Board approves superintendent—s participation on Corwin advisory board; members ask for purchase transparency

The board voted July 21 to authorize Superintendent Juan Cordova to serve on a Corwin customer advisory board, with directors seeking safeguards and disclosure about future purchases from the vendor.

Cordova told the board he had previously worked with Corwin in other roles and that the advisory position would let him provide an educator’s perspective on products and professional development. He said the advisory role is unpaid: Corwin would cover conference registration and hotel during a conference but not Cordova—s travel; "None whatsoever" is the compensation for serving, he said when asked.

Several directors raised conflict‑of‑interest and governance questions. Director Greenwell recommended a routine disclosure practice and asked that the district specifically identify and report annual spending on Corwin products when preparing the budget, so trustees can exercise "due diligence and good governance." Cordova agreed to allow a district team to speak on any matter should a perception of conflict arise.

Board action: The motion to approve Cordova—s participation passed (voice vote recorded as unanimous). The board also discussed the district—s existing use of Corwin materials: staff said Corwin resources and "Visible Learning" research have been used in the district for over a decade as part of professional learning.

Ending: The board approved the appointment and asked administration to provide transparent reporting of any material purchases from Corwin in future budget documents.