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A Message from Superintendent Monica Thomas, Support...
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Monica Thomas Watch: English l Spanish or Read: English l Spanish Opportunities & Resources Help Your School Receive Funding for Your Student: Complete Income Verification The funding our schools receive is based on the information gathered through our annual data verification process, particularly family income verification. This helps us receive 100% of funds from the State to support our students. Please take a moment to complete this process for each of your students at bit.ly/srcsaeries If you've already completed your data verification and didn't verify income, fill out this quick form: English l Spanish E-Bike Safety Information Meetings We will be hosting two opportunities with the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition for the community around safety, education, and the law. Thursday, October 15, 6 p.m. l Piner High School Thursday, October 22, 6 p.m. l Maria Carrillo High School Learn more and share these opportunities: Flyer in English l Spanish Visit our website
Friday, Oct 02 2026
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Celebrating Our First Day Together
Dear Santa Rosa City Schools community, Happy first day of school! As your new Superintendent, I am excited to lead Santa Rosa City Schools at this important time. It was amazing to meet so many of our brilliant students and dedicated team members today. I’ll be spending this week visiting each school site, spending time in classrooms and building connections. Community is important to me- I have deep roots in Mendocino County and spent 20 years leading schools in Oakland Unified- and I could not be more proud to lead here in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa City Schools can and should be the highest performing district in Sonoma County where we are united in a collaborative focus on student results, especially for the students who need us the most. I plan to be active and visible across our schools so I can learn more about our incredible students and observe learning across the district. I will spend my first 100 days listening, learning, engaging, and reflecting on what we want for our students and what we are prepared to do as a community in order for them to achieve success. I look forward to meeting you as I’m out visiting schools and in the community. Thank you for the warm welcome and for your incredible support of Santa Rosa City Schools. Warm regards, Dr. Monica Thomas Superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools Complete the Annual Data Verification for Your Student! Review required information, update emergency contact information, and help us collect state funding for your student by verifying your household income. Take 15 minutes to complete this important process: Visit bit.ly/srcsaeries or download the Aeries parent app on your smart phone: Android l iPhone Stay Connected to Your Student's Education with Parentsquare Get important information for your student throughout the year all in one place. Download the Parentsquare app on your smart phone: iPhone l Android
Tuesday, Aug 18 2026
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Congratulations to the Class of 2026, Message from I...
2026-2027 Key Dates to Know View the ratified and approved 2026-2027 Instructional Calendar First Day of School: Monday, August 17, 2026 Thanksgiving Break: November 23-27 Winter Break: December 21 - January 3 Spring Break: March 22 - 26 Elementary Final Day of Instruction: June 3 Secondary Final Day of Instruction: June 4 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Visit our website
Monday, Jun 08 2026
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SRCS will Implement the California Phone Free School...
Santa Rosa City Schools will be implementing the California Phone-Free Schools Act beginning in August 2026, per Board Policy 5131.8. Students will have to power their cell phones to silent and put them away while at school, including class, breaks, lunch, and passing periods. Would you like to learn more? Try these resources! Social Media Use and Teens How Social Media affects Teenagers
Saturday, May 09 2026
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SRCS Together: Gratitude for our team & Moving Forwa...
Hello SRCS community, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible impact our educators, classified staff and each of our SRCS team members have on the hearts and lives of our students every day. It’s important that every SRCS employee knows that their work is invaluable and makes a difference, whether that impact is felt directly or indirectly in the classroom. Thank you for your passion, patience, and commitment to serving every student. Please take a moment to review the many resolutions (2025/2026) passed by our Board of Trustees earlier this year to express their appreciation. I would also like to welcome our newly appointed Area 2 Trustee, Mr. Shaun Du Fosee who began his service during the April 22 board meeting. Thank you to everyone who shared their input on where we need to focus resources for next year to inform our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). This plan is essential for determining how we ensure our strategic priorities and available resources support student success. This will be incredibly important as we move forward to implement our fiscal stabilization plan. Following the Sonoma County Office of Education’s (SCOE) agreement with our positive budget certification, it will be crucial that we move forward with the board approved reductions. We are aligned with concerns raised by SCOE and are taking action to mitigate them to allow us to recenter our collective efforts on our students without the fear of instability and uncertainty. Our focus moving into next school year is to strengthen our foundational academic supports that impact each of our students, and to direct targeted interventions within our means. We are working collaboratively with districts across the county to focus on early literacy, as well as to ensure our students are reading at their grade level. When we look at opportunities for growth in early literacy, English language arts (ELA), and math, there is important work needing to be done to ensure that our students have a solid foundation upon graduation to Quality First Instruction: Support for every teacher to provide rigorous, grade-level instruction based on state standards. Essential Skills: Focusing on critical knowledge and skills for successful grade-level transitions. Targeted Interventions: Identifying and further developing layers of support for students who are struggling, and ensuring these interventions are supplemental to—not a replacement for—core grade-level instruction. We believe that by focusing intensely on these core academic areas and being transparent about our progress, we can turn the tide and see the growth our students deserve. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the academic success of all students in Santa Rosa City Schools. Sincerely, Lisa August Hulme Interim Superintendent Santa Rosa City Schools Visit our website
Thursday, May 07 2026
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County Concurs with Santa Rosa City Schools Positive...
Santa Rosa City Schools has received a letter from the Sonoma County Office of Education accepting the district’s positive second interim budget certification, approved by the Board on March 11th . The district’s positive certification means that Santa Rosa City Schools will meet its financial obligations through 2027-2028 with one-time and ongoing budget reductions approved by the Board. SCOE’s communication notes grave concerns about the implementation of budget solutions approved by the Board of Trustees on February 11th . "We are aligned with the County on the gravity of these concerns, and they are firmly on our radar,” said Interim Superintendent Lisa August Hulme. “We are intentionally and actively working to mitigate them, with a clear focus on implementing the Board-approved budget solutions and strengthening our fiscal practices to ensure long-term stability and avoid this situation in the future." Santa Rosa City Schools began the school year with an approximate $15 million structural deficit and $3 million cash shortfall. Without immediate action, the district risked failing to meet payroll for employees, which would have triggered the need for an emergency loan from the State, removed local control, and placed decades of debt on the community. “With our budget stabilization plan in place, we are eager to focus fully on what matters most: our students,” said Board President Nick Caston. “This positive certification means Santa Rosa City Schools is in a strong financial position to deliver the excellent academic and enrichment programs - such as arts, music, and athletics - that motivate our students and prepare them for bright futures.” The fiscal solutions recommended by the District and approved by the Board on February 11 eliminated the structural deficit and cash shortfall, as well as began to replenish the district’s emergency reserves. “The County commends the District for identifying and adopting these necessary reductions and recognizes the District’s demonstrated commitment to restoring fiscal solvency,” the letter signed by SCOE Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Sarah Lampenfeld states. “The implementation phase of these actions is critical to achieving and sustaining fiscal solvency.” With the County’s approval of SRCS’s positive certification, the district regains local control as the fiscal advisor assigned by SCOE in February 2026 shifts to operate as a fiscal expert. SRCS will continue to provide updates on the implementation of budget reductions and its fiscal health. View previous communication between the Sonoma County Office of Education: Letter from SCOE*_7.18.25 Letter from SCOE_SRCS Budget Approval 9.15.25 SRCS Response to SCOE 9.30.25 SRCS Letter to SCOE 10.15.25 SCOE Response to SRCS 10.16.25
Saturday, Apr 18 2026
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Virtual Community Input Session: Help Shape our Prio...
Santa Rosa City Schools invites students, families, staff, and community members to share their voices and help guide district priorities for the upcoming school year. Join us for our final virtual input session - your feedback matters! Wednesday, April 15, 5 - 7 p.m. Link to Join: bit.ly/srcs2627
Friday, Apr 10 2026
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SRCS Together: Message from Interim Superintendent L...
Enroll your students for the 2026-2027 school year today It’s time to look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year! By enrolling your student today, you provide the vital data Santa Rosa City Schools needs to ensure our staffing and resources are fully prepared for your child’s success. We especially encourage 7th and 9th graders to submit their course selections now, as early input allows our sites to build schedules and offer the electives students are most excited about. Join us in planning a great year by completing your enrollment and course requests through the parent portal today. Celebrating our SRCS Community Lobos Take a Bite of Reality Elsie Allen High School Seniors learned about financial literacy and the importance of budgeting during the Bite of Reality event. Thank you to all of our volunteers who helped staff booths to help students make decisions on spending in areas of housing, transportation, nutrition, child care, and more. Helen Lehman Elementary Celebrates Read Across America Thank you to Helen Lehman Elementary for letting us join in on your Read Across America celebration! Interim Superintendent Lisa August Hulme was lucky enough to read to a few of our classrooms and answer some questions from students! French American Charter Chess Teams Only Public School to Compete & Advance to International Competition in France Earlier this school year, our French American Charter chess team competed in the North American Tournament of French schools from the U.S. and Canada in Boston. As the only public school to compete in the competition, the grade 7-8 team earned a spot in the International Chess Competition in France this summer! Our students have been fundraising for their trip through bake sales and were recently featured on KOWS 92.5 FM. Listen to the March 6 interview here! Opportunities & Resources Sonoma County College Fair Santa Rosa City Schools will be hosting the Sonoma County WACAC College Fair at Piner High School on March 11th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. We have over 80 colleges registered to attend so far - a list of attending colleges can be located here and will be updated regularly. Pre-registration is highly recommended! Students will receive a barcode to use at the event to connect with schools. Students will get to choose their sharing settings when registering and StriveScan does not share with third parties. Students can register from the QR code or directly at this link: https://app.strivescan.com/guide/19230/sonoma-county-fair-at-piner-high-school Flyer image w/ qr code: English l Spanish Trustee Area 2 Applications Open Through March 25 We are accepting applications from interested community members to fill the vacant Trustee position for Area 2 on the SRCS Board of Education. Community members interested in applying are encouraged first to verify that they reside within the boundaries of Trustee Area 2 in northwest Santa Rosa using the Area Locator tool available. To apply, Trustee Area 2 residents are invited to complete the application form at bit.ly/srcsarea2. Visit our website
Monday, Mar 09 2026
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Next Steps in Our Fiscal Stabilization Plan: Clarify...
Dear SRCS Community, We have received questions and concerns about potential reductions in light of the preliminary layoff resolutions the Board is considering today. Thank you for your engagement and advocacy—your commitment to students and programs across our district is clear and deeply appreciated. The positions and figures listed reflect maximum potential reductions based on conservative enrollment projections and required staffing ratios. They are part of a legal process and do not represent final program decisions. We have heard specific concerns about arts programming, and I want to assure you that there is no plan to eliminate the arts. Today’s action is a required procedural step. By law, preliminary notices for certificated staff (including teachers and counselors) must be issued by March 15—before course requests and site master schedules are finalized. Between March 15 and May 15, enrollment is refined, schedules are built, and staffing needs are clarified. It is common for preliminary certificated reduction notices to be rescinded during this period. Final action occurs by May 15 and reflects the actual staffing impact after refinement. In contrast, classified reductions reflect previously approved actions under the Board-adopted Fiscal Stabilization Plan and are not expected to be rescinded. The FTE (full-time equivalent/employee) reflected in the certificated resolutions does not automatically equate to the elimination of specific courses or programs. Final offerings will be determined through site-based scheduling aligned to student requests and Board-approved allocations. Students will be appropriately scheduled within the final staffing allocation. We remain committed to meeting legal timelines, managing our budget responsibly, and protecting core academic programs and services to the greatest extent possible. We will continue to provide updates as we move toward final determinations in May. Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools. With gratitude, Lisa August Hulme Interim Superintendent
Wednesday, Feb 25 2026