February 2025: Temecula Valley Unified School District Board Good Governance Report card

The Murrieta Valley Unified school board approved new school boundaries Feb. 13 without answers to many questions posed by community members and other board trustees. 

The Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) board’s Governance Workshop on February 11 was intended to review and approve changes to the board’s Governance Handbook. Instead, it turned into an emotionally charged forum, filled with accusations, personal grievances, and some glimpses of potential unity.

The Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) board meeting on January 28 was a contentious affair, showcasing sharp divisions, policy debates, and financial concerns. Trustees engaged in heated discussions over procedural rules, fiscal responsibility, and public engagement, while new board members demonstrated a commitment to learning the ropes.

 As the new Murrieta Valley Unified School District board wrestles with its first major action, a few board members are raising legitimate concerns from their constituents about traffic congestion and student bus ride time. 

This month we recognize Dr. Anderson’s efforts to streamline the meeting process, follow the rules that govern trustees, and focus on responsible governance. 

Mr. Schwartz continued to put students, academics and safety first, seeking collaboration and consensus with other board members.

If you didn’t attend or watch the Tuesday, January 28 Temecula Valley Unified School District school board meeting, it was a doozy for a multitude of reasons. 

Objectively speaking, a more than six-hour meeting is enough to qualify as such. 

In this report, we will tackle the Closed Session portion of the meeting as it showed a lack of cohesion on the board.

It was almost as if trustees were having two separate discussions at the Jan. 23 MVUSD board meeting. While most board members were focused on the issue of overcrowded schools, one trustee was focused on self-preservation as he downplayed redistricting complications.