The Santa Rita Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees approved a package of administrative items, contracts and staffing changes, including a waiver to change the district’s extended school year (ESY) schedule, the adoption of a governance handbook, multiple therapy contracts and two labor memoranda of understanding. Each approval passed by a recorded voice vote of 3-0.

The board held a public hearing on an ESY waiver submitted to the California Department of Education that would reduce the ESY calendar from 20 days to 17 days while maintaining the same required instructional hours. District staff and trustees said the change aligns ESY with the general summer academy schedule, avoids late‑July dates that fall after the Independence Day holiday and still meets the 30‑day requirement for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) services through combined intersession and summer days. No public comments were received during the hearing; the waiver was approved 3-0.

Other approvals included adoption of the district governance handbook as the board’s final draft; the board also approved multiple contracts for related services: a Speech Therapy Link contract to continue an occupational therapist (contracted employee finishing a fourth year), a Pioneer contract for two contracted occupational therapists and one speech‑language pathologist, and a Boca Grande contract for two speech‑language pathologist positions (one in person, one virtual). Trustees also approved a Cintas service contract for kitchen dishwashing and cleaning chemicals and routine servicing.

Personnel and labor actions approved by the board included a resolution recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9) and Classified School Employee Week (May 18–24); an MOU with CSCA Chapter 503 to create a warehouse/central kitchen lead position to support expanded scratch cooking in the central kitchen; and an MOU with CSEA to reclassify a family and community liaison position to level 2 (range move from 30 to 43). The board noted it is actively recruiting for in‑house occupational therapists and speech‑language pathologists but is using contractors to maintain services while recruitment continues.

All motions on the agenda passed with no recorded dissent. The board said it will present a fuller “state of the district” report at its next regular meeting on May 14, 2025.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda adjustment to table state of the district report — approved (voice vote) 3-0.
- Consent agenda items 5.2–5.5 — approved (voice vote) 3-0.
- Approval: ESY waiver (CDE submission; 20 days → 17 days, hours unchanged) — approved 3-0.
- Adoption: District governance handbook — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Speech Therapy Link contract (occupational therapist, contracted, in‑person) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Pioneer contract (2 OTs and 1 SLP, in‑person) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Boca Grande contract (2 SLP positions; 1 in person, 1 virtual) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Cintas contract (kitchen chemicals, weekly service/maintenance) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Resolution recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: Resolution recognizing Classified School Employee Week (May 18–24) — approved 3-0.
- Approval: MOU with CSCA Chapter 503 for warehouse/central kitchen lead job description — approved 3-0.
- Approval: MOU with CSEA to reclassify family and community liaison to level 2 (range 30 → 43) — approved 3-0.

The board reported that closed‑session items were discussed but that there was no reportable action following closed session.