Sept. 3, 2025 — The Chino Valley Unified Board of Education on Wednesday announced the names of eligible applicants for the Trustee Area 4 vacancy, approved a set of interview questions and scheduled open-session interviews for Sept. 8 at 5 p.m., with a provisional appointment to be made at that meeting.

The board voted 4-0 to disclose the verified list of candidates and to adopt the proposed interview questions, citing a requirement in board bylaw 9,223. A second, separate 4-0 vote set the Sept. 8 interview date and confirmed that interviews and the provisional appointment will occur in open session.

The actions matter because the provisional appointment will fill a local board vacancy that represents residents in Trustee Area 4 and could affect district policy and oversight until the next regularly scheduled election or final appointment. The district noted that all applicants submitted resumes and a letter explaining why they want to join the board and that the interview questions will be posted on the district website prior to the interviews.

District staff read the verified list of eligible candidates: Shawn Smith; Mary Joy Walinski; Laura Weiglen; Lisa Greathouse; David Shradeski; Anthony Inganeri; and Tom Macassie. A staff member told the board, "All applicants received have been verified for eligibility based on legal and policy requirements." The board identified the item on the agenda as 2A1 and referenced board bylaw 9,223 as the procedural authority for announcing eligibility.

The approved interview questions cover a range of topics the board intends to ask each candidate, including how federal Title IX protections intersect with California law on student athletics; policies on political or ideological displays in classrooms; parental authority and notification regarding student records and identity; whether certain library books with explicitly described sexual content should be accessible to students; mandatory professional development tied to social or cultural issues; community school grants and related health services; teacher-union influence on district policies; and how a board member would evaluate guidance from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and state education mandates.

A resident who spoke during public comment urged the board to consider applicants with classroom and instructional experience. The resident said, "I would like to recommend as a resident, citizen taxpayer, that you consider the following things, when you're interviewing. I consider that you look for somebody instructional experience." The resident suggested asking candidates about prior teaching grades and boards or commissions they have served on to help determine suitability.

Board members who moved and seconded the motions were recorded on the transcript: Mr. Nunn moved the motion to approve the questions and disclosure (seconded by Mr. Cervantes), and a separate motion to set the Sept. 8 interview date was moved by Mr. Knott and seconded by Mr. Cruz. Both motions passed by a 4-0 tally. The meeting convened at 5 p.m. and adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

The next public step is the Sept. 8 special meeting at 5 p.m., when the board will conduct interviews in open session and may make a provisional appointment to fill the Trustee Area 4 vacancy.