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Board approves SELF supplemental assessment, auditor engagement and district administrative reports; votes at a glance
Summary
Trustees approved a range of district administrative items — including paying a SELF supplemental assessment tied to retroactive excess‑liability claims, retaining the district auditor, and adopting the Prop 28 annual report — and reauthorized several routine documents in a single consent vote.
At its Aug. 28 meeting the Los Gatos‑Saratoga Union High School District Board of Trustees approved several administrative and fiscal items, including a supplemental assessment from the Schools Excess Liability Fund (SELF), retention of the district’s auditors, and the annual report for Arts and Music in Schools (Proposition 28). Most items were approved on the consent calendar or by separate motions; votes and key details are summarized below.
Why it matters: The SELF supplemental assessment and related discussion highlighted a statewide insurance issue — retroactive claims tied to changes in law that extended the statute of limitations for certain childhood sexual assault claims — and the practical effect on school district reserves and long‑term risk exposure.
KEY ITEMS AND VOTES AT A GLANCE - Schools Excess Liability Fund (SELF) supplemental assessment (Action item C): Approved. The board heard a presentation from district staff explaining that SELF, a joint powers authority that acts as a pooled excess‑liability mechanism, issued a retroactive supplemental bill tied to changes in law (Assembly Bill 218) that expanded the statute of limitations for certain claims. Patrick explained the district has a legal obligation to pay assessments for the years in which it was a SELF member and that the state provided one‑time aid that districts may use to pay such bills. Motion to approve passed 5‑0 (mover: Catherine; second: Theresa).
- Auditor engagement: The board approved exercising the district’s option to retain Chavon & Associates LLP for audit services, including parcel tax fund audits. Motion passed 5‑0.
- Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act (Proposition 28) annual report (Action item A): Trustees approved the district’s required annual report for 2024‑25 detailing how Prop 28 funds were used at both high schools. Motion to adopt the annual report passed unanimously.
- Revised Declaration of Need for 2025‑26 (teacher permit authorizations) (Action item E): The board approved a revised declaration of need to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to reflect current permit and authorization needs (examples cited: RSP, home economics, mathematics, PE, physics and English Learner authorizations). Motion passed 5‑0.
- Warrant report change (Item M): Trustees approved adding a payroll warrant summary to future monthly warrant reports to show the start and end numbers for payroll warrants (the summary provides transparency about payroll warrant series without disclosing individual employee net pay). Motion passed 5‑0.
Board discussion and context During the SELF discussion staff outlined how Assembly Bill 218 (which expanded the statute of limitations for some childhood sexual‑assault claims and opened a temporary filing window) increased long‑tail liabilities for JPAs that had previously relied on actuarial reserves. Patrick explained that SELF has begun issuing retroactive assessments for years in which the trust was depleted. Board members asked about alternatives and long‑term mitigation; staff said Keenan (another JPA) took a different approach by folding costs into future premiums, which complicates any decision to change carriers.
Several trustees and staff urged posting the salary and comparison tables used in other agenda items to the district website for public transparency. Trustees also praised staff for detailed presentations that helped explain technically complex issues.
