PG&E Power Outages

As of Oct 8th, 11pm...

All Mt. Diablo Schools are Currently Open -click for more details-

Todas las Escuelas de Mt. Diablo están abiertas actualmente -haga clic aquí para más detalles-

The District will continue to monitor the events, and will provide updated information to the community should there be any need to close schools, or modify school schedules. We believe that keeping schools open provides a safe place for students to be.

Update on By Trustee Area Mapping

At the September 23, 2019 School Board meeting, public hearing #3 was held on by area trustee elections.   See all maps & FAQs at https://mdusd.org/boardelections

1. The board decided to remove three of the maps from consideration: red, green, blue
2. The board would now like to hear community input on the remaining 3 draft maps: pink, purple, purpleA.
3. The board is now exploring additional options of the order of elections. That means it is possible that different areas will be chosen for the 2020 election than what has so far been designated on the draft maps. 

    

   Current draft maps (pink, purple, purpleA) show Areas 3 & 5 with elections in 2020, because all three other areas have current trustees whose terms do not end until 2022.  This ensures that all 5 areas will have representation on the board starting in 2020.

   However, technically the board could choose different areas, and a majority of the Board asked on Sept 23^rd to hear all of the options. See "Election Sequencing Selection" "Selección de Secuencia de Elecciones" district news for details on the options.

Please share your perspective as a parent, student, staff or community member to inform the board decisions! 

Tell us which map is your favorite and which 2 areas you think should be up for election in 2020 and why.  Here’s how:

• attend Public Hearing #4 October 14, 2019, or Public Hearing #5 October 28, 2019 to speak to the board in person, or
• click on https://mdusd.org/feedbacksurvey anytime to submit your thoughts online in English or en español.

Sincerely,

p.s. thanks to all who walked/ran the Break a Sweat for Education race!  It was so uplifting to see so many of you from all different schools & communities join in healthy exercise together to raise funds for the MDUSD Education Foundation and Yours Humanly!

Did you read about our Superintendent in the news?

And here are a few upcoming opportunities to get involved:

1. Sat Sept 21st - Free fingerprinting 
2. Monday Sept 23rd - Hearing for By-Area Trustee Elections
3. Tuesday Sept 24th - Achievement Gap Town Hall
4. Register now for the Oct 5th Break a Sweat Run for Education!

Sat Sept 21st - Free Fingerprinting for parents at Cambridge Elementary School

10am-1pm.  This is for parents in:

• Bay Point – Shore Acres, Rio Vista, Bel Air
• Concord – Cambridge, Fair Oaks, Meadow Homes, Ygnacio Valley Elementary

Parents receive fingerprinting, Live Scan background check, and Tuberculosis screening at no charge. A great way to get set up to volunteer this year!

Mon Sept 23rd - Public Hearing for By-Area Trustee Elections

This Monday night, 7pm, there will be a public hearing for by-area trustee elections held during the regular school board meeting.  This process is moving forward to ensure our district complies with the CVRA.  Please give your input!

The goal of the CVRA (CA Voting Rights Act) is to create more opportunities for those who have been under-represented to have a voice in the system.  The law says each of the areas must be near equal in total population (<10% difference).  It also says that we must look at the Voting Age Population numbers to create as many areas as possible with a majority of underrepresented voters.  Lastly, it says that all incumbents serve out their current terms, and then the order of area elections should prioritize the majority underrepresented areas.

Based on community input, three more maps were designed (pink, purple, purpleA). See maps and details at https://mdusd.org/boardelections

Click on each map. 

• Which map do you think provides the best opportunity for minority representation? 
• Within that map, which areas do you think should be up for election in 2020 vs 2022?
• Click the online feedback form in English or Spanish to give us your thoughts!  Or speak at a public hearing:

Monday, September 23, 2019 Public Hearing

Mt. Diablo Unified School District Offices/Board Room, 7pm, 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, 94519. Third public hearing. See agenda here: https://mdusd.org/agendasminutes

Monday, October 14, 2019 Public Hearing

Mt. Diablo Unified School District Offices/Board Room, 7pm, 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, 94519

This will be the fourth formal Public Hearing to solicit public input on draft maps of trustee areas and proposed sequence of elections. The meeting will include resolutions to adopt the trustee-area maps and proposed sequence of elections.

Click here for printable flyer in English y Espanol

Want more wonky details? Read this ACLU guide about CVRA.

Tues Sept 24th - Closing the Achievement Gap Town Hall

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond would like education partners to share how the California Department of Education (CDE) can best assist them in working to close the persistent achievement/opportunity gap. Click here for details.

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Time: 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Interactive Virtual Town Hall: Various County Office of Education locations and livestream

Register now for the Oct 5th Break a Sweat for Education walk/run to benefit MDUSD!

The Yours Humanly annual "Break a Sweat For Education" 5K fundraiser benefits Mt Diablo students - and there's still time to register now to join the MDUSD Education Foundation team and be a part of the fun!

To sign up, go to: http://bit.ly/MDEDFTeam2019

On the right side, click "Join Team" to register.

Can't make it that day, but want to help support STEAM opportunities in our schools? Simply click Donate on that Team Page.

The 5K Run & Walk is open to all ages (strollers too!) and the Kids Fun Run is free for participants 10 and under.

Hope to see you there! 

Sincerely,

Happy September!

In this message:

1. Additional Community Meeting for By-Area Trustee Elections
2. Full & Fair Funding for Schools: will you take action?
3. Emerge California applications due Sept 24th

Additional Community Meeting for By-Area Trustee Elections

By community request, one more input meeting was scheduled for By-Area Trustee Elections: Wednesday Sept 11th!  All are welcome to attend, and translation to Spanish is provided. (other languages upon request)

And two more maps were designed (see pink and purple). See maps and details at https://mdusd.org/boardelections

Click here for printable flyer in English y Espanol

Can't attend? A digital feedback form has been added to the District’s website so you can provide your input online in English or Spanish.  

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Community Input Meeting

Meadow Homes Elementary, Multi-Use Room, 5:30-6:30pm, 1371 Detroit Ave., Concord, 94520

Monday, September 23, 2019 Public Hearing

Mt. Diablo Unified School District Offices/Board Room, 7pm, 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, 94519 

This will be the third formal Public Hearing to solicit public input on draft maps of trustee areas and proposed sequence of elections and summarize input from community forums.  The meeting may include potential Board action to narrow number of published draft maps for final consideration, and/or to direct the creation of one or more revised draft maps.  

Monday, October 14, 2019 Public Hearing

Mt. Diablo Unified School District Offices/Board Room, 7pm, 1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, 94519

This will be the fourth formal Public Hearing to solicit public input on draft maps of trustee areas and proposed sequence of elections. The meeting will include resolutions to adopt the trustee-area maps and proposed sequence of elections.

Full and Fair Funding for Schools: Take 1 minute for Action

I've heard from many of you who are asking for smaller class sizes, more librarians and nurses, and higher pay for teachers and staff.  I would love to guide our district to do every one of those things, however the struggle is to find what is currently affordable within our fiscal means.

Please share your stories with our state legislators, so they can see and feel how immediate these needs are for our students, teachers and staff... their constituents.  They need to raise our state investment in public education at least to the national average, as soon as possible!

We need you now as together we try to make a seismic shift in school funding in California.

What you can do

• Social Media: Post this to twitter and Facebook:

@BauerKahan @AsmGrayson @Steve_Glazer, The time to be BOLD is NOW! Will you be bold & stand with educators, students & community to put Full & Fair Funding on March 2020 Ballot so voters can decide to support education funding? #FullandFairFunding #March2020 #Education #BeBold

@BauerKahan @AsmGrayson @Steve_Glazer, The time to be BOLD is NOW! Will you be bold and stand with educators, students, and the community to support a School Facilities Bond? #FullandFairFunding #March2020 #Education #BeBold #OurBuildingsAre50yrsOld

• Call your legislator: Ask him or her to be bold for education.  Put Full & Fair Funding on the March 2020 ballot, pass a school facilities bond, and show that education truly is a priority by funding it. (state your specific example of the need in 1-2 sentences, e.g. Our school district Facilities Master Plan just identified $1Billion in facility needs, yet our local bond that taxpayers recently supported is $150 million) 
  • Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: (916) 319-2016  https://a16.asmdc.org/
  • Assemblymember Tim Grayson: (916) 319-2014  https://a14.asmdc.org/
  • Senator Steve Glazer: (916) 651-4007 https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/

• Spread the word: Reach out to your fellow parents, teachers, and neighbors to ask that they join in this historic fight!  Share www.fullandfairfunding.org 

Emerge California Applications Due Sept 24th

Are you a woman who has thought about running for office, whether it be city council, school board, water board or state level office?  Consider the EmergeCA program. As an alumnus I highly recommend this as a deep learning opportunity with women from around the state who all strive to serve and improve their communities.  Feel free to contact me directly for more information.

Find online webinars here, starting this Friday Sept 13th, some of which specialize in recruiting minorities and LGBTQ women in particular:

https://ca.emergeamerica.org/training/recruitment-salons/

Emerge California offers an in-depth, six-month, 70-hour training program that provides aspiring women leaders, who are Democratic self-identified women in the State of California, with cutting-edge tools and training to run for elected office and elevate themselves in our political system.

But hurry!  Applications and recommendations are due Tuesday Sept 24th at 11:59pm sharp!

Next MDUSD School Board Meeting - Monday September 23rd

See all board meeting agendas and schedule here: https://mdusd.org/agendasminutes

Thank you for joining together for all students!

Sincerely,

How was the first day of school?

We have so many positive and wonderful teachers, staff and parents in our district who worked hard for a smooth and welcoming start to the school year for all students.  Thank you all!  It was not easy, especially with that off-the-charts heatwave.

At the school board meeting last week, we officially appointed Dr. Robert Martinez as the new MDUSD superintendent.  The decision was unanimous, and we are looking forward to seeing his experience and passion take flight here in our schools, bringing everyone together to ensure quality education for every student.  His first official day is today.  Welcome Dr. Martinez!

Meanwhile we have also been busy with two key items that need your attention:

1. Maps for the 2020 by-trustee-area election: attend a community meeting
2. Full & Fair Funding opportunity: will you take action?

And this week Congressman DeSaulnier is holding an Immigration Town Hall.  See details below.

Community Meetings for By-Area Trustee Elections

Your perspective is needed! 

Please plan to attend any one of these community forums to give your input on draft maps for the five trustee areas. See the conceptual maps and details at https://mdusd.org/boardelections

Flyers publicizing the forums have been translated into multiple languages:  
Arabic | Chinese | Dari | English| Farsi | Hindi | Korean | Pashto| Spanish | Tagalog |Vietnamese

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Loma Vista Adult School  Noon – 1 p.m.

Willow Creek Center 5 – 6 p.m.

Pleasant Hill Middle School 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Pine Hollow Middle School 5 – 6 p.m.

Foothill Middle School 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

District Office/Board Room 5 – 6 p.m.

Riverview Middle School 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Translation available upon request. 

Full and Fair Funding on the March 2020 Ballot?

Are you feeling frustrated with the budget reductions our schools currently face?  I am. And we are not alone.  Schools across CA are in the same boat.

CSBA (CA School Board Association) just informed us that there is serious momentum for the legislature to place a Full and Fair Funding education initiative on the March 2020 ballot and to have a bill number for this by Labor Day. That will give us just a couple of weeks (September 13^th is the deadline)  to push it over the top.

We need you now as together we try to make a seismic shift in school funding in California.

Background on Measure

This measure would raise $15 billion dollar a year for K-14 education through increased taxes on incomes over $1,000,000 a year and a 5% increase in corporate taxes. This initiative would provide approximately $2,000 per ADA in each district (i.e. almost $60,000,000 extra a year for MDUSD). CSBA just got back poll results that show that such an initiative placed on the March ballot would be almost unstoppable given its popularity with voters.

What you can do

• Social Media: Post this to twitter and Facebook:

@BauerKahan @AsmGrayson, The time to be BOLD is NOW! will you be bold and stand with educators, students, and the community to put Full & Fair Funding on the March 2020 Ballot so voters can decide to support education funding? #FullandFairFunding #March2020 #Education #BeBold

• Op-eds: Write an op-ed using this template: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AmfpubkWg1sdhRBuAEpX6aS1dEl2
• Call your legislator:
  • Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: (916) 319-2016  https://a16.asmdc.org/
  • Tim Grayson: (916) 319-2014  https://a14.asmdc.org/
• Spread the word: Reach out to your fellow parents, teachers, and neighbors to ask that they join in this historic fight!

Immigration Town Hall Thursday Aug 22nd

6:30-8pm, Meadow Homes Elementary, 1371 Detroit Ave, Concord.

Congressman DeSaulnier will provide a firsthand account of what he witnessed at detention facilities during his two visits to the southern border and share the work he is doing in Congress to protect immigrant rights and ensure detainees are treated with the dignity they deserve. 

Legal resources and information about immigrant rights—regardless of immigration status—will be available in English and Spanish. A translator will be on hand during the event. RSVP online: https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp For information call 925-933-2660.

Please share this Safe Haven Resolution with parents & community, to know that the Mt Diablo school district is dedicated to educating all children regardless of immigration status. This resolution was unanimously passed by the school board in Feb 2017, and includes stating that no student data on immigration status is collected by MDUSD, and ICE officials are not allowed on any school campus without prior approval from the superintendent.

Also, here is a useful article with recommendations on how schools should respond to ICE raids.

Next MDUSD School Board Meeting - Monday August 26th

See all board meeting agendas and schedule here: https://mdusd.org/agendasminutes

Thank you for joining together for all students!

Sincerely,