SCCSBA December 2024 Newsletter | |
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SCCSBA President's Message
By Carol Presunka (Cambrian SD)
Welcome back to those of you who attended the CSBA Delegate Assembly and AEC conference in Anaheim. Once again CSBA put together some inspiring general session speakers and informative workshops. I always come away with new ideas. Hope you did too! Thanks to Sodexo for sponsoring our SCCSBA reception at AEC and thanks to those who attended!
Our November Lunch & Learn was on School Safety. So many times we get presentations on what we should be doing at our school but I learn so much from my fellow board members. Hearing about what works and doesn’t in each of your districts and what you are considering really helps me in my decision making on my Board. Cameras, fencing, electronic sign-ins, key fobs, fingerprinting, Those are just a few of the areas we discussed. Our January 16 Lunch and Learn topic will be Board Policy: development and maintenance. How does your Board do it? If you haven’t come to our Lunch and Learn meetings, please do so.
Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey regarding what skills we would like to see in the next SCCOE superintendent.
The Hoffmann Awards applications deadline was Friday, December 13. Hopefully your school district applied! The Hoffmann committee will be reaching out to those who volunteered to be readers and/or site visitors soon with more information.
Our new SCCSBA website will soon be up and running! Thanks to the design and content team of Trustees Aine O'Donovan, Isabel Jubes-Flamerich, John Horner, Chris Norwood and of course our Executive Director Bonnie Mace!
Our New Board Member Workshop is Saturday, January 25th from 9:11:30 AM at SCCOE. Please invite all your new board members! Current board members are welcome to join them. There will be both a Superintendent and Board Member panel to answer questions.
Finally, our January 22nd SCCSBA Zoom evening meeting will be on Equity vs Equality. I hope you can attend.
I wish you all Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year and any other way you are celebrating. May your break be filled with joy, family and friends!
See you all in 2025!
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Saturday, January 25 - FREE New Board Member Training
We are holding a New Board Member Training on Saturday, January 25 from 9-11:30 AM at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. This training is FREE to all board members. It will provide resources and information that are specifically relevant to Santa Clara County, and so it will be very useful especially to new board members joining districts in our county. If you are a current board member and would like to attend this training, we welcome you to come too!
Please register at this link: newboardmembertraining2025.eventbrite.com
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Thursday, January 16 - SCCSBA Lunch and Learn on Zoom
Our popular Lunch and Learn series continues on Thursday, January 16 from 12-1:15 p.m. on Zoom. The featured topic will be Board Policy: development and maintenance. We look forward to hearing what's happening in districts on how you create and update your board policies. Please check your email inbox for the zoom link. All trustees are invited, and no RSVP is needed.
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Wednesday, January 22 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting
Our next SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22 from 7-8:30 p.m. The featured topic will be Equity vs. Equality. Please check your email inbox for the zoom link. All trustees are invited, and no RSVP is needed.
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Friday, February 7 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch
Our next networking lunch will be held on Friday, February 7 from 11:30 AM to 1 PM at Aqui, 201 E Campbell Ave, Campbell. It's a fun time to share conversation and good food with colleagues from across the county. All trustees are invited, and no RSVP is needed.
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Thursday, February 20 - SCCSBA Lunch and Learn on Zoom
Please Save the Date for our February 20 SCCSBA Lunch and Learn on Zoom from 12-1:15 p.m. Our featured topic will be the Governor's January budget and potential impacts on education. All trustees are invited to attend, and no RSVP is needed.
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Wednesday, February 26 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting
Our February Evening Zoom Meeting will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26. Our featured topic will be Going Green: Economics vs Environment. All trustees are invited to attend, and no RSVP is needed.
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Saturday, March 8 - SCCSBA Legislative Brunch
Our popular annual SCCSBA Legislative Brunch will take place on Saturday, March 8 from 9 AM to Noon at the Fremont Union High School District Office Board Room (589 West Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale). John Fensterwald, of EdSource and formerly the Mercury News, will be facilitating the panels with our legislators again this year. Our speakers will include county, state and federal legislators. Please register at this link: legislativebrunch2025.eventbrite.com
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CSBA Spotlight (csba.org)
CSBA wants to hear from all trustees! Please take the CSBA iCount survey at this link: web.csba.org/cn/akcvg/icount2024
By completing the survey, you have an opportunity to exercise your voice in the association by offering valuable feedback about CSBA services and critical statewide education issues.
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School District Highlights | |
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Sunnyvale School District
Sunnyvale Middle School Reaches New Heights!
We’re thrilled to announce that Sunnyvale Middle School celebrated a major milestone on November 1st with a topping-off ceremony!
The ceremonial final beam, signed by students and staff, was hoisted into place, marking significant progress on the Measure GG bond project. This exciting project will bring 22 new classrooms, 5 program spaces, an art room, and a 20,000 sq. ft. academic courtyard to our campus.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Sunnyvale community for their continued support. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our students!
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MetroED
In today’s fast-paced economy, Career and Technical Education (CTE) is more vital than ever, preparing students and adults with the skills needed for high-demand careers. MetroED, Santa Clara County’s largest provider of CTE, is at the forefront of this mission, shaping the lives of high school students as well as adults in the Silicon Valley community.
At Silicon Valley CTE (SVCTE), 1,400 high school students gain hands-on experience in 24 programs, from electric vehicles to medical sciences. These programs, integrated into high school schedules, equip students with technical expertise, college credits, and pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers. With a daily attendance rate of 98%, programming at SVCTE engages students, 87% of students pursuing higher education and 45% earning college credits, SVCTE sets students on a direct path to successful careers.
For adults, Silicon Valley Adult Education (SVAE) provides accessible opportunities to transform lives, offering ESL, diplomas, and career training. Programs like dental assisting and culinary arts empower adults to enter or advance in thriving industries, earning certifications and being prepared for new career paths.
CTE is the cornerstone of economic mobility, ensuring students and adults are prepared to thrive in Silicon Valley’s innovation-driven workforce. MetroED exemplifies how education is the bridge to opportunity, equity, and community prosperity. For more information, visit https://www.metroed.net/.
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MetroED
MetroED and SVCTE Secure $989K Grant to Advance Green Technology Career Pathways
Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) is pleased to announce that Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) has been awarded $989,645 through the competitive K12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Round 7 grant application cycle. This funding will support SVCTE’s efforts to meet the increasing demand for green technology, providing students with skills needed for sustainable industries.
The grant will enable critical updates and innovations in the following pathways:
● Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology
● Eco-Friendly HVAC Systems
● Fire Science with Environmental Solutions
● Clean Diesel Technologies
These enhancements will help bridge the skills gap in these essential sectors, expand early college credit opportunities, and offer students viable post-secondary pathways that lead to sustainable, livable-wage careers.
"At MetroED, we are committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends, and this grant is a testament to that dedication," said MetroED Superintendent Erin O’Neill. “By integrating the latest advancements into our programs, we are building a foundation for students to thrive in meaningful, future-focused careers."
Read more
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SCCSBA
www.sccoe.org/sccsba
execdirector@sccsba.org
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