My new boss and the guy in charge of your kids education for the next four years, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

President-elect Barack Obama named head of Chicago schools, Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. I looked on Wikipedia to see the history of the post and did not know it was created by Jimmy Carter. Some interesting characters have held the position including homophobes and gambling addicts. 

I. Robot

Legos and robots. What more could you ask for? Put them together and you have the Lego Mindstorm.  This article is one example of how schools are preparing kids for the future. Collaboration, programming, problem solving and fun.  First Lego League International is one of the main organizations creating events that involve schools with robotics programs. The article is about Oak Crest Middle School, where most PEC students will be attending middle school. With our  'technology' program in it's current state, will any PEC students be attending these events in the future, or just playing catchup? If you are at Legoland this weekend, check out the action! 

Makin' Copies....Not!

From Copy Machine

My son came home Monday and let me know he didn't have homework. I was bothered, but not because he wouldn't have worksheets to complete each night. It seems our PEC copy machine is not working. It doesn't sound like it was working through at least Wednesday, but I may stand corrected. If that is the case, I wonder why the district at the very least doesn't get a replacement in while it is fixed. The copy machine is, if not the heart, at least one of the ventricles of a school. What does this say about district support of their teachers and schools? And only one copier? Really? Is this the same at all sites? Maybe teachers can dust off one of the old ditto machines in the storage room, if anyone still knows how to work them!

I am thankful for Paul Ecke Central School!

PEC Technology Survey

PEC wants your help in planning for technology by taking a brief online survey. Click here to go to the PEC home page. The link is on the far right, the second one under the large 'Join Central News' link. You'll enter 'Paul Ecke' to find the correct school and the survey takes about five minutes to complete. Your response will guide where PEC/EUSD go with technology. The PTA has funds earmarked for a consultant to be in the tech lab and this survey offers many options for your opinions on what you would see is important for students to be doing with technology beyond Success Maker!

Board Meeting Tuesday Night

Here's the agenda for Tuesday night's board meeting. Nothing too substantial to the untrained eye. Mo Muir will be sitting in on her first meeting as an elected board member.

It's Election Day!

PEC Fundraiser at Vigilucci's Ristorante & Pizzeria and Robbie's

On Wednesday, November 5, the elections will be over, and who is going to feel like cooking with either the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. The solution: Vigilucci's Ristorante & Pizzeria and Robbie's restaurant in Leucadia (just north of the Pannikin). 20% of all food and beverage sales will be donated to PEC/EEF. The restaurants will be serving PEC/EUSD families from 4-9 PM. See you there!


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My endorsement for EUSD School Board

From Encinitas School Board

For what it's worth, I'm voting for Skiljan/Page for the EUSD Board. My observations of many in the current EUSD administration is that they are cavalier in dealing with concerns from the community they serve. I believe Mary will bring perspective to the board about the needs of our schools. Mary is an active parent at Ocean Knoll Elementary School, previously one of the 'underperforming' schools in the district. I am confident she understands what makes each of our schools unique. In addition, in conversation with her and from her comments at the League of Women Voters Forum, I know she is not willing to let students settle for anything less than their best. Issues that I think the board will be dealing with in the future: the Pacific View property, equity at all schools in EUSD and preparing our kids for the 'flattening world'.

The Naylor Act

From The Naylor Act

Make yourself a big cup o' joe and read the Naylor Act. Aka, California Ed Code 17485

Did you watch the candidates?

From Pacific View School property

The moderator was in position, the candidates took their places and had two minutes to respond to questions. I'm not talking about the Presidential debate, but the EUSD School Board forum held at the San Dieguito Academy on Tuesday night. Of the three candidates, Carol Skiljan, Mary Page and Maureen 'Mo' Muir, only Skiljan and Page showed up. The event was put on by the League of Women Voters and moderated by Lois Martins. About 40+ people showed up for the forum and provided questions for the two candidates. As the TIP Academy is no longer on the EUSD board agenda, there really aren't many tough questions to ask. We're a basic aid district, so the state budget is not a huge concern, test scores continue to improve, and the superintendent and the board seem to have a strong relationship. Skiljan answered questions very comfortably, as you'd expect from someone with 15 years experience. Page spoke from the experience of having two children who are in or have been in the Encinitas Union School District and her contributions to Ocean Knoll Elementary School. The only possible topic of contention between candidates is the future of the Pacific View property. The North County Times insinuates Muir is against the sale, but Both Skiljan and Page seem optomistic that the board and the city will come to an agreement. Take a walk around the Pacific View property and you can understand why the neighborhood wants minimal impact. At the same time, were this property privately owned, it would be seeing top dollar from developers. I've said it before, that property could fund a lot of art projects or even the new Paul Ecke Central stadium. The city council elections will be making a lot more noise about the future of Pacific View, but I am wondering how many of them have kids in the school district that this topic will effect.

A for effort, but not for execution

From Garden

From Garden

From Garden

I am not sure what all of these flowers are, but I am pretty sure they are not drought tolerant. In addition, the only time I grew fuchsia with success was in full shade, almost dark. These plants will get full sun every day of the year! Good try, but when these are all dead at the end this dry, hot October, how about planting some sage, butterfly bush and poppy!

School Board Candidates Forum

What are your questions for our candidates? 

Encinitas Teacher of the Year

I had the pleasure of attending the Salute to Teachers at the Balboa Theatre over the weekend. First grade teacher Wendy Craig, from El Camino Creek Elementary School was EUSD's teacher of the year. Of the 43 teachers selected county wide, Wendy made it into the top ten.

I've had friends go through the teacher of the year process and it is no small feat, let alone making it into the top ten. From the top ten, five school teachers were selected to represent the county for the next year. Congratulations, Wendy!

And from the 'not ready to let this story die' department comes this pretty intensive summary of Mike Hazelton's career in charter school education. According to this report, he has left a trail of deceit and bankruptcy across the Southern California charter school community, yet manages to get hired back for more. One quote from the article likens him to one sixties animated series character.

"Is he Mr. Magoo who has left a trail of destruction? Or is it a cover he's perfected?" she asked. Either way, Flesh said, "he found a gravy train."

Oh, Magoo, you've done it again!

North County Transit District needs to know they're affecting our kids

From Transit pollution at PEC

From Transit pollution at PEC

From Transit pollution at PEC

I remember the first day I volunteered in my son's kindergarten room, which directly faces the train tracks in these pictures. When a train went by, I turned to look at the teacher and class full of 5 year olds, expecting that all of them would have hit the deck from the noise. However by that time, they were already so adjusted that they hardly paused before going back to work. I did not adjust as easily and am still irked that the power brokers in school, city and NCTD have not made at least this hundred yard stretch through Leucadia a priority to clean up and quiet down. The scary thing is that the noise is probably the least of all evils when I think about what is in those dust clouds blowing by. I remember not to long ago when the tracks from north to south were mulched. My understanding is that tree trimming companies were allowed to dump their mulch along the tracks. J.P.  at Leucadia Blog has written about this numerous times and has said that the NCTD put a stop to the mulching. J.P's writes in his most recent post: 

"The following is copied from the San Diego Air Pollution Control District
website:

"Prohibition against causing a public nuisance. California Health and Safety Code [
http://www.arb.ca.gov/bluebook/bluebook.htm ] Section 41700 states that no
person can discharge air contaminants that cause injury, nuisance or annoyance to any considerable number of persons or the public, or discharge air contaminants that endanger the comfort, health or safety of such persons. 

If a business violates this prohibition or any other air quality requirement, the District may issue a Notice of Violation to the business.

If a Notice of Violation is issued, the business must take action to correct the violation and pay a monetary penalty to the District.

Penalties are determined in accordance with Health and Safety Code Sections 42400 – 42403."



If you are annoyed by the air pollution caused by the trains, please go to the following website and fill out the Nuisance Complaint Form.

http://www.sdapcd.org/comply/cplt/cpltprog.html



Please send this to anyone else you know along the tracks, perhaps if a "considerable" number of people complain something will be done.

Maybe the PTA for Paul Ecke Central could start a petition and encourage all members to send in a complaint considering NCTD is polluting our kids lungs while they are out running around in the playground.
"

 Our school has never looked better and the NCTD needs to know we're not stopping with the landscaping and a fresh coat of paint. Get everyone you can to sign a Nuisance Complaint form. It's time for PEC parents to make some noise about the noise!

Got fluff?

Ugh. Test scores. It saddens me that state API scores create such a frenzy in the media, especially when, even as a teacher, the breakdown of scores into subgroups and sub-subgroups baffles me. Yet these are the numbers that up real estate values, printed in the newspaper as three digits that for the masses simply signify whether a school is 'good' or 'bad'. Paul Ecke Central School teachers should be commended on their hard work every day and that the school is no longer designated by the state as 'Program Improvement' is even more cause for celebration.

What is serendipitous about reading all the news about North County test scores this year is that the first school I ever taught at was also just taken off the PI list and, far away in the 900's, the school where I currently teach received the second highest scores in the county. I thought I'd have some valuable insight from being at two schools so far apart on the API spectrum, but I don't. Walk by any classroom in either school, and you are going to see dedicated and enthusiastic teachers delivering the best instruction they can with the resources they have to students who are eager to learn. One school is older than the other, but physically there is really no difference between the two. All the rest that would effect standardized testing (and pan out in subgroups) is out of the hands of teachers.

What you will see at both schools I have taught at are enrichment activities going on every day at every grade level. The same is true for Paul Ecke Central. The PTA at all of the schools in the EUSD work hard to enusre that students are receiving enrichment istruction in art, music, and ideally, science and technology. That is why it pains me to read in the North County Times today that principal Anjelica Lopez credits their jump in scores to eliminating the 'fluff' of enrichment during the school day. Assuming she was not misquoted, this shows a misguided vision of education. Sitting at the last school board meeting as test scores were looked over with a fine tooth comb, superitendents and board members fawned over Ocean Knoll's improvement. I can't help but wonder if we can look forward to a cutback on 'fluff' just as our PEC PTA has raised the money to hire technology and science consultants. As always, keep an eye on the school board agenda for upcoming meetings. Make your voice heard.

And the API is in.....

Where do the Presidential candidates stand on education?

This is a quick and easy overview of the Presidential candidates' plans for your child's education from Edutopia Magazine. 

First day of school

Classroom notification letter?

I was at a friend's house this afternoon whose kids go to Capri. They received on Friday a letter notifying them of classroom placement, as well as a letter from their classroom teacher. My Saturday mail has arrived, but no notification letter. We know our classroom placement because we checked in the office window at school. Did you get yours?

Welcome back!

Geez, go on vacation for a couple weeks and things get all crazy in the Encinitas school district. I've been gone but read about TIP's closure long distance. We'll see if TIP administration fights the decision, but it is looking like everyone is moving forward. That includes the Hazelton's who have filed for a fictitious business  name for The Academy North County. Two school board seats are open and, up until early this week, had only two candidates running, incumbent, Carol Skiljan and Mary Page. Now, however, it will be a race as Maureen 'Mo' Muir filed her paperwork just before Thursday's extended deadline. With TIP closed, now the big news will be what is going to happen with the Pacific View property. City council candidate Bob Nanninga is calling for an open dialogue and public vote  on what the district should do with the property. Anticipate the word of the 2008/2009 school year being 'Naylor Act'. The city and school district thought this was a done deal, until someone brought up the Naylor Act. It's a prime piece of real estate and the Naylor Act sound a lot like 'eminent domain'. That property could fund quite a few art projects and hopefully both the school district, the city and the Pacific View neighbors will all win in this situation. Be careful, though, or Lean King might just build a new district office on the spot with his corner office offering a panoramic view of the pacific. I can't believe summer is over and don't know who is less ready for the new school year, me or the kids. We ran into many parents at PEC yesterday checking out their teacher placement for the new year. Thank you EUSD for our awesome new paint job at Central. No more pink! What did you do on your summer vacation? 

Adios, Alternative Language Program?

I received an email this afternoon with concerns from a parent that the Alternative Language Program at Paul Ecke Central School is on Lean King's chopping block. Dr. King has expressed his concerns with ALP parents that, if test scores at PEC don't improve, the ALP program will have to go. Observing his track record this year, I am doubtful there will be any real discussion with parents at PEC, but rather a swift late night dismissal of the program. Hopefully,this is just rumor. Or, perhaps he is figuring he is going to get more than an earful when he and the board close TIP, what's a little more fuel on the fire! Keep an eye on the district's board meeting schedule for yet another 'public forum'!

TIP Public Hearing Tuesday, July 22

Public forum to voice opinion on the Theory Into Practice Charter School's future at Park Dale Lane Elementary School, Tuesday 6PM according to today's UT Article. The district site posted a nice Quick Facts .pdf on the history of the TIP debacle. 

Pacific View zoning amendment meeting

If you read the article in today's Union Tribune on the proposed amendments to the rezoning of the Pacific View property, it sounds like everything is hunky dory and this is just a technicality to continue forward with development. However, there are more than a few residents of the downtown area with concerns. Among them is property owner Donald McPherson, who in a letter to the city opposing the amendments states that the "amendments being considered the planning commission materially violates city and state regulations on several counts." I'm trying to share his letter as a .pdf, which may or may not work. Here is the link to the .pdf as well. There is a meeting in the Poinsettia Room of City Hall this Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 PM.

Another concerned citizen, Joyce Ross, in an email sent to neighbors says "I know we're all exhausted from the many meetings on Pacific View But now is the time when participation is counted in the eyes of the City and the Coastal Commission. In addition, if no one shows up at this meeting, the eventual developer will assume that the community no longer cares and will see himself as having a free rein. So please, DO ATTEND THE MEETING. If some of the issues identified below are important to you, and you cannot attend the meeting, then write a letter to the Planning Dept."

School districts like Encinitas and Del Mar are needing to think outside the box and getting into real estate to fund programs as Basic Aid districts. 

Board votes to renew Lean King's contract

With all the TIP Academy excitement at the last board meeting, it was easy to overlook the unanimous decision by the board to continue Lean King's contract through 2012, as reported in the North County Times today. From the few board meetings I've been to, it is clear the board and Dr. King have a mutual admiration society, which isn't a bad thing. In recommending the vote on July 8, board members gushed at King's brief but busy record in the district. Congratulations, Dr. King! 

Walking to school in 2009!

I was happy to read this from the NC Times on the Leucadia Blog this morning! Of the three applications for the state funded Safe Routes to School Program, this location was the only one selected.  I spoke to the city about the grant back in May before any decision was made and was told that once the city selected the engineer for the proposed improvement site, the next step would be a public forum on design. Imagine our kids and families safely walking, skating, biking and even riding Segways to school!

Who needs baseball?

The EUSD Boardroom was where the real action was last night. If you were anywhere near the intersection of Manchester and Rancho Sante Fe, you saw the sea of families in maroon TIP shirts and "Save Tip" signs signaling that TIP was on the agenda tonight. The priority item was whether the district would take the next step in revoking the Theory Into Practice Academy's Charter. 

As with any TIP item on the docket, the room was packed, the air conditioning intermittent and minimal to no sound. (What are those microphones on the board members' desks for, anyway?) That made for all the more heated debate. First, Lean King gave a brief history about how the TIP Academy administration ended up in this mess. Next up was someone hired by the district to provide evidence to go forth with the intent to revoke. She gave a pretty alarming testimony with the most creepy being, in referring to attempting to interview TIP staff and families, that she had never seen "so much fear of appraisal" in cooperating with investigators, such as fear of appraisal from TIP administration and fear of ostracization by TIP parents, that ultimately ended up with non-cooperative interviewees. It sounded very Jim Jones. Her summation was that it is clear TIP has disregarded laws of the charter and that it would be within the boards right to revoke the charter.

The public forum opened with the TIP attorney, Paul Minney, giving evidence item by item that the TIP Academy has met all of EUSD's requests to demonstrate transparency and that there is "no factual evidence for notice of revocation" and that "If you revoke the charter tonight, you are not following charter law" This met with thunderous applause from TIP families in the audience. 

TIP board members, TIP families and non-TIP families then spoke in support of TIP. A rowdy bunch, those TIP families, with hoots and hollers.

Now came time for the board to vote to continue with intent to revoke charter. Liken this to parents scolding a kid for being naughty (albeit, thousands of taxpayer dollars worth of naughty), then passing the kid to the neighbors so they can scold the kid, then to the next neighbor so they can scold the kid, ad finitum. The board is clearly not happy with the TIP administration's consistent lack of cooperation. Things don't look good for TIP. Lean King expressed his dismay at how much time and money the TIP fiasco has taken from EUSD business. Shannon Kuder seemed to want TIP shutdown on the spot and got nearly hysterical when TIP rowdies heckled her when she said "I have no confidence the Hazelton's are gone". The only glimmer of forgiveness seemed to come from Cathy Regan who applauded the teachers at Theory Into Practice, but made it clear she, too, wants the Hazelton's far, far away from TIP business. Bottom line, with two of the board members terms ending this year, (of note, none of the current board members have served less than 10 years? Some are going on 20! Do any of them even have kids in elementary school?) they don't want to be the ones looking soft with taxpayer dollars. 

Now for the vote - unanimous decision to move forward with intent to revoke. Next step is a public forum tentatively scheduled for July 22 at 6PM. Tailgate party starts at 4. Bring a chair, one of those little mist fans, and a cooler. 

2008 Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival

Carris Rhodes from the film festival tells me you can now check out the 2008 Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival DVD (and Mrs. Hinze's 2nd grade classes entry) at the Encinitas Public Library. 

A message to a school board

This isn't me talking about the EUSD school board, but it could be. When it comes to technology, I don't believe our district is meeting the needs of our 21st century learners, either. I have heard Lean King speak numerous times and describe EUSD technology in schools as being cutting edge. Though I agree that EUSD has the infrastructure, now, with thin client hard ware, I do not think teachers have the support they need in the classroom and in the lab to push the limits of what our students are capable of and what they will need to be capable of in the very near future. I do many of the things Wesley is speaking about in this video with my students and teachers and would like Lean King and the EUSD to put their money where their mouth is. This is Wesley Fryer, one of my favorite Tech-Ed bloggers.

Have you been into the PEC computer lab? What was your experience?

Board recommends TIP Academy shut down

This from today's San Diego Union Tribune.

ENCINITAS – TIP Academy charter school should be shut down.

That's the recommendation from administrators at the Encinitas Union School District, who have concluded an investigation into alleged conflicts of interest and financial improprieties at the charter school, which it sponsors.

The recommendation, which is scheduled to go before the school district's board of trustees on Tuesday, was not entirely unexpected.

The district threatened to revoke TIP Academy's charter on May 6, as part of a “Notice to Remedy” numerous allegations of misconduct. A reorganized board of directors at TIP Academy has taken some steps, but Encinitas Union administrators say they've downplayed serious violations of education and government law.

The Encinitas school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Encinitas Union School District offices, 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road

Apparently, the changes made by the TIP board were not enough to satisfy the EUSD School Board. If it's an open meeting on Tuesday, it will definitely be a heated one. 

Board Meeting Tonight!

School is out for kids - but not for the EUSD board. I can't make the meeting tonight, but as soon as  minutes are posted, I'll put them up.  You can find the agenda here. It looks to be a lot of authorization of work to be done in the 2008/2009 school year. One piece on the agenda is for Paul Ecke Central to get a paint job. The good news is they won't have to do the lovely, new MUR anytime soon!

Congratulations Class of 2008!

I was lucky enough to see the sixth grade wall dedication ceremony this morning. A surprise guest paid a special visit. Conni Cintas, who was principal from 2004 to 2007 was honored with a special tile on this years wall. In addition, it was announced that this was Patti Haggerty's last year teaching sixth grade.  She also has a special tile on the mosaic that reads 'Big Hair, Big Eyes, Big Smile, Huge Heart'. I have visited many schools over the years, but nothing I have seen exemplifies a schools' character the way our sixth grade mosaics do. Thank you parent volunteers for continuing to assist our awesome sixth grade artists with these pieces. Check out the slideshow to see more images. 

Congratulations to Mrs. Hinze's second grade class!

Congratulations to Julie Hinze's second grade class for their video entry in the Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival  sharing what they know about colony collapse disorder in honeybee hives. From the Reader:

Julie Hinze’s second-grade class (17 students, aged seven and eight) at Paul Ecke Central Elementary created an eight-minute film about the ongoing crisis with honeybees — a disappearing-hive phenomenon known as “colony collapse disorder.” The children, dressed in homemade honeybee costumes, act out disappearing-bee scenarios. “They designed their own [costumes],” says Hinze. “They used black T-shirts, some put yellow tape on there and a lot of pipe cleaners. It’s so cute.”

The children broke into groups, and each group presented its own interpretation of the current bee predicament. “One group did a little dance,” says Hinze. Another wrote new lyrics to the Ghostbusters theme song, changing it to “bee busters.” One group acted out honeybees enjoying a garden, collecting nectar from flowers. “After it says ‘the end,’” says Hinze, “there’s a little girl dressed up as a bee eating ice cream [Häagen-Dazs’s Vanilla Honey Bee, of which 40 percent of the proceeds goes toward researching colony collapse]. Then three little kids singing, making up a humming noise. I just love that, because it captures their little spirits.”

Beautify PEC by beautifying yourself!

After school weekly through the rest of the year, be on the lookout for PEC parents selling the stylin' brown and blue Paul Ecke Central School wear. Funds from sales go to the beautification of the grounds at PEC. Funds raised thus far have been used to landscape the front of the school. We've been at PEC only three years and you'd hardly recognize the place these days! Hoodies are $24, kids T's are $12, adult T's are $14, hats are $12 and, now just in time for summer, the PEC apron, perfect for BBQ'n, is available for $18. Shop now while supplies last!

Board Meeting Notes 5/20/08

This was the first board meeting I attended start to finish. I’ll plan on attending future meetings (while Red Bull supplies last) and posting observations.

• Board meeting started on time and both new principal candidates were quickly recommended and selected. Paul Ecke Central School’s new principal is Adriana Chavarin Lopez. Flor Vista’s new principal is Stephanie Casperson.

• Robin Waters was recognized as parent of the year for PEC. Thank you Robin, for all your hard work with the PTA! Deanna Alman was recognized as student of the year for PEC.

Public Comment

• Four parents from Paul Ecke Central spoke about the benefits of the Alternative Language Program and hopes for additional and future support from the school district.

• TIP Academy parents and students spoke. The main point many made was in regards to the dispute between the district and TIP’s alledged mishandling of funds. One parent made a strong argument that it was reckless of EUSD to publicize it’s allegations against TIP in the media so early.

Parents and students clearly love this school. Hopefully, the district and TIP can work this out.

Dr. King’s opening remarks

• Another school district on the East Coast complimented the EUSD website.

I agree our website is getting better. I talked to Dan Grider problems I had with the EUSD site a few years ago, specifically that you could not open the site in Firefox and that staff email addresses were not available. Both of those problems have been fixed. The site now even offers RSS feeds of agenda and minutes from meetings. I still find the site hard to navigate. What do you think?

Theory Into Practice Charter School Monthly Report

• Mike Hazelton and board went over fiscal reports. Made me dizzy. My observation was that Mike and the board seem to have a good working relationship. From the reports in the paper this week, I expected this dialogue to look more like bareknuckle boxing, but it was very civil. The board asked questions, Mike answered the questions.

Business

• EUSD is adopting a new science curriculum this year. Typically when adopting a new curriculum, a few will get selected to be ‘piloted’ in classrooms through the year. Teachers who piloted the program then discuss which they liked best and with board approval, that is the one that gets adopted. EUSD teachers liked Houghton Mifflin best, and that is the one that was chosen. I teach in the Del Mar Union School District, and we adopted this one, too. So, long story short, buy stock in Houghton Mifflin (NYSE:HTN)

• Second adoption up was the health program. Schools get state funds for teaching a research based health curriculum. Our district decided on ‘Too Good for Drugs’. As a teacher, I’ve never liked the ‘Red Ribbon Week’ curriculum in the districts I’ve taught in. I think the message may have been strong when it started, but has gotten diluted through the years. Maybe this program will take it’s place.

Closing discussion:
There was a question by a parent earlier in the meeting about why the Hispanic ALP parents had not been invited to the ALP meeting at PEC Tuesday afternoon. The board asked Debbie, who attended the ALP meeting at PEC if this was the case. Debbie said it was and that in talking to Stephanie Niess, she learned that when Connie Cintas was principal, English speaking ALP parents had been invited because this is actually only an ‘alternative’ education to English speaking students, not to native Spanish speakers, or something to that effect. In closing the discussion, they seemed in agreement in the future all parents of the ALP program would be invited. Debbie mentioned that at the meeting they discussed that the 4th grade ALP model would resemble the one being started in the Del Mar Union School District. I won’t try to explain what that model looks like, but if you were at the Tuesday ALP meeting, please feel free to comment on what you heard.

Last Observations:
• Sound was nonexistent! The boards little ‘newsman’ microphones were not working or not hooked up, so in the early part of the standing room only crowd, you couldn’t hear anything.

• As I said, standing room only crowd! With all of our big beautiful Multi-Use Rooms in the district, shouldn’t we now be moving into one of those? I think the once ‘little’ EUSD district needs to realize they have 10 schools full of involved parents and need to accommodate us. They showed a video from one of the school’s classes that only about ¾ of the audience could see because of the terrible sightlines.

Welcome to Paul Ecke Central School Pricipal Adriana Chavarin-Lopez

The first order of business at the board meeting tonight was to recommend the candidate for principal of Paul Ecke Central School, Adriana Chavarin-Lopez. Mrs. Chavarin-Lopez comes to Paul Ecke Central from DD Johnston Elementary School in Norwalk. After board approval, Mrs. Chavarin-Lopez briefly introduced her family and gave a quick hello. Welcome to to Paul Ecke Central School Principal Chavarin-Lopez. We're looking forward to meeting you and introducing you to your new school and family!

Congratulations, Robin Waters and Deanna Alman

Congratulations, Paul Ecke Central School Parent of the Year, Robin Waters and Paul Ecke Central School Student of the Year, Deanna Alman. Both will be recognized at tomorrow night's board meeting. In addition, expect Paul Ecke Central School's new principal to be announced. 

Principal recommendation on the agenda for Tuesday board meeting

From the Board Agenda from the EUSD website, principal candidate recommendation is a priority item for Tuesday nights board meeting!

New Principal to be announced at Tuesday board meeting?

Word on the blacktop is our new principal will be announced at next Tuesday's board meeting!

Welcome to the Encinitas Union School District Observer

Greetings and welcome to what I hope will become an ever-expanding collaboration between parents, teachers and administrators of Paul Ecke Central School and the Encinitas Union School District. There was some discussion at last Thursday’s meeting about difficulties with communication between all of us. I hope this web log can become a one-stop information shop to remedy that problem. Check in here when you can for dates of meetings, events and general discussions about our school and district. Please email me with anything you feel needs to get posted on the calendar or topics you think need to be discussed.  Spread the word and welcome to the EUSD Observer.