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Board approves Measure C spending plan 3–2 after debate over Youth Cinema Project funding
Summary
After a lengthy debate over whether parcel-tax dollars should continue funding the Youth Cinema Project or be redirected to counseling, the board approved a Measure C spending plan 3–2 to begin July 1, 2026; trustees disagreed about equity and program reach.
The Jefferson Elementary School District board voted 3–2 to adopt a proposed spending plan for Measure C, the parcel-tax renewal that voters approved to begin July 1, 2026. Superintendent Sandy Mikulik presented how the roughly $1.6 million in annual parcel-tax revenue would be allocated to protect core academic programs, counseling, libraries, music electives, after-school tutoring and four Youth Cinema Project (YCP) classrooms.
Trustees debated whether to continue funding YCP — a project that has operated in four Title I elementary schools for several years and serves about 120–144 fourth- and fifth-grade students — or to reallocate that parcel-tax amount to increase counseling support districtwide. Mikulik said the committee recommended keeping the YCP classrooms for one more year while exploring alternative funding sources; she also noted that parcel-tax funds could be shifted to fund additional counselors if trustees chose to discontinue YCP.
Trustee Andrea Jordan and others emphasized the mental-health argument: one trustee framed the trade-off in practical terms, saying the parcel-tax sum earmarked for YCP could support roughly two additional counselors, each serving whole-school populations. Supporters of YCP — citing continuity, established teachers and potential CTE pathways into media arts — urged giving organizers time to seek private funding and suggested measuring YCP’s literacy, CTE and equity outcomes before sunsetting it.
After discussion, Trustee [name not specified as motioner] moved to approve the Measure C spending proposal and the board took a roll-call vote: Andrea Jordan — Nay; Aaron Rashba — Aye; Shaquille Ali — Aye; Eileen Policarpio — Aye; Anthony Sujisaka — Nay. The motion passed 3–2.
Board members noted the decision preserves counseling and other district services while allowing YCP to continue for the next year; trustees also asked staff to support any transition planning and to report on program outcomes and equity concerns.
What changed tonight: The board converted the advisory committee’s recommendations into a spending plan for the new parcel tax and authorized staff to implement the Measure C allocations as presented, subject to the district’s usual budget controls.
