Sonora High School senior, Arianna Machado

Fullerton Union High School senior, Audrina Gomez

The Fullerton Joint Union High School District Superintendent, Dr. Steve McLaughlin, announced the district’s 2025/26 theme, “Inspired,” and the board inducted the two new student board members, Sonora High School senior, Arianna Machado and Fullerton Union High School senior, Audrina Gomez.
Trustees Lauren Klatzker and Joanne Fawley said SBM voices represent all FJUHSD students, and the board members count on their representation of student perspectives. The FJUHSD website was updated.

Dr. Mark Miller is the new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources after Dr. Ed Atkinson retired. Mr. Mark Kailiponi was named the new La Vista/La Sierra High School Principal.

Prop. 28 Art Fund Disbursement

In July, public comments from La Habra High School (LHHS) Band parents stated that they still have not received the promised Proposition 28 Art money for new band uniforms, as promised in January 2025. La Habra Band parents praised the LHHS Band program but were disappointed by low district administrative support.

Trustee Klatzker stated that the board was unable to comment on non-agendized items, but she appreciated hearing from the public because “knowing what is on your mind helps them (the board) to serve the district better.”

Summer School Update

Summer school counted over 5,300 students participating in the program, which includes credit recovery classes, accelerated classes, Troy High School internships, online health classes, ongoing special education, and summer “bridge” programs for incoming students that replaced in-person health classes, which previously served as an orientation for incoming first-year students to campuses.
Buena Park High School (BPHS) announced plans for an interim credit recovery session over winter break to address the significant credit recovery attendance during the summer.

The board approved Student Resource Officer (SRO) contracts worth over $878,000 for 6 SROs with the cities of Fullerton, La Habra and Buena Park with no discussion or questions.

Facilities Update

Vince Madsen, Director of Maintenance and Operations, reported that the districtwide summer projects for deferred maintenance facilities are underway.

The board approved a Community Work Agreement similar to the elementary district’s contract, but no apprenticeship or student information sessions were mentioned for the high schools.

$5 million in general funds and grants subsidized over 35 projects districtwide, including finishing FUHS fencing along Pomona Ave and the BPHS fencing.

Trustees did not inquire about safety features related to the new fencing enclosures, such as the evacuation routes for students in case of a fire, given that much of the field space is now plastic and the school is fenced in with limited major entry and egress points.
Other projects included roofing, carpeting, slurry parking lots, painting, expansion of the culinary education area, reroofing, updating HVAC systems, and replacing outdated plumbing fixtures.

The Auditorium at (FUHS) has received a new lighting board, and the pipe organ rehabilitation is making progress. However, no trustee asked for an update on the organ or any of the other projects.

Initial Bond “L” projects include SOHS Auxiliary Gymnasium modernization, science lab updates, and grass field rehabilitation. FUHS will begin construction on a two-story athletic building, and Troy High School (TRHS) will undertake earthquake retrofitting and redesign of the administration and kitchen facilities.

The district hired JD Mancha from Fullerton School District as the new FJUHSD Transportation Director and Troy Shandy as Manager of Construction Projects. Madsen said this was a difficult transition time since ten people had retired from facilities, and he thanked the “ladies in the (facilities) office” supporting “the guys out in the field.”

Trustee Dr. Chester Jeng said just hearing and seeing pictures of all the facilities projects the district tackled this summer overwhelmed him, and thanked Madsen and his team for all the hard work.

The next meeting is Sept 9 at 6 pm.

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