MPCSD District Newsletter - June 12, 2025 | | Educating and empowering students while embracing childhood and adolescence. | | |
What a year it has been! Our students reported a greater sense of belonging, learned new things about themselves and others, engaged in high quality experiences, and made remarkable progress! We are so proud of them and grateful to you, their supportive families, for the determination and support required to make these accomplishments.
Here are a few exciting facts about our growth this year:
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As measured by Panorama student surveys during Feedback February, 86% of 3rd-5th graders responded favorably when asked, “Overall, how much do you feel you belong at your school?” 7% growth over last year
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As measured by Panorama student surveys during Feedback February, 80% of 6th-8th graders responded favorably when asked, “Overall, how much do you feel you belong at your school?” 14% growth over last year
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73% of English Learners grew at least 1 level or more on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) this year. 19% growth over last year
- Preliminary CAASPP scores indicate growth in ELA across most student groups (your student's report will be emailed later this month and official district-wide data will be shared in the fall)
As we look to the next year, we will continue our focus on our three strategic directions: Grow Student Belonging, Strengthen Academic Excellence, and Create Inspiring Environments. For now, enjoy every minute of summer! Thank you for helping us create this remarkable community together.
In partnership,
Kristen Gracia
| | Congratulations, Retirees and Awardees | | |
Just like each school recognized volunteer and staff members who received awards this year, the district also took a special moment at the June 5 school board meeting to acknowledge this year's retirees with Golden Oak Awards:
- Marites Fermin, Chief Business Officer
- Gwen Solomon, Oak Knoll and District-wide Science Aide
- Ana Lozano, Laurel Teacher
- Sydney Merk, Encinal Teacher
- Yogi Sullivan, Hillview Teacher
The district also gave two Continuing Service Awards to parent volunteers for their extraordinary and long-term service to the district:
- Katherine Bicer, for leadership of the Measure U Campaign
- Mark Box, stepping down after many years on the board's Finance & Audit Committee
Board members spoke of how inspiring these talented colleagues are and how fortunate MPCSD has been to have benefitted from their expertise and wisdom over the years. Thank you!
| | School Board Receives MPAEF Grant | |
The board gratefully accepted the generous grant from the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation in the amount of $4,101,673 to be used in school year 2025-26. Board members appreciated the dedication it takes to raise such a significant amount and thanked the volunteers, donors, and entire community for their continuing support of our schools. The grant includes teacher professional learning funds, the Jeanie Ritchie grants, Fund-A-Need, and the unrestricted grant that allows the district to invest in teachers and programs across the district. Thank you, MPCSD families!
As we acknowledge our community's generosity and the importance of this annual grant, it's also a meaningful time to consider a tribute gift to the MPAEF's Endowment for Excellence in Teaching to honor a special teacher or staff member who has made a difference in your child's experience. Learn more about donating to the Endowment here. The Endowment provides the district's professional development funds every year and is included in the overall grant.
| District Finance: Understanding the Budget Pie | | |
At tonight's (June 12) school board meeting, the board is set to take action on the proposed budget for 2025-26. If you're interested in attending the meeting, Open Session begins at 6:00 p.m. and here is the Zoom link.
Next year's budget projects revenue of $77,295,958 with almost 90% coming from local sources. Expenditures are projected at $77,540,627 with nearly 90% going to employee salaries and benefits. These figures reflect the district's commitment to both raising and allocating funds that support quality educators and a strong classroom experience.
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MPCSD is community funded, meaning our local revenue sources provide more than the guaranteed state amount would provide. In addition to property and parcel taxes, which together make up over 81% of the budget, the One Community Campaign (OCC) - which covers 68% of the MPAEF grant - is a crucial lever the community has to bolster our funding.
The 2025-26 MPAEF grant accounts for over 5% of our total revenues, while in past years it has contributed up to 10+%. MPAEF’s support allows us to invest in teacher compensation: since the board adopted its teacher and non-teaching staff compensation philosophies five years ago, MPCSD has become a local leader in teacher salary, has provided raises that outpace cost of living by 60%, and has reached an all time high teacher retention rate of 95%. Research shows again and again that teacher quality is the most significant tool to increase student performance, and that teacher pay is directly linked to student outcomes.
These investments reflect the board's and community's priorities, and are also expensive. Because the board believes strongly in its compensation philosophies, there will need to be budget tightening to continue meeting those priorities.
Look for more information in the fall about the district's budget process and OCC education initiative. You will have opportunities to provide input on future spending and cost cutting, and deepen your understanding of the budget, the OCC, MPAEF's annual grant, and why every contribution matters for our quality of education.
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Bond Projects
Campus improvements as part of Measure U's "Quick Start" projects include:
- planting new trees and shrubs at Encinal
- resurfacing the asphalt and play structure at Laurel Upper
- upgrading cable and data wiring throughout the district
- HVAC electrical service assessments at all sites, in preparation for the planned HVAC project
- Door access control pilot at Encinal, Hillview, Laurel Upper, Oak Knoll
- Intrusion alarm pilot at Oak Knoll
We anticipate a busy and productive summer and look forward to making progress on our larger projects - and sharing that with you - throughout the year!
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Summer Camps
Looking for summer programs for kids, here in MPCSD? Our school sites will host summer camps. From cooking to writing to outdoors to AI, there are many options. Find them at our Summer Camps webpage. These programs are not affiliated with or endorsed by MPCSD. Please contact them directly with questions and to register.
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Kristen Gracia, Superintendent | mpcsd.org
Governing Board
Sherwin Chen, President
Jed Scolnick, Vice President/Clerk
Scott Saywell
Francesca Segrè
Josh Spira
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