[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6078885,"mediaKeyId","2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4","parentId",2958182,"title","Board authorizes bond refundings, initiates trustee‑area election process and approves calendar and contracts","audioSeconds",3345,"startMs",3255000,"endMs",6600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4&start=3255&end=6600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4/thumbnail_3255000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078885/California/Board-authorizes-bond-refundings-initiates-trusteearea-election-process-and-approves-calendar-and-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078885-588acc73ca84a263ac1e1b009c702635/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151578&Signature=Iq9I4STm5DnbIgVmm4QF9q0Xn09FzHBbSCu0VWwz22X3fV8rdyIZFWi3vVONtebW8J~wddKdjLKoXDcWh2P3~tJ~b4oLeAP4xnCP1Z0-aANyw~tNSTSuCTbAnmfYcuia35kuhzj5is49VG9-WiL8N9XVqqqUUyPfZXokgqlpyeCcM32LAvkYIU5vP0LRauHrl9T3MrIcL3tYp~2cl7rdpSZ0bMP7IXnxUIQ3VkTCgUEwhFmhtWCWkGqOtwMLMRkqUHoHNuZJ~CK290htsjiMEjitv0Xb4jfJeX4QlRsWDhl~En4ztt97pZbTi2B~GyJK34vYXz6G1Vhlceyx5Y~Svw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Side Union High School District","date","2025-04-09T19:32:46Z","article","The East Side Union High School District board on April 8 approved multiple fiscal and governance actions intended to lower taxpayers’ debt service costs and respond to a request under the California Voting Rights Act.

The board unanimously adopted resolutions authorizing the issuance and sale of 2025 refunding general obligation bonds: Resolution 8.03 authorized refunding GO Bond Series B in a principal amount not to exceed $39,000,000; Resolution 8.04 authorized refunding GO Bond Series A in a principal amount not to exceed $22,000,000. Chick Adams, legal counsel for the district, said refinancing when interest rates have fallen can reduce annual tax rates that property owners pay for previously voter‑approved bonds and noted prior district refundings have yielded substantial taxpayer savings over two decades. Counsel and staff estimated combined additional savings \"in excess of $4 to $5 million\" if the financings are successful. Both motions passed unanimously.

The board also adopted a resolution to initiate the transition from at‑large trustee elections to trustee‑area (single‑member) elections in response to a demand letter under the California Voting Rights Act. Legal counsel explained the timeline and public‑engagement requirements, including a minimum sequence of public hearings and the district’s plan to hire a demographer and outreach consultant; the resolution sets a 180‑day process with multiple hearings and public map proposals. Trustees said approving the resolution allows the district to manage the process rather than risk immediate litigation that could impose maps and fees.

Other formal actions approved at the meeting included adoption of the 2025–26 board meeting calendar (with a request to coordinate the June meeting timing around LCAP and budget deadlines), several professional services contracts and an emergency resolution to approve repairs at Andrew Hill High School following vandalism and break‑ins. The board passed the consent calendar and several contracts and authorizations, including signatures for public administrative programs.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution 8.03 (2025 refunding GO Bond Series B, up to $39,000,000): Moved by Cortesi; seconded by Ariana; outcome: approved, unanimous (tally yes 5, no 0).
- Resolution 8.04 (2025 refunding GO Bond Series A, up to $22,000,000): Moved by Chavez; seconded by Cortesi; outcome: approved, unanimous (tally yes 5, no 0).
- Resolution to initiate trustee‑area elections (CVRA response, hire demographer/outreach): Moved by \"Ereira\"; seconded by Leigh; outcome: approved, unanimous (tally yes 5, no 0).
- 2025–26 Board Meeting Calendar adoption: Moved by Cortesi; seconded by Lay; outcome: approved, unanimous (tally yes 5, no 0).
- Emergency authorization for Andrew Hill repairs (vandalism): outcome: approved, unanimous.
- Consent calendar and multiple professional service contracts: outcome: approved, unanimous.

What trustees and staff said: Tom Huynh and Del Scott described the bond refunding as a taxpayer savings measure; legal counsel reiterated the process and legal implications for trustee‑area conversion and outlined the statutory requirements for multiple public hearings and map publication. Trustee remarks noted the district sought more time to complete the CVRA‑related process but that initiating the procedure now keeps the district in control of the timetable.

Why it matters: The refunding resolutions, if completed in the market, will reduce future debt service paid by property owners; initiating trustee‑area elections begins a legally required mapping and community‑input process that can change how residents elect trustees across the district. The emergency repairs and contract approvals are operational items tied to district facilities and bond capital projects.

Next steps: Bond refundings will proceed through underwriting and market execution; the district will post and publish the trustee‑area process timeline, hire consultants, hold required public hearings and return with proposed maps for board approval under the timeline described by counsel.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ESUHSD Board Meeting 04/08/25","oneSentenceSummary","The East Side Union High School District board on April 8 authorized two refunding general obligation bond series, initiated a move to trustee‑area elections in response to a CVRA demand, and approved the 2025–26 calendar, emergency repairs and several contracts.","taxTitle","East Side Union High, School Districts, California","taxId",14490,"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},6078894,"Escuela Popular holds public hearing for two‑year charter renewal as staff prepare findings",3571,3679000,7250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4&start=3679&end=7250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4/thumbnail_3679000.jpg","/articles/6078894/California/Escuela-Popular-holds-public-hearing-for-twoyear-charter-renewal-as-staff-prepare-findings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078894-2f773e1b16ba3f1a252c0fc81b68b9e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151578&Signature=I9ig6Qu-rc1~f~yD~zk6LRqZUi4TEzOu9LJZ15LNC4VwjOJ-H-RNLFZIewf-T25tzhAfvLvVEfhanfs9VyilFdwu1RhZTF8vgZTIuxyccWcHs3ZTGzhUFgwxInOOEyA6pvizTdNUApFqrXoLka6hMPe2wqtyEU7RgSXGHeCDQOTlddJSp5I6uyUieGN3MysPzp9hRC-tebQJI2qqU4ePrZ9mzyrjTWTu48WN82oY30yT77hFujBROhz~IFbZ~JbNgQfB0gCk974jTn9RvVRLy~8f9HRqVtn3ei1Gl4-v3e3bkqosyQybsKaRJV5JO0ornAhAibogmmyQK5xLcs3L3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Side Union High School District convened a public hearing April 8 on a two‑year renewal petition from Escuela Popular Accelerated Family Learning Center, with district staff saying no action was required at the meeting and a decision scheduled for May 8.

Kirsten King, director of assessment and accountability and charter school oversight, told the board the hearing is the first step required by Education Code timelines: \"Tonight is that public hearing, and there is actually no action required of the board tonight.\" King said staff will post their findings by April 23 and hold a decision meeting within 90 days (with a 30‑day extension already agreed), as permitted by statute.

The hearing included a presentation from Escuela Popular leaders and extensive public testimony. Patricia Regerin, executive director of Escuela Popular, framed the petition as a request for a two‑year renewal under the law’s low‑performing‑school renewal pathway and highlighted recent improvement efforts. Olivia Cortez, principal and Escuela Popular alumna, described a bilingual TK–8 dual immersion program and services for newcomer high‑school students.

Escuela Popular representatives told the board they serve a high percentage of Latinx, low‑income, homeless and English‑learner students, and cited several measures of progress included in their petition packet: a reported drop in chronic absenteeism from 37.5% in 2022 to 27.2% in 2024, a three‑year average suspension rate of 0.6% (state average 3.3%), and increases on performance indicators cited by school staff (a 9.1‑point rise in English language arts and a 23.4‑point rise in mathematics as presented).

District staff emphasized the statutory standard that applies to this renewal type. Philip Gideon, coordinator of charter school oversight, summarized the two threshold findings the board must make to grant a two‑year renewal to a school identified in the low‑performing tier: (1) the charter is taking meaningful steps to address the causes of low performance and those steps appear in a written plan adopted by the chartering authority, and (2) there is clear and convincing evidence of either measurable year‑over‑year academic gains or strong postsecondary outcomes. King also noted the board must still review standard statutory items required by Education Code section 47605, including fiscal solvency and whether the petition includes required elements.

Dozens of parents, students, teachers, union representatives and community members spoke in support of Escuela Popular during the public comment period. Testimony included personal accounts of bilingual instruction, family‑centered services, inclusion practices for special education students, and a number of alumni and staff who said the school helped them or their families access education and stability after immigration.

Julio Pardo, president of the California School Employees Association chapter for East Foothills, said in a five‑minute statement that while CSEA is generally skeptical of charter schools, Escuela Popular is ‘‘different’’ because it serves whole families and fills needs district schools might not. Bernard Gifford, a longtime board member and former dean at UC Berkeley, described Escuela Popular’s campus fundraising and community service.

Kirsten King closed by reiterating next steps: staff findings will be posted April 23 and the board will hold a decision meeting on May 8 where it may, after taking public input and staff recommendations into account, vote to grant or deny renewal within the statutory framework and timelines.

Public testimony was closed at the end of the night; no vote on the petition was taken April 8.

Why it matters: If the board grants a two‑year renewal under the low‑performing tier, the district must document that Escuela Popular is taking meaningful, written steps to address performance and demonstrate measurable gains or postsecondary outcomes. If the board does not make the statutory findings, the petition could be denied; staff must publish their analysis so the community can review the evidence before the May 8 decision.","The East Side Union High School District convened a public hearing April 8 on a two‑year renewal petition from Escuela Popular Accelerated Family Learning Center, with district staff saying no action was required at the meeting and a decision scheduled for May 8.",{"_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},6078890,"Independence High parents, teachers and students urge board to reverse safety cuts; district says it will review",1180,7705000,8885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4&start=7705&end=8885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2958182-f1abec5f99b1bd91f52bf31d226dbec4/thumbnail_7705000.jpg","/articles/6078890/California/Independence-High-parents-teachers-and-students-urge-board-to-reverse-safety-cuts-district-says-it-will-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078890-fc6fc4b896e2df0ea26d8909540ba45f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151578&Signature=SI~wYM-ODGJyaInQEMVIG~fDd1CPTj5ymRKYuDWfVsnA6p4kZaH1Zi5ttQgQCFROmflOygIRY3SJJEa-USdwGew3JNs-jeLplj~pf7Zuj4vomSl6xslbwKXuxrvxYW3nZzHcyLJnr9UgB60zK7L1vfiR76Vt5J9dXrfyYpEeJ5LLW2kbNUR6qIcHixm4HoDC80bU8A~33rCoQmUi8n4JqabHAha7KOrg44kAw9GL3GGwSDGNK6qmuwBABZy-WCdc3HBzd-t61Qi4GRd3NqDvOb1N9rcwxzgYpT3sBFHjNOHKsXDp2o21h37Ehtes3Ts~trnqHF7hqvqcxbDxWRv3-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of students, teachers, campus monitors and union leaders urged the East Side Union High School District board April 8 to reverse proposed cuts to safety staff at Independence High School, saying the reductions would leave a sprawling campus of multiple schools unsafe.

Student speakers described fear and harassment on campus. Maha Khan, a senior at Independence High School, told the board the campus operates \"with no perimeter fencing\" and that planned reductions in campus monitors next year would worsen safety: \"Next school year, we will go from 4 campus monitors to only 1. Knowing this, it's hard for me to feel safe at school and ensure that I am protected walking through campus.\"

Other students and staff amplified that message with data and first‑hand accounts. Natasha Mirshandani, a sophomore, recounted lockdowns and local incidents and noted Independence’s size: \"We have a 102‑acre campus, the largest in the district, 4 schools on our campus with a total of 3,400 total student population.\" Several teachers and staff said violence and trespassing dropped after additional monitors and advisers were added in recent years and warned that removing those positions would reverse gains.

Union and staff speakers were explicit about how past funding and staffing had changed campus climate. Jack Hamner, president of the Eastside Teachers Association, said the safety staff reductions would compromise student welfare and urged the board to restore positions. Julio Pardo of CSEA and several teachers and site staff described break‑ins, vandalism and incidents involving trespassers; one teacher said contractors’ tools and school facilities had been targeted.

Speakers requested specific fixes: a fixed perimeter fence for Independence, restoration of campus monitors (several speakers asked for three monitors rather than one), retention of campus advisers and consideration of school resource officer support for emergencies. Written and online comments submitted and read into the record echoed the same requests, with multiple staff members reporting improved campus safety and climate after the additional hires funded in earlier LCAP allocations.

Board members acknowledged the urgency and the community’s concerns. Trustee Manuel Herrera asked administration to pursue measures to address safety before the next school year and requested the item be considered on a future agenda. Superintendent remarks and staff comments during the meeting reiterated the district’s fiscal constraints but agreed to examine options. No vote was held on staffing cuts during the meeting; the board did not rescind approved budget reductions that were discussed earlier in the year.

Why it matters: Independence High’s size (reported by speakers as roughly 102 acres hosting about 3,400 students across four schools), the lack of perimeter fencing and proposed cuts to campus monitors and advisers are operational decisions the board and administration control and that parents and staff say directly affect student safety and attendance. Community members argued that a small investment in staffing and fencing would prevent worse outcomes and urged the board to prioritize safety when making budget choices.","A large public comment block at the April 8 East Side Union High School District meeting focused on proposed reductions to campus safety staff and the lack of perimeter fencing at Independence High. Speakers — students, teachers, union leaders and staff — said cuts would leave the 102‑acre site vulnerable. Trustees asked administration to address","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board authorizes bond refundings, initiates trustee‑area election process and approves calendar and contracts

Escuela Popular holds public hearing for two‑year charter renewal as staff prepare findings

Independence High parents, teachers and students urge board to reverse safety cuts; district says it will review