ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Now, as education adapts to a new normal, California is faced with a teacher shortage. As the most populous state in the country, it’s no surprise that California has the largest demand for teachers and other school professionals. Eighty percent of California school districts have reported a shortage of qualified teachers, with the hardest hit area STEM fields and special education. While we have been proactive and as a result fortunate in Alvord to be fully staffed with highly qualified teachers, that's not the case everywhere. Nor is it a guarantee that as the shortage worsens, that will avoid being impacted by it too. We have taken matters into our own hands by developing an innovative teaching and learning program in partnership with the Norco Community College Center for Child Development and Teacher Preparation. Learn more about the program here.

State officials estimate California will need an additional 100,000 teachers over the coming decade.

With all of this in mind, the state legislature has taken action in recent years to address the statewide shortage, including the following:

• $45 million has been set aside to help existing school staff become credentialed teachers
• $10 million has been funneled into new undergraduate programs for teacher education.
• $5 million has gone toward opening the California Center on Teaching Careers.
• $9 million has been devoted to district-specific efforts for recruitment and retention.
• $5 million has been devoted to the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program.

There are many theories as to why there is a teacher shortage. The six most common causes cited in the teacher shortage literature include the following:

1. Low Teacher Salaries
2. High Workload
3. Unrealistic Pressures and Expectations
4. Challenging Working Conditions
5. Teachers Feel Under-appreciated, Silenced, and Unsupported
6. Declining Enrollment Trend Statewide/Shrinking Job Market is Discouraging

The Alvord Board of Education greatly values our teachers and all of our employees. We strive to be the kind of employer who attracts the best and brightest and most dedicated employees. After all, the student experience is dependent upon the employee experience. Count on Alvord to continue to attract and retain the most highly qualified and committed teachers and staff. When our teachers and staff are the best, our students can be their best.

Thank you in advance for saying thank you to your favorite teachers this week.

The Declining Enrollment Task Force (DETF), a districtwide committee comprised of staff, parents, and community members, was assembled earlier in the school year to study the district's declining enrollment trend, which mirrors the trend in the State and in our region. The committee completed their study and have produced a report of their findings. Find their report here.

Enrollment projections are based on birth factors, mobility factors, student yield factors, and other elements. See the chart below for more details. The Board of Education uses the DETF report along with enrollment projection data and other factors, including facility use and capacity, to set strategic goals for the future.

Summer is right around the corner. Check out the flyer below for information on our summer expanded learning opportunity available for all elementary and middle school students. For high school students, our high schools will directly communicate with their students and families about the summer programs at their schools.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 (Schools closed)

Promotions 10 AM at Norte Vista High School Zack Earp Stadium:

• Tuesday, May 28: Arizona & Villegas
  
• Wednesday, May 29: Loma Vista & Wells
  

Graduations 6 PM at Norte Vista High School Zack Earp Stadium:

• Tuesday, May 28: Alvord & Mission View High Schools
  
• Wednesday, May 29: La Sierra HS
  
• Thursday, May 30: Hillcrest HS
  
• Friday, May 31: Norte Vista HS

Last Day of School, May 31

TK-8 Summer School, June 5 - June 28

First Day of School 2024-25, August 7, 2024

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for choosing Alvord as your education partner. We strive to be our best, so that your children can be their best.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

MRS. CAROLYN M. WILSON

President

Lake Hills K-5

Promenade K-5

Villegas 6-8

District Office

MS. GEORGINA RAMIREZ

Vice President
Trustee Area 1

RMK K-5

Twinhill K-5

Valley View K-5

Loma Vista 6-8

MS. LIZETH VEGA
Clerk
Trustee Area 2

Arlanza K-5

La Granada K-5

Terrace K-5

Norte Vista 9-12

Alternative Ed Center

Keller Administration Site

Child Nutrition Services

MRS. JULIE A. MORENO

Trustee Area 3

Myra Linn K-5

Wells 6-8

La Sierra 9-12

MR. ROBERT D. SCHWANDT
Member
Trustee Area 4

McAuliffe K-5

Orrenmaa K-5

Stokoe K-5

Arizona 6-8

Alvord High 11-12

Hillcrest 9-12

Numerous Measure J Projects are underway. See the images below. Priority projects focus on school safety and campus enhancements. Get Measure J updates by joining the Parent Square Measure J Community Group.

Our partner, PIQE, is a national organization known for delivering evidence-based programs that engage, empower and transform parents to actively engage in their children’s education and strengthen parent-school collaboration. The workshops are designed to empower parents with information, skills development, and support systems, particularly for families of historically underrepresented students. Contact our Family Engagement Office for more information at 951-396-0126.

Sign Up for Weekly Notifications in Aeries & Follow Your Student's Progress

Visit the Aeries Parent Portal frequently to check on assignments and grades. You can also sign up to receive a weekly notice in Aeries for a quick summary of the grade book, missing assignments, attendance for the week. Here's how to sign up:

• Login to Aeries Parent Portal
• Click on the down arrow on the top right corner after your email address
• Select “Parent Notification Preferences”

• Check the box next to “Receive Weekly Progress Email”
• Select the day and time for notification
• Click “Save”

Currently, all public school districts in California are required to offer 180 school days. In minutes, the older the students, the more minutes they spend learning during those 180 days:

• TK-K = 36,000 minutes
• Grades' 1–3 = 50,400 minutes
• Grades' 4–8 = 54,000 minutes
• Grades' 9–12 = 64,800 minutes

Thanks to a massive investment by the State of California coupled with the development of a comprehensive Expanded Learning Program in Alvord, thanks to the foresight of the Board of Education, Alvord students can participate in a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities and events over the course of the calendar year, including after school tutoring, sports, visual and performing arts, and other extra-curricular activities until 6 pm everyday, during Thanksgiving and Spring Break, Winter Recess, and summer. Over 30 full days will be added to the 2024-25 school year for any TK-8 student who chooses to attend. It's voluntary, but highly recommended. Whether a student is interested in sports (we are adding girls flag football, Color guard, Superstar Athlete competition and more to our middle school sports program next year and beginning sports in our elementary school sports program, also this coming year); or the visual or performing arts, or simply interested in developing and building peer relations and having fun, Alvord has everything a student needs to grow and explore their interests. The goal of the program is to support academic achievement, social-emotional and interpersonal skills, enrich students' experiences in school, and build friendship with peers.

Parent Square is a safe and secure platform for school-to-home and home-to-school communication. All of our schools rely on it to keep parents informed. Instead of a one-way communication tool, Parent Square provides two-way communication. But to fully utilize the two-way feature of Parent Square, you have to activate your account. Sign in here and activate the two-way tool.

Email: AUSD@alvordschools.org
Website: https://www.alvordschools.org
Location: 9 Kpc Parkway, Corona, CA 92879, USA
Phone: (951) 509-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/alvordunified
Twitter: @AlvordUnified
Instagram: alvordunified