MUSD Introduces New Superintendent Gigi Patrick at Board Meeting

Outgoing superintendent gives presentation on potential workforce housing; City Council adopts budget, reviews City Hall staffing; mayor issues statement on immigration; support classroom project

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By Gage Walker

At its June 23 meeting, the Martinez Unified School District (MUSD) Board of Education officially appointed Gigi Patrick as the district’s next superintendent, marking a new chapter in leadership as longtime superintendent Helen Rossi prepares to retire. The meeting was filled with gratitude, emotion and optimism for the district’s future.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of Martinez Unified School District,” said Patrick, addressing the board and community. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our educators, families and students, and to build on the district's strengths to ensure that every student has the support and opportunities provided for them.”

Patrick joins MUSD from the Vallejo City Unified School District, where she spent nearly 30 years in various roles. Most recently, she served as assistant superintendent of human resources, where she led contract negotiations, maintained positive labor relationships, and prioritized student needs.

Board President Tania Brugger emphasized that Patrick “has reinforced her ability to lead with transparency, integrity and a student-centered vision.”

Board members unanimously approved Patrick’s employment contract, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. Her base annual salary will start at $250,000, and she will be eligible for annual increases of 2% to 3%.

After addressing the board directly, Patrick introduced several members of her “village,” including family members and longtime colleagues, many of whom are also educators. “It takes a village, and this is my village,” she said with emotion.

Before Patrick's appointment was finalized, the board heard a significant presentation on the district’s progress exploring options for workforce housing on MUSD property as a long-term strategy to address staff retention and affordability.

Outgoing Superintendent Rossi, alongside city Planning Manager Michael Cass, presented findings from a year-long cohort with the California School Boards Association (CSBA). MUSD was one of only six districts statewide selected to participate in a workforce housing pilot program.

The focus of the program was the Martinez Adult Education campus on F Street, which sits on nearly five acres of district-owned land. Conceptual designs developed in collaboration with a San Francisco architectural firm showcased a multi-unit residential site featuring studio to three-bedroom apartments, shared outdoor spaces, and access to transit and shopping.

Rossi expressed that the district is losing early career teachers because they can't afford to live in Martinez, and programs like this could be a step in fixing that issue. She also mentioned potential improvements to the quality of life for MUSD employees, such as shorter commute times and opportunities to participate in sports, clubs or after-school programs.

Rossi emphasized that the project is still in the exploratory phase. Next steps would include a district-wide survey to gauge employee interest and further financial feasibility assessments. City zoning rules and proximity to the nearby cannabis dispensary will also factor into future decisions.

The meeting closed with a series of emotional tributes to Rossi, who is stepping down after more than 30 years in the district and three years in the superintendent role.

Community members and staff shared memories of Rossi’s steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, facility upgrades, labor negotiations, and multiple budget cycles. Former school board trustee Carlos Melendez described her as someone who “led quietly, effectively, and always with the students in mind.”

Cass added, “Helen, you have always led with grace, wisdom and unwavering belief in the power of public education. You've brought people together to build something larger than any single person could.”

Rossi, who kept her final remarks light and humorous, thanked the board, staff and community.

“I may be retiring, but don’t worry, I’ll still be around, just without the emails or the 6 a.m. wake-up calls. Thank you for all the trust, the laughter, and the opportunity to lead in such an extraordinary district,” she said. “Serving this community has truly been the honor of a lifetime.”

Her final day is set for June 30.

The following items were produced by Craig Lazzeretti

Council gets update on staffing, vacancies

The city’s human resources director, Marta Goc, gave the City Council an update on staffing and vacancy rates at City Hall last week, a report that showed both steady progress since the staffing crisis of a few years ago but also consistent challenges in hiring and retaining police officers.

Of 151 budgeted and authorized positions in the city government, only nine were vacant as of the date of the report, June 25. Five of the nine vacancies were in the Police Department, including four sworn officer positions.

“Despite ongoing outreach and streamlining of the recruitment process, the City continues to experience a low volume of qualified applicants,” a staff report accompanying the agenda item read. “These difficulties are shared by other agencies and have been described as the ‘national police hiring crisis.’ ”

Goc told the council that the city will be extending a pilot program that offers referral bonuses and relocation assistance for newly hired officers.

The other four vacancies were in the Finance, Community and Economic Development, Public Works and Water departments.

The city is required by state law to hold a public hearing at least once a year to review and discuss staff vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts.

Goc’s report also noted that the city has hired 45 permanent staff members since Jan. 1, 2024 and promoted 17 others.

Staff recruitment and retention has been a top City Council priority in recent years, following a slew of departures that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the years that followed.

City adopts balanced budget following $1.5 million in cuts

The City Council approved the city’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, following $1.5 million in cuts that were required to bring it into balance. The new budget takes effect July 1.

“This budget will not require changes to the city’s core services, preserves essential staff positions responsible for delivering these services, and protects its financial position as it enters an economically challenging period,” a city news release announcing the budget adoption stated.

City Manager Michael Chandler said in the release that “we are fortunate to have such strong reserves, built up over many years of fiscal prudence, to provide us with the space we will need to weather the current financial headwinds we face.”

Of note, the final budget included approval of an additional $560,000 loan to cover operational deficits and debt service obligations in the Marina Enterprise Fund; a one-time transfer of $218,000 from the Public Safety Grants special revenue fund to the General Fund; and amendment to the Capital Improvement Program to reflect a reduction in General Fund contributions from $425,000 to $375,000.

The news release also noted the “strain associated with ongoing operating deficits at the Marina,” an issue the city is hoping to address in coming years through a public-private partnership that will hopefully increase Marina revenues.

Other cost pressures weighing on the city’s financial health are insurance premiums, staffing costs, and other facility maintenance costs.

The city conducted a long-range financial forecast to analyze multiple short- and long-term scenarios that it may face in coming years.

“In all scenarios presented by the forecast, the need for an increase in revenues was emphasized,” the city news release states.

Mayor issues statement on immigration situation

Mayor Brianne Zorn issued the following the statement June 18 on the ongoing issues and protests related to federal immigration policy.

This past weekend, Martinez residents took to the streets to stand up for their community and to support their neighbors, friends, and family, regardless of immigration status. These peaceful protests were in response to images across the country, including last week at the Concord Immigration Court, which have caused residents fear, particularly those in the immigrant community. Day by day, these national events continue to cause uncertainty and a lack of confidence in our government.

Seeing these images, our residents turn to their local government and say, “What are you doing to protect us?” While the City of Martinez and the Martinez Police are not legally able to prevent actions by the Federal government, we can control what we do locally. In 2017, the Martinez City Council adopted a Resolution stating that, in accordance with California law, our Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws and will not detain any individuals based on immigration status. We stand by that Resolution still today.

One of our City Council’s primary goals is to promote Community Health, Safety, and Well Being, and we stay committed to public safety and building trust throughout our neighborhoods. We take pride in our City and want everyone in Martinez to feel welcome, included, and respected. The City of Martinez is proud to have recently sworn in the members of the new Diversity and Cultural Commission. We will continue to do the work to stand firmly against discrimination and support the values of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. Please reach out if you or someone you know needs assistance. Below is a list of resources available.

Legal Support & Immigrant Rights

• Stand Together Contra Costa – Rapid response and free legal help: www.standtogethercontracosta.org | (925) 900-5151

• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Brentwood) – DACA renewals, deportation defense: (925) 237‑8581 ext. 11

• Catholic Charities East Bay (Concord) – Immigration services, Know Your Rights clinics: (925) 825-3099

• Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach – Immigration and family legal services: (510) 251-2846

• Bay Area Legal Aid (Richmond) – Immigration, housing, and benefits legal support: www.baylegal.org | (510) 663-4744

Mental Health & Community Wellness

• Contra Costa Crisis Center – Call 800-833-2900 or text 988 (24/7 confidential support)

• NAMI Contra Costa – Mental health resources for families and individuals: (925) 942-0767

• Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay – Trauma-informed support for immigrant and refugee families: (925) 927-2000

• La Clínica del Pueblo – Health and mental health care for immigrant families: (202) 462-4788

• Health Initiative of the Americas (UC Berkeley) – Health outreach for Latino immigrant communities: (510) 643-1291

Community Education

• Know Your Rights Workshop – Monday, June 23 at 11 AM, hosted by Contra Costa County Library (live Spanish interpretation): (800) 984-4636

Commenting on the statement at last week’s council meeting, Zorn said, “It’s important that we keep this conversation going and that we don’t allow the fear that’s been going on at the national level to impact us on the local level.”

She also acknowledged that she had received some negative feedback from community members to the statement, along with significant support.

“I just want to make sure that my colleagues and members of our public are aware that there are plenty of people in the Martinez community that did not support that statement, and I was disappointed to see how many of these responses I did get.

“I think we are on the right side of history with what we are doing, and the actions we are taking in our support of our Diversity and Cultural Commission, but I just want to recognize that there are people in our community that do not necessarily agree with some of the actions that we have been taking or some of the statements that we have been making.”

Martinez classroom project seeks donors

With the Martinez Unified School District continuing to weather significant budget cuts, the need for teachers to raise funds to pay for classroom projects only grows.

One such project I came across recently through the DonorsChoose program is the following by John Muir Elementary fifth grade teacher Samantha Labrador:

In a world where phones, tablets, laptops, and other online devices are taking over, it is essential that students learn the importance of reading literature, articles on world events, and opinion pieces not through a computer, but on paper. It is only on paper where students can engage directly with the text by circling key words, underlining, highlighting, and comprehending the text in a way that reading online cannot provide.

With the Storyworks Magazines, students will rediscover their love for reading through various reading materials such as readers theater, articles about real world events, fictional pieces that help students activate their imaginations, and opinion pieces that allow students to think outside the box and hear different perspectives on a specific topic.

Each monthly magazine provides 5-6 reading opportunities along with the option to complete assignments that are aligned with 5th grade standards. The program also includes the opportunity for students to expand their knowledge on the reading topic with videos and an option for the story to be read aloud for students that might have a harder time reading the articles. Not only does this magazine provide options for readers when it comes to content, but it also provides opportunities for different kind of learners as well.

I hope some readers will join me in supporting this worthwhile project designed to promote reading literacy and proficiency and teach students “to think outside the box and hear different perspectives on a specific topic.” (Something Martinez News and Views believes wholeheartedly in!)

To learn more about the project and donate, visit the Donors Choose project page by clicking the the following link. As a bonus, any paid subscribers who donate will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card to the Martinez business of your choice (just send me an email at craig.lazzeretti@gmail.com to let me know you donated).

Social media post of the week

The first of two Juneteenth celebrations in Martinez was held June 22 at Main Street Plaza (another one was held Saturday at the waterfront).