Ask Your Legislators to Increase State Education Funding

Do you know that the majority of our education funding comes from the state?  and that we are in the bottom 10 of all 50 states in per student spending?  This level of investment means we also rank in the bottom 10 in class size (teachers per student), librarians per student, counselors per student and more. (see www.fullandfairfunding.org)

Newly elected local Assemblymember Bauer Kahan has just become a co-author for AB39, which would significantly increase the base state funding for all TK-12 schools.  Let's get the rest of our state legislators to join her!

• TONIGHT - Monday March 11, 6:30pm-7:30pm - You can attend the Town Hall at Holbrook Elementary School, 3333 Ronald Way, Concord, with State Senator Glazer and Assemblymember Grayson.  Call Grayson's District Office at (925) 521-1511 to RSVP. Please ask them both to sign on in support of AB39.
• Tuesday March 12 - I'll be meeting with each of our legislators in Sacramento, along with school board members from throughout our region, for CSBA lobby day (CA State School Boards Association)

Next School Board Meeting: TONIGHT - Monday March 11th, 7pm

Watch online, listen here, or attend in person.  Key topics: budget, summer school, facilities. 

• For MDUSD Budget links and timeline visit https://mdusd.org/fiscalhome
• See also Fast Facts

Facilities Master Plan

• Draft large site maps are now at each school site office! --> Give your feedback to your principal before March 18th
• Track progress at http://lpamasterplans.com/mt-diablo-usd-fmp/

Spotlight on events

Support our Mt Diablo students at:

• Districtwide STEM Showcase - Swing by to see students present top projects from each elementary school, play with robots with our robotics teams, and more!  This Saturday March 16th, 9-11am at Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord.
• County Spelling Bee - winners from our school sites each compete next Saturday March 23rd at the county level spelling bee.  Tice Valley Gym, Walnut Creek.  Stop by to cheer them on!

Onwards together,

It's been a busy first month of 2019!  Please read on to see how you can nominate excellent people for awards, attend facilities town halls, share out apprenticeship opportunities, and more...

Nominate Excellence Today

Know of an exceptional person in our Mt. Diablo schools? Please nominate them for an award! Deadline Feb 28.

Categories are:

Awards for Teachers:
- Leadership & Courage
- Creative Curriculum
- Most Inspirational
- Community Involvement
- Lifetime Achievement

Awards for Non-Teachers:
- Outstanding Classified Employee
- Outstanding Administrator
- Outstanding Parent Volunteer
- Outstanding Volunteer Organization

Take a minute to click here to nominate: https://www.mdedf.org/events

All nominees will be listed in the program.

Then save the date to attend the 2019 Gala & Academy Awards - Thursday, May 9 at Centre Concord, 5 - 9 pm.

Attend Facilities Town Hall Meetings

The districtwide Facilities Master Plan efforts are moving along, and are ready for YOUR input!  Please prioritize attending a town hall meeting.  They are all taking place in the next two weeks.  See schedule below. (please note: Feb 20th, 3-4:30pm is an addition to the schedule - for Eagle Peak, Clayton Valley & Rocketship, location TBA)

Share Apprenticeship Opportunities

Our area has many well paid apprenticeship opportunities thanks to local unions, providing solid careers with minimum requirements of being 18 years old and in some cases passing a basic math test. 

Here's one from www.sprinklerfitters483.org
WHEN: EVERY 2ND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, 12:00 Noon to 4:30 P.M.

WHERE: SPRINKLER FITTERS U.A. LOCAL 483 APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING CENTER
2531 BARRINGTON COURT
HAYWARD, CA 94545
(510) 782-9483

Next written test will be in June 2019.  Hiring every January & August.

Join Budget Advisory Committee

Each school board member may appoint one community member to our district Budget Advisory Committee. They meet Wednesday nights at 5pm every other month.  Please let me know if you are interested or know someone who is!

Next School Board Meeting: Monday February 11th, 7pm

Watch online, listen here, or attend in person.  Key topic: budget. 

Our district is facing possible budget cuts & layoffs, as are many districts around California this year.  A detailed presentation on budget was given at our Jan 28th meeting and is on the agenda for Feb 11th as well.  You can see both as attachments within the agendas online. 

Take Action for Statewide Education Funding!

Please sign the petition at www.fullandfairfunding.org

and for detailed state level Stanford study see https://www.gettingdowntofacts.com/summary

Onwards together,

You're invited! 

Thanks to all of your support, I will begin my term on the Mt Diablo School Board this December.  Our work is just beginning, as my role on school board is to represent all our constituents in our districtwide policy decisions and budget oversight.  This cannot be done alone.  As we begin this journey together, I want to recognize you for your participation and passion for our vision of a quality education for every student.

Please save the date to join me at the

Mt Diablo School Board Member Swearing In Ceremony

Date: Monday December 17th  

Time: 7pm

Location: Mt Diablo Unified School District Office, Dent Center, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, CA 94519.

This is a short ceremony at the beginning of the school board meeting that night.  (please note, this meeting was originally set for December 10th, but was rescheduled to the 17th)

What a Journey!

While an uncontested school board race meant a sudden end to my campaign, we sure didn't stop campaigning this fall.  I am so thankful for each of you who moved right over with me to volunteer for the urgent Measure J Campaign for Safe, Quality Schools.  There was so much to do, starting a bond campaign committee from scratch, and Kathryn Durham Hammer stepped up to lead the campaign with gusto.  Our small but mighty campaign team worked nonstop for months.  

We did it!  Measure J passed with an over 69% YES vote, thanks to the grassroots volunteer work of so many of you.  Together we knocked on a total of 4,584 doors, made 1,627 phone calls, sent 15,207 text messages, and planted 900 lawn signs.  Those person-to-person conversations are what makes the difference, and we worked all the way through on election day too, bringing in those last votes. 

Here's a photo of wonderful teachers rallying for Measure J.  

Parents, students, staff, principals and community groups all joined in too - walking miles for our schools. 

This Thanksgiving, I am so thankful to live in a community of people who care so much about our students and schools, who are willing to step up and do the hard volunteer work it takes to ensure all voices are heard, and to invest in public education for all.

I hope to see you December 17th.

With gratitude,

Our Mt Diablo students from Mt Diablo High and Riverview Middle truly inspire me.  Over 50 of them walked the Bay Point neighborhoods on a Sunday afternoon for Measure J!  They each had thought through exactly why Measure J school safety and upgrades were personally important, and bravely and enthusiastically knocked on doors.  

But we can't be successful in this campaign without YOU.  Each and every vote will show whether our communities are ready or not to invest in our school building safety & upgrades, and voting has already begun!  Please join us to walk, text, email friends & colleagues to vote #YesonJMtDiablo .

This Saturday, take an hour or two to meet us at the beautiful Dave Brubeck park next to Concord High, eat our snacks & grab a clipboard, and then pair off to walk neighborhoods together.  Your actions can make all the difference.  Kids of all ages are welcome! Email yes.on.j.walk@gmail.com to RSVP and get our cool walking app.  #TogetherWeCan 

And please forward this email or share this video - an in depth view of Measure J:

Ever thankful for your participation,

Victory!  Thank you all.

Our campaign was a success! An uncontested race means that I will begin as a Mt Diablo School Board member this December, and I will not be listed on the November ballot.  

Thanks to all who came to our spontaneous victory ice cream celebration! You can view my thank you speech here:

and see the full album of photos on our Facebook page too.

Donations given

Remember when I said I'd donate $10,000 to the Foundation?  Yes, since we no longer needed to spend it on campaign materials for my school board race, we are able to give directly to the district-wide nonprofit to benefit all students.  And we ended up deciding to write not just one large check, but two.  

The first check we wrote was $8000 to the MDUSD Education Foundation, which is already providing arts this fall to students in our elementary schools, and will soon begin science and math enrichment as well.  You can help these programs reach even more students -- Join the Foundation team for the Oct 6th Break a Sweat run/walk for education here.

The second was $2000 to the Yes on J - Neighbors for Safe, Quality Schools Campaign.  We decided to invest some of our campaign funds in the Measure J campaign, because if it passes it will provide crucial funding to update our aging facilities and ensure student safety.

Call to Action - Get Involved to Pass Measure J for our kids!

Since that wonderful ice cream party, I've been busy non-stop volunteering for Measure J.  To me this is one of the most urgent items on our local November ballot!  I hope that you will join us.

The committee to pass Measure J is a grassroots organization of parents, teachers and community members who care about our students—and we need your help! Here are five ways you can make sure Measure J is a success:

1. Vote YES on Measure J: Measure J will appear near the end of your long ballot—remember to go to the end and vote YES on J!  If you vote by mail, look out for your ballot the week of October 8th.  
2. Endorse Measure J: Lend your name to the campaign by publicly endorsing the measure.  Endorse by clicking here 
3. Put up a YES on J lawn sign: Show your support by putting up a YES on J sign in front of your home or business. Order yours here
4. Donate to the campaign: This is a grassroots effort.  Every donation — no matter how big or how small — will help get us over the top!  Donate here.
5. Precinct Walk for J: Walk your neighborhood with friends and help us talk to voters!   Join us this Saturday in Clayton/Concord from noon-3pm, meeting at The Grove.  Click here to RSVP!

See you out there soon.

Sincerely,

Tonight our campaign is officially finished - and a success! 
Only 3 people filed by tonight's deadline for the 3 seats, so I will become the new MDUSD school board member on December 7th.

Thank you to everyone who joined and helped along the way to build our community of people working to improve all our schools!

Please come to our Saturday Ice Cream event - which will now transition from a kickoff to a Thank You Celebration!

We can't wait to thank each and every one of you.
We'll also have news about upcoming actions you can take together with us to improve our schools. 

Saturday August 18th, 1-3pm

Concord Community Park, Picnic Site #1 (by playground)

**Please RSVP so we know how much ice cream to buy!**

RSVP and see details here:

https://www.cherisekhaund.com/celebration2018

With less than 100 days til the election, I've pulled my papers and am getting ready to officially file my candidacy for Mt. Diablo School Board. 

*What if only 3 people file for 3 spots?  Then there would be no campaign, but I would still hold Meet & Greets in all communities to best represent everyone.  (And if that happened, I would donate $10,000 of campaign funds to the MDUSD Education Foundation.)*

Either way, we'll soon be at a location near you!   

Together we can reach every corner of our district to hear the hopes and concerns of our communities for our schools.

We have 3 Free events planned in Bay Point, Concord and Clayton:

Bay Point Meet & Greet, Saturday August 11th, 10am-2pm

• Free hot dog, corn dog, or car wash to the first 100 people!
• balloon animals for kids from Dilly Dally the Clown!
• Lorena Pena que habla español, estará también presente para poder facilitar
  cualquier traducción que sea necesaria para sus preguntas y respuestas.

Concord Ice Cream Campaign Kickoff, Saturday August 18th, 1-3pm

• Free ice cream & toppings for all!
• Shady area with playground nearby
• Meet the campaign lead from your neighborhood!
• Share your ideas for our schools

Clayton Meet & Greet, Thursday August 30th, 7-8:30pm

• Informal opportunity to meet Cherise at a local Clayton home

Please take 5 minutes for 5 quick actions:

1. Click to endorse my campaign

2. Donate any amount - even $10 adds up

3. Share - forward this email, Like/share on Facebook, retweet on Twitter, like on Instagram

4. RSVP to events and to volunteer

5. Invite - friends to like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter & Instagram, and to events in their neighborhood. Let me know if you can host a Meet & Greet at a park, cafe, or home in your neighborhood too!

See you out there soon,

Now that the June elections are over, we are getting ready for my November run for MDUSD School Board.  It is ever more crucial that we get everyone out to vote who believes in quality public schools for all.

---

Volunteer - Host a “Meet the Candidate” Near You!

    

     

Our movement is growing and increasingly visible through endorsements, donations, and volunteers.

 

 

As the President of MDUSD Education Foundation, I will be keynote speaker at the MDEA Academy Awards on Thursday, May 10th. I hope you can join us there!  It’s an uplifting event that brings people together from all around our district to celebrate our superstars – teachers, staff, administration, parent volunteers, and community.  Come to dine, toast, meet friends and make new connections.  Buy your tickets here. Proceeds benefit the new nonprofit districtwide MDUSD Education Foundation!

---

The focus of my time this spring has been dedicated to our MDUSD Education Foundation. Recently, I presented the results of our Arts Survey to the School Board (published here in English and Spanish), along with a list of free community arts resources for teachers and parent volunteers.  The Foundation is funding visiting artists and trial classroom arts lessons this spring before school ends. Our aim is to strategize together and raise enough funds for a full arts pilot this fall. If you are compelled by this opportunity, please visit, like, donate, and follow the Foundation at www.mdedf.org, Facebook and Twitter.  

 

---

For my husband Sandy and I, giving back to our community is a family value.  Here's a glimpse of what our daughters have been up to...  Iris and Robyn have been busy since January with Inventors University, teaching girls computer coding on raspberry pi computers every Saturday at Concord Library.  Their 2nd class just graduated last week, showing off their final projects at the Sun Terrace Elementary Open House!