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 | | San Mateo County Board of Education trustees attended the Annual Kent Awards dinner. |
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Kent Awards Shine Spotlight on Innovative Programs | |
Innovation was in the air when more than 250 school board members, teachers, superintendents, and local community leaders gathered to honor the 20 Kent Award winners for their excellent programs at the annual San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA) award celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City on May 21, 2012.
The winners were selected by a committee of school board members from throughout the county. They reviewed the applications, graded them based on a rubric, and did site visits to observe the program and/or meet with the instructors and administrators.
The criteria for selection included creativity, effectiveness, and how well the school programs used available resources. The programs also had to demonstrate that they could be duplicated in other communities.
Named after the past San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools, J. Russell Kent, SMCSBA initiated the J. Russell Kent Award Program in the 1980-81 school year.
"With all the pressures schools are under, and the bad budget news, it's nice to remind people that there are innovative programs making a difference," said Seth Rosenblatt, SMCSBA president and a board member in the San Carlos Elementary School District.
From "Institution Constitution"-a program at Central Elementary School in Belmont designed to engage fifth-graders in learning about the branches of government to a "Festival of Words," a day-long celebration of the power of language at North Star Academy Elementary School in Redwood City, to "S.O.S.," a Carlmont High School initiative that trains student leaders to bring awareness to their peers about pertinent adolescent issues and life challenges, these programs exemplify how innovation can make school an exciting place to be.
In addition to the Kent Awards, the celebration included the presentation of the third annual winner of the Emily Garfield Preventive Counseling Award. This year's winner is Diahanna Flores, at Brentwood Academy in the Ravenswood School District.
Flores has served in a counseling and parent support role at Brentwood Academy for the last nine years. She runs positive behavior intervention and support teams, and has an unwavering commitment to kids who are at risk.
The Emily Garfield Award was established through a grant from Youth Empowering Systems to honor local education pioneer Emily Garfield. The Garfield Award highlights successful alcohol and drug prevention programs as well as positive youth development and community wellness programs.
"The selection and presentation of the Kent Awards is our biggest activity of the year in terms of impact and attendance," noted Rosenblatt.
See a complete list of Kent Award winners here.
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School Tax Initiatives on the June 5 Ballot | |
On June 5, voters in the Redwood City, Cabrillo Unified, and Jefferson High School Districts will go to the polls to weigh in on local parcel tax and bond issues.
In the Cabrillo Unified School District on the ballot is Measure S, an $81 million bond, with a cost of $45 per $100,000 of assessed value per parcel. "The primary thrust is to maintain the quality of our facilities, to do basic repairs and upgrades and equip the schools with 21st century technology," according to Superintendent Rob Gaskill. By investing in solar energy and moving the district office to a new location, the district could also free up general fund money for other operating costs, says Gaskill. A 55% majority is required for passage.
Measure Y in the Jefferson Union High School District is a parcel tax of $48 per year per
parcel for four years.
Proponents say the measure
would enhance math, science, reading and writing programs; attract and retain qualified teachers; prepare students for college and high-tech, 21st century careers; and support at-risk students.
The measure requires a two-thirds majority for passage. Seniors may apply for an exemption and a citizens' oversight committee will ensure funds are used for voter-approved purposes.
In Redwood City, voters will decide whether or not to pass Measure W, a $67 per year per parcel tax for five years, with an exemption available for seniors. The measure would generate approximately $1.7 million per year to enhance reading, writing, math and science skills; attract and retain qualified teachers; and support school libraries.
The District has cut about $13 million in the last five years due to state budget cuts. Class sizes in grades K-3 have increased by 50 percent, library hours have been reduced, instrumental music has been cut back, and administrators, teachers, custodians and other staff have been laid off. The tax measure would allow the district to avert further cuts.
If the measure passes, an independent Citizens Oversight Committee will be appointed by the Redwood City School Board to review expenditures and produce an annual audit to ensure funds are used as promised. A two-thirds majority is required for passage.
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SMCOE Leads the Way for California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan
 | | Jeanie McLoughlin (pictured here) and Nirmala Dillman lead the CCELP project. |
Jeanie McLoughlin, Early Childhood Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP) Director, and Nirmala Dillman, Child Care Partnership Council Coordinator at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), were both surprised and honored when the California Department of Education, on behalf of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (SAC), asked them to lead the development of the California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (CCELP).
The CCELP, with a budget of $790,500, is a component of $10.8 million in funds that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allocated to the state of California through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to advance projects in several areas of critical importance for early childhood education. SMCOE has received $325,000 in supplemental funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the First 5 San Mateo Commission, which will assure that they have the necessary resources to do this work. This additional funding will help them bring to the project high-level expertise in strategic planning, community engagement and research.
McLoughlin and Dillman and their team will work with the SAC, involve local and state-level stakeholders and create a 5- to 10-year comprehensive early learning road map for California. "The SAC will set the vision, mission and goals for the plan, and we'll be the project managers," adds McLoughlin.
"We are stakeholders, good listeners, collaborators and known in the state for our diplomacy as well as our work in early learning," notes McLoughlin, in explaining why she believes SMCOE was chosen to lead the plan. SMCOE has either lead or been a key partner in numerous early learning initiatives and pilots such as: Preschool for All - a 5-year First 5 funded demonstration project; the current Early Childhood Quality Improvement Project (EQuIP); the passage and implementation of the San Mateo County Child Care Subsidy Pilot (AB1326); the School Readiness Assessments and Longitudinal Studies.
"In this very challenging climate this plan is more important than ever. It will help us envision and take practical steps toward the future that we want for children in California. And this work also ties in well with the SMCOE goals and focus on early education," she adds.
Learn more about the CCELP here. |
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Governor's May State Budget Revision Reflects Current Economic Realities
With the state budget gap ballooning from an estimated $9.2 billion in January to $15.7 billion in May, Governor Jerry Brown's May Revision reflects the gloomy economic difficulties facing the state. The Revision proposes more steep cuts to departments and services but leaves the K-14 education budget as proposed in January, roughly flat funding at the 2011-12 level, provided that the Governor's tax initiative passes in November.
That's a big "if" for schools. If the tax measure doesn't pass in November, K-14 education will face $5.5 billion in additional "trigger" cuts mid-year during the 2012-13 school year. This will amount to a $441 reduction per ADA. Districts could trim the school year by a total of 15 days over two years, in addition to the five days already in law.
"Schools, districts and the County Office of Education will need to plan in the event that the tax initiative fails," says Denise Porterfield, Deputy Superintendent, Fiscal and Operational Services Division at the San Mateo County Office of Education. "It's getting exceedingly difficult for schools, districts and the County Office of Education to focus on the education of students as opposed to the financial status. We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best," notes Porterfield.
When asked how schools should react to the Governor's budget relying on the passage of his tax initiative, the Governor recommended that districts "plan a prudent budget based on their understanding of what we're trying to do." School Services of California Inc. advises schools to "plan for the cut."
Learn more about the details of the May Budget Revision here.
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ROP Opens New Dental X-Ray Facility
 | | Renee McAuliffe, instructor in the ROP Dental Assistant Program, unveils the new X-ray facility. |
The San Mateo County Office of Education Regional Occupational Program (ROP) proudly opened its dental X-ray training facility at the Rollins Road - Burlingame campus with fanfare and a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 18, 2012.
On hand to celebrate the new facility were State Assemblyman Jerry Hill, County Superintendent Anne Campbell, Associate County Superintendent Dr. Joan Rosas, ROP Administrator Adele Berg, Dental Assistant Training Program Instructor Renee McAuliffe, orthodontist and ROP Advisory Board member Dr. Albert Landucci, students and honored guests.
"The ribbon-cutting ceremony was our opportunity to formally thank the Dental Assistant Program Advisory Board for their support of this project and to celebrate the new facility," noted Berg. "In particular, Dr. Landucci was instrumental in making this happen through his financial support."
The ROP Dental Assistant Program began in 2002. "We wanted to provide an introduction to dental assisting at ROP, as a feeder program to the College of San Mateo (CSM)," notes McAuliffe.
From the beginning, the program has been a big hit with classes at full capacity. At first the program shared classroom space with the hotel classes but now with the growth of the program, it has its own space, complete with sparkling dental counters, sinks, and now the recently added X-ray room and equipment.
McAuliffe wrote the state-certified curriculum which trains current and future dental assistants to be certified to take dental X-rays. The first classes in X-ray certification will be offered this summer. The program serves a maximum of 25 students per semester.
Berg sits on the San Mateo Workforce Investment Board and noted that there is always a need for dental assistants in San Mateo County. "The health field continues to grow rapidly," she adds. "Although the technology has improved, there is still a need for employees to operate the machinery. Dentists have been clamoring for us to have this training program for years and have been invaluable in helping to train our students."
An internship component is an integral part of the Dental Assistant Program. Students spend 17-20 weeks, 24 hours per week, as interns in both general dentistry and specialty dental offices. McAuliffe notes that 80 percent of dental assistant students get hired once they have completed their training.
"ROP courses are well below market rates," notes Berg. Students can register by credit card online on the ROP website, or by check or cash in person at the Rollins Road facility. The ROP Dental Assistant program has iPads and e-books to loan for the course, which saves students the cost of textbooks.
"We lobbied for this program because we saw the need," says Dr. Landucci. "The ROP program is an economical way to get trained for good employment close to home. There is no place to get qualified to take dental x-rays except at CSM, which is a two-year, full-time program. The x-ray program at ROP fits much easier into a working person's schedule and it's a win-win for us. It helps our practice, our team, our patients, and we are able to provide better care."
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SMCOE Equity Symposium Draws a Crowd
 | | Dr. Amelito Enriquez addressed the audience at the Equity Symposium. |
On May 7, 2012, 84 educators from across the county came together at the Equity Symposium at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) to learn about best practices to accelerate student achievement and to work on implementing district-specific plans for addressing the achievement gap. "This symposium was a more hands-on, localized effort to address the achievement gap," notes Lori Musso, Administrator, Curriculum Services, at SMCOE. Participants were able to learn from district teams who have made progress in closing the gap, and how they did it. Ordinarily each spring SMCOE hosts "Zap the Gap," a large annual conference focusing on closing the achievement gap where nationally known researchers in the field speak to an audience of 200. "The County Office did not have the capacity to host a conference of this size this year due to the construction of the STEM Center, but it will be back next year," adds Musso. "This year's symposium was so successful that we're considering doing both the smaller symposium and the Zap the Gap conference next year." The keynote speaker at the symposium was Dr. Amelito Enriquez, an engineering and mathematics professor at Caņada College who has attracted more than $10 million in grants to develop a series of programs designed to help under-represented students achieve success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. Enriquez began his presentation by sharing his personal story. He grew up in the Philippines in a home with no electricity. The school he attended did not have bathrooms or books. He was able to achieve despite what he called his "soap opera life," and proudly showed a photo of himself shaking hands with President Obama at the White House this past December. He was honored there as one of nine recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Mentoring. Enriquez went on to share statistics explaining why so few minority students enter the fields of science and engineering. Many graduate from high school unprepared for college-level work. "The interest is there," he noted, "But they are unprepared." At Caņada College where he teaches, students who place into pre-algebra will need 10 semesters of math before they can apply to transfer to the University of California. "For many, it's too long a path," he added. He emphasized the need to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at the K-12 level, and to focus efforts on aligning the curriculum so that students get the preparation they need to succeed in college. He also spoke of the need to change the perception of the community college as a second-rate institution and promote it as an important pathway to STEM careers. To engage more students earlier in STEM, Caņada is hosting a variety of summer two and four-week programs for high school students including an Engineering Institute, Math Jam, Physics Jam and STEM Institute. Students who apply and are accepted receive free tuition for these programs. In break-out sessions following Enriquez's presentation, participants learned about a variety of topics including: addressing the needs of English language learners and special education students, how to move from holding high expectations to ensuring all students meet expectations, how STEM-related courses help to create equity in schools, and how to build bridges between teachers and their culturally diverse students. The afternoon break-out sessions gave the participants an opportunity to hear about best practices from district teams who have made significant gains for their students. "Then district teams met to discuss the implementation gap --how to convert energy into effective implementation," notes Musso. "They spent time formulating a plan and how to affect change at their schools." |
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County Committee Looks at Revising
County Board Trustee Areas
The adjustment of boundaries of trustee areas for the County Board of Education was the topic of discussion at a joint public meeting of the San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization (CCSDO) and the San Mateo County Board of Education on May 8, 2012. Also present at the meeting were Tim Fox and Kathryn Meola of the County Counsel's Office.
After each decennial U. S. census, the CCSDO is charged by law with examining the boundaries, and,
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The San Mateo County Board of Education meets with the San Mateo County Committee on School District Organization.
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if necessary, making a realignment recommendation to the County Board of Education as a result of population changes so that the trustee areas are nearly equal in population. In establishing the boundaries, the CCSDO, in addition to population, gives consideration to topography, geography, cohesiveness, and community of interests of the districts.
Nancy Magee, Secretary to the CCSDO and Administrator, Board Support and Community Relations at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), explained the process for redistricting and the legal requirements. She summarized the findings of a subcommittee of CCSDO that looked at the current boundaries and made recommendations for changes.
Currently there are seven trustee areas that range in population from the smallest Trustee Area 1 (La Honda-Pescadero, Cabrillo) of 30, 406 to the largest Trustee Area 6 (Belmont-Redwood Shores, San Carlos, Redwood City) of 155, 494."The ideal breakdown would be to have 100,000 per trustee area, but topography must be taken into account," noted Magee.
Robert Stelzer, Chair of the CCSDO and a former trustee in the Las Lomitas Elementary School District, explained the recommendations of the subcommittee. The subcommittee tried not to break up school districts or leave any one district as an "island" in a trustee area. They tried to take a conservative approach, with the least amount of disruption, in shifting the boundaries.
Their recommendation was to move Pacifica from Trustee Area 2 to Trustee Area 1. In this way, Pacifica would be aligned with other Coastside districts and the small population in Trustee Area 1 would be increased, leading to greater balance among the Trustee Areas. "There was no easy solution," Stelzer noted. "Our biggest concern was the small population in Trustee Area 1."
After questions and discussion from the County Board of Education, the County Committee determined that it would move forward to develop a specific proposal regarding the movement of Pacifica into Trustee Area 1 and hold a public hearing to receive community input.
The decision now goes back to the CCSDO, which will make its formal proposal by March 1, 2013 and conduct the public hearing. The CCSDO then will approve or disapprove the proposal. If the proposal is approved and there is a subsequent petition signed by at least 5% of registered voters in the district requesting an election, then the committee must put the proposition to a vote. If there is no petition, the change to the Trustee area is put into effect at least 120 days after its approval.
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Check Us Out on Facebook
The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) now has a page on Facebook. We'll be providing frequent upd ates on SMCOE events and education news of interest, adding groups of interest, and linking to other education organizations. Check us out and "like" us today on Facebook!
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About the San Mateo County Office of Education
The San Mateo County Office of Education provides a variety of instructional, business and consulting services to the County's 23 public school districts, charter schools, the Community College District and County Office of Education staff.
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