Glo Run Vallejo – Race for Education

Folks in our community often ponder how they can get involved to help our schools. People find various ways to help – with questions, donations, hosting an event, tutoring, etc.  This year, the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend and the VCUSD have partnered to host the 2019 Glo Run – Race for Education.  The Glo Run is a great way to raise funds for some schools, get involved with students/families and have fun- all at the same time.

5K Run/Walk

October 5th at 6:30pm

$30 Individuals/$90 Teams of Four

Registration

Registrations may be donated to support a student/family team.  Simply check the button on the registration form.  Registrations will also be accepted the day of the event from 9 – 6 pm on Saturday, Oct 5th at the Glo Run booth.

Six schools are helping with the event and will receive some of the proceeds raised from registration fees.  These participating schools are racing for:

• Beverly Hills Elementary: Music and PE Equipment
• Cave Language Academy: Flexible seating options for classrooms
• Farragut Leadership Academy: Leadership opportunities for students
• Federal Terrace Elementary: Laminating machine and PE Equipment
• Highland Elementary: PE Equipment
• Mare Island Health and Fitness Academy: Book Publishing Program for students

We also need donations for the event, such as:

• Sackpacks: Drawstring Backpack Sport Bags
• Glo Sticks: Party Pack with Various Connectors
• Awards/Prizes: Medals, or various prizes (gift certificates, etc.)
• School Supplies: Pencils, Pens, Erasers

Please send product donations to a participating school site, labeled “Attn: Glo Run”. Please send any monetary donations to:  Vallejo Waterfront Weekend/Glo Run, 1525 Sonoma Blvd, Vallejo, CA  94590

Let’s GLO for our schools!

BFF Award: Amazing Grace

Victoria Grace

Academic Support Provider, Franklin Middle School

BFF Award

In Vallejo, we are blessed with various community members who leave a lasting impact on how to sustain a positive outlook on our schools.  Victoria Grace never disappoints me in her dedication and unending work on behalf of our children.  A few years ago, we worked together on a parent workshop and honestly, I am overdue in recognizing her for a BFF Award. Last spring, she surprised me when she visited the Vallejo High School robotics club along with Dakari Barksdale, an engineer with West Yost, Inc.

After many hugs and updating her on what our club and academy needed for support, she immediately reached out to several family and friends to recruit engineers for help. Not only does she support her school site with the power of her positivity, she extends her extraordinary abilities to many other schools and community efforts.   For her contributions to our community and the pride she role models for our students, this BFF Award goes to our Amazing Victoria Grace. 

Why I support Elite Public Schools

Many people know me as a staunch advocate for neighborhood public schools.  My education choices for my children revolve around this model.  Although I am critical of some charters (and their impact on neighborhood public schools), I understand why parents want choices for their children.  I also prefer Albert Shanker’s vision for charters – as centers of innovation led by educators that share best practices with other schools.

When I read the program description for our newest charter petition, I immediately knew Elite was different.  Every support and every service focuses on equipping students with every skill needed for today’s world.

• High expectations – check.
• Coding – check.
• Bilingualism – check.
• Full day of services – check.
• And the masterpiece of the plan – a focus on social sciences that changes the narrative for generations of children, their parents and families – check, check and check!

I can no longer bear that Vallejo’s future relies on a dysfunctional governing board that was elected by many in the community – intentionally or not.  The basic fact that parents drive enrollment through their choice is gravely ignored by the current board (See It’s all about the Benjamins).

I stand with Elite Public Schools.

 

Stoopid about Big Data

As a parent in the VCUSD, I am aghast at how little effort is made to:  1) secure and protect student information, 2) notify students/parents when data is provided to various third party entities and 3) ensure third parties are accountable if any data breaches have occurred.

My first exposure to the district’s “stoopid” attitudes on data was when my daughter was “dojo-ed”.  She created an account for herself (under the direction of the teacher without my permission), chose a cartoonish monster avatar and a few clicks later, an IT company located in San Francisco began receiving data about her behavior.

How creepy that this company prides itself on “disruption” and “building community” by tracking children’s behaviors, their school locations, and their images.  Sounds very similar to another social media company that prides itself on building community but recently “facebonked” due to mismanagement of user privacy.

Other problematic situations in our district:

1. student email accounts include student ID numbers
2. classroom visits by military recruiters collected my child’s information through a paper survey (even though I specifically declined sharing information with recruiters)
3. AERIES information is not consistently used by all staff, so parents and students are not provided a complete electronic academic record.
4. a teacher asked students to send their assignments to his personal email account

At the VCUSD board meeting on July 18th, 2018, the board approved (on the consent agenda without discussion) two new contracts for over $400K that include sharing student data to outside entities – Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) and Student Innovations & Advocacy (SIA).  These contracts will receive money to help create:

1. equitable access to Advanced Placement (AP) classes (with EOS), and
2. a bunch of letters using a ROBOT (with SIA).  Yes – SIA calls their data sharing software a ROBOT.

I already receive robotic emails based on information (often erroneous) entered in our attendance systems.  Now, the district will pay more than $400K over three years for SIA’s ROBOT to send letters about attendance and absences, using our data.

Regarding EOS and AP courses, the vast majority of our high schools are students that are underserved in AP classes (e.g. African American, Latino, low-income).  How can we miss enrolling these students in AP classes?  What “systemic reason” exists that we need to pay almost $50K (plus EOS travel expenses) to ensure equal access?

As a dear friend often says, “you can’t fix stupid.”  

Before the district enters into any more contracts that share student data,

1. the Superintendent should conduct a complete inventory of all the software and social apps that are used throughout the district.
2. Then, the district should decide what is acceptable use (or not) and update the district’s technology agreements.
3. Next, parents should be notified how their student data is shared and how they can opt out.

In addition, all staff must use one central system for all student data, including attendance, grades, behaviors, reminders, etc.  No staff gets to use/create a separate system (on paper or through other apps) that holds protected student information.  If any violations or breaches of data occur, parents and students must be notified that their protected information may be at risk.

Identify theft and human trafficking of minors using digital tools is rising.   Educational entities have a moral obligation to ensure they do not place our students in harm’s way.  I am confident more methods exist to protect our students’ information.

The first step is a willingness to stop being “stoopid” about Big Data.

 

 

 

 

 

Paula’s Puppets and White Flight

After reading Lisa Logoteta’s letter in the Times Herald (“Elections – and the truth – matter”, June 27, 2018), I am a new fan of the term “Paula’s Puppets”.   Thank you, Lisa, for calling out the toxic, political games of Paula McConnell that “has resulted in a dysfunctional [school] board.”

Paula’s puppets have squandered over $1M over the past year in wasted salaries, leadership consultants and loss in staff productivity due to their inept decisions.  They continuously blame prior boards and administrators for the district’s budget deficits, without any thought to how they exacerbate the debt.

Paula and her puppets act like they know better, but they don’t do better.  

Paula has written several letters over the years to influence elections in our town.  Her first efforts focused on Burky Worel (remember her claim “Save us, Burky, save us!”) and then, Ruscal Cayangyang.  Paula’s perpetual negativity elected another antagonist of public schools – the queen of dysfunctional leadership, Marianne Kearney-Brown.

So, how’s that working for our children – our staff – our schools?  

Now, Paula pens another letter to support her newest puppet, Allan Yeap.  During a board meeting last year, I spoke with Allan in the halls of the district office and asked him “what would it take to enroll [his] kids in our public schools?”  The first words out of his mouth were:

“Well, my wife is white….”

He continued “Yeap-ping” about how his wife’s whiteness drives their school choices.  I honestly did not hear anything else he said.  I was stunned by his attempts to justify and normalize his bias against our schools and children.  For someone interested in serving as a public school trustee, his bias is unacceptable.

Enough of Paula and her Puppets!

The soul of our schools – and our city – are at stake this election.  Please REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER…

PB Cycle 5: STEAM Programs

VCUSD STEAM

During the past year, I volunteered in the City of Vallejo’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) Cycle 5 process.  Before volunteering for PB, I visited a few school sites to hear from students and their parents on what type of activities that wanted to see at their schools.  I printed a list of suggestions and asked for others.  The common message was “any and all of it” or “more, please”.  Then, I met Alyssa Lane at various events and signed up for PB Cycle 5.

PB allows the community to determine how to direct dollars on projects they want the City of Vallejo to support.  Considering the budget constraints occurring in the VCUSD, PB is an option to help support what students and parents want.  Prior PB Cycles allocated money to the VCUSD and the “education/training” category for Cycle 5 again included several hundred requests for more programs for our students.

After working through the many PB stages and collaborating with several community members, the “Out-of-School STEAM Programs: Science and Art” project was placed on the PB ballot and received the 4th highest number of votes.  The project consists of three primary elements:

1. VCUSD Expanded Learning Programs:  A variety of vendors can be contracted to offer programs during the after school programs at several VCUSD school sites.
2. Immersive Learning Center (ILC) Summer Programs:  Since the VCUSD has limited offerings during summer, the ILC helps cover the gap by offering STEAM camps to underserved students.
3. VHS Robotics Program:  VHS students can serve as “interns” while showing other students how to build VEX robots.  These internships help VHS students achieve certification under the National Academy Foundation (NAF) requirements.

I want to recognize and thank the following staff and volunteers for their hours of support that brought this project forward:

• Alyssa Lane, City of Vallejo
• Flor Magallanes, City of Vallejo
• Mark Harmon, PB Delegate, Cycle 5
• David Rutschman, PB Delegate, Cycle 5
• Belinda Lyons-Newman, PB Cycle 5 Facilitator
• Carol Lewis, District Coordinator, VCUSD Expanded Learning Programs
• Gary White, Teacher, VHS Robotics
• Tonya Moore, Founder/Owner, Immersive Learning Center

Full STEAM Ahead!

 

BFF Award: Dynamic Duo at MIHFA

Laurie Dierkes and Kelly Harris

Mare Island Health and Fitness Academy

BFF Award

Last year, I witnessed a wonderful partnership at MIHFA.  Ms. Dierkes and Ms. Harris synchronized their classrooms to ensure they and their students thrived while learning.  Both of them paired their common values and many educational best practices to support their students.

Since our school is a K-8, the middle school grade span can feel like elementary school.  However, between their two classrooms, they created six distinct subjects (along with an assist from our wonderful PE coach, Mr. Sariano).  In addition to the five core courses, they ensured students experienced “project based learning” with a STEAM course that provided a variety of hands-on, engaging opportunities for their students.

Our school is absolutely blessed to have such wonderful talent among its star studded staff.  For all their outstanding work to create a thriving middle school experience, this BFF Award goes to Ms. Laurie Dierkes and Ms.  Kelly Harris, our “Dynamic Duo”.

BFF Award: Wonder Woman at VHS

Vivet Beckford-Nelson

Vallejo High School, Academy Lead Teacher

BFF Award

I cannot recall exactly the first time I met Vivet, but I feel I have known her for more than the two years my son has been in high school.  The work she puts into her many roles is beyond excellent.  She knows how to get things done in the large, complex system of our school district.  When she doesn’t know, she knows how to find out.  She is absolutely one of my favorite teachers ever.  Why?  Because she:

1. Is a parent and her children attended our schools.
2. Holds high expectations of herself and her students.
3. Values her education and always wants to learn more.
4. Exhibits much patience with me and my very loud demands to make our schools work better.
5. Allows me to express myself when I am frustrated.
6. Treats her students with respect, even when they are disrespectful.
7. Sees the potential in everyone.
8. Works tirelessly on improving our academy to provide the best we can for our students and their teachers.
9. Role models great leadership.
10. Strives to always “do the right thing”.

The list could go on and on about all the efforts she makes for our students every day.  All I know is peace and happiness when I remember how much she does to support my son’s future.  For all her outstanding work to support the Engineering Academy at Vallejo High School, this BFF Award goes to Vivet Beckford-Nelson, our “Wonder Woman”.

It’s all about the Benjamins

 

The current VCUSD Governing Board tends to focus on expenses and cuts to the budget as the primary way to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.  They seem to forget that bringing in money (aka “Revenue”) is another way to balance the finances.  Schools in California receive money based on attendance and enrollment.  Attendance can only happen when kids are enrolled in our schools.  Enrollment happens when parents choose our schools.

Each enrolled student brings in about $10K per year for attending school.  If our attendance rate is low, we lose part of the funding.  So, the answer lies in both enrollment and attendance.  We need to market our schools to attract parents/students and support our students so they attend school.

• If we increase enrollment by 550 students, our schools will receive about $5.5M which prevents more cuts to jobs and programs.
• If we increase attendance by 1%+, we can bring in another $1M+.

Combined, these amounts cover the budget gaps in each of the next two years.  Some additional ideas:

• Participate in the “Parent Engagement” network initiative that the Governor recently approved to implement more effective strategies to engage families in our schools.  Engagement helps revenue and student achievement – a double win.
• Partner with our local universities to create a Professional Learning System (PLS) and apply to the state for money to train, develop and credential new teachers.
• Cultivate relationships with business and industry to support our High School Academies with internship opportunities, in kind donations, field trip costs, student clubs and mentoring for college/careers.
• Use the money set aside for another School Resource Officer (SRO) to hire back  classified staff positions.  Why do we need another SRO if Chief Bidou told Dr. Clark that “calls for service” to our school sites has declined significantly in the past three years?
• Create new programs such as the Trades (as Dr. Ubalde strongly recommends),  Ethnic/Gender Studies, Network Security or Education (See PLS above) to attract more students to our schools.

If the “buck stops at the top”, then the buck starts there too.  Some trustees proclaim they can’t control if parents choose to send their children to our schools.  Other trustees, and their supporters, intentionally drive our students and families away.  What type of industry survives by marginalizing their primary source of revenue?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Poop Emoji Award goes to…

 

The Poop Emoji Award

Marianne voted “no” on allowing the voters of Vallejo to consider another facility bond because she was also “unsatisfied” with the information provided by staff.  She berates staff with innuendos, confusion and relentless questions.  She did not attend any of the graduations for our VCUSD schools.  She uses social media and websites to denigrate our schools.  She focuses on standardized test scores as the “true” measure of schools, despite much academic research that proves these tests measure socio-economics more than student achievement.

Marianne Kearney-Brown voted “no” last week on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), due to her pitiful allegations that the district did not try hard enough to engage stakeholders.  Although district staff explained the myriad of meetings, surveys, union groups and other efforts to obtain feedback, she still voted “no” because she was unsatisfied with the effort.

At tonight’s board meeting (June 27th), Marianne Kearney-Brown arrived 37 minutes late.  She walked in as the LCAP was under discussion.  Then, she voted “no” again.  For her incessant negativity, abusive treatment of staff and innate ability to “skunk” up a meeting, Marianne Kearney-Brown is awarded the Poop Emoji Award – again.

Ruscal Cayangyang and Marianne serve together as corporate officers of WIT Academy in downtown Vallejo.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER…