ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

At our Regular Meeting of the Board of Education this past Thursday, I was reminded during the public comment section of our meeting that some members of our school community may not be aware of our Board meetings or what happens during them. We encourage parents, guardians, and members of our community to join us at our Board meetings. A School Board meeting is when the Board of Education conducts the business of the district to ensure that the district is responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of the Alvord community.

But Board meetings in Alvord are so much more. We celebrate our student and school successes. We highlight our programs and services. We discuss our challenges. We recognize outstanding accomplishments and outstanding people. We listen to public comments from parents, employees, students, and community members. The meeting agenda is posted 72 hours in advance at District Headquarters and on our web site on-line agenda portal here.

Any member of the public may address the Board of Education for up to three minutes during the public comment section of our meetings. Public comment takes place approximately between 6:30 or 7:00 PM, depending on the length of time it takes for the presentation and recognition section of the meeting, which precedes it, to conclude. Since students or guests are often presenting or being recognized, we have them up first so they can get home as soon as possible.

It's easy to follow the Board of Education's actions and stay informed, even if you cannot always attend in person. All of the action the Board of Education takes is documented and available through our web site on-line agenda portal here. We also publish a Board Meeting Highlights newsletter with pictures and a list of all the action the Board took during the meeting. Find the highlights from this past Thursday's Board meeting here. Find all of the past meeting highlights here. Sign up to receive the Board Highlights newsletter in your Inbox after every meeting here.

Also, below my weekly message is a section that is always in the Round-Up with upcoming meeting dates and links to all of the information and action the Board takes. The Alvord Board of Education encourages participation and active involvement. It is the most democratic of all processes.

This coming week is Classified School Employee Week. This year's statewide theme for celebrating our unheralded heroes is EMPOWERING GENERATIONS. Our classified team members include our Clerical and Administrative Services staff, our Custodial and Maintenance Services staff, our Food and Nutrition Services staff, our classroom Paraprofessional Services staff, our Health Aides, our School Safety and Security Services staff, our Technology Services staff, our Transportation Services staff and all of the school site employees support team members who with great pride and care support our students everyday.

Our schools function because of these essential frontline or behind-the-scenes workers who keep them running while making a huge difference in the lives of the students they serve. Many of our classified team members are also parents of current or former students in Alvord. As a seventeen-year principal prior to becoming a superintendent, I have first-hand experience and great respect for the wonderful people who are responsible for high-functioning and well run schools. Please take the time this week to say thank you to your favorite classified staff member for everything they do help our students succeed.

This past week, in recognition of a chronic attendance problem that has swept our nation's schools, the President of the United States sounded a "Call to Action" for communities across the country to “cultivate a culture of attendance” and make it clear that students need to be in school to learn and develop important academic and social skills.

Chronic absenteeism is among the leading causes of low grades and high dropout rates. A "chronic absentee" has been defined in Education Code Section 60901(c)(1) as a pupil who misses 10 percent, or about 18 days of school. But low grades and high dropout rates are associated with students who miss a lot of school even if it doesn't total 18 days. Even students who miss an average of a day or two a month can easily fall behind.

Our Child Welfare and Attendance Team (CWA) has been at the forefront of the battle against absenteeism. We recognize that chronic absenteeism is often the result of complex mental, physical, and student and/or family health issues. Our CWA Team works closely with each school's attendance review team to strategically address students with attendance problems.

In recognition of the accomplishments in improving attendance and lowering chronic absenteeism, our CWA Team was recognized by the State Superintendent of Schools at a recent event in Sacramento for their outstanding work, honoring Alvord as a Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB) district. There are only 23 school districts that meet the criteria! It's an incredible accomplishment.

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

TK-8 Summer Theater Camp July 8 - July 19

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

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness around mental health concerns. Click here to read our May wellness newsletter. In this month's issue, our team shares resources, tips, and activities aimed to promote mental wellness. Our Mental Health Support Team, including our crisis team, supports our students, schools, and their families by providing a variety of professional services.

Learn more about the warning signs and symptoms of mental health problems here at the National Alliance on Mental Illness web site.

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.

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

The Declining Enrollment Task Force (DETF), a districtwide committee comprised of staff, parents, and community members, met from October, 2023 to April, 2024 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. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you to our Task Force for this important work. As stewards of the public trust responsible for the district's fiscal health and student achievement outcomes, the Board of Education will be hard at work addressing the problem and proposing solutions. Stay tuned.

The result of declining enrollment impacts a school district's ability to equitably allocate fiscal, educational, and human resources since less revenue is produced while the same number of schools and programs continue to operate. In other words, resources are spread thinner and thinner year over year. Alvord has experienced a 15-year declining enrollment trend from a high of 20,057 students to the current enrollment of 16,663 students to a projected enrollment of 15,257 students, a 24% decrease.

Enrollment projections are based on birth factors, mobility factors, student yield factors, and other elements. 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.

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