[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6079602,"mediaKeyId","2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8","parentId",2955400,"title","Board reports closed‑session appointments, approves expulsions, suspensions and other formal actions","audioSeconds",1450,"startMs",968000,"endMs",2418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8&start=968&end=2418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8/thumbnail_968000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6079602/California/Board-reports-closedsession-appointments-approves-expulsions-suspensions-and-other-formal-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079602-8a2a86728ab462e30bc8b1377a7bad27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166530&Signature=ftoRDcMySw4BlsBeXkGHInUPHAU9SZgHQPaBu1DPlYlova5SmXvdiy-22K0smRxI6XLGXs8H~srqfyHKf97ejqT8tXZsEvhAxK1CL2LLRyhjNBN0I8J0cbQv~N1g4y3TLwnGkX39UjFqV~HbuKt9yMmvQqpZ-SmeHQDmVmGAOWccHbHAwt7PPEZNN~ah59vsPdpn3c2RkUUo1l-yKMkrtCOFBCCwSlfezFn~FvnXH9I-c1WiRijbCPtgTgFP3DWE~nY0Ya15v~kU-bLQ-yv~G0xKl0bytHZAP5VSIt3EOXqlKaKdv4inTAWhZOW~~a5NyF3afe7WomKSvLd4pMoUxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Visalia Unified School District","date","2025-04-09T19:08:45Z","article","The Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees announced a series of personnel appointments from closed session, approved disciplinary actions and passed several routine motions by recorded vote.

In the closed‑session readout, the board reported unanimous appointments to district and school leadership positions: Courtney Hill, Administrator of Student Services; Kyla Johnson, Administrator of Business Functions; Tina Shirley, Director of Part C; Niels Burgess, principal of El Diamante High School; Janna Rasner, principal of Ivanhoe Elementary School; Jessica Lucero, principal of Goshen Elementary School; Sonia Joyner, principal of Manuel F. Hernandez Elementary School; and Carrie Stevens, principal of Conyer Elementary School. The readout credited multiple motions and seconds by trustees and stated the appointments were unanimous. The board also reported the termination of a permanent classified employee for cause, effective immediately following the employee's waiver of a hearing, and the board approved a settlement in OAH case number 2024120011 by a 7–0 vote.

The board took formal public votes on disciplinary and personnel matters later in the meeting. On the record, trustees approved recommended expulsions on a motion recorded as passed 7–0 (student trustee abstained); the board also voted 7–0 to approve recommended suspended expulsions (student trustee abstained) and 7–0 to approve recommended reinstatements (student trustee abstained). The meeting minutes show the motions were moved, seconded and carried at the times recorded in the public minutes.

The consent agenda was adopted earlier in the meeting on a 7–0 vote (mover: Board Member Belt; seconder: Board Member Gamoyan). Trustee Villegas recused himself from consent item 8.66 because a family member is employed by a listed firm; that specific consent item was then brought back for a separate vote and passed 6–yes, 1‑abstention. The warrant list for 03/01/2025–03/28/2025 was approved by recorded vote (motion passed 6–yea, 1 abstention; student trustee voted yes).

The board also approved the district’s notice of intent to employ candidates and provisional internship permit requests for credentialing purposes; that item passed 7–0.

Staff said appointment announcements in closed session were made after motions and seconds recorded during closed session, and trustees congratulated the appointees. The board directed staff to implement personnel actions consistent with district administrative procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Visalia USD Board of Education Meeting - April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board announced multiple closed‑session appointments and other personnel actions, approved expulsions, suspended expulsions and reinstatements, and approved a settlement in an OAH case. Several consent‑calendar items, including one pulled contract item, were also voted on.","taxTitle","Visalia Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",14570,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6079606,"Board names Redwood High academic building for Edmund Weisinger, recognizing local civil‑rights history",196,8770000,8966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8&start=8770&end=8966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8/thumbnail_8770000.jpg","/articles/6079606/California/Board-names-Redwood-High-academic-building-for-Edmund-Weisinger-recognizing-local-civilrights-history","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079606-782af15d9e3cb6420aecdc61fd1c0d96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166530&Signature=RIR7yCwsuvgAvtGcI0PM729gdlWXWHn5cRDezf9dbs2UwezRrXIoj1i3YyJFrZrSO-LfwvlNd6TZvtJQNpPHDIySfBHcpQFZYo80R14681QG76UkG7IYHZw4S81Y3pHGBppPa05neJL~woOJDT4B5nSUA9VSCzOU4SzuBtHSYykT1ugm97alUAW8LKICBQxW~s63UfBrj0nFByyEA6tJ63Q9ieuBB7Ck37wJNFlA6kQBKIqEyzKUuhsr5fVZ2lWuCL8i8iKvLOCrGMbLFY5y1ZIr1S928~WZLMuUwg93m7Zn-oSK4BeTc62bfLyU90xFtlgbp9~HRbq2YW0Q34lj6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the Redwood High School academic building the Edmund Weisinger Academic Building, honoring a local figure described by district staff as an early advocate for educational equity.

Alma Navarro, administrative school leadership, said the proposal originated with Redwood High’s Black Student Union and was considered by ASB, PTSA, staff and a board ad hoc committee. \"Edmund Weisinger was a pioneer in the fight for educational equity,\" Navarro said, summarizing the student‑led nomination and the ad hoc committee’s unanimous recommendation.

Navarro told the board that Weisinger lived in Visalia and pursued legal action in the late 19th century to contest segregation in California schools; the presentation tied the nomination to the district’s commitment to student voice and historical recognition. The agenda item cited board policy for facility naming and said the ad hoc committee followed board policy 7310 guidance.

A trustee moved to adopt the recommendation and a second was offered; the board approved the renaming by a 7–0 vote, with the student trustee voting yes.

Board members thanked the students, the ad hoc committee and staff for the process that led to the recommendation. The board record shows the motion passed unanimously and the item will be implemented according to board policy for facility naming.","The Visalia Unified School District Board approved renaming the Redwood High School academic building the Edmund Weisinger Academic Building, honoring a local figure associated with early school desegregation efforts. The renaming followed a student‑led proposal and the board’s ad hoc committee recommendation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6079609,"Visalia Unified unveils 5‑year strategic plan mapping and accountability framework",912,5483000,6395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8&start=5483&end=6395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8/thumbnail_5483000.jpg","/articles/6079609/California/Visalia-Unified-unveils-5year-strategic-plan-mapping-and-accountability-framework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079609-168f8c6408134f109fa9a41bb97320cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166530&Signature=BTUXpPyK3zJp0cO1xN7UnZKNCYS6kk9Ly8BGWVMZMdXaExnW6D5UMWAqH8lzU5ET54WyfwByg2fxidmLDoemc-cUmdgOtZoChJgCd9RchderlwnJKtlZDbxMNuxb3irQ~K7mhl7En5YA8hoagOXdlImRBnsCZe6NpWJ6Ds53TJJxWOK9Qmc7VrnVpnCxXzw-RKxlal5qA9OnwNSGlIzriKGaX3podoNYWKX8BzbPTmU~KTL0p0JdPh6I60t3L60HRruPOqqGx9UgYmAvw0bzwqNztaacIQ8NCv5Y9IbeVJfH45vkVZTeVXw47kUSImdlIX~czj7P98UQ06jn3dGuZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Visalia Unified School District presented a detailed five‑year strategic plan map on the board agenda, outlining 65 actions, research/design/implement/monitor phases, and a twice‑yearly reporting cadence to the board and public.

Superintendent Kirk Schrum framed the plan as the next step after the district’s previously adopted core beliefs and commitments. \"Every system is perfectly designed to give you the results you're getting,\" Schrum said, describing the work to turn the district's long‑term goals into concrete annual and quarterly deliverables.

Assistant Superintendent Mark Thompson walked the trustees through the plan’s structure: teams identifying an “ideal state” five years out, backwards mapping to year‑by‑year indicators, and breaking year‑one indicators into quarterly tasks. Thompson said action owners completed training and will draft five‑year plans and one‑year indicators for cabinet review; the timeline in the presentation set June 13 as the date for teams to finish the one‑year indicators.

The plan includes metrics and a visual dashboard mockup the district will update twice a year. Schrum and Thompson described the approach as a way to hold teams accountable and to provide the board and community with clear progress markers and color‑coded status on research, design, implementation and monitoring phases.

Trustees asked questions about transparency and outcome tracking. Schrum said the district will publish updates online and provide twice‑yearly board reports tied to the board’s priority student outcomes, which rely on CAASPP and other state data. The presentation noted that some actions will require adjustments to staffing or budgets in future years and asked action owners to anticipate those needs during planning.

Thompson emphasized interdependency among actions and the need for cross‑team collaboration. \"We focused on backwards design ... What do you need to accomplish in year 1 to reach the five‑year vision?\" he said.

District staff said the mapping is intended to be iterative: teams may refine plans, but the published timeline and dashboard will make progress visible to the board and the public. Action owners and core teams must produce their one‑year indicators and tasks before the next school year so training and implementation can begin in a planned, phased way.","District leaders presented a five‑year mapping of 65 actions, progress indicators and a reporting cadence designed to make strategic work transparent to the board and community. Action owners will submit year‑one indicators by June 13.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6079615,"Visalia Unified board moves ahead with K–6 writing programs and mCLASS DIBELS 8 screener amid board questions",2874,3776000,6650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8&start=3776&end=6650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2955400-16e1f7a63bd97792cbee283b31d5f7d8/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6079615/California/Visalia-Unified-board-moves-ahead-with-K6-writing-programs-and-mCLASS-DIBELS-8-screener-amid-board-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079615-16b81abf7e74b62771be9688b3aa7136/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166530&Signature=eI9Tb7fAMn4qtQbr-qFsNLyFJhAz0IvPntDJuZT~f5Oxssz5Wp7cMWvgL~uG93ch7WLMhdHZkog5-SRyMfcZhQ0L9TmkVsmBo7tWun5iXQkR5cicB4Iv2Rv1ruwlYmHvkMa7GjR-5ZQiznjJ5ZaDoOYrFMcJgdPAShdBmZY67vF5eRxWu7w6hETVqcuH~ZoUZiHXSyo2CWUJHfS1l~CZ7zxBZ3ec7BXe4kjVNv4X0l7Hvp34eEXOdpKzTJezzwniMLZbAfXkCEaymzQZtrGJUaZI2HanQMr0StzRGlFunzCIOs-7xzTVpNNVBNHJW-ePfI0aGauZp84t27f~IKmX~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the recommended elementary writing curricula and a reading difficulties risk screener as part of the consent agenda after a night of questions and debate about coherence and implementation.

Administrator of teaching and learning Brianne Phillips told the board the proposals came from district curriculum committees that piloted materials and included classroom teachers, instructional coaches and administrators. \"To live our mission of every student learning every day, we need to equip our teachers with the resources to design and deliver quality first instruction,\" Phillips said, describing the committees’ process and the recommended products.

Phillips said the committee recommended two writing programs: a K–3 program (identified in committee documents as Bridge to Writing) and a program for grades 4–6 (Step Up to Writing). The K–3 package was described as including student print materials, teacher kits, digital licenses and built-in professional learning; the 4‑year K–3 package price shown in the presentation was $816,324.73. The 4–6 Step Up to Writing adoption was presented with a 4‑year cost of $432,785.

On reading screening, Phillips said the committee recommended mCLASS DIBELS 8 (referred to in the presentation as a research‑based assessment system) to meet California Education Code requirements to adopt a screener by June 30, 2025, and implement screening no later than the 2025–26 school year. She said the district intends to use mCLASS DIBELS 8 to identify students at risk for reading difficulties and to drive early, classroom‑based (Tier 1/Tier 2) supports; the presentation listed an 8‑year adoption cost of $651,610.40 and described training and district support for teachers.

Trustee Gaby voiced concerns about program overload for teachers and students, noting the district currently uses multiple literacy and assessment tools. \"If I'm an elementary teacher ... I could possibly have Heggerty, Fundations, Fountas and Pinnell, Wonders, i‑Ready and now a new company,\" Gaby said. She also criticized Step Up to Writing as formulaic and questioned whether it would inspire higher‑order writing. Several trustees asked staff to clarify which tools would remain in use, what would be “off‑ramped,” and how the assessments would align.

Phillips and Superintendent Kirk Schrum responded that the adoption follows the district’s established adoption process and that the literacy team is working on an “on‑ramp/off‑ramp” plan and training to align assessments and instruction. Schrum said teachers had expressed support for a coherent core writing program and that district teams are creating guidance charts and a staggered training schedule to avoid overwhelming staff in a single year.

Because the item was placed on the consent calendar, trustees approved it with the rest of the consent items. On a motion to adopt the consent agenda (mover: Board Member Belt; seconder: Board Member Gamoyan), the board approved the consent agenda by a 7–0 vote earlier in the meeting; the meeting record shows the consent motion passed 7–0 and student trustee voted yes.

The presentation materials listed detailed components and costs for each program and emphasized teacher and coach access to digital materials and embedded professional learning. Phillips said the committee piloted materials at representative sites and included bilingual, specialized learning center and general education teachers.

The board did not remove the materials adoption from consent, and trustees asked staff to provide coherence documents and a timeline for off‑ramping other materials. Board members repeatedly requested clarity on how DIBELS and other diagnostics (such as i‑Ready) would be used together and how Tier 2 supports would be organized.

District staff committed to providing the board with alignment charts and a phased training calendar as part of implementation planning. The motion tied to the consent calendar passed earlier in the meeting; the adoption of the writing materials and mCLASS DIBELS 8 will proceed according to the district’s purchasing and implementation schedule.","After staff recommended two elementary writing curricula and the mCLASS DIBELS 8 reading difficulties risk screener, the board approved the items on the consent agenda. Trustees debated coherence across existing programs, rollout timing and teacher burden during discussion before the consent vote passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reports closed‑session appointments, approves expulsions, suspensions and other formal actions

Board names Redwood High academic building for Edmund Weisinger, recognizing local civil‑rights history

Visalia Unified unveils 5‑year strategic plan mapping and accountability framework

Visalia Unified board moves ahead with K–6 writing programs and mCLASS DIBELS 8 screener amid board questions