Hello everyone – This update primarily focuses on the Budget Advisory Committee update and recapping of the June 18th meeting, broken down into the following highlights. I’ll share the Zoom recording once it’s posted.   

• Public Comments: A coordinated and scripted effort to boost Dr. Garcia’s image with a few speakers such as County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas (whose term ends in 2027). One public comment was to boost Mary Patterson’s image. Several concerned parents and community members spoke up again regarding the fiscal instability, lack of direction and accountability of the district. I appreciate the unwavering support of these parents and community members who consistently stand with our teachers and school staff in opposing the district’s financial decisions and trajectory.
• MHFT report by the union’s president, Jim Levis: An exceptional update emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability and collaboration. And a well justified ask to not extend Dr Garcia’s contract into 2028.
• The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) reinstatement. More on this below. Application to be released on July 1st.
• The superintendent’s contract got extended into 2028. Unknown compensation changes at this time. I will share more information when available.
• The board approved the LCAP (justification for professional developments and many unnecessary contracts to come). The board also approved the budget for 2024-2025 with proposed $5.5M cuts.
• Reminder that three board seats are up for election this November.
  • Iván Rosales Montes - Trustee Area 5. montesi@mhusd.org
  • Adam Escoto, Board President - Trustee Area 7. escotoa@mhusd.org
  • Mary Patterson, Board Clerk - Trustee Area 6. pattersonm@mhusd.org

The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC):

On June 18th, the board revealed the plan for the Budget Advisory Committee and the timeline for its reinstatement. However, it’s crucial to recognize that this committee operates solely in an advisory capacity. The district’s long-standing financial crisis, which has been brewing for the last three years, cannot be adequately addressed by a hastily assembled committee with a deadline in Dec. Such a committee should have been established much earlier, following the precedent set by many other districts.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District’s budget ad hoc team, comprising Dr. Garcia, Trustee Montes, Board President Escoto, and Board VP Altman, crafted the composition and timeline of the BAC last Friday (June 14th).

Snapshot here shows you the slide that was presented. This information should officially be released on MHUSD website soon.

The committee consist of total 18 members with composition below:

• 2 certified staff (MHFT selected)
• 2 classified staff (MHCEA selected)
• 2 MHELA (1 site and 1 district, MHELA selected)
• 2 Board Trustees
• 2 HS students
• 1 elementary parent
• 1 middle school parent
• 1 high school parent
• 1 K-8/alt ed parent
• 4 community members representing an organization

Below (and snapshot here) is the expected timeline and series of events:

• BAC application – July 1-26
• BAC selection – July 27-31
• BAC meetings
  • Thursday August 8 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday August 22 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday September 5 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday September 19 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday October 17 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday November 7 – 6-8pm
  • Thursday December 5  – 6-8pm
• BAC community forums
  • Thursday October 3 – Time TBD
  • Thursday October 10 – Time TBD
• BAC recommendations presented to the board on Tuesday December 17

It is important to note that the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) will provide advice based on the board’s strategic priorities. However, the specific priorities have not been clearly defined at this time. Also they have restricted access to committee meetings exclusively to in-person attendance 6-8pm, effectively controlling the flow of information.

In contrast, other districts like the Piedmont Unified School District maintain a transparent, publicly accessible, open to all Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). The Piedmont BAC shares all notes, presentations, and information openly, akin to a public board meeting.

At Ms. Timboe’s previous employer, the Cambrian School District, transparency and a robust history with their Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) are evident. Notably, their posted presentation (slide 8) includes a detailed breakdown of expenditures, categorizing them into certified salaries, classified salaries, management, and benefits. This is very helpful to compare the salaries and gain a better understanding of where expenses can be adjusted.

Another district, Oak Grove Union School District in Santa Rosa, has all their BAC documents, notes, survey results and updates available and archived even in Spanish.

The primary purpose of referencing the practices of other districts’ Budget Advisory Committees is to underscore the lack of transparency within MHUSD. Notably, this lack of transparency is compounded by insufficient collaboration and an excessive concentration of decision-making power in the superintendent’s hands.

On June 18, the board even granted Dr. Garcia additional authorization and financial autonomy, a decision that is quite shocking given Dr. Garcia’s history of financial mismanagement. The fact that it took over three years to establish and reinstate the BAC in our district, with a more diverse composition, serves as a clear testament to the lack of transparency and accountability in the district’s leadership.

Considering that our school district’s funding is derived from taxpayer dollars, managing every dollar should indeed be a collaborative process, informed by community input and aligned with our core priorities.