To ensure transparency and provide opportunities for discussion there will be additional opportunities for public input. We recognize that this process impacts everyone, and we are committed to communicating as clearly and often. Input will be vital as we navigate these difficult decisions together. Please see below locations and dates to attend the a Budget Community Forum.

Additionally please click on the link below for FAQ's and other documents.
Budget Reduction Information

The School District Budget Committee has been established for the current budget cycle. The committee is made up of district administrators, school staff and parents who were selected earlier in the year by completing an application.

Even though the committee has already been selected, there will be other chances for community members to share their thoughts and ideas as the budget process continues. We’ll post updates and details about those opportunities here and through our regular district communications including information that has been shared with the committee.

The public is invited to attend upcoming Special Board Meetings at 1000 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, where the Board will be discussing budget reduction and related fiscal planning matters.

You may watch the meeting live via Zoom or attend in person.

• In-person attendance: Those wishing to make a public comment must attend in person. Public comment will begin at 4:15 p.m.

• Zoom viewing: The meeting will be available to watch live via Zoom

• Written comments: Members of the public who wish to submit a written comment must email their comment before 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Your participation and feedback are valuable as the Board considers important decisions regarding the district’s budget.

October 21, 2025

Dear Staff and Families,
Our district is facing a serious budget challenge that will require significant reductions over the next two years just to keep us at our minimum reserve level. Click here to review previous communications regarding this issue.  

To ensure transparency and provide opportunities for discussion, the Board of Trustees has scheduled two special board meetings focused specifically on the budget, potential reductions, and possible revenue sources.  Although the Board of Trustees does not typically Zoom special board meetings and study sessions, we will have the following meetings available to watch by Zoom.  All comments need to be in person or submitted in writing (Form-click here) to the Board of Trustees prior to 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.  You can also email our board members, and I would appreciate you cc'ing me as well.

President Mike Cook - mcook@rvuse.org
Clerk Shelby Moeller - smoeller@rcvusd.org  
Trustee Jeff Gospe - jgospe@rvusd.org
Trustee Jolene Johnson - jjohnson@rvusd.org
Trustee Vicki Harris - vharris@rvusd.org

Special Board Meetings on the Budget

• Monday, November 3 at 4:15 p.m. – Open session 

  • A brief presentation will outline the timeline for the budget reduction process and provide key updates.   

• Wednesday, December 17 at 4:15 p.m. – Open session 

  • This meeting will include more detailed discussions about potential areas for reductions. We intend to have specific budget reduction options available at this meeting and encourage community input at the meeting.  

We recognize that this process impacts everyone, and we are committed to communicating as clearly and often.  Input will be vital as we navigate these difficult decisions together.

Sincerely,
Mike Herfurth
Interim Superintendent

October 9th, 2025

Dear Staff and Families,

Approximately two weeks ago, I sent communication out regarding our budget.  Click here to view previous message. 

I want to provide you with an important update regarding our district budget, now two weeks later.  

On Monday evening, we received a letter from the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) approving our revised budget. While this approval is positive, the letter also raises serious concerns about our financial outlook in the coming years. In order to maintain the required 3% minimum reserve, our district will need to identify $4.32 million in reductions for the 2026–27 school year and an additional $4.28 million in reductions for the 2027–28 school year.

Yesterday, we held the first meeting of our Budget Advisory Committee. It was a constructive meeting, and the group recognized the seriousness of our financial situation. This work will not be easy, but it is necessary.

Our current reality is the result of both past decisions and rising, unpredictable costs that have affected schools across the state. While we cannot change the past, we are committed to making the decisions needed to stabilize our district’s future. These will be tough conversations, and difficult choices will need to be made.

I want to assure you that we will face these challenges together. We are committed to being transparent throughout this process and to keeping you informed along the way. I know that, as a community, we can work through this and find solutions that keep our students at the center of our decisions.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we take on this important work.

Sincerely,
Mike Herfurth
Interim Superintendent

September 2025

Dear RVUSD Families,

I want to share an important update regarding our district’s budget. While our 2025–26 budget was previously approved by the Board of Trustees in June, the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) recently reviewed it and asked us to bring it back for re-approval with updated adjustments.  This was done at our September meeting and has been sent to SCOE.     

The reason for this step is that several factors have put our district at risk of falling below the state-required 3% reserve for economic uncertainty. These include but are not limited to:

• Higher-than-expected costs in special education services, where the funding we receive does not fully cover the support we provide to students.

• Student attendance being lower than projected, which reduces the revenue we receive from the state.

• Increases in personnel and benefit costs that have outpaced the new funding we receive.

• Past years of deficit spending that were covered by drawing from our reserves, which are now at a critical level.

• Declining enrollment over the last several years.

• No longer receiving school relief funds that were provided to help recover from COVID, and other grant funds that have expired.   

With the updated adjustments, our budget keeps us just above the state’s 3% required reserve. However, it is clear that additional changes will be needed to ensure we remain financially stable, or we will fall below the state’s required reserve by the 2026-27 school year.  I’m sure you have seen neighboring districts who are currently struggling with this too, and it is in our best interest to address this now so we don’t get ourselves facing further ramifications, like we are seeing potentially happen around us.      

Please know that our highest priority is continuing to support our students and provide the best possible education. We are committed to transparency, and we will keep you informed as we work together on solutions.  I want to be clear that we will be facing difficult decisions as we will be obligated to reduce expenditures at a significant amount.  We are awaiting final approval of our budget from SCOE before being able to confirm and communicate the amount of reductions needed.     

One of the immediate steps is to create a budget advisory committee within the next week.  This committee will meet to brainstorm ways to reduce expenditures, increase revenue, and will offer suggestions for the district administration to consider ways to become more fiscally solvent.  We intend to have approximately 20-25 people on this committee, making up a representative group of our district from TK-8th grade.  This includes doing our best to represent each of our school sites and programs and include staff and non-staff family/community members.  If you would like to be considered to be a part of this budget committee please click here.  This needs to be completed no later than October 3rd.     

Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools and your partnership in your child’s education.

Sincerely,

Mike Herfurth
Interim Superintendent
Rincon Valley Union School District