Coaches from Ayala High School and several public commenters used the district's public comment period to press trustees on competitive fairness in girls' athletics and to criticize board leadership.

"Biological categories exist for a reason," Ayala head coach Caroline Cobo told the board, saying her athletes sometimes raced against biological males placed in the girls' category and that the difference created a "huge advantage" and safety concerns. Assistant coach Matt Ullman added, "Biological truth is not hate," and urged the district to support female athletes.

Several public commenters used the microphone to criticize President Sonia Shaw and other trustees for perceived political motives and comments made at past meetings. Those speakers included Jackie Cortez, who denounced Shaw's approach to immigration enforcement, and Gloria Chicarelli, who criticized board conduct around a football coach and accused trustees of prioritizing power over education.

President Shaw addressed the audience later in the meeting, invoking Title IX and saying the district "will continue to fight this fight" to ensure fairness and safety in girls' sports. Shaw also framed the district's curriculum and policies as protecting students' well‑being and pledged to continue pushing back against outside pressure.

Why it matters: The comments reflect ongoing local debate over athletic eligibility and broader disagreements about board leadership, translation and community inclusion. Coaches called for protective measures to preserve fairness and safety in competition; critics said the board's actions and rhetoric have been divisive.

What the board did: No formal policy change on athletic eligibility was proposed or adopted at the meeting; the board heard public comment and President Shaw pledged continued advocacy for the district's positions.