[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6540051,"mediaKeyId","3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420","parentId",3472156,"title","Lighthouse Charter presents annual update to Washington Unified board; highlights SEL, special education and arts programs","audioSeconds",813,"startMs",3740000,"endMs",4553000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420&start=3740&end=4553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420/thumbnail_3740000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6540051/West-Sacramento/Yolo-County/California/Lighthouse-Charter-presents-annual-update-to-Washington-Unified-board-highlights-SEL-special-education-and-arts-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540051-089fa01e5edc34893c14eba8fca2bfdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448472&Signature=ZxXc71srGGZDLGgq1zHhNg0RjG7cePN61SMrKLoCz5zGYqyGByPQtpP2JJOuhQumT-ViXqt6Ef7VsdmdngaKi6ohDcHUJ18DBL4HcqROzjk4JvKjXHqNUDr39-EgmqnE0fg6sKjsnLSyPYQYV0EU0E5Jqn7GUTucdMJVKoDavewr8iOp1lE~DtOJupZBME3P-ajX8aaPgq~gDtU9-1LhZssVIJ-zPDNskqpfYxUawcgvMvzS9~iT5hSvgI8Ty0~BXDKLHHYNoCqDBpBU5kukXq4UL-RpsjPH5DKZ7x9Q5LIvoAHTRegbmAFvspIInTa1NeIN1cgFMhqVjSrkPUcrlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-23T21:29:04.65Z","article","Lighthouse Charter School presented its annual update to the Washington Unified School District board on May 22, reporting on curricular priorities, student supports and recent governance developments.

School Superintendent Roxanna Villasenor and board chair Omar Carrillo described Lighthouse’s signature programs — project‑based learning, the arts and music — that staff said provide regular exposure to creative and collaborative learning. Lighthouse staff highlighted social‑emotional learning (SEL) as a core philosophy; speech‑language pathologist Erin Kelly noted SEL work, counseling check‑ins and the school’s participation in a county mental‑health cohort.

Lighthouse leaders described inclusive special‑education services supported by a team of mild/moderate teachers, bilingual speech‑language staff, occupational therapists, psychologists and behavior specialists. The school reported progress in English‑learner outcomes (a 16.9% gain cited on the state dashboard) and low suspension and expulsion rates compared with state averages.

Board chair Omar Carrillo described administrative back‑office contracts (for example, Charter Impact) and recent finance work; he said audits were sound and the charter met bond covenants. River Charter Schools Teachers Association representatives described union organizing and contract negotiation highlights at Lighthouse, including ratified contracts and improved protections and pay for teachers.

Board members asked for clarification about governance and retention. Lighthouse representatives said there are seven board positions (one vacancy) and provided recent staff retention figures: 72% for 2021–23, 60% for 2023–24, with an anticipated 73% retention for the coming year based on the latest data. Trustees praised Lighthouse’s work and asked for follow‑up on any questions they had.

Why it matters: Charter schools operating within a district’s authorizing authority must provide annual reports; this presentation offers the district and public insight into Lighthouse’s program priorities, special‑education services and fiscal stability.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board of Education Meeting on May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lighthouse Charter School leaders presented their annual update, outlining signature programs in project‑based learning, arts and music, inclusive special education services, and enrollment and fiscal trends.","taxTitle","West Sacramento, Yolo County, California","taxId",4568,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6540055,"River City students present research on financial‑aid barriers for English learners; recommend counselor engagement and resources",617,5112800,5730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420&start=5112&end=5730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420/thumbnail_5112800.jpg","/articles/6540055/West-Sacramento/Yolo-County/California/River-City-students-present-research-on-financialaid-barriers-for-English-learners-recommend-counselor-engagement-and-resources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540055-eb277b6c34d4791ec0d50ee9739eb2bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448472&Signature=e0Y~zMNCAWz19iad8qY10P4sMM0TJEIrPymDKWRPC8Q1n5AnePUHDYjGJ2hHq2OKtOoa9oEvOKLnxNpg9Ymf3WpmsiRVTAyoS5pIrDB~gtK8n-G2wKfotYbZq5PFkNZpZ3KMXaV4ch9qNg7NwDTDqHSL2GXLFj30Xjn6dxDf-fUsQgakdL1KRvhUufndJdyWh8USJlK-o9jSbeGMKXFHgVg4qiGobWmHjkIr~tMIWawJNYl4VQ0lmkfXEMaSEd3ot71IifG3bkepE0nNOiip0LaNY9TKE1rhcS-eFaVgXNXgtZvZ8j4s5lJr3nNgJWM72TzqkiTUdjNDv83C2UC~DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two River City High School students, Bahare Yacoubi and Johnny Lou, presented findings on the district’s \"College‑Going Initiative for English learners\" at the Washington Unified board’s May 22 meeting. The student team surveyed and held focus groups across Yolo County to identify barriers that show why many English learners do not complete financial‑aid applications or enroll in postsecondary programs.

The fellowship research focused on the question: what are the most important barriers that impacted college enrollment for English learners in Yolo County? The team reported that a majority of English learners they surveyed recognized the benefits of financial aid but lacked the knowledge to apply. Students said they learned about financial aid primarily from outreach programs or family members, rather than school counselors.

The team surveyed students across six high schools and reported 58 survey respondents and 28 focus‑group responses; they said the sample reached roughly 21.9% of the district’s reported EL population in 2023–24 in the cohort they attempted to contact. For Washington Unified specifically, the presenters said they received 31 survey responses: many respondents rated their understanding of financial aid at the low end of the scale and a quarter said they felt uncomfortable approaching school counselors about financial aid.

The student researchers recommended three main strategies: (1) increase counselor engagement with EL students through one‑on‑one meetings and targeted outreach starting in middle school or freshman year; (2) deliver accessible financial‑aid education and workshops (including online materials and native‑language resources), and (3) conduct follow‑up surveys to measure progress. Presenters suggested using platforms such as Google Classroom, Canvas and social media to make materials available and recommended producing video resources in students’ native languages with subtitles in English.

Board members praised the students’ methods and asked that staff and counseling teams be included in follow‑up work. Trustee Wong and others said the student team’s work could serve as a model and recommended using district communications channels to amplify the resources.

Why it matters: The students’ research identifies a narrow but addressable barrier — knowledge of financial aid — with concrete recommendations the district can implement through counseling offices, communications and outreach. Student authors and trustees framed the work as actionable and requested district follow‑through.","Two River City High School students and their team presented findings from a countywide survey and focus groups identifying knowledge gaps about financial aid among English learners and recommended counselor outreach, workshops and accessible resources.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6540060,"Board reviews draft MOU, student survey as district explores school resource officer program with West Sacramento Police",878,6362000,7240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420&start=6362&end=7240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420/thumbnail_6362000.jpg","/articles/6540060/West-Sacramento/Yolo-County/California/Board-reviews-draft-MOU-student-survey-as-district-explores-school-resource-officer-program-with-West-Sacramento-Police","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540060-bcd802dc1f4db64d48aa54d8983a598f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448472&Signature=jozcFYyyiTmI-Qkpg4~9Gnl4pi8WC5Dq9v9XQOzlvtDaJpjtMPAN-Br8wYtZzVHxrmhgiGepxNv~6qgwTe5uzAnr40u96J6OEWtYTIg9oCA1nZcrrus~Niix8lH68FE07oQAW0ibYtX9Vgh9IsDcUcAR~MiUPnQ3jdGuJwaQxjfNTYEqUYC4-SkuJj-nUcqCvkyJ5Jy1aRM~C8fPif1HIs8NVNj~yOQQ7t~3eoWQ5xDgBwetrYONDfin2vb3g0CE7XwupATm8L6aApSPWBLjt6p9RA~8abj5JNQT2uArqYDuTMVdzYEx6eQxN-I~EcSUT~JCfbR6N8Uo~U-eRLMdhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the West Sacramento Police Department and a student safety survey during the board’s May 22 meeting as the district explores a School Resource Officer (SRO) program. No MOU was adopted; the board discussed next steps and asked staff to continue negotiating with the city.

Director of Special Programs and Student Services Dr. Jay Burns reviewed student survey results collected May 5–9. The survey drew 1,782 student respondents across grades and campuses; a majority of students reported feeling \"always\" or \"most of the time\" safe at school, and students named \"help in emergencies/crisis,\" \"building positive relationships with students,\" and \"teaching students about safety, laws or community issues\" among the most important SRO activities. Respondents described traits they would like to see in an officer, including being respectful, approachable and trained in mental‑health and conflict resolution.

Burns presented a draft MOU outline covering program objectives, duties and financials. Preliminary cost figures provided in the draft include a maximum salary and benefits package for an SRO position cited as up to $250,000 (salary + benefits), with district share presented at approximately 50% of that total and additional overhead and overtime estimates that brought a draft total cost cited in the presentation to about $396,500; Burns cautioned the figures were preliminary and subject to city review and refinement.

Key elements in the draft MOU discussed by staff include: collaborative selection of officers with district participation; SRO duties framed as mentoring, student resource and crisis response rather than routine school discipline; limits on assignment (not used as hall monitors or regular lunch supervisors); participation in training, student‑support team activities and drills; and monthly coordination meetings between district and city staff. Board members and staff asked clarifying questions about the officer’s work year, whether the post would be 12 months and whether a single FTE should be backfilled when an officer is absent. Trustees suggested negotiating language about uniforms and school‑based professional development, and asked to route a draft to site safety committees for feedback.

No action was taken; Burns said staff will continue to negotiate the MOU with the city and the district’s safety consultant and will return with clarified financials, timeline options and a proposed implementation plan. Trustee Wong and others requested clarity about whether an implementation timeline could start in August and asked for drafts to come back for review at the June 10 City/School 2x2 meeting.

Why it matters: Adding an SRO to campuses is a substantive change in school‑police relations and carries both fiscal and cultural implications. The draft MOU emphasizes collaborative selection, limits on SRO discipline authority and training in mental‑health supports; trustees asked the city for clearer cost breakdowns and for staff to bring drafts to safety committees and the city‑school 2x2 for review.","District staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding with West Sacramento Police and results of a student survey about safety and SRO roles; staff and trustees discussed preliminary costs and program details.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6540065,"Teachers, classified staff press Washington Unified board on pay and bargaining as negotiations continue",622,1621065,2243810,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420&start=1621&end=2243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420/thumbnail_1621065.jpg","/articles/6540065/West-Sacramento/Yolo-County/California/Teachers-classified-staff-press-Washington-Unified-board-on-pay-and-bargaining-as-negotiations-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540065-d0317fa7cb12fb7b4b04b32cf35ac8fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448472&Signature=TH6zEk6~k6fUnJGFVMJ49lC5phlkNDCG5FWf~kuHxIyUnMEPYcTlcgU7yi76-8cG2EpREWHvtAoGjn64pTQuiRujw0zHtm4RBYKeKBoUgy9zIhMtAS8Kp0hTJu5bzMmyeAtMfZIkAd3fINCYp6mK~NolnUc3pNDtn0Az25mPiQwhNHsUmuFUHpgcdIcDxKUjJTw9ftnUxbBnAuC6kNgr3ITG1NXyQwsBMwqPSfpaRqhM3c7OyyMuJT0sGHUuljVQ3I4yAvYigsAWGSoDbOFbDE9vgGs3bC3EHMEwjkYXzybaM0cKGBfqRBttsP8Om8D0tqfrIo~UvZj89LNFj7307Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of current and former Washington Unified staff and union representatives used the board’s public‑comment period on May 22 to urge the district to negotiate higher pay and to explain why many educators are leaving or considering leaving.

West Sacramento Teachers Association Vice President Jessica Paget told the board the union rejects the notion that a lack of available bargaining dates shows reluctance to reach agreement. \"Bargaining dates are typically chosen months in advance so that the working teachers on our bargaining team have enough time to block out those dates,\" Paget said. She recounted past budget developments and said district leaders had misled staff about available funds; Paget described a prior budget “overage” of $16 million that WSTA members say was placed in a budget‑stability reserve and questioned why additional increases were not made available to staff.

Multiple classroom teachers said the district’s current pay scale is forcing staff to consider leaving or to accept second jobs. River City High School and district teachers described classmates and colleagues leaving for neighboring districts that pay as much as $16,000 more, and they said the district’s most recent counteroffer — 2% per year for two years — was inadequate to match cost‑of‑living increases. \"This is not a raise,\" said Andrew Pegg, a teacher who calculated that a 2% offer is less than the consumer price index increase the past year.

A string of speakers described the consequences on programs: Sarah Bowling, who coaches the CREST engineering program, said teacher departures are eroding extracurricular offerings and warned she expects to lose staff due to pay constraints. Several speakers asked the board to consider re‑allocating reserves or to negotiate a higher salary schedule to retain experienced staff.

The California School Employees Association (CSEA) president (Gandara) and CSEA representatives also thanked classified staff and said bargaining continues; CSEA reported recent counteroffers on salary and benefits.

Why it matters: Teachers and classified employees are central to district operations. Speakers argued that inadequate compensation leads to turnover, larger class sizes, and lost extracurricular programs. The board did not take action on bargaining items this evening but acknowledged public comments and heard multiple staff accounts of retention pressures.

Speakers on record at the May 22 meeting included teachers and union leaders who said they will continue to press for a larger settlement in upcoming bargaining sessions.","Dozens of teachers, union representatives and classified staff used public comment time to criticize the district’s bargaining posture and to say current pay is driving turnover and difficulty recruiting new teachers.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6540070,"Washington Unified announces closed‑session termination, approves food‑bank agreement and Measure Z tax rate",8287,292970,8580640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420&start=292&end=8580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3472156-a0f9de239438b4efffdf1ed23c539420/thumbnail_292970.jpg","/articles/6540070/West-Sacramento/Yolo-County/California/Washington-Unified-announces-closedsession-termination-approves-foodbank-agreement-and-Measure-Z-tax-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540070-34ebffdb01ddb60f39099053760f65d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448472&Signature=JvYYQdHW75lYLu2udqqyTm~uEF3ulOqiyV1X0FJSZ0HpXKEFCU5QPKwv7gakeIkqq34rdOBcNwJlS0UmaIPmexM3F1Xs4BnZhQIlgzmtailRprn3YoXi-9fXYokBSc6DBWxmeXAfnqvnxjTPgGONt1m1kQWgMm9UlF-xmGLLrYRGKMdxHx2sTVn0P46pHAJ7l7GP2ojPwPyX4mXb~CVlPuzudnbXHTah3lrM7NaSxkG5yjl6mPoa8~C8IrJHnwUK1hb3lpjtv-DH5Oh6qPFuSHHZdNYkvvwapZ8fRiZjMldJsM2m0PW5w3Alcd0zjoVU7SwasJMAddV1eVkA3Tzdfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Unified School District Board of Education announced a unanimous closed‑session decision to terminate a classified employee and later approved several public‑facing items, including a vendor agreement with the Yolo Food Bank and a resolution asking the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to establish a tax rate for a final Measure Z bond issuance.

The board announced in open session that, under Government Code Section 54957 (public employee discipline, dismissal or release), the board voted unanimously (5‑0) in closed session to terminate the employment of a classified employee. The board did not provide additional details during open session.

The board also voted to approve a one‑year vendor agreement with the Yolo Food Bank to continue food distribution at the district’s community‑school sites. The agreement, funded through a Community Schools grant, supports monthly food distributions that staff said reach about 800 students districtwide. The motion to approve the vendor agreement was moved by Clerk Castro and seconded by Trustee Wong; the vote recorded in the meeting transcript lists Trustee Wong, Clerk Castro, Vice President Coffey and Trustee Hunt voting \"aye.\" The board indicated the distribution is open to any district family and staff said they would share more specifics about what food items and pickup times will look like.

The board adopted Resolution No. 24‑25‑46 requesting that Yolo County establish a tax rate for the sale of the district’s third and final Measure Z bond issuance (Series C). Chief Business Officer Monique Sovall told the board the district plans to sell Series C next spring and reminded the public Measure Z limits property owners to no more than $60 per $100,000 of assessed value per year. Trustee Hunt moved the resolution and Clerk Castro seconded; the vote in the transcript lists Trustee Wong, Clerk Castro, Vice President Coffey and Trustee Hunt voting \"aye.\"

Other routine actions: the board approved the consent agenda by roll call (moved by Trustee Hunt, seconded by Vice President Coffey) and took the roll call vote to adopt the meeting agenda earlier in the session (moved by Clerk Castro, seconded by Vice President Coffey). The consent agenda included multiple items (not individually read into the minutes) and was approved by the roll call votes recorded in open session.

The board chair also announced a personnel recommendation (Belinda Rabe Patterson) for the district HR director role and members of the board offered congratulations; that personnel appointment was part of the consent agenda approved by the board.

Why it matters: The closed‑session personnel action affects an individual employee but is also the kind of routine personnel business boards take in closed session under state law. The Measure Z action advances the district’s remaining bond financing to pay for facilities projects the district identified when voters approved Measure Z in 2020. The Yolo Food Bank agreement continues the district’s community‑school food distribution programs for families who rely on monthly staples.

Board members and staff said they will provide follow‑up details — on food distribution contents and schedule, and on bond timeline and tax‑rate calculations — as those items are finalized.","At its May 22 meeting the Washington Unified School District Board announced a closed‑session vote to terminate a classified employee, approved an ongoing vendor agreement with the Yolo Food Bank and adopted a resolution asking Yolo County to set a tax rate for the final Measure Z bond issuance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lighthouse Charter presents annual update to Washington Unified board; highlights SEL, special education and arts programs

River City students present research on financial‑aid barriers for English learners; recommend counselor engagement and resources

Board reviews draft MOU, student survey as district explores school resource officer program with West Sacramento Police

Teachers, classified staff press Washington Unified board on pay and bargaining as negotiations continue

Washington Unified announces closed‑session termination, approves food‑bank agreement and Measure Z tax rate