Mark Twain Union Elementary School District

Dear MTUESD Community,

Jessica Handgis and Paige Herring camped out with kids to share information about Measure A.  Exceptionally remarkable, as Paige decided to make a career shift for next year to a new credential and district that could provide her more stability than the challenges faced by MTUESD, and her time and commitment is appreciated.  We thank her for her service and also wish Ms.  Danielle Masarie all the best as she has decided to focus on her family next year.  We were lucky to have been touched by both of their love and care.

That said, I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating break. My scrappy dog Elvis and I walked the banks of the river multiple times over break and I kept waiting for my beautiful blue heron to reappear. It’s been a year of metamorphosis for MTUESD, and the list of projects includes repainting, residing, resealing, remimaging, deep cleaning, resurfacing, retrofitting playgrounds, roof replacements, cameras, vape detectors and so much more.  Over the break, a huge amount of work occurred.  Shout outs to the Copper PTC for the COOL cement wall repaint on our new playground. The railing for the Copper playground should be installed in the next two weeks.   We’re looking pretty on the outside and now we have to get into the deeper work of correcting our instructional performance.  Remember, all of those improvement funds can't be used for services for kids.  We were spending down the last of the long ago bond funds.   I believe, it’s kind of like that song, “Happy”.   When you come to school, you should feel proud of your environment and happy to be there and we’ve gotten there. Now we gotta get into the deep work–the instructional achievement…

We have staff that work really hard. We have some students that have challenges at home that have varying levels of support that impact their performance. It’s still our job to support and try to fix it. Having a school system with one in ten kids proficient in math and one and four proficient in reading is not OK. It effects EVERYTHING... Pathways to high school and college, local property values, local retail, EVERYTHING.  

We had some layoffs this year. We’ve had a couple of resignations, and we have reconfigured some positions to other funding streams to try and restore us to whole.  Class sizes will rise next year. If we can source additional revenue streams, such as the Community Schools Grant, we will be able to mitigate that somewhat.

In other big news, we have our Board of Education, considering an internal appointment for the Copperopolis principal position at our Thursday meeting. We will have more information on that pending board action. We also will be celebrating at the board meeting the wonderful achievement of Tessa Pyle as our Teacher of the Year, and CSEA members Tracy Henry and Nicole Boucke WHO GIVE FROM THE HEART as they were nominated for Employees Making a Difference Classified awards.

In construction news, the Mark Twain elementary playground will take about another seven days to complete. I realize it’s an inconvenience. These contractors are booked out for summer months far in advance by big districts, so we have to take them when we can get them and we also have to be mindful of that temperature swing to make sure that the playground material will cure. Come look at the MT Kinder playground or the Copper playground.  Just FYI, I  can't resurface the smaller Copper structure surface because the septic lids are under it.--BUMMER.

If your student has not signed up for summer school, please do so. If you want your kid to get some extra reading and math support and have fun during the summer doing it, take this free opportunity. You can come for half or full day and for one or two sessions. We have an abundance of staff that will be pouring into individual work for kids.   Now is the time to help your kids make that achievement move.

The DELAC meeting was well attended on Tuesday. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

Lots of great things are going on in this community. We have our Rotary Big Bike Build and giveaway on May 3 and 4. Eligible families have been contacted for that program. I attended a Soroptimist Live Your Dream event, a Downtown ACBA celebration of the Salon, and we continue to have our Vine and Branch tutors on board with us. Community matters-–connection matters–collaboration matters.

I was asked when Measure A ballots will be received, and I can report that the county related they were mailed on Monday.  All ballots MUST be returned no later than May 6 through the mail or one of the official drop off stations.

I will continue to gaze into the rolling water and look for my beautiful blue heron who symbolizes growth, peace and tranquility. 

Be safe, be happy, and know that we love your kids. I am proud to say MTUESD is on the rise.  We are no longer "that district", we are "THE district".  Thank you to all who contributed the love and care and energy to bring us out of the chrysalis, so, like the beautiful butterfly, it is our TIME TO FLY. 

Sincerely yours,

Louise Simson

Superintendent