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Barstow Unified board approves staffing changes, $833,499 in purchase orders and continues CTE JPA membership
Summary
The board approved the agenda and consent items, authorized 81 purchase orders totaling $833,499.02, and approved multiple certificated and classified staffing actions (equity-funded positions, a Monterra wellness counselor, and classified-hour increases); the board also heard a presentation to renew participation in the Mountain Desert Career Pathways JPA.
Barstow Unified School District trustees voted to adopt the meeting agenda, approved the consent calendar, authorized 81 purchase orders totaling $833,499.02, and approved several staffing actions at their regular meeting.
During the business-services report staff recommended board approval of 81 purchase orders in the attached board report, citing a total of $833,499.02. A board member made a motion to approve the purchase order listing and the board approved the motion by voice vote.
On personnel matters the board approved Resolution No. 620252026 permitting certificated employees to teach out of their major under Title 5 requirements. Trustees then authorized establishment of certificated positions funded by the equity multiplier, including one academic intervention specialist at Henderson Elementary School and one art teacher at Montero Elementary School; administrators described how those positions fit into a rotating master schedule and the PLC (professional learning community) model.
The board also formalized a wellness counselor position at Monterra that staff said had already been filled; the item was presented to ensure proper procedural steps and funding alignment.
Trustees approved increases in classified work hours effective Oct. 29, 2025, including a lead nutrition services worker at Barstow High School moving from 6.5 to 8 hours and multiple nutrition-services worker hour increases across several school sites. The list of affected position codes and sites was read into the record during the meeting.
Separately, the board heard a staff presentation and was asked to approve continuation of membership in the Mountain Desert Career Pathways joint powers agreement, which supports district career-technical education programs and governance representation for Barstow Unified.
What happened next: The meeting included a recommendation to employ John Larson as director of facilities and maintenance and operations; Larson introduced himself, but the transcript does not record a completed hiring motion or vote in the provided excerpt.
Why this matters: The actions formalize curriculum-support positions and increase day-to-day staffing capacity in nutrition and student-support roles, and the purchase orders commit routine spending from district funds. The MDCP JPA continuation preserves the district's ability to participate in regional CTE programs.
