It is the responsibility of the San Marino School Board to examine the educational issues in our nation and how they relate to the priorities of our community. The Board needs to examine the policies, practices, and personnel to ensure they are consistently working towards the same vision. I would like to help the SMUSD Board in this endeavor to ensure integrity, inclusiveness, and feasibility of that vision. I want to help San Marino schools provide our students with the resources they need to be successful, healthy and hopeful for their bright futures ahead.
San Marino School Board as policy makers
The San Marino School Board has been engaged in study sessions for the past few years to evaluate and revise their existing policies to meet State legal requirements and plan strategically for the future of our schools. The ongoing work of the Board has resulted in the revision of numerous policies to reflect the goals of our district. It is the role of the Board to ensure these policies are up-to-date, consistent, and contribute to a clearly shared vision that holds the district and school sites accountable.
Funding our schools: Financial responsibility and management
STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING: San Marino schools are forced to provide a public education with less federal and state funding than most other states and school districts, despite being subjected to the same standards. In order to meet the needs of our schools, the district relies heavily on additional taxes and donations from the San Marino community. The School Board's role is to ensure those funds are spent responsibly and in the best interests of our students. Balancing the needs and priorities of our schools must be executed thoughtfully and consistently, in conjunction with the vision and goals of our district. We need a School Board that will be attentive to studying and applying that balance in our schools. Our School Board needs to also take the lead in finding additional funding sources to meet specific student and program needs.
PARCEL TAXES: The current School Board is tasked with presenting a Resolution to the community on the renewal of the Parcel Tax R. Since its passage in 2013, Measure R taxes have provided $1.593 million in revenues annually to support multiple student-served positions throughout the District. According to the Board of Education meeting held on August 14, 2018, the following positions are supported entirely with Parcel Tax R funding:
· 2 Elementary School teachers
· 4 Middle School teachers
· 4 High School teachers
· 1 High School counselor
· 2 Library services specialists
· 1 Technology services analyst
The current School Board has chosen February 26, 2019 to put the vote forward to the community. On this date, the voters will be faced with the decision to renew the Measure R parcel tax. The School Board members elected to office in November will need to inspire our community to make an informed decision about whether and how this city supports the students of Carver, Valentine, Huntington Middle and San Marino High School.
FACILITIES FUNDING BONDS: In January 2018, a controversial resolution was considered by the current Board regarding a GO Bond tax of $148 million. The need for the evaluation and repair or replacement of San Marino school facilities to upgrade safety and security was never in doubt. However, the community expressed their concerns over the increased tax burden, high construction costs estimates, and the lack of clearly stated priorities. If the city is asked to revisit the GO Bond tax, the new Board will need to make a profound effort to be transparent and deliberate in their plans for how to spend those tax funds. Input from the community is vital before any resolution can be put forward to the community for a vote.
Curriculum and instruction: Best practices in teaching and learning
At the heart of teaching and learning is the need to ensure our teachers and staff receive all the support and resources they need to ensure high-quality instruction is taking place in the classroom. With the adoption of Common Core standards in all California public schools, there is a demand for students to exercise more critical thinking skills and class discussion about concepts in order to "better prepare students for college and 21st Century careers" (source: https://edsource.org/2017/understanding-the-common-core-state-standards-in-california-a-quick-guide/585006). Since 2010, teachers have been implementing and incorporating new instructional methods that go beyond memorization and multiple-choice assessment. Teaching students with authentic learning experiences requires teachers to have the support and resources they need to engage students. Policies and programs that support student learning should be consistent and thoughtfully implemented to address the holistic needs of all students, finding a balance between a student's academics, extracurricular activities, and emotional and physical health. The Board is responsible for ensuring the implementation is effective and authentic for every student in San Marino schools.
The Board has a responsibility to implement best practices in teaching and learning from early age through college and beyond. Preparing for 21st Century careers does not begin in college. Rather, it begins with learning how to think critically and independently and to learn how to deepen your interests to beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to find their passion and skills in high school and opportunities to explore those passions should be offered to them through our schools beginning with early education. Students should be given opportunities to explore a multitude of interests in an environment that is nurturing and enjoyable. Faculty and staff should be able to help our students in this exploration over time so that when they graduate from San Marino schools, they are confident to accept the challenges that lie ahead.
Continuing the work of the current Board, the new Board must also continue examining policies related to student wellness, college-readiness, access to high-level courses, and homework. The evaluation of these policies relies heavily on understanding existing research and theories, as well as assessing how these policies can be implemented in the schools smoothly and effectively.
Effective leadership and collaboration
One of the most fundamental roles of the School Board is to oversee the personnel at the district and school sites. While school site leaders are responsible for the management and evaluation of their site personnel, it is the responsibility of the Board to ensure the most qualified and effective personnel are working for our district. District and school site leadership must be effective at holding their staff and faculty accountable and providing the resources they need to educate our students. Staff and faculty must have the tools they need to be effective instructors and staff. The staff and faculty must work with the site leaders to advocate on behalf of the students as they are the ones interacting with our children on a daily basis. Collaboration among faculty and staff is critical to ensure all students are consistently served with a high-quality education. The Board is responsible for assessing the staffing needs of our district through research, communication and thoughtful strategic planning.
With the impending departure of our current superintendent, the Board will be making decisions to hire a new district leader. Loren Kleinrock will be returning to our school district to serve as Interim Superintendent for the 2018-19 school year. During this school year, the newly reconstituted Board will need to engage in a search for a new permanent superintendent. This process will require engaging the community in a conversation about priorities and qualities they would like to see in our new superintendent and the Board will need to be innovative in how to identify the most appropriate leader for our school district.
Honest and open communication
Communication and engagement with the community is critical to the success of our schools. Through engagement in opportunities such as PTA, school events and activities, fundraising, advisory committees, and City Council, the Board meets with parents and community members who all share in the goal of finding how to best educate our students. Communication from the Board to the public must be exercised openly and often; communication from the public to the Board must be exercised thoughtfully and consistently. The free exchange of ideas leads to thoughtful planning and implementation to ensure successful policies and programs.
Due to state "Brown Act" requirements that limit interaction between the Board and the public, meaningful communication is difficult to attain. The new Board must explore solutions to allow for open dialogue and clarity in communications. From fiscal management to personnel and programs, the Board and community must work together to make the decision-making process clear and transparent without sacrificing efficiency and prioritization in the best interests of all our students.