Community urges reinstatement of evening woodturning classes after district review finds CTE funds used in adult program

Members of the public urged the Santa Clara Unified School District board Thursday to restore evening adult woodturning classes held at Santa Clara High School, saying the program creates community, provides therapeutic benefits and raises funds for student programs. Staff told the board the district has halted the evening adult classes while it audits funding and works to relocate adult programming to the Bookser adult‑education woodshop and bolster that facility.

Several speakers described the adult woodturning classes as a cross‑generational community resource. Ray Hari and multiple adult students said the classes teach woodworking and turning to adults and high‑school students, produce volunteer projects such as wig stands for people undergoing cancer treatment, and previously raised funds for the school. Kristel Moffett Smith, Diane Figueroa and other speakers said the program also supports mental health and neighborly connection.

District staff told the board they had been alerted to possible “questionable” bookkeeping at Santa Clara High School and that the CTE coordinator found equipment and supplies purchased with CTE (Career Technical Education) funding were being used in evening adult education classes. Staff said Perkins and CTE grant rules forbid use of CTE funds for adult‑education programs outside K‑12; that restriction prompted the district to pause the evening classes so it could sort funding and compliance.

A district staff member said the immediate plan is to work with Principal Carrie Casto and Bookser adult‑education supervisors to expand offerings at the Bookser woodshop, which would keep instruction and adult programming in an appropriate funding stream. Staff emphasized they want to preserve the community program and are meeting with program volunteers and site leadership to plan a move and to review fundraising and volunteer processes.

Public commenters pushed the board to help preserve the program as currently configured. Several adult students noted the volunteer teacher’s long run of unpaid service and described donations of local wood and other materials that supported the program. One speaker who described a program financial summary said adult ed revenue from the turning program approached $120,000 over two years and argued the revenue represented significant support for the school’s CTE program. Speakers said moving the adult program off the high‑school site would fracture the cross‑generational benefits and reduce volunteering opportunities for students.

Board members asked staff to return with specific next steps. Trustee Canova and others said they expected staff to work with principal and program volunteers to preserve student access to the woodshop and to relocate adult classes without disrupting instruction for students. Staff said a meeting is scheduled between program staff and Principal Casto to plan enhancements at Bookser and to ensure credential, volunteer and fundraising processes are followed.

No formal board action was taken Thursday; the item was discussed during public comment and staff follow‑up. The district said it will continue to work with volunteers, Principal Casto and Bookser staff to keep community programming while ensuring compliance with CTE funding rules.