001Okay, we now reconvene from open session into open session at 6:03 p.m. Uh, please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. Ready to begin. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You might notice that uh our superintendent, Mr. Matsuda, is not sitting to my right this evening. Uh about an hour and a half ago, he was involved in Honolville accident. Uh he's not life-threatening, we don't think, but we've convinced him to have his wife take him to the ER to be checked out. Although he was a little stubborn and not wanting to go, but we said you have to go. So with that said, along with that thought,
002this is our second day of school. So, uh, for a moment of silence, I ask you to just think about what is taking place for our students, the teachers that are teaching and everybody, the support staff that is keeping our our, uh, schools open and safe for all of our students. Thank you. Thank you. Next item is a superintendent search. Uh I don't know if everybody knows but at uh our leadership advance which was a few weeks ago uh Mr. Matt Suda make made an announcement that he was retiring at the end of the year and his retirement date uh we found we know now is January 2nd. That is when his retirement date is official. So because of that we started a process to determine who should be our next superintendent. So with that
003said we've the board has made a lot of discussion amongst us between us and u I'm going to let them speak anybody wishing to speak >> about the process >> the process. >> Yes not the person but the process. Well, we did discuss it and we thought about it and um considered h how we were going to go about it and I felt very comfortable that it worked well. >> Mr. Oshi, um I'd like to take a moment to share my personal reflection on the recent superintendent selection process. First, I want to acknowledge the concerns many in our community have voiced, particularly around the length of the application window and the decision not to open the search to external candidates. Expressing concerns is valid. As a trustee, I believe we must always strive for greater
004transparency and inclusiveness, especially when it comes to decisions that directly impact our schools and our families. While I supported moving forward within the time frame we had, I also recognize the perspective that the process could have been different. These are areas I believe we must always take into consideration. That said, I am satisfied with the outcome of the process. Still, I take seriously the responsibility to reflect on this process and work towards ensuring that in the future decisions include ample voices, time and opportunities for community engagement. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Fjo. So, um this is my second time uh appointing a superintendent and as I reflected um on the process um I remember uh several internal uh searches uh that this district has had uh with candidates. Um, so that that was uh
005you know just a a reflective point. Um, and I think the board as a whole um really loves the way that the district is going and um and the team and uh all the initiatives that are happening. And so I think as a group as a whole we we decided to do that internal search. Um external searches um involve a lot of a lot of people. There are um you know u meetings and gatherings and that tends to because it's an an external uh person or a firm or whatever. they don't they really don't know our district um as well as um as employees. So that's why they do all that gathering um and they have those external meetings and meetings and as as a as an employee of another district. Um it is a
006little bit um daunting to see that process happen and then when they kind of come up with their narrative um or my other colleagues in other um districts when they come up with that narrative of the person that they want sometimes they get it right sometimes they don't get it right um with the diversity of the groups um I also was really reflective about the body of this group here um you have my colleagues who have been serving the district for um you know over 20 years. Um I'm sort of kind of in the middle with my 13. Um uh they've gone through how many searches for superintendent? >> This is my seventh superintendent. >> Seventh superintendent. >> This is my fourth. >> Your fourth. Okay. So, uh, and then our new our newbies, um,
007however, Mr. Hosshi has been in the district for a long amount of time. >> 41 years and then as a former student and I thought what a wealth of a body of wealth that we have um, in this group, a number of experiences um, and diversity in the group. So, I just was very um I was very enthusiastic really in thinking about that and in relative to this um to this last search and I just really want folks to really kind of concentrate on that. Even though you might think it was a a quick turnaround, you have to keep in mind that um if it's an internal search, an internal candidate um an internal employee, what that domino effect will have on um on on that decision. And so um keep that in mind. And
008our goal is to really um think about the future and getting things really kind of uh done before uh uh Michael Matsuda leaves in December. So it just you know throwing out some some thoughts for folks who um really um are questioning those uh those metrics. Um, also this is uh the board's charge and this is one of the most uh important things that we do uh as a a trustees and how much we uh take this in consideration and uh reflect and we know the heavy responsibility that this decision makes on the entire district um students and staff. So, just wanted to let you know that's a consideration thought. >> Thank you, Miss Barrow. >> Thank you. I want to echo my former colleagues uh comments earlier and I I want to share a
009little bit on the decision too to conduct a community input survey um alongside the same time as a job posting. This allowed us to gather meaningful feedback on what the community values in a leader while also maintaining the confidentiality of the candidates. Um I want to thank everyone that took the time to complete that survey. Um it was a wealth of um input from parents, staff, students, and community members, and we're very grateful for all the insight that you've given us. Um while we cannot share um the results of the survey, we can share some of the themes. Um from the survey, we heard clearly that the community is looking for a superintendent who is committed to the well-being and success of all students, willingness to consider input from different points of view, focused on
010accountability and self-reflection, committed to recruiting and retaining high quality staff. Um and also in the survey we gave space for the community to name some of the key challenges ahead for us. Um some of the themes there was a declining enrollment, budget pressures, the need to support our teachers and staff and addressing the political climate um including the concerns with immigration enforcement activity and transparency. Um these insights really helped us identify which candidates not only align with the desired leadership characteristics but also the also that they demonstrate readiness to face these challenges ahead ahead of us. Um, through the interview process, we were able to further evaluate how each candidate's vision, experience, and leadership approach match both the qualities the community values and the realities we are navigating as a district. I want to thank
011all the candidates who applied. Your willingness to step up and serve is a strong reflection of the leadership we have within this district, and we are grateful for your continued dedication to all of our students in our district. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Guro. Well, I'm not sure what more I can say. Um from what my other four board members have said um the survey was very important. And I think we had uh somewhere close to 400 responses. And as Miss Gro said, she sort of capsulated what what we f what we saw on that. And obviously the the the new superintendent will take that those survey results and reflect to see what needs to be done differently, if anything needs to be done differently, and how to go about and make make recommendations
012to the board. One of I think one of the main drivers when we made our our selection for the new superintendent was knowing the direction that we wanted the district to continue in. We've made great strides over the last 10 years in the the direction that the district is going. We've we have been uh recognized locally, statewide, nationally in in what we have been doing here for the students. And that's what we're here for is for the students and we want this the next superintendent to be taking that and moving it forward. So, uh, with that said, we have some speakers that we would like to call up now. I have one who has two wants to speak on two items. One is Western and one is the appointment of the superintendent. And this is
013uh, Lucy Talita. >> Talita last Okay. Um, Marissa Barmudas and the parliamentarian keeps uh keeps a timer on here for three minutes. >> Go right ahead. >> Good evening everyone. And um good evening um board um President O'Neal, rest of the cabinet um trustees, everyone that's here present and online and you know those that you know unfortunately never connect or don't know that you all exist. Um I usually prep I write something down and you know I put a lot of thought into it. Um you know I want to choose my words you know wisely because like I mentioned I want to always bridge and not break with people. Um, and I'm a parent first of all, and that's who I'm here representing my children. One that already graduated from this district, one that's currently
014a senior, and three that will eventually come into this district. At least that's the plan. Um, and today I didn't come prepared with anything just because I'm really disappointed in the process. And I know you all gave right now your um, you know, your reasoning behind it, and that's great. But again, I am going to uplift that if we're a democracy district, that if we are a community schools district, this is really not showing it. And again, I'll mention what I did said on Tuesday because I was the only person that showed up to that meeting and gave a public comment about the process. I know that I am all for internal um searches. I'm more power to having people who are invested in this district and um can aspire to lead leadership positions, right?
015But where does the community fall? You said 400 responses. I'm wondering how many of those were actual parents. Parents who, you know, we need to hear from, you know, and the contradiction that was given about, you know, we couldn't reach out to parents during the summer because um to form this immigration um task force because it was summer. So we we tapped into parents that were at a conference, but yet we can send out a survey in the middle of summer. And then are you giving an opportunity for those also those um staff that are in the district a week to really get all their stuff together again you know um I didn't put anything together so I really wanted to look at all you you know and my in my disappointment and that I'll
016still be here in the district I'm not going anywhere because I really believe that we can do transformation but just remember that when you are called up again to want to run for your seats you know that's where your um evaluation is going to come up because I've walked a lot for some of you and my heart was in it and with my kids, but I don't think I would do that again because you're really not representing my community. You're not representing and I like to be part of the conversations. And like I mentioned, I've had to look for back doors, back windows to be on certain spaces, not because I've been invited. And now we're seeing the change where we're getting parent input, family input, and we're going to start seeing that change. So,
017um, ahead of time, I congratulate whoever you chose because that's who you chose, but I'm not really necessarily thinking it's a community. And hopefully they're all for having family engagement and engaging our families so we can have better students and success so we can, you know, truly transform our schools. Thank you. [Applause] Uh, Rev. Thomas. I think that's Reverend Thomas. I have a grandson that we call him Rev for short, so wasn't sure. >> Good evening, everyone. And you can call me whatever you want. Just don't call me late for dinner. With that being said, I um I understand what my community members said and I understand all the con concerns on the negative side and on the positive side. You know, I just want to come and support you guys for what you guys
018do. You guys represent a a strong district and I'm just here tonight to support Dr. Frerieded. you know, he's um a strong individual and I do quite a bit for the community just to say the least. You know, a lot of you guys know me for years and if you're in the community, I'm out there. I'm out I'm out there. You may not know my face, but you may know the work that I do. You know, we feed 3,000 people every Monday. We do a football camp. We bring NFL football players to the district for about 150 students every single year and the camp is free. We give away backpacks. We bring pallets and pallets and truckloads of food to the district. It's all free. I don't mention it. I just do it. But Dr.
019Freed has been at a lot of these events and I believe that he's just not walking the talk, but he's doing it. And I believe that he doesn't only speak of what he wants, he speaks of what we wants because he listens to us. And I see the the change in what he says and what he does. So I'm here tonight with a lot of my community members backing me and supporting me and some of the decisions I make for the community. And um I support Dr. freed and I will be calling my community member and see what her concerns are. And you guys know me, if something's not right, I'm going to tell you. So, God bless you all. Thank you. [Applause] Last person to speak on on the appointment is Lucy Talorita. Good
020evening everyone. My name is Lucy Tallerita and I'm here tonight as both the secretary and the ambassador of the Western Alumni Association. Our association president, Ron Flores, wasn't able to be here this evening as he's currently in the hospital. He asked me to speak on his behalf and on the behalf of our alumni community. It's an honor to represent our school, our legacy, and the values we hope to see reflected in the leadership of this district. Now, before I go any further, is Carlos Hernandez or Robert Sandival? Sandival. Oh, okay. Sorry, I said that wrong. Oh, he wanted me to just say to you that he's coming for the bell again. So, get ready. >> We're already practicing for the bell since Western Anaheim. >> Get it? Okay. >> Well, I guess there's no appointment
021made tonight. I was kind of ex expecting that Ron was filling me in because he's the president and I'm just the secretary, right? I just take the notes. But I um wanted to thank the board for their time and the effort they put into this important process. At the same time, I want to express um many in our community are feeling um sorry my notes had to change. So, we we understand that leadership choices are never easy, but we also believe that not making a decision can sometimes send the wrong message. Um, our students, family, and staff deserve stability and direction, especially in these times. Ron Flores, the president, spoke with candidates as Jiren Frerieded and he emphasized what's most important for whoever ultimately fills this role. He said the kids must come first. Families
022must be heard. Decisions must be guided by transparency, datadriven practices, and there must be real accountability from day one. We're hopeful that when the board reconvenes and the next steps will reflect those values because leadership isn't just about who sits in the seat, it's about what they do with the responsibility once they're there. So, we'll continue to be here showing up, speaking up, and standing up for the what's right. And the Western Alumni Association is committed to making sure our voices, our students are never left out of the conversation. Thank you. >> That's for Jiren. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Please pass along our concerns to Ron Flores in the hospital. >> Okay. Can Can we Can we write notes on it? Is that right? >> Yeah. No, no. Seriously, please pass along our concerns.
023Thank you. >> I was wondering why he wasn't here because he's here every time. So, >> I had like three different. >> Okay. I think that's it on superintendent. Let me just a moment, please. No. Okay. So, that's all the public speaking on superintendent uh search. We move on to 5.4. Close session report by the clerk of the board. >> Thank you. 4.1. By a vote of 50, the board of trustees appointed Dr. Dr. Jiren Frerieded as superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District effective December 30th, 2025, subject to execution of a contract. Congratulations. [Applause] 4.2 No action taken regarding public employee performance evaluation. Superintendent 4.33 The board of trustees unanimously approved a settlement agreement with parent providing reimbursement for outside services. 4.4 No action taken regarding negotiations. 4.5 Noor action taken regarding personnel.
0244.6 The board of trustees unanimously voted to make the following appointment effective August 8th, 2025. Diana Fujimoto, director of curriculum, instruction, and professional learning. Congratulations. And that concludes the report. Thank you. >> Okay. I'd also like to report out that uh uh Sara Perez is principal at Savannah High School. [Applause] Juan Alvarez, assistant principal at Savannah High School. [Applause] Ryan Ward, assistant principal, Catella High School. And now I'd like to invite each one separately to come up to the podium and have say a few words. And we'll start with Sierra Perez. [Applause] Thank you. Good evening, President O'Neal, Board of Trustees, Superintendent Matsuda, if you can watch it online, new superintendent, Dr. Frerieded, and the rest of the cabinet, and everyone who's watching online, and those who are in the audience, I want to take
025this time to thank you guys for this opportunity to be the principal of Savannah High School. um looking forward to this new chapter at Savannah and really leveraging on our Savannah student stories. So on day two, being able to walk that campus and already getting to meet some of our students and engage with those conversations, we're really making sure that we feel we make sure that every Savannah student feels seen and heard and has a sense of belonging. And so we're going to leverage those reflections and that capstone process to make sure that our students feel empowered and that they're shaping Savannah with us through this next route. I would like to take this time to also thank mentors and the Annah family who probably will never cheer for Savannah again after today. Um, and
026I'm looking forward to this new journey. So, thank you. >> Bravo. >> Thanks. Next is Juan Alvarez. One. Good evening everybody. Uh I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone. Uh I want to start off with a little story. Uh I don't know most people don't know my my background, how I became a teacher. It started when I was about 16 years old. I went to uh uh to high school in Garden Grove and I was an ASB and I was very inspired by Mr. Homamoto, my ASB director at the school site and so much so that I I wanted to be him. So I I set the course to become a teacher with um with the the goal of becoming ASB director at at a school, right? So I knew about
027my junior year what I wanted to do with my career. So, I went to college, did it all, became a math teacher, worked at South Junior High for 10 years, went to Gilbert, went to Sycamore, did dual language uh math there, and then I got the the pleasure and the opportunity to serve as an assistant principal at Sycamore. So, I I want to say that because um I became a teacher because somebody inspired me to do that, right? And so, my whole purpose, I think, in life as a professional is to do that for some some other child, right? And so the cool thing is that you you all don't realize, but once you once I got appointed to be the assistant principal at Savannah, I end up getting the lane that's in charge of
028ASB, right? And so it was just came full circle. My career just made sense. Everything fell in line in my mind. I I was just so happy to know that I get to do what I set myself to do at age 16. Here I'm 44 and I'm doing it I'm just doing it as the leader in that capacity of that that student group, right? and I wouldn't be there without your confidence. Um, I know uh I know it takes a lot to to bring up somebody from uh being a teacher up to administration and there's a lot of faith you put into me. Um, I appreciate the support from uh cabinet uh and leadership on watching me grow as a leader. Uh, I have grown a lot as a leader. I could say that straight
029straight up and uh because of your support. So I I wouldn't be here without the support of my family as well. So I want to point out who's here. All right. I have uh Jesse, my wife, which you all know. She's over there in the red glasses. Uh my sons uh Rowan and Reese are here. Rowan is a senior at Anaheim High School. Reys is Ree is a uh fifth grader at Horseman. He'll be a Sycamore Buccaneer soon. Uh he's in dual language. And then I have my uh goddaughter Emma here who is also an Anaheim High School student. Uh Michael Madre Alva is over here supporting as well. And our best friends Mandy and Bill are here also supporting. And we have a special guest from Oklahoma visiting us today. Our cousin JC. >>
030So I I just want to know I want all of you to know from the bottom of my heart I truly appreciate the confidence and the trust you're putting into me to become a leader uh and continue growing as a leader in this district. I look uh I look forward to working with the students at Savannah. I'll be running the ASB. You'll be out, you'll be seeing me out there cheering on different events. I'll also be in charge of athletics. You'll see me at a lot of games. So, looking forward to uh working with that community space. All right. Thank you so much for the opportunity. [Applause] >> Sierra, I apologize. I didn't ask you if you have any members in the audience, your family members that you'd like to introduce. So, >> no problem.
031>> Sorry. Uh, so family, I do have my godson, Toby, who just started first grade, so he's excited. Hey, >> I do have my mother figure in the back over there, Miss Janet Shirley. And then I also have my former principal, Mr. Ruben Cayto, who has shaped me being here as his AP for the last three years. and then the rest of the Anaheim family that are taking up the rest of the rooms. [Applause] >> Next up is Ryan Ward. [Applause] [Music] Uh good evening everyone. Uh I want to start off by saying thank you so much uh to the board of trustees and thank you to cabinet for this opportunity. Um it's been amazing to grow uh within the district over the past five years starting as a teacher um and now as an
032assistant principal at Catella High School. Um I also want to say thank you so much um to Superintendent Matt Suda, now superintendent Dr. Freed um and everyone who worked as a co-professor for the LEAD program. Uh the past two years working through the LEAD program has really um shaped me. Uh there's been a ton of personal and professional growth. So I want to say thank you very much. I want to say thank you also to um the Catella admin team uh working last year as an assistant principal Tossa. They really taught me a lot about the day-to-day operations of uh of the the school. Um they're in the back. I see uh Dr. Nadine and uh Angela A Costa. So, thanks for being here. Uh I have uh friends and family watching online. So, thank
033you. Uh thanks for being here. Uh I'm so excited for everything this year has to bring. Uh we've had an amazing two days so far and I there's just so many good things happening on campus and I look forward to seeing um everything that's happening. I'm really excited for my continued uh professional growth as an assistant principal. Uh and I'm excited to continue working with uh staff at Catella, with our families, and most importantly with our students um to continue to work and just make amazing thing happen amazing things happen for our students every day. Uh really help them find their why in life. So, thank you for trusting me uh as an assistant principal with Catella. Thanks. >> Thank you. [Applause] Diane Fujimaru. [Applause] >> Good evening, board president O'Neal, board of trustees, uh,
034Superintendent Matsuda, who wouldn't I wouldn't put it past him to be watching from the emergency room, um, and executive cabinet. Um, as I begin my 33rd year in education, I'm incredibly honored and humbled to step into the role of director of curriculum instruction and professional learning. My journey in AUHSD began in 1998 at Catella High School. Go Knights. Um, where I taught ELD and AVID. Well, since then, um, I've worn many hats. uh department chairperson, lesson design specialist, title one coordinator, AVID coordinator, cheer coach, uh curriculum specialist, and more recently coordinator. But through it all, my favorite title has always been teacher. This district has shaped me as a professional and as a person and I'm just deeply grateful uh to continue serving um alongside visionary leaders, a courageous uh board board members and the
035most dedicated um educators and staff in AUHSD. I also want to thank my family um for their support and encouragement every step of the way. So here with me are um my two daughters, both um one Savannah graduate and one who is a junior at Savannah. My son is at a um wedding rehearsal dinner. He's a Savannah grad, not his, but um not yet. Um soon soon to be actually hopefully an um a Savannah or um an AUHSD teacher. And of course my my my handsome husband who is standing um at the wall over there. Um I also want to I want to thank my um amazing team of curriculum specialists, an incredibly talented and hardworking group. Um, I am just so grateful for their passion and their expertise. Um, so I remain uh committed
036to supporting our teachers, advancing highquality instruction, and keeping the success and well-being of every single student at the center of everything that we do. And so with that, I just want to thank you um for the opportunity and um for your continued trust. Thank