Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,
 
This update will cover:

  • Grades and advanced classes
  • Fundraising and budget update
  • Additional announcements
 

Grades and advanced classes
As you might expect, our shift to At-Home Learning has implications for grading and report cards. Assuming that we do not get specific guidance from the County or State, we expect the Board of Trustees to take action at its April 30 meeting to allow the modification of our grading framework for the spring term. For Ralston students, this would mean allowing for grades to go up from March 13, but not down. We propose to provide a safety net for our middle school students at the K-8 schools (who began their spring term on March 11) by removing the possibility of D’s or F’s. Additionally, we propose to narrow the scope of our TK-5 report card and emphasize the comments portion of that report. Once the Board takes action, I plan to update you with specifics on May 1.
 
Regardless of the exact modifications to our grading framework, spring grades will not be considered for the placement of students in advanced classes for Fall 2020. We are in the process of working with the English and Math teachers at Ralston to review our program design and student placement protocols. We will provide additional updates to fifth grade families and Ralston families as we solidify our plans for adjustment.  

 
Fundraising and budget
Thanks to those of you attending tonight’s online SchoolForce auction !  Looking ahead, SchoolForce fundraising will be increasingly important to preserving BRSSD’s educational quality. The State’s revenue is highly dependent on income taxes , and income tax revenue is decreasing dramatically. The State is expected to reduce K-12 education funding to address both the reduction in revenue and the increased need in health and human services. As a result, we expect BRSSD to receive considerably less state funding in 2020-21 and beyond. We will use the Board of Trustees’ four remaining meetings in the 2019-20 school year to develop and approve a 2020-21 budget that prioritizes our core programs and makes the necessary reductions to ensure the District’s long-term fiscal solvency. I will use my email updates to keep you informed of these developments and opportunities for input.       
 

Additional announcements

  • A week ago, the County Health Officer issued an order to wear face coverings while shopping, using public transit, and working in essential services with the possibility of others around. The order recommends wearing face coverings in public, including while exercising. Children aged two or less should not wear face coverings for risk of suffocation.   
  • Earlier this week, the City of Belmont issued a local order to those 13 years of age or older to wear face coverings while using open space trails.   
  • The County Office of Education has partnered with Genentech and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to create a countywide education fund to support the educational, nutritional and mental health needs of the County’s youth. If you are motivated to donate to support our County’s children, this is a worthwhile means to do so.   
  • Similarly, the County Board of Supervisors and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation have created the San Mateo County Strong Fund to help those in need. In addition to accepting donations, the Fund also has a grant program for small businesses. 


Thank you for supporting your student's education. We understand that these are exceptionally challenging times, and we are committed to serving your student and partnering with you. Your feedback is always welcome.

Sincerely,

Michael Milliken
Superintendent


Suvarna Bhopale | Amy Koo | Samuel Leinbach | Jim Howard | Rahila Passi
Board of Trustees