Board approves confidential salary changes, admin‑designee stipends and implements AB 1390 compensation changes

At its Jan. 22 meeting the Westminster School District Governing Board approved several personnel and compensation items affecting district operations and governance.

The board reported two closed‑session personnel approvals earlier in the meeting (both votes 5–0): the hiring of Annette Arora as executive assistant to the superintendent and board of education (effective Jan. 20, 2026) and the appointment of Leanne Nguyen as interim public information officer (effective Jan. 20, 2026).

In open session the board ratified confidential employee salary schedule changes that included creating an executive assistant position (range 10) and moving the personnel analyst back to confidential status (range 3); the board approved the salary schedule in a recorded vote of 5–0.

Trustees also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with WTA that pilots a certificated administrative‑designee stipend: $500 per designee at 16 schools for the remainder of the school year (Jan. 5–June 12, 2026), totaling $8,000 for the pilot period. District staff said principals will select designees, preferred qualifications include administrative credentials, and the pilot includes provisions for additional compensation if a designee serves in an elevated role for an extended absence.

Finally, the board approved implementation of Assembly Bill 1390 provisions that adjust trustee compensation to new statutory limits based on district enrollment; the motion carried with a recorded result noted in the minutes as 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention. Trustees discussed the history of prior voluntary pay reductions, the modesty of the increase and the legislature’s decision to align board compensation with other elected officials.

Votes and effective dates are on the meeting record; trustees asked administration to return with formalized policies for longer‑term designee compensation and to communicate stipend selection criteria to sites.