South Whittier School District held their monthly board meeting on Tuesday, November 15, in the district board room and via Zoom.
This month the board heard three presentations. There was an Above and Beyond Recognition, a Student Achievement Report from Carmela Elementary, and Educational Services board update.
Above & Beyond Award Recognition
This month there were two Above and Beyond awards. The first was to Ian Montelongo, McKibben Elementary’s PM Custodian. The second was awarded to Kurby Flores, the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent.
Congratulations, Ian Montelongo & Kurby Flores!
Student Achievement Report from Carmela Elementary
Carmela Elementary principal, Karina Hartl, shared a student achievement report regarding Carmela.
Principal Hartl began by sharing an overview of Carmela students. She shared data regarding socio-economically disadvantaged, attendance rate, English Learners, and chronic absentees.
She then went on to share student CASSPP data for Math and English Language Arts (ELA), sharing that teacher focus is on good first teaching. They strive for rigor, depth of knowledge, higher order questioning, and making meaning. Hartl then gave an insight into Carmela’s multi tiered intervention support, support specifically for English Learners, and social emotional support for all students.
Hartl closed her presentation by sharing Carmela’s attendance monitoring plan. This includes school-wide incentives, personal phone calls daily, addressing the importance of attendance parent meetings, SART meetings, and Their III Support.
Educational Services Board Update
Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Rebecca Rodriguez, and Director Assessment, Accountability and Parent Engagement, Dr. Reanna Mendoza, presented the board and attendees with an update regarding student test data and achievement.
They began the presentation with sharing a timeline of STAR 360 testing. They went on to display data of all students in reading and showed year to date growth at all grade levels. They gave this information for all students and for English Learners. They then showed the data for all students and English Learners in math.
The presentation concluded with telling the board what is currently in place to continue to close the achievement gap and make sure all students are meeting or exceeding standards. This plan includes cognitive guided instruction, integrated and designated ELD, community practices, multi-tiered systems of support, instructional coaching, and monthly refreshers.
The District will hold their next board meeting on Tuesday, December 13, in the district board room and via Zoom.