Board Highlights
from the November 12, 2019 meeting
CSEA, Nuñez Foundation invest in local students, present donation checks for programs

The California School Employees Association and the Nuñez Community Foundation presented Milpitas Unified School District with welcomed donations to several programs offered at each of its high schools to open the November 12 Board of Education meeting.

After advocating to her Board of Directors, CSEA President Machelle Kessinger issued a $500 donation to Milpitas High School Assistant Principal Cheryl Rivera for the school’s continued participation in Camp Everytown.

“I’ve witnessed the students going to Camp Everytown and coming back. To me, I can see just a transformation,” said Kessinger during the presentation.

About 1,600 students at Milpitas High School have attended Camp Everytown over the years, with a group of 40 hand-selected each term, according to Rivera.

  
RECOGNITIONS
Board honors students, staff organizers of Jack Emery Brunch and Food Drive
Milpitas High School student leaders Jessica Uyehara and Tanya Saharan, as well as MHS staff member Marissa Canez and Milpitas Food Pantry Director Karen Kolander, received Certificates of Recognition from Superintendent Cheryl Jordan and the Board of Education for their tireless efforts.

The November 5 brunch, held inside the MHS Library and attended by staff and students from each district school site, kicked off the annual food drive, which runs through December 11.

“The Jack Emery Food Drive provides food for families in Milpitas and the food generally lasts about 10 months,” Superintendent Jordan explained. “It is something that’s very important for all of us.”
Los Dichos parents receive high praise for volunteer work with students
A delegation of Los Dichos parent volunteers earned every bit of their Certificates of Recognition from District and Board leadership for their continued work with students at Randall Elementary School.

“It’s an opportunity for parents to be in the classrooms reading culturally relevant stories to kids and leading them in activities,” said Superintendent Jordan. “Our Los Dichos group at Randall has been very active and continues to grow.”

Los Dichos is the Spanish version of Project Cornerstone’s ABC Readers and helps to complement what the teachers are doing in the classroom.

“We’re very proud of these volunteers. They go to Project Cornerstone, get ideas and then come back with better ideas that are customized to what our students and families need,” said Randall Co-Principals Olivia Contreras and Kristan Prolo in a joint, bilingual statement. “They are a very important part of the education our students get.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Russell presentation highlights increased student involvement on campus
Principal Sean Anglon and the Russell Middle School team debriefed the Board and District leadership on all the latest developments at their school site this year.

One focus has been developing a Caring School Climate, with creative student activities, more than 15 student clubs on campus, and an expansive student leadership contingent. Now in its fourth year, the Summit Learning platform is in a majority of Russell's core classes.

“I like the passion of our staff and what they bring to our students. …They try new things. The Russell staff is not playing it safe. They are doing things that benefit our students,” said Anglon, who also highlighted the benefits of having an Ethnic Studies class at Russell.
Metro Ed presents Annual Report to Board
Metro Ed Superintendent Alyssa Lynch led the Metro Ed Annual Report presented to the Board of Education at the November 12 meeting.

The report, which covered funding sources, Milpitas students served and programs offered, can be viewed here.