REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
September 24, 2025
Hybrid: Santa Rosa City Hall Council Chambers (100 Santa Rosa Ave.)
4:00 p.m. – Closed Session
6:00 p.m. – Open Session
Hybrid: Zoom / Santa Rosa City Hall
*** streamed ***
Video Board Meetings through this link.
Please take time to review the following abbreviated version of the agenda. Click here to see the entire agenda. It has live links on many items with more information. If you want to comment to the board about any upcoming items, email agendacomments@srcs.k12.ca.us. Please CC wearesrta@gmail.com on your email.
Members attending online are encouraged to add SRTA to the front of their Zoom client name.
Closed Session Items:
A.1. Public Comment On Closed Session Agenda Items To comment, email Melanie Martin at mmartinsrcs.k12.ca.us.
This is an opportunity for members of the public to speak to the board on Closed Session items only.
Without specifics on closed session agenda items, it is impossible for the public to know when to provide insights for items being reviewed.
B.1. Student Readmissions (Case Nos: 2024/25-01)
B.2. Student Expulsions (Case Nos: 2025/26-01, 2025/26-02)
B.3. Conference With Labor Negotiator – Name of designated rep attending: Dr. Vicki Zands (SRCS); name of organizations: SRTA, CSEA Santa Rosa 75, Teamsters Union 665
B.4. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
B.5. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Title of employee being reviewed: Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, Directors, Coordinators)
RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
D. Reports
E. Public Comment on Non Agenda and Consent Items
SRTA Members are invited to complete ‘blue cards’ at the board meeting in order to make public comments. Online comments have been suspended unless a board member is attending remotely. Please be prepared to observe the three minute time limit or the imposition of a possible last minute reduction in the time limit. Comments have been limited to as little as 60 seconds, with a limit on the total time spent on public comments. Only items NOT on the agenda are addressed at this time, with the exception of consent items (See section F.)
Comments are requested at the board meeting to bring a member’s perspective and share real experiences of the impact of district policies and practices on students and staff.
Speakers are limited to just those in person
Comments are most impactful when they are well spoken, composed and reasonable.
Can the board accept the transparent practice of announcing future special board meetings at the prior regular board meeting?
F. CONSENT ITEMS
All consent items are enacted by the Board in one motion, unless a Board member requests that an item be removed and discussed separately.
F.2. Approval of Personnel Transactions
EdJoin shows a total of 88 current postings for 207 jobs in SRCS. There are nineteen certificated opening postings for nineteen positions (three less than the last meeting.) There are sixty-nine current classified postings for one-hundred eighty-eight job openings (one more than the last meeting.) There are no certificated and no classified management positions posted.
This attachment lists department chairs and lead teachers. This internal process must be addressed so that those willing to step up to these responsibilities get their fair payment on the first check of the year, not delayed for weeks as was the case this year.
SRTA heartily welcomes Adrianna Begley (SRHS), Ellen Farwell (SPSV), Daniel Charlip Blumlein (PTES), and Danielle Yount (JMES).
SRTA welcomes back Anita Riveros Santiago (EAHS).
Changes to classified staff includes six new hires, and one resignation. They leave taking with them two years of knowledge and service to our staff and students.
Welcome to Gabriela Mendoza-Torres as Interim Principal of CCLA.
F.5. Approval of Contracts
Summary
| # | Provider | Cost | Description |
| Elementary | |||
| 4 | North Bay Children’s Center | $947,157.00 | Preschool at SLES and JMES for 48 students ($19,732 per student) |
| 5 | Santa Rosa City Rec & Parks Department | $6,950.00 | 2 day camp over Thanksgiving Break for 150 students ($46 per student) |
| 6 | Springboard Collaborative | $354,955.00 | After-school, early-literacy academic program for 675 students (K-3) at 5 sites ($526 per student) |
| 10 | Community Matters | No Direct Cost | Safe School Ambassador program for PTES |
| 15 | Santa Rosa Junior College | No Direct Cost | ESL, College Skills, and Adult ESL classes at JMES |
| 21 | eSpark Inc. | $3,724.99 | instruction and practice for reading, writing, and math with PD for up to 20 staff at ALES. |
| District | |||
| 2 | Document Tracking Services | $5,500.00 | application to manage District & Charter LCAPs, the School Site SPSAs, Safety Plans and other documents |
| 9 | Restorative Resources | $7,000.00 | to support SRCS staff members with restorative practices |
| 11 | Soliant Health | $750,000.00 | SLP services for students (last year contract was $425,000) |
| 13 | Marin County Office of Education / CA Collaborative for Educational Excellence | No Direct Cost | PD to help school staff and community members deepen their knowledge and skills in community engagement |
| 14 | King Consulting | $82,000.00 | make determination of the District’s State School Facility Program (SFP) New Construction Eligibility and assist SRCS in applying for modernization funding reimbursements from the state. |
| 16 | CyberReef | $480.00 | Internet filtering for hotspots provided for students. |
| 18 | DGI Development Group, Inc. / CISCO | $82,534.31 | DO Hyperflex & UCS – Support and Licensing C9500 switches – Support and Licensing Firewalls |
| Secondary | |||
| 1 | EdPuzzle | $14,259.00 | Platform for Burbank Elementary, CCLA, EAHS, MCHS & PHS |
| 3 | Swank K12 Films | $2,650.00 | movie licensing for MCHS. |
| 8 | The Backdrop | $6,100.00 | 2026 PHS Prom Location. |
| 12 | Steve Smith | $10,200.00 | run Student Observatory projects for our STEM Level 2 & 3 STEM Certificate program, and assists with technical aspects of the Observatory. |
| 19 | Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District | $2,400.00 | The team from EAHS will meet with the team from CRPUSD for four hours around 4×4 schedule. |
| 20 | Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) | $10,000.00 | Family Engagement in Education program for all HS’s. |
| Charter | |||
| 7 | Membean Inc. | $1,395.00 | vocabulary program that builds word consciousness for SRACS |
| 17 | Solution Tree | $8,000.00 | four professional developments at SCOE for CCLA |
Total value of contracts = $2,295,305.30
SRTA members would like to know why the DGI/CISCO expenses can’t come from bond funds.
F.6. Approval of Contracts – Bond
| # | Contractor | Site | Service | Cost |
| Elementary | ||||
| 1 | ZFA Structural Engineers | PTES | Structural review after trenching | $5,000 |
| 4 | Incompli Inc. | HLES | Risk Assessment for Storm Water Plan | $18,990 |
| 9 | Stocksdale Inspection Services | ABES | Inspection for modernization project | $50,950 |
| 11 | Brelje & Race | ABES | Extra underground survey | $5,900 |
| Secondary | ||||
| 2 | Brelje & Race | MHS | Topographic Map for pavement project | $38,700 |
| 3 | STRATA Archecture & Planning | EAHS | supplemental design services | $74,400 |
| 5 | NorBay Consulting | SRHS | Asbestos inspection pre renovation | $1,594 |
| 6 | Greystone West Company | PHS | Construction Management for new building | $1,676,669 |
| 7 | Greystone West Company | SRHS | Construction Management for parking lot | $275,347 |
| 8 | RGH Consultants | SRHS | Geotechnical Testing | $16,121 |
| 10 | Miller Pacific Engineering Group | PHS | Geotechnical Testing | $38,600 |
Measure C = $2,121,430.40
Measure G = $80,840.00
Total = $2,202,270.40
Measure C and G Implementation Plan
F.7. Approval of Request for Proposal for Boys and Girls Club Sonoma-Marin
For after-school, expanded learning programs to approximately 525 students at Herbert Slater Middle/Junior High, Santa Rosa Middle/Junior High and Rincon Valley Middle School from Oct 1 through July 31, 2025.
Cost: $610,448
SRTA members wonder why students at Comstock are not included in this program.
How do students qualify for this program? Is there any associated cost? When will staff be briefed on these details so we can support students and families utilizing this opportunity?
Update on Current Prop 28 and Approval of the Annual Reports
Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in School Funding (AMS) is a legislative measure that was presented to voters in California during the 2022 elections. This proposition addresses the allocation of state funds to enhance and expand arts and music education in public schools.
F.8. – Cesar Chavez Language Academy
Using Proposition 28 funding to hire more staff and acquire additional supplies to expand our offerings including adding a Mariachi course allocating a new section which was a .20 FTE. The funding enabled us to provide materials and supplies such as instruments to support the section. Another .20 FTE to offer a course that focused on exploring video technology.
F.9. Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School
Funds were allocated to support a 0.2 FTE certificated Art Teacher, expanding opportunities for students to engage in visual arts. In addition, Prop 28 funds were used to help sustain and enhance our music program, ensuring that students continue to have access to high-quality instruction in this area.
F.10. Santa Rosa Charter for the Arts School
This funding was used to hire an instructional aide and purchase supplemental materials that align with our integrated VAPA standards and project-based learning model.
F.11. Santa Rosa French-American Charter School
SRFACS did not have any expenses for Prop 28 arts education programs during the 2024-2025 school year
There is no specific financial information or data attached to any of these site reports.
SRTA members insist on assurances that Prop 28 funds are being utilized not to sustain, but to enhance art experiences for students. Reassurance that an instructional aide is being utilized to enhance art education is necessary.
F.12. Approval of New Ethnic Studies Course Proposal
The Board will consider approval of the following new course for the 2025-2026 school year: Ethnic Studies Small Group Instruction English 9-10. This course satisfies 10 English credits.
The course overview specifies English 3-4 which is intended for 11th and 12th graders, which causes confusion.
SRTA members support offering Ethnic Studies content to all students.
It is time for the board to review the devotion to A-G only courses, in a way which includes teacher feedback on the true impact of this implementation. It is also necessary to clarify the expectations of an A-G course in a small group setting, and a co-taught setting as well as a traditional setting.
F.13. Approval of Santa Rosa High School’s FFA members to travel to Indianapolis, IN
The Board is being asked to approve the Field Trip Request for Santa Rosa High School’s annual FFA students to travel to the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, IN, October 27 – Nov. 2, 2025.
F.14. Approval of BP 4119.24
The Board will consider approval of Board Policy updates for 4119.24.
4119.24 Redline Maintaining Appropriate Adult-Student Interactions
SRTA members appreciate the changes to the proposed policy allowing for healthy interactions between staff and students. This BP is also included in G.1.
F.15. Approval of the Field Placement Affiliation MOU between Grand Canyon University and Santa Rosa City Schools
This is a three year contract. Mentor teachers are to be paid $500 per 16 week session.
G. BOARD POLICY UPDATES/FIRST READ
G.1. (First Read) First Read of Updated BP 4219.21, BP 4219.24, BP4319.21, BP4319.24
The Board will conduct a first reading of Board Policy updates for 4219.21, 4219.24, 4319.21, 4319.24.
BP 4219.21 Redline Professional Standards Changes include the addition of a section on Social Media.
BP 4219.24 Redline Maintaining Appropriate Adult-Student Interactions (See F.14.)
BP 4319.21 Redline Attachment is labeled BP 4219.21 and is identical to BP 4219.21 Professional Standards above except for omitting the phrase ‘during work hours.’
BP 4319.24 Redline Attachment is labeled BP 4219.24 and is identical to the above BP 4219.24 Maintaining Appropriate Adult-Student Interactions
G.2. (First Read) First Read of Updated BP 5116.1 and BP 5117
Intradistrict means between districts.
Redline BP 5116.1 Intradistrict Open Enrollment includes specifying that acceptance shall not be based on a student’s academic or athletic performance and transportation will not be provided.
Redline BP 5117 Interdistrict Attendance transfers require permission of their home district and shall be denied for a list of reasons provided.
SRTA members would appreciate transparent communication of the current SRCS philosophy about Intradistrict Transfers in light of declining enrollment and financial burdens.
H. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
H.1. (Discussion) SRCS/SCOE, Six Projects Presentation
The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) partnered with Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) for a six-month MOU to address
- Financial Stability – Guidance and strategies to improve fiscal health and sustainability.
Given the budget approval letter attached in K.4. grave concerns remain. Where has the spending outside the limits of the budget occurred? What mechanics can be utilized to cease this practice?
- Student Enrollment Insights – Analysis and tools to better understand and respond to enrollment trends.
It was openly stated that SCOE did exit interviews with families that chose to leave the district. What are the lessons learned from this data? What systems are in place to keep current with the factors impacting declining enrollment?
- School Restructuring – Support for data-informed decisions around school configuration and resource alignment.
Where is the open and honest sharing of the data around school configuration and resource alignment?
Where are the staffing ratios?
Where are the metrics for evaluating the transitions to fewer elementary sites and two 7-12 sites?
What are the expected savings on these changes coming from, specifically? Is that being realized?
Can an evaluation be completed and shared before closing more sites? It is hard for SRTA members to support this shift when there is little information about it working to fix the problem it was designed to impact.
- Safety – Enhancements to school safety protocols and planning.
What has this entailed? The new district Safety Committee required by the SRTA/SRCS contract has not been utilized to collaboratively address safety in the district. The district Safety Plan was expected to be a board agenda item in September of 2024. It has not been rescheduled.
- Special Education Transitions – Streamlined processes and support for students moving into or out of special education services.
What does this look like? The SRCS Special Education Task Force has just been initiated. What kind of timeline is expected to address and implement changes to increase the efficiency of the Special Education program which was assessed to be overspending by $20 million dollars by Dr. Gillespie nearly a year ago.
- Communications – Strengthened internal and external communications to support transparency and community engagement.
The promises of open two-way communication are welcome. Implementation is a historical deficiency for SRCS. Not having the details for this report posted does not bode well.
Attachments will be added to this item after posting of the agenda. (These are not yet posted.)
SRTA members support the district righting the financial position of the district and avoiding a state takeover.
SRTA members are curious about the specificities of this support, and the impact this MOU has had on improving the systems and processes utilized by SRCS.
H.2. (Discussion) Proctor Terrace ES and Hidden Valley ES Trench Study Report
The Board will receive information about the trenching study report that was performed at the Proctor Terrace ES and Hidden Valley ES campuses during the summer of 2025.
HVES Report Concludes that no Holocene active faults exist within the areas explored.
HVES Recommendation Recommended a “no build” zone which extends 50-feet east from the western end of the seismic profiles. (No further building along the west boundary of the site.)
PTES Report The aggregated evidence suggests likely Holocene fault activity.
PTES Recommendation Recommend a minimum setback from the potential faults be imposed for new structures. (No further building at the front of the school.)
H.3. (Discussion/Possible Action) Boundary Discussion
- H.3a. Elementary Schools:
| Current Site | Projected at Site | Neighborhood(s) to be absorbed | New projections for Site | Based on the provided Numbers | |
| JMES | 417 | 424 | Coffey Lane (9) and W Steele Lane (91) | 524 | 524 |
| HLES | 470 | 487 | Coddingtown (96) | 566 | 583 |
| ALES | 325 | 320 | Corby (124) and Copperfield (17) | 466 | 461 |
| HVES | 540 | 504 | Steele Lane (62) | 602 | 566 |
| PTES | 478 | 441 | none | 390 | 441 |
| LBES | 457 | 461 | College (43) and Fairgrounds (45) | 421 | 549 |
| Totals | 2687 | 2637 | 487 | 2969 | 3124 |
SRTA members are concerned about the current lack of space at sites. The thought of sites absorbing an additional 420 students from Steele Lane is causing angst. Sharing a detailed facility use plan for impacted sites must be a top priority.
H.3b. Secondary Schools:
| Current Site | Projected at Site | Neighborhood(s) to be absorbed | New projections for Site | Based on the provided Numbers | |
| PHS | 1539 | 1853 | Mark West-Wickiup (23) | 1876 | 1876 |
| SRHS | 1919 | 1650 | Franklin (48), Proctor Terrace (45) | 1743 | 1743 |
| EAHS | 935 | 0 | Bellvue East (157), Bellvue West (565), Wright (188), Roseland (197) | 1101 | 1107 |
| MCHS | 1582 | 1648 | Larkfield (0), Hidden Valley (74) | 1648 | 1722 |
| MHS | 1732 | 1400 | Kawana Springs (207), Olive Park (5), Julliard Park (22), Corby (91) | 1725 | 1725 |
| Totals | 7707 | 6551 | 1622 | 8093 | 8173 |
EAHS was set to be a magnet school without boundaries, open to any interested students. The new boundary map shows a ‘Priority Enrollment Area.’ What does this mean? It is impossible for staff to promote enrollment from a state of confusion, and the deadline for transferring is approaching.
- H.3c. Elsie Allen High School Update: This item provides an update on the planned restructuring of Elsie Allen High School into a new 7–12 magnet model that emphasizes a personalized approach to student programming, project-based options and experiential learning. Recommendations will be presented, including a phased approach being taken in order to ensure student and programmatic success within the available resources.
Additional attachments will be uploaded after agenda posting. (Not yet posted.)- Proposal This includes 4 rounds of PD to support Project Based Learning (PBL), with growing circles of influence. There is a full site experience in the Spring.
Total cost for training: not specified.
SRCS has a legacy of less than stellar implementations of new programs.
Implementing a single new course is a large lift. This includes writing course proposals and guiding them through the SRCS and UC Regent approval process. Then new courses require time to flush out curriculum, resources and pacing at a general level allowing for a pilot run of the course, including a revision process before the course is rolled out. SRCS has historically hesitated to provide the necessary support for this full implementation process of a single course.
Implementing a full program based on PBL takes training in PBL, as well as serious dedication to resources both curricular and material. SRTA members stand strong with their colleagues that this transition is fully supported by SRCS. The implementation of this shift can not be borne by volunteer efforts of staff, and can not be done without required financial resources for staff time, curriculum and materials.
Public Hearing and action Regarding Sufficiency of Textbooks or Instructional Materials for 2025-26,
This certifies that textbooks and instructional materials are available and legally required for all California K-12 public school students, ensuring each pupil has access to standards-aligned materials in sufficient quantities to use in class and at home, either print or digital.
- Sufficient Quantity: Each student must have access to the materials to use in the classroom and to take home.
- Digital Formats: Materials can be digital, as long as each pupil has access to them both in class and at home.
- Alignment to Standards: Materials must be consistent with the curriculum framework and aligned to the SBE-adopted content standards.
- Usable Condition: Textbooks and materials must be in usable condition.
- No Cost to Students: Materials
H.4.& 5. Grades K-6
H.6.&7. Grades 7-12
How are materials provided without cost to students?
All students need adopted materials and access. There are issues with TK, K, Special Ed, Newcomers and ALD.
There are special problems with Maravallas, Everyday Math, and AP Biology texts not being provided, many online platforms not being available, as well as students not having devices to access online materials when they are available.
The process for adopting and ordering new textbooks is not clear.
SRTA Textbook Access Survey (Sept 2025) Responses
H.8. (Action) Acceptance of Governance Handbook
The Board will consider acceptance of the Governance Handbook, which outlines the roles, responsibilities, policies, and procedures guiding board operations. This acceptance affirms the board’s commitment to effective governance, transparency, and accountability in serving the SRCS community.
Governance Handbook This is not a redline copy. Were there changes?
The board met at an all day meeting in early September to reset the vision and mission of the district. They also discussed the Governance Handbook.
H.1. Approval of Minutes
August 27, 2025 Minutes and Supporting Documents and Resolutions (Regular Meeting)
September 2, 2025 STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP Minutes and Supporting Documents and Handbook (Special Meeting)
Holding a meeting without a zoom option and without posting a video clearly breaks from current practice. It does not project openness and transparency.
September 10, 2025 Minutes and Supporting Documents (Regular Meeting)
K.1. Future Board Discussion Items (not included in this agenda)
SRTA members are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming agenda items.
- Updated Board Policies
- Summer School Update (Sept. 2025)
- Cell Phone Policy Presentation
- Staff was recently given the opportunity to complete a survey about cell phones. All questions were required to be answered, while options for answering did not always allow for an accurate response. Valuable input will not be included in these results.
Recently Requested Agenda Items from the Board
Medina- AP instruction data with number of years of experience of
Teachers
-Clarification about board policy adoption requiring a majority of board membership versus a majority of those present/voting
Caston- Site funding finance report with various amounts and sources
-strategy of athletics program across the district,
-update 3510 policy around reducing waste as a discussion item
SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:
- Appointment of Vacant Committee Position: Board Finance Subcommittee (September 2025)
- Panorama and Youth Truth Survey Data (August 2025)
- Restorative Practices Data (March 2025)
- Alternate Education Update (December 2024, Feb 2025)
- There is a strong need for Alternative placements for secondary students who need more services than our comprehensive schools are able to provide. How can SRCS meet the needs of these students during these tough financial times? Is there data that the ISP program is sufficient to meet this need?
- VAPA Program Highlights (Feb 2025)
- Plan and timeline for implementation of Dr. Gillespie’s recommendations around Special Services (January 2025)
- First Draft of the District Safety Plan (delayed from September 2024)
- Sharing the Library Master Plan with implementation expectation
- Officially Closing Learning House, and other sites
- SRACS Accelerated Charter Material Revision Request (delayed)
- Plan for Staff Housing support program from the proceeds of Fir Ridge
Until the district makes a decision, the proceeds from the sale of the Fir Ridge property are just sitting and losing value as the cost of housing continues to rise. Getting a program started could help SRCS attract and retain CSEA staff. The potential impact of the funds continues to diminish as time passes.
- Student Voice Policy
K.3. Facilities Projects Update
The Facilities Master Plan update process will begin this fall, to address needed changes due to school consolidations. There will be site visits this fall.
The bond Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) is recruiting.
SRFACS @ SRMS and District Office & Education Center are under design.
James Monroe and Helen Lehman ES TK Classrooms are awaiting DSA approval.
Santa Rosa HS Parking Lot is expected to begin in October.
Piner High School 2-Story Classroom has had the site approved by DSA. Awaiting further approvals from DSA. DSA certification is pending for Rincon Valley MS Roofing & HVAC .
Piner HS Ball Wall and Fencing complete.
District-Wide Electronic Access Controls install is ongoing at SRHS, MHS, MCHS and RVMS. Design work is nearly complete for PHS, ALES, HLES, JMES and LBES with preliminary drawing are being reviewed for SRMS, RHS, and SRCSA.
The Central Receiving warehouse is completed.
Closing out happening on James Monroe ES Drainage and MHS 2-Story projects as well as PHS drainage, painting at RVMS, ALES and EAHS. SRHS, MHS and RVMS gym floor refinishes are being closed out.
Projects (includes some pictures)
K.4. Sonoma County Office of Education Letter: 2025/26 Budget Approval Letter
K.5. Board Finance Subcommittee Meeting Dates
Board Finance Meeting Schedule for the Remainder of 2025:
- Monday, October 6, 2025
- Monday, November 3, 2025
- Monday, December 1, 2025
K.6. Nominations Open: Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization
K.7. Superintendent Student Leadership Council Committee
The first meeting will be on September 22 at the District Office. Future meetings will rotate to the various schools. Natalia Olivera and Jonathan Carrillo, as Board Trustees, will be co-presidents of the council.
K.8. Updated AR 5117 and AR 5116.1
Regulation 5117: Interdistrict Attendance
Regulation 5116.1: Intradistrict Open Enrollment
There are BP with these numbers being approved in G.2.