September 7, 2007

Evergreen SchoolScene

EVERGREEN SCHOOL DISTRICT HAPPENINGS

Another school year begins

By Kathy Gomez
Evergreen School District Director of Educational Services
Special to the Times

The Evergreen School District opened its doors to students on Aug. 27 for the 147th time.

All told, approximately 13,300 students returned to classes for the 2007-2008 school year. This number represents a slight decline in the District’s total enrollment. While some of Evergreen’s neighborhoods mature and have fewer school age children living in them, newer neighborhoods are finding themselves full of children. This has resulted in a challenge for the District where there is over-enrollment at schools in the southeast corner and under-enrollment throughout the rest.

The District plans to transport approximately 50 Matsumoto first, second, and third grade students to Evergreen School this year. While this offers a short-term solution, it is not ideal. This year, the District will be working with a committee of community members and school personnel to study existing boundaries and projected enrollments to identify a more long-term solution. The larger community will be apprised of the committee’s work as it progresses. It is expected that a recommendation will be made to the Board of Trustees at the February or March Board meeting.
Meanwhile, a new school year means change and this year is no exception, as the 2007-2008 school year will reflect changes in people, programs, and places.

Dove Hill will have a new principal as Tina Choy takes over for Dolores Garcia, who moves on to assume duties as principal at LeyVa Middle School. Garcia is replacing Chris Corpus, who has been appointed Director of Data, Achievement and New Grants. At Cadwallader, Principal Roberta Ortega will replace Denise Williams, who has been appointed Director of Categorical Programs. Ortega has been an educator with the Evergreen School District for many years and is excited to get to know the Cadwallader community. At O.B. Whaley, Michael Fong will join Principal Lisa Artiga and the staff as Assistant Principal. Fong will be replacing long-time Assistant Principal Tony Aguilar, who passed away unexpectedly last April. Fong has served the Evergreen community for many years as a teacher and summer school principal at Cedar Grove School.

The District has been actively pursuing opportunities for after-school programs and this year will offer a variety. Evergreen, the District’s flagship school, is not only welcoming some of Matsumoto’s students but also is housing the after-school YMCA childcare program that was formerly at Matsumoto. This program will join the others currently in operation at Carolyn Clark, J.F. Smith, and Silver Oak. Principals Kathy Shepard, Jeff Smith, Keith Hodgin, and Carole Schmitt are pleased to be able to offer this service to their communities.

Principals Lisa Artiga, Nick Radley and Kelly Johnson are each looking forward to offering an After-School Education and Safety (ASES) program at O.B. Whaley, K.R. Smith, and Montgomery schools, respectively. These programs are funded by the State of California and serve approximately 100 students from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Activities include homework, literacy development, and recreation. Over the summer, Principals Brian Martes, Dan Deguara, and Leila Welch at Cedar Grove, Laurelwood, and Holly Oak learned that their schools are among several others in the District that received city of San Jose After-School Homework Center funding. This service is well received by parents and teachers alike as it provides students with a clean, safe place to complete homework assignments after school.

During summer, several construction projects were continued and the first fruits of the Measure I bond passage are being felt. Millbrook has an entirely new layout. Old portable classrooms have been either replaced by new modular classrooms or completely refurbished and moved to a central location near the front of the school. Principal Hedwig Rucker and the staff are happy about the more efficient use of space and not having to walk so far to get to the office.

Chaboya received a landscaping upgrade. Principal Bette Samdahl said the new grass that has been installed in front of the office along with new trees and planters make for a more welcoming entrance.

Norwood Creek is undergoing phase two of its modernization as well. The school has received new modular buildings, which have been relocated so as to provide a courtyard with outdoor teaching facility. Principal Bob Pruitt is pleased with the work thus far and is looking forward to the project’s completion.

Quimby Oak will have a new library and refurbished science classrooms this year. Seven years ago the school received a new gym. The school’s old gym is being transformed into a new state of the art library and science classroom. Additional projects at the site include the refurbishment of two science rooms, the installation of parking lot lighting, and a new retaining wall. Principal Phil Bond is anticipating that construction will wrap up at the end of September.

These are but a few of the changes that are evident in Evergreen. It promises to be an exciting and busy year!

Executive Director of the California School Boards Association keynote speaker at ESD management retreat
On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the Evergreen School District’s management team and Board of Trustees had the opportunity to hear from a deeply respected and well-known state leader in education. Scott Plotkin, Executive Director of the California School Boards Association was the keynote speaker at the District’s annual management retreat at the San Jose Country Club. Plotkin traveled from Sacramento where he lives and works to share his insights into the educational trends he sees for California.

Plotkin began his presentation to Evergreen’s management team by stating that whether a school district is urban, suburban, or rural, all face similar problems, particularly when it comes to attracting and retaining quality teachers and having stability and flexibility with regard to funding. He highlighted key points of the Getting Down to Facts study, which was commissioned by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, and The Stuart Foundation and the issues it raised with regard to the current state of California school finance and governance.

To promote the cause of education reform, the California School Boards Association, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Children Now, and the Hewlett Foundation have joined together to engage the public and make them aware of needed areas of reform including: recruitment, retention, and equitable distribution of staff; financial and governance support for schools; authority for local revenue raising; and the implementation of an effective statewide student data system.

Plotkin spoke for about an hour and took questions before leaving for his return trip to Sacramento. He closed by thanking the Superintendent and Board for the opportunity to speak and by encouraging the Board of Trustees and District’s management team to add their voice to the discussion by making contact with their local legislators.

As Executive Director of the California School Boards Association, Plotkin provides leadership to the organization which represents and serves the elected and appointed members of the governing boards of over 1,000 school districts and county offices of education in California. He has also served as the chief consultant and staff director for the Senate Committee on Education of the California Legislature, providing policy and fiscal advice, analysis and guidance on education matters to the members of the state Senate. He has also served as Director of the Office of Governmental Affairs of the California State University system and an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Rio Linda Union Elementary School District in Sacramento County from 1981 – 2001.