Petaluma City Schools trustees met in a study session to review options for about $5 million in proposed 2026–27 budget reductions and to give direction to the Budget Advisory Committee.

Amanda, the district’s chief business official, told the board the advisory committee will recommend eliminations to the superintendent by Jan. 8 and that the superintendent will refine proposals for board consideration in February. She also said the committee’s preliminary list includes remaining positions funded with one‑time ESSER and similar funds (student advisers, a nurse, two elementary assistant principals, an LMFT, a school psychologist, 38 secondary sections and a district receptionist), potential furlough days, changes to the bell schedule, subscription and custodial reviews, and possible adjustments to the district’s 1:1 technology program.

The presenter said the district currently plans for about $5,000,000 in eliminations and that some of the largest one‑time savings options come from ending positions previously paid with pandemic (ESSER) funds; she estimated that eliminating remaining one‑time positions could equal roughly $2,300,000. On parcel taxes, the district also contributes general‑fund dollars above voter‑authorized revenue: because the newest elementary parcel tax (Measure E) brought in about $1,000,000 instead of the budgeted $1.4 million the district is covering a shortfall, and across the three parcel taxes the presenter said the general‑fund contribution is approximately $1,000,000.

Board members gave early direction on several items. The board indicated the 7‑period bell schedule is not on the table for full elimination but is open to revision; librarians and the single LMFT position funded with one‑time money were described by the presenter as items the board wished to protect from cuts. Some trustees signaled concern about furlough days, although members differed on whether to leave the option under consideration pending union negotiations.

Public comment was lengthy. Vicky Barone, speaking for Valley Oaks Independent Study, urged the board not to close the program without careful study, saying its students include those with severe anxiety, students on the autism spectrum and those with physical disabilities and that the program provides trusted adults and supports absent on other campuses. Laura Barron, a second‑grade teacher in dual immersion, and other speakers argued cuts must be targeted to avoid disproportionate impacts on schools serving higher numbers of multilingual learners and students with greater needs. Monica Carvalho, a district nurse, urged keeping licensed nursing staff, warning that replacing nurses with health assistants would push the district to hire registry nurses at higher hourly rates. Marybeth Leland, a Valley Oaks teacher, said she would be willing to take unpaid furlough days if it meant preserving programs.

Trustees and the presenter agreed on next steps: the budget advisory committee will refine recommendations, the superintendent will review them, and the board anticipates further debate and possible action in February and March (Amanda noted March 15 as a common personnel‑reduction deadline and referenced a March 10 board meeting as a possible final decision date for staffing changes). The board asked staff to provide more detailed breakdowns of parcel‑tax allocations, subscription usage, contract costs and how reading specialists and other supports are deployed across sites.

The study session did not include formal votes on the budget options; the board instead provided direction to the advisory process and solicited additional data and community input. The Budget Advisory Committee is scheduled to bring recommendations to the superintendent on Jan. 8.