Residents press Cajon Valley board on literacy, spending and a disputed contract posting

During the public-comment period at the Cajon Valley Union School District meeting, several residents urged the board to take immediate action on declining literacy outcomes and raised questions about district contracting practices.

Sher Leian said the board and superintendent must prioritize student literacy and asked that the superintendent’s evaluation and future duties explicitly focus on reading outcomes. “If he cannot use his energy, resources and multiple talents…this district could become very famous if it was one of the school districts that could tackle this problem,” she told trustees.

Mary Davis called for a public investigation into what she described as a substituted contract document (the “Beable contract”), saying signatures differed between posted versions and a key paragraph had been removed. “I would like a public accounting for this,” she said, asking the board to make a public explanation available rather than provide a private meeting.

Other speakers criticized a prior board decision to raise a charter enrollment cap and warned it would divert funds from the district’s roughly 16,000 students; union representatives asked the board to honor negotiated terms and practice transparency. Supporters of the charter argued the school has strong outcomes and that parental choice should be respected.

The board listened but did not immediately resolve the contract allegation; the Cadino charter discussion later consumed a large portion of the agenda. Trustees acknowledged the public’s concerns and requested staff follow up on the contract irregularity and return with options and transparency measures.

No formal disciplinary or investigatory finding was made during the meeting; comments were entered into the public record for follow-up.