District accepts Prop 28 annual report; leaders say VAPA restructuring plan will be ready this fall

The Chula Vista Elementary School District board accepted the Proposition 28 annual report for fiscal year 2024–25 on Aug. 13. The report shows the district did not spend Prop 28 funds in 2024–25; staff said spending will begin in the 2025–26 school year once local plans and a revised VAPA (visual and performing arts) service model are finalized. Deputy and program staff explained that Proposition 28, approved by California voters in November 2022, provides roughly $3.2 million annually to the district for arts and music programming. Because the district is developing a new service model for VAPA and has used other funding streams to sustain programs, staff said the district retained prior allocations and will deploy Prop 28 funds to maintain services while it reimagines the program to fit available revenue. Assistant Superintendent Marlis Morales and colleagues told the board the district has accumulated Prop 28 funds from multiple biennia (approximately two years of allocations), creating a multi‑year balance that will act as a buffer while staff redesign the VAPA service model. Morales said teams are meeting with principals and other leaders; staff expect a finalized restructuring plan and implementation proposal by November so the board can decide on allocations and staffing for the following budget cycle. Trustees asked for clear timelines and for staff to confirm that no school has lost existing VAPA programming while the district prepares the new model. Staff said no school has experienced a discontinuance of VAPA offerings because other funds were used to bridge the gap. The board accepted the Prop 28 report with direction to present the VAPA service model and impact analysis in the fall.