Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board President Tina Shivpuri has asked that an upcoming board agenda include concrete next steps for the district's "Climate of Care" initiative, according to draft minutes from the Nov. 4 board meeting.
The request is a formal step toward institutional follow-up after recent hate speech incidents at Mira Costa High School and Manhattan Beach Middle School. Thirty-one people addressed the board in person at the meeting, which the MB News reported drew an overflow crowd.
Shivpuri asked that the agenda item address concerns surrounding what the minutes describe as "the incident at Mira Costa High School." She called for helping the community better understand work already underway through the Climate of Care initiative and efforts planned going forward. She also sought greater clarity on the supports available to students, according to the draft minutes.
The minutes remain in draft form. They have not yet been formally adopted by the board.
Hate incidents drew packed meeting
The Nov. 4 meeting at 325 S. Peck Ave. in Manhattan Beach opened with Shivpuri making a statement about the importance of standing up against hate and reaffirming the district's commitment to an inclusive community, the draft minutes state.
Superintendent Dr. Kim Linz addressed what the minutes describe as "recent incidents of hate speech, intimidation, and threats on District campus, specifically anti-Black racism and antisemitism." She reaffirmed that hate in any form has no place in MBUSD schools.
The MB News reported that the incidents included antisemitic graffiti at Manhattan Beach Middle School and a swastika carved into a trash can at Mira Costa. A student at Mira Costa was also reported to have made violent anti-Black threats while claiming membership in the Ku Klux Klan, according to the MB News.
Of the 31 speakers who addressed the board in person, topics ranged from racism and hate incidents to contract negotiations. Two student speakers were among them: London Bomani Laurencio spoke about consequences of racist behavior, and Alessia Osterling Tabataian spoke about racism and consequences, the minutes show.
Board members deferred their own announcements to a future meeting because of the high volume of public comments.
Board approved retaining wall, staffing agreement
The board voted 5-0 to approve a guaranteed maximum price for a retaining wall project at Mira Costa High School. Greg Miller of Balfour Beatty answered board questions before the vote. Shivpuri moved the motion, and board member Wysh Weinstein seconded it.
The board also voted 5-0 to ratify an agreement with Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc. to provide special education substitute staffing services for the 2026-27 school year. Dr. Gonzalez-Castillo described updates to the amended agreement before that vote.
In closed session, the board voted unanimously to approve a settlement in Case No. 2615081 and unanimously to reject a settlement in Case No. 2412867.
All five board members were present: Shivpuri, Vice President Jen Dohner, Clerk Cathey Graves, Jen Fenton and Weinstein. The consent calendar, covering 11 items including an amended student disturbances policy, passed 5-0.
Shivpuri's agenda request means the Climate of Care initiative is expected to appear on a future MBUSD board meeting agenda, though the draft minutes do not specify which one.
