Board approves personnel moves, expulsions and calendars; several closed‑session settlements reported

The Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 reported a series of closed‑session personnel actions, approved recommended expulsions and adopted future school calendars and salary‑schedule modifications.

The board announced unanimous closed‑session appointments for several district leadership roles and approved multiple settlement agreements with classified employees, then took several open‑session votes later in the meeting to adopt agenda and approve administrative items.

Nut graf: The board recorded several formal personnel actions taken in closed session — all reported as unanimous — and then, in open session, approved expulsions, salary schedule updates and two future school calendars. The meeting also included formal acknowledgement or receipt of interested‑party bargaining proposals from employee unions.

Most significant votes and formal outcomes (selected): - Closed‑session appointments and reassignments (reported by the board): the board unanimously agreed to appoint Mark Thompson as deputy superintendent effective July 1, 2025 (motion: Board Member Gamoyan; second: Belt); unanimously agreed to reassign Rick Hamilton to director of instructional technology effective July 1, 2025 (motion: Gaby; second: De Jong); unanimously agreed to reassign Gina Fabrizio to director of student wellness effective July 1, 2025 (motion: Gaby; second: Villegas); unanimously agreed to appoint Natalie Garza as executive director of student services (motion: Odo; second: Gamoyan); and unanimously agreed to appoint Brianne Phillips as executive director of teaching and learning (motion: Gamoyan; second: Villegas). The board announced multiple closed‑session settlement approvals with CSEA classified employees (EID numbers 23513, 22606, 23765) and approval of a settlement for case number VCU305829; motions, movers and seconds were reported at the time of the closed‑session report.

- Expulsions: The board moved to approve recommended expulsions (motion passed; tally reported as 7 yes, 0 no; student board representative abstained).

- Salary schedule: The board voted to approve modifications to district salary schedules effective July 1, 2024 (motion passed, 7–0; student representative voted yes).

- Calendars: The board approved the proposed 2026–27 and 2027–28 school calendars (both motions passed 7–0; student representative voted yes).

- Bargaining proposals: The board approved or acknowledged receipt of initial bargaining proposals. The district presented its certificated bargaining “sunshine” (items the district intends to open), which the board approved by motion (passed 7–0). The board also acknowledged the Visalia Unified Teachers Association initial proposal (motion to acknowledge receipt passed 7–0). The California School Employees Association (CSEA) chapter 83 presented its initial bargaining proposal at the meeting; that presentation was informational.

- Other votes: The meeting agenda and consent calendar were approved by the board (motions carried; recorded tallies in the minutes). The board approved a warrant list for Dec. 20, 2024–Jan. 31, 2025 (motion reported as passed with six yes and one abstention).

Ending: The board’s formal actions combined routine governance (agenda, consent items, warrants) with personnel and bargaining matters. Several leadership appointments were announced as having been approved in closed session and will be finalized with future contract paperwork or effective dates as noted in the meeting record.