Imperial County Civil Grand Jury weighs in on Calexico Unified School District board

Editor’s note: This is part of a continuing series of articles on the grand jury’s findings. See Tuesday’s edition for the next article.

Calexico school board members need more training to better perform their duties, the Imperial County Civil Grand Jury has determined.

One of three points in the grand jury’s final 2009-2010 report states that “there appears to be a lack of clarity among Board of Trustees members. Members do not share common understanding of policies and procedures.”

The grand jury recommends that the Calexico Unified School District trustees “need formal, consistent and ongoing training in the duties required of board members with whatever is necessary to assist them in understanding the materials and issues facing them.”

This recommendation has been proposed to the board before but to no avail, District Superintendent Christina Luna said.

“I did bring a proposal for board training to the board and I believe it was Mrs. Romo that said it was too expensive,” Luna said, adding, her recommendation for training was brought before the board sometime within the past few months of board meetings.

Luna said the board did ask for more information about formal training in board duties.

Her recommendation was proposed before the grand jury report was made public June 18, “because it is apparent that our board needs training,” she said.

“If the board says that’s not something we’re interested in then, OK, I do what the board says,” Luna said.

Board member Gloria Romo admitted to her rejection of training but said she had been asking for formal training for the entire board since before Luna became superintendent.

“I’ve asked many times for training since I joined the board,” Romo said. “I entered the board under then-interim Superintendent David Groesbeck and asked for training then. When Luna became superintendent I continued my request in September 2009. She didn’t answer it until now, nine months later,” she said.

Romo said this recent recommendation for board training is much too late since the board’s makeup could change in the Nov. 3 elections. She said it would be better to have training by the National Association of School Boards in December after any new board members are seated.

Romo also stated that it would be best if district workers’ unions and parents within the district attend those training sessions so everyone would be equally informed.

Board members Pacheco and De La Rosa were not available for comment on the report by Sunday evening.

Calexico parent Joong Kim, who frequently attends board meetings and comments during public sessions, said the true issue lies with a lack of transparency between district administration and the board, as well as the general public.

“I agree with part of (the grand jury report) but procedures are being faked by the administration,” Kim said.

“Either way, we need administration to workshop regarding the Brown Act, not the board members,” he said.

The Brown Act is the state’s open meeting law.

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