FUHSD trustees establish reserve capital funds for solar project

During the Tuesday, Oct. 12 meeting of the Fallbrook Union High School Board of Trustees, the trustees agreed to establish a special reserve-capital projects fund to account for money received for the Solar Photovoltaic/Battery Project financing agreement that was approved by the board last month.

Called "Fund 40," the fund will be established and held at Bank of America, the escrow agent for the project, as opposed to the county treasury.

The board approved the action unanimously.

The trustees also selected Alpha Design Studio and Ruhnau Clarke Architects to provide architectural services for projects with regard to the bond (Measure AA) and other projects.

According to the staff report, starting Aug, 24, district facilities consultant EH&A solicited architectural firms to provide architectural services to create a pool of qualified architects and 29 firms submitted.

That list was narrowed down to seven, which were selected to interview, before EH&A selected the final two.

"We can get things going and while one is working on one project, we can have the other working on another project," Chief Business Officer Brenda Mefford reported. "We've had a little bit of a stall and we're trying to get things going. So, they were our two top choices."

The board approved the choices unanimously.

The board heard informational items on Revised Board Policies and Administrative Regulations that will be presented to the board for approval at the Oct. 26 board meeting.

They also heard a first reading of the new Board Policy regarding student mobile devices.

"We currently do not have a board policy on student mobile devices," Superintendent Garza-Gonzalez said in her report. "If you read through it, it does state that students may use cell phones, smartwatches, pagers, or other communication devices on campus during non instructional time, as long as the device is utilized in accordance with the law and any rules that individual schools sites may impose."

Garza-Gonzalez said mobile devices would be turned off during instructional time, but there are certain times and situations where students would be allowed to have their phone on.

The policy will be presented to the board for approval Oct. 26.

Earlier in the meeting, Garza-Gonzalez recognized longtime Fallbrook High employee Jimmy Leal for more than 30 years of dedicated service to the district.

"It is a great loss to Fallbrook Union High School District, we are going to miss him a great deal," she said. "But we wish him the best in his new adventure in Idaho."

Principals Dr. Narciso Iglesias (FUHS) and Michael Gray (Ivy and Oasis) gave updates, and Judi Reynolds, Director of Food Services for the district, gave a presentation to the board regarding the department and its background.

The school board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the approval of the K12 Strong Workforce Program Participation Agreement Career Technical Education with San Diego County Superintendent of Schools, approval of the Williams Complaint Quarterly Report for July 1-Sept. 30, approved gifts and donations, the purchase of the Actively Learn curriculum, approved a video switcher for online learning in film studies, and approved a memorandum of understanding between Able-Disabled Advocacy and FUHSD.

Board president Diane Summers reported from the closed session meeting, which included public employment discipline, dismissal and release, a conference with legal counsel about pending and existing litigation, a conference regarding labor negotiations with Garza-Gonzalez and FHSTA and SEIU.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].