WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of trustees on Wednesday took another step toward revamping its bylaws with the first reading of a series of recommended changes.
The trustees will vote on approving the changes during the June 9 meeting.
If approved, trustees who miss meetings without informing the board president or superintendent could lose all or part of their $400 monthly stipend.
Trustee attendance has become an issue since allegations surfaced earlier this year that then-board president Georgia Acosta had missed 28 meetings.
Acosta, who was censured by the board in May and is facing a recall effort, suggested that the trustees entirely eliminate both stipend and the full medical insurance afforded the trustees, which was met with opposition by other board members.
“Frankly I feel like we need a raise,” Trustee Kim De Serpa said. “All of the hours I have put in over the years, all of the meetings that have gone past midnight that I have sat through, all of the committee work, I think I’m getting paid about 10 cents per hour. It’s a labor of love for sure, but I wouldn’t be in support of eliminating those benefits or the stipend.”
Trustee Maria Orozco agreed, and suggested that any trustee can forego their benefits if they so choose.
Also on the editing table is a change to the time frame in which public comments are given. Under the possible policy, anyone wishing to make a public comment will have two minutes to do so, with no more than 30 minutes given to each item. Those times can be increased with board approval for controversial items. Currently, speakers are given three minutes, and there is no limit to the time an item can take.
The trustees are also looking to revamp the way anonymous comments are accepted during public board meetings. Currently, anyone can submit a comment without identifying themselves, which some trustees say allows for bullying and abusive language.
If passed, commenters wishing to remain anonymous must still give their name and email address to the board secretary.
The new policies could also include adding up to three student board members who would have the option of casting preferential votes when the board decides on action items. Under election law—which gives the power to pass or reject policies only to elected officials—those votes would not carry official weight. Instead, they would be used to inform the rest of the school board.
The student trustees would be encouraged to attend school board training and would meet with the district superintendent and board president.
The trustees are also considering rules laying out how, and when, the trustees can contact and use legal counsel.
In other action, the trustees unanimously approved an agreement with Frisco, Colorado-based Project Bike Tech to provide a bicycle technician class at Pajaro Valley High School.
The course will fit into the school’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program as a service business, said CTE Coordinator Julie Edwards.
The course will be funded through a federal Perkins V grant and will offer students bike tech certifications that can be used to secure future employment.
