Board sets retroactive effective date for AB 1390 stipend, approves policy package

The Greenfield Union School District board on March 12 voted to make the board stipend required under AB 1390 effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2026, a decision that will create back pay for trustees. Trustees discussed the effective date, retroactivity and the mechanics of paying stipends; after a motion and second the board approved the retroactive effective date by roll call.

Board counsel and staff referenced the assembly bill's effective date and related bylaws that allow the board to consider proration when members miss meetings. Trustees debated whether monthly approvals would be required for prorating pay in months with absences; staff clarified that monthly action is the current process described in the staff analysis and bylaws.

On that basis, the board voted to approve payment for a trustee's missed meeting in February (item placed on the agenda); the motion passed on roll call.

Later in the meeting the board conducted second readings of a broad set of board policies and bylaws (policy numbers were listed in the agenda) and approved those items along with the consent agenda in a single roll-call vote.

The board noted that some months have two regular meetings and that payroll/proration can reflect the number of regular meetings in a month. The staff analysis and the board discussion indicate the district intends to follow AB 1390 guidance and the board's bylaws in processing retroactive pay and handling absences moving forward.

Next steps: staff will calculate any back pay due and process payments in accordance with the motion the board passed; future absences will be handled per the board's interpretation of statute and bylaws and may require monthly ratification when an absence is on record.