About the Contributors

Ria Pai, Managing Editor
Ria (Class of 2020) is a Managing sports editor, who joined Voice at the beginning of her junior year. When she’s not writing and editing stories, Ria...

Margaret Li, Multimedia Manager and Engagement Manager
Margaret (Class of 2020) is the Multimedia Manager and Engagement Manager, who joined Voice her junior year. When she’s not taking photos at events,...



![Charen Yu (left), the Palo Alto Unified School District chief business officer, presents the updated 2026-2027 budget during Tuesday's board meeting. According to Yu, expenditure changes are the primary reason for the deficit. “[Compared to the adopted budget], certificated salaries are up $18.8 million (which translates to 13.4%), classified salaries are up $11 million (or 17%), benefits are up $5.6 million and all other objects are down $2.9 million,” Yu said. “These are settled agreements with our bargaining partners. They are contractual obligations and they are the primary driver of the change.”](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/budget-presentation-300x225.jpeg)

