JROTC

We are blessed to have multiple units of JROTC – all of whom do a great job working with our youth in a variety of activities.  This past weekend at the Golden Bear Drill competition the Ramona HS Drill units performed very well (as usual).  The competition involved 60 high schools from all over the United States and Ramona walked (marched) away with 8 of the awards in the top 10.  Congratulations!! …and thanks to our JROTC instructors who work daily to move this program forward to its award-winning status.

Highly Relevant Learning

I had the good fortune to be included in the JW North Senior Exhibitions yesterday.  What a great job by the principal and staff in connecting the learning in their school with relevance to students.  As you probably know, North has been engaging in this project for 15 years now – and it shows.  Each senior works on a “project” throughout the course of the year with the assistance of the North staff – and then in a “stand and deliver” session the student presents their learning to an impartial (largely community) panel of evaluators.  This is about as “real world” as it gets.  Students have standards to meet in their presentation – including their appearance, oral language skills, visuals, clarity, and content.  As you might imagine – as in life there is always the “unforeseen” that happens (e.g., the PowerPoint doesn’t work, forgot to bring something, etc.).  I am sure that this experience will serve these students well in their life beyond graduation and JW North High School.

This is also a great opportunity as it provides the community with a clear sense of what kind of quality instruction is occurring at the school and how students are assimilating the learning.  Good job, North!!

On a related note, though certainly not as extensive is something called “Challenge based learning” that offers similar engagement of students.  The basic idea is that while students are engaged in “standards based” instruction there is a clarity of purpose and engagement in their learning.  The focus is that students determine a challenge they wish to meet and achieve and as such apply their learning in the accomplishment of that challenge.  One example of that learning occurred at O’Neill High School in Nebraska – where the challenge was to reduce and eliminate APATHY (not that unusual).  The uniqueness occurs when the specific challenge is to eliminate apathy at their school and engender engagement from their peers (a somewhat different class project).   This provides a whole new notion of what engaged learning might look like.

Many of our teachers and schools are in pursuit of this type of student engagement and learning.

District of Choice

During this past Board meeting, we discussed the idea of RUSD becoming a District of Choice (DOC). This is a new opportunity that is provided by legislation that was enacted in January of this year. We hope to bring further information and a resolution forward for further action and discussion at our May 3rd Board meeting. The idea of District of Choice (DOC) is that such a district can allow parents from anywhere in California to choose to come to that district. Unlike the “normal” interdistrict transfer requests in which the “home” district can restrict the potential exit of students, DOC essentially does not allow restriction of parents going to their "district of choice."

Obviously DOC would provide potential income beyond current funding. However, the real reason for such a declaration is that it would allow parents to choose schools/districts for their children. There are provisions where the DOC can set standards of how many students they will/can accept, but none of that can be done in a discriminatory manner. At the heart of a DOC decision is the notion that a district would have a philosophy that we live in a competitive environment where clients have choices, rather than in a monopoly where students must go to particular school/districts based on their neighborhood. In an era of choice for every other component in our lives, it would seem that choice in education is an idea whose time has come.

Kids and Computers

It was a fun evening on last Monday night as we “kicked off” a program with parents introducing the 1:1 computer project (1 student to 1 computer) at Central Middle School where each 7th grader will have an HP netbook (computer) for their use at school and home. Additionally each student is supported by an Internet connection though either SmartRiverside (wireless) or when that doesn’t work a hardwire connection to their house. Monday night the parents began by signing up online for the training and other elements of the program.

Central Middle School is one of two schools in the State of California that have this unique opportunity (the other school is a charter-like operation in Los Angeles). The project is NOT paid for with District or school funds but is supported by the CETF fund which is part of the phone bill that we all pay – and they have obligation to support this type of effort. A major component of the project is training and involving parents (the first training was on Saturday). In addition to the District there are 4 key partners that are making this happen and will guarantee its success:

• CETF – California Emerging Technology Fund
• The Children’s Partnership
• School 2 Home
• SmartRiverside

We anticipate this continuing forward to all the 8th graders at Central along with expansion of the project to TWO other RUSD middle schools – in this coming year. This is an exciting project with what I am sure will be improved learning and results for our students.

More Summer School

What a difference 24 hours makes!! As I was providing the prior post our REEF organization (our Education Foundation), they were going through their regular meeting and they approved a scholarship process and allocation to provide support for students to participate in the fee-based // "get-ahead" summer school program.  REEF has been a partner all the way along in an attempt to do all that they could do to make sure that our students have summer school opportunities.  At one point, they were going to serve as the delivery system for the program, before RCC stepped forward.(which we all view as a better solution at this point).

My thanks and commendations to REEF for once again stepping forward and supporting our students and teachers.  While this and other solutions like it are never perfect, it FAR surpasses what would otherwise be and what other districts are not able to deliver.

Of less good news, Steve Berry, long-time chairman, advocate, and cheerleader of REEF has notified all concerned that due to professional obligations he will need to step aside as chairman.  Steve had provided GREAT leadership for a long time for REEF and done an extraordinary job as REEF has grown and matured.  Thank you to Steve and his family for many years and lots of hours of commitment to REEF!!  I will miss him in the role of leader of REEF -- though he will continue to be part of RUSD and REEF.  I am also sure there will be leaders that will step forward to further lead REEF.

Thank you once again to REEF for all you do!!

Summer School

Also of significance this past week, the Board authorized the continuation of summer school at the secondary level but ONLY for those classes that are necessary for students to make-up failing grades or students that are at-risk of not passing CAHSEE. Additionally, unlike the past, all summer school for the high school students will be offered on a single high school campus (Poly) to provide the best product for the least cost.  Online classes will be offered via Riverside Virtual School (RVS) at Educational Options Center.

As another wrinkle in the matter, we are also going to be offering summer school for grade improvement or to “get ahead” – so that students can fit something additional into their schedule. These courses will be offered on a separate campus (Educational Opportunities Center) or online (RVS) and will be provided for a fee that represents only the true cost of the program (as the program is no longer reimbursed through the state).  To make this work we are making this option available through the assistance and partnership of RCC and their Community Education Program for high school credit.  In the future, these classes will probably be conducted on the RCC campus rather than on our high school campus.

In a time when many districts are eliminating or substantially reducing summer programs, we are pleased that we will continue to be able to provide summer school for our students. As time goes on, we will work to seek scholarships for those that might be interested.

California Distinguished Schools Award

Well, once again our great teachers and staff have done it – along with motivated students and dedicated parents. The announcement was made today that FOUR of our elementary schools have been named as California Distinguished Schools and will be so recognized on June 4th in Anaheim. You may ask why none of our secondary schools were recognized? That is because the state recognizes elementary one year and secondary the next. The RUSD elementary schools being recognized as California Distinguished Schools are:

• Benjamin Franklin Elementary
• Mark Twain Elementary
• George Washington Elementary
• Woodcrest Elementary

It is one thing when we self-promote or self-declare ourselves as being good and worthy, it is quite another when external sources honor the work and progress made. Such is, of course, the case with the California Distinguished Schools. The process involves:

• An initial invitation to apply,
• An application outlining signature activities and practices,
• Based on the quality of the application a final round of school visits to validate the practices and excellence at the school site, and
• The final selection.

The irony of the state’s recognition of these schools is that while they are honoring them, there are insufficient funds to continue to operate them as they have been. Additionally, it is frustrating that in the case of one school, that while it is being recognized for its achievement we (as required by law) are laying off 62% of the staff that were the ones responsible for the Distinguished School recognition.

Sorry for my absence

Sorry for my absence, but I think I literally “ran out of time” during this past week – lots going on (which is good). As many are probably aware we had celebration of 5 years of salad bars – and improved student nutrition – under the leadership of Rodney Taylor.  We had Undersecretary Concannon with us for the USDA to celebrate. We also had the dedication of the Frank Augustus Miller Middle School and reality of connecting some of our students to the heritage of Riverside (particularly given the life-sized model of Frank Miller).  As well as lots of other activities.


Also this week, we were able to finally close the budget gap with the Group #5 Recommendations. To the degree that people are interested in there is a clear mechanism available that illustrates how positions can be saved through utilization of furloughs, salary rollbacks, etc. In the midst of horrible conditions, that is good news. However, the realities are that we await the next State announcement of budget projections for 2010-11 – via the Governor’s May Revise. We hope there is NO change, but would not be surprised if there were further budget reductions passed on from the state. We can only do what we can with the budget issues that are passed down from the state – which also requires of us a balanced budget (unlike what they impose upon themselves). We ARE hopeful that the May Revise recognizes the hard work of public schools across the state and creates no further damage. Given a static situation, we need to continue to investigate positive solutions that restore these much needed positions.

Race to the Top (RTTT) -- Some More?

Several have wondered why we didn’t enter RTTT. We certainly believe in and promote reform that would assist our students and their learning. However, signing on to something that is unclear and without definition is certainly questionable. The most current example of that particular trap is the Persistently Low-Achieving Schools (PLAS) saga.

California in their signing on to RTTT is now engaged in PLAS lists and resulting actions. First, there is a tremendous lack of clarity of what PLAS is, the criteria for “getting on” the list, and the ramifications of the “list” – all starting with signing on to RTTT. Many found themselves on the list and wondered “what happened” as there were clearly others that were NOT performing as well and somehow evaded the list. The State Board acknowledged before they approved the list that it was problematic – yet approved it anyway. Now that there are those on the list (NOT us), they “might” be able to get extra money – but clearly with LOTS of strings. The feds say if you don’t want the money you can decline and not be forced into the sanctions and reforms. – But wait, as California has “signed on” and written legislation those PLAS schools must do the reforms, as it is now state law (rather than federal). Of course, we don’t know in California what the timelines are for those reforms, how they will happen, how it will be paid for (there is a bit of a budget problem in Sacramento), or what it ultimately means.

Of particular curiosity, after all the applications and reforms (in response to the possibility of RTTT) from California and other states -- 15 were short-listed -- and TWO were chosen (Tennessee and Delaware).

RTTT, round #2, is due from the state to Washington, D.C. by June 1st. Anyone interested in “signing on?"

From Red to Red/GOLD Ties

Many of you may have seen Dalton Sherman addressing Dallas ISD (YouTube video) and asking the question, “Do You Believe?” That is a provocative question, as the statistics for graduation from high school much less matriculation and completion of post-secondary programs are less than encouraging. So Dalton’s question, “do you believe in me?” resonates back to us as educators and citizens – “Do we believe that all African American male students can and will graduate from high school and go to college?”

Based on a recent article we would have to say that regardless of one’s belief IT is happening. As the Chicago Tribune and ABC news reported, Urban Prep High School (All African American males) in Chicago is graduating all of their seniors this year and they are all accepted to college. Urban Prep is founded on principles of:

• Accountability,
• Exceptionality,
• Faith,
• Integrity,
• Relentlessness,
• Resilience,
• Selflessness, and
• Solidarity.

If Urban Prep believes and delivers on their promise, we should be encouraged and do no less with our students – regardless of their various histories, circumstances, and assets.