Carlmont High School’s 2026-27 course catalog, published this month, added visual arts to the list of programs that can justify a seven-period student schedule, whereas previously, the 2025-26 catalog listed only the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and performing arts.
No formal announcement accompanied the change.
The addition marks a period of growth for the visual arts department, driven largely by Proposition 28, a state ballot measure approved in 2022 that provides dedicated annual funding for arts education in public schools. But the way the change was communicated highlights a gap between how the administration internally tracks its updates to its policy and how that information reaches students and families.
A growing department
State records show Carlmont’s Proposition 28 allocation rising from about $268,000 in 2024-25 to about $312,000 in 2025-26, an increase of roughly 16%. According to district documents, the Sequoia Union High School District began spending Proposition 28 funds in 2024-25, employing 2.6 full-time equivalent teachers across all sites through the measure.
Tina Condos, the Visual Arts Department Chair, said the funding has allowed the department to serve more students.
“We got a whole new teacher, so that’s five extra classes,” Condos said. “Enrollment in the arts has gone up, so we needed to expand.”
The department now operates five classrooms with capacities ranging from 30 to 35 students. New career technical education courses have also been introduced. Digital filmmaking was added this year, and a CTE graphic design course is planned for 2026-27.
Instructional Vice Principal Jennifer Lang attributed the catalog change to the additional funding.
“Visual arts has opened up due to Proposition 28, which is a change in available resources,” Lang said.
A catalog that trailed reality
Although visual arts classes did not appear in the 2025-26 catalog’s seven-period language, Condos said she was not aware of any students being turned away.
“I think it has already been like this, that it might not have just been in the catalog,” Condos said. “I don’t remember any students not being able to take it.”
The gap between the written catalog and actual practice raises questions about how much weight the document carries as a planning tool for students and families.
Lang described the catalog as one piece of a larger communication process. She said department chairs meet with counselors before registration each February, and counselors pass along updates during one-on-one meetings with students.
“The course catalog has the changes, and we attempt to keep everything current, but the best way to communicate changes is through these meetings,” Lang said.
She added that Carlmont builds its master schedule around student course selections each spring.
“Student requests drive what classes are offered in any given year,” Lang said.
Who hears about changes
The administration’s communication process runs through internal channels. Department chairs inform counselors, who inform students during registration.
That information does not always reach parent organizations. Kaori Kobayashi, incoming Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) president for 2025-26, said the executive board was not consulted on scheduling changes.
“The PTSA Executive Board was not formally consulted on this topic, nor is it within our typical scope to be consulted on scheduling or curriculum changes,” Kobayashi said.
She said parents can engage with the SUHSD board directly for input on district-wide policies and that the principal provides updates at PTSA meetings.
The course catalog is published as a Google Doc, finalized in early February and archived annually, according to Lang. She said edits after that point are limited to minor corrections. The catalog also advises students to check with counselors for additions and changes.
Budget pressures
The visual arts expansion comes during a period of financial strain for the district. Lang said SUHSD is facing budget challenges tied to declining enrollment.
“It is not a secret that Sequoia Union High School District is struggling with budget, like most schools in California,” Lang said.
She said the district determines how many total sections each school can offer.
“The District is the one who tells us how many sections that we can offer according to what they can afford,” Lang said.
Janea Marking, the newly appointed Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, offered a different perspective on how Proposition 28 funds are managed. She said individual sites have a significant role in spending decisions.
“Individual school sites determine how Proposition 28 funds are utilized based on local priorities and student interest, ensuring all spending aligns with state eligibility requirements. District Office staff serves as a collaborative partner, providing guidance and thought-partnership throughout that process as needed,” Marking said.
Proposition 28 requires that its funding supplement existing arts education spending. The measure prohibits districts from using the money to replace funding they were already providing. District documents show SUHSD did not spend any Proposition 28 funds during 2023-24, the first year the state allocated money under the measure.
“Upholding our fiscal responsibilities is a top priority. We utilize the standard account coding system to track every dollar and ensure we are meeting state standards. At the close of each fiscal year, our financial records are reviewed by independent auditors; I am pleased to share that for the 2024-25 cycle, the District received no findings,” Marking said.
What comes next
For visual arts students, the trend is positive. The department has added a teacher, gained five sections, and introduced new courses. The 2026-27 catalog now formally recognizes visual arts as a basis for a seven-period schedule.
How students and families learn about these changes remains less clear. The addition of two words to a Google Doc had real implications for student scheduling. It arrived without a public announcement, and the department chair said she believed the practice was already in place before the language caught up.
