Redlands school board to weigh censure, flag display limits and book challenge policy

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education will meet Tuesday, May 13, with a packed agenda that includes a vote to censure a sitting board member, policy discussions on campus flag displays and book removal procedures, and a range of facilities and personnel matters.

The meeting begins with a closed session at 3:30 p.m., followed by open session at 5 p.m., where trustees will consider business and human resources items and hear community input.

Closed Session

Prior to the public meeting, the board will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Redlands Education Support Professionals Association (RESPA) and Redlands Teachers Association (RTA). Trustees will also consider the appointment of a new assistant superintendent of human resources. Additional personnel and legal matters may be discussed, though details were not published in the open packet.

Business Services: Consent Items

Among 17 business items up for approval, key agenda highlights include:

• Item XIII.b – Approve an agreement with Cal State San Bernardino for student teacher support services from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.
• Item XIII.d – Approve a contract with PCH Architects, Inc. to provide as-needed services across district sites through June 2080, with work capped at $50,000 per single project.
• Item XIII.g – Renew the contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to provide a school resource officer at Redlands East Valley High School for $291,680 through June 2026.
• Item XIII.m – Ratify developer requests for student attendance boundary information, including new residential projects near Pioneer Avenue, Wabash Avenue, Pomelo Avenue, and San Timoteo Canyon Road.

Human Resources: Consent and Action Items

On the personnel side, trustees will vote on employment contracts and updated management salary schedules for the 2024–25 school year.

• Action Item XVIII.a proposes creating a new position: Director of Safety and Disaster Preparedness.
• Action Item XVIII.b brings forward Resolution No. 46, a formal censure of board member Melissa Ayala-Quintero.

The censure resolution stems from an April 8 board meeting incident. According to the resolution, Ayala-Quintero violated board governance standards during a tense moment in public comment when she accused board member Candy Olson of laughing as a speaker became emotional. Olson denied laughing and later described Ayala-Quintero’s actions as confrontational, alleging she “flung [her] phone on the floor,” “turned [her] chair,” and “postured” toward her.

Superintendent Juan Cabral stepped in during the exchange. “I didn’t see her lunge, but I saw her turn her chair,” he said at the April 25 meeting. “I reacted quickly… I wanted us to focus on the speaker.”

Ayala-Quintero rejected the allegations, calling them defamatory and “a misuse of the board’s time.”

If approved, the resolution would publicly censure Ayala-Quintero and urge her to comply with the board’s professional conduct policies going forward.

Discussion Items

Two controversial policy updates are scheduled for discussion:

• AR 1312.2 – The revised administrative regulation outlines a detailed, multi-step process for challenging library books. It allows students, parents, or community members to file formal complaints. If a complaint involves material described as sexually explicit or obscene, the book must be immediately removed pending review. The district would then convene a review committee, and the Board of Education must hold a public hearing within 45 days. If the board deems the material inappropriate for certain grade levels, it must be removed from those school sites within five business days.
• BP 6115 – A proposed update to the board policy on ceremonies and observances, including potential restrictions on which flags may be displayed on school campuses. The policy has drawn significant public attention over concerns about limiting LGBTQ+ Pride flags and other identity-based symbols. Read more here.

Recognitions

The board will also recognize 2024–25 retirees, student trustees, and spring student-athletes.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Redlands Unified Board Room, 25 W. Lugonia Ave., Redlands.

Meetings are livestreamed however, public comments will only be accepted in person.