Superintendent's Communication to Families- November...

November 5, 2021 Dear Solana Beach School District families, Please find two important updates below: COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Ages 5-11 As you may be aware, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the COVID-19 vaccination was approved by the FDA and is now available for children ages 5-11. The CDC has issued a recommendation for children in this age group to be vaccinated. In preparation,  Solana Beach School District is finalizing: The process for families to provide proof of vaccination status, and Voluntary onsite vaccination clinic schedules to support families.  Please expect more detailed information in the upcoming weeks about both of these items. At this time, the vaccine created by Pfizer is the only one available to individuals ages 5 to 11. According to the FDA, the vaccine is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart, but is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).  If you plan to get your child vaccinated, first check with your health care provider for availability. If you cannot get a vaccination from a health care provider, visit myturn.ca.gov or the  County of San Diego vaccination website , or check with your local pharmacy or community clinic.  To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccination process, please visit the county’s  resource webpage .   An important reminder: Although vaccine availability for children 5 to 11 moves us one step closer to California’s plan to mandate vaccines for all school-aged children, the state’s new regulation won’t apply until vaccines for juveniles, ages 12-17, and children, ages 5-11, have been fully authorized by the FDA. Once the vaccines are fully approved, students will have until the next term to complete their vaccinations in order to  attend school in person. State officials have said that July 1 is the earliest the mandate is expected to begin. Book Donations to Solana Beach School Libraries and Schools School Libraries -  In the spring of 2021 a set of 15 elementary-age trade books was donated to each Solana Beach School District campus from the Gender Nation organization. These books have a common theme of self-acceptance and being comfortable with being different, with an emphasis on those who may not conform to gender norms and/or those whose gender does not match their biological sex assigned at birth. Solana Ranch School Library - Solana Ranch recently received a donation of trade books from local Girl Scouts Troop #4524. Approximately 60 books, a mixture of picture and chapter books, have a common theme of environmental compassion and care for the Earth, and were donated in support of the efforts of the EnviroHawks. Solana Vista School Library - Solana Vista recently received a donation of trade books from The Conscious Kid organization. The ten picture books, donated to Title I schools, feature Asian authors and illustrators with the goal of amplifying Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices. Solana Beach School District Board Policy 3290 - Gifts,Grants and Bequests - requires that donations be Board approved, and that gifts of books and instructional materials may only be accepted if they meet district criteria for the selection of instructional materials. Click here to view  Board Policy 6161.1   and  Administrative Regulation 6161.1 , which guide the selection of instructional materials. When incorporating supplementary instructional materials, such as trade books, into school libraries, the following guiding principles are used as criteria for selection: Afford students opportunities to recognize the contributions of people from a variety of groups throughout history in the context of the local community, state, country, and world (texts are representative of all groups of people from local and broader communities). Embed opportunities for students, families, staff, and community members to share their experiences and hear the experiences of all groups of people, both in and out of school settings (including those from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds, those with a range of abilities, and those from across the gender spectrum). Purposes include instructive, recreational, building a love of and appreciation for reading, and boosting students’ social and emotional competencies. Therefore, the texts under consideration may support one or more of the following: Relevance to adopted course(s) of study and curricular goals, inclusive of California state content standards and associated frameworks. Support for social and emotional competencies, as defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Present multiple perspectives on topics as a means of promoting critical thinking.  Honor and respect individual families’ personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs. The book donations described above will be presented to the Board of Education at the regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 18. In preparation and in conjunction with BP 6161.1, we would like to extend the opportunity for parents, guardians, and families to preview any or all of the books being donated.  All books will be available for parent and family preview, from November 9-18. Please expect a letter from your school principal sharing how to schedule a time to preview these materials.  Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent Next Regular Board Meeting Thursday, November 18, 2021, via Zoom, at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov 06 2021

November 4, 2021 Superintendent's Message to Familie...

November 4, 2021 Dear Solana Beach School District families: Yesterday, you may have heard about an attempted abduction that occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the park near Solana Ranch School, an hour and a half after the school’s dismissal time. While it was not a Solana Ranch student,  we are happy to report  the child was unharmed. At this time, the incident is being investigated by the San Diego Police Department. It has afforded us an opportunity for school staff and families to take time to reinforce safety measures with their students.  While we are unable to share specific details surrounding this incident, we strongly encourage you to please take time to review information shared by  the Sheriff’s Department with your children regarding stranger danger: Make sure your children are walking to and from school in a group and/or with an adult supervising. Remind your child to  never talk to strangers. If someone approaches them in any way, they should not talk to the person but immediately scream loudly and run to the school, nearest adult they know, neighbor’s house, etc. Do not take shortcuts or different routes to or from school. Have a plan and make sure your children know you expect them to walk with friends and a certain route every day. Report any unusual occurrences to the school office. We have an extensive network whereby we notify all other schools and they also notify our district so we can keep our children safe. If you see a vehicle or an individual that looks “out of place” or suspicious, write down the license number and a brief description of the car and person. The police follow up on this information and our assistance may optimize positive outcomes.. Thank you for your attention to helping us reinforce safety precautions  and expectations with your children. Working together, we can help  keep our children safe. Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent [Thursday, Nov 4 at 2:38 PM] Please note the corrected date as November 4, 2021. Thank you.

Thursday, Nov 04 2021

Board Bulletin for October 28, 2021 Meeting

Special Board Meeting on October 28, 2021 Students playing the "Buddy Up Game" inspired by Sanford Harmony SEL curriculum. Students play weekly with a new buddy to get to know each other. Highlights from the Meeting Teaching and Learning Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Solana Beach School District remains committed to creating and implementing a clear, consistent, and student-centered Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework so that  all students experience a safe and effective school environment. To that end, the District’s SEL Team, Co-Chaired by Executive Director of Special Education Kim Pinkerton and Coordinator of Student Services Lauren Leahy, targets support to school SEL Teams. The SEL focus strives to ensure that all students are connected to an adult in a safe and positive environment, support staff in developing SEL competencies in students, and provide parent education. The Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant made it possible to increase school counseling services and added a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to support SEL goals. In order to assess SEL needs, an eight-question Universal Screener, aligned to the CASEL competencies, was administered from September 20 to October 4. Students rated themselves on statements such as “I have a trusted adult at school” and “I work well with others in a group.” The results from the survey, as well as possible supports and actions, were shared with the Board of Education. The District staff presentation may be accessed  here . Board Directions and Actions Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Funds The Solana Beach School District receives Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds, part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Education considered, discussed, and approved the third apportionment of ESSER III funds, allocated to support in-person instruction and address students’ academic, social-emotional, and mental health needs. The District is scheduled to receive $1,324,006, and was required to adopt a spending plan for the funds by October 29, 2021. The SBSD spending plan includes funds for: Health and Safety, including Increased ventilation, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and COVID-19 testing; Staffing, including Instructional support and supervision, and an Assistant Principal;  Parent Education, including academic and social-emotional supports; and,  Professional Learning, including academic and social-emotional support and culturally responsive teaching. The ESSER III grant monies will be directed to address the impact of lost instructional time with: Accelerated learning, Increased staffing, Additional staffing hours, Additional instructional materials, and Professional learning. The District ESSER III plan will monitor progress through multiple measures. Adoption of Resolution of 100121 Continuing Authority to Hold Meetings Pursuant to AB 361 Due to continuing levels of COVID-19 transmission in the area, and the need to consider the health and safety of attendees, the Board voted to continue to hold its meetings virtually. Upcoming Board Meeting Join Us Again! The Solana Beach School District is currently hosting all Board meetings via Zoom video conferencing. Join us using the link below: SBSD Board meeting link Next Regular Board Meeting The next regular Board Meeting will be held virtually on November 18, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Follow Us!  #SBSDEDU

Wednesday, Nov 03 2021

Board Bulletin for October 14, 2021 Meeting

Board Meeting on October 14, 2021   Last Thursday evening the Board of Education celebrated two groups of certificated staff members-- --New certificated staff members, who were hired in the past year; and --Certificated staff members who moved from probationary to permanent status this year. Board members expressed their appreciation for the staff members' enthusiastic dedication to student learning and their commitment to the well-being of children. These employees, including teachers, learning specialists, and counselors, were introduced to the Board by their students in an Employee Recognition Video. Please click below to enjoy this brief video: Employee Recognition Video- October 14, 2021 Highlights from the Meeting Recognitions Board Welcomes New Certificated Staff The Board welcomed the following new certificated staff members via zoom:   Carmel Creek: Katherine Ammentorp, Rheanna Cowee, Nicolette Dennis, Nicasio Latasa, Anjali Shroff, and Amy Tyler  District Office: Rosemary Corzine Skyline: Nadia Sinno  Solana Highlands: Kylie Kersey and Diana Kwon  Solana Ranch: Brooke Oberhauser and Kelly O'Hair   Solana Santa Fe: Summer McNett Solana Vista: Sabrina Milligan and Hollyn Toomey Boa rd Recognizes Certificated Staff Who Earned Permanent Status The Board recognized the following  certificated staff members who have achieved permanent status, via zoom:   Carmel Creek: Lisa Clendenin, Hanna Redo, and Jennifer Robinson  Skyline: Claire Hustava   Solana Highlands: Erin Nagel and Elizabeth Schlicher   Solana Pacific: Cassie Bess and Shelby Cleveland  Solana Ranch: Cobi Campbell, Elena Colvin, Melissa Dow, Megan Laughlin, Laurie Miller, Katherine Schmucker, and Kimberly Tiffany Solana Santa Fe: Stella Erkam, Hayley Hankins, Alicia Park, Seelye Ranu and Stephanie Voucas  Teaching and Learning Consideration of health and safety measures After a presentation and discussion, the Board of Education voted to accept staff's recommendation that the Solana Beach School District strongly recommends, but does not require, outdoor masking for students, except that masks will be required for outdoor assemblies and instructional activities. This change in mask requirements will be effective as of November 1, 2021. Board Directions and Actions Acceptance of Donations The Board expressed their appreciation and accepted the following donations to the Solana Beach School District: From the Solana Santa Fe Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), a donation of $30,510.84 to support personnel, materials, and supplies for the 2021-22 school year; From the Solana Beach Elementary PTA, a donation of $20,000.00 to support Solana Vista School for new seating, furniture, and outfitting for the Library/Media Center; From the Solana Beach Elementary PTA, a donation of $5,200.00 to support Solana Vista School personnel, materials, and supplies for the 2021-22 school year; and From CN School and Office Solution, a donation of $500 for the Solana Vista Grand Reopening Ceremony. Waiver of Traditional Brown Act  Teleconferencing Requirements Due to continuing levels of COVID-19 transmission in the area, and the need to consider the health and safety of attendees, the Board voted to continue to hold its meetings virtually. Appointment of Executive Director, Special Education  The Board announced that, in closed session, it had voted to appoint Kimberly Pinkerton, the current principal of Skyline School, to be the Executive Director, Special Education Programs and Services, as of November 1, 2021. Kim Pinkerton has served as a principal for 19 years, joining SBSD in 2019. Former Skyline principal Doug Kramer will serve as  interim Skyline principal until that post is permanently filled. Upcoming Board Meeting Join Us Again! The Solana Beach School District is currently hosting all Board meetings via Zoom video conferencing. Join us using the link below: SBSD Board meeting link Next Regular Board Meeting November 18, 6:30 p.m. Follow Us!  #SBSDEDU

Tuesday, Oct 19 2021

Board Bulletin for September 23, 2021, Special Meeting

Special Board Meeting on September 23, 2021 Highlights from the Meeting Teaching and Learning Workshop on Academic Progress The Instructional Services staff presented an overview of student academic performance for the 2020-21 school year, summer intervention programs, and the Fall of 2021. The report reviewed English Language Arts and Math data gathered from students’ iReady diagnostic assessments. Staff then identified areas for growth and discussed next steps.  2020-21 Student Performance iReady Assessment data showed that SBSD students are making consistent learning gains at a steady rate even with  2020-21’s challenges and pandemic limitations.  Since i-Ready was administered in lieu of the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) last year, i-Ready provided a crosswalk, or approximation, of SBA scores so staff could compare student performance across three years. Reading scores remained consistent with prior years’ gains. Math scores showed a small percentage (2%-5%) fewer students are meeting/exceeding grade level standards compared to 2019. Geometry has been identified as an area for growth. Summer Interventions Data showed that summer intervention programs had a significant positive impact on student learning, with strong growth for K-2 Reading and Math and 3-5 Reading. Math summer intervention impact in grades 3-5 is identified as an area for growth. Fall 2021 Student Performance Students have built strong foundational literacy skills in the K-2 years, leading to overall successful readers exiting grade 6. Vocabulary and Informational Text Comprehension have been identified as areas of growth. Districtwide, students’ proficiency in Math remains steady. A small percentage of students are experiencing learning gaps in Math. Data Summit Meetings Principals are working with school site staff, and teachers are collaborating on Early Release Wednesdays, to analyze data and monitor student performance. Professional learning is focused on reviewing trends and developing targeted action steps.  Board Directions and Actions Ventilation and Filtration Safe and healthy air has always been important to  the Solana Beach School District, even before COVID-19. Ventilation protocols are assessed on a regular basis and appropriate actions are taken as necessary. The District recently contracted with P2S, an engineering and design firm, to evaluate the current ventilation and filtration systems in our schools supporting the maximization of  safety mitigation measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. P2S concluded the current ventilation and  MERV 13 filtration systems meet safety requirements. Nonetheless, the engineers found that the District could further improve air quality by installing additional filtration systems. As a result of a recent reevaluation of alternatives to improve air quality at our schools, staff recommends that the District: Proceed with the purchase of portable units with HEPA filters for 140 locations in the District to remove potential pathogens from the air in school buildings, at a cost estimate of $420,000, and Further investigate a long-range process of installing fan-filters to further improve the quality of air in our schools for years to come. The cost would vary school to school depending upon the scope of work and Department of State Architect requirements. Staff will gather an estimate of schools currently in the design phase of improving or adding new HVAC systems. This information will be shared with the Board and public at a later date.   Extension of Virtual Board Meetings Solana Beach School District appreciates the increased participation and attendance at its virtual Board meetings during the pandemic.  The Governor signed an Executive Order (Brown Act) which allows public agencies to hold virtual meetings during a declared state of emergency when the health and safety of attendees is at risk. This order was set to expire on September 30, 2021. Recently-signed AB 361 allows agencies to continue to hold public meetings virtually during a declared state of emergency.  According to AB 361, virtual meetings may be held during a declared state of emergency if the agency makes the determination that the virtual meetings promote social distancing and protect the health and safety of attendees. The Board must continue to provide notice of the meeting, post an agenda, and allow public comments during the meeting. Additionally, the Board must notify the public that they have extended the time in which they will conduct virtual meetings.    It is the intention of the Board to continue to meet virtually until pandemic conditions improve. In order to provide continuity and consistency, and because of the current State of Emergency Public Health Order, the Board has extended its plan to hold virtual meetings through October 14, 2021. This will be a standing item on each Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting agenda until conditions change. Upcoming Board Meeting Join Us Again! The Solana Beach School District is currently hosting all Board meetings via Zoom video conferencing. Join us using the link below: SBSD Board meeting link Next Regular Board Meeting Thursday, October 14, 2021, 6:30 p.m. Follow Us!  #SBSDEDU

Wednesday, Sep 29 2021

Board Bulletin for September 8, 2021, Regular Meeting

Board Meeting on September 8, 2021 Highlights from the Meeting Back to School!   Principals’ reports on the 2021-22 School Opening   On behalf of all of the principals, Katie Zimmer, Principal, Solana Vista School, expressed her gratitude for the support received from the district office staff, including Instructional Services, Technology, Human Resources, Business Services, Child Nutrition, and Maintenance and Operations, to successfully open schools. Each principal shared specific highlights about their 2021-22 school year opening. Solana Vista School : The Solana Vista Waves are home, and they are thrilled with their beautiful new campus, its natural light, media center, STREAM Lab, and playgrounds. “The Waves are Better Together!”   Solana Santa Fe School: Matthew Frumovitz, Principal, commended all who participated in the herculean effort to get schools open this year. Solana Santa Fe is busy with its own modernization project, including a retaining wall, that will transform the campus. Flexibility is the name of the game, and social emotional support is key. Solana Santa Fe is experiencing an increase in students from Solana Highlands. With 310 students, the school is building for the future. “Our students' joy brings us joy!” Solana Ranch School: Jerry Jones, Principal, and Jen Price, Assistant Principal, welcomed 542 students back to school.  Their theme is “Leaders find their own paths,” and a Leadership Assembly featured impressive speeches. The Hawk reading challenge is encouraging students to read 20 minutes every day, and a World of Work program is helping students to learn their strengths as they relate to future careers. Hawk Pride! Solana Pacific School : Elisa Fregoso, Principal, says that  teachers and staff are the best of the best. This year’s theme, “SP Ohana— A family,”  celebrates the successes of students with the support of PTO partnerships, volunteers, donations, and spirit wear.  A school-wide assembly welcomed the 475 Sandpipers.  Student leaders will be planning activities around “The 8 Habits,” guiding all staff, teachers, and students to “find their voice, and share their ideas.” “Social-emotional is at the forefront of all we do.” Solana Highlands School : Lindsey Conley, Principal, is a newcomer to the District, but already feels a strong connection to her new Dolphin community of 332 students. Fourth graders are back on campus as the school begins to return to  a K-6 school. The newly formed 4th grade student council is busy engaging students around the campus.  An ice cream truck visited the neighborhood to welcome students back to school. “Students love the Discovery Lab!” Skyline School : Ms. Kim Pinkerton, Principal, welcomed 442 4th-6th graders and Global Education students. The Otters appreciate their PTA and Foundation for mini-grants to support  Discovery Lab classrooms. Students learned more about their classmates by reading Alma and How She Got her Name, and used the story to create student artwork to display around campus. “The well-being of students above all.” Child Development Center: Ms. Jennifer Orr, Director, has seen excited students returning to school all across the District. The 18-month-old children are having their first school experience. There are 114 children in preschool and pre-K, 431 students in before- and after-school care, 900 in enrichment classes, and 50 students in Band. Carmel Creek School and ImmersiveEDU: Ms. Angela Tremble, Principal and John Galipault, Assistant Principal, have 356 students at Carmel Creek and 67 at ImmersivEDU, which is now housed in a physical location. The Cougars are preparing live broadcasts on the CC News Network. The first show, starring CC students, is on Positive Behavior Expectations. Students are learning their new routines with a growth mindset jar and rocks with positive messages.   Board Directions and Actions   Update on the 2021-22 School Year   Fingertip Facts 2793 Students attending school in person 68 ImmersivEDU students 477 employees   139 teachers   4 Special Day Class teachers     40 Discovery Lab teachers   31 classified support positions are open, which is more than normal. COVID Report: 3 adults  and 14 students have had confirmed cases through September 7.     Ventilation update   Healthy indoor air quality has always been important in our schools, and now health and safety mitigation measures have brought the discussion of our ventilation systems to the forefront. Maintenance and Operations will work with a consultant to begin an independent evaluation process of our schools to assess and recommend options for increasing the ventilation measures.. Preliminary findings will be reported to the Board in two weeks.   Live-Streaming of Board Meetings   One positive regarding the pandemic has been increased involvement and attendance at school board meetings. The Board and staff appreciate and value the participation of our community during our virtual Board meetings. As of Wednesday, September 8, the Executive Order permitting school board meetings through video conferencing measures was set to expire September 30, 2021. It now appears that this order will be extended through January 31, 2022.  Based on this new information, the proposed pilot of a live-streaming system for the Special Board meeting on September 23, 2021 will be postponed. The District will be prepared to return to in-person meetings and fulfill open meeting requirements, commonly known as the Brown Act--as well as provide continued opportunities for our staff and community to participate electronically--when that time comes. Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Update   Staff reported that no substantial changes have been made to the LCAP, but some language has been clarified and refined at the recommendation of the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). The SDCOE has officially approved and submitted SBSD’s LCAP to the California Department of Education.   Sufficiency of Instructional Materials for 2021-22   The Board held a public hearing and adopted an annually-required resolution certifying that every pupil in each school in the District has, or will have, sufficient content standards-aligned textbooks or instructional materials, or both, in each subject consistent with the content and cycles of the curriculum framework adopted by the state board, including instructional materials for English-learners. Approval of a Donation from Solana Beach Schools Foundation The Board accepted a generous donation from the Solana Beach Schools Foundation to the Solana Beach School District in the amount of $52,707.70 for the 4th quarter 2020-21. The donation will supplement the cost of providing science, technology, research, engineering, arts, math (STREAM), and PE Discovery Labs.   Unaudited actuals   The Board approved and certified the District’s 20-21 Unaudited Financial Report. Upcoming Board Meeting Join Us Again! The Solana Beach School District is currently hosting all Board meetings via Zoom video conferencing. Join us with the link on our website. Next Regular Board Meeting Scheduled for October 14, 2021, 6:30 p.m. Follow Us!  #SBSDEDU

Saturday, Sep 11 2021