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Board of Education — August 8, 2023

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The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education held a regular meeting on August 8, 2023, with two board members absent. The meeting featured presentations on Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) expansion, where the district announced extending TK eligibility to children turning five by June 2, 2024, and adding three new schools (Bryn Mawr, Crafton Elementary, and Kingsbury) to the program. A comprehensive summer school report showed strong completion rates across credit recovery (75%), credit advancement (98%), and special education courses, though board members raised questions about the effectiveness of online versus in-person instruction for struggling students. Public hearings were held on contract proposals with the Redlands Education Support Professionals Association and Redlands Teachers Association with no public comment.

Key decisions

  • Approved minutes from July 11, 2023 Board of Education meeting
  • Approved revised 2023-2024 Board of Education meeting dates
  • Adopted Resolution 8 (2023-2024) authorizing Assistant Superintendent of Business Services to make applications for local, state, and federal programs and sign related documents
  • Approved multiple consent items under business services (Items 13A-AA)
  • Approved consent items under educational services (Items 15A-beyond)
  • Approved Resolution 7 (2023-2024) regarding teaching outside credential authorization
  • Appointed Kerry Kevitt to credential specialist position effective August 9, 2023 at step three of management salary schedule (vote: Houlihan, Rendler, Vara voting aye)
  • Closed session action taken with Board President Quintero and O'Neill absent

Public comment

Two community members provided public comment. Dale Broom from Awaken Redlands raised concerns about eight school library books containing sexually explicit content describing prostitution, rape, incest, sex trafficking, and transgender treatments, arguing the books do not meet district policies and requesting their removal. Michael Paysner humorously suggested creating separate monthly meetings for explicit book readings to free up board meeting time. An email from Rissa Owen Turner regarding inclusion was received but not detailed in the transcript.

Notable speakers

SPEAKER_05 (presented on UPK and TK expansion with detailed program information), SPEAKER_11 (presented comprehensive summer school data and completion rates), SPEAKER_12 (Board Chair, conducted meeting and asked detailed questions about summer school data and class sizes), SPEAKER_02 (Susan Apt, RTA representative, discussed educator support and new educator programs), SPEAKER_08 (Liz Huerta Brewster, RESPA representative, reported on classified staff training), SPEAKER_07 (Dale Broom, public comment on library book concerns), SPEAKER_10 (Superintendent Juan Cabral, acknowledged staff preparation for school year), SPEAKER_01 (Provided clarification on teacher-to-student ratios in summer school data)

Topics: Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) · Transitional Kindergarten (TK) expansion · School-based mental health programs · Summer school credit recovery and advancement · Special education summer programs · Dual enrollment and academic camps · Teacher associations and support staff · School library book review and content concerns · Grade-level potty training accommodations · Online versus in-person summer school instruction · Staff preparation for school year · Back-to-school activities