san luis coastal summer community report0.pdf · jessica miller has been with san luis coastal for...
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SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF AVILA BEACH, LOS OSOS, MORRO BAY, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO
COMMUNITY UPDATE - SUMMER 2018
Layout and Production by staff of SLCUSD Superintendent’s Office
2018 California Distinguished Schools and
Exemplary Districts State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tom Torlakson recently announced Del Mar
and Teach Elementary Schools were among
the 287 elementary schools statewide being
honored under the Distinguished Schools
Program.
“These schools implement outstanding
educational programs and practices that help
California students realize their potential, and
put them on the path to achieve their
dreams,” Torlakson said.
San Luis Coastal Unified was also recognized as
a California Exemplary District Awardee for 2018. Only 23 districts statewide received this level of distinction. The award goes to districts that have demonstrated both a Positive Culture and Climate, as
well as Exceptional Strides in Student Achievement. Information regarding these awards can be found here.
WHAT’S INSIDE… President’s Message
Letter from Dr. Prater
Blue Ribbon Committee Report
Blue Ribbon Committee Outreach Forums
Measure D Update—Under Construction
New High School Leadership
CL Smith and Pacheco New Leaders
Teachers of the Year
Employees of the Year
Summer Meal Program
Food Services Receives Grant
Adult Success: In the Classroom & Beyond
Elementary Summer School
Summer Camps
Representing Del Mar Elementary, L-R: Walt Millar, Amy Shields,
Ellen Sheffer, Mary Harper, Jenny Appell, Tom Torlakson, Janet
Gould, Patricia Michniuk, Asher Weitzen, Kathryn Eisendrath-
Rogers, Eric Prater
Representing Teach Elementary, L-R: Walt Millar, Amy Shields,
Robyn Friedman-O’Leary, Guy Crabb, Janet Crabb, Tom
Torlakson, Darla Batistic, Angie Whitaker, Shawna Robson, Eric
Prater, Ellen Sheffer, Kathryn Eisendrath-Rogers
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SAN LUIS COASTAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month, subject to adjustments for holidays
or special circumstances. The public is always welcome to attend and provide input.
President’s Message What are the ingredients for a great school district? First, it takes an intentional plan for
student achievement with data-driven goals, supported by a balanced budget. Then, a great
school district must have outstanding teachers, support staff, administrators, facilities,
curriculum, and professional development. Finally, it must have the strong and ongoing
support of its community. I’m proud to say that San Luis Coastal has a good measure of
each of these ingredients, and because of this, I am convinced we are a great school district.
This year, Los Osos Middle School was one of twenty-two newly designated middle schools in the state to
be named as a prestigious “Schools to Watch.” To put this in perspective, only 3% of all California middle
schools receive this honor. Del Mar and Teach Elementary were the only two schools in our county to be
named by the California Department of Education as California Distinguished Schools. Monarch Grove was
named as an Honor Roll School by the Educational Results Partnership.
These are high honors, but it doesn’t stop there: San Luis Coastal was only one of 23 out of nearly 1000
state districts to receive recognition as a California District of Excellence. This is a tremendous honor that belongs to each and
every member of our school family and Central Coast communities.
But, the Diablo Canyon Power Plant will soon be closing. This
means an on-going annual revenue reduction of $8,000,000, nearly
10% of our entire budget. Our citizens’ Blue Ribbon Committee has
made a number of recommendations to help maintain the quality of
our schools as we weather this certain loss.
Working as a community, we will bring together all of the
ingredients necessary to continue San Luis Coastal’s legacy of
excellence. With this effort, we will give our students an
outstanding, equity-driven education.
District Priorities
INNOVATE High Quality Instruction and Support Technology Access and Innovation
GOVERN Transition from Diablo Closure
Measure D Projects Establish Education Foundation
Programmatic Alignment Pre K-12
EMBRACE LCAP Success Indicators
Accountability Achievement Common Ground Task Force
Mark
Buchman Walt
Millar
Jim
Quesenberry
Marilyn
Rodger
Ellen Sheffer,
Clerk
Chris Ungar,
President
Kathryn
Eisendrath-Rogers
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LETTER FROM DR. ERIC PRATER, SUPERINTENDENT The daily interactions between adults and students give me hope and inspiration. I am proud of our school
district and all the people who make our schools wonderful places for students.
Each morning I walk my dog, Finn, around the Sinsheimer Park property adjacent to San Luis Coastal’s
Corporation Yard and Bus Barn. During these early hours, I am able to witness the professionalism and
dedication of the Buildings, Grounds & Transportation staff who represent a portion of our district’s 1,000
employees. These hardworking people start their day long before a student steps foot on campus, doing
their part–often behind the scenes–to ensure the school sites and transportation vehicles are ready for our
kids. I’m grateful for their dedication to our district and the students they are called to serve.
Last week, I passed my son’s room and noticed a hand-written card
sitting on his desk. I couldn’t help myself and I read it. It was a
touching note of appreciation written by one of his teachers, Mr.
Greer. In it, he took the time to acknowledge something unique and
positive in one of his students - who just happened to be my kid. It was kind, thoughtful, and reflected his teaching soul. I know my son is
not the only one who receives these kind recognitions from our
teachers, and I wanted to express my gratitude for the excellent and
critical work they all do. Whether it’s through a well-timed note or a
high-five, our teachers play a key role in nurturing our students.
There were so many inspiring stories this year that really showcased the culture of San Luis Coastal. In
April, the “Today” show featured San Luis Obispo High School and its creative approach to reducing stress
in students. A C.L. Smith family’s efforts to raise money for Jack’s Helping Hand gained national attention—
and a visit from Kobe Bryant—on “The View” in May. Jack’s Helping Hand got another boost of support
through an Adult School program in collaboration with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Women’s
Honor Farm when 60 hand-sewn western-style vests were donated to the nonprofit. And at Bishop’s Peak,
a six-year-old first grader made headlines when she raised $2,700 selling hot cocoa and cookies to benefit
the family of firefighter Cory Iverson who lost his life fighting the Thomas Fire.
As you know, we are working closely with Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham and Senator Bill Monning to
support Senate Bill 1090. This bill, if passed, will provide much-needed revenue to San Luis Coastal in the
coming years and help mitigate the impact of the Diablo Canyon closure. Last week, SB 1090 passed through
the State Senate 31-4 and now awaits discussion in the State Assembly. Much will play out this summer,
including visits by our staff to the Governor’s office. I will keep you posted.
Thank you for making this a successful school year.
Have a safe and relaxing summer.
“We learned about gratitude and
humility—that so many people had
a hand in our success, from the
teachers who inspired us to the
janitors who kept our school
clean...and we were taught to value
everyone’s contribution and treat
everyone with respect.”
— Michelle Obama
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Blue Ribbon Committee Outreach Forums San Luis Coastal’s budget will be negatively impacted by the
closure of Diablo Canyon and by increases in STRS and PERs
contributions. In April and May, Dr. Prater hosted six
forums—three for staff and three for the entire community.
At those forums, Ryan Pinkerton, Assistant Superintendent of
Business Services, reviewed the district’s budget and outlined
the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee
Report.
To reach those unable to attend the forums, Mr. Pinkerton
recorded his presentation and shared it on social media, the
District’s website, and via email. After viewing the
presentation or attending the forums, staff and community
members were invited to participate in an online survey.
The survey results will be shared with the Board of Education and used to develop a plan to bridge the
budget gap The goal is to have a multi-year plan in place by the end of the 2018-19 school year.
SLCUSD CONTACT INFO:
www.slcusd.org
1500 Lizzie Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805.549.1200
Facebook.com/SLCUSD
@SLCUSD
Who Took the Survey?
A total of 296 people participated in
the Blue Ribbon Committee Report
Community Outreach Survey.
Certificated Staff: 90
Classified Staff: 70
Managers: 13
Community Members: 27
Parents with Enrolled Students: 96
The Blue Ribbon Committee presented their report at the December 12, 2017 Board meeting. In it, they
identified Revenue Enhancements and Cost Containment measures to help alleviate the impact of the loss
of tax revenue from the closure of Diablo Canyon.
Revenue Enhancements
Parcel Tax
Surplus Property
Interdistrict Attendance Fees
Foundation
Cost Containments
Attrition/Early Retirement
Class Size Increase
School Closure
Health Care Cap
Salary Reductions
There is not one means to solve the problem.
It will take a combination of revenue
enhancements and cost containment strategies
to balance the budget.
Blue Ribbon Committee Report
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Measure D Update—Under Construction
San Luis Obispo High School: New Math
Building—restrooms and 12 classrooms
San Luis Obispo High School:
New student support center
and performing arts space
Morro Bay High School: New S.T.E.A.M. Complex
with space for art, ceramics, electronic media,
engineering and robotics, and restrooms.
Morro Bay High School Track and Fields Project
includes a new synthetic track, field improvements
and ADA bleacher improvements.
WEBSITE
For more information
and to follow the
progress of all the
Measure D Projects,
visit the
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New High School Leadership From Rebel to Pirate
After Heather Contreras finishes her thirteenth year at
Fontana Unified School District where she taught English and
entered the administration world while building lasting
relationships, she will bring her experience to the Central
Coast. She says, “I am thrilled to be joining the San Luis
Coastal Unified School District team and working in unison
with all stakeholders for the good of our students! I move
onward from the life of a Rebel to become that of a Morro
Bay Pirate with much gratitude for what was and much
excitement for what will be!” Morro Bay High School
welcomes their new Assistant Principal.
Above Par
Jeff Cadwallader and his family are excited to
be relocating to the Central Coast this summer
as he takes a position as Assistant Principal for
Morro Bay High School. He has been in
education for twelve years as a high school
math teacher and a Dean of Students. When
not working hard at school, he can be found
hitting a round of golf, at a baseball game, or
coaching one of his three children as they
participate in their own sports. “I am very
excited to join the Morro Bay community.”
Earned Her Tiger Stripes
Jessica Miller has been with San Luis Coastal for eight years,
teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grade and serving as an
instructional coach and intervention coordinator. She is
originally from the Los Angeles area and moved to San Luis
Obispo to attend Cal Poly where she received her
undergrad in Liberal Studies with minors in child
development and psychology and, later, her master’s degree
in Educational Leadership and Administration. In her free
time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, going to the
beach with her dog, and watching her husband play baseball.
“I am so excited to join the San Luis Obispo High School
team as Assistant Principal!”
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Personnel Department
For information on job opportunities, how to become
a teacher, and tips on how to be successful in your job
search, visit the Personnel Department’s webpage.
A New Superstar
Aaron Black will be joining the CL Smith Superstars next fall as
their new principal. He has been with SLCUSD for the past seven
years, working as a Dean of Students for two years at Morro Bay
High School and the past five years as an Assistant Principal at San
Luis Obispo High School. Mr. Black is excited to join the CL Smith
Community.
A Pirate Comes Ashore
Chris Jones was selected as the new principal of
Pacheco Elementary School. For the last five years,
Mr. Jones has served as assistant principal at Morro
Bay High School. His previous experience includes
teaching Spanish and social studies. With a passion for
bilingual education and working with the Spanish-speaking community, Mr. Jones is excited to join the
team at Pacheco!
CL Smith and Pacheco Welcome New Leaders
Nine teachers were nominated as Teachers of the Year, with Emily Cappellano from Baywood Elementary
selected as the District Teacher of the year. The other eight teachers were:
Teri Block—Los Ranchos Elementary
Sandi Emrick—CL Smith Elementary
Daniel Fahy—Morro Bay High School
Jan Fetcho—San Luis Obispo High School
John Kersten—Monarch Grove Elementary
Charles Pearson—Laguna Middle School
Shawna Robson—Teach Elementary
Joshua Waldman—Los Osos Middle School
If you see any of these deserving members of staff, please take a moment to congratulate them.
“Our teachers work tirelessly to provide high-quality
instruction and support to a diverse range of student
learners, which is why our students are showing steady
improvement across all subjects. Our classified employees—
often unsung heroes—are at the heart of our organization
while our administrators are proven, remarkable leaders
who are devoted to the success of all students.”
—Dr. Prater
Congratulations to the Teachers of the Year
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San Luis Coastal Unified School District employs
some amazing people. Each year, a handful are
recognized for their work and contributions.
Nominated and selected by their co-workers, each
individual exemplifies the qualities the District
values in employees. They are true examples of the
great staff throughout the District.
Employees of the Year Recognized
Clerical Support: Pat Schiavo
“Pat is an invaluable employee at Los
Osos Middle School. She truly has the
pulse of the school. She is aware of all
the roles that need to be played in the
office and can slide into whatever role
needs to be covered.”
District Teacher of the Year: Emily Cappellano
“Emily’s rapport with the students and parents helps
create a learning environment that is extremely
positive, upbeat, caring, and filled with high
expectations. Her positive demeanor and eagerness
to grow students is contagious.”
School Support: Kari Riegel-Parks
“Kari has always been dedicated to
student achievement. She has worked
with some of the most challenging
student behavior seen by her teacher
in the past sixteen years.”
School Support: Teri Wright
“Teri is truly dedicated to making
sure the students of Del Mar are
instilled with the love of reading;
encouraging them to discover books
that can inspire, spark, and ignite
learning.”
Physical Support/
District Employee of the Year: Wendy Hall
“Wendy embodies the school rules: Take care of
yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place.
Wendy wants to make Bishop’s Peak a school where
teachers are able to focus on teaching high-quality
lessons and students are able to focus on learning.”
Manager/Administrator:
Amy Shields
“Amy is a fierce advocate for
student learning and professional
growth. During her tenure, there
have been seismic shifts in teaching
and learning.”
These employees were recognized at the May 15,
2018, School Board Meeting for their outstanding
commitment and dedication to students, sites, and
the District overall. Mark Nakamura
photographed the event and created a slide show
that can be viewed here.
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San Luis Coastal’s Food Services Department is gearing up for a free summer meal program this year to
feed all kids and teens in the community. Free meals will be available at eight different locations
throughout the district this summer. They are offered at no charge to anyone age 0-18, whether they are
summer school students or community members. There is no paperwork or sign-up necessary.
SLCUSD’s Food Services Department is proud
to be dishing up spaghetti and meatballs with
fresh local produce and Edna’s breadsticks. Summer Meal Program
June 18-July 19
Closed July 4th
Monday-Thursday
Breakfast and Lunch
Pacheco Elementary CL Smith Elementary 261 Cuesta Drive 1375 Balboa Street
Laguna Middle School Los Osos Middle School 1150 Los Osos Valley Rd. 1555 El Moro Avenue
Monday-Friday
Breakfast and Lunch
Hawthorne Elementary 125 Story Street
Baywood Elementary 1390 9th Street
Tuesday-Thursday
Lunch
San Luis Obispo Library 995 Palm Street
Morro Bay Library 625 Harbor Street
Food Services Receives Grant San Luis Coastal Food Services was selected to receive the California-grown Fresh School Meals Grant in
the amount of $125,000! These funds will be used to create a
culinary garden at Laguna Middle School where students can
grow herbs and produce to use in the school meal program.
There will be opt-in teacher trainings and a garden educator
to assist with lessons and hands-on garden experiences.
There is also a large equipment component to the grant for
an automatic tray sealing machine with compostable
film and containers and other kitchen processing
equipment.
Food Services Team
says farewell to their
old pack out machine.
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San Luis Coastal Adult School is proud to serve
adults needing their high school diploma and high
school equivalency for over 50 years. For fourteen
of those years, Mr. Jack Mitchell has guided and
instructed hundreds of students to success.
Mr. Mitchell delivered on the promise to treat each
student with the respect, support and individualized
attention they all deserve. His knowledge and
experience will be greatly missed as he transitions
(once again!) into retirement, but his legacy will not
be forgotten. Parke Godar is shadowing and gleaning
wisdom from Mr. Mitchell and will replace him in
the fall.
Adult Success: In the Classroom and Beyond!
San Luis Adult School’s High School Diploma and
Equivalency programs are also held at San Luis
Obispo County Jail with our instructor, Barbara
Hoffman, leading the way. She works tirelessly to
provide quality instruction for incarcerated adults
and establishing seamless transitions for inmates
upon release. Her passion and heart have made a
great impact on this underserved population!
Although many automatically think about the GED
when adults are looking to finish their education,
SLC Adult School is breaking the mold and helping
students complete their diploma in a traditional
sense along with preparing students for the HiSET, another nationally recognized high school
equivalency option.
The Adult School streamlined the orientation
sessions for students where they take an
assessment and outline their academic and career
goals. Once a student is enrolled in either high
school diploma or high school equivalency, he/she
receives individualized instruction and a unique
learning path to ensure persistence. As instructors
meet with students, they tailor the education path
that best suits the individual.
The Adult School is pleased to receive both state
and federal monies to help improve our efforts.
Through AEBG (Adult Education Block Grant) and
WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act) funds, they are able to collaborate with a
consortium of providers (Templeton Adult School,
Lucia Mar Adult School, and Cuesta College) to expand their approach to adult education.
These ongoing relationships with other adult
schools in the county have strengthened the
program and improved the ability to help students
achieve success. Upon completion, the Adult School
helps students to navigate their next steps. They
have a direct referral process established with
Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, American
Job Centers of California, and Eckerd Workforce
Development. All of these agencies function
collaboratively to help adult students fulfill their
ambitions for academics and employment.
For the 2017-18 school year, dedicated teachers
awarded 47 diplomas to adult students along with
16 high school equivalency certificates. Their
student-centered approach and belief in the power
of learning has proven once again that all people,
regardless of age or past experiences, are deserving
of quality education.
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PARTNERSHIPS SLCUSD maintains critical partnerships with private and public entities to ensure the diverse and unique
needs of our students and staff are met. These are just a sample of those partnerships.
Elementary Summer School Elementary Summer School will be offered at Baywood Elementary for
students living on the coast and at Hawthorne, C.L. Smith, and Pacheco
Elementary for students in San Luis Obispo. Classes are designed to help
students who need additional time or support in reading, writing, and mathematics. Students selected for
summer school are provided a half-day program that runs nineteen days that includes both breakfast and
lunch. Students attending Summer School will enjoy both individualized online learning and outdoor learning
fun.
New this summer, in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County YMCA, 4th and 5th grade students
attending Baywood Elementary are part of a five day a week, whole day program called Camp Thrive.
Students attend an academic program in the morning and a summer camp in the afternoon.
Summer Youth Camp Whether your child is interested in robotics or dance, wrestling or volleyball, cheerleading or soccer, San
Luis Obispo High School has a summer camp for them! With nineteen different camps starting in June and
ending in August, parents and students have a wide variety to choose from. Visit their website for more
information.
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SLCUSD SCHOOLS
Elementary Schools Laguna Middle School
John Calandro, Principal
Scott Schalde, Asst. Principal
596-4055
Los Osos Middle School
Andre Illig, Principal
Karl Blum, Asst. Principal
534-2835
Baywood
Jennifer Dinielli, Principal
534-2856
Bishop’s Peak
Dan Block, Principal
596-4030
Del Mar
Janet Gould, Principal
771-1858
Hawthorne
James McMillen, Principal
596-4070
Los Ranchos
Marlie Schmidt, Principal
596-4075
Monarch Grove
Lara Storm, Principal
534-2844
Pacheco
Rick Mayfield, Principal
596-4081
Sinsheimer
Jeff Martin, Principal
596-4088
C.L. Smith
Joyce Hansen, Principal
596-4094
Teach
Darla Batistic, Principal
596-4100
SLCUSD Adult School
Sally Ames, Coordinator
549-1222
Bellevue-Santa Fe
Charter School
Holly Warrick, Principal
San Luis Coastal is the chartering
agency for Bellevue-Santa Fe.
Middle Schools
High Schools Morro Bay High School
Dr. Kyle Pruitt, Principal
Sean Allstot, Asst. Principal
Chris Jones, Asst. Principal
771-1845
Pacific Beach High School
Chris Dowler, Principal
596-4023
San Luis Obispo High School
Leslie O’Connor, Principal
Aaron Black, Asst. Principal
Nick Frost, Asst. Principal
Julie Mamo, Asst. Principal
596-4040
Executive Cabinet
• Eric Prater, Ed.D., Superintendent •
Kim Holmes, Exec. Asst. to the Superintendent • Ryan Pinkerton, Asst. Supt./Business Services •
Mandy Dawson, Executive Assistant • Kimberly McGrath, Asst. Supt./Educational Services •
Valarie Harrigan, Executive Assistant • Diane Frost, Executive Dir., Student Support Services •
Tambra Moore, Administrative Assistant • Christin Newlon, Director of Personnel Services •
Peggi Charlesworth, Administrative Assistant • Amy Shields, Elem. Director - Learning & Achievement •
Debra Hill & Jessica Rodriguez, Administrative Assistants
STUDENT POPULATION
7460