Irene Benavidez

The board held a special governance retreat and workshop to discuss team dynamics and collaboration between the board, the superintendent, and cabinet members. The meeting included personal introductions from members and legal counsel, focusing on their respective connections to education and their professional backgrounds. No formal policy or fiscal actions were taken during this interactive session.

The board meeting included a move of the following month's board meeting date, the presentation of colors by the Little Rock High School JROTC, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the approval of the purchase order schedule. Additionally, student representatives from SOAR High School Palmdale Campus and Quartz Hill High School provided updates on school events, athletic achievements, and student activities, and were recognized for their schools' recent accomplishments, including the National Blue Ribbon school designation.

The meeting commenced with procedural announcements regarding recording and public comment guidelines, followed by a closed session. Upon reconvening to the regular session, the Board reviewed and certified the second interim financial report for PINCO, confirming its financial condition as positive. The Board also approved the purchase order schedule (PCO). Student representatives from East Side High School provided updates on various activities, including senior class events like Senior Sunrise, Senior Splash Day, and Homecoming Dance. They also announced the 2025 prom theme as 'Rio' (or 'Revel'), scheduled to be held indoors at the AV Fairgrounds, noting ticket prices. Further presentations detailed the success of the annual talent show, which raised $1,000 in profit, and recognized the accomplishments of the East Side Lion Heart dance program, including upcoming recitals and their acceptance to perform at Disneyland. The presentation also highlighted the Los Leonas dance team's role in promoting Hispanic culture and the drama production team's recent shows and upcoming performance of 'Clue' during the annual Ghost Light event.

The meeting included proceedings conducted via teleconference, adherence to open meeting laws, and roll call voting procedures. Key agenda items involved the annual reorganization and election of board officers, including the President, Vice President, and Clerk. The board also adopted the yearly calendar for regular board meetings through December 2026, appointed the superintendent as secretary, and selected representatives for various external associations, including the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association and the Antelope Valley Schools Transportation Agency, with Mrs. Man being nominated for several roles. During the subsequent regular meeting session, the board reviewed and certified the first interim financial report for the Pinko entity as positive, adopted a resolution for the certification of Pinko signatures, and approved the purchase order schedule. A presentation was also given regarding the recent Hispanic Serving College and University tour, highlighting experiences from attending students and staff concerning college readiness, institutional benefits, and recreational activities.

The meeting reconvened following a closed session. Discussions included the approval of the Purchase Order Schedule (PCO), with a motion passing 5-0. A major agenda item involved a presentation on the midyear update for the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to assess progress toward state-mandated goals. Furthermore, the Board reviewed the Ethnic Studies (AB 101) curriculum development efforts. The committee responsible detailed their progress, which includes managing grant funding, studying the state model curriculum, and building faculty capacity through UC Riverside certification, noting that 50 teachers have already earned certification. The committee also presented drafted ethnic studies courses integrated into existing subjects like English 10, Art 1, and US History.