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Superintendent reaffirms Oakdale High drama will continue; board reports closed‑session expulsion and parents raise attendance concerns
Summary
Superintendent Mendoza told the board that Oakdale High School’s drama program will continue as an extracurricular offering and the board reported a closed‑session finding approving expulsion of a student (case 252605). Parents raised concerns about absences being coded unexcused and requested follow‑up.
Superintendent Mendoza used the board’s announcements segment on April 13 to confirm that Oakdale High School’s drama program will continue as before and will not require enrollment in a daytime drama class, responding to public concern raised at the previous meeting.
"We will still continue with the program as is," Mendoza said, emphasizing that the district reviewed public comments and clarified the program was not a district initiative to change participation rules. He also explained that Brown Act rules limit the board’s ability to respond during public comment on non‑agendized items and asked community members to raise operational concerns with site administrators or the superintendent’s office so items can be properly agendized for public discussion.
Closed‑session action: Mendoza reported out of closed session that the governing board found cause and approved the expulsion of student case number 252605 under Education Code sections 48900(c), 48915(c)(3), 48915(b)(1) and 48915(b)(2) for the remainder of spring 2026 and the fall 2026 semester.
Public comment: parent Michael Flores told trustees he was frustrated that five absences recorded for his daughter were marked unexcused despite his family calling to notify the school. "The way to get her absences excused is we need to lie to the school," Flores said, presenting this as the practical workaround he was told; superintendent and staff offered to meet to explain state rules and site practices.
Other public comments included thanks from alumni Justin Aguilar for the district’s clarification on the drama program. Trustees urged continued communication and follow‑up with families; the superintendent recommended meeting with site administrators and the district to review attendance coding and state policy constraints.
What’s next: Superintendent Mendoza offered to follow up with commenters and directed staff to continue to treat operational questions through site administration channels or place items on future agendas when they require board consideration. The district reported the expulsion action as taken in closed session.
