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Public criticizes legal fees and bond accounting as Carpinteria board approves warrants, Measure U move
Summary
Trustees approved warrants, donations, a kitchen‑shelving purchase and a $5,700 Move Green estimate for Measure U relocations, while public speakers pressed the board for clearer disclosure of legal fees and whether proceeds from property sales are being shown in bond accounts.
The Carpinteria Unified School District board approved routine warrants for April 18–May 8, 2025, accepted several gifts and donations, authorized a central kitchen shelving purchase and approved a $5,700 Move Green estimate for relocating classrooms at Aliso Elementary using Measure U bond funds, all by voice vote on May 13.
During public comment several residents and employee representatives questioned large legal expenses paid to outside firms during the district’s recent labor impasse and asked whether those charges would appear in the warrants. One commenter cited recent warrants and asked specifically whether fees tied to the district’s fact‑finding team and outside counsel from a named law firm were included; the commenter also requested an explanation of a roughly $19,000 legal charge tied to an historical abuse case and noted a multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar figure previously discussed by the public.
Nut graf: While trustees approved the listed expenditures, members of the public used the warrants and Measure U agenda items to press for more detailed, timely disclosure of restricted bond revenues and legal spending. The meeting record shows questions remain about the full cost of outside counsel at the fact‑finding hearing and how Measure U revenues from property sales are reported.
Notable exchanges: During the warrants discussion a public commenter asked whether recent invoices covered pre‑May‑9 fact‑finding hearing costs and whether future warrants would itemize attorneys’ hours and travel. A resident, Roelio Delgado, repeated longstanding concerns about legal spending: “legal expenses are just uh too much,” he said on the record. In response to a question about whether two board members’ attendance at a hearing added cost, a district staff member (identified in the transcript as Miss Diamond) responded on record: “No cost to the district. I even brought my own lunch.”
Regarding Measure U, public commenters asked whether proceeds from the reported sale of district properties (referred to in public comment as the Balor/Veiler properties) had been received and why related revenues were not highlighted in an earlier budget presentation. Staff explained the Move Green estimate would be paid from Measure U bond funds; the public continued to press for a clearer breakdown of restricted revenues and expenditures.
Board action: The board voted to approve the warrants, accept donations from the Carpinteria Education Foundation and others, approve the Dawn Supplies shelving purchase for $11,642.38 (restricted kitchen funds), and approve the Move Green estimate for $5,700 (Measure U funds). The board also approved the personnel summary and other consent items.
Ending: Public requests for greater transparency over legal expenditures and for clearer presentation of restricted bond revenues were left as outstanding items for follow up; the board adjourned after announcements.
