Board presses staff on World of Work Foundation governance after $1M gift

Trustees pressed district staff on Oct. 7 about the governance and finances of the World of Work Foundation, a nonprofit created in 2022 to accept a $1 million private gift and to develop a career‑readiness curriculum for district students.

David (introducing the item) said the foundation was formed after the Previs Foundation required a private 501(c)(3) as a condition of a large gift; BBK assisted with incorporation and early legal work. David described a recent transition that separates the foundation from the district and reconstitutes the board to include industry and community leaders. He told trustees the foundation intends to invest $250,000 in a revamp of the World of Work curriculum and to expand youth apprenticeship placements.

Trustee Anthony pressed staff about whether the foundation was district‑connected when it was operating with district staff and offices, and whether the district had advanced loans that were later satisfied using foundation funds. "What I'm seeing here is the district loan money to a private foundation... now the private foundation is running off with money that was raised in the name of the district," a trustee said during questioning. (Board staff disputed the characterization and pointed to rewrites of bylaws and a legacy‑funds provision intended to keep benefits for district students.)

Staff said they rewrote the articles of incorporation and bylaws to establish legacy funds and to ensure the curriculum and remaining operational spending would benefit Cajon Valley students. David also said some legal invoices previously advanced by the district were reimbursed by the foundation. The board requested periodic updates from the foundation to track how remaining funds are spent and how the new board governs the organization.

The discussion included introductions of new foundation board members (Glenn Hiegas and Spiro Pablo) and an explanation of Workforce Connect contracts and youth apprenticeship expansions that district staff said will directly serve district students.