Alisal Union Board approves consent items, construction change orders and new positions; NALEO trip approved 3-1
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Summary
The Alisal Union School District Board of Trustees approved a slate of routine and substantive items including construction change orders at Chavez Elementary, new classified positions, designation to a regional JPA and travel to the NALEO conference; closed‑session appointments to Community School Coordinator roles were announced.
Alisal Union School District Board of Trustees members voted on multiple items during their evening meeting, approving the consent agenda, several construction change orders and two new classified positions and authorizing travel to the NALEO conference.
The board approved the consent agenda and a series of individual action items by voice or line vote. Several construction items drew discussion: the board adopted Resolution 24‑205‑19 declaring public bidding futile for additional work at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary and approved change orders for the Chavez TK building. Associate Superintendent Dais Abasi explained soil and site‑preparation conditions as the primary driver for added costs and argued that stopping the projects to rebid would increase schedule and cost risk.
The board approved the creation and posting of a full‑time district translator/interpreter position and a 0.625 account technician 2 position. Trustees also approved revisions and obsoletions to administrative policy series 3000 and 4000, and ratified several contracts and purchases included in the consent agenda (the consent agenda included a $56,000 van purchase for Nutrition Services from Salinas Valley Ford, among other items).
Board members authorized travel to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) 2025 conference in Atlanta; that item passed on a 3‑1 vote after a lengthy exchange about conference relevance and expenses. Board President Garcia, Vice President Ocampo and Trustee Jimenez voted in favor; Trustee Gilpin Sparrera voted no.
In closed session, the board announced two appointments by a 4‑0 vote with Trustee Perez absent: Margarita Camacho and Alexis Diaz Infante were appointed as Community School Coordinators.
Why it matters: the approvals move several construction projects forward, add district staff positions that affect translation and finance support, and commit district funds for travel and infrastructure purchases. The change orders and the “futility of bidding” resolution in particular signal active capital projects with schedule and cost pressures.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (ratify contracts, MOUs, grants, field trips, etc.): Approved by line vote (motion passed; typical result reported as 3‑0 with two board members absent earlier; later consent vote recorded as 4‑0 with Trustee Perez absent for a separate vote). (Transcript evidence: motion and line vote recorded at 05:14–05:20 and 04:47:00 range.) - Resolution 24‑205‑18: Designation of district representative to the Monterey‑San Benito JPA Governing Board: Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Recorded at 45:11–45:21.) - Resolution 24‑205‑19: Declaring futility of public bidding for additional work at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School: Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Discussed 45:44–46:07.) - Change order for Chavez Elementary TK building project (associated change order): Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Voting recorded 47:64–47:78.) - New classified position — District translator/interpreter (1.0 FTE): Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Item 8A.) - New position — Account Technician 2 (0.625 FTE): Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Item 8B.) - Revised Board policies/administrative regulations, series 3000 and related exhibits: Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Item 9A.) - Obsolete board policies/administrative regulations, series 4000: Approved 4‑0 (Ms. Perez absent). (Item 9B.) - NALEO 2025 conference attendance (Atlanta, Ga., July 22–24, 2025): Approved 3‑1 (Garcia, Ocampo, Jimenez yes; Gilpin Sparrera no; Ms. Perez absent). (Item 9D.) - Purchase of a Nutrition Services van from Salinas Valley Ford ($56,000): Approved as part of consent agenda. (Item 5V.) - Closed session appointments: Margarita Camacho and Alexis Diaz Infante appointed as Community School Coordinators by 4‑0 vote (Ms. Perez absent). (Reported at meeting end.)
What the board directed or discussed but did not adopt formally: board members asked staff to follow up on details and timelines for job postings and construction cost drivers; staff indicated they would respond to union questions and follow up on job posting timing.
Ending note: the meeting advanced capital projects and staffing additions while exposing board divisions on conference spending and ongoing attention to construction change orders and project budgets.
