Board meeting summaries.

[Superintendent report]

Superintendent Goode describes the September 17 candidate event, which he announced at the August 4 meeting as a candidate forum, in different terms:

"Despite what was reported in the [IJ] and on social media, this is not a forum. It's not a public town hall. It's not a candidate meet and greet. It's not a campaign event. Candidates are not going to be making statements, fielding questions, or anything of the like. This is simply an information presentation for myself, members of cabinet, to candidates, so we can provide them information in one forum instead of holding seven different one-off meetings with three different district administrators."

[Superintendent report]

The Black Student Success Team hub at Tam High is reported as being staffed up, with a new intervention coordinator now leading it:

"Kathy Flores has officially stepped in as our new intervention coordinator in the hub for the BSST at Tam High. Uh she has completely transformed the space, created a more structured academic setting, uh designated spaces for tutoring, homework support. Her tutoring efforts are going to launch this week in English, math, science, social science, and she is going to step in as the Spanish tutor herself."

[Superintendent report]

Other items reported: senior IT director Rose Chavaria is retiring effective December 30, 2026 after 19 years; Tamiscal and San Andreas were collocated onto the San Andreas campus with 120 plus students, and San Andreas continuation students gained access to courses including Spanish, psychology, leadership and environmental science; about 4,000 phone cases were distributed before the first day of school; some cases are breaking and being swapped, a few students have been charged for damage, and Tam High is dealing with students attempting to defeat the cases; the Measure B board construction tour is set for Wednesday, September 2 at 5:00 PM; Archie Williams turf and track return to students September 21; the Tam High pool repiping is delayed pending a return visit from the health inspector.

[Item 12A (Archie Williams priorities)]

Principal Dr. Gran reports chronic absenteeism at Archie Williams cut from 27 percent to 14 percent, an A through G completion rate rising to 77 percent, a DFI rate of 11 percent he calls stubborn, and California Healthy Kids Survey results showing improved school connectedness at all three grade levels and 75 percent of students agreeing they have a caring adult on campus. The district goal presented is to reduce chronic absenteeism by a further 8 percent, and the English learner progress target rises from 85 to 90 percent. Site administration explains a new districtwide tardy policy: tardies at Archie Williams have run in the tens of thousands annually, two or more tardies in one class in a week can bring 30 minutes to an hour of detention, and six or more in a six-week grading period triggers a letter home.

[Item 12A (discussion)]

During discussion of the new tardy policy, Trustee Holden comments on it. Her remark continues past the words quoted here; the district's recording is the authoritative source for her full phrasing:

"So yeah, you're scaring the students which is good"

[Item 12A (public comment)]

A public commenter tells the board the tone coming from the dais and from the district's back-to-school communication is punitive, and challenges both Trustee Holden and Board President Roenisch over how they responded to students being disciplined. The remark he attributes to Roenisch refers to the phone-case discussion earlier in the same meeting, during the superintendent's report, where the superintendent reported that students had already been charged for damaging their cases.

"We just heard Miss Holden when we said, 'Hey, bunch of kids have already got in trouble.' She said, 'Good.' Miss Roenisch, when we talked about the phone cases before and Dr. Goode said, 'Hey, bunch of kids already got in trouble.' You said, 'Good.' It's not good for these kids to get in trouble, right? ... I would ask that you think about your wording as leaders in this district and work to change it."

[Item 12A (point of clarification)]

Trustee Holden responded on a point of clarification. She did not dispute the wording; she denied making the remark at all, stating twice that she did not say good to students getting in trouble. The commenter replied '100% you did' and maintained his account. The district's recording did in fact show that Trustee Holden said this.

[Item 12B (Tam High priorities)]

Principal Sam Pasro reports chronic absenteeism at Tam High down from 17 percent to 11 percent with a goal of 8 percent, an 87 percent schoolwide A through G readiness rate, a 100 percent graduation rate last year, and the lowest suspension rate in the district at 1.98 percent. He notes DFI went up year over year and describes a tension between reducing DFI and increasing rigor. Detention returns at Tam High after two years without it, triggered at two tardies. Elizabeth Gonzalez is hired as an additional intervention coordinator. A through G readiness declined for Asian-American students and for students identifying as two or more races.

[Item 12C (AP results)]

Superintendent Goode, presenting for Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lara, reports a 91 percent pass rate across roughly 4,000 AP exams in May 2026, the highest number of students and total exams taken in the district's recent past, and a second consecutive year of a 100 percent pass rate in AP African American Studies. AP enrollment among traditionally underserved groups rose over two years: Black students from 18 to 27 percent, students of two or more races from 43 to 54 percent, Hispanic students from 33 to 38 percent, and special education students from 19 to 25 percent. Low-income enrollment moved from 27 to 28 percent. Outliers flagged by trustees were in computer science and AP Research.

[Item 12D (PRA presentation)]

The board had requested this presentation. Staff laid out six fiscal years of request volume and a cost case: legal fees averaging about $14,000 a year in prior years against about $76,000 in 2025-26, a projection of more than 200 requests and roughly $185,000 this year, and staff-time estimates of up to two hours per request for IT and 8 to 15 hours a week for the superintendent's administrative assistant. On the law, staff told the board that the only statutory deadline is a 10-day initial determination, that there is no statutory deadline for production, and that the district need not create records or produce a log of what it withheld. The deck's centerpiece visual was an image of a large stack of paper, presented to convey the volume of records the district was producing. It also included a screenshot listing individual requesters by name with costs attached to them.

[Item 12D (the district's own explanation)]

Board President Roenisch asks whether requests were driven by 'issues that um people perhaps didn't agree with the district on.' The superintendent maps the spikes directly onto the district's own contested decisions, and attributes the single most expensive request to one of them:

"Collocation conversation was happening around November, December. You can see the the increase there, right?"

[Item 12D (the AI claim)]

A central claim of the presentation was that the surge is driven by requests 'generated by AI.' Pressed by Trustee Uhlhorn on what that rests on, the answer was 'all of all of the above,' then:

"whether or not it's it's adding layers of uh different categories of things to ask for, I don't I don't really know. Uh, but it's certainly we're certainly seeing that it's it's being used quite widely."

[Item 12D (trustee response)]

Trustee Holden said she was glad the material was published because there had been 'a lot of misinformation online' about whether the district was meeting its legal obligations. Trustee Saavedra described a request that referenced him as containing items that were 'just nonsense' and 'unintelligibly crafted,' asked that trustee email addresses be made easier to find so people email instead of filing, and added that if that did not reduce the requests, 'I guess it implies something a lot more concerning.' Asked by Trustee Holden how the board could get ahead of the problem, the superintendent offered community forums three times a year. No dates were set and no follow-up item was calendared:

"I'm wondering if those community forums can be an opportunity where I [and] members of cabinet can provide an update to the district and then just have open Q&A time. And I don't know how to be more transparent than that."

[Item 12D (public comment)]

Brendan Mullins, founder of Tam Union Governance Alliance, disputes the presentation's framing and identifies himself as the source of one of the requests. He told the board that every request he files invites the district to contact him to narrow the scope, that 'to date, there's never been a call,' and that the only response to his last submission was a letter from a lawyer.

"this presentation is a symbol of the district in a nutshell... This isn't a story about your own community drowning you in questions. This is a story of your lack of transparency and poor behavior causing ramifications well outside of the Tam Union District. Stop telling it that way."

[Item 12D (public comment)]

A commenter who identified herself as Emily Nusbaum, UC Berkeley disability studies faculty and the founder of an organization that supports families through the IEP and 504 process, objects to the presentation's construction and singles out its centerpiece image, the large stack of paper offered as a depiction of the district's output:

"a tactic which seems to be aimed at squashing a legal right granted to all Californians to ensure accountability and transparency by instilling fear in parents or families or others who may choose to use this legal process... Naming individuals names using bolded font to emphasize the cost associated, including a stock photo of a large stack of papers to represent supposed content generated by the district, and by including solicited negative comments from district employees are all tactics used to represent a singular side to this issue."

[Item 12D (public comment)]

A commenter who identified herself as Kelly Lahey, a Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates trained special education advocate and a parent in the district, disputes the accounting attributed to her in the district's slides. She says the presentation lists a shared folder of corresponding records beside her name and that she received no such folder. We have not obtained the slide deck, so this is her account of what it says, not ours.

"I am identified by name along with others in this presentation and attributed as the cause of nearly $9,000 in [CPRA] related costs... I also need to correct the record at the onset. [...] this presentation states... next to my name, shared folder with corresponding records. I have received no shared folder, no link to such a folder, and no corresponding records. The substantive records I requested have not been provided to date, which raises a red flag in regard to these purported costs and the veracity of information district admin is reporting to the board."

[Item 12D (public comment)]

Laurie Dubin supported the presentation, telling the board that the community needs to know the cost of being adversarial and that a lot of the request activity 'is harassment' and a waste of time, and that people 'should just be civil and talking to one another.'

[Item 12D (after public comment)]

With public comment closed, Trustee Uhlhorn asks where individual names appear in the deck and is told it is a screenshot several pages in. The two sentences below are separated in the record by that exchange:

"Part of it's blacked out, but you left everybody's name. [...] I think we should apologize to people who have their names listed in a presentation like this."

[Item 12G (board self-evaluation)]

The superintendent compares the board's self-evaluation completed July 1, 2025 against the one completed August 21, 2026. He reports growth in roles and responsibilities, board operations, setting direction and accountability, mild growth in board unity, and little change in structure, support, board development and community leadership. Between the two fragments quoted below he reported strong growth in board operations, particularly trustees feeling they receive timely and adequate information. Of the categories he walked through, board culture was the one he named as weakened outright:

"the board culture weakened... [strong growth in board operations reported here] ... board meetings... solid growth in terms of board feeling as though there was using data in decision-making, uh weakened though in the sense of feeling that spending enough time on items and items related to public input."

[Item 12G (discussion)]

Trustee Holden responds to the board culture finding:

"I definitely noticed the the board culture um could be could be improved upon... I think that is the one you know an area that's really important to work on... it's something that was really kind of sad to see and I'd like to figure out a way to improve that."

[Item 12H (board priorities)]

Trustee Holden named academic excellence, fiscal responsibility and transparency. Trustee Uhlhorn said her priorities are already in the LCAP and asked instead for an early, robust and inclusive process to develop the next one. Trustee Saavedra agreed and added accountability, saying of the last LCAP cycle: 'I feel like the trustees were cut out of it last year.' Trustee Uhlhorn also confirmed on the record that she is leaving the board, noting she 'won't even be on the board during some of the community forums, so I can come and not add to a quorum issue.' The board president noted the board has four or five meetings before the new board is sworn in.

[Notice and agenda]

The posted agenda is textually identical to the August 10 special meeting: the same eight items, the same abstracts, and a single closed-session heading citing one statute. The only difference in the posted notice is a line identifying a video conference location in Truckee for Trustee Uhlhorn.

"With Respect to Every Item of Business to be discussed in Closed Session Pursuant to Gov Code 54957: Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release and/or Reassignment"

[Item 1 (call to order)]

All five trustees are listed as voting members. The minutes record Trustee Uhlhorn as participating remotely and only for the closed portion, which is consistent with her being recorded Not Present on the open-session agenda vote:

"Call to order by Cynthia Roenisch, Board President, at 5:00 p.m. A quorum was declared present. Trustee Uhlhorn appeared via video conference for closed session."

[Item 6 (announcement of reportable action)]

The board reports out a cabinet-level departure. This is the only reportable action from either of the two August special meetings, and it came one week before the first day of school on August 19:

"The Board voted unanimously to ratify a separation for purposes of retirement agreement with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources."

[Notice and agenda]

The meeting was noticed with a single closed-session item, citing one statute that covers four different kinds of personnel action without specifying which applies or which position is involved. The board recessed to closed session in the superintendent's office.

"With Respect to Every Item of Business to be discussed in Closed Session Pursuant to Gov Code 54957: Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release and/or Reassignment"

[Item 1 (call to order)]

Four of five trustees present. The board clerk was absent from this meeting, and present two days later at the meeting that ratified the separation agreement:

"Call to order by Cynthia Roenisch, Board President, at 5:00 p.m. A quorum was declared present. Trustee Saavedra was absent."

[Item 6 (announcement of reportable action)]

Nothing was reported out. The identically noticed meeting two days later produced the ratification of a separation agreement with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

"There was no reportable action taken in closed session."

[Attendance]

Only three of five trustees present: Board President Roenisch, Trustee Green, and Trustee Holden. Trustee Saavedra and Trustee Uhlhorn were absent. This is the first meeting on the resurrected Tam High Foundation items since June 23; the two trustees absent from this meeting were the two who most vocally raised concerns about the THF arrangement on June 23.

[~11:15 (item 12A follow-up discussion)]

Superintendent Goode explains the restructured Tam High Foundation arrangement that made the two donation items acceptable to the board after the June 23 rescission:

"just to get us out of that uh situation that was unique for TAM that differed from the others, they're they're back in line essentially uh as the other foundations operating like the other foundations are."

[~9:19 (superintendent report)]

Superintendent Goode previews the 2026 CAASPP results ahead of the California Department of Education's October 15 public release, signaling interest in earlier disclosure to the board:

"I'm looking forward to sharing with the board and community what I believe will be positive results uh in that arena."

[~9:56 (superintendent report)]

Superintendent Goode announces a single district-hosted candidate forum for the November election in place of individual candidate meetings with district staff:

"we've already had a candidate or two reach out wanting to set up individual meetings with us. Uh and we're electing to follow best practices and instead of doing individual one-off meetings uh rather holding a singular candidate forum. That way we can ensure that all the candidates hear the exact same information in the same length of time."

[~10:10 (superintendent report)]

The candidate forum is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Kreps.

[~22:14 (item 12F, board priorities discussion)]

Trustee Ida Times-Green acknowledges the district's achievement gap on the record during the initial board-priorities discussion:

"in really closing the achievement gap because we still have one, folks. you know, let's not let's not be um remissed of that because we do and when when you're looking at student bodies on each of our comprehensive campuses, um we we know where the differences lie."

[~25:15 (board self-evaluation discussion)]

Board President Roenisch defers a governance workshop to January 2027, after the November election:

"we have three seats up for election in December um to work in a workshop with a governance expert probably made sense to do that in January with the new board."

[~2:15]

Trustee Uhlhorn opens the meeting by disclosing she has accepted the Tam High Foundation Executive Director position, starting January 2027. She moves to pull items 12K and 12L (contingency items in case of a trustee vacancy) from the agenda.

[~1:30 (public comment on THF rescissions)]

Board President Roenisch discloses that on Friday, June 19 (the Juneteenth holiday), an emergency legal consultation was held with Trustee Uhlhorn, Superintendent Goode, and district counsel.

"we came in on a holiday on Friday uh to meet with [Trustee Uhlhorn], uh the attorney, myself, and Dr. [Goode]."

[~1:12 (Item 12H trustee discussion)]

Trustee Saavedra states on the record:

"I would consider this a donation anticipation note. I was not aware until we went to agenda planning for this meeting that we had this preferential financing arrangement with only one of our comprehensive schools."

[~1:15 (Item 12H trustee discussion, immediately after Saavedra)]

Trustee Holden states on the record:

"I've already received numerous phone calls, emails, questions about why TAM has gotten this and the other schools have not... it doesn't sit right... it's money lost for the district."

[~1:30 (Naima's public comment on rescission items)]

A resident characterizes the board's conduct as retaliatory and asks that the district's attorney appear directly at future meetings. Board President Roenisch responds:

"I don't think I've misrepresented anything that the attorney said in my role as board president."

[1:52:20]

Board President Roenisch requests a future agenda item: a report on public records act requests received in the past year, listed by subject and by requestor, with the district's cost of responding and manpower or 'person-power' hours included. She asks the report be scheduled for August or September.

"list them by subject and by requestor and then the amount um, of money um, that it has cost the district um, to respond to those."

[12:04]

Public commenter Grant Palmer places two matters concerning Trustee Kevin C. Saavedra on the public record and requests an independent third-party review.

"First, his September 2021 DUI conviction, and second, questions about his true residence across his tenure on the [Tamalpais] School Board. I respectfully request an independent third-party investigation, not an internal board review with all findings made public."

[1:48:19]

Trustee Uhlhorn states on the record that she opposes a fall 2026 parcel-tax measure, citing economic uncertainty and public confusion after neighboring feeder districts just passed their own measures.

"So um I have never seen the urgency in going out um in the fall of 26. I think the economic situation has um told me there is no urgency at this point... no more polling for me. Um, no more exploratory committee for me."

[1:56:11]

The parcel-tax exploratory committee is effectively ended when no trustee makes a motion to continue it, closing off a November 2026 ballot measure.

"Okay, seeing no motion, then um we're not continuing the committee um and there'll be no need for polling um and there will not be a uh agenda item um on the ballot in August."

[1:57:21]

Public commenter Brendan Mullins tells the board he sees a pattern of Trustee Uhlhorn being cut off during discussions; the board president responds by characterizing decorum, then the commenter is cut off when he asks the board president to publicly apologize for her treatment of a prior commenter.

"One of the things I would ask [Trustee Roenisch] is this seems like a common pattern where often you'll let everybody talk except [Trustee Uhlhorn] and as soon as she talks she gets cut off and her point is no longer taken."

[2:21:17]

Individual recorded vote on Resolution 25-15 (annual signature authorization) proceeds with Trustee Uhlhorn recorded absent for the remainder of the meeting; subsequent follow-up recorded votes (12M and 12P) likewise recorded 4-0 with Uhlhorn absent.

"[Trustee Roenisch], I. [Trustee Uhlhorn] is absent."

[2:34:31]

Architect discloses that the Redwood Building 400 (district office, kitchen, cafeteria) work triggers a mandatory DSA seismic upgrade under IR EB4, requiring pause of the previously approved multipurpose-eating-area (MPA) design for six to eight months while a feasibility study is scoped.

"I don't know why we didn't make you do this upgrade in 2003. Uh but the team then did not enforce that in the same way, and if you do anything to this building beyond basic maintenance, you're going to have to do the seismic upgrade."

[~2:37]

District staff explains the reason for the amended salary schedules on the record.

"when these salary schedules were initially approved, inadvertently we had left off uh the term hourly and designation of an hourly rate of pay for all the different uh steps on the salary schedule. This is causing issues with or may cause issues with current and future retirees less the board uh take action to approve these amended salary schedules with the term hourly."

[~3:45]

A member of the public attempts to comment on items not on the special-meeting agenda. Board President Roenisch responds:

"The This is a special meeting, so that item is not there. You may only comment on items on the agenda for a special meeting."

[1:43:53]

President Roenisch opens Item 13J stating that in April a board member told Superintendent [Goode] they might resign in a way that would leave an even-numbered board and prevent appointment of a replacement; item is placed on the agenda on the advice of legal counsel.

"In April a board member uh told Dr. [Goode] that they might resign, but if they did so, they would do it in a way that the board could not appoint a replacement... this threat is in uh against the interests of the district and the operations of the board."

[1:49:10]

Continuing on Item 13J, the board president publicly admonishes the unnamed trustee and characterizes the reported possibility of resignation as a threat, telling them to resign now.

"So um I guess my comment would be um if you're going to resign, do it now and leave the work of this board to those of us who take it seriously."

[1:55:38]

President Roenisch discloses that former trustee Leslie J. Harlander attended the recent candidate forum while contemplating a run, and that Roenisch and Harlander had lunch together with retired Superintendent Tara [Taupier] the prior Saturday.

"one of the people that was there was um uh former trustee Leslie Harlander uh who is um uh contemplating uh whether to uh uh run for office again. Uh and then um uh Leslie and I actually had lunch with uh Dr. [Taupier] uh on uh Saturday."

[10:17]

The Tam High student trustee reports to the board that janitorial staff say a custodian position is being cut at Tam (from eight to seven), with staff questioning why only Tam is affected.

"I heard from the janitorial staff that they're concerned by um I could I believe a position is being cut at TAM. So it's being reduced from eight custodians to seven custodians. And I've heard questions about why that is only happening at TAM."

[8:24]

Public commenter Brendan Mullins says the district refuses to answer emails and only released records after a threat of legal action.

"President [Roenisch] has at least six of my emails sitting unanswered in her inbox right now. I filed a public records act request on March 16th and it took a written threat of legal action after four deadlines were missed just to get a small amount of records out of the district."

[8:24]

Mullins tells the board the TEAM program data presented on April 14 was inflated and misapplied.

"Principal Gran used [CAASPP] scores and missed school days as the foundation of his case to cut team. From his own emails, we now know that data was incorrect and inflated... The gap between team and the rest of the school was made as much as 50% larger in that deck that you saw here."

[11:25]

Mullins asks President Roenisch two direct questions about a public apology to a prior commenter and about her re-election plans.

"When will we be getting a public apology for your treatment of [name redacted]? Or maybe you're just not going to do that. Two, when will you be announcing your intent and Mr. [Saavedra] yours as well to run for trustee again as we know that decision will be a big influence on if your parcel tax passes or not."

[12:54]

President Roenisch cuts in immediately after Mullins' comment to clarify that no parcel tax has yet been placed on the ballot.

"Um and if I could just clarify the record, there is no partial tax uh that's been approved uh to put on the ballot at this point."

[1:12:07]

During the NuCase purchase vote, a trustee tries to abstain; President Roenisch presses her to vote yes or no, framing abstention as a failure of duty.

"So opposed. Yes. Abstain. Um so abstaining uh is there a reason uh for abstaining because our duty is to vote one way or the other um on issues before the board uh and you've been present for the discussion uh of the phone cases and the expenses."

[1:13:01]

The trustee changes her abstention to a no vote after being pressed; motion passes 3-2 for the roughly $100,000 NuCase purchase.

"Um I can change my I can change my vote. Um it's a no. Okay. So three uh for the purchase of new cases and two uh against the purchase of new cases."

[6:26]

Brendan Mullins describes what happened one meeting earlier when a prior commenter tried to read her sister's words about the loss of her daughter.

"Last meeting, [name redacted] came to this podium to read the words of her sister who lost a daughter in the car accident last year. She was cut off mid-sentence. The crowd begged to let her finish and when another caller seated their time, she was given 13 seconds. And before she could really start again, she was ushered off the podium by Trustee [Roenisch], saying, 'Thank you for your comments,' four times as she walked away in tears."

[6:26]

Mullins presents a four-year retrospective on public-comment responsiveness to the board.

"I took the time to go back through four years of public comments. 666 speakers came to this podium. Two of them resulted in an official board action. Two."

[6:26]

Mullins publicly asks President Roenisch and Trustee Saavedra to stand down from re-election, citing effect on the pending parcel-tax vote.

"Specifically, trustees [Roenisch] and [Saavedra], I'm asking you to announce you will not be running for reelection. If you ran for this seat to impact change in the district, you have the ability to do that in a magnificent way."

[10:47]

A Redwood student tells the board that public comment placed after board discussion feels 'silencing' and that students perceive different treatment from adults.

"Every time my peers and I have come up here to speak, we don't really feel like we're being taken seriously, especially compared to adults. It's in the tone of voice of board members. It's in the body language. It's in the interrupting of some people's public comment but not others."

[14:02]

A community member (calling in online), calls the treatment of the family at the prior meeting 'unconscionable' and raises the BSST, TEAM, and ethnic-studies-English decisions in one string.

"I'm deeply troubled by what occurred at the last meeting, cutting off a grieving family member of [name redacted]. That moment was unconscionable, especially as our community continues to grieve."

[15:59]

As Hellman's online comment concludes, an audience remark reports a trustee visibly rolling her eyes; the presiding officer cuts off the audience response.

"You know, [Trustee Holden] was rolling her eyes during that. Excuse me. You had your time for public comment. Thank you."

[1:28:06]

During trustee reports, Trustee Uhlhorn tells the room she is weighing her own re-election in light of the pending parcel tax and echoes part of Mullins' public comment.

"I would echo some of what Mr. [Mullins] said, though I would include myself in it. Um, I think that a contentious um, board election in November uh, will have a negative effect on our parcel tax. So, I am certainly looking at that... in terms of my decision um to run because I think individuals are replaceable and our parcel tax isn't."

[36:02]

Before Principal Jacob Gran begins the TEAM presentation, President Roenisch reads a prepared statement defending him from community criticism on Nextdoor.

"I want to express my disappointment in how you have been vilified um by the community, how you have been savaged by the community on this thing called on on this thing called Next Door."

[~55:00 (TEAM public comment)]

TEAM Academy lead teacher Diana Goldberg delivers a personal, arc-based advocacy speech to the board. She recounts learning about the cut during a meeting she believed had been called to discuss her maternity leave, and states plainly that at the April 1 administration meeting where the decision was reaffirmed, no one present could explain why the cited staffing figure was driving the elimination of the program's second year.

"I was called into a meeting to discuss my maternity leave which in reality was used to tell me this decision had been made... At the April 1st meeting we concluded that cutting the junior year might save approximately 0.2 FTE. No one present could give a clear explanation for why that number is driving this decision."

[60:14]

A trustee (elected in 2020 and not on the board when the program was previously suspended) opens by apologizing to the community for not intervening earlier when the TEAM decision was previewed.

"I would like to actually start by apologizing to the community um, to Jacob um, and um, to Courtney because I think when we were given a heads up, I will say for myself, I should have said, 'Oh, this is going to be a bigger deal than scheduling and returning to a one-year model.'"

[93:24]

President Roenisch tells the room the board would need nightly meetings if it inserted itself into master-schedule decisions, framing TEAM as a scheduling matter outside board purview.

"I don't want to be hyperbolic, but if the board were going to insert itself into those decisions, uh you would need to clear your calendars because we would have nightly board meetings with the hope that we could finalize master schedules at all of our sites uh by June."

[1:22:40]

Karyn Pascoe takes the podium on behalf of her sister to speak about her niece, who was killed in the Woodacre car accident and had just been accepted to TEAM. She is cut off mid-sentence.

"Just before the accident, she learned that she had been accepted to team. And we were so happy for her. For [her niece], team meant more than a program. It was the first time she felt excited and believed she could belong at school... I know that the board faces challenges like attendance numbers, budget pressures, and their real concerns."

[~1:23:30]

As Pascoe continues, Board President Roenisch interrupts and tells her to submit her comments in writing. Pascoe asks to be allowed to finish. Roenisch cuts her off again.

"Thank you for your comments. You can submit... Thank you. You can submit your comments."

[129:26]

Community member Scott Levy, calling in, tells the board president that opening the TEAM discussion by invoking the student deaths was inappropriate and demands an apology.

"It is inappropriate and insulting to conflate the accident with this in this discussion with doc Dr. Graham's performance in one hand had nothing to do with the other. You owe the community an apology."

[133:20]

During trustee discussion — following roughly two hours of public comment from students, alumni, TEAM parents, TEAM teachers, and the family of a student killed in the Woodacre car accident who had just been accepted to the program — Trustee Holden proposes that TEAM students losing the program's second year could instead form an after-school hiking club at Archie Williams. TEAM is a board-approved two-year academy composed of English, Government/Economics, Leadership, Wilderness Medicine, and Workplace Learning courses, and had been described as such in the board packet for the April 14 meeting. As Trustee Holden spoke, a student seated in the front row held up a sign reading 'TEAM is not a hiking club.'

"There is, um, an opportunity for mentorship and leadership, and that is, um, Archie, I don't believe Archie has a hiking club and so that is an opportunity for the seniors to mentor the juniors and in fact for juniors to lead sophomores and freshman."

[298:29]

Final public commenter, addressing the board just before the phone-free vote, tells the board directly that they have lost community trust.

"You say it's for protection, but protection without trust is just power. The truth is, no one trusts you. Trust is in the parents, in our teachers, not in you guys. Because you guys have proven time and time again that you cannot be trusted."

[5:48]

Senior community representative addresses BSST staffing change on the routine grouped items, describing weekly snack deliveries by 45 seniors and asking the board to ensure students and families were consulted.

"At the same time, right now, yet another proposed change in staffing that has upset the students in this BSST program. We sincerely hope that you have made every effort to communicate and listen to the students and their families to make sure you are meeting the children's needs."

[13:05]

A trustee requests that TEAM Academy be placed on the April 14 agenda as a discussion and possible action item. Board President Roenisch declines to allow action, characterizing site staffing as outside the board's purview.

"Okay. Uh, I I would say that's not um a board uh purview um to uh tell principles how to allocate um sites."

[14:59]

Superintendent Goode responds to the request for a TEAM Academy action item by stating master-schedule development lies with the site principal and outside the governing board.

"I would just say that the development of the master schedule is extraordinarily complex and uh a responsibility of the lies with the site principle. I believe that's outside the purview of the govern I believe that that relies with the site principle that responsibility uh and is not within the purview of the governing board."

[17:36]

Board announces 29 speakers on public-comment items. Standard three-minute allotment is reduced to 40 seconds per speaker.

"So, um then uh with 29 29 speakers, everyone will get 45 seconds work. Okay. Another feature. Okay. Um All right. So, uh, everyone gets to 40 seconds."

[20:09]

A San Andreas High School design-team member and teacher addresses the board about the pattern of program decisions, criticizing the board's approach to the San Andreas / Tamiscal collocation as a foregone conclusion.

"From the initial conception of the merger to its final approval, the plan was not thoroughly vetted or meaningfully scrutinized. These actions create the appearance that the merger was a foregone conclusion and that some decisions have been made long before initial presentation regardless of the impact on students."

[33:07]

A parent with a doctorate in education contradicts the district's stated staffing rationale for the TEAM one-year change, citing the collective bargaining agreement and prior-model staffing history.

"There is no staffing ratio or class size cap and the CBA for the district. So that number of 33 students is not a target. It's not a mandate. I mean it's a target. It's not a mandate. So the justification that teams class size be below that number as part of a district contractual obligation isn't accurate."

[36:41]

Brendan Mullins delivers a four-minute consolidated public comment (yielded time from Liz Mullins, Kate Tursteggy, Denise Lavaroni, a community member, and Erin Chamberlin) laying out the governance history of TEAM Academy and asking the board to pause the change.

"This board created team. This board voted 4 to 1 to suspend it in 2020. This board directed a teacher to rebuild it as a two-year academy in 2021. We've been told that this is not within the purview of the board. And respectfully, the question I would ask is when did that change? Because the entire history of this program, it was within the purview of the board."

[39:03]

During the same public comment, Mullins cites the second interim budget certified two weeks earlier and identifies the reported cost of TEAM Academy.

"Two weeks ago, this board certified to the state that the district is positive and fiscally sustainable with $22.3 million in reserves, $18 million above the state minimum. This is one of the richest school districts in the state. The second interim budget has already been approved with those dollars in there. Team costs $145,000 a year, which does not go away with this change."

[1:01:57]

Superintendent Goode opens a bell-to-bell smartphone policy discussion, framing the current caddy policy as insufficient and previewing action expected on April 14.

"The problem is that our current policy doesn't go far enough to mitigate the negative impacts of the three universal truths."

[2:49:37]

Parent of a fifth-grader in a feeder district relays her son's account of after-school phone use and urges the board to act quickly on bell-to-bell.

"um please um follow the advice and recommendation of your superintendent and implement this swiftly for us. It's too important to do slowly."

[2:58:10]

A San Andreas High School teacher critiques the smartphone-policy approach and characterizes the board and superintendent as single-minded on Yondr pouches, endorsing the two dissenting board members' concerns.

"I'm disappointed in our superintendent and some members of this board that they are so single-minded their approach to this problem. In my opinion, we have not worked hard enough to find creative, sustainable solutions."

[3:20:23]

Deputy Superintendent Corbett Elsen highlights that priority-one Measure B project list items total $60M in 2024 dollars and are unfunded, foreshadowing future funding conversations.

"Um there these are not nice to haves or want to haves. I don't want to minimize exterior paint or signage. Signage is security. Exterior paint is not only cosmetic, but securing the building envelope. ... noting that these add up to $60 million in 2024. So you throw a five and a half percent uh construction escalation over two years, that's 10%, that's $66 million."

[1:16]

Board announces the close-session release of 11 temporary certificated employees, reading affected employee ID numbers on the record. Trustee Green was absent from the vote.

"In closed session, the board voted unanimously uh to release 11 temporary certificated employees from their assignment or portions of their temporary assignments um effective at the end of the 202526 school year."

[3:45]

Trustee pulls the 2027-30 calendars from the agenda at TFT's request.

"I would like to recommend that we pull item 13D, uh, the calendars for the school years 2027 through 2030 from the agenda tonight. TFT has requested more time to discuss with their membership in the district."

[8:00]

Board President notes 40 total public-comment speakers and reduces per-speaker time to 30 seconds.

"So, we've got 40 uh speakers um tonight and the board has allotted uh 20 minutes to um the public uh comment section which means each speaker will get each speaker will get 30 seconds um tonight."

[13:19]

Public commenter recites BSST timeline: the board's June 2025 non-renewal of Paul Austin and Tanisha Tate Austin, subsequent departure of their replacement, and the February 25, 2026 walkout by Black Student Union students during their own Black Excellence celebration.

"You've removed three black leaders in the in the last less than one year. On February 25th, 2026, BSU students walked out on their own Black Excellence celebration in protest of Kyle's departure."

[14:21]

Board President interrupts to clarify the language around BSST leadership departures.

"I would like to clarify that uh the contracts of the consultants were not renewed. Um, no one was fired."

[17:45]

Brendan Mullins opens the first public comment on the TEAM Academy change, asking the board whether major structural program changes should be made by a single administrator.

"On March 5th, Archie Williams principal, Jacob Grant, announced via email that the team academy at Archie Williams High would be cut from a two-year program to one year, effective immediately with no discussion, no vote, and no feedback from key stakeholders."

[22:16]

TEAM lead teacher describes learning of the change during a maternity-leave meeting with the site principal.

"I'm here tonight um because I was blindsided Thursday afternoon at a meeting I requested about my maternity leave posting by a unilateral decision to cut our program and staffing in half without in any consent or conversations with our community at large."

[38:37]

Board President again clarifies BSST leadership departures were contract non-renewals.

"I'd like to clarify again that um the contracts of Mr. and Mr. uh Austin and Miss Tanisha Tate Austin were one-year contracts as consultants and they were not renewed."

[46:04]

Another student trustee interrupts an Archie Williams student trustee's report as she continues to elaborate on TEAM Academy points made during public comment; the student trustee pushes back that this is what is happening at her school.

"I'm going to interrupt because the student trustee reports are supposed to be telling us what's going on on campus and we heard all of the comments in the audit."

[46:20]

Student trustee responds to the interruption.

"Respectfully, I do believe this is happening at my school and I've heard all of these opinions personally from the school."

[58:17]

Parcel-tax pollsters from Gabby Consulting present January survey results (n=695, 25-minute average phone survey, +/-3.7% margin of error) to inform a potential November 2026 measure.

"The universe was likely November 2026 voters. We were in the field in late January. Uh the average phone survey, which is still our metric for measuring length, was 25 minutes long. Uh the sample size was 695. Uh which gives us an overall margin of error of 3.7% plus or minus."

[1:55:00]

Deputy Superintendent Corbett Elsen opens the second-interim budget presentation, previewing a June recommendation focused on 'budget resiliency, budget stability,' and identifies a structural gap between 5.75% expenditure growth and roughly 4% revenue growth.

"Um so that just speaks to the uncertainty the volatility we're dealing with and how um we just need to give ourselves margin of error and the theme moving forward into June is I'm going to recommend a budget to the board that involves budget resiliency, budget stability."

[2:14:20]

Board votes to approve the 25-26 second interim budget with positive certification (voice vote, no opposition noted).

"Any opposed? Motion carries."

[4:08]

TAM High mock trial coach uses public comment to request that e-motorcycles be re-agendized, citing a recent fatal incident and quoting a letter he received from Central Marin Police.

"part of the problem is is with the Central [Marin] Police, their attitude, as expressed in a letter to me recently, parents are not enthusiastic about us going after their kids, nor are the schools. We're not the Gestapo. That mindset is contributing to the problem."

[10:00]

TAM student trustee reports on the upcoming Black Excellence Rally, referencing the BSST context that would later precipitate the February 25 walkout referenced in the March 10 meeting.

"we're in the final week of our Black History Month celebration and we have a spirit week going. ... we have the Black Excellence Rally tomorrow and we're going to have a unity day where we all wear the same outfit."

[23:19]

Trustee raises concern that Title I-funded academic support for San Andreas students remains unassigned seven months into the school year after the board decided last May not to renew a prior contract.

"I have concerns on that too because that's title one funded um support, right? Um and we've been talking about that and again not on you because it's right, but we've been talking about that as a board since last May about not renewing that contract. Um and here we are seven months into the year."

[39:00]

Deputy Superintendent introduces Resolution 25-09 proposing reduction of 10.88 FTE certificated positions district-wide, including a certificated administrative position, for 26-27 driven by projected enrollment, budget reductions, and the alternative-schools collocation.

"You'll see on the resolution that the reductions total 10.88 full-time equivalent or FTE positions across several departments, including a certificated administrative position."

[45:28]

Trustee Green abstains on Resolution 25-09 (certificated reductions), a 4-0-1 outcome.

"Yeah, it's too difficult for me. So I abstain."

[46:10]

Another trustee prompts the board president that public comment was not called before the individual recorded vote on Resolution 25-09; the president acknowledges the omission and the board reopens the item.

"I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Does the public get to speak on that last one or did you already call that? I don't remember. ... I missed public comment. ... So, let's back up then. Uh we can refile the motion."

[51:38]

Archie Williams AP secretary details the operational and compliance impacts of the proposed classified reductions, warning about coverage of urgent parent communications, field-trip documentation, graduation logistics, and food service during peak periods.

"When responsibilities like these are redistributed without additional capacity or training, the risk of preventable errors increases. In California, the districts have a duty of care during school hours. Communication breakdowns, student release errors, and delayed emergency response increase risk."

[53:53]

A classified employee-parent speaks on Resolution 25-10, noting the low turnout of classified staff at the meeting and attributing it to a belief that public comment does not shape outcomes.

"I first would just like to say to for the record and everyone in the room and on Zoom, I'm really disappointed by the um, turnout of classified members at this meeting, but they're not here because they don't think their voice matters. They don't think it makes a difference. They think these decisions are already made and um that's really disappointing."

[58:48]

Trustee Green abstains on Resolution 25-10 (classified layoffs of 12.8 FTE), a 4-0-1 outcome.

"abstain."

[1:14:38]

Facilities presenter requests an additional $1.7M for the Archie Williams Performing Arts Center modernization, taking the total budget from a previously approved $11.3M to approximately $15.9M and noting bond-interest earnings of over $6M help offset the increase.

"we're basically uh about $1.7 million short of what you've already approved. Again, the additional cost is because we expanded from just the building modernization to the site, including the parking and some of those site improvements."

[1:24:36]

During trustee reports, Trustee Green announces plans to attend the Black Student Union rally at TAM High the following day.

"Yes. Um, I plan to participate tomorrow's um, Black Student Union rally at TAM High. Um, excited to see how it all turns out."

[6:56]

A public commenter who described himself as an ACLU affiliate and former Marin County Human Rights Commission member urges the board to hold public meetings on homework as required by AB 2999, which took effect January 1, 2026.

"I certainly will talk only about items of immediate importance namely assembly bill 2999 which went into effect on January 1st 2026. It is a bill related to homework that requires every district in the state, the county office of education and charter schools to have public meetings open to all interested parties regarding the issue of homework."

[24:01]

Tam High principal Sam Pasro opens BSST/hub presentation by describing the origin of the program.

"It's my third year at TAM and I uh remember in 2324 we had a string of racist incidents in our school building. And I remember the vice principal uh Mr. Schroeder and I walking throughout the campus trying to locate a classroom to house an affinity space in the center of our school uh for this really important uh program."

[25:03]

Roster scale for the BSST hub disclosed: 87 Black or Black mixed-race students district-wide at Tam High; 48 receive primary case management in room 315.

"Currently, there are 87 black students or black [mixed race] students. Of that 87, 39 students receive targeted case management support outside of the hub, primarily from special education because they have an IEP and they receive case management there."

[38:15]

Trustee Ida Green raises absence of a woman of color from the hub staff photo; principal acknowledges this is a known staffing need.

"I could not miss the glaring slide the second one of um our success team leaders and I don't see a female in the in the picture. Um and I know that that hub is not just for males."

[56:47]

Board President Roenisch calls on the Marin County Office of Education to fund an intensive reading academy, citing MCOE's reserve balance.

"MCOE, if you're listening, uh you have a $58 million um reserve or sorry, $54 million reserve on a $78 million budget. Uh, and it would be wonderful if MCE would set up an intensive reading academy uh, and either do a pilot perhaps at MLK and you start pulling students in after third grade when they're struggling with reading"

[1:09:13]

A public commenter offers pro bono consulting to Tam High principal, proposing a campuswide 'affinity space' using restorative community circles.

"I hereby publicly commit to working with the principal at TAM in any way I can to help him make that a reality. Uh Wuway Associates, my consulting company was established in 1972. human relations consulting. It is still in business and I do a lot of proono work so it won't cost a district a penny"

[1:14:41]

Individual recorded vote on Resolution 25-07 (Tam High STEAM building phase 1 lease termination) — all trustees present voted yes.

[0:33]

Board Clerk Kevin C. Saavedra opens the meeting in the Board President's absence.

"Thank you. Um, in case anyone didn't notice, I'm not Cynthia [Roenisch]. I'll be playing the part of Cynthia [Roenisch] at today's board meeting."

[10:43]

Superintendent hands trustees copies of 'Digital Delusion' by Jared Cooney Horvath alongside a bundt cake for School Board Appreciation Month. The book was recommended by Trustee Roenisch at the January 12 meeting during her AI-policy remarks.

"At your seat are two gifts from Aaron and me. Uh, a bun[d]t cake, which we didn't bring in the fork, so you'll have to take that home for dessert. Uh, and then a copy of an eye-opening book that I'm currently plowing through, about halfway through, Digital Delusion."

[6:02]

Student trustee reports that Tam students joined a Redwood-organized walkout against ICE and the current federal administration.

"And there was recently a walk out that TAM participated in facilitated by Redwood um protesting against ICE and the current administration."

[42:00]

Trustee Jenny Holden flags that Archie's A-through-G completion rate on the SARC (78.3%) is a full 10 percentage points below Tam and Redwood.

"I was surprised to see the Archie um A to G a full 10 percentage points lower than uh Tam and Redwood. Is there some some takeaway there or anything?"

[42:11]

District staff responds that the 78.3% figure comes from state dashboard data; internal data likely shows Archie higher. Staff commits to analyzing whether every Archie course is being properly credentialed and reported as A-G with the UC system.

"I do think from our internal data that Archie is much higher and we need to do an analysis to make sure that every single one of our courses is getting A throughG credit."

[51:29]

Auditor reports two findings in the FY24-25 audit: outdated SARC inspection dates and Prop 28 arts/music annual report not posted on the district website at the time of audit.

"We did have and noted two findings in uh this year's audit. Uh first one being having to do with the school accountability report card. Uh this is because the fit inspections uh did not match those reported on the SARC in terms of the most recent ones... And the second uh [finding] noted was due to Prop 28. the arts and music in schools. It was because uh the district needed uh to post it on the district website and at the time of the audit and our procedures, we noted that the Prop 28 annual report was not posted on the district website."

[53:56]

Trustee Ida Green thanks Assistant Superintendent Corbett and the business office team ahead of the audit vote.

"Before we do that, I just want to say Corbett and to your team, thank you. Because obviously, you know, uh there was only two minor findings. Um, which is a good thing."

[1:14]

Reportable action from closed session: three abuse-related settlements totaling $1,000,000 approved unanimously in response to allegations by two former students from over 20 years ago.

"Regarding item 4B, two anticipated litigation cases due to allegations of abuse by two former students from over 20 years ago... In closed session, the board voted unanimously to approve the settlement agreement in Aarendo versus Tam[a]l[p]ias Union High School District Marin County Superior Court case number CV00007399. The material terms of the approved settlement agreement are the district will pay pl[ainti]ff Aaron Doe $700,000 in exchange for a waiver and release of all claims... In closed session, the board voted unanimously to approve the settlement agreement regarding the liability claim of DOE... $150,000... In closed session, the board voted unanimously to approve the settle[ment] agreement regarding the liability claim of DOS SC... $150,000"

[6:36]

A public commenter challenges the board's Brown Act practices, arguing dialogue on agenda items should be permitted.

"The fact that you do not take public comment on even items on the agenda, not just on on non-aggendaized, but indicates to me that there is a very serious lack of interest on the part of this governing body to listen to the students, the parents, the general public that have concerns about what's going on in this district."

[1:16:06]

Board President Roenisch delivers an extended critique of the AI Task Force's cited resources, recommending 'Digital Delusion' by Jared Cooney Horvath and challenging whether AI should be used in classrooms before its learning value is established.

"I've asked more questions than you can answer, but I I would recommend well recommending Dr. [Goode] um about the book. Um, I'm cautioning against some of the sources um that are listed. um one comes from I[S]T which is the institute um for schools or use of technology in schools. All of its funding comes from membership and tech companies... Tech companies often do not have experts in child learning. They don't care whether it helps child learning."

[1:26:14]

Roenisch reframes the AI conversation as an academic-integrity and district-position question, expressing discomfort with the task force's teacher-by-teacher approach.

"I'm uncomfortable with method because it will be a patchwork quilt and then the district has not even taken a position on it."

[1:45:58]

Superintendent Goode presents the College of Marin Compass program MOU, describing it as a targeted-outreach dual-enrollment program for underserved 9th and 10th graders that had previously existed at Tam and is being reinstated.

"College of Marin's compass program or uh the acronym compass stands for college of Marin promoting and supporting success was designed specifically to help eliminate inequitable educational outcomes... students who successfully complete the compass program would graduate from high school more college and career ready... and then be awarded free attendance. That's tuition, books, fees, materials, should they enroll in College of Marin directly after high school"

[1:51:25]

Superintendent Goode presents on the January 5 district-wide PD day focused on rigor and Depth of Knowledge, defending 'teaching to the test' when the assessment (state standardized tests (CAASPP)) measures college and career readiness skills.

"if we're teaching our kids to do these things and master these skills and abilities, and that means we're teaching to the test, I'm okay with that because these are the skills and the abilities our kids are going to need to be successful in college, career, and life."

[2:04:47]

Board President Roenisch flags an unexplained gap between Redwood's platinum-level AP scores and declining CAASPP performance, ending with a suggestion that students are not trying their best on state tests.

"it does make me wonder how Redwood has a platinum level uh AP score and yet the [CAASPP] scores are going down. So there's not an answer for it, but maybe the students are more capable than the [CAASPP] scores are showing and then got to talk to students about why they won't try their best at everything they do."

[0:04]

Board President Roenisch opens the special meeting; because it is a special meeting, no public comment is taken on items not on the agenda.

"the board of trustees special meeting is hereby called to order and a quorum is present... this is a special agenda or a special meeting and so there is no public comments on items not on the agenda."

[37:53]

Public commenter Ina Gotlieb accuses Trustee Saavedra of sending multiple threatening emails; Saavedra confirms sending them and characterizes them as a response to her prior emails, and Roenisch enters the emails into the public record.

"when a trustee decides to take out his revenge fantasies on me by sending me four separate threatening emails telling me to quote, 'Fuck off, you stupid old crone,' telling me that I should be quote but[t]hurt."

[38:24]

Trustee Saavedra responds on the record, confirming the emails but tying them to the commenter's prior emails rather than to the collocation item on the agenda.

"None of my emails to you, [Ina], had anything to do with the collocation. It was only in regards to your hateful emails at this board and at Cynthia individually. I could hardly believe that an adult would write something like that."

[49:06]

San Andreas math teacher Chris French tells the board that in his 10 years at the school he has not seen Board President Roenisch on campus, and that Trustee Saavedra visited once, during a community event.

"in my eight and 10 years there, I have not seen [Trustee Roenisch] on our campus. The only time she came onto our campus was to introduce you and there were no students there. Uh [Trustee Saavedra], you came once and it was during a community event. It wasn't even during class time."

[50:45]

Trustee Saavedra responds to the campus-presence critique.

"I didn't realize anyone's keeping attendance for me getting on to the campuses, but I've been on there more than a half dozen times since been a trustee."

[1:41:48]

Board President Roenisch cites her prior experience on the Kentfield School Board 20 years ago as a model for the current staffing right-sizing decision.

"20 years ago when I was elected to the Kentfield School Board um came into a situation where um the right sizing had not been happening... So for me, I'm not going to make the mistake that Kentfield did."

[1:45:56]

Trustee Ida Green asks whether the district could 'borrow from ourselves' (draw down reserves) for one year to allow more community deliberation on the collocation plan.

"is there a way that we can just borrow from ourselves for one year and then work out all the details of bringing all the players to have the discussion about colllocating rather than try and do this for uh December or January just I'm just asking."

[1:47:03]

Board President Roenisch and Trustee Saavedra reject the reserve-draw suggestion; Roenisch calls it 'inordinately irresponsible' and Saavedra calls it 'horribly irresponsible.'

"What you just suggested is an inordinately irresponsible suggestion... [and later] we can put it to a vote if you want to, but uh I think that's Listen, that's the that's what the board before us did. That's what the board at Sa[u]sa[lito] Marin City School District did... I think that's horribly irresponsible."

[1:57:02]

Board voted on the collocation motion; the motion passed with at least one recorded 'opposed'. The reserve-draw alternative Trustee Green had proposed earlier in the meeting was rejected without a costed comparison of options.

"is there a motion to approve the consideration or the collocation of the two alternative ed education schools, Tamask[al] and San Andreas, onto the San Andreas campus starting the 2026 27 school year and direct staff to begin taking steps as soon as possible to ensure collocation is timely implemented... All those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Oppos[ed]. Thank you. And carries."

[1:57:50]

Immediately after the vote, Trustee Uhlhorn delivered remarks calling on the board itself to model civility, saying the board's own reactions have gone against its policies and its elements of effective governance.

"Unfortunately, I wish I wasn't saying this, but I do think that we have a responsibility to model civility for our students and for our community. And while we cannot control what comes at us, we can control our reactions. And um I think that the reactions have gone against our policies, against our elements of effective governance"

[2:05:29]

Reportable action from closed session: Kim Stilford unanimously appointed principal of the collocated alt-ed program at San Andreas for 2026-27.

"In closed session on the motion made by Trustee Holden and seconded by Trustee Green, the governing board voted unanimously to appoint Kim Stilford to serve as principal of the districts to be colllocated alternative education program at San Andreas High School for the 2627 school year effective July 1st, 2026."

[~40:00 (item 15A officer elections)]

During deliberations on the 2026 board presidency, Trustee Emily Uhlhorn asked the incumbent to review past board meetings and reflect on her own on-camera reactions to community members she disagreed with.

"[Cynthia], if you serve um again as president, I would like to ask if you would be willing to watch some past board meetings where people have um offered opinions that you didn't agree with and reflect on your reactions um and kind of have a reflection about whether that is the best modeling that you can do for our students."

[~42:00 (item 15A officer elections)]

Board President Roenisch responded to Trustee Uhlhorn's request that she reflect on prior reactions to public commenters.

"Thank you for your comments. Uh, I was at the board meetings. I heard the comments. I had my reactions. Those stand."

[~42:15 (item 15A vote)]

The board voted 4-1 to re-elect Cynthia C. Roenisch as 2026 board president. Trustee Ida Green cast the only opposing vote after stating during discussion that periodic rotation of board leadership is healthy for organizations.

"I accept position uh to be president for the next year. Uh and it was by a vote 4 to one."

[~44:00 (item 15B clerk election)]

Trustee Emily Uhlhorn argued for clerk continuity, noting that of the five sitting trustees, only Green and Holden are certain to remain on the board after the November 2026 election.

"if I may, uh, just thinking about continuity, I do think that it would be good to have someone in this role who would then be ready to step into presidency the next year. Um, we don't know what's going to happen in an election next year, but we do know that, um, [Ida] and [Jenny] will be on the board. We don't know about any of the three of us."

[~9:00 (public comment, items not on agenda)]

Chris French, a San Andreas High School math teacher of ten years, urged the board to vote down the proposed San Andreas / Tamiscal alternative-education merger scheduled for December 15, and reported the superintendent's response when asked what would happen if the proposal did not pass.

"when presenting to our staff and families, I asked Dr. [Goode], 'What is the plan in the event this proposal is not approved?' His response was, 'I don't have another plan.' That statement needs scrutiny."

[~6:00 (public comment, items not on agenda)]

A commenter who described himself as a retired Stanford educator delivered the meeting's first public comment, asking the board to postpone the December 15 vote on the alternative-education restructuring until students had been consulted.

"It seems to me extremely important to talk to the clients, meaning the students, prior to making a decision. And therefore, I would strongly suggest... that you delay that decision until after the 15th, so you can engage with some of the 4,255 students."

[~38:00 (item 15A public comment)]

Community member Joy Koo, a parent of three current or former Tam High students, addressed the board during public comment on the officer-election item and asked trustees to reflect on the district's stated ideals during the selection of leadership.

"wanted to ask you to reflect on the norms that you talked about... it's important that... we have a leadership that um really thinks first of the students and gets their opinion involved um more um frequently."

[0:01:16]

President Roenisch reported closed-session action approving a $90,000 confidential settlement. Case number was disclosed; underlying facts were not.

"In closed session, on the motion made by [Trustee Uhlhorn] and seconded by [Trustee Saavedra], the governing board voters voted unanimously to approve the confidential settlement agreement district case 2025.10.29 in the amount of $90,000 and the vote is unanimous."

[0:37:56]

Superintendent Courtney Goode opened the collocation/budget-reduction presentation, framing a $2.2M reduction as necessary this year to avoid larger future cuts.

"What's a necessary $2.2 million budget reduction this year could turn into 4.4 million, 6.6 million. Uh those then reductions would be much much more difficult to make and much much more negatively impactful to student programs."

[1:34:56]

With 24-25 speakers signed up on the collocation item and 20 minutes allotted per school, the board initially set 45 seconds per speaker; a speaker objected and the cap was raised to one minute.

"45 seconds each. Is that correct? Could you imagine if we told our students 45 seconds?"

[1:50:29]

San Andreas English teacher Chelsea Springer presented alternate enrollment counts from district Synergy data that differed materially from the numbers in the superintendent's slides.

"Specifically for the 2023-24 school year, San Andreas enrolled and served 82 students, not 58. The following year, 24-25, we enrolled and served 66 students, not 43. ... I believe that this error alone reflects a fundamental misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about how our program"

[2:14:02]

A parent addressing the collocation item asked trustees to make eye contact and identified two trustees who were watching the clock during public comment.

"The first thing I'd request is eye contact from all six of you. I can see one of you still won't do it. A couple of you have been staring at the clock instead of listening to people."

[2:49:42]

Trustee Kevin Saavedra, in board discussion, cited the March 2020 suspension of the TEAM program as precedent supporting the current collocation proposal, and characterized the cuts as 'fair' and 'equitable.'

"I remember coming into you know the the March 10th uh to 2020 we made the adjustments for the [TEAM] program ... [Ford] came here and said you have to suspend the [TEAM] program and uh you know [we] ended up suspending the [TEAM] program ... I I think this is a very I'm very pleased with the what you've outlined here. Um I think it's a it's um it's a fair adjustment relative to some things that we need to do. I think it's equitable."

[2:59:50]

President Roenisch defended the current collocation proposal by pointing back to prior program consolidations, including the relocation of TEAM Academy to the Archie Williams campus, and dismissed prior warnings that those cuts would fail.

"I do recall sitting uh as a board member um for the [TEAM] meetings um and when we had to make those cuts um and we made cuts around journalism release periods and we were told the papers would fail. ... I also recall hearing that when we relocated [TEAM] um onto the Archie campus and part of that was to try and make it more inclusive uh and um and also reduce cost. We were told that that was going to fail too."

[3:09:02]

During the California Dashboard 2025 presentation, staff reported English Learner Progress declined year over year.

"The percentage of EL students demonstrating progress on the ELPAC ... has declined from 2024 from 47.67% to 44.6[6]% in 2025."

[6:57]

Tam student trustee reported ongoing student-led response to a racist bathroom graffiti incident at Tamalpais High; ASB planning unity events. No trustee responded on the record.

"following up with the racist graffiti art incident in the bathroom, ASB has been discussing how to bring unity to TAM in a way that will make a lasting impact on our students"

[7:54]

Tamiscal student trustee said racial-equity consultant Dr. Watson had been brought in to address 'recent racial incidents' at Tamiscal, one of four all-school assemblies with her this year.

"she kind of um talked to us about inclusion, belonging, and some of the recent racial incidents that occurred"

[1:12:56]

Former trustee and 2026 ballot candidate Leslie J. Harlander addressed the board as a public commenter during the state standardized tests (CAASPP) achievement item, drawing a parallel between the current presentation and pre-New Tech era complacency.

"this has been a bit of a flashback for me from like 11 years ago where where we felt very good about hearing about the National Merit Scholars and how well so many students were doing and it kind of put us to sleep... I would have felt a lot better if I'd heard we should be doing it I think we're doing but there's something amiss here and we got to figure it out"

[1:29:37]

Trustee Saavedra took a middle position on Yonder pouches: acknowledged a phone problem, credited existing teacher-run policies, but declined to endorse the pouches, citing concern about a punitive rollout.

"I don't want to feel um punitive in any way by making a a decision that that might have uh an adverse um uh you know reflection on the student body... I don't know if it's a yonder pouch though. I'm not there yet."

[1:33:52]

Board president Roenisch, an Alameda High teacher, characterized the district's continued reliance on classroom pouches instead of Yonder pouches as 'educational malpractice' and said Alameda has been collecting phones longer than TUHSD.

"in my opinion, we're commending educational malpractice by not having this. I said that last year. I've said it for the five years I've been trying to get uh some sort of restriction here. Uh, again, [Alameda] was ahead of the TAM district in collecting phones. That's embarrassing."

[1:23:19]

Trustee Uhlhorn dissented on Yonder pouches, citing unintended consequences and specifically warning that the pouch discussion could recreate last year's public confusion between bond and general funds during a period of budget cuts.

"the misinformation and like the idea last year that yonder pouches got conflated with a bond, which are two totally different buckets of money. I mean, we had to do a lot of correcting with people who were just fundamentally confused about what we were spending our money on, and we're about to make budget cuts."

[2:03:44]

San Andreas High teacher Chris French, in public comment, told the board that his site has run a successful cell-phone-free policy for nearly nine years without Yonder pouches, and that no trustee had ever asked how they implemented it or visited his classroom this year.

"as a school that's effectively implemented this policy, we've never been asked how we made it happen... I've yet to see a trustee this year in our classrooms or seeing how we do these types of things."

[35:49]

Superintendent Courtney Goode framed the newly released 2024-25 state standardized tests (CAASPP) results as below expectations and previewed a follow-up plan for the October 28 meeting.

"The [CAASPP] results that she's going to share were only made public this past Thursday and you'll see that the results are certainly not what we had hoped for. The sense of frustration and disappointment. We know we can and we will do better."

[45:33]

Board President Roenisch cut off a student trustee mid-answer during the CAASPP discussion, pushing student input to after elected-trustee questions.

"I certainly, I mean, we're going to go down the table, but I absolutely do not want to leave this as it's just students not trying, right? Um because we've heard that from students and I've got zero tolerance for that argument. Zero."

[53:44]

Trustee Emily Uhlhorn characterized four consecutive years of declining scores as an institutional failure and issued a public apology to the community.

"I mean, I don't necessarily have questions, just more observations and a sense of shame for a four-year slide... I'd apologize to our community. Um, certainly we can do better than this. I'm confident in that."

[55:39]

President Roenisch pivoted from the district's data to her own teaching post at [Alameda], repeatedly citing that district's outperformance and suggesting TUHSD may be 'raising entitled students.'

"I don't want to believe as a trustee that we're raising entitled students in this district that think I only need to try when it's on my transcript... this board has to make funding decisions based on data. And we have four years of declining scores."

[1:25:31]

Former Trustee Leslie J. Harlander addressed the board during public comment on CAASPP, urging a deeper look at classroom rigor and validating current trustee concerns.

"I think rigor is a problem. And I think if you have to get students and explain to them why it's important and why they have to care, that's way way too late. There's something really wrong. There's something wrong with the culture if that even has to be a topic."

[1:30:43]

During the Team Civics LLC parcel-tax consultancy vote, Trustee Uhlhorn asked whether the firm is engaged in other midterm-cycle assignments; President Roenisch characterized concurrent work in other districts as 'additive.'

"As far as we know. Sorry. Which is good. I would consider — I actually consider that additive."

[5:06]

The one public comment on non-agenda items came from a Marin County Substack writer who characterized summer 2025 advocacy for renewing Black student success contracts as a 'distraction campaign' from AB715 discussion, naming the Archie Williams principal, the TAM Federation of Teachers vice president, and a TFT leader as participants. No trustee responded on the record before Roenisch closed the item.

"there appeared to have been a massive distraction campaign launched by uh [Stoodley] when you guys should have been discussing AB715 ... she was assailing you um with claims that you know the district is racist because they weren't uh renewing these very costly contracts."

[22:41]

Superintendent Goode reported College Board recognition of the district's AP African-American Studies course, citing enrollment volume and success rate; a trustee confirmed on the record that the pass rate was 100%. Goode named the three teachers by school.

"College Board recently recognized our district and teachers for their work in the new course AP African-American studies. Uh they were so acknowledged because of the high number of students taking the course and the incredibly high success rate."

[25:17]

President Roenisch, chairing the Parcel Tax Ad Hoc Committee with Trustees Holden and Uhlhorn plus a district administrator, recommended targeting the November 2026 ballot rather than June 2026, citing that a June timeline would be 'way too rushed' and noting several feeder districts are considering June.

"we would recommend that in regard to a parcel tax that we look to November of 2026, not June of 2026. Our recommendation is that we feel that the timeline for June would be way too rushed."

[27:44]

Roenisch reported attending Ross Valley's post-mortem forum on their failed parcel-tax measure and identified their change from a flat/fixed structure to a square-footage methodology as a principal cause of the loss, framing that as the basis for TUHSD keeping a flat structure.

"I spent time at Ross Valley's uh forum last week and as they did an autopsy of their parcel tax not passing, that was one of the biggest considerations is they felt that the change in methodology going from a flat uh and fixed to a methodology based on square footage was confusing and they feel that they lost some of the votes because of that."

[34:42]

Superintendent Goode presented the 2025-26 Governance Handbook as an initial review, describing it as the product of three retreats (July 2, July 14, and Saturday September 20) and praising the board for 'honest and reflective conversation.'

"pleased to present to you and the governing board as a first read, no action here, just a first read, a draft of our governance handbook that we reviewed, revised, and updated through a series of three board workshops or board retreats we held July 2nd, July 14th, and then just this past Saturday, September 20th."

[1:06:51]

President Roenisch asked that a future agenda include an update on 'black student success team' at the Tam 'hub,' and separately raised Google-Glasses use by students to photograph tests and record classrooms, flagging both academic-integrity and California two-party-consent implications and asking for a staff update.

"the hub at some point we'll get an update on black student success team"

[47:20]

Community member Dave Court, a 30-year San Geronimo Valley Community Center director, was cut off after asking a follow-up question of the Archie Williams principal about services for students with IEPs and ESL supports. President Roenisch instructed him that public comment is not a dialogue with presenters; Court pushed back on the ruling.

"I don't understand why you can't ask a question. I mean, you guys ask questions."

[48:35]

Roenisch defended the no-questions policy for public commenters by drawing a distinction between the trustees and the public.

"we're the deliberative board and so we ask questions because we're responsible for making the decisions."

[50:04]

Business official Corbett reported the district again spent none of its Proposition 28 arts and music allocation, blaming basic-aid supplement rules and declining enrollment, and said a spending pathway was only 'found' after this spring's board budget reductions.

"we've spent zero dollars again. Uh, this is the last year we expect that."

[1:37:50]

During initial review of the graduation-requirements policy, Trustee Kevin C. Saavedra pressed whether ethnic studies (Community & Consciousness) is actually a state graduation requirement given AB 101 has never been funded. Trustee Jenny Holden then proposed striking 'as required by Assembly Bill 101' from board policy to remove the ambiguity.

"a one semester course in ethnic studies [and] community consciousness is required by Assembly Bill 101. And yet my understanding is that course is required if it's funded but... [it] hasn't been funded. So seems like it's not a requirement."

[1:44:52]

After Holden and Saavedra pushed to remove the AB 101 language, Roenisch called a straw poll and the board opted to keep the disputed 'as required by Assembly Bill 101' wording in place for the final review.

"I would leave it in personally unless it get until it gets repealed... if you're polling doing a straw poll, which I think is okay."

[1:51:28]

During board priorities discussion, after no public commenters spoke on the item, Roenisch remarked on the lack of community engagement.

"I'm offended. People aren't tuning in for board priorities."

[6:13]

Superintendent Courtney Goode delivered his first regular-meeting superintendent report after starting in late June, describing a listening tour that included two former Tam superintendents, College of Marin leadership, Marin City Coalition, Bridge the Gap, and county officials.

"I think that this is now my first official board meeting, regularly scheduled board meeting. Uh, I'm deeply honored and grateful for the trust that you have placed in me."

[10:13]

Goode updated the board on the intervention coordinator position (referenced with the BSST acronym), stating a finalist had been identified but that credentialing issues had prevented placing the person on the current personnel report.

"Also want to update the board on the BSST, the hub, the intervention coordinator uh that we had spoken about in July. We have a finalist identified. Uh had hoped to have that person on the personnel report today, but some challenges in the credenti[al]ing arena that we're working through right now."

[23:00]

President Roenisch opened the board-priorities discussion by naming her own priorities first: continued fiscal responsibility, a potential parcel tax, consistency of academic experience and rigor, and raising CAST (science) scores. Racial equity was not among the priorities she named.

"So c[ertainly] certainly continued fiscal responsibility... a board priority for me would be if we decide to go forward with parcel tax... I want to see an increased focus on the academic experience and the consistency of the academic experience and rigor um across classrooms uh across the district... I want to see those [CAASPP] scores go up."

[32:28]

Greg Wilker, identifying as part of the racial justice task force, addressed the board during public comment on priorities and referenced the June 2025 community controversy.

"I would love it if you guys had racial equity spoken out loud. Race spoken out loud as a priority for this school year. I hope it's as prominent as it is on your homepage... It'd be wonderful if we were proactive in that not being a part of our community."

[37:22]

Presiding officer acknowledged the addition of racial equity to the priorities list without substantive discussion and moved to the next agenda item.

"Okay, so it's on the list. Um, and we'll take it up again, uh, at the end of August."

[44:50]

Roenisch closed the meeting by noting its brevity, marking the shortest regular meeting under the new superintendent.

"And with that, uh Dr. Good[e]'s record setting briefest meeting ever. Uh way to start us off. Meeting is adjourned."

[2:24]

Superintendent Courtney Goode opens the meeting by proposing a single in-house hire in place of the prior BSST contract structure.

"It would be my recommendation to add a 1.0 FTE as an intervention coordinator, an existing job description in the district, to the hub and the black student success team at TAM High starting this August."

[38:36]

President Roenisch interrupts the first public commenter, parent Tiffany McElroy, and narrows the scope of allowable comment because the meeting is a special meeting.

"Um, excuse me. So, it's it's your comment on the agenda item, which is Dr. [Goode]'s plan going forward. So, this is not general public comment. This is a special meeting and so the only public comment is on the agenda item."

[41:25]

TAM High parent and scientist Salamine Pastor challenges the DFI-rate math used by Trustee Holden to characterize BSST outcomes.

"The BSST data analyzed by the district, not by Tanisha [and] Paul, shows a 17% improvement when comparing semester 1 of 2023[-]24 to semester 1 [of] 2024[-]25. This is a standard widely used method in education. Trustee Holden grossly misrepresented the math... Whether Trust[ee] Holden misunderstood or chose to distort the math, she shared misinformation with the press, unfairly discrediting the BSST and casting doubt on the families and the work of Paul and Tanisha."

[47:44]

TAM High parent Jennifer Neri addresses President Roenisch directly about her 2026 seat and hands Trustee Holden a copy of Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility.

"Cynthia, I'm actively looking for your replacement in 2026... And Jenny, I'm sorry I don't have enough time to say everything that I want. So instead, I have a heartfelt gift from me to you... I offer to you my personal copy of White Fragility."

[53:27]

Former trustee Leslie J. Harlander speaks from the public-comment podium, citing her nine years on the board while criticizing how BSST data was presented.

"I say this after being on the board for nine years, working with data for nine years. The board, the district['s] never defined student success for one semester attributed to two people um, based on that type of data."

[1:00:16]

Online commenter Naima flags that the agenda has renamed the Black Student Success Team by dropping the word 'black.'

"I question why the um BSST in the agenda is referred to as the SST. Um why the word black has been um removed."

[~44:07]

Trustee Saavedra recounts his 2018 path to the board, framing his service around fiscal expertise and the district's prior proximity to a county takeover.

"I have a background in financial management that I think was um not on the board was very needed... to try to bring some financial expertise and support... so that we could um the district could focus on the education and get away from the noise associated with um the potential takeover by the county."

[~49:33]

Board President Roenisch describes how she filed to run, calling public education the 'free gift' students receive and stating her belief that every student can learn at a higher level.

"My story goes to four hours before the um deadline uh for filing... I firmly firmly ironic because most of my education was private but I have a lasting belief in the value of public education. Um and high standards for students because I think that's the free gift they get... truly believe that every single one of our students should and could be learning at a higher level."

[~54:27]

Trustee Uhlhorn identifies improving outcomes for historically marginalized student groups as the central reason she ran for the board.

"This is where I put basically my my talking points for all of my RAM. Um, which was that I wanted to uh improve the experience and outcomes for our historically marginalized student groups."

[~55:57]

Trustee Saavedra names closing the racial achievement gap through feeder-district intervention as a 'full-court press opportunity,' committing on the record to designing support programs and interventions.

"Participating in in hopefully designing what would be um support programs and intervention into you know call it our feeder district but to help to address um the need of of you know to close our racial achievement gap... there's a full-court press opportunity there and um I'm looking forward to really digging into those details."

[~1:10:00]

A trustee acknowledges on the record that respectful community dialogue had shown 'cracks' in the two months prior to the retreat (May-June 2025).

"If as a community you can value engaged, open, respectful dialogue, right?... it'd be something I would want to be front and center um for the community. And I think we've seen cracks in it um over the last two months."

[~1:12:03]

Board President Roenisch draws a bright line between community input and board authority, stating that engagement is not shared decision-making and that expectations should be set accordingly.

"We have people in the community that think this is a shared decision body. um that think you know that through town halls or through things they will share in the decision-making and in reality it's the board that makes the decision the board gets input but it's not a shared decision process um and I'm all about setting being very clear in expectations and parameters when you enter into um a dialogue."

[~30:55]

Trustee Saavedra reads a prepared statement explaining his vote against renewing the BSST contracts, citing equity, procurement, and performance concerns.

"I voted against establishing this program because it's inequitable and I voted against renewing these contracts because the consultants are not accomplishing their stated objective and this program is not active."

[~37:53]

Trustee Holden read a roughly eleven-minute prepared statement, the longest single trustee comment of the meeting. She opened by claiming many community members had privately expressed support for the June 3 vote but would not say so publicly, and asked her critics to consider whether they had 'played a role in silencing any dissent.' She then offered her Bronx upbringing, her North African heritage, and having grown up in 'the poorest congressional district in the US' as personal rebuttal to being called racist, saying 'You do not get to accuse me of racism because you do not like an informed decision I made.' Audience reaction prompted the chair to call a five-minute recess mid-speech. After the recess, Holden resumed and identified specific comments from counselors, teachers, and community members that she said were 'actually racist,' then pivoted into a point-by-point methodology critique of the BSST performance data (sample size, survey conditions, sourcing) that continued past 49:00.

"The sheer vitriol my fellow board members and I have received for making an informed decision that some of you may not like is astounding. I have been threatened, harassed, and bullied. I have been called names and have been accused of horrible things. I have been called uninformed, lacking empathy, heartless, and racist... I am the daughter of North Africans. I grew up in an apartment building in the Bronx, one of the most diverse communities in one of the most diverse cities. I grew up in the poorest congressional district in the US. By comparison, Marin County ranks the eighth wealthiest county in the US... You do not get to accuse me of racism because you do not like an informed decision I made. It simply is not true."

[~1:10:39]

Board President Roenisch, third of the three no-vote trustees to speak, states she felt pressured when the contracts were first approved in December 2024.

"I don't think these contracts should have been uh approved by the board in December. I felt pressured uh by the superintendent. I felt pressured by the timing. I felt pressured by the fact that students had already the school year had already started."

[~1:44:29]

District counsel Ms. Brown advises the board on the legal parameters for accepting private funding for district programs.

"districts are generally advised to take the money and then allocate that private funding in accordance with the district's stated priorities... it's advisable to work through your district foundation or school foundation or whatever club that you may have to actually utilize the money that you actually have. rather than based upon a number that's pledged."

[~2:00:30]

During the trustee-by-trustee discussion of whether to pursue private funding, Saavedra restates his position. The approved minutes record item 4.A as a discussion item only and record no vote.

"I don't support programs that are targeted towards people based upon skin color instead of need. [...] I think it's actually offensive."

[~2:03:03]

Superintendent Goode presents his early framework for a July 14 recommendation on providing and strengthening BSST support in-house.

"when I came back I met with 32 individuals uh some as recently to parents as recently as yesterday. I met with teachers, counselors, staff, admin, parents and students. [...] my focus in those conversations was really seeking to understand what from their vantage point provide and strengthen support for the BSST means"

[3:01]

Public commenter Ava opens the meeting by referencing a Jewish peace activist's memorial and alleging bullying by Trustee Holden the prior year; President Roenisch interrupts to demand the comment be tied to the board and, after ruling the remaining time at 12 seconds, cuts scope to in-meeting conduct only.

"The board self-evaluation um is regarding actions that the board takes in board meetings. So um you've got 12 seconds to finish, but the the focus of the self-evaluation is actions within board meetings."

[6:29]

Superintendent-designate Courtney Goode opens the retreat by thanking the board and framing his role for the evening as facilitator, referencing a follow-up workshop with DWK counsel Marie Nakamura on July 14.

"I wanted to start by thanking you all for having me join your team. I'm really honored and excited to to be here and I really look forward to working with you all... a lot of what we're doing tonight is going to serve as a bridge to July 14th."

[39:35]

Trustee Uhlhorn calls out President Roenisch in real time for sighing and interrupting while she is speaking about the need for collective agreements on meeting conduct and public comment.

"This feels very much like an example where I have something I'd like to express and you sigh it at me and then you interrupted me and I would like to have the freedom to express what I would like to express um in a public setting."

[39:56]

Trustee Emily Uhlhorn raises Brown Act concerns on the record during the self-evaluation discussion, framing them as an appearance issue over the prior six months.

"I think we have some um Brown Act issues. Um it has certainly appeared as though over the course of this last six months or so that there have been and [perhaps] appearance is not reality, but um I'm concerned."

[40:14]

President Roenisch responds immediately, asserting that outgoing Superintendent Dr. Taupier had cleared her of any Brown Act violation, and asks that no intimation be left hanging.

"I'm going to address that right out of the gate because uh intimations that um that certainly myself uh violated the Brown Act um Dr. [Taupier] cleared up. So um maybe you have other intimations about that, but um I I don't want that left hanging out there."

[1:09:47]

Trustee Kevin Saavedra, discussing whether individual board members direct the superintendent (a question that scored in the red on the self-evaluation), volunteers that he has done so in the past and characterizes it as not a good practice.

"Uh and I confess I've I've had a problem with that in the past you know um where I've shared with the superintendent um and it's in my role as a as a trustee and it's I I know that that's that's not a good practice."

[44:48]

After returning from recess following a lengthy BSST public-comment period, outgoing Superintendent Dr. Taupier asked the community to work with her successor on 'reimagining' the program rather than restoring the existing team.

"The hub and support services will be in place next year and moving forward because this work is essential to who we are as a district. I have full faith in Dr. [Goode] and our staff to build a sustainable solution that will serve our black students well for years to come. I'm asking our community members who are passionate about this to work with Dr. [Goode] in reimagining what the Black Student Success Support Team could become."

[1:46:04]

During public comment on the farewell tribute to outgoing Superintendent Dr. Taupier, former trustee Leslie J. Harlander (nine-year board veteran) addresses critics of the district's equity work directly.

"If anyone thinks that the work that's being done is going to be completely redone and reimagined. Think again. So many of the programs that are in place now are ones that you started. You started TAM forward. You started the work with the deans. You did that. So, you deserve to take some credit for that. That's not going away."

[1:46:36]

Continuing her public-comment farewell to Dr. Taupier, Harlander discloses a personal off-campus dinner with the outgoing superintendent while she is still in office.

"Tara, it's 36 seconds I have left, but um, we've had differences of opinion, but we've always respected each other and considered each other friends. Um, we had dinner the other night and we had it was so fun just to talk about our dogs and talk about travel and not have all the weight on our shoulders."

[2:27:07]

During the special-education disproportionality report, staff disclose the California Department of Education finding on Black-student identification rates at TUHSD.

"If you're black in TUHSD, you are three times more likely to be identified uh for special education under criteria for specific learning disability."

[3:14:45]

Trustee Uhlhorn formally requests that the July agenda include community financial support for BSST alongside the incoming superintendent's recommendations.

"I would like to request that we agendaize the community financial support for the BSST that came to us um at one of our July meetings along with hearing Dr. [Goode]'s recommendations uh for the continued support of the BSST. Um, I do think it's important that we hear it in um, July for planning time."

[3:15:53]

After Trustee Uhlhorn's agendizing request, Board President Roenisch acknowledges on record that the BSST decision was not solely about finances.

"I do want to make it clear that at least from my position, um, it was represented many times tonight that, um, the contracts were not brought forward or not approved because of financial concerns. And, and I will just be clear, there were many concerns."

[0:00-1:00]

Report-out from closed session on an interdistrict transfer appeal denial, delivered with each trustee voting on the record with Holden absent.

"In regarding to item 4 D1 in closed session, the board took action to deny the appeal of an inter interdist transfer request for student A. Um, it was by roll call vote. Uh, Trustee [Uhlhorn], Trustee Saavedra, and Trustee Roenisch voted uh to deny the transfer or the appeal. Um, and Trustee [Times-Green] voted in favor. Um, Trustee Holden was not present."

[12:00-13:24]

Board president rebuffs a fellow trustee's request that speakers get the standard one minute each, capping public comment at 20 minutes divided by issue.

"Cynthia, can I request that we give everyone a minute, which I think is standard how we've done it in past practice. — No, we don't give everyone a minute. We have 20 minutes and we allott it one minute per speaker. So that's what we're sticking to tonight. ... I don't think that's how we've done it. — That is actually how we've done it."

[17:00-26:57]

Board president reads a prepared statement defending the June 3 votes on the two BSST consultant contracts, telling staff and community that the decision 'will not be reconsidered,' consuming roughly 10 uninterrupted minutes of the meeting.

"While we understand there were concerns raised by staff regarding the decision to not renew two contracts, the board of trustees decision regarding the contracts in question will not be reconsidered. The board of trustees is unwavering in its support to continue services of black student success team."

[27:05-27:40]

Trustee Saavedra apologizes on the record for being 'curt' during the June 3 special meeting where the BSST contracts were not renewed.

"On June the 3 when we had that special board meeting um, in regards to multiple contracts in the specific contract that did not get renewed by Tanisha Tate Austin, and Paul Austin um, was somewhat frustrating for me. And so there were times when I was really curt in my response and so for that I apologize because um that is not the demeanor that one should have when you are serving the public."

[30:38-33:15]

Trustee Uhlhorn publicly disputes the board president's characterization of the BSST program, walking through the February slide personnel by personnel and calling the 75% figure 'factually inaccurate.'

"One thing that has been put out in the press a lot is that the majority of people working in the BSST, our staff, you just uh quoted the number 75%. And so I want to go through um the slide that we were uh given in February um just so that we are all operating under the fact. ... It is neither accurate um nor right to say that uh most of the BSST is coming back or that 75% of that group is coming back. Um that's factually inaccurate."

[1:03:47-1:06:00]

After the board declines to reopen BSST discussion, a parent at the podium presses the board to answer whether it will honor its own 'work collaboratively' norm; the presiding officer refuses to answer and moves to the next agenda item.

"One of which includes working towards consensus collaboratively. I also witnessed you speaking until 26 minutes into the meeting today. ... Are you or are you not willing to work collaboratively toward what the community clearly wants? ... — Right. So public comment that is the public comment. That is the close of public comment. ... I'm leaving the room and I'm going to vote against both of you and I can't wait to do it."

[~55:00 (public comment period)]

Dozens of students, parents, alumni, and Marin City community members speak in support of renewing the Paul Austin and Tanisha Tate contracts that run the Black Student Success Team and Hub at Tam High.

[~1:11:00 (Trustee Green statement)]

Trustee Ida Times Green, TAM alumna 1978 and Marin City resident, delivers a lengthy statement opposing non-renewal:

"I have seen it too many times within the Sausalito Marin City School District. I don't want to see it perpetuate into the Tampest [Tamalpais] Union School District as well that when we start a program specifically with kids that have the most challenges and then we pulled the rug from under them, we start all over again. That I'mma cry foul on it every single time. We talking about equity."

[~1:33:00 (Trustee Saavedra statement)]

Trustee Saavedra characterizes the previous year's contract-approval process as malfeasance by the outgoing superintendent:

"You disregarded clear direction from our attorney not to proceed. You then initiated work that you were not legally authorized to initiate. You knowingly took actions that put the district at risk... Four out of five trustees surveyed agree that you lied to us repeatedly, which is why you lost the trust of that board."

[~1:36:00 (Superintendent response)]

Superintendent Dr. [Taupier] responds on the record:

"I did not lie to anybody... The attorneys reviewed the contracts and in fact said they were legal. That was absolutely true... You don't get to call me a liar on my way out the door and think that it's okay. I did not lie to this board."

[~1:44:00 (Trustee Roenisch statement)]

Board President Roenisch announces she will vote against the two remaining BSST contracts:

"These qu these contracts do not meet the qualifications required of a public entity. This is not a private entity where we get to go hire people that we like that we think are good community members... So I will be recommending um that we vote against this contract."

[2:00:23 and 2:08:11 (Roll-call votes)]

Motions to approve the Tenisha Tate and Paul Austin contracts each fail, 2 yes to 3 no, per the approved minutes. Board President Roenisch announces the result as: 'That motion fails 3 to two.' The audience erupts. From the audience, a shout: '2026... we have to change this board it cannot be this way.' Roenisch calls to clear the room.

[6:48 – 51:28 (public comment on items not on the agenda)]

Multiple students, parents, alumni and Marin City community members speak in support of Paul Austin, Tanisha Tate, and the Black Student Success Team at Tam High, citing measurable data improvements and voicing concerns about 'rumors' that the contracts would not be renewed.

[~2:25:00 (Trustee Green statement)]

Before the vote on the two contracts on the agenda, Trustee Green requests on the record that the remaining pending BSST-related contracts be brought back to the board:

"I would like for it to go into record um that those other existing contracts that will possibly expire on June the 30th that they come back to this board so that we could take action on them."

[~2:28:00 (Assistant Superintendent Lara)]

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lara names, on the record, which contracts will and will not return to the board on June 3. Paul Austin's and Tanisha Tate's contracts are conspicuously absent from the return list.

[~3:39:00 (Roenisch discloses on the record)]

Board President Roenisch discloses that the superintendent has already communicated the non-renewal decision to the affected consultants:

"Paul and Tanisha's contract is not coming, uh, back on, uh, June 3rd... Tara's recommendation is um and has told Paul and Tanisha their contracts are not being renewed."

[~3:41:00 (Trustee Green objects)]

Trustee Green objects that the affected consultants were informed of non-renewal before any public board deliberation:

"The contracts were supposed to be ready today. They're not all ready... And now we're hearing right now we're hearing that Paul Austin and Tanisha Tate is that you had a conversation with them that their contracts are not going to be extended. We even had we have not even had an opportunity to present that to the public. I'm sorry. I'mma end it there because... that's foul."

[~3:46:00 (Roenisch cuts off discussion)]

Board President Roenisch ends the exchange:

"Okay, so I'm going to cut off the conversation now because I don't like the intimations that are being made."

[~1:05:00 (Board discussion of consultant renewals)]

Board President Roenisch questions the continued use of external consultants for equity and Black-student-support work after multiple years of professional development:

"I'm a little skeptical um about... it doesn't mean I've decided one, but I'm a bit skeptical to hear that we need to have this outsourced for another year until we train teachers because we've been spending a lot of money on professional development of teachers in these areas... are we holding them accountable?"

[~1:09:00 (Assistant Superintendent response)]

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lara pushes back on the framing that BSST work is duplicative of existing staff duties:

"I think it's important that we have that we have experts who hold both the cultural capital as well as the respect of the community helping us to do that work right now and that we have a transition plan to how we bring it in house in the future. And I don't think we're done yet."

[~1:13:00 (Board direction on consultant recommendations)]

Board President Roenisch signals that the district's revenue projections will not keep pace with prior forecasts, tying future contract decisions to the fiscal picture:

"Our revenue is going to keep pace with projections, with reassessment of commercial properties, with reassessment of residential properties, all of those things... I would like a recommendation. And if there is a planned transition to things being in-house um after a year, I'd like to see what that transition plan is."

[~1:00 (Closed session report-out)]

Board President Roenisch reports out from closed session that in a student-record challenge, the vote was 4-1 with Trustee Roenisch herself opposed:

"The result of the votes were four trustees in favor, one opposed. Trustee [Roenisch] [Roenisch] was opposed."

[~1:07:00 (Dr. Goode introduction)]

Board President Roenisch introduces Dr. Courtney [Goode] as the successful candidate from a pool of 22 applicants and 5 finalists, formerly Assistant Superintendent of HR at Escondido Union High School District, with more than 20 years of leadership experience.

[~1:11:00 (Trustee Green welcomes Dr. Goode)]

Trustee Green welcomes Dr. [Goode] on behalf of the Marin City community:

"I could feel that your sense of uh compassion and empathy and caring goes beyond the job... I felt that for you, you're going to take it one step further and in many ways um you know that was really heartfelt for me."

[~46:00 (Racial Justice Task Force Just Dinners update)]

Superintendent Dr. [Taupier] reports on the Racial Justice Task Force's Just Dinner series. Four dinners held to date this year; fifth scheduled at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City on May 14.

[~31:00 (Future agenda items)]

Board President Roenisch previews the April 29 meeting:

"He will be up here for two days. Um have an opportunity to meet with some folks and be present at our board meeting on April 29th um to ratify. he's our finalist uh to ratify and appoint him uh ratify his contract and appoint him as the next superintendent."

[~32:00 (Trustee reports)]

Trustee Uhlhorn reports on the Racial Justice Task Force's Just Dinner series continuing to draw repeat and new attendees.

[~32:00 (Contracts-for-services review begins)]

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lara presents the district's current consultant portfolio ($964,756 in direct student services + $330,500 in staff professional development). Consultants named include BACR, Bridge the Gap, DSY, Paul Austin, Tanisha Tate, Deborah McNite, Dr. Lorie Watson and E3.

[~40:00 (Trustee Saavedra requests granular data)]

Trustee Saavedra asks for student-served counts per contractor and per school, foreshadowing the value-per-dollar framing the board would use in June:

"What I'd like to know is how many students are being served by the programs those five programs there."

[~46:00 (Roenisch consultant-review framework)]

Board President Roenisch proposes a rigid framework for evaluating consultant renewals:

"identify the goal right for that consultant or the need um and then the qualifications of the consultant right because we're not going to go out and hire consultants that are providing the same services that our employees can provide right I mean that's the goal unless it's triage or overload um then the goal is to move those services inhouse."

[14:00 – 14:09]

A parent requests transparency on the licensing basis for restricting parents from viewing ethnic-studies curriculum:

"I would like to understand the licensing issues around not allowing parents to see the curriculum."

[~24:00 (Resolution 24-14 introduction)]

Trustee Saavedra introduces the reduction resolution, adding a.4 FTE visual arts position on the record. Notice deadline to affected teachers is March 15.

[~29:00 (Employee housing plan discussion)]

Board President Roenisch introduces the housing plan and describes the ad-hoc communication with the developer:

"we said, you know, I mean, we're not making really an action on it, but it was more um we wouldn't be interested as a district um in assuming financial risk for public housing that we're not in charge of building or furnishing."

[~32:00 (Trustee Saavedra explains position)]

Trustee Saavedra opposes any district balance-sheet participation in the Marin County Public Financing Authority housing project, citing 30 years of commercial real estate experience:

"I'm not supportive of participating in this with offering up our balance sheet to support uh the capitalization of this project. I mean, we're a school district. Um nothing comes for free. Adding a note to our financial statements will by definition impair certainly impact our credit rating."

[~0:40 (Trustee Saavedra absent)]

Board President Roenisch notes Trustee Saavedra is unavailable for the meeting. All actions taken with four trustees present.

[~24:00 (Principal announcement)]

Superintendent Dr. [Taupier] introduces Sam Passero, currently in his second year as assistant principal at Tam High, as the incoming principal. His stated expertise includes distributive leadership and restorative justice practices.

[~5:00 (Public comment on Stop-and-Learn sessions)]

A student calls on the board to agendize improvements to the district's 'Stop and Learn' antisemitism curriculum, citing a positive middle-school Museum of Tolerance model:

"I urge you to take action. I request this topic be agendaized for the next meeting so we can discuss ways to improve stop and learn."

[~0:08 (Closed session report-out)]

Board President Roenisch reports out a 3-1 closed-session vote with stepping out:

"in a 3 to 1 vote um trustees upheld the uh motion to deny the removal of suspension of student A. Um trustees [Roenisch] [Roenisch] um Sevedra [Saavedra] and Uhorn [Uhlhorn] voted in favor. Trustee Green um voted against and um Trustee Holden had recused herself."

[~30:00 (Item 13A vote)]

Board approves $1.3M in ongoing expenditure reductions for 2025-26 unanimously by voice vote. Reductions include the removal of the San Andreas dean and reduction of the wellness director position.

[~38:00 (Bond sale report)]

Chief Business Official Corbett Elsen reports on the successful Measure B bond sale at a 3.873% interest rate — well below the conservative 4.25% estimate, reducing total debt service by roughly $12M.

[~52:00 (BSST academic outcomes presentation)]

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lara presents Black Student Success program data:

"what we are seeing specifically in our Black Student Success program is that first we really get to know our students and then we're diving into the academics and really asking why students are not performing and getting that one-to-one support."

[~20:00 (Public comment — MV Free)]

Eileen Fischer, representing Mill Valley Force for Racial Equity and Empowerment, addresses the ethnic studies curriculum debate:

"we urge you to stand firm against the whitewashing of ethnic studies and all curricula in Marin County Public High Schools, especially at this time when hate incidents, particularly antilack [anti-Black] racism, is escalating in our local high schools."

[~22:00 (Student public commenter)]

A Tam High student speaks briefly in support of ethnic studies:

"I come to school every day to learn. So, the best way I can learn is to be taught ethnic studies."

[~1:32:00 (Principal midyear reports)]

Principals present midyear progress on the six district goals, including student perception data (California Healthy Kids Survey, YouthTruth) broken down by BIPOC student sub-populations and grade level.

[~2:32:00 (Consent-agenda scrutiny by Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers)]

Mimi Willard of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers requests removal of a $87,673 Greystone Res purchase order from the routine grouped items for scrutiny, citing bond-campaign contributor relationships. The Chief Business Official (the district's finance chief) clarifies it is a PO against an already-approved contract.

[~1:41 (Special meeting rules stated)]

Board President Roenisch clarifies that as a special meeting, only public comment on agenda items is allowed:

"as this is a special meeting, I just want to make sure people know this is the only time for comment, public comment because uh it's items on the agenda."

[~3:00 (Purpose and outcomes)]

Superintendent Dr. [Taupier] frames the cut:

"we have to make a reduction of $1.3 million in expenditures for um next year."

[~19:00 (Instructional coach reduction rationale)]

Cabinet proposes reducing instructional coaches (2.2 FTE → 1.0 FTE) and provides multi-year projections. Positions were originally established with one-time COVID funds; staff had been told these were temporary positions.

[~59:00 (Board consensus)]

Board President Roenisch signals consensus to bring the reduction plan back for action:

"well I think we came prepared and we were fully present and engaged um and we sure built toward consensus based on your um well thoughtout recommendations."

[~1:46 (Public comment on bond-related PO)]

Mimi Willard of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers requests scrutiny of a Greystone Res expenditure tied to bond spending:

"I would urge that all contracts, overruns and uh other payments related to bond spending should be scrutinized uh carefully by the board, especially those that are with parties who contributed to bond measure political campaigns um which um as you are aware was a significant source of funding for those campaigns."

[~38:00 (Leadership Associates presentation)]

Leadership Associates partners present their superintendent search proposal. Board President Roenisch had used the firm before. Presentation covers the search timeline, candidate diversity commitments, and process.

[~1:46:00 (Roll-call vote on state allocation programs)]

Board approves Resolution 24-11 : Green (yes), Holden (yes), Uhlhorn (yes), Saavedra (yes), Roenisch (yes).

[~2:20 (Redwood temporary parking lot)]

Board approves $500,000 for a temporary parking lot at Redwood High School as a follow-up to the December discussion of the Redwood Solar Project.

[55:20]

Trustee Ida Times-Green declares her interest in serving as board president, citing 19 years of school-board experience elsewhere:

"I am interested in serving as president. Uh, well, uh, this is my 19th year on a school board. Um and uh not on this one. Uh and um I have vast experience and um uh think I could uh you know lead help lead the school board uh as we discuss uh various issues um and also am a former lawyer and teacher."

[56:07]

Trustee Roenisch delivers her own case for the presidency, framing the moment as an inflection point:

"Um so I am also interested in serving as president. Um I think that we are at an inflection point in our district. Uh truthfully we have not been a well functioning um collective government system... I think that the choice of president is consequential and really will set the tone not only for this year um but for years to come."

[1:01:19]

A motion is made to nominate Roenisch as president. The vote is individual recorded vote: one yes, one no, one abstention, followed by the seating change.

"I move to nominate Cynthia [Roenisch] as a board president. I second. All in favor? I. Any against? Um, it's a no for me. And I'm going to abstain."

[1:03:24]

For the clerk election, Trustee Saavedra states his interest and openly acknowledges he is not planning to stay for the full meeting:

"this is my sixth year on the board. Um, I have not served in one of these roles yet... Sorry if I'm a little I'm actually after we get through this vote, I'm not going to be sticking around much long. I feel terrible right now."

[1:06:22]

Trustee Uhlhorn, after signaling her own interest in the clerk role earlier, moves to make Saavedra clerk; the vote is unanimous:

"I appreciate that. Um I'm going to make a motion um to approve Kevin Seedra as clerk. Second. All those in favor? I. It's a yes. Kevin, unanimous."

[1:27:41]

In her superintendent's report, Dr. [Taupier] notes the incoming federal administration and the resulting uncertainty around federal education funding for the district.

[~0:55]

Board President Harlander opens by noting a limitation of the special-meeting format that some in the audience had not anticipated:

"this is a special meeting and a special meeting um is the only kind of meeting we can have when we add a meeting to a calendar that's set a year in advance. and special meetings meetings by statute do not have an agenda item that's for public comment on items not on the agenda... I do apologize if anyone came hoping to be able to do that."

[~9:13]

The president reframes the agenda item as 'discuss' rather than action, acknowledging the course was already approved:

"Item A is discuss 9th grade ethnic studies course. Um I do want to make it clear as the agenda states it's discussed. This is not an action item. We already approved this course um months ago almost a year ago and we're furthering the discussion that we had uh la at the last meeting um when the board um requested more clarification of the the content and the nature of the course."

[~10:38]

Paula Berry, Sr. Director of Curriculum and Instruction, describes the district's rationale for adding specific lessons in response to community requests:

"at the last meeting we named that we would be adding in um lessons uh for the Jewish American experience as well as the ArabAmerican experience. And I want to bring us back to that comment around balance where it was more of in the course of study we named the four disciplines."

[~29:20 (per 2024-12-17 recording)]

A public commenter states on the record that they had asked the district for a digital public copy of the curriculum:

"we'd like a digital copy of the curriculum made public as soon as it's"

[17:56]

A public commenter tells the board that ongoing racial hostility at Tam High is 'decades old':

"uh some deep rooted decades old uh racist hostility targeting terror towards black students from [Marin] City."

[21:27]

A public commenter criticizes the district's discipline decision as collective punishment:

"I thought it was very disappointing to read in the [IJ] that the uh entire TAM football team was put on probation due to the apparent misconduct of a few members. This kind of arrogant ultimatum is unproductive and collective punishment is unduly harsh and unfair... gives petty miscreants of all sorts veto power over the football program and the whole team."

[30:18]

Superintendent Dr. [Taupier] responds to complaints about the football-team probation letter, defending the district's use of the word 'anti-blackness':

"The reference to anti-blackness in the probation letter was not made lately. It reflects the lived experience of black athletes and their families who have endured harmful incidents such as being compared to monkeys or told they are too dark-skinned to be seen or passed the football. Denying or downplaying these experiences whether intentionally or not invalidates the voices of those who have been harmed and in doing so perpetuates the very anti-black bias that was raised as a concern."

[10:12]

A public commenter frames the sequence of prior board decisions on equity:

"anti-racist resolution. And then fast forward another couple of years and you approve the anti-racist equity policy number four 0415."

[23:35]

A public commenter, speaking on behalf of newer teachers, criticizes the district's two-tiered healthcare cap:

"many of my colleagues, some who are still in probationary periods and do not feel safe speaking up. Our district's inequitable health insurance policies decap. When I was hired a few months after the standard cycle almost six"

[30:23 – 42:04 (Superintendent's Report; 'anti-racist work…is not having an effect' comment at ~40:35)]

The board asked for more direct student voice on anti-racist education because current programs 'do not seem to be effective,' per meeting minutes.

[~0:34]

Outside counsel Michelle Cannon of Lozano Smith introduces herself and the scope of the training:

"Michelle Cannon with Lozano Smith. Um, just by way of introduction, so you you all know who I am since I haven't worked with you before. I'm a partner in um, Lozano Smith. I've been practicing education law for over 25 years now... I work with school districts all over Northern and Central California on everything ranging from labor and employment issues to board governance to um, First Amendment to student discipline and sort of everything in between."

[1:17:43]

Counsel walks the board through the specific requirement to publicly report closed-session votes when not unanimous:

"the board took action by a vote of 3 to two to approve the settlement agreement. Uh board members blah blah blah voted yay. Board members such and such voted no. Oftentimes, it's a unanimous decision. And then you don't have to say the name of every person... When it's not unanimous or if anyone abstained or voted no, then you need to break that out by member."

[1:52:56]

Counsel is explicit that abstention is not sufficient for financial conflicts under the Political Reform Act:

"even if I disclose that and say, 'Oh, I'm going to abstain from the vote so there's not a conflict.' That does not work there. I cannot be financially interested in any contract board. If you enter into that contract, it's null and void as a matter of law and it's not enforceable."

[~2:00]

The Redwood student trustee reports the results of a Redwood student survey on Yondr pouches during public updates:

"Phone pouches are a big issue; journalism sent out a survey that showed 85% oppose (362 responses total)."

[8:26 – 9:33]

A Tam High student thanks Tenisha Tate and the BSST on the record — public naming of the very Tam High Black-student-support staff whose contracts have been repeatedly reviewed by the board.

"expressed gratitude to Kelly Lara, Tenisha Tate and the BSST. She said it feels good to know how much they care and have made her year ten times better."

[4:12 – 7:11]

Former teacher Brian Zailian urged the board to fund substitute-teacher costs for Global Studies field-trip chaperones — approximately $2,500 per teacher for an 8-day trip.

"urged the Board to consider requiring the District to cover the costs for substitute teachers to allow teachers to service as chaperones on Global Studies field trips. He estimates $2500 per teacher for an 8 day trip."

[10:20 – 13:00]

Peter Fredericks urged adoption of the California Seal of Civic Engagement on high-school transcripts.

"urged the Board to consider CA seal of civic engagement that would appear on high school transcripts. He stated neighboring counties have adopted this, and it would motivate students to be more involved in community projects."

[0:47]

Board President Harlander reads out the closed-session reportable action naming the case number and settlement amount on the record:

"the board approved confidential settlement agreement OA case number 2024 070603 in the amount of $66,500."

[4:50]

A Redwood junior delivers a data-heavy public comment against Yondr, presenting a broken pouch as evidence and citing a 1,000-signature petition:

"The financial burden involves $30 pouches, which I have right here. This is a broken one. Uh, for 4500 students, that's going to be over $200,000 to this private business. Uh, what you get is a cheap pouch that's easily broken into... I can buy a $7 magnet and it works exactly like the branded yonder magnet that would be in classrooms."

[8:19 – 9:37]

Ida Times-Green — who would be elected to the board six weeks later and sworn in at the December annual organizational meeting (where the board elects its officers) — introduces herself at Tamalpais High:

"thanked the Board for having the meeting at Tamalpais High School. She stated she was excited to see young kids all over campus."

[12:17 – 13:54]

Dominic Daher, a father of a freshman, warns of legal exposure if pouches trap students in an emergency:

"stated his concern regarding an emergency if all cell phones are locked up and students cannot call for help. The District and/or Board members will be sued. There has to be a better solution."

[~22:40]

Board reviews the interplay between the district's own Measure B and the statewide Proposition 2:

"proposition two is a statewide public school facilities bond measure. I want... bond measure, but it's the same verse. measures were the only practical and"

[~40:41]

The board is prompted to take action on Resolution 24-04:

"one, can I ask for a motion to approve take action on resolution number 24-04?"

[1:06:24]

Staff formally opens the Yondr pouch implementation timeline discussion, backwards-planning to October communications for a second-semester launch:

"update on timeline and potential implementation of additional cell phone restrictions... a potential timeline for implementation um for bringing yonder pouches onto our campuses beginning of second semester."

[1:08:11]

A trustee questions why implementation would take four months and pushes for options that would not commit the district financially before the Measure B election in November:

"my other question is how much would we be committing to because again we're we're all um very hopeful um that November will will that we'll get good news in November and I'm just hesitant to make any big commitment that we can't resend."

[1:25:10 – 1:31:03]

The board took action on the district's response to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report on Special Education — a rare formal accountability document explicitly acknowledged and voted on.

[2:01:04 – 2:02:45]

Superintendent Dr. Taupier's contract was amended to Step 3 ($302,259) with only weeks of prior public visibility, illustrating how executive compensation moved through the board without significant public deliberation at the meeting itself.

[20:48]

Superintendent Dr. Taupier explains why the contracts for Tate and Austin are Tam-High-specific and rooted in the Multi-Tiered System of Support model:

"Miss Tate and um Mr. Austin. They are uh slated to work only at TAM. And um this was an outgrowth of um the racist incidents at TAMs. We had a coalition that was formed... it was apparent last year that we needed more. Um and so the idea was you know we talk in our um multi-tered system of support that you have tier one is everyone tier two is 20 15% tier three is 5%."

[31:29]

A trustee frames the purpose of Tate's contract as building structure — the same structural argument that would be used to defend BSST-related staffing in later years:

"if we go back to Miss Tay's contract, the hope is that we build a structure in a program that then can be passed off to the district, right?... We need to build something. We need to do something different, right?... building a structure um in order that is targeted specifically for a population that has historically not had access to success in our district as a as a whole."

[2:01:44]

The Tate / Jackson / Austin contract package is moved and passed by voice vote, unanimous:

"so, can I ask for a motion to approve the PO list that includes the um Keith Jackson Dynamic Solutions Contract and Tanisha Tate Critical Friends and Paul Austin? So, moved. I ask for a second. Second. All those in favor, please say I. I. Was unanimous."

[2:40:22]

Public commenter Angela Shear defends OLAS contractor Lisa Jimenez's rates by referencing the systematic undervaluation of women of color:

"a lot of women and uh you know professionals and women of color in particular are not paid what they are worth. Um and so many people of color do work that is devalued. So they are not paid correctly. And so this is just for a lens. Maybe instead of reducing her rate, you increase the other rates because they're all doing great work."

[26:35]

Board takes formal individual recorded vote to place a $289 million bond measure on the November ballot.

[24:29]

A trustee makes a stark statement about the district's alternative if the bond fails:

"the $517 million bond proposal, all of those needs are critical too. These are the time critical urgent like if we don't get these funded by a bond, the district is going to look a lot different because we'll have to pull immediately 80 plus million dollars from our budget over the next couple of years or few few years. And that means changes in programming, in staffing."

[1:36:00]

Public commenter Damien speaks on the e-bike program, tying it to broader civil-rights concerns about targeting Black riders in Marin City:

"regarding transportation uh one of being a passenger and a driver of uh uh um motor vehicle and a passenger um in Marin City we uh experienced incredible numbers, incredible experiences, horrid uh targeted uh being targeted in all municipalities in Marin County... black individuals were pulled over at much higher numbers than our white individuals in [Marin] County... any if there's any uh legit good lawyers who care about civil rights, come to Marin City and we have some lawsuits waiting for you."

[1:53:17]

Parent Carlos Montalvin, whose son plays trombone in Mill Valley Middle School band and jazz band, questions the staffing reduction at Tam High music:

"I learned that in the last semester at Tam High um and just learned tonight more information that six now seven music classes were covered by two teachers. Um yet this year the same six music classes will be covered by only one teacher. Um, so I'm wondering why there needs to be a change in the staffing um, from the last semester of last year."