Approve family night at Monterey Bay Aquarium for 1,200+ on December 12, 2026

In plain English

The district would approve a private evening event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Saturday, December 12, 2026 for Pajaro Valley Unified students and their families, with exhibit viewing from about 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and a 'strolling breakfast' meal served from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The aquarium's proposal is priced for 1,200 guests at an estimated $201,751.86, paid with Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) money rather than general funds. A yes vote approves the event for more than 1,200 participants, lets children age four and under attend free without counting toward the cap, and authorizes staff to finalize the contract within the approved not-to-exceed amount.

More than 1,200 district students and family members would get a free private night at the aquarium billed as a family literacy and ocean-science learning experience, and roughly $201,751.86 of the district's expanded learning funding would be committed to this single evening.

Key facts

Estimated event cost: $201,751.86, subject to final attendance, menu selection, and contract terms; funded by ELOP Funding (no general funds).
Admission: $25,000.00 minimum covers exclusive evening use of the entire aquarium for the first 400 guests; each additional guest is $55.00, for an admission estimate of $69,000.00.
Food and beverage: $83.00 per person for 1,200 people ($99,600.00), plus a 22% service charge of $21,912.00 and tax of $11,239.86. The aquarium sets a $92,000 food and beverage purchase minimum for this event.
Saturday, December 12, 2026: strolling breakfast 6:45 p.m.–8:45 p.m., exhibit viewing 6:45 p.m.–10:30 p.m., with one aquarium guide per 100 guests.
The item is on the consent agenda, meaning it is voted on together with other routine items unless a board member asks to discuss it separately.

Reasons to support

The district ties the event to its 2026–27 goal of increasing 3rd grade reading proficiency, saying the aquarium visit builds background knowledge, vocabulary, inquiry, and discussion around ocean science and conservation.
The cost is covered by Expanded Learning Opportunities Program funding, so no general fund dollars are used for the event.
The scope includes exclusive evening use of the whole aquarium, a family education room staffed by aquarium educators, visual and performing arts slots for student performances, and food and beverage — and children age four and under attend free without counting toward the participant cap.

Reasons to oppose or change it

At $201,751.86 for roughly 1,200 guests, the evening works out to about $168 per person, and nearly two-thirds of the bill ($99,600.00 in food plus $21,912.00 in service charges and $11,239.86 in tax) is the meal rather than instruction — money that could instead fund other expanded learning programming during the year.
The aquarium notes that Touch Pools, aviaries, and Into the Deep are closed in the evening for animal health and safety, so families would not see some exhibits, and one guide per 100 guests is a thin ratio for a hands-on learning goal.
The cost is explicitly 'subject to final attendance, menu selection, and contract terms,' and the proposal is written for 1,200 guests while the board is asked to approve more than 1,200 (the item also references admission for 1,400), so the final price could land higher than the estimate.

Official wording

Approve the Expanded Learning Pajaro Passport Family Learning Event at Monterey Bay Aquarium – December 12, 2026 Recommended Action: Approve the Pajaro Passport family engagement event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Saturday, December 12, 2026, for more than 1,200 PVUSD participants, with children age four and under admitted without counting toward the participant cap, subject to the final event agreement. Background: Pajaro Passport is a districtwide family engagement initiative designed to provide students and families with access to high-quality educational, cultural, STEM, literacy, arts, and enrichment experiences beyond the traditional school day. For this event, PVUSD is proposing an exclusive evening experience at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The current proposal is based on 1,200 guests, with exhibit access from approximately 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The proposal includes exclusive evening use of the Aquarium, with one aquarium guide provided for approximately every 100 guests. The event will allow PVUSD students and families to experience the Aquarium together as a large-scale Pajaro Passport family literacy learning opportunity. Participation is expected to exceed 1,200 people, with additional access available for young children age four and under. Board Goal Alignment: This item supports the following 2026–27 Board Goals: Increase 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency by providing students and families with an experiential learning opportunity that builds background knowledge, vocabulary, inquiry, and discussion around ocean science and conservation. Event Scope: The Aquarium proposal provides exclusive evening admission for 1,400 participants. The proposal also includes a family education room with MBA Educators, VAPA opportunities for student performances, food and beverage component. Fiscal Impact: Estimated event cost: $201,751.86, subject to final attendance, menu selection, and contract terms. Prepared By: Jen Littleton-Bruno, Executive Director, Expanded Learning Funding: ELOP Funding(no general funds)12.12.2026 - PVUSD - Entire Aquarium - Strolling Breakfast (1200 ppl).pdf Approve the Pajaro Passport Monterey Bay Aquarium event to provide a large-scale family learning experience for more than 1,200 PVUSD students and family members, including additional FREE participation for children age four and under, and authorize staff to finalize the event agreement within the approved not-to-exceed amount.

Official agenda 12.12.2026 - PVUSD - Entire Aquarium - Strolling Breakfast (1200 ppl).pdf

Summary written by claude-opus-5 from the agenda and the 12.12.2026 - PVUSD - Entire Aquarium - Strolling Breakfast (1200 ppl).pdf. It can contain mistakes. The official documents govern.