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Board approves school plans, SARCs, independent audit and federal mileage; consent agreements pass with one dissent
Summary
The East Whittier City School District Board of Education approved school improvement plans and accountability reports for 13 campuses, accepted the 2023–24 independent auditors’ report, set the 2025 federal mileage rate at 70 cents per mile, and approved a set of vendor contracts with a 4–1 vote on a pulled consent item.
The East Whittier City School District Board of Education approved multiple routine and required items at its meeting, including school performance plans, annual accountability reports, the independent financial audit and an updated federal mileage reimbursement rate.
Key decisions taken by the board:
- Approval of minutes: The board approved the minutes from its Dec. 16 meeting. - School plans: The board approved school plans for Ceres, Evergreen, La Colima, Laurel, Laffingwell, Mulberry, Murphy Ranch, Ocean View, Orchardale and Scott Avenue elementary schools, and East Whittier, Granada and Hillview middle schools. - School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs): The board approved SARCs for the same set of schools for the 2024–25 school year. - Independent audit: The board accepted the 2023–24 independent auditors’ report from Christy White and Associates. - Federal mileage rate: The board approved the 2025 federal mileage reimbursement rate, increasing it from 67 cents per mile to 70 cents per mile. - Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda items; one multi-item consent package (item 3) was pulled for additional review and then approved 4–1. Trustee Wendy Carrera voted no on the pulled item(s) after raising questions about a pair of contracts and outsourcing concerns.
Several trustees thanked staff, congratulated award recipients recognized earlier in the meeting and asked clarifying questions on school plan templates and textbook-adoption timing. The board majority approved each action; where a motion or roll-call occurred the clerk called the question and recorded votes as part of the meeting minutes.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of Dec. 16 minutes — Outcome: Approved (unanimous) - School plans (13 schools) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous) - SARCs (2024–25, 13 schools) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous) - Acceptance of 2023–24 independent auditors report (Christy White & Associates) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous) - Federal mileage rate (2025) — Outcome: Approved (70 cents/mile) (unanimous) - Consent agenda (K4–K9) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous) - Consent agenda item 3 (contracts and agreements) — Outcome: Approved 4–1; Trustee Wendy Carrera cast the lone dissent after requesting further detail on specific agreements, including an interface service run by San Joaquin County Office of Education and a contracted grant‑writing service.
Why this matters: These approvals are part of required governance and financial oversight. School plans and SARCs reflect each campus’s priorities, data and improvement strategies; accepting the independent audit confirms the district’s audited financial position; the federal mileage rate affects employee reimbursements for work-related travel. Contract approvals move district services forward, though the dissent on pulled items highlighted trustee concern about outsourcing and fiscal caution in a tight budget environment.
No additional formal motions were made on bond planning or nurse staffing at this meeting; both topics were discussed elsewhere on the agenda.
