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Twin Rivers board adopts $3.2B facilities master plan, approves bond authorization amid union criticism of fund transfers
Summary
The board adopted an updated Facilities Master Plan estimating about $3.2 billion in long-term needs, authorized bonding and state funding applications, approved a tentative CSEA agreement and extended the superintendent's contract amid public criticism that the district has redirected unrestricted funds to capital reserves.
The Twin Rivers Unified School District board on Tuesday adopted a new long-range Facilities Master Plan and approved several related finance actions while also fielding extended public criticism over district budgeting and staffing.
Facilities master plan and state funding District staff and consultants from PBK Architects presented the updated plan, which the district characterized as an updated, data-driven accounting of needs across more than 50 sites. Mark Seraci, executive director of general services, told trustees the plan compiles condition assessments and program needs and "with construction cost escalation" now shows approximately $3.2 billion in deferred and projected work across the district over multiple years. He said about $472 million in projects have already been completed from the larger portfolio.
"We have a tremendous and vast amount of need at our facilities," Seraci said. The board voted to adopt the plan; Trustee Baker abstained, saying the 700-plus page document required more time for review. The board also approved a resolution authorizing district personnel to file applications for state funding under Proposition 2 and related state school facilities programs.
Bond authorization Trustees approved authorization to issue remaining Measure G bond authorization (Series F) and indicated staff intends to couple that issuance with recent Measure J/K issuances to minimize market costs. District staff said there is sufficient assessed value to support the issuance, and the motion carried.
Labor agreement and staffing votes The board conducted a public hearing and approved the tentative agreement between the district and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 177 on salary schedules for 2025—27. The motion passed on roll call with one recorded dissent.
Superintendent contract extension Following a satisfactory evaluation and an open-session action, the board extended Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez's employment agreement by one year. The motion carried on roll call; several trustees recorded dissenting or abstaining votes.
Union and public criticism about funding decisions During oral communications, representatives of Twin Rivers United Educators and other speakers sharply criticized the district for moving large amounts of unrestricted general-fund dollars into capital reserves. Rebecca Ledoux, president of Twin Rivers United, cited unaudited figures presented to the board: "In 2023-24 the district transferred $49,000,000 from our district's unrestricted general fund to be used on building projects," and she said "since 2019 ... $190,000,000 have been transferred" into a capital reserve. Ledoux said those transfers contributed to shortages in classroom staffing and called on the board to return those funds to LCFF purposes.
District staff framed the FMP as a data-driven plan required to secure state funding and to prioritize investments across aging facilities; they did not accept or rebut the transfer totals on the record during the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Expulsion cases A48-25 through A53-25: board approved separate motions to adopt recommended expulsions/readmissions (motions made by Trustee Baker, seconded by Trustee Sandoval). One recorded abstention (A51-25: Trustee Jefferson). (Outcome: motions carried.) - Resolution 1491 (Pride Month recognition): adopted (motion: Sandoval; second: Baker). (Outcome: adopted.) - Adopt updated Facilities Master Plan: adopted (motion carried; Trustee Baker abstained). (Outcome: adopted.) - Resolution to file state funding applications (Proposition 2): adopted. (Outcome: adopted.) - Easement to Sacramento Municipal Utility District for Winona Yard power feed: adopted. (Outcome: adopted.) - Tentative agreement: Twin Rivers and CSEA Chapter 177 (2025-27 salary schedules): adopted (one dissent recorded). (Outcome: adopted.) - Authorize issuance of Measure G Series F bonds (aggregate not-to-exceed $3,970,000): adopted. (Outcome: adopted.) - Extend superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez's contract by one year (per existing terms): adopted (majority roll call; some dissent recorded). (Outcome: adopted.)
Why it matters: The Facilities Master Plan sets district priorities for multimillion-dollar projects and is a gating document for state facilities funding. Community speakers and unions said transferring unrestricted LCFF dollars into capital reserves has reduced funds available for classroom staff and services.
Next step: District staff said they will continue to pursue state funding opportunities and return to the board with implementation steps on specific projects; union and public speakers asked the board to reallocate past transfers back into classroom budgets and to increase staffing investment.
