Christine Colunga

The meeting included opening items, the pledge of allegiance, and several presentations. Key discussion points featured the recognition of Karina Montano as the AXA Administrator of the Year, highlighting her commitment to servant leadership and technology in education. Chef Fernando Nunes was also honored as the Culinary Arts Teacher of the Year, with discussions noting his impact on students' life skills and discipline beyond culinary techniques. The board also received a comprehensive construction update regarding the Measure Q project at Klexico High School, detailing infrastructure improvements, site preparation, underground utility work (sewer, water, communication lines, electrical switch gear), and acknowledging logistical challenges due to ongoing construction on an active campus.

The meeting included an LCAP midyear update presentation, which detailed outcome data related to metrics identified in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), as well as expenditure and implementation data for associated actions. The update highlighted positive outcomes such as an increase in student academic performance across most groups in ELA and math, a decrease in chronic absenteeism, and increased parent participation in committees. The board also heard a presentation concerning the impacts of declining enrollment, projecting a continued decline from approximately 10,000 students to the low 6,000s over the next decade, necessitating a discussion on sustainability and potential school consolidation.

The board meeting addressed public comments regarding support for a kindergartner on the spectrum and a request from a community member to discuss concerns privately. The primary discussion focused on student enrollment and its financial impact, noting that the district is experiencing declining enrollment, similar to many California districts, driven by factors such as declining birth rates and residents leaving the state. Collelexico Unified School District has seen a decline of 1,190 students over six years, representing a faster rate of decline than the aggregate of other Imperial County schools. This decline results in significant lost funding. The administration detailed that while staffing adjustments are made based on enrollment, they only cover a fraction of the revenue loss calculated on Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Current attendance rates for the 2024-2025 school year were reviewed, showing improvement in the most recent month (snapshot at 95.91%), along with positive progress in reducing chronic absenteeism and suspensions based on recent California dashboard data. Projections for the 2026-2027 school year indicate continued enrollment decline across most schools, though Klexico High School and Willie Moreno are projected to see slight increases.

The meeting, identified as the first board meeting of 2026, included public comments addressing concerns regarding people fee compliance for athletic uniforms, student safety, and equitable funding, particularly for cheer programs, citing violations of Education Codes regarding mandatory fees. Another public comment focused on the repeated discipline, removal, and exclusion of a kindergartener with documented disabilities, inadequate implementation of their Individualized Education Program (IEP), and inappropriate staff conduct, including directing the parent to clean up after a behavioral incident. Board reports covered the ongoing recruitment for the IVROP Executive Director position following the current Superintendent's retirement, and general acknowledgments of student and staff achievements, such as high performance in regional competitions, the re-establishment of a high school mock trial team, and participation in a countywide CTE showcase. Board members also discussed the need to analyze uniform expenses for various sports and ensure budget alignment for future years.

This implementation plan for Calexico High School, under the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), outlines strategies to foster a holistic, equitable, and supportive educational environment. Guided by the CA CS Framework and Capacity-Building Strategies, it focuses on five key strategies: shared commitment and understanding, centering community-based learning, collaborative leadership, sustaining staff and resources, and strategic community partnerships. The plan aims to address academic needs, social integration, mental health, safety, and resource accessibility, ultimately promoting student and family success within a racially-just and relationship-centered school community.