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Arts teachers, parents press board to release Prop 28 funds; trustees set December plan deadline
Summary
VAPA teachers and parents urged the district to use Proposition 28 arts funds now rather than waiting; trustees agreed to present a districtwide Prop 28/VAPA implementation plan for board approval in December and discussed hiring or identifying a VAPA coordinator role.
Teachers and parents asked the board to immediately release Proposition 28 funds allocated for arts education instead of delaying use until next year.
Several VAPA teachers—including Jennifer Morakovic (Rosebank), Jonathan Seligman (Casillas) and Rachel Taber—testified that the district has not yet posted a VAPA coordinator position and that schools and teachers have felt the absence of district arts leadership. "The district has chosen not to use [Prop 28 funding] this year," Jonathan Seligman said, noting that his school’s allocation would be about $61,000—funding he said could cover local deficits.
District finance staff explained the funds are restricted and require a district and site implementation plan, and that the state requires schools to document community engagement and that 80% be used for staffing with 20% allowable for materials. Staff said the district received guidance late in the prior year and must submit a plan; the district has three years to spend each allocation under the program rules.
Trustees directed the administration to bring a formal Prop 28/VAPA plan to the board for approval in December. Trustee Tamayo and others emphasized the need to include an arts professional in the planning and to post a VAPA‑coordinator job or otherwise ensure an arts leader is "in the room" during decisions. The board approved the required annual Prop 28 report submission to the county as part of the meeting record.
What happens next: Administration will work with principals and site stakeholders to draft a Prop 28 implementation plan and present it to the board in December; trustees asked that the plan address coordinator staffing, site allocations and community engagement.
