Jose Berrios

The Victor Valley Union High School District's AI Initiative aims to cultivate an inclusive, future-ready environment by enabling Google's Gemini for students. The plan is guided by three core goals: ensuring safety through a walled garden approach and district monitoring; promoting equality by providing all students access to AI tools; and enhancing student proficiency and efficiency in leveraging AI as an 'infinite tutor' and a powerful teaching tool. The initiative focuses on preparing students for the future by fostering responsible AI use, digital citizenship, and critical thinking skills, rather than replacing effort.

The meeting included a closed session with no reportable actions. It featured the swearing-in of Mr. Larson as a new board member. The agenda was approved, followed by the appointment of board officials, including the president, vice president, clerk, and secretary, as well as representatives and alternate representatives to the County committee. The board meeting dates for 2025 were approved with a discussion on adjusting meeting times to accommodate attendees. The University Prep choir performed, and the Victor Valley High School girls' volleyball team, Division 10 Champions, were recognized and presented with challenge coins, with the district committing to buy their CIF championship rings.

The meeting included a public comment from Scott Jester regarding an opening in the personnel commission. The board discussed the eligibility and application process for the position, including whether to allow Mr. Jester to answer interview questions despite missing the application deadline. They also touched on the possibility of expanding the application period and the implications for adhering to the rules and timeline for the appointment.

The board meeting included reports from closed session, such as action on payment approval to West trucks international and the approval of Larry Joe Williams as the principal of new Middle School number three. The meeting also recognized medal winners from the San Bernardino County National History Day competition and discussed the Heritage program, which supports African-American students in grades 10 through 12.

The meeting included discussions on community comments and entering closed sessions. An item was pulled from the 9.1 certificated personnel report. The semi-annual update with Brian Gillespie covered district support, collaboration, instructional materials, EL students, instructional strategies, technology implementation, multi-tiered systems of support, and career and college readiness. Graduation data, student progression, attendance, and preliminary data for RINSTAR testing were reviewed, as were core course completion and EL celebration. The EL reclassification rate and social-emotional development were also discussed.