La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District

The Regular Board Meeting included a closed session for Superintendent evaluation. During the open session, public comment included a comparison of state released high school scores. The Board reviewed and acknowledged an application for a provisional appointment to fill a Governing Board vacancy, followed by an interview of the applicant, Dave Meyrovich, who was subsequently appointed and sworn into office. The consent calendar saw the removal and subsequent approval of several items, including warrants for September 2025 and an agreement for mural painting services. A public hearing was held regarding the yearly review of instructional materials, with no public comment. Key actions included the adoption of a resolution affirming the sufficiency of instructional materials for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Board also approved resolutions adopting procedures for Lease-Leaseback Contractors and authorizing the issuance of Measure O Bonds and 2025 General Obligation Refunding Bonds. Personnel actions included accepting the retirement of a long-serving classified employee and hiring a replacement.

The meeting commenced with a closed session to discuss certificated negotiations, after which the Board reported no action was taken but concerns regarding negotiations were discussed. In open session, public comments focused heavily on certificated negotiations, urging the Board to reconsider opening negotiations. Key actions included the approval of the Consent Calendar items, excluding several consulting and service agreements that required further clarification. Guest presentations covered Measure R bond communication efforts, an academic forestry challenge, and a proposal for a Pescadero Community Microgrid. The Board discussed and received input on establishing a first reading for Board Bylaw 9323.1 regarding the Order of Business, and discussed topics for an upcoming Governance Team Retreat, for which an agreement with Education Leadership Services was approved. Action was taken to approve the Single Plans for Student Achievement (SPSA) for Pescadero Elementary, Pescadero Middle School, and La Honda Elementary School. Geotechnical Engineering Services from Cornerstone Earth Group were approved for Measure R projects. Finally, the date for the 2025 Annual Organizational Meeting was set for December 11, 2025.

The meeting commenced with a Board Organization Session where Dave Meyrovich was elected as President of the Board of Trustees, and Nathan Stoll was elected as Clerk of the Board of Trustees. The Board also elected Nicole Wright as the District Representative to the County Committee for School District Organization for the 2026 calendar year. The Board adjourned briefly to closed session to discuss certificated negotiations, taking no action. Upon reconvening, the Board discussed the planned use of an AI transcription service (Otter.ai) for internal note-taking during open sessions. The Consent Calendar was approved with one item removed for further review. Guest presentations included highlights of student learning and a report on the Measure R approach concerning facility projects and community engagement. Discussions covered initial proposals for the 2025-2026 School Year from the District and the Teachers Association, with the latter's proposal being formally acknowledged. Infrastructure items included the acceptance of the Annual Developer Fees report and the approval of the First Interim Report for 2025-2026. The Board approved the Governing Board meeting schedule for 2026. Board goals focusing on Community Engagement, Bond Implementation/Transparency, and Policy Alignment were reviewed. Future agenda items include the Pescadero High School Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and a discussion on the 100-hour community service requirement for PHS graduates. Board commitments regarding redistributing responsibilities and clarifying participation in external activities were also discussed.

The special board meeting covered two primary action items. The first was the conditional approval of an overnight trip for PMHS students to attend the Forestry Challenge, contingent upon funding and the implementation of an emergency plan. The second action item involved the adoption of revised interview questions for use in the provisional appointment process, with specific questions being removed before approval. Additionally, the Governing Board announced openings for volunteers on both the Bond Oversight Committee and the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee.

The meeting addressed the need to recalibrate the Measure R Bond Program due to significant facility needs across all campuses, the loss of buying power since the program's inception three years prior, cost escalation for school construction, and facilities being inadequate for current and future student needs. The discussion included challenges facing the district and a new bond program structure involving the Board of Trustees, Superintendent, District Bond Team, and various stakeholders.