Add $85,995 to El Sistema music program contract

In plain English

The school board is asked to add $85,995 to an existing contract with El Sistema Santa Cruz, a music program provider. The extra money would pay for music instruction through the district's CTE New School program (both during the regular school day and after school) and for after-school classes at Mintie White Elementary and other Expanded Learning sites. A yes vote raises the contract's not-to-exceed total from $232,140 to $318,135. It is on the consent agenda, meaning it would pass along with other routine items unless a board member pulls it out for discussion.

Students at Mintie White Elementary, the CTE New School, and other Expanded Learning after-school sites would get additional music and arts instruction outside the regular academic program.

Key facts

Addendum amount: $85,995; original contract: $232,140; revised not-to-exceed total: $318,135
Original agreement with El Sistema Santa Cruz was approved by the Board on June 17, 2026
Purchase order number: PO27-00407
Programming covers the CTE New School program (regular day and after school) and after-school classes at Mintie White Elementary and other Expanded Learning sites
Funding listed as Expanded Learning (ELOP, 21st Century, ASES), applicable CTE and program funds, and Prop 28 New School money — "No general funds"
Prepared by Jen Littleton-Bruno, Executive Director, Expanded Learning

Reasons to support

The added programming extends structured arts instruction and enrichment beyond the traditional school day for students at Mintie White and Expanded Learning sites.
No general fund money is used — the cost is covered by Expanded Learning grants (ELOP, 21st Century, ASES), CTE program funds, and Prop 28 arts funding.
Staff say the expansion strengthens coordination between Expanded Learning, career technical education, and arts programming, in line with the 2026–27 Board Goals and Guardrails.

Reasons to oppose or change it

The increase is a 37% jump over the contract approved only months earlier, in June 2026, which raises the question of why the full scope was not identified at that time.
Spending $85,995 of Expanded Learning and Prop 28 funds on one outside music provider commits that money and leaves less for other after-school or arts options at those sites.
Because it sits on the consent agenda, the addendum would be approved without a separate presentation or discussion of the program's results so far unless a trustee requests it.

Official wording

Approve the El Sistema Santa Cruz Contract Addendum for Expanded Learning, CTE New School, and Mintie White After-School Programming Recommended Action: Approve the contract addendum with El Sistema Santa Cruz associated with PO27-00407, increasing the agreement by $85,995 to support the CTE New School program and Mintie White after-school classes. The revised contract total is $318,135. Background: The Board originally approved the El Sistema Santa Cruz agreement on June 17, 2026, in the amount of $232,140. This addendum expands the existing agreement to provide additional music programming through the CTE New School (regular day and after school)program and after-school classes at Mintie White Elementary & other Expanded Learning sites. The additional programming extends access to structured arts instruction and enrichment opportunities beyond the traditional school day. It also strengthens coordination between Expanded Learning, CTE, and arts programming. Board Goal and Guardrail Alignment: The programming supports the District’s emphasis on student engagement, access, belonging, and opportunities that complement the academic program. These alignments reflect the 2026–27 Board Goals and Guardrails identified in the District’s leadership goal-setting materials. Fiscal Impact: Increase of $85,995 to the existing agreement.  Original contract: $232,140  Addendum: $85,995  Revised NTE: $318,135 Funding Source: Expanded Learning: ELOP, 21st Century, ASES / applicable CTE and program funding sources/Prop 28 New School. No general funds. Prepared By: Jen Littleton-Bruno, Executive Director, Expanded Learning Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the El Sistema Santa Cruz contract addendum to continue and expand student access to music, arts, and enrichment programming through the CTE New School program and Expanded Learning after-school program.

Official agenda ElSistema2026-27Addendum.pdf

Summary written by claude-opus-5 from the agenda and the ElSistema2026-27Addendum.pdf. It can contain mistakes. The official documents govern.