Tamalpais Union High School District Approves Controversial Co-location Plan for Alternative Schools
The Tamalpais Union High School District has greenlit a plan to merge its two alternative high schools, Tamiscal and San Andreas, onto a single campus in Larkspur. The decision, approved by a 4-to-1 vote by trustees this week, is projected to generate significant cost savings for the district, amounting to $2.2 million annually. This consolidation is slated to take effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year.
The move involves relocating Tamiscal High School, known for its flexible curriculum including independent study and career-focused pathways, to the existing campus of San Andreas High School. San Andreas currently serves students who are facing academic challenges and require additional support to achieve graduation.
Financial Implications and District Rationale
District officials highlighted that the co-location is a necessary step to address financial realities and ensure the district’s long-term stability. The projected savings of $2.2 million are expected to be realized through a combination of measures. Approximately $1.55 million will be saved by reducing staff, including teachers, counselors, principals, and clerical support, as well as by terminating an external counseling contract. An additional $650,000 will be saved through the elimination of a director position, other administrative staff, a custodian, and the decommissioning of nine portable classrooms.
Board President Cynthia Roenisch explained that while the district has been strategically adjusting staffing levels at its three comprehensive high schools to align with declining enrollment since the 2020-21 school year, this process had not been applied to the two alternative schools. She expressed concern that previous boards had avoided difficult layoff decisions, which she believes has put the district on a path toward financial insolvency. “I feel somewhat critical that this was not brought to us earlier,” Roenisch stated, emphasizing her commitment to avoiding past mistakes.
To streamline leadership, the board appointed Kim Stifler, the current principal of Tamiscal High, to lead both institutions. The principal position at San Andreas, currently held by Cathy Flores, will be eliminated as part of this consolidation.
Superintendent Courtney Goode emphasized that the decision was made proactively to provide ample time for students and staff to adapt to the changes. By announcing the plan well in advance of March 15, the deadline for issuing preliminary layoff notices (“pink slips”), the district aims to facilitate a smoother transition. “We don’t want to wait until then,” Goode said. “This will give us six months in the new year to make the transition.”
Dissenting Voices and Community Concerns
Despite the board’s decision, not all members were in agreement. Trustee Ida Green cast the sole dissenting vote, advocating for a one-year delay to allow students and staff more time to acclimate to the proposed changes. Green questioned whether the district could internally reallocate the projected savings to maintain the status quo for another year.
Corbett Elsen, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, responded by explaining the critical need for these cost-saving measures. He noted that the Marin County Office of Education has already notified the district that without these cuts, it would be unable to maintain its mandated 17% reserve in the general fund budget. Failure to meet this reserve requirement could lead to a downgrade in the district’s budget status by the county and potentially jeopardize its bond rating.
Prior to the vote, approximately 20 parents, teachers, and students voiced their opposition during the public comment period. Chelsea Springer, an English teacher at San Andreas, described the reduction in teaching staff from six to four as “so misguided.” She underscored the vital role of San Andreas as a “tier 3 intervention” school, serving students who have not succeeded in other educational settings due to issues such as chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, or credit deficiencies. Springer warned that cutting staff would “cripple our ability to sustain our current, thriving program.”
Chris French, a math teacher at San Andreas, echoed these concerns, highlighting the current strain on resources. He explained that each teacher is already responsible for multiple courses, with limited capacity to offer the breadth of classes students need. “With what they’re doing, we’re going to have such limited flexibility to support kids who have so many credit needs,” French stated. He predicted that the changes would either prolong the graduation process or diminish the quality of the program offered. French also pointed out that San Andreas is currently the only continuation school in Marin County offering an “A through G diploma,” a credential essential for eligibility to attend University of California and California State University campuses.
Alice Blauvett, a graduate of San Andreas, expressed a lack of clarity regarding the future structure of the combined schools. “I’d like to see which class will be where and how the buildings will be divided up,” she requested, emphasizing the need for a concrete vision.
Several parents expressed dissatisfaction with the communication between the parent community and the school board on this emotionally charged issue. Lee Howard, a parent of a student at Redwood High School, appealed for “civil discourse, as the district works through its challenging agenda items, specifically the co-location issue.” Celeste Perez, a parent of a Tamiscal student, stated that the needs of students at alternative schools are “getting worse — they need more staff, not less staff.”
