Superintendent's Newsletter
January 30, 2020
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Our Budget Discussion Continues ...
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On January 15, 2020, the Board held a Budget Workshop. Approximately 100 employees, parents, students, and community members participated in the workshop. Staff presented information about the budget, and participants shared comments and ideas.
Because the budget will continue to be a critical issue through the rest of this year, there is a new
budget information page that is accessible through a link on the front page of the District website
. Our Board is reviewing the potential list of reductions above, as well as other potential cost saving and revenue generating measures and will continue this discussion at our upcoming MBUSD Board meetings on Wednesday, February 5, and Wednesday, February 26.
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MCHS Construction Progress
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I'm happy to report that progress has been steady at the Mira Costa Athletic Complex. Expenditures to date have been consistent with Measure EE, the $39 million bond that was passed by the voters of Manhattan Beach in 2016. It's important to note that no bond funds may be used for anything except construction, and that we have a Citizens' Oversight Committee making sure all bond funds are properly utilized. As you can see in the video above, the framework for all three portions of the gym is now in place, and we look forward to our student athletes using the gym this fall!
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Safety continues to be one of the highest priorities of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. While the Board has completed the installation of perimeter fencing and upgraded radios for emergencies, and while schools continue to practice procedures and implement other measures that maximize safety and preparedness, one additional step that the Board addressed at the conclusion of 2019 is safe gun storage. On December 11, our Board of Trustees adopted Resolution 2020-3, A
Resolution Supporting Safe Gun Storage
. We are asking MBUSD parents to pledge to always practice safe gun storage and prevent unsupervised child and teen access to guns at all times. We will continue to work with Manhattan Beach Police Department to collaborate and inform parents of their duty to safely store firearms in their homes. For more information about California's gun safety laws, please click
here
.
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Our Social & Emotional Learning Visual Framework
The social and emotional health of our MBUSD community remains one of our major goals. How are we helping this come to life? We are focusing on one skill per month. For the month of
January
, both at school and at home, we are focusing on
setting and achieving positive goals
. For the month of
February
, we will focus on
showing empathy for others
.
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Kudos to our Music Educators
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Two of our very own amazing music educators were honored recently at the
Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA)
Conference. Denise Haslop, MBMS band and orchestra director, received the Distinguished Member Award, and Peter Park, MCHS orchestra director, received the Gold Award of Recognition!
The awards are for outstanding achievement in the field of music education and dedicated service to the SCSBOA through meaningful contributions to the organization and its members. Congratulations, both!
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Congratulations, Ms. Holz!
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Robinson 4th grade teacher Kim Holz has been selected to receive the “Outstanding Elementary School Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award” for 2020 from the California Council for the Social Studies. She was selected because of her exemplary skills, dedication, and commitment to high quality social studies education.
Ms. Holz, who last year was recognized as 2019 California Teacher of the Year (the 3rd MBUSD teacher in the last six years to receive that honor!), will be recognized at the CCSC awards ceremony February 28. I hope that you join me in sharing her students' and colleagues' pride and excitement for this well-deserved honor.
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Thanks for making our District great,
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Mike Matthews
MBUSD Superintendent
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Manhattan Beach Unified School District
325 S. Peck Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.318.7345
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