Dear MTUESD Community,
We finally got a little bit of winter weather. Of course, it came at an inconvenient time, but I am still grateful! My compliments and HUGE shout outs to the staff of Copperopolis showed resilience and flexibility as they served kids lunches in their rooms, as the gym was not available during the first week of beam repairs. We are working on a solution for a temporary partition, so that kids can use a portion of the gym. The epoxy is a little smelly, but not dangerous. I realize this work is a huge inconvenience, but I want to stress that those glulam beams were significantly deteriorated. I know it's hard for small communities to put facilities to the forefront of a local community as evidenced by the numerous failed bond measures. However, the state is not equipped to replace our aging school buildings and that is just the reality of it. There are some new state funds available through Proposition 2, and we will be going after those in the next two years or so, but there's a bunch of hoops you have to jump through. It's a structural problem with the government that's not right, but we'll make sure we get our share.
Measure A is unfolding for SERVICES FOR KIDS. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am permitted to provide factual information. The fact sheets will be out shortly. The main fact is that this is a $65 contribution for four years to support small class sizes, math and reading intervention, and supervision. It is completely local funding and cannot be taken away by the state. Any registered voter is allowed to vote, NOT just property owners. I was at the PTC meeting on Wednesday and we have additional meetings scheduled at Copper on February 27 a 1:30-200 and March 12 from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Mark your calendar and join the MT DELAC meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 in the MT library. A light dinner is served.
I have to tell you a funny story that just shows the inefficiency of our state government structure. THIS MAKES MY HEAD ON FIRE BECAUSE I HAD A FIRST CAREER IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
About a year ago, there were some additional reporting requirements about old Covid era money that was spent four years ago that was going to take a huge amount of time to complete, and I flipped my lid I was so angry that I wrote an editorial for some influential school publications ABOUT HOW STUPID THIS REQUIREMENT WAS AND DISPROPORTIONATE TO SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I was joined by many other school leaders in the outrage about how we spend more time writing plans and reports for the state and the feds that no one reads than we actually do spending time educating kids.
So, the California Legislature, in their typical fashion, does what they do best. What did they do? They ordered a report on the number of reports. (I’m not making this up folks.) So, on Friday, I was invited to participate in a finding call with the high level State deputy superintendent and staff to report on what they found. And what did we find? We found, the state left off “plans” and just counted “reports”. I can’t tell you, the number of plans we write each year, ELOP, SAFETY PLAN, LCAP, ARTS AND MUSIC GRANT, CSI, CIM, TECHNOLOGY, SPSA, SARC, it goes on, and on, and on… Every hour I write a plan takes an hour away from when I am in the classroom seeing what is going on with your kids. I save the plans to write at night, because I need to be at school seeing what we are doing and celebrating all that is right and troubleshooting with the team what is wrong.
The State Deputy Superintendent that called the meeting was ten minutes late to the meeting keeping everyone waiting. FOLKS THERE IS A DISCONNECT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND IN OUR RURAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. Later that evening, I invited the deputy superintendent to our site to get a little reality check about what we do. My hope is that she will come. She said she would. I think part of the reason that rural schools are left behind is because people in power aren’t bad, they just don’t have CONTEXT. Let’s see if she comes.
On an ON FIRE AND POSITIVE NOTE: The Sierra K-16 program is on fire and Jennifer Landry has hired 15 Bret Harte tutors for Mark Twain. The Sierra K-16 collaborative was so impressed with the success that when we requested additional funding, we were in discussion about additional funding to invest in this program. This is a win-win because it provides intervention and mentorship for our kids, but it also provides an amazing opportunity for high school students to get relevant work experience that won't be too much of a drain on their academic and sports schedules. My hope is if we get the Community School grant that we will be able to enroll in a similar program using parent tutors. The difficulty in travel time to Copperopolis from Bret Harte limits our options with the peer tutors at that site, but I think we can come up with an alternate program.
We are in the midst of a PIVOTAL GRADUATION time. I am sad to report, we have had some unacceptable attitudes and disrespect in a relative few of our seventh and eighth grade students towards our aide staff, and this may lead to loss of privileges for end of the year events. Talk to your kid please. Posturing for peers can have some devastating outcomes…
To our eighth grade parents, please monitor those grades and make sure that your student remains eligible for ceremonies. I've been in touch with numerous families PERSONALLY, as have the team and we need to make sure that we work as a unit to get those kids across the finish line. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, BUT YOU NEED TO BE CHECKING GRADES TOO. Kids, my own included, don’t always tell you the truth. Reach out to their teachers and make sure you are getting the clear picture. I want your kid to graduate, but if they don’t make the standard, they won’t. Let’s work together!
I want to take a moment to thank Hide and Barrel in Angels Camp for their donations to our teachers of the overstock appropriate for classroom use. We are most grateful. Check them out across the side street near Save Mart! Morgan is also the POWERHOUSE behind the Habitat for Humanity local organization. Good stuff for kids and families!
I hope you have a happy and healthy weekend. When we charge along together great things can happen for kids. JOIN ME AND FIGHT THE FIGHT–OUR KIDS DESERVE IT.
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson
Superintendent
650-996-3290