Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees discuss Universal Sports Institute during recent meeting

 The state of the Universal Sports Institute in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District was a notable part of a presentation regarding the district's alternative education programs at February's regular meeting of the board of trustees.

The institute opened for the fall semester with about 70 students in third through 12^th grades and currently has 97 students, with some 30% from outside district boundaries. A “hope” for the 2025-26 school year is a tally ranging from 150 to 200 students.

A presentation chart showed revenue at nearly $1.4 million and expenses close to $2.3 million (nearly $1.6 million in salaries, with the remainder in materials, contracts and construction) for the current school year.

Generally, the program, known as USI, is described as a “pathway that pairs the independent study program at Parkview School with athletic performance training.” The Parkview campus in Placentia opened in 2001 as a home school program.

The USI “central training hub” is at the site of the district's Orange County School of Computer Science charter at Bernardo Yorba Middle School in Yorba Linda, but the institute is not part of the computer science charter's program.

Student-athletes enrolled in USI may participate in the district's high school sports teams based on their school of residence. An interdistrict attendance agreement must be obtained for students living outside district boundaries. The student-athletes also may take up to two courses at one of the district's comprehensive high schools.

USI objectives include attracting students from outside the district and retaining current students and providing a flexible learning environment, with specialized athletic training opportunities.

During discussion, individual trustees had questions about the institute, with some concerns regarding financing, including money spent on personnel, contracts and equipment. The amount of money spent per pupil compared to other district programs was a key concern.

Other questions about equity across high schools were raised, since most current participants are from Yorba Linda and Esperanza, with no enrollment from Valencia and just five from El Dorado. Expansion to include dance teams, cheerleading and tumbling was also mentioned.

No action was taken on any alternative program, and Acting Superintendent Renee Gray said trustees had “such a really, really good robust conversation and lots of comments.” She said, “We do have to bring this back to you...and take a vote on it,'' which could come at the March meeting.

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An interesting item was dropped from the February agenda on a 5-0 vote: ratification of a retainer agreement with The Titan Group Professional Investigations for “support and due diligence in current and future workplace investigations.”

The contract, if approved, would not have exceeded $20,000 in cost. Gray told trustees, “We no longer need that.”

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees take actions on status of top-level administrators during regular, special meetings

 Trustees of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District spent several hours in closed sessions in regular and special December and January meetings, with many of the actions taken involving the employment status of top-level administrators.

The extra meetings drew comment from Todd Frazier, who said, “No more special meetings ever again” during a Jan. 23 session. Frazier represents Area 4, which includes portions of Yorba Linda, Placentia and Anaheim. Trustees usually meet once monthly.

The closed sessions in three December and two January meetings resulted from a change in the board's majority in the Nov. 5 election. Tricia Quintero was elected in Area 1 to replace Shawn Youngblood, who didn't seek a second term.

Marilyn Anderson was reelected in Area 2 and Leandra Blades in Area 3, changing the prior 3-2 majority from Blades, Frazier and Youngblood to Anderson, Quintero and Carrie Buck in Area 5, which includes portions of Yorba Linda, Placentia and Anaheim.

Quintero's northwest Area 1 includes portions of Placentia, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and Brea; Anderson's southwest Area 2 includes portions of Anaheim, Placentia and Fullerton; and Blades' eastern Area 3 includes a large portion of Yorba Linda and a tiny part of Anaheim.

Here's a breakdown of key actions taken by trustees since the Nov. 5 election:

Nov. 19: At the last scheduled meeting of the past board, trustees 3-2 amended the contracts of Superintendent Alex Cherniss, Deputy Superintendent Issaic Gates and Assistant Superintendents Olivia Yaung and Renee Gray to require four votes for dismissal.

Trustees voted by the same 3-2 alignment to add Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 meetings before the new board would take office Dec. 17 (Blades, Frazier and Youngblood in favor and Anderson and Buck opposed). The Dec. 3 meeting was later cancelled.

Dec. 10: Postponed action on revisions to the Orange County School of Computer Science charter at the Bernardo Yorba Middle School campus until the Jan. 14 meeting 3-2 (Anderson, Buck and Youngblood in favor and Blades and Frazier opposed).

Dec. 17: Anderson elected board president 3-2 (Anderson, Buck and Quintero in favor and Blades and Frazier opposed) and Buck vice president and Frazier clerk, each 5-0.

Dec. 19: Placed on paid administrative leaves 5-0 were Superintendent Alex Cherniss, Deputy Superintendent Issaic Gates, Assistant Superintendent Olivia Yaung, two executive directors, one director and a principal (identified only by employee numbers).

Jan. 14: Named Gray acting superintendent 3-2 (Blades, Frazier and Quintero in favor and Anderson and Buck opposed). Named acting and interim assistant superintendents 5-0 were Yolanda Mendoza and Joan Velasco. Denied revisions to the computer school charter 4-1 (Blades opposed the denial).

Jan. 23: Returned Assistant Superintendent Olivia Yaung, two executive directors, a director and a principal to duty from paid administrative leaves 5-0.