Santa Barbara public schools are at a fiscal crossroads - but also a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity. When budgets tighten, great systems don’t shrink their ambitions; they get smarter: set clear student‑outcome goals, align every dollar, and bring the full community to the table. With strong, representative board leadership, SBUSD can become a future‑ready, evidence‑based district—accelerating early literacy and math, expanding arts and career pathways, upgrading facilities, and strengthening student wellbeing. Strategic partnerships with nonprofits, higher ed, employers, and philanthropy can grow resources, not just cut costs.
Great public schools don’t happen - communities build them. The Bridge equips leaders to turn this moment into measurable wins for students.

WHY IT MATTERS

Our kids - and our county - cannot afford drift.

• Tipping point: Years of fiscal strain, staff churn, deferred maintenance, and lagging literacy signal a system under pressure.

• Boards shape outcomes: Elected boards set vision, policy, and budget - the levers that determine early literacy, teacher stability, safe learning spaces, and equitable opportunities in arts and career pathways.

• Crisis → capacity: With disciplined, nonpartisan governance, we can turn a deficit into a modernization agenda: adopt SMART student‑centered outcome goals, monitor progress monthly, and align resources - while mobilizing public‑private partnerships (tutoring, counseling, internships, labs) to expand what students receive.

• Representation builds trust: Boards that look like the communities they serve earn the trust needed to make tough choices and sustain improvement.

Bottom line: Every agenda the board adopts - or avoids - shows up in a child’s classroom. Strong board leadership turns community values into measurable results for kids.

WHO WE ARE

School Board Bridge is a nonpartisan, community‑rooted pipeline preparing neighbors to run - and govern - ethically and effectively on the Santa Barbara Unified Board of Education and feeder districts’ Board of Education.

• Focus for 2026: SBUSD Trustee Areas 1 & 4 (November 3, 2026).

• Training: A 6–8 session governance pathway (March 2026 –June 2026): governance fundamentals, SMART goals, Brown Act/LCFF, fiscal oversight, data literacy, equity & engagement, campaign basics (lite), and day‑one onboarding.

• Incumbents: Candidate of Distinction—assessment aligned to the Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards; full supports for those who meet the standard, targeted training for those who do not demonstrate competencies in all eight.

• Our commitments: Student‑first. Nonpartisan. Evidence‑based. Representative. Transparent.

CALL TO ACTION

Lead where it matters most - our public schools.

• Apply for the 2026 Cohort: Get the skills, coaching, and compliance support to run - and govern - well.

• Nominate a Leader: Know someone who should serve? Put their name forward.

• Incumbents: Get Assessed: Earn Candidate of Distinction and access full supports.

• Invest in the Bridge: Fuel a nonpartisan pipeline that translates community values into student success.

WHAT WE DO

•           Identify & Engage – Forums, listening sessions, and workshops that elevate community priorities and demystify board impact.

•           Recruit & Select – Values‑aligned leaders (parents, educators, professionals, alumni) with a growth mindset and belief in every student’s potential.

•           Train & Equip – Structured, research‑based curriculum aligned with the Eight Characteristics of Effective School Boards (governance duties; SMART goal‑setting; Brown Act/LCFF; fiscal oversight;

data literacy; equity & inclusion; community engagement; coalition‑building).

•           Support Candidacy – Nonpartisan guidance on message, compliance, treasurer setup, and voter engagement.

•           Strengthen Governance (Post‑Election) – Mentorship, peer networks, policy research, and continuing professional learning from day one.

•           Reelection: Candidate of Distinction – Incumbents are assessed against the Eight Characteristics; those meeting the standard earn a distinction designation and full supports; others join training to close gaps.