AUSD reports decrease in enrollment for 2025-26 school year

By Michael Chaldu · Wed Oct 08 2025

Board approves hiring of additional legal team, ‘piggyback’ bid for furniture, among other items in short meeting

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees took care of a few items during a brief 58-minute meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Among those items was a report from Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Kendyl Darnell on the district’s updated enrollment for the current school year, which has decreased from the 2024-25 school year.

Darnell reported the enrollment of 4,275 students over the district’s 14 campuses and programs, which was 82 less than the 4,357 reported in October 2024. Darnell noted that AUSD budgeted for a decrease of 19 students, so the district was 63 students “under budget.”

Also notable, according to Darnell, was that AUSD had its lowest kindergarten enrollment in eight years, since Darnell started tracking the enrollment, she said. Measuring by percentage of births in the county five years earlier, the district had 10.7 percent of those born then enrolled in kindergarten classes this year, when the norm is 12 or 13 percent. Darnell did say that enrollment in transitional kindergarten, which is not required for AUSD students, was up which represented the “one bright light” in the report.

Trustee Vy Pierce asked about reasons for the decline in the district, and wondered if the current national immigration situation was a reason.

“I did talk to the tech director, who’s collecting these numbers, and he said that the majority either opted for private school or left the district,” Darnell said. “We don’t have any data on whether immigration was a factor, so for now it’s just families moving out or choosing private education.”

Since it was a discussion item, no action was taken.

The other business items included Resolution 07-25-26 Utilization of Arvin Union School District Piggyback Option for the Purchase of School Furnishings, Office Furnishings, and Accessories. This involved an item in Public Contract Code that permits school districts to purchase supplies, materials, equipment, etc. under a contract entered into by another awarding school district. In this case, Arvin Union School District did resolve to allow other districts to piggyback on their bid, which went to Sierra School Equipment Company.

Darnell said this resolution was an annual item, and that while there are no current plans to buy any new furnishings, the money could be used if the need for new furniture arises. The item passes by a 7-0 vote.

Also, Darnell introduced a new Use of Facilities Fee Schedule Update. The district charges fees for use of its facilities, such as the football stadium or gym, outside of school hours. This item was introduced at this meeting and will come back in the Nov. 18 meeting for final approval.

In other business:

The board granted, by a 7-0 vote, a request by Superintendent Dr. Tom Bennett, to bring on an additional legal team, the Mann Legal Team, for any possible litigation. The district currently has two legal resources to consult, but Bennett said he favored bringing in additional counsel to “ensure we have proper litigation support. I look at it as getting a second opinion if we need it.” The item passed by a 7-0 vote.

During public comment, Santa Rosa Academy Principal Sarah Betz introduced school employees Vanessa Bishop and Kyler Warren, who were credited with saving an SRA first-grade student who had been choking at lunchtime.

“On Sept. 23, we had a terrifying moment, when a student started choking during lunch. Kyler and Vanessa jumped in and were able to perform the Heimlich Maneuver to clear the obstruction, and our student is fine,” Betz said. “Moments like this remind us how special our community is; Vanessa and Kyler put others first and did the right thing, and they show this leadership every day. I would just like to say thank you to them.”

Bishop and Warren received certificates from the district for their actions.

The AUSD board will next meet on Oct. 21. Open session starts at 7 p.m.