Your Supervisor Says … Bruce McPherson, 5th District Supervisor
I want to send a shout-out and special congratulations this week to Scotts Valley Middle School for earning designation through the “California Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage” program, known as STW-TCS. The STW-TCS program identifies middle grades schools throughout the state that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and have a culture of strong collaborative leadership.
Schools selected to receive this impressive designation are acknowledged as model schools that meet the unique challenges of their student populations and demonstrate success by substantially increasing student academic achievement.
As a model school, Scotts Valley Middle School is available for both physical and virtual visitations by educators who are searching for ideas and answers to help them achieve academic success for their own students.
Scotts Valley Middle School has demonstrated that is a model for other middle grades schools. Scores on state standardized tests taken by Scotts Valley Middle School students demonstrate that the school is closing the achievement gap through use of an “Enrichment” period where a host of services are offered to meet the individual needs of students.
The school is also a model for our youngest students. Study after study has shown that our most successful students are those who show up to kindergarten ready to learn at their highest potential.
Fourteen years ago, the voters of California made the sound decision to dedicate a steady stream of resources to invest in our youngest children. We are fortunate to live in a state that believes that, as a matter of public policy, we should invest in programs, systems, and other solutions to provide every child a similar opportunity to arrive at the school house door intellectually, socially, and developmentally equipped to learn.
Since the voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, the state and county First 5 Commissions have built a network of First 5 services to meet the needs of children ages 0 to 5 and their families – especially those most at risk.
That network has mattered more than ever during the current economic recession. Not only have the unemployment trends left more families without a wage-earning adult, but the seemingly irreparable state budget deficit has left many traditional safety net services unfunded.
In these difficult economic times, the strength, capacity, and resourcefulness of the First 5 movement has become more relevant than ever in identifying and supporting children and families that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
I am pleased to have been appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as the Board’s representative on the Santa Cruz County First 5 Commission. I’m also very happy to have recently reappointed Scotts Valley resident Kathy Frandle to another term on the commission. As many of you recall, Kathy is the former principal of Brook Knoll Elementary School and a longtime dedicated educator.
Recognizing the inextricable connection between healthy young minds and bodies, the state and local First 5 Commissions invest heavily in developmental screenings and services, as well as nutrition and child development education.
Collectively, we will ensure that the youngest Californians among us thrive to become students in Scotts Valley’s model schools of the future.
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Bruce McPherson, 5th District Supervisor — Email: bruce.mcpherson@co.santa-cruz.ca.us