Sonia Barcelo

The board meeting commenced with a pledge and roll call. Key discussions included the election of the board president, where Mr. Brain was nominated and elected. The president acknowledged the board's confidence and emphasized the board's focus on instruction in the classroom and staff/student safety. A major topic of discussion was the district's dire financial situation, driven by declining enrollment over the past decade, which necessitated a review of services and expenditures, particularly regarding personnel and class size recommendations from the administration. The board expressed support for the administration's upcoming difficult decisions. Furthermore, the board reviewed and approved the 2026 board meeting schedule, noting the deviation for the November meeting due to election day. Discussion also touched upon enhancing communication through social media presence across the district and individual school sites.

The special board meeting convened to reconsider the decision regarding the Douglas High School Class of 2020 graduation ceremony, primarily due to ongoing public and stakeholder feedback concerning the proposed date and format amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions centered on various plans developed by the administration, ranging from a limited in-person ceremony at the football field to community-based alternatives like a parade. Key concerns addressed included social distancing compliance, the safety of students and attendees, and the desire to provide a celebration worthy of the students' achievements, preferably on the originally scheduled date of May 22nd, or a postponed date in June or July. The administration clarified that the responsibility for the final decision rested with the school board, not city officials, although city assistance was sought for community celebration logistics.

The Special Board Meeting focused on an important matter concerning the potential sale of property, necessitating the full board's attendance due to the significant financial ramifications involved. The main discussion item was the approval of an amendment to a lease agreement with Cherikawa Community Health Services concerning a property related to a Avenue School. The amendment was requested because a recently discovered restrictive covenant in a 107-year-old deed prohibits the sale of the property for business purposes, which is what Cherikawa intends to do. The proposed amendment seeks a 90-day extension to the closing date (originally set for December 31, 2026, with a proposed new date of June 30, 2026), allowing Cherikawa time to resolve the deed issue, potentially by finding descendants of the original donor or pursuing legal action if the donor entity is dissolved. The board members discussed concerns regarding the repeated postponements by Cherikawa and the fact that Cherikawa's lender is hesitant due to the deed restriction. It was noted that while leasing the property for business has occurred without contest for years, the sale triggers the restriction. The board also discussed the financial impact, as the district heavily relies on the current monthly rent of approximately $14,750, and whether the buyer (Cherikawa) or the district should bear the legal costs associated with clearing the deed issue, with the administration confirming that related expenses are the buyer's responsibility.

The document outlines the district's mission to provide opportunities for intellectual and personal growth and develop skills for lifelong learning. Its vision aims to achieve this by raising standards and developing leaders. Key goals focus on ensuring highly qualified teachers, student success on standardized tests, developing leadership, fostering stakeholder support, and enhancing communication and collaboration. The district also articulates belief statements emphasizing a safe, respectful learning environment, the importance of relationships, individual student development, and family/school partnerships.

The board covered a range of topics including a budget hearing and revision due to enrollment changes, recognition of a GEM award recipient, governing board member reports, a student activity report, and human resources updates. The board also discussed and approved payroll and expense vouchers, certified and classified hires, an increase in hours for an ESS instructional aid, and a classified resignation. The meeting included a public hearing on the revision of the fiscal year 202526 district annual budget.