The Bonita Unified School District Board of Education met Aug. 5. Here are three things parents and families should know.

1 - Special Education Settlement Agreements Approved

The board approved 3-0 with Brittany Allison and Jim Elliot absent, two settlement agreements involving special education students following closed-session discussions.

The first agreement, under case No. 2026050488, requires the district to fund and provide educational services in exchange for the parents releasing their claims.

Board member Chris Ann Horsley made the motion, and Greg Palotto seconded it.

The second agreement, under case No. 002-2627, also requires the district to provide funding and educational services in exchange for the release of claims.

Palotto made the motion, and Horsley seconded it.

The board considered the cases as existing and anticipated litigation under Government Code Section 54956.9. No costs were disclosed publicly.

2 - New Principals Step to the Head of the Class

The board also approved 3-0 with Brittany Allison and Jim Elliot absent, the hiring of Cara Duro as principal of Ekstrand Elementary School, and Kendra Lewis as principal of Chaparral-Vista High School, the district’s continuation high school.

Duro has 23 years of education experience, including eight years as an administrator. She most recently served as assistant principal at Azusa High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz and master’s degrees from Lesley University and the Reach Institute for School Leadership.

Palotto made the motion to approve Duro’s appointment, and Horsley seconded it.

Lewis has worked in education for 15 years as a math, coding and Advancement Via Individual Determination teacher. She has served as dean of students at Chaparral High School for the past three years.

Horsley made the motion to approve Lewis’ appointment, and Palotto seconded it.

Board members also welcomed 10 new teachers during the meeting.

3 - Video Surveillance Upgrade Held Back

Board President Derek Bahmanou pulled a proposed agreement with Vector USA to upgrade video surveillance at secondary school campuses from the consent agenda to allow the board more time for discussion. The board did not take final action on the contract during the meeting.

More Items in the District’s Backpack

The board also:

• Approved teaching assignments that allow certain educators to teach subjects outside their credential areas. Human resources staff said such assignments have remained limited and manageable in the district.
• Approved its annual declaration of need for fully qualified educators, allowing the district to seek emergency teaching permits if vacancies arise.
• Approved a new course called "Theatre Appreciation," a process for selecting a secondary English language arts curriculum for grades six through 12 and the district’s 2025-26 Career Technical Education Act plan and funding.
• Approved a full-time Nutrition Services operations supervisor position and job description, along with revised salary schedules for classified substitutes and BCA stagehands.
• Approved legal services agreements with McCune & Harber LLP and Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP.
• Approved an agreement with the City of San Dimas to use the San Dimas Recreation Center.
• Approved a five-year agreement with the University of Redlands to provide educational fieldwork from July 1, 2026, through July 30, 2031.
• Approved an agreement with CDW Amplified for Education to upgrade the district’s Google Workspace for Education Plus licenses for the 2026-27 school year.

Palotto asked for board policies 6172 (Gifted and Talented Student Program (GATE)) and 6146 (High School Graduation Requirements) to be placed on a future agenda.

Horsley reported that 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress results showed reading and math gains among 9-year-olds in the U.S., while scores among 13-year-olds remained flat.

The next regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Where: Bonita Unified School District Office, 115 W. Allen Ave., San Dimas
How to attend: In person or via livestream at https://do.bonita.k12.ca.us/Board-of-Education/Live-Stream/index.html

🔗 Sept. 2 Meeting Agenda will be posted on the district website.

🗣️ Public comment Opportunities

In person at the District Office
Board meetings are generally held at the Bonita Unified School District Education Center, 115 W. Allen Ave., San Dimas. Check the agenda for the meeting time, location and any changes.

To speak at the meeting—Fill out a “Request to Address the Board” card and submit it to Margaret McDonald, senior executive assistant to the superintendent, before the board reaches the item. When called, state your name and association with the district.

Speakers may receive up to three minutes. The board may limit total public comment on an individual agenda item to 20 minutes, so speaking time could be shortened if many people wish to comment. Any person addressing the Board should first state their name and association with the District.

Any individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the Bonita Unified School District Board of Education meeting may request assistance by contacting the Superintendent's Office at (909) 971-8200, ext. 5101.

Public comment is allowed:

• When the board considers an item listed on the agenda
• During a public hearing
• On consent agenda items; ask to comment when the consent agenda is considered
• During “Requests to Speak on Non-Agenda Items — Communication From the Public” for matters not listed on the agenda

Written feedback
Community members may email board members and the superintendent through the district’s Board of Education contact page. Individual board members’ email addresses are also listed on the page.

The School Board Office can be reached at (909) 971-8200, ext. 5101.