CVUSD trustees interview three candidates for vacant Area 2 seat, will vote publicly Thursday

The Coachella Valley Unified School District held a special meeting to interview three candidates for the provisional appointment to the trustee seat vacated by Trustee Bass in Trustee Area 2. The board read the statutory framework for a provisional appointment under education code section 50 91 and noted the board previously authorized the appointment on 07/24/2025; the application deadline had been 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Antonio Aguilar, Araceli Beltran and Alina Calamanis each gave two-minute opening statements and answered five standard questions posed by trustees about the role of the governing board, district strengths and weaknesses, the board‑superintendent relationship, how to solicit community input and how a trustee would stay current on education issues.

"The board of education has one employee, and that's the superintendent," Antonio Aguilar said when asked about the board's role, adding the board should guide long-term vision, hire a superintendent who can execute that vision and hold that leader accountable. Aguilar, who said he teaches political science at College of the Desert and has family ties to the district, cited student diversity and committed teachers as strengths and acknowledged the district’s ongoing budget challenges.

Araceli Beltran said the board's role is to "offer direction for the school district," not to micromanage staff, and urged improved communications to reduce community misunderstandings. She commended the district’s cultural responsiveness and recommended stronger follow-up so community input does not disappear after being submitted.

Alina Calamanis, a Read With Me volunteer and staff member who said she works in elementary literacy programs, praised classroom teachers and said trustees should collaborate closely with Superintendent Dr. Esparza on policy and budget. Calamanis asked about translation services and accessibility for non‑English speakers; trustees confirmed headsets with English translation are available and noted many trustees are fluent in Spanish.

Trustees repeatedly returned to budget as an immediate priority. At least one trustee told candidates the successful appointee will need to "jump in" and learn the district's fiscal position quickly. Board members urged any appointee to put students first, avoid serving special interests and be willing to engage with the community.

The board did not deliberate or take a formal appointment at the special meeting. President Jocelyn Vargas said the trustees will convene a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the interviews and make the appointment by public vote; staff will contact candidates about attendance. At the end of the special meeting the board approved a motion to adjourn by roll call vote.

Next steps: the board’s public discussion and vote on the provisional appointment are scheduled for the next board meeting on Thursday, when trustees said they will act in public and announce the appointment if made.