Trustee Highlights

Student leaders Olivia and Kaylev from Natividad School, accompanied by Principal Susano Marquez and Vice Principal Jesus Godoy, led the Board of Trustees, District staff and the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Spanish, followed by the Natividad pledge. The students also highlighted school climate activities, including spirit days, attendance challenges, AR reading challenges, the upcoming Halloween parade and staff appreciation days.

The Trustees acknowledged the District's Principals and Vice Principals in honor of Week of the School Administrator, which took place the week of October 12-17. Dr. Andrade stated that the District's site administrators lead with courage, empathy and purpose, and they inspire learning and nurture belonging. The Trustees presented the site administrators with certificates of appreciation.

The Trustees also acknowledged October as Filipino-American History Month, which celebrates the rich culture and contributions of Filipino-Americans make in our society. In addition, the Trustees acknowledged October as National Bullying Prevention Month, a time that reminds us that we all play a role in modeling kindness and compassion and take a stand against bullying behavior.

The Trustees also received an information report from Virginia Garza-Nuñez, District Director of Assessments and Accountability, on state testing results for CAASSPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress), which is California's statewide student testing program for English language arts/literacy, mathematics, science, and college and career readiness, and ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California, a set of state-mandated tests for English learners in California public schools.

The Board approved and adopted Resolution No. 2025-26/009 Adopting Best Value Procedures and Guidelines pursuant to Education Code section 17406.

To use the lease-leaseback (“LLB”) project delivery method, Education Code section 17406, as amended effective January 1, 2017, requires the District’s Governing Board to adopt and publish required procedures and guidelines (“Best Value Procedure”) for evaluating the qualifications of proposers that ensure the best value selections by the District are conducted fairly and impartially. The proposed Best Value Procedures are intended for use on all District LLB Projects.

The LLB project delivery method allows the District to award a contract on a competitive solicitation and selection process that provides the District with the best value, considering the proposer’s demonstrated competence and professional qualifications necessary to satisfactorily perform the services required. The District can negotiate the contract with prequalified contractors on the best value basis, and it is an alternative to selecting a contractor based on the lowest responsible, responsive bidder selection process. Before awarding a contract to a prequalified contractor based on best value selection, and to ensure the selection is made on a fair and impartial basis, Section 17406 of the Education Code requires the District’s Governing Board to adopt and publish the mandatory procedures and guidelines it will use in evaluating proposers’ qualifications and proposals in rendering the best value selection.

Board President and Area 5 Trustee Jessica Powell, Vice President and Area 3 Trustee Belia Garcia, Board Clerk and Area 4 Trustee Amy Ish, Area 1 Trustee Art Galimba and Area 2 Trustee Jennifer Zanzot each held Trustee Town Halls in the month of October, in which they shared information about key District initiatives including Profile of a Learner, upcoming bond-funded construction work and Community Schools implementation, and heard questions and concerns from families and staff. The Fall 2025 series was the first Town Hall series, and future events are already being planned.

Trustees Zanzot, Galimba and Ish also attended the Fall 2025 Family Leadership Conference and Resource Fair (photo below).

In addition:

• Trustee Zanzot visited Roosevelt School, where she observed classroom instruction, and Laurel Wood School, where she participated in Fidelity Inventory for PBIS and interacted with students to ask about their understanding of PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports).
• Trustee Ish attended the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) meeting, and also visited Roosevelt, where she observed students in the Special Day Class and para-professionals on the playground.
• Board President Powell attended the Orenda Conference in San Diego, where she learned about new initiatives from the State Board of Education and how best to prepare students and families for changes to come.

The next regular Board meeting takes place on Nov. 18. All meeting agendas are posted to the District website the Friday before the meeting.