Board discusses overdue warrants, staff payments and catering costs as consent agenda passes

The Board of Trustees approved the consent agenda by a 5-0 vote July 29 and discussed a long-standing issue over unpaid warrants to classified employees, including a historic $1,900 payment many staff had been owed for up to a decade. Trustee Guadalupe Guillevas Barrera asked where the district stood on paying amounts approved previously; district staff said checks for active employees have already been issued and that inactive employees—payments were being processed and expected to mail by the end of the week. During the public discussion, a staff speaker (identified in the record as Mr. Abbasi) said the original board item approved payments for both active and inactive employees and that the district is now processing the inactive payments. Superintendent Anzo confirmed active employees had been paid and said the district was working on payments for inactive employees and on a plan for payments to estates of deceased employees. Trustees also raised the district—s catering and meeting-food costs after reviewing warrants. Trustee Guillevas Barrera said two catering bills of roughly $1,200 and $1,500 for meetings appeared high and asked whether the district—s kitchen could provide meals instead of outside catering. District staff offered to provide a later briefing explaining professional development categorization, vendor justification and which budgets pay for catering. The consent agenda item passed on a roll-call vote with all five trustees voting yes.