The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees approved multiple personnel and policy items in unanimous 4-0 roll-call votes Monday night, including a district reading screener, negotiated compensation packages and several memoranda of understanding (MOUs).

The actions cover curriculum, labor agreements, kindergarten schedule changes and reductions in classified services. Board members who voted yes were Catherine Harper, Matthew Ward, Annette Coonsie and Wesley Cagle; Trustee Rebois was absent.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar (item 242.586): Motion to approve by Matthew Ward, seconded by Wesley Cagle; outcome: approved, 4-0.
- Adoption of Multitudes reading screener for K–2 (item 242.588): Motion to approve by Annette Coonsie, seconded by Wesley Cagle; outcome: approved, 4-0. The board approved use of the Multitudes screener developed by the UCSF Dyslexia Center to assess risk of reading difficulties beginning in the 2025–26 school year.
- Tentative agreement with GEFA (teacher union) on 2024–25 compensation (item 242.589): Motion to approve by Catherine Harper, seconded by Matthew Ward; outcome: approved, 4-0. The tentative agreement includes a 2.5% across-the-board salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2024, a $150 monthly health cap increase, and other contract language changes. District staff reported an ongoing fiscal impact of roughly $850,000.
- Full‑day kindergarten MOU and early-release days (item 242.590): Motion to approve by Matthew Ward, seconded by Annette Coonsie; outcome: approved, 4-0. Full‑day kindergarten will be offered at Lake Canyon, Marengo Ranch and River Oaks for 2025–26; the MOU includes 17 early‑release days for planning and one additional IA per site.
- Dual language immersion classroom MOU (item 242.591): Motion to approve by Annette Coonsie, seconded by Matthew Ward; outcome: approved, 4-0. The MOU provides a $2,500 startup fund and exempts DLI teachers from adjunct duty during the start‑up year.
- Classified reduction notification (item 242.592): Motion to approve by Matthew Ward, seconded by Catherine Harper; outcome: approved, 4-0. Board approved final notices in a reduction-in-force process; one preschool IA position at Fairsite remains subject to layoff for lack of work/funds.
- Nonrepresented employee agreement (item 242.594): Motion to approve by Wesley Cagle, seconded by Matthew Ward; outcome: approved, 4-0. The board granted a 2.5% ongoing increase retroactive to July 1, 2024, and a $150 monthly health cap increase for unrepresented staff; staff reported the fiscal impact in the materials.

Several other consent items and personnel retirements were included in the consent calendar. Where fiscal impacts were discussed, staff noted effects on the district reserve but said the district can afford the authorized compensation after county review.

Board members asked clarifying questions on timelines (retroactivity to July 1, 2024), fiscal impacts on reserves and how some one‑time funding might be used for curriculum adoption planning. The board also received reports and presentations that generated no formal vote but drew direction to continue work (see separate articles for discussion details).