Maria U. Okpara

Voted to create a trust for prepaying $3.472 million in retirement-incentive obligations from one-time student-support and professional-development grant funds. The trust arrangement had no setup or maintenance fee.

September 10, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt the district’s 2026–27 education plan, 5–0. It allocated $75,844,120 to actions and services. Planned funding for foster youth, English learners and low-income students fell from $46,441,001 in the prior-year plan to $44,970,487.

June 11, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for Apple Valley Unified’s 2026–27 operating budget, adopted 4–1. It budgeted General Fund spending at $263,724,887, 1.4% below the prior-year estimate. Planned instruction spending rose 3.1% to $163,406,454. It projected a $3,838,116 fund-balance increase after transfers, alongside a $1,557,459 unrestricted deficit.

June 11, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for final resolutions authorizing teaching and nonteaching layoffs after program reductions and funding shortages. Each passed with four votes in favor and one abstention.

May 7, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and voted to approve the 2025–28 teachers’ contract; the motion passed 3–1. Its accompanying financial disclosure estimated $2,716,891 in added salary and benefit costs for 2025–26.

March 5, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to approve a plan showing $2.985 million in unrestricted-budget reductions for 2025–26 and $8.8 million for 2026–27. It combined staffing and purchasing cuts with shifts to restricted funding.

March 5, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt the district’s 2026–27 education plan, 5–0. It allocated $75,844,120 to actions and services. Planned funding for foster youth, English learners and low-income students fell from $46,441,001 in the prior-year plan to $44,970,487.

June 11, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for Apple Valley Unified’s 2026–27 operating budget, adopted 4–1. It budgeted General Fund spending at $263,724,887, 1.4% below the prior-year estimate. Planned instruction spending rose 3.1% to $163,406,454. It projected a $3,838,116 fund-balance increase after transfers, alongside a $1,557,459 unrestricted deficit.

June 11, 2026Supports Public Education Quality

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for final resolutions authorizing teaching and nonteaching layoffs after program reductions and funding shortages. Each passed with four votes in favor and one abstention.

May 7, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and voted to approve the 2025–28 teachers’ contract; the motion passed 3–1. Its accompanying financial disclosure estimated $2,716,891 in added salary and benefit costs for 2025–26.

March 5, 2026Supports Public Education Quality

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to approve a plan showing $2.985 million in unrestricted-budget reductions for 2025–26 and $8.8 million for 2026–27. It combined staffing and purchasing cuts with shifts to restricted funding.

March 5, 2026Opposes Public Education Quality

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Seconded and voted at first reading for policies on math instruction and placement. They described an Integrated Math 1 starting point and honors-placement criteria using test scores, grades and staff recommendations.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt student-disturbance rules recognizing one excused absence per school year for a middle or high school student’s participation in a civic or political event.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to approve the district’s 2025–26 unaudited financial report; the motion passed 4–1. It reported $260,997,502 in general-fund revenue and $262,361,863 in spending and transfers, a $1,364,351 shortfall.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for a school-board resolution endorsing Proposition 3, a ballot measure on continuing higher state income-tax rates for high earners. The motion passed 5–0.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to expand child-abuse reporting rules to trustees and some adult volunteers, require volunteer training within six weeks of starting service, and add crisis-support contacts to student ID cards for grades 7–12.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to ratify district participation in a regional career-technical-education grant consortium. The action corrected an August vote that lacked a motion and second.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt hiring-screening rules requiring checks with teaching and nonteaching applicants’ previous school employers about specified complaints, investigations and disciplinary actions.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted at first reading for language restricting trustees’ entry into district offices and meetings. It required advance written superintendent authorization for spaces not posted as open to the public. It also authorized law-enforcement assistance to remove a trustee. The motion passed 3–2.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and voted to adopt a board compensation-and-benefits bylaw listing monthly trustee pay of $454.46, effective July 1, 2026. The motion passed 4–1.

June 11, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to postpone the CSBA governance-workshop agreement until December 2026. The motion passed 3–2; the agreement listed $3,300 per one-day workshop plus consultant travel.

June 11, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to censure fellow school-board trustee Renee Longshore. The resolution passed 3–2.

June 11, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and voted to approve required energy-cost findings for a $930,000 school ventilation project funded entirely by state CalSHAPE grants. The motion passed 5–0.

May 7, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Was recognized at an Apple Valley Unified board meeting for being named Outstanding Special Education University Supervisor by Cal State San Bernardino.

May 7, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to let district administrators decide whether to issue short-term cash-flow notes for 2026–27. The resolution passed 3–2 and did not require the district to borrow.

May 7, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Seconded and voted for a $93,261.77 body-camera purchase for the district police department. The motion passed 5–0.

May 7, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to approve a revised agreement for two full-time county probation officers in district schools for 2026–27. The revision replaced a one-officer agreement she approved in March. State crime-prevention funding covered the district’s $72,420 salary share; the revised agreement passed 5–0.

April 2, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted for a resolution supporting Superintendent Trenae Nelson amid public criticism of district budget practices. It passed 3–1, with one trustee not voting.

April 2, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt policies restricting staff assistance with immigration enforcement, citizenship-status disclosures, and access to students or records, subject to legal exceptions. The policies also barred district-funded registries based on national origin or immigration status.

March 5, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and voted to retain the superintendent’s authority to transfer cash between district operating funds for temporary cash shortages without a separate board resolution for each transfer. The motion passed 3–2.

January 22, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Was selected president of the Apple Valley Unified School District Public Facilities Corporation in a 4–0 vote.

January 22, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to adopt an environmental review for the Granite Hills High School stadium project and authorize the required filings. The motion passed 5–0.

December 11, 2025

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Was elected clerk of the Apple Valley Unified School District board in a 3–2 vote.

December 11, 2025

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to approve a five-year Focus student information system contract capped at $1,034,826.73, including $143,400 in implementation costs. The motion passed 5–0.

November 6, 2025

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Voted to accept and sign a nonteaching employees’ settlement financial disclosure reporting a $5,578,653 salary-and-benefit cost increase for 2025–26. Its funding certification depended on a budget-cut plan.

October 2, 2025

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Served as chair of the High Desert subregional table for Thrive Inland SoCal’s California Jobs First regional planning effort.

September 26, 2024

Source: webarchive.ucr.edu

Received the San Bernardino/Riverside Building and Construction Trades Council’s endorsement for Apple Valley Unified School District’s Area 4 board seat.

September 23, 2022

Source: cabuildingtrades.org

Voted to extend an agreement granting college credit for approved high-school career courses. Students earning A or B grades qualified for credit at Victor Valley College. The board approved it 5–0, with no cost to extend the agreement.

September 2, 2021

Source: vvc.edu

Served as president of the Apple Valley Unified School District board.

July 29, 2021

Source: drive.usercontent.google.com

Was elected to Apple Valley Unified School District’s Area 4 board seat with 1,836 votes, or 51.8%.

November 6, 2018

Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov

Worked as a classroom teacher in Apple Valley Unified School District on September 11, 2001.

September 11, 2001

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com