Trustee Turley elected board president; leadership sets new public‑comment and meeting rules

Trustee Turley was chosen president of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees after nominations and a roll‑call vote that the clerk recorded as 6–1 in favor. The board recessed briefly for the seating change and the newly elected president said she would hold trial listening sessions and enforce consistent time limits for speakers and trustees.

The vote followed nominations and public comment that included endorsements for multiple candidates. In a short remarks after the vote, the new president said she would “announce the number of speaker cards and the amount of time for each within a maximum 30 minutes” for items and outlined a meeting flow of staff presentations, trustee questions, public comment, and deliberation. She added that running a smooth meeting is part of the presidency’s responsibilities and said warnings and recesses would be used if outbursts continue.

The contested process included several roll‑call votes for vice president that required multiple rounds. After the final tally, the chair announced that the vice presidency was filled and promised to encourage more pre‑meeting outreach and clarity about committee assignments. Several trustees and public speakers urged leaders to prioritize transparency and inclusion in agenda setting.

The leadership changes preceded lengthy budget and staffing discussions later in the meeting, when the board approved the district’s first interim budget and separate resolutions authorizing staff to proceed with merit/process steps tied to potential reductions in services.