Board approves Mando Youth contract to provide mentoring for at‑risk students

The Santa Paula Unified School District board voted to approve a service agreement with Mando Youth Development Group to provide mentoring and intervention services for targeted secondary students, including embedding supports in ninth‑grade transition classes.

Principal Danny Guzman introduced the requested contract and invited Mando representatives to describe services. Marcos Aless, identified in the meeting as executive director of Mando Youth Development Group, said the organization focuses on prevention, intervention and re‑entry supports and works across a young person’s trajectory. "When we go into the schools or into the communities or into the juvenile facilities... we focus on the child development aspect of things, the traumas, adversities that they face," Aless said, describing mentoring, case management and flexible caseload models.

Trustees asked how students are identified, whether referrals and midyear entries are possible, how the program coordinates with counselors and SROs, and what short‑list evaluation metrics should be used. Principal Guzman said student selection comes through middle‑school identification and counseling teams and that services will be embedded in school hours to reach students less likely to attend before/after‑school programming. Mando staff said they can provide training to counselors and law‑enforcement partners, and recommended focusing on targeted evaluation metrics such as chronic absenteeism and engagement as priority indicators.

The board approved the service agreement by voice vote. The contract includes evaluation metrics and a scope of services; trustees asked staff to prioritize clear, measurable indicators for renewal and to integrate the program with school counselors and site supports.