Dear MTUESD Community,
In my role providing information to you about Measure A, please do not hesitate to contact me or stop in to one of the school sites for the fact sheet. Ballots will be mailed starting in the next month or so and it is important for people to return their ballots. If you work with an organization that would like to have me present an information event, please do not hesitate to contact me. The parameters of this measure is a four year, $65 parcel tax that is clear in that it can ONLY support intervention for reading and math, smaller class sizes, supervision, athletic programs and bus routes. THAT’S IT. Senior citizens can apply for an automatic exemption. Renters CAN vote, NOT JUST PROPERTY OWNERS. If you are not a registered voter, stop in to the school office for the registration card. Measure A was featured in a recent article in the Calaveras Enterprise take a look: Measure A on Ballot
The Copperopolis principal position has been posted and we are networking with colleagues throughout the state to find a great fit. That’s a jewel box boutique school, and I’m sure we will get some rockstar applications. We will keep you posted as news unfolds.
Thank you to all of our parents that participated in committee meetings this week, including DELAC, Site Council, and Measure A information meetings. We are grateful to you for your support and time. High performing schools have high rates of parent/guardian involvement both at home and on the site. We are grateful.
Deputy State Superintendent Mary Nicely will be touring our sites on Friday. I appreciate her time and willingness. FOLKS THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Getting State officials to see what really goes on in rural schools and the challenges that we deal with is TRANSFORMATIVE. We also issued invitations to Superintendent Nanik and Sierra K-16 program director Emily Graham on our site on Friday as we celebrate the Bret Harte peer tutors on Friday with a Paycheck Party. This is the first paycheck that they’ll be receiving from their work with our kids. As I go through the rooms and see those kids in action, it is fantastic.
Please remember there is no school on March 17. This was one of the days that was taken off the calendar last year in a cost saving measure. Students never attended, but it used to be a staff workday. Staff took the unpaid day to mitigate some of the budget crunch in last year’s negotiations.
We are giving kids little glimpses of state testing to get them prepared to show all that they know. I’m feeling great about the preparation that is happening at the site.
We still have room in summer school. This is going to be a really fun program with designated PE rotations with Miss Bottomley, art rotations with Miss Barnett, and afternoon programming which includes swimming at Bret Harte. We are also working with Bret Harte on a program for our fifth through eighth graders in fire science, and more news to follow on that exciting development.
We have 39 students identified for free brand new bikes through the WE DELIVER WHEELS and Rotary program. If you have a student or know a student in the community that could benefit from this program that is no cost to the families, please email me. We have the big bike build scheduled for May 3. Bikes will be picked up at the Mark Twain gym. This is a terrific opportunity to provide kids with a way to get to school, sports practice, and also for recreation. FOLKS, THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE BUT IN CALAVERAS COUNTY!
Lots of events coming up in the next few weeks. The year-end whirlwind is happening. The sites are RELENTLESS in sending out those calendars weekly. READ THEM.
The big one is that spring break is scheduled for March 31-April 6.
Also, sign UP FOR SUMMER SCHOOL. Research shows the kids that do summer school have better academic performance and outcomes, plus we have lots of cool stuff going on.
With great pressure comes great destiny. We’re on the cusp with some really cool things here.
With deepest, thanks for your partnership.
Louise Simson
Superintendent
(650) 996-3290