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PEAF advisory urges separate oversight from LCAP, transparency on allocations and fewer contractors for special education
Summary
The Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEAF) Community Advisory Committee presented recommendations June 17 urging the board to keep PEAF oversight distinct from LCAP, increase transparency of site allocations, re-evaluate nursing staffing, and cut contractor reliance for special-education services.
The Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEAF) Community Advisory Committee presented its annual recommendations to the board on June 17 and urged the district to preserve PEAF’s independent oversight, increase transparency around site allocations (libraries, PE and arts), re-evaluate public-health staffing models and reduce reliance on contractors for special education.
Chair Maggie Fury said PEAF’s founding legislation and ballot measures (Prop C, 2004; Prop C reauthorization via Prop C 2014 and recent Prop J debates) make the fund unique and argued the advisory committee’s separate role should remain intact. “While joint briefings and meetings may be appropriate at times, we strongly recommend against merging the two committees,” she told the board.
Key committee recommendations included: appointing 3–5 PEAF CAC members to the city’s Our Children, Our Families Council to ensure coordination with Prop J goals; immediate transparency of site-level allocations for library/PE/arts so disparities can be addressed; re-evaluation of the district nursing model and reopening certain LVN paraprofessional positions rather than outsourcing services to contractors; and intensifying HR recruitment for permanent special-education staff to reduce $8 million currently spent on contractors.
The PEAF advisers also recommended eliminating district spending for math consultants not tied to the approved math pilot, and urged expansion of TK–8 Mandarin, Spanish, and Cantonese immersion programs as a long-term enrollment and revenue strategy. PEAF staff asked the board to prioritize filling advisory vacancies so the committee can operate at full capacity.
Superintendent Hsu introduced the superintendent’s PEAF expenditure plan as a first reading; district staff told the board they will provide a formal response to the council’s recommendations at the next meeting.
Why it matters: PEAF provides a significant local revenue stream restricted to arts, music, libraries, athletics and general enrichment. The advisory’s recommendations concern how multi-million-dollar local funds are allocated and audited and could change future program decisions and hiring.
What’s next: Staff will present a formal PEAF expenditure plan and a district response at the June 24 board meeting.
