District overview
Novato Unified School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who makes districtwide decisions?
Novato Unified School District is a Marin County unified district governed by its Board of Trustees. The superintendent is Dr. Tracy Smith. Districtwide budgets, staffing reductions, ballot measures, contracts, and LCAP priorities flow through the board; school site councils retain school-level planning and categorical-budget roles.
Fiscal stabilization drives current decisions
The board moved from a $4.5 million ongoing reduction plan for 2026-27 to a $6.5 million ongoing reduction target beginning in 2027-28, with an immediate nonessential hiring pause.
Instructional supports are being restructured
The district approved broad service reductions and the draft LCAP says teacher-on-special-assignment roles will return to classrooms while the multilingual-learner coordinator position is eliminated.
School-level records remain necessary
Current central records do not establish each campus's school-plan, parent-engagement, or site-budget decisions.
The district's draft LCAP preserves targeted investments in bilingual programming, counseling, wellness, attendance monitoring, and college-and-career supports even as fiscal reductions reshape staffing.
What the official record establishes
Thirty-one board resolutions plus the 2026-27 draft LCAP.
Board-adopted target beginning in 2027-28.
Total projected expenditures stated in the draft LCAP budget overview.
Supplemental and concentration funding projected in the draft LCAP.
Estimated annual revenue from the eight-year $249-per-parcel proposal placed on the June 2026 ballot.
Major projects
Fiscal stabilization and service reductions
Cuts expanded and hiring pausedThe board adopted escalating multiyear reductions in response to expenditure growth, enrollment volatility, expiring one-time funds, and the absence of new Measure G revenue in the proposed 2026-27 budget.
- Board adopts $4.5 million in ongoing cuts plus site-level discretionary reductions
- Board approves reductions across certificated and classified services
- Board raises the ongoing-cut target to $6.5 million and pauses nonessential hiring
Funding
Unrestricted general fund
The latest resolution also orders a cost-benefit review of specialized programs and at least $1.5 million in one-time savings.
2026 education parcel-tax proposal
Placed before votersThe board called a June 2 election on an eight-year, $249-per-parcel tax estimated to provide $4 million per year for instruction, staffing, mental health, arts, and upkeep.
- Board unanimously calls the parcel-tax election
- Election date specified in the board resolution
- Budget resolution records no new Measure G revenue in the proposed budget
Funding
Local parcel tax
$249 per parcel for eight years; approximately $4 million annually if adopted.
Instructional and student-support restructuring
Roles moving or ending for 2026-27The draft LCAP says teachers on special assignment will return to classrooms, the multilingual-learner coordinator position will end, and community mental-health partners will move to an affiliate billing model while counseling and wellness remain priorities.
- Board approves certificated service reductions
- Board records final non-reemployment actions
- Draft LCAP describes the 2026-27 support structure
Funding
General fund and LCFF supplemental funding
The LCAP projects $8.45 million in high-needs LCFF funding and preserves targeted student supports.
Recent alerts by topic
This partial overview synthesizes 32 official records collected for the trailing year: 31 board-adopted resolutions reviewed visually in chronological sequence and one 132-page district LCAP reviewed as extracted text. It does not treat the unavailable Simbli meeting archive as reviewed.
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