Monday, April 27, 2009

4/21 Board Meeting Roundup


Last week's Board meeting was chock full o' information, and mostly good.

1. Congratulations Sue Liesegang, Central Teacher of the Year and Amy Leon, Central Classified Employee of the Year!

2. Superintendent search continues
  • Public comment definitely hopes for parent involvement in the process.
  • Mo Muir doesn't feel the consultants report was comprehensive enough.
  • Cathy Regan firm that this was the job board members were elected to do.
  • Debate most likely won't continue as site visit of future superintendent tentatively scheduled for next week.
3. Proposed alignment of Capri and Central Bilingual programs to move forward. More than a few parents confused, but pleased, at the district's about face on this one.

4. Technology Refresh
  • Comprehensive district wide evaluation of what we have with technology versus where we are going. Technology Committee meets on Tuesday, April 27. Email Dan Grider if you are interested in participating. I am impressed with what the district has done since I've been a parent at PEC, and especially the rapid improvements in many areas since I started this blog last year. For those of you that remember the computer lab in the broom closet attached to the library in 2005, you know what I mean. Teachers are in the trenches with driving this progress, and the support of Lean King, Dan Grider and the board make it possible. In his first year in the technology position, I really believe Mike Guerena is turning it up to 11 (which is one louder than ten). Look for great things in the Encinitas Union School District with where we are headed with integrating technology into classrooms.





3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I could have done without the bashing of our IT outsourcing firm. Sounds like EUSD has not actively managed/partnered with this vendor. Dr. King was full of negative comments and finger pointing when he and his staff have not fully addressed this important area until the months before he leaves his job. How about hiring a real IT director at the district level and manage the current investment all of our sites have made plus a real roadmap of recommendations/standards that will transition our kids to be successful technology users into their secondary education. Also, publish a std technology cirriculum already.

Anonymous said...

They have made their selection:
On May 1, 2009 the Encinitas Union School District’s Board of Education selected Dr. Timothy Baird as Superintendent. A validation team from the district representing the Board,
management, certificated and classified staff, and parents will be visiting Dr. Baird’s district later this week.

“We are excited to have Dr. Baird as our new superintendent. He was selected from an outstanding field of candidates. Dr. Baird is a leader in the true sense of the word. He has demonstrated the ability to build on the strengths of a school community by providing inspiration, vision and leadership,” said Encinitas Board President Marla Strich.

Dr. Baird comes to Encinitas from the Ojai Unified School District, where he has served as Superintendent since 2003 and Assistant Superintendent since 2001. Prior to Ojai, he served as an elementary and high school principal for the Lucia Mar School District and as an assistant principal in the Coalinga School District. He began his career in education as an elementary school teacher in the Irvine School District.


Beyond Dr. Baird’s leadership in the Ojai school district, he has served as founder and president of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, as a Board member of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and the Ojai Chamber of Commerce and has served as an executive board member for the Ojai Performing Arts Theatre Foundation. Dr. Baird was named Administrator of the Year by the San Luis Obispo County Association for California Administrators.


Dr. Baird earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in Educational Administration at Cal State Fullerton and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. He and his wife, Laurie, have been married for twenty-eight years and have two college age daughters.

Anonymous said...

ARE THE FAB 4 FINALLY LISTENING?

Interesting – regarding the superintendent search, CentralDad reports – "Public comment definitely hopes for PARENT INVOLVEMENT in the process … Cathy Regan firm that this was the job board members were elected to do. Debate most likely won't continue as site visit of future superintendent tentatively scheduled for next week.

Meanwhile, the EUSD press release states "A validation team from the district representing the Board, MANAGEMENT, CERTIFICATED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF, and PARENTS will be visiting Dr. Baird’s district later this week."

Seems like public opinion may have finally gotten through to the EUSD Board members; they allowed staff and parent representatives go on the site visit with them. Or are they just trying to make a good first impression on Dr. Baird?

Regardless, at least there is a new Sup - fingers crossed he's better than King, though I really can't imagine anyone worse.