San Marcos Unified board announces closed-session items including property and litigation; public comment praises Coach Hauser

The Governing Board of the San Marcos Unified School District on Oct. 9 announced a closed-session agenda that included real property negotiations, existing litigation and personnel matters, and heard a public comment in which a former player praised Coach Hauser.

The board’s closed-session agenda, read into the record before the meeting moved behind closed doors, listed seven items: two real-property negotiations under Government Code section 54956.8 involving parcels at 700 Atterbury Drive (including a roughly 13.5-acre parcel, APN 221-2104) and slope areas near Double Peak School (about 4.2 acres and a separate roughly 4-acre portion, APN 222-121-04); two existing litigation items under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) (one identified by OAH case number 2025030856 and a San Diego Superior Court matter, case number 25CU042362C); matters pertaining to public-employee employment under Government Code section 54957; a student-expulsion matter listed as case 01-25.26; and specific complaints or charges against employees under Government Code section 54957.

The transcript lists negotiating parties named for the property items as the trustee of the Paul Pearson Trust dated July 22, 2007, and Jeffrey Tuller and Laura Tuller, with the board’s negotiators identified as Aaron Garcia and Wendy H. Wiles (legal counsel). The record notes the board will discuss price and terms for those properties in closed session.

During the meeting’s public-comment opportunity before the board adjourned to closed session, Elsa Grijalva spoke on behalf of her son. The son, identified in the record as Matthew (surname not provided), described Coach Hauser as “far more than a football coach,” saying, “He was a mentor who instilled in me the values of accountability, discipline, and high standards.” Matthew, who said he is now a fire captain, said Hauser’s coaching “played a pivotal role preparing me to lead others in high pressure situations.”

The board clerk’s announcement at the opening of the meeting recorded that all board members were present except Member Carlson and Member Herrick. After the public comment, the meeting adjourned to closed session; no formal votes or decisions on the listed closed-session items were taken in open session.

The board’s closed session topics and the public comment were presented on the agenda; any final actions or decisions resulting from the closed session were not recorded in the portion of the transcript provided.