At a special governance session on Nov. 20 the Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education focused on chapters 3 and 4 of the district governance handbook, using a brief icebreaker and facilitated discussion to examine role clarity, onboarding, communication and the board self‑evaluation process.

Facilitator Lou led a short 'energy bus' reflection and asked trustees to identify strategies they use to stay grounded; trustees shared tools including breathing exercises, walking and gratitude practices. The session moved into a review of governance norms (accountability, competence, ethics and solidarity) and then to a substantive discussion about the governance triangle — roles and decision pathways among trustees, the superintendent and cabinet members.

Trustees raised recurring small‑district issues, such as staff who serve multiple roles (the transcript cites Josh Dorn as an example, described as the district CBO who also coaches lacrosse) and the difficulty trustees face distinguishing when they speak as elected officials versus parents or community members. Several trustees recommended improved onboarding and mentoring for new trustees, including site visits and one‑on‑one meetings with principals, and suggested adding a board policy or a consistent onboarding checklist to reduce reliance on individuals.

Facilitator Lou introduced a board self‑evaluation tool and asked trustees to complete it in advance of a facilitated session; Lou later requested that the originally planned December session be moved to January or February because of scheduling. Trustees agreed to review the tool as homework and to consider minor wording edits, including an open‑ended question at the end of the form. The board closed the governance workshop and adjourned with next steps to finalize dates for the self‑evaluation facilitation.