FEB ‘26 Board Meeting Field Notes
Attendance & Atmosphere • Large crowd in attendance• Many teachers and classified staff whose positions are proposed for elimination • Significant number of high school students from the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) & Parents and community members present in support of the Gay- Straight Alliance members • Consultants Dr Scott Mahoney and Ron Calloway (involved in the superintendent search) were in attendance • The New Superintendent Jason Sutter, his wife & 2 daughters.
Public Comment Themes LGBTQ+ Student Protections / Pride Flag • High school students spoke about the removal of the Pride Flag• Students expressed concern about feeling targeted and unsafe • Community members criticized what they described as an attack on LGBTQ+ students • Multiple speakers asked for Trustee David Bell to step down because he unilaterally decided to take the flag down due to his political beliefs • Others called for the board to, at minimum, censure him.
Charter School Approval & Financial Impact • Speakers referenced the recent approval of a charter school projected to serve approximately 200 students is costing the district over $2 Million per year • Union presidents and district-commissioned legally mandated reports previously warned the charter could negatively impact district finances • Community members argued that approval of the charter triggered: – Proposed elimination of approximately 50 district positions – Budget strain affecting roughly 3,100 remaining district students • Repeated sentiment: approving the charter and then cutting positions is contradictory and reckless.
Proposed Staff Cuts • Approximately 50 positions proposed for elimination• Concerns raised that board members do not understand: – The importance of these roles for student health and academic success – The impact on student well-being • 5 District Librarians got up and explained that the district libraries are directly linked to improvement in literacy within the district. They explained that libraries are not extras. They are where students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. They provide high-interest books that build stamina, vocabulary, and background knowledge, especially for English learners and students who may not have books at home. Libraries are the great equalizer in public education. They offer structured literacy activities, STEM exposure, and a safe space for regulation and focus. You cannot say literacy is a priority while cutting the very infrastructure that supports it. • Four bilingual aides currently serve the district• Questions raised about how reductions would affect vulnerable student populations • These cuts were tabled for the next school board meeting • There was discussion about “Home/Hospital” Instruction. There are 16 students currently in this program and they have a maximum of 25 students they can enroll in this program • Both Bell & Landry wanted more information. It sounded like this was the first they had heard about this program. Ching asked if this program could be cut and those kids could just do Public School online for FREE. The district staff explained if the students were to do that, they would no longer be a student within the SVUSD. • Bell & Landry seems hesitant because if these students did the FREE online school instead, they would not be eligible to play in District sports programs. • Ching made a point of saying, “Cuts to the district are hard, no one wants to do them.” She’s right, but then why did they approve of the new Charter which takes over $2 Million dollars a year away from our district? • At the end of the meeting they said they would be making the cuts at the next board meeting after reviewing all the information they heard tonight. • 1 very scary note: If they had NOT received the pushback that they got at this meeting…..they would have started cutting staff without input. Another reason why people showing up and speaking out at Board meetings MATTER!!!!!!
Literacy & Student Support • Librarian and support staff cuts discussed • Tension between stated literacy goals and reduction of support roles• Staff questioned if board members have made an effort to observe any classrooms so they could see what actually happens in the classrooms and just how complex the job teachers have. It was apparent from Bell, Landry and Ching’s responses that they are unaware of what teachers navigate day to day. Both Landry & Ching have been on the board more than 3 years, the fact they are still uninformed about what happens is a reflection of what they believe is worthy of their attention. Bell who has been on the board since Jan of ’25 has observed 1 classroom once. His only comment on that experience was there were 2 students who he felt were misbehaving. When asked, he didn’t remember the school, teacher or subject that he had observed.
Governance & Consultants • Trustee Guzman raised concerns about continuing the consultant contracts with Dr Scott Mahoney and Ron Calloway, who were involved in the superintendent search. The reason he gave wasn’t because these men weren’t effective in their search for the new Superintendent, it was because SCOE had offered “Governance Training” to the Board members free of charge [SCOE said they would pay for the training]. Guzman is being mindful of extra money being spent, when the same training could be had for free of charge. • Sonoma County Office of Education reportedly offered to provide governance training at no cost • Bell preferred continuing paid consultant support.
Board Participation & Community Engagement • District reported approximately 30% of parents use ParentSquare for communication with the District • Mr Knox expressed a desire to increase that use to the remaining 70%• Observation that Trustee Guzman attends school events beyond sports• Bell and Ching referenced attendance at sporting events• Community frustration with use of acronyms (e.g., PKS) without explanation. This makes going to these meetings less appealing because the public doesn’t understand what the district staff is referring to. • Last item they discussed was renaming Altimira school.
Key Community Sentiment • Repeated calls for accountability• Requests for resignation or at the very least censure of Bell • Concern that cuts disproportionately affect the broader student population • Frustration over decision-making priorities The mood in the room was serious. Students asked to feel safe. Staff asked to be respected. Parents asked for responsible governance. The vote and future actions will show whether the board heard them. If you weren’t there, consider attending the next meeting. Community presence changes the room.