Board approves 2023–24 audit, personnel appointments, expulsions and reinstatements; several routine finance items pass

The Visalia Unified School District Board of Education on Monday took a series of formal actions including approval of the 2023–24 Annual District Financial Audit, confirmation of closed‑session personnel appointments to take effect July 1, 2025, and votes to approve recommended expulsions and multiple reinstatements.

Key outcomes

- The board approved the 2023–24 Annual District Financial Audit presented by external auditors (Crowe). The auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the district’s financial statements and federal program testing; one state compliance area (classroom teacher salaries) received a qualified finding related to a deficiency in the 55% minimum calculation. The audit was approved by motion and passed unanimously.

- In closed session the board reported three actions: on a motion by Board Member Villegas, seconded by Board Member Beldt, the board unanimously approved an agreement with employee number 2880; on a motion by Board Member Villegas, seconded by Board Member Odo, the board unanimously approved a settlement agreement to resolve CRD case number 202310‑22319213; and the board voted to defer a remaining closed‑session report until after item 4.2. Later in the meeting the board reported personnel reassignments approved in closed session: the board unanimously agreed to reassign and appoint Eric Koehrer to Administrator of Operations effective July 1, 2025 (Mr. Koehrer will continue as Chief Operations Officer until June 30, 2025), and to reassign and appoint Andrew DeMeo to Director of Communication and Engagement effective July 1, 2025 (Mr. DeMeo will continue as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services until June 30, 2025).

- The board approved recommended expulsions (motion passed; student representative abstained) and approved recommended reinstatements (motion passed; student representative abstained). Trustees discussed the district’s increased use of reinstatement as a path back to traditional campuses and noted the cultural shift toward encouraging returns following expulsions.

- The consent agenda passed as moved, with one pulled item (item 6.26, an architectural agreement). Item 6.26 was approved after discussion with one abstention recorded by the board member who disclosed a family relationship with the firm. The consent agenda (excluding the pulled…