Mill Valley School District ENews

To Our Learning Community:

As we go to "recess" next week (hoping you get some too!) I want to pause, take a deep breath, and take stock of the blessings we have in Mill Valley.

Sure there has not been a lot of good news in the economy and specifically in our state and local education budgets. Many of our neighboring districts have made painful decisions resulting from none of their doing. We have had to make tough decisions as well but in our case those decisions didn't include the loss of jobs and resulting services to kids. That's the first "blessing".

Here are more:

We continue to attract and retain great staff. Compensation, benefits and opportunities for growth are competitive. As one example we received over 300 applications for 6 open teaching positions.

All schools significantly exceed the state's benchmark for overall success in student achievement.

We belive in and commit to a comprehensive educational program that embraces achievement in all areas.

To that point, our educational partners (Kiddo! and PTA's) and this remarkable learning community generously give their time, money, and talent to that belief.

Arts and library programs are luxuries in other districts (if they exist at all) but are part of our core belief system.

Community involvement and inclusion, as a key goal in our Strategic Action Plan is real. Two cases in point, currently over 32 people (mostly community members) serve on the Facilities Master Plan Committee, which is guiding us toward a 15 + year Facilities Master Plan that defines the future of our facilities.

Our Community Financial Advisory Commission (CFAC) has developed and implemented best practices in financial forecasting.

We know the single most powerful influence on student learning is quality teaching, accomplished with staff development. You support this and other planning needs through minimum days every week and six days of "Non-Student" working days. We do not take any of this time for granted.

Our behind the scenes staff (Administrative assistants, aides, custodians, maintenance and district office staff) are amazing in their support of the mission. Please thank them more than once a year but certainly do so during classified employees week May 17- 23.

Evidently families want to join our learning community. In 5 years we will have grown by over 400 students with an expected 2009-10 enrollment of approximately 2,650.

We just submitted a revised certified technology plan that will guide our actions for the next three years. Through District and educational partner efforts we have increased our technology inventory while replacing obsolete equipment. Two years ago our technology infrastructure was fragile at best. Today our network up time is 99.9% on average.

There are many more blessings too numerous to mention. Please take some time to count your own blessings this week.

Sincerely,

Ken Benny

Superintendent

District News Archive

February 2009

January 2009

November 2008

October 2008

September 26, 2008

September 2008