Trustee Taylor Kayatta

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

07/31/2026

This evening, the Board of Education approved a new Fiscal Sustainability Plan which will allow us to avoid state receivership in the immediate future as we continue to address our long-term budget challenges. The budget solutions in this plan are targeted based on our community's priorities and designed to have the least impact on our classrooms. This plan is actionable and ready to start delivering immediate improvements to our cash flow and multi-year budget. The District's press release is below. Information on the plan can be found in the meeting agenda: https://www.scusd.edu/boe-dp/~board/boe-2025-2026/post/july-30-2026-special-board-of-education-meeting

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PRESS RELEASE: SCUSD Approves $158.639 Million Plan to Prevent Insolvency and Secure its Financial Future

Sacramento, CA – At its July 30 special meeting, the Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education approved a comprehensive $158.639 million fiscal sustainability plan that will stabilize district cash flow, prevent insolvency, reduce ongoing expenditures, and establish a path toward long term financial stability.

The plan exceeds the district’s $150 million solvency objective by approximately $8.6 million. In a letter dated July 24, 2026, the Sacramento County Office of Education stated that FCMAT projected SCUSD could face a $135 million cash deficit by June 2027. SCOE further stated that the cash solutions in the prior memorandum of understanding would reduce the deficit by only $55 million, leaving the district responsible for identifying approximately $80 million in additional cash solutions to avoid insolvency. The approved plan exceeds the full projected cash deficit by approximately $23.6 million.

The plan combines immediate liquidity support with recurring reductions in programs, staffing, contracts, consultants, overtime, special education, transportation, technology, facilities, and other operating costs. The strategy is designed to minimize direct impacts on school sites, sustain major academic and student support programs, and prioritize reductions in contractual and non-classroom expenditures.

The Board also approved a new three-year agreement with the Sacramento City Teachers Association, SCUSD’s largest labor partner. The agreement is expected to provide nearly $98 million in cash flow support over three years, addressing immediate liquidity needs while supporting the district’s long term expenditure reductions and structural reforms.

The three-year SCTA agreement creates greater certainty around labor, healthcare, and benefit costs in future budgets. It also allows the district and its largest labor partner to shift their focus away from ongoing negotiations and toward student achievement, staffing stability, program quality, and successful fiscal recovery.

This plan will prevent insolvency and place SCUSD on a stronger financial foundation. It will allow the district to rebuild as a more efficient, responsive, and sustainable organization that reflects current enrollment, student needs, and fiscal realities while protecting essential services and delivering the high-quality education every SCUSD student deserves.

07/25/2026

On May 21, the Board of Education recognized Genevieve Didion 2nd Grader Bailey Quok as our Stellar Student! At the end of her first grade, Bailey was diagnosed with a brain tumor and immediately underwent surgery to remove it. Bailey attended summer school shortly thereafter, and her strength, perseverance, and positive spirit were immediately evident. She faced significant motor skill and memory challenges but through determination and hard work, her motor skills restored and she continues to make progress with her memory. Bailey began chemotherapy last June, and her final treatment was in September. Despite the physical and emotional challenges of treatment, she remained committed to her education and regularly met with her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Marang on Zoom and completed her assignments.

Now, we have the opportunity to support Bailey and other kids facing similar circumstances. Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, a local cancer charity, has organized a childhood cancer walk on 9/12/26 at William Land Park.

At Bailey's Dad's request, I'd like to invite you to join the walk team, Hope Lives in 95831, whether or not you personally know a childhood cancer patient or not, and walk in support and in memory of all the kids in the neighborhood who have been diagnosed with cancer. I'll be there with my family, and I hope to see you too. If you have kids, there will be some fun stuff for them there like visits face painting; balloons; a kidz zone; and visits from Bluey, Pikachu, Storm Troopers, and others.

You can join by following this link: https://givebutter.com/keatons-2026.../hope-lives-in-95831

You can find out more information about the walk and information about Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance here: https://childcancer.org/ See less

07/25/2026

I am excited for what this coming school year will look like at Kennedy High School! While we have had some challenges, the school is poised for an upswing next year. I stopped by today to meet with Interim Principal Thom and we had a great conversation around her plans to shore up our academic programs, engage with families and the larger community, and show the greatness that this school has always had. I was especially excited to hear that she’s already been meeting with those who have raised concerns to learn and identify solutions. It was also great to see some of the facilities improvements under way: a new track surface and a solar parking lot.

07/18/2026

A beautiful new mural by Jose Di Gregorio will welcome MLK students when they return to school in a few weeks. One side of the ball wall is coming in beautifully, and the other side (still to be painted) will feature an eclipse at the suggestion of the kids in Summer Matters who got to watch some of the painting. This mural has been a long time coming through the efforts of the MLK Suns PTA and Principal Walker, and I’m so excited to see it come to fruition!

07/16/2026

This afternoon, I spoke with KPFA Radio about Sac City Unified's budget situation, the pressures we are facing to take a state loan and lose control of our district in the process, and why mostly minority school districts have been forced under state control in the last twenty years.

Check out the recording at:

Hear about Sacramento’s fight to keep local authority over its schools. A dozen mostly minority school districts have been forced under state control in the last twenty years. Sacramento is the latest target but they are fighting back.

07/09/2026

Update on Leadership at John F. Kennedy High School

I have heard your questions about what JFK leadership will look like next year, following the Principal's leave of absence at the end of last school year and because of the intensive work now facing the school community as we work to address the serious concerns the WASC accreditation team noted last year. I’ve been working closely with district administration to get you the information you need. While more details will come next school year on both of these fronts, I do have an update on our principal position. This update is coming in concert that a message that just went out to Kennedy families via ParentSquare.

We will start next school year with an interim principal: Jill Thom. Ms. Thom is the district’s master scheduler and was a former Assistant Principal at Hiram Johnson. District leadership is confident that she will be a strong leader that the school needs at this time given her deep experience with WASC accreditation, high school operations, and school improvement. She will serve in this capacity until Principal Brown returns or the position is formally posted and filled.

If and when we go out to hire a new permanent Principal, I will ensure that we follow a process that includes strong community input and that the person hired is well equipped to address the school’s current challenges while also demonstrating a commitment to delivering for our students and families the strong school with robust academic programs that we deserve.

We also have an Assistant Principal vacancy. That position will be posted and hired as soon as possible.

Next year will be a year of growth and recommitment to excellence at Kennedy. I’ve been closely involved (mostly behind the scenes) in improving the school since joining the Board, and that work will continue with even more drive and community engagement moving forward.

07/06/2026

Happy Fourth of July! My family and I had an amazing time marching again in the Pocket Greenhaven Parade, and then relaxing with some fireworks at home that evening which supported our local schools. My kids were experts at the candy throw, and my daughter counted 63 kids who she knew from school and other local activities.