001Okay, I'd like to call the meeting to order. Tuesday, February 10th, 2026, regular meeting of the San Valley Union High School District. Roll call, please. Derry, >> please note all members are present. >> Thank you. Stand for the flag salute. Okay. So, before we move on to the approval of the agenda, I'd like to table uh our only action item tonight, which was uh tabled last session, and there's still work to be done on it. So, we'll table that until we get get that work completed. Is there a motion for tableabling? I I'll make the motion if I can get a second. >> Um, I second the motion to table the poolou. >> Thank you. Roll call, please. Terry, >> Mr. Johnson. >> Hi. >> Miss Noble. Hi. >> Miss Grace Velasquez. Hi, >> Mr.
002Leamini. >> Hi. uh tabled I1. And now is there a motion for the approval of the agenda? >> A motion to approve the agenda. >> And I'll second. >> Thank you. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Johnson, >> I. >> Miss Noble, >> I. >> Miss Grace Velasquez. >> Hi. >> Miss Mr. Leamini. >> Hi. >> Motion approved. So now we'll move on to uh item A5. And let me do a little reading here. Where is my reading? There it is. The uh this is a provisional appointment of a new board member. The board this evening will be considering a candidate to fill the provisional vacancy in trustee area 1 on the board of San the San Jose Valley Union High School District. We appreciate the interest that the candidates have expressed in joining our board
003and we are excited about the opportunity to make this important decision. For the benefit of those in the audience, please allow me to review the process that we will be following. I will be reading the following information because I want to make sure that I don't leave anything out. Under the California Education Code, the school board has 60 days from when a vacancy is created on the board to fill that vacancy. Tonight, we consider making a provisional appointment to trustee area 1 within this 60-day time frame. The appointment is made on a majority vote of the school board. This appointment will become effective immediately. The term of the person appointed to the board depends on the term of the person who vacated vacated the board position. In this case, the term of the former board
004member, Miss Susan Shehab, was set to end in late 2026. Therefore, the person selected for this provision board vacancy will hold office until the seat is filled at the next regular election for district board members, which will be November 20, 2026. During the 2026 election, a person will be elected to fill the four-year term of office. California Education Code recognized the appointment as a provisional appointment that can be challenged if a sufficient number of individuals submit a petition calling for an election. Because of the cost of a special election, we hope that such an election will not be necessary to the tune of about $100,000. Tonight, we will be interviewing two candidates who have expressed interest in being appointed to trustee area one on the board. The interview process will proceed as follows. We'll start
005with a public comment request on agenda item A5 that the board received prior to the start of this meeting. The board will ask the candidates to make a brief statement about their qualifications and why they are seeking to be on the board. and then interview the candidate immediate immediately after the statement. After a full discussion by all the board members present, a board member can make a motion to vote uh motion and vote and a vote will be taken to make the appointment. Again, we want to thank the candidates for their interest in serving on the board of the San Valley Union High School District. Let's begin with the public comment on agenda item A5. And the first commenter would be a April Huckabe. Okay. Good evening, board members, superintendent, and cabinet. My name is
006April Huckabe. For transparency, I am a current sitting board member, a board trustee in the Orchet Union School District, and I want to be clear that I'm here tonight speaking only for myself and not on behalf of my board or my district. I'm here to voice my support for the appointment of Alex Jones to Sanz Union High School District Board Trustee Area 1. Alex is deeply rooted in Sanz Valley. He has multigenerational ties here, and he's a product of the local schools. He's raising school-aged children in the community right now. His decisions would greatly affect his own family, his neighbors, and the schools uh his kids will attend. That kind of connection brings a level of care and accountability that you cannot manufacture. Alex also brings real leadership experience. He's built and run multiple businesses,
007which means he's used to making tough decisions, sometimes with not all the information and then standing by those decisions. And as you know, sometimes that's a familiar reality. Having someone who's doesn't shy away from responsibility is an asset. He understands budget, forecasting, and cost control. And he approaches finances with discipline. He focuses on getting the most impact for every dollar, not growing bureaucracy for the sake of it. At the same time, he understands that schools are not businesses and that schools are not political. As a school board trustee trustee, we must remember that this seat is a nonpartisan seat and we have to keep the politics out of our decisions so we can keep public trust and Alex can do that. Alex also brings strong technology and future readiness experience. He understands modern technology, AI,
008and digital systems and can help the district think proactively about things like cyber security, infrastructure, and responsible tech use. What I appreciate most about Alex is he's collaborative. I've worked with Alex on a committee previously, and I noticed he is a clear communicator. He listens before he speaks. He values teamwork and consensus. I believe he'll be focused on what actually works for students and teachers, staff and administration, and the district as a whole. Alex has respect for educators and understands that teachers are the frontline professionals. He understands his role is to support them and to help ensure they have stability, tools, and clarity to do their job well. Finally, Alex is running to serve, not to push a personal agenda, and he understands the responsibility that comes with stewarding a public institution. For all these
009reasons, I strongly support the appointment of Alex Jones. Thank you. >> Thank you, April. Our second uh public comment is Alexis Arlano. >> Hello and good evening everyone. Sorry I'm not going to be nearly as formal as April was. Um my name is Alexis Arlano. I graduated from here. My husband graduated from here. My grandpa was actually the first graduating class of Sani. Fun fact. Um, I currently have a daughter that is a freshman here and I have had the privilege of knowing Alex I think most of my life. Um, who's a great friend of my husband's, a great friend of our families. And when I heard that he was coming here tonight and he was hoping to get this board spot, I was so excited. I jumped at the opportunity to come and support
010him because I feel that he truly is in this because he has a love for this school, a love for this valley. He has conversations with our daughter about what she loves about high school and just what could make it better. And as a parent, I love that he wants to be involved and I truly feel that he wants to be here to help. And I think that that would be a great addition to our board, our community, and our school. So, thank you. Thank >> Thank you, Lexi. So, we'll move on. Uh number three, Susan Ericson. Hello. Um, I just want to briefly say that my husband Lonnie and I both um support Alex Jones for the board member position and that we both graduated from the high school here and are proud to
011be pirate alumni and would like to support another pirate alumni for that position. >> Thank you, Susan. Uh, and the last public comment we have is Rebecca Gowing. >> Well, I'm really not, excuse me, very good at this stuff in talking publicly, but I wanted to um speak in support of Alex Jones. He was he grew up in this area. He um graduated from this high school. He was just a few years behind my son who graduated this in 1995. And Alex um really has a strong desire to serve his community and to give back and I think he would be a great ad to the to the board. So anyway, I hope you vote for Alex Jones. >> Thank you, Rebecca. So that'll end that'll end the public comment. Now we'll go to uh
012our opening statements by the candidates and we will uh start with Brian Robinson. Thank you for applying for the provisional trustee area one board vacancy. Please make make a brief statement about your qualifications and why you are seeking to be on the board. >> What's that? >> Oh, I get to sit. >> Yeah, take it. Take a chair. >> It's green. It's live. >> Uh, Chair Johnson, members of the board, thank you. Um, you know me as the president of the PTO. Um, but I'm here today hoping that, um, I get a shot at, uh, serving the rest of the term out. Um, as you know, I've been involved since day one, so six years here, uh, with my daughter Zoe, who graduated a year ago, and then Quinn, who's a senior this year. Um,
013I currently serve on for the past 13 years on the Santa Barbara um, county office of education's partners in education board. I've been on dozens of school site foundations. I've been the PTO and PTA president of every school that my kids have have gone to. Um, I was a former uh, board member at College School District. And so I think kind of two things that I'll say and I'll be brief. Um, I'm better at Q&A than shameless self-promotion. But, um, uh, as a former board member, I'm ready to serve from day one. I'm current on my, um, conflict of interest, um, and ethics for this year. I know Rob's rules of order and the Brown Act. And most importantly, I think is really important, is that we get a a bond measure on the ballot
014this year. And, um, I've done $1.4 4 billion worth of um revenue measures, about $400 million in school bond measures for Santa Barbara Unified and for Santa Barbara City College. And so I think I can really lend a lot of um credence to helping move that forward. And so I'm ready to take any questions you have. >> Thank you, Brian. Um I'll I'll go ahead and start. Um you already did some of this, but I think you can go a little further. Uh, please summarize the strengths you would bring to the board as a member. Why do you want to serve on the board? You already did that. And what is your time commitment to this position? >> Well, I I understand the time commitment. Um, I'm one of those board members that puts in
015110%. Um, I know what the job takes. Um, I'll come prepared. I'll read the um the packets. I'll do my homework. Um so uh um in terms of the time commitment, I I understand that and I have the time commitment and I will if appointed um I'll resign from the PTO for conflict of interest issues as well as to free up some time for that. Um, in terms of I've been doing this since my oldest daughter was in kindergarten and I really like being able to give back and to help support kids in classrooms. So, um, that's about it. >> Thank you, Brian. >> Sure. >> I I have I I'm gonna I'm gonna ask my um my designated question, but I'm also have a few others that might tie into that. Um, as a
016member of the board, what do you see as your primary purpose and primary role and how will you go about working with other board members to make meaningful change? >> Well, I'm a team player. I check my ego at the door. I don't really have one, but um I understand that um this is all in furtherance of being able to support superintendent and her staff, making sure that teachers and kids have all the resources they need to be successful. Um and uh I think that um being able to be responsive to the public and making sure that uh members of the community understand that this is a transparent process and that we're here to serve the community is is of utmost importance. >> Yeah. >> Before you ask question to ask anybody else. >> Yes.
017Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I'm I'm gonna um >> Are you ad libing? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I was like, well, I was um I'm gonna I think it might be answered in the other two questions and if at the end I might I don't want to steal anyone's fair enough. >> Yeah. >> Um thank you for coming, Brian, and putting your name in the hat. Um as you know, budgeting and the finance of the school district is is highly important to our district. um what how would you prioritize our spending in the district and are there particular projects you see where you would prioritize for us? >> Well, you know, I I really look to the professionals and the staff and the administration on, you know, making the recommendations for where priorities are. Um I don't
018want to get out ahead of that. Um, but I do know that the school needs resources to meet unfunded infrastructure mandates to to build new facilities to modernize facilities and I think that's really the most important thing and if so in terms of a future bond measure I think you know I bring 25 years of expertise in that and um so I that's where I you know like to lend my my expertise in terms of finances. Thank you, Brian. Uh, was it a few months that I was sitting in there spot? So, my question is, describe how you would balance student needs, community concerns, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on an issue. Well, my personal values and beliefs are that every student deserves
019and needs all the resources necessary for them to be successful. So, that's first and foremost for me. So, I kind of look at from a bottomup perspective. Um, and that, you know, translates through classrooms and what the teachers need. And so that's kind of where my priorities are. But I understand, you know, that there are constraints because of the budgets and state law and other things, you know, that really kind of, you know, put ourselves in a box in terms of, you know, how we allocate resources and things like that. And um, you know, as a public policy professional, I really understand that, you know, that there are unintended consequences, you know, when making decisions. And so I really spend a lot of time in doing my homework um in looking at different issues that
020you know the board faces and hearing the public's interest in these things and and this community is a small community and people talk in the supermarkets and things like that. And so I think you know one of the things is that you're not just a board member tonight you're a board member and a representative kind of an ambassador for the the school and the throughout the community and and I appreciate that. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. Um I I do have uh one further question that I'll ask and I don't know if anybody else does, but I So you're you're familiar with the current board and and uh and uh feel has made great progress here at the school. Um, and I know you hit on this a little bit, but I'd like to
021know how you feel about uh coming into the board and um generally becoming a part of what we've already got going on. I've jumped on a lot of boards and um I think part of um being a new person on any board is is really listening and finding out where MySpace is and how everybody works together. It's a family in a lot of ways and um so I think um you know making sure that I'm respectful of where all you folks are at right now and getting up to speed. I think it's kind of, you know, drinking from a fire hose a little bit at the beginning. Um, and so, um, I collaborate a lot and, um, I think that's one of my strengths. So, >> thank you, Brian. Appreciate you. Appreciate you putting your
022hat in the >> Thanks for the opportunity. And just whatever the outcome is, I will continue to be committed here. Um, and and uh, helping out and volunteering wherever I can. So, thank you. >> Your your efforts are greatly appreciated. For sure. Okay. So now we can move on to the opening statement uh uh of Alex Jones. Thank you for applying for the provisional trustee area one board vacancy. Please make a brief statement about your qualifications and why you are seeking to be on the board. >> Thank you very much. President Johnson, trustees, um you know, when I'm thinking about why I want to serve on this board, it's a pretty easy answer for me. I love Sis High School. I love the kids here. I love the valley. I'm multigenerational. You've heard several times
023I'm a graduate. I'm also on the wall of honor here. Um, you know, it's not all about family history, right? It's not all about how long you've been here. That doesn't qualify you necessarily. But I will point out my grandfather drove the school bus for Sis High School. My great-grandfather was the first school bus driver here. Uh my family has lived in the same house for over a hundred years and we paid every bond, every tax and we've been we've been here involved in the community not just at the board level but you know on every possible level you know in sports coaching arts we hosted a music festival a free arts and music festival for 24 years in San Die um we've been really deeply entrenched in the valley and and I believe that
024I'm invested in the past, the present, and the future of this high school. Because of my family's involvement, because of my four young, beautiful children. I have four children, all school age, sixth grade, second grade, kindergarten, and two months old. So, I'm going to be involved in this high school one way or another for the next 20 years. Um, and I have a heart to serve. Um, I've served my whole life in many capacities, um, professionally and as a as a servant. Um, I currently am on the YFL board as a vice president. Um, and I I really think that ultimately the young families of the valley, they all of my friends, they went to St. High School. My wife went to St. High School. All of our friends kids are of school age. So,
025I think that it's really important for a board to have representation that is pretty broad. And I think that's a pretty important constituency to keep in mind. the the the families of the valley that are going to be coming up through this system. So, um I'm running to one represent them and also to be collaborative because like we was said before, I I really enjoy working with people. I love to listen. I love to build um and I love to be a positive impact and I focus on the good. I'm a very positive person and I do not let negativity distract me and I'm good at keeping my eyes on the prize and the mission at hand. Um, I've not raised a billion dollars for school bonds. Um, but I have managed eight figure budgets.
026Um, I have dealt with several boards um, in many capacities. Um, and I have not spent my career doing political consulting necessarily, but I am very adept and I understand and I've been reading and watching what's going on. But again, you guys have done so many great things that I want to be a part of it. I want to learn and contribute. Um and ultimately I want to do what's good for this high school, these kids and this valley. >> Thank you for that for your opening statement. Um so I will start with my first question which was please summarize the strengths you would would bring to the board as a member. Why do you want to ser on board answered? Uh what is your time commitment to this position? >> Yep. So I'm an
027all-in kind of person. So you're going to have everything that I got. um I show up ready, prepared. I will also read the packet. I will do my homework and and I'm a professional. I'm professional in everything that I do. And so I'll approach this in the exact same manner. Um so the full commitment of time plus some because I'm just that kind of person. I show up early. I leave late. I help put the chairs away. You know, I'm one of those guys. So um as far as time and commitment and I do want to make a note it was mentioned previously but I do believe the strength and a skill set that I have that is unique to this board is my expertise in technology. So I am very very familiar with current
028technology trends, tools, um where things are headed, where things are right now. Um and I think that that going into a time whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing not just the world but education. So I think it's important um to have somebody with a background in technology to to at least translate some of these things to to help kind of understand because it is moving very very quickly. Thank you. Your turn, Sherry. >> I love asking all of you brave people. Um just as everyone I just want everybody you're all doing great. As a member of the board, um what do you see as your primary purpose and primary role? And how will you go about working with other board members to make meaningful change? >> Um and excuse me, I
029was just coaching YMCA basketball across the street. be like um so forgive my horse voice. Um but I think the purpose is to serve the kids, serve the high school, serve the administration. Um coming into that, you have to be collaborative. You have to listen first. You have to ask a lot of questions. Um and I think that that's one of my greatest strengths is being a listener. I I really truly believe in listening more than talking even though I'm talking a lot right now. Um, I think that that is a cornerstone of how I will enter and hopefully contribute to this board. I also have been very proud of this board. If you look up and down California, not many boards have able to do what this one has done and it it's inspiring.
030So, I'm motivated and would be honored to contribute to that. You >> thank you for coming as well. Um, as you know, again, it goes back to the money, the budgeting in our district. Um, how would you prioritize spending in the district and what do you see are some priorities that you may have noticed that you would like to implement or pursue? >> It's a great question. You know, uh, being an alumni here and coming back to this high school, it's great. Brings back a bunch of amazing memories, especially because I'm seeing the same paint on the walls. I'm seeing the same brush strokes. You know, I mean, we need investment at this high school. clearly. Um, and so I I think that thoughtful conversation about where to spend money and I don't want to
031get ahead of that and so I want to do this and I want to do that. I don't think that'd be appropriate, but clearly investment needs to be made in the infrastructure and the technology readiness, the security. Um, and bottom line really, what are we doing here? We're preparing young adults to enter the world prepared for success. So, I I would prioritize my investment on what is the biggest bang for the buck to make sure that these kids are getting all the resources they need to be the best people they can be to serve this community. >> Thank you, Alex, for being here. Question is, describe how you would balance student needs, community concerns, state and federal law, staff considerations, and your personal values and beliefs to determine how to vote on an issue. Yeah,
032that's a great question because a lot of times those things may come in conflict or be a little bit um of a vend diagram. Um you know, as Brian said, bottom up, right? You want to focus on the students, but ultimately before anything, we must make sure that we're in compliance with state and federal law. So, we have to understand where we are in the lay of the land there and then do everything we can in that framework to make sure that we're supporting the kids and then the administration and then the valley. You know, that's that's a pretty easy, you know, uh, matrix for me. Are we supporting the kids everything they need? Does the administration have all the resources they need? And is this supporting the greater community, not today, not just tomorrow,
033but over the next 5, 10, 50 years? Because as we've seen, you know, this high school has got legs. It's not going anywhere. Um, and so I think it's important to think long term. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Now, the uh impromptu that I brought up, and you already hit on this as well, but you're familiar with the actions that the board's taken and the things that have been done over the last three years and uh how how would you facilitate bringing yourself into that and becoming a part of this board and cohesive? >> Yep. Yeah, I think cohesion, you hit on it. boards are teams and so being a lifelong athlete and coach regardless of what I think the play should be when the play gets called we run the play right
034so I'm I'm very much a team player so as I come into a situation like this immense respect for all the work that you've done individually and as a board and I would be looking to be a positive influence and one other thing I'll note and I think I mentioned a little bit earlier is that I'm very good at not letting fringe things distract me. I I know the mission at hand and I know how to work with people to accomplish that mission step by step with relentless kind of consistency. And I think that's that's a really really important part is being consistent um working together um and then ultimately having the hierarchy of values that you know you need students administration the valley. >> Thank you for that. And uh we're done with the
035questions and now we will >> uh let's see find my spot here. Alex, uh you can go ahead and take your seat and then the board can start discussing here if we'd like. >> Um we have two amazing candidates. Obviously, >> I was going to see fortunate. Could we add another chair to the end because I both of you are just tremendous and would be great assets to our the school board. >> This these are this is a tough decision for the board. I know it is and and uh unfortunately we only have one seat to fill uh because thank you fellas for for standing up and doing this. I know it's kind of a hot seat and uh uh really appreciate your interest in in uh becoming a part of this. Does anybody have
036anything they would like to discuss or >> Well, it's not discussed. I just wanted to say like Brian bringing like the public policy, the me the bond measure and all of that I think is key. Um, Alex with the technology just moving forward because today we're the 21st century, but it's going to be the 21st plus in a year or two. So, they bring so many positive things that will help our school grow and that's where the quandry is for me. Yeah, and I agree um you know, Brian, with your service of to the school and and that you've been on another board, I think that's those qualities are really important. Um and Alex um I'm also you know having four children in the valley and I I like to people that understand the continuum
037of the different grades as they come into the high school and you get that you'll get four four times that experience and um yeah and I I really I appreciate both of you and just your um the fact that you would all you would both be amazing collaborators and I love the listening you know all of those things are so important because sometimes we come in I know I came in with different ideas and have learned a lot in three years but um yeah those are definitely important important skills so I want to thank you for that >> you have anything you put out there >> yeah I mean thank you both you've made this a very hard decision um yeah I am following as well as light to technology because in our board note.
038So, I had to look up what Kajit was and what we're paying that for. But, you know, um and and I feel like I sit on this board more as like a safety background is is uh my purpose. So, again, both of you guys, yeah, I don't I don't know how this is going to go. I mean, I know how it's going to go, but uh >> this is a challenging decision. I'm leaving. >> That being said, unfortunately, we have to make a decision and uh um we would hate for either of you to feel disregarded in any way. So, um is there a a nomination out there? >> Well, I was just want to first piggyback on what you said. >> Yes. Whichever way it goes, I know that being on that side would
039be very challenging, but I hope the school doesn't lose either of you in any essence or form or function or anything because that would be a great loss in any regard. Um, >> all right. Well, with that being said, I uh would like to uh uh nominate uh Brian as for a board member. If if you want further discussion on that, uh there would need to be a second. If there is no second, then we'll move forward. Yeah, I'll second that. >> Roll call, please. Terry, >> Mr. Johnson, >> I. Miss Noble, >> it's not easy. >> Hi, >> Miss Grace Velasquez. >> Oh, I miss the technology. >> Mr. Leamini. >> Hi. >> So, Brian Robinson uh will be our new first district trustee. Thank you, Alex. I want to say thank you, >>
040Alex. I want to say thank you very much and and uh I know there's a spot and and uh this was for me the fit this evening. Just wanted to let you know that. Okay. And I appreciate you so much. >> Uh Brian, I think you need to come up and take your seat. Oh, we have to swear them in. >> I'm also going to say thank you for your comments, uh, for your public comments. They're greatly appreciated. I wish there was more people that came in and actually spoke and and uh made their voices heard. So, thank you. Should he be out of >> m? >> I state your name. >> I, Brian Robinson. >> Do solemnly swear or affirm. Do you solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support and defend the
041Constitution of the United States >> that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of California >> and the Constitution of the State of California >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> That I will bear true faith and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the Constitution of the United States >> to the Constitution of the United States. and the Constitution of the State of California >> and and the Constitution of the State of California >> that I take this obligation freely >> without any mental reservation or purpose >> without any mental reservation or purpose >> of evasion. I should have >> of evasion. >> Sorry about that. And that I will
042um well and faithfully >> And that I will well and faithfully >> dischar discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. discharge the duties that I'm about to enter. >> Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Brian. So, now that that is completed, we will move on to close session at uh >> I think you have to do public comment. >> Oh, public comment. >> I don't have any I don't have any public comment. >> Just read out for the record that we're taking public comment on this. >> Okay. I say for the record, we're taking com uh uh opening up for public comment for close session if anybody has any comments on that. Okay. So, now we will move on to close session at 6:06. >> Uh let's do a little like two minute
043break on the way. She knows me very well. >> I know. superstar. Make yourself at home. >> What? when we come back in right here to read the student board. Yeah. >> Are you saying something about 30 minutes probably. He's go cheer loud. I'm just sprawling everyone at this. I'm just take the cap. They're welcome. >> It's our stuff. So, you know, My break.