Giving Thanks

as we approach the end of the year

Charles DiFazio
November 19, 2025

This week we have a brief, but no less important agenda at the Mountain View Whisman School Board, covering education and financial plans. I'm thankful for all of the hard work that's gone into every item on the agenda, as it represents the effort of so many people across the district and the community at large.

Before we get to the agenda, I want to mention that after the Thanksgiving break, I will be attending the California School Boards Association’s Annual Education Conference. I wrote a bit about my experience last year, and I'm looking forward to this year’s conference. I found the panels and training to be an important part of starting my new job as a board member, although I certainly learned a lot on the job. This year, I have enrolled in the Board Presidents Workshop in order to be well-prepared if I am fortunate enough to serve in that role. In addition, I'm beginning to plan out which sessions I will attend, and I hope to share some of what I've learned, so stay tuned.

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.

Board Meeting

The Thursday, November 20, 2025 meeting begins at 6:00 PM with a school showcase by Theuerkauf Elementary, followed by closed session. Here are some items on the agenda once we return to open session:

Special Education Update

Staff will discuss Special Education trends concerning enrollment, changing disability types and how these trends are impacting the levels of staffing and resources needed to support our students to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education

Item VIII.A

This update for the board describes the district's evolving student demographics and outlines some of the strategic adjustments necessary to meet rising needs. We will review some data trends to show how the district is realigning its resources to those needs, including the addition of specialized staff and the opening of new classrooms. This should provide insight into how we are preparing students for future independence while ensuring compliance with federal mandates for a free and appropriate public education.

School Plans for Student Achievement

In my previous newsletter, I described how I had been meeting with the school principals to discuss their School Plans for Student Achievement (SPSA). It was incredible hearing from the principals about the unique challenges and opportunities at each site. These plans are now ready to come to the board for consideration.

School Plans for Student Achievement are being presented for approval. Plans were posted to the District website on October 20, 2025 for review by the Board of Trustees and the public. Members of the Board of Trustees have been meeting with principals to learn more about each site's plan.

Item VIII.B

As I noted before, the SPSAs are a key part of each school’s roadmap for continuous improvement. Each plan identifies strategies specifically aimed at improving outcomes for all students, and they support the broader goals of the district and our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The implementation and feedback from these plans will guide each school during the school year.

2025-2026 First Interim Budget

Continuing a thread across prior meetings discussing revenue, expenses, and other budget items, we have our first interim budget report.

Staff will present the 2025-2026 First Interim Budget Report, which reflects the district's financial position as of October 31, 2025.

Item VIII.C

Per this report, the district remains fiscally solvent, but we are seeing approaching headwinds due to slowing tax assessment growth and rising costs. Addressing them now allows us to extend our fiscal stability and make thoughtful decisions rather than reacting to a crisis later, allowing us to prioritize our students and the long-term sustainability of our schools.

Upcoming Events

The district will have our Thanksgiving Recess next week, from November 24 - 28. I know it's a challenging time for many of our families in the district, and I've been so heartened to see the outpouring of support for members of our community through food drives across the district. I'm truly grateful to be part of such a caring community.

As noted above, I will be attending the CSBA’s Annual Education Conference from December 2 - 4, 2025.

On Monday, December 8, 2025, I'm looking forward to the City of Mountain View’s Community Tree Lighting Celebration, including community booths exploring seasonal celebrations from cultures around the world.