Board approves roofing purchase and developer-fees report, rejects proposed minimum-wage increase; closed-session discipline actions reported

The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education on Jan. 14 reported closed-session discipline actions and completed several consent votes while declining one wage increase.

During closed session the board recorded a unanimous vote to deny readmission in case number 202425-19 after Trustee Jenkins moved to deny readmission and Trustee Kirby seconded. The board also approved stipulated expulsion agreements in two cases (2025/26-08 and 2025/26-09) on unanimous roll-call votes.

On the open agenda the board considered a pulled consent item (F7) authorizing purchase of roofing materials through a CMAS piggyback contract with Garland Company. Staff (Mister Oden) told trustees the materials purchase request on the consent calendar was for approximately $4,300,000 in materials; he said any unused materials would be stored in the district warehouse and reused on other roofs. Staff estimated the full campus reroof project — including inspections and related costs — at about $21,000,000. Trustees approved the F7 motion on a roll-call vote.

Trustees also reviewed the developer-fees annual report (F9). Staff noted an ending balance of roughly $8,750,000 in Fund 25 and clarified those funds are restricted for campus expansion and facility-related expenses; the district may use the fund for interfund borrowing to manage cash flow but may not transfer those dollars to the general fund. The board voted to approve the developer-fees report.

A proposed increase to the district’s extra-duty hourly minimum wage (F8) produced extended discussion. District staff said its recommendation was to move to the state minimum ($16.90); the finance subcommittee recommended aligning to the city minimum (discussed in the meeting with an alternate figure referenced as $18.21). Trustees asked about budget impact — staff characterized the total difference as roughly $6,100 for the year — but the motion to approve the proposed wage increase failed after a roll-call vote in which Trustee Kirby recorded a ‘‘no’’ vote and other trustees recorded ‘‘aye’’ votes.

Board action on minutes and a package of recognition resolutions proceeded later in the meeting; the board approved minutes from Dec. 10 but tabled Dec. 17 minutes pending availability of members.

The board’s formal actions on discipline, contracting, and financial reporting were procedural but have operational implications: the roofing purchase moves the LC Allen (large) campus reroofing forward, and the developer-fees approval affirms fund accounting restrictions that the public had asked about.