Dear Coleman Families,
I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather and the offshore winds this weekend. It was a wonderful break before we head into a busy week for our school.
As we approach our final elementary budget meeting, I want to share some critical information regarding the financial landscape of our district and how it impacts our community.
SRCS Elementary Budget Updates
I am writing to share some important context regarding the financial landscape of San Rafael City Schools. Currently, our district is navigating the difficult task of making budget reductions for both our Elementary and High School Districts.
This is a challenge being felt across California. For the past few years, one-time state grants provided in the wake of the pandemic allowed us to expand support in important ways, mostly through staffing. As those grants come to an end, and as we face rising operational costs and declining enrollment, the district is now dealing with a structural deficit that requires us to make some tough choices.
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By 2026-27: $830,000 in reductions.
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By 2027-28: A total of $2.8 million in reductions from the elementary budget.
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Community Input: Since September 2025, Budget Advisory Committees have been meeting to ensure community feedback guides these difficult decisions.
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Staffing: We are hopeful that reductions can be managed primarily through attrition (not filling open roles) to minimize the impact on our current staff and avoid layoffs as much as possible.
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Board Action: The Board of Education is expected to take action on these proposed reductions at the January 27th meeting.
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The Power of Attendance: A helpful way our families can support us is through consistent attendance. Not only is it vital for student development, but it is also a primary source of our school funding.
Before diving into the budget, I want to highlight the heart of our school. Ms. Karina Willis has done a fabulous job of creating a warm, welcoming environment in our library for all our students and families. If you’ve been on campus lately, you may have seen the incredible student work on display, a result of the wonderful partnership between our art teacher, Caroline Sequeira, and Ms. Karina.
2026-27 School Year Calendars
On a brighter note, the district has officially released the TK-12 calendar for next year! The first day of school will be August 19, 2026. You can find the full details here:
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