School Happenings

Below is the second announcement sent yesterday by the LGUSD. A kind reader inserted the entire text into a comment - thank you. I am posting it here, and copying the related comments, for further discussion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 6, 2013

CONTACT: Dr. Diana Abbati, Superintendent – Los Gatos Union School District

Los Gatos Union School District Board Votes Unanimously to Place
No Tax Increase Renewal Measure on May 7, 2013 - Mail-in Ballot

LOS GATOS— The Los Gatos Union School District (LGUSD) officials, parents and teachers gathered tonight to discuss the importance of renewing the local funding measure that helps support student achievement in local schools.

Citing the need to maintain outstanding educational programs and retain highly-qualified teachers without increasing tax rates, the Los Gatos Union School District Board voted unanimously to seek a renewal of the District’s expiring parcel tax measure on the May 7, 2013 ballot.

“Los Gatos schools are among the top in the state in terms of student test scores, thanks to ...

The following announcement was sent out by LGUSD Superintendent Abbati Wednesday afternoon:

February 6, 2013

Dear Los Gatos Union School District Families, Teachers and Staff:

It is with heartfelt words that I write this letter to inform you that our Principal, Rosanne Adona, will be retiring from Louise Van Meter Elementary School at the end of June 2013. Over the past 18 years, LGUSD students, teachers, and staff have greatly benefited from Ms. Adona’s leadership, vision, guidance and aspirations. The Board of Trustees will be accepting Ms. Adona’s retirement letter at the February 12th Board meeting.

While this news came unexpectedly, the District Administrative Team is taking the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition for the 2013-14 school year. It is our intent to build on our strong momentum and continue in our current positive direction. We are so very fortunate to have the administrative talents and experience of our Principals, teachers and staff to guide our future and ground Van Meter Elementary through this transition.

...

The following agenda can be found on the LGUSD website here:
(apologies for the wide open spacing, the formatting isn't allowing me to make it any prettier)

Regular Board Meeting
January 29 - 6:30 p.m.

Thomas P. O’Donnell District Office Board Room
Click here to view previous board meetings!
Superintendent
Dr. Diana G. Abbati

Board Members
Kathleen Bays
Scott Broomfield
Emi Eto
Leigh-Anne Marcellin
Tina Orsi-Hartigan

...

The following agenda can be found on the LGSUHSD website here:

The agenda includes a discussion of the "New Tech High" program being considered for LGHS (see RD.4), and approval of an expenditure plan for the RDA money the district is receiving (see AI.5). Anything else here jump out at you? Let us know in the comments.
...

I received an email from my daughters' school today that contained a letter from Susan von Felten, the Director of Curriculum for LGUSD.

I need to be brutally honest, I have never written anything on this site that I don't stand by. That said, I have never engaged in the comments bashing teachers and/or principals. Every resident is entitled to his/her opinion. My articles call out issues and problems; however, I stand behind my comments/articles with my name. I've had wonderful experiences with LGUSD, both as a student and as a parent. I'm not going to sugar-coat and say everything has been perfect because nothing is perfect--not even me! When I have an issue, I talk to those who can help and hope the issue will be resolved. People are people, we make mistakes and with constructive criticism, I believe we can change.

When I received BH's email earlier, I sat in disbelief. Again, people are people and we all make mistakes; however, the following letter concerns me. In the past year, Susan von Felten was named LGUSD's Director of Curriculum. I don't have ...

Thanks to Joe Friday, we have audio of the most recent LGUSD Board Workshop.

The agenda is linked from the LGUSD web site.

• Agenda

================================================== ========

3.1 - 3.4 Flag Salute, Report out of Closed Session, Approval of Agenda, Public Comment

3.5 Superintendent's Report

- Lori Ranieri's update on bond sales ...

The LGEF sponsored presentation by Bernie Trilling is tonight, at 7pm at Fisher Middle School.

Click Read More and scroll down to see the flyer for more details:

...

The following agenda can be found on the LGSUHSD website here:
...

On Tuesday, October 30 , Los Gatos – Saratoga Union High School District, in partnership with Los Gatos High School, will host an informational and communication session on recent Board policy changes regarding incoming ninth graders to Los Gatos High School. The topic will be new changes to the Freshman Transition Plan including curricular changes in Social Studies, Physical Education, and Health/Driver's Ed.

The meeting will be held in the LGHS Library from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Members of the staff will be present to provide information about the proposed changes and to address your questions and concerns.

The official registration season at LGHS begins in January and you will be receiving official materials in a few months. This meeting is intended to afford the LGHS community an opportunity to provide input about these curricular changes.

If you have any questions, please contact Markus Autrey, Principal of Los Gatos High School at mautrey@lgsuhsd.org. Thank you.
...

We caught a glimpse of something in the Mercury News Police Blotter that said computers were stolen from Fisher Middle School last weekend.

Then, we received emails from parents that Fisher students were discussing the theft. The emails stated it was the new iPads being used in the 8th grade Science classes that had been stolen. Have you heard any more information? If so, please let us know in the comments. ...

The NBC11 website has the complete video from two reports, one aired Friday and the second one yesterday. InsideLG received emails with questions about the NBC news van stationed at Van Meter yesterday morning. And this afternoon, a reader sent us this photo, showing an LGPD officer asking the NBC11 news van to move their vehicle.


The following news story appeared on NBC11 (written by Stephanie Chuang):
--------------------------------------------------------
In a story we first told you on NBC Bay Area last Friday, the tension between one South Bay family and the Los Gatos Union School District (LGUSD) is coming to a head.

Tuesday morning, the Edwards family walked 9-year-old Ella and 7-year-old Sarah into the Van Meter Elementary school office – only to be greeted by the superintendent and two police officers.

“That’s when my heart sank, when I heard there were police officers just to prevent my girls from going to the school they belong in,” said Shuly Edwards, the girls’ mother, before she began to cry. ...

Both the LGUSD and LGEF have posted notices about this joint meeting. From LGEF, the following email:


Please join the Los Gatos Education Foundation (LGEF) and the Los Gatos Union School District (LGUSD) Board of Trustees for the first joint community workshop to discuss what programs LGEF might fund in 2013-2014.

This joint LGEF/LGUSD workshop will allow the two organizations, along with parents and community members, to engage in a dialog about how LGEF can best contribute to the success of our children.

LGEF will be presenting the results of the parent survey and the LGUSD will present their staff survey results as a prelude to discussing possible grants for LGEF to consider funding for the 2013-2014 school year.
...

The following agenda can be found on the LGUSD website:

Regular Board Meeting
October 16 - 6:30 p.m.
Thomas P. O’Donnell District Office Board Room

Superintendent
Dr. Diana G. Abbati

Board Members
Kathleen Bays
Scott Broomfield
Doug Halbert
Chris Miller
Tina Orsi-Hartigan

...

Joe Friday asked the following question:
"So, what do people think about Prop 30 vs. Prop 38? Seems pretty relevant."

Since people were commenting back, I decided to make it a quick article because I'm also interested in what our readers think. ...