Parents and CAC raise accountability concerns as Corona‑Norco board adopts SELPA annual plan

The Corona‑Norco Unified School District board opened a public hearing on the district’s SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) annual service delivery and budget plan and heard objections from the district advisory committee and community members who urged delaying adoption until additional accountability language and corrected notices were included.

Misty Hamlin, representing the CAC, asked the board to pull the plan from the consent agenda and not adopt it until section B11 (governance/accountability language) included specific commitments. "The district is required to give that minimum 15‑day public notice of the hearing," she said and argued that the plan as sent to the state listed the notice date the same day as the hearing, which she said suggested a failure to observe the required posting period.

Jamie Merchant, who also participated on the drafting committee, echoed concerns that the committee’s recommended accountability language was omitted and said the public had trouble finding the supporting documents within the consent calendar. Board members and staff responded that an instrument for administrator evaluation exists and can be applied to positions covered by the plan; Dr. Roberts noted the district uses an established evaluation tool that will be implemented in the 2024–25 school year.

After discussion and staff assurances — and after the public hearing was closed — the board moved item 13 (the SELPA annual Service Delivery Plan and budget) and approved it 5–0 later in the meeting. Trustees said they would continue to work with staff and stakeholders on clarifying governance and accountability language during implementation and monitoring.