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Board adopts governance handbook and four strategic goals for 2025–26
Summary
After strategic‑planning sessions in June, the San Marino Unified Board adopted a governance handbook and four board goals covering safety/wellness, facilities/sustainability, community engagement, and postgraduate preparation.
San Marino — The Board of Education approved a governance handbook and adopted four board goals for the 2025–26 year during its Aug. 26 meeting, formalizing protocols that were discussed during June strategic planning sessions.
The governance handbook codifies agreed norms, roles and responsibilities for the board and superintendent, Brown Act meeting practices, complaint and site‑visit protocols, and a board‑superintendent communications matrix. Board members also committed to regular governance training (CSBA Master in Governance and Brown Act workshops) and signed an annual attestation committing to the handbook’s norms.
Superintendent Dr. Linda De La Torre summarized the process: the board worked with a CSBA facilitator in June to finalize communication protocols and expectations; the handbook spells out that the board governs as a body, that individual trustees have no unilateral authority and that the superintendent will implement board policy and manage operations. The handbook includes a complaint‑handling matrix that encourages resolving issues at the lowest appropriate administrative level and requires board members to refer operational complaints to the superintendent rather than promise outcomes.
Separately, the board adopted four goals: (A) evaluate and enhance an environment of safety and wellness; (B) maintain and implement physical health and sustainability; (C) foster community awareness and understanding of the district mission and vision; and (D) prepare students for postgraduate success. Board and district leaders said action plans aligned to the goals will be developed by principals and department leads and presented to the board during the fall; the superintendent’s annual evaluation will reference progress on those goals.
Board action: The governance handbook and the 2025–26 board goals were approved by roll call; members present voted to adopt the materials.
Why it matters: The handbook formalizes how trustees and administrators will interact and clarifies complaint handling, site‑visit etiquette and public records practices — details the board and staff said are intended to improve transparency and reduce procedural missteps.
What’s next: Principals and departments will present action plans tied to each board goal in September–October and the district will report against those goals in the February state of the district presentation.
Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting transcript.
