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District spotlights annual toy drive, honors long‑time custodian and promotes spring break enrichment
Summary
At the board meeting district staff highlighted community-led toy giveaway efforts that served roughly 1,000 children, honored longtime employee Gilbert Agari, and announced extended-learning opportunities during spring break.
Several community and district spotlights opened the meeting.
Manager Grama Lopez of the Dallas South Mountain View Family Resource Center described the center’s annual toy giveaway, led by the Cesar Chavez Football Academy (CCFA). Lopez said CCFA and community partners collected about 1,000 toys distributed to homeless and foster youth and their siblings; a car-club-organized drive contributed about 365 toys. The Monterey County Food Bank provided produce and hot pozole to roughly 1,000 people; Crumbl Cookie donated assorted cookies for about 1,000 attendees; a university soccer team gave scarves; volunteers handled traffic control; and local high-school stadium lights helped make the event safer after dark. Lopez credited numerous community volunteers, vendors and neighbor donations for decorations and support.
The board also recognized the recent passing of longtime district employee Gilbert Agari, who worked for the district beginning in 1985 and retired in 2019 after more than three decades of service as a day custodian at community schools. Colleagues described his dedication and service and asked the board to remember him.
Separately, the district’s extended-learning program announced spring break enrichment classes scheduled for March 24–28, offering robotics, theater, arts and crafts, tutoring, dance and physical education. The superintendent’s office also reiterated that student information will not be shared with immigration authorities and encouraged parents to enroll students for enrichment offerings.
Why it matters: The toy giveaway is a recurring community partnership that directly serves district families; honoring long-serving staff acknowledges institutional history; and extended-learning opportunities provide out-of-school enrichment for students.
What happened at the meeting: Spotlight presenters described community partnerships and volunteer support for the toy drive, the district recognized a retired employee’s service and the district promoted upcoming enrichment classes and reassured families about student data privacy.
Next steps: District staff said they will coordinate future invitations for trustees to attend the toy-giveaway event and will continue to promote extended-learning registration as dates approach.
Speakers cited: Grama Lopez (manager, Dallas South Mountain View Family Resource Center); community volunteers and partners referenced (Cesar Chavez Football Academy, Monterey County Food Bank, Crumbl Cookie, Niner Empire 831 car club); colleagues who spoke in remembrance of Gilbert Agari.
