Salinas Union board approves MOU with Digital Promise as Verizon partnership is paused

President Carrillo opened the meeting and the Salinas Union High School District board voted to approve a four-year memorandum of understanding with Digital Promise that would have supported a Verizon Innovative Learning Schools partnership estimated at about $4,000,000 over several years.

In a prepared statement to the board and community, Superintendent Galvan described the initiative as aiming to close the digital divide in a district where she said 85 to 90 percent of students live in poverty. Galvan said the partnership would have provided devices, connectivity, coaching and professional development, and that the district sees the value of the work and the people who serve students. "This news is deeply disappointing to a district with 85 to 90% of students in poverty," Galvan said, announcing that the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools partnership was "paused and will not move forward with our district at this time due to concerns that were raised during the review and early implementation process." (Superintendent Galvan)

Galvan told the board the district estimated the partnership’s resources at roughly $4,000,000 and said district staff had documented device failure rates—"devices that currently break at the rate of 40% annually in our middle schools"—as part of the rationale for pursuing external support.

Katie Basler, who introduced herself during public comment, urged earlier labor engagement on the initiative and warned against "backdoor deals" that affect employees. "If we had been brought in earlier to discuss the impacts of this, we wouldn't be where we are now," Basler said, and she thanked the district for negotiating an MOU that addressed working-conditions concerns raised by labor representatives. (Katie Basler)

Trustees expressed frustration that the decision to pause the partnership came from Digital Promise and Verizon rather than the board. "Digital Promise, Verizon and not this board made the decision," Trustee Huerta said, adding that trustees ask questions so they can make informed decisions and thanking teachers who shared concerns. Trustee Riquita and other board members voiced disappointment about misinformation circulating about device types and the fiscal impact of losing the partnership's estimated value. (Trustee Huerta; Trustee Riquita)

Board members were directed to a matrix of questions and answers that the administration said addressed issues raised during an earlier meeting and to legal counsel's review of the MOU before the vote. The board approved the MOU by voice vote after a motion and second.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 26-21 (release and reassignment of certificate of administrators): Approved on a motion by Trustee Rafitas, seconded by Trustee Felice; reported vote 6-0 with Trustee Robinson absent. (Clerk) - Expulsion of student no. 25-26-22: Approved in open session after closed-session discussion; motion carried (transcript records "Aye" and "Motion carries" but does not provide a roll-call tally). (President Carrillo/Felice) - Salinas Union HS District MOU with Digital Promise: Motion to approve made and seconded; board approved by voice vote (all "Aye"). (President Carrillo/Speaker 2)

What happens next Superintendent Galvan said the district will continue working with Digital Promise in hopes of finding a path forward and thanked labor partners for negotiating terms in an MOU that the administration said is legally approved. Trustees said they hope to have clearer timelines and greater board involvement in future partnership decisions.

(Reporting in this article is limited to statements and actions recorded in the meeting transcript.)