Los Gatos‑Saratoga board adopts trustee‑area elections, accepts rehabilitation grant and approves staffing and payroll corrections

The Los Gatos‑Saratoga Union High School District Board of Education on March 26 adopted revisions to its election bylaw to move to trustee‑area elections, approved a three‑year Department of Rehabilitation grant to support students with moderate‑to‑severe disabilities, approved updated job descriptions and corrected classified management salary schedules to align pension reporting, and reported multiple closed‑session outcomes.

Superintendent Rocha told the board the Transition Partnership Program grant from the Department of Rehabilitation covers three years for a total of $343,950 (about $114,650 per year) and “combined with our WorkAbility grant” will provide job coaches and subsidize initial hours at employer sites for students who are not on a diploma track. The board approved the resolution authorizing execution of documents with the Department of Rehabilitation by roll call.

On labor matters, Ms. Dickerson presented a revised initial "sunshine" proposal from the California School Employees Association Chapter 875 for 2026‑27 negotiations, opening articles on hours and overtime, salary and fringe benefits, and leaves of absence ahead of the April 14 bargaining session. The board formally accepted the revised sunshine proposal so that negotiations may proceed.

District staff proposed three updated job descriptions—the director of educational services and technology, a technology services manager (replacing the former director of technology and director of continuous improvement), and a retitled payroll benefits specialist (formerly payroll benefits technician). The board approved the new and revised job descriptions and authorized recruitment to begin.

Staff also recommended retroactive approval of corrected classified management salary schedules after identifying a technical discrepancy in how longevity/experience steps were described and implemented. Mr. Bernheim explained staff’s conclusion that “the new steps were meant to be experience steps” and that the updated schedules include a daily‑pay rate to enable accurate CalPERS pension calculations; he emphasized there will be “no change in compensation for any current or former employee” and that the action is intended to correct reporting. The board approved the corrected schedules with retroactive effective dates.

The board adjusted its 2026 meeting calendar—moving June’s meeting from June 18 to June 11 at 3 p.m.—to resolve a scheduling conflict, and approved an updated Parcel Tax Oversight Committee roster after a member became district‑employed and was removed, leaving the minimum five voting members required by the parcel tax rules.

In closed session the board reported it denied a student records appeal (case no. 25/26‑02) while directing the superintendent to amend the discipline record (unanimous vote, 5‑0); it also approved a tolling agreement extension through June 1, 2026 (5‑0) and approved an agreement regarding employee ID 2357 (5‑0). The meeting then adjourned.

Why it matters: the bylaw change to trustee‑area elections alters how future board members will be elected and is intended to align the district’s rules with state election statutes; the Rehabilitation grant funds direct employment and coaching supports for students with disabilities; and the salary‑schedule correction addresses pension‑reporting accuracy for classified management employees without altering pay. The revised job descriptions and calendar changes affect the district’s staffing and operational timeline.

Board votes at a glance: • CSEA revised sunshine proposal: accepted (motion passed; unanimous vote) • New and revised job descriptions: approved (unanimous vote) • Retroactive classified management salary schedules: approved (unanimous vote) • Parcel Tax Oversight Committee roster update: approved (unanimous vote) • Resolution to execute documents with Department of Rehabilitation (grant $343,950): adopted (roll‑call vote recorded as unanimous) • Board Bylaw 9220 (trustee‑area elections): approved (motion passed; unanimous vote) • Revised 2026 board meeting calendar: approved (unanimous vote) • Consent calendar: approved (unanimous vote)

Who said what: Superintendent Rocha and district staff provided the substantive staff presentations. Mr. Bernheim provided the technical explanation of the salary‑schedule correction, saying the change was to ensure correct reporting to CalPERS and would not increase pay. Ms. Dickerson presented CSEA’s revised sunshine proposal. Direct quotes used in this report are taken from those speakers’ remarks at the March 26 meeting.

Next steps: bargaining between the district and CSEA proceeds on April 14; staff will begin recruiting for the approved positions; the district will execute grant documents with the Department of Rehabilitation; and the board will continue follow‑up on facilities planning and any items the board directed staff to develop further.