September 9, 2025 AESD Regular Board of Education Meeting

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Here's a detailed summary of the Adelanto Elementary School District (AESD) Regular Board of Education meeting from September 9, 2025:

Call to Order and Opening Remarks [30:18] The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Sodto. The roll was called, and it was established that a quorum was present, with Clerk Kyra joining via Zoom. The pledge of allegiance was led by Miss Le.

Adoption of Agenda and Staff Presentations [35:23] The board adopted the agenda without any changes. Mr. McAlpin and Mr. Zack Clinish from business services gave a presentation on the fiscal year 2024-2025 unaudited actuals financial report. Mr. McAlpin explained that unaudited actuals are the district's annual financial report for the year ending June 30, 2025. He reported a $2.1 million increase in unrestricted revenues, largely due to a recalculation of the prior year's fund balance. Zack Clemish discussed expenditures, noting a net decrease of $499,000 in unrestricted expenditures and a $1.25 million decrease in total expenditures (unrestricted and restricted combined). The district also met the C.A. requirement of 60% at 60.48%. They concluded by outlining next steps, including submitting the report to the San Bernardino County Office of Education and preparing for the first interim report in December.

Educational Services Presentations [58:15] Dr. Valdez introduced presentations on the School Plan for Student Achievement (SIPSA) from Victoria McGathan Elementary and Westside Park Elementary.

• The principal of Victoria McGathan Elementary presented an overview of the school's demographics, including a student population of 531, with 37.2% being English language learners. The presentation included CASP and iReady data, highlighting the school's goals for student achievement in English language arts, math, and science. The principal also detailed efforts to foster a positive school culture and meet the needs of special education students and English language learners.

• The principal of Westside Park Elementary School shared similar information, focusing on building a strong foundation in early literacy and mathematics. The presentation included data on student demographics and performance on CASP and iReady. The principal reviewed the school's six goals and strategies to reinforce performance in English language arts and math.

Two law firms presented to the board
1. Best Best & Krieger (BBK) [01:29:35]

• The presenter was Stephanie Vignet, a senior associate with the firm.

• The firm has a dedicated team for education work and extensive legal knowledge in various areas.

• They emphasize being collaborative and transparent in their practice.

2. Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) [01:41:35]

• The presenter was Mark Thompson, a senior partner and head of the Riverside office.

• AALRR is a full-service law firm with a large team of attorneys.

• Their main goal is to build trust with clients by providing timely, real-time services.

A third firm, Dolan Tucker Tierney & Abraham, was on the agenda but withdrew its proposal.

Closed Session Public Testimony:

• Jennifer Rader (ADTA) [02:13:15]: An educator, she spoke about the teachers and staff being without a contract for 15 months and the financial struggles they face.

• Diane Lynn (CSEA) [02:17:41]: Representing classified staff, she expressed solidarity with the ADTA union and highlighted the financial struggles of classified employees.

• Kim Smith [02:22:03]: A teacher, she spoke about the importance of a fair contract and the need for health benefits to be fully paid.

• Beverly Tony [02:25:25]: A sixth-grade teacher, she described the extra efforts teachers make and used a wagon filled with supplies to symbolize their personal investment.

• Andrea Rogers [02:29:08]: A health clerk and CSEA secretary, she shared her personal struggles of working a second job and asked the board to pay staff what they deserve.

• Carisa Koch [02:31:15]: A teacher, she spoke about the financial hardships she has faced due to increased healthcare and living costs.

• Bob Zubia [02:32:38]: A fourth-grade teacher, he expressed his feeling of not being fully appreciated and questioned the fairness of increased expectations without a finalized contract.

• Angelique Jolly [02:35:37]: A teacher, she spoke about the burden on teachers and classified staff working without a contract and questioned the use of SELPA funding.

• Lisa Martinelli [02:39:33]: A teacher with 32 years of experience, she spoke about the de facto pay cut educators are facing due to rising insurance premiums.

• Asacia Lopez [02:43:04]: A teacher, she expressed her frustration with the district's consistent inability to settle a contract in a timely manner.

• Cynthia Rodriguez [02:45:11]: A paraprofessional, she spoke about the financial burden of increased insurance costs and a lack of salary increase.

• Michael Krause [02:47:42]: As a private citizen, he deferred his comments on negotiations to another time.

Closed Session [02:48:07] The board recessed to a closed session to discuss items related to public employee discipline/dismissal/release, labor negotiators, and public employee performance evaluation. The meeting was extended until 10:30 p.m. to allow for the completion of the closed session.

Reconvening and Public Hearing [04:33:07] The board reconvened in an open session and reported that no action was taken during the closed session. A public hearing was held for the approval of a resolution on the sufficiency of instructional materials. The hearing was opened and closed without any public comment, and the resolution was approved by the board.

Open Session Public Testimony:

• Lisa Martinelli [04:42:20]: She spoke about the district's spending of $1 million on Epic Staffing for special education services and proposed alternative uses for the money.

• Lauren Vincent [04:46:27]: Speaking via Zoom, she criticized the board for not passing the purchase orders and warrants at the last meeting and questioned the board's spending priorities.

Consent Agenda and New Business [05:03:48] The board approved the minutes of the previous meeting and the consent agenda, with some items pulled for discussion. They discussed and approved the renewal of a membership agreement with San Bernardino County District Advocates for Better Schools and the 2024-2025 unaudited actuals financial report.

Board Member Reports and Announcements [05:06:07] Trustees shared updates on their recent school visits and praised the hard work of teachers and staff. Trustee Stewart addressed accusations of mismanagement of taxpayer funds, stating that they were false. Trustee Krause raised concerns about the handling of community schools funds and a lack of communication from the superintendent about an incident at Mesa Linda Elementary School. President Soto announced that he would introduce a resolution at the next meeting to protect the board's independence and refocus on students. He also announced the formation of a policy committee and a budget committee.

Superintendent's Report Dr. Walker gave an update on the district's progress, highlighting the "Strive for 95" attendance campaign, the receipt of new grants, and the work of the new Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. The meeting concluded with a video showcasing recent highlights from across the district, including a leadership meeting, PBIS recognition, and family engagement events.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m. [05:28:16]