REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
December 17, 2025
Hybrid: Santa Rosa High School Auditorium
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. Five Student Readmissions (Case Nos: 2023/24-33, 2023/24-04, 2024/25-10, 2024/25-19, 2025/26-03)
B.2. Student Expulsion (Case No: 2025/26-06)
B.3. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
B.4. 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.5. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Title of employee being reviewed: Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, Directors, Coordinators)
C. RECONVENE TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
D. Reports (Presidents of Labor Organizations, Superintendent and Board Members)
D.5. A. Board President Report: Appointment of Members for Santa Rosa City Schools Subcommittees
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 (unless a board member attends online.)
Comments are most impactful when they are well spoken, composed and reasonable.
There is a large concern that the fiscal decisions being made will exacerbate enrollment issues for SRCS.
SRCS is committed to four more years of providing Community Schools at AES, HLES, JMES, LBES and SLES.
The details of how this grant is impacted by closing sites has not been shared.
Pillars of this program include
- Integrated Student Supports for academic, physical, social-emotional, and mental health needs.
- Family and Community Engagement including “home visits, home-school collaboration, [and] culturally responsive community partnerships.”
How will these commitments be met with the elimination of elementary counselors, SBT, and Restorative positions?
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 57 current postings for 170 jobs in SRCS. There are twelve certificated opening postings (two less than last month.) There are forty-five current classified postings for one-hundred fifty-eight job openings (thirteen less than the last meeting.) There are no certificated and no classified management positions posted.
There are two Community School Coordinator positions posted as well as three Wellness Coaches. This raises questions about unclear future intentions for these programs.
SRTA heartily welcomes Kennedy Nti (EAHS), James Sakyi (SRHS), Stephen Acheampong (RVMS), Grace Sarfo (RHS), Christiana Quansah (SRMS), Tracy Hahn (MHS), Kailani Gomez-Alcala (PTES), Maria Crane (ALES) and welcomes back Susan Binckley (CCLA).
We bid farewell to the retiring Christina Gravelle who leaves us after 21 years of service to students.
Changes to classified staff includes eight new hires, one termination, five resignations and one retirement. They leave taking with them over 43 years of knowledge and service to our staff and students.
There are three resignations from Business Services that raise concerns for SRTA members. There is fear that district business will be hampered with the loss of these knowledgeable staff. We wish them success including those with new positions of higher responsibility in neighboring districts.
Simona Hoyos, District Accountant
Christine Trumbly, Budget Technician
Violeta Gonzalez Alvarez, Payroll Technician III
F.3. Approval of Contracts over $15,000
| # | Provider | Cost | Description |
| Elementary | |||
| 2 | NatureBridge | $25,747.70 | 6th grade Outdoor Ed for SRACS. |
| 3 | SpringBoard Collaborative | $249,205.00 | ELOP funded K-3 early literacy for 500 students of ALES, JMES, PTES, HLES, and SLES in afterschool programs at $500 each. |
| District | |||
| 1 | Left Coast Scanning, LLC | $21,980.00 | These services will allow staff to view, search, and manage personnel, student, payroll, workers’ compensation, and testing files directly through Left Coast Scanning’s platform. |
| 4 | Recology Sonoma Marin | $803,567.64 | $633,000 annual contract in 2021 was for 24 sites over three years, with possibility for fourth and fifth years for an additional 2.5% each time. This contract is for fewer sites an an additional 27% in cost. |
Total value of contracts = $1,100,500.34.
Can ELOP funds support Outdoor Ed?
What does the evaluation of Springboard include? $500 per student is substantial.
Left Coat Scanning requires an ongoing contract as all the scanned documents are hosted on their platform. This was not transparently part of the original agreement for scanning.
The Recology contract is concerning as the numbers do not seem to align. What additional information explains how diminishing the number of sites being served, and an agreement of an annual increase of 2.5% results in a contract for an additional 26%?
H.4. Approval of Contracts – Bond
The new last column lists the total cost of the project.
| # | Contractor | Site | Service | Cost | Project Total Cost |
| District | |||||
| 4 | Development Group, Inc | DO | Move Data Equipment | $25,926 | $9,500,000 |
| 6 | Drapery Concepts | DO | Provide and Install Window Shades | $3,295 | $9,500,000 |
| Elementary | |||||
| 5 | Precision Excavating and Grading, Inc. | LBES | Locate broken storm drain | $40,000 | |
| Secondary | |||||
| 1 | Northbay Consulting | SRHS | Asbestos Testing | $727 | $3,200,000 |
| 2 | Grassetti Environmental Consulting | EAHS | CEQA for Re-Roof and HVAC | $1,500 | $20,000,000 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa Fire Equipment Inc | EAHS | Fire Hydrant Inspection Re-Roof and HVAC | $866 | $20,000,000 |
Measure C = $25,302.47
Measure G = $47,013.44
Total = $72,315.91
Measure C and G Implementation Plan
SRTA members are glad that students will no longer be impacted by the flooding at LBES. What is the estimated total cost for repairing the storm drain at LBES?
H.5. Approval of New Course Proposals
1. Ethnic Studies World History
3. Middle School Science Academy Elective
Courses will replace existing sections. No new textbooks or materials required.
H.6. Approval of the Naming of the Piner High School Basketball Court in honor of Coach Mike Erickson
Mike Erickson, long-time Piner High School educator and coach, retired from coaching basketball in 2024 after 33 years serving as the second Head Coach in the school’s history. “Coach”, then retired as an educator at the end of the 2024-25 school year.
SRTA members appreciate the dedication of Mike Erickson, and support honoring him.
H.7. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) and Santa Rosa Teachers Association (SRTA) regarding SRTA 25-26 #1 MOU Adjustments to 2025-2026 Instructional Calendar
- January 12, 2026 – Originally scheduled as a Professional Development Day, this date will be converted to an Emergency Closure Day (non-workday for teachers and school-year employees; non-student day if not needed).
- April 24, 2026 – Originally scheduled as an Emergency Closure Day, this date will be converted to a Professional Development Day (non-student day).
This MOU is pending ratification by the SRTA membership.
There is no financial impact from this change.
Adjusted Instructional Calendar
G. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
G.1. (Action) Resolution of Criteria to Determine Certificated Personnel Who Shall be Exempt From the Order of Layoff by Virtue of Their Credentials, Assignment, or Certification (“Skipping Criteria”)
Due to inability to recruit new employees, any certificated employee who possesses the special training or experience listed below shall be exempt from the order of layoff.
1) Possession of a Single Subject Spanish credential, Spanish (Bilingual Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate (“BCLAD”) and/or French (BCLAD);
2) Possession of a Single Subject Math and/or Single Subject Science credential (including but not limited to physics, chemistry, biological science, physical science, life science and geoscience);
3) Possession of a Special Education credential;
4) All teachers who are assigned to the dual immersion program at SRFACS;
5) All teachers who are assigned to teach a course in Spanish as part of the dual immersion program at CCLA and EAHS;
6) All teachers who have successful experience teaching transitional kindergarten within the last 5 years;
7) School Psychologist and Speech Language Pathologists holding a Bilingual Certification.
SRTA members are keenly aware of the continuing increase of stress and chaos in working within SRCS. This motion puts all teachers on the bottom of the seniority list, that do not possess credentials or placements worthy of skipping, on notice that their position may be on the chopping block in February. They are wise to keep their options open to secure employment for next year.
SRTA members deserve regularly updated Seniority Lists, to assess their position. This was an unkept promise last year. SRTA expects systemic improvements that will allow for this to be shared regularly, allowing for corrections to be made before RIF notices.
G.2. Action) Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) and the Santa Rosa Teachers Association (SRTA) regarding SRTA 25-26 #2 MOU Speech Language Pathologist Overages
The financial savings of this MOU are not specified. $750,000 of contracted SLP services will be replaced by paying SRCS SLPs an hourly rate to work with students beyond caseload capacities.
SRTA 25-26 #2 MOU is pending ratification of the SRTA membership.
The MOU will be attached prior to the 12/17/2025 Board Meeting, and will be shared with SCOE .
SRTA members highlighted the ineffective practice of remotely providing speech services, as well as the enormous expense of the outside contracts. There is an appreciation that SRCS was willing to listen and reconsider their decision.
G.3. (Action) SELPA Recommendation
Changes to the Sonoma County SELPA allocation policy will reduce special education funding for SRCS. Becoming an independent SELPA would allow SRCS to better control costs, manage resources, and continue delivering high-quality special education services. SRCS has already worked to build capacity, reducing dependence on County Office services. Additionally, SRCS expects to support neighboring districts by providing special education programs and services as space permits while charging surrounding districts.
Additional expenditures would include:
● Five students served by Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) in the Specialized Health Program
● Forty-five students served by Itinerant Deaf/Hard of Hearing (“DHH”) SCOE staff
● Eleven students served by Itinerant Visually Impaired (“VI”) SCOE program staff
● Potential California Children’ s Services (“CCS”) – hosting a Medical Therapy Unit (currently at Lewis Campus)
Increased Revenue: $1,150,000
Increased Costs: $550,000
Net Fiscal Benefit: Approximately $600,000
SRTA members have witnessed too many rounds of changes to special services that, while intended to decrease the budget, have in fact ended up increasing costs. If this independent SELPA does not financially pan out as expected, what options will SRCS have to back out of this plan?
G.4.& 5. Public Hearing and Action on Resolution to Convey Easements to the City of Santa Rosa
SRCS has determined it is in the best interest of the District to convey certain easements over portions of District property at MHS to the City of Santa Rosa to allow access for construction, maintenance, and ongoing operation of the ROck Creek and Matanzas water and sewer main replacement.
There is no ending date for this easement agreement.
Net Payment to the District in the amount of $190,099.
G.6. (Public Hearing / Action) Pivot Charter School North Bay Renewal Petition
Pivot Charter School seeks authorization for continued operation within the geographic boundaries of SRCS from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, for grade levels K-12. SRCS has determined that Pivot qualifies for a five-year renewal of its charter term.
SRCS will receive a 1% fee to offset costs associated with oversight.
- Performance on state and local indicators demonstrates overall that it is performing comparably and/or better than similar schools.
- Demonstrated improved student outcomes based on the alternative metrics implemented during the most recent charter term
- Generally presents a sound educational program for the students enrolled in the charter school.
- Demonstrably likely to successfully implement the program, but the District notes it concerns:
- Lacks source of growing enrollment numbers
- No reasoning for maintaining 50% reserve
- Contains all of the affirmations of the required conditions.
- Provides reasonably comprehensive descriptions of the required elements set forth in Education Code section 47605
- Roads Education Organization, the nonprofit public benefit corporation operating Pivot, shall serve as the exclusive public school employer.
- Satisfies other key areas related to the operations, facilities, and other potential effects of the charter school.
Pivot Response to Finding of Facts
SRTA members appreciate approving the petition for Pivot in that they provide necessary alternative settings for students that SRCS doesn’t currently offer.
L.1. Future Board Discussion Items
Can the board accept the transparent practice of announcing anticipated future special board meetings at the prior regular board meeting, allowing stakeholders to plan accordingly?
SRTA members are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming agenda items – Resolutions for semester two.
- Resolution Recognizing Jan 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day
- Resolution Designating April as School Library Month
- Resolution Recognizing March 31st as Transgender Day of Visibility
- Resolution for Classified School Employee Week May 18–24
- Resolution Celebrating CNS Professionals Week of April 27-May 1st
- Resolution for May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Resolution for Teacher Appreciation Week May 4–8
- Resolution in Support of April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Resolution Recognizing April 12th as Day of Silence
- Resolution Recognizing May 8th as School Communicators Day
- Resolution Recognizing May as the Month of Speech and Language Pathologist
- Resolution Reaffirming Support for LGBTQIA+ Community / Proclaiming June as Pride Month, March 31st as Transgender Day
- Resolution for Mental Health Awareness
- Resolution for School Nurse Day May 6
- Resolution for February as African-American History Month
- Resolution Recognizing Week of School Counselor Feb 2–6
- Resolution Recognizing February CTE Month
- Resolution for March as Women’s History Month
- Resolution for Arts Education Month
Still Pending Information Requested by Board members
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
– consider E-sports clubs or teams
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
– how different sports programs are supported with rallies, announcing, etc.
Prak – Turf fields maintenance level report
– update on sports at MS level
Kirby – add an assistant wrestling coach for women?
DeLaTorre- facility fee, possible reductions?
Jenkins – transporting as needed for sports?
SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:
- 7-11 Committee List (Dec 2025)
- Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Update (Dec 2025)
- Cell Phone Board Policy Presentation and Update (September 2025)
- 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 the results from this faulty survey..
- Panorama and Youth Truth Survey Data (August 2025)
- Restorative Practices Data (March 2025)
- 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 expectations
- 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
L.3. Board Finance Subcommittee Meeting Dates
- Monday, January 5, 2026
- Monday, February 2, 2026
- Monday, March 2, 2026
- Monday, April 6, 2026
- Monday, May 4, 2026
- Monday, June 1, 2026
L.4. Facilities Projects Update
Planning Stage and Upcoming Projects:
District Office & Education Center Progress on testing
Helen Lehman ES TK Classrooms Progress with DSA review. Wright Contracting will be mobilizing on site over the winter break, and sitework is anticipated to begin in early 2026.
Santa Rosa DeSoto Hall Modernization and Theater Roofing Design work completed and submitted to DSA. CORE has performed pre-construction site visits and will continue pre-construction activities until DSA approval is obtained
Piner HS Theater Lighting Modernization O’Rourke Electric will begin in January and be complete in April, before spring productions.
Elsie Allen Roofing and HVAC Construction documents completed and submitted to DSA. Onsite investigations have been ongoing to determine existing conditions.
Design work is under way to provide temporary housing portables to accommodate increased student population in Temporary Portables at Luther Burbank, Hidden Valley, and Proctor Terrace.
SRFACS @ SRMS TK Classrooms under review by DSA.
Current Construction Projects:
Piner High School 2-Story Classroom part 3 in review with DSA, underground utilities, grading, the elevator pit has been excavated, building’s concrete foundation rebar grade beams and grade slab were completed. Pour for the building foundation is scheduled to occur on 12/17/25, with steel erection following.
James Monroe ES TK Classrooms Arntz Builders is excavating the site, concrete slab on grade complete and structural steel erection expected to begin 12/15/25.
Santa Rosa HS Parking Lot Improvements and Fencing DSA-required modifications for ArtQuest restroom are almost complete. Decorative metal fencing installation at the front of campus is near completion. Progress on storage sheds.
District-Wide Electronic Access Controls are ongoing at SRHS, MHS, MCHS and RVMS. Construction activities have begun at PHS and ALES, as part of the Phase 2 projects. Project drawings for the Phase 3 sites, which include SRMS, RHS, SRCSfor the Arts, EAHS, HVES, and CCLA are near completion. Site walks to review were conducted during the Thanksgiving break.
Projects Closing Out:
Montgomery HS 2-Story Classroom Building gates have been installed, security panels underway. Punchlist items continue being resolved. Furniture delivery is nearly complete. Permanent replacements for the defective stools in the science labs have been received, and will be installed over the winter break. DSA Certification is pending.
Montgomery High School New Communication Wire for HVAC Controls Project closeout is in process.
Rincon Valley MS Roofing & HVAC DSA certification is pending.
Central Receiving Warehouse IT & Purchasing departments transitioning to the new space.