Trustees agree to pause formation of advisory committees while legal counsel reviews 'citizens' naming

The board considered resolutions to establish Athletics and Transportation advisory committees and a related request from staff and community members to create a liaison for non‑certified staff.

Barbara Faranda, a CCSD employee who previously proposed a non‑certified staff liaison in August 2023, told the board she had hoped the liaison would be up and running before budget season and recommended representation by campus rather than by bargaining unit. Trustees Curzio and Val Crocco said they would reach out to Faranda and solicited input to relaunch the committee with broader campus representation.

Separately, trustees debated whether to remove the word "Citizens" from the title of proposed advisory committees to avoid discouraging residents who are not U.S. citizens from participating. Trustee Wise urged striking the word in keeping with recent changes in state practice; other trustees said policy 2‑307 currently uses the term and that the district is awaiting a legal opinion. A roll‑call vote on an immediate wording change failed; trustees then voted to table both advisory‑committee resolutions until March 12, 2024, while legal counsel reviews the naming and policy implications.

The board emphasized that tabling the items would not prevent the committees’ work from proceeding in principle and that the name could be changed by board action once counsel provides guidance. Trustees said the pause would permit inclusive recruitment and ensure the committee names align with legal advice before public outreach.