Trustee Highlights

Lincoln School student leaders Kennedy, Eleanor, Kimberly, Matthew and Aileen, accompanied by Principal John Jimenez, Vice Principal Dr. Juan Chavez and student leadership advisor and teacher Guadalupe Cabrera, led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Spanish, as well as the Lincoln Leopards promise.

The students also talked about important cultural events taking place at Lincoln, including the recent La Posada celebration, "Ugly Sweater Day," and the upcoming hot chocolate party and pajama day, both taking place before Winter Break.

The Board of Trustees acknowledged National Special Education Day. which took place this year on Dec. 2, and thanked the District's Special Education Department staff, and Special Education teachers and paraeducators, for ensuring their students receive a quality and compassionate education.

The Board of Trustees also acknowledged Computer Science in Education week, which took place the week of Dec. 9. In honor of this week, the District held its first-ever Computer Science Showcase, which took place on December 10 at Boronda Meadows School. Families enjoyed a keynote address, hands-on learning, a mini-museum and interactive coding and art stations. Click on the photo to view a video about the showcase.

As required by state Education Code, the Board of Trustees held its annual organizational meeting, during which a new president, vice president and clerk were voted into those positions. For the next year, the Board president will be Area 4 Trustee Belia Garcia, the Vice President will be Area 4 Amy Ish and the Clerk will be Area 2 Trustee Jennifer Zanzot.

Trustee Zanzot also will remain as the Board's representative on the District's Collaborative Alliance of Labor and Management (CALM), while Trustee Ish was named alternate. Trustee Galimba was appointed as the District's representative to the Monterey County School Boards Association Executive Council.

In addition, the Board approved the determination of dates, times and locations for future meetings. The schedule may be viewed at this link.

The Trustees received a report on the District's First Interim Finances. Under Education Code, school district governing boards are required to certify twice a year their ability to meet their financial obligations for the remainder of the current fiscal year and for two subsequent years.

The Board, after receiving the information, took action and certified the District's First Interim Financial Report, ensuring the District can meet its ongoing financial obligations for the coming years.

The Trustees received an information report on the District's Extended Learning Department, which now serves more than 2,300 students. Among the new offerings is: a Leadership League, to help develop leadership skills in older elementary school students, that was piloted at Roosevelt School and will be rolled out to seven other schools in 2026; and World Dance available at all sites.

In addition, the Extended Learning Programs has launched a Robotics Club that meets each Friday, as students build upon skills learned in previous weeks with an eye on competing in the Tech Challenge competition in San Jose. (Click the photos below to see a video about Robotics Club. Please note that the Spanish version was translated from the English using an AI tool.)

All Trustees attended the California School Boards Association Annual Education Conference in Sacramento, where they attended workshops to bolster their knowledge of best governance practices.

Trustee Zanzot attended the Dec. 10 Computer Science Showcase, and expressed gratitude to the showcase organizers, as well as the partner agencies who joined in. "It was impressive to see so many community partners leading activities," she said, adding, "and I think it gives the kids an opportunity to see possible careers." Trustee Zanzot also attended the Dec. 12 Winter festival at Boronda Meadows, and attended the Dec. 17 Monterey County Office of Education special meeting to voice her opposition to a petition brought by a charter school corporation to open a school in Salinas.

Trustee Powell met with the Salinas Elementary Teachers Council leadership, and visited a fifth grade class at Sherwood School, where the students asked her many questions about being an elected leader in a school district and told her about their Little Free Library project.

Vice President Ish attended the Computer Science Showcase, and complimented the staff on putting together an event that brought so many families out for an evening of educational fun.

The next regular Board meeting takes place on Ja. 20, 2026. All meeting agendas are posted to the District website the Friday before the meeting.