Writing this week’s newsletter, I’ve been reflecting on the choices we will have to make at the Mountain View Whisman School Board. Our current Board has made some important, difficult decisions during our first year, from hiring Superintendent Baier to stabilizing and realigning our workforce housing project. This feels different, as tomorrow, the Board will be voting on $7.9M in budget reductions that will reshape our district for years to come and will have profound impacts on many people. Even though we will be keeping the best interests of the district and our students in mind, I try to not lose sight of the human impacts of these changes.
Before, during, and after our last meeting, the community has paid attention and given the board feedback on the proposals and our deliberations. We continue to receive emails on the progress, and I’ve read all of them. Once again, I appreciate everyone who has reached out, emailed, attended office hours, or voiced their concerns at a board meeting, or even just asked me questions when you spot me in the community. While ultimately the Board will be deciding together, your voices have helped shape our perspectives.
This is not the last important decision we will make, even within our budget challenges, so please continue to remain engaged. If you ever have questions, comments, or feedback, don’t hesitate to send me an email at my official district address, [email protected] or click the button below to schedule office hours with me.
Why We’re Here
Throughout recent memory, our district has benefitted from the booming local economy, averaging almost 9% annual property tax growth. During that time, we’ve increased our spending commensurately in order to fulfill our purpose of educating, while prudently maintaining a reserve to help weather any shocks. As our revenue growth has dropped to only 2.3%, with the county assessor projecting similar slow growth for several years, we’re projecting to spend $3.7 million more than we take in. Without addressing the structural imbalance, that gap will only widen.
In one of the sessions I attended at the California School Boards Association’s Annual Education Conference, the presenters shared an insight I’ve kept in mind since. The session was Advancing School Finance Skills for Board Members, and they stated that one of the primary reasons districts end up in a fiscal crisis is kicking the can down the road on tough decisions. Our reserves have given us time to deliberate and analyze our situation and programs, but they are one-time funds that will not resolve our structural problems. While there still is uncertainty, the responsible path is for us to use our best judgment to act deliberately with the information we have available to us.
Board Meeting
The Thursday, January 29, 2026 meeting begins at 6:00 PM with a school showcase by Crittenden Middle School, followed by closed session. Here are some items on the agenda once we return to open session:
Budget Reductions
In response to Board direction, staff has prepared proposed budget reduction options that reflect the Trustees' feedback received at the January 15, 2026, Regular Board Meeting.
It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve staff proceeding with budget reductions totaling $7,924,000, as presented.
All the way back in September, we began to have discussions on the revenue declines we were facing, which kicked off the work we are reviewing now. Along the way, we’ve worked through community engagement, staff input, and board deliberation. At our January 15 meeting, staff presented roughly $10 million to $11.5 million in potential reductions. After hearing from the community and discussing the options as a board, the revised recommendation now totals approximately $7.9 million.
In our deliberations last time, the Board highlighted that some of the recommendations felt more manageable, and others required more information. Staff has taken this feedback and used it to refine their recommendations. The recommendations now defer the STEAM and PE, ELOP, and preschool reductions, while allowing us to revisit these in the coming months if necessary.
Updated Job Descriptions
In partnership with MVEA, MVWSD proposes updated job descriptions for Instructional Coaches, Reading Intervention Teachers, and STEAM Teachers.
Working collaboratively with our teachers' association, staff has updated job descriptions for several key instructional positions. These updates help ensure role clarity as we navigate organizational changes.
Board Bylaws and Policies (First Reading)
Trustee DiFazio will provide background on CSBA's policy recommendations from the January 15, 2026, Board Policy Committee Meeting, acknowledging that policies remain the responsibility of the entire board.
As part of my work on the Board Policy Committee with Vice President Henry, I’ll be presenting several recommended policy updates that came out of our latest meeting. This is only the first reading, allowing for the full Board to discuss the committee’s recommendation before any action, which would occur at a subsequent meeting.
During the last meeting, in the committee report, I mentioned that our new policy manual was online. Thanks to staff’s hard work, you can view the manual here. I’m probably unreasonably excited about it, but it’s going to make doing our work on the committee so much smoother.
Reflecting
I know this has been a heavier newsletter than most, but we’re going through some important and difficult changes in the district. The way we’ll make these decisions well is with transparency, humility about what we do and don’t know, and an ability to adapt as the facts on the ground change. I continue to appreciate the support of our community, staff, and teachers in keeping a productive focus on our students during these difficult conversations. Thank you.
Upcoming Events
Our next Board Retreat is scheduled for February 7, followed by regular meetings on February 12, March 5, and March 19.
That same day, there is a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Downtown Mountain View’s first retail pop-up. This is part of the City’s efforts to address vacancies in Downtown, and I’m excited to check out the four small businesses that are opening!
You have probably received an LCAP survey in your email. This is one of our tools to understand how families, students, and staff feel about various facets of our schools, and it informs our planning for the coming years. Please fill it out before February 13 to make your voice heard!
