Final Meeting Notes for March 3, 2026

Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup

A workgroup pursuant to California Education Code 45118

Final Minutes of Meeting: March 3, 2026

(Workgroup will consider for approval on April 13, 2026)

Report of Action
Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Workgroup Members Present:

• Carl Williams
• Cheryl Kearse
• Chris Reefe
• Craig Chavez
• Cynthia Carrillo
• Daniel Alvarado
• Elisa Hidrogo
• Judyann Burgess
• Ken Whittemore
• Kristine Ortega
• Mari Gonzales
• Michael Young
• Mitch Steiger
• Navnit Puryear
• Roy Dietz
• Sandra Barreiro
  
• Sarah Gianocaro
• Susan Rutledge
• Tina Solórzano Fletcher
• Yvonne Schmeltz

Workgroup Members Absent:

• Alisa McKinley
• Anil Muhammed
• Cheryl Theis
• David Swindle
• Donald Ogden
• Heather Campos
• Janice Swayze
• Jena Kruhmin
• Joy Hurst
• Lisa Horne
• Maija Miller
• Mary Ponce
• Pamela Ford
• Raymond Andry
• Rick Crosby
• Sara Parker
• Summer Simoes
• Teanna Tillery

California Department of Education Liaisons:

• Kristen Cruz-Allen
• Zandi Llanos
• Jeffrey Franey

Co-Facilitators:

• Mark Chekal
• Matt Juchniewicz

Please note more information on the meeting, including purpose, statutory charge, meeting schedule and agendas can be located on the Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup webpage.

1. Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup
   1. Introductions
      
      Welcome to workgroup members provided by David Shapira, Chief of Staff for the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Abel Gullien, Deputy Superintendent of the Operations and Administration Branch at the California Department of Education.
      
      
   2. Bagley Keene Presentation
      
      Bagley Keene Presentation provided to the workgroup by Jessica Ozalp, Deputy General Counsel.
      
      
   3. Call to Order
      
      CDE Staff called the meeting to order at approximately 3:50 p.m.
      
      
   4. Quorum
      
      Attendance taken and quorum for the meeting met.
      
      
   5. Chair Elections
      
      ACTION: Nominations held for Chair of Workgroup. Member Craig Chavez nominated Member Mitch Steiger. Member Navnit Puryear seconded the nomination. No other members were nominated.

      Mitch Steiger was nominated by acclamation.

      
      
   6. Whole Group Discussion
      
      Discussion was held on the number of votes required for a recommendation to move forward. Discussion was also held on member attendance and if members that have not attended should continue as members of the work group.

      ACTION: Member Craig Chavez moved to establish the workgroup membership at 34 for this meeting and future meetings. This removes four members who have never attended a workgroup meeting and makes a quorum with 18 members. Member Yvonne Schmeltz seconded the motion. Vote: 18 members in favor. Motion carries.

      ACTION: Member Mitch moved to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order. Mark seconded the motion. Vote: 19 in favor. 0 opposed. Motion carries.

      Member Mari Gonzales requested suggested structure for the report be reflected from the meeting chat feature be reflected in the minutes.

      Suggested structure for the report recommended by Member Mari Gonzales as written in meeting chat feature states:

      Per the legislative requirements, standardize the structure of each job-family section with specific headers to include: an overview of the job family; application of required and permissive statutory grouping factors; explanation of how staffing ratio requirements are addressed; illustrative, clearly labeled non-prescriptive examples (use illustrative ranges instead of static numbers); local and community college considerations; emergency and pandemic workload factors; and a summary recommendation approach aligned with legislative requirements

      Clearly distinguish classified roles from certificated roles wherever referenced to avoid scope confusion (librarian, counselor, nurse may be either classified or certificated depending on the context). Remove all references to speech and language therapists who are solely certificated.

      Visually de-emphasize out-of-state examples (e.g., context box or footnote) or remove them.

      Conduct a consistency pass on advisory language to ensure “may” versus “shall” usage does not unintentionally read as prescriptive.

      ACTION: Member Craig Chavez moved to adopt the suggested structure for the legislation report. Member Sara Gianocaro seconded the motion. Vote: 17 in favor. 0 oppose. Motion Carries

      ACTION: Member Chris Reefe moved to have the CDE act as staff to the workgroup, including taking minutes. Member Mari Gonzales seconded the motion. Vote: 21 in favor. Zero opposed.

   7. Public Comments
      
      There was no public comment.
      
      
   8. Next Steps and closing
      
      ACTION: Member Carl Williams made a motion to adjourn the workgroup meeting. Member Tina Solorzano Fletcher seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of the members present (17–0). The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00 p.m.