Board approves expulsions, routine minutes and fiscal resolutions; tables one minutes item

The Duarte Unified School District Board of Education voted on multiple formal items during the Jan. 22 meeting, approving two expulsions, adopting resolutions related to developer fees and state program applications, approving the Form J13A waiver for school-closure reimbursement and accepting routine minutes and the consent calendar. One minutes item was tabled for later correction.

Two expulsions: Following closed-session deliberations, the board voted to expel two students for the remainder of the semester under Education Code 48917. The board president announced: “Board, I request a motion that student 032223 be expelled pursuant to Education Code 48917 from the Duarte Unified School District for the remainder of this semester.” A motion to expel student 032223 was made by Board Member Reyes and seconded by Board Member Diaz; the board vocalized aye and the motion carried. A separate motion, made by Board Member Reyes and seconded by Board Member Olguin, approved expulsion of student 012324 under the same Education Code provision; the board again voted aye.

Resolutions and waivers: The board approved Resolution 13-24-25 (developer fees annual report for fiscal year 2023–24) on a motion by Board Member Diaz, second by Board Member Olguin, with the board voting to adopt. The board also approved Resolution 12-24-25 authorizing filing of applications for state-administered programs (motion by Board Member Diaz, second by Board Member Olguin). For the district’s school closures during recent fires, the board approved Form J13A (a state waiver/claim form to request reimbursement for closed instructional days) on a motion by Board Member Hasso, second by Board Member Reyes. Superintendent Dr. Hillman explained the form is required to seek reimbursement and noted the event had a gubernatorial disaster declaration that supports the claim.

Routine items and minutes: The board adopted the consent calendar and approved meeting minutes for the Nov. 14 and Dec. 2 regular meetings (motion by Board Member Diaz, second by Board Member Holguin). The minutes vote recorded two abstentions for the Nov. 14/Dec. 2 approval (the meeting recorded “2 abstain”). An organizational/regular meeting minutes item from Dec. 19 required a correction related to a vice president vote; the board agreed to table that item for review and brought a motion to table (motion by Board Member Diaz, second by Board Member Holguin), which passed.

How the board voted: Most routine items were approved by voice vote with “aye” recorded. Where the transcript recorded abstentions or a need for correction, the board noted those explicitly and moved to correct or table the item. No recorded roll-call vote counts with named yes/no tallies were provided in the public record for every motion; the transcript records voice approvals for most items.

What’s next: The board will return the corrected organizational minutes for action at a subsequent meeting after staff review and video confirmation. The Form J13A will be submitted to the state for reimbursement processing.

Ending: The board adjourned the meeting following memorials and a public-comment period.