• Welcome to our board meeting!
• Our flags are flying half-staff with heartfelt empathy for Orlando’s innocent victims and their family and friends who are intensely impacted by this act of violence. How do we, as educators, help our own community come to terms and learn from this tragedy? One of our district’s LCAP goals is to help students and staff feel safe; safe to ask for help, safe to be who they are, safe in such a way that helps them feel they belong, to be connected. As we come in contact with each other, let’s please remember to reach out to encourage and support one another. We just never know when our “hello” or “kind word” will make THE difference for someone’s experience. We are all connected and how we treat each other really does matter!
• I’d like to introduce and welcome our new Director of Information Technology & Enterprise Architecture, David Delacalzada. Mr. Delacalzada comes with a depth of experience in the IT field joining us from the Encinitas School District. He also happens to be alumni from Montgomery HS. Welcome home!
• The 2015-16 school year for teachers, students, and 10-month classified employees is over! All our graduations and promotions were both ceremonious and personalized! Each event was representative of the school community’s personality with all the traditions that make these ceremonies so memorable for students, staff, and families! We are happy to report we had 6670 seniors graduate and 4352 8th graders met all requirements for promotion. Congratulations to all!
• We are saying goodbye to a few people I would like to recognize tonight. First, our student board representative’s term is ending tonight. Viviana Reyes has been a phenomenal leader this year. She took the initiative to coordinate monthly meetings with ASB Presidents across the district. She asked for input from her fellow students on a variety of topics from technology to the LCAP and she shared that feedback with us. We are all so proud of her and her accomplishments this year including being selected as Inspirational Student of the Month by the San Diego County Office of Education and NBC Channel 39. As she leaves this leadership position, she moves on to the ASB President role at SoH. Let’s hear it for Viviana Reyes!
• We want to welcome our new student board representative, Xavier Balladarez. You have quite a legacy to follow; and, we know you are ready to continue to lead in a powerful way!
• We are also saying goodbye to SEA President Roberto Rodriguez. He was elected to the CTA Board of Directors where he will serve most of San Diego County teachers (including Sweetwater) along with all of Imperial County. He begins his new role in a couple of weeks. We are so proud of you and your work on behalf of students and in support of Sweetwater teachers during your time as a teacher and SEA officer. Thank you for your leadership! This year has been a year of firsts…one of our most proud is the letter written and signed by all our union leaders! Much appreciation for your role with our purposeful collaboration. We know we will continue to see you representing our area. Remember, you are most welcome to join us the second and fourth Mondays.
• Now stepping into the role of SEA President is Helen Farias. Welcome and congratulations Helen! We are looking forward to working with you to advance our work as a district putting students first!
• Even in summer our students excel! Four of the ten students who were selected for the Union-Tribune Journalism Scholars summer program are from Sweetwater. The program is designed to help these students learn about journalism through real-life work experience at the San Diego U-T. Participating students will be paid and will also be considered for a $5,000 scholarship at the end. Congratulations to Sarah Berjan – BVH, Valerie Gonzaga – BVH, Sera Smith – HH, and Xavier Sanchez – OLH! 40% of the participants are Sweetwater students!
• Today summer school began at 6 high schools: BVH, CVH, ORH, SoH, SUHI, & SYH. Last week ALL middle schools began their summer program. We have approximately 125 students per middle school attending and close to 5,000 9-12 students. Learn on!
• One of our governance team’s major goals this year has been acting in ways to help restore the trust in Sweetwater. Tonight I want to end with a quote from Steven Covey:

“Trust is a function of two things: character and competence. Character includes your integrity, your motive and your intent with people. Competence includes your capabilities, your skills, and your track record. Both are vital.”

• We appreciate all employees working together to put the “we” back in Sweetwater!

• As our short summer break begins, thank you for the opportunity to serve and support all of you!