CONNECTIONS
MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
MDUSD FRIENDS AND FAMILIES
The end of the year is approaching quickly! There is so much that takes place between now and the end of the school year, and I am filled with appreciation and admiration as I look back. So many accomplishments, and so many congratulations to offer!
First, as we mark this week as Classified School Employees Appreciation Week, please join me in thanking and acknowledging the roughly 2,000 classified employees serving the students and families of Mt. Diablo Unified. Our tireless classified employees are often the first face of the school day for our students, from the bus driver to the front office to the custodial team to the classroom assistants and "noon duty" staff. This year, special congratulations to Laura Juranek, from our School Support Services team, and Janet Weiss, from Shadelands Preschool, for being selected by their peers as this year's Classified Employees of the Year.
Congratulations as well to the dozens of Mt. Diablo teachers, administrators, classified staff, and parent volunteers for being honored recently at our 7th annual Academy Awards for their significant impacts on the lives of students and families. A full listing of all honorees is linked below, along with a gallery of this festive event.
Congratulations to Shay Kornfeld, a MDUSD Teacher of the Year and now one of the four finalists for Contra Costa County Office of Education's Teacher of the Year. If chosen in late September, he will go on to represent the county in the California Teacher of the Year program. MDUSD has a solid history of our teachers advancing to both the county and the state levels.
Congratulations are also due to the nearly 1,900 students who make up the MDUSD Class of 2019! You'll find a full listing of our commencement ceremonies below.
Our final Community Speaker Series event, part of our Local Control Accountability (LCAP) activities, is this evening here at the District offices beginning at 6 p.m. It's an important time for our parents, families, and community members to weigh in on how schools will prioritize spending as well as reductions. We appreciate the input of families thus far, and thank the parents, students, and community members who serve on our School Site Councils (SSC). It's a form of volunteerism with a significant impact. If you can make it, we'd love to see you there!
Warm regards,
Dr. Nellie E. Meyer
Superintendent
DISTRICT NEWS
As a way of recognizing the important contributions of classified school employees, the California Legislature and the Governor approved legislation in 1986 - more than 30 years ago - setting aside the third full week in May each year as Classified School Employees Week.
From transporting and feeding our students, to managing and maintaining our school facilities and grounds, classified employees are essential to public education and to our students' successful and meaningful school experiences. School operations cannot exist without our classified staff, and we honor and salute them.
Here in MDUSD, as part of the annual Academy Awards event, our classified employees are nominated by their peers, students, and families for going above and beyond. You can read about all of the nominees in this program.
Congratulations to this year's Classified Employees of the Year:
Outstanding Classified Employee at a District Department - Laura Juranek
Laura is the Administrative Assistant to our Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools. In her nominations, peers said of Laura that she is "always professional, courteous, and positive"; "is a problem-solver par excellence"; and that "her can-do attitude is infectious and her persistence unparalleled." One nomination noted that Laura "seems to always take the time to make sure people are greeted cheerfully and feel heard and understood."
Outstanding Classified Employee at a School Site - Janet Weiss
Janet is considered by her peers to be "not only the "office manager" but our unofficial principal, advisor, mentor, friend, nurse, sounding board, counselor, and mediator." One nomination noted that Janet "greets our families and staff every day with a smile and a helping hand. She's the HEART of our school community."
More than 200 MDUSD educators, administrators, classified employees, and parent volunteers and volunteer organizations were honored May 8 for their significant contributions and impacts on the lives of students and families. Certificates of Recognition were provided by Senator Bill Dodd, Senator Steve Glazer, Assembly Member Tim Grayson, and Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to all nominees.
Students from Mt. Diablo High School's culinary program prepared and served appetizers and a beautiful dinner. Musicians from Northgate High School's Jazz Band provided entertainment, along with students from Gregory Gardens Elementary, performing selections from their production of the "Lion King."
This week, we recognized and thanked 41 employees who are retiring this year. These employees have served the Mt. Diablo community, its staff, students, and families for between seven and 40 years!
As each retiree came forward, a story was shared about their history with the District, and each was given a commemorative golden apple. To these dedicated and giving employees, we thank you. Your collective service has spanned decades, and the gift of your time and talent is priceless. Our very best to you in your next adventure!
Take a look at the Retiree Reception gallery here - use MDUSD as the password!
MDUSD TEACHER SHAY KORNFELD ADVANCES TO CONTRA COSTA COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
Congratulations to Shay Kornfeld, one of our two MDUSD Teachers of the Year, for his selection as one of four teachers named as finalists for the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year. More than 20 teachers honored countywide as their districts' respective Teachers of the Year are eligible for this honor, including our other Teacher of the Year, Emily Andrews.
Shay, an 8th grade space and science teacher at Diablo View Middle School, will find out in September if he's been selected as one of the county's two top teachers. If so, he could go on to represent Mt. Diablo Unified for consideration at the state level.
MDUSD has a long history of teachers being honored at the county and state levels. Just this past year, both of Teachers of the Year - Kelly Perkins and Rosie Reid - were named the 2018-2019 County Teachers of the Year. Rosie later went on to be named a California Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations Shay Kornfeld!!!!! #TeamMDUSD #MDUSDProud
Who should care about the LCAP? Parents, students, everyone! MDUSD is preparing to complete its annual LCAP update, and there has never been a more critical time for parents and other stakeholders to provide us feedback and final comments. Please plan to attend the final session in our Community Speaker Series, and help determine how MDUSD will spend its Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funds to meet our LCAP goals.
By law, each school district in California must set annual goals for its students in eight state priority areas:
(1) Basic necessities
(2) Implementation of common core state standards
(3) Parental involvement
(4) Student achievement
(5) Student engagement
(6) School climate
(7) Access to courses
(8) Other student outcomes in subject areas
Come and have a voice in the future of education for Mt. Diablo Unified! The presentation will be held this evening, May 22, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the District offices at 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord.
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR
Few areas of budget development are more difficult than those that involve reducing staff positions and the employee layoffs that can follow. It means leadership teams here at Mt. Diablo Unified as well as districts across California have to make decisions that are in conflict with personal beliefs and relationships but are required by state law as part of their fiduciary responsibilities.
Education Code requires that employees who face possible layoff at the end of the school year be given written notice no later than March 15. This layoff notice, commonly referred to as a “pink slip”, is a formal announcement from the district to administrators, certificated employees, and others, informing them that they may be released, reassigned, or returned to a previous position or level for the following school year, starting July 1. MDUSD considered all vacancies and confirmed attrition before issuing the preliminary notices. There are 52 employees affected by the layoff notices.
It’s important to note that layoff decisions are financially-driven and, by law, are based upon an employee’s seniority – NOT on the employee’s performance. In some circumstances, some layoff notices may be rescinded. This can happen if the District is notified by an employee about his/her confirmed plans to retire or resign, or if additional revenues are identified.
The March 15 notification process is very prescriptive, and teachers and other certified staff are fully aware of it, but it doesn’t make receiving a notice any easier to handle. It’s also very difficult for students and families who have built relationships with these employees and may struggle with understanding or accepting the seniority-based component of the process.
Learn more about 2019-2020 budget development here.
On May 14, 2019, the Mt. Diablo School District offered the following to the Mt. Diablo Education Association (MDEA) as part of current contract negotiations. The Board is committed to continued investments in programs that support and advance the achievement of all students, especially for our students and families that who need additional support. They must however consider the fiscal challenges associated with additional student support. If MDUSD wishes to ensure that other bargaining units receive the same percentage increase it will necessitate further reductions in personnel.
MDUSD has offered the following:
- A 2% one-time off-schedule increase for the 2018-2019 school year, totaling approximately $3.3 million for MDEA and $2 million for other units) $5.3M
- A 2% on-schedule increase for the 2019-2020 school year, commencing in January 2020, totaling approximately $1.6 million for MDEA and $1 million for other units) totaling $2.7M
- Additional targeted support for schools identified as having concentrated urgent needs. This proposal is in direct response to MDEA’s demand for intervention of some kind at our most impacted school sites and will reduce class sizes and protect teachers at those sites from staffing instability.
- Reduction in class size by one student from contracted maximum. $2.2M
- A $1,400 stipend for Bilingual and English teachers who teach in dual immersion classrooms. $32,428 (This dollar amount may fluctuate depending on program size.)
- Protection of the current status for Special Education students so that there are no caps as to the number of Resource Students that can access the General Education curriculum. Additionally, we will continue to work with our teachers to provide professional development for how to work effectively with students with special needs, exposed to chronic trauma and those that have academic gaps due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Teacher professional development for our new staff by hosting EduCamps during the first six weeks of school. EduCamps will focus on Special Education, restorative practices, classroom management, equity across the curriculum, and more.
MDUSD leadership has had to identify additional possible reductions in order to fund these offers. Read more here.
Thanks to all of the local community members, elected officials, law enforcement, and industry leaders representing fields including finance, healthcare, media, local business leaders with expertise in finance, media, health finance, and construction who participated in our recent Principal for a Day experience! Principal for a Day brings these individuals to our schools to shadow a principal for part of the day, learning about what it takes to lead a school, and sharing their own leadership experiences. Our principals and their guest principals then come together midday to debrief and share ideas about how we can continue to improve our schools and outcomes. We are so grateful to all who participated, and are excited about the partnerships that were launched as a result!
A photo album from the lunch and debrief is available here - just use MDUSD as the password!
Please save the date and plan to attend our Healthy Kids Festival, next Thursday, May 30, at Fair Oaks Elementary School, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The event is open to all MDUSD families, and is intended to spotlight family-friendly ways to emphasize wellness. And it's FREE!
The Festival will be jam-packed with activities, including tastings of new school menu items for next year, gardening demonstrations, a cooking demonstration with Bon Appetit, music and performances, face painting, a fruit and vegetable giveway, physical activities, prizes, and more.
Please come have some fun, meet our Food and Nutrition Services team, and celebrate wellness! You can learn more about the District's Student Wellness Policy here!
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Mt. Diablo's highly-acclaimed Teacher Induction and Support Program (TISP) is a peer coaching program dedicated to supporting new teachers and enhancing their skills and knowledge, as a way to build their capacity for providing quality learning experiences for all students. Unlike most districts, the MDUSD program is fully-paid, and with full-time teacher coaches funded by the district to help mentor and support new teachers.
This year, 50 new teachers 'graduated' from the program, and were celebrated for their hard work. The event used a super hero theme because teaching is a super power! Congratulations to all - job well done! We are lucky to have you as part of #TeamMDUSD!
Noelia Gálvez, a new teacher at Bel Air Elementary, just completed the induction program, and is now close to achieving her Clear Teaching Credential. Her advice for new teachers? Follow your passion!
Corissa Stobing, Director of Activities and an EL Secondary Support Teacher at YV High School, has been named a finalist for the 2019 Warren E. Shull High School Student Council Adviser of the Year Award, sponsored by the National Student Council (NatStuCo) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Ms. Stobing is one of seven finalists from which a national high school winner will be announced during the 2019 National Student Council Conference in McDonald, Pennsylvania, this summer.
Ms. Stobing has worked at Ygnacio Valley High for 17 years, and has served in the activities role for the past 15. She has taught Renaissance Leadership, ASB Leadership, Freshmen Leadership, and all levels of English and ELD. She is credited with bringing a number of student-centered initiatives to campus, including Link Crew, Breaking Down the Walls, and a Week of Welcome.
In their announcement, NASSP congratulated Ms. Stobing for "her exemplary efforts to nuture and develop leadership, service, and civic engagement as qualities of good students through student council." Congratulations Corissa Stobing!!!!
SCHOOL NEWS
WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ACCREDITATION AWARDS
The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has announced it has awarded a full accreditation to MDUSD's model continuation high school, Olympic High School, and Horizons Home Study and Center for Independent Study programs. All were awarded a six-year accreditation status.
WASC is the official academic body responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary, and elementary schools in California, Hawaii, and other western regions. The accreditation process is a very lengthy and rigorous one, requiring schools to submit significant data and other documentation, host accreditation committee visits, and participate in self-study on a variety of issues dedicated to supporting and improving student learning.
We are exceptionally proud of these schools, and their dedicated and hard-working staff for this important achievement. Congratulations!!!!
STUDENT NEWS
We've always felt strongly about the power and effectiveness of the student voice in elevating the public's opinion of young people, and educating the community about issues important to today's youth. That's why we're super proud of students from Bethan Lamb's class at Ygnacio Valley High School - the first and only class from Central Contra Costa (and Concord) to be chosen to have their stories air as part of this year's Youth Takeover series on KQED news.
The Youth Takeover is a week where KQED opens its airwaves to student-produced content from around the Bay Area. This year, you can hear student stories on KQED news, The California Report, Bay Curious, and other programs.
Since January, Ms. Lamb's students have worked with the KQED Education team on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organizing, and reading skills in order to articulate their perspectives, life stories, and concerns about the community. Twenty-three students participated, doing hours of editing, recording, retakes, and studio work. Given that KQED needed to include a diverse geographic group of students, we're especially proud that so many of Ms. Lamb's students' stories were chosen for air.
Johanna Mendoza: Commentary - Teens Need Information and Guidance About Sex
Description: Johanna writes about her experience as a teen girl who until this year did not receive a formal sexual health education. She shares her fears, personal experience(including her friend's) and her opinion on what need's to change in this country to ensure teens health.
(Read/listen to Johanna's story here)
Gerardo Gonzalez: Meeting Expectations
Program: Perspectives
Description: Gerry shares his dad's difficult journey to come to the United States to ensure that his family is taken care off. Gerry talks about how much he admires his father, his fear of not graduating, and his desire to prove everyone wrong.
These students' perspectives are linked on this page as audio files. You can click on each one, just under the group photograph.
Jose De Jesus Ochoa and Khalid Safie, Recycling on High School Campuses
Description: Jose and Khalid are a part of Generation Z and very concerned about the effects of Climate Change and what they as student's can do on the local level. They noticed that YVHS does not have a very robust recycling program and wanted to understand why and what they could do the change things.
Elizabeth Tepecano, College Should be Free
Description: Elizabeth is a First Generation American who wants to go to College! Like many student's her age she is worried about how to pay for it, especially considering her families financial situation. She share's her opinion about why America should provide free college education to every student.
Steven Corpuz, Out in High School
Description: Steven shares his experience as being one of the only out gay students on the YVHS campus, the difficulties he has had to face, and how he works to overcome them.
Stephanie Mhae Lucio, Climate Change in the Philippines
Description: Stephanie moved the to the United states when she was in elementary school leaving most of her family behind. As hard as this is, it is even harder when natural disasters strike because she cannot contact family for long periods at a time and is left feeling frustrated and out of control. She talks about what she wishes other American's would consider when other parts of the world experience natural disasters.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Mt. Diablo' Unified is always looking for potential team members. Please check our Human Resources website and our LinkedIn page for updated classroom positions and other positions we’re looking to fill, such as Special Education teachers, Behavioral Health Specialists, and Speech Language Pathologists (where we offer a $5,000 signing bonus). We also have numerous openings for Noon Supervisors/Substitutes - a great job for a college student or stay-at-home parent looking for some supplemental income.
We are always recruiting for Custodian Trainees, School Bus Driver Trainees, Clerical Substitutes, and Special Education Assistants. There is a nationwide shortage of bus drivers and we are affected by this as are other local districts. Bus Driver Trainees can move into permanent positions fairly quickly, guaranteed a minimum of 20 hours a week with benefits.
- Check here for classified (non-teaching) openings!
- Check here for certificated openings!
Come join #TeamMDUSD! Together, we make a difference!
SCENES FROM SCHOOLS
Rio Vista Elementary School
Sun Terrace Elementary STEM Magnet
Sunrise School
Shore Acres Elementary School
Holbrook Language Academy
Northgate High School
Ah, spring sports! We love this time of year - it's great to see our scholar athletes hard at work in the classroom and on the field. Check out Northgate High School's Lady Broncos getting ready to take on San Marin High School! #throwlikeagirl #runlikeagirl #NHSBroncos
College Park High School
Concord High School
A HUGE Red Devil thank you to Frys Electronics of Concord. The store receive a $10,000 prize from Intel electronics to donate to any (yes, ANY) local school in the area. And they picked Concord High! THANK YOU local businesses for supporting our schools and making an impact!
Diablo View Middle School
ABOUT US
Email: mdusd@mdusd.org
Website: https://www.mdusd.org/
Location: 1936 Carlotta Dr, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 682-8000
Facebook: facebook.com/MDUSDnews
Twitter: @MtDiabloUSD
DATEBOOK
May 27, 2019
Memorial Day Holiday - No School
May 30, 2019
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)
Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
- 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- View Meeting Materials here!
June 5, 2019
Last Day of School
June 10, 2019
Regular Meeting - Board of Education
1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, CA 94519
- Closed session - 6:00 p.m.
- Open session - 7:00 p.m.
- View Agendas and Meeting Documents here!
June 24, 2019
Regular Meeting - Board of Education
1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, CA 94519
- Closed session - 6:00 p.m.
- Open session - 7:00 p.m.
- View Agendas and Meeting Documents here!
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS
All commencement ceremonies will be held at the Concord Pavilion unless noted otherwise.
May 28, 2019
College Now Program
Diablo Valley College, 6:00 p.m., Diablo Room (Building HSF (grid B3) on map)
May 31, 2019
Mount Diablo High School, 7:00 p.m.
June 1, 2019
Olympic High School, 11:00 am
Concord High School, 7:00 pm
June 2, 2019
Small Continuation High Schools (Crossroads/Diablo Day/Gateway, Horizons CIS, Prospect, Summit), 11:00 am
Northgate High School,7:00 pm
June 3, 2019
College Park High School, 7:00 pm
June 4, 2019
Ygnacio Valley High School, 7:00 pm
June 8, 2019
Mt. Diablo Adult Education, 10:30 a.m., Loma Vista Adult Center, Multi-use Room
COMING UP
August 12, 2019
Regular Meeting - Board of Education
1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, CA 94519 (Get Directions)
- Closed session - 6:00 p.m.
- Open session - 7:00 p.m.
- View Agendas and Meeting Documents here!
August 26, 2019
Regular Meeting - Board of Education
1936 Carlotta Dr., Concord, CA 94519 (Get Directions)
- Closed session - 6:00 p.m.
- Open session - 7:00 p.m.
- View Agendas and Meeting Documents here!
August 15, 2019
First Day of School
September 2, 2019
Labor Day Holiday - No School