001We can hear you. >> I am great. >> Yeah, >> I think we have quum so we can get started. Um to just to note I am on Zoom so if we do have any difficulties we might have to ask someone Garcia to facilitate but um I think we'll be okay. Um, okay. I call this meeting to order. The special board meeting for Coachella Valley Unified School District, July 24, 2025. Um, the information I I we did post that I will be joining by Zoom and the information was provided um on the agenda. Uh we have uh 1.2 pledge of allegiance. If we could have uh trustee uh Torres, if you could lead us on the pledge of allegiance. Stand. Right hand over your hearts. Ready? Begin. To the flag of the United States of
002America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Uh, moving on to 1.3. We could please, um, Edgar, if you could help us with roll call. Uh yes. So roll call. Uh President Joselyn Vargas >> via Zoom. >> Uh clerk Valerie Garcia >> present. >> Trustee Joey Akuna >> here. >> Trustee Jesus Gonzalez. >> Trustee Thomas Torres >> here. >> And trustee Tin Ardondo present. Thank you. >> Thank you. We're moving on to 2.1 uh close session public comments. Uh this is an opportunity for members of the public to address the governing board regarding any close session items within the board subject matter jurisdiction. Please complete a request to address the governing board form and handed to the recording secretary. Speakers will be
003limited to three minutes uh per person with the maximum of 20 minutes to each subject matter. If um Edgar, if you could please uh call out any inperson public uh close session public comments. So we have one um for subject item 2.1 conference with labor negotiator. The person's name is Brianna Lameli and this is CSEA bilingual psychologist technician. Um, just for the record, my name is Bianca Lumi, not Briana. >> I apologize. >> So, do we have that correct, Bianca? Okay. Do we have the Okay. >> Good evening, president, board members, superintendent, and cabinet. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm here to urge immediate action regarding the unresolve agreement with CSEA on the bilingual psychologist technicians for the upcoming 2526 school year. Psychologists are scheduled to return on August 4th. From day
004one, we must begin reviewing case lists, preparing assessment plans, and scheduling annual and triannual IEP meetings. But none of this can be done effectively or legally without the support of the bilingual psychologist technicians. So I ask, who will be scheduling these meetings? Who will be contacting non-English-speaking parents for consent? who will assist with translations during interviews and complete the required documentation for compliance. Without BPTs, these tasks will fall through the cracks and when school begins, federal timelines begin. Missing them means we are out of compliance and the consequences are real and costly. Let me be clear, this is not just a staffing issue, it's a legal and financial risk. Districts across California have learned this the hard way. San Diego Unified paid over $2 million to settle due process cases last year. Pawa Unifi paid
005$1.1 million. Sweetwater paid nearly $400,000. On average, California district lose over $1 million annually in special education litigation. One case alone can cost more than 10 times the annual salary of a BPT. And what does a bilingual psychologist technician cost this district? An estimated 75 $74,000 a year. This isn't cost savings. It's pennywise and lawsuit foolish. This isn't resol. If this isn't resolved before the school year begins, the district would likely realize mid year that it cannot function without these positions. At that point, instruction will be interrupted, services delayed, and lawsuits will start piling up. The cost in dollars, trust, and time will be far greater than the cost of doing the right thing today. And let's not ignore this. The Riverside County Office of Education is now dictating what our elected board members can
006and cannot propose. That is a direct challenge to local governance and your ability to represent our community. I urge this board to act now, reach an agreement with CSEA, reinstate the bilingual psychologist technicians, protect our students, maintain compliance, and preserve the integrity of this district. Let's stop gambling with legal costs in student services. Invest now and avoid chaos later. Thank you. We have one other item or one other speaker. Um the item is president's location. The person is Cararissa Carrera for CVTA. >> Good evening. Carissa Carrera on behalf of CBTA. Um, just regarding the president's location, I would like to point out that on the agenda that's printed out there and until this morning, apparently it said location to be determined. And by law, under the Brown Act, if you're going to be on Zoom,
007you have to advertise within 72 hours, just like when you post the agenda, of where you're going to be located because people are supposed to be able to attend the meeting in your location if they choose to. So, I would like to point out that that is a violation of the Brown Act. And I believe also that when this was posted on Monday, there also was nothing on there as an attachment for item 5.1. And today, suddenly, there is. And at this point, I did not have time to look over it and prepare comments to speak to tonight because I just now saw it attached. It was not there on Monday when this was posted. Again, a violation of the Brown Act. Thank you. >> No more. We don't have any more comments. >> I
008believe we were also going to open up since we're on Zoom. um if there was any um participants we assume that wanted to provide public comment or for close session and I know we haven't done that in a while. Um so I don't know if folks can raise their hand if they would like to provide public comment and they would say their name um and then they could provide the comment. We missed the first part of what you were saying, Jocelyn. >> I think we so to since we're on Zoom, um I believe we are able to provide the opportunity for anyone that's on Zoom to provide public comment as well on the close session. Um but I don't know if there's I'm not able to see if anyone's raised their hand or or anything
009of that sort. the item that Carissa cited for 5.1 people could come back during open session because that is an open session item. So, anyone else who would like to comment on that um not being there not being an attachment is welcome to comment during the open session public comment. >> Okay. I think if there's no other um comments for close session, we can motion into close session. >> So move. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Uh can we should we do roll call or uh all those in favor? >> I >> uh any opposed? abstensions and we'll be back from close session um at 6:30. Thank you. Okay, we had a motion and a second to come back um into open session. Uh we have 3.2. Um clerk uh Garcia, if
010you could announce action taken in close session. >> Yes. So, the board took action during close session to appoint Elizabeth Sautello as director of MTSS academic secondary education at the district office effective July 25th, 2025. Motion was made by Trustee Gonzalez, seconded by Trustee Aridondo, and the motion carried five yes, one no. The no was trusty arondo. The next item is in close session. The board took action to reassign certificated administrator Dr. Sha McQuoen to school principal at Westside Elementary July 25th, 2025 and directed the superintendent or designate to send out appropriate legal notices. The motion was made by trustee Gonzalez, seconded by trustee Aradondo. The motion passed um six six yays are eyes. The next item is in close session. The board took action to reassign certificated administrator Dora Flores to school principal at
011Saul Martinez Elementary effective July 25th, 2025 and directed the superintendent or designate to sign send out appropriate legal notices. The motion was made by trustee Gonzalez, seconded by trustee aridondo and it was unanimous eyes. And that was the all of the action. >> Madam clerk, just a correction to the first item. Um, Elizabeth Sautello, it was motioned by Mr. Gonzalez, seconded by me, not Mr. Adondo. Excuse me. So for board, and I did have Jay, I'm sorry. Um, for Elizabeth Ortello, it is true. Motion was made by trustee Gonzalez, seconded by trustee um Akuna and that's all action. >> Okay, thank you. Um moving on to 3.3 approval of agenda as submitted. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. Uh any comments, changes? Uh all those
012in favor, if we could do a roll call just um since I'm on Zoom. Um so all those in favor um I can start I and then maybe we can start from Trusty Auna to the to the right. >> Roll call. >> Correct. I >> I um any opposed abstensions? Uh motion passes. Um so approve the agenda was approved. Uh 4.1 we have uh public comments. Uh public comments introductory. Do we have we have public comments right in person? >> We have one. >> Uh so introductory comments and requests to address the board on items on the adopted agenda will be considered from the audience at this time. Please complete a request to address the governing board and handed to the recording secretary. Speakers be limited to three minutes per person with the maximum of
01320 minutes to each subject matter. Additionally, the person making the request should state his or her name and the name of the organization or group represented. Please be advised that the board is not always at liberty to answer questions right away. State law prohibits the board from taking any action on items not listed on the agenda. Trusty Garcia, if you could help with the public comment. >> Yes. So, we have one subject item is 2.3 conference with labor negotiator. The name of the person is Carlos Castella. Company is data assessment specialist. >> All right. Good evening board members. Thank you first of all for allowing me to uh speak on behalf of this item. And um again I was uh one of the ones that was laid off. the position was a data assessment specialist
014and um I'm currently substituting for that same position right now and it's uh I'm just a little bit concerned about what my absence to our that department would be and so I just want to address that here with you guys. Uh I've had years of experience with uh working with our vendors, all our platform vendors. Um at this point right now I am preparing all the data for the upcoming meetings and have been very instrumental to a lot of what um was expected from our department in order to uh educate our teachers and for them to understand what gaps they have and better understand their data. and not just by looking at numbers but truly understanding what that information means and you know how they can improve those test scores and I was a big
015part of those data chats that happened with all our secondary sites and you know I'm afraid that with my absence of not being there that you know that that project that took so long to get off um to get up and running is going going to have an impact and you know I have a lot of you know teachers and administrators who really look towards me to be able to help them and assist them in creating these data reports and you know identifying those gaps and you know I also want to talk on behalf of my other colleagues as well cuz you know their jobs also have a huge impact I mean I just can't wrap my head around what the school year is going to look like on the first day of school because
016even though some of those other staff members that were let go like instructional media texts and you know Elsa's me being an Elsa for 10 years at Caesar Chavez, it was much more than just being an Elsa. It was making sure that, you know, kindergarten students got transitioned into their classroom, building that rapport with the community, making them feel comfortable in those first couple of days, helping out with registrations, um, and ensuring that everything went smooth on the on those first days. It wasn't just, you know, uh sitting behind an office and allowing the office staff to just kind of, you know, handle all these uh all these situations that arise. So, I I know that there's been some decisions that are have been made, but I urge you to reconsider because uh th this
017impact is going to affect our community very much. Thank you for your time. Are there in person public comment? >> I don't have any more papers. Oh, we're we're hearing no. >> And then I don't know if there was anyone on Zoom that needed wanted to speak as well. Okay, we can uh move on to 5.1 action items under administrative services. Um so action item 5.1 um Dr. Sparkers trustee resignation board decision and action in filling the CBUSD board vacancy. Um do we have a motion like make a motion to amend uh the timeline as follows um from the beginning tonight Thursday July 24th special board meeting. Board approves to move forward with making a provisional appointment and to discuss legal qualifications of applicants. board approves to have another special board meeting to interview all
018candidates. Um, superintendent will provide board with suggested interview questions to review. Uh, these are suggested interview questions that have been advised to use by our legal counsel. Friday, July 25th, staff advertised in local media to solicit candidate applications for 10 business days, not 10 regular days. uh and advise candidates that if they are if they do um and advise candidates that the interview date will be August 12th which I'll mention later on um closing day for the applications will be Thursday August 7th Friday August 8th staff contact the registar voters to ensure candidates are registered in the district and again we don't have to wait till the last day to give them all of the candidates they can give the candidates as they are applying. Uh delete the whole tenative dates. The board meeting to
019choose candidates to interview. The tenative special uh board meeting will be Tuesday, August 12th uh to uh board of education shall in compliance with the Brown Act interview all candidates um at a public meeting uh with five minutes for an opening statement and 10 minutes of questions from the board. Accept oral and written public communications. Thursday, August 14th, 2025, regular board meeting. Board of Education shall in compliance with the Brown Act, accept oral and written public communication, select a provisional appointee by a majority vote. Newly appointed board member takes oath of office and immediately assumes all the powers and duties of the board of a board member and that appointee holds the office until the next regularly scheduled district election, which will be in November of 2026. The reason I made these changes is that
020I do believe that anyone who applies should have an uh should have an opportunity to interview. I don't believe that us as board members or staff should decide who gets to or who does not get to interview. The only criteria for this position is that they're 18 years old, they're a citizen of the United States, and that they live in the district. Technically, those are the only three qualifications they need to be on this. board members can pick and choose their own criteria for selecting. Um, but I believe that everyone that applies should be interviewed. Whether I like them, I don't like them, it should not matter. We should respect the fact that they took the time to do this, that we should interview them. And by eliminating that middle one, it gives us more
021dates. It gives us 10 business days, actual working days, uh, to do this. So, there's my amended motion. Could we um because it's a number of of um I a number of changes um could we go down the line just to make sure we have everything that you noted. So on the first date the July 24th you're recommending that we change which pieces >> just so that we're all on the same page or should we just go down the line? >> You want me to read them again one by one? Um, yeah, I would say just so that we're all comfortable and just make sure that everyone's okay with those pieces or how what would be the best way to discuss um because it sounds like there's a number of things. >> An amendment to
022it. If there's a second, it moves forward. If there's no second, then it doesn't. Pretty simple, but I can go through it again if you want. If you guys didn't catch them all. So basically tonight the board approves to move forward with making a provisional appointment to discuss legal qualifications of applicants. I deleted the part of desired because each individual of us desires different things. Board approves to have another special board meeting to interview all candidates. That board [clears throat] meeting would be August 12th um and strike all the other parts. Uh and then superintendent will provide the board with suggested interview questions to review. Friday, July 25th, staff uh advertisement in local media to solicit candidate applications for 10 business days instead of 10 regular days. That would take us to Thursday, August 7th,
023which is the closing date for the application. Uh which would be business hours. 5:00 would be the closing date. And again, the superintendent will set up if that's, you know, in person, drop off an actual application, hard copy or uh online, however they set that process up. Um, Friday, August 11th or no, I'm sorry. Friday. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Friday, August 8th, they contact the registar voters to ensure the candidates are registered in the district. And again, you don't have to wait till the last day to give them all to them. you can be giving to them as they're coming in. Um, then on Monday, August 11th, staff will provide the board with a list of qualified applicants for review. I don't believe it can be it can be confidential. It's an open process, so
024all names have to be public. Um, strike all the tenative dates for deciding who we do or do not want to uh interview. and then move on to Tuesday, August 12th, where the board meeting shall in compliance with the Brown Act interview all candidates present at the public meeting. Give them a five-minute opening uh statement and 10 minutes for questions. Accept all oral and public comment. Thursday, August 14th, which is our regular scheduled board meeting. Um again, in compliance with the Brown Act, accept oral and public oral or written public comment. select put on the agendas to select the provisional appointee by a majority vote. Then the newly appointed board member takes the oath of office and immediately assumes all the powers and duties of a board member. Um and then they hold that position
025until the next regularly scheduled board meeting or election which is in 20 November of 2026. Again, my two main points were that we shouldn't decide who we will or will not interview. I I just think that's unfair to the people applying. And also that it's 10 business days instead of 10 weekend days as well, regular days. That gives more applicants an opportunity to get prepared and to give their stuff. And then obviously there's an application uh I assume that the district already is going to use that will be posted online. people can get it, deliver it in person, or deliver it online by close of business day, 5:00 on uh Thursday, August 7th. That is my amendment to 5.1. [snorts] >> Do we have a second? And then we'll open up for discussion or further
026input. >> You said Thursday, August 7. >> Mhm. Is that not a Thursday? No, not Thursday, August 7th. Tuesday, August 12th is the actual interview day. I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> August 7th is the um close date for applications. >> Do we have a second to the motion? requesting a board meeting >> special meeting. >> Board meeting >> to do the interviews. [snorts] >> That was a date that was recommended originally. So that's why I stuck with that date. >> Thursday, August 7th is when >> you can do it on Monday if you would like. It doesn't matter. I try to keep the same recommendated dates that they had to begin. >> Do we have a second? And then we can discuss if there's any other amendments or other >> I'll second for the matter
027of discussion. >> Um so Mr. Torches uh is bringing up you're raising August 12th as do you have recommendation or input? >> No, it has to be before the 14th. Our regular board meeting our deadline is 17th. >> No, no. Okay. The 14th is our our hard day to actually pick. >> Okay. >> So, it has to be before that. >> You can do it on Monday or Wednesday if those work. Unless you're going to be gone that full morning. >> 5:30. Which one are you doing now? You'd rather do it on Monday the 11th. >> 11:00 is fine. >> Okay. >> And Dr. As far as these dates and times are in line with the county. >> Yes, we've been working with the county on this timeline >> and legally we're able to do
028this. Correct. >> Yes. >> Correct. The only change is if you wanted to interview one candidate, two candidates, it was up to the board to decide. But what Mr. Auna is offering is that all candidates that apply be interviewed. That's the only change. >> And I agree with that. I think I think those wanting to be appointed should have the opportunity to come state their case. Is there other feedback? I'll go with the board majority. I think it's fine. Um, not making uh not cutting anyone out who is qualified is fine with me. I'd like to hear anybody who's willing and qualified. >> This would also mean that we would post this tomorrow. Correct, Dr. Spurs? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Yes, we're working on a press release already that's going to go out this
029information. >> We're keeping the August 12th date. I didn't catch that. >> I'm sorry. >> We're keeping the August I don't know if I couldn't hear Mr. Tortez if he was suggesting a change to the to the interviews or we're keeping the August 12th date as you >> be on whom? [snorts] It's available through Zoom. >> Okay. >> A question on that, but yeah, I'm in support. >> Okay. Um, yeah, I agree with the changes um and making sure that we keep it open for 10 business days as opposed to 10 days. Um, but if there's no other comments, may we can roll call. Um, all those in favor? Um I >> um Madame President um my executive secretary is going to call roll so that we can hear everybody's um vote. >> Thank you.
030>> Trusty Auya. >> Hi. >> Trusty Torres. >> Hi. >> Trustee Ardondo. >> I trust um Garcia. >> I. >> Trusty Vargas. I um motion passes. So we're moving on to action item human resources 6.1. >> Madam President >> Oh, sorry. >> To read out the decision. >> Oh, all right. So, the board took action to move forward with the provisional appointment to fill the existing vacancy for former board trustee Sylvia Pass as provided by education code section 5091A and directed the superintendent to initiate the process to backfill the vacancy. Motion was made by trustee Akuna, seconded by trustee Aridondo and motion was unanimous five yes. Okay, thank you. Sorry about that. Um so now moving on to 6.1 uh action item human resources Dr. Monica Makawick's approval of the tentative agreement between Coachella Valley
031Teachers Association and Kachaw Valley Unified School District dated June 5th, 2025. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Um, open it up for questions, comments. No comments. If there's no comments of Dr. Spart, can you do the roll call vote? >> Roll call. >> Trusty Akuna. >> No. >> Trusty Tortez. >> Hi. >> Trustee Ardondo. I >> Trusty Vargas. >> I. >> Trustee Garcia. I >> motion pass. >> Okay. Uh we don't have 7.1. We don't have any uh other close session items. So we'll move on to 7.2. Motion to adjurnn. Can I get a motion? >> So move. >> Second. and roll call. >> Trustee Akuna. >> Hi. >> Trustee Tortez. >> Hi. >> Trustee Ardondo. >> I trusty Vargas. >> Hi. >> Trustee
032Garcia. >> I >> thank you.