MVSD Newsletter - Planning for 2021-22, COVID-19 Tes...

Dear Families, We are solidly in May, and planning for next year is at the forefront. The board will meet at the end of this month to provide guidance on our budget planning as we move forward. I am looking forward to an exciting 2021-22 school year as we begin to move away from some of the difficulties of the past 14+ months toward our focus on student success. Our staff is prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as social-emotional learning for professional development in the next school year, and this will directly benefit our students, schools, and classroom environments. I hope you enjoy these last few weeks of school and all of the celebrations that come along with it. We are looking forward to honoring our 5th and 8th graders at the end of the year. In the rest of this newsletter, you will find information related to the Hannah Project Freedom School, a change in the COVID-19 testing registration process, celebrating National School Nurse Day, and a Safe Routes to School family bike event. Yours in Education, Kimberly Hannah Project Freedom School The Hannah Project Freedom School will be operating from Mill Valley Middle School this summer. The Freedom School is rooted in social justice and offers a culturally-responsive summer opportunity for students to be seen and heard, all while making academic strides in core academics. This program is available to low-income students in Marin City and will be open to low-income students Mill Valley this summer. There will be a virtual fundraiser on May 18th from 5:00-6:00 PM, where Executive Director, Bettie Hodges will speak, as well as show a video with more information about the Freedom School. They have an ambitious goal of raising $250,000 this summer, which will enable 150 students to attend free of cost, as well as provide valuable servant leader intern (teacher) opportunities for high school students and recent graduates. Here's a link if you are interested in learning more:   register for the event or donate directly here .   COVID-19 Testing at MVMS Registration Form Change - Now Paperless! PMH Laboratory is implementing a paperless COVID-19 testing registration process using a new software called Global Virus Pass (GVP). This new process will speed up the turn-around time. Walk-ups will be able to scan a QR code to complete registration. Below are instructions for scheduling through GVP: Click on   this link to login/create your GVP account . Once logged in, click on your name in the upper right and select My Profile (This is only needed the first time you login). Complete your information as requested. Click My Circle and click Insert to add any family members you would like to add who may also receive COVID-19 testing. If you need to book an appointment for a family member, click the “Imitate User” icon, for the family member you wish to book an appointment for.  This family member’s name will not show in the upper right corner of your window. Once all family members have been added, click confirm. On the home page, click My Health then Find Facility On the home page, click My Health then Find Facility Select the location where you wish to schedule testing Select the type of testing or service that you wish to receive at the testing clinic Select the date of the testing clinic that you wish to book Select an appointment time Complete the forms at each step to submit all forms digitally. You will not need to bring any paperwork on the day of testing Once all steps are completed, you will receive an on-screen confirmation of your appointment as well as an email confirmation. You can view your appointments at any time by clicking on My Schedule on the home page. National School Nurse Day Happy National School Nurse Day to our District Nurse Nancy Nakae and district health specialists. In the photo above, Ms. Nakae is checking in with one of the nurses administering COVID-19 tests at Mill Valley Middle School. We are thankful for the presence of these PMH nurses this year for their assistance in ensuring our campuses are safe and healthy. Safe Routes to School Family Bike Event Presented by Safe Routes to Schools- Join Us May 26th! Help your children to learn how to ride safely on the roads and pathways by joining us in one of our Safe Routes to School Family Biking Workshops .   Learn how to safely navigate the streets with fun activities, including an optional group ride. Taught by Safe Routes to Schools instructors, topics will include basic bike skills, rules of the road, effective communication, and proper equipment. All drills and riding instruction will take place away from traffic and streets in a controlled environment so that new riders can focus on handling their bicycle and developing these needed skills. Thank you and sending our best as this school year starts to wrap up! Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, May 12 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Teacher Appreciation Week, Survey ...

Teacher Appreciation Week! Now that it’s May, it feels like the final stretch of the school year. Thank you for your collaboration in making the end of the school year meaningful and successful. This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and I am thankful and appreciative to our teachers for putting safety practices at the forefront and creating strong connections in the classroom.  In the rest of this newsletter below, you will find a survey related to one-time COVID-19 funding and Free Vaccine appointment information. Community Survey - One-Time COVID-19 Funding The State of California has provided one-time funding to school districts for COVID-19 expenditures. Please see our  website here for more information related to these funds . MVSD will also provide proposals for budget plans on May 26th at our board study session at 5 pm.    Please  fill out this survey so we may gather your feedback on the Expanded Learning The deadline for the survey is May 12th. Thank you for your feedback. Free Vaccine Appointments for Anyone Living/Working in Marin County (age 16 and over) If you or someone you know who lives or works in Marin is interested in being vaccinated (age 16 and over) please visit  http://GetVaccinatedMarin.org   or call 833-641-1988. DETAILS:   Cost: Vaccines are FREE to people who live or work in Marin. Insurance: You do not need insurance to get the vaccine. Immigration status: Everyone who lives or works in Marin can get a vaccine, regardless of immigration status. Transportation:  Ride the bus or train to and from your vaccination appointment for FREE. Just show your appointment confirmation to the driver. Eligibility:  People aged 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian Appointments are usually available, and you can also sign up to be notified. Your healthcare provider can also advise you about getting your vaccination with them, or in another setting. Learn more: California Department of Public Health CDC Choose to get vaccinated – it’s safe, effective, and FREE! Getting vaccinated helps prevent you from getting the virus and can protect those around you from getting infected. Vaccination is one of the most important tools to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, May 05 2021

MVSD Newsletter - State Testing Update, Exciting Mes...

Dear families, It is clear that our Mill Valley Learners have been enjoying and benefiting from in-person learning over the past few weeks! Outside my own office, I have watched middle school students engaging in outdoor lessons and projects and having lunch properly distanced and talking with friends. We have about 6 more weeks of learning for the remainder of the school year, and I know our teachers and staff are continuing to provide high levels of education.  In the rest of this newsletter, there is a state testing update, an exciting message from Kiddo!, a lunch update for extended distance learning students, and notice for a public health update call next week. Yours in Education, Dr. Kimberly Berman State Testing Update During the last board meeting, District staff presented information about state testing and our rationale to utilize the i-Ready exam in lieu of the Smarter Balanced Assessment this spring. This decision will allow us to reduce the amount of time spent testing, in an already shortened instructional year. i-Ready is named as an approved measure from the California Department of Education. The i-Ready window will be open during the month of May. Each site will develop its own testing schedule in order to spread out the use of devices.  All students will take the i-Ready diagnostic in May, as it is part of our regular assessment plan. Student score reports will be distributed to parents the first week of June. We will provide more information about the score reports in the coming weeks.  Exciting Message from Kiddo! While Kiddo! didn’t have its biennial Gala this spring, we are thrilled to announce that Kiddo! has confirmed a date for Spring 2022 and is now actively recruiting volunteers to join the Kiddo! 40th Anniversary Gala Event Team - come and join us! Please attend their informational meeting on Zoom  this Thursday, April 29 at 1pm or email events@kiddo.org . Click here for the meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87662347817   Middle School Principal Survey If you have not already completed the  Middle School Principal Feedback Survey , responses are due by next Wednesday, May 5th. The job posting has closed and our team is screening applicants and will hold a panel interview. We will keep our community updated as the process proceeds.   Extended Distance Learning (EDL) Lunch Update For families continuing with Extended Distance learning (EDL) until June 10, 2021, please contact Monica Wallace at 415-389-7751 or mwallace@mvschools.org for weekly Choicelunch 5-lunch pack boxes. Please note, lunches for the week (Monday pick-up) must be requested by Thursday at 12 pm. Public Health Update Please join MHHS on Monday, May 3rd from 1:00-2:00 PM where we will hear an update on vaccination distribution, testing, and other pertinent information for schools.   Please click the link below to join the webinar:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81013380958?pwd=L2s4WU16eHE2dEhMdGxwZGR4aFRjZz09   Dial In: +1 408 638 0968 | Webinar ID: 810 1338 0958 | Passcode: 132596 Presented in English with Live Spanish Translation Session will be Recorded Questions can be sent ahead of time to: rapidresponse@marinschools.org Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Apr 28 2021

April 15, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights

April 15, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights To view attachments related to the presentations summarized below, please view the board meeting agenda . Below you may find a recording of the April 15, 2021 Board Meeting as well as notes summarizing agenda items. D.1. Mill Valley Middle School - California Distinguished School Award [19:09 in video] Dr. Berman and the Board of Trustees acknowledged Mill Valley Middle School (MVMS) for being named a California Department of Education (CDE) 2021 Distinguished School. MVMS was one of only two middle schools in Marin County to receive this honor. In 2021, schools were awarded when they met eligibility criteria as opposed to submitting an application. Eligibility criteria provided by CDE was related to CAASPP testing scores, meeting California School Dashboard standards, and school poverty rates. D.2. Day of the Employee - April 12, 2021 [22:10 in video] The Board of Trustees designated April 12, 2021 as Day of the Employee for all Mill Valley School District employees, in honor of all district employees and the return to full in-person instruction. D.3. Tam Valley School Presentation [23:14 in video] Laura Myers, Tam Valley Elementary School Principal, highlighted some aspects of education and community at the school throughout the 2020-21 school year. She discussed continuing to focus on the wellbeing of all students, the importance of maintaining and building relationships, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, “Kindness Klub” initiatives, staff meetings and professional development, restorative practices, and setting the groundwork for social-emotional learning. D.4. Presentation by Greg Isom, Isom Advisors [45:56 in video] Greg Isom, of Isom Advisors, presented an overview of the district’s bond and assessed value history, including bonding capacity, general obligation bond proceed options, and next steps including a timeline for 2022 election consideration. D.5. District Updates [58:55 in video] Nicole Reyherme, Director of Educational Technology, and Julie Harris, Director of Student Support Services, provided an update regarding summer school, standardized testing, and i-Ready data. Julie Harris shared the timeline for summer school, for both online and in-person programs and gave a look at the K-5 school-wide schedule. Nicole Reyherme shared our options for standardized testing this year - CAASPP or i-Ready. She also showed how i-Ready reports are provided for reading and math performance as well as parent reports. The District recommended utilizing the data from the i-Ready assessments for our end-of-year assessment for the 2020-21 school year and the board agreed with this recommendation. I.1. Variable Term Waiver Request [1:45:29 in video] The District sought a Variable Term Waiver in the subject of English Language Arts for Brynn Mapp so that she may support Mill Valley Middle School students in grades 6, 7, and 8 in the capacity of a Long Term Substitute Teacher for the Middle School Extended Distance Learning program. Her employment will be on the basis of a Variable Term Credential Waiver. The board approved this request. J. Future Board Items [1:47:22 in video] The board discussed potential future board items, including enrollment, the board handbook, adding a board meeting, foundations of effective governance, and team roles. Board meeting dates and agendas .  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | communications@mvschools.org | mvschools.org 

Friday, Apr 16 2021

MVSD Newsletter: Welcome Back to Full-Day Learning; ...

Welcome Back to Full-Day Learning! Dear Families, We had an excellent “third first day of school” on Monday. All MVSD campuses were abuzz with the sounds of happy students learning and students and staff are following safety protocols such as wearing face coverings, practicing hand hygiene, and maintaining distance.  The timeline graphic below illustrates our district’s path to reopening since last March. We have all come a long way together, from thinking we were in a “temporary school closure” to remaining in distance learning through November, to hybrid, and finally full-day learning for the remainder of the school year.  In the rest of this newsletter, you will find information on our work with Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and more.  Yours in Education, Dr. Kimberly Berman Update on Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Currently, our administrative team is working on four modules provided by Facing History and Ourselves related to anti-racism and equity. This partner organization presented to our board in January and will present in June.  We are currently partnering with school site PTAs and our current Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee to begin a listening campaign to build efforts for next school year. There are initial plans to provide training Facing History and Ourselves to any interested family or community member. They will provide a series of workshops to help us have a common and shared understanding of what equity and inclusion means, historical roots of racism, and how we can begin to build culturally-responsive practices in our schools and with our community. Please follow our  progress on our website here . Webinar - Parenting Through the Pandemic: What’s Next? Common Sense Media is hosting a webinar on “Parenting Through the Pandemic: What’s Next?” on Wednesday, April 28th at 12 pm PT, featuring Dr. Madeline Levine, Clinical psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, and Danielle Ramo, Senior Director of Research at Hopelab. You may  register here .  Follow Us On Instagram We encourage you to follow us on  Instagram (@millvalleyschools) for highlights of in-person learning, reminders, and other information.  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Apr 14 2021

MVSD Newsletter: Travel, Holidays, & Gathering Guide...

Dear Families,  We are ready to launch our final 43 days of the 2020-21 school year to include full in-person learning for those making that transition! I appreciate your continued support and partnership with our schools and teachers this year.  I wish you a restful spring break and a healthy return on April 12th. Please read the following to understand more about Quarantine Guidelines, ChoiceLunch, and Surveillance Testing.  In addition to that, there are several other items to consider in this week’s news.  Yours in Education,  Dr. Kimberly Berman  Travel, Holidays, & Gathering Guidelines Earlier this week, Marin County released  information and guidance related to holiday travel , and recommendations include:  Schools have the authority to implement stricter requirements for returning travelers. Avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one's place of residence, or to other states or countries. If you must travel, take steps to protect yourself and others: If you are eligible, get fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Before you travel, get tested 1-3 days before your trip. Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public. Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who did not travel with you. All persons arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries, should self-quarantine for 10 days. Quarantine may be shortened to 7 days if all travelers in the household are asymptomatic and test negative with an antigen or molecular viral test on Day 5 or later. Fully vaccinated persons do not need to quarantine unless required by employer. Students who did not travel with their parents / guardians can attend school if returning parents / guardians can quarantine. Those adhering to the advice and staying close to home still need to consider restrictions on in-person gatherings. CDPH recommends holding gatherings outside, where air circulation is better. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries are still strongly discouraged from entering California. Get tested 3-5 days after your trip and stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.” Here is information from public health on how to  Celebrate Safely . The entire MVSD community is being asked to carefully consider how gatherings and travel will comply with current health and safety guidelines. As we approach spring break, we ask you to continue to partner with us to keep every student, family, and staff member safe. If you travel or engage in high-risk activities over the break, we expect that you will follow guidance regarding quarantining and testing.  The commitment your household makes to following the guidelines directly impacts our ability to reduce risk of transmission of COVID-19. School Lunches April 12-June 10, 2021 The Mill Valley School District will continue to partner with our lunch provider, ChoiceLunch, for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. We continue to participate in the National School Lunch Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has permitted us to operate under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO)  which allows for every student to be eligible for a free student lunch on all student days through June 10, 2021.  The district will cover the cost of these meals through one-time State and Federal contributions. All lunches must be pre-ordered from ChoiceLunch .  Students will eat lunch outside and be physically distanced for the remainder of the school year. They will be supervised by yard supervisor staff and administrators. Students may bring their own lunch from home or pick up their pre-ordered ChoiceLunch at school.  Visitors are limited on school campuses and therefore, no parent/family deliveries and no deliveries from off-campus food businesses except for contracted lunches from ChoiceLunch. For ChoiceLunch, students must order their lunch by 9:00 am the day before delivery (for example, orders for Monday must be ordered by Sunday morning by 9:00 am and Friday lunches must be ordered by Thursday morning by 9:00 am). Three entree options available each day: Whole meal options include - regular entree or vegetarian or sunbutter and jam plus pre-bagged sides, including milk. Those continuing on Extended Distance Learning (EDL) may elect to pre-order and pick-up 5-day lunch packs each Monday when ordered in advance by Sunday at 9:00 am for the following week. *Note: The health and safety of students and staff are taken very seriously. Only trained food service staff members will be handling food using approved food handling procedures. To keep students and staff safe during meal service, physical distancing is required. Adults who order lunch will be charged at their normal price.  Lunch Frequently asked questions: What is the Summer Seamless Option Program? The Summer Seamless Program is part of the National School Lunch Program supported by State and Federal funds to ensure that students receive lunches. MVSD is able to support this program through a waiver application and one-time state and federal contributions as a result of COVID-19. Will the ChoiceLunch program be offered? Yes, ChoiceLunch will be offered. Will free lunches be available?  Free lunches are offered to all who pre-order lunch. No signup or registration is necessary through the National School Lunch Program. Students or families may order directly from ChoiceLunch .  Will lunches and snacks happen outside?  Yes. Please ensure your child is prepared for inclement weather.  How will students be spaced during lunch? Will there be tarps on the lawn or blacktop perhaps, or temporary tables? This may look different at each school, but students will be physically distanced while eating. Will eating spaces be sanitized between groups? Principals will share lunch plans.  What will happen on rainy days for lunch? Principals will share rainy day plans.  Will teachers eat lunch with their classes or will there be lunch aides?  Teachers receive a duty-free lunch. Yard supervision staff will monitor lunchtime.  COVID-19 Community Testing & Student Surveillance Testing Starting in April, MVSD is moving our  COVID-19 testing clinic with PMH Laboratory at Mill Valley Middle School to Wednesdays, from the previously-scheduled Mondays and Tuesdays. Appointments will be available from 7:45 am - 4:30 pm.  PMH sends staff based on the number of scheduled appointments per day, and we will be able to operate at the same capacity in one day as we were able to when we offered two testing days per week. With the return to full-day in-person learning for all of our students, we wanted to offer testing on Wednesdays so that elementary families may schedule testing appointments after school on the early release day. We encourage MVMS families to access morning surveillance testing appointments. Please register for an appointment to participate in the  Student Surveillance Testing Program . Additionally, PMH Laboratory provides COVID-19 testing at Tamalpais High School weekly on Tuesdays, and community members may  make appointments there.   While appointments are preferred, Mill Valley community members may walk up to the clinic and receive a COVID-19 test. COVID-19 testing is now widely available throughout Marin County and the Marin Department of Public Health has provided the following  resources for testing . Agreement Reached with MVTA Mill Valley School District and Mill Valley Teachers Association are pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement regarding our full reopening to in-person learning which will begin on April 12, 2021. We are all excited to welcome back students to our school sites!  The  School Site Specific Protection Plans and Site Handbooks will be distributed again prior to April 12 to reflect the safety practices and procedures that will be in place to ensure the safety of our staff and students.  Counselor SEL & Principal Storytime Livestream on Asynchronous Days April 1 and 2 In order to ensure daily live instruction for students on our asynchronous days on April 1 and 2, K-5 Counselors will review Toolbox Tools and Principals will host a storytime livestream to students from 8:30 - 8:50 am.  Please tune in to these special all district offerings.  Thursday Link for K-5 Students: When: Apr 1, 2021 08:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: K-5 Counselors’ Toolbox Tool Review   Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98748828720?pwd=SG1ha01xZUlrZ2J4Z2JLTWE2SGVBZz09 Passcode: 244317 Or One tap mobile :     US: +16699009128,,98748828720#  or +12532158782,,98748828720# Or Telephone:     Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):         US: +1 669 900 9128  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 987 4882 8720     International numbers available:  https://zoom.us/u/acMNkJIVK7   Friday Link for K-5 Students: When: Apr 2, 2021 08:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: K-5 Storytime   Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99456035846?pwd=Q2tYa3BQYUZTMDZuczNxL05FbUpIQT09 Passcode: 569526 Or One tap mobile :     US: +16699009128,,99456035846#  or +12532158782,,99456035846# Or Telephone:     Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):         US: +1 669 900 9128  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 994 5603 5846     International numbers available:  https://zoom.us/u/acH6DwYVHI National Child Abuse Prevention Month Let’s work together to promote the well-being of all children by participating in National Child Abuse Prevention month during April 2021. Here is a  resource guide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . Please remember: “See something, hear something, sense something, say something.” Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Mar 31 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Classroom Setup for Full-Day Learn...

Classroom Setup for Full-Day Learning This past weekend, the Maintenance, Operations, & Safety department set up model classrooms, and they are transitioning to set up all classrooms district-wide for our return to full-day in-person learning on April 12. These classrooms have been arranged using 4 feet of spacing between students. As you have heard, the CDC and Marin Health and Human Services issued guidance stating that 3 feet is now recommended. We will continue to provide the greatest distance possible between students.The schedule for classroom set up is reflected on our Return to Full-Day Learning checklist . Mill Valley School District will comply with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) by adhering to all Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (MHHS) guidance. School districts must comply with state guidance, and local MHHS must adhere to CDPH and may only implement guidelines that are consistent or more restrictive, not less. Please be assured the district will use MHHS guidance in decision making to ensure safety for our staff and students. Fire inspectors have inspected our model classrooms to ensure there is adequate space for safe egress. Below are photos of our model classrooms. Spring Break COVID-19 Reporting Form Spring Break is coming up, and MVSD schools will resume for full-day in-person learning on Monday, April 12th. Marin public health recommends that those who engage in out-of-state travel and are not fully-vaccinated should complete a   quarantine period .  Therefore, parents will be asked to answer the following question upon returning from the break: My child has participated in a high-risk activity (mixing of households with more than three families) or participated in non-essential travel outside of the US or California. If your answer to this question is yes, you must quarantine before returning to school in-person. If you do not develop symptoms, your quarantine can end: On day 10 from your return; OR On day 7 IF you are tested for COVID-19 on day 5 or later AND the test result is negative. During Spring Break, members of the school community (staff and students) are asked to report close contact exposures and positive cases in a form over the break, rather than directly to the school site principal, following the same process as our past two breaks. Fill out this form . The form responses will be monitored by District Public Health Liaisons. The District Office will be open throughout Spring Break.  Individual school site phone numbers and hotlines for reporting COVID-19 will not be monitored between April 3 and 11. The form linked above will be the only monitored system for reporting purposes. For support on accessing the form, please call the District Office: (415) 389-7700. Your form submission will be processed by staff to ensure proper notifications to other students and staff should positive cases arise.  All cohort students and staff members will be notified of cases during the holiday break as applicable.  Communication will be shared in a cohort notification and dashboard update. No personally-identifiable information is shared in these notifications. COVID-19 Community Testing & Student Surveillance Testing Starting in April, MVSD is moving our COVID-19 testing clinic   with PMH Laboratory at Mill Valley Middle School to Wednesdays, from the previously-scheduled Mondays and Tuesdays. Appointments will be available from 7:45 am - 4:30 pm.  PMH sends staff based on the number of scheduled appointments per day, and we will be able to operate at the same capacity in one day as we were able to when we offered two testing days per week. With the return to full-day in-person learning for all of our students, we wanted to offer testing on Wednesdays so that elementary families may schedule testing appointments after school on the early release day. We encourage MVMS families to access morning surveillance testing appointments. Please register for an appointment to participate in the Student Surveillance Testing Program . Additionally, PMH Laboratory provides COVID-19 testing at Tamalpais High School weekly on Tuesdays, and community members may make appointments there .   While appointments are preferred, Mill Valley community members may walk up to the clinic and receive a COVID-19 test. COVID-19 testing is now widely available throughout Marin County and the Marin Department of Public Health has provided the following   resources for testing . Orange Tier & Updated Public Health Guidance As of yesterday, Marin is officially in the Orange Tier . You may have heard that Marin Health & Human Services updated their 30-Point Guidance for schools and discussed the changes in a public webinar . Here is an outline of the guidelines that were updated. Bright Horizons EDS Bright Horizons Extended Day School (EDS) has decided not to open their program this spring. They do plan to reopen their programs when school resumes in August for the fall semester with a fresh start. Please contact your school’s EDS representative for more information regarding programs and registration. CDE CAASPP Assessment Information As you may know, each year in the Spring, our district provides the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) statewide assessments in English language arts and math to students in grades 3-8. This week, the California State Board of Education took the first step to give districts the option of using the statewide assessments (CAASPP) or district-selected assessments (i-Ready) for the 2020-2021 school year. This is a change since our last board meeting, and we will be presenting on this again on April 15th . We are still awaiting full details and guidance from the California Department of Education. Regardless of the assessment Mill Valley School District uses, parents/guardians with students in grades 3-8 will receive their child’s results in both English language arts and math. As you may know, there are many ways to measure student learning, and the spring test is only one of them. It is not meant to tell the whole story, but when combined with other factors, like report card grades and teacher input, it will give families a more complete picture of their child’s performance so that they can partner with teachers to accelerate learning in the months ahead. Lunch Update School districts are able to provide lunches at no cost to families without requiring any registration through the National School Lunch Program as a result of legislation during the pandemic. Any Mill Valley School District student may request lunch through the ChoiceLunch app or website . MVSD will designate funds to ensure all children have access to meals at no cost to families during the rest of this school year. Your child may still bring their own lunch to school. More information is forthcoming. MVMS Received 2021 Distinguished School Award! In case you missed it,   Mill Valley Middle School received the honor   of being named an award recipient of the California Department of Education (CDE)’s 2021 Distinguished Schools program! We are incredibly proud of our staff and students. Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Mar 24 2021

MVMS Received a 2021 California Distinguished School...

We are pleased to announce that yesterday, Mill Valley Middle School was named an award recipient of the California Department of Education (CDE)'s 2021 Distinguished Schools Program. Mill Valley Middle School was one of two middle schools in Marin County to receive this honor, along with Hall Middle School in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. According to the CDE website , for 2021, schools were awarded when they met the eligibility criteria rather than submitting an application. Eligibility criteria provided by CDE are related to CAASPP testing scores, meeting California School Dashboard standards, and school poverty rates. “We are honored that Mill Valley Middle School has been selected as a 2021 California Distinguished School,” Anna Lazzarini, Mill Valley Middle School principal said. “I could not be more proud of our team that works together to educate and support our students at such high levels.”

Friday, Mar 19 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Our Return to Full Days is Set!, A...

Our Return to Full Days is Set!  Dear Families, At the close of last week, it marked one year since the closure of our schools at the onset of the pandemic. It was a momentous day to announce, on this one year anniversary, that our schools would reopen to full days once again. I am incredibly proud of the work our staff have done to make it possible to safely return to full days of in-person learning in Mill Valley School District. After reviewing questions submitted in the form we shared with families last week, we have updated the FAQ on the return to full-day in-person learning page . Many of your questions are likely answered there, and we will continue to update this in the coming weeks. Additionally, the chart on that same page is updated regularly to reflect actions taken toward the return to full-day learning. I am looking forward to celebrating this “third” first day of school with all of you! Yours in Education, Kimberly April 1 and 2 - Asynchronous Days As a reminder, April 1 and 2 are now designated as asynchronous days for teacher preparation for full-day learning beginning April 12. Students are not to come to campus on these dates. Marin County Schools & Public Health Community Meeting Please join a virtual community meeting with Marin County Schools and Marin County Public Health to receive an update regarding the revisions to the 30 Point school Guidelines document. All Marin County school and parent/guardian communities are invited to participate. Tuesday, March 23rd, 11 am Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86936219568?pwd=Y01weExGbXRFMXVtM0kybUVzOXZyUT09 Dial In +1-408-638-0968 | Webinar ID: 869 3621 9568 | Passcode: 369326 The webinar will be recorded and presented in English with live Spanish translation.   Middle School Principal Hiring Process This information has been shared with middle school families, but we wanted to ensure everyone in our district is aware, especially our 5th-grade families, that Anna Lazzarini is retiring from her role as Principal after 27 years at MVMS. We appreciate her dedication to our district and wish her the very best in her retirement. Currently, our hiring process is underway, which includes multiple steps, including a survey of our staff and families. We value our entire communities input as we fill this important role in our district. The position is open now through April 12th, and we expect to announce a new principal in May. Important Information for Immigrant Families As part of an ongoing effort to support our immigrant community during this challenging time, a countywide group of organizations and advocates is meeting to ensure that Immigrant Rights and Justice remains a high priority for our community. As part of their work, they are providing important resources and support. The information below is regarding two important issues for our immigrant families and neighbors: the Public Charge Rule and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).   Public Charge   Please see this  fact sheet to learn more about changes to the Public Charge policy. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) The Canal Alliance's intake form to apply for DACA is available  here.  A Canal Alliance video that explains what DACA is, who qualifies, and how to prepare to apply for DACA can be accessed  here .  Canal Alliance DACA (Translation Options) Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Mar 17 2021

March 11, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights

March 11, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights To view attachments related to the presentations summarized below, please view the board meeting agenda . Below you may find a recording of the March 11, 2021 Board Meeting as well as notes summarizing agenda items. D.1. Old Mill School Presentation [14:31 in video] In one of three presentations featuring our schools for the 2020-21 school year, Jason Matlon, Principal of Old Mill School and two Old Mill teachers presented information related to student learning . Mr. Matlon shared an overview of the school year throughout the phases of remote learning and transitioning to hybrid learning. He shared photos featuring safe classroom learning, socially distanced PTA community building events, and more. Jennifer Butler, Kindergarten teacher, shared that her students are celebrating kindergarten by working hard, playing hard, and being super readers. She shared that students are focused and feeling empowered in their learning. Additionally, Lori Adessa, music teacher, shared some examples of remote music lessons with her students, including singing and playing songs from different cultures, learning ukulele, and singing in small groups. D.2. Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP) [37:18 in video] The Mill Valley School District has worked with Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) to design a Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP) for District employees. The SRP was designed as a retirement incentive program that encouraged eligible employees to retire early. The goal of the program was to generate savings, or at a minimum, create no cost to the District by increasing the number of retirements in the 2020-21 school year. Staff members age 55 and over with 5 years of District service and age 50 and over with 30 Years of service were eligible for this plan, in which they would receive 70% of their final pay. A total of 18 staff members elected to move forward with this plan (16.98% of eligible individuals),including 14 Certificated Non-Management staff members, 1 Certificated Management staff member, and 3 Classified Non-Management staff members. This results in a projected savings of $89,493 in the first year if all positions were replaced and $175,818 after 3 years. The SRP was approved by the board of trustees and staff retirements and resignations will be approved. D.3. District Update [48:16 in video] District staff provided information and an update regarding the plan and timeline for the return to full-day in-person instruction. Negotiations Dr. Berman shared that the District has reached a tentative agreement with the Classified union and is currently working on the collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations are underway with the Certificated union. The District received a proposal on Tuesday, which was shared with the board. Standardized Testing Dr. Berman also provided an update on standardized testing. CAASPP testing is required by the state this year. The test has not been waived, however some implications of the test are being considered for a waiver. We will provide an update. Students learning remotely are able to take the test remotely. Assembly Bill 86 Additionally, Assembly Bill 86 was approved. As a school district that is open, we are following all state requirements and would not be excluded from additional financial support. We are planning for the expectation that we extend instructional learning time for the upcoming school years by increasing instructional days or minutes, providing summer school, or other additional programs. We will bring forward an update about summer school offerings. Staff Vaccinations Dr. Berman also shared that all staff have been offered the vaccine across all 4 priority groups and that many staff members attended a “Super POD” vaccination day this past Saturday, March 6th. A limited number of staff members opted to receive their vaccines on March 13th. Second doses are also scheduled three weeks following the first dose. Checklist To follow along with the planning for full-day learning, please visit our website here, which includes a checklist with regular updates . In-Person Learning and Extended Distance Learning Percentages A form was recently shared with families regarding preference for remaining in their current learning model or switching from in-person to EDL or EDL to in person. At the start of hybrid learning, approximately 90% of students returned in person. As we plan for return, 93%* of students will attend in person and 7% will remain in EDL when we return for full-day learning. *numbers updated to reflect full data as of 3/12/21 at 2:30 p.m. Julie Harris, Director of Student Support Services shared design criteria for full-day learning at the K-5 level that she has been working on with elementary principals. Nicole Reyherme, Director of Educational Technology, presented the middle school plan’s design criteria that she has been working on with the middle school administrative team. We will continue to provide updates related to planning for full-day learning. I.1. Second Reading and Approval of Revision to BP3290 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests [2:54:18 in video] The board engaged in a second reading and approval of revision to the existing board policy, BP3290, to incorporate updated CSBA language and recommendations. This item was brought to the Board as a first reading on February 11, 2021. The board approved the revision. 1.2. Second Reading and Approval of Revision to AR3290.1 - Acceptance and Expenditures of Donated Funds [2:57:41 in video] The board engaged in a second reading and approval of revision to the existing administrative regulation, AR3290, to incorporate updated language and recommendations regarding acceptance of donated funds and gifts. This second reading incorporates feedback received at the February 11, 2021 first reading of this item. The board approved the revision. I.3. Request for Proposals - Facilities Master Plan (FMP) - RFP No.2020-21-01 [2:58:48 in video] The District sought approval to request proposals from qualified firms to provide professional services for the development of a Facilities Master Plan (FMP). Dr. Michele Rollins, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, shared background information and a timeline on past facilities plans and assessments as well as a timeline for a new FMP process. The board approved the district seeking proposals. J.1. Budget Revision and 2020-21 Second Interim Financial Reports - Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) Forms [3:11:25 in video] Dr. Michele Rollins, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, presented the budget revision and second interim financial reports . Dr. Rollins provided an overview of expenditures and funding sources, including COVID-19 funding, and future budget revisions. She also shared that our district is very fortunate to have received an additional Aaa rating from Moody’s (in addition to our existing Aaa bond rating) for the issue rating under General Obligation Unlimited Tax (GOULT). Dr. Rollins read a portion of their report, which noted that the rating “incorporates its robust financial position supported by strong reserves and liquidity, coupled with its status as a community-funded district. Also supporting the rating is the management’s prudent financial practices, very strong local support, and resident wealth indicators, which highly exceed the national means.” The board certified the second interim with a positive certification. Board meeting dates and agendas .  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | communications@mvschools.org | mvschools.org 

Saturday, Mar 13 2021