During its meeting on Tuesday, September 30, the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Education heard and responded to remarks from Alameda Little League community members regarding an increase in rental fees to use baseball fields at Wood Middle School. The Board also received updates on efforts in elementary literacy and discussed how to fill a vacant Board seat.
Little League community balks at higher fees
The meeting began with nearly a dozen Alameda Little League players, parents, and board members voicing their concerns over the district’s recent decision to increase facility rental fees for the organization’s use of the baseball field at Wood Middle School. For decades, Little League was allowed to rent AUSD fields for $1 per year through a Joint Use Agreement with the district. In return, Little League was responsible for field maintenance, while AUSD paid for the utilities.
However, AUSD determined that the agreement was “no longer financially sustainable, was not fair to other nonprofit organizations, and could potentially raise legal issues,” and decided to begin charging Little League the same amount the district charges all other nonprofit organizations starting in August 2025.
Little League board member Tom Patterson provided an update on ongoing negotiations with AUSD during public comment.
“At this point, we now have clarity on the monetary compensation for Wood field from Alameda Little League,” said Patterson. “While higher than before, the agreed rate is something Alameda Little League can live with for this Fall Ball season and 2026 Spring Ball season on Majors Field.”
Patterson also urged continued efforts on both sides to develop a maintenance plan for the fields, keep costs low so that families are not priced out, and “ensure that these fields continue to serve Alameda kids, families, and our proud community.”
Other public commenters appreciated the update, but many implored AUSD to reconsider the fee increase with equity and affordability in mind.
“My fear is that you’re really pricing out people who are middle-income and lower-income families who can’t afford baseball,” said Elaine, a Little League parent, through tears. “It’s about everybody being able to play, it’s about our kids being able to have these legacies, these dreams. Please keep the fees low so that we can all afford it.”
Later, during their Board Member reports, Vice President Ryan LaLonde and Trustee Jennifer Williams provided additional context and attempted to dispel misinformation.
“The difference now is that we have to align ourselves with laws, from the Civic Center Act to Title IX concerns around this being a predominantly only-boys sport,” explained LaLonde. “We have to look at litigation that could come down because we’re giving favoritism to one organization over another. We have not increased their fees—we’ve asked them to pay what all the other organizations are paying.”
“The rates we are talking about in our permit schedule and in our fee schedule are the same rates that have been in effect for years,” added Williams. “They’re not new, and this information was not abruptly shared with Alameda Little League.”
On Friday, October 3, AUSD published a memo sent to Alameda Little League along with an update with details on a revised proposal that would require Little League to pay the same rental rate that other non-profit organizations pay. AUSD would maintain the fields and provide custodial support—though this portion of the fee has been reduced from previous proposals, as Little League will provide their own restroom facilities. AUSD will also help facilitate access to fields since Wood Middle School construction is ongoing.
The Alameda Little League board is expected to vote on whether to approve AUSD’s proposal during its meeting on Tuesday, October 7.
General Business items
During the General Business portion of the meeting, the Board heard an update from Shana Riehart, Coordinator of Language and Literacy, on key actions underway to support reading in schools. These include the development of a Literacy Framework and the launch of a new AUSD webpage detailing literacy efforts and providing reading tips for parents. District staff is also piloting a new elementary English/Language Arts curriculum and recently selected Amira as AUSD’s Early Reading Difficulties Screener. Staff will provide the Board with an update on the screener at its next meeting on Tuesday, October 14.
The Board also deliberated on whether to hold a special election or appoint an applicant to fill the vacant Board seat following the resignation of Trustee Meleah Hall on September 23. A special election could cost between $50,000 and $250,000. Appointing a new Board member would have no cost, though the interview and selection process must be done publicly and within 60 days of the resignation.
Elected in November 2024, Hall’s term was supposed to last through 2028. An appointed board member would serve until the next regular Board of Education election in November 2026, at which time the seat will go on the ballot to elect a new Board member to serve the remaining two years of Hall’s term.
Ultimately, the Board voted unanimously to move forward with an appointment process, citing the cost associated with an election. AUSD put out a call for applicants on October 3.
Other notable items:
- Kirsten Zazo, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, provided an update on enrollment numbers as of the 20th day of school.
- Donovan Smith was sworn in as the Student Board Member from Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School.
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der.
