The Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education announced in open session that it had appointed Bernadette Faustino as the district’s director of fiscal services following closed‑session deliberations.

The clerk reported that, after a motion by Board member Delia Dominguez Cervantes and a second by Board member Jessica Tolston, the board approved the appointment by a 4–0 vote with Trustee Francisco Tamayo recorded as absent.

The appointment was made during a closed session held under government code provisions covering collective bargaining, anticipated litigation and public‑employee appointments. The clerk announced the result when the board returned to open session.

Why it matters: the director of fiscal services oversees budget preparation, accounting and fiscal reporting for the district. The board will receive future budget updates and interim reports under the new appointment.

Speakers and attribution

- Delia Dominguez Cervantes, Board member (mover of the motion)
- Jessica Tolston, Board member (second)
- Clerk (announced vote in open session)
- Trustee Francisco Tamayo (absent for the vote)

Authorities

The closed session was described using California Government Code citations read aloud by the presiding officer: government code sections 3549.1(d) and 54957.6 (collective bargaining/employee negotiations), government code section 54956.9 (anticipated litigation — one case), and government code section 54957 (public‑employee appointment). These citations were read as the board recessed into closed session.

Action

- Motion: approve appointment of Bernadette Faustino as director of fiscal services.
- Mover: Delia Dominguez Cervantes.
- Second: Jessica Tolston.
- Vote: yes: 4; no: 0; absent: 1 (Francisco Tamayo).
- Outcome: approved.

Clarifying detail

- The appointment was reported upon reconvening to open session; the meeting record indicated Vice President Tamayo arrived later (reported arrival time) and was absent for the appointment vote.

What’s next

Board members and staff did not announce an effective start date for Faustino in open session; follow‑up implementation and reporting were assigned to the district clerk and business services staff.