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SCCSBA President's Message - By Jessica Speiser

We should all be finished up with our school year with slightly more open schedules.  Hopefully you have some vacations or staycations planned to recharge for the next school year, which will start before we know it.  I write this, my last column as SCCSBA’s President, while flying back from the one vacation that fit in my whole family’s schedule this summer. My column will be short and sweet, but full of praise.  

I really enjoyed being your President this year and learning from each and everyone of you about your issues, successes, failures, and best practices.  I am so very thankful for your participation in all the meetings, be it our monthly nighttime business meetings, our monthly daytime lunch and learns, our networking lunches, the Fall Dinner or Hoffmann Awards Dinner, our Legislative Brunch, or one off programming events for topics of interest.  Your active engagement is what keeps our organization a strong one! All of this couldn’t have happened without the help of all the event planners that I have thanked individually throughout the year, our executive board, and, most importantly, Bonnie Mace, our fearless and tireless Executive Director.

Our Legislative Action Committee not only made sure to have the most exhaustive survey possible of all 31 districts to understand our region’s common legislative concerns, but also used that data to meet with our local legislators to advocate for those common concerns.  Our Unhoused Students Advocacy Committee, still in its infancy, has been working hard to make a difference for unhoused students across the county. Our Region 20 CSBA Delegates have been representing your concerns with CSBA to make sure the larger organization is reflecting our needs in its advocacy statewide.       

The SCCOE, led by Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, has been an amazing partner to our organization.  It truly is a treasure to have a county office of education that cares about all of its 31 school districts' needs, offers the services we need for all our students need to succeed, updates us regularly, and organizes and hosts timely topical programing to ensure we are all in the know for the latest in educational policy.  Not to mention them generously allowing our use of their facilities for candidate and new trustee trainings, or Lindsey Wong’s professional videos of our Hoffmann Award winners.  

This is all to say that I am thankful to each and every one of our trustees in the 31 districts we serve that does the hard work to ensure all our students get the best education possible and truly get to understand how transformative a great public school education has on a child.

Have a great rest of your summer.  I look forward to seeing you in the Fall as your Immediate Past President and welcoming Carol Presunka as our new President.

CSBA Spotlight (csba.org)

Legislature passes budget; Governor yet to agree

On June 13, the State Legislature sent its budget to the Governor for his consideration. The main budget bill, Assembly Bill 107 reflects the priorities of the Legislature in response to the Governor’s budget proposals. This will not be the final version of the budget since the Governor has yet to agree to all of the elements included in the budget bill. As such, negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor will continue. Once a final agreement is reached, it will be reflected in a second budget bill, typically referred to as a “budget bill junior.” That measure will amend the main budget bill to reflect the final agreement.

Importantly, although budget negotiations will continue, CSBA anticipates Proposition 98 funding for public education to remain in the final agreement as adopted in AB 107. If this remains the case, it is a positive reflection of CSBA advocacy and months of work by school board members across the state communicating and meeting with their respective state legislators to protect Prop 98 and fund public education.

Read more...

Santa Clara County Office of Education Spotlight

Solar Panel Project Will Provide Students Experience in Sustainability

In collaboration with ENGIE North America, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) launched a sustainability infrastructure project to reduce its carbon footprint while incorporating educational opportunities for students at various sites. On June 5, the SCCOE celebrated the project launch at its outdoor classroom and science camp, Walden West. 

“This project not only aligns with our mission to instill eco-conscious values in our students but also serves as a practical demonstration of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a greener future for generations to come,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan.

Among the environmental and financial benefits, the installation of solar panels provides hands-on STEAM learning for students. The SCCOE is working in partnership with ENGIE to develop curricula around renewable energy. Solar panel installation is planned for the following SCCOE sites: Walden West, Ridder Park, Sunol, and Snell. 

To view photos from the project launch and tour, please visit https://sccoe.to/SolarPanelLaunch

MetroED

New Superintendent Erin O’Neill

Superintendent Erin O’Neill is the new Superintendent of the Metropolitan Education School District (MetroED) in San Jose. The MetroED-Silicon Valley CTE Center focuses on preparing high school and adult students for success in college and careers.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a specialist degree with superintendent license. She has completed all coursework towards a doctorate in educational leadership from Drake University in Des Moines, IA.

With a wealth of experience, Erin has served in various educational roles. Most recently, she was the Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education for Woodland Community College. Before that, she held positions such as Executive Director of College, Career, and Life Readiness at the Peninsula School District, Director of Career and College Readiness at the Seattle Public Schools, and various roles in Iowa with the Des Moines Public Schools. Erin's diverse experience includes being a principal, administrator, instructor of professional development, coordinator, dean of students, and instructor of business education and web page design. She is also a former SkillsUSA and DECA advisor. 

Los Gatos - Saratoga Union High School District

District Passes Parcel Tax by 8 Votes; Refinances Bonds Saving Community $3.6 M

Tallying the counts from both the Santa Cruz County Registrar of Voters and the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, the district’s Measure A parcel tax passed by 66.74 % of the total votes from the May 7, 2024 Special Election.

“I am absolutely thrilled that the public supported our district in retaining and attracting highly qualified teachers and educators, as well as maintaining our innovative programs,” shared Superintendent Bill Sanderson. “The majority of our budget is spent on our workforce which made this increase a high priority to be able to continue to deliver the excellent programs and classes in our district.”

In addition, the district refinanced $33.8 million in general obligation bonds, saving District property owners $3.6M in property taxes. Taking advantage of below-average interest rates, the district refinanced a portion of its Measure E bonds approved by voters in 2014. Proceeds of Measure E financed the modernization of classrooms and school facilities, made health and safety improvements, improved access to technology, and constructed new classroom buildings.

Property owners in the District will see a reduced property tax rate on future tax bills.

Milpitas Unified School District

U.S. News & World Reports ranks Milpitas High School among the 2024 Best High Schools 

Milpitas High School has been ranked 1,026th in the nation and 136th in California 2024 Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings evaluate nearly 18,000 schools at the national, state and local level.

“MUSD Strategic Goal #1 is to Build a Culture of We, resulting in exceptional learning outcomes for students of diverse backgrounds,” said Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. “We provide our students with experiences that develop not only academic skills for success, but career skills that will set them on a path to leading in and creating the work of the future.”

Milpitas HS, which includes 3,026 students in grades 9-12, was also ranked 361st of 2,000 in STEM High Schools. MHS has one of the most ethnically and economically diverse populations in the country at 96.7%, making it a rich environment for learners. 

“What makes Milpitas High School a top high school in the nation is the collective, positive support from great parents, high school staff members, and generous community partners that creates 3,000 diamonds - our kind, passionate and caring students,” shared Greg Wohlman, Principal and Chief Innovator of Milpitas HS and New Campus Programs.

The methodology focuses on six factors: college readiness; reading, math and science proficiency; reading, math and science performance; underserved student performance; college curriculum breadth; and graduation rates.

Cambrian School District

Blackhawk Visits Cambrian School District

On Friday, May 31, a Blackhawk military medical helicopter descended upon Sartorette Elementary School, in the Cambrian School District. The helicopter landing culminated the 5th grade DARE program. For 10 weeks, two sergeants with the California National Guard educated Sartorette 5th graders about the dangers of using drugs and other harmful substances, how to avoid them, and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. The helicopter landing was in celebration of what students have learned. All 5th graders received a certificate of participation and two students were awarded as winners of the DARE essay contest that is part of the school program. Fifth graders also got to explore and learn all about the helicopter. The entire school was present as the helicopter landed and a school picture was taken in front of it as well. The organizers said they have never been able to make this happen before.

 “This was such an exciting event that students will remember all their lives, and so will I,” says Sartorette Principal Debbie Stein. “Teachers altered their lessons so students could learn more about helicopters ahead of the landing." 

Cambrian School District has six elementary and middle schools: Bagby Elementary, Fammatre Elementary, Farnham Elementary, Ida Price Middle School, Sartorette Elementary School and Steindorf STEAM (K-8) School.

Morgan Hill Unified School District

The Morgan Hill Unified School District has received the Glenn Hoffmann Exemplary Program Award and the Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Recognition from the Santa Clara County School Boards Association.

The CARE program, initially aiding homeless high school students, has expanded to support 852 students, including McKinney-Vento and foster youth, across 13 schools. The program's success is reflected in the graduation rate increase from 71% in 2018 to nearly 81% in 2023.The Model SARB award highlights MHUSD's effective strategies to improve attendance among high-risk youth. Their proactive approach includes personalized support and engaging school communities through attendance challenges. These initiatives foster a positive attendance culture and affirm students' importance, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported.

Morgan Hill Unified School District's receipt of the Glenn Hoffmann Exemplary Program Award underscores its dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students, regardless of their circumstances.

This summer, middle school students in the Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) can explore science, technology, and engineering through the Silicon Valley Tech Academy. Now in its third year, this program offers college-level coursework to incoming 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, aiming to spark a passion for STEM fields with hands-on projects.

The curriculum includes:

1. **Tech 1: Technology, Energy, Space & Water** at El Toro Elementary, focusing on high tech, space, water conservation, and sustainable energy, with projects like building Mars landers and solar model cars.

2. **Tech 2: Climate Science**, also at El Toro Elementary, covering climate science with projects like constructing wind generators.

3. **Tech 3: Robotics, Python Programming, and Wireless** at San Jose State University, offering sessions on robotics, coding, and wireless communication.

Classes are capped at 20 students for personalized learning, and high schoolers assist as lab mentors. Enrollment is open, providing a unique opportunity for future scientists and engineers. For more information, visit [techacademysv.com](https://techacademysv.com/).