Amanda Buchanan

Voted to create a trust for prepaying $3.472 million in existing 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 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 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 final resolutions authorizing teaching and nonteaching layoffs for 2026–27 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 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 approve the 2025–28 teachers’ contract; the motion passed 3–1. Its 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 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 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 final resolutions authorizing teaching and nonteaching layoffs for 2026–27 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 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

Voted to approve the 2025–28 teachers’ contract; the motion passed 3–1. Its 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

Received an endorsement from Voz Unida (the California Latino Voter Alliance) for the 2026 Apple Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 2 election.

October 25, 2026

Source: latinovoteralliance.org

Received an endorsement from the San Bernardino County Republican Party for the 2026 Apple Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 2 election.

October 9, 2026

Source: img1.wsimg.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 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 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

Moved and voted for a school-board resolution supporting Proposition 3, a ballot measure continuing higher state income-tax rates for high earners. The motion passed 5–0.

September 10, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved and 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

Moved and voted at first reading for language restricting trustees’ entry into district offices and meetings. It required advance written superintendent authorization for spaces not open to the public and allowed police assistance to remove a trustee. The motion passed 3–2.

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

Moved 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

Moved and voted to censure fellow trustee Renee Longshore. The motion passed 3–2.

June 11, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

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

June 11, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Moved 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

Seconded and voted for 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

Moved and 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

Co-prepared, moved and voted for a resolution supporting Superintendent Trenae Nelson amid criticism of district budget practices. It passed 3–1, with one trustee not voting.

April 2, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

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

April 2, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Declined to facilitate votes on two secondary motions at the April 2 school-board meeting. Trustees later amended the minutes to record her decision.

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

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

January 22, 2026

Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com

Was selected chief financial officer 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 president 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

Served as a California School Boards Association delegate representing Apple Valley Unified School District.

February 3, 2025

Source: resources.finalsite.net

Reported completing the Masters in Governance training program during her first year as an Apple Valley trustee.

March 6, 2024

Source: sbcssk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com

Received an endorsement from Planned Parenthood’s Orange and San Bernardino Counties Community Action Fund for the 2022 Apple Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 2 election.

February 22, 2023

Source: cdn.plannedparenthood.org

Worked as a high-school teacher with 19 years of experience. She also served as a certified NRA instructor and range safety officer at Apple Valley Gun Club.

January 31, 2023

Source: applevalleygunclub.com

Won the 2022 general election for Apple Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 2 with 1,620 votes, or 45.72%.

November 8, 2022

Source: results.rov.sbcounty.gov

Received an FPPC warning for late filing of a pre-election campaign statement and two 24-hour contribution reports. She filed the missing reports before the election; the case closed without administrative prosecution or a fine.

January 19, 2023

Source: fppc.ca.gov