Skip to main content

SIERRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Every student reaching their potential every day.

Schools

Popular Links

District Board Home

Message From the President

On behalf of the Sierra Unified School District Board of Trustees, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I am honored and privileged to serve as the 2026 president of the Board. I want to thank Cortney Burke for the exemplary job she has done over the last three years as president, and I will make every effort to perform my presidential duties at the high-level Cortney has modeled.

I look back on 2025 at what I hope is a turning point for the Sierra Unified School District. The district received positive results from the 2025 California School Dashboard, which measures progress across various state and local indicators. With the passing of Measure U in 2024, the district has already seen improvements at the aging Sierra High campus. More projects are in the planning stages, while others await state approval. These are just a few of the accomplishments that have the district heading in the right direction. 

As we enter 2026, I am optimistic about the future of our district. First and foremost, we have a wonderful community supporting exceptional students. I am reminded of this every time I set foot on a campus, watch an athletic contest, or personally interact with students. Additionally, the staff of Sierra Unified is second to none. Whether they are teachers, aides, maintenance workers, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, or other support personnel, I see them working hard every day to provide our students with opportunities to succeed.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our leadership team. The Superintendent, principals, business office, and others are constantly doing everything possible to ensure our students and staff have all they need to reach their highest potential. Great students, great staff, great leadership, and a great community—with this kind of support, Sierra will surely flourish. 

In this new year, I hope everyone has a chance to experience and support the efforts of our students. Please stay involved and active in your child’s education. Perhaps find your way to a game or another school event; even just an encouraging word to a student or staff member can make a positive impact on their efforts to succeed. Again, I wish you all health and happiness this New Year.

Sincerely,

Ben Kimbler

A group of people cut a red ribbon in front of a building.

  • A document titled '2025-29 Board Goals' from Sierra Unified School District.

  • The role of the school board is to ensure that school districts are responsible to the values and beliefs, and priorities of the communities. Boards fulfill this role by performing five major responsibilities: setting direction, establishing an effective and efficient structure, providing support, ensuring accountability, and providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district, and public schools.

    Our authority as school board members is only as we sit as a board, and by majority decision of the board. Individually, we have no authority. Additionally, the school board has only one employee – the superintendent. A good way to consider the role of the governance team of the district is that we are the direction-setters, taking the input of the educational professionals and setting the “what” for the district. Our superintendent, while part of the governance team, is the “how”, and determines how the “what” is accomplished. The school board does not determine the how.

    View Most Recent Board Meeting Agenda

    Text reads: 'Share your thoughts and ideas' in a stylized font.

    The community elects their school board to be their voice in the local school district. We appreciate your input and support! There are many ways to provide this input. Informally, you are welcome to share thoughts and ideas with us at school functions, or when you see us at the grocery store!

    A more formal way to provide input or share your thoughts is by attending the school board meetings and speaking during public comment at the beginning of each meeting. Board meetings are held monthly on the second Monday at 5:00pm, with workshops typically held the fourth Monday of the month at 5:00pm. While we cannot comment or take action during public comment, you will have three minutes to share your comments and have an audience of the entire board.

    Text graphic: 'Attend board meetings' in a stylized font.

    Text reads 'Other ways to be involved' in maroon and gold.

    Our district has many other ways you can be involved. We have Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) meetings, parent clubs, school site councils, various community input committees, and online surveys. We encourage everyone to please take the time to get involved! If you are unable to attend meetings in person, you can review board agendas, minutes and links to the podcasts we post of each meeting and workshop here on the website, as well as find information available on social media.

  • Please click on the link below to be redirected to CSBA GAMUT Policies

    Sierra Unified School District Board Policies

  • Sierra Unified School District Board Meetings are held

    in the Board Room, at the Sierra Unified School District Office

    Located at: 29143 Auberry Road, Prather, CA 93651

    All Meetings begin at 5pm.

     

    • January 5, 20026 – CSBA Delegate Assembly Nominee Selection
    • January 12, 2026 – Regular
    • January 26, 2026 – Special Facilities Workshop
    • February 9, 2026 – Regular
    • March 2, 2026 – Regular
    • April 13, 2026 – Regular
    • May 11, 2026 – Regular
    • June 8, 2026 – Regular
    • June 26, 2026 – Special Budget Workshop
    • July 13, 2026 – Regular
    • August 10, 2026
    • September 14, 2026
    • October 12, 2026
    • November 9, 2026
    • December 14, 2026

     

Board Meeting Archive