REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Santa Rosa City Schools
October 28, 2026
Hybrid: Santa Rosa City Hall Council Chambers
4:00 p.m. – Closed Session
6:00 p.m. – Open Session
Hybrid: Zoom / Santa Rosa City Hall
*** streamed ***
Video Board Meetings through a link on this district webpage. (It is often changed right before the meeting.)
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.
B.1. Student Expulsions (Case Nos: 2026/17-12, 2026/27-14, 2026/27-15, 2026/27-21)
B.2. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release
B.3. Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Number of potential cases: 2)
B.4. Conference With Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (Case No.: 2025-096 )
Likely for an update on one of these two cases that had recent court activity.
26CV03168 Velasquez vs Santa Rosa City Schools 05/13/2026
Case type 02: Unlimited Writ of Mandate Active (a specific case-type classification code indicating that a party is asking a higher court to command a lower court or a government agency to fulfill a legal obligation, and seeking monetary damages that exceed the state’s limited civil threshold of $35,000.)
10/20/2026 Case Management Conference
1/22/2027 Demurrer_____B ( a legal objection challenging the validity or sufficiency of the opposing party’s pleading.)
26CV03377 RD (former PHS student) vs. SANTA ROSA CITY SCHOOLS 05/11/2026
Case type 23: Unlimited Other PI/PD/WD Active (general non-auto personal injury, property damage, and wrongful death claims, seeking monetary damages that exceed the state’s limited civil threshold of $35,000).
10/12/2026 Answer to FAC
2/25/2027 Case Management Conference cont’d for status of pleadings and discovery
B.4. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Title of employee being reviewed: Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principals, Vice Principals, Directors, Coordinators)
C. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION (6:00 p.m.)
D. REPORTS (Bargaining Units, Sup, and Board)
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. Comments will often be limited to 60 seconds. Only items NOT on the agenda are addressed at this time, with the exception of consent items.
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 without prior notice.)
Comments are most impactful when they are well spoken, composed and reasonable.
- Santa Rosa Teachers Association is deeply concerned about the safety of our students, educators, and communities after the news of the last few days. Our schools should be places our students, parents, and educators can rely upon to be safe and secure spaces of teaching, learning and thriving. In the last few years, we have seen devastating cuts to the people and resources our students rely upon to keep themselves and their fellow students safe. Unfortunately when we cut counselors, disrupt school communities, and defund programs as Santa Rosa City Schools has, our schools are challenged to meet every student’s needs. SRTA asks that our district leadership see this moment as an opportunity to recommit to the resources that keep our students social-emotionally and physically safe at all times.
- The cost-saving strategy of having aides deliver Specialized Academic Instruction (SAI) minutes appears to be resulting in greater savings than intended, at the expense of student services. EdJoin lists 141 vacant Special Education Assistant and Behavior Assistant positions, raising serious concerns about whether students are receiving their required service minutes and whether the district is accumulating service-delivery shortfalls. This approach is creating serious, unsustainable stress for students, staff, and the entire system, placing an increasingly untenable burden on those working to meet students’ needs.
- SRTA members are concerned about the loss of a talented principal at Helen Lehman Elementary School and the growing strain on site administrators across SRCS. A principal can not be a full time sub, the main support for fledgling special education classes and run a school. There is increasing concern that the demands of the job have become unsustainable, putting administrators at risk of stress-related or medical leave, further resignations, and seeking employment elsewhere. This turnover threatens leadership continuity, disrupts school communities, and undermines the relationships and stability that are essential to student success. It is imperative that the conditions driving administrators away be addressed before more experienced and valued leaders are lost.
G. 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.
G.1. Approval of Absent Board Member
For the absence of Mark Kirby on Oct 21, 2026.
RESOLUTION 2026_27-31 REGARDING BOARD MEMBER ABSENCE AND COMPENSATION
G.2. Approval of Personnel Transactions
Personnel Transactions 10-28-26
EdJoin shows a total of one hundred ten current postings for two hundred-forty-nine jobs in SRCS. There are thirty-three certificated opening postings (seven more than the last meeting). There are seventy-seven current classified postings for two hundred twenty-two job openings (thirty more than the last meeting.) There are three certificated management and one classified management position posted.
Welcome to these 5.2 new certificated FTE: Liliana Ramirez (HLES), Elizabeth Mensch (JMES), Kimberly Beavers (ALES), Angela Ule (MHS), Anthony Weeden (JMES), and welcome back to Lacey Combs (LELA).
Congratulations to Mark McLain who was promoted from Program Manager to be the new Coordinator of Mental Health.
Classified has nine new hires, one rehire, and one resignation.
There are two supervisory new hires and one resignation.
Several SRTA members have raised concerns about the inefficient hiring process for aides in SRCS. The process seems to take far too long, losing candidates to other opportunities.
G.3. Approval of Vendor Warrants
G.4. Approval of Contracts
October 28, 2026 Contracts Summary October 28, 2026 Contracts
The total cost of contracts is $70,000.
| # | Provider | Cost | Description |
| District | |||
| 1 | Nelson Staffing | $70,000 | Temporary-to-hire food service workers. The contract lists only a “not-to-exceed” amount, with no hourly rate or other cost details. Although identified as a renewal, no previous contract appears in a GAMUT search; however, $7,500 warrants were issued during the past year. |
F.5. Approval of Santa Rosa French American Charter School’s Students to travel to Boston, MA for the North American Zone Tournament
SRFACS is again sending ten students to this chess tournament.
Lycee International de Boston – Letter of Intent
Chess tournament in Boston 2026 – Itinerary + cost breakdown
Approved Field Trip Request – SRFACS
G. DISCUSSION / ACTION ITEMS
G.1. Educational Services Calendar
- Public Comment on the Educational Services Calendar
- (Action) Approval of Resolution of District for Capacity of Interdistrict Transfers for Various Grades, Special Classrooms, and Special Programs.
This is a general resolution that states schools are to be deemed ‘full’ and closed to transfers when enrollment is at 90%. This is stated to be so that there is room for neighborhood students to enroll.
The board had asked for this item to be discussed before it came for approval.
Where is the evidence that supports saving 10% of seats for neighborhood students is appropriate? How many adds over drops are typical at SRCS schools each year?
G.2. Human Resources Calendar
- Public Comment on the Human Resources Calendar
Having an incomplete agenda again posted is a bad look for SRCS. What systems are being put in place to avoid attaching items just prior to board meetings?
- (Action) Approval of Provisional Internship Permit Application (PIP) Loralei Dixon
For a Mild/Moderate (SDC) Teacher position at Helen Lehman Elementary School (1.00 FTE)
Flyer: SCOE Job Fair (April 2026)
Flyer: SSU Part Time and Internship Fall Job Fair (Sept 2026)
Flyer: SSU Educator Job Fair (April 2026)
Flyer: Sonoma Media Group Job Fair (March, Sept 2026)
Flyer: PUC Career and Internship Spring Fair (Feb 2026)
PIP Application L. Dixon 10-28-26
- Authorizing Certificated Teachers to Teach Outside Their Major or Minor Fields
“The attachment identifying the designated teachers will be added to this item prior to the October 28, 2026 Board meeting.”
H. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
October 14, 2026 Minutes and Supporting Documents
Special Joint Meeting Santa Rosa Council on October 7, 2026 Minutes
Supporting Documents – Safety
I. BOARD MEMBER REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
J. INFORMATION ITEMS
J.1. Future Board Discussion Items
The following are future board update items:
- Public Hearing: Renaming of CCLA
- Study Session: ELOP Program, After School Education and Safety (ASES) and Community Schools
- First Interim – with these previously promised items for inclusion
- Own SELPA projection at first interim
- FCMAT follow up report at first interim
SRTA looks to the future scheduling of the following items:
Special Education Update, including teacher overages, financial impacts, and student outcomes.
- Plan and timeline for implementation of Dr. Gillespie’s recommendations around Special Services (January 2025),
- Update on Requesting of New FCMAT Study on SRCS SpEd Program
Review and revise school-closure and consolidation plans using fiscal, student outcome, staffing, and community feedback data.
Establish an annual process for resource teacher waiver requests.
Review of Graduation Committee Pathway Options (October)
Prop 28 plan for the year (26-27) with details by site
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
-update 3510 policy around reducing waste as a discussion item
– Communication plan.
Prak – Info about a non voting teacher on the board.
Kirby – add an assistant wrestling coach for women?
– Copies of the panorama and youth truth survey questions.
DeLaTorre- Info on how we identify College and Career readiness.
Agendize MCHS and RVMS plan.
Jenkins – marketing plan update as committed to last year.
- SRCS Sunshine Openers for SRTA (Sept 9, 2026)
- Approval of Joint Use MOU’s for School Site Facility Use (pulled from June 22 agenda)
- Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Update (Dec 2025)
- Panorama and Youth Truth Survey Data (August 2025)
- First Draft of the District Safety Plan (delayed from September 2024)
- Sharing the Library Master Plan with implementation expectations and timeline
- Officially Closing Learning House, Brookhill Elementary, Biella Elementary, and Steele Lane
- 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
- Long standing request for site budgets including all sources as well as enrollment and unduplicated numbers.
J.2. Educational Acronyms and Abbreviations
J.3. Board Subcommittee Meeting Dates
SRTA and CSEA practice Union Tuesdays. Our regular meetings are all on Tuesdays. There is no reason for district meetings that should have input from teachers and classified staff to be scheduled on a Tuesday.
Schools are in session until 3:35pm. With school traffic and travel time, teachers are not able to attend in person and provide public comment to meetings that begin at 3:30. By scheduling meetings that actively prohibit teachers and classified staff from attending the District disenfranchises stakeholders and eliminates feedback from those who work at school sites.
In order to ensure that the District receives necessary feedback and support please schedule meetings that all district employees are able to attend.
Board Finance Subcommittee Meeting Dates (Brown Act Meeting):
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (3:30-5:30)
- Monday, December 7, 2026 (3:30-5:30) Tentative
Facilities Use Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Dates (not subject to the Brown Act):
- Monday, November 2, 2026 (3:30-5:00)
- December, 2026 TBD
Board Policy Subcommittee (Brown Act Meeting):
- December, 2026 TBD
Educational Services Board Subcommittee (Brown Act Meeting):
- December, 2026 TBD
J.4. 2026/27 Board Meeting Schedule
Upcoming Regular and Special Board Meetings:
- Regular Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 (Santa Rosa HS Auditorium)
- Study Session (ELOP, ASES, Community Schools): SP 1
- Regular Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (City of SR, Council Chambers)
- Special Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 16, 2026 (Santa Rosa HS Auditorium)
- Organization of the Board and Study Session: SP 4
Are SP’s in the above referencing the new Strategic Goals (Buckets)?
- Academics and Enrichment: Provide outstanding educational and enrichment programs that motivate and prepare all students for their respective futures.
- Safety and Security: Provide learning environments that are physically and emotionally safe for all students and staff.
- Fiduciary: Act as a trusted agent of the community’s educational assets.
- Recruit, Retain, and Support Student-Centered Staff: Recruit, retain and support high quality staff who center students and represent District core values.
- Communication: Santa Rosa City Schools will communicate clearly, consistently and effectively to build trust, strengthen relationships, and engage the community in support of student success.
(Updated 10.28.26) 2026_27 Board of Education Meeting Calendar
J.5. Non-Public School/Non-Public Agency Contract Update
There have been no changes to these contracts and numbers since September.
| NPS | $9,923,496.00 |
| NPA | $16,068,338.00 |
| Total | $25,991,834.00 |
10-28-26 NPA Updates 10-28-26 NPS Updates
J.6. Facilities Projects Update
2026-10-28 Facilities Projects Update
Most projects are progressing, with several classroom and facility improvements completed. Remaining work focuses on access-control installation, fencing, roofing remediation, and project closeout.
District-wide electronic access controls: Installation and programming are progressing across multiple schools. Several sites have completed hardware installation, while work continues at CCLA, Elsie Allen, and Ridgeway. Video intercoms are being programmed for installation at three sites.
– Perimeter fencing and gates: Work is nearing completion at Maria Carrillo, Luther Burbank, and Piner, with fencing installation continuing at other locations. Fencing projects at CCLA and Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts have received DSA approval and will go out to bid.
– James Monroe Elementary TK classrooms: Buildings, shade structures, and perimeter fencing are complete. Additional playground fencing and a drinking fountain are scheduled for installation during Thanksgiving break.
– Helen Lehman Elementary TK classrooms: Buildings, fencing, basketball hoops, and turf are complete. Roof panel remediation and project closeout remain in progress.
– Santa Rosa High School — DeSoto Hall: Phase I, including classroom markerboards, is complete, and theater roofing and security cameras are finished. Phase II, including single-user student restrooms, fire safety upgrades, and a staff workroom, is planned for summer 2027.
– Elsie Allen roofing and HVAC: Roof painting is complete, and sheet-metal installation is nearing completion. Tennis court renovations and associated landscaping are finished.
– Luther Burbank Elementary portables: All five portable buildings and associated work are complete.
– District Office and Education Center: DSA approval has been received. Maintenance Office improvements are complete and staff have moved in. Demolition is finished, with earthwork and underground work underway.
The following projects are in the closeout phase:
– Piner High School two-story classroom building
– Santa Rosa French-American Charter School TK classrooms
– SRCS Early Learning Academy
– High school turf replacement
SRTA members are frustrated with the electronic access controls. Not being able to lock your own classroom door from inside the room was the impetus for pushing for new locks. These locks only work from key pads which are only located outside the classroom. You must leave your room to lock your door. There is inconsistency with access to common space. Communication is lacking. Many teachers have experienced unexplained loss of access. Teachers are told to use Incident IQ for requests or issues, but they seem to take a week to fix.
K. ADJOURNMENT