Happy Birthday to you. Uh, me. Errr, us!

Alright, it's a little early, but on May 14 of last year, I posted the first entry on this blog. It was after a very disheartening meeting with Lean King, Dan Grider and a group of parents and teachers in the library of PEC to discuss our hopes for a principal. If you were there, you might remember there was some discussion about communication between all of us being a problem. That's where the idea for this blog came from. I appreciate you checking in and commenting over the year. The ranting, not so much. To commemorate a year, I had some work done, a little nip here, a little tuck there, you like? Thanks for spreading the word. Highlights and lowlights of the last year include:

• The hiring of Adriana Chavarin as our principal at PEC. I was impressed early on, and think she can lead this school to more great things.
• The many hours spent at Board meetings on the Hazelton's mismanagement of the Theory into Practice Academy, leading to its shutdown and displacement of a lot of families.
• The election. I supported Skiljan/Page and still think think it was the right choice, but I appreciate Mo Muir's dedication to her constituency: parents who feel they are not being heard by the board. She reminds her colleagues frequently why she is in the chair. Let's see if the board settles in to a working peace.
• Lean King's raise. Followed by his retirement announcement. Hmmmmmm.
• The budget crisis and Abby Saddat's handling of district finances like James Bond in Goldfinger driving an Astin Martin DB5 in a car chase. I wish my school district had it so together.
• How awesome Central School looks and feels with the great work of our principal, PTA, parent volunteers and, of course, students.

What's next?

• Big items for the year obviously start with what looks like the hiring of our new superintendent, Dr. Timothy Baird, and the continuing budget crisis. Special meeting is Monday, May 11 at the DO. A new era in EUSD politics or more of the same?
• I still see equity between schools as being something that we all need to look at. The Del Mar Foundation is now distributing all income equally to all schools. It might knock some people out of donating, but what gets donated will be spread equally. Can we do this with EEF?
• Aligning the ALP programs at Capri and Paul Ecke Central. The board is looking for test scores to improve at both schools. If this alignment goes well, it could make this program a bright feather in the cap of the district. If not, I don't know how long the program will exist.

What do you remember from the last year? What do you hope to see in the next?

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.

County Office of Education Swine Flu Information

The White House Garden

The students of Bancroft Elementary School help First Lady Michelle Obama plant the White House vegetable garden. It is great to see more and more educators nationwide getting students of all ages out into the garden. With a little water, sun and TLC the First Family's garden might look as good as our two awesome gardens at PEC!