E-bikes, development committee, academic review, superintendent-trustee agreement highlight Yorba Linda City Council, Placentia-Yorba Linda school district actions

 Short notes on current concerns and matters affecting Yorba Linda:

--E-bike safety is a concern of Yorba Linda city and Placentia-Yorba Linda school district officials, with Chief of Police Services De Anne Wigginton stating at a recent council meeting that sheriff’s deputies work with schools to raise awareness and host community meetings.

Wigginton also stated deputies are continuing enforcement efforts, but they do not pursue riders due to safety considerations, and she noted instances in which young riders flee from deputies. She said parents are welcome to view body camera footage of such instances.

Deputies receive daily complaints from pedestrians and equestrians about e-bikes, Wigginton said. She noted the district attorney filed child endangerment charges against a Yorba Linda parent who modified a 12-year-old child’s e-bike that resulted in critical injuries to the child.

An e-bike safety meeting is scheduled June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Yorba Linda library.

--Yorba Linda City Council has created an ad hoc economic development committee to “foster long-term prosperity through economic growth and support its vibrant business community.” Mayor Carlos Rodriguez appointed himself and Mayor Pro Tem Peggy Huang as members.

The committee will support the city’s economic development through business outreach and support; economic development strategies and initiatives; policies and regulations to support business retention, attraction and expansion; and long-term economic vitality strategies.

--Future actions regarding instructional programs for students are likely to be guided by a consultant’s report entitled Review of Academic Functions presented at a recent meeting of Placentia-Yorba Linda school district trustees.

The report noted that high leadership turnover, including employing six superintendents in seven years, has “greatly impacted the health of the (district’s) ecosystem….” The turnover in assistant superintendent positions is now complete with the hiring of Candace Perez as deputy superintendent of academic leadership team.

Eight district strengths, 10 challenges and eight recommendations form the basis of the report. Future columns will focus on how the district will meet the challenges and implement the recommendations.

--A 406-word “working agreement” between the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district’s elected trustees and Kym LeBlanc-Esparza, hired on a 5-0 vote as the district’s superintendent Oct. 6 has been approved on a 5-0 vote.

The long-needed agreement notes the board’s responsibility to establish policy and the superintendent’s responsibility to manage the district and outlines professional practices and specific communication policies between the board and superintendent.

Two key provisions: Trustee requests for information from staff go through the superintendent and information from the superintendent to one trustee will be disseminated to all trustees.