Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hermosa Beach school board selects 2025 officers, keeps members unpaid and names committee representatives
Summary
At its annual organization meeting the Hermosa Beach City School District Board of Education elected Jen Cole president, named Kathy Barrow vice president/clerk, reaffirmed meeting times and procedures, voted to continue the practice of not accepting the statutory stipend, and appointed members to district and county committees.
The Hermosa Beach City School District Board of Education completed its annual organization meeting, selecting leadership for the year and confirming recurring administrative arrangements.
The board elected Jen Cole as president and Kathy Barrow as vice president/clerk, reaffirmed the district’s meeting schedule and signature authorities, authorized Superintendent Susan Wildes to serve as executive secretary to the board, and voted to continue the board’s longstanding practice of declining the statutory monthly stipend for board members.
The organization meeting sets the board’s leadership, committee representation and procedural authorities for the year. Those decisions determine who represents the district on interagency committees and who is authorized to sign district documents.
Board action and appointments The board voted, by voice and without recorded roll-call tallies, to approve the slate of organizational items presented by district staff. Members present unanimously approved officer selection, meeting dates, re-adoption of district policies, designation of authorized signers and a series of committee appointments. The board recorded four members present and one absent at roll call.
Superintendent Susan Wildes presented the organizational items, including a resolution reauthorizing signatures for district documents. The board approved the resolution titled "Resolution 08-24/25 (Authorized Signature Resolution)." The board also formally authorized the superintendent to serve as the executive secretary to the board.
On meeting schedule and policy The board set regular meetings for the year on the second Wednesday of the month, with closed sessions to begin at 5:00 p.m. and open sessions at 6:00 p.m. The board re-adopted established district policies and regulations that will remain in force through the next organizational meeting.
Committee appointments The board appointed representatives to multiple intergovernmental and advisory bodies. Appointments made during the meeting included: - Jen Cole: representative to the Tri-Agency Partnership among the Hermosa Beach City School District (HBCSD), HBC and Beach Cities Health District. - Jen Cole: representative to the city–school district compact (positional power as president). - Rachel (board member): representative to the Wellness Council and the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. - Carol (board member): representative to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization and to the Equity and Inclusion Committee. - Kathy Barrow: representative to the Beach Cities Health District Youth Coalition. The board confirmed each appointment by voice vote and recorded the motions as approved by the members present.
Board compensation Dr. Ryals reviewed statutory authority on board member compensation and noted the applicable provision in state law. "California Education Code allows for school board members to receive a monthly stipend of about $240," Dr. Ryals said. The board voted to continue its long-standing practice of not taking monetary compensation.
Votes at a glance (items approved) - Election of Jen Cole as president and Kathy Barrow as vice president/clerk — approved (voice vote; all present in favor). - Establish regular meeting schedule: second Wednesday each month, closed session 5:00 p.m., open session 6:00 p.m. — approved. - Authorize Superintendent Susan Wildes as executive secretary to the board — approved. - Re-adopt established district policies and regulations through the organizational meeting of 2025 — approved. - Adopt Resolution 08-24/25 (Authorized Signature Resolution) — approved. - Continue practice of not accepting the statutory monthly stipend (approximately $240) — approved. - Appointments to committees and partnerships listed above — approved.
What board members said and next steps Board members used the roundtable to thank staff for recent events and to flag upcoming work. Members discussed next steps related to Measure HV and said the board will begin architect briefings and community stakeholder outreach after the winter break. Board members asked colleagues and community members to submit feedback on draft board goals and materials to Superintendent Wildes ahead of the January work session.
The board adjourned following the organizational items and brief roundtable remarks.
