DUSD Board of Trustees President Answers Questions About the New Year

Students and staff throughout the city of Dublin head back to school on Monday. Board of Trustees President Dan Cunningham answered some questions for Dublin Patch about the new school year.

Patch: New employees have been added to the DUSD. Who are they and what are their roles?

Cunningham: As with any organization, there is a certain level of transition and this year we have seen a change in several key leadership positions. 

At the school sites, we have two new principals. With the retirement of as principal at , the district hired as the new principal. Kevin comes to Dublin from the Claremont Unified School District where he served as the principal of El Roble Intermediate School. Kevin has also served as an elementary principal and as an assistant principal at an intermediate school. 

In addition, has a new principal, . Catherine replaces Lynn Medici, who is the new principal at . Catherine comes to Dublin from Newark Unified School District, where she served as both an elementary and middle school principal. Catherine started her career as an elementary school teacher and a principal for a private school. 

At the district office, there are three new leaders. Valerie Williams is serving as the assistant superintendent in human resources. Valerie comes to Dublin from Fremont Unified School District, where she served as the director of human resources and director of student services. Val has also served as a middle school principal, high school vice principal and English teacher. 

is serving as the interim assistant superintendent of educational services. Tim returns to Dublin from Eureka School District in Sacramento. Previously, Tim served as the director of technology in Dublin. Prior to his service in Dublin, Tim was a program specialist, resource teacher and elementary school principal.

Roxanne Liu is serving as the director of educational services. Roxane comes to Dublin from Fremont Unified School District, where she served as Director of Assessment, Elementary Instruction. Roxane also served as a vice principal and principal of an elementary school, a math and science teacher, and an elementary teacher.

In addition to the individuals listed above, the district hired 35 new teachers for the coming year. Included in the 35 new teachers is , who is also the new varsity football coach at Dublin High School. John comes to Dublin from Miramonte High School, where he coached football for 15 years. The last nine years he served as their head football coach. 

What else is new for the 2011-2012 school year?

One of the exciting new things for the 2011-2012 school year is the opening of our newest elementary school, Kolb Elementary. The school hosted an open house for the community on Sunday, Aug. 21. In addition to the opening of Kolb Elementary, the district is anticipating approximately 6,500 students this year, a growth of around 5 percent. 

With learning being our fundamental purpose, the district continues to work on building a collaborative culture with a focus on results. As part of that focus, this summer the district sent 60 teachers and administrators to Seattle for training on the elements of a Professional Learning Community. To date, the district has trained approximately 150 teachers, administrators and the school board in implementing a successful Professional Learning Community. The district is planning to send an additional 75 people for training in October. We believe the by working as a Professional Learning Community we will have a positive impact on the learning of all our students. 

Currently, we are in the process of surveying the community about perceptions of another bond measure to continue the work started with Measure C. Initial results from the survey are due later this month or early in September.

We are anticipating good news regarding test scores. With a focus on continuous improvement we will carefully review and analyze the results. A presentation to the board and community will be forthcoming in September.

Parents and students are concerned about class size. How are the class sizes in the district decided and have any recent changes been made?

Thanks to Measure L, the community parcel tax approved by voters in November 2008, our class size remains strong. Grades K-3 are at 25; grades 4 and 5 at 28; grades 6-12 average under 35. We are grateful that we have the financial ability to continue to keep class size as low as possible.

What should parents know about the budget this year? Have any cut backs been made?

We built our budget based upon the governor's May revise. Essentially the budget is based on flat funding per student from 2010-11. However, we are preparing for the potential of mid-year cuts if, the California budget does not secure planned revenues. As a district we are confident that we will be able to weather this ongoing challenge. 

What are the district's main goals for the new year?

As I mentioned earlier, student learning is our fundamental purpose. Every student, every classroom, every school. Building a collaborative culture is a critical component in the process. Focusing on results is at the core of our goals. 

In order to accomplish this we need to:

• Increase number of teachers attending full Professional Learning Community training
• Implement effective collaboration time at all sites
• Implement effective intervention strategies for students not proficient

Other areas of focus in the coming year:

Safe and Healthy:

• Focus on nutrition guidelines
• Focus on Character Ed throughout community
• District-Wide Disaster Drill at community level

HR:

• Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers, leaders, support staff

Finance: 

• Maintain fiscal health in difficult times to include the building of a reserve for fiscal uncertainty of 5 percent over the next two years.

Facilities: 

• Complete remaining projects at DHS: Culinary Arts; Performing Arts; Quads
• Explore future funding needs and revenue options - Bond Measure

Technology:

• Professional Development - focus on classroom tools; build 21st century tools and plan for 1 to 1 computing

Communication:

• Continue to build district image by demonstrating to the community the accomplishments of our students and teachers. 

The 2010-2011 school year was a big year for the DUSD. What stands out in your mind as things that will be remembered the most?

First and foremost, the number one thing to remember about the 2010-2011 school year is the success of our students in the classroom, athletics and outside activities. Our students continue to be successful. Our students demonstrated increased levels of proficiency as demonstrated by our . Last year, DUSD maintained fiscal stability in spite of the state budget crisis. The district continues to be fiscally responsible which enables us to continue to focus on improving student learning.

Of course, there were major milestones that occurred in the facilities projects throughout the district, most notably the completion of the new and at .

Finally, there are some intangibles that are hard to measure but show the character of our students. Most memorable were the crowning of as Homecoming Queen and leading the Dublin High School Marching Band prior to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. These are just a few of the things that people will look back on when they think of the 2010-2011 school year.

What should parents, students and staff be excited about with the start of this new school year?

Parents should be excited that their children are in a school district that is focused on the success of every student. DUSD continues to work on preparing every student to be a lifelong learners who is prepared for college/university or service to our country and to succeed in today’s global economy. The district has maintained class size even in these difficult economic times.

Students should be excited to get back to school and continue the learning process. This year promises to be packed with many exciting field trips and events. Of course, the students will be most excited about getting back together with their friends.

The staff should be excited to work in a community that is supportive of our schools. In addition, that they work in a district that is willing to invest in collaboration to improve the learning of all our students.