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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
November 29, 2018
CUSD Superintendent Jane Yuster
UPDATE ON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Article by Stacy Trevenon
Photos by Mitone Griffiths
President Paul introduced today's speaker, Cabrillo Unified School District Superintendent Jane Yuster, who gave the "State of the District 2018" address.
She began by noting that she is now in her fourth year in this position -- "this has been a ball," she said happily. She briefly outlined her vision of her job (to which she referred during her talk): to help ensure that students' and parents' dreams come true, and to prepare young students to take their place in society, and make sure that they are safe, and academically and emotionally prepared to do so. She thanked the community for its support through the passage of the construction bond Measure M, which would ensure complete reconstruction of Coastside schools. It passed by five votes, she said -- noting the power of even a single ballot. She planned that in October, she would present the proposed timeline of events to the board "so that we can officially begin to bring our dreams to reality."
She outlined the financial impact of Measure S and Measure M specifically in giving students a 21st-century education. All high school students are now receiving their own Chromebook devices, to use as they graduate high school and move into college and their careers. And -- recognizing that devices alone are not enough, and a digital divide will remain if students don't have broadband at home -- she described partnering with T Mobile to provide students with access to hotspots and thus technology, and to enable further development of critical skills.
He took a position as a mental health counselor at the University of Mississippi with the trade off being they would give him a PhD. He found himself guest lecturing on cross cultural and gay and lesbian counseling. The students and the community were less than accepting. Perhaps some of the principles that he was espousing were inconsistent with fundamentalist ideology. In any event, some nine months later he found himself back in the dining room in San Francisco. He ran a chocolate shop in the city for a year.
Half Moon Bay offered him a position as the administrator of the adult education program. He was very excited to be involved in a program where all of the students were there because they wanted to be. When the posting came up for director of pupil and personnel services, It was kismet since he had just discovered something he had written years earlier expressing his ultimate career goal as director of pupil and personnel services. He finds the position to be something like being a crisis counselor (his favorite past career) but he is addressing every problem above a building level.
He told us to pay attention, have fun, learn, be humble, repeat. And he said, “tough times don’t last but tough people do”.
Half Moon Bay offered him a position as the administrator of the adult education program. He was very excited to be involved in a program where all of the students were there because they wanted to be. When the posting came up for director of pupil and personnel services, It was kismet since he had just discovered something he had written years earlier expressing his ultimate career goal as director of pupil and personnel services. He finds the position to be something like being a crisis counselor (his favorite past career) but he is addressing every problem above a building level.
He told us to pay attention, have fun, learn, be humble, repeat. And he said, “tough times don’t last but tough people do”.
What are the essential characteristics of graduates, and ones that will help them achieve their dreams? From parents you always hear, she said, that "we want our children to be happy and well-adjusted." A conversation about the essential characteristics of the graduating senior began last year among staff and the district governing board, and is intended to continue this year and involve the community and its input.
Jane gave a district overview 2018-19, sharing where and who we are as a district, what the district offers and what challenges it faces. We are mid-sized, rural and unified, the second-largest geographic district in San Mateo County (covering 135 square miles.) We are socioeconomically and ethnically diverse at about 51 percent Hispanic or Latino, 40 percent white and 9 percent other ethnic backgrounds; 26 percent English learners and 46 percent eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. But to "who we are" she added financially constrained due to inadequate State funding combined with rising pension and health insurance costs. She pointed out that about 8 percent of the district's budget -- or, $2.9 million -- comes from local sources such as foundations, PTOs or parcel taxes. "We refuse to give up hopes and dreams of our students, and need your help," she said. "We start with gold and make sure they continue to shine."
She listed the schools in the district: Los Listos PreSchool, El Granada, Farallone View, Alvin. S. Hatch and Kings Mountain elementary schools, Cunha Intermediate school, Half Moon Bay and Pilarcitos high schools and La Costa Adult School, serving preschool through 12th grade students. She shared some facts about the district relative to the Half Moon Bay High School Class of 2018: graduating seniors received $190,000 in local scholarship money, 41 students (or 16 percent) of the graduating class earned a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, and the Half Moon Bay High School graduation rate was 98.6 percent, the second highest in the county. Fifty-seven percent of the students meet UC/CSU requirements, the third highest in San Mateo County. And 34 percent of the students earned a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, the second-highest in San Mateo County, awarded to students who receive a B or above in six different subject areas,
"The overall versatility of our students is amazing," she said, leading into sporting and general news. The many sports local students enjoyed included golf and tennis: She congratulated the Half Moon Bay High School football team for winning the Northern California State Championship, the boys' basketball team for winning the Central Coast Section Championship ("Way to go!" she crowed) and boys' and girls' wrestling trams for winning their respective PAL Championships. "Don't mess with the girls," she warned. This year's high school musical, "The Little Mermaid," was featured on NPR; some Cunha Intermediate School students went to the State Science Fair and 71 percent of students (or about 28) who participated in the district's Jumpstart Summer School were reclassified as English language proficient.
Citing the strengths of the district, she noted that parents say to her that they want their children to be happy, well-rounded prepared for adult life, engaged in their world and giving back. With that in mind she segued into some district strengths, which we often forget to talk about, but which are standout areas of success in consideration of an essential, well-rounded education.
She spoke extensively of the effort that principals, teachers and staff go through to nurture and care for the students, encouraging them, recognizing talents, or offering extra support when needed, including mental health services. "Small classes, this is a small community, we know your kids," Jane said, and the annual climate survey reflects that this is one of our strongest areas as a district. But with all the academic emphasis, there's also room for fun and friendship: a "culture of kindness" is promoted in the district in its values and the way students treat each other, through Positive Behaviors Intervention and Supports, inclusiveness and tolerance, and the high school's Health and Wellness Committee.
New ways of teaching and learning are also emphasized. Project-based learning units, into which technology is integrated, integrate real-life situations. Mindfulness, Second Step and Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports add to the academic curriculum. Students learn to work together as a team to solve problems, and attention to the coastal surroundings is not forgotten. "Our Coastside nature is in our DNA," said Jane. "We take advantage of nature" i.e. growing our ow produce with the HEAL Project.
The district maintains and average class size of 24-to-1 in kindergarten through third grade. But when i comes to college preparation, Half Moon Bay High has more than 26 Advanced Placement Course options, and an "early college" option that allows students to attend junior-college classes over the hill for college credit.
The district participates in affordable Early and Middle College programs for both high school and college course credit. Middle College takes place at the College of San Mateo and 10 of our students participate in this; Early College takes place at Half Moon Bay High and last year more than 90 students took classes in art and history. The demography of students in these classes reflects that of the high school. The pass rate for the Early College classes is higher than that of corresponding College of San Mateo classes. "The kids can do this caliber work," Jane said.
The high school also has a drama department, which will present two musicals annually as well as a performance by the chorale. And he art department "is a powerhouse," she said. All the district's elementary schools provide music instruction beginning in kindergarten; early music education is funded by Parent Teacher Organizations. Music is offered as part of the elective curriculum for grades 5 through 12. Art is offered beginning in kindergarten in the elementary schools, funded by PTOs, and starting in Grade 6, is offered a part of the elective curriculum at both the middle and high schools.
Home economics, geared toward making students successful and independent adults, is now "wildly popular" in junior high school, said Jane. Industrial Arts, which fit into the technological and agribusiness base here, are also offered. "This is the essence of Half Moon Bay," Jane said. "We make sure the kids are prepared."
Educational Support Services such as 504s, IEPs, reading intervention, mental health services, staff wellness, parent outreach and education, after-school services and summer school, are offered by the district as further support for students. Included is a focus on how to talk to your student kids, about such topics as drugs and even if it is difficult, are offered. Opportunities are offered to partner with and leverage local resources to benefit all students, to ensure that students have those essential characteristics needed for success in career and life.
Jane listed some hard realities at the district: it is funded at 2007-2008 levels, and the state considers its funding gap closed, especially in light of declining enrollment, and will not offer further monies beyond cost-of-living adjustments. The district is paid on a per-pupil basis and enrollment is declining by about 50 students per year, translating to a loss of about $450,000. Higher expenses due to increased pension and healthcare, and a "huge" increase in the cost of living in the Bay Area, coupled with the difficulties in teacher and staff recruitment and retention, pose "severe challenges ahead" for the district.
But Jane wound up on a final, optimistic note: the Coastside supports its schools through Measure B (parcel tax) and Measure S and Measure M (school facilities bonds), Cabrillo Education Foundation, Coastside Futures, the Chamber Education Foundation, the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay, the local American Association of University Women and other organizations and individuals that give scholarships and other forms of financial aid, school sites and their PTOs, all working together to "make sure students receive everything they need to become productive members of society in the 21st century."
DECEMBER 6, 2018 CLUB MEETING
Article by Arancha Casal
Photos by Mitone Griffiths
President Paul Wrubel opened the meeting
Greeters: John Evans
Pledge of Allegiance: Ralph Ely
Inspirational Thought: John Evans tells us how last year’s Exchange student Louise, from France, graduated from Half Moon Bay High School on the arm of Superintendent Jane Yuster! Louise was very scared so Jane literally offered her support for Louise to receive her diploma.
PAUL HARRIS AWARD
President Paul Wrubel then presented a Paul Harris award to Mary Rogren.
President Paul also gave a summary of last Tuesday’s Board meeting: Magic of the Coastside was the main item on the agenda, many good suggestions were made and he will be sharing them with us all soon.
Happy NewsJohn Evans announced he and his wife, Larkin, had just celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary!
President Paul Wrubel explained President Elect Teresa Adams was not with us today because she is caring for her good friend, Charlie, who is in hospital from a deteriorating heart valve. A card was passed around the tables to send Charlie so he doesn’t feel alone.
Returning member (and very tall) John Parsons was presented with his blue badge by President Paul…. standing on a chair!
Announcements
President Paul announced that Ed Daniels will be our new President Elect starting next July.
Mary Rogren was at the Rotary District Conference last Tuesday and one of the districts was Paradise. Mary asked what we could do to help. A woman from Paradise Rotary called Mary the following day and said their High School students with above all to return to some sense of normalcy, and she asked if we we could help with donations to their Prom. Mary was able to collect donations immediately from several of the Rotarians present.
President Paul also gave a summary of last Tuesday’s Board meeting: Magic on the Coastside was the main item on the agenda, many good suggestions were made and he will be sharing them with us all soon.
After a 10 minute break for lunch and table conversation, the meeting resumes with Superintendent Jane Yuster’s presentation.
REMINDERS
Our Monthly Rotary Day at the Community Free Breakfast (held at the Lutheran Church will be Wednesday, DECEMBER 26. Please sign up with ROSE SERDY for a shift for future days (last Wednesday of each month.)
PHOTO GALLERY