Board Celebrates English Learners, Advances Labor Talks, and Spotlights Student Support

The Orinda Union School District Governing Board opened 2026 with a packed agenda that balanced celebration and substance—honoring 27 students who achieved English proficiency, showcasing first-grader projects on heroes, and laying the groundwork for upcoming contract negotiations with classified staff. The meeting offered a window into how this small, high-performing district invests in its most vulnerable learners while navigating the routine mechanics of governance.

• 27 students reclassified as Fluent English Proficient in a ceremonial recognition highlighting family engagement and multilingual assets.

• Board adopts Resolution 2613 proclaiming Feb. 2–6, 2026 as Week of the School Counselor.

• Course catalog updates approved, including simplified math course names and geometry offering at Orinda Intermediate School.

• Public hearings open CSEA and District bargaining proposals for 2025–26, signaling contract talks ahead.

• Special education enrollment stands at 259 students (9.6% of district), with elementary SDC class "thriving."

• Integrated Pest Management report confirms non-toxic, low-risk practices across all campuses.

The meeting opened with one of the district's signature celebrations: recognizing students who have been reclassified from English Learner status to Fluent English Proficient. This year, 27 students—spanning elementary and middle school—achieved the milestone, a moment that staff framed as both an academic accomplishment and a tribute to family partnership.