May 2022

Pride Week Activities

Join us in celebration the first ever Pride Week Celebration at La Entrada, June 1-3

Activities to include: 

• Wednesday, June 1 Flag Raising
• Thursday, June 2 Art Activities
• Friday, June 3 Rainbow Spirit Day and Party

The Gay Straight Alliance has also selected the Trevor Project as their fundraising benefactor.

It's an unfortunate fact that LGBTQ+ students are more likely to be bullied, face depression, or be victims of violence. They are also at a greater risk for suicide. Having an anonymous person to talk to is often a way to help LGBTQ+ kids during stressful times. The Trevor Project has 24/7 counseling hotlines for these often overlooked kids, so they can work through problems or ask questions about what they’re going through. Since adults and children may not know about the Trevor Project, we hope this fundraiser raises awareness as it raises money.

Donations can be made here.

Modernization Update: What to Expect

The modernization program of existing buildings on both sites will begin in June. This program will continue throughout the school year and be completed by the end of the 2023 summer.

What to Expect:

• The school sites are Educational facilities first and a construction site second.

• There will be NO changes to the pick-up and drop off.
• There will be NO changes to the school schedules.
• There will be NO impact to the school play fields.
• There will be NO impact to the school hard courts.
• Interim Housing is already in use in preparation.
• Each phase will be fenced off from the students.
• All Contractors will be supervised by DOJ cleared staff.
• Neighbors will be notified of upcoming work.

New Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator is Joining Our Team

We are excited to share that LLESD is partnering with Portola Valley School District to have a dedicated school communication professional on our team. Open, transparent, two-way communication is very important to us and having this new role will allow us to keep you better informed and improve our two-way communication.

Kelli Twomey will be joining our team as the Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator. Kelli comes to our district with over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. Currently, she is with the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, where she has served as their communications coordinator since 2014. She built her position from the ground up and has been very successful in building strong relationships and engagement in her community.

We are thrilled to find someone of Kelli's caliber to join our team and she can’t wait to meet our LLESD community. Please join us in welcoming her. Her first day is Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

Staff Compensation Update

Public school systems participate in what is called collective bargaining with their employee groups. In LLESD, we have two bargaining groups of staff. One is for teachers, counselors, and nurses and one is for classified employees such as our paraeducators, custodians, bus drivers, and clerical support staff. Management and confidential staff is unrepresented and does not have a formal bargaining unit. Typically, all groups benefit from a “me too” agreement.

The collective bargaining season or timeline in a community-funded district typically starts in the fall/winter months when the district learns what the coming year’s property tax revenue. This data point is a critical component of the information we need when determining what compensation plan could be considered. When determining how best to assign resources, the district considers annual expenses for existing programs, staff compensation, new program investment, and reserve needs. 

The collective bargaining team is made up of staff representatives from our teacher and classified associations who meet with district representatives. 

Our Teachers Association (LLEA) and District team were able to secure a two-year agreement ratified by both LLEA and the Board of Trustees in April. The agreement included a compensation increase for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years for teachers, staff, and management. 

The compensation agreement included a 3% (2% going forward as everyone received a 1% bonus last year) increase for the 2020-21 and 5% increase for the 2021-22 school years. In addition to these increases that will live on the salary schedule in perpetuity, the negotiations team secured a $303 per full time employee addition to health benefit contribution and incremental increases to stipends that treat part time and full time employee training and certification the same.

District position compensation is reflected in a salary schedule that outlines automatic, annual increases as well as earned movement to higher salary columns per training and certifications. 

It is typical that staff (except for the Superintendent - their increases come as a result of contract negotiations between the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent) will see an annual increase of a bargained salary increase, step and column movement. The exception to that rule is when a veteran staff/teacher/management “top out” on the salary schedule. This is when they have more educational units and years of service than is provided for on the salary schedule (21+ years for teachers and less for classified and management). 

The most recent agreement has resulted in a total salary increase of approximately

Bargained increase  3% 2020-21

                5% 2021-22

We are very pleased that we were able to secure a generous compensation package that honors the incredible work of all of our staff.

Dr. Beth Polito, Superintendent, Tanya Rianda, LLEA Bargaining Team Member and Efren Gonzalez Jr., CSEA Bargaining Team Member

LLESD and the local community are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases; to date, in May, 44 cases have been reported to LLESD. As we head into the final stretch of the school year please read the following reminders to help keep our community healthy and safe:

• If your child is symptomatic, please keep them home to rest. Testing is recommended.
• Test kits are available for every staff and student and may be picked up from the La Entrada and Las Lomitas offices during school hours from 8-4.
• Masks are strongly recommended indoors.
• If a student or staff member was exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case, whether through a classroom or off-campus exposure, the Department of Public Health recommends one wear a mask around others for 10 days from the date of last exposure to the case. 
• If your child returns to school days 6-10 after a COVID diagnosis masking is expected.