The Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School Board met on April 17 to discuss a five-year maintenance proposal plan, student cell phone policy protocol and a proposal relating to athletic booster donations.
The district also welcomed a new assistant superintendent and was presented with an update on the annual Preschool, TK and Kindergarten Enrollment and Roundup event.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Anthony Hernandez presented a five-year deferred maintenance plan that was approved by the board. This plan is built upon the foundation of a previous five-year maintenance plan drafted in April 2024 to fix unsafe learning environments and address at-risk areas in schools.
The board awarded an architectural services contract for the facilities master plan to be put into action. Completing the five-year facility master plan is part of a larger eligibility plan which will allow for the district to receive state grants for facilities.
“Somewhere in the range of $14 to $15 million in state eligibility for facility money is out there for us” said Superintendent Andrew Schwab.
California’s Proposition 2 allows for the state to award funds for the construction and renovation of small school districts, only if they provide a plan about where funding will go. Small school districts like Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District have access to state grants they previously were unable to access before.
“There is a carve out for small school districts from Prop 2. We can get in line before that plan is complete, but we are going to need a complete plan before accessing that money” added Hernandez.
Additionally, the board approved the authorization of the leasing of two 10-passenger vans for district-wide student transportation. Hernandez mentioned leases would last three to five years, and he plans to negotiate a contract that benefits the district.
“We have vehicles that are old, and the maintenance outweighs what we are paying monthly and annually,” said Hernandez. “And once you start using vehicles and turning them over every four to five years, you don’t have to worry about tires or maintenance and those types of things.”
Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free Schools Act, was signed by the governor in September 2024 and is set to go into effect by July 2026. Under this act, school districts are required to adopt a policy to limit or ban the use of smartphones during the school day. Students are only allowed to utilize their phones under four circumstances which include medical and emergency situations.
Schwab discussed an implementation plan and tools for the district to align itself with AB3216. Possible solutions presented by Schwab were the yonder pouch, a pouch that is unlocked through an electronic key, and the TRUCE app, a geo-located software that restricts various phone functions during the school day.
Yonder pouches brought up concerns because of previous issues relating to unlocking them during emergency situations. Board member Katina Austin believed that the TRUCE app could be more effective.
“The pouch sounds like more of a headache than a help [during emergency situations]” said Austin. “Versus the app, just unlock it and go.”
Schwab believes yonder pouches are better as enforcement support rather than a blanket solution. He plans on creating a combined approach of both the app and pouch to be utilized in classrooms.
Although the district’s current cell phone policies largely align with the bill, board member Frank Lemos inquired about teacher agreement with policy changes. “Have we solicited our teachers? Because if our teachers aren’t willing to enforce whatever we come up with unanimously, then it affects the colleague in the room next door,” said Lemos.
Schwab believes that there is no one-size fits all solution that can be guaranteed. However, he plans on piloting the TRUCE app this upcoming school year at Bryant Middle School before implementing it across the district. Schwab will be working collaboratively with administration and teachers on creating a combined and unanimous approach for disciplinary action against phone-use.
The board was also presented with a draft resolution that memorializes the board granting the athletic boosters the ability to fundraise. Although there was permission granted in previous years, there was no fixed language approving it.
Hernandez mentions that there has never been an audit in the past and they want to create a system of oversight to audit funds. Members of the board believed that although the athletic boosters should have authority to fundraise, they must be more transparent with the process so that the district is able to funnel it directly back to the students.
To facilitate transparent and clean practices surrounding the funds, Board Member Moy Meraz suggested a report.
Board President Maria Lorenzetti-Davis wants there to be avenues for both the boosters and the Associated Student Body (ASB) to raise funds. “I think that the boosters should be able to participate in this as well and still have an avenue to raise funds, but I think we need to share the love with our actual ASB so that they can raise money to promote their programs and have that experience,” said Davis.
“The money needs to go to ASB to a student affiliated organization so that those kids can learn how to govern their money, parliamentary procedure, the democratic process, purchase orders, expenditures, that’s part of the educational system,” said Lemos.
Resolution proceedings will move forward with these suggestions so the secondary resolution will be drafted to consider earnings and prioritize the ASB for the junior or senior high school classes.
Board members also emphasized that for the annual football seat fundraiser, the resolution must offer football seats to long-standing seat buyers before opening them up to the public for purchase.
Other updates for the board were those of the 2025-2026 Preschool, TK and Kindergarten Enrollment and Roundup in which Preschool Director Melissa Harrelson talked about staff efforts relating to promotion, registering assistance and plans moving forward.
With the collaboration of the Dos Palos Early Education Center and Dos Palos Elementary, there were 60 new potential enrollments.
Other actions included the board unanimously approving the superintendent’s recommendation for the employment of David Childers as the assistant superintendent of human resources for the 2025-2026 school year.
David Childers, a Madera native who brings over 25 years of experience in education spanning from K-12 to higher education, accepted the position.
“Thank you for the confidence that you are bestowing in me. It is humbling and I look forward to getting to know everybody better. Thank you so much!” said Childers.
Additionally, Teacher Appreciation Week was declared to be May 12-16.
Bryant Middle School teachers Tracy Decker and Carol Castaneda will be recognized this week as they transition into retirement. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Jason Von Allman recognized the retirees. “As always I am appreciative of the services they have done and I know we’ll be recognizing them when it comes to the teacher appreciation days,” said Allman.
