Santa Paula Unified holds LCAP workshop to explain spending priorities and gather parent input

Santa Paula Unified hosted a community workshop focused on the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), where district staff explained how state funding under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is directed toward high-need student groups and solicited parent recommendations for the district’s three-year plan.

Dr. China Ramírez opened the session and walked attendees through the district’s mission and the district’s profile of a learner — emphasizing creative problem solving, collaboration, communication and confidence. She explained that the LCAP, created because of the 2013 state law implementing the LCFF, is a three-year plan reviewed annually to show how additional funds are used to support English learners, foster youth, low-income students and students experiencing homelessness. “La opinión de la comunidad es importante,” Dr. Ramírez told participants, urging parents and community members to help shape actions and services tied to performance goals.

District staff read draft goals aligned to the state’s eight priorities, including academic proficiency in literacy and math, student engagement and school climate, parent involvement, staffing and facilities, and a cited target to raise student stability at Renaissance High School to 80 percent. Dr. Ramírez said she will return to the group with specific performance indicators and metrics at a subsequent meeting.

Parents and attendees responded to facilitator prompts with priorities and concerns. One parent said, “Es personal para clases más pequeñas,” calling for smaller class sizes; others raised language and work-schedule barriers that make participation difficult in a community where many parents do not speak English or hold irregular hours. Several participants welcomed the district’s emphasis on mental-health counselors and restorative practices as part of the goals.

Dr. Ramírez clarified that community input at these workshops will generate recommendations for the LCAP; those recommendations do not replace collective-bargaining processes with unions. She also described the process as collaborative rather than a formal vote: the community will recommend actions that the district may incorporate into the plan.

The session concluded with logistical reminders: this was the first of three meetings, with the facilitator announcing follow-up meetings on Monday, April 7, from 6 to 7 p.m., and April 28, from 6 to 7 p.m., both in the Blancher cafeteria (Spanish-language sessions as noted). The district encouraged attendees to review the written goals and bring questions to the next meeting.

Next steps: district staff will compile participant input, provide detailed performance indicators at the next gathering and continue the series to refine recommendations for the LCAP.