Rescue Union School District
Educating for the Future, Together
Board Of Trustees Meeting Highlights - August 13, 2019
We continue our efforts to communicate effectively and in a timely fashion with our families and staffs. We know not every parent, teacher, or staff member can attend our Board meetings, so we will provide a brief update after each Board meeting, sharing highlights and actions taken by the Board. As always, please let us know how to better serve and communicate with you! We want to be partners with you in the educational journey of the children entrusted to us.
INTRODUCTION:
Superintendent Olson introduced and welcomed our new Director of Transportation, Claudia “Dee” Spillers to the Board of Trustees. Claudia was previously our Bus Driver Trainer and we are very excited about her promotion.
PRESENTATION:
The Board welcomed Nicole Gardea who provided a presentation on her 14-year-old daughter’s confidential outreach for teens - MJ’s Project. This program was formed during the 2018-19 school year in response to needs at our high schools and middle schools. The non-profit charity provides and collects hygiene, clothing, shoes, food and laundry services to local teens in need. Gardea and MJ collect the items at donation drives, or from individual community members and drop them off/distribute to schools in the area. They’ve taken items to locations in Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Placerville, Pollock Pines, including El Dorado, Union Mine and Independence high schools.
Gardea and her daughters fled a severe domestic violence situation, leaving them with few resources and no money especially for feminine hygiene products. When MJ went to the school office for assistance, she was only provided with supplies to use at school, nothing to take home. This was the catalyst for the project. Gardea stated that parents don’t speak up about being low-income for fear their children will be taken away and often children don’t come to school because they lack the basics that they need.
Their motto: BE WHO YOU NEEDED WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER!
UPDATES:
Superintendent Olson reported on the kick off to the 2019-2020 school year starting with our fourth annual Day in Paradise theme! The day began with a welcome breakfast, introductions of new staff members, trivia questions and Jamba Juice cards thrown to the winners. Mrs. Olson shared some practical strategies for all staff to use in practicing self-care, and then everyone participated in a presentation from Matt McCue on effective verbal de-escalation strategies. The morning ended with CalPERS representatives answering questions for current staff and retirees regarding our new insurance.
Our Back-to-School nights are underway. Pleasant Grove’s is hosting theirs this evening, with Rescue School tomorrow evening and Marina Village on Thursday.
Mrs. Olson presented a certificate to Dave Scroggins from Assemblyman Kevin Kiley and shared an article from the Village Life highlighting his ACSA Administrator of Year award. Lastly, everyone is excited about the upcoming year, and it begins tomorrow!
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Dave Scroggins, provided an overview of activities this past summer.
New York Creek Project
In partnership with Oak Ridge High School’s Science Department, RUSD teachers including Sarah Fitzhugh, Michelle Noble, and Erin Koht worked to develop online, NGSS aligned lessons that fit into the outdoor learning stations found along the New York Creek Trail. Teachers and community members will be able to download these lessons in advance, or use QR codes posted along the trail to access lessons on the spot. Lessons span elementary grades through high school and more are in the works. This will prove to be a highly valuable community resource for years to come.
ESGI Training
On August 1, Lynn Scales and Jenny Riley led a team of TK, kindergarten, and first grade teachers, demonstrating how to use the ESGI Primary Assessment System. Teachers were trained in how to build assessments, how to use the tool with students, and how to create support resources for parents to use at home. Time was also allotted for teachers to develop assessments for their classes.
Assessment Development
On August 2, a team of teachers met to develop Common Core aligned assessments to help inform parents on progress towards standards. While these assessments would ideally be used by all teachers within a grade level, they would not replace, nor be included on, the required district benchmark assessment list. Instead, they would serve as additional common tools that teachers can rely on to assess and report progress and more accurately complete report cards.
Kelli Rizzi Restorative Practice
On August 2, a team of teachers, counselors, and administrators met with Kelli Rizzi to be trained on restorative approaches for addressing student behaviors. The group studied and practiced restorative circles and restorative chats. These classroom management strategies, and more, will be shared with all teachers on the October 14 Staff Development Day.
New Hire Onboarding
On August 9, we welcomed 24 new certificated teachers into the district with an onboarding event. During this time, the Human Resources Department, Business Services, and Technology each shared important processes, protocols, and practices. After lunch, veteran teachers provided a curriculum overview and RUFT representatives closed the day with information about union membership.
EL Newcomer Informational Night
Amy Bohren and Brittney Kernan put on a wonderful and informative dinner to welcome new EL families to the District. Information was provided about standards, stakeholder engagement, report cards, holidays, various school events, and special education.
ACTION ITEMS:
- CSBA Call for Nominations for Legislative Awards – No nominations submitted.
- CSBA Nominations for Board Member of the Year – No nominations submitted.
- The Board approved:
- June 25, 2019 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
- District Expenditure Warrants and Purchase Orders
- Williams Act Uniform Complaint Procedure Quarterly Report
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project at Rescue Elementary
- San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Grant for Electric Bus Purchase
- Contract for Audit Services – Stephen Roatch Accountancy Corp
- Authorized Signatures
- Personnel Actions
- Out-of-State Travel
- Surplus Property
- Investment Portfolio Report
- Overnight Field Trip and Contract – Lakeview 4th Grade Coloma Outdoor Discovery School
- Job Description Classified Personnel – Bus Driver Trainer
NEXT MEETING: Regular Board Meeting, September 10, 2019
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