Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Votes And Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board declines to send city charter‑amendment letter amid election‑cost concerns; approves change orders, wages and benefit updates
Summary
After hearing staff cost estimates that ranged from $80,000 (if piggybacked on city ballot) to $307,000 (if standalone), the Redondo Beach Unified board declined to forward a draft letter seeking a city charter amendment on school‑board term limits. The board voted to approve multiple action items including a $27,464.50 construction change order, a $209,285.90 bid award for serving counters, a student‑reinstatement vote and wage/benefit updates.
The Redondo Beach Unified School District board on Jan. 20 decided not to move forward with a draft letter to Mayor Jim Light and the Redondo Beach City Council asking that a charter amendment on school‑board term limits be placed on an upcoming ballot. Staff outlined cost differences depending on timing: about $80,000 if the district can piggyback on an existing city ballot item or roughly $307,000 if the district placed its question on a standalone local ballot. Several board members said the higher cost and current fiscal constraints made the letter premature.
Board Member (unnamed in transcript) said for the record that she would not run for a third term and opposed allocating district funds for a standalone election: “Given our fiscal challenges… I cannot possibly vote to support sending this letter to the mayor or putting it on the ballot,” she said. Board discussion noted a previous attempt in 2014 to change term limits and emphasized waiting for better timing if the district wishes to revisit the issue.
Separately, the board approved a series of action items and consent motions during the meeting. Key approvals included:
• A change order for the South Bay Adult School multipurpose‑room project to cover unexpected geotechnical inspections and testing in the amount of $27,464.50. Staff said the work was authorized during demolition when unplanned issues were found.
• Awarding a low bid for new serving counters at Adams and Paris Middle Schools, product and installation funded by grant money, at a combined cost of $209,285.90.
• Approval of a student‑reinstatement request (student E24‑25‑02) by voice vote.
• Approval of a new Adams Middle School course (a medical‑investigator style class that connects to the high‑school biomedical pathway) and approval of the package of RUHS new courses and CTE updates (see separate article).
• Personnel and compensation actions: raising a student‑worker pay classification from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour to match California’s Jan. 1, 2026 minimum wage; a 5% range placement increase for two Child Nutrition Services leads (funded from the child nutrition fund); and approval of 2025–26 benefit rates for certificated, classified and non‑represented employees consistent with collective bargaining outcomes.
All listed items were approved by the board with voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript; when staff provided specific dollar figures those are recorded above. On the charter‑amendment letter, staff and several board members agreed to hold the draft letter for possible future submission when timing and costs might be more favorable.
