By Penny Weaver, Superintendent Scotts Valley Unified School District
Scotts Valley USD is well into transition from the California State Standards to the Common Core. Planned changes to the program this year are especially visible in the middle school and high school math programs where algebra and geometry curriculum are being reorganized between courses.
Parents will learn more at the Common Core Parent Night Information Night on November 7 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building at SVHS.
Common Core State Standards have been adopted by 48 states including California. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are benchmarked to international standards and are designed to ensure that our young people learn the foundational 21st Century skills of collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity needed for success in college and careers. The state legislature has passed a bill (AB 484), which was later signed into law that eliminates the spring administration of the California Standards Tests (CSTs) and calls for field testing of students across the state on the new Smarter Balanced assessments that will assess the Common Core.
The change in law also eliminated the calculation of API (Academic Performance Index) scores for two years while we transition into the new assessment system. During this time of transition, the District remains committed to being accountable to you on our students’ academic performance based on multiple measures that we will continue to report to you. I encourage parents to attend Common Core Night on Nov. 7 to learn more about changes in our educational program and assessment.
With the transition to the Common Core State Standards, we are also moving to a new form of state tests called California Measurement of Academic Performance and Progress (CMAPP), which are slated for administration statewide in the 2014-15 school year. Next year, in 2014 – 2015, all students will be assessed using the online testing system. This year, in most districts, students will field test the new assessments with half of the students taking the math portion of the new online tests and the other half taking the English-Language Arts test. This will be a “test of the test” and will allow our students and teachers to get an authentic understanding of exactly what will be expected prior to the first administration in 2014-2015 when we will be held accountable for the scores.
School Facilities Focus Area
Worsening facility conditions are an urgent focus area for leaders in Scotts Valley Unified School District. Although the educational program funding is beginning to stabilize, the school facilities have significantly worsened in condition over the years of lesser funding and especially during the years of fiscal crisis. The Board of Trustees Members made courageous decisions to prioritize the support of the classroom and the recent honors have proven this an effective strategy. The Board is now focusing on the results of a facility assessment we recently completed to determine our next steps in addressing critical facility needs at a time when there are no state funds for modernization or new construction. Reports for each school are available for viewing at: www.scottsvalleyusd.org
Board of Trustees Study Session
The Board of Trustees met on October 15, 2013 from 5 to 7 p.m. in a special study session to discuss establishing priorities given the number of findings regarding seismic, accessibility and code concerns with our school buildings.
During the study session, Board Members acknowledged that the structural, accessibility and systems including electrical and mechanical are high priority. Findings for each school site noted on a “Facilities Condition Overview” form were reviewed and discussed. These forms are available for viewing at: www.scottsvalleyusd.org/boe/docments101513brdstudtsessfact2.pdf
Specialists Visit SVUSD; Tour SVMS
District Staff and Board Members Art Bubb and Michael Shulman worked with three members of the Facility Hardship and Seismic Mitigation Team from the Office of Public School Construction to begin the process of evaluation for facility and financial hardship funding eligibility. The specialists traveled from Sacramento to Scotts Valley to provide information and tour Scotts Valley Middle School. There is a lot to learn and more difficult decisions to make. We look forward to collaborating with our school communities so that we may move forward with our best thinking together.
District Completes Bond Refunding; Savings to Taxpayers
On September 19, 2013, the District successfully completed the refunding of its existing General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds, saving taxpayers over $650,000 in aggregate through 2027. As a result of the refunding, the average single family residence will save a projected total of $90.83 approximately $6.49 per year) $15,145,000 of Refunding Bonds were sold in a competitive process on September 5, 2013 with six underwriting banks placing bids for the bonds. Rating agencies complimented District Officials for having strong fund balance reserve levels, good financial management and community support as evidenced through the parcel tax measure passage, the philanthropy of groups like Scotts Valley Education Foundation and Falcon Club, low community debt burdens and rapid repayment of debt.
Increased Level of Security at Schools
Teachers and other school staff members are now able to lock doors at school without having to outside to do so. The Board of Trustees Members authorized staff to purchase and install lock mechanisms that enable doors to be locked from the inside of a room in an effort to increase security for students and staff.
Mike Smith, Facilities Director for the District, has completed installation of the hardware at Vine Hill Elementary, Brook Knoll Elementary and Scotts Valley Middle School. He is completing the installation of new lock mechanisms at the high school currently and expects to complete this complex project within three weeks.
Parents and visitors to school campuses are reminded to stop in at the office to sign in and receive a visitor badge prior to entering the campus. Our goal this year- and in those to come – is to ensure that our classrooms serve as safe havens where all students may develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
I want to assure you that SVUSD remains committed to ensuring the safety of our students and staff. We continue to safeguard our students and staff from harm by planning and practicing prevention and responses to emergency situations. We are currently reviewing our safety and security protocols district-wide. All District staff will be engaged in emergency preparedness and crisis response training on November 6.