Dear Edna Families–

We’ve reached the end of February. I often find myself wishing that I could slow the world down and savor the moments more. Then I come to work, interact with our students, and realize in their excitement that I already have the opportunity every day to savor the moments. Thank you for sharing your students.

I wanted to echo the communication sent out earlier this week by our PTA regarding the recent tragic event at Castle Peak. As a staff, our thoughts have been with those families who were so devastatingly impacted. I also wanted to acknowledge the gratitude expressed for the Edna Community and their heartfelt responses to those impacted. 

See you back at Edna on Monday,

Daniel

Spring Village Fest

Join the Mill Valley school community for Spring Village Fest on Wednesday, March 11 (5–7pm, quiet hour 4–5pm) at the Mill Valley Community Center! 

Learn about neurodiversity and disabilities and celebrate community and belonging with:

 Crafts & sensory stations

 Quiet and active zones

 FREE pizza and cupcakes for kids

 Music & Movement and The Bubble Lady

 Therapy dogs & face painting

 Community resources

Let’s build a more compassionate, connected community together.

RSVP here to let us know you are coming! And please consider volunteering here.

From the Garden (Nonprofit News)

Chicken Care Update

Our hens have started laying eggs again. A clear sign that Spring is so close! During mid winter break we need extra help taking care of them. Interested in helping? Please sign up for chicken care HERE, and note that the lock code has changed.

Garden Work Party

Sunday, March 1st, 2026 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

All ages welcome—no experience needed! Come lend a hand, get a little muddy, and enjoy time together in the Garden. Many hands make light (and fun!) work.

Open Garden

Every Wednesday | 1:30–3:30 PM

Stop by to enjoy the Garden, connect with the community, and—when available—purchase fresh produce and flowers.

Our cut flowers are starting to bloom, with a few beautiful bouquets available each week.

Marin County Office of Education:

We are delighted to share that, by popular demand, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Madeline Levine, Ph.D. will be returning to Marin County for a powerful and timely evening session focused on supporting adolescents’ mental health and emotional well-being.  Hosted by the Marin County Office of Education, this free virtual event is open to parents, caregivers, educators, and school staff throughout our community. The evening includes a live Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Levine.

March 25, 2026 @ 6:30–7:30 PM (No Longer March 10th)
Springtime Stress – Testing, Transitions, and the Road Ahead
As students face testing season and end-of-year transitions, Dr. Levine will offer tools to help them manage performance-related stress and approach future planning with confidence and emotional balance. REGISTER HERE!

The Board agenda for the March 5, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees includes a budget update titled “2025–2026 Second Interim Report”. This report captures District revenues and expenditures through January 31, 2026. It follows the 2025–2026 First Interim Report, presented in December 2025, which reflected our financial status through October 31, 2025.

In December and January, District staff hosted drop-in meetings at each school site to update the community on the District’ financials. These presentations highlighted an ongoing deficit of approximately $2.2 million associated with the projected addition of nine Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classes in 2026–2027. Updated enrollment projections now indicate the need for twelve TK classes, increasing the projected deficit to approximately $3.1 million.

We are committed to transparency and clarity in our District’s budget. To that end, a Special Board Budget Study Session will be held on March 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle School Library. We invite all members of our community to attend to learn more about District finances and our current budget status.

Announcement: Join our Community Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC)

The Mill Valley School District is reestablishing our Community Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) as a sub-committee of our Budget Advisory Committee.  We invite community members to apply.

We are seeking Mill Valley residents and registered voters with experience or interest in finance, budgeting, policy, or financial planning who are willing to serve a two-year term. Meetings are held quarterly.

This is a meaningful opportunity to lend your expertise and help ensure a strong financial future for our schools and students.  Learn more and apply on the District website (www.mvschools.org/cfac).

As we continue to work to make our practices accessible, we appreciate the continued collaboration of our labor partners, budget advisory committee, and community-based parcel tax committee in supporting our District.

News, Notes, & Votes

Regular Board Meeting - February 12, 2026

Facilities

Resolution #15-25/26 – MVMS Interim Portables
The Board approved the lease of temporary modular classrooms for Mill Valley Middle School to provide temporary space during construction. The 28-month lease, including installation and removal, will cost up to $3,318,058.64 and will be funded through Measure G. 

Extension of Flint Preconstruction Services – MVMS Project
The Board approved a 13-month extension of preconstruction services with Flint totaling $2,410,320. This includes allowances for site investigation and early procurement of long-lead items. The work supports ongoing project planning and coordination of the MVMS renovation and will be funded through Measure G. 

Addendum No. 3 – Phase IIA Interim Housing
The Board approved Addendum No. 3 to the facilities lease with Flint for Phase IIA, which includes procurement and construction of temporary modular classrooms for the interim campus. The estimated cost is approximately $20,000,000 and will be funded through Measure G. 

Parcel Tax Resolution Language

The Board approved a resolution for a parcel tax measure for the June 2026 election. The proposed measure extends the existing parcel tax, currently scheduled to expire in 2029, and renews a supplemental parcel tax that expired in 2021.

New Board Policy and Administrative Regulation – Immigration Enforcement Response
The Board approved and waived second read of a new Board Policy and Administrative Regulation addressing the District’s response to immigration enforcement. The policy updates and consolidates language previously included in BP/AR 5145.13 and aligns District practices with current state law.

Language regarding optional training was updated to include mandatory staff trainings.  Policy can be seen here.

Next Board Meeting - March 5, 2026

Special Board Meeting: Budget Study Session - March 10, 2026