Key Takeaways
- The SRVUSD Board of Education will meet on May 19 to review annual reports from the Technology and Special Education departments, as well as suspension/expulsion data and a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
- Technology update highlights a $250,000 cybersecurity grant, ongoing AI pilot programs (Google Gemini for students and staff, Microsoft Co‑Pilot, Google Classroom templates), and strategic focus on AI, data governance, and cybersecurity.
- Special education enrollment is 13.9 %—below the state average but rising—while 71 % of IEP students spend >80 % of their time in general education classrooms; the district aims to reduce the proportion of special‑education students spending <40 % of time with peers to below 13.5 %.
- Behavioral challenges among significantly disabled students limit inclusive opportunities; the department is expanding behavior‑support training and peer‑learning for staff, and preparing for state‑mandated Significant Disproportionality work, including monitoring overidentification of African American students for specific learning disability.
- Suspension and expulsion rates remain low overall (0.9 % suspension rate, “blue” dashboard status), but disparities persist: special‑education students experience suspension rates of 3.1‑3.6 %; foster youth and homeless students show higher historic spikes (up to 22.7 % for foster youth, though zero this year).
- The board will also hold a closed session to discuss an OAH case, anticipated litigation, employee discipline, labor negotiations, leadership appointments, and performance evaluations for the superintendent and assistant superintendents.
Introduction & Meeting Context
The SRVUSD Board of Education is convening for its final meeting of the academic year on Tuesday, May 19 at 6 p.m. The agenda centers on end‑of‑year reports that inform board decisions as graduation season approaches. In addition to routine business, the board will consider a proclamation designating June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, underscoring the district’s commitment to inclusive recognition. The meeting will be preceded by a closed session addressing legal, personnel, and labor‑relations matters, setting the stage for both public deliberation and private negotiations.
Technology Department Report
The Technology Department will present its annual update, detailing current applications of educational technology across the district and outlining the goals of its comprehensive technology plan. Core focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and data governance, with particular attention to monitoring average screen time by grade level. The department will also report on the status of a $250,000 cybersecurity grant awarded to SRVUSD, summarizing the findings of last year’s cybersecurity audit and describing the remedial actions taken since then. This segment aims to illustrate how the district balances innovation with safeguarding digital infrastructure.
AI and Cybersecurity Details
Within the technology update, officials will share usage statistics for AI tools deployed during the past school year. Between April 13 and May 11, 6,000 of 9,823 eligible high‑school students actively used Google Gemini, while 1,123 of 4,288 eligible staff members engaged with the platform. Additional AI‑enabled resources highlighted include Google Classroom templates for teachers and Microsoft Co‑Pilot for staff productivity. The presentation will also touch on internal AI‑driven tools under development, reinforcing the department’s strategic emphasis on embracing AI responsibly while strengthening data governance and cybersecurity protocols.
Special Education Department Update
The Special Education Department will report that the district’s special‑education student population stands at 13.9 %, which remains below the California state average but shows a steady increase. This rise is attributed to enhanced capacity for early identification and intervention, as well as growing societal awareness and acceptance of special‑education needs. The department’s primary objectives are to maximize the time special‑education students spend alongside their general‑education peers and to refine the development of individualized education plans (IEPs) that support academic and social growth.
Inclusive Education Progress & Goals
Data from the past school year indicate that nearly 71 % of students on IEPs spent more than 80 % of their time in general‑education environments, reflecting the district’s progress toward inclusive practices. SELPA Executive Director Linda Rowley‑Thom noted in her staff report that SRVUSD has made strides in promoting inclusive education, with more students with disabilities participating in mainstream classrooms. Nevertheless, the department has not yet met its target of reducing the proportion of special‑education students who spend less than 40 % of their time with peers to below 13.5 %; ongoing work is required to close this gap.
Challenges in Special Education (behavior, disproportionality)
Rowley‑Thom also highlighted a persistent challenge: an increase in behavioral incidents among the district’s more significantly disabled students, which limits their opportunities to interact with typically developing peers. To address this, the department is implementing targeted behavior‑support strategies and providing additional training for staff. Looking forward, SRVUSD is preparing to engage with the California Department of Education’s Significant Disproportionality initiative. This work will examine not only current inclusion metrics but also a new monitoring indicator—overidentification of African American students for specific learning disability—necessitating careful data analysis and equity‑focused interventions.
Suspension and Expulsion Data Overview
The suspension and expulsion update reveals overall favorable trends, with a district‑wide suspension rate of 0.9 % for the previous school year, maintaining a “blue” rating on the state dashboard. While many student subgroups fall within the Green or Blue performance categories, Long‑Term English Learners and Foster Youth continue to require focused support. The data suggest that, although suspension rates are low overall, certain populations experience disproportionate disciplinary actions.
Subgroup Trends and Disparities
Special‑education students exhibit higher suspension rates than the general population, ranging from 3.1 % to 3.6 % since 2022, compared with a district average of 1.1 % to 1.5 % over the same period. Foster youth and homeless students show even greater variance: historic suspension rates for foster youth fluctuated between 10.5 % and 22.7 % from 2022 to 2024 (though zero this year), while homeless students ranged from 4.3 % to 7.1 %. These figures highlight persistent equity gaps that the district must address through targeted interventions and supportive services.
Expulsion Rates and Historical Trends
Over the past four years, SRVUSD recorded a zero expulsion rate; however, the most recent school year yielded two stipulated expulsions and one stipulated suspended expulsion. Despite these isolated incidents, historical trend data indicate that overall suspension and expulsion rates have remained relatively low and stable. Director of Student Services and Educational Equity Hong Nguyen emphasized that while the district’s aggregate performance is positive, ongoing attention to subgroup disparities is essential to ensure equitable disciplinary practices.
Closed Session Items & Labor Negotiations
Prior to the public meeting, the board will convene a closed session to address several sensitive matters. These include a pending Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) case, an anticipated litigation matter, and an employee discipline/dismissal/release item. Additionally, the board will engage in labor negotiations, discuss appointments for directors of human resources and special education, and consider assistant‑principal positions at Monte Vista High School and Diablo Vista Middle School. Performance evaluations for the superintendent and assistant superintendents will also be reviewed, ensuring leadership accountability as the district prepares for the upcoming academic year.
Meeting Logistics & Next Steps
The SRVUSD Board of Education’s meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, with the full agenda accessible to the public via the district’s website. Following the presentations and discussions, the board will vote on any recommended actions, adopt the LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamation, and set priorities for the summer period. The outcomes of this meeting will shape resource allocation, policy adjustments, and strategic initiatives as SRVUSD transitions into the next school year, aiming to sustain academic excellence while advancing equity and inclusion across all student populations.