosen ten days earlier, at a September 8 special meeting, to fill the Trustee Area 4 seat 2 left by Jon Monroe's resignation, effective August 15 3. The board added Supreme Court opt-out language to its supplementary-materials policy 4, acted on three action items 5, and adjourned in memory of Charlie Kirk 6.

⚖️ Closed session

After closed session the board reported that it had appointed Celina Sedillo as assistant principal at Dickson ES and Oak Ridge ES, upheld the superintendent's decision on a complaint against an employee, and denied a demand to cure and correct 1. Citing a 2020 appellate ruling that requires litigation threats to be included in agenda materials, the district printed a redacted copy of that demand in the agenda 7. It was an emailed letter alleging Brown Act violations at the special meeting that filled the vacancy 7, including the silencing of a public commenter 7, and asking for a third-party investigation of the appointment 8. The Champion reported that the room was cleared at that meeting after shouting broke out while residents were addressing the board 9.

🏆 Recognition and reports

Sarah Palmer led the Pledge of Allegiance 1. Shaw then honored Levi Dickey ES sixth graders Aiden Velazquez, Ariana Arteaga and Sania Arredondo Avila, who took part in a mock Socratic seminar at the San Diego AVID Summer Institute 1. The minutes describe an international audience of educators 1.

Art Bennett, a member of the Measure G Citizens' Oversight Committee, reported that audits found no discrepancies or non-compliance. He said about $767.5 million in bonds has been issued, $623.2 million spent, and $109.9 million remains 1. As captioned, the report put the amount still to be issued at about $43.95 million 10. Projects listed included Eagle Canyon ES modernization and the Legacy Academy K-8 build 10.

Student representative Phoenix Kim reported on homecoming, rivalry games and a new leadership event at the high schools 1. For the employee groups:

• Steven Frazer, A.C.T. President, urged unity and voiced concern over the board's resolution opposing AB 495 5. A point of information from the dais noted that AB 495 was not on this agenda 11.
• Danny Hernandez, CSEA President, welcomed Smith and Kim and invited the board and cabinet to shadow classified staff 5.
• Annette Hatch, CHAMP President, congratulated every district school on platinum PBIS designation 5.

✅ Action items

• 2024/2025 Unaudited Actuals: approved on a motion by Na, seconded by Cervantes, with the superintendent authorized to sign the certification 5. Staff said the final audit comes in January 2026 12.
• Sufficiency of Instructional Materials (Resolution 2025/2026-15): the hearing that state law requires 13 ran from 7:07 to 7:11 p.m. 5. The resolution was adopted on a motion by Cruz, seconded by Na 5.
• Week of the School Administrator (Resolution 2025/2026-13): adopted on a motion by Cervantes, seconded by Na 5. The state set the week for October 12 through 18 14.

📋 Consent calendar and the pulled policy

Shaw pulled item III.C.3. 5. The rest of the calendar passed on a motion by Na, seconded by Cruz 5. Highlights:

• Legal bills from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo; Margaret A. Chidester & Associates; and Tao Rossini, APC 4. The staff report totals July invoices at $175,399.04 15.
• Gann limits of $202,838,025 for 2024/2025 and $211,150,977 for 2025/2026 4.
• A revision of Board Policy 5010, Notification 4. The staff report says a state labor-board judge's proposed decision, which the district received June 19, 2025, ordered one provision of AR 5010 rescinded and that the district appealed 16. The revision lets schools follow the notification steps in their PBIS behavior matrices 17.
• The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program plan 4, listed at $19,090,828 in restricted funds 18.
• A Strong Workforce Grant agreement with the community colleges 4, a Red Ribbon Week proclamation 4, deletion of the change-order policy, BP 3311.2 4, and a revised Coordinator of Security job description 19. Staff said the job had grown into wider Risk Management duties 20.

Board Policy 6161.11, Supplementary Instructional Materials

The policy, last revised in 2010, already required principal approval and written parent notice before supplementary literature on "topics that may be deemed controversial" 21. The revision, first presented on August 21 22, adds an example: under Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), LGBTQ+ instruction requires parental notice so families can opt children out on religious grounds 18. The state school-boards association had told districts in July that such content would likely require notice and an opt-out 23.

Before the consent vote one speaker opposed the change, calling it a violation of students' speech rights 24. The speaker said it misapplies the ruling 24, asked who would enforce it 24, and cited AB 1955 and the FAIR Education Act 25. From the dais, the new sentence was read into the record with the remark "There's no hate here" 26. The revision was approved on a motion by Shaw, seconded by Na 4.

🎤 Public comment

The minutes list 11 speakers 5; the recording gives 12 requests to speak 27. Names come only from that list, which does not record what anyone said, so topics below are unnamed and grouped by theme, not speaking order.

• The special meeting. A speaker said its interview questions were all culture-war policy questions 28, and a speaker called them "a political loyalty test" 29 and alleging Brown Act violations 29. One speaker said she was called a "groomer" there and the board said nothing 30. These are speakers' claims, not findings.
• Support for the board. One speaker told members "You are fighting the good fight" 31. Another told educators who object to being called "groomers" to stop "saying that kids must change your gender" 32.
• Special education. A parent said an Oak Ridge ES special day class is unusually large and spans three grade levels, as captioned 33. From the dais came the reply that the district was looking into it 33.
• A teacher's post. One speaker asked for an investigation of a Don Lugo HS teacher's social-media post about Kirk's killing 34. A speaker said teachers are told not to let students access their accounts, so no students had seen it 34.
• Governance and access. One speaker faulted the packet's page numbering 35 and put legal spending at $175,000 in the fiscal year's first month, as captioned 35. Others asked for better captioning 30 and Spanish interpretation 36. One asked the board not to pay the absent member for the missed meeting 37.
• Other. A speaker asked whether members would be "a safe space" for transgender students 28, and one urged the board to show "a temperament to lead" 38.

From the dais the audience was warned against interruptions 28, and at least one person was later told to leave 36.

💬 Board communications

• Cervantes praised Dr. Custodio's AVID leadership and the district's administrators 19. He warned that disruptions would not be tolerated and that approaching the dais "may be perceived as a threat" 19. On the recording: "It's not a yard sale or a circus" 39.
• Cruz said he would again shadow a bus driver and encouraged Amanda Swager to pursue administration 19. He also paid tribute to Kirk and urged participation in local government 19: "Go to your school board. Go to your city council" 40.
• Na thanked speakers and teachers and asked that the meeting be adjourned in Kirk's memory 19.
• Superintendent Norm Enfield credited principals for every school earning platinum PBIS status 19, work he said began about 14 years ago, as captioned 41.
• Shaw cited Proverbs 28:1 on standing firm 19, mourned Kirk, and opposed "ideas she sees as harmful in schools" 19. Speaking of restroom laws, she said, as captioned, "Take me to court" 42.

ℹ️ Information items and adjournment

The board received revisions to Bylaw 9011 on confidential information 19, which would define it to include what members learn in closed session 43, plus AR 5030 (Student Wellness) and BP 3540 (Transportation). Shaw adjourned at 7:45 p.m. in memory of Charlie Kirk 6.

A month later, the October 16 agenda included a resolution to pay Smith for this missed meeting, citing illness or jury duty 44.

📝 Record notes

• The minutes say the instructional-materials hearing had no speakers 5. On the recording, the hearing opened 45 and one registered speaker was called 45. That speaker was addressing the pulled policy 45 and was asked to wait for the consent calendar 24.
• The minutes record the BP 6161.11 motion as moved by Shaw and seconded by Na 4. On the recording, the chair thanks a different member when calling for the motion 26. This page follows the minutes.
• No local press coverage of this meeting turned up in searches.