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SCCSBA President's Message

By Carol Presunka (Cambrian SD)

We’re over a month into the new school year and it feels like we’ve been in it forever. Staff is settling into the new school year, administration is doing a budget reevaluation now that enrollment has stabilized, Incumbents and potential new board members are gearing up for the November election, and SCCSBA is trying to ensure all our members have many opportunities to network and learn. With that in mind, SCCSBA Treasurer Chris Norwood organized our first Saturday networking breakfast which had a great turnout with over 20 board members attending. Since there was such interest on Saturday we will be scheduling alternating networking breakfasts and lunches throughout the school year. October 4th will be our first networking lunch of the season.

Our first Lunch and Learn Zoom Meeting of the 2024-2025 school year was on AB1955 and the impact on schools. Thank you to CSBA for their overview of the new law and a great discussion among board members. Our October topic will be on school district cell phone policies.

September 25^th our evening zoom meeting will have Sarah Duffy, the Deputy Director, Social Services Agency, County of Santa Clara presenting on the health and wellness of children in Santa Clara County and what the school districts’ survey tells us.

SCCSBA’s first in person evening event will be Wednesday, October 23^rd at Maggiano’s. Students with disabilities will be sharing their experiences with inclusion. Come join us for great food, networking and a topic that’s important for Board members. Watch for the invitation.

Finally, we are redesigning the SCCSBA website. Thank you to Trustees Aine O’Donovan and Isabel Jubes-Flamerich for spearheading this project. If you have any ideas of what you would like to see on the new website, please let Executive Director Bonnie Mace know. 

Watch our monthly newsletters for more info on future topics. Look forward to seeing you at a future event!

Thanks to all who attended our Saturday Back to School Breakfast at Bill's Cafe last weekend! It was great to share conversation and good food with everyone. Since we received such positive feedback about the event, we are planning to hold alternating networking breakfasts and lunches throughout the school year. All trustees are invited to these networking events.

Wednesday, September 25 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on Student Wellness

Our first evening Zoom meeting of the new school year will be held on September 25 from 7-8:30 p.m. and will feature the topic of Student Wellness and the Healthy Kids Survey.

Do you ever wonder what happens to the data these surveys gather? Come hear why the school district surveys are so important, what the data tells us and what is done with the information.  

Presenter: Sarah Duffy

Deputy Director

Social Services Agency

County of Santa Clara

All trustees are invited to attend. We look forward to seeing you there! Check your email inbox for the zoom link.

Friday, October 4 - SCCSBA Networking Lunch at County Gourmet in Sunnyvale

Come and join us for a networking lunch on Friday, October 4 at Country Gourmet in Sunnyvale (1314 South Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale). It's a great way to share conversation and great food with school board members from around the county. The lunch is no-host, and we will be there from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Check your email inbox for more details.

Thursday, October 17 SCCSBA Lunch and Learn Zoom

Our always popular Zoom Lunch and Learn educational series continues on Thursday, October 17 from 12-1:15 p.m. on Zoom. We will start with updates from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan followed by a conversation on the topic of Cellphones in Schools. A bill awaiting Gov. Newsom's signature mandates that school districts have cell phone policies. Where do school districts currently stand? Let's get together and talk about best practices and challenges. All trustees are invited to attend.

Wednesday, October 23 - SCCSBA Fall Networking Dinner

We are excited to announce that our Fall Networking Dinner will be held at Maggiano's Restaurant on Santana Row in San Jose on October 23 from 6-9 p.m. In addition to wonderful Italian food, we will be having a student speaker panel on Inclusion for Students with Disabilities in cooperation with the Santa Clara County Office of Education. All superintendents and trustees are invited to come. It's a fun way to share a dinner with your whole governance team! Stay tuned for more details on how to register, which will be sent to your email inbox.

Wednesday, November 6 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on ArtificiaI Intelligence

All trustees are invited to our November 6 Zoom evening meeting, which will feature an in-depth discussion of Artificial Intelligence and Schools. We will have CSBA staff representatives who will be sharing the work CSBA is doing in AI policies, board resolutions, advocacy, legal concerns and what’s happening across the state. The meeting will run from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please check your email inbox for the zoom link.

CSBA Spotlight (csba.org)

New Trevor Project survey finds lack of access to mental health care for LGBTQ youth

Nearly 40 percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, according to The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.

Rates were higher among young people of color — and highest among those from Native/Indigenous backgrounds — compared to their white peers. Additionally, transgender and nonbinary youth reported these feelings at higher rates than their cisgender counterparts (46 percent compared to 30 percent, respectively).

The survey, which had more than 18,000 respondents ages 13-24, found that 12 percent of LGBTQ young people attempted suicide in the last year.

The rates of both those who considered and attempted suicide in the past year were significantly higher for respondents ages 13-17.

Read more...

Santa Clara County Office of Education Spotlight

Santa Clara County School Districts and County Office of Education Receive National Honor for Communications

Local school communicators throughout Santa Clara County received multiple awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for exemplary work in communications. The awards celebration held on Sunday, July 14 highlighted efforts to engage school communities in programs and initiatives that benefit students. 

“School communicators showcase the transformative effects of investments in public education,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “I greatly appreciate their contributions and am thrilled to see their achievements acknowledged. They are invaluable assets to our school communities.”

NSPRA promotes the development of professionals to communicate strategically, build trust and foster positive relationships in support of school communities. The Los Gatos Union School District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and Santa Clara Unified School District were awarded. Additionally, Karen Briones, the Communications Coordinator from the Los Gatos Union School District, was recognized for earning an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). An APR certifies a public relations professional. This accreditation is internationally recognized.

NSPRA’s awards program recognizes superior achievement in meeting strategic goals through high-quality communications and public relations programs. Applications are received from school communicators representing school districts and county offices nationwide. To view the winning entries, visit https://www.nspra.org/Awards/Award-Winners 

Cupertino Union School District

CUSD celebrates sustainable energy infrastructure

On August 22, 2024, Cupertino Union School District held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the comprehensive sustainable energy infrastructure project with ENGIE. The project showcases the District's dedication to providing a greener and healthier environment for students, staff, and the community. Working with energy partner ENGIE North America, this project includes the installation of 5.1 megawatts of solar panels, deploying 72 electric vehicle charging stations across 20 schools, and installing two emergency generators.

The anticipated lifetime savings from the solar and EV charging infrastructure exceeds $36 million.

Beyond its resiliency, environmental, and financial benefits, the energy project actively fosters community engagement through a variety of initiatives. Central to this effort is integrating hands-on STEM learning opportunities that immerse students in the practical applications of clean technology.

Sunnyvale School District

Ellis Elementary School is officially open and ready to inspire! The Sunnyvale School District celebrated the grand opening of the completely modernized campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony filled with excitement and pride on August 8. It was amazing to see the school community come together, including incredible students, dedicated staff, supportive families, and valued community partners.

SSD can’t wait for all our students to explore their new learning environment and kick off an amazing school year! This transformation was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Sunnyvale community through Bond Measure GG. Their investment in our students' future is truly appreciated. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our students with the exceptional learning spaces they deserve.

Milpitas Unified School District

Rancho MS teacher Tran selected as RAFT's STEAM Educators of the Year

Rancho Milpitas Middle School educator Vincent Tran was selected as one of RAFT's STEAM Educators of the Year Award recipients. Tran will be one of three STEAM Teachers and Administrators inducted into the prestigious RAFT Hall of Fame at their 30th Anniversary Event and Fundraiser Level Up.

In addition, as part of his award, Tran, who was recently honored by the MUSD Board of Education, will receive the following prizes: A seat on RAFT’s Education Advisory Council; RAFT membership for two years; Classroom set of kits to use with their students; and $300 Gift Card to the RAFT Store. Rancho also received credit at RAFT of approximately $2,500, which could go to: RAFT memberships for one year; A Maker Mobile visit to serve up to 100 students; and/or Subscription to our STEAM Dream Box. 



Berryessa Union School District

Berryessa Union SD congratulates and recognizes Summerdale Elementary, for being recognized as an Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll School for high academic achievement and student success.

The ERP Honor Roll program, sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and districts that are improving student outcomes and preparing students with the skills employer's value and demand. Summerdale is one of 1,430 eligible public schools in California to be recognized.

The ERP Honor Roll utilizes public school student achievement data from 2023 to identify successful schools and districts. Summerdale stands above others in the state because of its demonstrated ability to get students to grade-level success and beyond, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.

MetroED

MetroED Shines: Summer Brings National Wins, Global Connections, and Hands-On Learning

This summer, Metropolitan Education District’s (MetroED) Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) center program demonstrated its commitment to excellence, innovation, and global engagement through a series of remarkable achievements. From students showcasing their skills during national competitions to hosting visitors from New Taipei, and offering a CTE Summer Exploration program, the season was marked with many activities and collaboration. These stories not only highlight the talents and dedication of our students and staff but also reinforce MetroED's role as a leader in career and technical education, fostering opportunities both locally and globally.

●       SVCTE’s Summer Exploration Program Inspires Future Career Paths: Ninety-one incoming ninth through 12th-grade students soaked up an educational journey of growth and discovery during SVCTE’s Summer Exploration Program, which ran for four weeks. Read more

●       SVCTE Welcomes Students from New Taipei City for Summer Exploration Program: Twenty students from SVCTE’s New Taipei delegation recently traveled across the globe to participate in a week of the CTE Summer Exploration program. These students engaged in various hands-on learning experiences in fields such as Fashion Design & Textile Art, Medical Assisting, Sports Medicine & Kinesiology, and Veterinary Science. Read more

●       SVCTE Students Shine in National Competitions: This summer, SVCTE students left marks of achievements in two competitions designed to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their skill mastery in specific career fields: the SkillsUSA National Competition and the HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference. Read more