The East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees took several formal actions during its Sept. 25 meeting. Most votes were unanimous. Key actions, as recorded on the public record, are below.

Votes at a glance

- Posting and public review of revised trustee-area map: The board voted 5-0 to post the redistricting consultant27s revised trustee-area map and accept public-submitted modifications to that revised map by 1 p.m. the next day for posting; final consideration was scheduled for Oct. 3. (Motion by Trustee Lorraine Chavez; second by Trustee Cortese; roll call: President Do, Vice President Lay, Clerk Chavez, Member Herrera, Member Cortese all "aye").

- Resolution on sufficiency of textbooks and instructional materials (Resolution 2025-26-09): The board adopted a resolution confirming sufficiency of instructional materials under Education Code 60119. (Moved by Trustee Cortese; second by Trustee Herrera; roll call: unanimous.)

- Fiscal solvency plan and related resolution (referenced as a FY solvency resolution): The board adopted a fiscal solvency resolution and instructed staff to implement specified reductions (including $4 million in current-year operational/contract reductions, $26 million in reductions for FY 26-27 and an additional $5 million thereafter) to reduce multi-year deficits. The motion passed on roll call (5-0). (Mover/second not specified in the public record excerpt; roll call votes: all "aye").

- Update to adopted budget, Fiscal Year 2025-26: The board approved the budget update that incorporates the solvency measures. (Motion by Vice President Lay; second by Trustee Cortese; roll call: unanimous.)

- Adoption of policies, contract approvals, bond and capital actions and consent calendar: The board approved a sequence of policy readings and adoptions and awarded/approved contracts and bond-related professional services over $25,000 and $50,000 as listed on the agenda; the consent calendar passed 5-0. Items included (not exhaustive): proposed policy amendments and second readings (foster youth education policy, continuation school policy, involuntary transfer policy), Proposition 28 art and music annual report acceptance, professional services contracts and piggyback purchasing authorization, and multiple board policy updates. (Roll calls recorded as unanimous where shown.)

What the fiscal actions say

District staff presented a multi-year expenditure reduction plan that aims to reduce deficit spending substantially over the next three years. A staff slide presented at the meeting showed projected reductions moving a multi-year deficit from a roughly $36 million exposure down to more manageable negative figures (staff language: reductions reduce the projected deficit to approximately $3.4 million in the outer year under current assumptions). Trustees voted to adopt the solvency resolution and the associated budget update so staff can submit required documentation to the county office of education by its Oct. 8 deadline.

Public comment and next steps

Public commenters raised concerns about cuts to certificated staff and asked whether alternative spending reductions had been explored. The district said it would continue to refine financial projections at first and second interim reporting points and that the solvency plan will be revisited as fiscal circumstances change.

Most of the items on the consent calendar and policy readings were routine approvals that the board approved by roll call; the board recorded each vote on the public record during the meeting. The Oct. 3 meeting remains scheduled to consider the final trustee-area map adoption after the posted public modification window closes.