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District launches community‑schools steering committee, trustees press for sustainability plan
Summary
Salinas City Elementary trustees heard a community‑schools update describing site steering committees, partnerships and plans to hire site coordinators; parents and trustees pressed staff to clarify how coordinator positions will be sustained after five‑year grant funding ends.
The Salinas City Elementary School District on June 16 presented a formal update on its community‑schools initiative and the steering committee that will guide implementation at school sites.
Community‑schools coordinator Lourdes Infante told the board the model integrates academic, health and social services to support the “whole child,” and that site steering committees will launch in August to develop site implementation plans. "Community schools represent a transformative approach to education," Infante said, explaining partnerships with Monterey County Health Department for dental screenings and vision services and the plan to hire site coordinators for nine school sites.
Principals who have piloted the model described family engagement and stakeholder training. Loma Vista principal Susana Vargas said the district has been participating in county learning sessions and will scale site committees next year; vice principal Mr. Godoy added that the model helps schools identify needs beyond the classroom and tailor supports accordingly.
Public commenters asked detailed questions about program funding and long‑term sustainability. Parent Adriana De Los Santos asked whether site coordinators funded by the five‑year community‑schools grant will be retained after grant expiration and what district funding would support ongoing positions. Dr. Hernandez responded that the steering committee created the job description and that sustainability is a standing concern: staff will seek supplementary resources, align strategies with the district's LCAP, and pursue technical assistance through county partners.
Trustees pressed for explicit financial and staffing plans before new management positions are approved. Trustee Sanso raised concerns about whether the district can recruit nine site coordinators with the posted qualifications and how those hires would affect seniority and existing positions; a business‑services representative said classification and seniority would be reviewed consistent with district procedures. The board asked staff to return with additional sustainability details and committed to public discussion of funding sources before finalizing hires.
Next steps: staff will launch site steering committees at each campus, finalize site‑coordinator job descriptions and bring cost and sustainability analyses back to the board for review.
