[{"_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",6456226,"mediaKeyId","5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0","parentId",5691996,"title","Board votes: expulsion upheld, multiple MOUs approved; transit van lease fails","audioSeconds",12041,"startMs",3577000,"endMs",15618000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0&start=3577&end=15618","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0/thumbnail_3577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6456226/California/Board-votes-expulsion-upheld-multiple-MOUs-approved-transit-van-lease-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456226-52768a865941338aee1e2064d41a4d25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194693&Signature=MDLBSYrQRZXEenu5v10I~fVVlfBBxlpicKx-TAti5SqkKFceVd6-Qa65N5QfAdJu9FnepnHZtFMHzyRIiWnvkboPdbVxj4RTRquCg6ttMRqSPr~t5MQhwIdVWE-IqB8o-QQvGpK1pq9s~ISsgGUFYn4tpujkuEURuRX6XCbpEUqW~HrFvfgSc4pdeSyvLWmmClhVae6mosrFs6dfh~kLFtninliHCU-YfIykz18SCvxrhVDUz~Szwcf80MQj0LiBLvx5hqA7Bwk-6OtUR7bj8w42TUCqNsxKSJKQBcHM8p~G5ZcplnVlWHbFYRCChk-tmg5Ll98iYaHiAwldK2Ys1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Amador County Unified","date","2025-08-28T06:31:17Z","article","The Amador County Unified School District board took several formal actions in open session and recorded outcomes on multiple agenda items.

Closed-session report: Pursuant to Education Code section 48915, the board announced it approved a stipulated expulsion: case number 25/26‑1. The district reported the motion passed 4‑1; no mover/second was recorded in the public statement.

MOU and partnership approvals: A memorandum of understanding with the California Agriculture Teachers Induction Program (to support an agriculture teacher seeking credential clearing) was approved. The board also approved a multi‑year memorandum of understanding with Pepperdine University to provide credential coursework and field experience, and approved an MOU granting release time for the ACTA president for the 2025‑26 school year (costs to be invoiced to CTA). Voting on those items recorded a mix of yes and no votes where shown; the agriculture induction MOU passed 4‑1 (one trustee recorded a “no”), while the Pepperdine and release‑time MOUs passed unanimously.

Resolution: The board adopted a resolution naming district representatives to the State Allocation Board and related forms allowing the district to pursue state school facilities program filings.

Transit vans lease: The board considered a lease‑purchase agreement to finance four Ford Transit activity vans and a master equipment lease with Ford Motor Credit Company. Staff presented estimated financing terms and an annual payment schedule and said the lease would generate savings compared with continuing to rent vans. After public comment and trustee discussion—including concerns about timing during budget uncertainty and whether the vans had already been taken into district custody—the motion failed. The vote recorded one abstention and a majority “no,” so the lease purchase authorization did not pass.

Consent items: Routine consent items on both the district and county office agendas were approved earlier in the meeting.

Trustees, staff and the public were advised to consult the official minutes and posted meeting documents for full motions, certified vote tallies and related contract exhibits.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ACUSD/COE Board Meeting of 8/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved an expulsion outcome and several memoranda of understanding including partnerships and union release time, but declined to authorize lease financing for four transit vans after members and public raised concerns about timing and cost.","taxTitle","Amador County Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",65687,"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},6456231,"District maintenance chief details summer construction, asbestos removals and repairs",1127,3726000,4853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0&start=3726&end=4853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0/thumbnail_3726000.jpg","/articles/6456231/California/District-maintenance-chief-details-summer-construction-asbestos-removals-and-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456231-b74f423e4d0a80dbbfa09bf1ddf55700/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194693&Signature=cA33BH~DbiWUhieKLOZm2QdvXnDM4WD~ID056A1DrohBXZdlF5KMr7Z03wSjxvkUmbzhVh7EJcG1p5stBYTEltca38tjyvthoojvTYEgLws0aDgEq6OY-DLOZjqPr~PF-cHNb9hIjPWAC~ySsL7pbAPud1duktBkPsqjHysnmBgH95bjKZhZu-WU5yvAJ2Rya4tPbYoSj06hVtq9QCfcXu7hnvxT3bUrQtld2JobV3mLR8oNarMQw0B1UEiXAM6fINOlaLlRErstBm7xdskVmZ~vYOPFsYV431bRUJSNKH2LNzqWXXh7IuEtormSb7jZSMlJXg4cri0KT8VjbY2VJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district’s director of maintenance reviewed dozens of completed and ongoing summer projects at schools across the county, telling trustees the maintenance team and contractors completed flooring, restroom and roofing repairs, asbestos remediation and other work to prepare sites for the new school year.

“The guys always work hard every summer,” maintenance director Joe Cruz said during the presentation, and then detailed projects school-by-school. Examples included asbestos mastic and tile removal and remediation in Room 7 at Ione Elementary; portable restroom dry-rot repairs at Jackson Junior High; front office carpet replacement at Amador High; and tile and classroom finishes at Trilla and Pine Grove elementary schools.

Cruz showed photos of a greenhouse foundation underway at Amador High School, noting students will help with the concrete pad, and described gym-floor repairs and replacement of nearly 50 broken boards in the Amador gym plus floor sanding and line painting. He said swamp cooler repairs at the gym were nearly complete and that roof repairs addressed serious winter leaks at Jackson Junior High.

Other work included playground bark deliveries at three schools, irrigation repairs on multiple fields, replacement of a sewer lift station at Stony Creek to address insufficient grade and solids buildup, and multiple painting, fascia and curb projects across campuses. Cruz said donated retaining-wall blocks from a state prison helped start stabilization work at the district office.

Cruz said the maintenance team also responded to emergency calls over the summer, including a failed water heater at Sutter Creek Primary and numerous HVAC requests. He reported painting crews and daytime custodians completed thousands of square feet of painting, more than a hundred doors and 14 portable ramps.

Board members asked about budget tracking for projects and whether the district maintains “as built” plans for underground utilities. Cruz said many jobs were done in-house, that cost breakdowns could be added to future presentations and that the district keeps as‑built records for major utilities.

Trustees thanked facilities staff for the work and asked for future briefings to include estimated vs. actual costs and labor/schedule information to help with budget planning.","The board received a rundown of summer maintenance and construction projects across Amador County Unified schools including asbestos remediation, gym floor repairs, new greenhouse foundation work and multiple roofing, irrigation and playground fixes.",{"_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},6456236,"Teachers, staff and students warn of departures as district shifts health plans",12889,4931000,17820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0&start=4931&end=17820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691996-b4993d9f920b0ba00a67db8a414c92b0/thumbnail_4931000.jpg","/articles/6456236/California/Teachers-staff-and-students-warn-of-departures-as-district-shifts-health-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456236-22e65f8c967c1b0dd20c47cc3b155253/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194693&Signature=Nf7dVCuCPi3NMGwRBo6IliNnBklWpq4XqE9-iOoQ770-D8KWR7DU3FTv91QYu01sClMt61fkNV9b8YDRMyOXXnmq3ordSymWIU568ULfUOEAuLD9xQHWXLjVdJdhR4kEwzu0gsqH1XriRLXHFa7S9vCPi7C0W7nM1hMRhlY0AbYQxuJnip9DvJKmNWyJuGac-C~rF1ReEMqiJMfQsZPKF1ZwNA0LEOtOE-W5T0CQEuIXu~p8p9l-nftW4lGBcRC-OIYpF1nGdkGlpIAQfmOx9EBDw30vjmfIe0iqou20f0HbGxvc50HN5yajVmH~KbcQPubeQpHmTWmgIQ2RNn4uBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of teachers, classified employees and students told the Amador County Unified School District board that a planned move to CalPERS medical plans will sharply increase premiums and force staff to leave, harming classrooms and extracurricular programs.

Union leaders and employees said the district’s insurance changes—presented as the only available option—threaten retention and the quality of instruction. “We are facing an unprecedented insurance crisis,” Jeannie Jensen, president of the Amador County Teachers Association, told the board during the public-comment period. Speakers asked the board to identify district savings or other sources to cover added costs for families and staff.

Teachers and classified staff described large premium increases and lost access to local providers. “This does not work financially for our family. We need other options,” said Eric Lucas, a chemistry and environmental science teacher at Argonaut High School, who gave dollar examples of how family premiums would rise under CalPERS. CSEA Vice President Deanna Bell told trustees the district has an obligation to provide affordable health care for employees and urged the board to find ways to protect staff pay and benefits.

Public commenters included classroom aides, food-service workers, bus mechanics and substitute teachers who said small pay and irregular hours already stretch household budgets. Several speakers said cash-in-lieu payments for employees who opt out of district insurance are essential to making off‑district coverage affordable and that removing or reducing that benefit would push many out of the workforce.

Students and parents said the fallout would harm course offerings, clubs and teams: multiple students said they rely on after-school programs run by staff who could leave. “You can’t put students first when you put teachers last,” said the student board representative, Peyton (student board member).

Board members and staff responded that negotiations are ongoing and urged unions and district leaders to continue bargaining. Several trustees said they want creative, short- and long-term solutions and encouraged continued public input. The board was told a final change will affect October paychecks and that bargaining is working toward options before that effective date.

Speakers repeatedly asked the board to consider reallocating district funds, contest administrative spending and to provide clearer, earlier communication about options and timelines. Multiple commenters warned that staff departures could mean increased use of long‑term substitutes, fewer extracurriculars and greater pressure on remaining employees.

The board did not take an immediate vote on benefits changes at the meeting. Negotiators representing the district and bargaining units continue to meet, and union leaders said they will pursue terms to reduce the financial burden on families and staff.","Dozens of employees, union leaders, parents and students urged the Amador County Unified School District board to find money or alternatives after a switch to CalPERS plans that speakers say will sharply raise premiums and force many staff to consider leaving.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board votes: expulsion upheld, multiple MOUs approved; transit van lease fails

District maintenance chief details summer construction, asbestos removals and repairs

Teachers, staff and students warn of departures as district shifts health plans