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By Jessyka Heredia
October 15, 2023 (El Cajon)-- 
A group of community members came to address the Cajon Valley School District at their monthly board meeting Tuesday due to policy changes on the agenda that would shift Superintendent David Miyashiro’s evaluation to private session without the public in attendance, leaving the public unable to comment on or express criticism.
The strong language used in the proposal raised even more concerns over lack of transparency. The staff recommended, “After the Board and Superintendent have discussed the evaluation, the Board President and Superintendent shall sign the evaluation and it shall be placed in the Superintendent's personnel file. The evaluation, including personal performance goals, shall be confidential to the extent permitted by law.”
Priscilla Schreiber (photo, right) spoke to the board during public comments on the agenda item. She expressed concerns that the Superintendent’s “personnel file won’t have to be fully disclosed” and suggested that the board work “together as you go forward and to have a board bylaw policy, protocols and procedures.” She urged that the item be tabled until after a workshop could be held.
Another resident, Mary Davis (photo,left), told the board that she is concerned about this new policy recommendation. “Where is the room for public input and why is there no public involvement?” she asked pointedly.
Former trustee Jill Barto also delivered public comments on the matter. Barto had a contentious relationship with the district; she previously filed a federal lawsuit against the district, board members and Miyashiro alleging violations of her civil rights and first amendment rights. The suit was dismissed after Barto left the board and moved out of state. The district sued Barto in Superior Court, alleging that an employee claimed Barto harassed her and created a hostile work environment. That suitremains pending.
Barto (photo,right) gave tough criticism to the board. “Tonight was a disgrace, when the public wanted to comment earlier and you shut them down before going into closed session,” she stated, adding, “Just continued bullying and disregard for the community’s input. I know several who wanted to speak tonight and couldn’t due to the limits being placed on them by you, Mr. Miller, and with the agenda being changed several times this weekend and today, When will this board stop ignoring the community and speakers? When will this board be held accountable and finally do the right thing? I hope it’s soon, because the district is suffering every single day.”
Barto also asked the board to redo the Superintendent’s evaluation and provide a cure and correct, so that the public could weigh in on the Superintendent’s performance.
After the public was given time for their comments and the board went on to deliberate the item, Trustee Anthony Carnevale (photo, left) quoted the California School Board Association (CSBA) guidelines stating, “When considering the process for updating and improving changes to board policy and regulations, boards should consider several factors. Is there substantial interest from members of the public on the topic? Has there been ample opportunity for the public to provide input on the existing policy and proposed changes? Does the board have sufficient opportunity to review the policy and understand the impact of its implementation and ask questions from staff? Does the topic require urgent board action?” Carnevale expressed concern and recommended that the board “table this item so that the board can properly agendize that for the next meeting.”
Board President James P. Miller explained to Carnevale (photo right) that this was just a first reading and that a second reading of this policy change would come before them in November. The board ultimately unanimously voted 5-0 to approve the first reading of the Superintendent evaluation board policy 2140, which will come back for a second reading before approving, amending, or voting the item down.
The board was also asked by the community during public comment to table two other action items on the agenda until a workshop for both items could take place. One is Board Bylaw 9323 – Meeting Conduct which limits the amount of time given to trustees during their board reports to five minutes as well as limiting the president to seven minutes.
The other topic of concern the board unanimously voted 5-0 to table was a resolution to update language in the CVUSD Governance Handbook to say “All school site visits must be coordinated with the Superintendent's office no less than 5 business days before the intended school site visit.” An exception was given in the item that states, “Exceptions to the forgoing may include, but not be limited to, invitations by school site staff, special events, such as assemblies, plays, fundraisers, other special events where members of the public are also in attendance, and visits to a Board Member's child's school so long as the visit is in an unofficial capacity.”
Many in the community expressed concern that this new language was being added to the bylaws in response to an unannounced visit by Carnevale on a school campus recently and to limit Carnevale’s opportunity to speak before the community. Barto has said she was similarly pressured not to visit school campuses when she was a trustee and outspoken critic of some district policies and educational priorities.
CVUSD candidate Alex Welling reached out to ECM through email and stated after the meeting, “These items are concerning from a public transparency and accountability front and continue to erode the trust between CVUSD and the communities their decisions directly impact.”
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