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Simi Valley Unified trustees approve personnel contracts, new JELA principal position and join CSCDA infrastructure program
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Summary
The board approved a director of fiscal services contract with a publicly read salary of $157,122.24, created a principal position for Justin Early Learners Academy and authorized participation in the CSCDA statewide infrastructure program; trustees also adopted a March 15 notice about potential reductions required by education code.
The Simi Valley Unified School District board approved a series of personnel and fiscal actions Tuesday evening, including a management contract for a new director of fiscal services, creation of a principal position for the Justin Early Learners Academy and authorization to join the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) program.
President Smolin publicly summarized the fiscal director contract before the vote, stating: "The recommended salary is $157,122.24, Step 4 of the classified confidential and management salary schedule with medical benefits provided to other managers." The board approved the employment agreement for Carol Lovejoy by motion (Gibran) and second (Resnick); roll-call votes on the contract were recorded as Aye by the trustees present.
Trustees also approved the creation of a new principal position for Justin Early Learners Academy (JELA) to reflect campus growth and increased programs. Staff told the board the coordinator currently at the site was encouraged to apply; the district will recruit both internal and external candidates for the 2026–27 school year.
On business and facilities, the board adopted budget assumptions for the 2026–27 fiscal year and voted to become a CSCDA program participant, a statewide joint powers authority for infrastructure financing. Staff told trustees joining the JPA carries no direct cost to the district; one trustee expressed wariness but voted in favor after staff explained the program uses state bond resources.
The board also adopted Resolution 34-25-26 to notify employees of potential program reductions by the March 15 education-code deadline; staff emphasized the notice is procedural and does not itself effect layoffs. Other routine approvals included acceptance of gifts totaling $20,838.15 (a $19,838.15 donation to Simi Valley High for coaching stipends and a $1,000 contribution to Santa Susana High’s robotics team) and adoption of Resolution 31-25-26 recognizing National School Social Work Week.
All action items described above passed on roll-call votes.
What’s next: The district will proceed with recruitment for the JELA principal position, implement the director-of-fiscal-services transition, and, as authorized, participate in CSCDA program activities when appropriate.
