September 27, 2019

Board President Update
At its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, the Board of Education honored several San Marino High School students, received information on possible next steps following the Facilities Advisory Committee's (FAC) recommendations regarding a capital facilities program, heard a presentation on District enrollment, and approved several routine business items.  Click here to listen to a digital audio recording of the full meeting, and click here to view documents related to the various agenda items.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson announced that as part of a continuing effort to increase transparency and communications, where appropriate and when possible, Board agenda items will be accompanied by a memorandum that provides background information and context. For example, the memo may identify the purpose of a report, the legal authority that compels the report, or other useful information. 

National Merit Scholar Semifinalists


A highlight of the night was the recognition of nine San Marino High School National Merit Semifinalists.  Over 1.5 million juniors took the PSAT, but less than one percent became National Merit Semifinalists.  Congratulations to SMHS seniors Nicole Chen, Brian Chu, Derek Deng, Kimia Hassibi, Alain Phung, Ava Slocum, Andy Sun, Connie Tran and Ethan Wang for this prestigious academic award.  These nine semifinalists are not only academically talented, but they are also active participants and leaders in SMHS campus life.  

Facilities Next Steps

Based on the Facilities Advisory Committee's unanimous recommendations at the September 18, 2019 Special Board meeting, Superintendent Wilson identified possible next steps for the Board's consideration.  Dr. Wilson suggested that the Board had several decisions to consider after it hears the second reading of the FAC's recommendations at its October 8, 2019 regularly scheduled Board meeting.
  • The Board will need to consider whether or not to approve the FAC's recommendations to move forward with a capital facilities program and to seek a general obligation bond election;
  • If the Board approves the FAC recommendations, the Board will then need to consider the timing of a bond election (possible dates in the near future are March or November of 2020 or 2022);
  • The Board will need to develop a plan to seek input from parents, teachers, staff, students and the community; and
  • The Board will need to decide on the amount and scope of a proposed bond.
Dr. Wilson suggested various ways that the Board could educate and receive input from the community about the District's facilities needs, such as town hall meetings, school tours, surveys, and meetings with various stakeholder and community groups.  He proposed possible bond scenarios, ranging from an amount that could complete all 97 projects on the potential project list to an amount that would only address those projects that are the most critical and significant.  He noted that the estimated costs in the project list are preliminary and may be adjusted upon further review.  

At its October 8, 2019 meeting at 7:30 p.m., the Board will hear the second reading of the FAC's findings and recommendations, and the community will have an opportunity to provide public comment at that time.  It is possible that the Board may take steps at its October 8 meeting to direct Dr. Wilson and staff to prepare a bond resolution for consideration at a future Board meeting.  In very simple and non-legal terms, the Board's approval of a bond resolution would authorize the establishment of an election date for the San Marino community to then decide whether it wants to approve a facilities bond as described in the bond resolution.  If the Board were to direct Dr. Wilson to prepare a bond resolution, there would be two subsequent meetings at which the bond resolution would be discussed and public input would be received.  

The Board encourages the community to learn more about the District's facilities needs by reading the FAC presentation and attending the October 8 meeting at 7:30 p.m.  

Student Enrollment Update

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mrs. Linda de la Torre presented a Student Enrollment Update that incorporated information about past and current enrollment in the San Marino Unified schools.  She provided information and charts on current and historical average class sizes and staffing levels.  

Declining enrollment is a reality for over half of California public schools, including SMUSD.  Declining enrollment adversely affects the finances of the District (state funding is based on student attendance), the District's ability to provide balanced class sizes across all grades, and the ability to provide a variety of programmatic offerings and AP/Honors courses at the secondary level.  Factors that have led to declining enrollment include a decline in birthrates, high housing costs, vacant homes, and students transferring to private schools.  

Mrs. de la Torre discussed ways that the District is working to address declining enrollment, including innovative educational programs to attract new resident families and retain existing enrollment.  The District also admits students on interdistrict permits who bring needed revenue to the District.  There are many fixed costs involved in providing a public school education regardless of the number of students, and the added revenue that interdistrict students bring the SMUSD is currently about $5.6 million. Contrary to popular myth, students on interdistrict permits do not cost the District more money than other students, nor do they take the seats of resident students.  The District does not accept students on interdistrict transfers if there is not space in a particular grade, nor does the District open new classes to accommodate students applying to attend SMUSD schools on interdistrict transfers.   

Unlike the days in the past when students only attended the public school in their own neighborhood, California laws today allow much more public school choice. For example, California law states that if a person works in San Marino more than 10 hours per week, his/her children can attend SMUSD schools.  California law also states that school districts must accept students with residency affidavits (family/student lives with another family in San Marino) or caregiver affidavits (non-family resident is taking care of student).  The District values each and every student who attends San Marino schools, in addition to appreciating their interest in being part of the San Marino public schools and helping ensure positive enrollment levels.

The Board encourages the community to attend the next regularly scheduled Board meeting on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in the District Board room at 1665 West Drive, San Marino.   





Lisa Link
President, SMUSD Board of Education
San Marino Unified School District Board of Education

Lisa Link
President
Chris Norgaard
Vice President
C. Joseph Chang
Clerk
Shelley Ryan
Member
Corey Barberie
Member