Tuesday, August 19, 2025

The Reed Union School District board opened the 2025–26 school year with staff reports on summer facilities work, a new district focus on artificial intelligence, and efforts to make more families feel they belong. No major spending was approved; the meeting was largely informational, with the board approving routine items and reviewing where capital-improvement dollars have gone.

Summer Facilities and the Granada Maintenance Plan

Operations lead Eduardo walked the board through maintenance completed over the summer, including plumbing repairs, replacement of a gym curtain divider that an inspector had flagged, and a refinished floor. The centerpiece was an update on the district's five-year Granada maintenance plan. The Omega building roof — described as one of the largest and in the worst condition — was completed between late June and mid-July. The work involved replacing deteriorated framing, plywood, and fascia, installing new shingles, and removing 1960s-era boilers along with asbestos. Staff noted the contractor accommodated the building's tenants, a preschool, by scheduling around children's nap times.

Capital Spending and Remaining Needs

District business staff reported that, of roughly $1.35 million budgeted for the buildings, the district had invested about $1.16 million through the close of fiscal year 2024–25. Staff cautioned that construction costs have escalated sharply — citing an estimate of nearly 40% for non-residential work between 2020 and 2025 — and said updated quotes for remaining projects would be brought back as part of the first interim budget adjustment. About $187,000 remains. The Alpha building was identified as being in the worst current condition; it houses a private preschool (Mountain School) and is experiencing rain intrusion. Staff said roofing is the most urgent need and explored whether the Alpha roof could be repaired before the end of summer, with work likely limited to weekends because of the preschool's noise concerns. Trustees asked whether the remaining $187,000 would be enough to cover Alpha's roofing and painting; staff said they would obtain updated estimates before advising.

Technology and a New AI Task Force

The technology report covered the growth of transitional kindergarten from three classes to five and a shift toward shared, rather than one-to-one, iPads for the youngest students at teachers' request. The bulk of the report focused on artificial intelligence. Staff described back-to-school sessions with employees on AI tools — naming Gemini, ChatGPT, and Apple Intelligence, the last now integrated across the district's Apple ecosystem. Citing Superintendent McGrath's initiative, staff announced the formation of an AI task force to weigh the pros and cons of various tools and how best to incorporate them into the classroom. Staff noted that few states have issued formal AI guidance, but that common themes — critical thinking, creativity, ethics, a human-centered approach, and equity of access — could anchor the district's professional development. Trustees asked about the task force's membership, timeline, and goals.

Belonging and Wellness

The board discussed efforts to reach families who may not feel welcomed, with particular attention to Hispanic and Asian families and families of students with disabilities, after data showed disparities in how included different groups feel. Trustees expressed support for a belonging-and-wellness task force as part of the district's social-emotional learning work, and one trustee raised incorporating service learning — giving back to the broader community — into the program, and ensuring a consistent sense of belonging across the district's schools.