October 14, 2025 Board Recap

SB Unified Board Brief October 15, 2025 October 14, 2025 Board Meeting Recap This article summarizes the October 14, 2025, Board of Trustees Meeting. The full agenda is available on our website: Board Meeting Agenda   District Submits Its Negotiation Proposal to Teachers’ Union Building on the steps taken at the last meeting, the Board held the public hearing to start the process to “sunshine” (publicly announced) the district's proposal to begin contract negotiations with the Santa Barbara Teachers' Association (SBTA) for the 2025-26 school year. The District's negotiation proposal includes four articles: Wages, Health & Welfare Benefits, Hours/Conditions and Class Size. The Board will vote to approve its Sunshine letter at the October 28 meeting. Negotiations will begin after that vote.   A-OK After School Program Hits Record Enrollment The board received an update on the district's A-OK After School Program, which provides free educational and enrichment opportunities to students. The program is currently serving over 1,300 students, which is a record high for the district. Program Growth and Staffing: Despite reducing the number of program coordinators from three to one, the program has continued to grow and thrive. Since the 2023-24 school year, the program has added over 520 students and 92 staff members to meet the demand. The district maintains strict staff-to-student ratios: 1:20 for grades 1-6 and 1:10 for TK and Kindergarten. Focus on Need and Equity: While interest in the program is high across the board, the district is focusing its efforts on prioritizing families with the greatest need, specifically those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. The goal is to ensure every child who truly needs after-school care has access to it. The program also provides one-on-one support for students with disabilities to ensure equitable access for all. Enrichment and Budget: Funding for A-OK requires the district to provide nine hours of learning and care per day, including a full day of summer programming. To be responsible with taxpayer money, A-OK staff is working hard to use in-house talent and find low-cost, volunteer, or privately funded enrichment activities. This allows them to prioritize resources for hiring qualified staff to serve more students.   Update on Combatting Hate and Bias in Schools The board received a progress report on the district's ongoing efforts to address incidents of hate, bias, and anti-Blackness across all schools. This work is managed through a districtwide system called Recognize, Respond, Report (3Rs). The 3Rs system was created to ensure there is a consistent way to track and handle these serious issues. Key updates to the system include: Training more staff on how to properly respond to an incident. Allowing all employees, not just administrators, to file an official report. All reports are monitored at the district level to look for trends and ensure accountability. The report shared data that showed a drop in the number of reported incidents: the district recorded 163 reports during the 2023-24 school year, which decreased to 80 reports in the 2024-25 school year. This data will continue to guide the district's future policy and programs.   Special Education Update: Inclusion, Compliance, and Equity The board received a comprehensive report on Special Education, which supports about 1,800 students. The department is focused on four main priorities: high-quality instruction, compliance, family engagement, and reducing disproportionality. Inclusion: The district maintains a strong commitment to inclusion, with 85% of students with disabilities learning in general education classrooms. Instructional Tools: Teachers are receiving intensive training on specific reading programs like Wilson Reading System (WRS) and the Unique Learning System (ULS). Secondary schools are using a co-teaching model and a new specialized Math I course. IEP Compliance: Compliance for holding IEP meetings on time increased to 88%. The district is also implementing new procedures to ensure paraeducator support is based on student data and need, promoting independence. Equity and Engagement: Efforts to reduce the over-identification of Hispanic/LatinX students for a Specific Learning Disability are showing progress, with the risk ratio dropping from 4.09 to 3.09. The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is launching a survey to get family feedback on the IEP process.   October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month The Board adopted Resolution No. 2025-2026-12, officially recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Why this matters: Prevalence: It's estimated that 15–20% of the population has dyslexia—meaning about 1 in 5 people experience some form of the learning disability. The Challenge: Dyslexia primarily affects reading, spelling, and writing, and can impact a student’s emotional well-being and self-image if not addressed. The Potential: The resolution emphasizes that individuals with dyslexia often have average or above-average intelligence and can excel in school and their careers with proper identification and support (including instruction, accommodations, and assistive technology). The district encouraged staff, families, and the community to work together to raise awareness to better identify, treat, and support all students with dyslexia.   Committee Corner Instructional Council Meeting Recap The Instructional Council met to discuss a new Supreme Court ruling, and also to provide early input on the district's long-term strategic plan. Supreme Court Case: The team was introduced to the Mahmoud v. Taylor Supreme Court decision (which affects parent notification and opt-out rights for certain lessons). Members provided input on a tentative plan for how the district will implement the Supreme Court’s ruling. Input was also collected from principals and public comment at Tuesday’s Board Meeting. The final plan will be shared with staff after it is finalized and approved by the Board. If you would like to provide feedback, you can email info@sbunified.org.  Strategic Plan: The Council began shaping the new 3-year Strategic Plan by giving input on draft belief statements. These statements will guide future goals aligned with the Board's priorities: literacy, math, alignment of academics, assessment & achievement, and belonging and community. Next Meeting: The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for November. Finance Committee Meeting Recap The committee approved the August 26 minutes and revised bylaws. They reviewed reports on Historical Financial Data, Arts Funding/Prop 28, and the Transportation Budget. Future topics include Smarter School Spending, Secondary Staffing, and the Bond Program. CABAWE Retreat: Focused on Black Student Equity The Committee Advancing Black Achievement, Wellness, and Excellence (CABAWE) met to set their action plan for 2025-26, focused on four key priorities: Curriculum: Emphasize joy-centered, culturally sustaining learning and develop a Pro-Black Instructional Resource List. Accountability: Expressed concern over inconsistent follow-up on reported incidents (via 3Rs) and requested disaggregated data to identify trends. They stressed the need for better staff training in handling anti-Black incidents restoratively. Ethnic Studies: Recommended expanding Ethnic Studies into elementary schools and continuing staff training in Cultural Humility. Partnerships: Requested a streamlined process to fix persistent issues with community partnership agreements (MOU, payments) that support Black students. Human Resources Benefits Committee Recap The committee reviewed rising benefit costs and plan changes: Dental Costs Up: The shift to the richer $3,000 Met Life Dental Plan drove a 5% cost increase for the district ($700,000 more). Health Plan Highlight: The Gold Proactive Care PPO was promoted as a popular, no-deductible option for employees. Tax-Savings Hike: Limits for tax-advantaged accounts will increase in 2026: FSA Health Care to $3,400 and FSA Child Care to $7,500. Enrollment: 1,072 employees enrolled in benefits during the last Open Enrollment. Arts Funding Transforms Goleta Valley Junior High The committee saw the latest example of arts funding in action with the major upgrades at Goleta Valley Junior High (GVJH). Thanks to the Arts Block Grant, the school's video production class now has state-of-the-art equipment, including cameras used to make major motion pictures. These upgrades are giving students a high-level, hands-on experience in filmmaking.   Upcoming Events October 16- DEMLAC General Meeting- 6:00 p.m. October 20- Professional Development Day (No School for Students) October 23- Tech Use Committee- 6:00 p.m. October 28- School Board Meeting   Celebrations or Questions? If you have an SB Unified celebration or question to share, please email info@sbunified.org.

Thursday, Oct 16 2025

Board Brief: Approval of the 2026-27 School Calendar

SB Unified Board Brief September 24, 2025 September 24, 2025 Board Meeting Recap This article summarizes the September 24, 2025, Board of Trustees Meeting. The full agenda is available on our website: Board Meeting Agenda   Approval of the 2026-27 School Calendar The board approved the school calendar for the 2026-27 school year. The calendar is available here.   Happy 150th Birthday, Santa Barbara High School! The board took a moment to celebrate a major milestone: the 150th anniversary of Santa Barbara High School. The board approved a resolution to officially recognize the achievement. For a century and a half, Santa Barbara High School has been a big part of the community, known for its strong academics and athletics. They've also been innovative over the years, with notable programs like the Multimedia Arts & Design (MAD) Academy and the Computer Science Academy. We're especially proud of the new Interpretation/Translation Pathway, a program that is the first of its kind in the state, empowering our students with essential skills for the future. The school's newspaper, The Forge, is the second-oldest high school newspaper in California, having been published since 1914. This is just one example of the school's long history of excellence. The recap also mentioned the school's new Interpretation/Translation Pathway, a first in California. It was a great moment to honor the school's rich history and look forward to its future.   Teachers’ Union Negotiations Moving Forward The Board approved SBTAs “sunshine letter” to begin contract negotiations with Santa Barbara Unified during the 2025-26 school year. This proposal outlines what contract articles SBTA intends to negotiate.  The articles in this proposal are wages, health and welfare benefits, and class size. The next step is for the District to bring its proposals and that will take place over two meetings in October. During the discussion, Board President Gabe Escobedo read the following statement: “We heard the concerns raised by SBTA, and we believe that we can still meet our original intention behind sunshining on October 28th, which was to move forward thoughtfully, grounded in clarity and a collective understanding, while making adjustments to better support participation. With site leadership input gathered and articles still in development, we will now bring our sunshine letter forward on October 14th. This is a tight turnaround, but we are committed to doing it. We have also worked hard to establish calendar dates for negotiation, and those will be sent to the SBTA President, with the earliest bargaining date availability set for late October. At the same time, our responsibility remains the same. We will need crucial fiscal information, including updated property tax revenues in November and our first interim budget in December, before making commitments on proposals that contain financial costs. This is essential to being transparent and ensuring that any agreement is sustainable for the long term. Our hope is that this adjustment demonstrates our willingness to listen and to respond when possible, while also creating the best conditions for productive negotiations. By working collaboratively with SBTA and CSEA, we believe we can reach agreements that support our educators and staff and, most importantly, center the success of our students.”   An Update on Student Reading Support The board received a detailed report on how the district is helping students who are struggling with reading. The district uses a system called Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to make sure every student gets the help they need. Tier 1 is the high-quality reading instruction all students receive in their regular classroom. Tier 2 and Tier 3 are the extra layers of support for students who need more help. Tier 2 is usually for small groups, while Tier 3 provides more intensive, one-on-one assistance. What's New in Elementary Schools? The district is using a new test called mCLASS for all students in kindergarten through second grade to identify reading difficulties early. For students needing more support, schools use a dedicated time during the day called Power Hour for small-group instruction. There is also an after-school program using the Lexia digital platform for students who need intensive, research-based help. For students with special needs, the district is using the Wilson Reading System for focused, one-on-one help. What's Happening in Secondary Schools? At the junior high and high school levels, students who need extra support receive it through a combination of small-group help within their English classes or during dedicated "Flex Time" periods of before/after school interventions. They use a program called Lexia PowerUp for this targeted support. Investing in Teachers The district is also focusing on training teachers in the mCLASS Universal Screener, LETRS, Lexia Core 5,  Lexia English, and Lexia PowerUp.  These trainings are designed to give teachers the skills and tools needed to help students with specific reading challenges. Finally, the report mentioned that the district is partnering with community groups like the Santa Barbara Education Foundation and United Way to expand after-school literacy support for students. The board will receive a similar update on math interventions at a meeting in November.   Welcome to Our New Legal Counsel The board welcomed the district’s new in-house Legal Counsel, Joanna Powell, who was at the meeting to introduce herself. Ms. Powell brings a unique perspective to the role, having started her career as a second-grade teacher in the Bronx. This experience gives her a valuable understanding of both the classroom environment and the legal side of education, making her a great fit for the district.  Ms. Powell’s position is new and replaces the work done by several previous general counsel's law firms in hopes of bringing down legal costs. She starts next week.   New Rules for Parent Notification and Opt-Outs The board held a first reading and discussion of several changes to the district’s Board Policies and Administrative Regulations related to religious beliefs, sexual health, and comprehensive health education. These updates were prompted by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affects how schools handle certain topics. The new guidance requires the district to provide parents with advance notice and an opportunity to have their children "opt-out" of lessons that include LGBTQ+ themes or characters on the basis that instruction may “substantially interfere with the religious development” of their student. This was the first time the board reviewed these proposed changes. The Board Policies will be brought back for a second reading and potential approval on October 28, 2025.   Exciting Arts Investment: Upgrades at McKinley School Some exciting news was shared about McKinley Elementary, thanks to recent arts funding. The funding is leading to fantastic upgrades that are making a real difference in both the classrooms and the school auditorium, creating a better environment for students to learn, perform, and create. It's great to see this support making a direct impact on the arts programs and the student experience at McKinley! Upcoming Events October 2- Board Holiday (All Schools and Offices Closed) October 4- SEAC Family Training - What to do when you do not agree with the IEP? October 14- Board Meeting October 16- DEMLAC Meeting October 17- End of 1st Term High School (Minimum Day) October 20- Professional Development Day (No Student Day) October 23- Tech Use Committee October 28- Board Meeting   Celebrations or Questions? If you have an SB Unified celebration or question to share, please email info@sbunified.org.

Thursday, Sep 25 2025

September 9 Board Meeting Recap

SB Unified Board Brief September 10, 2025 September 9, 2025 Board Meeting Recap The September 9, 2025, Board of Education meeting included several significant updates, including discussions on student support, academic services, and a public hearing on an energy services contract. Board Meeting Agenda   Supporting Families Impacted by Federal Enforcement The Board of Trustees voted to file a legal brief in support of the case Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem. The brief will argue that recent immigration raids in Southern California violate individuals' Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. The Board is challenging the raids on the grounds that they involve: Unlawful stops based on race. Arrests without warrants or a proper assessment of probable cause, flight risk, or due process. Denial of access to legal counsel. This decision comes in response to public concerns about the impact of these federal enforcement actions on families in the district. Key topics discussed included: The importance of providing staff with proper resources if ICE shows up on campus Partnering with District labor partners, the Santa Barbara Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association, on any action taken Working with the Santa Barbara County Education Office and neighboring Districts on a response Partnering with community agencies to provide further resources for our families. To review District resources, visit our website: Immigrant Family Support   Teachers’ Association’s Notice of Intent to Bargain in 25/26 The Santa Barbara Teachers' Association (SBTA) has submitted its initial proposal outlining its intent to reopen contract negotiations for the 2025-26 school year, called a “Sunshine Letter”. The association is seeking to bargain on several articles of the contract, including Wages, Health & Welfare Benefits, and Class Size. In its letter, SBTA says it will be ready to begin negotiating in October. The item will be brought back to the Board of Trustees for a second review at the next Board meeting. However, negotiations will not begin until the District sunshines its letter to begin negotiations. In response to the letter, Board President Gabe Escobedo read the following statement on behalf of the entire Board: “Since the conclusion of our last negotiation, the Board has emphasized the need and importance of increased collaboration with SBTA and CSEA. In the last year, we have witnessed many fruitful partnerships, from standing up for our students together to the first-ever presentation from SBTA to the Board to our collaboration on the Fiscal Advisory Committee.   To build on that spirit of collaboration, the Board wants to be transparent about our process to sunshine our letters for negotiation for both SBTA and CSEA. The Board is planning to present our sunshine letter for first reading at the end of October. This schedule enables us to move forward thoughtfully, grounded in clarity and a collective understanding. Several important steps guide our process: Our new Fiscal Advisory Committee is beginning its work to develop a strong, shared understanding of our district’s fiscal position. Property tax numbers for the current year are received in November, and our first interim budget report will be presented in December. Between now and then, we will engage with site leaders and conduct an internal inventory to ensure we have a complete picture of the needs to serve our students before finalizing our letter. By taking each step deliberately, we’re putting forward the most well-informed, fair, and forward-looking process possible. Our goal is simple: to partner with SBTA and CSEA to offer the best contract we can, in service of our educators, staff, and ultimately, our students’ success.” - Santa Barbara Unified Board of Trustees   Approval of 2024-25 Fiscal Year Unaudited Actuals The Board approved the unaudited actuals for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2025. The report, which is required for submission to the county education office, provides a final accounting of the district's revenues and expenditures. A notable point from the report is that the property tax revenue growth for the year was 4.71%, which was below the 5% trigger for a labor negotiation increase as previously agreed upon. The report also confirms that the district met several state and federal financial requirements for the fiscal year.   Strategic Master Scheduling Update The Board received an update on the district's initiative to improve secondary master schedules. The report highlighted the partnership with New Solutions K-12, which focuses on creating student-centered and equitable schedules. Site-Specific Implementation: Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High School shared key takeaways from their professional learning sessions. Both schools are using data-driven strategies to balance class sizes, teacher loads, and student access to courses and support. Student Course Trends: Preliminary data from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years showed a decrease in the average student course load across all grade levels. The most significant drop was in 12th grade, while reductions in lower grades were more modest. Ongoing Monitoring: The district plans to continue monitoring course and dismissal data to ensure that staffing and resources effectively support student success.   Approval of the Armory Architectural Planning The Board approved a proposal for $280,300 with 19Six Architects to begin Phase One architectural planning and design services for the Armory site. This initial phase will focus on assessing the building's physical condition and gathering community input to guide the development of a Career Technical Education (CTE) and multi-use facility.   Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation The Board passed a resolution to proclaim September 15 - October 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month. The resolution acknowledges the significant contributions of Hispanic people to the United States and the fact that Hispanic students represent over 60% of the district's population. It also reaffirms the district's commitment to protecting the confidentiality of students and families and ensuring that all students have the right to a free public education. The district will partner with local organizations to provide resources and support.   New Arts Program at San Marcos High Thanks to Proposition 28 arts funding, the district is launching a new dance course offering at San Marcos High School. This initiative expands student access to the arts, allowing them to express themselves, build confidence, and earn a-g credit through movement. This investment will strengthen the school's commitment to a vibrant, well-rounded curriculum.   Committee Corner Recap of District Advisory Groups The new District Finance Advisory Committee had a strong start, with a meeting focused on establishing bylaws and selecting officers to guide the group's function. The next public meeting will be held on September 30 at the District office.   Upcoming Events SEAC Family Rep Training, September 13, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, SB Unified Board Room Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 SEAC Family Training - IEP Basics, September 20, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, SB Unified Board Room SB Unified School Board Meeting, September 23 Board Holiday (All Schools and District Office Closed), October 2   Celebrations or Questions? If you have an SB Unified celebration or question to share, please email info@sbunified.org.

Thursday, Sep 11 2025

Panorama Survey Opt-Out Form

Santa Barbara Unified Families, We will be administering the Panorama Climate and Culture Survey soon. Attached are questions for your review.  All students in grades 3-12 will participate. The survey information will be used to learn more about student experiences at school.  If you want to opt your child out of participating in the survey, please return the opt-out form to your school.   Santa Barbara Unified values input from our community – and students are important partners as we work to improve our communication, academic program, and overall experience for everyone.  The form and questions are attached to this communication.  Thank you

Thursday, Sep 11 2025

Manténgase conectado, participe: ¡Las reuniones del ...

SB Unified Updates Family Newsletter September 8, 2025 Tech Use Committee Meetings Schedule Our Technology Use Committee brings together families, teachers, and community members to discuss important issues around educational technology. Topics range from digital citizenship and student smartphone use to cloud filtering, AI, and teacher training. This group helps ensure our technology decisions reflect the needs and values of our whole community. This year's Tech Use Committee calendar is:  September 10, 6:00-7:30 District Office Anacapa Room October 23, 6:00-7:30 District Office Board Room  January 22, 6:00-7:30 (TBD) May 21, 6:00-7:30 District Office Anacapa Room [Tuesday, Sep 9 at 9:30 AM] Please note the first Tech Use Committee meeting date was sent incorrectly. The meeting is this Wednesday, September 10, not Thursday. We apologize for the error and hope to see you there.

Tuesday, Sep 09 2025

Flyer Friday

Our schools are back in session; let's make sure our journeys to and from school are safe and fun! Whether you're biking, e-biking, skateboarding, scootering, or walking, here are a few tips to keep in mind: Wear a Helmet : Always wear a helmet when biking. Safety first! Use Crosswalks : Always cross the street at intersections and obey traffic signals and stop controls. Be Visible : Wear bright or reflective clothing to make sure drivers can see you. Stay Alert : Keep an eye out for cars and avoid distractions like phones or headphones. Buddy Up : Walk or bike with a friend whenever possible. It's safer and more fun! Let's make this school year amazing and safe for everyone. Happy rolling and walking! MOVE Santa Barbara County will continue to be at your schools with walking and biking/e-biking safety trainings throughout the year. For additional resources: E-bike Safety and Online Trainings MOVE Santa Barbara Youth Education Programs City of Santa Barbara Bike/E-Bike Ordinance City of Santa Barbara Safe Routes to School Program

Friday, Aug 29 2025

Reminder: Schools and District Office Closed Monday

Schools and the District Office will be closed on Monday, September 1st, for Labor Day. The Holiday commemorates the achievements of workers in the United States. We hope you have a restful three-day weekend. [Tuesday, Sep 2 at 10:48 AM] The message sent last week on ParentSquare had an incorrect date in the Spanish translation. Labor Day was on Monday, September 1st, not September 4th. The school will be open on Thursday, September 4th, as scheduled.

Friday, Aug 29 2025

Welcome to the 25-26 School Year

Santa Barbara Unified Families, This first week of school is bringing a heat advisory with it later this week.  National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts continue to issue a heat advisory for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Santa Barbara Unified adjusts operations based on forecasts from the  NWS Heat Risk  website.   As of Tuesday morning, the forecast for most sites is listed as “Minor”. Adams, Roosevelt, Goleta Valley Junior High, and La Colina/ Quetzal are listed as “Moderate”. Below is a chart with the details of how operations will be modified: Category Temp. & Humidity Level Actions NWS  HeatRisk Level Normal 82 or less Regular school day. Green Heat Awareness Minor  83 to 88 Regular school day. Increase hydration and be aware of staying cool Yellow Heat Watch Moderate 83 to 92 50% < Humidity Regular school day. Limit duration and intensity of OR modify physical activity and closely monitor. Orange We will continue to closely monitor NWS forecasts as this develops and will make changes as necessary.  If you have any questions, please contact your school administrators. Off & Away All Day – Update for 2025–26 Santa Barbara Unified remains committed to fostering focused, engaged learning environments by limiting cell phone use during the school day. Elementary Schools:  The Off & Away All Day policy remains unchanged—phones should be off and away for the entire school day, and we encourage students not to bring them to school at all. Junior High Schools:  The policy now applies all day, with phones allowed only during lunch. However,  Goleta Valley  and  La Colina  Junior Highs are piloting a no exceptions version of Off & Away All Day and will be using signal-blocking pouches for students’ phones. High Schools:  Off & Away policies during class time will be strengthened. School staff and administrators are collaborating to ensure consistent enforcement and support for engaged learning. Thank you for partnering with us to create a learning-focused school environment for all students. A Change to How You’ll Get Texts From Our District Soon, many of the ParentSquare text messages you get from our District will come from regular 10-digit phone numbers. This will make it easier to see who is messaging you. For example, a message from your child’s teacher will come from a different phone number than a message from the school office.  What’s changing?  Right now, most texts come from a 5-digit number. Soon, you’ll start getting texts from different regular 10-digit phone numbers for:  Direct messages Classroom and group posts School posts  Messages from the district, digests and alerts will still come from the 5-digit number.  What should you do? When you receive a message from one of these new 10-digit numbers, save it to your contacts. Here are some suggestions: Save a teacher’s number as: Ms. Davis - 4th Grade Save classroom/group posts as: Elementary Classes Save school posts number as: Elementary Updates Read more about this change and some helpful tips:  Changes to ParentSquare Text Messages . Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is a collaborative group of parents and district staff dedicated to supporting students with disabilities. SEAC provides input and guidance on all aspects of schooling that impact these students, working proactively with SBUSD staff to promote a culture of care, inclusion, and equity. The committee offers valuable feedback on the district’s Special Education priorities, including academics, safety, and the social-emotional wellness of students with disabilities in Santa Barbara.  Membership includes parents and guardians of children with disabilities, educators, representatives from community agencies, and other interested individuals or groups.    Need more information? Want to attend a meeting?  Want to be a member?                                                                                                       Please Contact:  Dr. Karla Curry, Director of Special Education,  kvcurry@sbunified.org   Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting Dates (25-26) September 24, 2025 (6-7:30 pm), Santa Barbara High School  December 10, 2025 (6-7:30 pm), Monroe Elementary School  March 11, 2026 (6-7:30 pm), La Cumbre Junior High School  May 13, 2025 (6-7:30 pm), San Marcos High School  We are offering a series of informative learning opportunities designed to support and empower families in understanding and addressing the diverse needs of their children. Each session is designed to provide valuable knowledge and practical tools to help support your child’s development and well-being. If you would still like to register for one of the learning opportunities below, please contact Janina Martinez at  jsmartinez@sbunified.org Special Education Advisory Committee Family Trainings (Fall 2025) September 6, 2025 (11 am - 1:00 pm), SEAC Parent Representative Training  September 10, 2025 (5 pm - 6:30 pm), IEP Basics  September 20, 2025 (10 am - 11:30 am), IEP Basics  October 4, 2025 (12 pm - 1:30 pm), What do you do when you do not agree with the IEP? After School Programming Returns The After School team welcomed over 110 staff members for a dynamic orientation and training session this week. The day covered school and program guidelines, structure, the Standard Response Protocol, the essential 3 R’s, etc. Everything our teams need to start the year strong. Teams also had the chance to bond, collaborate, and put together a list of goals to kick off the school year with intention. We wrapped things up with an inspiring and interactive SEL workshop led by the amazing Trisha DiFazio and Allison Roeser. It was a fantastic start to a meaningful year ahead!

Wednesday, Aug 20 2025

Taking Proactive Steps to Ensure a Safe School Year

Tuesday, Aug 19 2025

DEMLAC General Meeting Calendar & Executive Board Ne...

SB Unified Updates August 13, 2025 DEMLAC General Meeting Calendar &amp; Executive Board News for 2025–2026 Dear Parents and Guardians, We’re excited to share the 2025–2026 calendar for our&nbsp;DEMLAC&nbsp;General Meetings! These meetings are a meaningful space for connection, collaboration, and advocacy in support of our Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLs) and their families. &nbsp; DEMLAC GENERAL MEETING DATES 2025-2026 Oct 16, 2025, 6:00PM - 7:30PM Nov 20, 2025, 6:00PM - 7:30PM Jan 22, 2026, 6:00PM - 7:30PM Feb 19, 2026, 6:00PM - 7:30PM Mar 19, 2026, 6:00PM - 7:30PM Apr 23, 2026, 6:00PM - 7:30PM May 21, 2026, 6:00PM - 7:30PM LOCATION: District Office Board Room 720 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 As we look ahead, we also want to take a moment to celebrate our 2024–2025&nbsp;DEMLAC&nbsp;Executive Board, who have led our general meetings with incredible dedication and heart: Co-President: Odilia Gutierrez Co-President: Irlanda Gomez Secretary: Viridiana Victoria Parliamentarian: Mayra Oseguera Advisor to Co-President: Rosy Alcala As part of our ongoing leadership development, three positions will be up for election for the 2025–2026 school year: Two Co-Presidents One Secretary We warmly invite you to nominate yourself or another parent/guardian of an EML to help lead&nbsp;DEMLAC&nbsp;into its next chapter&nbsp;by clicking the link&nbsp;DEMLAC&nbsp;Officer Nomination.&nbsp;Your voice and leadership are essential to this work! We look forward to seeing you at our general meetings and continuing our partnership to uplift students and families across the district. If you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. With appreciation, Dr. Deborah Martinez Director, Educational Equity and Multilingual Services Santa Barbara Unified School District 720 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, California 93101 (805) 963-4338 ext. 6309 deborahmartinez@sbunified.org

Thursday, Aug 14 2025