Board of Education — October 24, 2023
Early transcript-only summary — no source links
The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education held a meeting on October 25, 2023, beginning with a moment of silence for Kevin Fisher, a former Citrus Valley High School employee who passed away on September 26, 2023. The board conducted routine business including approval of consent items for business services and educational services, adoption of comprehensive school safety plans for multiple school sites, and appointment of two new management staff members. The meeting featured significant public comment, with speakers addressing concerns about library books with sexually explicit content, cell phone and social media addiction in schools, parent notification policies, LGBTQ inclusion initiatives, and accessibility of board meetings.
Key decisions
- Approved consent items 13A (B through T) for business services - unanimous vote
- Approved educational services consent items 15A (B through F) - unanimous vote
- Approved adoption of 2023-24 comprehensive school safety plans for 17 school sites including all elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools listed - unanimous vote
- Approved items 16C through 16H with corrections - unanimous vote
- Approved item 17A consent items (B through AA) with one abstention on item E - unanimous vote for approved items
- Appointed Kirtan Shah to Director of Fiscal Services position effective November 6, 2023 at step two of management salary schedule - vote: Ayala Quintero, Holohan, O'Neill, Renler aye; Barr absent
- Appointed Jennifer Petty to Child Nutritional Services Operations and Compliance Manager position effective October 25, 2023 at step one of management salary schedule - vote: Ayala Quintero, Holohan, O'Neill, Renler aye; Barr absent
Public comment
Public comments reflected significant polarization. Critics, including Paul Blatchley and Dale Broom, expressed concerns about sexually explicit library books (specifically citing "Looking for Alaska" by John Green), lack of parent notification in student discipline, cell phone addiction, and curriculum concerns. Some speakers urged the board to establish a new book policy and questioned teacher autonomy. Others, including Valerie Tabor and Tricia Keeling, praised the board's support for LGBTQ inclusion and student safety, defended counseling services, and requested meeting accessibility improvements such as Zoom options and closed captioning. Candy Olson requested a new book policy be added to the agenda. Joshua Hall referenced AB 1078 and concerns about LGBTQ ideology in curriculum.
Notable speakers
Paul Blatchley - parent advocating for technology addiction awareness in Red Ribbon Week, questioning safety plan implementation, and requesting removal of association reports from board agenda, Dale Broom - parent/Awaken Redlands member reading explicit excerpts from "Looking for Alaska" and criticizing book approval process, Leah - speaker addressing concerns heard in online meeting watching (specific comments not fully transcribed), Joshua Hall - speaking on AB 1078 concerns regarding LGBTQ content in educational materials, Candy Olson - requesting new book policy on agenda, Valerie Tabor - therapist defending counseling services and requesting Zoom access and closed captioning for accessibility, Tricia Keeling - parent praising board's stance on LGBTQ inclusion and civil rights, Superintendent Cabral - clarifying parent involvement opportunities, fingerprinting process for volunteers, and book review procedures, Board Member O'Neill - congratulating athletic programs and facilities director
Topics: School safety plans · Library book review process · Sexually explicit content in school materials · LGBTQ inclusion and pride flags · Cell phone and technology addiction · Parent involvement and notification · Student mental health counseling services · School accessibility for remote participation · Teacher recognition and awards · Sports programs · Red Ribbon Week · eSports mentorship programs · Management staffing appointments