Teachers and parents press Berryessa board on rising health costs and unsafe Ruskin drop‑offs after consolidations

Multiple public commenters raised concerns during the public comment period about both employee health‑care costs and student safety after recent school consolidations.

Third‑grade teacher Christie Gurney said recent health‑insurance premium increases have left family coverage untenable: "the health care rates have gone up 8%, but the district contribution has not increased at all, which means that my actual monthly rates are going up 57%." She said the change amounts to a pay cut for some staff and urged the board to act to retain teachers with families.

Parents from Ruskin described a rough start to the school year after consolidations moved more students into the site. Teresa Carrillo said the later 8:15 a.m. start time worsened commutes for working families and singled out crowded, confusing drop‑off routines, absence of crossing patrol and reports of students feeling anxious; she suggested staff mental‑health screenings and safety patrols. Maya Deveselano read a parent letter reporting Ruskin’s student count rose from about 400 to over 730, with multiple near‑accidents and illegal parking blocking crosswalks. The speakers said district leaders and the principal have not yet provided solutions and urged the board to act before more serious harm occurs.

Board members acknowledged the comments, thanked speakers and later discussed traffic and community integration in board announcements, directing staff and trustees to continue engaging with city traffic officials and school administrators on near‑term safety measures.