Perris Union High trustees workshop new vision and branding amid bond and facilities planning

The Perris Union High School District Board of Trustees met for a special workshop on March 26 to revise the district's vision and mission and to discuss branding, community perceptions and facilities planning.

The board convened at 5:04 p.m. and the facilitator led trustees through survey results and a branding exercise designed to identify what the community believes about the district and what the district should project. The presenter cautioned trustees against overstepping operational roles: "If the board begins to manage the day to day, the system's gonna crumble," the presenter said, urging trustees to rely on staff for implementation and to use board channels such as the Local Control and Accountability Plan and the budget to express priorities.

Why it matters: Trustees said they want a concise, student-centered mission and a brand that improves community trust ahead of planned facilities work and potential ballot measures. Staff described both program gains and remaining perception challenges — data and messaging the board may use to support a future facilities bond.

During the session trustees reviewed the district's current vision and mission language and repeatedly raised the absence of an explicit student focus in the boilerplate wording. One trustee recounted a personal transfer appeal for a child, linking denied transfers and limited program offerings to families leaving for neighboring districts, and said those program gaps — from athletics to career-technical courses — affected enrollment and reputation.

Staff presented survey findings that address safety perceptions. "Approximately 80% of respondents feel that students are generally safe or very safe at the schools," a staff member said, and administrators noted declines in some campus disciplinary fines compared with prior semesters. Trustees used those figures as a basis to argue for clearer public messaging about safety and program improvements.

Budget and legal context also framed the discussion. The presenter warned that board involvement in personnel matters or ad hoc investigations can create legal and fiscal exposure and can complicate bond-market perceptions, noting that external lenders consider stability when assessing bond debt. The facilitator repeatedly advised trustees to place requests for new programs and facilities into formal staff processes — LCAP, budget proposals and the facilities master plan — so staff can scope costs and return data-driven recommendations.

Facilities planning and bond considerations took up a large portion of the workshop. Staff and trustees discussed the district's facility needs, a charter school facilities grant application for a CMI site, and a potential bond package. A municipal adviser number of about $187 million was cited during discussion as a planning figure; presenters emphasized phasing, cost estimates and the need for a facilities master plan kickoff on April 20 led by DLR, the district's selected architect.

Trustees and staff agreed on next steps: staff will prepare draft vision and mission language informed by the board exercise, produce short vignettes and communications assets to better highlight programs, and advance the facility master plan work with community site walks and advisory committees. The board recorded a motion to adjourn; the meeting was adjourned after a recorded vote reported as 5-0 in favor.

Key quotes

"If the board begins to manage the day to day, the system's gonna crumble," Presenter (S4) said, warning of legal and operational risks to micromanagement.

"Approximately 80% of respondents feel that students are generally safe or very safe at the schools," Staff member (S5) said when summarizing the community survey.

Next steps: staff will draft mission/vision options for board review, share survey data publicly to support messaging, continue the facilities master-plan process (April 20 kickoff) and refine bond cost estimates and phasing for future board consideration.