The Coronado Unified governing board will begin the new year with new officers.
During the school board meeting on Dec. 14, the board took care of organizational items, including the election of officers and setting board meetings through 2024.
New Board President, Vice President, Clerk
Trustee Whitney Antrim nominated Trustee Alexia Palacios-Peters for board president and, in accepting, left her role as board clerk.
In declining a nomination for vice president due to other California School Boards Association responsibilities, Antrim nominated Trustee Malachy Sandie, who accepted.
Trustee Dr. Scot Youngblood accepted to be governing board clerk following a nomination by Trustee Renee Cavanaugh, who served as president this past year.
After these nominations, Youngbood and Superintendent Karl Mueller saluted Cavanaugh’s leadership in the past year and for “stepping in as a brand-new trustee, assuming the role of president and really navigating us through the transition of four new trustees,” said Mueller.
Meetings throughout 2024
The board established the meetings, time and location of the 2024 regular and (tentatively scheduled) special monthly meetings which are set to be held in the district Office Board Room and can be found at this link.
Deputy Superintendent Donnie Salamanca shared the dates of upcoming Budget Study Committee meetings set for Feb. 28, April 17, and June 19 asking that attendees express their participation via email and find related material at the following link.
Staffing
In exploring strategies to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers in high-need areas for the 2024-25 school year, Coronado Unified has entered into a partnership with Foreign Cultural Exchange Consultants Inc. (FCEC), a Philippines-based organization, for recruitment initiatives, according to district records.
Antrim thanked long-time educators including CHS English Teacher Amanda White, CHS Social Science teacher Davin Heaphy, and CHS Science Teacher William Lemei who are leaving at the end of the term.
“They’ve meant a lot to a lot of people,” Antrim said.
During her Association of Coronado Teacher report, union president Jennifer Landry recognized the work of former classified staff Melinda Clay, who had passed away and worked at each of the four school sites.
“She was a wonderful addition to our CUSD family,” Mueller said. “Always a pleasant, warm, kind, generous human.”
Athletic Programs Recognition
Earlier in the meeting, the board and Athletic Director Aaron Brooks recognized CHS sports teams and coaches.
The first was the girls cross country team with Natalia Amkie, Maesan Everitt, Jaya Jost, Gwynne Letcher, and Nadia Roos in attendance.
“The significant thing about the cross country team this year is that Coronado in our division, D4, was the only team to make it to the state meet in the whole state with only four freshmen,” said Coach George Green. “Things look good for the future. Going to the state meet was the first step into coming back to where we were 10 years ago.”
Brooks then introduced CHS DI winning boys water polo Coach Jesse Smith, who presented awards to 20 players.
“These kids…did something remarkable, they beat three teams that were better than them, they overachieved,” Smith said. “They held up these three things: service, commitment, and honor—and courage to achieve things that are unexpected. … It really was impressive to work with these guys, they’re a great group.”
In other matters:
- The governing board approved 19 extended day non-athletic job descriptions for Coronado High School and seven for the middle school.
- Association of Coronado Teachers (ACT) Bargaining Chair Ellen Cody presented the district with initial proposals for negotiations for the 2023-2026 successor contract, with the potential to establish an additional article for dual enrollment.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the District Office.
