| | |
| |
Sunnybrae Elementary principal Lorin Wilson greets Principal for a Day County Supervisor Carole Groom
|
|
|
|
Beyond Newtown Summit Slated for April 29
"Beyond Newtown: How to Ensure Safe Schools and Communities," a countywide summit on school and community safety scheduled for April 29, 2013, will bring together a host of concerned leaders from around the county to address this important issue.
School and school district personnel; law enforcement; County Mental Health; the Boys and Girls Club; the YMCA;
 | | Katherine S. Newman, author of Rampage, will be the keynote speaker at the Beyond Newtown summit. |
early care and education; PTAs at the local, regional and state level; city, state and local government officials; business leaders, and local nonprofit agencies serving youth have all been invited to attend.
Jointly sponsored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, County Supervisors Adrienne Tissier and Don Horsley, Sheriff Greg Munks, County Superintendent of Schools Anne Campbell, and the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association, the event will take place at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood Shores from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The day will begin with a keynote address by Katherine Newman, the James B. Knapp Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the recently published book, Rampage. A discussion will follow highlighting issues around school and community safety, and mental health supports. The latter half of the summit will be a session devoted to the importance of information sharing and collaboration.
"We want to ensure that within our county, our personnel have the knowledge and tools necessary to share information legally across these multiple systems," notes Nancy Magee, Administrator, Board Support and Community Relations at the San Mateo County Office of Education.
The overall aim of the summit is to begin a community conversation that can lead to sustainable outcomes. At the conclusion of the event, participants will have the opportunity to join a newly forming coalition for safe schools and neighborhoods in San Mateo County. One goal of the coalition will be to form a task force to produce a countywide comprehensive emergency management plan for schools. The coalition will continue the dialogue on issues around school and community violence, mental health supports, information sharing, and other challenges to ensuring safe and positive environments for children and youth in San Mateo County.
|
|
Proposed Local Control Funding Formula Could Mean Cuts for SMCOE
Governor Jerry Brown's budget proposal could mean severe cuts to funding for the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE). Under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), funding for the Regional Occupational Program (ROP), which is currently under the auspices of SMCOE, would be eliminated. That would mean a $4.5 million reduction in funding for the County Office.
The Governor's philosophy in his budget proposal is one of subsidiarity--moving  services as close to students as possible--and moving county offices of education away from providing direct services to students. The elimination of ROP funding is meant to move funds for career and technical education (CTE) to the high school and district level. But since many high schools in San Mateo County are within Basic Aid districts, they would not see a funding increase with this move.
"This sharp decrease in funding would have a huge impact and would mean the dismantling of ROP and our ability to support high schools in their CTE offerings," says Denise Porterfield, deputy superintendent at SMCOE. In addition, 40 categorical programs would be folded into the LCFF. SMCOE programs such as the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) and support for foster youth would also be affected.
Although the LCFF is meant to be an equalizer in funding school districts across the state, it doesn't take into account cost of living differentials from one county to another. "The LCFF benefits 56 county offices of education but harms both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, where the cost of living is significantly higher," adds Porterfield.
The LCFF aims to provide funding where it is most needed, and in particular targets English language learners and students receiving free or reduced-price lunches, providing increased funding to those districts. "As a result, there will be winners and losers across districts in San Mateo County and across the state," notes Porterfield.
Thanks to the passage of Proposition 30 in November 2012, there have not been further reductions in education funding this year. "Prop. 30 did not add additional new funding to most districts," notes Porterfield. "It did reduce the state's back-fill obligation to revenue limit districts and Basic Aid districts will get no more than an additional $200 per student."
"Right now we're in a wait-and-see mode, hoping for the best but planning for the worst," says Porterfield. The budget is currently in proposal form. State assembly and senate budget hearings have started and will culminate in the May budget revision, which could result in amendments to the Governor's proposal. The final budget should be passed no later than June 30, 2013.
|
|
Completion of Early Learning
Plan on the Horizon
After gathering input from more than 2,400 stakeholders, the California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (CCELP) is coming together, now in "version 2.0," according to project co-director Jeanie McLoughlin. The project team lead by Jeanie McLoughlin and Nirmala Dillman, Early Learning Support Services staff members at the San Mateo County Office of Education  (SMCOE), have been hard at work digesting all the input, refining the plan, and getting it ready to meet the federal and state deadline of June 30, 2013.
CCELP, with funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the support of the California Department of Education, seeks to articulate a vision for early learning and care in California, and a set of practical recommendations for achieving that vision.
The key system drivers for early childhood education, according to the CCELP research and input are: access to quality early learning and care, program-level continuous improvement, a great early childhood workforce and family engagement. "These key drivers have a direct impact on the entire system," notes McLoughlin. "There are many other essential elements addressed in the plan, but ultimately, success for children will be dependent upon the people who work in the system."
A large part of the work of the CCELP team has been in engaging stakeholders in the development of the plan and setting priorities for early childhood education. The CCELP team has sought input through interviews, online surveys, four regional workshops, and local and virtual meetings. At the upcoming annual Water Cooler 2013 Conference,
(a public policy conference sponsored by First 5 California and the Advancement Project) on April 10 and 11 in Sacramento, the CCELP team will present the draft of the plan and solicit additional comments. Then they will present the final draft to the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (SAC) on May 1, 2013, the last step before completion and hand-off to the California Department of Education for printing and statewide distribution.
Recommendations for implementation are an integral part of the plan. "We don't want this to be a document that sits on the shelf," says McLoughlin. "We are working to find ways for stakeholders to take an active part in making this plan a reality through pragmatic small and large steps. In the end it's the community that owns this plan, and it will be up to the community to ensure that it is implemented."
Although taking on the statewide leadership of the CCELP team has been an ambitious and enormous project for McLoughlin and Dillman, it has been "a privilege and a delight," says McLoughlin. "The entire team is so talented and dedicated, and we all appreciate each other's strengths."
For more information, check the CCELP website.
To see meeting agendas and resource documents, check the CDE/SAC meeting website.
|
|
They Took a Walk in the
Principal's Shoes
Once a year, business and community leaders get a chance to walk in the shoes of school principals in San Mateo County. The annual Principal for a Day (PFAD) program, sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), partners local business and community leaders with designated school principals for a day on the job.
 | |
Lorin Wilson, principal at Sunnybrae School in San Mateo greets Principal for a Day County Supervisor Carole Groom
. |
This year's Principal for a Day program, held on Monday, March 19, 2013, included 28 honorary principals. San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom; Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan; Pacifica Mayor Len Stone; police and sheriff's department officers, librarians, representatives from philanthropic foundations, Parks and Recreation Department Commissioners and business owners enthusiastically volunteered their time.
Principals, these participants learned, have big shoes to fill. Their job requires them to be manager, educator, mentor, financial whiz, social worker, disciplinarian, traffic enforcer, data analyst and cheerleader to constituent groups that range in age from 4 to retirement.
"I was impressed and somewhat surprised by the level of learning, especially in kindergarten; and it moved right on to first grade. Teachers were also very impressive, the way they worked with the kids, helping them to understand what they were learning and why they needed to learn," notes Groom, principal for a day at Sunnybrae Elementary School in San Mateo.
See what other Principals for a Day had to say here.
|
|
Lorrie Owens Leads State Steering Committee on Technology
If you want to know what the latest developments are in education technology and telecommunications, just ask Lorrie Owens, Administrator, Information and Technology Services at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE).
In her new additional role as chairperson of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) Technology and Telecommunications Steering Committee (TTSC), she is in the know about what's happening at the state level and gets a firsthand view of products, curriculum and legislation before these are widely known to the public.
 | |
Lorrie Owens is chairperson of CCSESA Technology and Telecommunications steering committee. |
The first woman to be chairperson of the TTSC, Owens also co-chairs a statewide, cross-collaborative subcommittee with the CCSESA curriculum committee on online and blended learning. This subcommittee is currently researching the landscape and new developments in online learning. "We're partnering with a variety of other organizations throughout the state that support technology in schools," she notes.
"Being chair of TTSC has kept me in the loop and connected me with what's happening at the state level," says Owens. "In this way, I'm staying on top of legislation, technology and infrastructure initiatives that affect the County Office of Education."
Two other subcommittees within her purview focus on business continuity and SBAC--the Smarter Balanced Assessments linked to Common Core State Standards. The business continuity subcommittee helps county offices of education link together to share resources to facilitate off-site back-ups. By sending critical back-up data across each other's networks, these county offices are better prepared in case data needs to be recovered in the event of a disaster, such as fire or earthquake. For SBAC, the subcommittee is looking at the technical ramifications of implementation of the Common Core and assessments.
In addition, four other steering committees--business, personnel, curriculum (of which SMCOE Deputy Superintendent Gary Waddell is the chair-elect) and student services-serve as a cabinet to the leadership of CCSEA. All these committees, which meet six times a year at county offices around the state, advise county superintendents, and provide them with the latest research on their areas of expertise.
Owens officially took on the state level role in July 2012, when the prior chair unexpectedly resigned early, and she will serve in that role until December 31, 2013.
|
|
PTA Honors Anne Campbell and Joan Rosas with Service Awards
At its annual Founders Day Luncheon held on February 22, 2013, the 17th District PTA honored County Superintendent Anne Campbell and Associate Superintendent Dr. Joan Rosas among others, with honorary service awards.
County Superintendent Anne Campbell was honored with the Golden Oak Service Award, California's most prestigious PTA award, in recognition of the significant contributions she has made to the welfare of children and youth in  San Mateo County. In presenting the award, Colleen You,
president-elect of the California State PTA stated, "Superintendent Campbell is committed to working toward closing the achievement gap, achieving school funding reform, expanding access to quality preschool, and ensuring that all students in our county are prepared for success in the 21st century global economy. Superintendent Campbell has been a tireless supporter of what's best for kids and families."
Dr. Rosas was recognized for her longtime service to children and youth and was awarded the California State PTA Continuing Service Award. At the San Mateo County Office of Education, Dr. Rosas oversees special education, court and community schools, transportation, and the Regional Occupational Program (ROP). "As the court and community school liaison for the 17th district PTA, I got to know Dr. Rosas," commented Lori McBride, chair of the Founders Day luncheon. "Her skills, experience, knowledge base, passion and leadership are making a huge difference with these underserved youth, and this is just one of her job roles!"
Susan Bell, the current 17th District PTA president, was honored with the PTA Continuing Service Award; Bell was described as the, "epitome of a parent and a teacher in the PTA." Mike Galisatus, a highly successful band director at both the high school and community college level received the Honorary Service Award. An accomplished musician, Mr. Galisatus has influenced many students to pursue their love of music. In addition to PTA Award recipients, the 17th District also recognized Marei Kane of Menlo-Atherton High School as San Mateo County Secondary Teacher of the Year and Sarah Coyle of Roosevelt Elementary School as San Mateo County Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
Believe in Tomorrow: Think Green Today
|
|
|
