“It’s a continued direction towards no accountability…These are steps towards having a secret police.”

Jim Reeves, a former dispatcher for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and longtime Visalia watchdog, spoke to the Valley Voice about the quiet expansion of surveillance and privacy-eroding technology inside our local police departments.

Twice in three years, the Visalia City Council has quietly agreed to reduce what residents can see or hear from their own police force.  In December 2022, the city spent $1.8 million on radios that encrypted police radios and scrambled transmissions, cutting off public scanners.

In October 2024, the Visalia City Council voted on $300,000 for a four-year contract with a company called Flock to install automated cameras that would read license plates across the city. Both times, the decisions arrived without a single question asked by the public.

Today, residents can no longer monitor city police traffic, and at least 22 Flock cameras are active or pending in Visalia, part of a larger patchwork of at least three separate Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) networks.

Like the encrypted police radios, Flock cameras have flown under the public’s radar, silently expanding across Tulare and Kings County.

Forty percent reduction in stolen vehicles

The Voice spoke with Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar and Operations Support Division Captain Andrew Swarthout specifically about Flock cameras and the growing concerns from the public.

One of the concerns making headlines recently involves ALPR technology being prone to error and misreading license plates, leading to innocent civilians being jailed or detained at gunpoint. When asked if Visalia’s Flock cameras might make similar errors, Salazar said there have been no wrongful-stop incidents in Visalia tied to Flock. He said the more likely culprit for wrongful detainments elsewhere is human error.

“Probably what’s more likely to happen is somewhere along the way, there was a human error. Someone that put the data into the system, maybe put a number or a letter wrong in the plate so the wrong plate was entered.”

Salazar explained that alerts from Flock cameras are only one part of the investigative process. Officers aren’t authorized to move on a stop or arrest the moment an alert comes in. Human confirmation is required first.

“The Flock alert is really nothing more than an investigative lead. It says, ‘Hey, the camera detected a license plate that is wanted for whatever reason…’ They then run the license plate themselves, do their own investigation to make sure that the vehicle that they found is actually the vehicle that is wanted.”

Salazar and Swarthout described the system’s effectiveness by citing VPD’s own statistics. According to their data, 2025 saw a 39% reduction in stolen vehicles, which VPD attributes to the Flock cameras it began using in 2024.

“The number of stolen vehicles went way down, and we’re on pace to meet that so far in 2026, where we’ve made arrests in 40% of the stolen vehicle cases,” Salazar said

Wrongful stops aren’t the only concern on residents’ minds. There are also worries about Flock data being misused by law enforcement to stalk people, or accessed by federal agencies to aid in the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

On the question of misuse, Salazar and Swarthout said they run their own internal audit every week to catch it, and that Flock includes a feature that automatically flags suspicious search behavior for Salazar’s review. Officers, dispatchers, and staff must complete training before they’re granted access to Flock data, and every use is logged.

“Date, time, what it was that they were doing, what they searched, everything is tracked,” Salazar said.

When asked whether any agency outside California law enforcement such as ICE or Border Patrol has access to VPD’s Flock data, Salazar was direct:

“We do not share with any federal agencies,” he said. “And in fact, if you’re a law enforcement agency in California, you’re not even allowed to turn on the federal sharing tab in Flock.”

That inability to enable federal sharing is a feature built to prevent the kind of scandals and lawsuits that have already hit other California police departments, several of which have faced legal action or cut ties with Flock entirely after their data was found flowing to agencies outside the state.

California restricts use and sharing of data

Two distinct California laws govern how police departments can use automated license plate readers like Flock’s. The first, Senate Bill 34, codified at California Civil Code sections 1798.90.51 through .90.55, requires any agency operating an ALPR system to provide an opportunity for public comment before implementing the program, publicly post a written usage and privacy policy, and restrict data sharing to “public agencies” within California. It also gives Californians the right to sue if their license plate data is shared improperly.

The second, Senate Bill 54, California’s broader “sanctuary state” statute, codified in Government Code section 7284, restricts the use of state and local law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement.

How these two laws apply specifically to ALPR data was left to interpretation for years after they took effect between 2016 and 2018. That changed in October 2023, when the California Department of Justice, under Attorney General Rob Bonta, stated directly in a bulletin that California law enforcement cannot share ALPR data with federal or out-of-state agencies, and that every agency’s usage and privacy policy must be public and transparent.

Visalia Police Department appears compliant on multiple fronts. Salazar says VPD is technically incapable of sharing data outside California even if it wanted to; its usage and privacy policy is posted on the department’s website; and the agency provided an opportunity for public comment at the October 21, 2024 City Council meeting where the Flock contract was approved.

That last point deserves scrutiny. The Flock contract, listed as Item 24-0415 on the Consent Calendar, was one of eleven unrelated items bundled together and approved in a single motion. No presentation was given. No council discussion occurred. And not a single member of the public raised a question about it, perhaps because it was buried among everything else on the Consent Calendar that night.

A similar tactic was used when the Visalia City Council approved encrypting police radios. The encryption item was listed in the consent calendar and approved along with many other unrelated items in one motion.

Is the CHP’s accessing of Visalia’s data monitored?

If Visalia’s Flock camera system has a shadow auditor, it’s Jim Reeves.

Before he was writing about Flock cameras on his website, jimmiejoe.com, Reeves spent 25 years as a dispatcher for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Over the past several months, he’s used that experience to investigate VPD’s use of Flock data through public records requests.

He spoke to the Voice about the cameras’ rollout and was critical of how little transparency accompanied it.

“Flock makes a big thing in their press releases that these cameras were democratically approved, and that’s technically true. But most of it was consent calendar agendas that only the policy nerds really dig into,” he said.

Reeves’ skepticism isn’t limited to how Visalia approved buying Flock cameras in the first place, it extends to what’s happened with the cameras since. Through his own records requests, he obtained audit logs, and what he found puzzled him. The California Highway Patrol, he said, accessed Visalia’s camera data 42,000 times in a single 30-day period, compared to roughly 1,600 inquiries by VPD’s own officers in that same window.

“A CHP officer from Eureka [could be] checking Visalia with no expectation that the car he’s checking has ever been in Visalia. Why does he need to check Visalia’s data?”

The reports he received were also, in his view, disappointingly vague. VPD’s data listed the requesting agency and a reason for each inquiry — the same reason field Salazar referenced — but Reeves said most entries simply read “investigation.”

“It doesn’t say investigation of what,” he said. “Most of the inquiries are just fishing. It’s not investigation.”

He added that the audit itself isn’t public in real time. Records only surface after a public records request, and by then, the data is well out of date. “It’s very delayed,” he said. “So it’s not current data.”

According to Reeves, VPD has since removed the reason field from the public records it releases on Flock inquiries.

Reeves’ own records request, filed in April of this year, also requested any log of inquiries involving  his own license plate. State law generally gives departments 10 days to respond to a records request; it took VPD nearly three months to fulfill his. When the records finally came, his request for information tied to his own plate was denied, citing the department’s own privacy policy.

That experience points to a broader question about the department’s transparency. If records related to Flock cameras are opaque enough that a resident can’t see the reason behind an inquiry, or obtain information about searches involving his own license plate, how transparent is the department?

When asked about Salazar’s assurance that California agencies are structurally unable to enable Flock’s federal-data-sharing setting, Reeves was skeptical that a togglable software setting could reliably hold up against unlawful remote access.

“That can be changed remotely by Flock, whether intentionally or unintentionally,” he said, pointing to an incident at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in early 2025, when a “vendor error” reportedly re-enabled data sharing to agencies outside the state, leading to more than 364,000 outside queries before it was caught.

Reeves said he isn’t opposed to ALPR technology itself. What troubles him is who owns and controls the data it generates, which isn’t the VPD or any other local agency.

“It would be different if they were controlled by the local agency, where the data is stored locally, where only the agency has direct access to it,” he said. Leaving that data in the hands of a private company, he said, leaves it vulnerable to breaches and to side-door loopholes federal agencies can use to gain access.

He was also blunt about the broader pattern he sees playing out: “There have been many instances where police have abused the system,” he said. “There are insufficient checks.”

Asked how he felt about radio encryption in tandem with the Flock rollout, Reeves said neither, on its own, alarms him as much as the two together.

“Each one of these things by itself doesn’t seem like much,” he said. “But it’s just a creeping, step by step, into more intrusive monitoring of the public.” It’s a continued pattern, he said, of no accountability and the public kept in the dark about what’s happening in its own city. “These are steps towards having a secret police.”

Not Just Visalia

Visalia PD isn’t the only department in the region using Flock cameras. College of the Sequoias PD, Hanford PD, Dinuba PD, Woodlake PD, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office all use the technology as well, though the Voice was not able to secure interviews with those agencies by publication.

Hanford Police Department is scheduled to present its own use of Flock technology at the city’s September 15 City Council meeting. Hanford’s Community Relations Manager Brian Johnson said the meeting is open to everyone and there will be opportunity for public comment.

The flock discussion will be during the study session portion of the meeting, which starts at 4 p.m.

The post Residents take notice of local Flock cameras as company attracts national attention appeared first on Valley Voice.

The initiative provides rapid, confidential, and direct financial assistance to deputies facing unforeseen crises—ensuring help is available when it is needed most, without delay or burden.

Believed to be the first initiative of its kind in Kings County, the Emergency Assistance Fund represents a new model of collaboration between civic leadership and public service—one that extends support beyond the workplace and into the lives of those who serve.

Through this partnership, those values are translated into a tangible local commitment—directly supporting the men and women who serve Kings County and the families who stand behind them.

The Emergency Assistance Fund will be administered through the Kings County Sheriff’s Foundation, ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of all contributions.

Alii Azizuddin said, “The men and women of the Kings County Sheriff’s Office make extraordinary sacrifices every day to protect our communities. This fund is about ensuring that when hardship strikes, they and their families have immediate access to meaningful support. Serving those who serve others is not optional—it is a shared responsibility.”

Thank you to Alii and the Kings County Sheriff’s Foundation for the continuous support of the men and women of the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.

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Show Manager, Steve Tarter, commented, “ It seems like just yesterday, that Alan Hurley and I decided to start a new Fall Home Show, just after the first anniversary of 911.  And, after that the show grew and grew, and began hosting a variety of family activities like the Kid’s Cook-Off, the First Responders Chili Cook-Off, the Street of Dreams showcases, and more…”

Steve added, “We tried to bring new things to the show such as Home Offices, office work was moving home, easy and smart home gadgets  to increase  security and , comfort, and we previewed a fully furnished She Shed, and even a variety of prefab and tiny homes.”  Unfortunately, with the increased demand for these small dwellings, we will not have any onsite this year.

As usual, show visitors will find affordable decorating and home improvement options provided by family-owned local contractors and experts.  There will also be smart home products, great lighting options, and security services.  And the experts at the Visalia Home Depot will be on hand to help with DIY projects and home repairs.

As the summer heat lingers and you haven’t gotten ready for outdoor dining,  then secure help with landscaping, pool construction, or the addition of a patio awning to enhance the backyard. And lowering utility costs is always a good idea, so check out HVAC dealers, solar panel experts, insulation and airflow specialists. And be sure to stop by your local dealer – who has been just down the street –  Superior Air, and talk with Raul about rebates that might be available for your next A/C upgrade.

This year’s Street of Dreams features home furnishing and Fall redecorating. Start at the Gowin Green Landscaping display to see how to transform you outdoor living areas.  Then step  inside and talk with Megan, the Couch Girl.  She has the trendiest home furnishings and the latest styles – all MARKED DOWN – under her label.  Need accessories.  No worries.  Next door are beautiful tables fashioned by Gary Bardonnex to accompany your new couch.

At the end of the Street of Dreams, you’ll find the Habitat for Humanity’s Restore who will also have great treasures that can be refurbished, for pennies.  And before you leave – try your luck at the putting green built by Divine Landscapes.  Just in time to practice your putt before Habitat’s Big October Golf Tournament.

Speaking of October, look for a variety of scary Halloween decor as you shop at crafter and home-based retail booths. Preview Home Depot’s lifelike Halloween yard art before they sell out! Enjoying Southern barbecue and exceptional Mexican plates. Or, skip right to desserts as you enjoy  caramel apples and  gourmet baked goods.

Whether you’re a homeowner seeking to revamp your living space or a gardening enthusiast looking for fresh ideas, the Visalia Home EXPO has something for everyone.  Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this exciting event that brings together the best in home and garden under one roof. Join us for a day filled with creativity, exploration, and endless possibilities at the Visalia Home EXPO!

If it’s time to add more accessibility or safety, stop by and talk with Michelle and Bob at the Elements Design Center booth.  They can help design your bathroom and kitchen for accessibility such as roll-in/curb-free showers, wheelchair-accessible cabinetry and countertops, lower placement of shower plumbing and electrical fixtures, as well as slip-resistant flooring.

Seniors will  also find a variety of local resources from community organizations including Visalia Gleaning Seniors, Porterville Quilter’s Club, the Visalia Veterans Mural Restoration Committee, Visalia Masonic Lodge, and Habitat for Humanity.

Online, senior tickets are $3, and may be used TWICE, if you wish to attend both days.  At the door, senior tickets are $4.  General Admission, online is $5, or $7 at the door.  Buy now and save.  For more information visit VisaliaHomeShows.com.

The post Visalia Home EXPO celebrates its 25th year appeared first on Valley Voice.

The Bulldog Bound program provides a guaranteed admission pathway to Fresno State for qualifying Porterville College students who satisfy minimum California State University eligibility requirements. Beyond secured admission, enrolled participants receive valuable benefits designed to support their academic transition, including dedicated advising, early admission notifications, potential application fee waivers, and transfer scholarship opportunities.

Attendees at the Open House will have the opportunity to speak directly with Fresno State counselors, discuss specific major requirements, and create an academic plan. Students will also be able to sign their official Bulldog Bound pledge on site and pick up complimentary Bulldog merchandise.

Whether students are in their first semester mapping out general education courses or preparing to submit their final Cal State Apply application, the event offers the guidance needed to ensure a smooth transition from community college to university. The Open House is free and open to all current Porterville College students.

For more details regarding the Bulldog Bound program or the upcoming event, students are encouraged to visit the Transfer and Career Resource Center on campus.

The post Porterville College partners with Fresno State to offer guaranteed admission pathway appeared first on Valley Voice.

The celebration brought together Houston students, families, staff, and community partners to recognize the transformation of the campus and thank the community for its investment in local schools. The modernization was made possible through Measure A, the $105 million local school bond approved by Visalia voters in 2018. Measure A was designed to support improvements to classrooms, technology, school safety, and balancing of campuses across Visalia Unified.

“Thanks to the incredible support of our community and the passage of Measure A, we’re proud to celebrate these improvements at Houston,” said Superintendent Kirk Shrum. “Our goal through modernizations is to provide every student, regardless of the school they attend, with a high-quality education.”

“Thanks to the incredible support of our community and the passage of Measure A, we’re proud to celebrate these improvements at Houston,” said Shrum. “Our goal through modernizations is to provide every student, regardless of the school they attend, with a high-quality education, because when they succeed, our community succeeds.”

The Houston Elementary project included a wide-range of improvements designed to enhance the safety and learning environments of students and staff.

• New roofing, fencing, concrete, and drop-off zone
• New tile, wall finishes, fixtures, and partitions in student/staff restrooms
• Drainage upgrades to prevent flooding
• Two TVs per classroom, new speakers, wireless access points, and data drops
• New doors, flooring, ceilings, and finishes in classrooms
• Updated fire alarms and added power outlets
• Outdated electrical poles removed
• Portable classrooms: new carpet, paint, and door hardware
• And more

Houston Elementary Principal Monica Saenz also recognized the flexibility and dedication of her staff throughout the construction.

“These updates have created a beautiful, welcoming environment where our Houston Bears can feel valued, inspired, and ready to learn. We see an investment in our students, their education, and their future. I’d like to recognize our incredible staff for their patience and flexibility during the project – this patience is now paying off.”

“The remodel has given us better spaces to learn and play,” said recent alumna Cielo Escareno. “But this remodel is not only for the students here today, it will also help future students, like my sister Estrella, have a safe and comfortable place to learn and create new memories.”

Houston Elementary was built in 1950, making the school over 70 years old. Over 50% of VUSD schools are also 70% old, driving the urgency to upgrade and repair schools for the future of the community. Measure A funds will be exhausted after the upcoming modernization of Veva Blunt Elementary, as well as classrooms added to multiple high schools and a remodel of a building at Mt. Whitney High School to add space for a future advanced learning program.

“Our Board recognizes that for students to achieve at their highest levels, they need an environment that can foster it,” added VUSD Board President Dr. Todd Oto. “That’s why our Board recently voted to place a bond measure on this November’s election ballot. We thank our community for believing in our local schools and for prioritizing students. I hope we can continue to do more of this work together.”

The post Houston Elementary kicks off back-to-school with a campus-wide modernization appeared first on Valley Voice.

Meet André, an aging man, whose mental facility is in decline. Meet Alzheimer’s. Meet Dementia. His daughter Anne, wants to care for her father, making efforts to bring caregivers into his life, which he rejects.

The audience is brought into the ever increasing confusion of André’s mind, as the back and forth from reality to confusion to memory move and shift visually and emotionally, causing the audience to experience in real time what André and his caregivers face from this life stealing disease.

“You don’t direct a show like THE FATHER on a whim. The subject matter of the show is intensely personal to me. I have come to find out it is intensely personal for many members of my cast and crew. For anybody who is going through a struggle involving Alzheimer’s or Dementia, or who knows what it is like through past experience, this is a play that will make you feel seen.” Antony Lotenero, Director.

Due to some subject matter and language, this show is recommended for audiences ages 16 and up.

Cast List:

• André – James Sack
• Anne- Ali Janusiewicz
• Pierre – Adam Soriano
• Laura – Quinn Soriano
• Woman – Cinthia Ibarra
• Man – Colin Helpio
• Venue: The Ice House Theater, 410 E. Race Street, Visalia, CA 93291

Performance Dates and Times:

THE FATHER performs for 3 weekends, opening on Friday, September 11, 2026.

Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30pm  9/11, 9/12, 9/18, 9/19, 9/25, 9/26

Thursday student rush evening performances at 7:30pm, 9/24

Sunday matinees at 2pm  9/13, 9/20

To purchase tickets, go to www.visaliaicehouce.com

The post Award winning play The Father coming to Visalia’s Ice House Theater appeared first on Valley Voice.

The Mid-Kings River GSA is seeking landowner approval for an assessment of up to $26.84 per assessable acre for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The assessment is structured as a not-to-exceed amount, with the GSA Board setting the actual assessment each year based on its adopted budget. The proposal would provide up to $2.5 million annually for GSA operations and implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

“Without adequate funding for GSAs, the Tulare Lake Subbasin will never be released from probation by the SWRCB,” said Dusty Ference, Executive Director of Kings County Farm Bureau.

The Tulare Lake Subbasin was placed on probation by the State Water Resources Control Board in April 2024. Since then, the Mid-Kings River GSA and the other GSAs within the subbasin have been working to address the State Board’s concerns.

According to the Mid-Kings River GSA, assessment revenue would fund SGMA compliance and administration, Groundwater Sustainability Plan updates and implementation, groundwater monitoring, monitoring equipment, dry well mitigation administration, and public outreach.

KCFB recognizes that the proposed assessment represents an additional cost to landowners. The Board considered that cost in taking its position and determined that adequate local funding is necessary for the GSA to carry out its responsibilities under SGMA.

Ballots must be received by the Mid-Kings River GSA no later than the conclusion of its public hearing, which begins at 1:00 p.m. on September 29, 2026, at the Kings County Government Center in Hanford. Ballots are weighted according to the potential financial obligation of each affected property.

Kings County Farm Bureau’s position is in support of the proposed assessment.

The post Kings County Farm Bureau supports Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Prop 218 assessment appeared first on Valley Voice.

Placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the City Council on June 2, Measure A asks voters to consider a 1-cent local sales tax increase. If approved by voters, the proposed measure would raise the City’s total sales tax rate from 8.25% to 9.25%, keeping the City competitive and matching the rate in neighboring cities. This change is projected to generate approximately $16 million in locally controlled General Fund revenue each year.

Sales tax is Tulare’s primary revenue stream and is currently trending downward, with a 3.5% drop projected in fiscal year 2026. Simultaneously, the City faces surging costs tied to inflation, pension obligations and the ongoing homelessness crisis. Despite implementing cost-saving measures such as deferring facility maintenance and capital improvement projects, financial forecasts predict a structural deficit within five years.

“Our role is to ensure our community has full clarity on the City’s financial landscape and how local services are delivered in Tulare,” said Mayor Patrick Isherwood. “We invite all residents to learn more about Measure A and participate in the upcoming election.”

If Measure A is approved by voters, this locally controlled funding would go directly into the City’s General Fund which supports services such as maintaining 911 emergency, fire, paramedic, and police response, protecting local youth from gangs and crime, helping prevent thefts and property crimes, addressing the local homelessness crisis, keeping public areas and community parks clean and safe, repairing local roads and potholes, protecting local drinking water sources and preparing for future droughts, and retaining and attracting local businesses.

By law, this proposed sales tax does not apply to everyday essentials like groceries, rent, or prescription medications. Out-of-town visitors who shop or dine in Tulare would contribute to the tax, ensuring that everyone who uses local infrastructure helps pay for it. Currently, Tulare faces an estimated $356.6 million in annual “sales tax leakage” due to residents frequently traveling outside the City limits for retail purchases. Measure A aims to keep more taxpayer dollars circulating locally.

“Transparency means making sure residents have clear, accurate information and meaningful opportunities to ask questions,” said City Manager Marc Mondell. “Through virtual and in-person community meetings over the next several months, we hope to help residents better understand Measure A so they can make an informed decision when they vote.”

For further details about Measure A, visit the City of Tulare Sales Tax Measure page.

The post City of Tulare services measure to appear as Measure A on ballot appeared first on Valley Voice.

Aguirre’s family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared.

In the summer of 1943, Aguirre was assigned to the 67th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), in Libya. On Aug. 16, he was the assistant radio operator aboard a B-24D Liberator bomber on a mission to San Nicola, Italy, near the city of Foggia. That morning, Aguirre’s bomber was one of 25 making an attack on the airfield there. After a successful run, the bombers were targeted by intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. Aguirre’s bomber was one of nine to go down. With the area around San Nicola under enemy control, it was impossible for Allied forces to search for possible survivors. With no news of Aguirre’s survival and no record of him being captured, the War Department issued a presumptive finding of death on Aug. 17, 1944.

Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Service, the organization tasked with recovering missing American service members in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, searched for Aguirre, his crewmates, and signs of their plane, but were unsuccessful in finding anything that could be identified as belonging to Aguirre or the plane. Aguirre was declared non-recoverable on Nov. 15, 1950.

In 2019, DPAA historians began researching five sets of unknown remains that had been recovered from the town of Lacedonia, Italy, about 30 miles south-southwest of San Nicola. They had been reported to British Graves Registration personnel in February 1945 and investigated by the AGRS in April 1945. During the investigation, no evidence could be found identifying the remains or the plane that had crashed. AGRS disinterred the remains in Lacedonia and reburied them at the U.S. Military Cemetery Naples. After much research, DPAA historians recommended the five Unknowns be disinterred for scientific comparison to Aguirre and his crew. In June 2022, the Department of Defense and the American Battle Monuments Commission disinterred the five Unknowns and transferred them to the DPAA laboratory for scientific analysis.

To identify Aguirre’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological and dental analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism DNA analysis.

Aguirre’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Carthage American Cemetery, an ABMC site in Carthage, Tunisia, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Aguirre will be buried on Sept. 18, 2026, in his hometown.

For family and funeral information, call the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.

For additional information on the War Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, https://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa, https://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/, or https://x.com/dodpaa.

Aguirre’s personnel profile can be viewed at: https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000001EhN2dEAF.

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In 2023, California legislation expanded opportunities for students to serve on local school boards, including the ability for student board members to cast votes on matters before their boards. Visalia Unified, however, has incorporated student voice on the Board for several years, providing students from across VUSD high schools with most recently having a direct opportunity to participate in Board discussions and decisions that impact their schools and community.

In addition to participating in Board meetings and voting on eligible matters, student representatives receive open-session Board agenda materials and are invited to participate in District events alongside Board members, including grand openings, community forums, and other special events. The representatives also meet monthly and participate in the Superintendent’s Advisory, a group of nearly 100 students in grades 3-12 who provide feedback and perspective on a variety of District priorities throughout the school year.

“Student voice is an important part of how we make decisions in Visalia Unified,” said Superintendent Kirk Shrum. “Our Student Board Representatives bring a unique perspective to the Board and help us better understand what students are experiencing and what is important to them. Throughout the years, these students have provided valuable insight that has shifted school priorities or contributed to policy, such as water bottle stations and how our cellphone policy is implemented.”

At the board meeting, students took their oath of office and signed this year’s student-led campaign priority poster which helps encourage students to Learn, Connect, and Care.

The 2026-27 School Board Representatives are:

• Adrian Lopez Guzman, Redwood High School
• Andrea Reyes Padilla, Golden West High School
• Berkley Towne, Sequoia High School
• Jayda Toor, El Diamante High School
• Mia Bravo, Mt. Whitney High School
• Nikomiah Rebolledo, Visalia Technical Early College High School (VTEC)
• TBD, Visalia Charter Independent School

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