Your voice is needed!  Can you take a minute for two important actions - on superintendent qualities and on education funding?  

The Mt Diablo School Board is promoting community involvement in both of these important items: Superintendent Qualities & Education Funding Letters to Legislators

Superintendent Qualities

Our consultants from Leadership Associates are seeking input about the desired personal and professional qualities anticipated in the incoming superintendent.

Please take a minute to fill in this online survey which the Board encourages everyone to complete. The survey will be open through May 10, 2019, and is on the District’s website here, or by going to this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5TR6JV

Your comments will be used in the development of the candidate profile, recruitment process, and reference checking.

Times have also been scheduled for parents/guardians to meet in person with Leadership Associates. The consultants will compile a summary of all comments received during these sessions and share the report with the Board and with the new superintendent.

During the meetings, consultants will share an overview of the process, and then ask two primary questions:

• What are the desirable qualities, characteristics, background and professional and personal experiences for the next superintendent?
• What do you see as the strengths of the district and the major challenges facing the district in years ahead?

Several meeting options have been scheduled; we invite you to attend one which best fits your schedule.  The meetings will be held:

• 10:15 a.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Board Room, District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, 94519
• 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Mt. Diablo High School – Library, 2450 Grant Street, Concord, 94520
• 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Northgate High School – Library, 425 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, 94598
• 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Concord High School – Library, 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord, 94521
• 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019 - Ygnacio Valley High School – Library, 755 Oak Grove Road, Concord, 94518
• 8:30 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019 - Riverview Middle School – Multi Use Room, 205 Pacifica Avenue, Bay Point, 94565
• 10:15 a.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019 - Board Room, District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, 94519
• 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019 - College Park High School – Library, 201 Viking Drive, Pleasant Hill, 94523

Education Funding - Write to Your Legislator

The Mt Diablo School Board team finalized a letter at our last meeting, to inform the community about the statewide education funding crisis and how YOU can take action. That letter was emailed out to parents on May 3rd, and includes:

1. the www.fullandfairfunding.org site, on which you can sign a petition to legislators and also sign up for Rally Day in Sacramento, which is May 22nd and includes school board members, teachers, staff, parents, and community in a joint event to raise awareness for the "silent recession" hitting our schools.
2. links to email your state legislators to say - it is time to move CA to the top in our nation's per pupil funding (we are now ranked in the bottom 10 states). Mt Diablo schools and others around the state are facing painful cuts, even while our state is the 5th largest economy in the world.  (include a specific example from your school too if you can) - Here are clickable links:
   • Senator Glazer (Dist 7- parts of Concord and Walnut Creek): https://sd07.senate.ca.gov/contact/email
   • Senator Dodd (Dist 3 - Martinez & Pleasant Hill): https://sd03.senate.ca.gov/contact
   • Assemblymember Grayson (Dist 14 - Martinez, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Clayton, parts of Walnut Creek): https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD14
   • Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan (Dist 16 - parts of Walnut Creek): https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD16
   • And here are a few more:
     • Find Your State Legislator: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html
     • State Superintendent Tony Thurmond: [email protected]
     • Governor Newsom can be emailed through a web form at: https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/

Next MDUSD School Board Meeting - Monday May 13th

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

Happy Spring, Passover, Easter, Bihu to you all! 

Here's the latest news from school board, including resources and how you can help:

Next MDUSD School Board Meeting - Monday April 22nd

See the agenda here, including a call to action education funding letter, Measure J Bond sales, and intent to establish trustee areas.  Due to high interest in public comment, the first portion of the meeting may take place at Monte Gardens next door. 

Education Funding

Thank you to our Board President Joanne Durkee for coordinating a group of us to meet together with our Assemblymember Grayson on March 28^th – including the two of us, superintendent Dr Meyer, MDEA president Anita Johnson, and CSBA organizer Gabe Weis.  We shared stories from our district schools, to give him clear examples of specific successes of our schools as well as serious challenges we face.  Asm Grayson stated his support for AB39 as well as his passion for special education and career tech options.

That night at the Town Hall there was a good crowd with a lot of cheering as Asm Bauer-Kahan, Asm Grayson and Sen Glazer all publicly stated their support for full and fair education funding through AB39.  They asked how many in the audience were parents, teachers, or students.  I think it made a big difference that so many people attended and submitted education questions that night, as well as at previous Town Halls and through emails and visits. Keep sharing www.fullandfairfunding.org!

Advisory Committees

Measure J - Citizens Bond Oversight Committee is forming – apply here!  We’re seeking broad representation from all areas of the district and including parents, business members, and even a student.  

I attended the Budget Advisory Committee on March 27^th.  CBO Rose Ramos shared details with the committee from budget presentations, as well as answered questions on details such as the line item called “books & supplies”.  Don't miss the Negotiations Update that is now posted publicly on the MDUSD website: view here.

Superintendent Resignation

Dr Nellie Meyer announced that she has accepted a job as superintendent of Mountain View Los Altos District, starting in July.  We are so very thankful for all that she has done to build community and innovation in our Mt Diablo Schools, and wish her success in her new role!  She will be greatly missed, and we will strive to continue her vision of thoughtful, strategic initiatives to ensure quality education for all.

Our school board is working hard as a team to ensure a clear process for our search for a quality superintendent who will be the best match for our district.  Stay tuned for details on how community will be involved.

Community Events

• NAACP: I enjoyed attending the NAACP annual membership & scholarship banquet on April 6th, which included scholarships for high school students from Pittsburg and Antioch.  A big thank you and shout out to Willie Mims, Velma Wilson, and local NAACP East County leaders who volunteer countless hours for our communities.
• PTA: On April 12th I attended PTA Advocacy Day for Education in San Ramon.  The focus was mental health, including these resources - 
  • presentation by San Ramon Valley District Mental Wellness Task Force
    •  https://www.suicideispreventable.org/
    •  https://www.sanfordharmony.org/
    •  https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
  • Hotlines to keep at hand:
    • National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-TALK, suicidepreventionlifeline.org
    • Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ: 866-488-7386, TheTrevorProject.org/resource
  • County Resource Guide: https://www.capc-coco.org/about/resources/
• IHTA: On April 19th, Trustee Debra Mason and I attended the IHTA Community Sponsors Presentation at John Muir. Ms Mason opened the event with enthusiastic words of encouragement to the students, along with Concord's mayor Carlyn Obringer, County Superintendent Lynn Mackey, and Visit Concord's Elaine Schroth.  The Mt Diablo High seniors presented professional business plans, costs, and video commercials for their upcoming Hospitality Fest, and interacted with local business leaders.  IHTA teachers & staff are connecting the dots to build relationships between school, career and community!

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,