GPA Equity Fix, Youth Health Expansion Headline a Busy JUHSD Board Night

The Jefferson Union High School District's Governing Board packed its May 12 meeting with recognitions, policy shifts, and a landmark health care vote — but the most consequential action may have been one that didn't even require a formal vote. An administrative regulation change now grants dual enrollment students the same GPA weighting as their AP peers, directly addressing stark equity gaps for English learners and students with disabilities. The board also unanimously approved a Drug Medi-Cal application that will let the district's integrated student health center move into ongoing substance use treatment.

• Dual enrollment courses now receive the same GPA "grade bump" as AP classes, closing an equity gap that left 23% of English learners and 19% of students with disabilities without GPA recognition for college-level coursework

• Youth Point Health wins Drug Medi-Cal approval to expand its Inspire substance use program from brief intervention into ongoing treatment — unanimously, 5-0

• Rebranded student health center reports 2,900 primary care clients, 4,200+ behavioral health appointments, and financial self-sustainability for the first time

• Student-led sustainability committee finds 20% waste contamination sends entire bins to landfill, driving new education programs across all school sites

• Board calls November 2026 election for four governing board seats — three full terms and one short term — setting the stage for potential board-wide turnover

• Outgoing AFT Local 1481 President Monica Casey delivers emotional farewell, naming co-presidents Michaela Christensen and Adam Kuby as successors

Grade Bump Goes to Dual Enrollment: A Quiet Equity Shift

The basics: Under Administrative Regulation 5121, students in AP and Honors courses receive an extra GPA point — a "grade bump" that can influence class rank, scholarship eligibility, and college admissions. Until now, dual enrollment courses taken on JUHSD campuses through a partnership with Skyline College were excluded, even though they carry transferable college credit.

Why it matters: The data tells the story. Deputy Superintendent Kareen Baca presented figures showing 23% of English learners and 19% of students with disabilities participate in at least one dual enrollment course — compared to just 4% and 5%, respectively, in AP. Excluding dual enrollment from GPA weighting created a structural disadvantage for the district's most underserved students.

Where things stand: A 14-member Board Policy Working Group reviewed the issue, and 78% of surveyed stakeholders supported the change. The revised language extends GPA weighting to dual enrollment courses with no cap on the number of courses, and to concurrent enrollment courses capped at 40 semester units with counselor approval. Because this is an administrative regulation rather than board policy, no formal vote was required.

"There is no plan to remove AP courses," said Ms. Baca, Deputy Superintendent, addressing a common concern about dual enrollment displacing Advanced Placement. She noted that finding qualified dual enrollment instructors is actually harder because of master's degree requirements.

The other side: Superintendent Toni Presta raised a pointed concern about the counselor approval requirement for concurrent enrollment. "I'm always cautious about adults not allowing students to do something that they might be capable of doing," she said, calling the prior-written-approval language something that "worries me a little bit actually." Ms. Baka assured that in practice, nearly all students requesting concurrent enrollment are approved.

Trustee Andy Lie offered unequivocal support: "I appreciate the equity mindset very specifically because the data really bears it out. I'm actually kind of surprised we haven't done it before."

What's next: The regulation takes effect without further board action. Staff will monitor implementation, particularly the counselor approval process that Superintendent Presta flagged.

Youth Point Health: 2,900 Clients, Financial Independence, and a New Treatment Mandate

Why it matters: Youth Point Health — the 36-year-old student health center formerly known as the Daly City Youth Health Center — is the only model in San Mateo County integrating primary medical care, behavioral health, substance use prevention, peer health education, youth leadership, and family support under a school district's governance. It rebranded to clarify that its services extend beyond Daly City.

Where things stand: Executive Director Annya Shapiro reported the center served 2,900 unduplicated primary care clients between July 2025 and March 2026, with 372 behavioral health screenings, 257 long-term therapy clients, and more than 4,200 behavioral health appointments. Among on-campus students, 73% showed measurable improvement in well-being, and 67% had families actively engaged. Thirty-one percent of clients received pro bono services. The PLAY peer health education program reached 784 youth and trained 65 peer health leaders, while the Inspire substance use prevention program helped 65 students avoid suspension and provided prevention education to nearly 1,200 youth.

"Our district is the only one in the county and likely one of very few in the state with a model that combines such comprehensive list of services tied so directly to a district ecosystem," said Shapiro.

Superintendent Presta underscored a milestone: "The health center has become, under Anya's leadership, self-sustaining. The district was contributing money every year to make sure that the health center could meet their obligations. And that is not the case."

Trustee Jerome Gallegos offered deeply personal remarks, sharing his own family's experience with suicide. "I've been affected by things like this directly and within my family, and with suicide, and people not having resources and people to go to," he said. "There's just not enough of support like this."

Decisions: The board unanimously approved Youth Point Health's Drug Medi-Cal application (5-0, voice vote), enabling the Inspire program to expand from brief intervention into ongoing mild-to-moderate substance use treatment. Shapiro explained the rationale: "Through our brief intervention program, students kept returning voluntarily and they wanted to have further sessions. We've also been asked by the county to pursue this."

What's next: Trustee Lie suggested arranging legislative tours of the facility, noting that Assemblymember Marc Berman has a bill related to student mental wellness. He also floated the idea of hosting a future board meeting at Youth Point Health.

Students Drive Sustainability Across District — but Waste Contamination Remains a Challenge

Why it matters: The 27-member Jefferson Union Sustainability Committee — 44% students — is driving environmental literacy and action across every school site. But their findings also reveal how far the district has to go: 20% contamination in waste bins is enough to send entire loads to the landfill.

Where things stand: Three subcommittees reported progress. The Waste Management team, presented by Oceana student Emma Kim, found the 20% contamination threshold and responded by implementing Earth/Waste Week at Oceana, creating 3D bin signage, holding waste trivia games, and delivering waste management presentations during advisories.

Jefferson High teacher Joel Bruxvoort presented the Green Ribbon Schools Application subcommittee's work — a 34-page federal application covering environmental impact reduction, health and wellness, and sustainability literacy. The district did not win recognition this year, but the application established a baseline and identified energy tracking improvements now underway through the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

The Communications subcommittee, presented by Westmore student Kelsey Watley, organized a Pacifica Beach Coalition cleanup that collected 1,300 cigarette butts and 76 pounds of garbage with 50 volunteers.

"What I like about what you guys are trying to do is you're making it cool," said Trustee Jerome Gallegos. "You're making it cool to show the other students and engage your community and taking care of our Mother Earth."

Trustee LaSaundra Gutter was more reflective: "I feel some guilt. I don't remember doing any of this stuff when I was your age. And I feel like maybe my generation left a little bit of extra trash at the beach."

Board President Sherrett Walker called the work trailblazing: "We're still coming up with ways to figure out how to do this. And that's what you're doing right now — this is trailblazing work."

What's next: Future plans include waste monitors with incentives, video PSAs, and a second Green Ribbon application strengthened by the baseline data from this year's effort. The ongoing challenge: recruiting student waste monitors when community service hour requirements during school time create logistical barriers.

Union Farewell: Outgoing AFT President Champions Classified Staff

Monica Casey, outgoing president of AFT Local 1481, delivered an emotional final board report. She announced successor leadership — co-presidents Michela Christensen and Adam Kubey, and co-vice presidents Robert Rustia and Matt Barnes — and used her final remarks to champion classified staff recognition.

"We are not a teachers union. We are a union of educators. If you're a bus driver, you're an educator. If you're a custodian, you're an educator. If you're a counselor, you're an educator," Casey said. She noted the district is virtually wall-to-wall union, covering both classified and certificated staff except Teamsters-represented CAFE workers, and highlighted both Staff Appreciation Week and CFT's Classified Appreciation Week.

Board members responded with emotional tributes. Trustee Andy Lie shared that a family member in Southern California — a CFT member — had texted him after seeing Casey on a union webinar discussing the district's workforce housing project. Trustee LaSaundra Gutter praised the board-union relationship: "One thing that I heard, even when I was talking to Tony on the phone before I came in for my interview, was about the good relationship that the union had with the board. And that's just so important." Superintendent Toni Presta became emotional thanking Casey for her contributions.

District Celebrates Athletes, Sustainability Leaders, and Employees of the Year

The board opened the evening with three rounds of recognition. The Terra Nova varsity girls soccer team was honored for an undefeated 9-0 league season, an Ocean PAL Division championship, and a CCS semifinals appearance. The team scored 34 goals while allowing only 2 in league play before falling 1-0 in the CCS semifinals to Watsonville, which went on to win the section title.

Three Terra Nova students were also recognized by the San Mateo County Office of Education's Sustainable and Climate Ready Schools challenge: the AP Environmental Science Club for its Thrift Fit project tackling fast fashion, senior Ava Litz for garden club leadership and work with the Pacifica Beach Coalition, and senior Calvin Chan for developing a Carpool 2 toolkit addressing transportation emissions and his work on the City of Pacifica Climate Action and Resilience Committee.

The board then honored peer-nominated Employees of the Year — certificated (Martha Mead Educator of the Year), classified (Sue Cook Classified Employee of the Year), and administrator (Mike Crilley Administrator of the Year) winners from every school site. The district's Administrator of the Year was Steph Phillips. Board President Sherrett Walker offered a lighthearted congratulations: "I was a teacher, and I made it through. Well, we call it three years, but I might have mailed in that last few weeks."

Minor Items

• Consent agenda approved unanimously (5-0, voice vote).

• Resolution 2025-26 No. 16 adopted unanimously, calling a Nov. 3, 2026 election for three four-year and one two-year governing board seats. Superintendent Presta noted the resolution was reviewed by district counsel.

• Resolution 2025-26 No. 15 approved unanimously, declaring intent to continue the Maintenance Assessment District generating approximately $360,000 annually for facility upkeep. Deputy Superintendent Tina Van Raaphorst presented the engineers report. A public hearing is set for June 2.

• Four board policies received first reads with no action required: BP 5142 (cybersecurity and digital media awareness), BP 5144.1 (suspension and expulsion due process, adding off-campus activity coverage and rehabilitation plans), BP 5145.6 (parent notification accessibility in alternative formats), and BP 6173 (homeless children education, minor language update).

• Board reports: Trustee Gutter attended Youth Point Health, a documentary screening, the Daly City Poet Laureate competition, and a mental health training for elected officials organized by former mayors Mary Beer, Eddie Flores, and Sarah McDowell. Trustee Lie attended the San Mateo County School Boards Association Kent Awards, where the district was recognized for its equity work and the Jefferson High CTE Engineering Pathway, and hosted the fourth CSBA Workforce Housing Training Cohort showcasing 705 Serramonte. Superintendent Presta praised board engagement and noted the district is seen as a statewide leader in workforce housing.