Azusa Unified board meeting, Sep 15, 2026

1 h 42 min · 3 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 42 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Azusa Unified board approves 2025⁠-⁠2026 unaudited actuals 1:32:36

  • The board recognized Azusa High School athletes, elementary students who competed in the California State Games and Gladstone Middle School staff for a 2026 California PBIS Silver Implementation Award. 9:44
  • One board member asked the board to pause the vote on the item and the next 2 items and return to closed session, and after closed session the board voted to approve negotiation of amendments, including reduction of purchase price, for the former Ellington and Powell properties. 1:29:22
  • A presenter reported that the district brought in $137.6 million, spent $141.4 million and continued to have a structural deficit of $3.8 million. 1:35:54

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (12)
  1. Opening and Pledge of Allegiance 0:16
    • Sandra Benavides called the meeting to order on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, at 4:59 PM. 0:20
    • The principal of Sierra High School described the school's programs before a Sierra senior led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3:00
    • Sandra Benavides announced that the motion to approve the agenda passed 5⁠-⁠0. 1:19
  2. Closed session report 8:33
    • Sandra Benavides reported out action taken in closed session on an appeal of a student record challenge. 8:33
    • Sandra Benavides reported that by a vote of 4 to 1 the board denied the appeal. 8:33
  3. National Hispanic Heritage Month resolution 8:33
    • Yolanda Rodriguez-Peña read the resolution designating September 15th through October 15th as National Hispanic Heritage Month. 9:07
    • Sandra Benavides announced that the motion passed 5⁠-⁠0. 9:55
  4. Student and staff recognitions 9:44
    • An Azusa High School staff member presented a league softball Most Valuable Player and First Team All-League athletes in stunt, baseball, softball and boys volleyball. 10:09
    • The board recognized Azusa High School teams and athletes who qualified for CIF competition and elementary students who competed in the California State Games. 22:56
    • A district administrator said the California Department of Education recognized Gladstone Middle School, and Sandra Benavides read a certificate recognizing the staff for the 2026 California PBIS Silver Implementation Award. 44:23
  5. Public comment 50:42
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about Azusa High School using the Jaguars name and said the board had voted that the name should stay Azusa High School Aztecs. 51:25
    • A speaker at public comment raised declining enrollment and called for a retention strategy including exit surveys and school-by-school data. 54:40
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about Dalton Elementary PTA funds and asked what safeguards the district would use to protect confidential student and family records. 56:58
  6. Board member comments and requests 59:39
    • Yolanda Rodriguez-Peña requested a presentation on unhoused students in the district. 1:02:06
    • Adrian Greer reiterated a request for a report on the rationale behind changes involving the Azusa High School mascot and its consistency with an earlier board vote. 1:06:24
    • One board member said it would be good to hear from staff on unhoused students. 1:10:45
  7. Student board member and staff reports 1:10:45
    • Student board members from Sierra High School and Azusa High School gave updates on campus activities and athletics. 1:12:17
    • A staff member said the district broke ground at Dalton for a parking lot and was out to bid for Hodge. 1:22:40
    • A staff member invited the board to a Years of Recognition event on Monday, September 21st, at Sierra High School's multipurpose room. 1:27:03
  8. Approval of the agenda 1:27:29
    • A motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded. 1:27:29
    • The motion passed 5⁠-⁠0. 1:28:40
  9. Surplus and former school property items 1:28:23
    • A staff member said there were no updates on surplus property. 1:28:56
    • Adrian Greer asked the board to pause votes on items 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4, move on to item 13.1 and then return to closed session before revisiting the items that evening. 1:29:22
  10. Unaudited actuals 1:32:36
    • The presenter said LACO approved the district's budget but asked for a plan to gradually decrease deficit spending. 1:32:49
    • A presenter reported revenue of $137.6 million and expenditures of $141.4 million, a structural deficit of $3.8 million. 1:35:11
    • The motion to approve passed 5⁠-⁠0. 1:38:46
  11. Former school property agreements 1:38:37
    • The board reported the same action for the former Powell property. 1:38:37
    • The board reported that in closed session it voted to approve negotiation of amendments for the former Ellington property, including reduction of purchase price, close of escrow and the deposit date, extending a minimum of 30 days. 1:39:08
    • Adrian Greer stated which board members moved and seconded the motion. 1:40:30
    • The motion passed 5⁠-⁠0. 1:40:49
  12. Adjournment 1:40:35
    • A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. 1:40:35
    • The motion passed 5⁠-⁠0 and the meeting adjourned at 9:42 PM. 1:41:30

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “9/15/26 - Azusa Unified School District Board Meeting”