Board approves new Coordinator of State and Federal Programs position; one trustee objects to ongoing funding

Director of Human Resources Robert French told trustees the district's needs have expanded and proposed a Coordinator of State and Federal Programs to oversee the Community Schools Program, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and other state and federal instructional programs. French said funding would come from the Community Schools Grant, ELOP_P funding and the General Fund as outlined in the Local Control and Accountability Plan.

The board approved the job description and later approved the new position on the condition funding was available; the motion to approve the new position passed with a 4-1 vote (No: Elisabeth Parish). Parish asked for clarity on whether the position would be year-to-year and who would supervise the coordinator; Robert French said he would supervise the position and that it would be temporary while grants are funded. Parish also asked for numbers on available funds; Superintendent Jamie Nino said she would provide those figures to the board.

Why it matters: The position centralizes oversight of multiple grant-funded programs; trustees debated sustainability and supervision. The board's conditional approval signals attention to funding availability and oversight, and the recorded dissent highlights a fiduciary concern raised by one trustee.