March Regular Meeting

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:00
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  Board Chair Schen calls the meeting to order, followed by a roll call of board members and student representatives.
• 0:02
  Celebration: AA State Champion Girls Basketball Team

  Superintendent Matheney introduces the celebration for the state champion girls' basketball team, followed by a highlight video. The board chair and vice chair present certificates to each player and coach.
• 0:10
  Coach and Captain Remarks

  Head Coach Brianne Maloney and senior captains Victoria Wright and Emma Travis address the board and community, expressing gratitude for the support and reflecting on their championship season.
• 0:12
  Board Discussion on Basketball Championship

  Several board members offer their congratulations to the team, praising their character, hard work, and the excitement they brought to the community.

  • 0:13 Ms. Rauscher
    She praises the team's strong character, commitment, and unity, calling them "absolute ballers" who played with heart and dominated the championship game.
  • 0:14 Ms. DeAngelis
    She expresses her excitement during the nerve-wracking game and reinforces that the win is a major accomplishment that goes beyond just the game itself, highlighting the community support.
  • 0:16 Ms. Holman
    She congratulates the team on their togetherness and pride, acknowledging the hard work and practice it took to achieve their victory.
  • 0:17 Ms. Kabisa
    She congratulates the team, noting she saw their victory on TikTok and hopes they are proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
• 0:19
  Student Representative Report (Eliot Wertheimer)

  Eliot Wertheimer provides an update on school activities, highlighting Black History Month celebrations, a Kaler family engagement night, the drama club's one-act festival performance, and the wrap-up of the successful winter sports season.
• 0:22
  Celebration: Scholastic Art Award Winners

  The Superintendent recognizes three student artists—Leo Graphos, Pepper Hinman, and Elsa Hendrickson—for their honorable mention and silver key awards in the statewide Scholastic Art Awards. Art teacher Matt Meyer also speaks about the students' talent and the program.
• 0:30
  Superintendent's Report Introduction (Mr. Matheney)

  Superintendent Matheney provides a brief update on district enrollment, which is holding steady but expected to decline. He also notes that he has received feedback from bond counsel regarding the athletic complex vote and will share it with the board soon.
• 0:35
  FY26 Budget Presentation: Context (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent begins his budget presentation by acknowledging the difficulty of the proposed cuts for affected staff. He outlines the context, including declining enrollment alongside an increase in students with diverse needs, and a growth of 100 staff members since 2017 while enrollment has dropped by 200.
• 0:46
  FY26 Budget Presentation: Budget Drivers (Mr. Matheney)

  He explains that a simple roll-forward budget would require a $9M increase. He details the primary drivers, including the loss of carryover funds for special education and Title programs, new staffing needs for incoming students, contract negotiations, and rising benefits costs.
• 0:55
  FY26 Budget Presentation: Proposed Reductions (Mr. Matheney)

  The proposed budget of $72.9M represents a 5.98% increase, offset by using $800,000 from the fund balance. He details the proposed position eliminations, including the Director of Curriculum, 10 school-based teaching staff (ESOL, SEL, Social Worker, etc.), and 7 Ed Techs, noting all affected Ed Techs will be offered other jobs.
• 1:16
  FY26 Budget Presentation: Reorganization Plans (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent outlines plans to manage the work of eliminated positions. Curriculum leadership will be reorganized and distributed among building administrators, and elementary library time will become a 'special' to provide teacher prep time previously covered by SEL classes.
• 1:42
  Public Comment on Agenda Items

  Dozens of teachers, parents, and students address the board, overwhelmingly speaking against the proposed FY26 budget cuts. Speakers criticize the lack of transparency, the layoff notification process, and the specific cuts to programs like SEL, music, social studies, and ESOL.

  • 1:42 Sarah Gay
    As SPTA President, she highlights the transformative nature of the cuts and the lack of union involvement in the decision-making process. She challenges the district and city to prioritize funding for schools.
  • 1:46 Kareen Altham
    On behalf of Ed Techs, she reads a long list of their daily responsibilities, arguing they are underpaid, overworked, and essential to the schools' functioning, which often feels more like a daycare model when short-staffed.
  • 1:47 Sabrina Shankman
    As a parent and wife of an affected educator, she questions the choices that led to the budget shortfall and criticizes the "callous" and corporate-like nature of the layoff notifications.
  • 1:51 Jen Fletcher
    A middle school music teacher, she notes the cuts eliminate 20% of the music department, including a percussion instructor position that has existed for 40 years, which will create a massive void.
  • 1:58 Sarah Dillon
    A third-grade teacher, she expresses deep concern over cutting SEL, questioning how students will be ready to learn without it, and also questions the plan to replace the expertise of the curriculum director.
  • 2:06 Alenni Richardson
    A parent, she condemns the email layoff process and argues the board should have been more aggressive with the budget last year to avoid the current shortfall. She asks for the median resident tax increase in dollars.
  • 2:17 Jennifer Christensen
    A parent of 19 years, she lists the many educators in the room who have been critical to her three children's success, including one with Down Syndrome. She urges the board to "do the right thing" and find a way to keep the positions.
  • 2:19 Angela Kabisa
    As a student representative, she shares her disappointment that teachers were kept in the dark about the budget, which contradicts the values of inclusion and communication that students are taught.
• 2:59
  Superintendent's Response to Public Comment (Mr. Matheney)

  The Superintendent addresses several questions raised during public comment. He clarifies that the Title funding decrease is due to a real-time reduction from the state, not proactive cuts, and explains the rationale behind the layoff notification process, while acknowledging the negative feedback.
• 3:11
  Board Discussion on Public Comment

  Board members ask follow-up questions based on public comment, focusing on ensuring the administration will meet directly with union leadership to discuss the budget.

  • 3:12 Rosemary DeAngelis
    She presses for clarification that the administration will meet directly with the teacher and ed tech unions to discuss the budget, not just rely on public comment periods. The Superintendent confirms upcoming meetings are on the calendar.
• 3:21
  Consent Agenda and New Business Votes

  The board amends the minutes from the previous meeting and then approves the full consent agenda. They then unanimously approve three policies on second read and approve the expansion of the pilot Pre-Kindergarten Program.
• 3:30
  Board Communications

  Student Representative Eliot Wertheimer thanks several citizens for their kind emails and engagement. Board members DeAngelis, Ratliff, and Rauscher share their final thoughts, expressing appreciation for the passion and comradery shown by the staff and community during the difficult meeting.
• 3:34
  Adjournment

  With no further business, the board moves to adjourn the meeting.