- Welcome to the last board meeting before the 2018-19 school year ends. Tonight, we present the LCAP and the adopted budget for approval.
- The LCAP is in its final year of a 3-year plan during the 2019-20 school year. As we implement the actions and services and measure the effectiveness, we want to be aware of the impact on student “learning” and “yearning” as we progress this coming year. We will be looking deeper into the Essential Elements of Effective First Instruction by focusing on social emotional learning across all content areas, across all programs and across the entire district. We will be sharing more as we get closer to the start of the new school year.
- At the last board meeting, I mentioned that district budgets are complicated. In addition to being complicated, district budgets are always a point in time based upon the best information we have available. I never would have predicted we would have had the year we just experienced. Tonight, Dr. Salkeld will present a balanced budget for the 2019-20 school year for Board adoption. After the challenging year we have had, that’s great news! We want to thank our finance team, again, for their excellent work on the budget. However, the balanced budget is still contingent on the ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders. The budget contains solutions that still need to be resolved. Our practice around budget decisions has always been to hold conversations with all stakeholders as we arrive at final decisions. That practice will not change going forward. I am confident we can do this together! Long-lasting improvements happen over time and not over night!
- Our work with the budget, the systems that support the budget, and the practices that align with the systems is certainly not over. We are in a better place, but, we still have lots of work to do. With that said, our work with SDCOE is not over either, even with a balanced budget. The County Office will continue to have oversight with Sweetwater’s finances. Back in February, SDCOE decided to revoke our fiscal accountability. What does that actually mean? Well, it means that all vendor warrants will be issued by SDCOE starting July 1, 2019. Our finance team (that team includes accounting, purchasing, payroll, and fiscal) has been meeting almost weekly with SDCOE to determine procedures we will follow starting with the new fiscal year. Again, we have work ahead in this coming year to return to a positive financial status; a positive position that would eliminate the need for SDCOE oversight, including the requirement for an assigned Fiscal Advisor with “stay and rescind” authority. Please know, though, we are making constant progress towards fiscal stability and we will continue to need your help to reach that positive and strong financial position.
- Congratulations to TOSA Valerie Ruiz who was chosen by Senator Ben Hueso as the Citizen of the Month for the 40th Senate District. She was recognized for her “incredible commitment to student development; to commemorate her role in creating the Unified Sports Program in Sweetwater; and for her efforts to educate, motivate and activate the community to become more involved in Special Olympics and its initiatives!
- Many of our employees set personal goals outside of their professional goals. Tonight, I want to recognize OLH Principal Dianne Cordero who has completed six Half-Marathons since November: Silver Strand, Holiday, Carlsbad, San Diego, Beach to Bay, and the Rock-n-Roll. And, she added the Hot Chocolate 15k just for the fun of it. Last year she completed what’s known in the Half-Marathon world as the Triple Crown when she completed the Carlsbad, La Jolla, and America’s Finest City Half-Marathons. Now that’s persistence and perseverance! Congratulations Principal Cordero. Please let me know of other employees who push themselves above and beyond!
- I want to acknowledge Brenna Pangelinan’s term as our Student Board Representative. Not only has she provided a solid way to share student voice with her “grow” and “glow” message at each board meeting, she has personally grown in her leadership ability, soon to represent all students in the state of California. That responsibility is no small task; but, we know she is more than up for that task! We are so proud of you Brenna and we wish you success as ELH ASB President and California’s State Board of Education Student Board Representative. Please come back and let us know how you’re doing!
- Finally, tonight is Dr. Dianna Carberry’s last board meeting as Assistant Superintendent of Leadership Development and Systems Innovation. In fact, this is her last week of work before she retires. We are grateful for the work she has accomplished over the past four years to establish a leadership tracking system, for creating a system for leadership succession, for re-establishing a highly successful and state-recognized teacher induction program and a Tier 2 administrative credential program, for supporting 17 schools and principals, and for helping all of us to become better educators as a result of her knowledge, experience, and stability. Thank you Dr. Carberry! We wish you and Coach Carberry as fulfilling a retirement as you have had in your career as an educator.
- 2019_Local_Control_and_Accountability_Plan_&_Annual_Update – PDF
- 2019.20_Budget_Adoption_Presentation_FINAL – PDF
- Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!