MVSD Newsletter - Full-Day In-Person Learning Planni...

Full-Day In-Person Learning Staff Vaccines! Full-day in-person learning will begin once all in-person staff members have been offered the vaccine. Currently, Marin County is offering dedicated days for school district staff to receive vaccinations of staff on the following Saturday dates: First Doses: March 6th and March 13th Second Doses: March 27th and April 3rd We expect that all in-person staff will be offered the vaccine on these dates, which will continue to align with our plan for reopening for full days of in-person. Once the first day of vaccinations is complete, we will provide a further update on our reopening plan for April. Negotiations with our Unions Negotiations with our classified union have proceeded as expected. Additionally, we have dates set with our certificated union for March. We appreciate our staff’s collaboration in this process. Our Superintendent, Director of Maintenance, Operations, & Safety, Director of Student Support Services, and Director of Educational Technology met with all school site staff this week to gather input and answer questions. Review of District Progress At the February 11th Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees directed district staff to plan for full-day in-person learning at the earliest possible date. This is tentatively set for April 12, 2021, and dependent on all in-person staff being provided an opportunity to receive both doses of the vaccine. A regularly-updated timeline and status bar is available on our website , along with FAQs at the bottom of the page. Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Rescheduled A Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent Advisory Committee meeting has been rescheduled from this past Wednesday to next Wednesday, March 3rd at 4:15 pm. You can view the meeting agenda on our website and the meeting link is below. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93624765745?pwd=S29hMVZnMmhoSEpXem05MnlnRzY0dz09 Meeting ID: 936 2476 5745 Passcode: 038297 Letters to the Board of Trustees We heard from our families that it can be challenging to attend board meetings to address the board. We greatly value your input and want to create a way to ensure your messages are seen and read by all trustees. In an effort to streamline the process of communication to our board members, we have created an email address that shares your comments to the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent. Please send your message to: LetterstotheBoardofTrustees@mvschools.org or use our website link to Contact the Trustees and Superintendent.   CA Notify Please see this notice from public health regarding the CA Notify app. Job Openings with MVSD The Mill Valley School District is currently hiring for a Director of Human Resources and other Certificated and Classified positions. Please view our postings on EdJoin for more information. Common Sense Media Short Film Screening and Discussion Common Sense Media is offering a discussion and short film segment on using media to tackle tricky topics on Wednesday, March 10th at 5 pm. Using media and storytelling can be a helpful tool for difficult discussions such as systemic racism and reproductive rights. You can register for this virtual event here . Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Friday, Feb 26 2021

Update Following MVSD Board of Trustees Decision To ...

Dear Mill Valley School District Community, Thank you for your continued partnership and support as our students have been learning on campus and in Extended Distance Learning. Our teachers have engaged students in wonderful moments of learning and demonstrated such flexibility in these ever-changing times. The home-school connection continues to be of paramount importance to us as a district as we continue to focus on developing each of our Mill Valley learners. We have an important update for our school community: On February 11th, based on public health guidance, our Board of Trustees directed our staff to plan a return to full day instruction for students.  The Board of Trustees have directed staff to make this shift at the earliest possible date.  The superintendent identified this could be as early as April 12, 2021.  The board affirms that access to vaccination is important for staff who will be in person with full cohorts.   We will move forward once all in-person staff members have been offered both doses of the vaccine.  We will alert our staff when Marin County Office of Education releases vaccination dates for Priority II staff. If Priority I staff missed their vaccination dates they may join Priority II. We will provide an update on our re-entry date for full day instruction at that time.  Once the second dose is released to our staff, we will confirm our date for re-entry to full day instruction.  Staff will now begin planning and collaborating with stakeholders to accomplish this goal.  Yesterday’s board meeting recording and highlights are available  here .  Below is a timeline for return to full-day in-person instruction, following the Board of Trustees’ direction. *COVID-19 Surveillance Testing for any student, staff member, or community member available every Monday and Tuesday behind the Mill Valley Middle School gym Return to Full Classes and a Longer School Day Consistently, MVSD has led with the lens of science, seeking the interests of stakeholder groups, and making decisions that are in the best interest of students. These commitments have kept students and staff safe while providing in-person instruction prior to a vaccine. In January, we  shared an overview of next steps and factors impacting planning for the spring. Recently, we have learned more from our public health partners. Like many other districts throughout Marin, we are moving forward with planning for full day, full-cohort in-person learning. Per Governor Newsom’s order, as a public school district our Board of Trustees directed staff to return to full day learning. Our bargaining units have the option to negotiate the impacts in the coming weeks. We know that schools are safe places to be, based on public health data and research. Through various public meetings, the  Marin County Department of Public Health has shared our local data as well as research citing the very low school transmission rates of COVID-19. Please see  this meeting recording featuring Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Public Health Officer, citing research studies and sharing data related to the safety of our Marin public schools. Additionally, Dr. Santora shared information at our  board meeting yesterday evening regarding COVID-19 safety in our schools. We have created a timeline for offering a longer school day with typical classroom sizes. We will continue to follow guidance from Marin County Department of Public Health . The negative impacts of COVID-19 are not only in the form of physical health, but also mental health, learning loss, and economics – all of which can have lifelong implications. Urgency and thoughtfulness have allowed us to successfully navigate planning and safety in the pandemic and our ability to return to full classes is no exception to that. It is our obligation to continually adapt and respond to this situation as new information and variables are presented. The vaccine brings new hope and protection against COVID-19. At this time, 30% of our staff members, including those working in special education spaces, custodians, and food service workers have been offered the vaccine and while the county has shifted the priority to individuals over the age of 75. We look forward to seeing the rest of our staff being offered the vaccine prior to spring break (April 5th), based on an estimated timeline from Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent. Additionally, we are aware of the recent statements by President Biden and Governor Newsom that staff vaccines are not necessary for school openings. This was reiterated by Dr. Santora, our Deputy Health Officer. MVSD and other districts throughout our county serve as an example on how to safely reopen. While the science behind school transmission rates does support a full classroom model, we have heard teacher and staff concerns. Our goal is to provide all in-person staff the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to our full classroom and longer day schedule. We are extremely appreciative and proud of our staff members, and this additional measure reinforces our respect and commitment to safety. While 90% of students in the Mill Valley School District have chosen to attend in person, we assure you that Extended Distance Learning (EDL) will continue for the remainder of the school year. We expect some current EDL students may switch to in-person and some in-person students may switch to EDL. Parents will receive a form to indicate their choice. We expect the change will be minimal or will equal out, allowing us to maintain our current teacher staffing. We intend to give all families the opportunity to continue with their current teacher. We will gather survey information from families in the coming weeks along with our meeting with staff. Thank you again for your cooperation and support. 

Saturday, Feb 13 2021

February 11, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights

February 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 February 11, 2021 Board Meeting as well as notes summarizing agenda items. At the start of the meeting, Board President, Emily Uhlhorn asked members of the board and the audience to take a moment of silence in honor of a student who passed away yesterday from one of our neighboring Marin County Middle Schools. Marin is a close community, and our school districts across the county are connected in many ways. Our children attend sports practices, travel to the same physicians and frequent many of the same spaces. The family has permitted the district to share that this 8th grade student's death was suicide. We have shared suicide resources in a message to our community earlier today, and we are providing them again below. Please know that children who are already vulnerable may be at greater social-emotional risk as a result of a peer’s suicide. I f you or your child needs help right away, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call 911, or take your child to the nearest crisis center or emergency department. Resolution #11-20-21 - Opposing Youth Access to Cannabis through Marijuana Storefronts and Commercial Cultivation [28:01 in video] Staff presented Resolution #11-20/21 opposing youth access to cannabis through marijuana storefronts and commercial cultivation. This resolution was approved by the board of trustees. Dr. Berman shared that in the past, when potential marijuana businesses intended to develop near student bus and bike routes, the board approved letters to oppose the location. Currently, a dispensary is being planned in Sausalito and the Mill Valley School District board is joining Tamalpais Union High School District in opposition for the safety and wellbeing of students. The board has directed Dr. Berman to write a letter of opposition and share our resolution with this planned dispensary and any similar future plans. District Update: Dr. Lisa Santora and MVSD Updates and Board Discussion [35:48 in video] MVSD staff discussed surveillance testing for students and next steps for returning to full-time learning. Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Health Officer, shared data and current Public Health Department Guidance . There have been only 10 suspected in-school transmissions of COVID-19, while Marin Schools have had 991,408 “student days” this school year as of February 5, 2021. Additionally, Marin has had the fewest cases of COVID-19 in an unadjusted daily case rate average from 1/17 to 1/23/21. Marin County Public Health has provided guidance that supports the return of full, in-person instruction based on school readiness and adherence to a submitted and reviewed School Site-Specific Protection Plan (SSSPP). This will ensure four feet of distance between students in a classroom. For middle school, larger cohorts made up of students from more than one classroom may be arranged as long as accurate attendance data for students and adults is maintained on a daily basis while avoiding school-wide mixing of students and staff. COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 in Marin County continues to steeply decline and current estimates indicate that all staff in Mill Valley will be able to receive the second and final dose of the COVID-19 by late March or early April. In anticipation of Marin County moving into less restrictive tiers, and pursuant to the legal requirements of SB 98, as well as County Health Department guidance, the District would like to work with both of our unions on a plan to return to full day instruction, as we are required to offer in person learning to the greatest extent possible. The District has suggested dates in the upcoming weeks to negotiate with our unions. We look forward to collaborating with our union partners to ensure that we keep health and safety as top priorities, while ensuring our students return to full day instruction. Dr. Berman shared that the first 63 days of this school year were fully distance learning and we will have been in hybrid learning since Nov. 30th, which leaves a remaining 43 days through the end of the school year for a return to full-day in-person learning. Our average cohort size in our current model is 9-11 students. A full return would involve combining existing AM and PM groups. Currently, 89 staff members have been offered vaccination, which is 30% of our total staff working in person. There are 206 staff members in the next priority group to be offered the vaccine, which includes all remaining staff members working in person. We expect the 70% of staff who have not yet been offered vaccination to receive an offer for the vaccine by the end of this month. With this information, Dr. Berman shared that she is recommending that the district moves forward with planning for full-day in-person learning. Should our timeline for vaccination be changed, she said she will recommend that we shift plans accordingly. We are a public institution and driven to offer in person learning in alignment to SB98, which states that school districts must provide in person learning to the greatest extent possible. In preparation for a full-day return, the district is working on the following items: We have developed a schedule for student surveillance testing We have spoken with our testing partners at PMH regarding turn around times for receiving results and they have created a barcode system that has sped up the process Our facilities team is working to ensure 4 feet of space to fill classrooms. We have ordered single desks for classrooms in spaces where there are currently tables that will not accommodate all students and the required spacing. The purchase totals $211,565. We have offered all staff the opportunity to procure personal protective barrier panels for all student desks in their classroom, and we are placing our first order for these next week and will continue to procure these panels as requested for additional personal space protection for students.  We will continue to support distancing and non-mixing of cohorts for lunches and breaks. We have developed a timeline for next steps that will be shared following board direction. Principals are designing a form with questions to gather information from families that will be necessary for creating schedules. While 90% of students in the Mill Valley School District have chosen to attend in person, we assure you that Extended Distance Learning (EDL) will continue as it is for the remainder of the school year. We expect some current EDL students may switch to in-person and some in-person students may switch to EDL. Parents will receive a form to indicate their choice. We expect the change will be minimal or will equal out, allowing us to maintain our current teacher staffing. We intend to give all families the opportunity to continue with their current teacher. Dr. Berman shared that there are opportunities for collaboration. At other times, there are directives and decisions that are made by the board of trustees and based on administrative recommendation and county guidance. After discussion, all trustees directed the superintendent to move forward with planning for full-day in-person learning at the earliest possible time following the offer of the second vaccination for all staff who are working in person. This potential date for the earliest possible return is April 12th. Once the first vaccines are offered to the next priority group, the district will update whether this date continues to be viable or if any adjustments to the timeline are necessary. Park School Presentation Park School Staff requested that their presentation be tabled for a later date due to the lengthy discussion of the previous topic. The presentation from Park School staff will be rescheduled. Agreement for Services with Eide Bailly, LLP CPA and Business Advisors [3:13:57] The board approved a secondary independent audit of internal controls of business services for bank credit cards and gas cards by Eide Bailly, LLP. This audit is in addition to an annual independent audit. We understand that community trust can be eroded when financial aspects of a public institution come into question, and this additional independent audit will provide further transparency and clarify answers to questions from our community. The district is confident that all financial processes, including credit card use, have been legal and ethical. First Reading of Revision to BP3290 - Gifts, Grants, and Bequests [3:16:00] The board engaged in a first reading of revisions to the existing Board Policy on Gifts, Grants, and Bequests to incorporate updated CSBA language and recommendations. The board discussed how this revision and our review of internal controls and processes ensures the district’s continued commitment to full transparency. First Reading of Revision to AR3290.1 - Acceptance and Expenditures of Donated Funds [3:17:36] The board had a first reading of revisions to the existing Administrative Regulation on Acceptance and Expenditures of Donated Funds to incorporate updated language and recommendations regarding acceptance of donated funds and gifts. The board discussed how this revision and our review of internal controls and processes ensures the district’s continued commitment to full transparency. Local Option Process [3:34:52] The Mill Valley Teachers Association informed the district that kindergarten teachers at Park, Old Mill, and Strawberry Point Elementary Schools would like to use the CBA Article 1.8 to change the delivery of instruction of Art and Library sessions from in-class to during students’ asynchronous times. The teachers at Edna Maguire and Tam Valley Elementary Schools are not requesting a change in instruction delivery, so their schedules will remain the same. Rationale is provided in the agenda item attachment. As required by Article 1.8, this change has been approved by the Association Members at Park, Old Mill, and Strawberry Point elementary schools. These changes would be implemented by March 1 and communicated by teachers to their families. There was discussion related to some schools following a different instructional process than others. This article is being sunshined to discuss with our teachers’ union. The option for some schools to follow a different process than others brings up some concern. The board approved the local option process. Receipt of the 2021-22 Initial Reopener Proposal from California School Employees Association (CSEA)- Chapter 360 to the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) [3:45:18] CSEA has provided its proposal to the Governing Board and Superintendent for contract negotiations with the district for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The presentation of negotiation proposals is a required and customary component of the collective bargaining process. The board acknowledged receipt of the initial reopener proposal. Reopener Proposal for 2021-2022 from the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) to the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 360 [3:48:26] The board discussed the reopener proposal for 2021-22 from the district to CSEA. The board approved the reopener. Receipt of the 2021-22 Initial Reopener Proposal from Mill Valley Teachers Association (MVTA) to the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) [3:50:34] As a legal prerequisite to formal negotiations, MVTA is required to submit the articles of the current collective bargaining agreement that they intend to bring forward for negotiations to the Governing Board for receipt and acknowledgement. The board discussed and approved the initial reopener proposal. Reopener Proposal for 2021-22 from the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) to the Mill Valley Teachers Association (MVTA) [3:53:28] The board discussed and approved the reopener proposal for 2021-22 from the district to MVTA. Future Board Items [3:59:17] This item was an opportunity to gain input from the board on potential future discussion items. The board discussed finding an additional way to receive comments from the public in addition to the regular board public comment process. How to address learning loss and district staff members having their children attend MVSD schools were also discussed. Board meeting dates and agendas .  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | communications@mvschools.org | mvschools.org 

Friday, Feb 12 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Updated Public Health Guidance for...

Updated Public Health Guidance for Spring 2021 We recommend watching this update from Dr. Matt Willis, public health officer , which shares about the success of in-person learning throughout Marin. “We’ve learned that when done right, in person school actually protects against virus transmission compared to the alternative of less structured days and settings where schools are closed, not to mention the social emotional and education benefits compared to purely screen-based learning,” Dr. Willis said. In a news release on Monday, February 8th, Marin County shared information related to the success of Marin schools in preventing the spread of COVID-19 after a partial return to in-person learning. As shared in the Marin County COVID-19 Status Update from February 6, 2021 : A large group of Marin County pediatricians, nurse practitioners, family physicians and child psychiatrists have joined together to voice their support for reopening in-person learning for all of the students in Marin. The letter issued by the group states “we are acutely aware of the impact of social isolation as a result of exclusive distance learning on our teens and preteens” and celebrates Marin’s success in reopening schools safely across the county. The group calls for reopening more fully, so all students are able the benefit from in person learning.” Read the full letter to learn more about the research that supports this approach.  Or, review Marin’s school reopening protocols and reopening data . We will discuss our next steps as a school district at the Board meeting this Thursday and provide additional information in a follow-up message. Board Meeting Discussion Scheduled for Thursday, February 11, 2021 MVSD Staff will discuss surveillance testing for students in Mill Valley School District and next steps for returning to full time learning. Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Health Officer, will share data and current Public Health Department Guidance. COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 in Marin County continues to steeply decline and current estimates indicate that all staff in Mill Valley will be able to receive the second and final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by late March or early April. In anticipation of Marin County moving into less restrictive tiers, and pursuant to the legal requirements of SB 98, as well as County Health Department guidance, the District will work with both of our unions on a plan to return to full-day instruction. The District has suggested dates in the upcoming weeks to negotiate with our unions. We look forward to collaborating with our union partners to ensure that we keep health and safety as top priorities, while ensuring our students return to full-day instruction. Mid-Winter Recess COVID-19 Reporting Form Next week is mid-winter recess and MVSD schools will resume on Monday, February 22nd. All students will be in remote or asynchronous learning on February 22 and 23. During mid-winter recess, 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 Winter Break. Fill out this form . The form responses will be monitored by District Public Health Liaisons. The District Office will be closed on Monday, February 15th for Presidents’ Day. Individual school site phone numbers and hotlines for reporting COVID-19 will not be monitored between February 15th and February 21st. 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. Progress Reports Updates K-5 Teachers are individually assessing elementary students using the Fountas & Pinnell reading assessment on February 22nd and 23rd. Elementary students will be provided with asynchronous work from each teacher to be completed and will not attend school in-person on those days. Due to the pandemic, teachers and grade levels have prioritized specific curriculum to be taught this year. Therefore some standards may still be marked as “X” for “Not evaluated at this time” on the progress report. Specialists (Art, Music, and PE teachers) will give marks to students (X/1/2/3) on the second and third trimester report cards. While these marks typically indicate the progress a student has made related to the curriculum of the course, for the second trimester, these marks will indicate participation in the specialist sessions: 1 = Does not attend or does not participate 2 = Inconsistent attendance or participation 3 = Attends and participates COVID-19 Student Surveillance Testing Thank you to families who have been participating in our Student COVID-19 Surveillance Testing program. Your efforts support our schools as safe spaces for students to learn. Each Monday and Tuesday in March are now available for booking appointments through PMH testing at the back of the Mill Valley Middle School Gym. Diligent Financial Practices We want to share with our community that the district diligently follows legal and ethical financial procedures, including regular independent audit reports that are shared at board meetings and posted on our  website . We have shared budget reports and receipts with members of the public and members of the press with full transparency. Please see a recent update from the MVSDTogether Funding Alliance to learn more. Celebrating Black History Month Event Mill Valley School District families are invited to participate in a presentation reviewing an extraordinary resource for celebrating Black History Month. The presentation will center around creating conversation with one another, using an amazing Celebrating Black History Month February 2021 interactive resource as an engaging tool for educators, students, and families. We will also have the opportunity to hear about how the families, guardians, staff, and school community members of Ross Valley Charter came together to design this valuable piece of our collective history. Please join us to learn more about this incredible teaching resource for use in your classroom and for families to use at home. Tuesday, February 9th from 4:30-5:30PM Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88411632316?pwd=RlEwNkI5YWhJcHd6dm5nMllaMzBYZz09 Dial In: +1-408-638-0968 | Webinar ID: 884 1163 2316 | Passcode: 459333 Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | contact@mvschools.org | mvschools.org Follow us on social media!     

Wednesday, Feb 10 2021

MVSD Newsletter- Black History Month, K-5 Reading As...

We want to take a moment to honor Black History Month, which began this past Monday. On December 14, 2020, the Board of Trustees adopted a r esolution on anti-racism, inclusion, diversity, and equity and we are committed to anti-racist work. Thank you for your support of these efforts and the work you are doing in your own homes reading about black history or equity or having discussions. Reminder, school will not be in session from  February 15-19  for Mid-winter recess. Following this break, as usual, MVMS students will engage in remote learning on February 22 and 23 . In addition, all K-5 students will have asynchronous learning days on these first two days following the mid-winter recess so that teachers can administer assessments. You have received information about this from your principals and in our district news. Please see more below: K-5 Reading Assessments - February 22 & 23 Due to the pandemic and the need for current data, all students are required to have a Fountas and Pinnell (F&P) assessment completed before the 2nd trimester progress report on March 12th.  On Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, all K-5 students will have asynchronous learning days so that teachers can administer the F&P assessments. Typically we would use substitutes, but in order to maintain cohorts and limit exposure, asynchronous days have been arranged. Teachers will schedule students for these assessments either in person or remotely on these two days. Please plan for your child to be available during their assessment appointment. Specialist classes will be held remotely, as normal. Marin County Public Health School Update On Monday, February 1st, the Marin County Office of Education hosted Marin Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis and Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora for a school update discussing vaccinations, protocols now that we are out of the stay home order and in the Purple Tier/Tier 1, and more. The Mill Valley School District has prepared and posted our COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP) and other documentation on our website as required by the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA. Safety has been our top priority throughout this school year and we continue to follow our School Site Specific Protection Plans and other safety measures. Additionally, according to Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent, we expect all school district employees should have the opportunity to have both of their vaccine shots by spring break, April 4, 2020. This will be an excellent additional safety measure in our schools. Please join our February 11th board meeting to continue learning more updates related to the district as they evolve. We will continue to provide newsletter updates as well. Registration Reminder The first round of kindergarten and new student registration ends this Friday, February 5th. If you have an incoming kindergarten student you have not yet registered, please visit our website here to access registration forms . Skate Park Reminders from the City of Mill Valley The Mill Valley Skate Park is currently open and the City of Mill Valley wants to remind skaters to be safe and follow COVID-19 rules while accessing the park: It will take a village to make sure the Mill Valley Skate Park is a safe and fun experience. The City of Mill Valley has worked to keep most outdoor recreation facilities, including the Skate Park, open to the public during this pandemic to encourage outdoor recreation and exercise. The Mill Valley Skate Park is not a staffed facility, so the ability to keep the Skate Park open and safe must be a community wide effort. We need parents, skaters, and scooterists to help make sure that the experience is a safe one during this pandemic. The COVID-19 rules of the Skate Park include: - Maintain 6ft distance from non-household members - Mask required before and after skating or scootering activity, or when you take a break - No congregating - No consumption of food or beverages - Hand sanitizer provided and encouraged Both the Mill Valley Police Department and Mill Valley Recreation have staff checking on the Skate Park during peak times on school days at the request of the Mill Valley Middle School Administration, but it isn’t enough. We need the skater/scooterist community to demonstrate the pandemic protocols mentioned above. We also need parents to reenforce this behavior with their children. There are currently signs at the Skate Park, encouraging mask wearing/social distancing and discouraging congregating/consumption of food and beverages. Ultimately, whether the skate park remains open is in the hands of the skaters/scooterists themselves. If skaters/scooterists follow the pandemic rules of mask wearing, social distancing, using hand sanitizer and congregating, we can all enjoy the Skate Park safely. If not, the City of Mill Valley may be forced to close a beloved facility. First Thursdays at The Marin County Law Library - Marin Community Clinics First Thursdays at the Marin County Law Library is an opportunity for residents of Marin County to learn about the numerous agencies that provide services to the public at no or low cost. Who are these folks and how can they help you? A representative of the agency or county department will present information about their organization followed by a question-and-answer period. Get to know your local officials and community service agencies.

Wednesday, Feb 03 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Stay Home Order Lifted, COVID-19 S...

Stay Home Order Lifted We received a few questions after the announcement that the Stay-at-Home order was lifted earlier this week. Here is a link to Monday's  Status Update from Marin public health . The state-wide   travel advisory is still in effect. This means individuals should avoid traveling more than 120 miles from their home and should not leave the state or country, and the State of California is strongly discouraging this. Additionally, all persons arriving in or returning to their home county should self-quarantine for 10 days. Marin is still in Tier 1 (Purple) as of right now. We will continue to reference the Decision Tree and other documents. If Marin public health updates those documents at all, we will update them on our website . COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Families, we ask that you begin COVID-19 surveillance testing for your child. Please   visit our website here for instructions on how to participate. If your child’s last name begins with A-E, please register for a testing appointment   now for the week of February 1-5. As always, anyone in our community may   sign up for a testing appointment . MVSDTogether Funding Alliance MVSDTogether is a funding alliance for our community-funded district, consisting of our partners, Kiddo! and the PTA. These groups work with us to maintain the high standards for education we expect for our students in a community effort. Please see the latest update from the group on our website here .   Reading Assessments - February 22 & 23 As a reminder, on Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, all K-5 students will have asynchronous learning days so that teachers can administer the Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) assessments. F&P is a one-on-one reading assessment that tells our teachers what reading behaviors students already know and what they need to learn. As an example, a reading strategy might be: Making connections between characters and events based on prior knowledge for a level 1 first grader. Teachers will schedule students for these assessments either in person or remote on these two days. Please plan for your child to be available during their assessment appointment. Mental Health Resources for Students and Families The Marin County Office of Education partnered with Redwood Credit Union, Jennifer Miller, author of Confident Parent and Confident Kids, and Julia Barragan, Director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)   to develop level-specific, diverse informative, and well-executed videos to utilize with students and parents. The focus is wellness and positive coping skills as families address isolation during these times. The short videos are interactive and have a specific message appropriate for the following grade areas - K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. K-2 Video 3-5 Video 6-8 Video 9-12 Video Technology Update Our Frontrow Microphone Systems are projected to arrive in classrooms next week. This allows for students to hear their teachers amplified beyond their masks. The iPad cases have arrived for the iPads we ordered a couple of months ago. We have a few more steps to ready them for distribution but look forward to getting them in students' hands soon. We will be issuing new iPads to 5th graders. More information about how this will be done will be coming in the next week.

Wednesday, Jan 27 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Spring & Fall Planning, Vaccinatio...

Dear Families,  This is the time of year when planning for the next school year begins in earnest, and I want to take a moment to provide our community with an update regarding the rest of this year as well as some of the critical work being done to prepare for the fall.  Factors Impacting Spring and Fall Planning As you know, Covid-19 conditions remain fluid and the availability of vaccinations will have an impact on state and local public health guidance. We will look to them to advise us as conditions change that could impact school this coming fall, as well as this spring.  We are currently building our school-wide master schedules for next year as we always do in the spring, and we are hopeful that we will return in the fall with full days of in-person classes. We will continue to work with our public health officials to implement the most current recommendations and we will be nimble should the unanticipated happen. Our first day of school this fall is scheduled for August 19, 2021.    Registration for Kindergarten and new students is now open and fully online. Once we have more information from round 1 of Kindergarten registration (by Feb. 5) we will start to place students into schools and classrooms for the fall. Parents will be notified of their child’s placement by May 1st. Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) and Collective Bargaining Agreements   Our current agreements, Memorandums of Understanding with our staff, expire in full without precedent on June 30, 2021, unless extended by mutual written agreement (with some sections of the agreement remaining in effect for the extended school year through July 31, 2021, impacting schedules only for those students who attend school into the summer). These MOUs outline safety protocols, including spacing in classrooms.    If public health’s recommendations change in the coming months, we would need to negotiate any change in our protocols before returning to full class sizes this spring. If we receive updated guidance from public health regarding spacing and its impact on returning to full classrooms, we will inform you and will work with our unions to make adjustments.    We will also negotiate our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) with both our certificated and classified unions this spring as their contracts are set to expire for our Classified union on June 30, 2022, and our Certificated union on June 30, 2021. This process is separate from any potential re-openings of the MOU.   Vaccinations and Testing   We are confident that all staff will have the option to be vaccinated by this spring. 1,248 Marin educators were vaccinated Sunday and more will be vaccinated in upcoming weeks. Our staff have reported the process has been smooth and efficient.    Surveillance Testing Additionally, we are committed to adding an additional layer of safety through surveillance testing for our Mill Valley Learners. Last week, you received a form to sign up to have your child(ren) participate in surveillance testing. When asked the question, “Would you like for your child/children to participate in regular COVID-19 surveillance testing?” so far 173 out of 198 parents have said yes.    We have  developed the following protocol to ensure students in our classrooms are monitoring for Covid-19 regularly.  Testing will be available on both Mondays and Tuesdays at the Mill Valley Middle School starting in February. In addition to your daily symptom check, please adhere to the schedule for surveillance testing and  sign up here . We are grateful for your ongoing support and partnership and we commit to responding to any upcoming changes with transparency, flexibility, and thoughtfulness. We will continue to prioritize health and safety for all while keeping children at the center of our decision making.    Yours in Education,  Dr. Kimberly Berman What is going on in Mill Valley related to Equity? Did you know there is a resolution our board has adopted? The work we are doing is important and you can learn more about it on the  Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page on our website . Reading Assessments - February 22 & 23 Due to the pandemic and the need for current data, all students are required to have a Fountas and Pinnell (F&P) assessment completed before the 2nd trimester progress report on March 12th.   On Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, all K-5 students will have asynchronous learning days so that teachers can administer the F&P assessments. Teachers will schedule students for these assessments either in person or remote on these two days. Please plan for your child to be available during their assessment appointment. Importance of Mask Wearing We want to take a moment to remind our students and families of the importance of wearing masks at the skate park behind the middle school as well as throughout our community. We are all in this together to keep our community safe from the spread of Covid-19. To learn more, please see  this page about face coverings and masks from Marin public health. Let’s Talk Virtual Community Discussion - “Uppers, Downers and All-Arounders” In the fourth of six virtual community discussions   hosted by Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships that follow chapters of “ Let’s Talk: A toolkit for navigating teen substance use in Marin County , ” there will be a focus on “Uppers, Downers and All-Arounders.” The discussion is on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 7 pm. You may  register for the discussion via this link . National School Lunch Program Please  fill out this form to request information about the National School Lunch Program from our district office. Making Technology Work for Kids and Teens Webinar from Common Sense Media Common Sense Media is hosting a conversation with Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor and gun control advocate, Cameron Kasky and Founder and CEO of Common Sense Jim Steyer on Wednesday, January 27th at 5 pm. You may   register to watch the conversation here .

Wednesday, Jan 20 2021

January 14, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights

January 14, 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 January 14, 2021 Board Meeting as well as notes summarizing agenda items. Middle School EDL Update and Covid Dashboard Information and Vaccinations (16:29 in video) Staff presented an update regarding the Mill Valley Middle School (MVMS) Extended Distance Learning (EDL) program as well as updates on the COVID-19 Exposure and Case Dashboard and vaccinations. Lisa Lamar, Dean of Students at the MVMS and lead administrator for the EDL program, provided an overview of the current program, which has 84 students enrolled. Students are on a 3x3 model similar to in-person students. They have live classes with teachers daily and utilize Apex for online learning, electives, and additional coursework. Brandolyn Patterson, one of the current EDL teachers provided additional information related to learning and coursework. We are consistently evaluating and listening to feedback related to our programs to make changes that will help support all students. Some upcoming changes include the reduction in the amount of Apex time; adding two half time teaching staff (equivalent to one full-time position) to support Apex electives and other core content; the Math curriculum will be CPM, IXL, and i-Ready for additional supports; Social Studies will implement MVMS’ currently-adopted textbook and online component, TCI; adjustments to the schedule have been made to accommodate the new teaching staff with additional live classes; additional office hours with teachers will be available; and counseling support will continue to be available. Dr. Berman shared that all of our schools continue to be open to in-person learning and that we continue to follow public health guidance. We are proceeding with vaccinations for staff. Staff were surveyed and asked if they will get the vaccine when it is available to them and almost all have responded yes. Independent Audit Report, June 30, 2020 (53:38 in video) Habbas Nassar, CPA, of Stephen Roatch Accountancy Corporation presented the   independent audit report   ending June 30, 2020. Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Supplementary Retirement Plan (SRP), Resolution #10-20/21 & Administrative Services Agreement (1:07:22 in video) Ryan Nicasio, Vice President of Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) presented information and the process to administer a supplementary retirement plan for eligible employees . This program is a retirement incentive plan that encourages long-term or senior employees, typically at the top of the salary schedule, to retire early. The goal is to increase the number of natural attrition retirements by 3 to 4 times. Interested employees submit an irrevocable letter of resignation during the enrollment period and at the end of the period, a fiscal analysis is conducted to determine the savings (or cost) to the district. The board then determines if the district proceeds with the plan or if it is canceled. If the plan is canceled, the offer and resignation letters are rescinded. Community Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) Update (1:28:56 in video) Members of the Community Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) provided an updated financial forecast model , outlining revenues, expenditures, enrollment and staff trends, COVID-19 related funding and spending, and financial models. Some key uncertainties that were discussed include the timing of future COVID-19 expenditures, uncertainty around enrollment and staffing trends, uncertainty regarding property tax growth and the passage of a school bond measure, and variability in CalSTRS. Recognition of Mill Valley School District Governing Board (1:59:35) The District annually recognizes trustees in January for School Board Recognition Month. Marco Pardi was recognized for serving as Board President in 2020. Board meeting dates and agendas .  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | communications@mvschools.org | mvschools.org 

Tuesday, Jan 19 2021

January 13, 2021 Board Meeting Highlights

January 13, 2021 Special Board Meeting Highlights To view attachments related to the presentations summarized below, please view the  board meeting agenda . LCAP and Strategic Plan Overview This special board meeting was focused on the Mill Valley School District Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Strategic Plan. Dr. Berman and staff presented the timeline for LCAP planning, including the stakeholder engagement process, and provided an overview of the previous LCAP goals and Strategic Plan objectives. The main goals/objectives of each plan were discussed by the board, including potential changes and additions. You may view the   meeting presentation here   as well as the full meeting recording below. Board meeting dates and agendas .  Mill Valley School District | 415-389-7700 | communications@mvschools.org | mvschools.org 

Thursday, Jan 14 2021

MVSD Newsletter - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Co...

Martin Luther King Jr. Day On Monday, January 18th, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This civil rights leader’s words and actions continue to have a profound impact on our world, our country, and our local community. As we continue to focus on racial equity and anti-racism in the Mill Valley School District, the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspire and shed light on the importance of this work: “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal.’” In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this coming weekend is a three-day weekend. County Guidance for a Safe Community As we remain in the purple tier and in our stay home order, we urge our community members to continue cooperating with public health orders and to stay home during this weekend. Following winter break, a new question was added to the ParentSquare daily health screening that you complete each day your child attends school on campus. We will continue to have you answer this question while the stay home order is in place. “My child participated in a High-Risk Activity (mixing of households) or Non-Essential Travel (tourism or recreational in nature).” - Yes or No If you mix households or  travel more than 120 miles from one's place of residence , public health considers it a high-risk activity. If your child participates in one of those high-risk activities, public health recommends quarantining for 10 days  before returning to school or testing on day 5 or later after the high-risk activity . Students who test negative and remain asymptomatic may return to school after 7 days.   Kindergarten and New Student Registration 2021-22 Do you have a soon-to-be kindergartener? Kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year begins on January 19th. This year, the registration process will occur in a digital format. All new students must go through the registration process, even if they already have a sibling attending school in the district. Kindergarten students with siblings are placed first, so if your family registers during the first round of registration (ending on February 5th), your kindergarten student will likely be placed in the same school as their sibling. You will be notified of your school placement by May 1st. To register, you will fill out online registration forms and upload necessary documentation that will be linked/listed on the district website starting on the 19th. Required documents include: Proof of Age (birth certificate or passport) Complete Immunization Records Evidence of Residency (Please see Guide to Registering for details) Release of Information Form Google Suite for Education Consent Form Declaration of Residency Lessor Supplemental Form (for renters only) Please have these items prepared/scanned. If you do not have access to a scanner, we suggest downloading a free scanner app to digitize your documents and upload them. We suggest having the files available to you on the device you are using the register. If you require support for scanning, you may contact Leni Moore, district registrar at 415-389-7700 or lgmoore@mvschools.org . Dental and medical forms may be provided when your child turns 5 years old. Virtual Conversation with Dr. Madeline Levine The Marin County Office of Education invites you to a virtual conversation with Dr. Madeline Levine , psychologist with over 35 years of experience as a clinician, consultant, educator, and author. Dr. Levine will be discussing her book and New York Times bestseller, The Price of Privilege, which explores the reasons why teenagers are experiencing epidemic rates of emotional problems. Her current book, Ready or Not, focuses on how to best prepare our children and ourselves for an uncertain and rapidly changing world. Dr. Levine will include strategies and practices on how we can support our students during these unprecedented times. We hope you can join us for one of the offered dates: January 26 or February 23, 2021 from 5:00 to 6:30PM. You may register here . "Race: What is My Work and How Do We Move Forward During this Racial Uprising?" -Second Session with Deborah McKnight Part two of the Parent Ed series with Deborah McKnight will occur on January 27th at 6:30 pm. R egister for the event here .

Wednesday, Jan 13 2021