After a search that had a number of the area’s most respected educators in the mix, the Lucerne Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees announced the selection of Aaron Jones to become the school district’s first Director of Academic Programs. The hiring fills one of the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) priorities and will support in addressing “red” performance levels on the Dashboard among many other duties to support programs across the district.
“We had strong candidates,” Superintendent Peter Livingston said. “It was nice to see people want to come out here and work with us, but Aaron came to the top.”
Mr. Jones brings 18 years of experience in K-12 education most recently serving as vice principal at Hesperia High School. He has a Masters Degree in education and special education. “He brings a wealth of knowledge in program development and student services,” Mr. Livingston said.
Accompanying Jones to the meeting was his wife Kimberly Jones, who has been a teacher in Hesperia Unified for more than 20 years.
The hiring of Jones was approved unanimously by the board, 5-0.
31 Elementary School Educators Attend Ron Clark Academy Training
Last June, Principal Joanna Mora, Assistant Principal Suzie Manley, and teachers Stephanie Klinger, Jamie Farrell, Candice Carder and Carissa Brander took a trip to Ron Clark Academy for training on its innovation educational system. The Elementary School then began implementing the RCA House System program in the 2024-25 school. Since then, everyone at the school has been “sorted” into one of four Houses: Altruismo, Amistad, Reveur and Isibindi.
Administrators and teachers agree: the RCA system is transforming student attitude by providing a sense of family and belonging. Student behavior has improved and they encourage each other while enjoying creativity, innovation, and an increased passion for learning.
Once again LVES staff members flew to Atlanta, Georgia to attend its demonstration school were visiting educators engage in professional development and attend hands-on workshops. While the first year had a handful of Lucerne Valley teachers attending, this year there were 31, representing all grade levels.”
“I have taken a lot of trips with schools. I have taken kids to Cuba, I’ve taken kids to Italy, but this trip topped all of them as far as the sheer electricity with my staff. It was powerful.”
“Everyone was super excited on the way there,” said Principal Mora. “On the way back they were super pooped. It was an amazing experience. They did an awesome job.”
Since returning, the teachers are still talking about the trip.
“They all have great ideas that they want to start implementing. They are all excited. They are all in.”
While there, the staff members went to an Atlanta Braves baseball game and enjoyed some sights of the city.
District’s 2025-26 Budget Adopted
Olga Fisher, the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, presented the budget for the 2025-26 school year. She presented “our financial standings, our expenditure priorities and our forward look at the financial strategies that we have to maintain stability and financial health in our district.”
“This is just the best prediction based on assumptions,” she said. “This is not laid down in stone exactly what’s going to happen, it’s based on historical data,” adding the projections were made on “the conservative side.”
According to her assumptions, she projects steady Average Daily Attendance of 1,090 through 2028. While the district did not experience the same level of growth in 2024-25 as it did in previous recent years, the budget could be tailored in the event there was unexpected growth.
“I project it is going to be steady, but there is the potential for much higher ADA.”
The Cost of Living Adjustment comes in at 2.3% in 2025-26 with a rise to 3.42% by 2028. The projected revenues for 2025-26 is $28.7 million comprised of $17.7 million from LCFF, $1.3 million in Federal, $3.6 million in other state income and $6 million in local income.
Expenditures total $30.3 million with teacher salaries again topping the list with $9.3 million and classified salaries at $4.4 million. Employee benefits are $6.9 million, books and supplies are $2.2 million, services and operations are $3.5 million, capital outlay is $3 million, which is an increase due to the current SiteLogiQ Energy project and other improvement projects. Outgo amounts to $641,487.
The district’s beginning fund balance is $8.7 million with a projected ending balance of $7.1 million.
Other board meeting highlights:
• The board discussed the 2025 National Forum to Advance Rural Education conference on Oct. 13-15 that will be attended by some school district representatives.
• Superintendent Peter Livingston led a discussion about the May enrollment numbers. The school year ended with 1,163 students. Although the enrollment for the entire school year was higher than the last eight years, the upward trend is stabilizing toward more linear growth.
• The school board voted to cancel the scheduled July 10th regular board meeting. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 14th.
• Southern California Flex Academy Charter School administrators gave an update on their school’s continually improving student scores.
Discussion/Action Items:
The school board approved:
• an amended service agreement with Victor Valley College for dual enrollment students;
• an intern agreement between the LVUSD and Alliant International University;
• a Memorandum of Understanding with California Agricultural Teachers’ Induction Program;
• a provisional intership permit for Myra Barrera to teacher elementary school for 2025-26;
• the LVUSD Safety Plan for the 2025-26 school year;
• Middle and High School plans for student achievement;
• the updated Expanded Learning and Opportunities (ELOP) plan guide;
• MOU with the California School Nurses Organization;
• proposals between the school district and CSEA and its L.V. Chapter 743 regarding Exmployee Expenses and Materials, Health and Welfare, Employee Evaluations, and Pay Allowances;
• a Special Services Agreement betwen the district and Patrick Leier for administration and oversight of charter schools;
• the MOU for CTE teachers effective July 1, 2025.