AUHSD Budget Challenges
Town Hall Meetings on July 27, 28, 30 & Aug 3
Presentation
Community communication - July15, 2026
July 6, 2026
Dear AUHSD Families and Community Members,
As superintendent of the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD), it is an honor serving families and students attending Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas, and Miramonte High Schools, as well as our Acalanes Center for Independent Study. Our high schools, like our community, are unique and universally recognized for excellence.
AUHSD schools consistently rank among the top high schools in California. What stands out in our District is a comprehensive, world-class high school experience: high-quality teachers, robust Advanced Placement (AP) and honors coursework, cutting-edge science, math, and technology programs, award-winning music, arts, and drama, highly competitive athletic and extracurricular programs, and a full continuum of special education options that prepare our students for college and career success. Our graduates excel in their post-secondary pursuits.
Thank you for your generous support over the years. This is why, especially now, we need your input.
The Challenge Facing Our High Schools
Inadequate State funding is directly threatening the future of our high school programs and the unique academic environment our students rely on and deserve. We have tightened our belts and learned to do more with less, absorbing over $4 million in ongoing reductions over the past two years.
Recent reductions have included:
- Reduction in teaching staff resulting in fewer elective opportunities for students
- Fewer support services
- Reduction in academic counseling staff
- Shift from four high school librarians to one District librarian
- 19% reduction in central administrator staffing
- Reduction in IT & tech support team staffing
- Reduction in staff professional development and Teachers on Special Assignments (TOSAs)
- Reduction in enrichment programming
Given all of the above and our shared commitment to maintaining premier public high schools, we need to hear your opinions.
Strategic Planning for Our District
Our locally elected Governing Board will be considering some important decisions in the coming months regarding our long-term fiscal health. As part of this effort, they are exploring the feasibility of asking our community to support a new parcel tax, possibly as part of the November 3 General Election. The Governing Board will consider this decision on August 5, 2026.
Per student State funding for AUHSD remains the lowest of all high school districts in California. Local support through parcel taxes and our education foundations has long been critically important to support our elective programs and support services. While our education foundations continue to increase their role supporting our schools, the reality that the AUHSD parcel tax rate and revenue has not increased since 2010.
What Do YOU Think?
Please complete this survey by July 29, 2026.
Thank you for your partnership, your advocacy, and your continued dedication to the success of our high school students. We are listening.
Sincerely,
John Nickerson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Acalanes Union High School District