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El Rancho Unified School District board meeting, Aug 18, 2026

3 h 00 min · 1 public speaker

Chronic absenteeism ▶ 2:27:43Safety, weapons and police ▶ 1:24:42

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 3 h 00 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

El Rancho Unified board approves school resource deputy agreement and Hispanic Heritage Month resolution 2:51:07

  • The El Rancho Unified school board heard a presentation on the new Metro Alliance Conference, a 12-school conference in which El Rancho High School will compete in either the Metro or Alliance League depending on the sport. 1:51:43
  • The board approved a services agreement with the County of Los Angeles for a School Resource Deputy Program and adopted a resolution recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month. 2:51:07

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

Item by item (14)
  1. Opening and agenda adoption 4:35
    • Hector LaFarga, Jr. called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM, read the topics that could be addressed in closed session and reconvened open session at 6:47 PM. 4:35
    • Staff members announced amendments to the consent agenda, including pulling item 16B2. 1:22:46
    • Hector LaFarga, Jr. announced that the motion to approve the agenda passed. 1:23:35
  2. Closed session report 1:23:35
    • The superintendent reported that board members received briefings and updates on Item C and Item E and that no reportable final action was taken. 1:23:35
  3. Introduction of school resource deputy 1:24:42
    • The district's police chief introduced a new deputy from the Sheriff's Department who will serve as the school resource deputy. 1:24:42
    • Hector LaFarga, Jr. gave the deputy an official welcome and said the board looked forward to working together to keep students and campuses safe. 1:26:32
  4. Student and athletic recognitions 1:26:50
    • The board recognized students who took part in the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project 2026 Statewide Leadership Conference, and the students described their experience. 1:26:50
    • The board recognized the El Rancho High School 2025⁠-⁠2026 boys golf team, whose coach said the team was the 2nd or 3rd ever from the school to go to CIF. 1:35:49
    • A staff member said the golf coach stepped down from coaching after 21 years. 1:41:04
  5. Public comment 1:45:46
    • No public comments were offered on agenda items. 1:45:46
    • A speaker at public comment asked whether air conditioning had been installed in school cafeterias and said the Pledge of Allegiance should not be recited over the loudspeaker. 1:47:11
  6. Labor association reports 1:49:39
    • A representative of ERFT asked for clear communication on the shift to a new payroll system and for more itemized pay stubs. 1:49:39
    • The representative said bathrooms for moderate to severe students at the high school were not ready and that the union understood 2 bathrooms were needed. 1:49:57
    • The CSEA representative was not present. 1:51:31
  7. Metro Alliance Conference presentation 1:51:43
    • A presenter said the conference brings together 12 schools, with a top league called the Metro League and a bottom league called the Alliance League, and that most El Rancho sports will compete in the Metro League. 1:54:50
    • One board member said of the new MAC-12 league, I do support it, and asked whether any new sports had been added, and a staff member said no other sport had been added at the moment. 2:12:25
    • Arlene Perez asked whether CIF was considering esports, and a staff member said esports is a CIF sport and the district was working on a program. 2:22:40
  8. First reading of absence and truancy policy 2:27:43
    • The board received for first reading a revised board policy and administrative regulation on chronic absence and truancy. 2:27:43
    • One board member suggested the district offer trauma-informed training for parents as well as staff. 2:28:12
  9. Superintendent and cabinet reports 2:28:43
    • A staff member reported that the district's food services team was selected as the spotlight partner school district for No Kid Hungry, which includes a $15,000 grant. 2:30:05
    • The staff member thanked staff, students and families for their patience during the transition from Clever to ClassLink. 2:30:49
  10. Board announcements 2:31:22
    • One board member described a partnership program that gives free bilingual books from 0 to 5 and said they hoped the board could take it up again in the future. 2:32:32
    • Esther Mejia reported that the Tri-Cities ROP board approved 3 new courses and the MOU for 26⁠-⁠27 pass-through funding. 2:37:10
    • John Contreras said the Dons of Distinction band has contributed over $80,000 to the district band program. 2:42:49
  11. Consent agenda 2:44:59
    • Arlene Perez pulled item 16D1 and asked how the contracted program monitors student progress. 2:44:59
    • A speaker said the provider does pre and post assessments and collaborates with teachers, and one board member asked that such data be available before the board renews a contract in the future. 2:50:02
    • The board approved the consent agenda minus 16D1, then approved item 16D1 in a separate vote. 2:49:12
  12. School resource deputy agreement 2:51:07
    • The board considered a services agreement with the County of Los Angeles for the School Resource Deputy Program. 2:51:07
    • A speaker asked whether PBIS information is shared with the deputy, and a staff member said the officer can be included in training when time allows. 2:51:35
    • Hector LaFarga, Jr. announced that the motion passed. 2:52:52
  13. National Hispanic Heritage Month resolution 2:52:52
    • The superintendent said the resolution recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month and that 97.2% of district students identify as Hispanic. 2:53:22
    • Hector LaFarga, Jr. announced that the motion passed. 2:54:21
  14. Future agenda item requests 2:54:21
    • Christine Sáavedra requested a follow-up on restrooms for a special education class, and Arlene Perez requested an update on esports at Salazar and CIF. 2:54:34
    • Esther Mejia requested updates on a special education educator recruitment group, the Salazar High School marquee and fans, and a discussion of a sister city pen pal exchange. 2:55:02

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

What was said

What board members said, in order

Have our coaches experienced any type of challenges that have been met with this new league that are not been met with this new league? Is there any new challenges that they maybe didn't think of, or, or any, any positive challenges that may have come out of this, this new league?John Contreras · Member2:14:21
I just want to get an informational item on looking into getting a crossing guard or an admin out in front of the high school during the first half hour of the release of class, which would be about 3:20 to 3:45-ish.John Contreras · Member2:56:22
Other meetings

Other meetings of this board

Video: posted by the district as “ERUSD Board Of Education Meeting - August 18, 2026”