Board approves visa-attorney contract to help secure Mandarin teachers for ABC Unified

The ABC Unified School District board on June 16 approved a contract to retain a visa attorney to assist the district in recruiting and securing visas for Mandarin teachers, district staff said.

During discussion of human-resources item 2.2, Clerk Mendoza asked staff to present the proposed agreement. A district presenter said the attorney is engaged because the district has difficulty recruiting qualified Mandarin teachers and the contract helps manage the visa process so prospective hires can be credentialed to teach in the United States. The presenter said the contract’s $30,000 fee covers the time frame for the services and is not limited to a single teacher: “It’s unlimited for the time frame,” the presenter said in response to board questions about how many visas the contract would cover.

Board members asked whether the contract applies to other subject areas. Staff replied the current use is specific to Mandarin teachers and that the district has not found comparable difficulty filling Spanish dual‑immersion positions. Board members also asked whether the teachers assisted under the contract will be credentialed; staff said they would be qualified and credentialed to teach multiple-subject elementary classes as appropriate.

Clerk Mendoza then moved to return the item to the consent calendar and the board approved the consent calendar by voice vote, including the contract.

The discussion that preceded the vote included public comment earlier in the meeting: a speaker who identifies himself as David Pyman urged the board to consider resident candidates and to question consultant contracts, saying local options should be used when possible. The board’s action authorizes district staff to enter into the attorney contract as presented.

What’s next: Staff will implement the contract and continue recruitment efforts for Mandarin teachers; board members asked staff to report on use and outcomes as hires proceed.