Hello Everyone - A dedicated group of us participated in last night’s (3/19) Special Theme Board meeting (great team effort and thank you). And we wanted to update you. I am going to jump ahead with the actions I recommend taking followed by the comprehensive update from the meeting. Please feel free to spread the information and provide feedback. 

Suggested 4 actions and forward-looking next steps that we as the community can take:

1. Continue demand for alternative solutions from the board and district and opposition to proposed budget cuts:
   • Compensation adjustments of district high earners in lieu of school level staff/teachers cuts.
   • Board/district to work with the unions to identify cost-saving measures that do not directly impact our teachers or school sites. This includes examining material, subscription, and equipment costs.
2. Demand our board to actively support the Congressional IDEA Full Funding Act - S 2217 / HR 4519 that allows us to fund some of our school-level Special Ed programs (freeing up 40% per pupil of general fund for special ed students).
   • Additionally, we call upon the board to engage in active advocacy with Supervisor Sylvia Arenas. Our goal is to secure essential funding for school-based mental health services and prioritize these services within county budget allocations.
3. I will go deeper into how we are facing a more dire deficit in the next 3 years in the update at the end, but as a forward-looking strategy – We demand that the board request the reallocation of unused COVID funds from the Bakersfield and Stockton districts. These funds amount to a total of $248 million.
4. Above all continue demanding transparency and accountability from the board and district – until trust is fully restored in the responsible management of taxpayer dollars, allocating additional funds will not prevent a recurrence of our current situation.
   • In this update I have the board members contact information
   • Reach out to district personnel.

Board Meeting 3-19 Update: 

(The minutes and Zoom recording from the meeting are yet to be updated. Will be updated on this page when available)

The meeting started with detailed update of CTE program (led by assistant superintendent Jimenez) and dual enrollment (program offers college credit courses and career focused electives such as welding, cooking, construction management etc across both our high schools).

During the second agenda item, our focus shifted to the budget. Penny Timboe and Lisa Lee presented key budget highlights, including proposed cut dollar amounts, projected revenue, and expenses for the years 2024-2025. Additionally, they touched upon the budget outlook for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Alarming budget takeaways:

1. Proposed Budget Cuts for 2024-2025: The proposed 6M budget cuts for the academic year 2024-2025 are scheduled to be formalized in May/June. It is crucial that we continue opposing this plan and advocate for the solutions outlined earlier (4 actions).
2. Persistent Deficit Over the Past Three Years: With the board’s approval, the district has been operating at a deficit for the past three years. Unfortunately, these cuts will persist through 2026-2027. In that year, we are facing a 9M reduction that directly impacts our schools and children, rather than affecting district high earners.
3. The Looming Danger: The projected deficit for 2026-2027 is alarming. It is estimated to reach 25-26M, leading to the complete exhaustion of the district’s 12M reserves if no action is taken. Without necessary cuts (6M next year, 6M in 2024-2025, and 9M in 2026-2027), we are on a path toward total collapse. Penny’s statement, “we are on the way to total collapse,” underscores the gravity of the situation.

During the final agenda item, Jim Levis, the president of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers, and his counterpart, the president of the Morgan Hill Classified Employees Association, eloquently highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the current proposed budget cuts. Jim Levis emphasized the ripple effect these cuts would have on our students’ education. The proposed reductions threaten the very quality of learning experiences we strive to provide. Additionally, the proposed cuts impose significant hardships on our dedicated teachers and staff. Despite their essential roles, the elimination of certain positions may seem minimal in terms of the overall deficit.

Notably, our dual immersion school is grossly lacking proper support. This deficiency compounds the challenges posed by the proposed cuts.

Among the affected roles are math/reading intervention teachers and teachers on special assignments. These educators play critical roles in our schools, and their absence would directly impact the focus areas of elementary schools, including specialized programs like the Engineering-focused PVEA.

Jim Levis’ Profound Insight:  “we [teachers] can always do [great impact for students] with minimal material and resources, but we can’t do without each other.”

Noteworthy updates: 

In a private session, the board and Superintendent reached an agreement: the Superintendent would engage in one-on-one discussions with principals to assess the impact of the proposed cuts on Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) roles. Their goal was to determine which positions could be preserved. However, Dr. Garcia was unequivocal: “I am not promising anything.” This statement, though candid, contradicts the community’s expressed concerns about the direct impact on our children.

Trustee Paterson (Board Clerk - pattersonm@mhusd.org - Term ending Nov 2024) was eager and ready to adopt the budget as-is and expressed “irk” with the notion of fund mismanagement post-delivery of our remarks. My public remark is attached.

The board collectively agreed to our demand for transparency across all accounts. However, no clear strategy or next steps were outlined. Trustee Paterson framed it as “a challenge we, as the board, must discuss.”  Trustee Paterson also emphasized that decisions are made in good faith. She expressed hope that the community would contribute revenue ideas. Yet, I believe this responsibility falls squarely within the purview of the board and district.

Lastly, each Trustee shared their updates.

• Trustee Hornor focused primarily on community activities, rather than relevant school or education updates.
• Trustee Gardiner expressed support for the ensuing debate sparked by our public comments. She encouraged continuing the dialogue, specifically emphasizing the need to find a balance that allows us to proactively address the budget crisis instead of constantly playing defense.
• Student Trustee Toor expressed concerns over transparency, highlighting the need for clearer communication.
• Trustee Knudsent echoed the call for transparency, although specific solutions were not offered.
• Despite the overall lack of accountability from the board, Trustee Montes proposed a few viable solutions laid out below. These forward-looking strategies aim to address the budget crisis, although I am personally concerned over the existing lack of trust in the board and district’s management of any taxpayer funds.
  • At a policy level, there are two bills in Congress that, if passed, would increase funding for special education at the federal level: Congressional IDEA Full Funding Act - S 2217 / HR 4519.
    • The House bill (HR 4519) is cosponsored by our local representatives (i.e., Congresswoman Lofgren and Congressman Panetta) and is currently with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Advocacy efforts should target this committee.
    • The Senate bill (S 2217) is cosponsored by our state representatives (i.e., Senator Padilla and Senator Butler) and is currently with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Advocacy efforts should target this committee.

• • • Advocacy for our state and regional representatives (i.e., Supervisor Arenas, Assemblymember Pellerin, Speaker Rivas, Senator Laird, Senator Cortese, Congresswoman Lofgren, and Congressman Panetta) to help us secure the necessary funding for our school-based mental health services and to prioritize school mental health services as part of budget allocations. Locally, our County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas is the person to advocate for our wellness program.
  • Covid fund that was distributed federally across all districts was based on poverty level of each district. Some nearby districts such as Bakersfield and Stockton benefited from higher lump sum fund that ended up not getting used (respectively $112M & $136M). Trustee Montes proposed the board/district actively pursue re-allocation of these funds. According to him legally this is a viable path. And personally, I see this as the most viable solution – strongly dependent on the board/district proof of accountability to manage any additional funds.

Thank you all for your collaboration and continued support. I am confident with our persistence; we will make a change!