Board approves multiple policy updates, school calendars and leadership salary schedule

The Palmdale Aerospace Academy District board approved several policy updates and administrative items during the meeting, including policies on homeless students, foster youth and uniform complaint procedures, the 2025–26 elementary/middle/high school calendars and an updated certified and classified leadership salary schedule.

Staff explained the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) policy as the district’s formal process to handle complaints from parents and community members, describing rounds of investigation, internal review steps and the role of the California Department of Education (CDE) as the next escalation if disputes continue after internal resolution. Under the updated UCP policy, the director of student services is the designated compliance officer; if a complaint is against the superintendent, the board chair becomes the compliance officer and the superintendent does not investigate complaints against themselves. Staff said the district modeled portions of the updated UCP on larger local districts to ensure compliance.

Board members asked whether the UCP includes steps for complaints against specific staff roles; staff confirmed the superintendent is the investigator where appropriate and that CDE escalation procedures are specified in the policy. Trustees also approved the Education for Homeless Children and Youth policy and the Education for Foster Youth policy; staff said those updates were necessary to remain compliant with state requirements. The board approved the 2025–26 elementary, middle and high school calendars after brief discussion about graduation date timing and venue availability. Trustees also approved an updated certified and classified leadership salary schedule; the meeting record shows an abstention by Trustee Bilkey on matters related to the classified leadership and confidential employee salary schedule.

All motions were approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies appear in the meeting minutes for these items.

The board moved item number 10 to closed session as noted on the agenda and later reconvened; staff reported no actions were taken in closed session.