In case you missed the Governing Board meeting on August 14, 2024, here are some
highlights. If you want to take a deeper dive into any of these topics, slide
presentations can be found on the Lafayette School District website, and an audio
recording of the meeting can be found here.
● City Councilmember Susan Candell made a public comment encouraging the
community to support a new sales tax measure that will be on the ballot in
November. Measure H will provide for a new 1/2₵ sales tax for 7 years
generating approximately $2,400,000 to benefit the City of Lafayette annually,
which will allow the city to maintain the current level of city services. The
Measure includes yearly financial audits, as well as public review of
expenditures by a citizen oversight committee.
● Two sources of local revenue for the District were highlighted in presentations
to the Board: LPIE and the Measure L parcel tax. Samantha Carter, LPIE
President, shared that thanks to their many parent volunteers, donors, and
business partners, they were able to raise over $5.4 million last year, a record
fundraising total. This year, the organization’s goal is almost $4.6 million - the
majority of which comes from parents of Lafayette students. LPIE funding is
crucial for the District to maintain key programs and staffing.
● LPIE’s contributions to our schools, along with the approximately $3 million
annual revenue from our Measure L parcel tax, make up over 20% of the
District’s total revenue each year. Chief Business Official Melissa Dodd
illustrated how the District depends on local funding to enrich the learning
experiences of each and every LAFSD student. With Measure L expiring at the
end of the 2026-27 fiscal year, and all of the Measure L reserves committed to
recruitment and retention of high-quality educators and staff, a new revenue
stream will be required to maintain the District’s current financial obligations
and meet future commitments.
● Betsy Balmat, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, and Shea
Hunter, Director of Student Services, presented a review of the Summer
School Intervention and Extended School Year summer programs. Summer
School Intervention data was discussed and Betsy noted that with the short
highlights. If you want to take a deeper dive into any of these topics, slide
presentations can be found on the Lafayette School District website, and an audio
recording of the meeting can be found here.
● City Councilmember Susan Candell made a public comment encouraging the
community to support a new sales tax measure that will be on the ballot in
November. Measure H will provide for a new 1/2₵ sales tax for 7 years
generating approximately $2,400,000 to benefit the City of Lafayette annually,
which will allow the city to maintain the current level of city services. The
Measure includes yearly financial audits, as well as public review of
expenditures by a citizen oversight committee.
● Two sources of local revenue for the District were highlighted in presentations
to the Board: LPIE and the Measure L parcel tax. Samantha Carter, LPIE
President, shared that thanks to their many parent volunteers, donors, and
business partners, they were able to raise over $5.4 million last year, a record
fundraising total. This year, the organization’s goal is almost $4.6 million - the
majority of which comes from parents of Lafayette students. LPIE funding is
crucial for the District to maintain key programs and staffing.
● LPIE’s contributions to our schools, along with the approximately $3 million
annual revenue from our Measure L parcel tax, make up over 20% of the
District’s total revenue each year. Chief Business Official Melissa Dodd
illustrated how the District depends on local funding to enrich the learning
experiences of each and every LAFSD student. With Measure L expiring at the
end of the 2026-27 fiscal year, and all of the Measure L reserves committed to
recruitment and retention of high-quality educators and staff, a new revenue
stream will be required to maintain the District’s current financial obligations
and meet future commitments.
● Betsy Balmat, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, and Shea
Hunter, Director of Student Services, presented a review of the Summer
School Intervention and Extended School Year summer programs. Summer
School Intervention data was discussed and Betsy noted that with the short
program length and intermittent student attendance, it was hard to identify
this program as a direct factor in student growth. Elimination of the general
education summer school program was selected as part of the cost-reduction
strategies for 2024-2025 that was approved by the Board last spring. Betsy
assured the Board, however, that teachers will work with all families to
support summer learning, in various ways depending on student needs, and
that the District is exploring other options (such as keeping learning software
programs active over summer) in order to support students. Alternatively, the
ESY program is tied to students’ IEPs and provides required services to
students who qualify, and will continue to operate.
● Betsy also provided an update to the Governing Board on “LAFSD Celebrates”
- a set of resources for teachers related to the District’s monthly heritage
celebrations. The lessons and resources are designed to help students see
themselves reflected in the classroom and learn about the other cultures and
identities, an important aspect of preparing to participate in a pluralistic
society. Each month will consist of one or more designated celebrations, and
students will participate in a lesson about that heritage month.
Parents/caregivers can learn more about LAFSD Celebrates, and see some
sample lessons, here.
● The Board reviewed a Draft 2025-2026 Academic School Year Calendar and
will approve a calendar at the September board meeting.
● The Board approved a contract with Schneider Electric for the construction of
energy conservation services, including LED Lighting and Indoor Air-Quality
improvements. By way of background, the District entered into an agreement
with Schneider Electric to perform a comprehensive energy efficiency audit
during the 2023-2024 school year for the purpose of identifying potential
energy savings and seeking funding for efficiency projects. Since this audit,
Schneider Electric has assisted the District to apply for and receive funding
through the state's Cal SHAPE grant program, and to apply for and receive
approval to participate in PG&E's On-Bill Financing, a 0% loan program related
to efficiency upgrades. The $2.1 million LED Lighting and Indoor Air Quality
project will be paid for by a combination of the following: a discount for
assignment of tax credits to Schneider, the Cal SHAPE grant, the 0% PG&E
loan, and a $146k contribution from the District’s restricted facilities fund. It is
expected that the project will result in long-term cost savings to the District.
● Last year, the Superintendent’s Sustainability Advisory Committee as well as
the Long Range Arts Planning Committee met regularly to discuss and draft
guiding plans for the District for the coming years. Last night, the Governing
this program as a direct factor in student growth. Elimination of the general
education summer school program was selected as part of the cost-reduction
strategies for 2024-2025 that was approved by the Board last spring. Betsy
assured the Board, however, that teachers will work with all families to
support summer learning, in various ways depending on student needs, and
that the District is exploring other options (such as keeping learning software
programs active over summer) in order to support students. Alternatively, the
ESY program is tied to students’ IEPs and provides required services to
students who qualify, and will continue to operate.
● Betsy also provided an update to the Governing Board on “LAFSD Celebrates”
- a set of resources for teachers related to the District’s monthly heritage
celebrations. The lessons and resources are designed to help students see
themselves reflected in the classroom and learn about the other cultures and
identities, an important aspect of preparing to participate in a pluralistic
society. Each month will consist of one or more designated celebrations, and
students will participate in a lesson about that heritage month.
Parents/caregivers can learn more about LAFSD Celebrates, and see some
sample lessons, here.
● The Board reviewed a Draft 2025-2026 Academic School Year Calendar and
will approve a calendar at the September board meeting.
● The Board approved a contract with Schneider Electric for the construction of
energy conservation services, including LED Lighting and Indoor Air-Quality
improvements. By way of background, the District entered into an agreement
with Schneider Electric to perform a comprehensive energy efficiency audit
during the 2023-2024 school year for the purpose of identifying potential
energy savings and seeking funding for efficiency projects. Since this audit,
Schneider Electric has assisted the District to apply for and receive funding
through the state's Cal SHAPE grant program, and to apply for and receive
approval to participate in PG&E's On-Bill Financing, a 0% loan program related
to efficiency upgrades. The $2.1 million LED Lighting and Indoor Air Quality
project will be paid for by a combination of the following: a discount for
assignment of tax credits to Schneider, the Cal SHAPE grant, the 0% PG&E
loan, and a $146k contribution from the District’s restricted facilities fund. It is
expected that the project will result in long-term cost savings to the District.
● Last year, the Superintendent’s Sustainability Advisory Committee as well as
the Long Range Arts Planning Committee met regularly to discuss and draft
guiding plans for the District for the coming years. Last night, the Governing
Board approved both the Sustainability Plan as well as the Visual and
Performing Arts Education Plan.
● Finally, following a positive performance review by the Governing Board,
Superintendent Stephens’ employment contract was extended by one year,
ensuring that he will remain with the District at least through the end of the
2026-2027 school year.
Our next Governing Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024
at 6pm in the Stanley Library and streamed via Zoom. Hope to see you there!
Performing Arts Education Plan.
● Finally, following a positive performance review by the Governing Board,
Superintendent Stephens’ employment contract was extended by one year,
ensuring that he will remain with the District at least through the end of the
2026-2027 school year.
Our next Governing Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024
at 6pm in the Stanley Library and streamed via Zoom. Hope to see you there!