America First Policy Institute
Local Policy Brief
📅 Monday, October 19, 2026 to Calendar
📄 View Official Agenda
We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Palisades SD and found 3 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
PRIORITY (LEVEL 9)
District to Approve Contract for Student and Staff Climate Surveys
📅 October 19, 2026
The committee will review a $9,210 contract with Panorama Education to conduct ‘climate surveys’ of students, staff, and families. The contract terms state the district provides consent on behalf of parents for data collection, a significant parental rights issue.
Policy Use

BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Item 4 is a contract with Panorama Education, a major SEL vendor. The contract’s terms on parental consent (Exhibit A, Section 1.3) are a direct concern. Advise state team to pull the full contract and prepare testimony for the October 21 full board meeting where this may receive a final vote.

Policy Lever: $9,210 Contract
WATCH (LEVEL 6)
District Reports on Charter School Enrollment and Costs
📅 October 19, 2026
The agenda includes a report detailing the number of district students attending charter schools and calculates the ‘Anticipated Cost’ to the district at over $1.27 million. This framing of school choice as a financial burden is often used to build opposition to choice programs.
Policy Use

WATCH: Item 15 presents charter school enrollment as a significant cost to the district. Monitor for future resolutions or lobbying efforts opposing school choice based on this financial framing. Add district to state school choice implementation tracker.

Policy Lever: School Choice
WATCH (LEVEL 4)
S&P Global Ratings Report on District Finances
📅 October 19, 2026
An S&P Global Ratings report affirms the district’s ‘AA’ bond rating but notes an ‘elevated pension liability’ and planned use of fund reserves in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for capital projects. These fiscal pressures are important context for future budget and tax levy discussions.
Policy Use

WATCH: Item 5 and its attachments provide a third-party analysis of the district’s fiscal health, noting pension liabilities and reserve use. File for background context on potential future tax or spending proposals.

Policy Lever: Fiscal Health
District Leadership
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