The District Board of Trustees convened for their final monthly meeting of the 2024-25 school year on Wednesday. The Board discussed a range of topics, from reviewing the community’s satisfaction with District communication to approving the budget for the upcoming school year.

Budget Approval

As the school year draws to a close, budget considerations for the 2025-26 academic year are in the works. State-level cuts to education budgets may be a concern for the District, as California battles a 12 billion dollar education budget shortfall. This calls for adjustments, which may affect universal meal programs and special education in SUHSD schools. 

Presently, the District has a budget of 45 million dollars, and a reserve rate of 9%. Enrollment is projected to be stable, with East Palo Alto Academy being the one exception. This poses a challenge for budgeting, as the school’s need for support increases in tandem with the state budget’s decline. The solution is a predicted two million dollar withdrawal from the general fund to meet EPAA’s needs. 

An additional wrench in budgetary plans is the flatlining of property tax levels. Historical trends have shown a 5% property tax increase per year, but this year’s increase in property tax revenue is projected to be 9 million dollars, which is lower than recent growth. 

Communication Survey

Susan Downing, a member of the National School Public Relations Association staff, gave a presentation to the Board on the findings of an audit on the District’s internal and external communication, like emails, newsletters, the District website, word-of-mouth, and facebook. Downing presented both the audit report and the NSPRA’s consequent recommendations. 

Downing began by discussing the NSPRA’s methodology and general findings. The audit results encompassed the NSPRA’s impressions of the District’s communication materials, a survey taken by staff, parents, and community members, and NSPRA-conducted research via focus groups. She cited that parents’, employees, and staff members’ views of SUHSD overall are on par with the national average. However, according to Downing, those groups’ approval of the District’s communication is a tick below the national average.

Downing mentioned that, according to the audit, District stakeholders think that the District’s role is unclear, and that their communication often gets muddled by site communication. In addition, the audit revealed that many want the District to assume control of its narrative amid controversy and for the district to increase its continuity in leadership.  

She then provided the Board with objectives to strive toward and measurable actions to take, such as establishing a culture of communication, streamlining communication for District-related issues, increasing communication among staff and with parents and the community, and improving the District’s internet and social media presence. 

California Schools Board Association Policy Updates

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Elizabeth Chacón provided the Board with an overview of CSBA policy updates pertaining to immigration, cell phones, and drug usage in schools.

In response to surging immigration enforcement, Chacón reviewed CSBA’s policies in accordance with Education Code 234.7. These policies prohibit the District from collecting and soliciting information regarding students’ and their families’ citizenship and immigration status and prevent the District from complying with immigration enforcement at schools, except for what is required by state and federal law. 

Next, Chacón gave an overview of Assembly Bill 3216, a state law which requires all public and charter schools in California to adopt a uniform cell phone policy by July 1, 2026. 

Chacón also addressed new state policies regarding drug usage at school. Policy changes include Education Code 51225.38., which requires health education courses to include instruction on the dangers of fentanyl by the 2026-27 school year. Additionally, Education Code 51203, which mandates schools provide instruction on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, became effective at the beginning of 2025. She then mentioned that, while students may still be disciplined for alcohol and drug consumption at school, the District will begin to treat illegal substance usage as a wellness issue rather than a disciplinary matter.