Moving Forward Together - Lisa August Acting Superin...

Dear SRCS Community, My name is Lisa August, and I’m honored to serve as your Acting Superintendent. Since 2022, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many of you as Associate Superintendent of Business Services—and I know just how special our community is. As I step into this role, I do so with deep commitment to our students, who remain at the heart of every decision we make. I look forward to visiting our schools, seeing great teaching and learning in action, and continuing to build strong connections with families, staff, and community members. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we’ll build a future that’s safe, engaging, and full of opportunity for every student. 👉 Please take a moment to watch my short introductory video [linked] to hear more about my priorities for serving our district. Trust is built through cooperation and collaboration. My promise to you is to listen, to learn, and to support us in growing together as a district and a community. Warmly, Lisa August Acting Superintendent, Santa Rosa City Schools ​

Saturday, Apr 26 2025

Reclassifying for Success Celebration

Dear Parents, Guardians, SRCS Staff, Students, and Community Members,  The community is invited to celebrate our Multilingual Learners who have successfully met all criteria   to be reclassified from EL (English Learners) to RFEP (Reclassified Fluent English Proficient) on May 8 at 6 p.m. at Santa Rosa High School. This is a significant milestone, and we hope you can make it.  For more details, see the flyer.  Respectfully, Santa Rosa City Schools

Tuesday, Apr 15 2025

SRCS Transition Plan Updates - Week of April 14

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, SRCS Staff, and Community Members,  We must share timely information and update you on our progress as we transition to our Junior and Senior High Schools and Elementary consolidations. As part of our effort to ensure timely communication with our community, we will share weekly updates about this process.  Below is what we have coordinated or are working on this week: Communication We are advertising 2025-2026 school registration on Wine Country Radio and Sonoma Family Life Magazine. We also facilitated radio interviews over the past week with SRCS leadership on Wine Country Radio to talk about the future of our schools. We plan to provide more information about these efforts on KBBF Radio on April 17. We released an infographic explaining that the middle schools that will merge with high schools will be two separate programs with distinct courses, bell schedules and staff on one campus. We shared this infographic via Parent Square, social media, and via email. We are working on an elementary infographic as well.  We had a productive meeting with the SCOE and SRCS Ad Hoc Committee on April 10. We will meet again to continue our partnership on April 17. We shared the Panther Cub Night set for April 17 at Santa Rosa High School with our community via Parent Square and social media. We also shared (the infographic mentioned above) and the Panther Cub Night with our feeder districts with support from SCOE.  We reviewed and answered dozens of questions we received from the community through the Transition Plan page on our website. The answers to these questions will be added to the FAQ section of the Transition page soon. We will also ensure the weekly update we send to our community about consolidation efforts on April 14 will be added to the webpage, along with the next Board update.  Our Public Information Officer, James Hodgman, met with the Implementation Team on April 14 and will meet with the Design Team on April 18. He also met with our IT team on April 18 to discuss updates for the Transition webpage.  Educational Services -  Empower Teams Actions / Decisions Counselors Debi Cardozo, Director, College and Career Readiness, is scheduling a meeting with all secondary counselors to discuss transition support.  At MHS/HSMS Executive Director Alisa Haley facilitated the last Empower Team meeting  Decided to keep bell schedules as is for the upcoming school year and will re-evaluate as we move forward next year We are working with MHS/HSMS to determine what traditions they would like to continue and what they can combine between schools, such as Spirit Days Discussed behavioral expectations to align expectations Staff meetings will be conducted jointly with junior and senior high school staff to promote community, and separately as needed. Staff will use the Minga app to support on campus safety monitoring needs for junior and senior high school Opportunities for summer training for AVID and IB were offered. A no backpack rule will continue for seventh and eighth graders. Junior High School students will also have access to lockers. Next steps are Safety Plans and School Plans for Student Achievement review SRHS/SRMS  April 4, 2025, Executive Director Dr. Perez, SRHS Principal Dr. Fong, and Assistant Principal Finnerty met with the SRHS English Department to discuss concerns with facilities.  April 16 is the next Empower Team meeting at SRMS. April 17, Panther Cub Night: A welcome event is being held for rising seventh and eighth graders, families and staff at SRHS.  Working with facilities to find solutions for specific needs such as sinks in the DeSoto building, lunch spaces, and storage. Albert Biella Planning events, along with Brook Hill Elementary School similar to open houses, to welcome families from closing schools. Getting ready for their site color run on April 25th. Held a listening session with school staff and district leadership last week Brook Hill Held a Science Night on April 10th at Luther Burbank Elementary School for current and incoming students from Brook Hill Working on coordinating additional events Counselors Debi Cardozo is scheduling a meeting with all secondary counselors to discuss transition support.  Special Services  (Ongoing) Determining spaces for specialists such as SLPs, School Psychologists, Occupational Therapists (OTs) Visiting Biella with preschool community partners to start planning for the preschool move to Biella in 26-27 Finalizing secondary spaces Determined our last elementary program site, and are notifying families Working with facilities to identify required upgrades to rooms for 25-26 Determining site assignments for SLPs, school psychs, OTs Posted open teaching positions for 25-26 Continuing to hold transition meetings for students Business Services Fiscal Support & Planning:  In partnership with Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) is excited to welcome two Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) personnel who will be onsite two to three days per week beginning the week of April 21. They will work directly with us in areas identified by our fiscal team to support preparation of the Third Interim report and development of the 2025–26 budget.  This support is not related to a state loan—SRCS is not in that status, nor do we anticipate being in that status. Their expertise will enhance our capacity, improve efficiency, and help us more clearly communicate our financial story in support of student programs and the upcoming transitions. Repeated from last week:  Kelley Cook purchased supplies for staff moves and school site consolidation. The supplies will be delivered to sites the week of April 21. Kelley is coordinating the placement of additional waste and recycling dumpsters at sites significantly impacted by school consolidations. The additional dumpsters will be on site and available for use the week of April 14. Repeated from last week:  Erik Oden met with the Empower Teams at Montgomery HS, toured areas of the campus, and answered questions from the team to determine the best places to house the seventh and eighth graders on campus. The Montgomery HS Empower Team has settled on the first floor of the new building, with restrooms and 15 portables at the back of campus.  Repeated from last week:  Planning for a Piner HS seventh and eighth grade area is also underway, as we collaborate with a design team and the site staff on a solution.  Repeated from last week:  Planning is underway to add new restrooms at Albert Biella Elementary School to support the move from Lewis Early Education Academy and Steele Lane Elementary in 2026.  Repeated from last week:  Planning is underway for TK/K rooms at sites to accommodate the influx of students.  Repeated from last week : Erik Oden and the facilities team continue to work with the site Empower Teams at SRHS/SRMS and MHS/HSMS to find appropriate spaces for everyone.  Facilities are working with SPED to finalize classroom locations. We are also planning for year two moves, including TK/K buildings at SRMS and Comstock and a new classroom building with bathrooms for PHS. Wellness & Engagement Intradistrict Transfer appeal meetings have been completed and we are notifying families of the outcomes of their appeals 2025-26 School-Based Therapists will provide mental health services at SRCS schools at similar levels to the 24-25 school year.  Human Resources On Friday April 18 teachers from Biella and Brook Hill who are being transferred to one of our other elementary schools will begin selecting their desired school and grade levels based on seniority and available positions. The process for secondary teachers who are being transferred will begin during the week of April 21. A specific date has not been identified. Respectfully, Santa Rosa City Schools Glossary  AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination CNS: Child Nutrition Services CSEA: Classified School Employees Association CTE: Career Technical Education FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions FCMAT:  Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team  HS: High School HSMS: Herbert Slater Middle School IB: International Baccalaureate MHS: Montgomery High School MOU: Memorandum of Understanding OT: Occupational Therapy PHS: Piner High School SELPA: Special Education Local Plan Area SCOE: Sonoma County Office of Education SLPs: Speech Language Pathologists SRCS: Santa Rosa City Schools SPED: Special Education Department SRHS: Santa Rosa High School SRMS: Santa Rosa Middle School SRTA: Santa Rosa Teachers Association TK/K: Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten VAPA: Visual and Performing Arts

Monday, Apr 14 2025

Transition Plan Webpage FAQ Update

Dear SRCS Community, We have updated our Frequently Asked Questions list on the Transition Plan webpage on our website with concerns from across our school community. We appreciate everyone in our community who took the time to ask a question about our consolidation efforts. We are working to update the FAQ section on the Transition Plan page each week.  You can learn more about our FAQs at the link below: https://www.srcschools.org/transition-plan Respectfully, Santa Rosa City ​Schools

Monday, Apr 14 2025

April 2025 Newsletter

Newsletter April 2025 Superintendent's Message Hello SRCS Community!  Dear SRCS Families and Community Members, As we navigate the process of consolidating schools and programs, I want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families. We understand how hard it is for the schools that are closing and the staff and students that will be joining new communities. This journey is not without its challenges, and it is guided by a singular focus: creating a learning environment where every student feels welcome, accepted, embraced, and empowered. Our students are at the heart of every decision we make, and we are dedicated to ensuring that these changes ultimately enhance their educational experience. The consolidation process is a necessary step to address the financial challenges our district faces, including declining enrollment and budget constraints. By streamlining our resources, we aim to provide equitable access to high-quality education for all students. This includes maintaining robust academic programs, supporting our dedicated educators, and fostering a sense of community within our schools. We are committed to inclusiveness and collaboration throughout this process, and we value the input of our families, staff, and community members. To support our staff during this transition, we are providing opportunities for them to share their thoughts and concerns with us regarding how to best consolidate programs, what facilities to use at each site to support middle school and high school students, and what they need so they can best serve our students. We recognize the incredible dedication of our teachers and staff, and we are committed to ensuring they have the tools and support they need to continue inspiring and educating our students. Together, we will build a stronger, more stable foundation for our district's future. As we move forward, I encourage you to stay engaged and share your thoughts. Your voices are vital to this process, and together, we can create a brighter future for our students and our community. Thank you for your dedication to our school community. With gratitude and in partnership with you, Dr. Daisy Morales Superintendent   Updates to Site Leadership Teams Dear SRCS Community, As we continue building our site leadership teams for the 2025–2026 school year, we want to ensure you remain informed about these important updates. We recognize that administrative changes can bring uncertainty and emotional impact to our community, and we are committed to approaching this process as carefully as possible. Below are the latest updates regarding site assignments for next year.  Previously shared (no changes): Piner High School - Andrea Correia, Principal, Guadalupe Perez-Cook, VP; Ryan Partika, VP   Santa Rosa French American Charter School - Evelyn Anderson, Principal Cesar Chavez Learning Academy - Aida Diaz, Principal, Gabriela Mendoza-Torres, VP   Hilliard Comstock Middle School - Dr. Sara O’Connor, Principal; Dr. Carla Hamilton-Yates, VP   Abraham Lincoln Elementary - Dr. Jeanine Wilson, Principal Helen Lehman Elementary - Christina Cena, Principal Monroe Elementary - Katheryne Stoural, Principal Early Learning Academy - Kateland Pinella, Principal Hidden Valley Elementary - Michael Jablonski, Principal; Sarah Stathatos, VP     Steele Lane Elementary - Rosie Muldoon, Principal  Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts - Sarah Imperato New and updated announcements (changes and vacancies are highlighted):  Proctor Terrace Elementary - Amy Wiese, Principal Luther Burbank Elementary - Gabriel Alvabera, Principal Elsie Allen High School - TBA, Principal; DJ Brookshire, VP, Casey Cunningham, VP (shared with Ridgway High School) Ridgway High School - Donna Garibaldi, Principal; Casey Cunningham, VP (shared with Elsie Allen)  Maria Carrillo High School - TBA, Principal, Lindsey Apkarian, VP, Hector Soto, VP; Kyla Bradylong, VP Montgomery High School - April Santos, Principal; John Ortiz, VP; Tyler Ahlborn, VP; TBA, VP  Santa Rosa High School - Dr. Monica Fong, Principal, Jill Finnerty, VP; Melissa Jones, VP; Debra LaPrath, VP   Rincon Valley Middle School/Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School- TBA, Principal; Ryan Thompson, VP  For vacant principal and vice-principal positions, the Ed Services and Human Resources teams will conduct Pool Interviews including school community panels to consider candidates for those positions.   In community, Dr. Daisy Morales   Sonoma County Teacher of the Month - March 2025 Congratulations to Jessica Hernández, the only teacher on special assignment for the Migrant Education Program under the State and Federal Programs Department that serves our preschool through 12th grade Migrant Education Program students in our district in Educational Services, for being selected as the Sonoma County #Teacher of the Month for March 2025! The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), Santa Rosa City Schools staff, and radio partners who help organize and promote the Teacher of the Month contest announced Hernández as the winner during a surprise visit to her class on March 24. Members of Hernández’s family joined Superintendent Dr. Daisy Morales, Principal Mitchell Tucker, SCOE and district officials, along with partners from Amaturo Sonoma Media Group and Wine Country Radio, to congratulate Hernández. She was selected from dozens of nominations as the winning educator nominated by parents, students, and school staff across Sonoma County.  “Mrs. Hernández wants all students to have as many opportunities as possible. Where there’s a barrier or a potential obstacle, she sees an opportunity for change,” one nomination read. We are so proud of Mrs. Hernández!    Montgomery Seniors Shine at New Balance Indoor Track and Field Championships We are excited to share that Hanne Thomsen and Amrie Lacefield, both seniors at Montgomery High School, ran with #excellence at the New Balance Indoor Track and Field Championships in March 13 - 16 in Boston! Hanne placed second in the 2-mile championship with a time of 10:07:44 and took third place in the 1-mile championship with a time of 4:40:58! Amrie placed 37th overall in the 2-mile with a time of 10:44:04 outrunning 100 competitors! Read about their accomplishments here. Congratulations Hanne and Amrie!   School Nutrition Advisory Committee If you are passionate about improving school food, we would love for you to join us as we improve our school food environment for SRCS students. We are looking for student, family, and staff representatives to join our School Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC).  We will host an informational meeting to discuss how committee members will be selected, updated, and participate in discussions. The SNAC town hall meetings will be scheduled in the future. Click HERE to sign up for updates.  Spanish translation will be available. All are welcome! Please join us.   Superintendent Cafecitos We would like to thank the parents and guardians who attended our “Superintendent Cafecitos” at Piner High School on March 13. We greatly appreciate each of you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us.  Superintendent Cafecitos will take place monthly at different schools throughout the district, offering a wonderful opportunity to meet our Superintendent, ask questions, and connect with community members. Complimentary refreshments will be provided, and the meeting will be conducted in Spanish and English. We hope to see you there! Join us for our next Superintendent Cafecitos at Hilliard Comstock Middle School on Thursday, April 23, at 8:30 a.m. Details for the May Cafecitos will be released soon.    SRCS Consolidation/Transition Webpage Now Available We are excited to announce that our Consolidation/Transition webpage is now live and accessible through our Santa Rosa City Schools website. This webpage will serve as a central hub for the latest updates regarding our schools as we move to consolidate programs. It will feature timely information, resources, frequently asked questions, and announcements to ensure families, students, and staff are well-informed throughout the process. The page will be updated regularly, and we encourage you to visit the page often. We value your feedback. You can ask questions or share concerns you have by completing a form on the webpage. The forms will be submitted directly to Santa Rosa City Schools staff and we will work to provide answers in a timely manner. Questions we receive through this process will be answered and added to the FAQ section of the webpage.  SRCS Consolidation/Transition Plan Webpage   Education Services Highlight In February we hosted another round of Ethnic Studies 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. Our SRCS staff engaged in meaningful reflection, growth and collaboration. This work continues to inform our pedagogy ensuring the tenants of Ethnic Studies are present and purposefully integrated in our curriculum as well to inform our work as we consolidate and reimagine our district. Ethnic Studies 3.0 included dialogue with a panel of Asian American students and a visit to the Museum of Sonoma County for a guided tour of their permanent exhibit on local history, which emphasizes the contributions of racialized groups and allows visitors to engage with the past through the power of storytelling. Special thanks to our Teacher on Special Assignment Heather Garcia Rossi for her efforts and expertise.     Business Services Highlight At the March 12th Board meeting, our fiscal team presented the 2nd interim budget report. This report reflects the expected financial activity for the current year and provides projections for future years based on current factors. With so many unknown factors at the federal, state, and local levels, the team provided four potential scenarios for financial outcomes. You can find a link to the full report and presentation under item F3. At the March 26th meeting, the Board accepted the 2023/24 financial audit. A key highlight is that for the sixth year in a row, the district did not have any findings. To read the audit report, please see item F1. Facilities Projects Update 3.26.25   Special Services Update SRCS is forming a special education task force to implement recommendations from our special education study presented in January. This will be a four to five year project. We are seeking a diverse group including parents, teachers, students, administrators, classified staff, and community members,  to review and implement the study to improve services for all learners. The task force will meet in May to set a schedule for the next year, and start prioritizing recommendations for implementation. Anyone interested in serving on the task force can read the Statement of Purpose and complete an application.  Special Olympics Cesar Chavez Language Academy hosted the Middle Distance Foot Race on March 28. Nearly 100 athletes from schools around Sonoma County competed in this exciting event. We would like to thank all competitors, staff and parents that made this event a success.   We Want To Hear From You Santa Rosa City Schools is working on a student cell phone use policy.  We want to ensure that student voice helps guide this work. Please watch for a survey in the next week or two in which we ask your feedback on how cell phones play a role in student lives. We want to ensure that as many student voices as possible are part of our creation of policy!   Upcoming Events Roots of Resilience Mural Unveiling Celebration Join the celebration of the unveiling of Montgomery High School’s Student Mural, Roots of Resilience, on April 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Montgomery High School Student Union building and quad. Initiating with a ceremonial opening provided by Danza Mexica the students will bring us together in an evening of cultural celebration and connection. Feel the power of culture and resilience of our communities through Danza Mexica, Lowriders, Ballet Folklorico, music, and food. The community is invited to participate in an evening of community love, connection, and art. About the Mural Project: The Mural Project came together from a cohort of 10 students, working alongside cultural muralists from Raizes Collective. Roots of Resilience, a student-led mural project, which was initiated in October 2024, is recognized for its vibrant color palette, cultural representation and reflection of the intricacies of student identity. In a discussion with students, they described their design as a representation of stories of immigration, indigenous relations, personal journeys of growth and transformation, and the resilience of culture and ancestral ways of knowing. Their depiction of cultural elements in relation to Latin America and the Philippines serve as identity markers that center the complexity of living in the United States in connection with distant motherlands. Student Muralists reflected on their Raices, Roots, and the power of ancestral connections to indigenous peoples of the Islands, and MesoAmerica, feeding their resilience today. Through their Mural design the students depict the ancestral influences of culture, power, resilience and connection bringing light to the rich diversity of Montgomery High School and the broader Santa Rosa City Schools student population. Reclassifying For Success The community is invited to celebrate our Multilingual Learners who have successfully met all criteria to be reclassified from EL (English Learners) to RFEP (Reclassified Fluent English Proficient) on May 8 at 6 p.m. at Santa Rosa High School. This is a significant milestone, and we hope you can make it.  For more details, see the flyer.    2025-2026 School Registration Open Registration for the 2025-2026 school year for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten through 12th grade, is open. For more information, visit the SRCS website.   Calling All Volunteers, Consultants/Contractors, and Student Teachers! We are excited to welcome you to our school community. To get started, all necessary forms will be provided through the Be A Mentor website. Please ensure that you complete these forms to facilitate your participation. Additionally, fingerprinting is required. You can schedule your fingerprinting appointment by emailing fingerprinting@srcs.k12.ca.us. Thank you for your dedication and support!   Helpful Website Links Technology HelpSRCS SchoolsAeries Parent Portal Info  Santa Rosa City Schools | 707-890-3800 | srcschools.org Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! @SRCSchools #SRCSHeartsAndMinds #WeAreSRCS

Monday, Apr 07 2025

SRCS Transition Plan Updates - Week of April 7

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, SRCS Staff, and Community Members,  We must share timely information and update you on our progress as we transition to 7-12 schools and consolidate programs. As part of our effort to ensure timely communication with our community, we will share weekly updates about this process.  Below is what we have coordinated or are working on this week: Communication We are working to update the transition plan webpage on our website so it reflects timely/accurate information. James Hodgman, our Public Information Officer, met with our information technology team to discuss this on Monday, April 7.  We are focused on sharing what our schools will look like in the future. With this in mind, we have arranged radio interviews with our staff. Dr. Daisy Morales, our Superintendent, was interviewed on Wine Country Radio’s Spanish stations about the future of our schools. Our Executive Director of Education Services, Alisa Haley, will be interviewed on Wine Country Radio’s English stations on April 9.  Our goal is to keep our community informed about our consolidation/transition efforts and will do our best to send weekly updates by noon on Monday of each week regarding our consolidation/transition efforts via Parent Square and through printed materials in English and Spanish at each site. The next update should be sent out on April 7. Our communication team met with the Sonoma County Office of Education on April 3 to discuss how to best support and advance communication efforts going forward. We plan to release a series of infographics and other products to advance messaging around consolidation/transition. We will meet again on April 10. James Hodgman attended the Design Team meeting on April 4 to learn about the latest regarding our consolidation/transition efforts. He plans to attend the Implementation Team meeting on April 7 and the next Design Team meeting on April 11. We are coordinating with the Press Democrat for multiple stories/interviews to highlight consolidation efforts.  Education Services -  Empower Teams Actions / Decisions MHS / HSMS April 8 next Empower Meeting Slater is sharing their tradition of Morale Club with the Monty staff Staff from both sites are coming together as a department to articulate and plan vertically and ways to support one another. Thursday April 3 VAPA meeting Slater has created a “Can Do” committee that consists of staff interested in planning activities to support students and families to close out the year and continue long standing traditions. Activities that are planned (Leadership/Activities): April 25 - Astronomy Night May 2 - 8th Grade Dinner/Dance/Party May 27 - 8th Grade Event @ Epicenter SRHS / SRMS Weekly meetings held with the Executive Director and site administrators. April 3, 2025 listening session at SRMS. On April 8, we will host coffee with the Principals with Dr. Fong and Dr. O’Conner and Dr. Perez for the SRMS community at SRMS. The next Empower Team meeting at SRMS is set for April 16. April 17, Panther Cub Night: A welcome event for rising 7th and 8th graders, families and staff at SRHS.  Special Services 4/7/2025 Finalize facilities needs - Sites have been selected for special education program classes; need to finish designating specific classrooms and rooms for specialists such as speech therapists, etc. Listening session for parents of special education students will held at Montgomery High School the evening of April 22. The decision to delay the move of Lela pre-school classes to Biella by one year due to facilities adjustment needs (bathrooms) will be presented at the next Board meeting Meeting with SCOE/SELPA on April 7, for further discussion about support. Exec. Director meeting with principals of MHS and Maria Carrillo High School. Preparing transitions with Program Managers and case managers for incoming students from feeder districts. Business Services Kelley Cook purchased supplies for staff moves and school site consolidation. The supplies will be delivered to sites the week of April 21st. Kelley is coordinating the placement of additional waste and recycling dumpsters at sites significantly impacted by school consolidations. The additional dumpsters will be on site and available for use the week of April 14. Ed Burke and CNS will join school site community events to engage with families and students and address questions or concerns about meal services at school sites.  Repeated from last week:  Erik Oden met with the Empower Teams at Montgomery HS, toured areas of the campus, and answered questions from the team to determine the best places to house the 7/8th graders on campus. The Montgomery HS Empower Team has settled on the first floor of the new building, with restrooms and 15 portables at the back of campus.  Repeated from last week:  Planning for a Piner HS 7/8th grade area is also underway, as we collaborate with a design team and the site staff on a solution.  Repeated from last week:  Planning is underway to add new restrooms at the Albert Biella Elementary School site to allow the move from Lewis Early Education Academy and Steele Lane Elementary in 2026.  Repeated from last week:  Planning is underway for TK/K rooms at sites to accommodate the influx of students.  Repeated from last week : Erik Oden and the facilities team continue to work with the site Empower Teams at SRHS/SRMS and MHS/HSMS to find appropriate spaces for everyone.  Facilities are working with SPED to finalize the classrooms' locations. We are also planning for year two moves, including TK/K buildings at SRMS and Comstock and a new classroom building with bathrooms for PHS. Wellness & Engagement As part of the intradistrict open enrollment process, we are scheduling hearings to ensure that all concerns are addressed thoroughly and in accordance with district policy and procedures. Currently reviewing and identifying the placement of School-Based Therapists for the 2025–2026 school year. This process involves assessing site needs, student support data, and available resources to ensure equitable and effective mental health services across all campuses. A field trip with LandPath's Stand for the Land program to Bohemia Ecological Preserve is being planned for April 11 for Santa Rosa High School youth to assist students with the transition to new schools Human Resources Currently in the final phase of negotiations with SRTA and CSEA regarding the impacts and effects of layoffs. Prepared and distributed Certificated Letters of Intent and Classified Reasonable Assurance Letters to employees. Human Resources is tracking the responses for staffing purposes for the 2025-2026 school year.   Meeting with Site Administrators to discuss Short Masters for the 2025-2026 school year  (4/7-4/11). Glossary CNS: Child Nutrition Services CSEA: Classified School Employees Association CTE: Career Technical Education HS: High School HSMS: Herbert Slater Middle School MHS: Montgomery High School MOU: Memorandum of Understanding OT: Occupational Therapy PHS: Piner High School SELPA: Special Education Local Plan Area SCOE: Sonoma County Office of Education SLPs: Speech Language Pathologists SRCS: Santa Rosa City Schools SPED: Special Education Department SRHS: Santa Rosa High School SRMS: Santa Rosa Middle School SRTA: Santa Rosa Teachers Association TK/K: Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten VAPA: Visual and Performing Arts

Monday, Apr 07 2025

Loss of Beloved Teacher

Dear SRCS Community, It is with heavy hearts that we share that Trish Terrell, a beloved English Teacher at Maria Carrillo High School who served our district for nearly 20 years, passed away yesterday after a courageous battle with an illness. Her passing is a profound loss for Maria Carrillo and our entire community. Trish was a beloved member of our school family; her dedication and impact will be deeply missed. During this difficult time, we want to emphasize that we are here to support our community. Grief counselors will be available in the Wellness Center on Monday to comfort and assist staff and students who may need it. We encourage anyone affected to take advantage of this resource. We will share information, including details about services or tributes, as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, our thoughts are with Trish's family, friends, colleagues, and students. Respectfully, Santa Rosa City Schools

Sunday, Apr 06 2025

Student Nutrition Advisory Committee

Dear Parents, Guardians, SRCS Staff, and Students, If you are passionate about improving school food, we would love for you to join us as we improve our school food environment for SRCS students. We are looking for student, family, and staff representatives to join our School Nutrition Advisory Committee (SNAC).  We will host an informational meeting to discuss how committee members will be selected, updated, and participate in discussions. The SNAC town hall meetings will be scheduled in the future. Click  HERE  to sign up for updates.  Spanish translation will be available. All are welcome! Please join us. Respectfully, Santa Rosa City Schools

Friday, Apr 04 2025

October 2024 Newsletter

​ ​ Newsletter October 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ Superintendent's Message ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hello SRCS Community!  As we transition into the fall season, the crisp air and changing leaves remind us that the holiday season is right around the corner. It’s a time filled with celebration, reflection, and an opportunity to connect with one another. Fall is my favorite season!! This October, we are thrilled to celebrate a momentous occasion—Santa Rosa High School’s 150th anniversary! For a century and a half, this beloved institution has been a cornerstone of education in our community, nurturing generations of students and fostering excellence both inside and outside the classroom. We are incredibly proud of this milestone and look forward to honoring Santa Rosa High's rich history this month. With the school year well underway, this is also an ideal time to check in with your students. Whether it’s asking them about how they are feeling, how they are managing their schoolwork, a or simply what they need to thrive, these conversations are invaluable. By fostering open communication, we can ensure that every student feels supported, heard, and motivated to succeed. Your partnership is key in helping us create a nurturing environment where all students can flourish. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our schools and our students. I look forward to all the wonderful events and celebrations ahead. In community, Dr. Daisy Morales Superintendent ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Safety Focus ​ ​ ​ ​ In our continued commitment to safety and proactive planning, we have developed a comprehensive school safety framework and are currently creating content for staff training and public information. It's crucial to remember that safety is a shared responsibility. Our framework is founded on the principles of embracing, engaging, and empowering our community, as ensuring the safety of our students—both in and out of school—requires a collective effort from all of us. We welcome input from all of you as we work to continue developing our framework. On September 17, our entire district leadership team—consisting of approximately 100 employees, including principals, vice principals, assistant principals, executive directors, directors, and assistant superintendents—received training on the new Sonoma County Essential Five Emergency Responses and the implementation of the Incident Command System (ICS). The training was conducted using a trainer-of-trainers model. Our first full-day professional learning session is on November 1 and will be dedicated to safety training. All staff will receive instruction on the Essential Five, the Incident Command System (ICS), and how ICS will be implemented at their respective schools. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Introducing the New Student Safety & Parent Notification Page ​ ​ ​ ​ At SRCS, student safety is our top priority, and we are dedicated to creating a secure learning environment for all. We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Student Safety & Parent Notification page on the SRCS website. This page provides important information about the recently adopted Sonoma County Essential Five emergency response protocol, detailing the key steps our schools will follow in any emergency situation. You’ll also find our comprehensive parent notification procedures, ensuring families are kept informed and connected in real time.  Visit the page to learn more about our unwavering commitment to keeping our schools safe. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Reminder: No School Friday, November 1 - Professional Development Day ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Congratulations Jen Uken! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Congratulations to Jen Uken of Albert F. Biella Elementary for being named Teacher of the Year for Sonoma County! Jen was honored by the Sonoma County Office of Education with a reception on September 18. Many of her colleagues were present to celebrate her achievement. We are incredibly proud to have her represent Santa Rosa City Schools as the outstanding educator she is. Please join us in celebrating Jen and her amazing contributions to our school and community! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Open Enrollment (Intra-district transfer) for 2025-26 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Most students attend their neighborhood school and build friendships and community there. Some students have reasons to request another school. Open Enrollment is the time to make that request for the next school year (2025-26). The application period is NOW OPEN through November 15. Online Applications can be found on the district website and must be completed online during that window. Families who need assistance can come to the Wellness and Engagement office at 110 Stony Point Road, Suite 105. School capacities may restrict availability. See the SRCS district website for more information on Open Enrollment, also known as an intra-district transfer. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Charter School Lottery ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Families interested in enrolling their children in one of our district's charter schools can submit applications from October 1 through November 15.  The public lottery will be held on December 12 to determine student placement. After the lottery, school sites will reach out to families to confirm whether a spot has been reserved for their student or if they have been placed on a waiting list. Click here to apply for the lottery. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Superintendent Cafecitos ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Join us for our next Superintendent Cafecitos at Slater Middle School on Friday, October 11!  Superintendent Cafecitos will be taking place monthly at different schools throughout the district (except for December), offering a wonderful opportunity to meet our Superintendent, ask questions, and connect with fellow community members. Complimentary refreshments will be provided, and the meeting will be conducted in both Spanish and English. We hope to see you there! Details about November’s Cafecito will be released soon. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Santa Rosa Halloween Bash - Oct. 26 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Santa Rosa's Violence Prevention Partnership and Recreation & Parks are co-hosting the 4th annual Trunk or Treat at Finley Community Park! When: Saturday, October 26 Time: 4:00 - 6:30pm Where: Finley Community Park The event is FREE to attend! Be sure to stop by the SRCS table—we can't wait to see you there! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Community Parent Night - Oct. 16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Are you looking to support your student more effectively? Mark your calendars for the Multilingual Services Department Community Parent Night on October 16th! Together, we can achieve success. Stay tuned for more details—this is an event you won’t want to miss! When: Wednesday, October 16 Time: 5:00 - 8:00pm Where: Albert F. Biella Elementary ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Calling All Volunteers, Consultants/Contractors, and Student Teachers! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are excited to welcome you to our school community. To get started, all necessary forms will be provided through the Be A Mentor website. Please ensure that you complete these forms to facilitate your participation. Additionally, fingerprinting is required. You can schedule your fingerprinting appointment by emailing fingerprinting@srcs.k12.ca.us. Thank you for your dedication and support! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Helpful Website Links ​ ​ ​ ​ Technology Help ​ ​ ​ ​ SRCS Schools ​ ​ ​ ​ Aeries Parent Portal Info ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Santa Rosa City Schools | 707-890-3800 | srcschools.org ​ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! @SRCSchools #SRCSHeartsAndMinds #WeAreSRCS ​ ​

Tuesday, Oct 08 2024

September 2024 Newsletter

​ ​ Newsletter September 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ Superintendent's Message ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hello SRCS Community!  It's that exciting time of year—our Back to School Nights are in full swing! Our principals and teachers are brimming with energy as they work hard to create vibrant, engaging, and empowering environments for our students. We’re so proud of the strong start we’ve had and can’t wait to see all the wonderful things this year will bring! I also have something special to share—our first Superintendent Cafecitos of the year is happening at Biella Elementary! I warmly invite you to join me for a meet and greet, ask any questions you have, and enjoy some delicious refreshments. The meeting will be in both Spanish and English, so everyone is welcome.  Let’s come together as a community and kick off this year with great conversations and connections! In community, Dr. Daisy Morales Superintendent ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Facilities Update: Progress Across SRCS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Our Facilities Department has been hard at work improving our schools! Key projects for 2023-2024 include remodeling restrooms at several high schools, upgrading roofing and HVAC systems, and refreshing gym floors. We’ve also begun exterior painting at multiple sites to keep our campuses looking their best. Looking ahead to 2024-2025, we’re excited about the ongoing construction of a new two-story building at Montgomery High School and the relocation of our District Office. We’re also designing new pilot classrooms for elementary and high schools, as well as planning for all-access restrooms and transitional kindergarten classrooms. These efforts are part of our commitment to creating safe, modern, and welcoming spaces for our students and staff. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build a better future together! Click here to view the facilities presentation that took place during the August 28 board meeting. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Superintendent Cafecitos ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Join us for our first District Cafecitos of the year at Biella Elementary on Thursday, September 19!  Superintendent Cafecitos will be taking place monthly at different schools throughout the district (except for December), offering a wonderful opportunity to meet our Superintendent, ask questions, and connect with fellow community members. Complimentary refreshments will be provided, and the meeting will be conducted in both Spanish and English. We hope to see you there! Details about October’s Cafecito will be released soon. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Charter School Lottery ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Families interested in enrolling their children in one of our district's charter schools can submit applications from October 1 through November 15.  The public lottery will be held on December 12 to determine student placement. After the lottery, school sites will reach out to families to confirm whether a spot has been reserved for their student or if they have been placed on a waiting list. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Open Enrollment (Intra-district transfer) for 2025-26 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Most students attend their neighborhood school and build friendships and community there. Some students have reasons to request another school. "Open Enrollment," from Oct. 1 - Nov. 15, 2024, is the time to make that request for the next school year (2025-26).  Online Applications can be found on the district website and must be completed online during that window. Families who need assistance can come to the Wellness and Engagement office at 110 Stony Point Road, Suite 105. School capacities may restrict availability. See the SRCS district website for more information on Open Enrollment, also known as an intra-district transfer. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ South Park Day & Night Festival - Sept. 14 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Come celebrate community and fun at the Vince Harper's South Park Day & Night Festival on Saturday, September 14, from 2pm - 6pm at MLK Jr. Park (1671 Hendley Street, Santa Rosa, CA).  Enjoy an afternoon of free music, food, entertainment, and activities for the kids. Stay for a special movie screening at 7:30pm. Be sure to stop by the SRCS table—we can't wait to see you there! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Calling All Volunteers, Consultants/Contractors, and Student Teachers! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are excited to welcome you to our school community. To get started, all necessary forms will be provided through the Be A Mentor website. Please ensure that you complete these forms to facilitate your participation. Additionally, fingerprinting is required. You can schedule your fingerprinting appointment by emailing fingerprinting@srcs.k12.ca.us. Thank you for your dedication and support! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Community Parent Night - Oct. 16 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Are you looking to support your student more effectively? Mark your calendars for the Multilingual Services Department Community Parent Night on October 16th! Together, we can achieve success. Stay tuned for more details—this is an event you won’t want to miss! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Helpful Website Links ​ ​ ​ ​ Technology Help ​ ​ ​ ​ SRCS Schools ​ ​ ​ ​ Aeries Parent Portal Info ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Santa Rosa City Schools | 707-890-3800 | srcschools.org ​ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! @SRCSchools #SRCSHeartsAndMinds #WeAreSRCS ​ ​

Tuesday, Sep 10 2024