The San Mateo Union High School District board will hold a public hearing Thursday on declining enrollment, a trend that has cost the district 353 students over four years and triggers a state block grant funding process.
The hearing, part of the Aug. 13 agenda, comes as SMUHSD's enrollment dropped to 9,302 students in 2025-26, according to state Department of Education data reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal. That 4% decline since 2021-22 mirrors a countywide pattern: San Mateo County public schools lost 3,556 students over the same period. SMUHSD's drop ranked third-largest in the county by total number, behind Sequoia Union High School District (-711) and San Mateo-Foster City School District (-649).
Fewer students means less money. The enrollment hearing is tied to the state's Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant. The 2026-27 state budget set the grant at $5 billion statewide, nearly double last year's $2.8 billion, distributing roughly $937 per student based on average daily attendance. A 2026 RAND survey of 481 district administrators found 54% identified budget shortfalls as a top concern, up from 33% in 2025.
Hillsdale pilot advisory program
The board will also vote on a new pilot advisory program at Hillsdale High School. The district's agenda describes a memorandum of understanding for a structured advisory period, though details on which students are affected and what the advisory entails have not been publicly released.
Salary schedules and labor agreements
A separate public hearing under AB 1200, the state law requiring districts to disclose the costs of collective bargaining agreements, will precede votes on the 2026-27 classified salary schedule and a tentative agreement with CSEA Chapter 519, covering custodians, instructional aides and office staff. The board will also approve revised confidential employee and miscellaneous salary schedules.
At its June 25 meeting, the board under Superintendent Randall Booker already approved a tentative agreement with the SMUHSD Teachers Association and adopted the 2026-27 district budget. That meeting also greenlit the schematic design and budget for the San Mateo High School pool replacement project.
Facilities and partnerships
The board will hear a Facilities Master Plan update covering long-term capital improvements across San Mateo, Hillsdale and Aragon high schools. Additional votes include an amendment to the partnership MOU between SMUHSD and San Mateo-Foster City School District, continuation of adult ESL classes through San Bruno Park School District, and MOUs with San Jose State University.
How to attend
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at 650 N. Delaware St., San Mateo. A Zoom option is available (webinar ID: 955 8452 1141; passcode: 995656). Residents can also email comments to [email protected]. Meeting minutes will be posted after the session.
