May 13, 2025
Dear Bolinas-Stinson School Families and Community,
The school district is facing fiscal pressure due to increasing costs, declining revenue growth, and the risk of possible revenue losses due to federal grant cancellations and state budget shortfalls. At the same time we are experiencing an equally urgent issue: students’ academic proficiency is unacceptably low. In response, and specifically in order to lift student learning to where it should be, we have developed and funded a 3-year strategic plan that began this school year.
In light of the fiscal strains and the objectives of the 3-year strategic plan for learning, at the March board meeting I recommended to the school board the layoff of three positions, including our two Associate Preschool instructors, in order to save costs while restructuring our preschool program.
As background: the school district started offering preschool to 4-year-olds in 2017, who are now served in the school’s Transitional Kindergarten program. 3-year-olds were added to the program in the 2020-2021 school year, and the current preschool program serves 3-year-olds 5 ½ hours a day, during the school year, at a cost of approximately $220,000. Class size ranges from 5 to 10. We are spending at risky levels in light of the current fiscal climate, and we are not alone in this. You may have noticed that many California, Bay Area, and Marin County school districts are experiencing revenue losses and program cuts.
Between the March board meeting and now, therefore, the district searched for an independent provider with whom to partner in providing expanded preschool for 2-3 year-old children beginning next school year. We also held a series of community forums and board meetings for community discussion, Q&A, and input. We were unable to find a provider ready to provide preschool in Bolinas-Stinson beginning in August, and we also heard clearly the desire of many community members to have a “transition year” in which to more fully explore all options for Preschool funding and programming.
Therefore, at the May 8 special School Board Meeting, I recommended and the board agreed to continue our 3-year old preschool program, as is, for an additional year while we explore expanded programming that is fiscally responsible, sustainable, and affordable or free for our families.
I am grateful to our Bolinas-Stinson Beach School Foundation for their partnership with the school district and our families. The Foundation will work with us in the coming year to supplement our budget with fundraising contributions while we explore options for our Preschool beginning in 2026-27. They also partnered with us and families to develop a sliding tuition schedule for participation in next year’s 3-year old Preschool program.
Please scan the QR code for more detailed information from my May 8 presentation to the school board.
Please reach me at the school district office if you have questions, concerns, or thoughts to share regarding this letter.
Sincerely,
Leo Kostelnik
Superintendent, Bolinas-Stinson Union School District