Pacifica School District Faces State Takeover Risk as Budget Goes Negative

The Pacifica School Board reorganized its leadership after a trustee resignation, then confronted a budget crisis that could strip the elected board of its authority. With multi-year projections showing the general fund going negative in 2027-28, board members and staff warned that state receivership — and the loss of local control over staffing, benefits, and negotiations — is a real possibility without a fiscal stability plan due June 24.

• Budget projections show deficit spending in 2027-28 and 2028-29, raising the specter of state receivership if a fiscal stability plan is not adopted
• Board places $118/parcel tax renewal on November ballot; without passage, five counselors, five librarians, and outdoor school are eliminated
• Classified staff earn $20/hour after five years while In-N-Out Burger starts at $22, CSEA president says after ratifying 3% raise agreement
• Board adopts first new K-5 social studies textbooks in 20 years, replacing materials flagged in a Williams review
• $457,000 literacy grant from Give Forward Foundation funds teacher coaching across all schools at no cost to the general fund
• Villalobos elected board president after Trustee Burkini resigns; November election will fill all four seats

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Budget Alarm: Negative Fund Balances Ahead

Why it matters: If the district's multi-year budget projections remain negative, the county could disapprove the budget and the state could escalate from an advisory role to direct control — taking over decisions on staffing, benefits, and union negotiations.

Where things stand: Business Services Director Dusty presented the proposed 2026-27 budget during a public hearing, projecting the general fund ending balance dropping from $3.7 million to $2.5 million in 2026-27, then turning negative in 2027-28 and 2028-29. Key drivers include an expiring parcel tax that removes $1.2 million in revenue and 10 positions, the end of a $1 million K-12 Strong Workforce Grant, rising employer costs for STRS and PERS, increased legal expenses, and three teachers shifting from parcel tax funding back to the general fund.

"My projections are showing that we are going to be negative in '27-28 and '28-29," said Dusty, Business Services Director. "So you can have a positive budget, but if you don't have the cash, then the state has to come in and you have to apply for a loan. Then you go into receivership as a district."

On the revenue side, the district benefits from a three-year funded ADA rolling average that cushions declining enrollment, and the 2026-27 budget includes a 2.87% COLA with a possible 1.44% LCFF augmentation from the May Revise. Both union tentative agreements — 3% raises for certificated and classified staff — are built into the budget. But those gains are outpaced by structural costs.

The receivership threat: Superintendent Laverne Villalobos warned that the district's FCMAT advisor could be escalated to an expert with stay and rescind authority. "It's important to note that the advisor has stay and rescind rights," she said. "Whoever that is, we would work with continuously and hopefully plan and not be put in that situation."

Trustee Bridget Hardt put it more bluntly: "If we are taken over by the state, they can take benefits. Negotiations are no longer in the picture."

A new fiscal analyst position, created per FCMAT recommendation, was approved 3-0 to strengthen internal oversight without adding headcount. The superintendent emphasized that a fiscal stability plan would be developed collaboratively through the district's Budget Collaborative process.

What's next: The budget must be adopted at the June 24 meeting — the July board meeting has been canceled. A fiscal stability plan will be presented at the same meeting. The district meets with the county and its FCMAT advisor imminently.

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$118 Parcel Tax Headed to November Ballot

Why it matters: Without the Measure D renewal, $1.3 million in annual revenue disappears — eliminating five counselors, five library media technicians, outdoor school, and $50,000 in field trips.

The board voted 3-0 to adopt Resolution 2026-0610B placing the parcel tax renewal on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. The current Measure D, first passed June 7, 2016, expires in 2027. The renewal maintains the same $118-per-parcel rate with identical ballot language for a 10-year extension through 2037.

Lauren Ash of Team Civics presented the resolution. Superintendent Villalobos confirmed no changes to the ballot language, noting any modification would make it a new tax rather than a renewal. During the budget hearing, she detailed the stakes: "Without the parcel tax, it affects our guidance counselors, it affects our library media specialists, all five of them, and it affects our outdoor school."

Dusty noted that even if the parcel tax is renewed, three teachers currently funded by Measure D would shift to the general fund, adding roughly $1.2 million in unrestricted costs — a 6% impact.

Decisions: Resolution adopted 3-0 (For: 3, Against: 0, Absent: 0). A separate resolution (2026-0610A) calling the November board election for four trustee seats — three four-year terms and one two-year term to fill the Burkini vacancy — also passed 3-0.

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Classified Staff Wages: $20/Hour vs. $22 at In-N-Out

Why it matters: Both unions ratified tentative agreements, but classified staff earning well below fast-food starting wages in San Mateo County creates a serious retention crisis for a district already struggling with staffing.

The CSEA representative reported reaching a two-year agreement with 3% annual raises after 11 negotiation sessions — and then delivered a pointed critique.

"Consider a school assistant or a para who has dedicated at least five years to this district and currently earns $20 per hour. A 3% increase at 60 cents per hour, bringing their wage to $20.60," she said. "Meanwhile, the starting wage at In-N-Out Burger is $22 per hour. A brand new teenager with no years of service can earn more than one of our experienced school assistants."

She added that many paraprofessionals work only four hours daily without health benefits, and challenged the board directly: "Our members deserve more than gratitude. They deserve compensation that reflects the essential role they play in the success of this district. Do better."

The LSEA representative reported ratifying their tentative agreement on May 28 and raised separate concerns about timely retroactive pay, budget position control figures, and teachers providing unpaid labor to pack classrooms for summer programs. "Much appreciation should be given to our union members who are providing free unpaid labor to pack up their classrooms in order for summer programs to take place," the representative said.

The board later approved a new special education paraprofessional job description with a higher salary step to aid recruitment (3-0), directly addressing the retention challenge CSEA described.

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First New Social Studies Textbooks Since 2005

Why it matters: The district's K-5 social studies materials were so outdated they were flagged in a Williams review — the state's compliance check for instructional materials. The new curriculum integrates literacy skills and supports multilingual learners.

A teacher-led adoption committee representing nearly every grade level and school evaluated two curricula over six-week pilots: Impact California by McGraw Hill and My World Interactive by Savas. The committee unanimously recommended Savas.

Robin Engel, fifth-grade teacher at Cabrillo, described why teachers preferred the new materials: "It was really nice to spend the afternoons. We did social studies like computers away, just us in the classroom with pen and paper and these beautiful books and acting things out and having discussions and reading."

Teachers cited Savas' strong literacy integration — close reading, vocabulary, comprehension — along with consumable workbooks with age-appropriate writing lines, built-in read-aloud translation for English learners, and the ability to teach without digital components. Fifth-grade students also voted and preferred Savas. Queen Ian, a second-grade teacher at Ortega, provided additional testimony on the curriculum's classroom impact.

Decisions: Approved 3-0 (For: 3, Against: 0, Absent: 0). The adoption includes a $1 million budget allocation from the general fund and professional learning for implementation.

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$457K Literacy Grant Lands During Budget Crisis

Why it matters: At a moment when the district can scarcely afford any new spending, an outside funder is providing nearly half a million dollars for the kind of intensive teacher coaching and leadership training the budget cannot support.

Erica Hidalgo of Core Learning presented the grant from the Give Forward Foundation, which selected Pacifica based on the district's existing Big Lift partnership. "The Give Forward organization is able to fund $457,000 of professional learning for district leadership, your school principals and teachers, including on-site implementation support and coaching," she said.

Year one covers two-day leadership institutes for principals, Reading Fundamentals Leader Institutes, executive coaching, three days of teacher training on phonological awareness, phonics, and fluency, and on-site implementation visits across all schools. The model targets 95% transfer of professional learning to classroom practice.

The work aligns with the district's new TK-8 Literacy Action Plan, developed over several years by a committee led by Kate Snyder, which organizes goals by developmental stage (TK-3, 4-5, 6-8) with emphasis on multilingual learners. Trustee Villalobos praised the community input that shaped the plan.

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Board Reorganization and Leadership Changes

After Trustee Burkini's resignation, the board held a special reorganization. Board Member Lynda Brocchini nominated Laverne Villalobos as board president, approved 3-0. Bridget Hardt was elected vice president 3-0, and Elizabeth Bredall was elected clerk 3-0. Only three members were present and voting; Kai Doggett was absent.

Superintendent Villalobos encouraged community members to consider running for the board, with all four seats on the November ballot.

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School Plans Target Literacy, Attendance, and Equity Gaps

All five school sites presented their 2026-27 School Plans for Student Achievement, approved 3-0. Common themes included strengthening Tier 1 instruction through new curriculum implementation, targeting English learner advancement on ELPAC assessments, achieving PBIS gold status for positive school climate, and increasing two-way family engagement.

Standout data points: Valimar celebrated an 8.6% reduction in multilingual learner chronic absenteeism. Intervention data showed 80% of students receiving RTI support demonstrated positive growth. IBL split its goals into four areas to add specific family engagement metrics. Cabrillo set a target of moving PBIS Tier 2 fidelity from 70% to 85%.

Trustee Hardt praised the principals: "I do want to say thank you to our principals for getting it done and trying to close the gap, working with your teachers, families, and communities to reach your goals."

The LCAP public hearing — held earlier in the meeting — showed districtwide progress on English learner reclassification rates, reduced long-term English learners, and significant declines in chronic absenteeism, though math outcomes remain uneven. LCAP adoption is set for June 24.

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Minor Items

• Bjorn Wickstrom hired as principal of Ocean Shore and Sunset Ridge schools, approved 3-0. Wickstrom is a former Pacifica administrator with nearly 20 years in education.
• Karen Stevenson promoted to assistant principal at Cabrillo School, approved 3-0.
• Playground reconstruction at Ortega, Valimar, and Sunset Ridge awarded to Treaty Construction at $744,750 from bond funds (3-0), addressing safety inspection findings and adding TK/preschool-appropriate equipment.
• Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators approved 3-0, allowing staffing flexibility for mid-year vacancies.
• First readings of multiple board policy updates covering extreme weather protocols (SB 1248, due July 1, 2026), parent notifications on synthetic drugs, all-gender restroom signage, and facility safety inspections. Second reading and votes scheduled for June 24.
• Closed session: Board voted 3-0 to approve litigation pursuing the Homer case.
• Consent agenda approved 3-0.
• July 15 board meeting canceled (3-0); all critical actions must be completed at the June 24 meeting per state law.