Board adopts 14-day stay-away for trustee after heated public testimony about student walkout

Board President Shirley Turley opened a prolonged public-comment period Wednesday as community members urged the board to weigh safety, due process and students’ rights after a Jan. 30 walkout at Pajaro Valley High School.

The agenda item (9.3) asked trustees to consider issuing a written “stay‑away” notice restricting Trustee Gabriel (Gabe) Medina’s entry to that campus following an on‑campus verbal altercation between a trustee and a district employee. Superintendent Contreras summarized the staff position: staff reported the trustee’s conduct made employees fear for their safety and requested the board ensure protections were in place consistent with Board Policy 3515.2 addressing disruptions to school operations.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of Medina, including students and community mentors, described the trustee as a student advocate who came to the campus after students asked for adult support during a national walkout; several speakers said the principal had threatened students with towing, suspension or exclusion and that the trustee’s presence was calming. "Our job is not to silence students. Our job is to empower them," said a Brown Berets member who testified in support.

Other speakers — including school staff who were on site — described the event as chaotic and raised safety concerns. Trustee Navarro, who represents the site, said two unauthorized adults arrived on a closed campus and that some students were removed from campus without parental permission, which raised liability and safety concerns.

Trustees debated whether a stay‑away action for an elected trustee required an unusually high standard of process. Trustee Medina argued the district lacked prior written notice, an investigation, mediation attempts and written findings before advancing a stay‑away action, and warned the board about setting a precedent for selective enforcement against trustees who publicly criticize administration. "If my conduct constituted immediate danger, action would have occurred that day," he said.

After a series of motions, a brief recess and extended trustee discussion, the board approved a 14‑day stay‑away limiting Trustee Medina’s presence at Pajaro Valley High School, with an explicitly stated follow‑up to pursue restorative mediation after the cooling-off period. The motion passed in roll call with four votes in favor and one vote against (Trustee Medina), with two trustees absent.

President Turley framed the board’s action as a means to protect staff and maintain a professional workplace: "If your boss walked into your workspace and screamed at you, called you names and told you you were going to be fired, what would you do?" she said.

The board also recorded multiple public requests during the item for clearer district protocols on student civic participation (including state statute SB 955 regarding excused absences for civic engagement with advance notice), more consistent communication to families, and use of mediation or restorative processes in future escalations.

The stay‑away is limited in duration (14 days); the board specified mediation follow‑up but did not provide a public timeline for that process. The district said it would return with details on next steps and any required written findings or procedures.