Call to Order and Procedural Items
Quorum established.
Trustees present: Alman, Anderson, Viskanta, Smith.
Trustee Williams absent for the Special Meeting.
Agenda approved unanimously.
Meeting conducted in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Public Comment – Closed Session Items
Public comments focused overwhelmingly on the Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) gym rental incident, raising concerns about student safety, unauthorized access to campus facilities, lack of oversight, and failures in governance. Speakers emphasized the emotional impact on students, the displacement of students from school facilities, and the need for accountability and systemic reform.
Closed Session Report Out
The Board approved a compromise settlement related to a special education dispute, providing compensatory education services in exchange for a waiver of claims.
Vote: 4–0, Trustee Williams absent.
Item 3B – Approval of Foundation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Superintendent’s Introduction
Superintendent Dr. Anne Staffieri introduced a revised MOU intended to:
Return full authority over non-school-related facility rentals to the District.
Address significant gaps in oversight revealed by the CCA incident.
Establish consistent, districtwide procedures for vetting, approval, and monitoring of third-party facility use.
Dr. Staffieri emphasized that the changes were necessary to protect students, restore community trust, and ensure compliance with district policy, while reaffirming that school foundations remain valued and essential partners.
Staff Presentation
Steven Dickenson, Associate Superintendent (Facilities/Operations), presented the revised MOU and implementation details, including:
Accelerated implementation of facility-use provisions to February 1, 2026.
Continued foundation management of school-affiliated camps, clinics, and fundraisers.
Retention of the administrative fee cap (not to exceed 10%).
Retention of donor opt-out provisions.
Acknowledgment of foundation concerns regarding mid-year budget impacts, particularly for non-CCA foundations.
Discussion of a phased implementation approach to balance urgency with operational realities.
Public Comment on Item 3B – Support for the Revised MOU
During public comment, several speakers explicitly supported adoption of a revised MOU, emphasizing student safety, accountability, and the need for clear district oversight. The following comments were supportive in substance and tone:
Peng Peng
Stated that the revised MOU was necessary to address ongoing governance failures.
Emphasized that student well-being and instructional time must never be compromised.
Supported stronger district authority over facility use to prevent future incidents.
Dr. Mingzhu
Urged the Board to approve the revised MOU, describing it as clear, reasonable, and essential.
Highlighted that the MOU provides necessary guidance on operational policies, facility rental oversight, and financial reporting.
Expressed confidence that the revised agreement would help prevent similar incidents and strengthen public trust.
Hong Wu
Supported moving the MOU forward on an accelerated timeline, stating that stronger oversight could not wait.
Characterized the MOU as a corrective step following repeated governance and audit-related concerns.
Emphasized that foundations exist to support schools and must operate transparently and in alignment with district policies.
Mary Davis
Founder, Public Education Oversight Project
Thanked the Board for bringing the MOU forward and described it as long overdue.
Emphasized the importance of replacing informal practices with clear, written agreements.
Noted that earlier adoption of a formal MOU could have prevented current issues.
Highlighted the role of student voices in bringing attention to the underlying problems and urged the Board to honor those contributions.
Joe Austin
Executive Director, Torrey Pines Foundation
Expressed support for shifting facility rental authority back to the District.
Affirmed that foundations want the revised MOU.
Raised concerns about implementation timing and financial impacts for foundations with existing rental commitments.
Encouraged thoughtful phasing to avoid unintended harm to student programs.
Board Discussion
Trustees broadly agreed that:
The revised MOU was necessary and overdue.
Past boards had missed opportunities to address known governance weaknesses earlier.
The CCA Foundation’s situation warranted immediate corrective action.
Written procedures and centralized oversight were essential going forward.
Trustees emphasized the importance of balancing urgency with collaboration and operational clarity for non-CCA foundations.
Board Action
After discussion and multiple motions:
Approved Action
CCA Foundation MOU: Effective February 1, 2026.
Torrey Pines, SDA, and LCC Foundations: Effective July 1, 2026.
Direction for the Facilities Committee to meet with foundation leaders from TPHS, SDA, and LCC to clarify financial and operational impacts.
Vote
Approved unanimously.
Trustee Williams abstained.