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Gilroy Unified presents Prop 28 annual report, plans to expand arts staffing and pathways
Summary
District staff presented the Prop 28 annual report for 2023–24, noting a conservative spending approach because funds arrived late, an authorized 0.371 FTE elementary music teacher for choir/enrichment, and plans to grow arts pathways with an estimated 3,665 students served in 2024–25 if sites fully utilize allocations.
Miss Flores presented the Gilroy Unified School District’s Prop 28 annual report for the 2023–24 school year at the Aug. 22 board meeting, explaining how the district allocated early or partial funds and how it plans to expand arts pathways in 2024–25.
Under Prop 28 rules, at least 80% of the allocation must be spent on certificated or classified employees to provide arts instruction. Miss Flores told trustees the district took a conservative approach in 2023–24 because it did not receive full allocations until late in the fiscal period. For 2023–24 the district authorized 0.371 of a full‑time equivalent certificated music teacher who travelled among seven elementary sites to provide choir and elementary music enrichment for grades 4 and 5; sites used the remaining 20% allotments on supplies, external contractors and other materials.
Miss Flores said unspent 2023–24 funds will carry forward into 2024–25, where the district intends to expand middle‑school electives, implement a VAPA wheel for third grade, introduce theater for kindergarten and first grade and add music mentors at the middle‑school level to strengthen a TK–12 arts pathway. Based on planned FTE additions and full utilization of site allocations, staff estimated the number of students served could reach about 3,665 in 2024–25.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about site allocations and how the state calculates allocations (70% based on prior enrollment/ADA; 30% based on subgroups). Miss Flores clarified that the district’s planning is site‑based, that Prop 28 funds cannot supplant existing programs, and that staff will continue to work with site principals and teachers to finalize site SPSA plans. The board approved the annual report for submission to the California Department of Education; staff noted the state deadline for posting and submission is Sept. 30, 2024.
“80% must be on that FTE,” Miss Flores told the board when explaining allowable uses. The presentation and board action set the district to move from a conservative carryforward stance into a fuller implementation phase for arts programming in the coming school year.
The district will post the Prop 28 annual report and related charts on its website and proceed with site planning and teacher/mentor hires as funds and staffing permit.
