JUHSD board hears 2026–27 LCAP and proposed budget; approves parcel tax election and tentative AFT deal

The Jefferson Union High School District board on Tuesday reviewed the district’s 2026–27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), considered the proposed budget and several finance and labor actions, and approved a set of resolutions including a parcel tax election and a tentative contract with the district’s teachers’ union.

Deputy Superintendent Miss Baka opened the LCAP public hearing and summarized key revisions to the district’s three‑year plan. Revisions include shifting funding for a National Equity Project partnership to Title I, adding site-based student equity team allocations, piloting Illustrative Math in mathematics, increasing a counselor‑on‑special‑assignment for medical billing work, adding a second BCBA for special education, and a new pilot reading intervention for students with IEPs. “This is the third year of our LCAP cycle,” Baka said, explaining the public hearing is part of the required review before adoption.

In a separate presentation, Chief Business Officer Miss Van Raphorst walked trustees through the proposed 2026–27 budget and multi‑year projections. She said the district projects roughly $94.2 million in revenue next year, that JUHSD’s projected ending reserve for 2026–27 would be about 9.82% (short of the board’s 10% goal), and that a near‑term deficit is expected under current assumptions. Van Raphorst noted the district expects about $1 million more for special education from the state but is a community‑funded district that relies heavily on local property taxes. “With the proposed budget, we anticipate reaching only 9.82% reserves in 26‑27 instead of the 10% goal,” she said.

Trustees debated next steps and supported forming a budget committee in the fall to explore savings and implementation strategies. They also opened and closed a required public hearing on reserves in excess of the state minimum (3%) with no public comment.

On actions related to district finances and labor, the board voted to: • approve a resolution to spend Prop 30 Education Protection Account funds on teacher salaries; • approve a resolution permitting budgetary increases and transfers at year end; and • order an election to place a $98 parcel tax measure on the November 2026 ballot to backfill an expiring parcel tax.

The board also approved the AB1200 public disclosure for a tentative agreement with American Federation of Teachers Local 1481 that shows the district can fund the contract using reserves under current assumptions; trustees then approved the tentative agreement itself. The agreement includes salary increases, increased health‑and‑welfare contributions and small language changes; the tentative deal was reportedly approved by 97.1% of voting AFT members prior to the board vote.

Other actions included adopting initial Teamsters 856 opening proposals for negotiations, approving multi‑year adult school calendars, and approving the annual declaration of need for fully qualified educators (which allows hiring on waivers or intern credentials in priority shortage areas). The board amended its governance calendar to remove November 3 and November 7, 2026, to avoid election‑night scheduling.

Several trustees voiced concern about the state’s proposed Prop 98 underallocation and the district’s reliance on local funding, and they urged continued advocacy. The board set the budget for formal adoption at a future meeting and will return the budget for final approval at the June 9 meeting.