Board certifies Measure C, authorizes $27 million bond sale and approves personnel and program actions

The East Whittier City School District Board of Education on the evening at Laurel Elementary certified the results of the November 5, 2024 Measure C election, authorized an initial bond sale of $27,000,000 and approved related bond counsel, and adopted multiple personnel and program resolutions and routine consent items.

The board unanimously approved a motion to adopt the February 3, 2025 minutes and voted to cast the district's ballots for up to five California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly candidates. Mr. Wilson, speaking for district finance staff, summarized the bond issuance: "this resolution is the board approving that we sell $27,000,000 of bonds. The total bond that passed was $97,000,000," and the board then certified the election results and approved the first bond issuance.

The board also approved a clerical correction to the bond-counsel resolution and appointed Atkinson as bond counsel for bond-related legal services. Board members clarified the correction was to change a referenced $27,500,000 figure in the draft to the correct $27,000,000.

On personnel and service items, the board adopted Resolution No. 14-24/25 regarding the reduction or elimination of particular classified personnel positions; that motion passed 4-1 (one board member voted no). The board then adopted Resolution No. 15-24/25 concerning reduction or discontinuance of particular kinds of service; that motion passed 5-0. The board approved an overnight field trip for Hillview Middle School students and approved the consent agenda, which contained contracts, curriculum purchases funded by lottery resources and standard personnel actions.

Votes at a glance (items called during the meeting): - Approval of 02/03/2025 minutes: unanimous (recorded as yes votes during roll call). - CSBA Delegate Assembly (vote to select up to five candidates): unanimous. - Resolution No. 11-24/25 (canvass results of Measure C bond election): adopted (board certified that Measure C passed; district staff referenced a final vote of about 62% in discussion). - Authorization to issue bonds (first issuance $27,000,000): adopted. - Appointment of Atkinson as bond counsel (with clerical correction to $27,000,000): adopted unanimously. - Resolution No. 14-24/25 (reduction/elimination of classified positions): adopted 4-1 (Mr. Tioga recorded as the no vote during roll call). - Resolution No. 15-24/25 (reduction/discontinuance of particular services): adopted 5-0. - Hillview Middle School overnight field trip (Catalina Island): adopted 5-0. - Consent agenda items J3 through J10 (contracts, software, personnel actions, retirements): adopted 5-0.

Board members and district staff who spoke on these items included several board members during roll call and votes, Mr. Wilson (district finance/staff), and Miss Sorrell (staff/legal) who described the clerical correction to the bond-counsel item. The board's formal approvals included both certification of the election and the first step in implementing Measure C capital expenditures by authorizing bond sale and counsel.

The meeting record shows the board discussed technical corrections and asked procedural questions about counsel scope and bond sale timing rather than reopening the substance of Measure C. The board adjourned after routine closing remarks.