Parents and educators urge Mill Valley board to reverse non‑reelection notices and protect kindergarten aides and counselors

Parents, teachers and union leaders pressed the Mill Valley School District board on April 3 to reverse non‑reelection notices and to protect aides, counselors and specialist prep time as the district faces budget pressure.

"I ask that you please guarantee one prep a day for specialist teachers," said Danny Marsh, an art teacher at Old Mill and Park schools, describing days when he teaches every period and has to use recess or lunch to reset. Marsh said lack of prep time forces weekend work and limits instructional options.

Parents representing Park School and Tam Valley read petitions and letters asking the board to reconsider non‑reelection notices for transitional kindergarten teachers, saying the notices damage teacher reputations and harm the district's ability to retain top educators. "Miss Davis is one of the best, most effective teachers that we've had," said Annalise Landown, a Park School parent who said every family in the class signed a petition asking the board to reverse a non‑reelect decision.

Several speakers tied the staffing questions to the district's recent program decisions. "We wouldn't be able to have two adults to ensure as safe a classroom as possible," said kindergarten teacher Anna Harris, urging the board to guarantee six‑hour kindergarten aide time so classrooms can run safely and the language arts curriculum can be fully delivered.

Vanessa Justice updated the board on a community petition and private fundraising conversations to preserve the elementary counseling program. "We have over 600 signatures on our petition," Justice said, and reported meetings with a community partner (Kiddo) about supplemental funding while urging the board and superintendent to support long‑term solutions.

Union leaders and classified‑staff representatives also spoke. MVTA co‑presidents Julie Bremer and Aaron Frasier thanked the board for reinstating transitional kindergarten for 2025–26 and urged statewide advocacy for sustainable funding; CSEA representatives called for protecting aid time for classified staff and preserving seniority rights in negotiations.

Teachers warned of concrete instructional impacts if cuts proceed. Tam Valley teacher Molly Mandelbas described expanded special‑education caseloads, the loss of RAMP teachers, and the potential elimination of a dedicated EL teacher, saying those changes would reduce targeted interventions and push more students to require remedial screening.

Board members and staff acknowledged the concerns and said more information and legal guidance are pending. Trustees discussed placing an informational agenda item on transitional kindergarten planning after the district receives additional legal and legislative guidance; Superintendent Kaufman indicated staff would return with timing and recommended next steps. One trustee specifically requested an update once the ongoing legal test claim and related state discussions are resolved.

What happens next: public commenters urged the board to act quickly but precisely. The board accepted public comment and will continue budget and labor negotiations; trustees also asked staff for further analysis and legal clarity before making longer‑term commitments.

Provenance: Topic first appears in public comment supporting bargaining proposals and teacher requests (SEG 018) and the public comment sequence addressing non‑reelection, TK and counseling runs through the close of public comment (SEG 917).