Sept 8th, 2026 SUSD Board Meeting at 4:00 PM

The Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) Board held a meeting on September 8, 2026, focusing on various district updates and operational issues. A significant portion of the meeting addressed transportation challenges, including bus route inefficiencies, driver absenteeism, and the impact on student transportation and field trips. Several public comments highlighted concerns about management decisions, route planning, and the outsourcing of field trips to charter companies, which affected driver overtime opportunities and service reliability. The board approved a contract with First Student Incorporated to provide leased drivers for special education bus routes to mitigate absenteeism and ensure route coverage. Discussions also covered recruitment and training efforts for new bus drivers, emphasizing the extensive certification process and the district's goal to prioritize hiring its own drivers. Additionally, the board reviewed and approved budget reports, resolutions related to attendance awareness and Hispanic Heritage Month, and funding allocations for arts and music programs under Proposition 28. The meeting included presentations on graduation rates and educational performance metrics, highlighting improvements across student subgroups. Motions related to personnel appointments, contract approvals, and budget appropriations were passed unanimously by the board members present.