Hacienda La Puente board elects officers and approves superintendent contract, prompting staffing and fiscal questions

The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District board on Tuesday elected Gina Kwok president, Adriana Quinones vice president and Nancy Lovera clerk and approved an employment agreement for incoming superintendent John Roche, whose contract sets annual pay at $312,000 and includes standard administrative benefits.

The decisions came during the board's annual organization meeting and follow closed-session appointments the board announced earlier. "We are very pleased to appoint a contract for a permanent superintendent for Mr. John Roche," Interim Superintendent Dr. Kimberly said as she summarized closed-session actions, listing the salary and benefit provisions the board approved.

The appointment vote on the superintendent contract passed on the consent/action item for contracts and agreements; board members signaled support during roll call. After the public vote, Roche addressed the board: "I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join such a dedicated and talented team of professional educators and support staff as the next superintendent of Hacienda La Puente Unified School District," he said.

Why it matters: the superintendent contract and officer elections set leadership priorities and signal the district's direction as trustees confront budget pressures and personnel disputes. Trustees discussed a recent Financial Health Risk Analysis and stressed the need for transparency on budget decisions even as they approved routine and one-time contracts.

Key votes and motions: the board carried several organization and consent motions in public session, including election of board officers (president vote carried with one dissenting vote for that item) and multiple business operations approvals such as acceptance of a Career and Technical Education Incentive Grant totaling $884,365 and the authorization of a pool-services contract not to exceed $150,000.

Trustees framed some votes as necessary stewardship. "We are in this thing together," Board President Gina Kwok said in closing remarks, encouraging collaboration between trustees, staff and the community as the district moves through a leadership transition. Trustees also emphasized that some measures were temporary, pointing to hiring processes underway for additional school police and a broader plan for fiscal stabilization.

What's next: the board signaled that the superintendent's appointment will appear again on the agenda in future meetings for follow-up items tied to implementation, staffing and oversight. Trustees said they will continue working with the county office of education on fiscal monitoring and the district's stabilization plan.