Glendale Elementary board appoints Deanna Driver as Glendale Success Academy coordinator

The Glendale Elementary School District Governing Board voted unanimously March 13 to appoint Deanna Driver as coordinator for the Glendale Success Academy, the board announced during its regular meeting.

The board approved the appointment for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year and for the 2025–26 school year, with salary and benefits “commensurate with the coordinator schedule as presented,” a district representative told the board. The motion to approve the appointment carried on recorded aye votes from Ms. Bartels, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Pimentel and Board President Martinez.

The appointment was the only personnel action discussed at length. The meeting opened with a motion to remove agenda item 2 (special recognition) so those honorees could be celebrated when more families were able to attend; the revised agenda was adopted by voice vote. The board then approved the consent agenda by voice vote.

During the meeting’s public comment period, Craig Griffith, who identified himself as a resident of the Barrel District, urged the board to prepare for potential cuts at the federal Department of Education and asked what the district planned to do if larger funding reductions take effect. Board members said they could not engage in extended discussion during the open-call portion because legal requirements limit discussion of items not properly noticed; they said the topic can be placed on a future agenda for formal discussion.

District staff provided routine updates. Miss Sigata Jones noted recent school activities including student artwork displays, Read Across America events, school music programming and athletics; she also said Glendale staff member Shannon Glebe had been in Washington, D.C., advocating on school nutrition amid federal-level budget pressure. Jones told the board that parent-teacher conferences were underway, which the board had cited earlier as the reason to move the special recognition item.

Board members said the next regular meeting is March 27, when the board will consider classified employment renewals, recommendations related to school leadership and additional routine business.

Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda (remove item 2, special recognition): motion adopted by voice vote; recorded ayes from Ms. Bartels, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Pimentel and Board President Martinez. - Consent agenda: approved by voice vote; recorded ayes from Ms. Bartels, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Pimentel and Board President Martinez. - Appointment — Deanna Driver, Glendale Success Academy coordinator: approved; recorded ayes from Ms. Bartels, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Pimentel and Board President Martinez. Salary and benefits to be commensurate with the coordinator schedule as presented.

The meeting adjourned after routine closing remarks and well-wishes for spring break.