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Gilroy Unified board approves expulsions, multiple contracts and 2025–26 budget calendar
Summary
At its Aug. 22 meeting the Gilroy Unified School District Board adopted the 2025–26 budget development calendar, approved several service contracts (including a $320,000 mental-health contract for South Valley Middle) and reported closed‑session discipline actions; formal votes and vote tallies were read on the record.
The Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 22 adopted its 2025–26 budget development calendar, approved contracts for mental‑health and special‑education services and reported outcomes from closed‑session student discipline cases.
In public comment, Mister Solomonson urged the district to begin a “bell‑to‑bell phone‑free learning environment” districtwide, offering research and an administrator’s guide and asking the board to place the topic on a future agenda. Superintendent Dr. Munshi replied that the district recently issued handbook guidance limiting phones during instruction and that secondary students may use devices only during passing periods or breaks.
The meeting’s formal actions began with a report of closed‑session decisions. The board announced they considered three expulsion cases (2025‑02, 2025‑03 and 2025‑04) and reported motions to expel followed in each instance by motions to suspend the expulsions; roll‑call tallies read into the record showed a recurring pattern of one abstention (Mark Good) with other trustees voting yes, leading to motions carrying or suspensions as recorded by the clerk.
Finance and contracts were the next focus. Chief Business Officer Mister Mesa presented the 2025–26 budget development calendar, flagging standard interim reports and a required annual revisit of the board’s contract threshold; the board approved the calendar. The board also approved a set of service agreements, including: • A contract with Effective School Solutions to staff wellness centers at South Valley Middle School (two mental‑health/social workers), not to exceed $320,000, funded by a Valley Health Foundation grant. • Ratification of a contract with Sonia Biggs Educational Services for IEP consulting and assessment services, not to exceed roughly $332,000. • An amendment to Soliant Health to add two registered behavior technicians (increase of about $233,000). • An increase to Universal Speech Therapy services by $583,724 for special education supports. • Renewal of a contract with Bay School for a nonpublic placement (not to exceed $146,408). • A Starting Arts contract to provide second‑grade music across seven elementary sites ($61,460). • A $79,416 renewal with Renaissance Learning for Accelerated Reader licenses, approved with legal guardrails to prevent unenclosed external terms from binding the district. • Renewal of an Effective School Solutions agreement (PowerSchool‑linked training and after‑school mental‑health support), not to exceed $428,000, with a paperwork correction to an exhibit to align penalty language.
During the facilities update, Director of Facilities Mister Nato reported completion or near‑completion of several projects, including the Antonio del Buono state preschool and multiple shade‑structure installations. The board authorized soliciting bids for a new facilities master plan and approved a change order with Ovesi Construction for work at Los Alamos Elementary that increased the contract by about $107,000 to a revised total of $286,187.24.
The meeting ended with routine board reports and an announcement that the next regular meeting will be Sept. 5 (closed session 5:30 p.m.; regular session 7:00 p.m.).
Votes at a glance • Case 2025‑02 (expulsion then suspension): motion carried; roll call read with one abstention (Mark Good), remaining trustees voting yes. • Case 2025‑03 (expulsion then suspension): motion carried; one abstention recorded. • Case 2025‑04 (expulsion then suspension): motion carried; one abstention recorded. • Readmission case 2023‑34: readmission approved 6–0 (trustee Goode absent). • Budget development calendar (2025–26): approved by roll call. • Effective School Solutions (South Valley mental‑health): approved, not to exceed $320,000. • Sonia Biggs Educational Services (IEP consulting): ratified, not to exceed ~$332,000. • Soliant Health (RBTs) amendment: approved (increase ~$233,000). • Universal Speech Therapy increase: approved ($583,724). • Bay School contract renewal (NPS): approved (not to exceed $146,408). • Starting Arts second‑grade music program: approved ($61,460). • Renaissance Learning renewal: approved ($79,416) with board‑directed contract clarifications. • Effective School Solutions (PowerSchool support): approved, not to exceed $428,000, with exhibit alignment.
Who said what • Mister Solomonson (public commenter): “a bell to bell phone free learning environment at all GUSD schools” and offered to serve as a contact and resource. • Dr. Munshi (superintendent): recapped opening‑of‑school activities and noted staffing pressures, saying the district currently has “10 bus driver vacancies.” • Mister Mesa (CBO): described legal‑counsel recommended language to limit external, unenclosed contractual terms for the Renaissance renewal.
What’s next The board posted the Prop 28 annual arts report for 2023–24 for submission to the California Department of Education and will meet next on Sept. 5. Items approved that require contract finalization will be completed by staff per board direction.
