SMCJUHSD Community

Dear families and community members,

This month’s election was important not only to the nation, but also right here at home. Thank you to all of the residents who participated in our local election and specifically on South Monterey County High School District’s Measures H and I.

While the results are still pending certification and there are votes left to be counted, voters have made it clear that they continue to support the District’s vision in investment for the future of our local high schools. We appreciate the community’s continued confidence in the work we do for our local students. The enactment of Measures H and I will help our local high schools expand job training programs, upgrade school safety, and security, and retain and attract high quality teachers at our local high schools.

Measures H and I include fiscal safeguards such as public disclosure of all spending, and annual financial and performance audits. NO money from Measures H and I can go to salaries or pensions. ALL money will be spent on our local high schools and cannot be taken by the county, state, or federal governments.

For more information on Measures H and I, visit: www2.smcjuhsd.org.

As we enter the holiday season, we wish you and your families time for connection, celebration, and comfort with loved ones. Our schools will be closed November 27-29, 2024 for the Thanksgiving holiday and December 23, 2024 through January 3, 2024 for winter break. Our next newsletter will be available in January.

Have a wonderful month!

Sincerely,

Dr. Caroline Cota

Superintendent

Last month, I shared that the State Board of Education (SBE) intended to hear the 2015 Petition for the Reorganization of Greenfield Elementary School District at their November meeting. At the request of our County Superintendent, Dr. Deneen Guss, our Board joined the original petitioners, the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization, and the Greenfield Elementary School District in requesting a delay to the hearing of this item. This month, we received notice that the SBE has delayed this agenda item until their July 2025 meeting to give all parties the opportunity to resolve the issue locally.

The County Office of Education has since hired Christy White and Associates to look at the current and future fiscal state of the districts in Greenfield and King City. This is to see how unification, if it occurred in Greenfield and/or in King City, would impact each district. This study is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of January, 2025. A neutral mediator will be hired to facilitate negotiations among the districts to see if an agreement is possible. Community forums will be held to review all information about the unification process requirements and to give both communities the facts. The County Office is considering forums in person in both communities with zoom access as well. Dr. Guss will keep the State Board of Education informed of our progress throughout this process.

While we wait for more information on next steps, our district remains committed to ensuring the success of all of our students in both communities. We thank you for your continued support and trust as we work to ensure success for every student.

We do not anticipate any further developments on this matter until the end of January at which time we will provide an update in our next newsletter.

After taking the Board on a facilities tour last year, where they recognized the need for an athletic team room that could also be used for wrestling at Greenfield High School, we are pleased to announce that the new team room officially opened on November 18, 2024.

School Board meetings occur on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

Upcoming Regular Meetings:

December 11, 6:30 PM, KCHS Library, 720 Broadway St, King City

Winter break is from December 23, 2024 to January 10, 2025. Classes will resume on January 13, 2025.

We encourage all students who are eligible to apply!

CSU and UC Applications are due by November 30th!

Your student can apply through their CaliforniaColleges.edu account or directly through Cal State Apply or the University of California application portal.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now available. All students planning to attend college in the Fall of 2025 must apply! Access your FAFSA Application here.

Your student’s mental well-being is essential to their success and happiness. It’s important to watch for signs that they might be struggling, such as:

• Persistent sadness or irritability
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
• Difficulty concentrating or noticeable drop in grades
• Withdrawal from friends and family

If you notice these signs, please know help is available. Connect with your school counselor. Explore resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call (988) or text "HELLO" to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line.

Together, we can support your teen’s mental health and well-being.

Over the past two months, our district has been collaborating with King City Union School District Dual Language Immersion (DLI) task force, a dedicated group of board members, administrators, educators, staff, and parents. This task force is working to develop a comprehensive plan to support the first two cohorts of students enrolled in the DLI program at Santa Lucia Elementary School. These discussions have sparked exciting reflections on the opportunities awaiting these students, currently in kindergarten and first grade, when they eventually transition to King City High School.

The DLI program follows a 90:10 model, emphasizing Spanish language acquisition in the early years before gradually transitioning to a 50:50 model, where instruction is equally delivered in English and Spanish. The program serves a diverse cohort, including English-only, Spanish-only, and bilingual students. English-speaking students are immersed in Spanish while practicing English at home, and Spanish-speaking students strengthen their first language as a foundation for building English proficiency. By the time these students join the high school, they will be academically bilingual, fully capable of learning and engaging in both languages.

This opens up exciting possibilities for King City High School to offer academic courses in both Spanish and English, enabling students to continue developing their bilingual skills. Such an initiative would not only support their linguistic and academic growth but also significantly increase the number of students earning the State Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious recognition of bilingual proficiency. Offering bilingual courses at the high school level, however, will require teachers to hold a BCLAD credential, ensuring they are prepared to teach in both languages.

The future for these bilingual students is bright. As these cohorts progress through their education, King City High School will have ample time to identify the courses and resources needed to support their continued bilingual learning. The task force looks forward to collaborating on innovative ways to ensure these students thrive academically and linguistically, ultimately preparing them for success in an increasingly multilingual workforce.

The potential of these students is truly inspiring, and this partnership with the King City Union School District reflects a shared commitment to preparing students for a globally connected future. Together, the districts are laying the foundation for a generation of bilingual and biliterate learners ready to excel in the world.

Know Someone Interested in a Job with the District? Here are some current openings!

Certificated Positions:

Instructional Coach - Math Focus

Occupational Therapist

Mental Health Specialist

Agriculture Teacher (KCHS)

Classified Positions:

Cybersecurity Coordinator

Custodian I/Bus Driver

Custodian II/Bus Driver

Bus Driver

Occupational Therapist

Mechanic

Mental Health Specialist

Service Worker/Bus Driver

ELD Liaison

Para II

Click Below for Specifics
Edjoin Teamtailor

District Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm

Email: superintendent@smcjuhsd.org
Website: https://www2.smcjuhsd.org/
Location: 800 Broadway, King City, CA 93930
Phone: (831) 385-0606

David Gaboni, President dgaboni@smcjusd.org

Leslie Girard, Clerk lgirard@smcjusd.org

Linda Benway, Member lbenway@smcjuhsd.org

Paul Dake, Member pdake@smcjuhsd.org

Dr. Lourdes Villarreal, Member lvillarreal@smcjuhsd.org