HUSD board expands classroom site fund recipients, changes contract language to add $8,500 allocation

The Humboldt Unified School District governing board approved expanding the district’s classroom site fund (CSF) eligibility for the 2025–26 school year to include athletic trainers, behavioral specialists, social workers, counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, psychologists and physical therapists, and approved related contract language that references an $8,500 CSF allocation for qualifying staff.

The change followed a presentation from district staff explaining that the classroom site fund — sometimes called “301” — has evolved since voter authorization and a 2020 reauthorization by the state. Mister Tannehill told the board that the district’s CSF subcommittee and meet-and-confer process reviewed eligibility and recommended adding the listed practitioners; he said “meet and confer unanimously voted to accept these practitioners into the classroom site fund.” The board adopted the recommendation on a 4–1 vote.

Why it matters: Staff said expanding eligibility aims to allow the district to hire some specialized practitioners directly rather than contracting externally, which can be substantially more expensive. Presenters tied some of the added roles to services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and said hiring in‑house can reduce purchase-of-service costs.

Key contract and payroll changes: The board also approved contract language to reflect a CSF allocation of $8,500 for qualifying full‑time equivalents. Presenters explained that the $8,500 component will be specified in contract language and may be dispersed on a biweekly payroll schedule rather than as a lump sum; staff emphasized the total annual compensation is not reduced — the distribution timing changes and the variable performance-pay portion remains subject to sales-tax revenues and student counts.

Board discussion and concerns: Board member Dr. Dellinger expressed concern that broadening CSF recipients could reduce the per-person amount for teachers and asked whether counselors would be expected to perform psychological evaluations; staff clarified the change pertains to academic counselors and that licensure and duties remain the same. Tannehill and other staff noted that districts across the state commonly include these practitioners and that the subcommittee surveyed about 80 districts during its review. The board heard that meet and confer solicited staff input and reported unanimous support for the recommendation.

Other related approvals: The board approved related contract-and-work-agreement language to incorporate CSF recipients into employment contracts, with a limited exception: substitute work agreements were not included in the current packet and will be returned to the board in April. The board also approved automatic renewals of administrative, certified and psychologist contracts for 2025–26.

Votes at a glance • Classroom site fund distribution expansion (action item D) — Approved 4–1 (mover: Sprague; seconder: Hunbreth). • Contract language to include CSF allocation and $8,500 consideration (action item E) — Approved (mover: Sprague; seconder: Mazone). • Contract and work agreement language to reflect CSF recipients (action item F) — Approved (mover: Mazone; seconder: Sprague). Substitute work agreements to be presented in April. • Administrative, certified and psychologist contract renewals (action item J) — Approved (mover: Unbrych; seconder: Sprague).

What remains: Staff will bring substitute work agreements back to the board in April, and the board will continue to set the performance-pay portion of CSF distributions (the variable piece) later in a separate action.