Los Banos Unified trustees move to stand up community schools program, approve positions, accept audit and authorize Volta modernization bids

The Los Banos Unified School District Board of Trustees on Monday accepted the district’s annual financial and compliance audit, approved temporary job descriptions to staff a new Family Resource Center and community schools program, and authorized the district to seek competitive bids for the Volta Elementary School modernization project.

Jeanette Garcia of accounting firm Jeanette Garcia and Associates presented the 2023–24 audit and told the board the auditors’ opinion is that the district’s financial statements “are fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.” The finance committee recommended acceptance after a review; the board voted to accept the audit.

The board also approved temporary classified-management positions and job descriptions needed to implement the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). Doctor Ritchie, the district’s community schools coordinator, reviewed the CCSPP plan that the district has been building since a 2023 planning grant and a subsequent implementation award. Ritchie said the rollout will include school-based bilingual community liaisons at 15 sites, districtwide social workers, and a leased Family Resource Center that will function as a hub for medical, dental, vision and other community services.

Ritchie said she began in the coordinator role on Nov. 1 and described the program’s four pillars — integrated student supports; family and community engagement; collaborative leadership and practices; and expanded learning time — as the framework for implementation. She told trustees the district will recruit an advisory council drawn from students, parents, teachers and community members, hold two town-hall meetings (an in-person meeting at Westside Elementary and a virtual meeting), and ask applicants to the advisory council to submit applications by Feb. 3. Ritchie said the district is vetting a potential Family Resource Center location and is working with county and regional partners on resource mapping and referrals.

Trustees also authorized the district to seek competitive bids for the Volta Elementary modernization project, approved updates to several job descriptions (including a school social worker site-based temporary job), and declared intent to adopt updates to several board policies by first reading.

Closed-session actions reported at the end of the meeting included expulsions for three students (case numbers 5510327, 5510836 and 5514150) for the remainder of the school year with referral to Valley Community School for educational services; denial of a liability claim against the district; and approval of early graduation for 18 Crossroads Alternative Education Center students. Those closed-session motions were recorded as carried by 7–0 votes.

Votes at a glance - Audit (2023–24 financial and compliance audit): Accepted; finance committee recommended acceptance; board vote: unanimous. - Family Resource Center supervisor (temporary, classified management): Approved (motion recorded as carried unanimously). - Community schools liaison (site-based, temporary, classified management): Approved (motion carried unanimously). - School social worker (site-based, temporary): Approved (motion carried unanimously). - Volta Elementary School modernization: Authorization to seek bids approved (motion carried unanimously). - Board policy/administrative regulation updates (first reading/intent to adopt): Declared intent to adopt; motion passed. - Consent calendar: Approved (roll call recorded; trustees Castro, Gattuso, Leeb, Moran, Smith, Valadao and Pereira voted yes in roll call recorded in the transcript). - Closed session: Expulsions (cases 5510327, 5510836, 5514150) — expulsions for the remainder of the school year, referred to Valley Community School (vote 7–0). Liability claim denied (vote 7–0). Early graduation approved for 18 Crossroads students (vote 7–0).

What happens next The district will move forward with hiring and contracting steps needed to create the Family Resource Center and to staff community liaisons and social workers, begin resource-mapping and partner development with local medical and social-service providers, and advertise for bids on the Volta Elementary modernization project. The CCSPP work will include annual reporting to the state and ongoing evaluation tied to the grant.