Substitute hiring, mileage and school-site upgrades raised at San Bernardino City Unified meeting

Parents and community members used the public-comment period on Jan. 6 to both thank the district for restoring a full-time art teacher at the district's VAPA magnet school and to press the board on hiring and logistics concerns affecting long-term substitutes.

William Bashers and several parents described the positive impact of the newly rehired art teacher, saying the return of visual and performing-arts instruction was a major reason families chose the school and noting that parents have formed a PTO in response to renewed engagement. "He is an exceptional teacher," one parent said, thanking the board for responding to earlier concerns.

Separately, Mark Lawrence told trustees he has observed a longstanding anomaly in the classified hiring process that gives bonus points to veterans and internal candidates but not to long-term substitutes. "The substitutes get nothing as well...even the substitutes that have been here for years...they get no bonus, no merit for that," Lawrence said, urging the district to change the point allocation so experienced substitutes receive credit when applying for permanent positions.

Board members asked clarifying questions about whether substitutes earn experience credit and whether substitutes who use personal vehicles for district work receive mileage reimbursement. Mr. Tilman and other trustees asked staff to investigate and to follow up; the clerk recorded Mr. Tilman's request for a formal inquiry into substitute credit and mileage reimbursement.

What’s next: the clerk summarized two follow-ups to the board: staff will investigate substitute mileage and credit for years served when applying for permanent jobs, and facilities staff will provide a site list and scope details for drinking-fountain fixture replacements. The district encouraged public commenters to provide contact information for follow-up.