Capistrano Unified board meeting, Sep 17, 2026

1 h 34 min · 14 public speakers

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Capistrano Unified board joins addiction litigation and establishes special reserve fund 44:44

  • During public comment, several speakers asked the board to reconsider a reduction in a bilingual community liaison's schedule at Dana Hills High School. 13:06
  • The board adopted a resolution, 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1, authorizing participation in social media addiction and video game addiction litigation. 48:06
  • Lisa Davis announced that the motion on The Bedford Researcher carried 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1 and the motion to adopt Uncharted Territory: A Reader and Guide carried 5⁠-⁠1⁠-⁠1. 1:01:37
  • After discussion of basic aid funding and declining enrollment, the board adopted a resolution establishing a special reserve fund for other than capital outlay projects, 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1. 1:24:31

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

Item by item (14)
  1. Opening, agenda and closed session report 0:15
    • Lisa Davis said staff pulled consent item 14B6, a second reading of Board Policy 5145⁠-⁠11 on questioning and apprehension by law enforcement, and edited Resolution 2627⁠-⁠15. 0:39
    • A staff member reported the board voted 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1 on several closed session items, including approving staff recommendation on existing litigation regarding the social media class action lawsuit. 4:17
    • The agenda was adopted 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1. 1:29
  2. Public comment 6:57
    • Other speakers asked for shade structures at a preschool, an option to opt out of Chromebooks in elementary school, and accountability for IEP transportation supports. 9:40
    • Several speakers at public comment asked the board to reconsider reducing a bilingual community liaison at Dana Hills High School, with one saying the position went from 5 days a week to 2 days a week. 13:06
    • A speaker asked the board to end its relationship with the No Place for Hate program, and another asked whether the pulled law enforcement questioning policy had been vetted. 18:05
  3. Public hearings on resolutions 23:02
    • Lisa Davis opened and closed public hearings on Resolution 2627⁠-⁠13 on textbooks and instructional materials and Resolution 2627⁠-⁠15 on declining enrollment. 23:02
    • A staff member said there were no speaker cards for either hearing. ~23:23
  4. District-wide safety measures update 23:46
    • A district staff member said the crisis alert system is in year 2 and logged 824 active staff alerts last year. 29:00
    • The staff member said schools had 10 shelter-in-places and 2 actual lockdowns last year, and that visitor management will be K through 12 in all schools. 33:12
    • Gila Jones asked whether staff badge compliance was getting better, and a staff member said it was. 37:59
  5. Student board member report 40:57
    • The student board member said a series of student roundtables with feeder families would begin Tuesday, September 23rd, at 5 PM at Capistrano Valley High School. 41:12
  6. Social media and video game addiction litigation 44:44
    • The superintendent said the resolution seeks permission to join a federal-level lawsuit on both the social media addiction and video game addiction sides. 45:04
    • One board member said being very happy that the district was doing this and said it should have happened 5, 6, 7 years ago. 46:05
    • Lisa Zollinger asked about expenses, and a staff member said the lawsuit is contingency-based with no cost out of pocket for the district. 46:35
  7. Instructional materials adoption 48:07
    • One board member said Uncharted Territory lacked voices from other intellectual traditions and asked how opposing views would be presented. 49:11
    • A staff member said the book is a supplemental resource and not the only resource used in the AP Seminar class. 52:55
    • One board member said they would be voting no for the book and would like to see another book come back that shares alternative perspectives. 57:22
    • The board voted 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1 to split the vote, approved The Bedford Researcher 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1 and approved Uncharted Territory 5⁠-⁠1⁠-⁠1. 1:01:08
  8. Child care and development policy 1:02:09
    • A staff member said revisions to Board Policy 5148 reflect requirements from Senate Bill 568 and cover eligibility, enrollment, fees and complaint procedures. 1:02:32
    • Gila Jones said the second reading could not be waived because not all members were present, and Lisa Davis said it would come back on consent in October. 1:03:27
    • The motion carried 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1. 1:03:20
  9. Preschool early childhood education policy 1:03:40
    • A staff member presented new Board Policy 5148.3 and two revisions based on trustee feedback, including adding the phrase in cooperation with parents. 1:04:00
    • The motion carried 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1, and Lisa Davis said the policy will come back on consent in October. 1:06:25
  10. Declining enrollment resolution 1:06:34
    • The deputy superintendent said a state trailer bill requires districts in declining enrollment to hold a public hearing on the subject. 1:06:34
    • Lisa Davis said a whereas would be changed to state that Clarence Lobo Elementary School merged with Marblehead Elementary School at the Marblehead campus. 1:08:17
  11. Special reserve fund 1:09:24
    • The deputy superintendent said the fund would help mitigate impacts of becoming a basic aid district, noting the basic aid portion is about $35 million. 1:09:24
    • A speaker at public comment questioned increasing reserves while the district discusses closing schools due to declining enrollment. 1:11:31
    • A staff member said the district does not project an influx of students, and one board member said they are fully behind reserves. 1:13:36
  12. K-3 class size penalty waiver 1:24:33
    • The deputy superintendent said the state asked for a resolution with more clarification on a class size waiver approved in May. 1:24:33
  13. Consent calendar 1:25:52
    • No trustees pulled consent items. ~1:26:04
    • The consent calendar was approved 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1. 1:26:34
  14. Superintendent and board comments 1:26:34
    • The superintendent announced a college fair October 3rd at San Juan Hills and a superintendent evening forum October 7th at Shorecliffs Middle School. 1:26:34
    • Jennifer Adnams recognized 12 district schools for implementing PBIS during the '25-'26 school year. 1:28:48
    • One board member called on fellow board members to turn their backs on public comments that insult children. 1:31:39
    • The motion to adjourn carried 6⁠-⁠0⁠-⁠1. 1:33:15

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 “Capistrano USD Regular Board Meeting | 9-17-2026”