Redlands school board approves HBCU college tour for 20 students, despite debate over cost and equity

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Board of Education voted 3–2 on Jan. 27 to approve a four-day, East Coast college tour for 20 students from Citrus Valley High School and Redlands East Valley High School. 

The item was originally slated to be approved as part of the consent calendar, however board member Candy Olson pulled the item for discussion so she could vote against it.

Why it matters: The trip, scheduled for March 22–25, 2026, will send students by bus and airplane to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as part of their college application preparation. The cost, about $35,000, will be covered by Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) funds.

Trustees Olson and Jeanette Wilson voted no, arguing the money would be better spent on academic support and that the trip is not equitable. The remaining board members voted in favor.

Details: District officials said students from multiple high schools were invited based on interest in HBCUs, not limited to a single club or program. The opportunity was promoted through parent groups and Black Student Union (BSU) clubs, though participation was not restricted to BSU members.

Administrators noted that while most district graduates attend in-state colleges, a smaller portion go out of state, including to schools in Arizona and on the East Coast.

Earlier in the meeting, several public speakers voiced support for the trip, describing it as an important opportunity for students to see college campuses, experience travel and feel motivated about their futures.

No school days would be missed for the trip.

Under state law, Local Control and Accountability Plan funds must be used to “increase or improve” services for high-need students, including low-income students, English learners and foster youth, meaning the district could not redirect the money to general programs that do not primarily serve those groups.

What they’re saying: Olson said she pulled the item from the consent calendar because she believes the trip is unfair and not sustainable.

Olson argued that $35,000 could be used for one-on-one tutoring or other supports for students who are struggling academically and at risk of not graduating.

“This has nothing to do with discrimination against any race whatsoever,” Olson said, drawing jeers from members of the audience.

“It seems not very equitable…not very inclusive when only 20 kids get to go,” Wilson said, adding that larger college fairs or in-state trips could reach more students for the same amount of money.

Olson warned that approving the trip could set a precedent the district cannot afford to maintain if other clubs or groups request similar travel in the future.

Supporters of the trip, including Board President Michele Rendler and members Patty Holohan and Melissa Ayala-Quintero, countered that the value of the experience goes beyond test scores or immediate academic metrics. These board members said exposure to college campuses, different regions of the country and new cultures can help students aspire to “bigger, better things” and leave high school with a clearer plan for the future.

“There is power in seeing what you can be and achieve,” Dominique Mackey, a Redlands East Valley High and HBCU alum, said at the meeting. “Ensuring scholars have access to this now paves the way for my fifth grader, who will one day enter her high school journey excited for the opportunity to attend the HBCU tour.”

Superintendent Juan Cabral also clarified that college trips are not meant only as incentives to graduate, but as tools to help students envision and prepare for life after high school.

Moving forward: While the trip is now approved for March 2026, several trustees said they want to revisit how similar opportunities are offered in the future.

Ideas raised during the discussion included using a lottery system open to any interested student, or designing trips that are more inclusive and reach a larger number of students. Board members also said the district should take a closer look at whether it can sustainably fund similar experiences in the future.