GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees met Jan. 21 at City Hall, where discussions focused on labor negotiations, enrollment trends, district planning and a series of policy updates, alongside reports on student programs and district operations.

Lake Canyon Elementary student leadership first presented to the board with recent school highlights, followed by a performance from the kindergarten choir.

The board then moved into public comment, where several speakers criticized a recent districtwide email related to labor negotiations, calling the approach inappropriate during active bargaining.

 “This approach does not foster transparency or partnership and instead escalates tension in a critical time,” one speaker said.

Arianne Aguilera, a music teacher at McCaffery Middle School, spoke to the same sentiment.

 “We shouldn’t be having an adversarial relationship with each other when our goal for all of us is to do our best for our students,” she said. “Creating tension between the district and the teaching staff makes for this to be a less desirable workplace for teachers…”

Educators and community members urged the district to negotiate in good faith and pressed the board to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for teachers, pointing to rising responsibilities, improved student outcomes and district reserve levels.

Superintendent Lois Yount reported that, based on a recent budget workshop reviewing the governor’s proposal, the average reserve level for school districts across the state ranges from 15% to 20%, while Galt’s reserve stands at 13%.

She noted that reserves have been gradually declining but emphasized that the district maintains a board policy to keep reserves above 9%, adding that it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to allow them to fall below that level. Yount said that the email’s key message encouraged a more conservative approach to reserves in anticipation of the new gubernatorial administration in the next few years. A full report on the district’s reserve levels will be available in February.

Next, staff presented a midyear review of the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), outlining progress toward goals focused on academic rigor, inclusive practices and whole-child development through social and emotional learning.

Trustees also received updated enrollment projections from SchoolWorks, Inc., which showed the district continuing to experience modest growth at a time when many California districts are seeing declining enrollment. Staff noted existing school sites currently have capacity to absorb projected growth, though future planning may require adjustments to classroom and specialist space.

Additional reports included the Williams Uniform Complaint Process, which had no complaints to report for the quarter, and an announcement that registration for the 2026-27 school year will open as of Jan. 26.

In routine business, trustees approved the consent calendar, which included minutes, payment of warrants, personnel actions and a donation to Lake Canyon Elementary. The board also approved a revised memorandum of understanding with the Galt Joint Union High School District governing transportation services. The updated agreement clarifies shared responsibilities, establishes a joint transportation committee and formalizes a cost-sharing structure based on mileage.

Trustees approved the 2024-25 School Accountability Report Cards for all district schools and conducted a first reading of 15 board policies and bylaws. The proposed updates, largely based on recommendations from the California School Boards Association, addressed topics including parent rights, interdistrict attendance, social media use, facilities planning, nondiscrimination, safety procedures and closed-session protocols. Several policies reflected recent changes in state law, while others clarified existing practices.

The meeting concluded with discussion of pending agenda items, including a future wellness workshop for parents. The board adjourned with its next regular meeting scheduled for Feb. 18.