Carpinteria Unified swears in appointed trustee, approves superintendent goals and Measure U reports; board hears public criticism over legal costs

The Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees on Oct. 14 swore in appointed trustee Jeanette Alcaraz, approved the superintendent's 2025–26 annual goals on first reading, accepted the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee's 2023–24 Measure U annual report and associated independent audit, and approved warrants and multiple donations. Members of the public used the meeting to criticize the district's recent legal spending and changes to public-comment rules.

Jeanette Alcaraz, appointed by the board on Sept. 3 to fill a vacancy, took the oath of office administered by Superintendent Diana Rigby. Alcaraz repeated the oath and pledged to "well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I'm about to enter," after which the board welcomed her to the dais.

The superintendent's report and the first reading of the superintendent's 2025–26 annual goals drew substantial discussion. Superintendent Diana Rigby reviewed district academic and demographic data, saying preliminary 2024–25 data show approximately 17.2% of students were chronically absent (defined as missing 18 or more school days). Rigby reported that the Santa Barbara County Office of Education had reviewed and approved the district's adopted budget and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for fiscal year 2025–26 as required by Education Code Section 42127. The board approved the superintendent's annual goals on a motion and vote recorded as approved.

The board received a staffing report from HR coordinator Jacqueline Lopez showing the district had 128 certificated and 156 classified employees (284 total as of the September 25 report) and noted that Carpinteria's classified staffing per ADA and paraprofessional ratios were high compared with neighboring districts based on J-90/SACS data. Lopez reported that about 55% of classified staff reside in Carpinteria. The board approved three recommended…