7/14 Weekly Newsletter
Information on the July 16 board meeting, ICE activity in the Pajaro Valley, and protecting Black and Brown students from over-policing and surveillance.
Hola Amigos!
As your Trustee, I want to ensure you are informed about the important decisions being made that affect our students, families, and community. The upcoming Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Board meeting on July 16, 2025, will address several key topics, with the School Resource Officer (SRO) contract being a significant item on the agenda. It’s crucial for us to understand these discussions and continue to advocate for what is best for our community.
At a time when our community is being policed, do we want to continue this fear in the name of “safety” for our Black and Brown students? We need to ask who benefits from these decisions—and who is left carrying the weight.
In addition, there have been reports that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is preparing a large operation targeting the Pajaro Valley. Multiple agents have been reported staying at the Hyatt in Monterey, and a major raid is expected in Salinas and surrounding areas. During this time, it’s important we stay informed and organized.
Please be sure to follow these local organizations for real-time updates and rapid response coordination:
YARR for Santa Cruz County: @yarr.scc on Instagram
Monterey County Solidarity Network: @mcsolidarity on Instagram
If you witness any ICE activity or learn of a raid, document the incident and report it immediately. This is a time to organize, protest, and protect our community—no one should face this alone.
In solidarity,
Trustee Medina
Next Board Meeting
Regular Board Meeting
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville, CA
Agenda: Access Here
Watch Live: PVUSD YouTube Streaming
Items of Interest
9.2 Approve Aptos High School Special Resource Officer Agreement
10.1 Final Report from FCMAT for the Special Education Department
11.17 Agreement with Heartwise Learning for Community Schools Implementation
SRO Contract Renewal
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board will vote on two School Resource Officer (SRO) contracts at the July 16, 2025, meeting.
The first contract is with the City of Watsonville for two school-community policing officers—one based at Watsonville High School and one at Pajaro Valley High School. The District has agreed to reimburse the City up to:
$291,630.00
Term: August 11, 2025, to June 5, 2026
The City agrees to assign one full-time or part-time officer to Watsonville High and one part-time officer to Pajaro Valley High. These officers will focus on maintaining campus safety, collaborating on gang-awareness and prevention, participating in School Safety Days, and serving as liaisons between the schools and local police. While they may conduct criminal investigations, they are not responsible for enforcing school discipline or punishing students. Their involvement will be limited to criminal conduct or threats of serious, immediate harm.
The second item is an amendment to the agreement with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for services at Aptos High School. The term will extend through June 30, 2026.
Daily rate: $816.18 per deputy
Hourly rate (including insurance): $130.08
Estimated cost for 180 days: $187,310.65
District pays 75%: $140,482.95
This deputy will continue to provide a security presence on campus, with duties similar to the Watsonville-based SROs.
I drafted and formally submitted the SRO Conduct and Student Rights Policy to the superintendent and the agenda-setting committee. This was not a symbolic resolution—it was a concrete policy proposal grounded in board authority and aligned with PVUSD Board Policy BP 5145.3 (Nondiscrimination/Harassment) and BP 5137 (Positive School Climate) which stress the district’s obligation to maintain safe, supportive, and non-discriminatory school environments.
Key provisions in my policy:
No student shall be questioned, searched, or cited without immediate parental notification and the presence of a site administrator.
SROs may not be involved in enforcing school rules like dress codes, tardiness, or cell phone use.
No student can be coerced into signing any statement or citation without a parent or administrator present.
All SROs must complete annual training on trauma-informed care, anti-bias practices, and adolescent development.
A mandatory annual SRO Impact Report disclosing data on all student interactions—including racial, disability, and age disparities—must be publicly released.
FCMAT Report: Special Education Spending, Staffing, and System Gaps
At our upcoming board meeting, we’ll be reviewing a report from the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), a state agency brought in to review how PVUSD runs and funds its special education program.
Here are the most important takeaways for families and the community:
More students qualify for special education, especially autism
From 2019 to 2025, the number of students diagnosed with autism jumped by 75% (from 176 to 309), yet autism still only accounts for 10.99% of our special ed population—half the statewide rate of 20%.
English learners are under-identified
FCMAT flagged that English learners in PVUSD are underrepresented in special education.
More admin staff than peer districts
Compared to similar districts, PVUSD has more administrators and support staff in special ed—yet still struggles to meet caseload standards.
Class sizes too high, staffing uneven
Some Special Day Classes (SDCs), especially for autism, have larger-than-recommended caseloads.
Meanwhile, we have more aides than necessary, with 65 staff assigned to 1-to-1 student support, a number FCMAT says may limit student independence.
Spending is high, but trending down
In 2023-24, PVUSD contributed $46.57 million from our general fund to special ed—68.48% of all special ed costs. That number is projected to slightly decrease this year. Legal fees and settlements have dropped significantly over the last three years.
Transportation needs work
PVUSD uses both internal buses and costly outside vendors, including rideshare companies. In 2024-25, 494 students received special ed transportation—431 via district buses. FCMAT recommends cutting back on expensive vendors and doing more routes in-house. Chronic bus driver absenteeism is causing serious service disruptions.
Staff training gaps
PVUSD needs a stronger plan to train all instructional staff in inclusive practices, disability awareness, and student support strategies. Instructional aides are especially in need of access to training.
This report gives us a chance to seriously assess whether our staffing, training, and spending are helping students—or just maintaining the status quo. It also raises key questions: Are we directing resources where they’re most needed? Are we serving all students equitably?
More to come as we dig into this report together.
Monterey County Updates: Wells, Housing, and Budget Priorities
Water Fees on Small Well Owners
Supervisor Chris Lopez (via Supervisor Church’s newsletter) reports that new state-required groundwater fees are coming for Salinas Valley well owners—including small, individual users who have never been regulated. These fees will fund the region’s groundwater sustainability plan, despite the fact that small users make up less than 5% of total water use.
Proposed annual fees: $200–$300 per well
Fee breakdown includes:
$160 for well registration
$65 for extraction reporting
$118 for monitoring levels
$74 for water quality
Supervisor Church criticized the flat fee structure as unfair, since it charges low-use wells the same as industrial users. He has delayed implementation for now but may move forward if no better option is found.
Housing and Development
The County’s annual Housing Element report shows limited progress in unincorporated areas. Supervisor Church pushed for:
Faster permitting for affordable homes
Smaller, simpler builds to meet local needs
Incentives that reward projects with deeper affordability
Other Key Decisions:
2025-26 Budget approved with concerns over how Measure AA funds are being used for long-term staffing without clear planning.
Sheriff’s Office received added funding but will face a budget audit.
Military Equipment Use Policy was adopted under state law (AB 481).
New appointees to the groundwater board and community commissions.
Encampment cleanup is being planned near the Pajaro levee.
Recycling infrastructure approved for Salinas Valley, with a new transfer station expected by 2026.
EVENTS
Cabrillo College Info Session for Undocumented Students
Cabrillo College's Dream Resource Program is hosting this information session to support and empower undocumented students and their families navigating higher education. Topics include scholarships for undocumented students, financial aid options for both DACA and non-DACA students, and how Cabrillo supports student entrepreneurship. Attendees will also learn about campus policies aimed at creating a safe and welcoming environment for immigrant students, along with resources for maintaining well-being through Student Health Services. Free food will be provided.
Register Here.
Date: July 15th, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, Building A/Room A 130, 318 Union St., Watsonville, CA 95076
Organizer: Cabrillo College Dream Resource Program
Contact for Questions/Accommodations: Adela Naranjo-Bernabe, adnaranj@cabrillo.edu, Phone: (831) 786-4724
Pajaro and Las Lomas Town Hall Meeting
This town hall meeting is for the communities of Pajaro and Las Lomas, with guests from the County of Monterey and local agencies. Spanish interpretation will be provided.
Date: July 16, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Pajaro Middle School Cafeteria, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro, CA 95076
Organizer: Supervisor Glenn Church
News
ICE agents have visited Watsonville at least eight times since Trump returned to office, ‘courtesy calls’ to local police show
The Watsonville Police Department has on eight occasions this year received courtesy notifications from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers that they are operating within city limits, according to records provided by the department. Read more.Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville pledged not to cooperate with ICE. A controversial license plate reader may be undermining that promise.
Police in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville scan thousands of license plates daily thanks to a surveillance network that is used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state, including at least one that has been found to be searching on behalf of federal authorities. Read more.Trump Admin Defends Immigration Raids in California After Worker's Death: 'ICE Did Not Have Hands on This Person'
The Trump administration has doubled down on defending last week's large-scale immigration raid in Southern California that resulted in the death of a Mexican farmworker.
Read moreICE agents detain a man in Seaside
Seaside Police and the Solidarity Network in Monterey County announced Wednesday, July 9 that there was U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the city. Read more.Monterey County libraries face attendance drop amid ICE fears
Monterey County libraries have experienced a significant decline in attendance, which officials attribute to fears of ICE presence in the community. Watch here.Democratic Lawmakers Decry Conditions At 'Alligator Alcatraz' After Tour: 'Wall-to-Wall Humans in Cages'
Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the conditions at the Florida's migrant detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" after a state-arranged tour during the weekend. Read more.After 3-consecutive-year high, school shootings drop 23% in 2024-25
School shootings were also down in the first half of 2025 overall when compared to the same period in 2024. Read more.6-Year-Old Cancer Patient Detained By ICE For Months 'Cried Every Night' During Detention, Family Lawyer Says
A 6-year-old Honduran boy with leukemia was detained by ICE for over a month after attending a court hearing. Read more.Federal funding delays threaten AI education and America’s tech future
The delayed obligation of funds will erode the tools and infrastructure needed to scale artificial intelligence education nationwide, writes an industry expert. Read more.AB 715 Is California’s MAGA in Disguise
Assembly Bill Seeks to Erase the Palestinian Narrative and Attack Public Education
Read More.FEMA Allowed Camp Mystic to Operate in 100-Year Flood Zone Despite Decades of Deadly Warnings, Records Show
FEMA approved requests to lift flood restrictions on Camp Mystic buildings for years, enabling expansion in a known hazard zone before the July 4 flash floods killed at least 27 people. Read more.How Trump is deploying multiple agencies to set education policy
Rule changes for Energy Department grants to schools are primed to alter policies. Other federal agencies could be next. Read more.The Responsibility of the First Vote
"Being a first-generation American with my immigrant parents means voting is more than a personal choice; it is a way to represent my family that doesn't have a voice at the ballot box." Read more.Buffeted by change, California charter schools continue to grow amid scrutiny
Charter schools’ enrollment has grown slowly since the pandemic; they now serve one out of eight TK-12 children in California. Most charter schools will seek renewal within the next three years under new rules. High-profile cases of fraud have led to calls for tighter controls. Read more.How my twin helped me excel in high school and college
In my junior year of high school, I walked up to the batter’s box at Oracle Park — the same field where I’d watched the San Francisco Giants play countless times. It was the high school city championship game, and we were playing our rivals, George Washington High School. Read more.School districts grapple with ‘budgetary chaos’ in wake of federal funding freeze
Programs at risk due to the funding hold include English learner services, academic supports, after-school programming and professional development. Read more.Michigan district agrees to reform seclusion and restraint policies
A Justice Department probe found the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in how it punished students. Read more.Environmental justice activism finds energy in MN’s Latino communities
Researchers said the harmful impact of climate change is one of the drivers behind Latino populations migrating to the Midwest. Read more.Trump administration restricts education-related programs for some immigrants
Head Start and tuition for programs like dual enrollment, college and CTE are set to be impacted by the administration's policy change. Read more.Trump and Newsom are stealing from our children to avoid hard choices
For all of their differences, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. President Donald Trump have one thing in common: both are stealing from the future to pay for their budgets. Read more.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. I hope to see you at the next board meeting—your presence matters!
In solidarity,
Trustee Medina
Pajaro Valley Unified, Area III
Feel free to email me at gabriel_medina@pvusd.net or leave a voicemail at (831) 331-4208.