Hello Belmont-Redwood Shores Families,

We had our last school board meeting of 2017 last week. It was a productive meeting, and the school board was reorganized. Huan Phan is our new Board President, and I would like to thank Robert Tashjian for his leadership as Board President over the course of the last year.

This past year, the Board has focused on our finances, facilities, and educational program, with positive results. Regarding finances, we're considering a parcel tax measure for the June 2018 ballot. An informational mailer will be going out later this week, and more information can be found here. As for facilities, we just took possession of the new two-story classroom building at Sandpiper, which will allow for more enrollment capacity and a program expansion to grade 8. From a curriculum standpoint, we're implementing new science standards with an emphasis on providing students opportunities to practice innovation, and we are working to use data more intentionally to inform our instruction. These are important efforts to ensure quality schools for our students. Below are updates on attendance, 2018-19 enrollment, and two opportunities to provide us with input.

Attendance Matters
A quick reminder to send your student to school on time every day. Our teachers and front office administrative assistants have to record every tardy every day. So tardies "cost" more than the time that an individual student misses--there's also the disruption to class when he/she comes in late, plus the time put into attendance accounting. Thank you for your help with this! Our fast facts on attendance can be found here.

Enrollment Timeline for 2018-19
We're starting to prepare for enrollment for the next school year. Please pass this information along to any family you know of that might enroll a student next year. Beginning January 16, we'll have parent visitation events for prospective kindergarten families at all of our elementary schools. Then, February is our first enrollment period, which is the month to enroll a prospective kindergartener to have the best chance of her/him assigned to their first-closest school. Incoming kindergarteners with older siblings in our system should be registered by February 28 as well. Here are links to our enrollment website and our enrollment timeline, which includes the kindergarten visitation dates. Don't hesitate to email if you have a question that is not addressed by either of those resources.

Opportunity to Give us Your Advice
You are invited to join us on Thursday, December 14, from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at Nesbit Elementary School ( 500 Biddulph Way, Belmont, CA 94002) for our first LCAP Advisory Group Meeting. The LCAP is our Local Control Accountability Plan that details our district goals and expenditures. 

We receive additional funds from the State to provide equitable outcomes for historically underserved populations. We are particularly interested in suggestions to better support students of color, English learners, and students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. We welcome your perspective and input as parents. If you can't make the meeting, you're welcome to reply to this email, and I'll pass your input along to the right person.

Learning Center Advisory Group
Last school year, we hired a consultant to review our Learning Center, the district's service delivery model for students with IEPs who have mild-moderate learning needs. This year, we formed a Learning Center Advisory Work Group to advise us on implementing that consultant's recommendations. Members of this advisory body represent stakeholder groups from throughout the district.  

The team has reviewed the Learning Center Study recommendations and become more familiar with different service delivery models recognized as best practices in special education.  Last month, the group heard from a panel of special education directors from San Carlos, Sequoia Union High School District, and Jefferson Elementary regarding various service models.  

Now, the advisory team will begin to identify models they are most interested in piloting in BRSSD. Although the process is well under way, we welcome input from the community. Your ideas and input can be sent via email to Maria Lang-Gavidia, Director of Special Programs, at  mgavidia@brssd.org

You are also invited to visit Advisory Work Group meetings, watch the team at work, and offer input in person if you wish. Future meetings are scheduled for January 12, March 5, and April 23, 2018 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the District Office.

I hope that your family has a wonderful winter break and holiday. Don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Michael Milliken
Superintendent