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June 18, 2010

Superintendents Message: The Close of the Year

Budget Adoption 2010-11

Highlights of the 2009-10 School Year

Board Meeting Highlights

Modernization Design Schemes for Old Mill and Tam Valley

Summer Reading Suggestions

Marin Transportation Survey

Sign up for SchoolPool

A Message from the Superintendent: Closing Another Successful Year of Learning

Dear Learning Community Members:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our dedicated staff, I want to thank you for another year of quality made possible by your support of all children. Whether direct support to the District, Kiddo!, or PTA; and whether it is by way of your generous contributions, the countless hours of volunteerism, or the advocacy for quality, you are the key ingredient that we all want to thank. Could we do a very good job with less of "YOU"? You bet, but it wouldn't be the learning community we have come to know is so important.

August 2009 started in an unusual manner, given California's state budget was approved almost two months late. The Board immediately made budget revisions and reductions based upon drastic cuts to education. In spite of that, the school year started at the end of August as it always does: Optimism on the part of staff and parents; and the energy and enthusiasm we have come to love in your children.

The year also started as the last five have, with another year of growing enrollment and stressed facilities. It was a critical time of communicating our needs to the community, which resulted in the passage of Measure C, the $59.8 million bond issue that would modernize our schools and re-build a new Edna Maguire Elementary.

In December, Paula Reynolds and John Duncan retired from the Board of Trustees. Their service as governance volunteers is greatly appreciated. The time and expertise trustees devote to the District brings great dividends to our staff, students and community. Stepping up and in to fill their shoes were Raoul Wertz and Robin Moses. They have already made their mark as active contributors to the leadership team.

The winter and spring have been dominated by the unprecedented collapse of the education funding system, affecting all school districts across the state, including ours. As learning communities have been exasperated about the cuts made to education and other valued children's services, a potentially landmark lawsuit was filed against the State of California that will shine a light on the inadequacy of equitable funding for all children. Through it all, our community, Board and volunteers have maintained a level of support that will help with the funding gap. As has been the case for 28 years, Kiddo! continues to step up so that the arts are preserved, technology is supported, and classroom support for teaching and learning remains funded. PTAs have now contributed three consecutive years to maintain supplies and materials budgets.

While not intended, or desired, we end the year much the same way August 2009 started. More cuts to the budget will occur; and we will approve an unbalanced budget for 2010-11. California, again, won't have a budget on time. The Board will need to do at least one revision of the budget this next August (with probably more to come) so that we end up submitting a balanced budget.

On the student front, we end as we began. The energy and enthusiasm of children give us the hope we all need in knowing that what we are all doing together makes a difference.

With gratitude,

Ken Benny

Superintendent

Budget Adoption 2010-11: Another Year of Uncertainty

As this school year ends, we have much to celebrate. This year marked our second consecutive year as a top tier school district with API scores exceeding 900, local citizens showed their support in the passage of the $59.8 million bond Measure C to modernize our schools, and our bond rating was upgraded to AAA by Standard and Poor's (yielding taxpayer savings of $600,000) as the result of our fiscal discipline and strong community support. Our learning community is thriving, and we are proud of what we've achieved in the face of difficult financial circumstances.

Several months ago we projected a $1.4 million decrease in state funding for the upcoming school year. Thanks to our parent community, Kiddo! and our PTAs have committed an additional $323,000 to fund classroom and library aides and provide technology support. In addition, after careful review and prioritization, we have made program cuts of approximately $300,000. As negotiations with our employee unions are not expected to resume until the fall, the budget we will adopt later this month for the upcoming school year will reflect a deficit of over $700,000.

Some important elements of the difficult financial environment we are facing include:

Property Tax growth rates: Declines projected for 2010-2011

Property taxes, our primary revenue source, are expected to decline to an unprecedented -1.75% next year, after experiencing a 7% median growth rate the last six years.

Enrollment trend: Continued growth projected for 2010-2011

Enrollment growth continues to strain our fiscal health and physical infrastructure, as we do not receive additional funding for these students and must invest in temporary classrooms to house them. We have experienced a 26% increase in enrollment in the last six years.

State budget crisis: Cuts expected to continue and possibly worsen

We experienced $1.4 million in state funding cuts for the 2009-2010 school year and expect the same for the upcoming school year. State funding cuts are expected to continue through 2014-15.

We are committed to keeping all students and student success at the center of our decision-making. We will continue to work and learn together as a learning community, and use our limited resources even more wisely and strategically to support our mission and better the lives of children. We will report back to you at the start of the school year as we continue to successfully navigate these difficult financial times for California public schools.

For more information please visit the Budget Development Updates page on our website.

Highlights of the 2009-10 School Year

API Scores

Everyone of your schools was recognized with an Academic Performance Index (API) of over 900; and a like index for the District as a whole. Given California's measure for success is an API of 800, this was a significant accomplishment. MVSD had 10 of the 21 schools with API scores over 900.

K-5 Progress Reports

The District put in place a web-based, standards-aligned K-5 progress report under the leadership of a team of teachers and Principal Jane McDonough; and an integral character education framework developed by a multi-discipline team of staff and Principal Gail van Adelsberg.

Math Assessments

Facilitated by Principals Matt Huxley and Lisa Zimmer, several teachers and an assessment design team piloted for adoption in the fall of 2010, a technology based math assessment that will better inform instruction and help the District meet the growing demand for higher quality mathematics achievement.

Student Support Services

A key hire for our District this past fall was the new Director of Student Support Services, Mr. Mark Barmore, who joined our leadership team from San Francisco Unified School District. This hire and re-organization of student learning brought coordination among special education, English Language, GATE, Health Services, and general education intervention under one umbrella.

Intervention Programs

Even with the high levels of achievement our students attain, Director Mark Barmore, Principal Leslie Thornton and Assistant Principal Anna Lazzarini facilitated pilot work in our intervention programs to meet the needs of all students going into the future. Restoring elementary intervention levels to their previous 2006-07 levels and restructuring both special and general education intervention at the middle school level is significant.

Mill Valley Teaching and Learning Collaborative (MVTLC)

Within the context of all this work, Principal Peg Katz facilitated the Mill Valley Teaching and Learning Collaborative for a fifth consecutive year, recognizing the valuable and integral contribution our teachers make to the decision-making process.

Arts! Arts! and More Arts! Thanks to Kiddo!

The District's exemplary arts program, fully funded by Kiddo!, once again delivered on what we have come to know is part of our core academic program and the knowledge that there is an inextricable link between quality arts programs and academic achievement.

Measure C Passes

Reflective of the community's involvement and dedication to passing Measure C, the successful election capped off over two years of planning and hours and hours of staff time facilitated by Director of Maintenance and Operations Tim Ryan; and a dedicated volunteer facilities master plan committee to send the Board the District's first long-term Facilities Master Plan.

Modernization Progresses at Old Mill, Tam Valley and Edna Maguire

Modernization projects across the District move into the design phase. While planning still remains fluid and input remains important, we edge ever more closely to the summer of 2011, when Old Mill and Tam Valley will be modernized; and when important preparations will be made for the fall start of construction at Edna Maguire. This very summer, significant access improvements will be made at Mill Valley Middle School.

Staff Development Devoted to Technology

Academic and professional development initiatives included a District-wide development day for all of our certificated staff dedicated to advancing technology. The day featured all in-district expertise and approximately 200 participants.

Seven Dedicated Educators Retire

Long-time educational professionals are moving on after giving much of their life work to children. We honor the commitment and professional dedication of Christy McCormick, Park; Linda Tanquay, Old Mill; Judy Gruszinski, MVMS; Joan Deamer, MVMS; Barbara Musser, MVMS; Bob Jacobs, MVMS; and Jane McDonough, Old Mill Principal. Thank you for your many years of service to our learning community.

Board Highlights

At the June 15th Board Meeting

Dr. Michele Rollins, Assistant Superintendent presented a preliminary budget for the 2010-11 school year for review. Final adoption is scheduled for the June 23rd Board meeting.
Schematic designs for modernization of Old Mill and Tam Valley Schools designs were presented for approval after several months of site committee work and public input meetings.
A revised Facilities Fee Schedule was approved by the Board. The new schedule includes changes to the the current rental policies as well as fee increases beginning July 1, 2010 for the 2010-11 school year. The District's fee schedule, approved earlier in the year, includes language related to application procedures and day use rental fees.
Staff and members of the public presented information related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying. An eventual Board policy focused on this important issue will be brought forward fall 2010.

At the May 26th Board Meeting

The Board recognized the long and successful professional education careers of retirees Joan Deamer, Judy Gruszynski, Bob Jacobs, Christine McCormick, Jane McDonough, Barbara Musser, and Linda Tanguay.
Michele Rollins, Assistant Superintendent provided a budget development update including a report on the Governor's May Revise and the significant impact State budget cuts will have on the District's multi-year budget planning. Included in Board discussion were preliminary recommendations for several areas of reduction to the 2010-11 budget.
Van Pelt Construction Services provided a bond update including a report on recent public input meetings held in May, and plans for meetings as the school year closes.
Director of Technology Terry Kritsepis presented for 1st reading and revised Board Policy on Internet Safety, a required element of the District's educational technology and student safety programs.
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Modernization Design Schemes for Old Mill and Tam Valley

Public Input Meetings

Representatives from Hibser Yamauchi Architects present sketches for potential parking lot modifications at Tam Valley School.

The District has held several Facilities Modernization Bond Program public input meetings on the first three projects in the program: the new Edna Maguire Elementary School, and modernization at the Old Mill and Tam Valley Elementary School campuses. Over 100 people have attended these Public Input Meetings to learn about the projects and give their input on the schematic design.

Schematic design is the first phase in the design of a project whereby the project team prepares initial diagrams and drawings giving a general view of the components and the scale of the project after detailed discussions with the MVSD staff, site committees, and the community.

Final schematic designs for Tam Valley School and Old Mill School were presented to the Board for approval at the June 15 School Board meeting. The schematic design for Edna Maguire has been extended through August 2010.

If you have not been able to attend any of the public input meetings you can view presentations for each school by visiting the Bond Project Information website at www.mvschools.org/bond.

Summer Reading Suggestions

Check out these great summer reading suggestions for students from our District Librarian Jane Ritter and the District's teacher librarians.

Summer Reading Suggestions

Your Input on Marin Transportation is Needed

Do you drive on Highway 101? If so, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) needs your input! TAM is conducting an on-line survey to get public input on possible improvements for this congested freeway. The survey is designed to take only 4 to 6 minutes of your time. Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard by accessing the survey at http://www.101survey.org/. Survey closes June 25th.

Thank you for your time!

Carpool, Walk, Bike or Bus together at www.SchoolPoolMarin.org!

We encourage you to take a minute to check out the exciting new SchoolPool Marin program. You can request a SchoolPool match list of other families interested in carpooling, walking, biking or taking the bus together to school. It's not too early to register for fall at www.schoolpoolmarin.org to help reduce greenhouse gases and traffic congestion in our community.

Mill Valley School District

www.mvschools.org