Board approves Ellington sale amendment and instructional‑materials resolution; payroll‑warrant reissue request fails

The Azusa Unified School District Board of Education took several formal actions Oct. 7, approving a contract amendment for a surplus property sale, adopting a resolution on instructional materials sufficiency, approving the 2025‑26 meeting calendar and passing ceremonial resolutions. One request to authorize the county to investigate and reissue old payroll warrants did not receive the majority required and therefore failed.

Why it matters: the property sale amendment moves a district surplus property transaction forward and makes associated deposits nonrefundable; certification of instructional materials is an annual compliance step; the payroll‑warrant item raised questions about internal controls and documentation.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approval — Second amendment to purchase and sale agreement with Covina LLC (former Ellington School). Motion by Board member Grier; second by Board member Ramos. Vote: 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Outcome: approved. Notes: Superintendent Arturo Ortega said Covina Burke (a Covina LLC subsidiary of RC Homes) is the buyer; the district reported two additional nonrefundable deposits since the last meeting (Taylor Morrison for the former Powell Elementary School and Covina Burke for the Ellington property). The district also reported the former Sierra Adult School property has passed due diligence and that a fourth property (former Mountain View Elementary School) remains in review.

- Approval — Resolution of sufficiency of instructional materials (resolution number reported in the public record as stated on the agenda). Motion by Board member Ramos; second by Board member Greer. Vote: 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Outcome: approved. The board opened and closed a public hearing on sufficiency of instructional materials before the vote; no public comments were offered at the hearing.

- Approval — Consent calendar (with exceptions pulled: items 10.7, 10.8, 10.11 moved to 11.1–11.3 for discussion). Motion by Board member Ramos; second by Board member Grier. Vote: 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Outcome: approved.

- Approval — Board of Education meeting calendar for 2025‑26 (item 13.3). Motion by Board member Ramos; second by Board member Grier. Vote: 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Outcome: approved. Board members discussed whether to delay the governance workshop date to ensure more members could attend; the motion passed with the calendar as agendized.

- Approval — Ceremonial resolutions (items 11.1 and 11.2). Motions and seconds recorded; both passed by recorded vote of 3 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. Item 11.1 recognized school administrators; item 11.2 recognized Native American Heritage Month.

- Failed to pass — Authorization to request Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) investigate and reissue old payroll warrants (item 11.3). Motion by Board member Ramos; second by Board member Greer. Staff described payroll warrants as valid for 90 calendar days and noted reissue within two years is possible through the county; the employee who requested reissue did not have copies of the original warrants and alleged they had been taken or misplaced. The board vote was recorded during the meeting as 2 yes and 1 no; the Board Clerk later clarified that, because a majority of the full five‑member board is required to pass, the item did not receive the three affirmative votes needed and therefore did not pass. Notes: Board members who questioned the item cited principle and missing documentation as concerns.

Other business and reports

- Superintendent's report: Arturo Ortega briefed the board on compliance with recently passed state bills AB 49 and SB 98 regarding restricted access and notification requirements related to immigration enforcement on school campuses. Ortega said the district is "pretty much in full alignment" with AB 49 provisions and is working on SB 98 implementation details, including required updates to comprehensive school safety plans by March 1, 2026.

Roll call and attendance

Three board members were present for votes (recorded as three yeses on passed items); Vice President Benavides and Board President Gabriela Arianez were absent for the meeting, as noted in the roll call.

The board adjourned at 8:34 p.m.