Trustee Highlights

Monterey Park students opened the Board of Trustees meeting by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Spanish, as well as the Monterey Park Eagles' Pledge. Thank you to five-star fifth graders Joseph Arevalo and Natalie Lopez, along with their family members and Monterey Park Principal Sherry Villaneda, for joining the Trustees at the meeting.

The Trustees approved revisions to Board Priorities. They are now as follows:

1. Learner centered, future-ready students.
2. Ensure fiscal health.
3. Strong relationships as a community (remains the same as previous priority).

The Board of Trustees acknowledged the District for its recent PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) honors, which saw 14 SCESD schools—each that applied—receive PBIS Recognition Awards for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is a tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and overall school climate.

Earning Gold-level honors are Boronda DIAS and University Park. Earning Platinum honors are Boronda Meadows, El Gabilan, Kammann, Lincoln, Loma Vista, Los Padres, Mission Park, Monterey Park, Natividad, Roosevelt, Salinas City Virtual Academy and Sherwood.

The District's PBIS coordinator, Becky Nelson, a Teacher on Special Assignment, was on hand to receive the acknolwedgement.

The Trustees received information from Esabel Cervantes Babione, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, on science education in District schools, in alignment with both the Board priority of creating learner centered, future ready students, and the Local Control & Accountability Plan goal of fostering inclusive academic excellence.

The information presented included District science actions (the National Geographic science curriculum, problem- and project-based learning, the Instructional Advisory Team, the annual Student Film Festival and Extended Learning programs, which include Young Inventors and NASA Coding).

Ms. Babione Cervantes also explained District-sponsored science experiences, which include visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the annual Farm Day, water safety/swimming lessons; and science day camp, including visits to the Pacific Grove Bird Museum and kayaking.

For next steps in the planning process, please see the image below.

The Trustees conducted a Public Hearing on the Sufficiency of Instructional Materials, pursuant to California Education Code Section 60119. The Trustees then approved Resolution 2024-25/02, Sufficiency of Instructional Materials.

The Trustees received information with clarifications made to the District's 2024-2025 Local Control & Accountability Plan as recommended by the Monterey County Office of Education.

The Trustees received information regarding complaing and concern procedures in alignment with Board Policies, and the steps one should take when expressing a concern or lodging a complaint related to students or employees.

The Trustees approved, on a second read, revisions to Board Policy 1260, which governs how an educational foundation may be established and the rules that govern that establishment.

Board President and Area 1 Trustee Art Galimba and several District administrators and staff members traveled to Anaheim to engage with educational leaders there on the subject of Community Schools implementation.

Board Vice President and Area 5 Trustee Jessica Powell (left) completed ethics training via the California School Board Association.

Board Clerk and Area 3 Trustee Belia Garcia (center) visited classrooms at Boronda DIAS and Boronda Meadows schools, as well as the office staff at Laurel Wood School.

Area 4 Trustee Amy Ish (right) attended the Mission Park all-school family picnic, a highlight for students during the fall school season.

The next regular Board meeting takes place on Oct. 15. All meeting agendas are posted to the District website the Friday before the meeting.